State Minister for Conflict Resolution Davit Bakradze is no longer the Georgian co-chair for the Joint Control Commission. Instead, his lower-ranking deputy will represent Tbilisi. This is widely seen as Georgia diminishing the importance of the JCC format. Is the JCC still an effective way to oversee the conflict zone and organize dialogue between the sides? Should Tbilisi move away from the JCC format? (view responses)
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Thursday, August 9
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Accusations fly after missile hits
All evidence points to Russia, Tbilisi officials say. Preliminary investigation results released by the Georgian Foreign Affairs Ministry pinpoint both the aircraft and missile involved in the August 6 missile incident as being of "Russian origin," brushing aside Moscow insinuations that Georgia targeted itself. (more)
Rustaveli Avenue businesses kicked out by Ministry of Economic Development
By some counts, nearly 200 police ringed the entrances to two businesses on central Tbilisi's Rustaveli Avenue the morning of August 7. (more)
Tbilisi JCC session off, Georgians downgrade representation on commission
The meeting of the Joint Control Commission (JCC) planned for August 9-10 in Tbilisi is cancelled, and the next one will possibly be in September in Moscow, said Russian JCC co-chairman Yuri Popov a day before the session was to take place. (more)
Authorities crack down on Dry Bridge street vendors
Police booted out unlicensed vendors from Mshrali Khidi (Dry Bridge) on August 8, prompting outcries from merchants who say they can't afford to pay stall fees at city markets. (more)
News in Brief

Missile didn't explode, but Georgian-Russian relations might
It looks like things are going to get worse before they get better between Georgia and Russia. Tbilisi is levying the extremely serious accusation that Russia aggressively launched a missile deep in Georgian territory. Moscow is retorting with the extremely shameless suggestion that Georgia bombed itself. Again. (more)


Trade unions demand a lower income tax
Georgian trade unions are protesting the proposal to increase individual income tax in 2008 to 25 percent, reports the newspaper Akhali Taoba. (more)
Azerbaijan economy relies completely on oil revenue
The oil boom in Azerbaijan is largely responsible for its massive GDP growth over the last two years, writes the news agency Regnum, putting it among leading countries in terms of economic development. (more)
Georgian forests threatened by illegal logging and plant diseases
Georgian forests are under threat.
Along with illegal logging, Georgian forests are endangered by plant diseases which are not being appropriately handled, resulting in the contamination of vast areas of forest. (more)


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