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The News in Brief

Tuesday, May 18
Turkish Prime Minister in Georgia

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a half-day visit to Batumi, were he was hosted by President Saakashvili yesterday. Mutually beneficial bilateral relations were discussed.
(The Messenger)



Famous poet dies of heart attack

Famous Georgian poet Mukhran Machavariani died at the age of 81, while delivering a speech in Rustaveli Theatre at the birthday of a fellow poet.
(The Messenger)



Business forum held for expats

A Business forum for Georgian businessmen living abroad has been held at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel. Economic Development Minister Zurab Pololikashvili and State Minister for Diaspora Affairs Papuna Davitaia attended it.

The forum was held as part of the project ‘Return to Georgia’ which aims to encourage expatriate Georgian businessmen to invest in Georgia. About 30 Georgian businessmen participated.

Members of the delegation will also meet the President of Georgia, Prime Minister and other representatives of the Government. A meeting with Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia the Second is also planned.
(Interpressnews)



Grigol Vashadze to meet President of Lithuania

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Grigol Vashadze will pay a working visit to Lithuania on May 18, Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze stated at the briefing on May 17. During the visit he will meet President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite and discuss cooperation between the two states and supporting Georgia's integration into Euro-Atlantic structures.

Kalandadze said that the visit to Lithuania will be wrapped up on May 20. Grigol Vashadze will then leave for Malta, where he will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malta Tonio Borg and Chairman of its Foreign and European Affairs Committee Francis Zammit Dimech.
(Prime News)



Puppet regime opens Embassy in Moscow

A so-called 'Embassy of Abkhazia' has been opened on Mamontov Street, Moscow. The opening was attended by so-called Abkhazian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ghvinjia, representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrey Nesterenko and the Ambassadors of Nicaragua and Venezuela, two of the four states which have recognised Georgia`s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali as independent. Representatives of the Abkhaz Diaspora were also present.

The puppet regime plans to open a further diplomatic mission in Nicaragua soon. The puppet regime considers it ineffective to have an Embassy in Nauru, the world's smallest country, which has also recognised Georgia's separatist regimes.
(Rustavi 2)



Targamadze holds meetings in Samegrelo region

Chairman of the Christian-Democratic Movement (CDM) Giorgi Targamdaze has presented the population of Samegrelo with his party's election programme.

Targamadze promised voters that if the CDM wins the elections it will provide assistance for small business and agriculture development, increase the functions of local authorities and create social guarantees for the locals.

Giorgi Targamdaze has already met Batumi electors and members of local organisations, candidates and supporters in the Ozurgeti and Kobuleti regions. The party’s Press Service says that these meetings are being organised by the International Republican Institute (IRI).

Giorgi Targamdaze said that it is very important to study the situation in the regions and pay equal attention to all Georgia's regions.
(Prime News)



Georgian-Chinese consortium to build Tbilisi bypass railway

A Georgian-Chinese consortium will construct the Tbilisi bypass railway, Director General of Georgian Railway Irakli Ezugbaia said at a briefing on May 17.

The Tbilisi bypass railway will be constructed in order to divert traffic and help develop the central part of the capital, where trade centres will be constructed. The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will allocate EUR 100 million for the implementation of his project and in May 2010 an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) concerning an additional EUR 100 million will be signed.

Construction of the new railway line should take three years according to a feasibility study. It will begin in May. Negotiations with the affected population and the payment of compensation will take place between June and August.
(Prime News)