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The News in Brief

Tuesday, March 25
Georgia’s European integration to be accelerated

Georgia's European integration will be accelerated and the quality of close cooperation with NATO will improve, the chairman of Georgian parliament, David Usupashvili said.

Usupashvili made the remark on March 24 at the final press conference held in Brussels, where he took part in an international conference of the German Marshall Fund.

"European integration of Georgia will be accelerated and the quality of close cooperation with NATO will improve. This is a general opinion, I have become convinced of this at all the meetings," Usupashvili stressed.

He said Georgia was one of the main topics of the conference.
(Trend)



Georgia, U.S. discuss deepening of military cooperation

Georgia and the United States discussed the deepening of military cooperation.

Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania met on March 22 with the U.S. Congressman, Michael Rogers.

The parties discussed issues regarding deepening the military cooperation within the U.S.-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership.

Alasania thanked the U.S. side for political and practical assistance provided to Georgia and spoke about the current reforms and long-term development plan of the Georgian armed forces and the process of integration to the NATO.
(Trend)



Georgian delegation is in Geneva for international talks

The delegation of the government of Georgia is already in Geneva preparing for the next round of the internationally mediated peace talks on Georgian-Russian conflict. The situation in the breakaway regions and the concerning process of installation of barbwire fences on these territories are still the most topical issues on the agenda of the negotiations. The Georgian delegation also plans to focus on the travel bans for the residents of the occupied territories.
(Rustavi 2)



EU lawmakers to hold meetings in Tbilisi

A delegation of EU lawmakers visited Georgia to participate in the 16th meeting of the EU-Georgia parliamentary cooperation committee.

The issues on the agenda are the peaceful solution of the conflicts on the territory of Georgia, as well as the economic, political and social situation in Georgia.

The delegation is expected to hold meetings with the Georgian Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice within the visit.
(Rustavi 2)



Georgian soldiers in NATO-Ukraine military exercise

Georgian soldiers are participating in a two-week joint NATO-Ukraine military exercise in eastern Bulgaria, 400 km from Crimea.

The exercise, which started Friday is called Saber Guardian and has been planned for about a year.

It involves 700 soldiers from 12 countries. In addition to Georgia, they are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and the United States, in addition to 15 Ukrainian staff officers and representatives from NATO.

According to Jesse Granger, US Army Europe Spokesperson, the exercise aims at increasing regional flexibility, preserving and enhancing NATO interoperability, as well as facilitating multinational training.

The exercise involves peace support operations and humanitarian assistance and is aimed at senior-level staff, he says.

The location of the exercise is 400 km from Sevastopol, Crimea.
(Democracy & Freedom Watch)



Lawyer arrested for swindling

MIA Anti-Corruption Agency has arrested the member of Georgian Bar Association, Malkhaz Shvidbitchashvili for swindling committed in large quantities.

The investigation established that Shvidbitchashvili promised a certain citizen to annul results of the auction and return the land area to him and demanded $50,000 USD for bribing high-rank officials of the Supreme Court.

Detainee received $25,000 USD in October of 2012 and $15,000 USD in February of 2013 from the mentioned citizen in order to win the trial at the court.

The investigation is in progress on the fact of swindling committed in large quantities, Article 180. III part, sub-paragraph B of the Criminal Code. The committed crime envisages from 6 to 9 years of imprisonment.
(Rustavi 2)



Judo

There was more glory for Georgia's male competitors on the final day of the Tbilisi Grand Prix as they won another two gold medals to seal their place atop the medals table.

Dusseldorf Grand Prix bronze medallist Zviad Gogotchuri was the first to have the crowd on their feet, as he bested Italy's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winner Walter Facente in the men's under 90 kilogram event.

Stepping up after team-mate Varlam Liparteliani was ruled out through injury, Gogotchri put in a fine performance to hold down the Italian with yoko-shiho-gatame, after throwing him for waza-ari, to enable the hosts to leapfrog Russia at the head of the medals table.
(Insidethegames.biz)