The News in Brief
Wednesday, November 5
Alasania makes urgent statement
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania made a special statement in the evening on November 4, appealing to the Georgian Dream coalition to call a Political Council Sitting of the Georgian Dream coalition.
Alasania stresses that the ongoing current developments regarding the Defense Ministry are “obviously politically motivated.”
“Defsense Ministry is a direct link between Georgia, NATO and European Union. Taking into account that the situation concerns Georgia’s way to European and NATO space, I appeal to the Georgian Dream Political Council to sit and discuss the issue together,” Alasania said. (The Messenger)
Landslides hit several villages of Guria
Landslides have hit several villages of Guria as a result of heavy rain and wind. Electricity was cut to some areas and infrastructural problems occurred. The natural disaster damaged Tamaz Markoidze’s house in the village of Nagomari. Part of a balcony collapsed because of the extreme weather.
The villages of Gurianta, Meria, Kontchkati and Khvarbeti were barely provided with electricity. Governor of Guria Giorgi Chkhaidze visited the places where problems emerged.
Giorgi Chkhaidze visited the damaged territory at Gabriel Archbishop Street in Ozurgeti. Later he arrived in the village of Erketi, Chokhatauri municipality in order to see the damaged places.
“The natural disaster mostly damaged the Chokhatauri municipality. Landslide hit near a convent. Four families were in danger but we have already evacuated them. These families will temporarily live with their relatives. Geologists will study the territories where landslides occurred,’’- Chkhaidze stated.
Cleaning efforts have been underway. All villages of Guria have been provided with electricity. (IPN)
National security policy to be determined by Security and Crisis Management Council
Georgia’s security policy will be determined by the Security and Crisis Management Council.
According to the Georgian government’s legislative initiative, the National Security Council of Georgia will be deprived of its right to determine the security policy of Georgia.
“The government has undertaken the responsibility for security issues; accordingly, the Prime Minister made the right decision and set up the Security and Crisis Management Council. There are a number of issues in the country which should be regulated in accordance with the legislation; all of these issues will be reflected in this new bill”, Chairman of the Georgian Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee, Irakli Sesiashvili said on Tuesday. (Frontnews)
Georgia rejects elections in Donetsk and Lugansk, Ukraine
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry (MFA) has condemned Sunday's so-called leadership vote in Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
The MFA called the elections "non-legitimate” and said holding the elections represented total disrespect and neglect of the fundamental principles of international law and the Ukrainian legislation.
"These provocative actions that have nothing in common with the citizens’ free expression of will, hinder the peaceful resolution of the current situation in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions,” the Ministry said.
Western governments and the United Nations also denounced the so-called elections and said the vote violated the terms of a ceasefire agreement signed by Russia, Ukraine and rebel leaders in September, which envisioned local elections being held under Ukrainian laws.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that organizers of the vote said Alexander Zakharchenko, a 38-year-old former mining electrician, had easily won the election as head of the "Donetsk People's Republic", an entity proclaimed by armed rebels in the days after they seized key buildings in cities of Ukraine's Russian-speaking east last April. (agenda.ge)
Government’s response to EPP
As the Deputy PM Kakha Kaladze said while commenting on the statement made by the "People's Party", all are equal before the law, including the former senior officials.
"It is impossible to turn a blind eye to the crimes committed by the former government officials. If they are not punished, any senior official may also commit similar crimes under the new government. I do not think that everything depends on the "People's Party" in Europe, since you know the European countries’ attitude with regard to Georgia. We are a country that claims to become a full-fledged member of the great family which is called Europe in the near future,"- Kakha Kaladze said. The "People's Party" members say that if the arrest of the ex-government officials does not stop, they will not support ratification of the Georgia-EU AA deal. (Pia.ge)
Embassy of Switzerland invites bids for 2015 Small Grants program
As in previous years, in 2015 the Swiss Embassy will support a number of small projects in Georgia. The Embassy of Switzerland is contributing to a sustainable and democratic development in Georgia with its “Small Grants” program. Every year, a number of local small-scale projects are identified and financed by the Embassy and consequently implemented by proactive and experienced actors of the Georgian civil society. This program is a useful complementary instrument to long-term development projects and a flexible tool to respond to local needs. The projects mainly address democratization and rule of law, protection of human rights and sustainable development.
For further information on the selection criteria and the bidding process as well as the information event to be in the end of November, please consult the official website of the Swiss Embassy: http://www.eda.admin.ch/tbilisi
Interested organizations are invited to apply for a grant by sending their project proposal by 15 December 2014 at latest.
Swiss support in securing sustainable development in Georgia has a long tradition. The Swiss Development Cooperation for the South Caucasus emerged in the late 80s with humanitarian aid. A few years later, in 1996, a new regional office was opened in Georgia with the task of coordinating the Swiss-funded aid activities.
