The News in Brief
Thursday, June 12
Georgia named top reformer country
Economic Development Minister Ekaterine Sharashidze, who is on an official trip to the United States, was presented with an award recognizing Georgia as one of the top reformer countries worldwide.
Each year, the World Bank and the International Financial Corporation list the top reformer countries worldwide. The ranking considers reforms in ten different spheres, including international trade, property registration and property registration.
Georgia has been near the top of the list for the past three years.
Sharashidze was invited to New York by the Reformers’ Club forum. Representatives from Egypt, Macedonia, Columbia and Bulgaria participated in the forum. (Prime News)
Iraqi insurgents claim killing of Georgian
An Iraqi insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the June 4 killing of a Georgian soldier.
A jihadist website carried a statement from the Al-Fatihin Army, according to media reports, in which the group claims to have sniped 28-year-old Sgt. Irakli Kordzaia as he exited his vehicle, killing him instantly.
Kordzaia was the third Georgian soldier killed in combat in Iraq, where the country has about 2000 troops deployed.
The Al-Fatihin Army is reportedly a splinter faction of the Islamic Army in Iraq, a large Sunni insurgent group thought to include Baathists and formerly tied to Al-Qaeda in Iraq. (Messenger Staff)
Natelashvili objects to questioning of Labor members
Labor leader Shalva Natelashvili said he objects to police questioning of Labor Party members, and called on the police to question him instead.
He said four Labor members, Davit Verdzeuli, Giorgi Goglichidze, Vazha Seturidze and Archil Beridze have been continually summoned for police questioning without explanation.
“I can't trust the fate of my party members to people working in this office. That's why I am urging them to question me, but not any of my party members, because we can expect anything from you—torture, murder, extortion of testimony, falsification of audio and video tapes and so on,” Natelashvili said, addressing police. (Prime News)
Deputy minister meets director of Chinese advisory body
Deputy foreign minister Grigol Vashadze received Li Fenglin, the director of the Institute of Euro-Asian Social Development Research yesterday.
The Foreign Ministry said talks focused on the direction of Georgian foreign policy and prospects for further reinforcement of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and China.
The Institute of Euro-Asian Social Development Research is a political research and advisory body that advises the Chinese government. (Prime News)
New Legal Aid Service office opens in Ambrolauri
A new advisory office of the Legal Aid Service opened in Ambrolauri yesterday.
It is located at the local government office of the Racha-Lachkhumi region.
The Legal Aid Service was set up last year 2007. Bureaus and advisory offices have opened in across the country. (Prime News)
Economic Development Minister Ekaterine Sharashidze, who is on an official trip to the United States, was presented with an award recognizing Georgia as one of the top reformer countries worldwide.
Each year, the World Bank and the International Financial Corporation list the top reformer countries worldwide. The ranking considers reforms in ten different spheres, including international trade, property registration and property registration.
Georgia has been near the top of the list for the past three years.
Sharashidze was invited to New York by the Reformers’ Club forum. Representatives from Egypt, Macedonia, Columbia and Bulgaria participated in the forum. (Prime News)
Iraqi insurgents claim killing of Georgian
An Iraqi insurgent group has claimed responsibility for the June 4 killing of a Georgian soldier.
A jihadist website carried a statement from the Al-Fatihin Army, according to media reports, in which the group claims to have sniped 28-year-old Sgt. Irakli Kordzaia as he exited his vehicle, killing him instantly.
Kordzaia was the third Georgian soldier killed in combat in Iraq, where the country has about 2000 troops deployed.
The Al-Fatihin Army is reportedly a splinter faction of the Islamic Army in Iraq, a large Sunni insurgent group thought to include Baathists and formerly tied to Al-Qaeda in Iraq. (Messenger Staff)
Natelashvili objects to questioning of Labor members
Labor leader Shalva Natelashvili said he objects to police questioning of Labor Party members, and called on the police to question him instead.
He said four Labor members, Davit Verdzeuli, Giorgi Goglichidze, Vazha Seturidze and Archil Beridze have been continually summoned for police questioning without explanation.
“I can't trust the fate of my party members to people working in this office. That's why I am urging them to question me, but not any of my party members, because we can expect anything from you—torture, murder, extortion of testimony, falsification of audio and video tapes and so on,” Natelashvili said, addressing police. (Prime News)
Deputy minister meets director of Chinese advisory body
Deputy foreign minister Grigol Vashadze received Li Fenglin, the director of the Institute of Euro-Asian Social Development Research yesterday.
The Foreign Ministry said talks focused on the direction of Georgian foreign policy and prospects for further reinforcement of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and China.
The Institute of Euro-Asian Social Development Research is a political research and advisory body that advises the Chinese government. (Prime News)
New Legal Aid Service office opens in Ambrolauri
A new advisory office of the Legal Aid Service opened in Ambrolauri yesterday.
It is located at the local government office of the Racha-Lachkhumi region.
The Legal Aid Service was set up last year 2007. Bureaus and advisory offices have opened in across the country. (Prime News)