Tbilisi. 27 March’04, www.rustavi2.com - Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia took a decision on the sending Zurab Jhvania, the Prime Minister, to the Adjara Autonomous Republic of Georgia; the Prime Minister will monitor the election process at the site. Yesterday late at night the President of Georgia held a briefing and named the main reason for sending Jhvania to the autonomy; he declared that the members of the cabinet would monitor election at the site. Jemal Gogitidze, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Adjara Autonomous Republic of Georgia, yesterday evaluated the President's decision on the sending Jhvania to the autonomy as positive one.
APPROXIMATELY 80 CIS OBSERVERS WILL MONITOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN TBILISI, BATUMI, GORI AND TELAVI
Tbilisi. 27 March’04, www.rustavi2.com - Zurab Chiaberashvili, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission today met the Unified Mission of the Observers of the CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, headed by Constantine Markelov. The issues connected with the pre-election work were discussed at the meeting. According to Zurab Chiaberashvili, the Unified Mission of the Observers of the CIS Inter parliamentary Assembly mainly monitors the procedure of registration and marking. Approximately 80 observers will monitor the Parliamentary Election in Tbilisi, Batumi, Gori and Telavi.
'LABOR PARTY' MTATSMINDA OFFICE INTRUDED
Tbilisi, 27 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Mtatsminda regional office of 'Georgian Labor Party' was intruded today morning. Head of the party information department Gela Danelia told Inter-Press that app. 15 uncovered criminals intruded the office. They drove three cars with no number boards. They abused the party activists, tore and destroyed the agitation materials and broke a car of one of the activists, standing near the office. 'Labor Party' claims that the Georgian government is unable to reconcile with high rating of the party and uses filthy methods against it. 'The government uses methods against 'Labor Party, which were common during the Shevardnadze regime,' Danelia said. He went on say that despite pressure and contradiction, the party will never reconcile with violence and continue fight for saving the country. Danelia appeals the population to give up assaults on 'Labor Party' and keep its promise, given to the population, otherwise the party threatens to take responding measures.
POLICE HAVE NO RIGHT TO INVOLVE IN THE ELECTIONS
Tbilisi, 27 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Policemen will have no right to involve in the elections. Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Baramidze made a special statement for the Ministry staff, regarding their duties on the Election Day. Giorgi Baramidze said that the policemen have the only function to protect peoples' rights, to put everything in order and act swiftly in case of any incident, without causing problems to the voting procedure. 'We wish to conduct elections on March 28 in a fair and democratic way. These procedures will be carried out if the state structures don't violate the law and try to influence the voters,' Baramidze said. According to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, NGO 'International Transparence - Georgia' has been giving special seminars to the police employees during the last month. Baramidze said that the policemen, like other citizens of Georgia will vote in that polling station where they have been registered.
LINKS WARNS: GEORGIA MAY GET ONE-PARTY PARLIAMENT
Tbilisi. 27 March’04, Caucasus Press. 03-27-04. The possibility of that Georgia will have one-party parliament is really high, LINKS Representative Stephan Nash said in Election Media Centre during presentation of pre-election monitoring findings. Mr. Nash stressed that Georgia has the chance to show to the world how democratic the new administration really is.
1. IN A DEMOCRACY, EVERY VOTE COUNTS”
Tbilisi. 25 March’04, www.rustavi2.com - The Council of Europe Parliamentary President Peter Schieder today urged the Georgian authorities to act with the utmost responsibility for the peaceful conducting of the Parliamentary Elections, stated on March 28, 2004. The Council of Europe Parliamentary President positively evaluates the recent agreement signed by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and the Head of the Adjara Autonomous Republic of Georgia Aslan Abashidze. Peter Schieder also mentions that "Free and fair elections, including in Adjara, are a key pre-requisite for the development of a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future in a modern and stable Georgia".
2. FAIR ELECTIONS> - ISFED CONSIDERS THAT PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA VIOLATES LAW
TBILISI. CAUCASUS PRESS. 03-25-04. According to the conclusion of lawyer of the fund > Kakha Sopromadze, President of Georgia violates the law, agitating for his party. As he has stated at the press-conference today in the media-centre, the Election Code forbids officials to agitate during working time and using administrative resources. At the same time President of Georgia might head the political organisation, but not hold the election campaign.
3.Exit Polls to be Held in Georgia on March 28
Tbilisi. 25 March’04. INTER-PRESS. - Questioning of voters, the so-called exit polls, will be held on March 28. The program will be chaired by the Oxford University Professor Cliff Pain. Public opinion research and marketing group ‘IPM,’ research company ‘BCG Research’ and the faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Ilia Chavchavadze State University of Language and Culture will represent the Georgian side in the program. The program is financed by fund ‘Open Society – Georgia,’ the Switzerland Development and Cooperation Agency and the British Council. A special press conference will be held at the election media center on the mentioned issue and head of the program Cliff Pain will take part in it.
4.CEC ASKS NATIONAL BANK TO TRANSFER MONEY TO ADDRESSEE
TBILISI. CAUCASUS PRESS. 03-25-04. The Central Election Commission asks the National Bank of Georgia to transfer assets from Marine Bank to addressee. These assets are intended for three election districts of the autonomy and they are to be transferred to one of branches of Ajarian bank. As deputy chairman of the commission Zurab Abashidze has stated at the siting of CEC today, there are GEL79 468 in the Marine bank, which is to be liquidated, for Batumi district commission, GEL70 578 for Kobuleti and GEL70 578 for Khelvachauri district commission. These assets are to be used to cover expenses for holding parliamentary elections on November 2.
5.RESIDENTS OF KODORI VALLEY COMPLAIN OF POLITICAL PARTIES INATTENTION
Tbilisi. 25 March’04, Caucasus Press. - Residents of Kodori Valley, the only territory of Abkhazia where jurisdiction of Georgia is spread, complain of inattention of political parties to them. As CAUCASUS PRESS was informed in the press-centre of the Authorised of President to the valley, no one political party had sent its representatives to the valley and held the meeting with its residents in the framework of its election campaign. In their opinion, holding of elections on the part of the territory of Abkhazia is of great political importance.
6. TWO MEMBERS OF FORMER GOVERNMENTAL BLOC R EFUSE RUNNING FOR PARLIAMENT
Tbilisi. 25 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - Today MPs the supporters of the former President Ed.Shevardnadze Zviad Nukbaniani and Irakli Gogava said to journalists that they were not going to run for parliament on 28 March elections. At the today's press conference they said that the recently formed Party “Protection of Constitutional Rights” on the ticket of which they were, also refused to take part in the elections. The Party leaders decided to boycott the elections as “the country's new government had not been taking into account the requirements of international organizations and is not providing the opposition with equal condition to run for parliament.”
7."PEOPLE'S PARTY OF REFUGEES" IMPOSES BOYCOTT ON THE ELECTIONS, BUT CALLS ON 12 THOUSAND REFUGEES IN AJARA TO SUPPORT ABASHIDZE
Tbilisi, 25 March ’04, Prime-News. - "People's Party of Refugees", which unites 41 thousand members, imposes boycott on the March 28 repeated parliamentary elections, however calls on 12 thousand refugees, residing in the autonomous republic, to vote for the "Democratic Revival Union", which is lead by the autonomy leader Aslan Abashidze. As the leader of "People's Party of Refugees", the deputy Boris Kakubava stated at the press conference on Thursday, the powers that are masters of rigging elections are holding the parliamentary elections. According to him, Ajara authorities care about the refugees. The party representatives will be sent to Ajara and will work for avoiding any complications in this region, he noted. Kakubava believes that the central government and mass media deliberately ignore Ajara events. He is confident that if the armed penetration takes place in Ajara, refugees will stand ready to protect the region.
