Abashidze, Zhvania Hold Talks

State Minister Zurab Zhvania arrived today in Adjarian capital Batumi to hold talks with Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze, who threatens with boycotting the January 4 presidential elections.

Zurab Zhvania will try to convince Aslan Abashidze not to boycott the presidential elections.

“I will do my best to defuse tension [between Tbilisi and Batumi],” the State Minister said upon his arrival in Batumi.

On December 9 Nino Burjanadze, the Interim President, failed to convince the head of the Adjara Autonomous Republic to participate in the elections, as 6-hour long talks between Abashidze and Burjanadze ended without any results.