Today news:

* Albanianews (Albania, Italy and Kosovo)

 Il Virus AH1N1 segna la prima vittima in Albania

Posted: 07 Dec 2009 02:14 AM PST

In un comunicato stampa, il Ministero della Salute ha confermato che un signore di cinquantasette anni della provincia di Durazzo, è la prima vittima del virus AH1N1 in Albania.

> For further information: www.albanianews.it

* Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (Bosnia and Balkans)

Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Balkan Insight Daily No. 420, December 8 2009

> For further information: www.birn.eu.com

* Crrc (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia)

Research Connections — E-Bulletin Issue 31, December 2009

 New staff at Crrc at Armenia and Azerbaijan Offices

CRRC-Armenia office welcomes Jenny (Yevgenya) Paturyan as a new pro­gram manager. Jenny has received her PhD in Political Science from Jacobs University Bremen, Germany. She earned her MA degree in Integrated Social Sciences from the same university and also an MA in Political Science and In­ternational Affairs from American University of Armenia. Jenny has been re­search fellow for CRRC working on the MAAC corruption survey. CRRC-Azerbaijan also welcomes back Yulia Aliyeva, who returns to the position of Program Manager from her extended maternity leave. Yulia was a fellow of the Heinrich Böll Foundation (2006) and she has also been a senior lecturer in Gender Studies and Social Work at Baku State University since 2008. Lyud­mila Sotova, CRRC-Azerbaijan new librarian and information specialist re­ceived her BS degree in Library Science from Kyiv National University of Cul­ture and Arts (Ukraine). She worked at Khazar University as the Deputy Direc­tor of the Library Information Center since 2008.

 Junior Fellowship 2010 Announced!

Do you want to gain a set of skills missing in Georgia? Do you want to work hard and open the doors for international oppor­tunities? If so, then this opportu­nity is for you! CRRC Junior Fellowship Program foresees six months of paid fellowship at CRRC-Georgia office. Fellows will be required to write policy papers and contribute to complex research projects.

 Selected Upcoming Events

* Public Lecture: The Fallacy of Misplaced Objectivity in Social Science Re­search: A Logical, theoretical, and Empirical Exposition, Baku, Azerbaijan, December 7 – Appa Rao Korukonda (ENG).

* Presentation: 2009 Armenia Corruption Household Survey, Yerevan, Arme­nia, December 11 — Hans Gutbrod (ENG).

* Workshop: Youth Transitions and Their Family-Household Contexts in the South Caucasus, Yerevan, Armenia, December 18 – working group (ARM).

 For more events, please go to our country websites listed below.

 CRRC Research on Media in Georgia

CRRC recently undertook a major study of Georgian Media. The re­search included a public opinion survey of 1,768 respondents in Geor­gia conducted in October, focus groups, media monitoring of main television stations and interviews with journalists, and media profes­sionals. The study is a part of a larger EC funded program implemented by EPF.

As the research shows, news broadcasts are the most popular TV pro­grams in Georgia, with more than 84 percent watching TV news every day, most for between half an hour and two hours. The research also mentions that there is a great demand for professional and unbiased reporting in Georgia. The majority of respondents consumes TV fairly critically, using diverse news sources before making up their minds. Although TV is the most important source of information, 86 percent of the respondents read a weekly paper, and 80 percent read news magazines at least once a month. In addition, 33 percent receive infor­mation from the radio each day. Internet usage is also growing, with 12 percent accessing the net daily.

The findings of the study were presented at a major media conference in Tbilisi November 10-12, 2009. The summary report is now available here.

 Major Highlights

* Russian Analytical Digest: Geor­gian Attitudes to Russia: Surpris­ingly Positive, by Hans Gutbrod and Nana Papiashvili.

* eScholarship: Religiosity and Trust in Religious Institutions: Tales from the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), by Robia Charles.

