Saakashvili: No Talks with Shevardnadze

Leader of the National Movement Mikheil Saakashvili said today he does “not intend to meet with President Shevardnadze any more.” 

“We understand that we should suspend any talks with the authorities and the President. I am not going to meet Shevardnadze until he resigns. We demand Shevardnadze’s unconditional resignation,” Saakashvili said while addressing the participants of the protest rally on November 13. 

He said the negotiations “with Shevardnadze make no sense, especially after the meeting between Aslan Abashidze [head of Adjara Autonomous Republic] and Shevardnadze.” 

“He [Shevardnadze] promised Aslan Abashidze and his Revival Union [party, which is on the second place in the November 2 parliamentary election results] the seats in the government and the parliament. We will not accept establishment of Abashidze’s regime in Tbilisi,” Saakashvili said. 

Sakashvili said wide-scale peaceful rally will be held in front of the Parliament on November 14, demanding President’s resignation. Saakashvili said this demand has been coordinated with the leaders of the Burjanadze-Democrats election bloc. 

While commenting on his meeting with State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze, Mikheil Saakashvili said it was held through the mediation of U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles. Saakashvili said the opposition’s demands were discussed during the meeting but with no result.