Kavkaz

Georgia and Russia said Thursday they had agreed to re-open their land border to traffic, in the first sign of a thaw in relations after their bitter war last year. The two countries reached a deal under Swiss mediation to re-open the Upper Lars checkpoint, which was closed in 2006, …

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved with respect for state sovereignty of Azerbaijan, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said. “There is only one way for solving all problems. These are the direct negotiations of these countries and taking into account the international law, including the right of people to return to …

A World War II monument recently demolished in Georgia may be rebuilt in Moscow, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday. Putin told the government’s presidium that the demolition of the monument was “another attempt to erase the former Soviet people’s memory of their common past.” “I believe it is possible …

Newly appointed Albanian Ambassador Villi Minarolli Monday submitted his credentials to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. During the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan highlighted the importance of intensifying political dialogue and extending legal-contractual cooperation.

The European Union (EU) will launch a satellite to follow the situation in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said Monday. The satellite would monitor the movement of people and equipment and the construction of military facilities in the two regions, Kalandadze …

Georgia has sent an official note on resumption of air communication with Russia. The Russian Ministry of Transport said the note is under consideration but no decision has been taken yet. Responding to journalists’ questions on December 9, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev described resumption of air communication as “normal issue …

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a telephone call to Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili. The Azerbaijani leader congratulated Mikheil Saakashvili on his birthday and wished him robust health and successes in his activity. The Georgian President expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan`s leader Ilham Aliyev for attention and congratulations.

Today the leaders of the Georgian radical opposition will gather in front of the Radisson Hotel in Tbilisi and travel to Kutaisi to participate in the protest action. This decision was taken yesterday at a meeting of opposition leaders in the Prima Vera hotel, Georgia’s Way party reported.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili took part in an international conference in Copenhagen devoted to climate changes. The president focused on climatic changes in the South Caucasus “Changes in climate are evident in the South Caucasus. This is confirmed by frequent floods, landslides, forest fires and coastal erosion,” Saakashvili said.

The Georgian Defence Ministry has presented the National Security Concept and report about ongoing reforms in the defence field. During the three-day conference the Defence Ministry introduced its future action plans to state agencies representatives and NGO sector, local opposition parties, and representatives of diplomatic corps accredited to Georgia. NATO-Georgia …