> For further information: Armenia www.crrc.am - Azerbaijan www.crrc.az - Georgia www.crrc.ge

* Central Asian News Service (Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia)

Daily news report of 8 December

> For further information: www.ca-news.org

* Civil Georgia (Georgia)

Online news daily of 8 December 2009:

> For further information: www.civil.ge

* Csr Ukraine (Ukraine)

Ukraine CSR Bulletin Issue # 108 December 8, 2009

In this issue of the Ukraine CSR Bulletin, the State Social Service for Family, Children and Youth hosts the National Festival of Social Projects; the Centre for CSR Development presents awards for best CSR business cases; and international donors provide grants of €90 million to promote energy efficiency investments in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries.

 State Social Service for Family, Children and Youth, Partners Hosts National Festival of Social Projects

On December 7, the State Social Service for Family, Children and Youth, in partnership with East Europe Foundation, Radisson SAS Hotel and Beeline, hosted the Second National Festival of Social Projects. The idea of the festival is to present the best social service projects helping to resolve problems for families and provide quality services, as well as to cultivate corporate social responsibility by finding additional support for these projects from businesses and to activate cross-sector cooperation in society. Presentations were made by more than 120 participants from all oblasts of Ukraine covering social service projects implemented in 2009 or planned for 2010. Participants of the festival included government officials, international organizations, businesses, NGOs working with families and children, representatives from oblast branches of the State Social Service, and mass media.

 Centre for CSR Development Awards Best CSR Business Cases

On December 11 at Hotel "Kyiv", the Centre for CSR Development will present the results of the First All-Ukrainian CSR Business Case Competition and conduct an awards ceremony for the top business cases. During the event the Centre will also present their most recent publication, entitled "Business Cases". The First Ukrainian Competition of CSR business Cases was conducted from June 30 to September 30, 2009 in partnership with Ernst&Young, VOLIA, Austrian Airlines and Asters. The idea of the competition is to present companies’ CSR solutions as part of their business strategy. The Centre has invited two representatives from each company that participated in the competition. To register, please contact the Centre at case@csr-ukraine.org or by phone at (044)558-7732 or (093) 554-2110.

 Eco-news

 Grants for €90 Million to Support Energy Efficiency in Ukraine and Eastern European Countries

International donors have agreed to provide grants of €90 million to promote energy efficiency investments in Ukraine and other eastern European countries with a new fund set up under the initiative of the Swedish government during its Presidency of the European Union. The Fund will be supported by grants from the government of Sweden, the European Union and other donors, including Ukraine. It is expected to complement energy efficiency loans provided by financial institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Nordic Investment Bank, Nordic Environment Finance Corporation and the World Bank Group. It is expected that grant funding resources will be allocated to four priority areas: district heating in Ukraine, other energy efficiency projects in Ukraine, environment projects in Ukraine as well as projects in other countries in the EU’s Eastern Partnership Initiative. Energy efficiency investments have the combined beneficial effects of boosting economic competitiveness, while enhancing energy security and also helping to combat the impact of climate change. Please click here to learn more.

> For further information: www.csrukraine.org.ua

* Ebrd (England, Eastern Europe, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia)

Project summary documents - New PSD/s available on ebrd.com:

 RusHydro Emergency Response Facility, Russia

 Tbilisi Railway Bypass - Design and Construction Georgia

> For further information: www.ebrd.com

* Ec Delegation BiH (Bosnia)

Tempus Info Day in BiH - Tempus Informativni dan u BiH

> For further information: www.europa.ba

* Go Group Media (Georgia)

In this issue:

 Being Old by Giga Kilasonia

How does it feel to be 129 years old? Antisa Khvichava lives in the village of Sachino in Samegrelo region of Georgia

სიბერე: რა გრძნობაა იყო 129 წლის? უხუცესი ქალბატონი ანტისა ხვიჩავა სამეგრელოს რაიონის სოფელ საჩინოში ცხოვრობს. გიგა კილასონიას ფილმი, სოფელი საჩინო, სამეგრელო, საქართველო, დეკემბერი 2009

