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The News in Brief

Monday, October 13
10 die in car accident

Ten passengers died in a car accident on the Tbilisi-Senaki-Leselidze central highway yesterday.

The accident happened near the village of Ruisi in the Shida Kartli region. A minibus journeying to Tbilisi apparently crashed into a truck loaded with firewood.

Nnine passengers survived the crash and were taken to Gori Hospital. According to Shida Kartli Governor Lado Vardzelashvili, all their medical expenses while there will be paid from the local budget.
(The Messenger)



Earthquake felt in Tbilisi, Rustavi and Telavi

At 13:06 Tbilisi time on Saturday an earthquake of force 3 on the Richter scale occurred 200 kilometres north-east of Tbilisi, as the Centre of Seismological Monitoring of Georgia told Black Sea Press.

Lasting about 30 seconds, the earthquake was felt in the Georgian towns of Rustavi and Telavi and in Tbilisi itself. Its main impact was in the Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Stavropol regions.
(Black Sea Press)



FIFA President Blatter arrives in Georgia on an official visit

On October 11 President of FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) Joseph “Sepp” Blatter arrived in Georgia on an official visit, as reported by the Press Centre of the Georgian Football Federation.

According to the Federation’s information, the Coordinator of FIFIA’s European Countries Programme, Yeva Paskie, the FIFA President’s media officer Andrea Tzolinger and his assistant Philip Mathew accompanied Blatter to Georgia. The delegation visited Saguramo where the opening ceremony of a new technical centre was held.

According to President of the Georgian Football Federation Nodar Akhlakatsi the visit of the FIFA President is very important. “FIFA is an apolitical organization, but during this period when Georgia is the focus of the world’s attention, the visit of the FIFA President is a very important event”, Akhalkatsi stated, noting that Blatter had given him the Order of Honour of FIFA bestowed on his father, former head coach of Dynamo Tbilisi Nodar Akhlakatsi, who died in January 1998.

The FIFA President also attended Georgia-Cyprus World Cup 2010 qualifying match. This was the first international match held in Georgia since the August events. Georgia’s first qualifying match, against the Republic of Ireland, was held in Mainz, Germany, due to security concerns.
(Black Sea Press)



New power meters for 1,500 consumers installed in Kobuleti

New power meters for 1,500 consumers have been installed in the Kobuleti region of Western Georgia, as reported by Rustavi-2 TV.

“We have begun a process of installing power meters, but this is not just an issue in Kobuleti, Khelvachauri also needs meters. Within a few days installation will begin there too, in Chakvi and Makhin Jauri”, journalists were told by Chairman of the Government of Adjara Levan Varshalomidze. Minister of Energy of Georgia Alexander Khetaguri added that power meters would also be installed in Zemo Peria, and Akhalsopeli.

The installation will cost GEL15,600,000.
(Black Sea Press)



More experts to arrive in Georgia

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities will send an expert team to Georgia to assess the human rights and minorities situations in the areas affected by the recent armed conflict, the OSCE official webpage says. The assessment team has been deployed at the request of the Finnish OSCE Chair in co-ordination with the OSCE Mission to Georgia.

The assessment team will consist of 15 human rights and national minorities experts from ODIHR and the High Commissioner's office. During its two-week mission, the team plans to visit all areas affected by the conflict, including Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On October 17-18, the team will be joined by Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of ODIHR, and Ambassador Knut Vollebaek, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

The assessment team will prepare a report and recommendations for the OSCE Chairmanship ahead of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Helsinki on 4 and 5 December.
(Black Sea Press)