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Posted by Blownitalready on the 29th Jan :-

Kakha Kaladze: The statements
Kakha Kaladze: The statements we hear from US Congressmen are beyond our friendly relationship, such statements are absolutely unacceptable
The statements we hear are beyond our friendly relationship. This tone and such statements are absolutely unacceptable, - Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze answered journalists' questions about the series of letters from the US Congressmen.

As Kaladze pointed out, legislators of the strategic partner country should not speak to a friendly country like that.

“The statements we hear are beyond our friendly relationships. You know that America is our strategic partner and legislators of the strategic partner country should not speak to a friendly country like this, especially when it comes to a company of dubious reputation. This problem existed when I was a minister and I am well aware of that company. I mean Frontera. We have started the arbitration process and I am sure they are well aware that they will definitely lose the case. We will certainly defend the state interests of our country and will certainly protect our companies. That is exactly why it is a matter of arbitration and I am sure that the Oil and Gas Corporation will win this dispute. This tone is absolutely unacceptable and such statements are absolutely unacceptable,” Kaladze said.

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/105578-kakha-kaladze-the-statements-we-hear-from-us-congressmen-are-beyond-our-friendly-relationship-such-statements-are-absolutely-unacceptable

Posted by bigdouble on the 29th Jan :-

Not sure if already posted

https://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/Change-of-power-is-coming-in-Georgia.html

Posted by regdik on the 29th Jan :-

RE: Kicked off our asset
remember that the active sides (gas plant and producing wells) will need constant attention.
Therefore, just on a HSE level GG would have to step in and provide operational support or the gas to several villages would have to be switched off (in winter?). Do not read too much into this.

Posted by Looed on the 29th Jan :-

Russian article about "indignant Olson" and FRR
Russian President Vladimir Putin through the Georgian authorities “blocked” the work of the American company and now “controls” Georgian oil. Such a high-profile statement was made by Congressman Pete Olson during a speech in the US House of Representatives, a video of which he posted on January 28 on his Twitter page.
According to a member of Congress, the oil company Frontera Resources (FR) successfully worked in Georgia for many years, until they began to interfere with "Putin's puppet" leader of the ruling party "Georgian Dream" Bidzina Ivanishvili .
“They (FR, approx. - REGNUM) created the best jobs in Georgia and the USA. They created freedom. That was until the government stopped their operations and confiscated all the equipment, ” Olson was indignant during the speech.
He emphasized that now Putin is “happy”, as he supposedly can “control” Georgian oil.
As REGNUM reported, previously a number of members of the US Congress, including Olson, had already spoken i defense of Frontera Resources, accusing the Georgian authorities of allegedly putting pressure on the American company. Meanwhile, the dispute between the authorities and the FR is being considered in the arbitration court in Strasbourg.

Earlier, independent deputy of the Georgian parliament Beka Natsvlishvili pointed out that 84 employees were dismissed from Frontera Resources in December, who were not paid salaries for 11 months.

Source - https://regnum.ru/news/polit/2842805.html

Posted by bugsy-b on the 28th Jan :-

RE: Hague Arbitration - Surley they have morals?
I’ve thought this Arbitration carry on to be justly unfair since the Georgians kick started it.. How can they “ dissect” our block?.. I can understand Elinito getting kicked off their block the other year for not doing the necessary work on any part of their block..
But we’ve done massive amounts across ours, but the Georgians are “ dissecting” it by saying “ well you’ve drilled this part, but not this part”..
Imagine the British government in the 70’s saying to BP “ well you’ve drilled here and hit the Forties field, but you haven’t drilled into the part of your block, so we’re taking that part back!..
Or a landlord saying to a guy who rents a 4 bedroom house of him “ You’re only using 2 of the bedrooms so I’m taking the other 2 back !!
Surely a “block” is a “block” but just because ours has the lucrative potential to massively enrich those who unlock the prize, They’re trying to dissect parts of it back off us... Twatties..

Posted by bugsy-b on the 28th Jan :-

Nice one Oopsi .. I reckon the yanks have had the measure of this b***** for long enough.. Pulling all the strings for his own benefits for years.. didnt he once own 1% of the Gazprom pipeline feeding gas through Georgia..

A few of the ex Georgian prime ministers were management of his Cartu bank.. They were promoted into politics, then relegated and moved around like human chess pieces on his giant Georgian chessboard..

I had great hopes many years ago when the Georgian co investment fund was launched, I think at the time $6 billion of investments was mentioned, This was to fund businesses and stimulate the Georgian economy, Unfortunately Bidzina was involved, we never saw a cent of it..

I also think Georgia failing to stimulate investments into local gas extraction over the years, and instead go back to purchasing Russian gas under secret agreements, bears his fingerprints.. Time to bring Saskavill back ?..

