Georgian press digest: excerpts
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Subject: Georgian press digest: excerpts
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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: Irma Mosiashvili
English version: Guram Dumbadze
Editor: Emil Adelkhanov-Steinberg
August 24, 1999
1. THE BEST EXAMPLE OF FRIENDSHIP AND CO-OPERATION
At their August 23 talks in Tbilisi the Georgian and Azerbaijani
foreign ministers, Irakli Menagharishvili and Tofik Zulfugarov, agreed
that the two countries would co-ordinate their policy regarding the
projects like TRACECA, INOGATE and transits of Caspian oil through
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan route. Mr. Zulfugarov says Baku is willing to
participate in the forum on South Caucasian co-operation scheduled for
this autumn in Tbilisi.
Sakinform news agency. "Svobodnaya Gruzia" No. 194, August 24, p. 1
.................
3. ARDZINBA IS THE ONLY ONE
Vladislav Ardzinba, the current president of the self-proclaimed
Abkhaz republic, is the only presidential candidate registered by the
Central Election Commission of Abkhazia for the coming presidential
elections (October 3). The deadline of the registration of
presidential candidates expires on August 24, the chaiman of the CES
Vyacheslav Tsukba announced. Tbilisi claims the elections to be
illegal. So does a respective resolution of the UN Security Council,
the article says.
Prime-News agency. "Droni" No. 93, August 24, p. 2
4. ABKHAZIA AND RUSSIA ESTABLISHING CONTACTS
According to Badr Aiba, the press-secretary of the Abkhaz interior
ministry, at their recent meeting representatives of the ministry and
Sochi police department (Russia) arranged for joint operations and
exchange of information on wanted criminals. Problems of smuggling and
drug business were on the table.
Kavkaz-Press agency. "Resonance" No. 230, August 24, p. 2
.................
----------------------
August 25, 1999
1. KENNETH SPENCER YALOWITZ MET ARDZINBA
At their August 24 meeting K. S. Yaloviz, the ambassador of the USA to
Georgia, and Vladislav Ardzinba, the Abkhaz leader, discussed the the
situation in Abkhazia and problems of humanitarian aid. Mr Ardzinba
expressed his gratitude to the USA for $100 thousand allocated by the
U.S. government to build a maternal hospital in Sukhumi.
Prime-News agency. "Resonance" No. 231, August 25, p. 1
.................
----------------------
August 26, 1999
.................
5. EMERGENCY LAW DECLARED IN GALI
The harvest of hazelnuts being often plundered in the Gali district of
Abkhazia this year, the district administration declared a curfew
throughout the district from 9.00 p. m. to 7.00 a. m. Violation of the
regime is fined. A dozen gunmen attacked a van with hazelnuts in the
village of Gagida, Gali district yesterday night. After an exchange of
fire they fled. No casualties have been reported.
Kavkaz-Press agency. "Dilis Gazeti" No. 193, August 26, p. 5
----------------------
August 27, 1999
1. THE RETURN OF THE HOSTAGES DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE RUSSIANS
Mr Hizri Aldamov, Chechnya's representative in Georgia, explains the
delay in returning two Georgian hostages from Chechnya (last week he
promised they would be returned in a day or two) by the fact they have
no passports. Another possible cause of the delay is underhand
plotting of Russian secret services, he says.
Gea news agency. "Resonance" No. 233, August 27, p. 2
.................
4. TOMAS HENDRIK ILVES: "YOU CAN RELY ON ESTONIA"
Integration in international organisations such as the
European Union and NATO was one of the priorities of the two
countries' co-operation, Eduard Shevardnadze and Tomas
Hendrik Ilves, the foreign minister of Estonia, emphasised
at their August 26 talks in Tbilisi. The Georgian president
stressed the necessity of co-operation between the Baltic
States and southern republics, particularly BSEC members,
especially in the field of transport communications. Mr Ilves
confirmed that his country had always supported Georgia's
approach to the Abkhazian problem in the UN and OSCE.
Sakinform news agency. "Sakartvelos Respublika" No. 230,
August 27, pp. 1, 2
----------------------
August 30, 1999
1. CHECHEN AUTHORITIES RELEASED EIGHT GEORGIAN HOSTAGES
Eight Georgian hostages, including George Zaalishvili, the chairman of
the Georgian Patriots' League, were delivered from Chechnya to Tbilisi
on August 23. According to Vakha Arsanov, vice-president of Chechnya
(he is staying in Tbilisi after an operation in a local hospital),
they were released after negotiations with some Chechen criminal
groups. More than 20 other Georgians are still held captive in
Chechnya. On his part, President Shevardnadze told journalists that
the situation with the hostages was under his control as he
maintained permanent contact with Chechen authorities.
Prime-News agency. "Dilis Gazeti" No. 196, August 30, p. 1
2. CHECHNYA SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR ADJARIA
According to Chechen vice-president Vakha Arsanov, volunteers are
being recruited to Adjaria in his country. He abstained from
specifying who is recruiting them or what for, but he promised that
Grozny would do its best to avoid a repeat of the past mistake when
Chechens fought in Abkhazia against the Georgian governmental
troops.
Kavkaz-Press agency. "Dilis Gazeti" No. 196, August 30, p. 1
3. THE FLOCK OF THE LOMISI CHURCH IN GLDANI DISPERSED MEMBERS OF THE
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION "THE WORD OF FAITH" IN THE PRESENCE OF THE
POLICE
The parishioners of the unfrocked priest Basil Mkalavishili drove away
a group of members of the Protestant association "The Word of Faith"
in the Gldani district of Tbilisi on August 28, the day of Assumption.
As the president of the association Victor Lutsik says, he and his
friends were attacked while standing outside the Gldani House of
Culture after its director had not let them in for a sermon. About 15
policemen came to see the incident but did not step in. Finally, the
winners listened to a speech of Father Basil, who congratulated them
on the victory over "the apostles of Anti-Christ" and reproached the
Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church for its inability to
defeat religious sects.
Prime-News agency. "Shvidi Dge" No. 101, August 30-31, p. 5
----------------------
August 31, 1999
1. THE SITTING OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
The August 29 sitting of the National Security Council chaired by
Eduard Shevardnadze resolved to prolong the
mandate of the Russian peacekeeping troops in Abkhazia. Besides, the
assembly heard an acount of Foreign
Minister Irakli Menagharishvili on the CFE (Conventional Forces in
Europe) agreement and that of Avtandil Ioseliani, the head of the
State Intelligence Department, about the return of Georgian hostages
from Chechnya, which had taken place this week.
Sakinform news agency. "Svobodnaya Gruzia" No. 201, August 31, p. 1
2. THE STATEMENT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF FRONTIER DEFENCE OF
GEORGIA
The press service of the State Department of Frontier Defence (SDFD)
publishes its protest against the August 27 statement of General
Constantine Totsky, the director of the Russian Federal Frontier
Service who told
journalists that some Russian governmental agencies were drafting
normative acts to lift the economic embargo from Abkhazia. Moreover,
he said the issue did not need co-ordinating with the Georgian
government: Tbilisi, in his words, might be merely informed. The SDFD
considers the statement a violation of Georgia's state sovereignty and
territorial integrity. If such declarations continue, the SDFD shall
re-consider the expediency of its participation in the CIS frontier
co-operation, the statement goes.
Sakinform news agency. "Svobodnaya Gruzia" No. 201, August 31, p. 4
.................
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