Daily News December 25, 2002	Days:  23 24 25 26 27

politics

SUPREME COURT DEMANDS ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION OF THE DETAINED CHECEHNS’ CASE

Today the Supreme Court resolved that Tbilisi’s District Court consider the reopened case. The Prosecutor General’s Office is charged to submit the supplementary evidence.

economics

TBILISI AND BATUMI DECIDE TO SET UP A JOINT COMMISSION TO DEAL WITH BUDGET PROBLEMS

State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze, Finance Minister Mirian Gogiashvili and Minister of Social Welfare, Labor and Health Amiran Gamkrelidze visited Ajara yesterday to consider together with the Ajara authorities problems the center and the autonomy has faced in terms of the budget.

The delegation met with Aslan Abashidze, the Ajara leader, and returned back to Tbilisi this morning.




UNITED DEMOCRATS FAIL TO ACHIEVE CONSIDERATION OF MINIMUM WAGES IN THE FIRST PLACE

Parliament today did not support Zurab Zhvania the United Democrats leader’s demand to change the agenda of the extraordinary session and considered the party’s proposal on the increase of minimum wages first.

Therefore, Parliament will consider first the draft budget-2003 (roughly on December 26).




CHANGES TO TAXATION ON CEREAL PRODUCTS CONFIRMED

Parliament today confirmed changes to the taxation regulations in the third reading at an extraordinary session.

For baking bread a fixed tax of 270 Lari a month will be introduced on one square meter of the plant space with the total site of 20 m (the current tax amounts to 320 Lari) and 200 Lari for one square meter when the territory makes up from 3 to 20 meters.




WINE MATERIALS EXPORT CUT, FINISHED PRODUCTS EXPORT INCREASED, SAMTREST DEPARTMENT SAYS

According to the Samtrest Department, for the past 11 months of the current year the Georgian alcoholic production has been exported in 23 countries, against last year’s 19.

The wine and wine materials export composed 1.37 million decalitres against above 1.39 last year.

business

ENERGY WHOLESALE MARKET’S ACCOUNT RELEASED

The Energy Wholesale Market told Sarke that the arrest on the account of this organization, blocked at the creditor’s demand, has been released “thank to the interference of Georgia’s President’s and the Fuel and Energy Minster”.

This enabled the Energy Market to transfer 300,000 Lari for purchasing fuel for the 9^th energy block of the basic for the capital thermal power station (AES Mtkvari).




RUSTAVI METALLURGIC PLANT’S ITALIAN INVESTORS TO ARRIVE IN JANUARY

Originally, the Italians’ visit was scheduled at the end of the current year. However, Sergo Toprakashvili, the head of the Economy, Industry and Trade Ministry’s department, told Sarke, now the Italian Ares Export-Import representatives’ visit is expected in January.




BRITISH AND TURKISH AIR COMPANIES WILL PAY ADMINISTRATION FEES, SAYS TRANSPORT MINISTRY

Merab Gabunia, the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ adviser, told Sarke Georgia had reached an agreement with British Mediterranean and Turkish Airlines on monthly payment of administration fees.

The action followed a claim raised by the Civil Aviation Administration of the Ministry earlier for not paying taxes by air companies operating in Georgia.