IN THIS ISSUE:

At today’s press conference Merab Adeishvili, the Minister of Transport and Communications, said the resumption on December 25 of the railroad traffic from Adler (Russia) to Sukhumi is “a gross violation on Russia’s part”.

Adeishvili reported that Russia’s Transport Routes Minister and Russia’s ambassador to Georgia had been sent an official letter demanding explanations and special restraining measures to be taken against any such recurrence.

During a whole Parliament session today, committees and factions presented their position regarding introduced parameters of the budget-2003.

Reportedly, apart from three pro-governmental factions – Citizens’ Union, Alliance for New Georgia and Tanadgoma, the project will be supported by Industrialists, Socialists, part of MPs from Abkhazia and majority MPs.

Vakhtang Khmaladze, representative of Industrialists, has already gathered 92 signatures of MPs. They demand disbursing 10 million Lari for personification and identifying electors.

At a meeting with representatives of the public Giorgi Chanturia, the president of the Georgian International Oil Corporation (GIOC) emphasized that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan would not pass through Borjomi (there are mineral water springs there) and will not cross neither populated areas nor the river.

Further Chanturia said that on the Borjomi section for security reasons the pipes would be of unprecedented 15.7 millimeters thick.

According to Saknavtobi’s preliminary data, yesterday in the evening about 100 liters of oil leaked on a well in western Georgia, where this state oil company is conducting works. However, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources’ experts say, the oil leak reached about 800 liters.

The National Commission on Energy regulation decided today not to extend JSC Tbilgaz’s license, capital’s gas distributor, due to difficulties the company is facing (devastated gas distribution net, significant commercial loses). However, the commission refrained from canceling its license in the winter period and gave Tbilgaz one month to improve the situation.

Irakli Kirtava, Galt&Taggart Brokerage Company’s head, told Sarke, that the sessions of the specialized stock auctions will be extended until January 31. Yesterday the Georgian Stock Exchange held a regular session, at which JSC Khashuri Glass Plant’s 27 Lari worth 50 shares were sold out.