Lesson 18 Political and International Events პოლოტიკური და ინტერნაციონალური მოვლენები P’olot’ik’uri da int’ernatsionaluri movlenebi

This lesson will introduce you to: - Vocabulary associated with politics and international issues - How they are reported in Georgian news - How to read and understand political events written in Georgian newspapers.

Georgia is a presidential representative democratic republic with a capital of Tbilisi. It is a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. The head of government is the President, who is elected for a term of five years. His constitutional successor is the Chairman of the Parliament. The president appoints a prime minister.

Current Main Office Holders

Office Name Party Since

President Mikhail Saakashvili NM-D January 25, 2004

Prime Minister NM-D February 3, 2005

Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Parliament of (Sak'art'velos Parlamenti), also know as the Umaghiesi Sabcho (Supreme Council) has 235 members, elected for a four year term, 150 seats by proportional representation and 75 in single-seat constituencies and 10 members represent displaced persons from the separatist region of Abkhazia. This situation will change, however, when the next elections are held (likely to be 2008). Following constitutional amendments passed in 2003, the parliament will consist only of 150 seats and be fully refurbished. The Speaker of Parliament is .

Since the of November 2003, which deposed the corrupt government of , the party system is dominated by the United National Movement. The United National Movement (ერთიანი ნაციონალური მოძრაობა [ertiani natsionaluri modzraoba ](UNM)) is the largest political organization in Georgia. UNM or National Movement-Democrats (NM-D) was founded in October 2001 by the current president Mikhail Saakashvili. It is a center-right, nationalist party which favors radical reform of the Georgian state and closer ties

252 with the NATO and European Union, as well as the restoration of Tbilisi's control over the de facto sovereign states of Abkhazia and . The Rightist Opposition is another strong movement able to secure parliamentery seats. In January 2006 a new party, Georgia's Way, was created. Georgia’s Way movement is led by former Foreign Minister , and appears to be relatively popular.

The Abkhaz separatist dispute absorbs much of the government's attention. While a cease-fire is in effect, about 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), who were driven from their homes during the conflict, constitute a vocal lobby. The government has offered the region considerable autonomy in order to encourage a settlement that would allow the IDPs, the majority of whom are ethnic Georgians from the Gali district, to return home. The Abkhaz refused to this solution, as in the case of IDP's return, Georgians would be the majority of population in the region, as it was during more than a century before they were driven from their homes. Currently, Russian peacekeepers, under the authority of the Commonwealth of Independent States, are stationed in Abkhazia, along with UN observers, but both groups have recently had to restrict their activities due to increased mining and guerrilla activity. Negotiations have not resulted in movement toward a settlement. France, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and the United States, through the United Nations and the OSCE, continue to encourage a comprehensive settlement consistent with Georgian independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The UN observer force and other organizations are quietly encouraging grassroots cooperative and confidence-building measures in the region.

The parliament has instituted wideranging political reforms supportive of higher human rights standards. Despite the reforms by the new government, there are still numerous problems concerning respect for human rights in the country. Prisoners are frequently maltreated, journalists are intimidated by the authorities and much of the mainstream media is owned by government supporters. The police are often accused of planting evidence, beating and killing of suspects.

A new era is said to have begun in Georgia after the Rose Revolution. While the West considers the Rose Revolution a move towards democracy, its opponents including several Russian and pro-Russian politicians claim the revolution to be a “made-in-America coup” emphasizing the role of the Open Society Institute of George Soros in financing of Georgian opposition.

253 1. Familiarize yourself with the political terms.

