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The News in Brief

Wednesday, August 25
Landslide damages house in Gurjaani

One wing of a house in the Gurjaani district, Kakheti Region was ruined in last night's landslide. Five people, among them children, were inside the building, when part of it began to shake and collapsed, but luckily no-one was injured.

The family told the Kakheti Information Centre that the area where they reside is a dangerous area in constant threat of landslide.

The governor of Gurjaani municipality, Shota Utiashvili met with the Iaganashvili family and promised to compensate the damage. (Rustavi 2)



NABUCCO Gas Pipeline to get Gas via Georgia and Iraq

The Nabucco gas pipeline will get gas via Georgia and Iraq – states the press release of “Nabucco Gas Pipeline”

“Nabucco” officials mentioned two ways of supplying the gas pipeline – at the Turkey-Georgia and Turkey-Iraq borders.

The pipeline will get gas via Georgia from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iraq. One more line – via the border of Turkey-Iran is not planned yet.

The total capacity of the gas pipeline is 31 billion cubic metres. Initially Europe will get 17 billion cubic meters of fuel through “Nabucco”.

“Nabucco” is thought to be the main competitor for the Russian gas pipeline “South Stream”. It will begin working in 2014. In autumn 2010 the EU will give the final decision on the project. (Interpressnews)



Basketball team leaves for Portugal

Georgia's national basketball team left for Portugal on Tuesday. On August 26, the sportsmen will play a qualifying match with Portugal for the 2011 European Championship in the city of Guimaraes. The team will field its leading players. The game is decisive for Georgia – they can only progress if they win.

Georgia defeated the Portuguese team at home on August 11. (Rustavi 2)



Rescuers save a drowning teenager

Rescuers saved a 15-year old boy from drowning in the Mtkvari River on Tuesday. The incident happened in Rustavi. Tato Kelenjeridze fell into the river, but rescuers managed to get him onto the river bank in time. According to his doctors, the teenager has badly injured his spine; he underwent surgery at Tbilisi Republican Hospital. (GHN)



So called Russian Embassy in Tskhinvali to open by 2012

The so called Russian Embassy building in Tskhinvali will be completed by 2012, the information agency RES reported. Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin personally signed the document allocating funds for constructing the so called Russian embassy premises in Tskhinvali. “After a long process of planning, agreeing projects and announcing tenders a happy moment has arrived – the construction of Russian Embassy complex has started in Tskhinvali,” the so called ambassador of Russia to de facto South Ossetia, Elbrus Kargiev told journalists. (Interpressnews)



Regional Development and Infrastructure Ministry starts winter preparations

Regional Development and Infrastructure Ministry has announced the start of winter season preparations. Roads and water system rehabilitation works are underway in Bakuriani. The Minister, Ramaz Nikolaishvili visited a road reconstruction site in Bakuriani on August 24. The rehabilitation works on Bakuriani 3 km-long circular section of road, as well as the 2.6 km-long road section to the Didveli ski complex should be completed by the beginning of winter season. (GHN)



City Assembly chairperson answers journalists' questions

The chairman of the Tbilisi City Assembly [Sakrebulo] answered the journalists' questions at Prime Time Press club yesterday. Zaal Samadashvili focused on the role of the local governments and the role of the opposition, which he said had serious chances to join the process of governance. He said his goal was to regulate relations with the opposition in the Sakrebulo and cooperate with them.

"Only with partner relations is it possible to implement essential projects without obstruction," Samadashvili said.

Zaal Samadashvili spoke about the street traders’ issue, after the government prohibited street trading. He tried to justify the decision of the government in response to the rallies which have been taking place since the decision was brought in force.

"This decision would have been unjust if the street traders had not been offered alternative places for trading in various markets of the city," Samadashvili said.

As for the problems of the IDPs, Samadashvili said that he was not aware of problems in the IDP compact settlements; however, if such problems were topical, they should be solved as soon as possible. (Rustavi 2)