Старость: Каково быть 129-летним? Фильм Гиги Киласония, село Сачино, Самегрело, Грузия, декабрь 2009

 The Fruitful Life by Maia Toriashvili

What you definetely need for life is a passion and ambition. Nunu Kardenakhishvili have found her passion and ambition in preserving ancient traditions

წარმატებული ცხოვრება: მიზნის მისაღწევად ცხოვრებაში ორი რამ არის საჭირო– დიდი სურვილი და ამბიცია. სიძველის მოტრფიალე ნუნუ კარდენახიშვილი ძველი ნივთების შეგროვებით ქართული კულტურის გადარჩენას ცდილობს. მაია თორიაშვილის ფილმი, ველისციხე, კახეთი, საქართველო, დეკემბერი 2009

Счастливая жизнь: Что точно нужно для жизни - это страсть и амбиция. Нуну Карденахишвили нашла то и другое в сохранении древних традиций. Фильм Майи Ториашвили, Велисцихе, Кахети, Грузия, декабрь 2009

 Chegemskaya Pravda by Chegemskaya Pravda newspaper, Abkhazia

“Chegemskaya Pravda” is a popular Russian-language independent weekly newspaper published in Sukhum(i), Abkhazia. Editor-in-Chief - Inal Khashig

"ჩეგემსკაია პრავდა" ყოველკვირეული რუსულენოვანი დამოუკიდებელი გაზეთია, რომელიც გამოდის ქალაქ სოხუმში, აფხაზეთი. გაზეთის მთავარი რედაქტორია ინალ ხაშიგი

"Чегемская правда" - еженедельная русскоязычная независимая газета, выходящая в городе Сухум(и), Абхазия. Главный редактор газеты - Инал Хашиг

> For further information: www.gogroupmedia.net

* Icps (Ukraine)

In this issue of Inside Ukraine # 2:

 the electoral campaign heats up

 Ukraine and Russia reach a potentially groundbreaking gas agreement

 the EU-Ukraine Summit proves uneventful

 Moscow ups the geopolitical ante in Europe

 Topic of the Month: Is Ukraine Coming out of the Recession?

Current and past issues of Inside Ukraine are available online at: http://www.icps.com.ua/eng/publications/inside_ukraine.html.

> For further information: www.icps.kiev.ua

* Interfax (Russia and Cis)

Interfax Russia & CIS Diplomatic Panorama, December 8

> For further information: www.interfax.com

* Interfax Announcements (Russia and Csi)

 The Politics of Central Asian and Caspian Energy

23 and 24 February 2010 Chatham House, London UK

How will the region respond to international concerns about energy security?

With both East and West seeking to secure reliable and affordable energy, the economic and political stakes in the energy game are as high as ever.

How is the region developing its oil and gas exports? How are countries in the region adapting to fluctuations in resource demand and pricing? How are relations amongst the countries of the Caspian affecting decisions about transit routes for oil and gas?

Speakers include:

Alexander Golovin Ambassador-at-large Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia

Ambassador Richard H Jones Deputy Executive Director International Energy Agency

Registration:

REGISTER HERE

conferences@chathamhouse.org.uk

+44 (0)20 7957 5753

* Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Lubiana (Slovenia/Italy)

La S.V. è invitata all’ inaugurazione della mostra Terpictura e al concerto di Fulvio Drosolini, mercoledì, 16 dicembre 2009 alle ore 18.00, presso l’Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Slovenia, Kongresni trg 13, Ljubljana. R.S.V.P (tel.: 01/2415642 o mail: segreteria.iiclubiana@esteri.it)

Vljudno vabljeni na otvoritev razstave Terpictura in koncert Fulvia Drosolinija, v sredo, 16. decembra 2009 ob 18.00 uri na Italijanskem inštitutu za kulturo, Kongresni trg 13, Ljubljana. Naprošamo vas, da svojo udeležbo potrdite (tel. 01/2415642 ali mail: segreteria.iiclubiana@esteri.it)

> For further information: www.iiclubiana.esteri.it

* Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Mosca (Russia/Italy)

 Si invia, in allegato, l’invito alla presentazione delle traduzioni in russo dei libri "I sommersi e i salvati" di Primo Levi e e "Farfalla di Dinard" di Eugenio Montale - В приложении Вы найдете приглашение на презентацию переведенных на русский язык книг таких авторов, как Примо Леви и Эудженио Монтале.