Government mtavroba მთავრობა Prime minister p’remier minist’ri პრემიერ მინისტრი President p’rezident’i პრეზიდენტი Leader lideri ლიდერი Dictator dikt’at’ori დიქტატორი Parliament p’arlament’i პარლამენტი Ministry minist’ri მინისტრი Election archevnebi არჩევნები Officials opitsialuri p’iri ოფიციალური პირი Political Party p’olit’ikuri p’art’ia პოლიტიკური პარტია Vote khmis mitsema ხმის მიცემა Republic resp’ublik’a რესპუბლიკა State sht’at’i შტატი Democracy demok’rat’ia დემოკრატია Democratic demok’rat’iuli დემოკრატიული Term of office movaleobis shesrulebis მოვალეობის შესრულების khangrdzlivoba ხანგრძლივობა Policy p’olit’ik’a პოლიტიკა Human Rights adamianis upleba ადამიანის უფლება Religious religiuri რელიგიური Racial rasuli რასული Radical radik’aluri რადიკალური World samq’aro სამყარო Conflict k’onplikt’i კონფლიქტი War omi ომი Invade dap’q’roba დაპყრობა Nuclear weapons at’omuri iaraghi ატომური იარაღი

254 2. Listen to and read the following statements. While reading, note the use of the new vocabulary.

The Iraqi leader eraq’is lideri ერაყის ლიდერი The Russian officials rusetis opitsialuri p’iri რუსეთის ოფიციალური პირი The South African samkhret aprik’is mtavroba სამხრეთ აფრიკის მთავრობა government Religious differences religiuri skhvaobebi რელიგიური სხვაობები Middle East conflict shua aghmosavletis k’onplikt’i შუა აღმოსავლეთის კონფლიქტი The war in Iraq omi eraq’shi ომი ერაყში The radical political party radik’aluri p’olit’ik’uri რადიკალური პოლიტიკური p’art’ia პარტია Islamic fundamentalism islamuri pundament’alizmi ისლამური ფუნდამენტალიზმი

The President of the United States is George Bush. amerik’is sheertebuli sht’at’ebis p’rezident’ia jorj bushi. ამერიკის შეერთებული შტატების პრეზიდენტია ჯორჯ ბუში. Japan and Great Britain have prime ministers. iap’onias da did brit’anets q’avt p’remier minist’rebi იაპონიას და დიდ ბრიტანეთს ყავთ პრემიერ მინისტრები. This was the first political election in that country. es iq’o kveq’nis p’irveli p’olit’ik’uri archevnebi ეს იყო ქვეყნის პირველი პოლიტიკური არჩევნები. Human rights are a very important issue in the world today. adamianis uplebebi aris dzalian mnishvnelovani sak’itkhi msoplioshi dghes ადამიანის უფლებები არის ძალიან მნიშვნელოვანი საკითხი მსოფლიოში დღეს.

Georgia has a democratic free press. After the Rose Revolution, many new publications in print, on the Internet and on TV have appeared practically overnight. Even though allegations of attempted media manipulation by the government keep surfacing, the independent reporting is trusted by the people on the whole. Such newspapers as 24 საათი [otsdaotkhi saati], საქართველოს რესპუბოიკა [sakartvelos respublika] and რეზონანსი [rezonansi] are popular in the country. Can you guess what the names of the publications mean?

255 3. Listen to and read the following news report from the Republic of Georgia. Then answer the questions that follow.

PLAY AUDIO

Nino Khutsidze, Civil Georgia / 2006-09-05 20:27:51

საქართველომ მის სამხედრო ვერტმფრენზე თავდასხმა გამოაცხადა, როგორც ტერორისტული აქტი და ახლა ეძებს ინტერნაციონალურ მხარდაჭერას, რომ სამხრეთ ოსეთის თავდაცვის სამინისტროს მიენიჭოს “ტერორისტული ორგანიზაციის სტატუსი“.

პროვოკაცია რეგიონში გადაიქცა ტერორისტულ აქტში და ახლა ჩვენ უნდა ვილაპარაკოთ ადეკვატური ზომების მიღებაზე ტერორიზმის წინააღმდეგ. პარლამენტარი, თავდაცვის და უშიშროების თავმჯდომარე გივი თარგამაძე ესაუბრა Civil Georgia–ს ხუთ სექტემრერს.