8.YOUTH NGO CALLS FOR NON-VIOLENCE
Tbilisi. 25 March’04, Caucasus Press. - New Generation - New Initiative NGO launches project and founds the Peace Corps. NGO representatives said at today's press conference that they offer all political parties to sign a memo on non-violent elections March 25-27. The NGO will commission 2000 observers to monitor the parliamentary elections in Georgia.
9."REVIVAL" ACCUSES THE GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT AND CEC CHAIR OF AN ATTEMPT TO FAIL ELECTIONS IN AJARA
Tbilisi. 25 March ’04, Prime-News. - "Democratic Revival Union" declares that the Georgian government and CEC chair Zurab Chiaberashvili are planning to fail the parliamentary elections in the autonomous republic of Ajara. As one of the leaders of "Revival" Elizbar Javelidze stated at the press conference on Thursday, only 15 thousand inhabitants support the governmental power in Ajara, while others are supporters of "Democratic Revival Union". According to Javelidze, rating of the governmental power decreases daily, but this fact does not bother members of its elections lists and the government, because they possess all mechanisms necessary for rigging the elections. 14 political parties and five election blocs participate in the March 28 repeated parliamentary elections.
10.300 GEORGIANS TO TAKE PART IN VOTING IN AZERBAIJAN
Baku. 25 March’04, Caucasus Press - MPA. - The Embassy of Georgia in Azerbaijan is getting prepared for Georgia's 28 March parliamentary elections. The sole polling station in Azerbaijan has opened in the embassy. About 300 voters are expected to take part in elections.
11.LABORERS TO MEET ELECTORATE
Tbilisi. 25 March’04, www.rustavi2.com - Leaders of the Labor Party of Georgia plan to meet their electorate at the Tbilisi Sport Palace today to urge them to be active on the polling day. "It is obvious today that the people of Georgia stand before a serious choice today - they have to choose between the destructive governance of Soros, or the last chance to save the country, i.e. Labor Party" - Labor Party's information center has released.
1.UNDP ALLOCATES GEL 1,026,970 TO GEORGIA POLLS
Tbilisi. 24 March ’04, Inter-Press. - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided GEL 1,026,970 to Georgia to hold democratic and transparent elections on March 28. Finance Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli and UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia Lance Clark on March 23 signed an agreement on providing financial assistance to Georgia in holding the March 28 parliamentary elections. According to the agreement, donor organizations - the UNDP and the European Commission will partly cover costs of precinct and district election administrations.
2.CEC OF GEORGIA PRESENTS NEW WEBSITE
Tbilisi. 24 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - The presentation of the new website of the Central Election Commission of Georgia - PRIVATE HREF="http://www.cec.gov.ge" MACROBUTTON HtmlResAnchor www.cec.gov.ge took place at the office of CEC of Georgia. The web contains full information about political parties participating in the parliamentary elections, biographies of leaders and programs. Citizens would be able to check up if they are put on the list of Georgian voters. The web provides information concerning voting procedure. There are two versions of the website - Georgian and English.
3.US BUSINESSMEN AND EXPERTS' DELEGATION ARRIVED TO BATUMI TO OBSERVE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Tbilisi. 24 March ‘04, Black Sea Press. - A delegation of nine US businessmen and experts arrived to Batumi today. Tsotne Bakuria, one of the leaders of the party of “Revival”, has arranged this visit in the course of his recent trip to the USA. Tsotne Bakuria told journalists that the US delegation would observe Georgian parliamentary election in Batumi on March 28. Today, members of the US delegation held meeting with the leader of Adjara Aslan Abashidze. According to Tsotne Bakuria, “routine political processes in Georgia and future parliamentary elections” were discussed at the meeting. Aslan Abashidze touched upon center and region's opposition theme as well. Tsotne Bakuria informed that one more delegation of 50 people will arrive to Batumi from the USA in two days and this fact would be “serious guarantee of peace and stability in Georgia”.
4.THE US EMBASSY IN GEORGIA WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT THE US BUSINESSMEN AND EXPERTS DELEGATION'S VISIT TO BATUMI
Tbilisi. 24 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - The US Embassy in Georgia was not informed about the forthcoming visit of delegation of the US businessmen and experts to Batumi, which was arranged by the leader of the party of “Revival” Tsotne Bakuria in the course of his recent trip to the USA, the BLACK SEA PRESS correspondent was told at the press service of the US Embassy in Georgia. According to the representative of the US Embassy's press-service, this visit is private initiative. Among the delegation are businessmen and representatives of NGOs, which are not representing official structures. Commenting on the declaration of Tsotne Bakuria about arrival of another 50-member US delegation to Batumi for the parliamentary elections' monitoring, the US Embassy said that the US side has already sent four observer groups to Georgia, which are working within the framework of the OSCE International Observer Mission and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and that is why the diplomatic mission has no information about any additional delegation from the USA.
1.PRELIMINARY REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IS COMPLETED
Tbilisi. 23 March’04, Sakinformi. - The Central Elections Committee of Georgia has completed the preliminary registration of voters for the forthcoming parliamentary elections on March 28. Head of the CEC Zurab Chiaberashvili has informed that 102 700 voters have passed the registration. On the territory of Adjara, only 30 percent of voters have passed registration due to different reasons. Totally 2 million 270 thousand voters are registered on the entire territory of Georgia.
2.REGISTERED VOTERS RECEIVED REGISTRATION CARDS
Tbilisi. 23 March ’04, Inter-Press. Central Election Commission (CEC) head Zurab Chiaberashvili handed voter registration cards to the electorate of the Didube #3 experimental election precinct along with the agitation materials prepared by the initiative of the public relations department of the CEC. Chiaberashvili said that delivery of voter registration cards has been launched throughout Georgia and those voters who have been registered for the March 28 parliamentary elections will be delivered voter registration cards at their places. Voter's name, last name, his number in the voter list, number of the precinct commission and address of the polling station are indicated on a voter registration card. […]
3.PRESIDENT AND OPPOSITION LEADERS TOURING REGIONS
Tbilisi. 23 March’04, Caucasus Press. - President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili went to Kakheti region today in order to campaign in support of National Movement - Democrats. The State Chancellery told CAUCASUS PRESS that the President will meet with voters in Telavi and Velistsikhe. The leaders of Industrialists - New Rights have also headed for Kakheti today. The Laborite leaders plan to visit Adjara, while the leader of (Unity), Jumber Patiashvili will go to Imereti. Akaki Asatiani, the leader of NDPG-Traditionalists bloc will head for Akhaltsikhe and Gori.
4.SEVEN PERCENT BARRIER TO BE DETERMINED BY TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTERS
Tbilisi, 23 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - Today the CEC passed a decision under which seven percent of votes needed to the parties to win the parliamentary elections will be determined by the total number of ballot papers cast by the voters. CEC Chairman Zurab Chiaberashvili underscored that this had been recommended by the OSCE. During the 2 November 2003 presidential elections seven percent of votes of the total amount of voters were needed to with the elections.
