Short-hold World Bank-funded IT (education system) project in Georgia
via BISNIS

BISNIS
February 2, 2005

What: Georgian Ministry of Education tender
Deadline: March 7, 2005
Description: Education System Realignment and Strengthening Project in
Georgia

Invitation for Bids for Supply and Installation of Visual Control,
Recording and Archiving System at Examination Centers

(GEP/G/002/ICB/2004)
Credit No. 3474 GE

1. This invitation for bids follows the general procurement notice for
this project that appeared in Development Business, issue no. 629 of
April 30, 2004.

2. The Government of Georgia has received a credit from International
Development Association (IDA) toward the cost of Education System
Realignment and Strengthening Project, and it intends to apply part of
the proceeds of this credit to payments under the contract for Supply
and Installation of Visual Control, Recording and Archiving System at
Examination Centers (GEP/G/002/ICB/2004).

3. Georgia Education Project Coordination Center now invites sealed bids
from eligible bidders for Supply and Installation of Visual Control,
Recording and Archiving System at Examination Centers in Tbilisi,
Akhaltsikhe, Batumi, Zugdidi, Gori, Kutaisi, Poti, Rustavi, Signagi,
Telavi, Ozurgeti.

4. Bidding will be conducted through the international competitive
bidding procedures specified in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Procurement
under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits, January 1995 (revised January and
August 1996, September 1997 and January 1999) and is open to all bidders
from eligible source countries as defined in the Guidelines.

5. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from
Georgia Education Project Coordination Center and inspect the bidding
documents at the address given below from 10:00 – 18:00 (local time).

6. A complete set of bidding documents in English may be purchased by
interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the
address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee USD100 or
equivalent in GEL. The method of payment will be direct deposit or
transfer to the Account: JSC Basis Bank, Account No.133052, Bank code:
220101956. The document will be sent by express mail and e-mail.

7. Bids must be delivered to the address below at or before March 7,
2005, 17:00 Tbilisi time. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security
of USD 6,000 or an equivalent amount in GEL. Late bids will be rejected.
Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who
choose to attend at the address below on March 7, 2005, 17:00 Tbilisi time.

Georgia Education Project Coordination Center Office
Contact Person: Thea Kvintradze
52 Uznadze St., room #102, 0102 Tbilisi
Telephone: + (995 32) 95 98 37
Fax: + (995 32) 95 83 13
E-mail: [email protected]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and ASSISTANCE

William Center, Senior Commercial Officer
Commercial Service Liaison to the World Bank
US Executive Director’s Office
World Bank
Tel: 202-458-0120
Fax: 202-477-2967
Email: [email protected]

For more information on Georgia, visit BISNIS online

********** Forwarded by: ***************************
Ellen S. House, BISNIS Trade Specialist for Georgia
Chang Suh, BISNIS Trade Specialist for IT sector
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-4655
Fax: 202/482-2293

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Carnegie Corporation President To Visit To Honor County Schools

TheChattanoogan.com (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
February 2, 2005

The president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York will visit
Chattanooga Thursday to take part in “a celebration of the progress
and results in Hamilton County’s high school reform effort.”

Dr. Vartan Gregorian will also speak to the Rotary Club during his
visit.

The school celebration will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Red Bank
High School, 640 Morrison Springs Road.

The effort, `Schools for a New Society,” is funded with an $8 million
grant from the Carnegie Corporation with $6 million in local matching
funds provided by the Public Education Foundation.

Also speaking at the celebration will be County Mayor Claude Ramsey,
Dr. Jesse Register, Hamilton County schools superintendent; and Dan
Challener, president of the Public Education Foundation.

A `Gallery of Progress” will feature highlights of academy programs
at Hamilton County high schools.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgia’s PM Found Dead, Gas Poisoning Suspected

Reuters
February 3, 2005

By Niko Mchedlishvili

TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia’s Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania has died of
apparent gas poisoning, the ex-Soviet state’s Interior Minister said.

“Since he did not answer his telephone for a long period his bodyguard
broke through the window … and found Mr Zhvania’s body. We can say
that this is a case of gas poisoning,” Interior Minister Vano
Merabishvili said on Georgian television.

Zhvania was found dead at 4:30 a.m. Thursday (8:30 p.m. EST
Wednesday), Merabishvili said, adding foul play was not suspected.

News of Zhvania’s death stunned the mountainous Caucasus republic of 5
million, hit by separatist tensions and still recovering from a car
bombing Tuesday which killed three policemen and seriously injured 15.

Russia’s Interfax news agency said Zhvania’s body was found in the
apartment of a friend, Raul Yusupov, deputy governor of a Georgian
region, who also died.