ასევე ხუთ სექტემრერს პარლამენტის საგარეო საქმეთა თავმჯდომარე კოტე გაბაშვილი ესაუბრა Civil Georgia–ს და თქვა, რომ ზომების მიღება იწყება ინტერნაციონალურად დაგმობილი სეპარატისტული რეგიონის ტერორისტული ჯგუფის წინააღმდეგ.

1. Which region is in conflict with the rest of Georgia according to this news report? 2. Which act against Georgia has triggered the denunciations of South Ossetia’s defense ministry by Georgian parliament members? 3. Does it sound like Georgia is planning military actions against South Ossetia? 4. What does Georgia seek from the international community after the attack on its helicopter? 5. Which member of the Georgian government is addressing the international community?

4. Work in small groups. Pretend that you are a crew working for a news program. Come up with a short description of a political event. Use the questions from Exercise 3 as an outline for your report.

5. Work in a small group or with a partner. Go over the information on the political system in the Republic of Georgia one more time. Recall the information in the Georgian. Report to your teacher and to the class.

256 International Geography

Georgian Flag

Georgian troops in Iraq

Map of Georgia

257

Map of Georgia

Sameba Church in Gergeti, Kazbegi (Mt.Kazbek)

258 The landscape within the nation's boundaries is quite varied. Western Georgia's landscape ranges from low-land marsh-forests, swamps, and temperate rain forests to eternal snows and glaciers, while the eastern part of the country even contains a small segment of semi-arid plains characteristic of Central Asia. Forests cover around 40% of Georgia's territory while the alpine/subalpine zone accounts for roughly around 10% of the land. The landscape of eastern Georgia is that of numerous valleys and gorges that are separated by mountains. The eternal snow and glacier zone lies above the 3,500 meter (11,480 ft.) line in most areas of eastern Georgia.

Much of western Georgia lies within the humid subtropical zone with annual precipitation ranging from 1000-4000mm. (39-157 inches). The precipitation tends to be uniformly distributed throughout the year, although the rainfall can be particularly heavy during the autumn months. Ajaria is the wettest region of the Caucasus, where the Mt. Mtirala rainforest, east of Kobuleti receives around 4500mm (177 inches) of precipitation per year. Eastern Georgia has a transitional climate from humid subtropical to continental. Annual precipitation is considerably less than that of western Georgia and ranges from 400-1600mm. (16-63inches). Much of eastern Georgia experiences hot summers (especially in the low-lying areas) and relatively cold winters. As in the western parts of the nation, elevation plays an important role in eastern Georgia as well, and climatic conditions above 1500 meters (4920ft.) above sea level are considerably cooler (even colder) than those of the low-lying areas. The regions that lie above 2000 meters (6560ft.) above sea level frequently experience frost even during the summer months.

Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism, cultivation of citrus fruits, tea and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, made substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. The Georgian economy continues to experience large budget deficits due to a failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia also still suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i (Poti) and Batumi. The growing trade deficit, continuing problems with tax evasion and corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture.

259 Georgia's current population is 4,661,473 (July 2006) with ethnic Georgians forming a majority of about 83.8%. These Kartvelian groups include the Kartlians, the Kakhetians and the Imeretians primarily, who all speak the same language. Other Kartvelian groups who live in Georgia are the Svan and the Mingrelians, with smaller numbers of the Laz people. The Svans, the Mingrelians and the Laz are linguistically different but closely related ethnically and culturally to other Georgians. The Abkhazians in Abkhazia are Kartvelians as well. Nevertheless, the Abkhazians, just like the ethnically unrelated to them Ossetians in South Ossetia (and across the border in North Ossetia) have tried to secede from Georgia since independence. Azerbaijanis form 6.5% of the population, Armenians 5.7% and Russians 1.5% (most Russians have emigrated since Georgia declared its independence). There are numerous smaller groups in the country, including Assyrians, Chechens, Greeks, Kabardins, Kurds, Jews, Tatars, Turks and Ukrainians.