5.ADJARA TO PARTICIPATE IN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Tbilisi. 23 March’04, www.geotimes.ge - Adjara participation in the Georgian parliamentary elections scheduled on March 28 is of much political importance both for Adjara and Georgia, Aslan Abashidze the leader of Adjara Autonomous Republic said on Tuesday. “Our participation in the Georgian parliamentary elections will give a chance to Adjara to be represented in the Georgian parliament, which is needed for submitting, discussing and approving important draft laws,” Abashidze said. According to Abashidze, Revival Party headed by Adjara leader himself will again insist that the parliament should give the status of a free economic zone not only to Adjara, but also to the whole of Georgia. Abashidze also said that the parliamentary elections would not be of crucial importance but the elections of the Adjara leader, scheduled for 2006, will be really important for him and will resemble battles with the participation of political leaders. Abashidze confirmed his intention to run for the post of the Adjara leader in 2006.
6.50 OSCE short-term observers to monitor election process in Ajara, 86 observers to work in Tbilisi
Tbilisi, March 22 (Prime-News) - 50 short-term observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will monitor the election process in Ajara, while 86 short-term observers will work in Tbilisi. As the press analyst of the OSCE Observation Mission to Georgia Lucia Scotton told Prime-News, short-term observers are arriving in Georgia this week and will be deployed in regions several days prior to the elections. As for the OSCE long-term observers, there are 27 of them throughout Georgia, four of which work in the autonomous republic of Ajara. […]
7.SIGNAKHI RESIDENTS AGAINST RULING PARTY'S #23 CANDIDATE
Tbilisi. 23 March’04, Caucasus Press. - About 30 residents of Signakhi district of Kakheti region are picketing the State Chancellery. They demand to handle the clan of ex-Head of Signakhi Administration Malkhaz Begiashvili. The protesters claim that the #23 candidate on National Movement - Democrats' party list is engaged in scrape metal contraband. the demonstrators say. They want to meet with President Saakashvili and threaten to resort to extreme forms of protest if their claims are ignored.
8.ONE ELECTION CONSTITUENCY WILL BE OPENED IN ARMENIA
Yerevan. 22 March’04, Caucasus Press. - According to the decision of the Central Election Commission of Georgia, one election constituency N42 in the building of the Embassy of Georgia will be opened on the territory of Republic Armenia for holding the parliamentary elections on March 28.[…].
9.PERSONS WITH RESTRICTED POSSIBILITIES ARE EXPLAINED THEIR ELECTION RIGHTS
Tbilisi. 22 March’04, Caucasus Press. - The union of blind persons with restricted possibilities has started training for blind people. As chairman of the union Georgi Marjanidze has stated at the press-conference today, the memorandum was drafted between the Central Election Commission and the Union of Persons with Restricted Possibilities on stirring up participation of those people in elections. CEC has issued 4 600 special ballot papers for blind citizens; it has started training explaining election rights. The project is being implemented with support of the fund . The union of persons with restricted possibilities comprises approximately 5000 members.
1.CHAIRMAN OF CEC DOES NOT CONFIDE OBJECTIVENESS OF CIS OBSERVERS
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - Chairman of the Central Election Commission Zurab Chiaberashvili confides more observers of OSCE and other international organisa-tions than colleagues from CIS. As he has stated at the briefing today, conclusions of CIS observers as a rule differ from the estimations made by OSCE observers or local ones. The same situation was in Armenia, during the presidential elections on January 4 in Georgia.
2.CEC DISMISSES PEC HEAD FOR INACCURATE VOTER LISTS
Tbilisi, 22 March .04, Inter-Press. - The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia has dismissed the head of the precinct election commission in the Khelvachauri region of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, Davit Saparidze, on March 22. CEC Chairman Zurab Chiaberashvili said that Saparidze was discharged as he failed to provide accurate voter lists. Chiaberashvili noted that voters who underwent preliminary registration for the March 28 parliamentary elections have not been entered in the voters' registry submitted by the Khelvachauri precinct election commission.
3.SOCIALIST PARTY LEADER ACCUSES AUTHORITIES OF PRESSURE ON OPPOSITION PARTIES
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Leader of the Socialist Party Zakaria Kutsnashvili told reporters that political parties suffer political pressure from the authorities while running election campaigns. 'We are the only political party which don't have representatives in precinct and district election commissions. The authorities are mounting pressure on the party's observers now,' Kutsnashvili stated. […]
4.NDP-TRADITIONALISTS BLOC URGES CREATION OF OPPOSITION COMMITTEES
Tbilisi, 22 March .04, Inter-Press. - The National Democratic Party (NDP) - Traditionalists election bloc calls on opposition parties to create joint opposition committees for monitoring elections. One of the leaders of the bloc Bachuki Kardava told a news conference on Monday that in order to hold democratic elections in the country, it is necessary to set up joint opposition committees at every election precinct and district throughout the country. Kardava said that the main aim of the committees will be counting of ballots to be cast for opposition parties in the March 28 parliamentary elections. 'If the Parliament of Georgia fails to have opposition forces, the country will face unfavorable developments,' Kardava said. He noted that they are currently holding consultations with leaders of opposition parties, and that the issue will be finally solved in the nearest future.
5. AGAINST PARALLEL VOTE COUNT
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - MTAVARI GAZETI reports that Aslan Abashidze's party is against parallel vote count and exit polls in Adjara. The Fair Elections NGO will play a decisive role in the parliamentary elections in Adjara. NGO observers plan to hold parallel vote count at every polling station. It's noteworthy that the considerable difference between the officials returns of the 2 November elections and Fair Elections' data was one of the objective reasons which led to the . Although Abashidze's party has minority of seats in electoral commissions, this has never prevented Abashidze from controlling the election process. […]
6.COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASSURED THAT ELECTIONS IN ADJARA WILL PASS DEMOCRATICALLY
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - The government of Adjara has assured Jose Alvaro Gil-Robles, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, that the parliamentary elections in Adjara will be held in free and democratic atmosphere on 28 March. Mr. Robles told journalists that at the negotiations with Aslan Abashidze they had discussed the issue of political prisoners and Abashidze promised to submit cases of the oppositionists, who could have been arrested for political reasons, to the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia. Mr. Robles said he was unaware of details of the case of ex-Mayor of Batumi Tengiz Asanidze, who has been kept in prison for several years despite being pardoned.
7.CEC NOT TO EXTEND TIME FOR VOTER REGISTRATION IN ADJARA
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, www.geotimes.com. - On March 22, the Central Election Commission of Georgia refused to extend the time of voter registration for the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Adjara Autonomy Republic or any other region of Georgia, declared the CEC secretary Dmitry Kitoshvili. […]
8."OUR AJARA" WAS NOT ADMITTED IN THE CULTURE HOUSE IN KEDA REGION
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, Prime-News. – "United Opposition – Our Ajara", which is holding the pre-election campaign in Keda region of the autonomous republic of Ajara, was not admitted in the Culture House of the region on Monday. As one of the leaders of "Our Ajara" Tamaz Diasamidze told Prime-News, supporters of the autonomy head Aslan Abashidze deliberately coincided meeting with the voters in the same building and the opposition failed to meet with Keda population. According to Diasamidze, opposition will have hold meeting with the population on the street.