Its projects address long -term development needs. (IPN)
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania made a special statement in the evening on November 4, appealing to the Georgian Dream coalition to call a Political Council Sitting of the Georgian Dream coalition.
Alasania stresses that the ongoing current developments regarding the Defense Ministry are “obviously politically motivated.”
“Defsense Ministry is a direct link between Georgia, NATO and European Union. Taking into account that the situation concerns Georgia’s way to European and NATO space, I appeal to the Georgian Dream Political Council to sit and discuss the issue together,” Alasania said. (The Messenger)
Landslides hit several villages of Guria
Landslides have hit several villages of Guria as a result of heavy rain and wind. Electricity was cut to some areas and infrastructural problems occurred. The natural disaster damaged Tamaz Markoidze’s house in the village of Nagomari. Part of a balcony collapsed because of the extreme weather.
The villages of Gurianta, Meria, Kontchkati and Khvarbeti were barely provided with electricity. Governor of Guria Giorgi Chkhaidze visited the places where problems emerged.
Giorgi Chkhaidze visited the damaged territory at Gabriel Archbishop Street in Ozurgeti. Later he arrived in the village of Erketi, Chokhatauri municipality in order to see the damaged places.
“The natural disaster mostly damaged the Chokhatauri municipality. Landslide hit near a convent. Four families were in danger but we have already evacuated them. These families will temporarily live with their relatives. Geologists will study the territories where landslides occurred,’’- Chkhaidze stated.
Cleaning efforts have been underway. All villages of Guria have been provided with electricity. (IPN)
National security policy to be determined by Security and Crisis Management Council
Georgia’s security policy will be determined by the Security and Crisis Management Council.
According to the Georgian government’s legislative initiative, the National Security Council of Georgia will be deprived of its right to determine the security policy of Georgia.
“The government has undertaken the responsibility for security issues; accordingly, the Prime Minister made the right decision and set up the Security and Crisis Management Council. There are a number of issues in the country which should be regulated in accordance with the legislation; all of these issues will be reflected in this new bill”, Chairman of the Georgian Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee, Irakli Sesiashvili said on Tuesday. (Frontnews)
Georgia rejects elections in Donetsk and Lugansk, Ukraine
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry (MFA) has condemned Sunday's so-called leadership vote in Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
The MFA called the elections "non-legitimate” and said holding the elections represented total disrespect and neglect of the fundamental principles of international law and the Ukrainian legislation.
"These provocative actions that have nothing in common with the citizens’ free expression of will, hinder the peaceful resolution of the current situation in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions,” the Ministry said.
Western governments and the United Nations also denounced the so-called elections and said the vote violated the terms of a ceasefire agreement signed by Russia, Ukraine and rebel leaders in September, which envisioned local elections being held under Ukrainian laws.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that organizers of the vote said Alexander Zakharchenko, a 38-year-old former mining electrician, had easily won the election as head of the "Donetsk People's Republic", an entity proclaimed by armed rebels in the days after they seized key buildings in cities of Ukraine's Russian-speaking east last April. (agenda.ge)
Government’s response to EPP
As the Deputy PM Kakha Kaladze said while commenting on the statement made by the "People's Party", all are equal before the law, including the former senior officials.
"It is impossible to turn a blind eye to the crimes committed by the former government officials. If they are not punished, any senior official may also commit similar crimes under the new government. I do not think that everything depends on the "People's Party" in Europe, since you know the European countries’ attitude with regard to Georgia. We are a country that claims to become a full-fledged member of the great family which is called Europe in the near future,"- Kakha Kaladze said. The "People's Party" members say that if the arrest of the ex-government officials does not stop, they will not support ratification of the Georgia-EU AA deal. (Pia.ge)
Embassy of Switzerland invites bids for 2015 Small Grants program
As in previous years, in 2015 the Swiss Embassy will support a number of small projects in Georgia. The Embassy of Switzerland is contributing to a sustainable and democratic development in Georgia with its “Small Grants” program. Every year, a number of local small-scale projects are identified and financed by the Embassy and consequently implemented by proactive and experienced actors of the Georgian civil society. This program is a useful complementary instrument to long-term development projects and a flexible tool to respond to local needs. The projects mainly address democratization and rule of law, protection of human rights and sustainable development.
For further information on the selection criteria and the bidding process as well as the information event to be in the end of November, please consult the official website of the Swiss Embassy: http://www.eda.admin.ch/tbilisi
Interested organizations are invited to apply for a grant by sending their project proposal by 15 December 2014 at latest.
Swiss support in securing sustainable development in Georgia has a long tradition. The Swiss Development Cooperation for the South Caucasus emerged in the late 80s with humanitarian aid. A few years later, in 1996, a new regional office was opened in Georgia with the task of coordinating the Swiss-funded aid activities.
Its projects address long -term development needs. (IPN)