The messenger logo

The News in Brief

Thursday, April 4
Irakli Alasania visits Hungary

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania paid an official visit to Hungary.

According to the Ministry of Defense, Alasania will meet with his Hungarian counterpart Csaba Hende. The topic of discussion will be Georgia-Hungary bilateral cooperation. The sides will also talk about the ISAF mission and Georgia-EU relations.

Alasania and Hende will sign the Hungarian-Georgian Bilateral Cooperation Agreement at the Defense Ministry of Hungary. Defense Ministers’ meeting with the media representatives is also scheduled at the Manfred Worner Room.

Within the framework of the official visit, the Georgian MoD delegation will visit the Parliament of Hungary and MH Papa Air Base. The Georgian defense minister will deliver a lecture at the National University of Public Service as well.

The official visit of the Georgian MoD delegation to Hungary will end on April 5. (Front News)



Georgian FM Visits Brazil

After a trip to Portugal, Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Maia Panjikidze, is paying a two-day visit to Brazil on April 3-4.

During the visit she will meet Brazil’s Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota and a group of Brazilian lawmakers, according to the Georgian Foreign Ministry.

This is the second visit to Brazil by the Georgian foreign minister; the first one was conducted by the previous minister Grigol Vashadze in 2011.

Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs of the Minister of External Relations of Brazil, Vera Machado, visited Georgia on March 12.

Before visiting Brazil, the Georgian Foreign Minister held talks in Portugal with her counterpart Paulo Portas on April 1. (Civil.Ge)



Georgian Battalions Arrive in Afghanistan

The 33rd and 42nd Battalions of Georgia’s Armed Forces have arrived in Afghanistan. The Georgian military servicemen will carry out the NATO-led ISAF mission for 6 months under the U.S. contingent in the Afghan province of Helmand.

The personnel of the Georgian Battalions are undergoing one final exercise on the military base Leatherneck under the guidance of Georgian and American instructors.

The rotation process of the Georgian Battalions is in an active stage. The 33rd and 42nd Battalions are replacing the 12th and 32nd Battalions over a four weeks– phase by phase. The above-said battalions underwent 6 months of intensive training for their participation in the ISAF mission in the Krtsanisi Training Centre. The battalion personnel have also undergone preparation in the US Joint Multinational Readiness Centre (JMRC) based in the German city of Hohenfelse. Georgian soldiers’ preparedness level to engage in particular peace support operations in Afghanistan was positively evaluated by both the center’s experts and Trainers and Advisors Group of US marines. (Rustavi 2)



Former minister wants status of a political refugee

Former minister of energy in the Shevardnadze government, Mamuka Nikoleishvili seeks being granted the status of a political refugee. In his interview with the Radio 1, the ex-minister said he was surprised when he did not find his name in the list of the political refugees adopted by the parliament a few months ago.

He says the chairperson of the human rights committee of the parliament, Eka Beselia, explained to him that the problem was with the documents on his case and promised him to correct the gaps in it. However, his issue was no longer discussed.

Mamuka Nikoleishvili was one of the candidates for the minister of energy when Bidzina Ivanishvili was staffing his cabinet. (Rustavi 2)



Saakashvili submits to Parliament candidacy of ambassadors

The Georgian president has submitted to the Parliament candidacies of ambassadors of Georgia in Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe for approval, APA reports quoting Georgia Times.

Mikheil Saakashvili has submitted Teimuraz Sharashenidze for the post of ambassador to Azerbaijan again.

For the post of ambassador to Lithuania was submitted Khatuna Salukvadze, for Kazakhstan - Zurab Pataradze, Turkey - Irakli Koplatadze and for the post of permanent representative of Georgia to the Council of Europe - Konstantin Korkelia.

The candidates will be approved at the meeting of the parliament. (News.Az)



Georgian Azerbaijani hits mine

A resident of the Kirachmuganlo village of Georgia, Serkhan Musayev, was seriously injured in the blast, APA reports quoting the Georgian Interior Ministry. Serkhan Musayev’s leg was amputated in Rustavi City Municipal Central Hospital. Though there is no threat to the injured, he is in serious condition.

Police have taken under control the area, criminalists are investigating the site. The place of the mine explosion has not been made public. (News.Am)



“Colorful March” – Nino Katamadze held concert in Moscow

Moscow’s Crocus City Hall hosted a concert titled “Colorful March” by singer Nino Katamadze and her band Insight on March 30. A fraction of the concert was released on YouTube by one of the listeners and shows Katamadze singing the popular song “Olei” to the audience. The musical accompaniment to the singer was provided by the Georgian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nikoloz Ratchveli. (Georgian News TV)