Today most of the population practices Orthodox Christianity of the Georgian Orthodox Church (83.9%). Georgia is the second oldest country after Armenia to declare Christianity as an official state religion of Kartli (Iberia) in 325 A.D. There are also small Muslim, Judaic and even sun- worshipping minorities in Georgia.

6. Read the information about the Republic of Georgia. Answer the questions.

1. If you had to serve in Georgia, in which part of the country would you prefer to be? Why? 2. A friend of yours is interested in rain forests; which part of Georgia would you recommend to your friend for a visit? 3. In which part of Georgia is the capital of Tbilisi located? 4. What is the significance of the cities of Poti and Batumi for the Georgian economy? 5. When people speak of Georgians in ethnic terms, which groups are usually referred to as such? 6. If you meet a person from Georgia, chances are that this person is of what religion?

7. Listen to the speaker and follow along in your book.

Afghanistan/Afghani avghaneti/ avghaneli ავღანეთი / ავღანელი Canada/Canadian k’anada/ k’anadeli კანადა / კანადელი China/Chinese chineti/ chineli ჩინეთი / ჩინელი Denmark/Dane dania/ danieli დანია / დანიელი Egypt/Egyptian egvipt’e/ egvipt’eli ეგვიფტე / ეგვიფტელი England/English inglisi/ ingliseli ინგლისი / ინგლისელი Finland/Finns pineti/ pineli ფინეთი / ფინელი France/French saprangeti/ prangi საფრანგეთი / ფრანგი Germany/German germania/ germaneli გერმანია / გერმანელი Great Britain/British didi brit’aneti/ brit’aneli დიდი ბრიტანეთი / ბრიტანელი

260 India/Indian indoeti/ indoeli ინდოეთი / ინდოელი Indonesia/Indonesian indonezia/ indonezieli ინდონეზია / ინდონეზიელი Iran/Iranian irani/ iraneli ირანი / ირანელი Iraq/Iraqi eraq’i/ eraq’eli ერაყი / ერაყელი Ireland/Irish irlandia/ irlandieli ირლანდია / ირლანდიელი Israel/Israeli israeli/ ebraeli ისრაელი / ებრაელი Italy/Italian it’alia/ it’alieli იტალია / იტალიელი Japan/Japanese iap’onia/ iap’oneli იაპონია / იაპონელი Jordan/Jordanian iordania/ iordanieli იორდანია / იორდანიელი Korea/Korean k’orea/ k’oreeli კორეა / კორეელი Kuwait/Kuwaiti k’uveit’i/ k’uveit’eli კუვეიტი / კუვეიტელი Mexico/Mexican meksik’a/ meksik’eli მექსიკა / მექსიკელი Netherlands/Dutch holandia/ holandieli ჰოლანდია / ჰოლანდიელი Norway/Norwegian norvegia/ norvegieli ნორვეგია / ნორვეგიელი Pakistan/Pakistani p’ak’ist’ani/ p’ak’ist’aneli პაკისტანი / პაკისტანელი Philippines/Filipino pilip’ini/ pilip’ineli ფილიპინი / ფილიპინელი Russia/Russian ruseti / rusi რუსეთი / რუსი Saudi Arabia/Saudi saudis arabeti/ saudeli arabi საუდის არაბეთი / საუდელი არაბი Scotland/Scot shot’landia/ shot’landieli შოტლანდია / შოტლანდიელი South Africa/South samkhret aprik’a/ samkhret სამხრეთ აფრიკა / სამხრეთ African aprik’eli აფრიკელი Spain/Spanish esp’aneti/ esp’aneli ესპანეთი / ესპანელი Sweden/Swede shvetsia/ shvedi შვეცია / შვედი Syria/Syrian siria/ sirieli სირია / სირიელი Thailand/Thai t’ailandi/ t’ailandeli ტაილანდი / ტაილანდელი Vietnam/Vietnamese viet’nami/ viet’nameli ვიეტნამი / ვიეტნამელი Wales/Welsh uelsi/ uelseli უელსი / უელსელი North America chrdiloet amerik’a ჩრდილოეთ ამერიკა Central America tsent’raluri amerik’a ცენტრალური ამერიკა South America samkhret amerik’a სამხრეთ ამერიკა Western Europe dasavlet evrop’a დასავლეთ ევროპა Central Europe tsent’raluri evrop’a ცენტრალური ევროპა Eastern Europe aghmosavlet evrop’a აღმოსავლეთ ევროპა Middle East shua aghmosavleti შუა აღმოსავლეთი Southwest Asia samkhret-dasavlet azia სამხრეთ–დასავლეთ აზია Southeast Asia samkhret-aghmosavlet azia სამხრეთ–აღმოსავლეთ აზია Africa aprik’a აფრიკა Australia avst’ralia ავსტრალია Eastern Asia aghmosavlet azia აღომოსავლეთ აზია Arctic arkt’ika არქტიკა

