“Germany, Georgia to make military cooperation plan”

Lieutenant Colonel Bernhard Hopp, Desk Officer of the International Cooperation Department of the German Defense Ministry, discussed bilateral cooperation with Georgian officials on November 15, according to Akhali Taoba.

Hopp met with representatives from the Defense Ministry and the Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces and discussed plans for cooperation in 2008.

Georgia has asked Germany for assistance in officer training, logistics and the medical unit of the army.

The German Defense Ministry may also render assistance in the fields of intelligence, international military law and communication.

Hopp is expected to present an official plan for German-Georgian military cooperation in 2008, within the next two weeks.

“Firewood delivered to ‘socially vulnerable’” Poor families in western Georgia received five cubic meters of firewood each on November 16 as part of a government initiative, according to Rezonansi.

Davit Chantladze, Minister of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, oversaw the distribution in Imereti province.

“The program ‘Let’s spend winter together warmly’ has started. I want to repeat one more time that no socially vulnerable family will be left without firewood,” Chantladze said.

Imereti governor Akaki Bobokhidze praised the initiative and underlined the importance of firewood to regional communities during the winter months.

“Four children of Georgian business tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili make rich kids lists” The four children of Georgian business tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili are among Russia’s wealthiest kids, according to a list published by the Russian publication Finance, Sakartvelos Respublika reports.

Ivanishvili is estimate to have a USD 1.1 billion fortune.

“Georgia demands IDPs from Abkhazia be recognized as victims of ethnic cleansing”

Georgia has demanded that the UN recognize IDPs from Abkhazia as victims of ethnic cleansing, according to Rezonansi.

A Georgian delegation presented a draft resolution to the third committee at the 62nd UN session on Wednesday.

The draft outlines a schedule to implement the return of the IDPs.

“The existence of approximately 500 000 IDPs in Georgia seriously complicates the humanitarian situation in the country. We call on UN member states not to buy property on Abkhaz-controlled territory,” the resolution reads.