Press Scanner
Compiled by Etuna Tsotniashvili
Thursday, October 1
Opposition unites once again
The opposition are to finish consultations amongst themselves at the end of this week and at that point their future strategy will be known, Akhali Taoba writes.
The idea of opposition unification has opponents as well as supporters. It is not supported by the Alliance for Georgia, National Forum and Labour, but the Conservatives, Way of Georgia and Nino Burjanadze’s party agree with it.
Conservative leader Kakha Kukava says that the demand for the resignation of President Saakashvili and snap elections is still in force and has not changed. The Conservatives say that opposition unity will be a major factor in the continuing struggle. Participation in elections would only be possible if the opposition unite and changes are made to the election environment. If these things do not happen, Kukava says that there will be no point taking part in elections.
Georgian schools in Akhalgori are now barracks
Three former schools in Akhalgori have merged into one because of their small numbers of pupils. The new school occupies only one building and the other two are to be used as barracks by the occupiers, Rezonansi reports.
Political analyst Paata Zakareishvili thinks that President Saakashvili is in fact responsible for turning these schools into barracks. “Our Government gave such big promises to the Akhalgori teachers in Tserovani that they did not stay there. When the teachers left so did the pupils. Instead of conducting proper politics in Akhalgori and ensuring that Georgians stayed there they chose the opposite road and continue doing so.
“You may know that the Ossetians in Akhalgori do not have any problems with the local Georgians, on the contrary they give them the opportunity to live peacefully. Now it is very hard to imagine how Georgians can return to Akhalgori. We should have created such an environment that they could stay there and the money spent in Tserovani should have been given to those people,” Zakareishvili has said.
Vakhtang Khmaladze: Only economic sanctions will affect Russia
In his interview with Akhali Taoba member of the Republican Party Vakhtang Khmaladze says that European states have negatively evaluated Russia’s actions but no concrete measures have been taken against that country.
“Therefore, we can predict the responses of European states to Russia after the Tagliavini Commission issues its report but we cannot say what kind of specific actions might follow. We have seen several times that Russia pays no attention to any EU or UN reaction. I consider only economic sanctions will have any affect on Russia, but we are well aware of the fact that Europe is greatly dependent on Russian energy resources,” Khmaladze says.
“Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov’s statement that his country should be deprived of its right to vote at PACE and renounce its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is very important from a political point of view. When Russia is accused of aggression, occupation and the infringement of international norms and an influential Russian politician agrees that Russia is guilty of these things this will certainly influence politicians who hesitate to consider Russia so culpable,” Khmaladze states.
Asked what possibility there is of the restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia 16 years after Sokhumi fell, Khmaladze answers: “We have to take very careful, right and reasonable steps in order to improve the current situation. If we take wrong steps the situation will deteriorate further.”
The opposition are to finish consultations amongst themselves at the end of this week and at that point their future strategy will be known, Akhali Taoba writes.
The idea of opposition unification has opponents as well as supporters. It is not supported by the Alliance for Georgia, National Forum and Labour, but the Conservatives, Way of Georgia and Nino Burjanadze’s party agree with it.
Conservative leader Kakha Kukava says that the demand for the resignation of President Saakashvili and snap elections is still in force and has not changed. The Conservatives say that opposition unity will be a major factor in the continuing struggle. Participation in elections would only be possible if the opposition unite and changes are made to the election environment. If these things do not happen, Kukava says that there will be no point taking part in elections.
Georgian schools in Akhalgori are now barracks
Three former schools in Akhalgori have merged into one because of their small numbers of pupils. The new school occupies only one building and the other two are to be used as barracks by the occupiers, Rezonansi reports.
Political analyst Paata Zakareishvili thinks that President Saakashvili is in fact responsible for turning these schools into barracks. “Our Government gave such big promises to the Akhalgori teachers in Tserovani that they did not stay there. When the teachers left so did the pupils. Instead of conducting proper politics in Akhalgori and ensuring that Georgians stayed there they chose the opposite road and continue doing so.
“You may know that the Ossetians in Akhalgori do not have any problems with the local Georgians, on the contrary they give them the opportunity to live peacefully. Now it is very hard to imagine how Georgians can return to Akhalgori. We should have created such an environment that they could stay there and the money spent in Tserovani should have been given to those people,” Zakareishvili has said.
Vakhtang Khmaladze: Only economic sanctions will affect Russia
In his interview with Akhali Taoba member of the Republican Party Vakhtang Khmaladze says that European states have negatively evaluated Russia’s actions but no concrete measures have been taken against that country.
“Therefore, we can predict the responses of European states to Russia after the Tagliavini Commission issues its report but we cannot say what kind of specific actions might follow. We have seen several times that Russia pays no attention to any EU or UN reaction. I consider only economic sanctions will have any affect on Russia, but we are well aware of the fact that Europe is greatly dependent on Russian energy resources,” Khmaladze says.
“Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov’s statement that his country should be deprived of its right to vote at PACE and renounce its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is very important from a political point of view. When Russia is accused of aggression, occupation and the infringement of international norms and an influential Russian politician agrees that Russia is guilty of these things this will certainly influence politicians who hesitate to consider Russia so culpable,” Khmaladze states.
Asked what possibility there is of the restoration of the territorial integrity of Georgia 16 years after Sokhumi fell, Khmaladze answers: “We have to take very careful, right and reasonable steps in order to improve the current situation. If we take wrong steps the situation will deteriorate further.”