The News in Brief
Thursday, February 19
Georgian Foreign Minister visits Poland
Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze paid an official visit to Poland on Wednesday. With his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, Vashadze sought to identify the priorities of bilateral co-operation between the two countries. The question of simplifying visa procedures with Poland was also raised.
Sikorski said Poland upholds Georgia’s territorial integrity and supports its plans for NATO integration. “Warsaw will never recognize the separatist regions of Georgia,” he said after the meeting.
The Georgian Foreign Minister said Georgia has no intention of resuming diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation if the latter does not withdraw from Georgian territory. Later on Wednesday, Vashadze met with Members of the Polish Parliament and President of Poland Lech Kaczinsky. The meeting between Minister and President was closed to the media and lasted about half an hour, Georgian media reported. (The Messenger)
Georgian President visiting Catalonia
The Georgian President is paying a visit to Catalonia, Spain. As the Press Centre of the Presidential Administration reports, Mikheil Saakashvili will make a speech at an international conference during his visit.
The President of Georgia will also meet representatives of the Catalan Government and businessmen. The visit aims at attracting foreign investment. (Interpressnews)
Memorandum signed between Government and insurance companies
The awaited memorandum between the Georgian Government and insurance companies was signed yesterday by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Healthcare and the heads of insurance companies in the Government Chancellery.
As PM Nika Gilauri stated, in previous years healthcare programmes have not worked properly and there have been problems in this field. The 5 lari insurance package which is the subject of the memorandum will include cover for urgent medical aid, all the expenses of treatment for injuries sustained in accidents and a first aid service.
Gilauri underlined that the insured will pay less that GEL 20 a year for the abovementioned insurance package. The State will pay GEL 3.35 of the aforementioned GEL 5.
Nine insurance companies have confirmed that they will participate in the insurance project, which will cost the State Budget GEL 15 million. (Interpressnews)
Patriarch`s Administration thanks Government
The Administration of the Georgian Patriarch has thanked the Government for allocating funds from the Government`s reserves for the Patriarchate’s television station Unanimity and the construction of the Church of the Mother of God in Poti.
Half a million GEL will be disbursed by the Patriarch’s Administration. 300,000 will go to the television station, which will purchase new hardware and modern equipment to improve the quality of broadcasts and 200,000 will be spent on the construction of the church. The Cabinet announced the transfer at its Tuesday session. (Rustavi 2)
Georgian Public Defender accuses officials of raiding protest rally
The Georgian Public Defender has demanded that the Prosecutor`s Office investigates the activities of several members of the Adjaran Government.
Sozar Subari has accused the Head of the Main Division of the Interior Ministry of the Adjaran Autonomous Republic and the head of the Commission for Legal Issues of the Municipality of Kobuleti village of raiding a protest rally. The Public Defender asserts that Ramaz Gvarjaladze and Aleko Kakabadze raided a rally of supporters of the Movement for Fair Georgia, thus breaking the law, on February 13. (Rustavi 2)
Police destroy drugs
The Standing Commission established in accordance with a decree issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia in order to destroy illegal drugs seized by the police has destroyed 7,000 subutex pills, 6 kg of heroin and other narcotics following a court decision
The destruction was performed with the assistance of employees of the Special Operations Department of the Interior Ministry. Representatives of the General Prosecutor`s Office and the Drug Agency of the Ministry of Healthcare were also present. (Rustavi 2)
Conservatives welcome change of decision
Zviad Dzidziguri has commented on a statement made by the Georgian Agriculture Ministry, which says that its decree of November 2008 has expired, meaning that Georgian peasants will no longer be paid for cutting vines down. Conservative Dzidziguri says that the Georgian Patriarch deserves great praise for being instrumental in changing this decision.
