BP ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO GEORGIA FOR WINTER ENERGY NEEDS
(Daily News: January 9, 2004)
On behalf of its partners in the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) and SCP (South Caucasus Pipeline) Projects, BP announced that it is has allocated the sum of US$1 million for the immediate assistance of the new government of Georgia in managing critical energy supplies for its people this winter.
According to BP’ office in Tbilisi, BP's Group Vice-President, Richard Paniguian who was visiting Tbilisi today, announced the decision after a meeting with President Elect Mikheil Saakashvili.
EU ASSURES GEORGIA’S NEW GOVERNMENT OF SUPPORT
(Daily News: January 9, 2004)
The EU considers that the January 4 presidential election has opened up new opportunities for Georgia and it looks forward to helping the country to come closer to the European family.
According to the representation of the European Commission in Georgia, Romano Podi, the President of the European Commission, sent a letter of congratulation to president-elect Mikheil Saakashvili, in which EU’s commitment to assisting Georgia in reforms in stated.
CEC HEAD SPEAKS ABOUT COMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
(Daily News: January 8, 2004)
Zurab Chiaberashvili, the chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), says the election day (the January 4 Presidential elections) was peaceful and was held in a normal atmosphere. Election administrators at all levels, acted in accordance with the terms established by the Georgian Constitution and the Unified Election Code and the election was marked by active participation of voters.
FAIR ELECTIONS DID NOT REVEAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS AT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
(Daily News: January 6, 2004)
According to NGO Fair Elections', the facts of abridgment of voters' rights were not observed during presidential elections on January 4, 2004. Due to the new rule of voters' preliminary registration there were no problems related to fraudulent lists, so traditional for Georgian previous electoral experience, said NGO.
FUTURE PRESIDENT SPEAKS ABOUT NECESSITY OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDS
(Daily News: January 5, 2004)
The press-conference of Mikhail Saakashvili, presidential candidate and the head of National Movement, held on extraordinary presidential elections day of January 4, an hour later after electoral pools’ closing, has become the demonstration of victory assurance.
Saakashvili emphasized, that he realized the burden of responsibility well and he would do his best in order to justify hopes of the voters.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE SUMMED
(Daily News: January 5, 2004)
The extraordinary presidential elections, held on January 4 of the current year, are accepted as been held. By preliminary data of Central Electoral Commission, in elections has participated above 1.7 million citizens from the total number of registered voters, making up over 2.1 million.
HOW TO KILL DRAGON WITHOUT TURNING INTO IT
(Weekly Press Digest: December 28, 2003)
There has been much fuss about detention of top officials of the former government recently. 24 Saati says post revolution days have proved dramatic for former office-holders and the clannish elite.
KFW FUNDS REDISTRIBUTED BUT LOANS NOT RATIFIED YET
(Daily News: December 26, 2003)
KfW, the German bank of reconstruction and development, allocated 32 million EUR for the overhaul of VartsikheHES as early as 1998, but the loan has not been used yet due to a number of reasons.
Now, after the redistribution of funds, 8.5 million EUR has been allotted for the partial repair of a cascade of VartsikheHES, located in west Georgia.
PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW JUSTICE MINISTER
(Daily News: December 26, 2003)
Zurab Adeishvili, a National Movement MP, was confirmed on the post of Justice Minister without a dissenting vote during an extraordinary session of the Parliament today. The minister’s post has been vacant since the summer when Roland Giligashvili, the former minister resigned.
NEW AUTHORITIES PROMISE TO SUPPORT SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS
(Daily News: December 26, 2003)
Today State Minister Zurab Zhvania and presidential candidate Mikhail Saakashvili, the head of the National Movement, met with representatives of small and medium business and assured them of their support.
Saakashvili said: “The period of oligarchs has finished and it is time to create a middle class”, for which development of small and medium business is essential.
STATE MINISTER STATES RELEVANCE OF DETAINING CORRUPT OFFICIALS
(Daily News: December 25, 2003)
State Minister Zurab Zhvania says western donors demand that corrupt office-holders be punished. He said he had left the post of Parliament speaker in protest at the former government that did not punish offenders, while commenting on the detention of former fuel and energy minister and current head of the National Energy Regulation Commission David Mirtskhulava in a live program of the TV company Mze.
GOVERNMENT TO PAY DECEMBER PENSIONS THANKS TO US ASSISTANCE
(Daily News: December 24, 2003)
US ambassador Richard Miles, Georgian State Minister Zurab Zhvania and Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli singed today an agreement, under which Georgia’s government will be able to use $5 million for paying December pension arrears.
Reportedly, the sum has been derived from the monetization of the US humanitarian wheat, allotted by the US government in September 2003, upon the request of the Minister of Agriculture and Food of Georgia David Kirvalidze.
ACTING PRESIDENT PLEASED WITH ELECTION PREPARATION PROCESS
(Daily News: December 23, 2003)
The acting president of Georgia Nino Burjanadze has been acquainted with the work of the Central Election Commission towards the January 4 presidential elections today. She said the fact that 1.3 million voters had already undergone preliminary registration provided grounds for holding elections at an appropriate level.
AUTHORITIES PROMISE NOT TO ALLOW INCREASE IN BREAD PRICES
(Daily News: December 22, 2003)
State Minister Zurab Zhvania said the authorities would not allow an increase in bread prices. The state has enough wheat reserves to prevent the growth, he told journalists at the State Office today.
AUTHORITIES PROMISE TO PAY WAGES AND PENSIONS BY THE END OF DECEMBER
(Daily News: December 22, 2003)
State Minister Zurab Zhvania has said it is possible to pay December salaries and pensions from budget receipts this month.
Up to 30 million lari had been mobilized by December 22 and by the end of year it was planned to receive 64 more million, the State Minister told journalists in the State Office today.
NEXT TAX CHANGES TO EXTEND TO THE RICH, TOBACCO BUSINESS AND LOCAL TAXES
(Daily News: December 22, 2003)
State Minister Zurab Zhvania and Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli introduced draft tax changes to be enforced next year in the State Office today.
It is planned in particular to tighten control over tobacco and oil products.
KFW ALLOCATES FUNDS FOR SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, CADASTRE AND URGENT MEASURES IN ENERGY SECTOR
(Daily News: December 19, 2003)
Credit agreements were signed in Tbilisi today by Georgian Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli and the regional director of the German Development Bank (KfW) Leon Mazioszek. Funds will be disbursed under financial agreements of the Georgian and German governments.
FINANCE MINISTER SATISFIED WITH INTERNATIONAL HELP
(Daily News: December 19, 2003)
Thanks to international aid to make up $21 million Georgia will be able to meet certain commitments, Georgian Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli has said. This assistance will provide earlier recovery than expected, the Minister told the Parliament today.
OSCE PROVIDES ASSISTANCE IN HOLDING ELECTIONS BUT SAYS ITS FAIRNESS DEPENDS ON GEORGIA
(Daily News: December 19, 2003)
The OSCE will disburse for the presidential elections in Georgia 1.28 million EUR. The agreement was signed in Tbilisi today by Georgian Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli and OSCE mission head Roy Reeve.
GEORGIAN AUTHORITIES AND TELASI COME TO AN AGREEMENT
(Daily News: December 18, 2003)
The Georgian side and TELASI singed a conciliative protocol during the visit of Andrei Rappoport, the vice-chairman of the board of directors of RAO EES, Tbilisi energy distributor’s current owner.
The government has committed itself to envisaging debt of budget organizations in the budget 2004 and providing adoption of tax privileges that company demands by January 10, 2004.
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