Georgian press digest: excerpts
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Subject: Georgian press digest: excerpts
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
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Georgian press digest: excerpts
ANNOTATED DAILY HEADLINES
OF THE GEORGIAN PRESS
Compiled by the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and
Development (CIPDD)
Text: Tamara Shamil
English version: Guram Dumbadze
Editor: Emil Adelkhanov-Steinberg
June 29, 1999
.................
3. THE CONFERENCE THAT WAS TO BE HELD IN BATUMI OPENED IN MOSCOW TODAY
A conference on the mechanisms of self-determination of nations,
terrorism and situation in the Caucasus has opened in Moscow today. At
first the (Russian) Glasnost foundation had intended to hold it in
Batumi; the place was changed after the Georgian public opinion had
protested.
"Dilis Gazeti" No. 145, June 29, p. 2
4. GEORGIAN AND RUSSIAN MPS WEREN'T ALLOWED TO VISIT ABKHAZIA
A commission which was made up of Russian and Georgian MPs came to
West Georgia to examine living conditions of IDPs from Abkhazia in the
Zugdidi district and those of the Georgian population of the Gali
district of Abkhazia. The Abkhaz authorities did not allow the
Georgian MPs to enter the Abkhaz territory. The Russian MPs showed
solidarity and refused to visit Abkhazia as well.
"Akhali Taoba" No. 176, June 29, p. 3
-------------------
July 1, 1999
.................
4. THE BRIDGE OVER THE ENGURI BLOCKED ONCE AGAIN
The bridge over the Enguri river (on the boundary between Abkhazia and
the rest of Georgia) is blocked due to a protest action. Its
participants demand to release three men (Murtaz Ekhvaia, Ghia Kardava
and Shota Lashkhia) arrested by the Abkhaz authorities. Tbilisi
insists on exchanging the prisoners by the principle "all-for-all";
Sukhumi says he might exchange three for three. Meanwhile the
gambgebeli (head of administration) of the town of Gali is not sure
that the protesters will let the Georgian participants of the
Georgian-Abkhaz negotiations go to the village of Chuburgini where
they are to meet their Abkhaz counterparts.
Gea news agency. "Akhali Taoba" No. 178, July 1, p. 5
-------------------
July 2, 1999
1. EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE RIGHT OF NATIONS TO SELF-DETERMINATION MAY
PROVOKE NEW CONFLICTS,
Sergey Kovalev, the well-known Russian human rights activist, said at
the conference on mechanisms of realisation of such a right which the
Glasnost foundation had intended to hold in Batumi, but finally hold
in Moscow. He blamed both the event ("its aftermath may be terrible
and bloody") and international declarations on the right to
self-determination ("senseless and provocative"). In his words, every
state must respect the rights of its ethnic minorities but this does
not mean that minorities must create their own states. Regarding
Abkhazia, Kovalev said the Abkhaz should be granted autonomy but must
not have any privileges over the rest of
the population.
Prime-News agency. "Svobodnaya Gruzia" No. 147-148, July 1, p.
.................
3. THE KURDS THREATENING WITH A BIG WAR
About a hundred of Tbilisi Kurds picketed the Turkish embassy
yesterday, demanding to free Abdulla Ocalan. One of their leaders said
the Kurds of the world would wage a big war in Turkey if Ocalan was
executed.
Zaza Bakashvili. "Akhali Taoba" No. 179, July 2, p. 2
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