Press Digezt 16.10.2014
Government maintains high price on petrol -- Georgia’s oil market has never been in such a state of disorder before
I do not really think that Burjanadze knows how to hold negotiations with Russia when even Europe and the U.S. have no idea how to do this – Gela Kvatchantiradze
Has investigation been launched against Nationals?
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Government maintains high price on petrol -- Georgia’s oil market has never been in such a state of disorder before
"Since June, the price of petrol has been reduced by 25 percent on the international market. However, in Georgia the price of petrol has dropped only by 2.5 percent. This clearly points to the fact that injustice and lawlessness has a hold on Georgia’s market today,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.
“The international prices have stably gone down for several months. This gave the oil importers an opportunity to decrease the price of petrol and diesel long ago. Although as their flagrant behavior suggests, they are simply unable to reject their colossal income, even in the present state of play, when drastic slashing of prices is palpable on the international market. It is also worth noting that if under Saakashvili, when the former authorities refused to reduce the price of petrol, the NGOs, experts and politicians kicked up a fuss immediately. However, today, no one even thinks to voice alarm over the present situation,” says the article.
“The representatives of the oil companies have not hesitated to inform the Rezonansi gazette that reducing the price of petrol does not fall into their plans at this time, as they have already cut the price of petrol and diesel. However, at the end of June the international price of a ton of petrol hit 1050 GEL, while today it is only 805. As you see, the difference is easily noticeable between the previous and the current prices of petrol. However, this has changed very little for Georgia. As it appears, our oil importers have stopped taking interest in internationally established prices,” reads the paper.
“Even at first glance, it can easily be concluded that we don’t deal with oil market strife at this point in time. Information regarding the steep drop in petrol prices has hit the headlines in foreign press. Apparently, in the wake of this, the price of oil products has also fallen. Oil importers are obviously ordinary businessmen who are contently on the make and strive for gaining as much income as possible. I am just interested, are our authorities not ashamed when they see such flagrantly boosted prices at filling stations? Certainly, I cannot credit that our top officials are so hapless that they cannot even find out what is happening on the international market today. Whether this way or that one thing is clear – such a terrible situation has never been on Georgia’s market before,” announces expert Zviad Kandelaki.
I do not really think that Burjanadze knows how to hold negotiations with Russia when even Europe and the U.S. have no idea how to do this – Gela Kvatchantiradze
"We are in a stalemate. Russia has privatized our territories, has fortified its gains here as well as in the entire Transcaucasia and has not shown any signs of its readiness to make compromises. We obviously cannot resolve a conflict by force; it’s true that Russia compelled us to cede our regions, but we obviously cannot take a cue from the aggressor by forcing it to return our territories… I do not really think that Burjanadze knows how to hold negotiations with Russia when even Europe and the U.S. have no idea how to do this. Europe advises us to negotiate with Russia; however, the European leaders themselves do not know how to hold negotiations with the aggressor country,” announces expert Gela Kvatchantiradze, in his interview with the Akhali Taoba gazette.
“The only thing that we can do now is to play for time and wait for when the power balance changes between the geopolitical powers. However, we cannot indulge in being at our ease and wait. We must use this time to develop our economy. Such violent conflicts inside the country will obviously bring us nothing good. Any impasse can be overcome; we must simply be heedful and play for time now, claims Mr. Kvatchantiradze.
To the question whether or not the resources to launch negotiations with Russia are in the acting authorities’ hands today, the respondent replies:
“Georgia as well as the entire world lacks these resources today. Russia is in a postcolonial state. It has lost all levers as well as its influence and is now trying to regain them. Clashes with Russia can bring us absolutely nothing. Through our harrowing experience we have already learned that this confrontation poses only serious problems for us.”
“Russia has trampled on international justice by taking over Ukraine. The Russian leader has pursued his ambitious dream rooted in the memories of soviet glory – Eurasian Union, the backbone of which must have been Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belorussia. By moving closer to the EU, Ukraine has dealt a really big blow to Russia. As for Georgia, the aggressor country is not interested in Georgia only; it wants to bring the entire Transcaucasia under its thumb. The future of Transcaucasia is in the hands of Georgia as well as the entire Europe – if we offer violent resistance to Russia, I think that we can stop it from seizing control of entire Transcaucasia,” concludes the expert.
Has investigation been launched against Nationals?
"An investigation under article 315 has reportedly been launched against the National Movement, the members of which have been accused of seeking to destabilize the country, the aforementioned statement was issued by secretary of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Levan Izoria, live on the air at RustaviTV2. However, Mr. Izoria has abstained from giving away any further details regarding the issue. No additional information has been released by the members of the Coalition as well; however, the Nationals themselves have defined the afore-cited statement as inadequate. As the Nationals claim, since the Georgian Dream took up the reigns of the country, it has done nothing but to fight against the National Movement,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.
“On September 10, the Minister released operative information in his interview. “The investigation is underway under article 315 involving crimes of arranging a coup against the Government,” Levan Izoria stated on the program “Choice.” The Rezonansi tried to obtain more extensive information with reference to the subject and for this purpose, it contacted the Ministry of Internal Affairs; however, they held back from answering our questions. Thus, we do not know who has kicked-off this investigation but it’s the fact that the Minister’s secretary would not have issued this information out of thin air. Although the National Movement has simply shrugged off the aforementioned statement,” says the article.
“We either have to deal with a joke or their attempt to undermine democracy in our country once and for all. As soon as they devastate the opposition, Europe will direct a diatribe against them and they will not hesitate to declare that all paths to Europe are blocked that they can see no other way out from the dead-end critical situation but to turn towards Russia. They have either brewed this scheme or they are really ultimate blockheads. As it seems they like Stalin’s rhetoric. Otherwise, how can constructive criticism from the left-wing party be defined as a felony?”Asks - Davit Darchiashvili, a member of the National Movement.
“I can see nothing unusual in Mr. Izoria’s statement. Arranging coups is nothing new for the National Movement. The “Rose Revolution” can be defined as nothing more than a political coup after which their leader Saakashvili arranged a constitutional coup and usurped power. Hence, they are absolute professionals and have vast experience in toppling down governments. To put in a nutshell, a case can easily have been brought against them,” states military expert, Vakhtang Maisaia.
“In my mind, the National Movement party must definitely been brought to justice. As for the reaction from the West… well, the West did not even seem to remember Georgia when the Nationals pelted it with countless mishaps… I think that this corrupt organization manned with double-dealer, self-seeker politicians, must be judged under any circumstances,” claims Head of Defense and Security Committee, Viktor Japaridze.
