http://georgiatimes.info/?lang=enGeorgiaTimes.infohttp://www.georgiatimes.info/pix/logo100en.gifhttp://georgiatimes.info/?lang=enhttp://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32397.htmlThe authors of the TV piece about the attack that caused panic throughout the country should be put either to prison, or to an asylum. The Georgian opposition assumed the role of claimants and is preparing a petition to the court addressing Director General of the Imedi company Georgiy Arveladze, as well as President of the country Mikhail Saakashvili.Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:16:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32374.htmlGeorgia continues its way down to the abyss of debt. This time the republic was granted a EUR 180 mln loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for construction of a high-voltage electric transmission line and relocation of railway station and rail facilities outside the capital. Though President Mikheil Saakashvili calls these projects history-making, Georgia’s foreign debt approaches USD 4 billion figure.Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:36:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32338.htmlEuropean Union is moving closer to Georgia at its own risk. An agreement on visa regime facilitation has been reached already, and the negotiations on the association agreement are being prepared at the moment. The tricks of the Georgian players, such as the Imedi broadcast about Russia’s supposed attack, are not at all beneficial for the image of the European partners. Head of European Commission Josй Manuel Barroso called upon Prime Minister Nika Gilauri to prevent the country from any actions that could aggravate the situation.Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:38:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32307.htmlDespite the global financial crisis and a tricky social and economic situation, military budgets in Georgia and other post-Soviet states keep growing. As some Russian newspapers report, Tbilisi’s arms expenditure stands at nearly 5% of GDP. Why does Saakashvili regime need to spend so much?Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:05:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32293.htmlPresently the envoys of various international organizations are holding consultations with Georgian and Abkhaz authorities in preparation for the next round of Geneva discussions on security in South Caucasus. Tbilisi hopes to discuss EU-proposed document on new security architecture. The young Transcaucasian republic sets certain hopes for the advance in negotiating process on Anti Turunen, a new UN envoy to the region that recently arrived in the capital of Abkhazia.Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:07:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32251.htmlTurkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to deport 100 thousand Armenian migrants from the country as retaliation for the genocide resolution. Turks call Yerevan to “calm down” Armenian diaspora that helps the USA pressurize Ankara threatening to acknowledge massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Well, a creeping genocide is better than a bloody sort-out.Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:36:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32226.htmlRecently, Tbilisi received good news from Brussels. According to Permanent Chairman of European Council Herman Van Rompuy, the visa regime facilitation and readmission agreements may be signed between EU and Georgia in summer. The West believes that Georgia has become the first Transcaucasian country that has successfully completed negotiations on both agreements with Europe. How will the realization of these documents affect the flow of the Georgian migrants to the European countries?Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:03:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32199.htmlOn March 19 Georgia shall present a new strategy on Abkhazia and South Ossetia to OSCE. Official Tbilisi relies on the organization’s support in realization of the document and “application of OSCE approaches in its final draft”. Earlier Georgian representatives presented the strategy to the UN, EU and NATO that gave the green light to the initiative. Will the document endure fourth stage of approval from the West?Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:18:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32155.htmlGeorgia has been accused of being involved in a terrorist act carried out in a North-Ossetian school. In fact, that is a six-year-old accusation which was voiced for the first time as a statement made by the South-Ossetian authorities on 2 September 2004. One of these days, journalist Modest Kolerov reminded about “the little sins of Georgia” in the course of the Moscow-Tbilisi video bridge where the Imedi TV provocation was discussed.Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:21:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32154.htmlThe scandal over the program shown on Imedi TV is gathering pace. Media found out a recorded telephone conversation featuring a person whose voice sounds like Georgy Arveladze, the TV company’s director general confirming that the idea to simulate invasion of the Russian troops was coordinated with president of Georgia. Arveladze denies authenticity of the record calling it a provocation arranged by Russian special services.Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:16:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32102.html69 mafiosi from ex socialist countries have been detained in the European Union. Most criminals are Georgia-born, now accused of money laundering, gun and drug dealing, robberies, bribery, money extortion and murder schemes. Teriel Oniani, now incarcerated in Russia can get into the prisoner’s box together with them. The mafia boss who as some sources report once sponsored Mikheil Saakashvili can now be extradited to Spain upon request of the prosecutor’s office.Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:07:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32047.htmlA scandal around the report made by the Imedi Georgian channel and broadcasted on Saturday evening is gradually developing into an international one. Europe and the USA followed the Georgian opposition and the authorities of Russia and South Ossetia in criticizing the provocative actions. However, the masterpiece produced by the Georgian TV-reporters has got its supporters besides the president of the country.Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:07:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/32046.htmlToday is the start of Tbilisi Mayor pre-election campaign. In best traditions of Georgian politics even today it’s absolutely impossible to tell enemies from friends. Only one thing seems to be certain: despite numerous talks, the opposition has failed to get united and present a unique candidate. Each candidate has his own position. Not all of them have their program. But accusations against each other are more than enough. No doubt, the most interesting events are there to come. In the meantime, even the exact number of voters is still unknown.Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:17:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31988.htmlGeorgian authorities have long been cooperating with the Orthodox Church in rehabilitation of criminals. The convicts on minor crimes are sent to work in monasteries. Well, it is good for one’s soul and beneficial to the state: since the Rose Revolution Georgian prisons have been overloaded despite amnesties and pardons.Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:51:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31916.htmlA discussion of Georgia’s annual national NATO cooperation program for 2010 is taking place today in NATO HQ in Brussels. The document will be delivered to the bloc members by Georgy Baramidze, state minister for European integration. Will the alliance back continued reformation of Georgia’s current regime?Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:48:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31868.htmlThe great gas-project confrontation between Europe and Russia in the Caucasus and the Black Sea region may theoretically turn into harmonious cooperation. Eni, an Italian company which is Gazprom’s partner in the South Stream project suggested combining this project with the anti-Russian Nabucco project that is very popular in Georgia. The competition between the future pipes is based not only upon the economic benefit but on political grounds as well, which fact will obviously prevent combining two projects into one.Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:37:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31865.htmlGeorgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizes Moscow for violating international law. This time Tbilisi condemns the treaty on a joint Russian military base in the territory of South Ossetia. As we know upon signature of the friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance treaty Russia undertook certain security guarantees toward Ossetians. Georgia still considers Tskhinval its territory refusing to acknowledge that the current situation was caused by the Georgian army’s attack on the sleeping town.Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:29:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31800.htmlIt seems that the relationship between Moscow and Tbilisi have not yet moved off dead center. The neighboring countries are still lacking the diplomatic relationship. The leaders of the two countries are lavish at using a strong word about each other. Nevertheless, there is a certain tendency, which is rather difficult to define. At least, there has never been such a case in the international practice.Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:52:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31799.htmlOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is contemplating upon the return of its peacemaking mission to the South Caucasus. This was stated by Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Joгo Soares who is currently staying in Georgia. According to him, the issue of resuming the observers’ work is going to be discussed in the course of the PA OSCE session that is going to be held in Oslo. What kind of decision are the European parliamentarians going to make?Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:01:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31739.htmlA legislative novelty will soon be introduced in Georgia. Persons with double citizenship might soon be banned from public positions. Earlier the president did his best to make acquisition of Georgian “allegiance” as democratic as possible however spy scare outdid his liberalism imposing limitations on “semi-foreigners”.Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:53:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31738.htmlOne of these days, rumours appeared in the world informational space that a criminal attempt is going to be made against the President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili. According to the unnamed sources, the Russian special services, which are allegedly dissatisfied with the current regime, are said to be the main hunters for the head of the Georgian president. The source of the rumours is so far unknown. However, everybody seems to be used to such kind of “sensations” cooked by Tbilisi.Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:52:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31721.htmlGeorgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports on diplomatic relations established with 8 states over the last year: Liberia, Botswana, Brunei, the Dominican Republic, Cape Verde, the Marshall Islands, Peru and St Lucia. Does Georgia plan to open its official representations there? The question is why Georgia needs to make friends with the states above.Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:24:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31675.htmlThe Georgian political arena has again turned into a madhouse. The oppositional leaders have traditionally become active as soon as spring came. A year has passed but the authorities’ opponents never united around a single charismatic leader and did not present any definite plan of actions; still, the uniqueness of the current spring is that there is already a queue of the oppositionists who are ready to come to Moscow. Besides, the scandals broke out in several leading parties. Another interesting fact is that the politicians from the past, whom the wind of the Rose Revolution seemed to have razed from politics forever, have appeared in the political arena again.Mon, 8 Mar 2010 21:38:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31666.htmlOne of these days, the US Vice President Joseph Biden has had a telephone conversation with President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili. In the course of the talk, Saakashvili confirmed the support of Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, the American leader touched upon the issue of the democratic reforms in Georgia and expressed the desire to see an open, transparent and free electoral process. It looks like the White House is going to watch the local elections in the republic thoroughly this May.Fri, 5 Mar 2010 17:17:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31647.htmlTbilisi plans to start active agro-industrial cooperation with Minsk as announced by Jemal Inaishvili, chairman of Georgia’s Chamber of Commerce. He believes Georgia is interested to buy Belarusian produce and foodstuffs. In the meantime the Georgian side intends to promote wines, mineral waters and citrus fruits in Belarus. What are the prospects of this cooperation?Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31618.htmlAzerbaijan condemns Georgia’s border opening for transit of Armenian goods to Russia and back. Baku threatens measures if the corridor from Upper Lars is used for military purposes. Tbilisi is between two fires.Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:25:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31617.htmlIn Georgia, the 4th of March was declared a day of mourning over the four miners that died in the mine of Tkibuli. As was initially estimated, the tragedy was attributed to the methane leakage. President of the republic expressed his condolences to the relatives and family members of the dead people. At the same time, the Georgian leader promised to undertake all the possible measures to prevent similar incidents. Still, it will be difficult indeed to achieve that purpose in the context of the Georgian national industry total decay.Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:23:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31557.htmlTbilisi puts up with Russia's prearranged purchase of Mistral helicopter carrier. In a matter when commercial interests and strengthening ties between the West and Eurasia's largest country are concerned any protests are out of place.Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:04:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31548.htmlThis week, the officials of Tbilisi are actively communicating with their European colleagues. Political consultations between the foreign administrations of Georgia and Poland have just been completed when the chairman of the Latvian Seym arrived to Georgia. Today, the country is going to be visited by the EU delegation. What are the reasons for the activity of Saakashvili’s regime at the foreign policy front?Wed, 3 Mar 2010 17:16:00 +0300http://www.georgiatimes.info/en/articles/31497.htmlUN has appointed its new Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Georgia. This post is now occupied by diplomat Anti Turunen who has got the reputation of a perfect diplomat in the Western countries. New-York believes that his skills and experience were especially obvious in the course of the settlement of the crisis problem in Georgia when Finland was the OSCE chairman and Turunen was Head of OSCE Permanent Council. The special representative will have to start his mission without delay: a scheduled meeting in the context of the incidents prevention and response mechanism has already been held in Gal today.Tue, 2 Mar 2010 23:39:00 +0300