The News in Brief
Thursday, June 21
Russia slams Finland for supporting Georgia
Chief of Staff of Russia`s Armed Forces, Nikolai Makarov accused Finland of supporting Georgia`s revengeful plans. Makarov delivered a speech at Helsinki University using this opportunity to slam Finland over its cooperation with NATO and Georgia. Makarov also said that the country`s cooperation with NATO presented a serious threat to Russia, urging the country to say no to cooperation with the NATO alliance and impose military cooperation only with Russia. Makarov`s allegations were promptly shot down by Finnish authorities. Finland`s Defense Minister said it was an independent country making decisions about cooperation with any organization including NATO independently. Finland`s president has also commented on Makarov`s statement saying it was based on incorrect analysis. (Rustavi 2)
New Rights demand solution to water problems in regions
One of the leaders of the New Rights Party, Pikria Chikhradze, summed-up the meeting of party leaders with people in Georgia`s regions and concluded that the greatest problem for the villages around the conflict zones of the country is the water supply. Chikhradze called on the government today to intensify its work aiming at eradicating water problems in the villages of Kordi, Kheltubani, Karaleti and Kirbali. The government has already allocated 1,700,000 GEL for a water system rehabilitation project. However, the opposition party believes these villages will have a bad harvest this year unless the water providing problems are eradicated promptly. (Rustavi 2)
Education Minister held video conference with teachers in Kutaisi
The Minister of Education of Georgia held a video conference with teachers in Kutaisi a month before the teachers` certification examinations. Along with Dimitri Shashkini, the director of the National Center of Teachers` Professional Development also answered the questions of pedagogues from Kutaisi. The questions mostly pertained to the tests, examinations, the preparation training and the new model of entrance exams. Teachers of various subjects participated in the online conference. The intensive training of teachers has been underway in Tbilisi and Kutaisi for past few months. About 41 thousand teachers, who want to pass the certification tests and raise their qualifications, have been registered in the center. (Rustavi 2)
Zurab Arsoshvili appointed as commercial director of Telasi
Zurab Arsoshvili, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, has been appointed as the Commercial Director of Telasi. This information was confirmed by the press service of the Energy Ministry. The press service did not specify the motive. It is not known yet who will be appointed as Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Prior to this appointment, Zurab Arsoshvili was an MP, the head of the National Guard Department and Shida Kartli governor. Telasi is one of the largest electric distribution companies in Georgia, and supplies more that 450,000 consumers with electricity in Tbilisi.
Recently, Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of Kartuli Otsneba (Georgian Dream), expressed a desire to buy shares in the company. (IPN)
Saakashvili opens new water complex in Rustavi
President Mikheil Saakashvili has opened a new water complex in Rustavi.
Saakashvili arrived at the opening of the complex along with orphan children. The president took the children to the complex himself. There are Olympic standard swimming pools, a fitness club and showers in the complex. By Mikheil Saakashvili’s initiation, all the best students from the public school can swim in the complex free of charge, while socially vulnerable people and IDPs will have 70% discount. One million GEL was allocated from the president’s fund for the construction of the complex. An additional one million GEL was spent by the regional administration. (IPN)
Health Care Minister views construction work of new hospital in Telavi
A new hospital intended for 70 patients will be constructed in the city of Telavi. The new clinic will provide stationary and ambulatory treatment to the local population. The multi-profile hospital will have 220 employees. Ten- million GEL will be invested in the construction of the new hospital and it will be opened in spring of 2013. (Rustavi 2)
Chief of Staff of Russia`s Armed Forces, Nikolai Makarov accused Finland of supporting Georgia`s revengeful plans. Makarov delivered a speech at Helsinki University using this opportunity to slam Finland over its cooperation with NATO and Georgia. Makarov also said that the country`s cooperation with NATO presented a serious threat to Russia, urging the country to say no to cooperation with the NATO alliance and impose military cooperation only with Russia. Makarov`s allegations were promptly shot down by Finnish authorities. Finland`s Defense Minister said it was an independent country making decisions about cooperation with any organization including NATO independently. Finland`s president has also commented on Makarov`s statement saying it was based on incorrect analysis. (Rustavi 2)
New Rights demand solution to water problems in regions
One of the leaders of the New Rights Party, Pikria Chikhradze, summed-up the meeting of party leaders with people in Georgia`s regions and concluded that the greatest problem for the villages around the conflict zones of the country is the water supply. Chikhradze called on the government today to intensify its work aiming at eradicating water problems in the villages of Kordi, Kheltubani, Karaleti and Kirbali. The government has already allocated 1,700,000 GEL for a water system rehabilitation project. However, the opposition party believes these villages will have a bad harvest this year unless the water providing problems are eradicated promptly. (Rustavi 2)
Education Minister held video conference with teachers in Kutaisi
The Minister of Education of Georgia held a video conference with teachers in Kutaisi a month before the teachers` certification examinations. Along with Dimitri Shashkini, the director of the National Center of Teachers` Professional Development also answered the questions of pedagogues from Kutaisi. The questions mostly pertained to the tests, examinations, the preparation training and the new model of entrance exams. Teachers of various subjects participated in the online conference. The intensive training of teachers has been underway in Tbilisi and Kutaisi for past few months. About 41 thousand teachers, who want to pass the certification tests and raise their qualifications, have been registered in the center. (Rustavi 2)
Zurab Arsoshvili appointed as commercial director of Telasi
Zurab Arsoshvili, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, has been appointed as the Commercial Director of Telasi. This information was confirmed by the press service of the Energy Ministry. The press service did not specify the motive. It is not known yet who will be appointed as Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Prior to this appointment, Zurab Arsoshvili was an MP, the head of the National Guard Department and Shida Kartli governor. Telasi is one of the largest electric distribution companies in Georgia, and supplies more that 450,000 consumers with electricity in Tbilisi.
Recently, Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of Kartuli Otsneba (Georgian Dream), expressed a desire to buy shares in the company. (IPN)
Saakashvili opens new water complex in Rustavi
President Mikheil Saakashvili has opened a new water complex in Rustavi.
Saakashvili arrived at the opening of the complex along with orphan children. The president took the children to the complex himself. There are Olympic standard swimming pools, a fitness club and showers in the complex. By Mikheil Saakashvili’s initiation, all the best students from the public school can swim in the complex free of charge, while socially vulnerable people and IDPs will have 70% discount. One million GEL was allocated from the president’s fund for the construction of the complex. An additional one million GEL was spent by the regional administration. (IPN)
Health Care Minister views construction work of new hospital in Telavi
A new hospital intended for 70 patients will be constructed in the city of Telavi. The new clinic will provide stationary and ambulatory treatment to the local population. The multi-profile hospital will have 220 employees. Ten- million GEL will be invested in the construction of the new hospital and it will be opened in spring of 2013. (Rustavi 2)