Posted by Oopsi on the 28th Jan :-

MUST READ AND WATCH
Must watch the video

News
U.S. Congressman Slams ‘Oligarch’ Ivanishvili over Frontera Resources, ‘Crashing Basic Human Rights’
29/01/2020 - 01:05 0 Less than a minute
TagsBidzina IvanishviliCongressman Pete OlsonFrontera ResourcesGeorgiaheadlineU.S.-Georgia relations

On January 28, in his remarks made in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Pete Olson, [R-TX] slammed Georgia’s ruling party chairman, ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili over Frontera Resources, as well as for “crashing basic human rights.”

“I have a question. What does Oscar the Grounch from Sesame Street has in common with Republic of Georgia’s oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili? What they have in common? Answer – they are both puppets who trash their own homes,” Congressman said, adding that “Vladimir Putin’s puppet [Bidzina Ivanishvili] has attacked the investment in Georgia and crashed basic human rights.”

He then noted that “coming from Texas, Frontera Resources, has been drilling in Georgia for years and years and years. They’ve created great jobs in America, great jobs in Georgia. They’ve created freedom…. Now they are drilling zero wealth in Georgia.”

Rep. Olson then stressed that “of course, …. Vladimir Putin is happy to control Georgia’s oil. This puppet oligarch Ivanishvili is getting rich off the backs of the Georgian people.”

“It’s time to wake up as protesters in Georgia need our support. Join me in raising our voices for freedom in Georgia,” he concluded.

Frontera Resources, U.S. company with headquarters in Houston, Texas, has dispute with Georgia’s Oil and Gas corporation. Several other Congressmen before Rep. Olson also criticized Georgian government for the country’s dispute with Frontera Resources.
On January 26, David Bakradze, Georgia’s ambassador to the U.S. said “the tone, in which the Congressmen supporting Frontera Resources address the Georgian Prime Minister – the Prime Minister of the United States’ strategic partner state – is absolutely unacceptable,” noting that “we have long experience of relations with the Congressmen supporting this company.”

Georgia’s Ambassador Bakradze Assesses U.S. Congressmen’s Letters
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Like this:

https://civil.ge/archives/336451

Posted by bugsy-b on the 28th Jan :-

Georgian Energy Week 2020
"Daily News: Economics
January 28, 2020

ECONOMY MINISTER: ENERGY MARKET WILL BE DEREGULATED STEP BY STEP
While addressing the “Georgian Energy Week 2020”, opened today, Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava declared that process of deregulation of the country’s energy market will be carried out step by step. That “will give an opportunity to the market players to accustom themselves to changes easily”, she noted"...

http://www.sarke.com/cgi/search/news.asp?Code=10059095

Posted by bugsy-b on the 28th Jan :-

Georgia "becoming Dangerous"..
And this is from a Russian !....

"28.01.2020 / 20:18??
Russian lawmaker to Salome Zurabishvili - Your country has become dangerous"

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/105567-russian-lawmaker-to-salome-zurabishvili-your-country-has-become-dangerous

Posted by Wazza10 on the 28th Jan :-

Timing of the letter from the US
Looks like the timing of the letter from the US congress to Giorgi Gakharia was sent for maximum effect whilst Gakharia sat down with Elite worlds businesses and world leaders at Davos . It must of been embarrassing for the chap. Even more damaging words ,the polish lady condemning their human rights. Giorgi Gakharia today stated in Davos “membership to the EU and NATO will provide security guarantees for Georgia .
Time to pick a shirt Giorgi pal.
My first post, go easy on me guys Haha

Posted by Chris572 on the 28th Jan :-

Man it’s really hotting up eh
"Georgian Dream" advised the US to tone down 16:01 01/28/2020 The “Georgian Dream”, which was flooded with letters from the United States, goes into a counterattack. The authorities promise to "deal" with dissatisfied congressmen face to face.
????????: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://ghall.com.ua/2020/01/28/gruzinskaya-mechta-posovetovala-ssha-sbavit-ton/&xid=17259,15700002,15700023,15700186,15700190,15700256,15700259,15700262,15700265,15700271&usg=ALkJrhjlfFbkuP5dyS6-Ee_E4OUOlx3tNA

Posted by Blownitalready on the 28th Jan :-

Thought this was canned ?
We are already preparing to announce interests expression on Anaklia Port, Maia Tskitishvili, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, told reporters while speaking about the Anaklia Deep Water Port project.

