The News in Brief
Tuesday, December 10
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Prime Minister meets so-called cardboard town population in Batumi
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara Tornike Rizhvadze visited the population of so-called Cardboard Town in Batumi.
The Head of Government was told about the dire living conditions of the locals, including socially vulnerable persons and large families.
According to the Prime Minister, their situation will soon improve as the 2020 budget includes financial resources to build at the initial stage 580 apartments in the shortest possible time. A tender has already been announced, and after a winning company is revealed, the construction work will be completed in 18 months. At the next stage of development, a school, a kindergarten, and playgrounds will be built.
During the meeting with the local population, the Prime Minister stated that the Government is committed to taking every necessary step as rapidly as possible in order to provide the locals with normal living conditions.
According to the population of so-called Cardboard Town, the Prime Minister's visit is a demonstration of special support.
Gaprindashvili’s family demands more activity from Government
Vazha Gaprindashvili's family may use radical forms of protest at the end of the week, said Tamila Lapanashvili, wife of Vazha Gaprindashvili, at the briefing held yesterday.
According to her, a rally in support of Vazha Gaprindashvili will be held in front of the UN office in Geneva, where the next round of negotiations will take place. According to Lapanashvili, the media reported about Vazha Gaprindashvili's detention only after five days, but before that, the family did not comment on the fact, as the ‘relevant agencies’ had recommended that if the information was leaked, it could have a negative impact on Gaprindashvili's situation.
She also drew attention to the misinformation spread by the Ossetian side. As she says, during the 2008 war, Gaprindashvili worked in the clinic and treated everyone in need, including Russian pilots.
“We urge the Government of Georgia to take more effective steps and to set up an inter-agency emergency coordination commission. Although the state has been involved in Vazha Gaprindashvili's release talks since the very first day, and even if we hear the promises of various officials, after one month, he still remains in captivity and we have zero results,” said Lapanashvili.
MP Guguli Magradze delivers report at International Conference
Yerevan hosted the International Conference “Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council: Women for Peace – Capacities and Challenges”.
The member of the Gender Equality Council, Guguli Magradze delivered the report and reviewed the outcomes of the studies evidencing expediency and benefit of engagement of women in peacekeeping processes.
“Women, deriving from their features and social experience, can raise more alternatives for conflict resolution and negotiations but their potential is not yet due realized. For instance, women’s participation in the international conflict resolution peacekeeping talks does not exceed 8-10% while the statistical data reveals that 80% of the conflict-affected persons are women,” she noted and introduced the activities held by Georgian Government and the civil sector for implementation of the UN Resolution.
The attendees discussed protracted conflict impact on women entailing abject poverty of their families, violation of their rights and problems in healthcare, education and employment.
The participants emphasized the mechanisms to enhance the participation of women in conflict resolution, post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding.
The conference was attended by the Members of Armenian Parliament and Government, local NGOs and international organizations.
Representatives of ‘It’s a Shame’ and ‘Change’ hold rally in parallel to Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
Representatives of ‘It’s a Shame’ and ‘Change’ organized a rally near the hotel Biltmore, where the 8th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is being held.
Protesters say that they will cause discomfort to authorities until their demand for a proportional electoral system is met.
Law enforcement officers are mobilized for security on the spot.
Nino Burjanadze believes Russia has cut off flights to Georgia due to inadequate statements of President Zourabichvili
According to Nino Burjanadze, the leader of the United Georgia-Democratic Movement party, Russia has cut off flights to Georgia due to inadequate statements by President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili.
Burjanadze talked about it with one of the Russian broadcasting companies.
“I was pleased that Vladimir Putin did not take into account the Duma's decision to extend sanctions on Georgia. It was a very good, wise decision, not an emotional one. The flights between the countries were cut off because of absolutely inadequate statements by our president, Salome Zourabichvili, who blamed Russia for everything when Russia really had nothing to do with anything,” said Burjanadze.