9.GEORGIA: OPPOSITION DISPUTES AJARIAN AUTHORITIES' ESTIMATE FOR NUMBER OF VOTERS
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, BBC Monitoring, Source: Prime-News. - One of the leaders of the United Opposition - Our Ajaria, Tamaz Diasamidze, has described as "a big lie" the assertion by the chairman of the Batumi constituency electoral commission, Ednar Shamilashvili, that there are 276,000 eligible voters in the Autonomous Republic of Ajaria. Shamilashvili's figure is as accurate as claims that people in Ajaria actually like the head of the autonomous republic, Aslan Abashidze, Diasamidze told Prime-News. He estimates that there are about 200,000 eligible voters in Ajaria. Ednar Shamilashvili had told Prime-News on Monday [22 March] that, if the deadline for preliminary registration was extended, this would "finally put an end to all talk of inflated [voter] lists in Ajaria". During the 2 November 2003 parliamentary elections the opposition disputed the official number of voters in Ajaria.
10. HAS NEW REPRESENTATIVE IN CEC
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - The Democratic Revival Union has a new represen-tative in the CEC. Guram Lekvishvili has for the first time participated in CEC's meeting today. He succeeds to Givi Komakhidze, who will run for Parliament as Revival's candidate.
Tbilisi, 22 March ’04, Inter-Press. - The National Democratic Party (NDP) - Traditionalists election bloc held a presentation of its pre-election platform at the Elections Media Center in Tbilisi on Monday. Representatives of the bloc Irakli Mindeli and Irakli Melashvili underlined priorities of their pre-election program at the presentation. Mindeli and Melashvili said that in case they win seats in the new Parliament they will start working with territorial-administrative reforms. The list of priorities includes: resolution of economic problems, shaping of prudent foreign policy, regulation of internal conflicts, and military reform. Besides, they initiate creation of a Caucasian parliament, which will be co prized of representatives of legislative bodies of the Caucasian countries.
ELECTION MONITORING GROUP OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE STARTS WORK IN AJARA ON FRIDAY
Tbilisi, 19 March ’04, Prime-News. - Election monitoring group of Council of Europe starts work in the autonomous republic of Ajara on Friday. Special representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General in Georgia Plamen Nikolov told journalists about this in Batumi. According to him, the mission starts work on monitoring of the pre-election situation in the region, as well as will study the steps that can be taken for easing the tension between the central and region's authorities. Nikolov stated that the mission would also work for strengthening confidence in the elections among the population. […]
21 MARCH DEADLINE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION
Tbilisi, 20 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - On 21 March at 18:00 the District Election Commissions (DEC) complete registration of voters. Givi Odenidze, the head of the CEC press center, said to a Black Sea Press reporter that the chairman of the Batumi DEC Ednar Shalimishvili asked the CEC to extend the term of registration of voters in Ajara till 26 March. He noted that the elections administrations had failed to register the voters due to the political situation in the region. He underscores that in Ajara voters were registered till 18 March. […].
"OUR AJARA": HIGH ACTIVITY OF VOTERS RECORDED WHILE PRELIMINARY REGISTRATION PROCESS IN AJARA
Tbilisi, 19 March ’04, Prime-News. – According to "United Opposition – Our Ajara", high activity of voters is recorded while preliminary registration process in Ajara. As one of the leaders of "Our Ajara" David Batsikadze told Prime-News, according to Thursday data 7 624 persons were already registered in Batumi. Activity of voters rose particularly after president Michael Saakashvili's arrival in Ajara, Batsikadze noted. According to fund "Fair Elections", the total number of registered people in Ajara is 44 982. […]
BATUMI STARTS COOPERATION WITH OPPOSITION
Tbilisi, 20 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Batumi Mayor Giorgi Abashidze, a son of head of the Adjara Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze, has decided to allow the Our Adjara opposition movement to hold pre-election meetings with their supporters in the Culture House in Batumi. One of the leaders of the opposition movement Tamaz Diasamidze said that he received an official letter from Giorgi Abashidze, who in the name of the Adjara's leadership expressed readiness to cooperate with the opposition in the pre-election period. Besides, Giorgi Abashidze offered the opposition movement to hold meetings with their supporters at the Batumi Culture House during March 20-25.[…]
'OUR ADJARA' UNDER PRESSURE
Tbilisi, 21 March’04, Inter-Press. - Representative of Our Adjara Opposition Movement Tamaz Diasamidze says, that the opposition members are still under pressure in Adjara Autonomous Republic. Diasamidze told Inter-Press, that Vazha Mzhavanadze, accompanied by employees of the Kobuleti police Tsetskhladze and Mamasakhlisi, entered the house of one of the members of the election commission Giorgi Goliadze at 23:00 on March 20. 'Mzhavanadze asked Goliadze to cease opposition activities, directed against Aslan Abashidze. The latter refused and was hit for that,' Diasamidze says. He claims that Mzhavanadze was armed.
OPPOSITION ORGANIZATIONS IN AJARA CAN NORMALLY WORK
Tbilisi, 20 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - The opposition organizations now can normally work on the territory of Ajara, Vano Merabishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia said yesterday to TV “Rustavi-2”. He underscored that “at the moment the Ajarian government has been engaged in implementing the agreements achieved by Mikhail Saakashvili and Aslan Abashidze on creating democratic conditions in Ajara for the 28 March parliamentary elections in Georgia. Commenting on the agreement on disarmament of the members of armed formations and “militiamen” units operating in Ajara, the Secretary said that he had discussed the point with the Head of Autonomy Aslan Abashidze during his visit to Batumi. "It became clear that it had been too difficult to disarm the population, as arms had been distributed among the residents of the autonomy not only over the last days but also since 1992. However the process of disarmament should be continued,” Merabishvili said.
AROUND 40 DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS TO MONITOR GEORGIA POLLS
Tbilisi, 20 March ’04, Inter-Press. – […] Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia reported to Inter-Press that 26 domestic and 11 international organizations have been registered with the CEC as election observers. The list of international observers includes the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), U.S. International Republican Institute (IRI), the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), the London's international links, the Council of Europe, the OSCE mission to Georgia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and other organizations. In addition, three main domestic election watchdogs - the International Society for Fair Elections ands Democracy, the Foundation for Fair Elections, and the New Generation-New Initiative will observe elections throughout Georgia. Each of them will send over 2000 observers to all polling stations of the country.
41 LOCAL AND FOREIGN MEDIA SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS TO THE CEC
Tbilisi, 19 March ‘04, Inter-Press. - The Central Election Commission of Georgia has postponed deadline till 18:00, March 26 for mass media to submit applications for accreditations to the Parliamentary elections. Secretary of the relevant election commission has either to accept, or decline the application within 3 days after submission, but no later 18:00 March 27. Presently, 41 local and foreign mass media have submitted their applications to the CEC.
SCHEDULE FOR ELECTION ACTIVITIES VIOLATED
Tbilisi, 19 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Fund of NGOs 'Fair Elections' (FEF) reports, that the schedule for election activities is violated in a number of election precincts. Head of the organization Zaza Daraselia said at the press conference today, that special lists have not been formed by Tianeti, Mtskheta, Lagodekhi, Kvareli, Kaspi, Borjomi, Gori, Akhaltsikhe Liakhvi, and Bolnisi district election commissions. Reason for non-formation of special lists of voters is that composition of election commissions shall change until March 21, 2004.[..]
