Burjanadze, Shevardnadze Discuss Parliamentary Deadlock

(Tbilisi. April 17, 2003. Civil Georgia) – Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze and President Shevardnadze meet today to discuss the ways of overcoming deadlock in the Parliament.

The opposition Parliamentary faction accuse the pro-Presidential faction in boycotting the sessions to hinder discussion of the draft law on free trade zones proposed by the opposition Revival faction, backed by the leader of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze.

The President and the government are against of creation of the free trade zone in Adjarian capital Batumi.

Because of the lack of quorum on April 16 the Parliament failed to start discussion on the issue. The discussion of the rule of composition of the Central Election Commission proposed by the President is also hindered.