Ushba is a remote peak located in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia. Standing 4710 meters (15,452 ft) in height, Ushba is a daunting climb that begins with a trek into the starting point on foot. In this video, we join a team of climbers that includes Samuel Anthamatten, Markus Eder, and Leo Slemett as they travel to Ushba to not only climb the mountain, but also make the first ski descent as well. As you can imagine, it is quite an experience.
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Georgia. Show all posts
The old settlements of Uplistsikhe - tentative UNESCO
The old settlements of Uplistsikhe - tentative UNESCO
Thanks to my friend Ekrem
The old settlements of Uplistsikhe - tentative UNESCO
The old settlements of Uplistsikhe - tentative UNESCO
Thanks to my friend Ekrem
Open Access Journal: Kadmos
Kadmos
ISSN: 2449-3147
ISSN: 2449-3147
Kadmos is a peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary academic journal, published by Ilia State University (Tbilisi), which aims to challenge, provoke and excite thinking in the areas of the classics, literature and orature, linguistics, philosophy, cultural anthropology (ethnography, ethnology and mythology) and history (archeology). The journal appears annually and is sponsored by the Ilia State University. The editors welcome original contributions in the form of articles, reviews, notes from scholars in the humanities that will promote and foster its aims. The Journal’s Polemics section is intended to enhance debate between authors and the wider community. Polemics pieces can be mainly considered as responses to a published article, a shorter research note or report, or a commentary on research issues or professional practices. The Journal also contains a Reviews section.
No 7 (2015)
Kadmos
Table of Contents
Articles
Opinion
Responses
Polemics
Publications
Reviews
Information
2011
2009
See AWOL's full List of Open Access Journals in Ancient Studies
China moving forward with grand project "Silk Road"
1st train carrying consumer electronics arrives in Georgia.
Total Journey takes 15 days, 25 days shorter than sea route.
Total Journey takes 15 days, 25 days shorter than sea route.
Video: The Mountains of Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a small, disputed, territory in the country of Georgia that falls on the south-western flanks of the Caucasus Mountains. It is a little known part of the world, but one that is incredibly beautiful. The video below takes us into this region, deliver some outstanding imager from Abkhazia, which looks rich with possibilities for all kinds of outdoor adventures. This short film, just three-and-a-half minutes in length, brings us an intriguing look at a part of the world that is simply breathtaking to behold.
Mountains of Abkhazia. Nostalgia. from Tengiz Tarba on Vimeo.
To Avoide Antagonizing Russia NATO Will Not Give Georgia Full Membership Within The Alliance
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton listens to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen (R) during a NATO foreign ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels June 25, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Francois Lenoir
Nato Steps Back From Giving Georgia Full Membership Of Alliance -- The Guardian/Reuters
Republic gains only possibility of 'cooperation' deal amid fears of some Nato members that full tie-in would antagonise Russia
Georgia's hopes of achieving full membership of Nato were set back on Wednesday as the alliance vowed to stop short of approval, avoiding possible confrontation with Moscow over an expansion to Russia's neighbours.
Officials said Nato's summit in September would not sanction the formal step to membership. But Nato members agreed in principle to draw up a "substantive package" of cooperation with Georgia that would help it move closer to the alliance, said its secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Read more ....
More News On NATO Not Offering Full membership To Georgia
NATO will not offer Georgia membership step, avoiding Russia clash -- Reuters
NATO Snubs Georgia’s Entry Prospects in Averting Russia Showdown -- Bloomberg
NATO to Strengthen Ties With Georgia, Not Offer Full Membership -- VOA
NATO Offers Georgia Closer Ties -- Defense News
My Comment: Georgia may not officially be a full member of NATO .... but for all practical purposes they are.
Georgia's President Concedes Parliamentary Election Defeat
Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili Admits Election Loss -- BBC
President Mikheil Saakashvili has admitted his party has lost Georgia's parliamentary election, in a live TV announcement.
He said the Georgian Dream bloc of his main rival, billionaire tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, had won Monday's election.
Victory for Mr Ivanishvili means the first democratic transfer of power in Georgia's post-Soviet history.
Mr Ivanishvili said the "only right decision" would now be for Mr Saakashvili to resign.
Mr Saakashvili, who has led the country since 2003, is due to remain in power until presidential elections next year.
Under agreed reforms, the parliament and prime minister will acquire greater powers than the president after that election.
Early results showed Georgian Dream ahead in the party list vote, which accounts for 77 of the 150 seats.
Read more ....
