NEW FINANCE MINISTER TALKS ABOUT GAP IN THE BUDGET AND MEASURES TO FILL IT
(Daily News: December 2, 2003)
Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli held the first news briefing today to report on the budget and measures to provide collection of revenues.
Nogaideli said the annual plan of revenues of the budget-2003 had been performed by 74% and a gap in the revenue part and deficit coverage sources would reach 286 million lari by the end of the year.
FINANCE MINISTRY CALCULATES INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
(Daily News: December 2, 2003)
According to the Finance Ministry, total amount of money donors will provide for holding new elections in Georgia is 5.3 million EUR.
The Ministry expects additional 5 million EUR in December-January from the European Commission as part of the Food Security Program, which was suspended this year.
SOCIALISTS NOT SATISFIED WITH COMPOSITION OF ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS
(Daily News: December 2, 2003)
Irakli Mindeli, head of the Parliamentary faction of Socialists, accuses the new authorities of monopolizing the electoral system. After appointing new members, the “de facto authorities broke balance” and now are having the majority in electoral commissions, he told a news briefing today.
NEW STATE MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT NEW STYLE OF RULE
(Daily News: December 1, 2003)
Zurab Zhvania, the leader of Democrats party, and the State Minister since last week, thinks “fundamental change of a ruling system” is essential.
Zhvania told a news briefing today, he did not mean redecoration and a “new style of management” but an “absolutely new personnel policy”.
13 CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENCY
(Daily News: December 1, 2003)
Georgia has already 13 candidates to run for presidency with a few days more that one month left before presidential elections. Among them are Mikhail Saakashvili, the head of the National Movement, Igor Giorgadze, the ex-security minister, wanted by the former authorities of Georgia on charges of terrorism, Kartlos Garibashvili, a well-known lawyer, Temur Shashiashvili, a former representative of the president in Imereti region.
ROSES AND THORNS
(Weekly Press Digest: November 30, 2003)
Red Roses have become the symbol of opposition protests in Tbilisi where streamers praising the revolution of roses have been strung out, writes 24 Saati on the following day of the November 23 developments.
The euphoria has abated and the provision government has been left faced with number of tough issues.
NUMBER OF POLITICAL PARTIES DOUBT LEGITIMACY OF INTERIM GOVERNMENT AND WARN OF PROBLEMS IN AJARA
(Daily News: November 27, 2003)
A number of deputies from the pro-governmental alliance attended the second session of the Parliament today, unlike the previous one, and estimated November 23 development as a “coup”.
Vakhtang Rcheulishvili, the leader of Socialists refusing to take part in Parliament’s work, also appeared to state his stance.
KEY OFFICES TAKEN OVER BY REPRESENTATIVES OF BURJANADZE-DEMOCRATS
(Daily News: November 27, 2003)
At a Parliament session today Zurab Zhvania (ex-speaker of the Parliament) was elected State Minister, Zurab Nogaideli - Finance Minister (who was already on the post in 2000-2002) and Giorgi Baramidze - Interior Minister (he headed the Parliament’s Defense and Security Committee for some time). The MPs supported all candidates unanimously.
FRIGHT CARRIAGES KEEP ON MOVING TO BATUMI DIRECTION
(Daily News: November 26, 2003)
Fright carriages keep on moving to the direction of Batumi despite a state of emergency declared in the Ajara Autonomous Republic, Sarke has been told in the press service of the Railway Department. Yet, some problems have emerged, like a delay in discharging carriages in Batumi.
ACTING PRESIDENT DISCUSSES GEORGIAN ECONOMIC SITUATION WITH HEAD OF IMF REPRESENTATION
(Daily News: November 26, 2003)
Today the acting president of the country Nino Burjanadze met with Jonathan Dunn, head of the IMF representation in Georgia.
After the meeting, Dunn told journalists, they considered overall economic situation in the country and the prospects for IMF’s assistance.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT LEADER TO RUN FOR PRESIDENCY
(Daily News: November 26, 2003)
Mikheil Saakashvili, the National Movement leader, has been nominated as a presidential candidate by the united opposition (the alliances Saakashvili – National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats) in the forthcoming presidential elections to take place on January 4.
