Tbilisi, DF Watch – The President of Georgia will address the nation at 18:00 today from the National Library. The diplomatic corps, church leaders, journalists and students are invited to attend the event. After his speech, the president will answer questions.
News
Spring recruitment for the military has started
TBILISI, DFWatch — Spring recruitment for compulsory military service has started. Citizens from 18 to 27 year will be recruited — about 1 650 persons in total.
This is a significant decrease from 4 347 in 2012.
Gocha Kharshiladze, chair of the military service
Saakashvili to hold state of the nation address from library
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili will address the nation from the National Library instead of from parliament.
Saakashvili should have held his annual address on Friday, but the event was postponed by the ruling Georgian Dream coalition.
Saakashvili's party loses two members of parliament
TBILISI, DFWatch — Two more members of parliament for the National Movement have left their party’s faction in the last few days.
The party of President Mikheil Saakashvili is now down to 55 representatives in the assembly of 150.
Speaker of Parliament Davit
President’s annual address postponed
TBILISI, DFWatch — The president’s annual speech to parliament is postponed indefinitely.
This is a decision made by the ruling coalition. Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili today said consultations had been held and a decision was made to not hold
Georgia eases punishment for entering breakaway regions
TBILISI, DFWatch — The new government in Georgia wants to amend the law on the occupied territories in order to soften the punishment for people who violate it.
The Law on Occupied Territories was adopted in October 2008, a few months after the Russian-Georgian war.
Ivanishvili addressed Georgian soldiers in Afghanistan
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili spoke with Georgian soldiers serving in Afghanistan and thanked them for their service.
According to the press office of the Defense Ministry, Ivainishvili Wednesday visited the ministry and held a video
Ivanishvili guarantees Georgia's foreign policy course
TBILISI, DFWatch — Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says Georgia’s foreign policy course is unchanged and doesn’t need constitutional guarantees.
He also says that the country will restore its territorial integrity and mend relations with Russia.
The National
Georgia expects 6 % growth in 2013
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s finance minister Nodar Khaduri says the government expects 6 % growth in 2013, low inflation and reduced state debts.
He also notes that 6 percent growth is the minimum estimate on which the Georgian government is working.
The finance
Saakashvili's white collar crime amnesty takes form
TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has presented parliament with a bill which will give amnesty for industrial, financial and economic crimes.
A few days ago, the president spoke about the importance of announcing a financial amnesty to attract