More News On Georgia's Parliamentary Election
Georgia’s President Concedes Defeat in Parliamentary Election -- New York Times
Georgian president concedes his party lost -- AP
Georgia's President Concedes Election Defeat -- Wall Street Journal
Georgia's president concedes defeat in parliamentary elections -- CNN
Georgia Billionaire Scores Shock Vote Upset Over Saakashvili -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Georgia Ruling Party Concedes Defeat in Parliamentary Election -- Voice of America
Georgia's president Saakashvili concedes election defeat -- The Guardian
Georgian opposition celebrates as both sides see victory -- Reuters
Elections in Georgia: Why the Stakes are So High -- Liz Fuller, The Atlantic
Georgia’s leader-apparent is an eccentric zebra-collecting billionaire with a Russian past -- Washington Post/AP
Georgia's Election: Did Saakashvili Concede Defeat Prematurely? -- The Atlantic
Political Change In Georgia?
Both Sides Claiming Victory in Georgia -- Voice of America
Both sides are claiming victory in Georgia's parliamentary election, even with the outcome far from certain.
Pro-Russian billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition is challenging President Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement for control of parliament.
Exit polls give Georgia Dream the lead, based on the count of votes for party lists. This accounts for about half the seats.
Mr. Saakashvili says his party has won where the seats are filled by popular vote for individual candidates.
Read more ....
More News On The Parliamentary Election In Georgia
Georgia's ruling party and rivals claim election win -- Reuters
Georgia's president, opposition both claim victory -- Bloomberg Businessweek/AP
Georgia Opposition Celebrate Election "Victory" -- RIA Novosti
Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili set to lose control of parliament -- The Telegraph
Georgia opposition coalition 'ahead' in popular vote -- BBC
Georgia Opposition Appears to Lead Popular Vote -- Wall Street Journal
Georgia Challenger Draws Strong Support, Exit Poll Shows -- New York Times
Georgian exit polls point to election win for Bidzina Ivanishvili -- The Guardian
News Guide to Georgia as It Holds Crucial Election -- ABC News/AP
Georgia military fatalities in Afghanistan
REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA
Republic of Georgia military fatalities in Afghanistan
| Date | Name | Rank | Age | Unit | Cause |
| 29-Dec-12 | Kikadze, Georgi | Sergeant | |||
| 12-Oct-12 | Abashidze, Mindia | Corporal | 22 | 32nd Light Infantry | |
| 27-Jul-12 | Pantsuala, Givi | Corporal | 28 | 31st Light Infantry | Hostile fire |
| 25-Apr-12 | Khujadze, Valerian | Sergeant | 35 | 31st Light Infantry | IED |
| 21-Feb-12 | Valiko, Beraia | Corporal | 31st Light Infantry | Hostile fire | |
| 21-Feb-12 | Ruslan, Meladze | Corporal | 21 | 31st Light Infantry | Hostile fire |
| 21-Feb-12 | Paata, Kacharava | Corporal | 31st Light Infantry | Hostile fire | |
| 6-Jan-12 | Pailodze, Shalva | Corporal | 3rd Infantry Brigade | Hostile fire | |
| 31-Dec-11 | Niniashvili, Besik | Corporal | 3rd Infantry Brigade | IED | |
| 27-Aug-11 | Beridze, Rezo | J-Sgt. | 35 | 33rd Battalion | Hostile fire |
| 20-Jun-11 | Goguadze, Gia | Private | 33rd Battalion | Hostile fire | |
| 24-May-11 | Ivaniadze, Lavrosi | J-Sgt. | 33rd Battalion | Land mine | |
| 14-Mar-11 | Verskiani, Valeri | Corporal | 32nd Battalion | Land mine | |
| 22-Feb-11 | Avaliani, Giorgi | Corporal | 32nd Battalion | Land mine | |
| 30-Sep-10 | Kalandadze, Nugzar | Corporal | Georgian Army | IED | |
| 30-Sep-10 | Kolkhitashvili, Giorgi | Corporal | Georgian Army | IED | |
| 30-Sep-10 | Tsetskhladze, Davit | Sergeant | Georgian Army | IED | |
| 30-Sep-10 | Gogiashvili, Ramaz | Colonel | Georgian Army | IED | |
| 5-Sep-10 | Shukvani, Mukhran | Lieutenant | 28 | 31st Battalion | IED |
Georgia's Saakashvili Seeking U.S. Weapons to Deter Russia
President Mikheil Saakashvili, on the eve of a visit by Vice President Biden, said the arms "would make any hotheads think twice" about military action. (By Irakli Gedenidze -- Pool)From The Washington Post:
TBILISI, Georgia, July 21 -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili urged the United States on Tuesday to supply his country with advanced defensive weapons, warning on the eve of a visit by Vice President Biden that a decision not to provide such arms would encourage a Russian invasion.
