Saakashvili Offers Adjarians Payment for Surrendering Arms

President Saakashvili, who has warned Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze to disarm his paramilitary forces, said that the Georgia’s central authorities are ready to pay for surrendering arms.

“If [Adjarian leader] Abashidze does not want to disarm his supporters, then we are ready to open special stations where Adjarians will be able to hand over fire arms, which was distributed by Abashidze, in exchange of money,” Mikheil Saakashvili told reporters on April 12.

“Adjara has turned into a barrel of gunpowder, which might explode any time,” Saakashvili added.

He also warned that Adjara’s sea resorts, which attract many Georgians in the summer, “are not safe.” “How can we let Georgians go to the region, which is a barrel of gunpowder?” Saakashvili added.

Saakashvili’s statement comes on the eve of Prime-Minister Zurab Zhvania’s talks with Aslan Abashidze in Batumi, scheduled for April 13.