Zviad Dzidziguri intends to present a new project which will enable peasants to sell their grapes for higher prices and winemakers to market their products. The Conservatives` final proposal will be based on acknowledged European experience. (Rustavi 2)
Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze paid an official visit to Poland on Wednesday. With his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, Vashadze sought to identify the priorities of bilateral co-operation between the two countries. The question of simplifying visa procedures with Poland was also raised.
Sikorski said Poland upholds Georgia’s territorial integrity and supports its plans for NATO integration. “Warsaw will never recognize the separatist regions of Georgia,” he said after the meeting.
The Georgian Foreign Minister said Georgia has no intention of resuming diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation if the latter does not withdraw from Georgian territory. Later on Wednesday, Vashadze met with Members of the Polish Parliament and President of Poland Lech Kaczinsky. The meeting between Minister and President was closed to the media and lasted about half an hour, Georgian media reported. (The Messenger)
Georgian President visiting Catalonia
The Georgian President is paying a visit to Catalonia, Spain. As the Press Centre of the Presidential Administration reports, Mikheil Saakashvili will make a speech at an international conference during his visit.
The President of Georgia will also meet representatives of the Catalan Government and businessmen. The visit aims at attracting foreign investment. (Interpressnews)
Memorandum signed between Government and insurance companies
The awaited memorandum between the Georgian Government and insurance companies was signed yesterday by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Minister of Healthcare and the heads of insurance companies in the Government Chancellery.
As PM Nika Gilauri stated, in previous years healthcare programmes have not worked properly and there have been problems in this field. The 5 lari insurance package which is the subject of the memorandum will include cover for urgent medical aid, all the expenses of treatment for injuries sustained in accidents and a first aid service.
Gilauri underlined that the insured will pay less that GEL 20 a year for the abovementioned insurance package. The State will pay GEL 3.35 of the aforementioned GEL 5.
Nine insurance companies have confirmed that they will participate in the insurance project, which will cost the State Budget GEL 15 million. (Interpressnews)
Patriarch`s Administration thanks Government
The Administration of the Georgian Patriarch has thanked the Government for allocating funds from the Government`s reserves for the Patriarchate’s television station Unanimity and the construction of the Church of the Mother of God in Poti.
Half a million GEL will be disbursed by the Patriarch’s Administration. 300,000 will go to the television station, which will purchase new hardware and modern equipment to improve the quality of broadcasts and 200,000 will be spent on the construction of the church. The Cabinet announced the transfer at its Tuesday session. (Rustavi 2)
Georgian Public Defender accuses officials of raiding protest rally
The Georgian Public Defender has demanded that the Prosecutor`s Office investigates the activities of several members of the Adjaran Government.
Sozar Subari has accused the Head of the Main Division of the Interior Ministry of the Adjaran Autonomous Republic and the head of the Commission for Legal Issues of the Municipality of Kobuleti village of raiding a protest rally. The Public Defender asserts that Ramaz Gvarjaladze and Aleko Kakabadze raided a rally of supporters of the Movement for Fair Georgia, thus breaking the law, on February 13. (Rustavi 2)
Police destroy drugs
The Standing Commission established in accordance with a decree issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia in order to destroy illegal drugs seized by the police has destroyed 7,000 subutex pills, 6 kg of heroin and other narcotics following a court decision
The destruction was performed with the assistance of employees of the Special Operations Department of the Interior Ministry. Representatives of the General Prosecutor`s Office and the Drug Agency of the Ministry of Healthcare were also present. (Rustavi 2)
Conservatives welcome change of decision
Zviad Dzidziguri has commented on a statement made by the Georgian Agriculture Ministry, which says that its decree of November 2008 has expired, meaning that Georgian peasants will no longer be paid for cutting vines down. Conservative Dzidziguri says that the Georgian Patriarch deserves great praise for being instrumental in changing this decision.
Zviad Dzidziguri intends to present a new project which will enable peasants to sell their grapes for higher prices and winemakers to market their products. The Conservatives` final proposal will be based on acknowledged European experience. (Rustavi 2)