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The News in Brief

Wednesday, April 29
Vice Speaker predicts formation of new opposition parties

The Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, member of the ruling party Gigi Tsereteli, does not rule out that new opposition parties may emerge in the Georgian political arena soon.

Gigi Tsereteli asserts that the existing radical opposition parties, with their extremist ideas and behaviour, have no future in Georgia and that constructive opposition parties are more likely to develop. The Vice Speaker argues that such political organizations may emerge from the current groupings or be formed from scratch.

“Aggressive, extremist-like political entities and their doctrines and platforms have no future in Georgia. But a constructive opposition, which calls for dialogue, will have more supporters,” Gigi Tsereteli says. (Rustavi 2)



His Holiness blesses Star Academy students

Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II hosted the students of the reality talent show The Star Academy yesterday. It was the idea of His Holiness to meet and bless the students who miraculously survived the collapse of the Star Academy building on Sunday night.

The students said the visit to the Patriarch was great honour for them. His Holiness blessed them and presented them with books and candles. (Rustavi 2)



SOCAR interested in expansion of investments in Georgia

Georgia has emphasized the interest of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) in expanding its investments in this country, abc.az reports.

Yesterday in Baku Georgian Energy Minister Alexander Khetaguri claimed that SOCAR was interested in participating in an underground gas storage facility project in Georgia. “A tender to choose the contractor has been announced. We have suggested that SOCAR might like to participate in this tender and the latter has expressed such an interest. If SOCAR is indeed interested in storage construction, we will be very glad to see its involvement,” Khetaguri said. The project stipulates creating a gas storage facility on the basis of a natural field, the development of which started in the 1970s.

According to the SOCAR President, SOCAR can take part in the project only as a construction contractor, if the Georgian Government expresses a desire to finance this project. The Ministry must take a decision on the construction of the facility soon.

A project plan drawn up by Gustavshen Associates was presented to the Government. The facility will be built on one of three sites - Ninotsminda Oil, Rustavi Gas Condensate and Samgori South Dome. (Interpressnews)



Swedish delegation visits MoD

As the Press Centre of Ministry of Defence reports, “with a view to deepening the bilateral cooperation between Georgia and the Kingdom of Sweden, the Defence Ministry of Georgia has been visited by a Swedish delegation. The guests included the Military Attache of Sweden to Georgia Col. Par Bleed (resident in Moscow) and the Ambassador of Sweden to Georgia, Hans Gunnar Aden. The Swedish delegation was received by the Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Irakli Kochashvili.”

At the meeting the Georgian side submitted to the Swedish diplomats the 2010 Draft Plan of Bilateral Cooperation between Defence Ministries of Georgia and the Kingdom of Sweden.

Yesterday the Swedish guests held meetings with other senior officials of the Defence Ministry and the Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces. (Interpressnews)



Injured Rustavi 2 employee feels better

Rustavi 2 employee Tatuka Nartkoshvili has been operated on successfully. Surgeons say the operation was successful and Nartkoshvili’s condition is now satisfactory.

he editor of the reality talent show Star Academy, which was broadcast on Rustavi 2, had her spine damaged in the tragic collapse of the Star Academy building on Sandro Euli Street on Sunday. The surgery lasted five hours. Tatuka Nartkoshvili will undergo a rehabilitation course at the hospital. (Rustavi 2)