President Says Batumi Cooperates with Tbilisi

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told a new conference today that he holds permanent consultations with the Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze via phone and added that the Autonomous Republic cooperates with the central authorities.

Saakashvili also said that he is ready to visit Batumi and meet Abashidze tкte-а-tкte in Adjarian capital Batumi, however added that the Adjarian leader “would better arrive in Tbilisi himself.”

Abashidze has not visited Tbilisi for last decade under the pretext of lack of security guarantees. 
 
“His security will be ensured here [in Tbilisi]. Adjara has already taken a positive step by transferring funds to the central budget,” Mikheil Saakashvili said at a news briefing on February 12.