The News in Brief
Monday, July 18
Patriarch Preached about Importance of Homeland
Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia preached about the importance of the homeland at the Sunday service. Patriarch blessed Georgians who arrived from Iran and personally greeted them.
The Patriarch said they lived in Mazandara and he thanked God that after 400 years, Georgians had returned to their homeland.
“Their predecessors were taken from Georgia 400 years ago and this happy day has come, when they arrived to their homeland. They are called Gurji. Gurji means Georgian. They didn’t forget their nationality. It is a wise decision to come here and I want to bless our blood and flesh – Georgians, some of them don’t know Georgian, but Georgia is in their heart," Ilia the Second stated.
The Patriarch blessed several surnames at the end of the service.
(Interpressnews)
10th Anniversary of Peace Corps Georgia marked in Borjomi town
The 10th Anniversary of Peace Corps Georgia was marked by volunteers in the town of Borjomi on Friday. This year sees the 11th wave of Peace Corps volunteers in Georgia.
The volunteers took part in the traditional swearing-in ceremony and were sent to different local organizations.
The US Ambassador to Georgia also attended the ceremony. John Bass wished the American volunteers every success in their work.
The U.S. diplomat also took part in opening ceremony of eco camp of Borjomi-Khorogouli national park.
(Rustavi 2)
Burjanadze conducts meetings in Austria in frames of European journey
Nino Burjanadze, leader of the Democratic Movement in the frames of her journey across EU countries conducted meetings in Austria. On July 15 Nino Burjanadze met with head of Austrian President's administration Bruno Aoner and passed him documents containing information about May's events in Georgia.
The events of late May were discussed at the meeting. The allegedly inadequate actions of the supposedly repressive regime in the legislative area were mentioned. Such legislative changes are, she believes, establishing a dictatorship in the country. They talked about the degree of media freedom the country.
The meetings were also conducted in OSCE PA with Mr. Brossruk; with Austria – a group of friends of Georgia; with representatives of the foreign relations committee and in the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Nino Burjanadze passed to all of them a package of documents, photos and video materials.
Burjanadze demanded an international investigation into the May 26 events. In the Austrian Foreign Ministry with representatives of the foreign relations committee she demanded to pose the question of the level of democracy in Georgia.
(GHN)
Subari summarized his visit to Strasbourg and Brussels
Sozar Subari, head of the Georgian Party talked yesterday about his visit to Strasbourg and Brussels on July 11-14. He introduced the EU politicians, diplomats and civil society with recent events in Georgia.
In Strasbourg he met with Thomas Hammerberg, CoE HR Commissioner. Subari talked about the political persecution of the Georgian government against members and supporters of the Georgian party and alleged torture and inhuman treatment towards illegally detained persons.
Subari talked with Hamerberg as well about the disproportional force used during the protest action dispersal on May 26. He claimed that the constitutional rights of citizens were breached in terms of the torture of detained persons and inhuman treatment.
Sozar Subari, while in Brussels, met with EP delegation and European Commission representatives. Subari also talked with Tais Berman, EP HR Commission vice-president. He conducted meetings with Amnesty International and FIDH representatives before meeting the President of International Federation of Journalists.
Subari informed them about the events in Georgia for the last two months and about the alleged cases of political persecution of Georgian party members. He talked as well about the photo reporters detained with charges of espionage and the legislation passed for the status of religious minorities.
Subari believes that against the current regime, measures are to be taken. He said under the EP a working group is to be established to monitor alleged political prisoners in Georgia.
(GHN)
Andro Barnovi is appointed as Deputy Defence Minister
The Minister of Defence of Georgia has a new deputy. Andro Barnovi has taken the position of Deputy Defence Minister.
Now the Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia has four deputies with Nodar Kharshiladze, Nika Dzimtseishvili, Andro Barnovi and Kakha Butskhrikidze all occupying these posts.
Before being appointed as Deputy Defence Minister, Barnovi commanded Davit Agmashenebeli National Defence Academy. The National Defence Academy and general educational issues in the Defence Ministry of Georgia are still part of the remit of Andro Barnovi after his appointment to the new position.
(Prime-News)
Direct flight Donetsk-Batumi starts from July 22
The Consulate General of Georgia in Donetsk has opened a new direct route to and from Batumi with "Airzena-Georgian Airlines"
As reported at the Consulate General, the first flight will be conducted on July 22.
The flight "Donetsk-Batumi" will be implemented during the summer shipping season every Friday.
"Airzena-Georgian Airlines” plans to open an additional round trip if there is an increased demand for transport on this route.
