The News in Brief
Thursday, July 21
Tomba impressed with Mestia ski resort
Famous Italian skier Alberto Tomba tested the Mestia ski tracks yesterday. The retired racer skied in Mestia together with the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili. The legendary sportsman skied from the Ushba Plateau, which is 3,700 meters high.
This is the second visit of the popular ski racer to Georgia. During the first visit, Tomba tested Gudauri's tracks. Tomba compared Svaneti`s mountains to the Alps and said the region had serious tourist potential.
After skiing with the guest, president Saakashvili observed the rehabilitation works in Mestia. The President visited a hostel type hotel, the construction of which began in May and now the interior works are underway.
The hotel will receive its first visitors on August 1st. The project of several hotels and Mestia`s central Piazza Square, the construction of which began several weeks ago and which aims to wrap up the architectural face of the resort, was drafted by the famous architect, Pierre Denier. (Rustavi 2)
Israel still puts Georgia in list of dangerous countries
Israel is advising its citizens to refrain from travelling to Georgia, Isra.com reports.
Israel has still put Georgia on their list of dangerous countries.
According to the State Staff for the Fight against Terrorism, the list of countries dangerous to Israeli citizens includes Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Israel has put Georgia on its list of dangerous countries several times.
The statement, released by the State Staff for the Fight against Terrorism, also explains that Israel refers to Georgia as Gruzia. ‘The Georgian government officially asked us to say Georgia, though we think Gruzia sounds better’, the statement says. (Interpressnews)
Eric Rubin to replace Tina Kaidanow
Eric Rubin will replace Tina Kaidanow, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, the official website of the US Department of State confirms.
Tina Kaidanow had been promoted as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs earlier this month.
Eric Rubin had been working as US Ambassador to Russia.
In his new capacity Rubin participated in a meeting of the U.S.-Georgia defense and security working group in frames of the strategic partnership charter between the two countries on July 18. (Interpressnews)
Georgia might have quit EU "Eastern Partnership Initiative’’ – Wikileaks
If Belarus moved forward with the recognition of Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia, Georgia would quit the EU 'Eastern Partnership Initiative’. According to the cable published by Wikileaks, the above-mentioned statement was made by the Georgian President at a meeting with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Tina Kaidanow in 2009.
According to the cable, Saakashvili appeared less concerned about the possibility of recognition from African countries, but told Tina Kaidanow that if Belarus moved forward with recognition, Georgia would be unable to work with Belarus in the context of the newly created EU "Eastern Partnership Initiative". If the EU did not expel Belarus from the Eastern Partnership, then Georgia would have to withdraw. DAS Kaidanow urged Saakashvili to coordinate closely with the EU and not to take hasty action that could counterproductively damage Georgia’s relations with the European Union, the cable says. (Interpressnews)
Turkish police arrest Georgian prostitutes
Georgian prostitutes have been arrested by Turkish police in Antalya. Local police conducted a special operation entitled `Sister` and arrested an organized group of 38 prostitutes, which offered a VIP service for its clients. Reportedly, it was the largest network of prostitution operating in the most popular resort of Turkey. The organizers of the group had their own plane, luxurious automobiles and villa services for the prostitutes. Along with Georgian nationals, the prostitutes were from Moldova and Ukraine, but the group leaders were Russians.
The network had its website for contact with clients and some of them joined the families of the clients as nurses and baby-sitters. (Rustavi 2)
Two workers died when cleaning windows
Two workers fell from the seventh floor of a newly built house while cleaning the windows of a building. The workers stood on a crane, the support of the crane broke down and they both fell to their deaths. The casualties of the accident have not been identified yet. As for the building, it is the property of Nato Kakabadze and the repair works had been completed in the building.
The crane belongs to Binatmshenebloba ltd.
Police officers were at the scene of the accident where one eyewitness became ill after seeing the tragic incident. (Rustavi 2)
Famous Italian skier Alberto Tomba tested the Mestia ski tracks yesterday. The retired racer skied in Mestia together with the President of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili. The legendary sportsman skied from the Ushba Plateau, which is 3,700 meters high.
This is the second visit of the popular ski racer to Georgia. During the first visit, Tomba tested Gudauri's tracks. Tomba compared Svaneti`s mountains to the Alps and said the region had serious tourist potential.
After skiing with the guest, president Saakashvili observed the rehabilitation works in Mestia. The President visited a hostel type hotel, the construction of which began in May and now the interior works are underway.
The hotel will receive its first visitors on August 1st. The project of several hotels and Mestia`s central Piazza Square, the construction of which began several weeks ago and which aims to wrap up the architectural face of the resort, was drafted by the famous architect, Pierre Denier. (Rustavi 2)
Israel still puts Georgia in list of dangerous countries
Israel is advising its citizens to refrain from travelling to Georgia, Isra.com reports.
Israel has still put Georgia on their list of dangerous countries.
According to the State Staff for the Fight against Terrorism, the list of countries dangerous to Israeli citizens includes Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
Israel has put Georgia on its list of dangerous countries several times.
The statement, released by the State Staff for the Fight against Terrorism, also explains that Israel refers to Georgia as Gruzia. ‘The Georgian government officially asked us to say Georgia, though we think Gruzia sounds better’, the statement says. (Interpressnews)
Eric Rubin to replace Tina Kaidanow
Eric Rubin will replace Tina Kaidanow, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, the official website of the US Department of State confirms.
Tina Kaidanow had been promoted as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs earlier this month.
Eric Rubin had been working as US Ambassador to Russia.
In his new capacity Rubin participated in a meeting of the U.S.-Georgia defense and security working group in frames of the strategic partnership charter between the two countries on July 18. (Interpressnews)
Georgia might have quit EU "Eastern Partnership Initiative’’ – Wikileaks
If Belarus moved forward with the recognition of Abkhazia and so-called South Ossetia, Georgia would quit the EU 'Eastern Partnership Initiative’. According to the cable published by Wikileaks, the above-mentioned statement was made by the Georgian President at a meeting with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Tina Kaidanow in 2009.
According to the cable, Saakashvili appeared less concerned about the possibility of recognition from African countries, but told Tina Kaidanow that if Belarus moved forward with recognition, Georgia would be unable to work with Belarus in the context of the newly created EU "Eastern Partnership Initiative". If the EU did not expel Belarus from the Eastern Partnership, then Georgia would have to withdraw. DAS Kaidanow urged Saakashvili to coordinate closely with the EU and not to take hasty action that could counterproductively damage Georgia’s relations with the European Union, the cable says. (Interpressnews)
Turkish police arrest Georgian prostitutes
Georgian prostitutes have been arrested by Turkish police in Antalya. Local police conducted a special operation entitled `Sister` and arrested an organized group of 38 prostitutes, which offered a VIP service for its clients. Reportedly, it was the largest network of prostitution operating in the most popular resort of Turkey. The organizers of the group had their own plane, luxurious automobiles and villa services for the prostitutes. Along with Georgian nationals, the prostitutes were from Moldova and Ukraine, but the group leaders were Russians.
The network had its website for contact with clients and some of them joined the families of the clients as nurses and baby-sitters. (Rustavi 2)
Two workers died when cleaning windows
Two workers fell from the seventh floor of a newly built house while cleaning the windows of a building. The workers stood on a crane, the support of the crane broke down and they both fell to their deaths. The casualties of the accident have not been identified yet. As for the building, it is the property of Nato Kakabadze and the repair works had been completed in the building.
The crane belongs to Binatmshenebloba ltd.
Police officers were at the scene of the accident where one eyewitness became ill after seeing the tragic incident. (Rustavi 2)