NEWS: Georgia News Digest 04-30-08

A service of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies

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Archives and associated files at groups.google.com/group/genewsfiles (from February 2008) and groups.google.com/group/genews (before February 2008)

Conflicts—international press
1. Russia sends more troops to Georgian rebel regions
2. Georgia and Russia escalate war of words
3. Russia announces extra troops for Georgia regions: agencies
4. Russia building up troop in separatist Georgian regions
5. Russia will send more troops to Abkhazia
6. Russia increases number of peacekeepers in Abkhazia
Conflicts—Russia
7. Russian measures for Abkhazia dictated by situation – ministry
8. Russian envoy rules out Abkhaz agenda for Russia-NATO Council
9. Russia won't set up military base in Georgian breakaway region - deputy minister
10. Russian peacekeepers to remain in Georgian breakaway region - deputy minister
11. Tbilisi plans ‘military operation’ against Abkhazia
12. Tbilisi threatens Moscow
13. Russia not seeking to control Georgia's breakaway republics – ministry
14. video: Georgia preparing military operation against Abkhazia: Russian Foreign Ministry
15. Mission irreplaceable: Replacement of peacekeepers in Abkhazia with an international contingent is improbable
16. Georgia will go to any lengths to unleash war
17. How to conquer Georgia
18. Moscow accuses Tbilisi of plans to use force against Abkhazia
19. Use of force in Abkhazia to meet with adequate response
20. Moscow justifies legal links with Abkhazia, S. Ossetia
21. Russian ministry warns Georgia against use of force in Abkhazia
Conflicts—separatists
22. Separatist leaders reject Georgian president's appeal to build common state
23. Abkhazia awaiting Russian steps to ensure republic's security - foreign minister
24. Separatist Abkhaz official confirms build-up of Georgian troops
Conflicts—Georgia
25. Tbilisi condemns Russian move to increase troops in Abkhazia
26. Additional Russian troops ‘aggressors’
27. Enlargement of Russian peacekeeping force to destabilize region – Gurgenidze
28. President Saakashvili’s televised address to Abkhazians and South Ossetians
29. Enlargement of Russian peacekeeping force is annexation attempt – Burdzhanadze
30. PM slams Russian plans to send more troops to Abkhazia
31. Georgia urges Russia not to enlarge peacekeeping force in conflict zones
32. Georgia says increasing Russian peacekeepers "destabilizing"
33. Russia preparing for "military intervention into Georgia" – official
Conflicts—international actors
34. OSCE Special Envoy in Georgia ahead of special Permanent Council meeting on Abkhazia incident
35. Supporting Ukraine and Georgia becoming members of NATO
36. Russia troop increase in Abkhazia "not wise" –EU
37. Increase of troops by Russia in Abkhazia ‘not wise’ – Solana
38. Georgian FM thanks Estonia for support
39. Georgia needs neutral peacekeeping forces - Estonian FM
40. 'Most important to have western unity' in face of Russian moves
41. Caucasian powder keg
Drone
42. OSCE to discuss drone downing
43. Russia's envoy to NATO says Georgia edited drone video
44. De facto leader discusses 20 April incident
45. Russia denies involvement in 20 April incident
WTO
46. video: Georgia to block Russia's WTO entry over breakaway republics?
47. Putin's decree does not contradict WTO terms
48. Georgia, Saudi Arabia only obstacles to Russian WTO membership
49. Georgia ends Russian WTO talks
Politics
50. Party lists
51. Party lists, CEC questioned as scandal erupts around MP elections
52. Surprise announcement throws National Party
53. Television stations, accused of pro-government bias, restart opposition coverage
54. Rustavi 2 and Mze ceased boycotting the united opposition
55. United opposition protesting tariffs for the political TV advertising subject to a fee
56. In Georgia, political views are often best said in song
Business
57. A sign of change? Georgia floats its first international bonds
58. Income tax rate to be reduced, while dividend tax to be cancelled in Georgia gradually during the 5-year period
59. In January-March 2008, export increased in Georgia by 47,8% and import – by 34,9%
60. Coca-Cola Bottlers Georgia denies selling stakes
61. About 80 percent of building materials are imported to Georgia
Misc.
62. Member states of GUAM transport route priorities
63. Ilya II against reality-shows
64. Fire destroys 15 hectares of woods in Adigeni
65. The president released 165 prisoners
66. GEL 2000 fine for insulting journalists
67. Tariel Sakvarelidze killed several people

Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Director of Studies, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, 3a Chitadze, Tbilisi 0108, Georgia (Republic), jonathan.kulick@gfsis.org, office: +995 32 47 35 55, mobile: +995 95 33 33 40, USA voicemail: 310.928.6814