'FAIR ELECTIONS' DEMANDS PROTECTING RIGHTS OF PEOPLE HARD OF HEARING
Tbilisi, 19 March ‘04, Inter-Press. - Fund of NGOs 'Fair Elections' (FEF) demands meeting article 66 of the Unified Election Code of Georgia, 'when making public the information mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this article via the public TV broadcasting, the public TV broadcasting shall provide acquaintance with the sounding speech of those through the use of gesture-translation and /or using the appropriate special technology.' According to FEF, there are about 5000 persons throughout Georgia with limited ability for their diminished hearing. The public TV broadcasting has not yet met the requirement established by the United Election Code of Georgia.[…].
NATIONALISTS DO NOT LIKE ONE PLACE WAS GIVEN TO NDP-TRADITIONALISTS IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
Tbilisi, 19 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - The political party <Nationalist Movement> protests against the decision on giving one place in the election administration to >. As Caucasus Press was stated by head of election headquarters of nationalists Teimuraz Metreveli, that bloc was not real opposition. According to the decision of President of Georgia, two places were allocated in district election commissions for oppositional parties. Information on giving one place to representatives of NDP-traditionalists has been disseminated. , Metreveli stated.
CEC GAVE PERMISSION FOR ARREST OF SERGO YAKOBIDZE
Tbilisi, 19 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - The Central Election Commission has given permission to the General Prosecutor's Office to arrest president of the
Sergo Yakobidze. It should be noted that he has been searched of. Yakobidze nominated his candidature to majority deputies in Chiatura region. He is accused of financial machination and assets embezzlement. As secretary of CEC Dmitri Kitoshvili said, despite the decision of the commission, Yakobidze would have a right to participate in elections; in case he won the issue of lifting immunity would be resolved by the parliament.
ELECTORS WILL USE BALLOT PAPERS IN TWO LANGUAGES IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI AND KVEMO KARTLI
Tbilisi, 19 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - The Central Election Commission has made the decision today to issue ballot papers for residents of Samtskhe-Javakheti in Georgian and Armenian languages and for residents of Kvemo Kartli in Georgian and Azerbaiajni languages. The final protocols on the elections on March 28 will be in Russian and Georgian languages. […]
JUMBER PATIASHVILI CONDUCTING PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN RUSTAVI
Rustavi, 19 March ‘04, Prime-News. – Leader of the bloc "Jumber Patiashvili – political union "Ertoba" Jumber Patiashvili Friday held meeting with the refugees from Abkhazia, residing in Rustavi, in the framework of the pre-election campaign. As Patiashvili stated at the meeting, resolution of Abkhazian conflict will depend much on improvement of relations between Russia and Georgia. Patiashvili expressed hope that the new parliament of Georgia and recently elected authorities of the legitimate government of Abkhazia would take real step for resolution of this problem. There live around 4 200 refugees in Rustavi at present.
IGOR GEORGADZE'S PARTY DOUBTS REASONABILITY OF PARTICIPATION IN THE REPEATED PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Tbilisi, 19 March ‘04, Prime-News. – Party "Justice", which is led by the ex-chief of security Igor Georgadze, has doubts about reasonability of participation in the March 28 repeated parliamentary elections. As the political secretary of "Justice" Revaz Bulia told Prime-News, "the elections are not held in Georgia, but everything is based on appointment principle". According to him, "the votes will be distributed between two parties or blocs". Bulia noted that those influential international organizations, which send observes to the elections in Georgia, "close eyes" on the facts of discrimination of "real opposition powers" and breaching their rights. He brought example of the negligence of the OSCE and Council of Europe towards the letter, which "Justice" sent to these organizations prior to the elections. The CEC refused participation in the parliamentary elections to Igor Georgadze, since the ex-chief of security has not lived in Georgia over last years.
INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC ELECTIONS OBSERVERS HELD JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE
Tbilisi, 18 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Representatives of domestic non-governmental organizations - Fair Elections Foundation and International Society for Fair Election and Democracy, as well as representatives of the UNDP and the OSCE held a joint news conference at the Election Media Center on Thursday. The conference focused on issues concerning monitoring of the March 28 parliamentary elections. The OSCE and the UNDP signed agreement with the two NGOs with a support of the European Union. According to the agreement the OSCE provided € 52, 380 to the International Society for Fair Election and Democracy for parallel vote tabulation and elections monitoring activities, while the Fair Elections was allocated € 44, 515 for observing elections. In addition, the International Society for Fair Election and Democracy received USD 50,581,09 from the UNDP for parallel vote tabulation and elections monitoring activities, while the Fair Election received USD 43,025 for observing elections. The OSCE and the UNDP expressed hope that the March 28 parliamentary elections will be conducted in a democratic and transparent manner. The two NGOs will monitor the elections at all precincts of Georgia.
PARLIAMENRAY ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN AJARIA-ASLAN ABASHIDZE
Tbilisi, 17 March’04, Caucasus Press. - Leader of Ajaria Aslan Abashidze has stated today that the parliamentary elections on March 28 will be held in Ajaria. As far as the extraordinary situation is concerned, he has said it will be abolished after the technique concentrated on the administrative frontier of the autonomy has returned to place of its location.
ELECTION WATCHDOG TO MONITOR POLLS IN ADJARA
Tbilisi, 18 March ’04, Inter-Press. - The International Society for Fair Election and Democracy (ISFED), which is a domestic non-governmental organization of Georgia, will monitor the March 28 parliamentary elections at all polling stations in the Adjara Autonomous Republic. Head of the ISFED public relations center Tamar Zhvania said at a news conference on Thursday that the organization has regional coordinators to all the six election precincts in Adjara, noting that over 300 observers will observe elections at 275 polling stations of the Autonomous Republic. Representative of the ISFED to Batumi Roman Putkaradze said that the tense political situation in Adjara doesn’t prevent normal pre-election preparations so far.[…].
ABOUT 200 MEMBERS OF KARELI REGIONAL ORGANIZATION OF AGORDZINEBA LEFT THE PARTY
Gori, 17 March ‘04, Black Sea Press. - About 200 members of Kareli regional organization of Agordzineba left the Party. Part of them joined National Movement. They declared that they decided to leave Agordzineba, because they condemned the policy of Aslan Abashidze, Head of Achara and leader of the Party. Chairman of the regional organization will hold press conference soon and announce the self-liquidation. There are about 1,000 members of Kareli organization of Agordzineba. Members are still leaving it
CEC HEAD AND OSCE OFFICIAL SIGNED AGREEMENT
Tbilisi. 16 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia Zurab Chiaberashvili and Head of the OSCE mission to Georgia Roy Reeve on Tuesday signed an agreement on funding projects on voter marking and informing society of election issues. Total cost of the voter marking project is € 150,000, while total cost of the other project is € 20,000. Following the signing ceremony the CEC Chairman told a briefing that within the framework of the voter marking project election posters on voter marking have been printed in Georgian, Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian languages. Roy Reeve and Zurab Chiaberashvili in order to ensure safety of the marking procedure marked themselves with the ink in the presence of journalists. Apart from funding these projects, the OSCE has provided € 400,000 to training programs for election administrators, which are being provided by the International Foundation for Election Systems and the United Nations Development Program. Additional € 300,000 has been allocated for projects on informing observer organizations and voters about election issues. The OSCE has allocated total € 1,300,000 for the March 28 parliamentary elections of Georgia.
