Ruling Party Calls for Talks Based on Memorandum

Although some of its provisions are unacceptable, overall the memorandum presented by the Christian-Democratic Party can serve as a good basis for the start of talks, Davit Bakradze, the parliamentary chairman, said on June 11.

Speaking at a news conference he said that although the authorities would not accept all the conditions laid out in the document, the document represented “a very good foundation on which dialogue can be built.”

“There are many provisions in this document on which we think it is possible to reach compromise in principle,” Bakradze said. “Of course it is not the case in respect of all the provisions of the document. But we are ready to start a dialogue with the Christian-Democratic Party, as well as other opposition groups, which think that it is possible to build a dialogue based on this memorandum… There are some provisions that will be difficult for us to accept, although the implementation of some provisions will be very positive.”

He said that he was waiting for opposition representatives to engage in talks as soon as the parliamentary session was over later on June 11. The second session of the newly elected Parliament, which will elect chairmen of parliamentary committees, is scheduled for 4pm local time.

One set of provisions in the 13-point memorandum concerns giving the opposition in the parliament legally guaranteed powers, including the positions of vice-speakers and deputy chairmen of parliamentary committees. The ruling party said earlier it was ready to offer parliamentary posts to opposition lawmakers.

The only politician, apart from Christian-Democratic Party lawmakers, to publicly say he would adhere to the memorandum and participate in consultations with the authorities is MP Paata Davitaia, the leader of On Our Own party, which quit the opposition coalition shortly after the elections.

The opposition coalition – or at least most of it – seems set on boycotting Parliament and so has ruled out talks with the authorities. It has also called on other opposition parties to join the boycott. The Labor Party also refuses to engage in talks.

Mamuka Katsitadze of the New Rights Party, part of the opposition coalition has even referred to the Christian-Democratic Party as “collaborators.”

Two opposition lawmakers who quit the opposition coalition two days ago – Gia Tortladze and Gia Tsagareishvili – said they agreed with the provisions of the memorandum but were not planning to engage in talks with the authorities.