Georgia: NATO by way of BMD

As Tbilisi extends its hand to the US and the latter's missile defense plans, some analysts believe it is also signaling its NATO aspirations.

In a 2 May interview with the UK daily Financial Times, Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili suggested that Tbilisi was ready to consider the installation of US ballistic missile defense (BMD) facilities on its territory. Bezhuashvili's words came as a surprise for many observers: Exactly two months before, Georgian officials denied that the US had made a request to host parts of its controversial missile shield. [more]

Bezhuashvili Provided German Colleague With Information

Prime News was told at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Foreign Minister of Germany was provided with the information regarding the violation of the Georgian-Russian border, intrusion into Georgian airspace and the bombing of the territory of Georgia by military aircrafts of the Russian Federation that took place on 6 August 2007.

The necessity of adequate reaction from the international community - and Europe in particular - in regards to this act of agression was emphasized. Gela Bezhuashvili also asked for the support of Germany in evaluating the evidence of the 6 August attack on Georgia by the European experts. [More]

Ministers discuss bilateral cooperation

Georgia's Foreign minister Gela Bezhuashvili, on his current trip to Europe, has met Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The ministry reported:

The sides discussed a wide spectrum of bilateral relations between Georgia and Germany. The Ministers focused on Georgia’s integration into the European structures and agreed their positions and details of further interaction. The focus of the meeting was the conflicts on the territory of Georgia and the Peace Plans for their resolution. The talking points included, inter alia, issues of energy security. Special attention was devoted to the Tsitelubani incident. The Georgian Foreign Minister updated his colleague in detail on the ongoing reforms in Georgia.

[More]

Krinica to host Economic Forum on 5-8 September

On September 5-8, Poland’s popular ski-town Krynica will host representatives from more than 60 countries to attend the XVII Economic Forum, the most prestigious event in Central and Eastern Europe. More than 3,000 participants will attend the XVII Economic Forum, according to the organizers. Among the guests will be European commissioners, presidents, prime ministers, governmental and parliamentary delegations, NGOs' representatives, experts, journalists, and economic and cultural leaders.

The Georgians await the event with interest, as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was awarded the ‘Man of the Year’ title at last year’s Forum. This year Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli and Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili are expected to attend as well. [More]

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Visits Georgia

Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, paid a two day visit to Batumi on 26 August, the Georgian Foreign Ministry announced. Cultural events will be organized in honour of the minister in Batumi. He will visit the autonomous republic of Ajaria and its capital Batumi.

On 27 August at 1pm the Government of Ajaria will host an official meeting between the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister and his Georgian counterpart Gela Bezhuashvili. “The sides will discuss a range of issues concerning bilateral cooperation, security in the region, including cooperation within the framework of GUAM,” she noted.

The spokesman neither confirmed nor rejected reports on the opening of an Azerbaijani consulate in Batumi. [More]

Georgia Suggests Russia Overthrow Kokoity Regime

Eduard Kokoity, president of the unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia, sensing that he is being squeezed off the political scene

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with his Georgian colleague Gela Bezhuashvili in Istanbul today at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization summit. Kommersant has learned that Tbilisi will propose that Moscow break off its ties with president of the unrecognized Republic of South Ossetia and deal exclusively with head of the temporary administration of South Ossetia Dmitry Sanakoev. Georgia took efforts to make the suggestion hard to refuse. [More]

Armenia, Georgia Discuss Prospects for Conflict Settlement

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan met with his Georgian counterpart, Gela Bezhuashvili, July 26, in the course of his business trip to Georgia. The two talked about political, economic and cultural cooperation. They also discussed regional issues and relations with neighboring countries. The heads of the Armenian and Georgian foreign agencies also reflected on partnership within the framework of international organizations.

Oskanyan called the attention of his interlocutor to the fact that Republic of Armenia citizens have been arrested by Georgian law enforcement bodies recently with charges of crossing the Georgian border illegally. Oskanyan and Bejuashvili spoke about negotiations around a contract on drawing the Armenian-Georgian state border. [More]

Irakli Tavartkiladze To Be Appointed As Ambassador Of Georgia To Greece

Irakli Tavartkiladze, former Batumi City Mayor, will be appointed as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Georgia to Greece.

Gela Bezhuashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, told journalists that this planned rotation was carried out in the diplomatic corps of Georgia. Sandro Chumburidze, acting Ambassador of Georgia to Greece, has accomplished his mission and will return back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. [More]

Bulgaria Emerges as a Friend of Georgia’s

Georgian officials recently hosted an official delegation from Bulgaria. The country broke from its communist past through reforms that paved the way for NATO membership in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. Bulgaria, together with Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic, is a member of the New Group of Georgia’s Friends, a cluster of European countries which was founded in early 2005 to help Georgia with its Euro-Atlantic and European integration processes.

The Bulgarian delegation was headed by Bulgaria’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Ivailo Kalfin, who met with his Georgian counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Gela Bezhuashvili, as well as the Georgian prime minister and deputy parliamentary speaker. The delegation also included some twenty Bulgarian businessmen who came to study investment opportunities in Georgia. During this high-profile visit it became especially obvious that Bulgaria’s cooperation with and support for Georgia are developing actively in various directions. [More]