Lack of Quorum Fails Parliament Special Session

(Tbilisi. April 16, 2003. Civil Georgia) – The Parliamentary special session was could not start discussion of draft law on free trade zone and the rule of composition of the Central Election Commissions, because of lack of quorum.

The opposition Revival faction, which submitted to the Parliament draft law on free economic zones, accused the pro-governmental factions in boycotting the session in order to hinder discussion of Revivals initiative.

President Shevardnadze said on 14 April that the free trade zone could fuel “separatist tendencies.”

The head of the International Monetary Fund mission in Georgia, Jonathan Dunn, told the reporters on 12 April that the IMF opposes the creation of free economic zones in Georgia.