Republic of Georgia | საქართველოს რესპუბლიკა

[hakz2007]

The Government of Romania to take the initiative of launching ferry links between Batumi and Constanta

The President of Georgia - Mikheil Saakashvili discussed the initiative at the meeting with the President and Prime Minister in bounds of visit to Romania. The Chairman of Government of Adjara paid the official visit to Romania together with the President of Georgia.

"Azerbaijan, Romania and Georgia reached the principal agreement of liquid gas transportation from Georgian territory. The new terminal will be constructed on the territory of Poti - Kulevi that creates as well as new working places also strength the strategic importance of Georgia for Europe", - the President of Georgia announced.

At the meetings promoted in bounds of official visit the Government of Romania got acquainted with economic potential of Adjara.

http://www.adjara.gov.ge/eng/index.p...e=show&id=1513

First Tbilisi - Batumi flight of Company

The Minister of Economic Development of Georgia - Zurab Pololikashvili and the representatives of touristic companies traveled with the first Tbilisi - Batumi flight of Company "Air Batumi". The Chairman of Government of Adjara hosted the guests at Batumi International Airport.

The flights will be executed every day except Saturday and Sunday. The tickets will cost from 19 to 119 Lari. The duration of the flight is 35 minutes. For summer season company plans to add the flight at the weekends too.

The flights will be executed by "Boeing 737" that is equipped with all modern navigation systems.

http://www.adjara.gov.ge/eng/index.p...e=show&id=1511

[Kokoity]

Georgia purchases two high level aircrafts from Eurocopter
09.06.10
Georgian president held talks with representatives of business and political circles of France on Wednesday.
An agreement was also signed between Eurocopter French Company and representatives of the Georgian government. According to the agreement, teh Georgian side will purchase two helicopters of high standards.
Eurocopter is one of the leading companies among manufacturers of helicopters. Mostly state leaders use its aircrafts. Although in Georgia they will be used for rescue operations and development of tourism in the country.
`We are a mountainous country and we should have small aviation here. We have a lot of old insecure Russian aircrafts and we need to change them immediately. We purchased two helicopters of best quality today and we should use them for rescue operations, medical needs. There are plenty situations of those kind, where we vitally need helicopters. Georgia should become a mobile country, where people will be able to move easily`, Saakashvili said.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

[hakz2007]

The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili met the representatives of Romanian Government

The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is on his official visit to Romania. He already met his Romanian counterpart and Prime Minister in Bucharest. The sides discussed the relations between two countries and the future plans. The issues of NATO and EU integration and economic cooperation was discussed during the meetings as well. Mikheil Saakashvili visited Antimoz Iverieli Cathedral in Bucharest, where the Leader of Romanian Orthodox Church received him. The Leader of Romanian Orthodox Church expressed his will on cooperation between two countries. His Holiness Daniel granted the President of Georgia with a book of prayers written by Antimoz Iverieli and assessed Georgian five cross flag as the symbol of bravery and honor to Orthodox Church. Mikheil Saakashvili granted his Holiness with the Icon of Holly Trinity and a gold bowl. The President of Georgia stressed his attention on saving Georgian historical monuments and Georgian holly treasure.

"Our spiritual bonds represent a very important bridge built on Black Sea. The fact that Orthodox Romania is a very successful member of EU gives hope to Georgia. We have restored our flag, though there still are some politicians who do not recognize this flag and wish to return old flags. It is very important that the Georgian people love this flag with all their heart. The representatives of ethnic minorities, among them those who are not Christians have adopted it as their national symbol. We are very proud of this flag. No one will be able to change it", Mikheil Saakasvili said during his conversation with Romanian Patriarch. His Holiness Daniel, on his side, pointed out that only love will strengthen Georgia and Romania. As he admitted Georgia will become part of modern Europe. After the meeting with the Patriarch Mikheil Saakashvili made a comment:

"Antimoz Iverieli, a very famous and great Patriarch of Romania was Georgian. Besides you know that Grigol Peradze was recognized as a saint by Romanian Church. In Bulgaria there is a monastery founded by Peter Iveri. All these are Georgian cultural and historical monuments and represent the huge strength for Georgia. We must correctly perceive and pass to the future generation the history of Georgia. This is why we have to protect these monuments. You know that Georgian monuments are practically destroyed in Turkey and because of various bureaucratic reasons the signing of an agreement was cancelled. But we have to speed up this process, because we have no right to lose our history. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture have received a serious task in this direction and we going to work very seriously", Mikheil Saakashvili said.

