Saakashvili to Make State of Nation Address

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will make an annual state of the nation address to the Parliament on February 14. The President’s address is scheduled for 6 pm local time.

Parliamentarians from the opposition parties demanded to hold debates after the President’s speech.

“The [parliamentary] regulations do not envisage debates [after the President’s address], however I will deliver your request to the President… But even if the President does not attend your [referring to opposition MPs] speeches, be sure that he will get acquainted with them,” Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said at a session on February 14.

Late on February 13 Saakashvili met with senior MPs from the parliamentary majority.

It is expected that President Saakashvili will voice his position regarding the Russian peacekeepers stationed in the South Ossetian conflict zone.