The News in Brief
Friday, April 20
Bakradze: South Ossetian process not "elections"
Speaker of Parliament Davit Bakradze says it is impossible to call the South Ossetian processes elections, as more than half the population has been expelled.
He stated that the elections are not an expression of the free will of the population, as the territory is fully controlled by Russian occupation forces.
Bakradze told journalists that the elections cannot be declared legal until IDPs return to their homes and occupation troops leave the two Georgian breakaway regions.
He claims that this position is shared by the entire international community with the exception of Russia.
The South Ossetian presidential inauguration was held in Tskhinvali yesterday. More than 500 guests were invited to the ceremony, including the Chair of the Russian State Duma. (IPN)
Georgian MPs discuss parliamentary ethics with OSCE
Ethics Codes and Standards for MPs, a conference organized by the OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Bureau, was held at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace in Tbilisi yesterday.
Georgian Members of Parliament and OSCE country representatives attended the event to discuss the ethics standards of OSCE countries, including parliamentary ethics principles, challenges, and trends.
According to the Nathalie Tagwerker, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Democratization Department, the current Georgian ethics code, which was created in 2004, needs to be renewed. (IPN)
Gilauri meets with industrial leaders in Brazil
Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri met with the President of the Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo State, Paulo Skaf, during the former's working visit to Brazil. The two men discussed economic reforms, the energy sector, and the investment environment in Georgia.
Skaf hailed the tax liberalization regime carried out in Georgia. He said it would facilitate the solution of the unemployment problem in the country.
"Each step made by the Georgian government is important for the development of economics. Macroeconomic indexes are very good in the country and inflation is controllable," Skaf said after the meeting with the Georgian Prime Minister. He added that even this short audience with Gilauri was sufficient to say that Brazil is prepared for enhancing relations and cooperation with Georgia. (Rustavi 2)
American architect unveils Batumi Trump Tower
American architect John Fotiadis presented details of the Batumi Trump Tower and Tsinandali projects to journalists yesterday.
The construction of the Batumi Trump Tower will begin in a few days, after the arrival of American business mogul Donald Trump, who will visit Georgia from April 21-22. On the first day of his visit, Trump will hold meetings in Tbilisi, before attending the unveiling of the Batumi Trump Tower project.
The 47-storey building will include apartments, commercial areas, and a casino.
The Tsinandali project, meanwhile, includes rehabilitation of the area wine factory and construction of a new hotel. (Rustavi 2)
Anti-drug conference at the Ministry of Internal Affairs
Law enforcement representatives from 18 countries attended an international conference of a working group on combating drug smuggling.
This was the third such meeting of the working group, but the first held in Tbilisi although Georgia is the president country of the group.
The primary topic of discussion was an evaluation of the current dangers of drug smuggling, where each country presented a report on their own policies and activities. (Rustavi 2)
Energo-Pro Georgia completes re-metering process in nine villages
Energo-Pro Georgia has completed the individual re-metering process in nine villages, at a cost of 970 800 GEL.
Meters that meet European standards were installed in Tsugureti, Akhaltsikhe (294 customers), Gantiadi, Tsalka (179 customers), Serieti, Martvili (495 customers), Merjakheti, Akhalqalaki (82 customers), Sasireti, Kaspi (255 customers), Akhalsofeli, Mtskheta (255 customers), Akhalsofeli, Khelvachauri (501 customers), Karaleti, Gori (1 144 customers), and Akhalsheni, Khashuri (31 customers) – in total, 3 236 customers.
Along with re-metering, the company conducted electricity grid rehabilitation activities.
Energo-Pro estimates that by 2013 all homes in Georgia will be re-metered. (IPN)
Speaker of Parliament Davit Bakradze says it is impossible to call the South Ossetian processes elections, as more than half the population has been expelled.
He stated that the elections are not an expression of the free will of the population, as the territory is fully controlled by Russian occupation forces.
Bakradze told journalists that the elections cannot be declared legal until IDPs return to their homes and occupation troops leave the two Georgian breakaway regions.
He claims that this position is shared by the entire international community with the exception of Russia.
The South Ossetian presidential inauguration was held in Tskhinvali yesterday. More than 500 guests were invited to the ceremony, including the Chair of the Russian State Duma. (IPN)
Georgian MPs discuss parliamentary ethics with OSCE
Ethics Codes and Standards for MPs, a conference organized by the OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Bureau, was held at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace in Tbilisi yesterday.
Georgian Members of Parliament and OSCE country representatives attended the event to discuss the ethics standards of OSCE countries, including parliamentary ethics principles, challenges, and trends.
According to the Nathalie Tagwerker, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Democratization Department, the current Georgian ethics code, which was created in 2004, needs to be renewed. (IPN)
Gilauri meets with industrial leaders in Brazil
Prime Minister of Georgia Nika Gilauri met with the President of the Federation of Industries of Sao Paulo State, Paulo Skaf, during the former's working visit to Brazil. The two men discussed economic reforms, the energy sector, and the investment environment in Georgia.
Skaf hailed the tax liberalization regime carried out in Georgia. He said it would facilitate the solution of the unemployment problem in the country.
"Each step made by the Georgian government is important for the development of economics. Macroeconomic indexes are very good in the country and inflation is controllable," Skaf said after the meeting with the Georgian Prime Minister. He added that even this short audience with Gilauri was sufficient to say that Brazil is prepared for enhancing relations and cooperation with Georgia. (Rustavi 2)
American architect unveils Batumi Trump Tower
American architect John Fotiadis presented details of the Batumi Trump Tower and Tsinandali projects to journalists yesterday.
The construction of the Batumi Trump Tower will begin in a few days, after the arrival of American business mogul Donald Trump, who will visit Georgia from April 21-22. On the first day of his visit, Trump will hold meetings in Tbilisi, before attending the unveiling of the Batumi Trump Tower project.
The 47-storey building will include apartments, commercial areas, and a casino.
The Tsinandali project, meanwhile, includes rehabilitation of the area wine factory and construction of a new hotel. (Rustavi 2)
Anti-drug conference at the Ministry of Internal Affairs
Law enforcement representatives from 18 countries attended an international conference of a working group on combating drug smuggling.
This was the third such meeting of the working group, but the first held in Tbilisi although Georgia is the president country of the group.
The primary topic of discussion was an evaluation of the current dangers of drug smuggling, where each country presented a report on their own policies and activities. (Rustavi 2)
Energo-Pro Georgia completes re-metering process in nine villages
Energo-Pro Georgia has completed the individual re-metering process in nine villages, at a cost of 970 800 GEL.
Meters that meet European standards were installed in Tsugureti, Akhaltsikhe (294 customers), Gantiadi, Tsalka (179 customers), Serieti, Martvili (495 customers), Merjakheti, Akhalqalaki (82 customers), Sasireti, Kaspi (255 customers), Akhalsofeli, Mtskheta (255 customers), Akhalsofeli, Khelvachauri (501 customers), Karaleti, Gori (1 144 customers), and Akhalsheni, Khashuri (31 customers) – in total, 3 236 customers.
Along with re-metering, the company conducted electricity grid rehabilitation activities.
Energo-Pro estimates that by 2013 all homes in Georgia will be re-metered. (IPN)