Parliament Sessions Weekly Review December 18-21, 2001
DECEMBER 18, TUESDAY
At the beginning of plenary session the leader of “new rightists” Davit Gamkrelidze demanded a speech. He protested the appointment of Parliament chairwoman husband Badri Bitsadze as the deputy of General Prosecutor and called it unprecedented fact. In case of keeping status quo Gamkrelidze demanded Parliament Chairwoman or general Prosecutor to resign. In sign of protest “new rightists” left plenary session hall. They will return only in case when their condition is fulfilled.
In response Nino Burjanadze declared that she is ready to order committee on procedural issues and rules and interim investigation commission of parliament to study above mentioned staff decision
1. Resolution decree on “abolishing authority to MP Solomon Pavliashvili before term”
The chairman of committee on Procedures and Rules Rostom Dolidze represented the resolution decree.
For – 124
Against – 8
2. Resolution decree on “acknowledgement authority of MP Akaki Bobokhidze elected in #55 Khoni election district”
The chairman of committee on Procedures and Rules Rostom Dolidze represented the resolution decree.
For – 131
Against – 0
3. Draft project on “international transit permission taxes from territory of Georgia”
First deputy of chairman of committee on Incomes and Taxes Roman Dalakishvili represented draft project.
It was voted by rushed rule, three hearing.
For – 122
Against – 4 /I hearing/
For – 114
Against – 6 /II hearing/
For – 112
Against – 8 /III hearing/
4. Draft project on “amendment to the law on taxation system base” /connected to Draft project on “international transit permission taxes from territory of Georgia/
It was voted by simplified rule.
For – 100
Against – 8
5. Draft project on “changes and amendments on Georgian law on “drugs and pharmaceutical activity”
The deputy minister of Health and Social Protection Amiran Gankrelidze represented draft project.
It was discussed by III hearing.
For – 119
Against – 0
6. Draft project on “changes to Criminal Code of Georgia” /connected to Draft project on “changes and amendments on Georgian law on “drugs and pharmaceutical activity”/
It was voted by simplified rule.
For – 114
Against – 4
7. Draft project on changes and amendments to Georgian law on “refugees”
The deputy minister of Refugee and Accommodation Gaioz Nozadze represented the bill.
It was discussed by III hearing.
For – 121
Against – 0
8. Resolution decree on “prolongation authority to National Reconciliation interim Parliamentary commission”
The head of National Reconciliation interim Parliamentary commission Vasil Maglaperidze represented resolution decree.
Maglaperidze demanded to increase commission right together with authority prolongation.
For – 117
Against – 2
9. Resolution decree on “prolongation authority Tshkinvali region problem studying interim Parliamentary commission”
The head of Tshkinvali region problem studying interim Parliamentary commission Eldar Shengelaia represented resolution decree.
For – 116
Against – 3
10. Ratification of “development credit agreement” (Electricity market supporting project) between Georgia and International development Association
The agreement was put in agenda during six months, but because of opposes it could never reach the voting. Not even this attempt was used successfully. Voting was declared false.
For – 117
Against – 28
11. Credit and project Agreement between Reconstruction Credit Bank and Finance ministry of Georgia and Georgian energy generation and attached “special agreement”
For – 135
Against – 18
12. Ratification of agreement on “passing project to someone” between Reconstruction Credit bank (KFW), Georgian LTD Vartsikhe-Hesebi and Georgian Energy generation and attached “special agreement”
For – 123
Against – 21
13. Ratification of agreement on “double cooperation in defense sphere” between Defense ministry of Georgia and Defense ministry of Estonia Republic.
For – 131
Against – 0
14. Draft project on “amendment to the bill on “Mp live and health compulsory insurance and pension guarantying”
It was discussed by I hearing.
For – 131
Against – 1
15. Agreement on “boundary representation” between Georgian and Russian governments
For – 123
Against – 4
DECEMBER 19, WEDNESDAY
1. Agreement between Georgian and USA governments on “Peace corpus program in Georgia”
The deputy minister of Foreign Affairs Zviad Chumburidze represented the issue.
Hamlet Chipashvili from “Revivals” declared that agreement should be reviewed. According to him its necessary to give peace corpus activity civilized form without extra privileges.
Vitali Khazaradze added that tax privileges that are not directly connected to peace corpus activity should be cancelled.
For – 130
Against – 22
2. Draft project on “changes and amendments to tax Code of Georgia”
The chairman of committee on Incomes and Taxes Vitali Khazaradze represented the bill.
Changes refer to definition commerce tax by 3% establishing fixed tax in this sphere.
Finance ministry was against the changes motivating it with central Budget lack of 50-100 million a year.
Despite of oppose parliament passed changes by rushed rule, three hearing.
For – 123
Against – 4 /I hearing/
For – 154
Against – 5 /II hearing/
For – 153
Against – 6 /III hearing/
3. Draft project on “registration taxes”
The deputy of Finance minister Levan Chichinadze represented the bill.
The bill systematizes the registration taxes of different spheres.
