Caucasus Press Review (May 5-11, 2014)

Last week Caucasian media focused on the victory of the Soviet Union in World War II, which was commemorated throughout the North and South Caucasus. The Dagestani Pravda newspaper published an article devoted to the victory parade held in Makhachkala. Young activists, students and school children took part in the event. They carried pictures of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers who participated in the war. The head of the Dagestani Republic, Ramazan Abdulatipov, congratulated veterans and said that young Dagestanis should be proud of their ancestors and their victory. "We are once again a great country now. Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin we are trying to re-establish Russian statehood and form the Russian nation. We managed to host the Olympic Games and to win them. We are the heirs of our great ancestors, we are the heirs of their victory," he said.

The Ingushetia newspaper quoted Ingush leader Yunus-bek Yevkurov as saying: "Our compatriots were among those who fought at the battles of Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk and took part in the siege of Berlin. Thousands of Ingush people perished during the war. They died, but their glory is immortal." Public figures and activists visited the World War II memorial and commemorated the fallen in battles with a minute of silence and a volley. A monument to Vasily Margelov, the founder of the airborne troops, was unveiled as well.

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In addition to Victory, Chechnya also marked the anniversary of the 1944 deportation of the Chechen people. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is quoted by the Vesti of the Republic newspaper as saying that these tragic events led to the deaths of many people, the destruction of flourishing settlements. "Today the Chechen Republic is one of the safest places on Earth. Pop stars and spiritual leaders visit our land, we host large-scale cultural and sporting events. These days are the happiest time in Chechen history. This is what our brothers dreamed of," he said.

Chechen parliamentary speaker Dukuvakh Abdurakhmanov told newspapers that the Chechen people should remember the words of the republic's first president Akhmat Kadyrov, who said that the Chechens have always been trying to survive and that now it is time to actually start living.

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Georgia will soon become world's largest producer of drinking water, Dr. Paata Giorgadze is quoted as saying by the Independent Georgia newspaper. The scientist told the newspaper that he leads a group of researchers who are working on the Drinking Water Industry project, which is aimed at improving the country's water-production industry and the Georgian economy in general. According to the scientist, Georgia is one of the countries with the richest drinking water supply in the world. Underground water in Georgia undergoes five stages of natural purification, the scientists stresses. According to researchers, Georgia is able to provide over 300 cubic metres of fresh water per second, the newspaper informs. This means that Georgian fresh water is plentiful, natural, pure and cheap. Thus the country has a great chance of enhancing its water-producing industry. Now Georgia is using only 0.75% of its true potential, the scientist says. The development of the industry would allow the country to increase its income and provide more jobs for Georgian citizens. That is why the Georgian government has established a state commission for the water-producing industry headed by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The cabinet plans to establish 200 new water-producing plants, which would employ many thousands of people. According to Giorgadze, the Georgian people will feel the positive changes within the next year and half.

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The Voice of Armenia newspaper published an article devoted to unemployment. The former cabinet tried to deal with the problem, but left it unresolved, the newspaper writes. At the same time, the republic has a lot of production facilities which are not used. This is why the unemployment rate is so high and the budget is constantly facing deficit. For instance, in many regions of the country the authorities seem unable to collect the land tax. In Lori for example, officials this year collected 12.8 million drams less. According to the author of the article, the authorities should punish insufficient owners and re-launch remaining enterprises and launch new ones.

First of all the government should relaunch the production of caoutchouc and control the production at the Nairit plant, which may provide jobs for at least 3 thousand people, the article reads. Investment in the chemical plant owned by the Vanadzor-Khimprom private corporation would allow this plant to operate at its full capacity. Some foreign investors are also interested in the project, the newspaper informs. According to the author of the article, the government should do its best to establish a positive atmosphere for foreign investment in the Armenian industry. Moreover, the cabinet should pay attention to the Karakert plant and the Aragats plant as well as establish a new modern copper-producing plant in the country.