Before coming to the Cathedral the Georgian delegation held meetings in the Parliament of Romania. Mikheil Saakashvili met the Chairmen of Upper and Lower Houses. At the negotiation table the Romanian side once again expressed support to Georgia on the way to NATO and EU integration. The Chairman of the Upper House noted that the fortune of Georgian people and Georgia is important not only for Romania, but for EU as well.

Tbilisi received a political and economic support from Bucharest as well. Several agreements were signed. "I am glad I once again meet you here. I will never forget that Romania was the first country, who recognized our independence. You were one of the first leaders who on behalf of European organizations came to Georgia after the Rose Revolution. It clearly showed who our partner was and wished to help us. There are many problems in the region, but we do not try to avoid them. The cooperation between Georgia and Romania in the Black Sea region can bring good perspectives", Mikheil Saakashvili stated during his meeting with Mircha Dzhoane.

The Romanian governemtn representatives state that Romania will activate its support to Georgia until the NATO Summit, in order for Georgia to become NATO member as soon as it is possible. After Bucharest the President of Georgia will depart to Constanza, where he will held meetings with business circles.

http://www.president.gov.ge/index.ph...6&info_id=5255

[VelesHomais]

Keep it coming. Perhaps some construction/project updates from Tbilisi city thread should be moved here. Another thing, wouldn't Georgians want to be in Euroscrapers? It should be up to them.

Cheers

[hakz2007]

French press speaks about the visit of the President of Georgia in France

French press speaks about the visit of the President of Georgia in France. An edition "20 Minutes" published the interview with the President of Georgia, where Mikheil Saakashvili calls his visit to France as devastation of Russia's efforts to isolate Georgia.

"France has never weakened its support towards Georgia. The very fact that my official visit is going on before Putin's visit to France is very important. It buries all efforts of Russia to isolate our country", Mikheil Saakasvhili stated. As he said France is a country that supports Georgia unconditionally.

According to the French edition's evaluation, today France continues being active, in order to help Georgia deepen cooperation with EU and achieve visa-free regime. Nicola Sarkozy expressed his wish to start negotiations on this issue from upcoming Summer.

http://www.president.gov.ge/index.ph...6&info_id=5271

[Kokoity]

Tourism is developing in Georgia
By Messenger Staff
Wednesday, June 16
The Georgian tourist business has started saying that we are at the beginning of the end of the tourism crisis. After the two years of setbacks Georgian tour operators are becoming rather busy again and foreign tourists are again entering the country, although not yet as many as before the August 2008 war.

The Tourism and Resorts Department states that in the first four months of 2010 around half a million tourists entered Georgia, almost 40% more than in the same period last year.

It projects that around 1.7 million tourists will come to Georgia this year. Most of these people will be visiting the Adjara sea resorts in summer, and on the basis of current bookings Azerbaijan will send the most tourists, followed by Turkey and Armenia. Turkish tourists traditionally visit Adjara to gamble.

Internal tourism is also developing. In 2009 more than 21% of Tbilisi residents spent their holidays at the Adjara sea resorts and it is expected that this quantity will increase this year. The tastes of tourists are diversifying. Some time ago holidaymakers went to the seaside resorts in summer and the mountain ski resorts in winter, but today more and more people are attracted by the protected territories of Georgia. Information from the Protected Territories Agency suggests that in 2009 up to 100,000 tourists visited them, 65,000 of these holidaying at the Sataplia protected territory. People also visited Vashlovani, Borjomi-Kharagauli and other national parks.

