Turkish Forum

Tag: Saakashvili

  • Georgia leader breaks shoulder during Turkey state visit

    Georgia leader breaks shoulder during Turkey state visit

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    In this photo released by the Turkish Prime Minister’s Press Office, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili shake hands before a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, April 6 , 2013. (AP Photo/Kayhan Ozer, Turkish Prime Minister’s Press Office)

    TBILISI: Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has suffered multiple shoulder fractures after a bicycle accident while on a state visit in Turkey, his office said on Monday.

    “The president has suffered an injury during his daily bicycle workout and was diagnosed with a triple fracture of the shoulder,” his office wrote in a post published on the Georgian leader’s Facebook page.

    According to the statement, which did not give details of Sunday’s accident, Saakashvili has undergone surgery for his injuries at an Istanbul hospital.

    It was not immediately clear if he had been released from hospital.

    Due to the accident, the president’s schedule for Monday — a dinner meeting with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul — was pushed back to Tuesday, after which he is due to leave Turkey.

    On Saturday, Saakashvili met with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    Georgia’s key regional ally Turkey supports the ex-Soviet republic’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) — an ambition strongly opposed by its former imperial master Russia.

    The neighbouring Black Sea countries also share economic interests in promoting the transit of Caspian gas to Europe via a pipeline bypassing Russia.

    Saakashvili is due to step down from his post in October when his second and final presidential term expires.

    via Georgia leader breaks shoulder during Turkey state visit | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR.

  • Saakashvili visits Turkey

    Saakashvili visits Turkey

    TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s president Mikheil Saakashvili is on an official visit to Turkey, and has already held meetings with the Turkish prime minister and ethnic Georgians living in the northern industrial city Bursa.

    President Mikheil Saakashvili met with Georgians in the Turkish city Bursa. (President’s photo.)
    President Mikheil Saakashvili met with Georgians in the Turkish city Bursa. (President’s photo.)

    After meeting with the prime minister, Saakashvili said they discussed the issue of Rabati Castle, along with other important topics.

    “First of all we spoke about the issue of NATO integration, and Turkey promised to help us in this direction,” he said on a joint press-conference held after the meeting, “Our main guide to the NATO integration is Turkey.”

    The two also discussed the economy.

    Commenting on the reconstruction of Rabati caste, a hot topic during the last week, he said that the Turkish prime minister assured him that there weren’t any categorical demands about the castle.

    “The prime minister agreed with me that the dome should remain gold. All the other issues should be discussed in detail together with specialists not to harm the interests of any party,” Saakashvili said.

    He said he had agreed with the Turkish prime minister that Georgian specialists will be allowed onto Turkish land to study the Georgian heritage there, which is important, he said, because this cultural heritage needs to be saved.

    “Let them leave Rabati dome alone. We need to conduct a respectful policy in regards to foreign affairs,” he added.

    During the visit the president met with ethnic Georgians living in Bursa. The locals there told him about a desire to have close relations with their historic homeland. The president promised to grant citizenship to everyone who retained Georgian language and culture.

    via Saakashvili visits Turkey | Democracy & Freedom Watch.

  • Turkey prepares ecological catastrophe for Azerbaijan and Georgia

    Turkey prepares ecological catastrophe for Azerbaijan and Georgia

    Turkey intends to build a hydro-electric station on the upper part of Qur River. This means that the river-bed must be changed and the river will be filled not into Caspian Sea but the Black Sea. This project will be a real ecological catastrophe for both Georgia and Azerbaijan. According to Turkish side this plan is already ready and it has been discussed in frame of the Turkish delegation’s visit to Georgia.

    barajRussian “Nezavisimaya gazeta” (“Independent magazine”) writes about this and considers that the effective building will claim to change the river-bed. But in this case Azerbaijan and Georgia will remain without Qur River. This river has a vital meaning for Azerbaijan. This river fills the Mingechaur reservoir and Baku can not lose it.

    According to Georgian “Rezonansi” news agency this plan has been discussed by the highest level, during the meeting of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

    Leader of the Georgian opposition Christian-democratic Party this is a really troubling issue and it is always discussed with Ankara. He said that its fulfillment will be real catastrophe for Georgia, Azerbaijan and for some parts of turkey is as well.

    “Turkish wish is clear. It needs source of energy. Wrong use of Jorokh river has already made many problems for Georgia and the use of Qur will have more terrible consequences”, Georgian source writes.

    Leader of the Greens Party in Georgia George Gachechialdze considers that such conversations have political context and are “in style” for Ankara.

    via Turkey prepares ecological catastrophe for Azerbaijan and Georgia.

  • Saakashvili Says Relations with Turkey is Vital for Georgia

    Saakashvili Says Relations with Turkey is Vital for Georgia

    The existing relations between Georgia and Turkey have “vital importance” for Georgia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a meeting with visiting Turkish delegation in Tbilisi, the Georgian President’s Administrations told Trend on Monday.

    The Turkish delegation included the representatives of ruling party of justice and development, as well as the representatives of Public republic party.

    During the meeting of Georgian President and members of Turkish Grand National Assembly Saakashvili drew attention to relations between the two courtiers and joint projects. He mentioned the Free trade agreement signed between Georgia and Turkey, visa-free travel and noted importance of growing Turkish investments. Saakashvili particularly stressed bilateral relations existing between the two countries and leaders of the two countries.

    “Bilateral relations are vital for Georgia,” Saakashvili noted and once again stressed the importance of strategic relations with Turkey.

    “Along with the impressive economic development through consistent and correct policy Turkey keeps more decisive position in the regional and world policies,” Georgian President said. “Your country is the reliable partner of Georgia.”

    According to Saakashvili, “we have reached visa-free travel and citizens of Turkey and Georgia can cross the border only on the basis of identity, which is really a model for many countries in the world.”

    “The Batumi airport is in joint operation, like the Geneva airport which is jointly operated by France and Switzerland,” Saakashvili noted. “This is also major precedent. I was in Batumi and saw there two airbuses – flights were implemented to Ankara and Istanbul at the same time. Not so long ago it was impossible to imagine. The daily flights are carried out, and several flights from Turkey to Batumi will be carried out per day shortly. This, in its turn, means movement of tourists, businessmen, and accordingly, cash flows. So, the human welfare will be enhanced in both directions.”

    Monday, 26 December 2011

    Trend AZ

    via Saakashvili Says Relations with Turkey is Vital for Georgia, 26 December 2011 Monday 14:3.