Burjanadze: No Agreement with Abashidze Yet

“No particular agreement has been reached yet regarding the date of presidential and parliamentary elections, however it is important that the dialogue has been launched,” Nino Burjanadze told reporters upon her arrival from Batumi, where she held talks with Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze.

Aslan Abashidze demands from the central authorities to postpone presidential elections until June, otherwise he threatens with boycotting elections, scheduled for January 4.

After the talks in Batumi Burjanadze and Abashidze made short comments regarding the talks.

“There are many problems between the central regional authorities, which can not be solved immediately. We, both Mr. Abashidze and me think that it is very import that this dialogue has been launched. I am ready to further continue talks,” Nino Burjanadze told reporters after the negotiations.

“I think Mr. [Zurab] Zhvania [the State Minister] will also visit Batumi to hold talks with the Adjarian leader. If it becomes necessary I will arrive here again,” she added.

“The most important is that we understand each other. Now it is time to make our positions closer,” Aslan Abashidze told reporters after the talks.

“The two sides have different positions regarding the problems. It is important that the dialogue has been launched. It would be also important to restore trust between the sides,” Abashidze said.

“If the current de facto authorities [Abashidze denounced country’s new leadership as illegitimate] want to make something positive, they should prove this at first,” Abashidze added.