261 Antarctica ant’arkt’ik’a ანტარქტიკა Pacific Rim ts’q’nari ok’eanis წყნარი ოკეანის სანაპირო sanap’iro

The names of countries often end in -ი [i], -ია [ia] or -ეთი [eti], but not always. Learn the names by heart!

Georgia/Georgian sakartvelo/kartveli საქართველო / ქართველი The name of the nationality is almost Iraq/Iraqi eraq’i/ eraq’eli ერაყი / ერაყელი always formed by dropping the last vowel in the country Mexico/Mexican meksik’a/ meksik’eli მექსიკა / მექსიკელი name and adding suffix - [-eli] ელი (Find the exceptions Ireland/Irish irlandia/ irlandieli ირლანდია / in the table above and learn them by heart!) ირლანდიელი

Russia/Russian ruseti / rusi რუსეთი / რუსი

Keep in mind, that the ending -ელი [-eli] refers to nationality or city of birth only and cannot be used in forming modifiers for other nouns: for example, is ქართული ენა [kartuli ena]. Compare it with the adjective for nationality above.

8. Listen to and read the dialogues about nationality. Note the ways to determine one’s nationality.

Are you from Syria? No, I’m from Egypt. I’m an Egyptian. tkven (shen) siriidan khart? ara, me var egvipt’edan. me egvipt’eli var თქვენ /შენ/ სირიიდან ხართ? არა, მე ვარ ეგვიფტედან. მე ეგვიფტელი ვარ.

Are you American? No, I’m Canadian. tkven amerik’eli khart? ara, me kanadeli var თქვენ ამერიკელი ხართ? არა, მე კანადელი ვარ.

What are you? I’m Vietnamese. saidan khart? me viet’nameli var საიდან ხართ? მე ვიეტნამელი ვარ.

Where are you from? I’m from India. I’m Indian. saidan khart? me indoetidan var. me indoeli var

262 საიდან ხართ? მე ინდოეთიდან ვარ. მე ინდოელი ვარ.

Are you Indonesian? Yes, I’m Indonesian. I live in Jakarta. tkven indonezieli khart? diakh, me indonezieli var. me vtskhovrob jakart’ashi. თქვენ ინდონეზიელი ხართ? დიახ, მე ინდონეზიელი ვარ. მე ვცხოვრობ ჯაკარტაში.

Are you from Afghanistan? I live in Afghanistan, but I am Pakistani. tkven avghaneli khart? me vtskhovrob avghanetshi, magram p’ak’ist’aneli var თქვენ ავღანელი ხართ? მე ვცხოვრობ ავღანეთში, მაგრამ პაკისტანელი ვარ.