Zhvania, 41, was appointed prime minister in early 2004 by President
Mikhail Saakashvili, who was swept to power by a wave of protests over
a fraudulent election that forced veteran leader Eduard Shevardnadze
to resign.

Zhvania had for several years been an ally of Shevardnadze but joined
Saakashvili in opposition and was instrumental in bringing about the
so-called “rose revolution” to force out Shevardnadze.

There were reports of friction between Saakashvili and Zhvania, though
neither man aired this in public.

;cid=578&ncid=578&e=6&u=/nm/20050203/ts_nm/georgia_premier_dc

Ambassador Djerejian to Share Recommendations for
Middle East Road Map During Media Briefing at 11 a.m.
ET Thursday at NPC

U.S. Newswire
Wednesday Feb 2, 2005

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: B.J. Almond of Rice University, 713-348-6770

News Advisory:

Edward Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at
Rice University in Houston, will present the recommendations of the
Baker Institute workshop he chaired on “Creating a Road Map
Implementation Process Under U.S. Leadership” during a video
teleconference with the National Press Club in Washington at 11
a.m. (ET) Thursday, Feb. 3.

The recommendations were made by a group of Israeli, Palestinian,
Egyptian, Jordanian, American, European and Canadian governmental and
nongovernmental representatives convened by the Baker Institute to
participate in several sessions over the past eight months. Djerejian,
former ambassador to Israel and Syria, sent the group’s final report
to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prior to her departure for the
Middle East this week. The report, including an executive summary,
will be posted on the Baker Institute Web site,
The teleconference will include a
question-and-answer session. The National Press Club is located at 529
14th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 13th floor.

U.S. Newswire: 202-347-2770

;u=/usnw/20050202/pl_usnw/ambassador_djerejian_to_share_recommendations_for_middle_east_road_map_during_media_briefing_at_11_a_m__et_thursday_at_npc146_x

FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA INTRODUCES JACQUES CHIRAC’S SPEECH AT DAVOS

Azg/arm
3 Feb 05

Henry Cuny, the French ambassador to Armenia, called a press
conference on January 26 to introduce journalists French President
Jacques Chirac=80=99s speech at Davos economic summit.

President Chirac spoke of issues of international importance,
mentioned of the tragic events at the end of 2004 and about “silent
tsunamis”, as he put. Under the last category Jacques Chirac pulled
famine, deadly diseases, violence, anarchy and illegal migration.

“As development in the Caucasian region is linked with the situation
in the world I would like to see Armenia participating in discussions
on overcoming the problems”, Henry Cuny said.

Answering journalists’ questions, the ambassador said that he has no
information on the present stage of the OSCE monitoring mission in
Nagorno Karabakh these days. Mr. Cuny mentioned that the mission’s
goal is to find facts and to observe the situation. He said that the
mission will write a report that will be signed by the Minsk group 2
co-chairs.

Being asked about David Atkinson’s report, the ambassador said thatthe
Minsk group has its mission that is not questioned by anyone but
meanwhile the door is open for other organizations to make analysis
and support the so-called Prague process, thus supporting the Minsk
group.

But the Minsk group, Mr. Cuny said, is still the chief supervisor of
Karabakh issue settlement.

By Aghavni Harutyunian

RIA Novosti, Russia
Feb 1, 2005

RUSSIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER STARTS AZERI VISIT

BAKU, February 1 (RIA Novosti) – Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs, arrived tonight in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, on a
two-day official visit.

The visit is coming in conformity with top-level bilateral
understandings for a dynamic political dialogue. It aims to carry on
efforts to step up bilateral foreign-ministerial contacts, says
Alexander Yakovenko, Russia’s official Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Mr. Lavrov intends to discuss implementation of understandings for
extended economic partnership-in particular, in the fuel-and-energy
complex, and work for closer direct economic contacts between Russian
and Azeri regions. The visit schedule also envisages an opinion
exchange on current efforts to elaborate the Caspian Sea legal
status, and on prospects for another, second summit of the five
littoral countries, Mr. Yakovenko went on.

There are serious problems between the Caspian basin countries with
their different stances on the sea legal status. The problems forced
the five Caspian countries-Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and
Turkmenistan-to put off their summit, initially scheduled for January
2005, with Tehran for venue. Their maiden summit, of April 2002, in
Turkmenistan’s Ashgabat, was an utter failure as the Parties could
not overcome their differences for a coordinated final statement. The
work goes on now on a multilateral arrangement, having gone over to
an ad hoc team, made of Deputy Foreign Ministers and special envoys.