“WE ARE ALREADY PREPARING TO ANNOUNCE INTERESTS EXPRESSION ON ANAKLIA PORT” – VICE PRIME MINISTERAccording to the Minister, based on the tender results, the government will choose a new investor, having enough financial resources and experience to implement the project.
“At this stage, we are working on terms of expression of interests. We will definitely work with our international partners, international banks, which may be considered as the future financeer of Anaklia project,” the Minister noted.

https://bm.ge/en/article/we-are-already-preparing-to-announce-interests-expression-on-anaklia-port--vice-prime-minister-/47846

Posted by jme1976 on the 28th Jan :-

“Big developments - Georgia have started to reinstate and award back licences since late last week” tweet today on GEO thread

Posted by Blownitalready on the 28th Jan :-

RE: Polish MP : Many of Georgia's friends are concerned about current trends in Georgia
Russian lawmaker to Salome Zurabishvili - Your country has become dangerous -
Your country has become dangerous, member of the Russian delegation Leonid Kalashnikov told Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili after she gave a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

“Georgia has always been a hospitable country that has hosted international organizations. Your country has hosted the session of Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, but you, as the hospitable President, did not condemn the fact of beating a member of the delegation.
So your country has become dangerous not only for political freedoms, religious representatives, Jews, national minorities and women, but also for parliaments, "Kalashnikov said.

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/105567-russian-lawmaker-to-salome-zurabishvili-your-country-has-become-dangerous

Seems like the georgians are between a rock and a hard place.... pressure from more places/people

Posted by Blownitalready on the 28th Jan :-

Polish MP : Many of Georgia's friends are concerned about current trends in Georgia
Many of Georgia's friends, including in the US and the European Parliament, are concerned about current trends in Georgia, Polish MP Aleksander Pociej said after the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili addressed the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

“Madam President, I am a Polish citizen and the Polish people are friends of Georgia. However, many of Georgia's friends, including in the US Congress and the European Parliament, have expressed their concern over the current trends in Georgia, particularly after the so-called "Gavrilov’s night" in Georgia. After Gavrilov's night. Mr. Ivanishvili, who is the chairman of the Georgian Dream, issued a statement, saying many more opposition leaders would be arrested. What is your answer to this? ” Aleksander Pociej asked President Zurabishvili.

https://www.interpressnews.ge/en/article/105565-polish-mp-many-of-georgias-friends-are-concerned-about-current-trends-in-georgia

Posted by Looed on the 28th Jan :-

Russia really can't let this go!! Another article Pt.2

Georgian Ambassador to the United States David Bakradze , who is also sure that all the congressmen who wrote their letters, have their own interests and criticized the constant letters from overseas to Tbilisi. Surprisingly, the congressman who is worried about the company Frontera Resources , which is located in Texas and Oklahoma, he represents these states.
“The tone with which congressmen, supporters of Frontera Resources, appeal to the Prime Minister of Georgia is absolutely unacceptable. On this issue, we have many years of experience communicating with congressmen, supporters of this company, ”
- Bakradze said, speaking on the air of the Imedi television company.

According to opposition politicians, US congressmen want only one thing - that "Georgia will become a part of the free world," they cannot have other interests.
“The political class of the United States, especially those that have been friends with our country for many years, are interested in having a strong democratic country here. Therefore, such a reaction is natural and will help us if Ivanishvili comes to his senses. If it doesn’t come to its senses, it will be late for him and will harm Georgia,
- said the leader of “European Georgia” Gigi Boqueria on the Formula television channel, commenting on letters from across the ocean.

Source - https://www.fondsk.ru/news/2020/01/28/v-tbilisi-otvetili-na-poslanj-iz-za-okeana-49995.html

Posted by Looed on the 28th Jan :-

Russia really can't let this go!! Another article Pt.1
Tbilisi answered “messages” from across the ocean
US Congressmen accused of self-interest

The Georgian government decided to respond to letters received from the United States from the so-called "friends of Georgia", who over the past month have sent letters to Tbilisi - first with advice, then with instructions, and the latter with demands, blaming the government for all sins.
On Monday, January 27, an independent deputy of the Georgian parliament, Beka Natsvlishvili, held a press conference inviting former employees of the American company Frontera Resources , which was mentioned in the second "message" of US congressmen - supposedly in Georgia, this company is being oppressed in every possible way.
During a press conference, Beka Natsvlishvili addressed the House of Representatives and the US Senate and the US Ambassador to Georgia.
According to him, before the new year 84 employees of the company who were still not paid their salaries for 11 months were laid off.
Natsvlishvili called for the separation of the problems of democracy and the rule of law in the country and the problems associated with the activities of a particular American company.
“In my letter that I will send today, I would like to urge US congressmen and senators to closely monitor the processes taking place here. We demand that, whether it be an American congressman or anyone else, respect the Georgian people, Georgian workers. The unconditional support of companies such as Frontera Resources casts a shadow over the pathos that they used in their letters. In making such statements on behalf of democracy, congressmen should first call on their country's companies to respect human rights and the rule of law in Georgia. We are a proud people, we are not a colony where foreign companies can earn money by exploiting the citizens of our country ”,
- answered Natsvlishvili to letters of congressmen.
And the Minister of Defense of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, offers not to dramatize the situation and solve all issues through dialogue, rather than messages.
“No excess dramatization of this issue is in our interests, in the interests of our state and our people. I want everyone to know this well. In general, the attitude shown by various political opponents clearly confirms that their main concern is not our people and the interests of our country. This is an expression of their narrow party interests, "
- Garibashvili has no doubt.