(Prime-News)
Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia preached about the importance of the homeland at the Sunday service. Patriarch blessed Georgians who arrived from Iran and personally greeted them.
The Patriarch said they lived in Mazandara and he thanked God that after 400 years, Georgians had returned to their homeland.
“Their predecessors were taken from Georgia 400 years ago and this happy day has come, when they arrived to their homeland. They are called Gurji. Gurji means Georgian. They didn’t forget their nationality. It is a wise decision to come here and I want to bless our blood and flesh – Georgians, some of them don’t know Georgian, but Georgia is in their heart," Ilia the Second stated.
The Patriarch blessed several surnames at the end of the service.
(Interpressnews)
10th Anniversary of Peace Corps Georgia marked in Borjomi town
The 10th Anniversary of Peace Corps Georgia was marked by volunteers in the town of Borjomi on Friday. This year sees the 11th wave of Peace Corps volunteers in Georgia.
The volunteers took part in the traditional swearing-in ceremony and were sent to different local organizations.
The US Ambassador to Georgia also attended the ceremony. John Bass wished the American volunteers every success in their work.
The U.S. diplomat also took part in opening ceremony of eco camp of Borjomi-Khorogouli national park.
(Rustavi 2)
Burjanadze conducts meetings in Austria in frames of European journey
Nino Burjanadze, leader of the Democratic Movement in the frames of her journey across EU countries conducted meetings in Austria. On July 15 Nino Burjanadze met with head of Austrian President's administration Bruno Aoner and passed him documents containing information about May's events in Georgia.
The events of late May were discussed at the meeting. The allegedly inadequate actions of the supposedly repressive regime in the legislative area were mentioned. Such legislative changes are, she believes, establishing a dictatorship in the country. They talked about the degree of media freedom the country.
The meetings were also conducted in OSCE PA with Mr. Brossruk; with Austria – a group of friends of Georgia; with representatives of the foreign relations committee and in the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Nino Burjanadze passed to all of them a package of documents, photos and video materials.
Burjanadze demanded an international investigation into the May 26 events. In the Austrian Foreign Ministry with representatives of the foreign relations committee she demanded to pose the question of the level of democracy in Georgia.
(GHN)
Subari summarized his visit to Strasbourg and Brussels
Sozar Subari, head of the Georgian Party talked yesterday about his visit to Strasbourg and Brussels on July 11-14. He introduced the EU politicians, diplomats and civil society with recent events in Georgia.
In Strasbourg he met with Thomas Hammerberg, CoE HR Commissioner. Subari talked about the political persecution of the Georgian government against members and supporters of the Georgian party and alleged torture and inhuman treatment towards illegally detained persons.
Subari talked with Hamerberg as well about the disproportional force used during the protest action dispersal on May 26. He claimed that the constitutional rights of citizens were breached in terms of the torture of detained persons and inhuman treatment.
Sozar Subari, while in Brussels, met with EP delegation and European Commission representatives. Subari also talked with Tais Berman, EP HR Commission vice-president. He conducted meetings with Amnesty International and FIDH representatives before meeting the President of International Federation of Journalists.
Subari informed them about the events in Georgia for the last two months and about the alleged cases of political persecution of Georgian party members. He talked as well about the photo reporters detained with charges of espionage and the legislation passed for the status of religious minorities.
Subari believes that against the current regime, measures are to be taken. He said under the EP a working group is to be established to monitor alleged political prisoners in Georgia.
(GHN)
Andro Barnovi is appointed as Deputy Defence Minister
The Minister of Defence of Georgia has a new deputy. Andro Barnovi has taken the position of Deputy Defence Minister.
Now the Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia has four deputies with Nodar Kharshiladze, Nika Dzimtseishvili, Andro Barnovi and Kakha Butskhrikidze all occupying these posts.
Before being appointed as Deputy Defence Minister, Barnovi commanded Davit Agmashenebeli National Defence Academy. The National Defence Academy and general educational issues in the Defence Ministry of Georgia are still part of the remit of Andro Barnovi after his appointment to the new position.
(Prime-News)
Direct flight Donetsk-Batumi starts from July 22
The Consulate General of Georgia in Donetsk has opened a new direct route to and from Batumi with "Airzena-Georgian Airlines"
As reported at the Consulate General, the first flight will be conducted on July 22.
The flight "Donetsk-Batumi" will be implemented during the summer shipping season every Friday.
"Airzena-Georgian Airlines” plans to open an additional round trip if there is an increased demand for transport on this route.
(Prime-News)