9. Create questions in Georgian that are appropriate to the answers provided. Check your work with the answer key.

1. - …………………………..? - Yes, I’m Vietnamese. diakh, me viet’nameli var დიახ, მე ვიეტნამელი ვარ. 2. - ……………………………? - No, I’m not American. I’m Canadian. ara, me ara var amerik’eli. me k’anadeli var არა, მე არა ვარ ამერიკელი. მე კანადელი ვარ. 3. - …………… or ……………..? - I live in Pakistan, but I’m Afghani. me vtskhovrob p’ak’ist’anshi, magram avghaneli var მე ვცხოვრობ პაკისტანში, მაგრამ ავღანელი ვარ. 4. - ……………………………..? - Yes, we are Iraqis. diakh, chven vart eraq’elebi. დიახ, ჩვენ ვართ ერაყელები.

10. What do you hear? The speaker will read one word from each line of text. Mark the word that you hear. Check your answers with the answer key.

1. Afghanistan Pakistan Iran India 2. Ireland Thailand Netherlands England 3. Vietnam Indonesia Japan China 4. Saudi Arabia Syria Israel Jordan 5. Kuwait Iraq Egypt Russia

263 End-of-Lesson Tasks

1. Translate the following headlines into English. Check your work with the answer key.

1. მოზარდი ნაღმზე აფეთქდა [mozardi naghmze apetkda]

2. ეუთო ვერტმფრენის დაცხრილვას კრიმინალად აფასებს [euto vert’mprenis datskhrilvas k’riminalad apasebs]

3. რუსული მასმედია კვიციანთან ინტერვიუს ავრცელებს [rusuli masmedia k’vitsiantan int’ervius avrtselebs]

4. რუსეთი საქართველოს საბოტაჟში ადანაშაულებს [ruseti sakartvelos sabot’azhshi adanashaulebs]

5. აშშ-ის სენატმა ახალი რეზოლუცია მიიღო [a-sh-sh-is senat’ma akhali rezolutsia miigho]

2. Listen to and read the following news report from the Republic of Georgia, then answer the questions that follow.

PLAY AUDIO

საერთაშორისო სავალუტო ფონდმა (სსფ) საქართველოს ხელისუფლებას მოუწოდა გაამკაცროს ფინანსური და მონეტარული პოლიტიკა, რათა არსებული 14,5%-იანი ინფლაცია წლის ბოლოსთვის 10%-მდე დაწიოს.

სსფ სამუშაო ჯგუფი ბოლო პერიოდში განვითარებული ეკონომიკური მოვლენების მიმოხილვის და მთავრობის ეკონომიკური რეფორმის პროგრამის მსვლელობის შეფასების მიზნით საქართველოში 11-18 აგვისტოს იმყოფებოდა. სივილ ჯორჯია

1. What is the current inflation rate in Georgia? 2. Which international organization is advising Georgia on its monetary and fiscal policies? 3. When did IMF mission visit Georgia? 4. What was the purpose of the IMF mission to Georgia? 5. Why is IMF concerned about Georgia’s inflation?

264 3. Work with a partner or in a small group. From the list of the countries above, choose one and give a briefing on its location and political system. Pretend that you are giving a press conference. Your classmates will role-play the news reporters by asking you questions.

The following questions may help you in your work:

1. Does this country have a president? Who is a current president? 2. How many political parties are there in this country? 3. Is there a war in this country now? 4. Does this country have a parliament? 5. Is there a democracy in this country? 6. Does this country have a prime minister? 7. Is the leader of this country a dictator? 8. Is this country a republic? 9. What is a specific geographical feature of this country?

