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Posted by Looed on the 25th July :-

Pt.3 (and final part)

Rati Ionatamishvili, Chairman of parliament fraction “Georgian Dream”, (RT) - It is very important for us that the investment climate is as transparent as possible for each investor, and this fact should not inspire even a single interpretation of one of our strategic friends.

J2 - American "Frontera" started its activities in Georgia in 1997. After 20 years of operation, the state has appealed to international arbitration. Arbitration disputes have repeatedly been the subject of political speculation. Mutual accusations were also often heard. Frontera has also been the subject of letters and statements from a number of congressmen and senators as an example of the harassment of American and European investment in Georgia. Material found on the Internet reports that Frontera is one of the sponsors of Malin, one of the authors of these statements, a Republican congressman. Today, the American research organization OperSecrects.org published data on the financial assistance of US congressmen from Frontera. According to the survey, Frontera raised $ 200,000 in 2019 to support Republicans and Democrats. As of 2020, this amount exceeds $ 44,000. According to the research organization, the oil company has limited financial assistance to any political force in the United States. Because of this, Frontera supports Republicans and Democrats through individual transfers.

https://rustavi2.ge/ka/news/171022

Posted by Looed on the 25th July :-

Translation #19 Rustavi2 TV, Zaza & others, 23/07, 5m59s, US$30,
Pt.1

Journalist 1 (J1) - "Georgia has such large reserves of oil and gas that it can even start exporting energy resources," said Frontera, a company that entered Georgia in 1997. Georgia could not become an exporter of energy resources, but Frontera was allowed to continue its exploration work today. However, in only 1% of the area, the remaining 99% has already been lost by an American oil company in an arbitration tribunal. Why did the government change the previously announced decision and to whom the government has given an account? The American oil company, to which the congressmen even dedicated their own tweets, continues to drill in Georgia even after 23 years.

Natia Turnava, Minister of Economics and Sustainable Development of Georgia (NT) -We
have made a decision and are suspending the request to terminate our contract. We are leaving this 1% area which ...

Journalist 2 (J2) - The government will no longer cancel the contract with Frontera, which is about to expire on July 27. According to the decision of the government, the company will be left with 1% of the search area for the activity. 99%, “Frontera returned to the state by the decision of the arbitral tribunal. The authorities explain that they have taken a compromise step. The reason is foreign policy and international image.

NT - Fundamentally important to us is our relationship with the United States as a strategic partner, which in no way should be overshadowed by the defense campaign launched by one particular company. Practically, we make such a compromise decision.

Davit Zalkaniani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, (DZ) - In order for the ordinary, routine, commercial dispute not to become detrimental to interstate relations, we have therefore made this decision.

J2 - The compromising government today reminded Frontera of its unfulfilled obligations and methods of struggle, which the ruling team qualifies as discrediting. The government hopes the company will pay off its several-month debt to its employees.

NT - Instead of focusing its resources on fulfilling its obligations, instead of paying off its debts to people employed for more than 14 months, it turned its attention to launching an unprecedented discrediting campaign against the Georgian state. We express our hope and call on Frontera that at least now that we have made this decision, it may settle its obligations.

Posted by Looed on the 25th July :-

Translation #20, 4 min interview with Zaza, US$20
Pt.1

J1 - American energy company Frontera calls on the Georgian government to stop disinformation. The statements made by the members of the government yesterday that the contract with "Frontera" will not be terminated, it turns out that the representatives of the company found out through the media. Tatia Tsotsonava joins us live on "Frontera" case.

J2 - The director of the American company "Frontera" told us that they learned about the decision of the Georgian government to extend the contract with the company "Frontera". However, Zaza Mamulaishvili tells us that the Georgian government is conducting a kind of disinformation campaign against the American company, as he says that the Georgian government does not have the right to terminate or extend the contract so unilaterally, as the contract states that this can be done only by mutual agreement. Zaza Mamulaishvili also says that this decision seems to have been made by the Georgian government against the backdrop of unprecedented international pressure in recent months, as the Georgian government is now trying to justify the millions of dollars spent from the budget, Which the Georgian government has squandered in lawsuits against an American company. Such is 42 million GEL, at least, Zaza Mamulaishvili tells us this amount. This is exactly the amount that the Georgian government has spent for 4 years in various services against the American company "Frontera". The company "Frontera" expresses its readiness to restore this audience with the Government of Georgia, to allow them to fully operate on the territory of Georgia.