 L’Istituto Italiano di Cultura ha il piacere di invitare la S.V. all’apertura della mostra "Ecce homo" di Fausta Squatriti il 10 dicembre 2009 alle ore 18.00 presso la Galleria Zurab Tsereteli (ul.Precistenka, 19) Invito in allegato. - Итальянский Институт Культуры рад пригласить Вас на открытие выставки Фаусты Скуатрити "Се человек" 10 декабря 2009 г. в 18.00 в Галерее искусств Зураба Церетели (ул.Пречистенка, 19). Приглашение в приложении.

> For further information: www.iicmosca.esteri.it

* Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Varsavia (Poland/Italy)

Koncert „Bravissima Venezia!” Wtorek, 15 grudnia 2009, godz. 19:00 Filharmonia Narodowa – Sala Koncertowa (ul. Jasna, 5)

Koncert zorganizowany przez Filharmonię Narodową, we współpracy z Włoskim Instytutem Kultury w Warszawie Koncert pod honorowym patronatem Ambasadora Republiki Włoskiej Aldo Mantovaniego

Wykonawcy:

Venice Baroque Orchestra Romina Basso – mezzosopran

Program:

Antonio Vivaldi

 Concerto g-moll na smyczki i b.c. RV 157 - Aria Sol da te mio dolce amore z opery Orlando Furioso - Concerto a-moll na wiolonczelę, smyczki i b.c. RV 419

Geminiano Giacomelli

 Aria Quell’usignolo z opery Merope

Antonio Vivaldi

 Concerto C-dur na obój, smyczki i b.c. RV 452 - Aria Gelido in ogni vena z opery Farnace - Concerto D-dur na lutnię, 2 skrzypiec i b.c. RV 93 - Aria Nel profondo cieco mondo z opery Orlando furioso

> For further information: segreteria.iicvarsavia@esteri.it

* Latvian Centre for Human Rights (Latvia)

Newsletter of 8 December 2009

> For further information: www.humanrights.org.lv

* Lukoil (Russia and Cis)

LUKOIL NET INCOME REACHED $5.3 BILLION IN NINE MONTHS OF 2009

> For further information: www.lukoil.com

* Memorial (Russia and Cis)

 Protest by the Relatives of the Defendants in the 2005 Insurgent Attack Case Dispersed

On November 25, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. near the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic’s Parliamentary building (Prospect Lenin) in Nalchik, a protest by the defendants’ relatives in the case of an October 2005 insurgent attack in Nalchik was supposed to have taken place. After the protest, the relatives of the accused had planned to pass along Kulieva St. toward the building of the Republic’s Prosecutor, but the protest was broken up by the police. A few people have been detained.

The basic reason the protesters were attempting to demonstrate was the failure to render medical assistance to the defendants as well as their contraction of infectious diseases (They had been imprisoned in the cells of individuals with an open form of tuberculosis). During the process of the court proceedings, the defendant, Ceyunov applied time and again about these facts. Later in the courtroom he was examined and diagnosed with tuberculosis with which he hadn’t ever previously been diagnosed. - Applications were sent to the prosecutor indicating these facts, but not even a check-up was carried out.