The state is trying to improve Georgia's infrastructure, building roads and assisting locals and thus encouraging domestic tourism. Interestingly, 90% of the holidaymakers in the protected territories are Georgian citizens.

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2..._econ_one.html

[Kokoity]

Police Parade Pictures from Day of Police

[Kokoity]

Tbilisi hosts first beer festival

In an attempt to get closer to European traditions, Tbilisi hosted a beer festival for the first time. The main goals, according to organizers, are to support the promotion of Georgian beer, as well as to advertise new technologies and offer beer varieties.

The festival was held on June 12-13 and was organized under the initiative of Natakhtari, Georgia’s leading beer producer. Tbilisi Municipality supported the idea as well.

“This time, we have worked exclusively with Natakhtari, but we are planning to involve other beer companies in next festivals,” Oto Lezhava, one of the organizers, told Georgia Today.

Beer festivals are very popular in Europe, where many different beers are for sale. Such opportunities were also given to Tbilisi citizens last weekend: Tbilisi’s Rose Revolution Square, the event’s venue was divided into five corners - British, Bavarian, Georgian, Czech and Dutch. People could taste Natakhtari beer along with food from these countries.

The festival coincided with the 2010 FIFA World CUP South Africa and organizers installed a big screen for people to watch the games. “Beer and football are not separate sings,” said brand manager of Natakhtari Ana Karchava.

Local musical groups such as Mgzavrebi, George Mikadze, Jazz Trio, Frani, Tereon, Jazz Teens & Vazha Mania gave the fresh air concerts during the festival. Several competitions were arranged, and the winners were granted beer-related gifts.

The Natakhtari brewery was built in 2005 with the joint investments of TBC Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Located in the village of Natakhtari near Tbilisi, the company’s plant bottles beer and fruit lemonades. Natakhtari exports its products to the United States, Cyprus, Greece, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Israel. However, Karchava noted that Georgia remains the main market for the company. According to her, Natakhtari controls more than 60 percent of Georgia’s beer market.

Karchava noted that her company wonted to organize a large-scale event “something like Munich beer festivals.” According to her, this was a cultural and social project rather than a commercial one. “We wanted that locals could get familiar with European way of life,” she told Georgia Today.

“It is great to be here,” Khatia, 25, said. “This is something different and feels like Germany, where I attended a beer festival three years ago.”

Organizers of the event believe that it will become a tradition and Tbilisi will host such festival annually at the beginning of every summer.

Story by Nino Edilashvili
18.06.2010

http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=8081

[hakz2007]

Electricity Imports From Georgia

Tehran ambassador to Tbilisi and Georgian energy minister agreed on expansion of Iran-Georgia ties in various energy sectors.

Iranian Ambassador Majid Saber and Georgian Energy Minister Alexandre Khetaguri discussed bilateral ties in energy fields emphasizing on further expansion of the ties, Moj News Agency wrote.

The two sides reviewed ways of expanding bilateral cooperation in establishment of hydro-electric power station and using green energies to produce electricity, as well as the bilateral ties in oil and gas sectors.

Georgian side asked for Iran's technical knowledge and know-how in the field of wind energy announcing readiness to import wind turbines from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Based on the agreements, Georgia will start electricity exports to Iran in near future.

Earlier in May at a forum hosted by the Embassy in the capital Tbilisi Majid Samazadeh Saber said Iran has planned to build a hydropower plant in Georgia and seeks to import electricity from the former Soviet republic.

"We're getting a good response from the Georgian government on improving ties in our region, and we're ready to do so."

"We want to import electricity from Georgia and use the country for power transit" in addition to the planned hydro plant, he said, adding that Iran is "interested in wind energy" investments in Georgia.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZA...From%20Georgia

[Kokoity]

“Fox International” will make a commercial about Georgia

The Deputy Minister of Economy Zurab Alavidze met Mathew Morgan - the chief of “Fox International” and “National Geographic” business development.