The previous post was posted by Oopsi on the 28th Jan :-

Let's hope the Prof is right

Professor of the Georgian University of Public Affairs Tornike Sharashenidze believes that the growing US pressure on the "Georgian Dream" is an attempt to balance the balance of political forces within the country before the parliamentary elections. "Through letters, the Americans are trying to put pressure on Ivanishvili and convince him to return to democratic tracks. For relations with Moscow, they threaten to deprive the" Georgian Dream "of support. For Ivanishvili, ties with Russia are beneficial. But this is not the scenario that will lead his party to victory. For a balance of power, a country needs a US presence, "argues Sharashenidze. The political scientist draws attention to the fact that the tonality of letters from American politicians is noticeably becoming tougher. And if the “Georgian Dream” ignores the recommendations, the threat of sanctions is very real, Sharashenidze believes. "The United States may impose restrictions not against the whole country, but against certain Georgian businessmen or officials. Take Ivanishvili too. He owns the shares of many leading American companies, and sanctions can pose a personal threat to him," the expert explains. Sharashenidze is sure that the losing Georgian Dream will have to heed the advice from Washington. Otherwise, its ratings will fall even lower. "If the party follows the recommendations of the congressmen, then by the end of the election it has a chance to join the ruling coalition. However, it will not work to get a majority in the parliament. The last straw was the refusal of our own promises to reform the electoral law and switch from a mixed election system to a proportional one," explains Sharashenidze. Archil Sikharulidze, a political scientist and founder of the Georgian SIKHA Foundation research center, does not rule out the possibility that the Georgian lobby may be behind the letters of American congressmen. "Mikheil Saakashvili was friends with George W. Bush. Then a group of Republicans began to form in the Congress, which supported and pushed the interests of Tbilisi in everything. Many congressmen received rewards from Saakashvili," At the same time, Sikharulidze believes that the "Georgian Dream" really has something to present. "The ruling party failed many of the promised reforms. Not everything is smooth and with democratic institutions. But it is wrong to believe that under Saakashvili the country was in full order with liberal values. The ex-president, no less than the current government, backed away from democracy, but in the West this found excuses all the time, "he says. Assessing the content of the letters, the expert concludes that the congressmen do not have a full understanding of what is happening in the country. He does not believe that sanctions will follow against Tbilisi.
https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://rusonline.org/gruziya-ignoriruet-sovety-amerikancev-otvetyat-li-oni-sankciyami&prev=search

Posted by Looed on the 28th Jan :-

"Georgia ignores the advice of the Americans. Will they respond with sanctions" Pt.4
"If the party follows the recommendations of the congressmen, then by the end of the election it has a chance to join the ruling coalition. However, it will not work to get a majority in the parliament. The last straw was the refusal of our own promises to reform the electoral law and switch from a mixed election system to a proportional one," explains Sharashenidze.
Archil Sikharulidze, a political scientist and founder of the Georgian SIKHA Foundation research center, does not rule out the possibility that the Georgian lobby may be behind the letters of American congressmen.
"Mikheil Saakashvili was friends with George W. Bush. Then a group of republicans began to form in the congress, which supported and pushed the interests of Tbilisi in everything. Many congressmen received rewards from Saakashvili," the expert said.
"Trying to apologize." How Georgia took the negotiations with Lavrov
At the same time, Sikharulidze believes that the "Georgian Dream" really has something to present. "The ruling party failed many of the promised reforms. Not everything is smooth and with democratic institutions. But it is wrong to believe that under Saakashvili the country was in full order with liberal values. The ex-president, no less than the current government, backed away from democracy, but in the West this found excuses all the time, "he says.
Assessing the content of the letters, the expert concludes that the congressmen do not have a complete understanding of what is happening in the country. He does not believe that sanctions will follow against Tbilisi.
"Criticizing the authorities for pressure on business, congressmen lose sight of the violations that American companies themselves make in Georgia. So, Frontera Resources first convinced the Georgian authorities that it was developing rich gas fields. Then it turned out that there was no gas there. Georgian citizens those who worked for this company did not receive a salary for months. The Saakashvili party was the first to criticize the Americans for it. Now, for some reason, they forgot about it and support Washington in everything, "Sikharulidze notes.

Source - https://ria.ru/20200128/1563939255.html