Saakashvili Calls on Political Parties for Consensus
President Saakashvili has called on Georgian political parties to achieve consensus and consolidation and to jointly build a prosperous and democratic state.
“Even a minor political party should put aside its short-term ambitions and we should stand together to accomplish our common goal, despite hysteric attempts on the part of those who wish us ill to choke us,” Saakashvili said in a televised statement on April 9.
Saakashvili’s comments follow opposition lawmakers’ decision to boycott parliamentary sessions unless the authorities meet their demands for the resignation of Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili and the change of the local self-governance elections system.
President Saakashvili made a televised statement to comment on the anniversary of the April 9, 1989 tragedy when 20 people died as Soviet troops attacked a crowd of peaceful protesters outside the Government Building in Tbilisi (now Parliament).
He said that the political forces in Georgia should continue the fight for freedom and democracy launched 17 years ago by those heroes who died on April 9.
He also stressed that on April 9, 1991 Georgia’s legislative body passed a declaration of independence.
“The importance of this day has been underestimated to a certain extent. This is the day when Georgia announced its independence; we were the second [Soviet] republic, following Lithuania, to do so,” Saakashvili said.
