One Homo genus, Gennady gone?, pres debates, BI & Margvel on 50%, KUDI detentions, Depardieu in Tbilisi, Zhvania death investigation, more Lapankuri investigation, drunk soldiers, BI leaves 24 Nov, ministers doing great, press election restrictions lifted, 3.5 million voters, Targamadze sues BI for calling him a traitor, pardons, prison deaths, expensive UNM gov cars, church gas, fake Rossner email, Bokeria to leave, Dream for Burj?, Gunava off, new 2008 refugee food discovery, BI’s ex-wife talks, Misha’s library, Misha moves, new pension system, Khudoni dam problems, drunk priest in fancy car, wine production up, new plates, Batumi floods, slavery
TBLPOD.com
A discussion in English of the week in Georgia (the one near Chechnya not the one near Alabama) Don't know what a podcast is? Don't worry, just click on it and listen. კეთილი იყოს თქვენი მობრძანება! თუ ინგლისური იცით, დააჭირეთ ისარს და მოისმინეთ კვირის საინტერესო ამბები
Don't know what a podcast is? Don't worry, just click on it and listen. That's it. Nothing scary about it.
კეთილი იყოს თქვენი მობრძანება! თუ ინგლისური იცით, დააჭირეთ ისარს და მოისმინეთ კვირის საინტერესო ამბები.
Onischenko’s departure must represent a sad day for Mark, as Onischenko’s utterances were pure comedic gold. One of the more colourful officials in the class of Iraq’s former Information Minister Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf, some of his words of wisdom can be enjoyed here
http://www.buzzfeed.com/miriamelder/the-craziest-things-russias-top-doctor-ever-said
The MEME this week is from JumpStart Georgia: After analyzing the 2012 election data, JumpStart found some anomalies. According to them, while these they did not affect the outcome of the election, they can influence future elections unless PEC members, independent observers and the CEC take measures to ensure that the CEC’s official election data is accurate. We will post this meme on the forum. Link: http://goo.gl/rgbc53
THINGS TO READ
An article by Shaun Walker on The Guardian about BI’s decision to quit politics. Link: http://goo.gl/526E73
An article by Molly Corso on Business New Europe about Georgia’s role in the international transit sector. Link: http://goo.gl/mFcdFk
An article by Georgy Kalatozishvili about the presidential elections and Georgia Dream’s refusal to take part in 2nd round. Link: http://goo.gl/TBW9ps
An article by Michael Cecil about upcoming presidential elections on ForeignPolicy. com Link: http://goo.gl/jt6Gyz
A Post on ISET’s blog by Eric Linvy about Samtskhe Javakheti road rehabilitation and agricultural development. Link: http://goo.gl/DfWTjD
ANNOUNCEMENTS
On the 26th of October at 4 PM, TBC bank, Tbilisi City Hall and Tbilisi Mall will host “Tbilisi Big Band” concert as part of Tbilisi’s 16th International Jazz Festival. Admission is free. The Address is the 16th kilometer on Aghmashenebeli Alley.
From the 22nd of October till the 30th of November UNFPA and the Sports Ministry are holding a youth photo-contest, which aims to promote healthy lifestyles. On the 10th of December contest judges will reveal the winners. You can find more information at GeorgiaUNFPA.ge
Does the European Parliament think that Vano is a political prisoner? I think not. Note this excerpt on Georgia adopted on 23 October: “37. Recognises the progress achieved in the modernisation of the country and in meeting the requirements of the Association Agreement in recent years, as well as the authorities’ effort to fight corruption; welcomes the exemplary peaceful transfer of power following the democratic parliamentary elections; notes with concern, however, the deficiencies that still persist in the application of democratic standards; highlights in this regard the need for further improvements and reforms aimed at achieving an independent and impartial judiciary and an effective criminal justice system, as well as a non-discriminatory electoral system and respect for minority rights; notes the ongoing judicial inquiries affecting leading opposition figures, including Vano Merabishvili, and calls for the full respect of European standards and norms; supports the efforts of the Georgian Government to lessen tensions with Russia while preserving the country’s pro-European orientation; reiterates the EU’s firm support for Georgia’s territorial integrity; ” The Parliament takes note on Vano’s name, which is different from the original proposal: ” Recognises the remarkable progress
achieved in the modernisation of the
country and in meeting the requirements of
the Association Agreement; notes with
alarm that an exemplary peaceful transfer
of power after democratic parliamentary
elections was followed by serious
backsliding in the application of
democratic standards, and also by the
application of selective justice towards
leading political opponents” Here no mention of the name. On the other hand the Parliament turfed out the formula proposed by two Polish EPP MEPs (Krysztof Lisek & Pawel Zalewski) redaing: ” Is supportive of initialling the
Association Agreement, however, believes
that it should be conditional on tangible
progress by Georgian authorities in the
area of rule of law, starting from
releasing all political prisoners including
Vano Merabishvili and meeting the
European standards in the upcoming
presidential elections;” Note the mention of political prisoners here. This proposal did not fly. The European Parlaiment does recognise the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan though: “Regrets that an unclear vision and hesitation persist on the issue of Azerbaijan’s pursuit of the Association Agreements; stresses the economic potential of EU-Azerbaijan relations, but is concerned by deficiencies in the fields of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Azerbaijan; insists therefore that Azerbaijan show its commitment by stepping up its relevant standards, including freedom of speech and association and allowing the democratic opposition to enjoy their rights; insists that the release of political prisoners and an end to the harassment of political activists, human rights defenders and journalists are the necessary preconditions for any agreement on a strategic modernisation partnership with Azerbaijan; “. Here the word political prisoner is present. So the European Parliament is concerned, but does not recognise Vano as a political prisoner.
All these documents are public, the Parliament’s postion can be found here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+20131023+ITEMS+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN#sdocta10, Georgia is covered under points 37-41.
The proposed amendments can be found here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+COMPARL+PE-519.498+01+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&language=EN, Lisek & Zalewski one is No 239
Where does the Lisek & Zalewski amendment come from? The authors are Deputies of the centre right EPP bloc. The UNM is affiliated with the EPP. My personal impression is that the UNM has positioned themselves well in Brussels and their alliance with the EPP helps them being heard in the European Parliament and probably also builds capacity within the UNM. For an MEP it is quite a normal thing to table such amendments for causes they support be that an industry, a country or anything else close to their hearts. From a Brussels point of view nothing really spectacular happened there, two MEPs support a party affiliated to their parliamentary group, what’s the deal?
So nothing special about two MEPs tabling an amendment. The puzzling thing is the use of the word “political prisoner”, a term that the European Parliament reserves for countries like Azerbaijan and Belarus. Being clustered there does not serve Georgia at all and does not reflect reality.
Mark, PLEASE arrange to have either, Will, Cameron or Mattias back on! do it through skype or something! things deffo going downhill otherwise!
Monsieur Mullen,
Why you disrespect me? You Americans do not know anything! Watch how you treat this giant comic Jerry Lewis. Have you not seen Obelix?
tan bella