Zaza - He publicly states that as if 99% remains with the state and 1% with the company. Which does not correspond to reality. In fact, it is the opposite. 1% remains for Georgia, which was returned by Mr. Gakharia and his government, 99% remains for the company. GEL 42 million is paid for the services of foreign lawyers, experts and lobbyists. This is all that was used in the arbitration trial against “Frontera” and the fight against us politically or otherwise. The government has completely illegally frozen our bank accounts, banned us from exporting oil, does not pay us our due VAT, which owes several tens of millions of GEL, and does not allow us to conduct operations normally.

Posted by Blownitalready on the 24th July :-

Increase resources in the Black Sea region, with the involvement of Georgia - US Defense Act
The U.S. Senate on July 23 approved the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act , which provides for $ 740.5 billion to be allocated from the budget for defense spending next year.

The document discusses the policy of deterrence of Russian aggression and in this context emphasizes the importance of Georgia and Ukraine as countries in the Black Sea region.

" In order to strengthen the Russian aggression containment policy, the Defense Department should ... enhance the attention and resources of the Black Sea region to the changing military balance, as well as expanding the NATO and other multilateral exercise frequency, scope and scale of the Black Sea region, Georgia and Ukraine", - It is said in the document.

This is the document in which the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, James Rish, initiated the changes on June 26 .

The changes concerned the state of democracy in Georgia, the March 8 agreement and the detention of Giorgi Rurua.

The amendment stated that cooperation between the United States and Georgia would continue if the Georgian government implemented the promised reforms.

No changes were made to the final version of the US Defense Act.

The bill on financing foreign operations is still being considered in the Congress , which envisages the suspension of 15% of the financial assistance allocated to Georgia until certain conditions are met.

https://formulanews.ge/News/34036

Politics
Kelly Degnan: Certain OSCE/ODIHR recommendations weren't adopted; however, now it's most important to thoroughly enforce the legislature
Kelly Degnan: Certain OSCE/ODIHR recommendations weren't adopted; however, now it's most important to thoroughly enforce the legislature
The US Ambassador to Georgia, Kelly Degnan, states that certain OSCE/ODIHR recommendations weren't adopted with regards to the electoral system. As the Ambassador noted, now it's the most important to "ensure that every voter can vote freely, without fear in October".

"We're glad and welcome the new reform in the electoral legislature which will create fair and transparent conditions for election. Now it's time for its full enforcement. There were certain OSCE/ODIHR recommendations that weren't adopted; however, now it's most important to thoroughly enforce the legislature in order to ensure that every voter can vote freely, without fear in October", - stated Degnan

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/108522-kelly-degnan-certain-osceodihr-recommendations-werent-adopted-however-now-its-most-important-to-thoroughly-enforce-the-legislature

Posted by Moleinahole on the 24th July :-

Tsbs as I posted yesterday I' m very wary of the latest developments. Alot depends on who you believe but I tend to place greater weight on verifable information and over the past two years that has been from documents that form part of the litigation. The area that gives me he greatest concern at the moment (and I have many) is the status of transfer. I have just been on the registry site and the process remains terminated. Depending on whether you believe the leaked arbitration documents or not it seems pretty clear that the transfer formed part of the arbitration. The dates tend to tie in with the registry entries. As of today he transfer was not completed on the Georgian side you seem to have an odd legal position in that the asset has been transferred internally in Frontera to FR US but the actual asset remains on the Georgian side assigned to a subsidiary of an entity now controlled by the Liquidators.
The comments by the minister yesterday don't fill me with a great deal of confidence that what could now be happening is that the GG are going to leave the dismantling of Frontera to the liquidation process initiated by Outrider.
The liquidator could now have an asset close at hand to work with a sale beyond the control of Steve and Zaza.
Once that happens Hope and Outrider might be banking on the california litigation folding if Fontera can't fund it.
The comments again yesterday that indicated Frontera may be being embargoed or unable to make oil sales simply adds to the perplexity I have as to how they are still standing. It may be that once you owe alot of money creditors are afraid to fold the company. So while the arbitration events draw to a conclusion the focus turns back to the US. If there is real tangible evidence against Hope and Outrider that can be made to stick then the damages now will be immense. Hence, I would expect them to continue to weaken Frontera and most likely see if the company can survive long enough to complete the litigation. Unfortunately with Outrider and Hope having access to insurance to defend the case and if Frontera are squeezed financially then it will be interesting to see how we would fund a robust legal team - no win no fee maybe.
I'd be wary of an alliance between FTI and the GG here to execute a dispossession through the courts, take the vat, pay the workers, place the asset with a state friendly company and hence avoid the political storm because it was done by US based liquidators at arms length. This could happen before the election ever comes into play.
That's what I would do if I was a Georgian politician. As for Zaza in that position I'd do what he is doing now make alot of noise but how you get round the liquidator if you don't control the company involves probably persuading them leaving the asset with FR US is a better return for creditors than selling to someone else in a fire sale.
The status of the asset transfer is now critical whether

