The News in Brief
Friday, November 16
Georgian wine may return to Russia
Russia's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov stated that the Russian government is willing to rescind its ban on Georgian wine, which has been in place since 2006. Denisov added that both the Russian and Georgian governments have discussed the matter recently.
"There is readiness from both sides for practical steps towards resolving this issue." Denisov stated. (Rustavi 2)
Knut Vollebeak meets with Georgian government members
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek is paying an official visit to Georgia, where he is meeting with various government officials to discuss ethnic minority issues in the country. Vollebeak wishes to discuss ethnic minority issues in Georgia with both Georgian Dream and United National Movement representatives.
"Our task now is to introduce our activities to the new government of Georgia and have them promise that our activities here will be allowed to continue. I have already met with several ministers and I can presume that the cooperation will continue." Vollebeak stated. (Rustavi 2)
Businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili’s widow Ina Gudavadze releases statement
Businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili’s widow Ina Gudavadze has released the following statement:
‘Recently I and my family have been targets of Vano Chkhartishvili’s statements. Badri Patarkatsishvili’s heiresses have sued Chkhartishvili in various courts and the Prosecutor’s Office. We hope these agencies will establish the truth without any interference from the media.
I state with full responsibility that I and my family have not taken part in the preparation of a TV story that was broadcast on Rustavi 2. As proof of this I can say that if we had prepared the story, there would have much more mention of assets that belonged to Badri Patarkatsishvili’s companies but appeared as Vano Chkhartishvili’s property soon after Badri’s death." the statement reads. (IPN)
New Director General of Rustavi2 holds first press conference
New Director General of TV channel Rustavi 2 Nika Gvaramia held his first press today.
Gvaramia was appointed to the position yesterday. Former Director General Giorgi Gegeshidze still holds a nine percent share in Rustavi 2 as well as remaining chairman of Rustavi 2's supervisory board.
`I am going to join the work of the country`s number one television channel. I am going to add my experience to the progress which the company has made during the past 15 years." Nika Gvaramia said. Gvamaria is a lawyer by profession education and has considerable experience in management. (IPN)
Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze visits Germany
Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maya Panjikidze is visiting Germany.
The Foreign Minister met with the Advisor to the Federal Chancellor for Foreign and Security Policy Christoph Heusgen.
Panjikidze said they discussed the developments in Georgia and assessed the elections.
"We talked about the fact that since coming to power the priority of the new government and Bidzina Ivanishvili is the development of civil society, an independent judiciary and the strengthening of democratic institutions. We also talked about media freedom and the values that are important to the EU and NATO. We stressed Germany's special role in the past 20 years since the formation of diplomatic relations between the two countries. I asked Germany to take a more active role in solving various problems." Panjikidze said.
According to Panjikidze, Christoph Heusgen expressed interest in the new government's policy toward Russia.
"I informed him of how we appointed a special representative to Russia. Germany, as a NATO and EU member, is a very important country for us and it can do much to help us in this regard.’’ Panjikidze added. (IPN)
Russia's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov stated that the Russian government is willing to rescind its ban on Georgian wine, which has been in place since 2006. Denisov added that both the Russian and Georgian governments have discussed the matter recently.
"There is readiness from both sides for practical steps towards resolving this issue." Denisov stated. (Rustavi 2)
Knut Vollebeak meets with Georgian government members
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek is paying an official visit to Georgia, where he is meeting with various government officials to discuss ethnic minority issues in the country. Vollebeak wishes to discuss ethnic minority issues in Georgia with both Georgian Dream and United National Movement representatives.
"Our task now is to introduce our activities to the new government of Georgia and have them promise that our activities here will be allowed to continue. I have already met with several ministers and I can presume that the cooperation will continue." Vollebeak stated. (Rustavi 2)
Businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili’s widow Ina Gudavadze releases statement
Businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili’s widow Ina Gudavadze has released the following statement:
‘Recently I and my family have been targets of Vano Chkhartishvili’s statements. Badri Patarkatsishvili’s heiresses have sued Chkhartishvili in various courts and the Prosecutor’s Office. We hope these agencies will establish the truth without any interference from the media.
I state with full responsibility that I and my family have not taken part in the preparation of a TV story that was broadcast on Rustavi 2. As proof of this I can say that if we had prepared the story, there would have much more mention of assets that belonged to Badri Patarkatsishvili’s companies but appeared as Vano Chkhartishvili’s property soon after Badri’s death." the statement reads. (IPN)
New Director General of Rustavi2 holds first press conference
New Director General of TV channel Rustavi 2 Nika Gvaramia held his first press today.
Gvaramia was appointed to the position yesterday. Former Director General Giorgi Gegeshidze still holds a nine percent share in Rustavi 2 as well as remaining chairman of Rustavi 2's supervisory board.
`I am going to join the work of the country`s number one television channel. I am going to add my experience to the progress which the company has made during the past 15 years." Nika Gvaramia said. Gvamaria is a lawyer by profession education and has considerable experience in management. (IPN)
Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze visits Germany
Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Maya Panjikidze is visiting Germany.
The Foreign Minister met with the Advisor to the Federal Chancellor for Foreign and Security Policy Christoph Heusgen.
Panjikidze said they discussed the developments in Georgia and assessed the elections.
"We talked about the fact that since coming to power the priority of the new government and Bidzina Ivanishvili is the development of civil society, an independent judiciary and the strengthening of democratic institutions. We also talked about media freedom and the values that are important to the EU and NATO. We stressed Germany's special role in the past 20 years since the formation of diplomatic relations between the two countries. I asked Germany to take a more active role in solving various problems." Panjikidze said.
According to Panjikidze, Christoph Heusgen expressed interest in the new government's policy toward Russia.
"I informed him of how we appointed a special representative to Russia. Germany, as a NATO and EU member, is a very important country for us and it can do much to help us in this regard.’’ Panjikidze added. (IPN)