Georgian digest - excerpts
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Subject: Georgian digest - excerpts
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Georgian 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
August 31, 1998
---------------
1. Georgia Approaching Borders of the European Union
The secretary general of the European Union Daniel Tarshis' visit to
Georgia suggests that Georgia may soon become a EU member, the
newspaper argues. In the author's opinion, Georgia should not agree to
enlist the EU alongside with Armenia and Azerbaijan as the liberal
reforms in these countries are much slower and this may impede
Georgia's joining to the EU.
"Meridiani 44" No. 100, August 31 - September 2
........................
4. Hungry Refugees Threatening to Explode a Store-House in Zugdidi
Although the authorities keep claiming the situation in Zugdidi
(western Georgia) to be stable, the newspaper reports that
humanitarian aid for the refugees from Gali has substantially reduced.
Even the daily bread ration - 400 grams for each refugee - is given
only once in two days.
"7 Dge" No. 100, August 28-30
----------------------
September 1, 1998
-----------------
1. The Main Blow to Be Dealt to Poti
In her interview with the newspaper, Elena Tevdoradze, the chair of
the parliamentary penitentiary subcommittee, claims that she has got
reliable information about a global plan to break stability in
Georgia, which may be implemented in the near future. The Poti sea
port, as well as the Samegrelo and Meskhet-Djavakheti regions, will
become, in her words, destabilisation centres. The plan aims to change
the entire ruling regime and ruin the TRACECA project and "Silk Road"
strategy.
"Alia" No. 150, September 1-2
..................
3. Armenia Seeks Mediation from Georgia
According to Armenian sources, during his recent visit to Georgia, the
Armenian foreign minister asked the Georgian leadership to mediate
between Armenia and Azerbaijan and between Armenia and Turkey.
"Resonance" No. 238, September 1
4. From the Forgotten Past Towards Unforgettable Future
The danger of separatism has recently emerged in one more Georgian
region Meskhet-Djavakheti populated mostly by ethnic Armenians. The
newspaper blames the Georgian leadership for inability to carry out
any state policy in the region. The authorities apply there, as
elsewhere in Georgia, immoral "clan politics" - one clan is favoured,
others are "submerged". As a result, Meskhet-Djavakheti has turned
into a cockpit of clans. The Djavakhk (the local nationalistic
Armenian organisation, the leaders of which are demanding autonomy for
the region) falls into the second category and is now trying to
improve its image through radical policy.
"Akhali 7 Dge" No. 31, August 28 - September 3
5. Be Careful, Colleagues...This Is Djavakheti
The post-Communist press has contributed to the escalation of ethnic
conflicts in Georgia, the newspaper argues. Personal conflicts or
private opinions exaggerated by the press of both conflicting parties
(quasi-intellectuals - writers, scientists, etc. - who come from
Communist circles have plaid an especially negative role) have been
transformed into political (politicians follow the public opinion) and
further into armed conflicts. In the newspaper's opinion, the
situation in Meskhet-Djavakheti is still at the first, personal
squabble stage. Solutions to the problem must be found only in a
dialogue through mass media. The future will show whether the Georgian
mass media have learned anything from the bitter experience of the
recent past.
"Akhali 7 Dge" No. 31, August 28 - September 3
---------------------
September 2, 1998
-----------------
.........
2. An International Organisation on Human Rights in Georgia
Accordind to the newspaper, in its 1997 report Human Rights Watch
specifies two main kinds of human rights violations in Georgia:
tortures and bad treatment in custody; the refusals of the police to
investigate crimes committed during the armed conflicts in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia. The report emphasises that the Georgian leadership
does not try to identify those guilty of triggering the hostilities in
Abkhazia. Violations of civil rights were also registered: the
security services broke up a rally on May 26, 1997; the telephone of
the editor of the "Sakartvelo" newspaper was taped, etc.
"7 Dge" No. 102, September 2-3
3. A Sitting of the Co-ordination Council To Be Held in Sukhumi
It will be the fifth regular meeting of representatives of the
Georgian and Abkhazian sides under mediation of the UN and Russia. The
Council for Peaceful Settling the Georgian-Abkhaz Conflict was created
under the aegis of the UN and the Friends of Georgia in the framework
of the Geneva process.
"Sakartvelos Gazeti" No. 89, September 2
--------------------
September 3, 1998
-----------------
...................
4. An Important Result of the 5th Sitting of the Co-Ordination
Council: There Will Be the 6th Sitting
This is the newspaper's comment on the sitting of the Co-ordination
Council for Peaceful Settling of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict held in
Sukhumi yesterday under the aegis of the UN and in the framework of
the Geneva talks on the Abkhazian problem.
"Resonance" No. 240, September 3
-----------------
September 4, 1998
-----------------
1. Presidential Decree
The decree of August 7, 1998, aproves the Statute on district and town
law-courts, circuit coutrs, courts of appeal and supreme courts in the
autonomous republics of Abkhazia and Adjaria. The newspaper publishes
the text of the Statute.
"Svobodnaja Gruzja" No. 235, September 4
........................
3. Nine Ossetian Families Returned to Their Homes
Nine Ossetian families that had become refugees during the
Georgian-Osetian conflict returned to Tskhinvali, South Osetia, from
North Osetia, Russia, yesterday. 170 families have already come back
to their homes this year.
"Resonance" No. 241, September 4
4. New Joint Group for Detecting and Warning of Acts of Terrorism
The 5th session of the Coordination Council for Peaceful Settling of
the Georgian-Abkhaz Conflict held in Sukhumi on September 2 as part of
the Geneva negotiation process, drew out new recommendations on
security measures. The participants agreed to form a joint group for
detecting and warning of acts of terrorism and other violations. The
group will be staffed with representatives of the conflicting parties,
the UN military observers' mission in Georgia and the Russian
peacekeeping troops.
"Svobodnaja Gruzja" No. 235 September 4
4. "The facts show that new hostilities are under preparation."
"Neither the Georgian nor Abkhazian party can or want to reach a
conciliation."
Both statements belong to the special envoy of the Russian Foreign
Ministry Lev Mironov who was one of the participants of the Sukhumi
session of the Coordination Council on Georgian-Abkhazian conflict
resolution under the UN aegis. According to the newspaper, his logic
just aims at proving the expediency of prolongation of the Russian
peacemakers' mandate.
"Resonance" No. 241, September 4
--
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