Opposition Prepares to Hit Streets, President Urges to Refrain from Rallies

(Tbilisi, June 2, 2003, Civil Georgia) – At the meeting in the National Library today the representatives of opposition parties set up a joint coordinating council of 5 parties, including the United Democrats, the New Rights, the National Movement, the Traditionalists and the Peoples Party.

All these parties intend to participate in the protest rally scheduled for June 3, demanding disband of the Central Election Commission.

“Our coalition aims to reach an agreement over amending the election legislation and to struggle for conduction of democratic elections,” the participants of the today’s meeting stated.

President Shevardnadze warned the opposition over the possible negative outcomes of the protest rallies and called the opposition to refrain from hitting the streets.

“We have already witnessed the outcomes of protest rallies. Therefore, this should not occur any more,” President Shevardnadze said in his radio broadcast today.

Eduard Shevardnadze expressed hope that the opposition and the pro-governmental parties will reach an agreement regarding the election code, thus avoiding the conduction manifestations.

The President is ready for talks with the opposition and proposes the Parliament a new proposal of composition of the Central Election Commission with public figures, politicians and parliamentary faction members.

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