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The News in Brief

Thursday, October 27
Poland to assist Georgia in marine transport reform

Poland will assist Georgia in reforming its marine transport sector, while ferry communications will be intensified with Black Sea states, including Bulgaria and Romania. The Georgian delegation agreed with partner states on this and other issues at a summit of economic ministers held in Poland on Tuesday.

The summit was held in the framework of the Eastern Partnership Program. The Georgian delegation was led by the Minister of Sustainable Development and Economics Vera Kobalia. In her speech delivered at the summit, Mrs. Kobalia spoke about the reforms in the transport sector in Georgia.

At the meeting with the vice-president and commissioner responsible for transport Siim Kallas, Vera Kobalia discussed the possibilities of harmonizing Georgia`s transport regulations with European standards. Mr. Kallas hailed Georgia`s reforms, saying Georgia was a leader in reforming the transport sector among the Eastern Partnership Program countries. (Rustavi 2)



French lawmakers hold meetings in Georgian parliament

The French delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has been holding meetings in the parliament of Georgia since Wednesday morning. At the meeting with the parliamentary majority, the French and Georgian lawmakers discussed Georgia`s cooperation with the European Union and the reforms carried out by the Georgian government.

The French lawmakers also met with the representatives of the parliamentary minority, the Christian Democratic Movement, who mostly focused on Georgia`s territorial problems, the conflict regions and the prospects of restoring the country`s territorial integrity. CDM member emphasized that pressure on Russia to fulfill the terms of the six-point ceasefire agreement was very important while working on the problem of Georgia`s territorial integrity.

The head of the delegation, Jean Claud Mignon, who will chair the European Parliament next year, has also held a tete-a-tete meeting with the speaker of Georgian parliament Davit Bakradze. (Rustavi 2)



Several houses in Dvani village lie on other side of de-facto border

Several houses of the village of Dvani have appeared on the other side of the de-facto border, Dvani governor Gocha Nebieridze told InterpressNews. ‘The Russians have set green billboards with an inscription - ‘South Ossetian Republic’ - around our village. The area outside the posters is controlled by Russian militants, and we not allowed to enter it. Several houses of our village happen to be beyond the billboards’, the governor said.

‘The Russians are regularly detaining locals for crossing the so-called border. We were watching the detention of one of our co-villagers a few days ago, though we could not do anything about it. Fortunately, he was later released. People here are unprotected. The EU observers come and talk to us, though they are not able to do anything either,’ the governor said. (Interpressnews)



‘Sarajishvili’ company confirms it addressed Russian Service on Customers' Rights

The Georgian ‘Sarajishvili’ company has confirmed that it addressed the Federal Service on Customers' Rights Protection and Human Well-being Monitoring to return its products to the Russian market.

Elguja Bubuteishvili, founder and director of the ‘Sarajishvili’ company told InterpressNews that the company first addressed Russia with the same request in 2006, while the second one was made about a month ago.

‘We addressed the Federal Service on Customers' Rights Protection and Human Well-being Monitoring a month ago for the second time. They responded to us by saying they would send experts and observe our factories. Our products will be returned to the Russian market if our production meets all requirements. If the Russian market is opened for us, we will provide it with high quality drinks’, Bubuteishvili said.

According to Bubuteishvili, ‘Sarajishvili’ is a quality brandy that had been sold on the Russian market since 1884.

‘The market is important for us’, Bubuteishvili said, adding it was unknown when the Russian side would adopt a final decision. (Interpressnews)



Gudauri to welcome visitors with renewed infrastructure

Rehabilitation project of the Gudauri ski resort continues - new ski tracks, and rope-ways are being arranged there. From the new season, one of the most popular resorts of Georgia will welcome visitors with renewed infrastructure and improved services.

After the rehabilitation project is over, Gudauri will become a ski resort meeting international standards, capable to host any kind of international competition.

The construction is underway with modern technologies. A special helicopter is installing the rope-way fences without damaging the landscape of the tracks.

Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava viewed the rehabilitation works today as the resort has been handed over to the Tbilisi government. (Rustavi 2)