OSCE CONCERNED OVER POLITICAL CRISIS IN ADJARA
Tbilisi. 16 March ’04, Inter-Press. - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed deep concern over the tense political situation in the Adjara Autonomous Republic on the eve of the parliamentary elections. Head of the OSCE mission to Georgia Roy Reeve told reporters on Tuesday that Adjara faces serious problem and that the government and observers are currently holding consultations concerning the issue. ‘We are here in order to observe what results will produce the March 28 parliamentary elections. Violence was used against observers in Adjara. We consider the issue as violation of human rights,’ Roy Reeve stated. He pointed out that the OSCE calls on the opposing sides to resolve the standoff through peaceful negotiations
TENSION IN ADJARA MAY AFFECT PARLIAMENTARY POLLS - CEC HEAD
Tbilisi, 16 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia Zurab Chiaberashvili voiced fear that recent political developments in the Adjara Autonomous Republic might affect on the democratic conduct of the March 28 parliamentary elections. Chiaberashvili said at a news conference on Tuesday that the CEC is doing everything possible to prevent possible disrupting of the elections. However, he noted that normal conduct of the elections depends on the political climate. 'Even if the March 28 parliamentary elections are held in Adjara in a peaceful atmosphere, we fear that existence of the armed formations in the Autonomous Republic, and growing violence will exert negative influence on the fairness of the elections. It would be difficult to say that fair and free elections were conducted in Adjara,' Chiaberashvili said. He pointed out that despite the tense political situation the CEC will use every possible mean to ensure peaceful polls and provide every possibility for voters to make their free choices. Speaking about voter lists, the CEC Chairman remarked that the central election administration has already received voters' registry of the January 4 presidential elections from Adjara. Chiaberashvili complained that there are a lot of inaccuracies in the voter lists of Adjara, and that it is impossible to use them during the polling. Chiaberashvili said that the CEC provided Adjara's precinct election commissions with all necessary election documentations, and that preliminary voter registrations have been launched at all polling stations throughout the republic.
CEC REGISTERED NINTH ORGANIZATION - INTERNATIONAL OBSERVER
Tbilisi. 16 March’04, Caucasus Press. - The Central Election Commission of Georgia has registered IFES Ltd. as the ninth international observer for the 28 March parliamentary elections. Prior to this the CEC had registered the OSCE Election Observation Mission, the CIS Election Observation Mission, NDI, IRI, IFES, LINKS, Council of Europe, and Washington Fund for Democracy. Besides, the CEC has registered 26 local NGOs. The deadline for submission of applications was March 9.
ADJARIAN GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO FRUSTRATE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Tbilisi, 15 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - <Adjarian leadership's all latest steps are aimed at frustration of parliamentary elections in Adjara,> Georgian President Saakashvili told journalists in Poti today. The President underlined that the Georgian government's goals are: to protect democracy and human rights, disarm people in Adjara and neutralize all destructive actions of Ajarian leadership. To achieve this, the Anti-Crisis Centre has been set up in the government under the leadership of Prime-Minister Zurab Zhvania. The centre is to cut Adjarian authorities off arms and military force sources. The control of the Adjarian water area will be increased for this purpose. President Saakashvili is sure that weapons can get in Adjara only by sea. As regards Turkey, .
ALL PARTICIPANTS OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TO GET FREE TIME ON NATIONAL TELEVISION
Tbilisi, 15 March’04, Caucasus Press. - By CEC's decision, all parties and blocs participating in the upcoming parliamentary elections will receive 15 minutes free of charge on the National Television March 15-27 from 10:00 am to 12:00 o'clock in the afternoon.
DISCUSSION OF 'LABOR PARTY' ELECTION PROGRAM
Tbilisi, 13 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Media center of elections continues presentation of election programs. Discussion of 'Labor Party' election program was held at the media center today. The program was presented by members of the party political committee Gela Danelia, Kakhaber Lomaia and Head of the Party Economic Council Kakha Kokhreidze. The party pre-election program is called 'For the Country Survival' and it focuses on social issues. The party action plan is calculated for four years and as members of 'Labor Party' claim, it focuses on traditional and national values, under the circumstances, when 'Sorosization' is launched in the country. 'Labor Party' raises the initiative of establishing a fund for 'Saving Young Georgian Families.' They still contradict to illegal privatization of the country's strategic values. According to the program, poverty and unemployment is to be overcome in one Parliament term, i.e. 4 years. Foreign policy of the country possesses a significant place in the pre-election platform. 'Labor Party' considers unacceptable presence of foreign military bases on the territory of Georgia. Georgia should be Europe-oriented country and join the EU. The party pledges to implement every item of the program in case of coming to power. Slide show, describing activity of the party and its leader was held before the program review.
UNITED OPPOSITION LAUNCHES ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Tbilisi, 13 March ‘04, Inter-Press. - Leader of Our Adjara Opposition Movement Edward Surmanidze says that the united opposition launches the election campaign against Aslan Abashidze in Adjara on March 15 for the Parliamentary elections. He appeals law enforcement communities in the region not to interfere into the political processes. According to Surmanidze, the delegation of Our Adjara is leaving for Adjara on March 14, after the meeting with President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, to launch the election campaign. He puts leader of Adjara Aslan Abashidze responsible for any sign of armed confrontation against them. 'I appeal to the citizens, employed by structures of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, not to take part in provocations, planned by Aslan Abashidze,' Surmanidze says. He says that the united opposition gives guarantees to employees of Abashidze government, refusing to follow his order, on continuing their activity in future, while pledges, that the employees of law enforcement structures, following Abashidze's orders, will be severely punished in accordance with the law. Edward Surmanidze claims that the aim of Abashidze's visit to Russia is to find supporters, however believes, that the Russian government would maintain neutrality regarding the existing severe situation in Adjara.
CEC DEFINES ELECTION PROCEDURES
Tbilisi. 11 March ’04, Inter-Press. - The CEC of Georgia has defined several election procedures for the March 28 Parliamentary elections today. According to the CEC decision, voters, having refused to take the marking procedure, won't be given the right to vote. Bulletins of the mentioned voters will be revoked.
CEC HEAD ON PRE-ELECTION VOYAGE THROUGHOUT GEORGIA
Akhaltsikhe. March 12. INTER-PRESS - Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia Zurab Chiaberashvili visited the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, south Georgia, on March 12 to observe pre-election preparations of local precinct election commissions. The CEC Chairman said following meetings with heads of precinct election administrations that the region is ready for the March 28 parliamentary elections. He expressed satisfaction that voter lists have been timely posted at election precincts and that preliminary voter registration of voters, which was launched on March 8 and will finish on March 21, is being successfully conducted. Chiaberashvili said that Georgian border guards stationed across the Georgian-Armenian border will be able to cast ballots at nearest polling stations or use election boxes, which will be provided at the spot. Zurab Chiaberashvili left for the Borjomi district later on the day.
CEC DISMISSED CHAIRMAN OF SHUAKHEVI DISTRICT ELECTION COMMISSION
Tbilisi. 10 March ’04, Prime-News. - At Wednesday session the Central Election Commission dismissed the chairman of Shuakhevi district election commission of Ajara autonomy Noshrevan Zoidze for non-fulfillment of the CEC chair's assignment. The chairman of the Central Election Commission Zurab Chiaberashvili declared at the session that he ordered chairmen of all six district election commissions of Ajara to send list of voters registered in their districts for the January 4 presidential elections to Tbilisi. Chairmen of five districts fulfilled this assignment; however the chairman of Shuakhevi district commission ignored it.79 448 thousand voters were registered for the January 4 presidential elections in the autonomous republic of Ajara.
