The News in Brief
Tuesday, April 1
Sources: NATO to boot Germany, welcome Georgia
NATO will replace Germany with Georgia at its summit in Bucharest tomorrow, reliable sources in Brussels told reporters today.
Polling showed a majority of Germans opposing NATO membership, said one source who insisted on anonymity. “[German Chancellor Angela] Merkel must face the facts and withdraw Berlin from the alliance in Bucharest,” the source said.
Germany’s shock departure from the military alliance clears the way for both Georgia and Ukraine to accelerate their membership bid. Moscow has fiercely opposed NATO accession for the two countries, and Berlin had led skeptical member states in blocking a membership nod for Tbilisi and Kiev.
Sources say Georgia and Ukraine cannot immediately get full membership at the Bucharest summit, but will be given the NATO Emerging Vision for Entry Roadmap, or NEVER.
Tbilisi officials, while not publicly confirming the report, were willing to speak anonymously about the ramifications of the agreement.
“NEVER sends a clear signal,” one official said. “This is no victory for Russia.”
(Really Big News)
Separatists accuse Georgian side of shelling in South Ossetia
South Ossetian separatists accused Tbilisi of being behind shelling yesterday in breakaway South Ossetia.
The press department of the de facto authorities said that a South Ossetian militia post in the village of Okona, Znauri district, came under fire from Georgian-controlled areas.
No casualties have been reported.
Monitoring groups and OSCE observers are conducting an investigation and are expected to release a report soon. (Prime News)
OSCE holds police training courses
The OSCE Mission in Georgia and the Interior Ministry are organizing weekly training courses for Georgian patrol police and neighborhood police officers.
The courses will be conducted in Tbilisi, Kakheti, Imereti and Adjara.
The training is aimed at raising awareness of the principles of community policing and developing participants’ screening and problem-solving skills. (Black Sea Press)
Consulate officials to visit Georgians detained in Egypt
Georgian consulate officials were due yesterday to visit Georgian citizens detained in Egypt.
Thirteen Georgian citizens are being held under suspicion of trying to illegally cross the Israeli border.
Media reports say that each Georgian paid USD 500 to a guide to take them across the border. (Prime News)
Pensions increase from today
The minimum pension will increase from GEL 55 to GEL 70 today, affecting some 500 000 pensioners according to the Social Subsidies Agency.
GEL 8 million of the state budget has been allocated for the pension hike in April and a further GEL 75 million will be allocated for pension increases throughout the rest of the year. (Prime News)
Presentation of human rights ombudsman’s magazine held in Kutaisi
A presentation of the Solidarity magazine was held in Kutaisi University yesterday by Human Rights Ombudsman Sozar Subari.
The magazine is published by the Human Rights Ombudsman’s office with assistance from the UNDP and aims to increase human rights protection in Georgia. (Black Sea Press)
Georgians excavate Gali monastery in Cyprus
Yesterday a Georgian archaeological team carried out excavations at the Gali monastery in Cyprus.
The day before, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II blessed the team and handed them icons to place in the monastery.
This is the third year excavations have been undertaken at the monastery, with financial backing from the Culture Ministry. After restoration works the monastery will be a key tourist attraction in Cyprus, the ministry said.
Researcher Vakhtang Jobadze first discovered the ruins of the monastery in 1981. (Black Sea Press)
NATO will replace Germany with Georgia at its summit in Bucharest tomorrow, reliable sources in Brussels told reporters today.
Polling showed a majority of Germans opposing NATO membership, said one source who insisted on anonymity. “[German Chancellor Angela] Merkel must face the facts and withdraw Berlin from the alliance in Bucharest,” the source said.
Germany’s shock departure from the military alliance clears the way for both Georgia and Ukraine to accelerate their membership bid. Moscow has fiercely opposed NATO accession for the two countries, and Berlin had led skeptical member states in blocking a membership nod for Tbilisi and Kiev.
Sources say Georgia and Ukraine cannot immediately get full membership at the Bucharest summit, but will be given the NATO Emerging Vision for Entry Roadmap, or NEVER.
Tbilisi officials, while not publicly confirming the report, were willing to speak anonymously about the ramifications of the agreement.
“NEVER sends a clear signal,” one official said. “This is no victory for Russia.”
(Really Big News)
Separatists accuse Georgian side of shelling in South Ossetia
South Ossetian separatists accused Tbilisi of being behind shelling yesterday in breakaway South Ossetia.
The press department of the de facto authorities said that a South Ossetian militia post in the village of Okona, Znauri district, came under fire from Georgian-controlled areas.
No casualties have been reported.
Monitoring groups and OSCE observers are conducting an investigation and are expected to release a report soon. (Prime News)
OSCE holds police training courses
The OSCE Mission in Georgia and the Interior Ministry are organizing weekly training courses for Georgian patrol police and neighborhood police officers.
The courses will be conducted in Tbilisi, Kakheti, Imereti and Adjara.
The training is aimed at raising awareness of the principles of community policing and developing participants’ screening and problem-solving skills. (Black Sea Press)
Consulate officials to visit Georgians detained in Egypt
Georgian consulate officials were due yesterday to visit Georgian citizens detained in Egypt.
Thirteen Georgian citizens are being held under suspicion of trying to illegally cross the Israeli border.
Media reports say that each Georgian paid USD 500 to a guide to take them across the border. (Prime News)
Pensions increase from today
The minimum pension will increase from GEL 55 to GEL 70 today, affecting some 500 000 pensioners according to the Social Subsidies Agency.
GEL 8 million of the state budget has been allocated for the pension hike in April and a further GEL 75 million will be allocated for pension increases throughout the rest of the year. (Prime News)
Presentation of human rights ombudsman’s magazine held in Kutaisi
A presentation of the Solidarity magazine was held in Kutaisi University yesterday by Human Rights Ombudsman Sozar Subari.
The magazine is published by the Human Rights Ombudsman’s office with assistance from the UNDP and aims to increase human rights protection in Georgia. (Black Sea Press)
Georgians excavate Gali monastery in Cyprus
Yesterday a Georgian archaeological team carried out excavations at the Gali monastery in Cyprus.
The day before, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II blessed the team and handed them icons to place in the monastery.
This is the third year excavations have been undertaken at the monastery, with financial backing from the Culture Ministry. After restoration works the monastery will be a key tourist attraction in Cyprus, the ministry said.
Researcher Vakhtang Jobadze first discovered the ruins of the monastery in 1981. (Black Sea Press)