Saakashvili Addresses Nation after Deadly Blast in Gori

In his televised address to nation on February 1 President Mikheil Saakashvili described the powerful car bomb explosion in Gori as ?a political terrorist act with far-reaching goals? masterminded ?by those forces, which do not want Georgia to develop and strengthen.? Saakashvili also called on the nation for consolidation, as well as for ?support and understanding? in the issues related ?to the fight against terrorism? and ?anti-terrorism legislature.?

?I want my compatriots to listen to me with attention. We are getting stronger every day. We are strengthening our state structure every day. Something positive occurs every day in the process of state-building and these changes will inevitably lead us to increasing to the level that will enable us to restore our territorial integrity ? and I want it very much – peacefully. But our enemy also knows this and our enemies will spare no efforts to hinder Georgia?s development,? President Saakashvili said.

?I want everybody to understand that we should not let those who do not want peace to force us to make drastic and radical steps, which will inflict unavoidable difficulties for us. We should also understand, that we must not let those who are against peace thwart the peace process and create obstacles for our peace initiatives,? the President stated.

?If we start mutual accusations, if we get afraid, this will lead us to further confrontation and this is exactly what our enemies want. We should act like a civilized, democratic nation and demonstrate full consolidation. We must show those who are against our development that we are united nation,? he added.

He called on the society and all political forces in Georgia ?to demonstrate unity against our enemy, to demonstrate that it is impossible any more to throw us back to the [chaos of the] early 90s.?

?I know that our enemies? goals will not be fulfilled. But I want your support and understanding in solving those issues which are related to our fight against terrorism, related to the anti-terrorism structures, to the anti-terrorism legislation and also related to the overall security of the society and to measures aimed at consolidating society,? President Saakashvili said, while addressing nation.

However, the President did not specify exactly what kind of measures the authorities plan to undertake or whether the government intends to propose any new anti-terrorism legislation.

Officials say a large amount of plastic explosive and TNT, which was detonated in a car outside the police department in Gori, went off, presumably by remote control, resulting in death of three policemen. According to the latest reports, 27 other people were also injured.