RFE/RL begins broadcast in Abkhazia, Tskhinvali

http://www.ekhokavkaza.com/ Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty begins broadcast in Abkhazia and Tskinvali breakaway Regions today. The Georgian producers of the radio say that on November 2, the first one-hour long program will broadcast in the air of the Radio Liberty`s local branch Echo of the Caucasus. The audio of the program will be available on the radio web site, which will be opened today. A team of five reporters work for the Echo of the Caucasus in the Prague. The editors say that the parts of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Regions, including Gali district, will be able to listen to the programs of the Radio Liberty on the frequency of the Radio Green Wave. `As for the threats of the Sokhumi puppet regime that they will suppress the broadcast, they should know that we do not need licence for broadcast. In addition, this is not the issue of political character, we`ll broadcast only news programs,` Davit Kakabadze, the Georgian producer of the radio Liberty has said.

David Miliband reiterates support to Georgia

British Foreign Minister David Miliband has reiterated support to Georgia`s territorial integrity during his visit to Moscow. David Miliband talked in the air of the Radio Echo Moskvy and said the attempts to draw parallels between the Kosovo precedent and the recognition of Georgia`s breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia was unacceptable for Great Britain. Britain`s political position towards Georgia is unchanged as well as the criticism of Russia for recognizing the separatist regions of Georgia. `We do not recognize the new states of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,` David Miliband said.

Semneby comments on so-called presidential elections in Abkhazia

The EU special envoy to the South Caucasus Peter Semneby has made comments regarding the so-called presidential elections in Georgia`s breakaway Abkhazia. Semneby said the EU policy consisted of two parts – the first is non-recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the second -imposition of all kinds of contact with all sides involved in the conflict. Semneby said the election was a political process, an important process for EU, because the leaders of the breakaway region should care the interests of the people of Abkhazia and not only their personal interests. `In any case we are interested in our partners,` Semneby said and emphasized the importance of imposing contacts between the confronted sides. `These contacts may lead us to a fruitful discussion, including legal issues. But prior to this, we should focus on humanitarian, economic and social problems,` Semneby concluded.

Georgia denies reports about consultations with Russia

Russian Foreign Ministry asserts that Russia and Georgia have held consultations about the opening of the Zemo Larsi border exit-point. As Russian news agencies are reporting, the consultations were held in the Armenian Capital, Yerevan, where the sides showed great interest in the opening of Northern border point of Georgia and Russia. According to the same sources, the sides exchanged information about the conditions at both sides of the border points and agreed to report the results of the negotiations to their governments for making final decision. Georgian Foreign Ministry has denied the reports of the Russian agencies. Nino Kalandadze, deputy minister of foreign affairs said Georgia had not held any kind of consultations regarding the Zemo Larsi exit point with the Russian side.