ZURAB CHIABERASHVILI REQUESTS ASCERTAINING MATERIAL-TECHNICAL SITUATION IN THE CEC
Tbilisi. 10 March ’04, Prime-News. - Chairman of the Central Election Commission Zurab Chiaberashvili will send a letter to the General Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday and request ascertaining material-technical situation in the CEC. As Chiaberashvili stated at the CEC session on Wednesday, he suspects that the former head of the CEC material-technical maintenance Nodar Lazariashvili was not working honestly.
NEW GENERATION-NEW INITIATIVE> OBSERVES AT 60 ELECTION CONSTITUENCIES
Tbilisi. 11 March’04, Caucasus Press. - The movement together with other organisations will fulfil observer mission at the parliamentary elections on March 28. As representative of the movement Levan Japaridze has stated today at the press-conference in the Media-Centre, the unites 8 organisations, which mobilise over 2 000 persons as observers at 60 constituencies.
The movement intends to implement its observing initiative with financial support of IRI, USAID and OSCE. Besides, the will prepare clips calling electors to participate in the elections. , Japaridze noted. The movement has experience of monitoring, it monitored the parliamentary elections on November 2 and the presidential election.
GEORGIA INTRODUCES TWO-LANGUAGE BALLOT PAPERS FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES
Tbilisi, 11 March’04, BBC Monitoring, Kavkasia-Press. - Voters living in the Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti Regions [largely populated, respectively, by ethnic Azeris and Armenians] will be provided with two-language ballot papers [in the 28 March parliamentary election], Georgia's Central Electoral Commission [CEC] Chairman Zurab Chiaberashvili said at the commission's meeting today. Chiaberashvili said that the ballot papers will be published in the Georgian and Azeri languages in the Kvemo Kartli Region and in the Georgian and Armenian languages in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Region. The CEC plans to publish 3m ballot papers for the entire country. Also today, the CEC approved a sample ballot paper which lists political parties and blocs participating in the elections. Names of four of the [19] registered parties and blocs will now be listed in a slightly revised form, as follows: [No. 1] Socialist Party of Georgia - as "Socialist Party"; [No. 5] Saakashvili - National Movement - as "National Movement-Democrats"; [No. 11] Motherland bloc - as "Motherland"; and [No. 18] Freedom political movement - as "Freedom political movement -Konstantine Z. Gamsakhurdia". These parties had themselves petitioned the CEC to change their names
OSCE OBSERVERS REVEAL ELECTION VIOLATIONS
Rustavi. 09 March’04, Inter-Press. - The OSCE observers have revealed the first election violation in Rustavi. Registration of voters started in the election precincts on March 8. Head of Rustavi #20 district election commission Paata Tkeshelashvili says, that one, out of 54 election precincts, was not opened yesterday, since the precinct is located in a school building, which was closed on the day off. Tkeshelashvili voices concern over the mentioned fact.
ZURAB CHIABERASHVILI APPEALS LOCAL OBSERVER ORGANIZATIONS TO FOLLOW THE OSCE
Tbilisi. 09 March’04, Inter-Press. - Head of the CEC Zurab Chiaberashvili is satisfied with the work of the OSCE observer’s mission and appeals the local observer organizations to follow the OSCE example. Chiaberashvili told INTER-PRESS that the CEC representatives hold regular meetings with the OSCE mission and they take an active part in compiling the voters' lists. 'Remarks by the OSCE mission towards the CEC work and the voters' lists are more professional and regular meetings are held on Thursdays,' Chiaberashvili said. He promises not to consider remarks of the local observer organizations, unless they take an active part in the observing process.
MISSION OF COE OBSERVERS TO ARRIVE IN GEORGIA
Tbilisi. 09 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Mission of the CoE observers, comprised of 30 men, which is to monitor the March 28 Parliamentary elections, will arrive in Georgia on March 25. MP Elene Tevdoradze told INTER-PRESS that this is the largest mission of observers, ever arrived in Georgia for monitoring the elections. The CoE delegation will find its recommendations unfulfilled. The government has been able neither to reduce the election barrier, nor to staff the CEC according to the parity rule. She goes on say, that a number of the opposition parties in the Parliament will much define the CoE delegation standpoint.
RENEWAL OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND FULFILLMENT OF SOCIAL COMMITMENTS TO BE MAIN PRIORITIES FOR "NATIONALISTS-DEMOCRATS" AFTER THE ELECTIONS
Tbilisi, 09 March’04, Prime-News. - Renewal of the territorial integrity, paying pensions of the past years, as well as increasing pensions and minimum wages will be the main priorities for the governmental political organization "National Movement - Democrats" in case of winning the March 28 repeated parliamentary elections. The leaders of the "National Movement - Democrats" Michael Machavariani and Maia Nadiradze declared about this at presentation of the party's program at the "Election Media Center" on Tuesday. According to Machavariani, 40 million GEL will be implied in the state the budget for covering the pension debts, funds will also be envisaged in the budget for doubling pensions and increasing minimum wages. There will be created such environment in the country, where meetings with the president and Prime Minister will not be necessary for attracting foreign investments, he said. As Maia Nadiradze declared at the presentation, territorial integrity will be restored with peaceful methods. According to Nadiradze, when the country has a serious army and "the neighbors are neutralized", the confronted side has a motivation for dialogue. She called "conformable" to the assumption that "key" of Abkhazian conflict resolution is in Russia. According to her, Russia promises Georgia not to interfere in the country's internal affairs; however this does not mean that Tbilisi will not be attentive.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT LOSES VOTES
Tbilisi. 09 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - National Movement has lost almost three percents of votes during one week. MGM's phone-poll results prove that National movement holds the leading position, but this time it has received 40.32% of votes instead of 43.2% among 7,500 respondents in 14 towns of Georgia. New Rights - Industrialists have occupied the second position but failed to surpass the 7% threshold - they received 5.01% of votes against 5.46% of the previous week. comes next with 4.17% (2.53% last week); Constantine Gamzakhurdia's (Freedom) - 3.28% (1.67%); Labor Party - 2.91% (2.02%); NDPG-Traditionalists - 2.84% (1.05%); Socialists - 1.16% (12.28%); (Unity) - 1.12% (1.35%); (Justice) - 0.77% (0.03%); United Communist Party - 0.27% (1.28%); National Revival - 0.01% (was not on the charts last week). Besides, 12.6% of respondents have not yet decided whom to support, while 5.82% have refused to answer.
