Daily News December 16, 2002	Days:  12 13 16 19 20

politics

PRESIDENT LOOKING TO THE THAW IN RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

During today’s radio interview President Eduard Shevardnadze apprized as a positive factor, the concurrence of the appointment of Vladimir Chkhikvishvili, Russia’s new ambassador to Georgia, with the “thaw in the relations” between the two countries. At the same time, he expressed his hope that “this trend of thaw will gain ground”.




AZERBAIJAN WORRIED ABOUT TAKING RUSSIAN MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO ARMENIA FROM GEORGIA

Azeri Defense Minister Safar Aliyev, who is visiting Tbilisi, expressed his concern over the shipment of military equipment at a meeting with Parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze today. He said such activities would not contribute to the conflict settlement in the region.




HEAD OF ABKHAZIAN GOVERNMENT IN EXILE CALLS FOR RADICAL MEASURES

Tamaz Nadareishvili, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz Autonomous Republic, has said Georgia should officially declare that the country has exhausted all efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict with Abkhazia and put into force Article 7 of the UN Chart that calls for special sanctions and blockade of separatists.

Nadareishvili told Parliament today, Georgia should declare about that on January 31, when the UN Security Council considers Abkhazia’s problems.

economics

BRANCH ECONOMY COMMITTEE SUPPORTS PROPOSAL TO SHUT DOWN STATE PROPERTY MINISTRY

Demur Giorkhelidze, head of the Parliamentary Branch Economy Commission, approves of the proposal to shut down the State Property Management Ministry and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry.

Giorkhelidze said the enterprises to be privatized are large and the process should be considered not separately but within the range of the country’s economic policy.




ABKHAZIAN TRADE UNIONS CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT FOR PROPERTY

According to Financial Abkhazia information agency, Azaret Aiba, the leader of Abkhazia’s trade union movement, in his open letter to the Parliament Speaker Nugzar Ashuba demanded that the property, owned by the Abkhazian trade unions before the war of 1992-1993, be transferred to the Abkhazia’s independent federation of trade unions. Otherwise, they threaten strikes and protest actions.




GEORGIAN BEEKEEPERS TO COOPERATE WITH TURKISH PARTNERS

Kote Khutsaidze, the head of the Agriculture and Food Ministry’s department, told Sarke, that the Georgian side had sent a written agreement to the Turkish side, on establishing in Ajara an association on growing the queen bees, which will be delivered to Turkey.

Khutsaidze noted that the Turkish side is also practicing the queen bees growing, which yields about 10, 000 yearly, yet the demand in this country makes up about 150,000.

business

BAKU-TBILISI-ERZERUM GAS-MAIN CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DECIDED IN FEBRUARY, SAYS PRESIDENT

President Eduard Shevardnadze said in a radio interview today there were no doubts regarding confirming the construction of the pipeline and the question would be decided in February. At the moment, talks are under way.




PRESIDENT SUPPORTS TRANSFERRING TBILGAZ UNDER CITY GOVERNMENT CONTROL

Eduard Shevardnadze told a briefing today that the decree on transferring JSC Tbilgaz, Tbilisi’s gas distributor, under the competence of the Mayor’s Office had been prepared. He added the Tbilisi Mayor’s Office and Sakrebulo (city self-government body) were to come up with a mechanism for the efficient management of Tbilgaz and the government “has helped and will held in case of problems”.




TENDER ON SERVICE OF ALLOWANCES FOR REFUGEES TO BE ANNOUNCED AFRESH

A tender on the bank service of allowances for refugees is due to be announced by the end of December, Sarke has been told at the Ministry of Refugees Affairs and Placement. The tender is the third one to be held this year.