Posted by DomFok on the 24th July :-

IPN Headline - “ Frontera releases a statement”

American oil company Frontera calls on the Georgian government to "stop the disinformation campaign."
The company releases a statement, which "Interpressnews" offers unchanged:
"The Georgian government has continued a public disinformation campaign about the results of its contract with our company and the recent arbitration action, which the government launched against us in 2018. We call on the Prime Minister and his government to stop this practice of deliberate deception, harm and dishonesty, and instead to start working directly with our company to promote the true spirit of the partnership.
On Thursday, after years of threats and harassment, officials abruptly announced that "the government has decided not to cancel our contract." This statement was packed with slanderous statements, which only served to tarnish the name of our company and spread false statements about our activities. We would like to clarify once again that there was never any legal basis for the unilateral termination of our contract. The constant slander of the Georgian government is wrong and is a deliberate harassment. It is aimed at misleading and creating the impression of generosity and benevolence when, in fact, it is a continuation of dishonest behavior aimed at insidiously obstructing the inflow of foreign direct investment from the US.
Since April of this year, we have repeatedly requested a meeting with the Government of Georgia. All these requests were rejected or ignored. Now, high-ranking officials are making public statements without any attempt at a constructive meeting with our company.
This is not normal behavior when it comes to working with the largest private sector investor in the US. For more than twenty years, we have been a proud corporate citizen of Georgia from the United States. During this period, we have invested more than $ 500 million in the Kakheti region, importing leading technology from the United States; We have employed hundreds of Georgians and Americans and created an opportunity for Georgia's energy independence. Still, some types of games make it clear that this does not sound like a welcome environment for U.S. businesses. "We once again call on the Georgian government to abide by the recent ruling of the Arbitration Court, to respect the terms of our agreement, to hold a constructive meeting with us and to promise to return to work safely, without intimidation and without new conditions," the statement said.

https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/610831-prontera-gancxadebas-avrcelebs/

Posted by Blownitalready on the 24th July :-

Criticism of Washington - Frontera continues to operate in Georgia
Following the announcement of the harshest criticism and sanctions from Washington, the Georgian government is extending the activities of the American "Frontera". The contract expired on July 27. The government is relinquishing its position, but does not link the decision to international pressure. The American company itself is convinced that the government has stepped back because of the unprecedented criticism of its partners.

The director of "Frontera" speaks about the wrong policy of the Georgian government towards business. He said the government's decision was linked to changes made to the National Defense Authorization Act by the Assignment Committee and Congress. According to the amendment, the Government of Georgia is obliged to protect foreign investments in Georgia.

American fuel company "Frontera" will continue operating in Georgia until 2027.

https://formulanews.ge/News/33998

Frontera calls on the Georgian government to end its disinformation campaign
Frontera calls on the Georgian government to end its disinformation campaign. In the critical letter, the American company calls on the Prime Minister and the Government of Georgia to stop deliberate lies, damaging and insincere practices and to have an honest partnership.

We read in the letter of " Frontera " that after several years of dispute, the government suddenly announced that it was extending the contract of the company .

The statement said that since April, Frontera has requested a number of meetings with the government, but to no avail.

Following the announcement of the harshest criticism and sanctions in Washington, the Georgian government has extended the license of the American " Frontera " until 2027. The contract expired on July 27.

https://formulanews.ge/News/34013

This article is showing a letter with Frontera heading.....can anyone dig it out ?
(i'm useless at finding that kind of stuff)

Posted by Ivyspivey on the 24th July :-

FRR Letter

https://scontent.ftbs6-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/110292441_10220094249440724_2759535050334392063_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=7S36xu7bnroAX_xNz3C&_nc_ht=scontent.ftbs6-1.fna&oh=5707e61cfe4d711fb9a06417c594f465&oe=5F3F303D

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