The chief of the National Investment Agency Irakli Matkava and the Head of Tourism Department Zaal Abazadze also attended the meeting that was held in the Ministry of Economic Development.

The participants talked about making a documentary and image making commercials about Georgia and then broadcasting them on the World’s most famous and prominent TV channels.

Mathew Morgan is in Georgia in frameworks of the “Ark of World Wine” company’s invitation. His intention is to learn the current economic situation, investment projects, agriculture, wine-making, tourism, culture, history, production and business environment that will lie in the fundament of the movie that will be made.

Matthew Morgan told the journalists that he is sure that the visit to Georgia will be a successful one. “Georgia has a great potential in several directions. The message that will be sent to the rest of the World about your country will mainly concentrate on the Georgian culture, wine and old traditions,” – noted Morgan.

According to the information given by Zurab Alavidze - the Deputy Minister of Economy, Matthew Morgan will come up with concrete proposals of making Georgia more famous in terms of its wine-making traditions, ancient culture and as the country of modern democracy with the help of different TV channels in 1.5-2 months after the visit.

Morgan’s visit will last till June 24. The chief of “Fox International” and “National Geographic” business development will visit Mtskheta and Kakheti in frameworks of his visit.

http://economy.gov.ge/?category=4&lang=eng&item=262

National Geographic to prepare documentary about Georgia
23.06.10
National Geographic will soon air five promo videos on Georgia. The director of the National Geographic TV Company Business Development in Eastern Europe and Asia has arrived in Kakheti Region today.
Matthew Morgan has visited Alaverdi Cathedral and the Wine Cellar (marani) together with the Bishop of the Eparchy. He also visited Tsinandali Garden of the Chavchavadze Residence, Nekresi Temple and Sighnagi city.
The goal of the visit is to get acquainted with Georgia and create a 50-minute documentary and five video ads about Georgia, which will be broadcast on National Geographic.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

[Kokoity]

Georgia and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea established diplomatic relations
JUNE 24, 2010
Permanent Representation of Georgia to the United Nations

New York, NY

Georgia and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea signed a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations.

According to the joint communiqué, the establishment of diplomatic relations serves the interests of the both states. Relations between the two sides will be guided by the principles of national sovereignty, respect of territorial integrity and noninterference in internal state affairs.

In accordance with international practice the sides informed UN Secretary General on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries by a joint letter.

The communiqué was signed by H.E. Mr. Anatoio Ndong Mba, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the United Nations and from the Georgian side by H.E. Alexander Lomaia, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations.

The communiqué signing ceremony was held in New York, at Georgia's permanent mission to the UN.

Equatorial Guinea is the 30th African country with which Georgia has established diplomatic relations.

In 2010 Georgia has established diplomatic relations with 17 countries. Besides African countries (Gambia, Botswana, Cape Verde, Liberia and the Union of the Comoros) there are countries of Asia and Pacific Rim (Brunei, Marshall Islands, the Republic of Maldives, the Independent State of Samoa and the Republic of the Fiji Islands) and Latin American countries (Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent).

Georgia has established diplomatic relations with 140 states among the 191 member states of the United Nations.

http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?o...9037&Itemid=65

[hakz2007]

Mikheil Saakashvili made a statement on the structural changes in the Government of Georgia

Mikheil Saakashvili made a statement on the structural changes in the Government of Georgia. The President of Georgia expressed his gratitude to Zurab Pololikashvili - the former Minister of Economy for his job. He said that the Ministry of Economy will become a ministry of firm development and Vera Kobalia will lead it. The Head of Road Department Ramaz Nikolaishvili changed the Minister of Regional Development David Tkeshelashvili. David Tkeshelashvili was appointed as the Head of President's Administration; Irma Nadirashvili will be his deputy on this position. Departments of Youth and Sports will be separated from the Ministry of Culture, it will become a separate ministry and Vladimer Vardzelashvili will become the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs. Tornike Gordadze will become the Deputy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He will lead the European direction. Temur Janashia, the former Head of Administration will lead the State Security Service.

http://www.president.gov.ge/index.ph...6&info_id=5290

[hakz2007]

Batumi is hosting South Caucasus Championship in Intellectual Games

PanARMENIAN.Net - Batumi is hosting South Caucasus Championship in Intellectual Games on July 23-25.

