Opposition, President Reach Election Accord

(Tbilisi, July 8, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Opposition leaders said after the meeting with President Shevardnadze today that they have reached agreement over the election system reform, with the government.

?Next week the special session of the Parliament will be convened to approve the US-suggested election guidelines over the rule of composition of the Central Election Commission,? Davit Gamkrelidze leader of the New Rights told the reporters after the meeting with Shevardnadze.

According to the US proposal, which was delivered to the Georgian authorities and oppositions by the US former Secretary of State James Baker during his visit on July 5-6, the Central Elections Commission should be composed of five representatives of the pro-Presidential political parties, opposition parties will be represented in the commission with nine members. The Chairman of the CEC will be appointed by the OSCE. 

?The most important is that we have reached agreement with President Shevardnadze to implement US proposal. The technical issues remain to be solved and we will work over these issues,? Zurab Zhvania leader of the United Democrats said.

However some opposition parties want to have more than one representative in the CEC. ?We would like to see two our representatives in the commission. But I am sure this will not become a reason of discord,? Gogi Topadze of Industrialists party said.

Representatives of the opposition Labor Party and the Revival Union did not participate in the meeting with President Shevardnadze.

The opposition leaders said that they will hold second meeting with President Shevardnadze in nearest future to agree on technical issues of the US recommendations.

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