265 Vocabulary List

Conflict konplikt’i კონფლიქტი Democracy/democratic demok’rat’ia/ demok’ra’tiuli დემოკრატია / დემოკრატიული Dictator dikt’at’ori დიქტატორი Dispute dava/ sadavo დავა / სადავო Election archevnebi არჩევნები Government mtavroba მთავრობა Human Rights adamianis uplebebi ადამიანის უფლებები Invade/invasion daip’q’ro/ dap’q’roba დაიპყრო / დაპყრობა Leader lideri ლიდერი Ministry minist’ri მინისტრი Nuclear weapons at’omuri iaraghi ატომური იარაღი Official opitsialuri p’iri ოფიციალური პირი Parliament p’arlament’i პარლამენტი Policy p’olit’ik’a პოლიტიკა Political Party p’olit’ikur’I p’art’ia პოლიტიკური პარტია President p’rezident’i პრეზიდენტი Prime minister p’remier minist’ri პრემიერ მინისტრი Racial rasuli რასული Radical radik’ali რადიკალი Religious religiuri რელიგიური Republic resp’ublik’a რესპუბლიკა State sht’at’i შტატი Term of office movaleobis shesrulebis მოვალეობის შესრულების khangrdzlivoba ხანგრძლივობა To kill mok’vla მოკვლა To vote khmis mitsema ხმის მიცემა To invade dap’q’roba დაპყრობა War omi ომი World msoplio მსოფლიო

266 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 3

Georgia has labeled attack on its army helicopter as a terrorist act and is now seeking international support to give breakaway South Ossetia’s defense ministry “a status of a terrorist organization.” “Provocations in this region have grown into the terrorist acts and now we should speak about adequate measures against these terrorist acts,” MP Givi Targamadze, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Security, told Civil Georgia on September 5. Another senior Georgian MP Kote Gabashvili, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, told Civil Georgia on September 5 that measures are underway to internationally denounce breakaway region’s defense ministry as a terrorist group.

1. The breakaway region of South Ossetia is in conflict with the rest of Georgia. 2. Shooting at a Georgian military helicopter above South Ossetia has triggered the denunciations. 3. Perhaps. The Defense Committee Chairman is talking about needing adequate measures against South Ossetia. 4. Georgia seeks international support to classifying the Defense Ministry of South Ossetia as a terrorist organization. 5. The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee is addressing international community concerning the event.

Exercise 6

1. If you like cooler and wetter climate, Western Georgia is the place for you; if you like hotter and drier weather in summer and colder winters, Eastern Georgia is the place for you. 2. Mt. Mtirala rainforest near Kobuleti 3. Eastern Georgia 4. Poti and Batumin are important ports. 5. When people speak of Georgians, they usually include the following ethnic groups: Kartvelians, Kakhetians, Imeretians, Svans, Mingrelians and Laz. 6. Georgian Orthodox Christian

Exercise 9

1. Are you Vietnamese? თქვენ ვიეტნამელი ხართ? tkven viet’nameli khart? 2. Are you American? თქვენ ამერიკელი ხართ? tkven amerik’eli khart? 3. Are you Pakistani? თქვენ პაკისტანელი ხართ? tkven p’ak’ist’aneli khart? 4. Are you Iraqis? თქვენ ერაყელი ხართ? tkven eraq’eli khart?

267

Exercise 10

1. India indoeti ინდოეთი 2. England inglisi ინგლისი 3. Indonesia indonezia ინდონეზია 4. Israel israeli ისრაელი 5. Russia ruseti რუსეთი

End of Lesson Exercise 1

1. Teenager is blown on a mine

2. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) views helicopter shooting as a criminal act

3. Russian mass media spreads an interview with Kvitsiani

4. Russians accuse Georgia of sabotage

5. The US Senate has confirmed a new resolution

Exercise 2

International Momentary Fund (IMF) has warned the Georgian authorities to tighten fiscal and monetary policies to reduce current 14.5% inflation to 10% by the end of 2006.

An IMF mission, which visited Georgia on August 11-18 to assess recent economic developments, said inflation accelerated in Georgia to 14.5% by the end of July which is well above the planned targets and “poses a serious risk to macroeconomic stability.” The 2006 budget set inflation rate at 5-6%. Twelve-month inflation was about 6% as of end-April 2006, according to IMF. Civil Georgia

1. The current inflation rate is 14.5% 2. International Monetary Fund 3. IMF mission visited Georgia in August of 2006. 4. The purpose of the mission was to access recent economic developments. 5. IMF is concerned about inflation in Georgia because it poses a serious risk to macroeconomic stability.

268