The event brought together teams of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan to compete for Caucasus Cup.

Specifically, participants will compete in the following intellectual games: What? Where? When? (competitive game), Brain-Ring, Jeopardy! (Russian and English versions) and Erudite-Sextet.

Famous Russian intellectual game players Alexander Drouz, Boris Burda, Ilya Novikov are among jury members, according to the tournament official website.

The event is organized through the assistance of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Ajarian Autonomous Republic and Mayor's Office of Batumi.

http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/society/news/51689/

[Kokoity]

Acting president of Moldova to arrive in Georgia in August
26.07.10
Acting president of Moldova Mikhai Gimpu will arrive in Georgia to see the Moldovan children to the Anaklia Patriot Camp, where they have been invited by the Georgian government within the humanitarian aid.
The acting president announced his plan at the meeting with the Georgian delegation in Chisinau today. He said the country had already determined who is friend and who is not.
The first group of the children from the villages, who suffered damage after the flood, will arrive in Georgia on August 6. 125 children will spend few weeks in the patriot camp together with Georgian, Belarusian and Armenian peers.
Within the humanitarian aid, Georgian government will construct a Georgian family in the disaster region of Moldova. Georgian delegation viewed the disaster areas today.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...1&prior=3&ct=0

[Kokoity]

Will Pamela Anderson Come to Georgia?
July 27, 2010 , by Giorgi Lomsadze
Tamada Tales Georgia
Soap opera lovers sit tight: American sex symbol Pamela Anderson, who once patrolled Los Angeles beaches in the Baywatch series, may soon be sighted on Georgia’s Black Sea coast to guest-star in a summer romantic comedy.


Georgian film producer Davit Imedashvili, who worked on the Renny Harlin action flic that brought Andy Garcia to Georgia to play President Mikheil Saakashvili, is now eyeing Anderson for a supporting role in a film tentatively titled "The Sea of Love," news magazine Liberali reported.


Georgian singing beauty Sofo Nizharadze, who cinched ninth place in this year’s Eurovision, the continent’s pop-glitz festival, will play the lead in the Cinderella story. It is yet unclear what may be Anderson’s role.


But this is not all. Mexican-born movie star Gael Garcia Bernal, known for his role as Che Guevara in "The Motorcycle Diaries" and as a transvestite in "Bad Education," has come to the mountains of Kazbegi to shoot a thriller, The Loneliest Planet. The film tells the story of a couple, lost in the Georgian mountains, on "a twisted backpacking trip" that tests their relationship.


Looks like Georgian movie producers are going to town with their plans to turn Georgia into a hip new setting for the Western film industry -- just call it a progression from Spaghetti Westerns to Khachapuri Dramas.

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/61616

[Kokoity]

Wines from Republic of Georgia blend modern, traditional styles
By Dave DeSimone, FOR THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Drinking wine can bring marvelous surprises, even for enthusiasts who have enjoyed trying new wines for more years than they care to admit. A recent tasting of terrific Republic of Georgia wines, including some now available in Pennsylvania, provided a perfect illustration.

A diverse group of Pittsburghers enjoyed the wines as part of a reception where Batu Kutelia, Georgia's ambassador to the United States, discussed eclectic commercial, educational and cultural topics. As grateful guests learned, no Georgian social gathering could be complete without poetic toasts presented with wines and tasty morsels aplenty.

"Saperavi is my favorite wine without doubt," said Kutelia, the youthful, polyglot Ambassador.

Which begs the question: What is Saperavi?

The deeply colored, red-skinned Saperavi grape plays a prominent role amidst the mind boggling 500-plus varieties cultivated in Georgia. This awesome legacy dates back to 6000 BC, prompting the justly proud Georgians to dub their culture the "cradle of wine civilization."