In a wide-ranging interview, Saakashvili said that discussions about a weapons deal remained at "very early stages" but that he planned to press Biden to speed up delivery of antiaircraft and antitank systems, saying such weaponry was "purely defensive" and "would make any hotheads think twice about further military adventures."
Read more ....
Update: Biden in Georgia to express support, urge reform -- Reuters
My Comment: The U.S. is not going to arm Georgia. Their relationship with Russia is many magnitudes more important to the U.S. than jeopardizing it by giving Georgia a few shipments of weapons.
Vice President Biden's trip to Georgia is all PR .... and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is just deluding himself if he thinks he is going to get anything substantial from this visit.
European Security Agency Must End Mission In Georgia
From The International Herald Tribune:
MOSCOW: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe must end its 16-year mission in Georgia early next year because it is unable to resolve a deadlock with Russia, one of its member states, over whether to treat the separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as sovereign nations.
At a meeting Monday at OSCE headquarters in Vienna, Russia's envoy to the organization refused to extend the Georgia mission, which expires Dec. 31, unless members agreed that South Ossetia and Abkhazia were separate countries. Though Russia is the only one of the organization's 56 member states that has formally recognized the enclaves, the organization works by consensus.
Read more ....
MOSCOW: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe must end its 16-year mission in Georgia early next year because it is unable to resolve a deadlock with Russia, one of its member states, over whether to treat the separatist enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as sovereign nations.
At a meeting Monday at OSCE headquarters in Vienna, Russia's envoy to the organization refused to extend the Georgia mission, which expires Dec. 31, unless members agreed that South Ossetia and Abkhazia were separate countries. Though Russia is the only one of the organization's 56 member states that has formally recognized the enclaves, the organization works by consensus.
Read more ....
Monitors Come Under Fire Near Georgian Rebel Region: OSCE
From Yahoo News/AFP:
TBILISI (AFP) – An armoured vehicle carrying ceasefire monitors from the OSCE came under fire near Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region Wednesday but no-one was injured, the OSCE said.
Georgia's interior ministry blamed the attack on South Ossetian militia forces but the breakaway region's rebel government denied the claim.
Read more ....
TBILISI (AFP) – An armoured vehicle carrying ceasefire monitors from the OSCE came under fire near Georgia's rebel South Ossetia region Wednesday but no-one was injured, the OSCE said.
Georgia's interior ministry blamed the attack on South Ossetian militia forces but the breakaway region's rebel government denied the claim.
Read more ....
Georgia Sacks Defense, Foreign Ministers After War
President George W. Bush and President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, shake hands as they smile at cameras before the start of the afternoon session of the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest.White House photo by Eric Draper
From Reuters:
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili dismissed the defense and foreign affairs ministers on Friday in a major shakeup following August's military defeat by Russia.
The changes come amid opposition criticism of President Mikheil Saakashvili's government and its loss in the five-day war that followed Tbilisi's military assault on its breakaway South Ossetia region.
"Changes need to be made in the sphere of defense," Mgaloblishvili told a news conference. "It is important to strengthen foreign policy and more experience is needed in this direction."
Read more .....
My Comment: There should also be an election to see if President Mikheil Saakashvili have the confidence of the electorate.
Crisis Group Calls For Urgent Reforms In Post-War Georgia
(Image from Russiablog)From Voice Of America:
A leading international research group says Georgia must implement urgent reforms, if the government is to survive the global economic downturn and public discontent over its failed conflict with Russia.
The International Crisis Group, in a report, says President Mikheil Saakashvili's position is now secure.
But it says his standing will be "severely tested" in the months ahead, as the opposition continues asking "pointed questions" about Georgian government decisions ahead of Russia's devastating military invasion in August.
The report urges the Saakashvili government to restore political stability necessary to encourage foreign investment and development. It also says Tbilisi must provide more social assistance, ensure an independent judiciary and increase freedoms for the broadcast news media. Additionally, it calls on the government to eliminate high-level corruption and implement what it calls "vital changes" to the electoral process.
Read more ....
My Comment: Accountability and who was responsible for what .... these are issues that are going to occupy Georgian politics for the nxt ten years.