Baker Delivered Bush’s Message to Shevardnadze

(Tbilisi, July 5, 2003, Civil Georgia) – After the meeting with President Shevardnadze today US former Secretary of State made a short comment for the press saying that he delivered President Bush’s letter to Eduard Shevardnadze.

Baker said that US President talks about the Abkhazia conflict and upcoming elections in his letter. James Baker also said that the Parliamentary elections would be crucial for Georgia’s future. Former US Secretary of State refrained from any other comments.

President Shevardnadze also made a short comment and said that “new and hopeful proposals have been discussed with Mr. Baker regarding the settlement of the Abkhaz conflict.”

“Unfortunately I can not make any other comments right now. I will talk about this later,” Eduard Shevardnadze added.

Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council Tedo Japaridze said that the issue of active involvement of the United States in the Abkhaz conflict settlement was discussed during the meeting between Shevardnadze and Baker.

Before the meeting with the Georgian President, James Baker held talks with the leaders of the opposition parties and discussed upcoming elections.

The White House said in a news release on July 3 “Baker’s mission’s primary objective will be to discuss with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze ways to advance political and economic reform in Georgia through free and fair Parliamentary elections this fall.”

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