Russia and Azerbaijan mean, during Mr. Lavrov’s visit, to pay
particular attention to coordinating both countries’ efforts
enhancing the effect of their anti-terror alliance.

Karabakh settlement will not stay out of the agenda, added Mr.
Yakovenko.

It is up to the conflicting parties themselves to come at a mutually
acceptable way to settle the conflict. That is what Russia’s Foreign
Ministry proceeds from. Russia is willing to do as much as possible
for the cause on a bilateral arrangement and as co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk group. It is also willing to be guarantor of prospective
understandings, reassured the diplomat.

The Russian and Azeri Foreign Ministers intend to exchange opinions
on topical regional and global developmental issues. They will also
discuss the ways to promote the United Nations’ leading role, and to
step up cooperation within the CIS. The negotiators will debate the
ways to step up partnership of the two countries’ Foreign Ministries
in the Caucasus and worldwide, and to coordinate their activities in
international organizations.

President Ilkham Aliev of the host country is expected to receive Mr.
Lavrov.

The visitor’s close schedule for tomorrow includes laying wreaths to
the monument of Geidar Aliev, Azerbaijan’s previous President, and to
the Eternal Fire memorial. He will meet at the negotiation table with
Elmar Mamedyarov, his Azeri counterpart, visit the Slav University of
Baku, and meet in conference with Abbas Abbasov, Azerbaijan’s First
Deputy Prime Minister.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 2, 2005

OSCE CHAIRMAN HOLDS DISCUSSIONS IN MOSCOW
[February 02, 2005, 14:42:23]

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel, discussed OSCE reform, the Organization’s election-monitoring
activities and a range of regional issues in talks with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday.

The Chairman-in-Office said he was encouraged by the open and candid
discussions and by the commitment of the Russian Federation to making
the 55-nation security organization more effective.

He said the Slovenian Chairmanship took Russia’s concerns about the
future of the Organization very seriously.

Regional issues discussed included Kosovo, Georgia,
Moldova/Transdniestria and Nagorno-Karabakh.

On elections, the Chairman-in-Office said he was open to a discussion
on ways of making OSCE election-monitoring even more effective, but
this should build on the excellent existing achievements of the
OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

“NAGORNO KARABAKH LIBERATION WAR: 1988-1994”

Azg/arm
3 Feb 05

A new book, “Nagorno Karabakh liberation war: 1988-1994”, by Haykakan
Hanragitaran publishing house was introduced to daily Azg on February
1. The book, being an encyclopedia on Karabakh war, was assembled by
an editorial board headed by eminent publicist and writer, Zori
Balayan. The book’s impartiality and truthfulness makes it immensely
valuable today.

There were many attempts to introduce the Artsakh (Karabakh) war by
now but this new publication is the only one that gives overall
understanding of the liberation war. Zori Balayan said that they
decide to present a copy of thebook to the families of dead freedom
fighters.

By Sergey Galoyan

RIA Novosti, Russia
Feb 1, 2005

RUSSIA, OSCE SHOULD WORK OUT COMMON APPROACHES TO SETTLEMENT OF
REGIONAL AND LOCAL CONFLICTS

MOSCOW, February 1 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should work out common
approaches to settlement of local and regional conflicts, head of the
State Duma international committee Konstantin Kosachev said during
the meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel on Tuesday.

According to the Russian parliamentarian, unfortunately, “we often
face the use of double standards in the settlement of some conflicts
(Georgian-Abkhaz or Nagorny Karabakh)”. However, Mr. Kosachev is
convinced that this problem will be solved in the near future.

In his words, Russia is not interested in the OSCE weakening and loss
of its universal status. The OSCE “should find its unique place in
the system of European organizations to become maximally effective
and important.” He stressed. Undoubtedly, Russia supports the OSCE
reform aimed at the organization’s development into a key
pan-European structure.

Konstantin Kosachev believes that another important task is to work
out common criteria and standards of elections on the OSCE territory
with account for national and historic features of each country.

Interfax
Feb 2 2005

Russia actively settling post-Soviet conflicts – Lavrov

BAKU. Feb 2 (Interfax) – Russia is playing an active role in settling
conflicts in the post-Soviet space, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
said on Wednesday.

“Although Russia is generating a large number of initiatives on ways
to settle conflicts in the post-Soviet space, the conflicting parties
are still experiencing a shortage of such initiatives,” Lavrov told a
news conference following talks with his Azeri counterpart Elmar
Mamedyarov.

Russia is taking part in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict as a co-chairman of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group, alongside France and the U.S.,
he said.