Germany Ready to Welcome Shevardnadze

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s spokesman says Eduard Shevardnadze, who resigned on November 23, would be welcomed in Germany if he wanted.

“If Eduard Shevardnadze wants to come to Germany, he will be welcome on account of all that he did to help with the unification of Germany,” Reuters reports quoting German Chancellor’s spokesman.

Speculations over Shevardnadze’s possible departure from Georgia sparked after the German daily Bild reported that one of Shevardnadze’s aides had bought a villa in Germany.

After the resignation Eduard Shevardnadze said, “I am going home.”

The opposition leaders, who held talks with Shevardnadze before the resignation, said that Shevardnadze wants to stay in Georgia.