Tense Talks Bring No Breakthrough
Opposition Calls for Larger Protests, as Shevardnadze Refuses to Compromise
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| Shevardnadze’s uncompromising stance increases confrontation |
Confrontation increases as talks between President Shevardnadze and opposition leaders – Mikheil Saakashvili, Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Zhvania, late on November 9 end without any results.
“We informed President Shevardnadze regarding all the violations before, during and after November 2 [parliamentary] elections. And the President’s answer was shocking for us. He told us: I am not informed, I am not responsible for these [violations],” Mikheil Saakashvili, the opposition leader said addressing thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Parliament building.
“President Shevardnadze and his policy throw Georgia into civil confrontation,” Saakashvili added.
“I am alarmed. He could not answer any of our questions. He said he is not informed and is not responsible for anything. Unfortunately I have to tell you that we must continue to defend our rights here [in the streets],” Nino Burjanadze, the Parliamentary Chairperson said, while addressing protest rally, after the talks with President Shevardnadze.
“The talks ended without results. The President has no answers on our questions. So we have no reason to go homes. We have to stay and continue the protest rally,” Zurab Zhvania said.
After the talks with the opposition leaders President Shevardnadze made a comments saying that “dialogue with the opposition was very interesting, however tense.”
“Many things regarding the elections are unclear. That is why the professionals should make them clear and not me. I am not aware of many things in elections, including the voter lists,” Eduard Shevardnadze said.
“That is why I offered them [the opposition leaders] to create a expert working group, which will make all things clear. Let’s give them [experts] one, maybe two days for this,” he added.
The President said, while commenting the opposition’s demand to cancel the November 2 election results, “there is no reason for cancellation of election results.”
“I don’t have any right to cancel the election results. I only have the right to set the date of elections and nothing more,” Shevardnadze said.
After the talks with President Shevardnadze opposition leaders said that no compromise is anticipated from the government and called the people for more and larger scale protest rallies.
“Whole Georgia should stand up for our rights. We should stand together in order to prevent civil confrontation, which Shevardnadze tries to provoke. We have the only one chance to prevent this – resignation of the President,” Mikheil Saakashvili said addressing the protest rally.
“Shevardnadze will step down like Slobodan Milosevic did. When I told this to Shevardnadze he started to shout at me and I decided to walk out from the talks. From now on I have nothing to lose. We will fight to the very end,” Saakashvili added.
President Shevardnadze intends to visit Adjara Autonomous Republic and meet Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze on November 10. Aslan Abashidze’s party Revival Union, together with Shevardnadze’s party For New Georgia, leads the contested elections.
“Shevardnadze seeks for allies and he could not find a better ally than the dictator Aslan Abashidze, who recently modified Adjarian Constitution and has a right to form military units. Shevardnadze pins hopes on these military units. Shevardnadze’s games are very dangerous for our country,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.
Eduard Shevardnadze said, while commenting on his anticipated visit to Adjara, that the Autonomous Republic’s and its leader’s “roles in the future of Georgia will be on the top of the agenda during my visit.”
The opposition leaders also claim that Shevardnadze, which already lacks the U.S. support, seeks for allies in Moscow as well.
Talks with the opposition leaders followed after the phone conversation between Eduard Shevardnadze and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. President Shevardnadze also held face to face meeting with the Russian ambassador in Georgia Vladimir Chkhikvishvili.
“He [Shevardnadze] received guarantees of support from his Russian counterpart,” Saakashvili says.
“No guarantees, it was an ordinary and very friendly conversation. I informed President Putin regarding the elections in Georgia, and recent developments in the country. Mr. Putin told me that Russia will provide Georgia any kind of assistance if necessary,” Shevardnadze told reporters.
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| Second night of protest in front of the Parliament building. |
The protest rallies started in the capital Tbilisi on November 4 after the opposition accused the authorities of manipulating election results.
With more than 95% of votes counted Shevardnadze’s party For New Georgia maintains a narrow lead in the polls with 20,8%, followed by another governmental party the Revival Union with 19,6%. The opposition National Movement is on the third place with 18%.
However the focus of discontent has now shifted to the issue of Shevardnadze’s rule, as his resignation is the main demand of thousands of protesters who are gathered in front of the Parliament building for the second day.
Early this morning President Shevardnadze faced popular dissent personally, as he made an unexpected appearance in the crowd of protesters.
“Go, Go!” “Resign!” – the crowd started chanting as Eduard Shevardnadze walked in front of the Parliament trying to meet the protesters.