Notification about the protest had been sent on November 11 by Fatimat Tekaeva, the mother of Racul Kudaev, one of the defendants, and she didn’t receive a refusal to about its formation. Then on the 25th of November, about 40 people arrived at the building of Parliament (essentially the relatives of the defendants). They rolled out posters with the slogans: Don’t contaminate our children with infectious diseases!!!, We say NO to torture, Don’t act like you are giving our children medical care, give it!, Enough lies, etc. Immediately, the members of the police threw themselves upon them, obscenely yelling at the protesters, shoving them, and ripping the posters from their hands. Attorney Magamed Abubakarov, a member of HRC Memorial, approached the police officers and started to explain that the protest wasn’t forbidden. At that time they became interested in who he was. Upon finding out that he was an attorney, they twisted his hands behind his back, dragged him away toward the UAZ patrol car, searched him and placed him in a holding cell. In two or three minutes they placed a meeting participant, Khamidbi Batyrovich Liev, resident of Kenzhi and born in 1972, there as well. They took the detainees to the first OVD of Nalchik. There they saw other members of the protest who had been detained: Ilyas Dzhabrailovich Tramov, DOB 1969; Khafisat Barosbievna Begidova DOB 1956; Khalimat Gerievna Unazhokova DOB 1946. In roughly 20 to 30 minutes, Fatimat Tekaeva was brought there too. Administrative protocols were written up on all those detained in which it was written that the detainees had taken part in an unsanctioned protest. Around 2:50 pm all of them were released. The magistrate Mariam Sergeevna Chechenova had looked into the materials of the administrative cases, and the next day she put into effect a decree to cease the production of the administrative offense cases.

> For further information: www.memo.ru

* Parliament of Georgia (Georgia)

Weekly newsletter of 8 December 2009

> For further information: www.parliament.ge

* Polish Institute of International Affairs (Poland)

Please find attached next issue of the Bulletin – “Prospects for Normalization of China-Taiwan Relations” by Justyna Szczudlik-Tatar.

The implementation of the policy principles of Taiwan’s president Ma Ying-jeou—“no” to independence and unification, the resumption of dialogue—has improved relations between China and Taiwan. Taiwan’s goals are: to maintain the status quo and to minimize the risk of a conflict, for instance of an armed intervention by China. The PRC’s aim is to implement the One-China policy—in other words, unification. To this end, China has sought to make Taiwan economically dependent and to undermine the U.S. position in the region, and this policy will be continued at least until 2012, when a new general secretary of the CPC is elected and a presidential election is held in Taiwan. A meeting of the two leaders, the first in history, is not unlikely.

> For further information: www.pism.pl

* Presidency of Russian Federation (Russia and Cis)

Daily news report of 8 December 2009

> For further information: http://president.kremlin.ru/eng

* Sarke (Georgia)

News in brief of 7 December 2009

> For further information: www.sarke.com

* Seenews (Bulgaria & Balkans)

 Daily news report of Albania (8 December 2009)

Read and click ALBANIA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Bosnia-Herzegovina (8 December 2009)

Read and click BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Bulgaria (8 December 2009)

Read and click BULGARIA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Croatia (8 December 2009)

Read and click CROATIA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Macedonia (8 December 2009)

Read and click MACEDONIA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Moldova (8 December 2009)

Read and click MOLDOVA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Montenegro (8 December 2009)

Read and click MONTENEGRO on menu bar

 Daily news report of Romania (8 December 2009)

Read and click ROMANIA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Serbia (8 December 2009)

Read and click SERBIA on menu bar

 Daily news report of Slovenia (8 December 2009)

Read and click SLOVENIA on menu bar

> For further information: www.seenews.com

* Transitions Online (Czech Republic, Eastern Europe, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia)

New at Transitions Online - 8 December 2009:

 Top Stories: 1: Books: Who Killed the Sultan?

2: Media: Georgia: Former TV Tycoon Plans to Challenge Government Again

3: The Arts: Life on a String

4: Our Take: Abkhazia: Territorial Imperative

 From the Archive:

* Five years ago: Stemming the Tide

* Ten years ago: Selling his Soul to the Right

 Announcement:

1989: 20 Years After – AVAILABLE NOW

This TOL special report offers a comprehensive picture of life beyond communism in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. From the 1989 revolutions to the state of democracy, culture and civil society in the region today

> For further information: www.tol.cz

* Vest (Slovenia)

Daily update of 8 December 2009

> For further information: www.vest.si