Prime Minister meets so-called cardboard town population in Batumi
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara Tornike Rizhvadze visited the population of so-called Cardboard Town in Batumi.
The Head of Government was told about the dire living conditions of the locals, including socially vulnerable persons and large families.
According to the Prime Minister, their situation will soon improve as the 2020 budget includes financial resources to build at the initial stage 580 apartments in the shortest possible time. A tender has already been announced, and after a winning company is revealed, the construction work will be completed in 18 months. At the next stage of development, a school, a kindergarten, and playgrounds will be built.
During the meeting with the local population, the Prime Minister stated that the Government is committed to taking every necessary step as rapidly as possible in order to provide the locals with normal living conditions.
According to the population of so-called Cardboard Town, the Prime Minister's visit is a demonstration of special support.
Gaprindashvili’s family demands more activity from Government
Vazha Gaprindashvili's family may use radical forms of protest at the end of the week, said Tamila Lapanashvili, wife of Vazha Gaprindashvili, at the briefing held yesterday.
According to her, a rally in support of Vazha Gaprindashvili will be held in front of the UN office in Geneva, where the next round of negotiations will take place. According to Lapanashvili, the media reported about Vazha Gaprindashvili's detention only after five days, but before that, the family did not comment on the fact, as the ‘relevant agencies’ had recommended that if the information was leaked, it could have a negative impact on Gaprindashvili's situation.
She also drew attention to the misinformation spread by the Ossetian side. As she says, during the 2008 war, Gaprindashvili worked in the clinic and treated everyone in need, including Russian pilots.
“We urge the Government of Georgia to take more effective steps and to set up an inter-agency emergency coordination commission. Although the state has been involved in Vazha Gaprindashvili's release talks since the very first day, and even if we hear the promises of various officials, after one month, he still remains in captivity and we have zero results,” said Lapanashvili.
MP Guguli Magradze delivers report at International Conference
Yerevan hosted the International Conference “Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council: Women for Peace – Capacities and Challenges”.
The member of the Gender Equality Council, Guguli Magradze delivered the report and reviewed the outcomes of the studies evidencing expediency and benefit of engagement of women in peacekeeping processes.
“Women, deriving from their features and social experience, can raise more alternatives for conflict resolution and negotiations but their potential is not yet due realized. For instance, women’s participation in the international conflict resolution peacekeeping talks does not exceed 8-10% while the statistical data reveals that 80% of the conflict-affected persons are women,” she noted and introduced the activities held by Georgian Government and the civil sector for implementation of the UN Resolution.
The attendees discussed protracted conflict impact on women entailing abject poverty of their families, violation of their rights and problems in healthcare, education and employment.
The participants emphasized the mechanisms to enhance the participation of women in conflict resolution, post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding.
The conference was attended by the Members of Armenian Parliament and Government, local NGOs and international organizations.
Representatives of ‘It’s a Shame’ and ‘Change’ hold rally in parallel to Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
Representatives of ‘It’s a Shame’ and ‘Change’ organized a rally near the hotel Biltmore, where the 8th Ordinary Session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is being held.
Protesters say that they will cause discomfort to authorities until their demand for a proportional electoral system is met.
Law enforcement officers are mobilized for security on the spot.
Nino Burjanadze believes Russia has cut off flights to Georgia due to inadequate statements of President Zourabichvili
According to Nino Burjanadze, the leader of the United Georgia-Democratic Movement party, Russia has cut off flights to Georgia due to inadequate statements by President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili.
Burjanadze talked about it with one of the Russian broadcasting companies.
“I was pleased that Vladimir Putin did not take into account the Duma's decision to extend sanctions on Georgia. It was a very good, wise decision, not an emotional one. The flights between the countries were cut off because of absolutely inadequate statements by our president, Salome Zourabichvili, who blamed Russia for everything when Russia really had nothing to do with anything,” said Burjanadze.