Zhvania Says Government Hinders Implementation of US-Suggested Guidelines

(Tbilisi, July 22, 2003, Civil Georgia) – Zurab Zhvania leader of the opposition United Democrats party and the former Parliamentary Chairman said at the Parliamentary special session that the pro-governmental factions hinder implementation of the US-suggested rule of composition of the Central Election Commission.

MP Vitali Khazaradze of the pro-Presidential Parliamentary faction Citizens Union said at the session today that the pro-governmental factions will not support the new election code in case the opposition fails to agree over the composition of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

“Khazaradze’s this statement is a clear signal that the pro-Presidential factions try to delay implementation of the Baker’s plan,” Zurab Zhvania said.

According to the US proposal delivered to Georgia by the former Secretary of State James Baker during his visit in Georgia in early July, the CEC should be composed with the nine representatives of the opposition parties and five representatives of the Presidential-backed election alliance.

Revival and Industrialists opposition parties are against this proposal and demand four and two seats in the CEC respectively.

Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said in the interview to Civil Georgia that some political parties “are playing not so positive role in solving the CEC composition problem,” hinting on Revival and Industrialists position.

“I know for sure that the government is messaging certain parties, who claim to be on the opposition side. And the message was quite clear: “do not agree!” Nino Burjanadze said.