Acting President Nino Burjanadze told a special briefing about the decision of the alliances made in order to “jointly take responsibility for the future fate of the state”.
PROPORTIONAL ELECTION RESULTS CANCELLED, DATE OF NEW PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS NOT SET YET
(Daily News: November 25, 2003)
Today the Supreme Court ruled ineffective results of the voting conducted according to a proportional system (party lists) in the November 2 Parliamentary elections and an appropriate order by the Central Election Commission (CEC).
The decision followed the suit filed by Fair Elections, a non-governmental organization, the Association of Young Lawyers and the alliances Saakashvili-National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats.
PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE RESIGNS, NEW PRESIDENT TO BE ELECTED IN 45 DAYS
(Daily News: November 24, 2003)
President Eduard Shevardnadze demonstrating intension of staying at the post until last day resigned on November 23 at about 9 p.m. “I have never betrayed my people, but now it is better for the president to resign”, to avoid sacrifice and bloodshed, commented President his own decision to the journalists at the Krtsanisi government residence.
The decision was made amid continual protests of thousands of supporters of Saakashvili-National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats and as a result of consultations with the leaders of these oppositional alliances.
6,000 TONNES OF AMERICAN WHEAT SOLD AT EXCHANGE
(Daily News: November 21, 2003)
Today the Tbilisi Grain and Oil Exchange has traded with the American humanitarian wheat for the second time and sold 2,880 tonnes. During trading last week, it sold 3,120 tonnes.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND BURJANADZE-DEMOCRATS NOT RECOGNIZE ELECTION RESULTS
(Daily News: November 20, 2003)
The November 2 Parliamentary election results were “completely rigged”, National Movement Leader Mikheil Saakashvili, who does not recognize newly elected Parliament’s legitimacy, has said.
Saakashvili told a news conference today his intention to oppose to the gathering of a new Parliament and arrange population’s protests in the regions.
OPPOSITION LEADER CALLS FOR POPULATION’S SUPPORT
(Daily News: November 13, 2003)
National Movement leader Mikheil Saakashvili today called for all citizens of the country to join the protest rally of the opposition on November 14.
Saakashvili claims only one way remains for the opposition – to go ahead with the protests until the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze, who is going to “transfer authority “velvetly” to the dictator regime”, to Ajara leader Aslan Abashidze.
NATELASHVILI APPEALS TO PRESIDENT AND PROTESTING OPPOSITION LEADERS TO GIVE UP POLITICAL ACTIVITY
(Daily News: November 12, 2003)
Shalva Natelashvili, the Laborists Party leader, has drawn up a memorandum for the President Eduard Shevardnadze and the opposition leaders Mikheil Saakashvili, Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Zhvania, who have protested at rigging elections.
It is said in the memorandum that Shevardnadze, Saakashvili, Burjanadze and Zhvania acknowledge “responsibility for causing economic crisis, which will inevitably lead to civil confrontation”, announce “about stopping political activity” and will not participate in any elections in the future.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN PRESIDENT AND OPPOSITION FAILS, WHILE BATUMI AND TBILISI COME TO UNDERSTANDING
(Daily News: November 10, 2003)
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze met the opposition leaders on November 9 amid continuing rallies in Tbilisi held by National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats alliances, which blame the authorities for rigging the November 2 Parliamentary elections.
President Eduard Shevardnadze told journalists it had been his initiative to hold the meeting and that it was “intensive, but a bit tense”.
FAIR ELECTIONS HAVE DOUBTS OVER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RESULTS IN AJARA
(Daily News: November 7, 2003)
According to Fair Elections, a non-government organization, the population’s involvement in the November 2 Parliamentary elections in Ajara is around 50%, not 94%, as stated officially.
Fair Elections does not see any legal means to solve the problem in Ajara and point to the political nature of the question.
BURJANADZE-DEMOCRATS REFUSES TO GO INTO PARLIAMENT
(Daily News: November 7, 2003)
The leaders of Burjanadze-Democrats alliance do not acknowledge the legitimacy of a new Parliament due to rigging the November 2 Parliamentary elections.
The alliance will not go into the Parliament appointed by “the Georgian authorities” and “not “expressing the population’s will”, Nino Burjanadze told a news conference today.
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