The News in Brief
Friday, July 4
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly warns on Russian moves
The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE has expressed concern at Russia’s moves in Georgia’s breakaway regions in a resolution approved yesterday.
It notes the “growing instability” in the conflict regions “against the backdrop” of Moscow’s decision earlier this year to strengthen official ties with separatists.
The declaration urges Russia to refrain from maintaining ties with separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia “in any manner that would constitute a challenge to the sovereignty of Georgia.”
It also calls on Moscow to “abide by OSCE standards and generally accepted international norms with respect to the threat or use of force to resolve conflicts in relations with other participating States.” (Prime News)
Georgian president invited to Astana celebrations
President Mikheil Saakashvili has been invited to participate in celebrations marking ten years since Astana became the capital of Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh Embassy said that the presidents of Armenia, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and the King of Jordan have also been invited. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, will take part in the event too. He marks his birthday on July 6.
Bilateral meetings are also scheduled in the frames of jubilee arrangements. (Prime News)
Mtatsminda park taken over by Rakeen Development
Rakeen Development has signed an agreement with Tbilisi City Municipality to lease the Mtatsminda amusement park in Tbilisi for a 49-year term.
The company will pay GEL 300 000 annually.
Last year the authorities confiscated Mtatsminda park from a company owned by late businessman and government foe Badri Patarkatsishvili.
Rakeen Development is part of the United Arab Emirates’ Ras Al-Khaimah, the company that won a tender to manage a free economic zone in Poti. (Prime News)
Education Ministry slams Abkhazia border closure
The Georgian Education and Science Ministry has slammed the separatist Abkhaz authorities for barring prospective university entrants from leaving the region for national exams.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the separatist administration underlines its illegitimacy and anti-humanism with its actions.
Abkhaz separatist authorities shut down the administrative border this week after a series of bomb blasts in the breakaway region. As a result, would-be ethnic Georgian university applicants living in southern Abkhazia were unable to cross the border and take their entrance exams. (Prime News)
Labor protests minibus fare hike
Labor Party member Paata Jibladze said yesterday that his party will oppose increases in fares for private and public transport in the city.
The fares for minibuses increased from GEL 0.50 to GEL 0.70 last week. (Prime News)
NGOs protest Kakheti job cuts
Local NGOs in Kakheti province gathered yesterday outside the central administrative offices in Gurjaani to protest a round of sackings.
100 teachers were dismissed from a Gurjaani public music school earlier in the week. (Prime News)
Demographic problems discussed at Caucasus House
A conference on the country’s demographic problems will be held today in the Caucasus House in Tbilisi.
The Christian Democratic Institute, an NGO wing of the Christian Democratic Movement, is an organizer.
Representatives of the Patriarchate, parliament and the Institute of Demography will participate.
Christian Democratic Movement leader Giorgi Targamadze will open the conference. (Prime News)
The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE has expressed concern at Russia’s moves in Georgia’s breakaway regions in a resolution approved yesterday.
It notes the “growing instability” in the conflict regions “against the backdrop” of Moscow’s decision earlier this year to strengthen official ties with separatists.
The declaration urges Russia to refrain from maintaining ties with separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia “in any manner that would constitute a challenge to the sovereignty of Georgia.”
It also calls on Moscow to “abide by OSCE standards and generally accepted international norms with respect to the threat or use of force to resolve conflicts in relations with other participating States.” (Prime News)
Georgian president invited to Astana celebrations
President Mikheil Saakashvili has been invited to participate in celebrations marking ten years since Astana became the capital of Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh Embassy said that the presidents of Armenia, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and the King of Jordan have also been invited. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan, will take part in the event too. He marks his birthday on July 6.
Bilateral meetings are also scheduled in the frames of jubilee arrangements. (Prime News)
Mtatsminda park taken over by Rakeen Development
Rakeen Development has signed an agreement with Tbilisi City Municipality to lease the Mtatsminda amusement park in Tbilisi for a 49-year term.
The company will pay GEL 300 000 annually.
Last year the authorities confiscated Mtatsminda park from a company owned by late businessman and government foe Badri Patarkatsishvili.
Rakeen Development is part of the United Arab Emirates’ Ras Al-Khaimah, the company that won a tender to manage a free economic zone in Poti. (Prime News)
Education Ministry slams Abkhazia border closure
The Georgian Education and Science Ministry has slammed the separatist Abkhaz authorities for barring prospective university entrants from leaving the region for national exams.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the separatist administration underlines its illegitimacy and anti-humanism with its actions.
Abkhaz separatist authorities shut down the administrative border this week after a series of bomb blasts in the breakaway region. As a result, would-be ethnic Georgian university applicants living in southern Abkhazia were unable to cross the border and take their entrance exams. (Prime News)
Labor protests minibus fare hike
Labor Party member Paata Jibladze said yesterday that his party will oppose increases in fares for private and public transport in the city.
The fares for minibuses increased from GEL 0.50 to GEL 0.70 last week. (Prime News)
NGOs protest Kakheti job cuts
Local NGOs in Kakheti province gathered yesterday outside the central administrative offices in Gurjaani to protest a round of sackings.
100 teachers were dismissed from a Gurjaani public music school earlier in the week. (Prime News)
Demographic problems discussed at Caucasus House
A conference on the country’s demographic problems will be held today in the Caucasus House in Tbilisi.
The Christian Democratic Institute, an NGO wing of the Christian Democratic Movement, is an organizer.
Representatives of the Patriarchate, parliament and the Institute of Demography will participate.
Christian Democratic Movement leader Giorgi Targamadze will open the conference. (Prime News)