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TBILISI: Georgian And Armenian Officials Respond To "Prostitute Scan

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  • TBILISI: Georgian And Armenian Officials Respond To "Prostitute Scan

    GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN OFFICIALS RESPOND TO "PROSTITUTE SCANDAL" REPORTS
    By Mzia Kupunia

    Messenger
    http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2242_november_25_2010/2242_mzia.html
    Nov 25 2010
    Georgia

    Georgian officials' "fruitful diplomatic week" has been marred by
    the reports of the foreign media on an alleged "prostitutes scandal"
    in a Lisbon hotel, where the Georgian delegation was staying during
    the Lisbon NATO Summit on November 19-20.

    On November 23, Portuguese tabloid newspaper, Correio da Manha wrote
    that the Georgian delegation hired 80 prostitutes and held a party in a
    hotel in Lisbon on Friday. According to the newspaper, some officials
    from the Armenian delegation also joined the party. Correio da Manha
    reported that the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy was "so annoyed"
    by the noise that he complained to the management of the hotel.

    Police registered the case as an incident, according to the Portuguese
    tabloid. "When the management of the hotel realised that the women
    were prostitutes they expressed their discontent. The situation was
    resolved with as little fuss as possible," CM reported. The newspaper
    did not name the hotel where the Georgian delegation was staying during
    Lisbon Summit, however noted that it is "one of the most luxurious and
    prestigious ones in Lisbon" and that it "hosted some of the leaders
    of the states who attended the summit."

    The opponents of the ruling National Movement Party have criticised
    the Georgian officials over the alleged "prostitutes scandal".

    Parliamentary minority group, Christian-Democratic Movement has
    demanded that a probe be launched into the allegations of the
    Portuguese press. MP Levan Vepkhvadze of CDM called the alleged
    incident "shameful" yesterday.

    "It is a fact that has been registered by the local police. It is
    an absolutely embarrassing incident and it should be investigated,"
    Vepkhvadze noted, adding that "it affects the country's reputation."

    Another member of the Christian-Democratic Movement, MP Nika
    Laliashvili suggested Georgia "has not achieved any success on the
    international arena worth celebrating with champagne and orgies."

    Officials in Tbilisi have denied the allegations of the foreign
    media outlets, calling the reports "not serious." Vice Speaker of
    the Parliament, Mikheil Machavariani linked the reports with Russia's
    attempts to "overshadow" Georgia's recent diplomatic achievements.

    "Morning Star [which also reported about the alleged scandal] was
    a newspaper of British communists, funded by the Russian Central
    Committee and is now funded by the Kremlin," Machavariani said "the
    aim of Moscow is to show the events to the world as this newspaper
    sees them, however the international community sees what is written
    in the Washington Post and the Guardian, which report about Georgia's
    progress," he added.

    A MP from the National Movement Party, Pavle Kublashvili also denied
    the claims of the Portuguese media, saying that "no serious comment"
    can be made on this issue. "Someone can accuse the Georgian delegation
    of eating newborn babies before or after the summit as well,"
    Kublashvili told journalists.

    The Armenian Foreign Ministry also denied the incident in the hotel in
    Lisbon, calling the claims "absurd" and "fabricated." "This information
    does not even deserve any comments," Tigran Balayan, Press Speaker
    of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Interfax news agency.

    Later yesterday, news agency Interpressnews reported that the members
    of the Georgian delegation were staying in hotel Tiara. The hotel
    managers have denied the information disseminated by foreign media
    about the alleged prostitutes incident. "The information is totally
    fabricated," Interpressnews quoted General Manager of Tiara hotel
    as saying. "Nothing has happened here. I spent 24 hours a day in
    this hotel and I assure you that no such incident has taken place,"
    the General Manager said, according to the Georgian news agency.




    From: A. Papazian
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