The region's deep wine roots arise from manifest blessings in terroir. And terroir always begins with geography.

Georgia sits at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, so the Greater Caucasus Mountains divide the country from Russia in the North. The Lesser Caucasus Mountains separate the country from Turkey and Armenia in South. The Black Sea lies immediately to the West.

Generally warm, humid conditions prevail near the sea, while more arid conditions predominate in Georgia's eastern region. But numerous microclimates interspersing both regions support the diverse grape varieties.

In addition, cultural and political influences have played critical roles in shaping Georgia's unique terroir.

For millennia, small, independent farmers preserved Georgia's winemaking traditions. Crushing hand-picked grapes underfoot avoided transferring harsh tannins. The resulting juice drained into cone-shaped, clay urns -- the qvevri -- buried in the earth for cool fermentation.

With initial fermentation completed, ripe stems were returned to the urns which were then sealed tight for secondary, malolactic fermentation. The final wines -- white and red -- attained unique fruity intensity, earthiness and robust, yet supple tannins much appreciated at traditional peasant feasts called Supra.

According to Mamuka Tsereteli, an American University professor who imports Georgian wines, traditional winemaking still exists widely on a non-commercial basis. But more modern techniques also exist as a legacy of the Soviet Union's political domination until 1991.

During the Soviet period, almost all commercially produced Georgian wine was shipped to Russia. In fact, until the Russian imposed embargo in 2006, Tsereteli says, Georgia's commercial wineries sold millions of liters annually with quantity prevailing over quality.

With Russian markets now no longer a primary option, Georgia's producers must export to Western markets. This trend, Tsereteli says, has been a blessing.

"The quality of commercial wines has rapidly improved as Georgia has been forced to export," he says. And much to Ambassador Kutelia's pleasure, export markets have embraced both modern-style wines and hand-crafted traditional Georgian wines.

Try the following:

2007 Teliani Valley Tsolikouri, Lechkhumi, Georgia (Specialty 22819; $10.99): Teliani Valley boasts a modern winery funded, in part, by an investment by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Using indigenous Tsolikouri grapes grown in the northwestern Lechkhumi region, Teliani's winemakers use stainless-steel fermentation to feature fragrant grapefruit and lime aromas with light herbal notes. The modern approach also highlights crisp, clean citrus and pear flavors with tasty mineral notes nicely balancing a round, yet dry finish. Try it with sauteed chicken and mushrooms. Highly recommended.

2007 Teliani Valley Kindzmaruali, Kakheti, Georgia (Specialty 14122; $15.49): Made in the modern style with 100-percent Saperavi grapes harvested late in the eastern Kakheti region, the wine exudes intense, ripe black berry and violet aromas. Ripe blackberry and plum flavors frame the soft, yet well balanced and slightly sweet finish. Sip it with either hard cheese and walnuts or sweet dessert cakes. Highly recommended.

2008 Pheasant's Tears Saperavi "Black Wine," Kakheti, Georgia (available at Potomac Wines and Spirits, Washingon, D.C.; 202-333-2847; $18.99) Made completely in qvevri, this authentic style wine offers impenetrable "black" color and untamed black fruit, smoked game, and tar aromas roaring from the glass. Intense, taught fruit hits the palate with ball peen power countered by mild tannins and refreshing acidity. Try it with roasted lamb. Highly recommended.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_692191.html

[Kokoity]

Raised penalties for traffic violation come into force
01.08.10
Raised penalties for traffic violation have come into force since today. In cases of drunk driving, penalty will be GEL 200 and in case of inflicting damage to a construction or human body a person driving the vehicle will lose driving right for three years also if the person who is driving avoids taking breath test will lose driving rights for three years. If the person driving doesn’t stop car at the request made by policeman or leaves the vehicle on the place of accident will be fined GEL 300 or deprived of driving rights for a year.
Penalty for not using seat belts will be GEL 40. In case of causing obstruction to escort, person driving vehicle will be deprived driving rights for a year.