EC CHAIR SURVEYS ELECTION DISTRICTS
Tbilisi, 08 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia Zurab Chiaberashvili will start to survey election districts throughout Tbilisi on Monday to study pre-election preparations of each election administration and observe voter registration processes. Chiaberashvili said that the CEC representatives together with the OSCE observer mission and members of the domestic non-governmental organizations will visit all regions of Georgia to learn how well the country is prepared for the conduct of the March 28 parliamentary elections. 'We have finished the computerization of the voters registry; almost all precinct election commissions have already corrected voter lists. Thus we have all chances to post lists by the date specified by the law. […]
ELECTION PRECINCTS TO POST VOTER LISTS
Tbilisi, 08 March ’04, Inter-Press. - Precinct election commissions throughout Georgia will post voter lists for the March 28 parliamentary elections from March 8. Voters can check themselves in the lists at relevant election precincts, as well as on a web site of the Central Election Commission of Georgia - www.cec.gov.ge. In addition, those voters who didn't undergo preliminary registration for the January 4 presidential elections are to be registered with relevant election precincts from March 8 till March 21. The process of specifying the voter registry will end on March 21. Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Georgia Zurab Chiaberashvili told a news conference on Monday that at this point the voter registry includes 2,153,112 voters. The CEC started to prepare computerized vote lists on January 28, 2004 with financial support of the United Nations Development Programme, the International Foundation of Election Systems, and OSCE.
GEORGIA REFUSES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PARTIES TO ENTER PARLIAMENT - MP
Tbilisi, 07 March ’04, BBC Monitoring, Source: Prime-News. - The Georgian authorities are not even considering convening a special session of parliament to implement a recommendation by the Council of Europe to lower the 7-per-cent election threshold [which parties need to clear in order to enter parliament]. One of the leaders of the ruling party [National Movement - Democrats], member of parliament Mikheil Machavariani, has said that he does not believe that the 7-per-cent threshold is too high, and is therefore against making it lower. "Although some parties may currently be experiencing problems, it does not mean that the rules of the game should be changed," he said. […]
NATIONALISTS PROPOSE TO GIVE TWO PLACES IN ELECTION ADMINISTRATION TO NEUTRAL NGOS
Tbilisi, 08 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - The Georgian nationalists proposes to give two additional places intended for the opposition in election administrations to neutral NGOs. As Caucasus Press was stated by member of the party Temur Metreveli, the present opposition might make arrangement with ruling forces. Nationalists threaten to carry out actions of protest if two places have been given to the opposition.
ELECTION COMMISSIONS ABROAD MUST BE FORMED BY MARCH 15
Tbilisi, 05 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - Election commissions for the parliamentary elections in Georgia at the election constituencies in 26 countries of the world must be formed by March 15. This decision has been made by the Central Election Commission today. […]
SPECIAL TRAININGS FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS LAUNCHED
Tbilisi, 06 March ’04, Inter-Press. - The Central Election Commission of Georgia has launched a program of special training seminars as part of pre-election preparations of election administrators. The aim of the training is to improve professional level of the persons providing preparation and conduct of elections. The trainings will finish on March 25. At the initial stage heads, deputy heads and secretaries of precinct and district election commissions will be trained, then all members of election administrations will be provided the training seminars. 30,855 election administrators and 17 regional coordinators of the Central Election Commission of Georgia will partake in the trainings. The training program is supported by OSCE and funded by IFES and UNDP. The people who undergo the training will be issued special certificates.
CEC REGISTERS IFES TO MONITOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
Tbilisi, 06 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - The International Fund of Election Systems (IFES) has been registered by the CEC to monitor the 28 March Parliamentary elections. Yesterday Georgian NGOs “Association of Young Lawyers” and the “Ajarian Republican Organization for Human Rights” were also registered. Presently the CEC has registered five international organizations to monitor the elections. They are: The OSCE Observers Mission, The International National-Democratic Institute (NDI), The International Republican Institute (IRI), The CIS Observers Mission, The International Fund of Election Systems (IFES), Twenty-two local NGOs have been registered to monitor the parliamentary elections. […] The deadline for registration of organizations willing to monitor forthcoming elections is 9 March at 18:00.
BREACH OF LAW REPORTED IN ADJARA WHILE ELECTION CAMPAIGN
Batumi, 08 March ’04, Inter-Press. - The Adjara office of the election watchdog non-governmental organization, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, claims that election campaign in the Adjara Autonomous Republic fails to meet terms specified by the law. 'No one is surprised at the breach of the law after the November 'Rose Revolution', however Adjara purposefully prolongs the terms specified by the law,' head of the organization Manana Charkviani said, noting that terms of opening polling stations and composition of election administrations, as well as terms of posting voter lists are violate in Adjara. Besides, she urges that heads of all of the election precincts in Adjara are representatives of the Democratic Revival Union party, led by head of the Adjara Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze.
MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI DECLARED THAT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN ACHARA WOULD BE HELD UNDER CONSTITUTION
Tbilisi, 05 March ‘04, Black Sea Press. - Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia, declared that Parliamentary elections in Achara would be held under Constitution of Georgia. Commenting statements made in Moscow by Aslan Abashidze, Head of Achara, Mikheil Saakashvili said: “We have many supporters in Achara. The Parliamentary elections are to clear a lot, because we shall never stand any insubordination”. The President said that Aslan Abashidze interpreted as the problem intention of leadership of Georgia to establish control in Achara. “I declare that I wish to establish control in Achara and I will do it. Self-will is over. I am not Shevardnadze; I have no wish to ruin and to disintegrate Georgia. Integration process has started in Georgia, and I call at all the citizens to join it”, - the President said.
ASLAN ABASHIDZE REFUTED TO THE REPORTS ABOUT INTENTION OF PARTY AGORDZINEBA (REVIVAL) TO BOYCOTT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA
Tbilisi, 05 March ‘04, Black Sea Press. - Aslan Abashidze, Head of Achara Autonomous Republic, categorically refuted to the reports in Mass Media about intention of Party Agordzineba (Revival) led by him to boycott Parliamentary elections in Georgia of March 28 2004. Aslan Abashidze told Batumi journalists on return from Moscow that he never declared about similar plans of Agordzineba, in Moscow too. […]
NGO GOT EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO CALCULATE PARALELLY
Tbilisi, 04 March ’04, Caucasus Press. - NGO ‘Fair Elections and Democratic International Society’ has got an exclusive right to calculate paralelly in the process of parliamentary elections on March 28.
As executive director of NGO Tamar Zhvania has stated at the press-conference today, OSCE chose their project out of submitted projects and consent to finance it.
BLOC NDP - TRADITIONALISTS APPEALED IN COURT WITH DEMAND OF EXPULSION FROM THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRISTIAN-DEMOCRATS AND SPORTING GEORGIA
Tbilisi, 05 March ’04, Black Sea Press. - Bloc NDP - Traditionalists led by Bachuki Kardava and Akaki Asatiani appealed in court with demand of expulsion from the election administrations of the representatives of Christian-Democrats and Sporting Georgia. The appeal will be discussed on March 7. Irakli Melashvili, representative of the bloc, declared at the today's press conference that representatives of the Parties that did not participate in the elections had no right to be members of election administrations under the current laws. Irakli Melashvili said that President Saakashvili provided two “Presidential quotas” in every commission to the opposition, but the governing Party declared that the oppositional forces refused. Irakli Melashvili said that Christian-Democrats and Sporting Georgia occupied the places, “in order to prevent from occupation of them by the real oppositional forces”. Representatives of NDP - Traditionalists said that the two places in the election administrations belonged to representatives of Ertoba led by Jumber Patiashvili and Union of Georgian Traditionalists led by Akaki Asatiani, because the both of them had factions in Parliament as of June 1 2003. He stressed that the bloc addressed Zurab Chiaberashvili, chairman of Central Election Commission (CEC) on March 1 and asked to appoint their representative member of CEC, but CEC refused.
