Geopgian press digest: excerpts


Reply-To: [email protected]
Sender: [email protected]
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1998 14:07:08 +0200 (EET)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: Geopgian press digest: excerpts 

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: CIPDD <[email protected]>

Geopgian press digest: excerpts 


ANNOTATED DAILY HEADLINES OF THE GEORGIAN PRESS
 
Compiled by the Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and
Development (CIPDD)
 
Text: Tamara Shamil
English version: Guram Dumbadze
Editor: Emil Adelkhanov-Steinberg
 
December 11, 1998
 
1. "KING-KONG" STARTED A NEW SERIES OF TERRORIST ACTIONS IN ABKHAZIA
The newspaper claims that the current situation in the district of
Abkhazia may give birth to new ethnic purges. Abkhaz authorities have
already carried out several punitive operations in the region after
two high ranking Abkhaz militia officers were assassinated not long
ago. The Abkhaz Radio blamed both incidents on a group of terrorists
led by Meskhia nicknamed "King-Kong", who is wanted by Georgian
law-enforcement authorities in connection with the February 9 (1998)
assassination attempt against Shevardnadze and hostage-taking of UN
observers in the village of Djikhashkari (western Georgia).
Bakur Makhviladze. "7 Dge" No. 145, December 11, p. 1

......................

3. MUSLIM MESKHETIANS WENT ON HUNGER STRIKE
On occasion of Human Rights Day, about 100 Muslim Meskhetians began a
hunger strike in Tbilisi yesterday. The strikers demand the Georgian
citizenship.
Mirian Lebanidze. "Resonance" No. 341, December 11, pp. 1, 3
 
......................

6. TBILISI UNDER A "REDDISH" BANNER
After long debates, Lado Kakhadze of the Labour Party has been elected
chairman of the Tbilisi Sakrebulo (city council). The newspaper claims
the fact to be a victory of the pro-Abashidze (the Adjarian leader)
opposition. However, the ruling party - Citizens' Union of Georgia -
is going to protest against Kakhadze's nomination in a court, pleading
breaches of the election procedure.
Tiniko Izoria. "Droni" No. 141, December 11, pp. 1, 2
--------------------------

December 17, 1998

1. LOOK HERE, GUYS!
By the next elections either Shevardnadze will bereave Adjaria from
Aslan Abashidze or the latter will 
bereave Georgia from Shevardnadze, the newspaper argues. As
Shevardnadze turns a blind eye to Abashidze's actions even when the
Adjarian "Sultan" attempts to command the State Customs in the teeth
of the Constitution, Abashidze gradually overtakes the power. The
victory of the pro-Abashidze Labour Party in the recent local
elections, especially the election of Labour candidates Sakrebulo
chairmen in Tbilisi and the two other largest cities, may be
considered his last achievement. That urges the President to look for
new ways of strengthening his authority.
Tengiz Gogitishvili. "Droni" No. 143, December 15-17, p. 6
--------------------------

December 17, 1998

......................

5. CONSTANTINE TOTSKY VISITED BATUMI
Constantine Totsky, the director of the Russian Federal Frontier
Service, visited Batumi yesterday, together with his Georgian opposite
number, Valeri Chkheidze, to examine prospects of ceding the frontier
control at the Georgian-Turkish border to Georgia. Both met with Aslan
Abashidze, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Adjaria.
Prime-News agency. "Akhali Taoba" No. 347, December 17, p. 3

-- 
==============================================================
MINELRES - a forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern
Europe

Submissions: [email protected]  
Subscription/inquiries: [email protected] 
List archive: http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive.htm
==============================================================