http://georgiatimes.info/?lang=enGeorgiaTimes.infohttp://www.georgiatimes.info/pix/logo100en.gifhttp://georgiatimes.info/?lang=enhttp://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/32410.htmlGeorgia is again in distress - now over mass media. There have been no new fake stories on Georgian TV – apparently due to reproaches from the international community, but a Georgian journalist dared to spoil the reputation of “the beacon of democracy” seeking political asylum for his family to escape threats from authorities.Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:30:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/32204.htmlThe scandal with the TV piece about the staged war broadcasted by the Imedi TV channel has not yet faded away and another one is on the verge of breaking out. This is a specific trait of the national policy, which, anyway, seems to be based upon the principle of “no day without a scandal”. The coming frenzy is concentrated around the Georgian media possessing a unique ability of taking over “someone else’s” job, that is, of making politics instead of just covering the processes. As the people have noticed a long time ago, the rumours appearing in the media have got the tendency to be confirmed in a while.Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:52:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/32016.htmlA pseudo news item broadcast on Imedi last night – a shock for both Georgia and South Ossetia – was hastily qualified as a bad or even a practical joke. Sure, Georgian TV guys were far not the first with their “sensation” – last century Herbert Wells’ War of the Worlds broadcast on the radio brought forth a wave of panic in the USA. Still this recent attempt at wagging public opinion must be examined in a more detail.Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:06:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31989.htmlTbilisi is promoting its new strategy of bringing back Abkhazia and South Ossetia, while the authorities of Tskhinval are closing the door to the past: they start delimitating the state border. The demarcation line should bring the republic even more territories than it has got at the moment. The Georgian opposition is appealing to the Kremlin for help to avoid further decay of the country. However, is Moscow able to help, and if so, is there any way to do it?Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:55:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31867.htmlHardly is there anyone who doubts abnormality of Russian-Georgian relations. The events of 2008 when two neighboring states turned into enemies for the first time in their history is simply beyond any reasonable explanation. Current developments in bilateral relations of two states are incomprehensible either – at least as far as return of Georgian produce to the Russian market is concerned.Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:41:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31786.htmlGeorgia has hired new lobbying firms in the USA. Without them Mikheil Saakashvili’s meetings with influential politicians like Barack Obama are no more possible. It seems the Georgian leader has communication problems not only with Russian leaders to whom he either sends relatives or his Armenian counterpart.Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:17:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31581.htmlToday Nino Burdzhanadze is calling on her Moscow friends she went to Moscow State Institute of International Relations with. The Ex Speaker repeated the exploit of ex PM Zurab Nogaideli who managed to settle relations with Moscow politicians unafraid to be accused of high treason last year. In the meantime there are suspicions Mikheil Saakashvili has secret ties with Moscow.Thu, 4 Mar 2010 13:37:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31431.htmlNorth Caucasus Presidential Envoy, Vice PM Alexander Khloponin continues familiarizing himself with the region he has taken charge of. Recently he singled out three major problems in Caucasus: excessive state funding, a high level of unemployment and corruption. To change the situation the envoy’s plan is to focus on four clusters of development in Caucasus - energy, tourism, agriculture and education. How efficient will Khloponin’s methods turn out to be?Mon, 1 Mar 2010 23:30:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31369.htmlOne of the theses of yesterday’s speech delivered by President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili in the parliament goes as follows: the emigrants are returning to Georgia. The statement sounds doubtful, considering the fact that the statistics on migration is rather disputable. It is not only the Georgian experts that are talking about it; the Statistics Department does not provide any data as well. The president’s statement rather resembles an auto-training session. One of these days, the officials expressed hope to get billions of investments from their former fellow countrymen. As to Mikhail Nikolaevitch, he stated that the authorities are going to announce discounts on real estate property in order to attract the capital of the Georgian expatriate community. So far, the representatives of the construction companies do not say anything about the boom of accommodations acquisition by the former fellow countrymen. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:34:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31248.htmlStrategic and transit opportunities of the Black Sea as well as occurrence of hydrocarbons keeps luring Americans forcing Washington to pursue an offensive policy in the counties along the coast including Romania, Bulgaria where deployment of Patriot missiles is planned and Georgia, the old favorite. Today Tbilisi is greeting an overseas delegation to discuss the cooperation strategy.Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:41:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/31018.htmlKazakhstan as the OSCE chair is ready to propose a Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement plan to Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is not clear yet what the so-called “roadmap” will include since neither side agreed to concessions in public. It is believed that the document will focus on social and humanitarian aspects of people’s life in the unquiet zone.Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:12:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/30885.htmlAt the moment Abkhaz President Sergey Bagapsh is on an official visit to Moscow. The meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is scheduled for today. Bagapsh has already announced Abkhazia’s plan to join Russia-Belarus Union State and the Customs Union between Moscow, Minsk and Astana. Will Sukhum’s ambitious plans come true?Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:07:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/30866.htmlIran and Georgia seem to adopt a unique vision after Russia’s inclination towards sanctions against Teheran. Iranians that used to condemn the Georgian aggression now emphasize they are not ready for Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s recognition. This is not the first prick against Russia over the recent months. Tbilisi, however, is truly offbeat flirting with Iran that blackmails Russia.Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:11:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/30662.htmlThe state of the Georgian clinics attracted the attention of the people’s defender. The greatest concern was aroused by mental hospitals “dishonoring” the patients. However, the situation in other institutions is no better. New hospitals are still not built, while the old ones have switched to paid services. Ministry of Health decided to place the stake on medical foreign tourists seeking low prices.Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:58:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/30574.htmlAccording to the Georgian opposition, Georgia keeps losing its territories. The country is concerned about the building of a road eastward of Tskhinval, which will result in the country’s loss of control over the part of Kazbegskiy region. This road has already been claimed by the president of South Ossetia. It also borders with the Verkhniy Lars check-point, which is to be opened in March at the Russian-Georgian border.Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:08:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/30450.htmlIn the run-up to Munich Security Conference Russian president signed a military doctrine Tbilisi had long feared. It confirms Moscow’s intention to use nuclear weapons in response to aggression from Georgia or its allies enabling operation of the Russian army abroad. NATO’s expansion is denominated as a major threat to Russia. On the contrary Georgia sees the new document as a global threat.Mon, 8 Feb 2010 22:53:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/30385.htmlThe Americans are again feeding the Georgian opposition with promises. It looks like the US Assistant Secretaries James Steinberg and Philip Gordon have visited Georgia in person with the only purpose of calming down Mikhail Saakashvili’s opponents in advance of the protest actions that were promised to be held in spring. Some of the oppositionists rejoiced the gifts to be spent on the development of the democratic institutes. However, there are those who do not conceal being dissatisfied with their friendship with the USA.Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:25:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/30090.htmlThe 65th year after the WWII victory was darkened by a new barbarous act of the Georgian authorities. After Kutaissi memorial, on January 27 local authorities in Dioknisi village of Ajaria initiated dismantling of the monument in honor of the perished warriors to stock it in the basement of a kindergarten. Andrey Nesterenko, Spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated Moscow “was concerned over the new fact of contempt for the memory of warriors who died in the Great Patriotic War by the Georgian authorities” remarking that “the most unbiased evaluation will be made by living protagonists of those hardest years and battles they took part in. I mean Georgian citizens and relatives of the warriors perished in these battles”.Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:29:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29910.htmlA key issue at the core of ongoing Russian-Georgian confrontation is a desire of the little Caucasian republic to join North Atlantic Alliance. Russia has always been openly resentful about it. Despite the decision taken at Bucharest summit in 2007 to postpone NATO accession for Russia’s two neighbors – Georgia and Ukraine - leaders of both states cherish their dreams of alliance membership. Though today’s Georgia has almost no pro-Russian politicians and Georgians are not totally disillusioned about NATO security prospects yet, the calls to neutrality become still more audible.Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:27:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29704.htmlThis day, January 25, may enter the latest history of the post-Soviet territory as one of the key dates. The meeting between President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev, President of Azerbaijan Ilkham Aliev and President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan aimed at the settlement of the Karabakh problem will probably draw the line under this complicated bloody issue, or, at least, show the real ways and terms of eliminating the problem.Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:57:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29561.htmlThe Georgian officials say very interesting things sometimes. For instance, today, Minister of Finance of Georgia Kakha Baindurashvili stated that in 2010 the share of expenses spent on military needs will not be increased and, moreover, in percentage terms, the share of the defense expenditures in the country budget will be lowered. Sounds surprisingly, considering the statement made by President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili before the New Year about the general plans of reservists’ preparation within 2010-2014. It is obvious that if the military budget is left at the current level, the current army expenditure will be significantly reduced, so long as the training centers for reservists, as well as the purchasing of arms require sound financial inflow. Thus, the Georgian army is going to see no modernization promised after the August war. No use mentioning the possible difficulties with the salaries paid to the soldiers and officers.Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:37:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29487.htmlThe event that was so longed-for within two months and a half by the political establishment of Russia and the Caucasus, as well as the whole host of experts, has occurred at last: it was the appointment of “a person responsible for the state of affairs in the North Caucasus” announced by President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev last year on November 12. One should remember that horns were locked many times both about the potential candidate for the “governance” and about the scheme of the regional management, for it had been clearly stated that the person would “give instructions to the ministers and governors”. Those experts that supposed that the North Caucasus would be separated from the South Federal district turned out to be right; otherwise the structure would be simply unmanageable.Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:59:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29405.htmlLast year, at the opening of the new building of National Guards on December 26, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili stated that the country is ready to start preparing reservists “to fight the enemy”. Nevertheless, the most interesting points in Mikhail Nikolozovitch’s speech are worth quoting. “There is a war against Georgia and we are threatened every day but the enemy should not cherish any illusions, for any adventure will meet with a rebuff. “We must prepare any citizen in the country, including women, so that they would be ready and armed to provide resistance to the enemy. Each town, house, street and family should become a citadel of resistance and all of us should be ready for a war”.Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:01:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29386.htmlGeorgian president Mikheil Saakashvili announced the start of a campaign advertising Georgia and its health resorts. Info spots and programs on Georgia’s tourism potential will be broadcast on all international channels including BBC and CNN which, as Saakashvili thinks, will contribute to making the country popular worldwide. Will this PR move help Georgia create a positive country image?Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:09:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29317.htmlLately, the press covering the events in Georgia has been mainly focused upon the observers who were present at the presidential elections in Ukraine. Meanwhile, an interesting situation is developing in Georgia as well. For instance, on Monday, January 18, leader of oppositional movement Defend Georgia and former candidate for presidency Levan Gachechiladze stated that Georgia has been developing anti-American attitude. Besides, the oppositionist said that he told the same thing to American Senator John McCain in the course of his visit to Georgia on January 11 this year. “Let no one cherish an illusion that America is popular here”, - Gachechiladze added.Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:29:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29243.htmlStrange things have been happening since the beginning of the year in the field of the Georgian media. The First Caucasian TV channel that started Internet-broadcasting at the beginning of January is also going to launch satellite broadcasting on January 15. It is notable that the opening of the channel, which even the Georgians consider to be anti-Russian, was followed by a scandal. The rest of the PTG structures had to squeeze up, so long as the First Caucasian Channel was established on the basis of the Public Television of Georgia (PTG). For instance, it was officially stated that the Public Radio of Georgia, which is part of the PTG, will be shifted onto the “reorganization mode” since February 1, which means its significant reduction. About 200 journalists and technical staff are planned to be dismissed from the radio.Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:04:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29178.htmlThe meetings of the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin with the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow and the heads of the foreign policy administrations of Armenia and Russia in Yerevan became one of the momentous events in the Caucasian political area. The set of issues and problems that were solved in the course of these meetings have been accumulating for many years. For instance, the negotiations between the governmental heads resulted in discussing the issues of collaboration in the field of nuclear power engineering, construction of the South Stream pipeline and the Samsun – Ceyhan oil pipe line, as well as eliminating visa limitations between Russia and Turkey. Besides such purely economical issues, the negotiators touched upon the much more complicated topics, such as the situation in the Caucasus, relationship between Armenia and Turkey and the problem of Nagorny Karabakh.Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:45:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29118.htmlJanuary 12, Baku: scholars from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia presented “Historical digest of South Caucasian countries” monograph covering the period from the earliest times to 1921. The book was initiated by the Council of Europe 15 years ago. The work was suspended because of antagonistic approach to history by Armenian and Azerbaijani scholars. The current edition represents their “own view of historical processes in the region”. As Rauf Gusseynov, an author of the book said in an interview with Regnum news agency “historical essays in the first half of the book can’t be consistent or congruent in all respects. At times they contain “conflicting truths”. As a result a common reader will have to take time to think”. We are left to hope that the controversial views on their own history won’t go against common sense as we frequently hear from Georgian politicians speaking about the history of Georgia.Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:57:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/29048.htmlGeorgia is again becoming a burr in the saddle for Russia. Today and tomorrow, the Turkish delegation is going to discuss the joint energy projects with the Russian government in Moscow including the South Stream project: a pipeline meant for the gas transit bypassing the unreliable Ukraine. Right afterwards, a summit of post-Soviet and post-socialistic countries is going to be held in Batumi to remind about the energy ways bypassing Russia, as well as to promote Victor Yushchenko before the elections.Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:09:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/analysis/28980.htmlSouth Ossetia refuses to discuss border security issues with Georgia. A new incident prevention meeting won’t take place because of continuous kidnappings of Ossetians by Georgians. Soon South Ossetia will be compelled to stiffen border regime. For the time being the Georgian “gossip” about international passports to be introduced in Tskhinval for Georgians is contradicted.Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:28:00 +0300