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.p...main&ct=0&wth=

[Kokoity]

Polish Airlines enters Georgia, offers direct flights

LOT, the state-owned airline of Poland has announced that starting from mid-September it will offer Warsaw-Tbilisi flights three times per week.

The first flight will be take place on September 15. The company said that excluding commission, the price for a single ticket will be 185 euro and 275 euro for a return. Currently, no direct flights are available to Poland. Various air companies operate flights to either Warsaw or Krakow via transit flights, which complicate travel between the two countries. According to the administration of LOT travel, the flights between Georgia and Poland will last around 3 hours and 40 minutes.

The Georgian Government welcomed the announcement, saying the move will increase Georgia’s attractiveness to Polish tourists and further promote the country in Europe.

Vera Kobalia, the Minister of Economy hailed the newcomer, noting that such decisions are very vital for the development of tourism in Georgia. “Many Polish tourists will have the opportunity to easily visit Georgia,” she said while attending the company’s press-conference in Tbilisi last week.

Based in Warsaw, LOT has been a member of STAR ALLIANCE since 2003. LOT was established in 1929, making it one of the world’s oldest airlines still in operation. LOT operates scheduled services on both domestic and international routes. 67.97 percent of the company is owned by the Polish government. The company performs flights to 57 different destinations in Europe, the Middle East and North America, with a recent renewal of its services to Asia. The company also carries out flights to Armenia.

Like other airlines it offers classes of service on its flights – economy and business class. In 2010, the company won numerous awards including “Best Airline in Eastern Europe”.

At the time of writing, from all Eastern European countries, only Czech Airlines of Czech Republic and Air Baltic of Latvia are operating direct flights to Tbilisi.

Story by Nino Edilashvili

http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=8200

[hakz2007]

Russia's S7 airline cleared for regular Moscow-Tbilisi flights

Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia has given a green light to Russian S7 Airlines to run regular flights between Moscow and Tbilisi.

Direct Russian-Georgian flights were suspended in 2006 amid sour relations between the two countries. Air travel was restored for a short time in 2008, but halted when the August 2008 conflict broke out between Russia and Georgia over the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia.

Moscow and Tbilisi gave permission for the resumption of scheduled flights after they allowed a number direct charter flights between the two capitals earlier in the year.

S7's press service said the airline was seeing feverish demand for tickets on the route, with the first flight scheduled for August 23.

The Russian carrier will make the flights along with Georgian Airways on equal basis. In the 2010 summer season each company will fly between Moscow and Tbilisi three times a week, S7's press service said.

"S7 Airlines will conduct flights to Tbilisi on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays by Airbus A319 aircraft. The departure time for flights from Moscow is 10:25 Moscow Time (06:25 GMT), the departure time from Tbilisi is 14:00 local time (10:00 GMT)," S7 said in a statement.

The Russian air carrier said it will consider the resumption of the flights to Georgian cities of Kutaisi and Batumi.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100818/160249127.html

[Kokoity]

Famous Ukrainian Journalists in Georgia

Famous Ukrainian journalists are visiting Georgia. They have already met and interviewed President Mikheil Saakashvili. The interview will be broadcast simultaneously by three Ukrainian television channels.

The journalists have visited a number of Tbilisi sights including St. Trinity Patriarchate Cathedral.

Visiting with the journalists is famous publicist and writer Vitaly Korotich – one of the architects of Perestroika.

‘We love Georgia and we can see the reforms taking place here. I want these reforms to be successful so that we can tell our government to make future reforms in Ukraine with this success. We are inspired by the reforms in the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the police are transparent today, a policeman doesn’t take bribe here,’ Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon stated.

He also commented that the Ukrainian journalists particularly liked the Georgian education reforms, especially bringing foreign teachers to the country.

‘I’m ashamed that it’s my first visit to Georgia. I think I have missed out on a lot by this. The first thing that surprised me on meeting with Saakashvili is that President is going to carry out effective and stringent reforms. You will live in successful and flourishing country,’ Vitaly Korotich stated.

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2..._in_brief.html