“It will be Western Georgia’s commercial and economic, and Georgia’s main, center at the Black Sea coast,” Saakashvili noted.

Large-scale construction will commence in the coming year. The city will also have a large port. “We will create several thousand jobs,” the Georgian President noted, stressing that a tender will be announced for the engineering and construction activities.

Georgian parliament on Tuesday session amended Civil Code. It partially eliminated the legal status, which has been previously granted to some religious communities including Armenian Apostolic Church.

According to new amendments, religious communities have right to register as religious organizations, but the rest of the licenses were cancelled, founder of Armenian Assembly of Tbilisi Arnold Stepanyan . Stepanyan told that this consensus lessened inner political tension between Georgian authorities and Georgian Orthodox Church to the detriment of Armenian Apostolic Church. Previously it inspired hopes to claim for taking back Armenian churches. However, new law buried all hopes.

According to Armenian-Georgian representative, increase of anti-Armenian disposition coincided with visits of Armenian Catholicos and Armenian FM. However, it is strange that only Armenians faced such complaint, as amendments in the law referred also to Catholic, Baptist churches and Jewish, Muslim communities.

Earlier Armenian News-NEWS.am informed that Georgian parliament made amendments in Civil Code on July 5 and granted legal status to Armenian Apostolic and other churches. Georgian Patriarch Ilya II was against the decision.

Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) of Georgian diocese welcomes the decision of the Georgian parliament to grant legal status to five religious organizations including AAC.

“This step is typical to a democratic state. Not only AAC but also other religious communities have expected such status to be granted for decades,” head of AAC Georgian diocese bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan told Radio Liberty.

Previously AAC enjoyed de-facto recognition by Georgian authorities, Patriarchy and Georgian community. However, if the parliament passes the bill, it will grant significant privileges. Armenian Church can gradually gain the right of property for the churches that were previously under the disposal of the Georgian Ministry of Culture, the bishop added.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Georgian parliament passed amendments to Civil Code on July 1. According to the amendments, five religious unions will be granted legal status. Organizations enjoying legal status are independent from the state control and can perform political, official, social, enlightening, cultural and other public activities. The second and last reading for the bill is scheduled for July 6.

Joint communiqué between Georgian and Armenian churches was not signed during the visit of Catholicos of All Armenians to Georgia. Working process and comparison of positions still continue, reported Metropolitan Gerasim, the head of foreign affairs department of Georgian Patriarchate.

He dismissed the reports saying it was the Armenian side which allegedly refused to sign the communiqué and marked that both sides should determine their positions, reports Georgia online.

Earlier, a number of Georgian media outlets reported that the communiqué was signed, which allegedly stated that the parties are entering a new phase, implying a determination of the legal status of the Armenian church in Georgia and Georgian Church in Armenia.

The visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II to Georgia lasted from June 10 to 15.

The document signing ceremony was held in the Georgian Government attended by Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri.

The officials expressed confidence that conclusion of the document will give new impetus to the expansion of bilateral trade relations.

According to the settlement, the ease of visa issuance for Georgian citizens traveling to EU states is planned. In addition, the procedure of visa receipt requiring less documents now, enabling execution of multiple visas (for businessmen, journalists, Georgian citizens’ family members living in EU) in a faster and more effective way.

Besides, the visa fee for Georgian citizens is now €35. Children, public civil organization and Georgian citizens’ family members will not be charged levy for visa issuance. In addition, it will make possible return of illegal immigrants to Georgia.

In June PACE President intends to visit Armenia, Russia and Georgia. “I plan high-level meetings with presidents, parliament speakers and representatives of leading political parties and opposition, as well as non-governmental organizations,” he said. He expressed readiness to support the establishment of peace in the region, where currently there are unresolved conflicts.

Earlier, Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Moldova and Azerbaijan.

On this solemn day of remembrance, we pause to recall that ninety-five years ago one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century began. In that dark moment of history, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their death in the final days of the Ottoman Empire.

Today is a day to reflect upon and draw lessons from these terrible events. I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view of that history has not changed. It is in all of our interest to see the achievement a full, frank and just acknowledgment of the facts. The Meds Yeghern is a devastating chapter in the history of the Armenian people, and we must keep its memory alive in honor of those who were murdered and so that we do not repeat the grave mistakes of the past. I salute the Turks who saved Armenians in 1915 and am encouraged by the dialogue among Turks and Armenians, and within Turkey itself, regarding this painful history. Together, the Turkish and Armenian people will be stronger as they acknowledge their common history and recognize their common humanity.

Even as we confront the inhumanity of 1915, we also are inspired by the remarkable spirit of the Armenian people. While nothing can bring back those who were killed in the Meds Yeghern, the contributions that Armenians have made around the world over the last ninety-five years stand as a testament to the strength, tenacity and courage of the Armenian people. The indomitable spirit of the Armenian people is a lasting triumph over those who set out to destroy them. Many Armenians came to the United States as survivors of the horrors of 1915. Over the generations Americans of Armenian descent have richened our communities, spurred our economy, and strengthened our democracy. The strong traditions and culture of Armenians also became the foundation of a new republic which has become a part of the community of nations, partnering with the world community to build a better future.

Today, we pause with them and with Armenians everywhere to remember the awful events of 1915 with deep admiration for their contributions which transcend this dark past and give us hope for the future.

Armenia-Georgia air communication was temporarily suspended since February 1, 2010. According to Georgian United Transport Administration, the suspension is only seasonal. The flights were cancelled due semi-full flights.

The survey conducted by Georgian Kviris Palitra newspaper shows that 50.2% of 402 respondents consider that Russian intelligence services were involved in the crash of Polish President’s aircraft.

Only 7.6% of the pollees do not believe in this version of the crash near Smolensk, while 42.2% found difficulty in replying.