For – 102
Against – 8
4. Draft project on “tax debts and state loan restructuring”
The deputy minister of Finance Levan Chichinadze represented the bill.
Mikheil Saakashvili demanded to express opposite position to the bill before voting but didn’t get positive answer.
Finally, voting was postponed.
5. Ratification of agreement on “natural gas transit, transporting and realization by south Caucasus pipeline system on Georgian, Azerbaijan territories and out of these territories” and its undivided part – between Georgian government and participants of south-Caucasus pipeline project”
The president of International Oil Corporation of Georgia Gia Chanturia represented the agreement.
According to agreement system will enter into force in 2005. Chanturia noted that Georgia would get for 2005 year more gas that it uses. The defined number of gas will be free of charge and other part will cost more cheaply than alternative one.
MPs hoped that Georgia would use the chance to have alternative streams of gas. MP Koba Davitashvili hoped gas pipeline will stay in state property and not be sold to foreign companies.
For – 180
Against – 0
DECEMBER 20, THURSDAY
1. Ombudsman report on activity during first half of 2001 year.
Ombudsman Nana Devdariani represented report.
Devdariani represented 108-page thick document. She discussed human rights violation facts shortly and declared that Georgia doesn’t carry out obligations towards world community in human rights.
Religious minority issues were debated. Valeri Gelbakhiani offered Parliament legislative regulation of proselytism on the basis of international experience. According to him law should punish religion purchase facts.
“Turkish-Meskhs” movement in Georgia also was debated.
2. Draft project on “changes to Georgian law on advertisement”
Chairman of Economic Policy Vano Merabishvili represented the bill.
Changes refer to tobacco and alcohol advertisement reduction till 11 p.m continuation. The only difference was the duty to sound tobacco anti advertisement.
Many MPs opposed the bill. Most active was “Industry” faction. They were against of such kind of advertisement demanding liberation of other kinds of advertisements from VAT. It could compensate 60% of incomes from tobacco and alcohol advertisement.
Finally, compromised variant was shared. Tobacco and alcohol advertisement was prolonged till April 2003. One paragraph added to transitional statute that orders parliament to adopt the bill on tobacco control nearest future.
It was voted by simplified rule.
For – 122
Against – 25
DECEMBER 21, FRIDAY
1. Draft project on “basis of industry activity license and permission”
The deputy of Justice minister Zuranb Ezugbaia represented the bill.
According to Ezugbaia the bill has frame character being base for legislative regulation. The bill splits license and permission categories. Also it is innovation that regulation commissions get licensing right.
It was discussed by I hearing.
For – 134
Against – 14
2. Draft project on “changes in organic law on prosecutor”
The member of committee on Legal Issues, the Legitimacy and Administrative Reforms Revaz Kifiani represented the bill.
Changes refer to postponement of prosecutor reforms till October 2002.
It was discussed by rushed rule, three hearing.
For – 150
Against – 3 /I hearing/
For – 143
Against – 2 /II hearing/
For – 151
Against – 2 /III hearing/
3. Ratification of credit agreement between Georgia and International Development Association (irrigation and drainage costumer organization development project)
Agriculture minister Davit Kirvalidze represented agreement.
For – 179
Against – 2
4. Resolution decree on “main direction of high education in Georgia”
Vasil Maglaferidze represented resolution decree.
Education committee and Education ministry rejected to pass the project on autumn session motivating it with not discussing widely and not introduced state structures conclusions.
Maglaferidze-Grigalashvili group insisted to vote for resolution immediately.
Finally, MPs share Gigi Tsereteli compromise sentence on passing resolution decree by two hearings.
Special review commission created at Education committee will perfect the document.
For – 111
Against – 52 /I hearing/
5. Draft project on “amendment to Georgian bill on regulation of black and color metal leavings’ export and re-export”
It was voted by simplified rule.
For – 139
Against – 11
6. Resolution decree on “agreeing the approval Avtandil Jorbenadze as the state minister of Georgia”
Parliament secretary of President Mariam Tsatsanashvili represented candidature of State minister.
For – 183
Against – 0
7. Resolution decree on “election Iuri Tkeshelashvili as judge of Supreme Court”
Parliament secretary of President Mariam Tsatsanashvili represented candidature.
For – 179
Against – 2
8. Resolution decree on “agreeing abolishment authority to Levan Mikeladze the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Austria, representative of Georgia to the international organizations located in Vienna”
For – 118
Against – 32
9. Resolution decree on “election Ketevan Lapachi as the member of price papers national commission”
For – 163
Against – 0
10. Resolution decree on “state special titles”
For – 123
Against – 4
11. Draft project on “changes in Georgian bill on Parliament committees”
It was voted by simplified rule.
For – 129
Against – 6
12. Draft project on “changes to Budget 2001 law of Georgia”
Changes were passed by rushed rule, three hearings.
For – 134
Against – 6 /I hearing/
For – 125
Against – 3 /II hearing/
For – 128
Against – 4 /III hearing/