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The News in Brief

Wednesday, November 20
By Lizi Zurabiani



Defense Minister Irakli Gharibashvili visits Fort Benning, US

Minister of Defense of Georgia started his visit to the USA in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Irakli Gharibashvili visited Fort Benning Training Center, after which he met with Major General Gary M. Baker, Commander of the Center. Brigadier General and 1st Brigade Commander of the Security Forces, Brigadier General Scott A. Brock. He held meetings with Jackson and heard presentations on officer and sergeant training and infrastructural development.

The Defense Minister attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Museum of Infantry at Fort Benning and at the Soldier Center and paid tribute to the memory of Georgian and American peacekeepers killed in Iraqi combat operations.

"The names of two Georgian peacekeepers - Corporal Zurab Gvenetadze and Lieutenant Giorgi Margiev - are engraved alongside American comrades at a memorial located thousands of miles from Georgia to the US National Museum of Infantry in Georgia, USA, showing their bravery and sacrifice," said Irakli Gharibashvili, at the ceremony and paid tribute to the memory of the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for freedom, protection of common values, protection and preservation of democratic values around the world. "Thanks to our brave soldiers, we stand proudly today and strive for a safer and more prosperous future," Irakli Gharibashvili concluded with a speech at the National Infantry Museum's wreath-laying ceremony.

Georgian peacekeepers - Lieutenant Giorgi Margiev and Corporal Zurab Gvenetadze were killed in a car bomb attack near Baghdad, Iraq, on May 2, 2008. Both were serving in the 13th Infantry Battalion of the Georgian Armed Forces.



Georgian wine presented at the international exhibition in France

The annual Salon Savim Automne Wine and Gastronomy Festival was held in Marseille, France. With the support of the National Wine Agency and organized by LE PONT CAUCASIEN, the agency's contractor, 12 wine cellars from Georgia were presented.

Salon Savim Automne, with its 30-year history, is considered one of the most prestigious events in France, featuring high-quality products. The festival is attended by wine importers and commercials, as well as wine consumers from all over the world.

The wine companies participating in the festival also represent different countries of the world, with a total of 100,000 visitors.

According to the National Wine Agency, interest in Georgian wines in France, especially in pitcher wines, has been increasing in recent years.

The presentation of Georgian wines at Salon Savim Automne will further promote the popularization and popularity of Georgian wines internationally," the agency said.



Rally held in support of Vazha Gaprindashvili at US Embassy

A rally was held in support of Vazha Gaprindashvili, a doctor detained by the occupation regime at the US Embassy. Members of the rally called on the occupation regime to release the Georgian doctor in both Georgian and Ossetian languages. They also sent a letter to a representative of the US Embassy.

“Today the Georgian Clinic Association is appealing to the US Embassy and the EU Embassy to overthrow our solidarity with Vazha Gaprindashvili, a colleague of ours who was arrested while performing his professional duties. We, the medical community, are opposed to any kind of violence, and therefore demand that our colleague be released from Tskhinvali isolator in a timely manner. I call on our Ossetian colleagues - dear friends, please stand by us and release our Georgian counterpart from the isolator. I would like to address them in both Georgian and Ossetian languages. We will be able to release Vazha Gaprindashvili together,” said Professor Willy Pachkoria, President of the Georgian Clinic Associations.



Fire broke out in Mestia, Ether and Tskhumi forests

Fire broke out in Mestia, Ether and Tskhumi forests on November 19th. 45 firefighters were working there from the morning. According to Tamaz Khetsuriani, the governor of Tskhumi, the fire had been localized, but there were still hearths. He said that about 3-4 hectares of forest were burnt.

As for Ezer. According to the village trustee, the forest cover is burnt to 5-6 hectares here. According to village officials, the fire mainly burnt dried leaves.

Due to the difficult geographical location, the process of extinguishing the fire was complicated. According to locals, the fire broke out on the night of November 19th.

The fires are several kilometers from the settlement and at this point, the population is not in danger.