Saakashvili: New Constitution Possible After Restoration of Territorial Integrity

?The adoption of a new constitution will be possible only after total restoration of the country?s territorial integrity; we have no other choice? President Saakashvili said on January 11.

Mikheil Saakashvili was speaking while meeting with the Abkhaz government-in-exile in the village of Chkhalta in Georgian-controlled upper Kodori Gorge.

He said that Georgia should start drafting the new constitution now, but added that it can only go into force when the country’s territorial integrity is restored.

?Of course this process should start with the participation of all the political forces, with the participation of all ethnic groups and sides involved in [the secessionist] conflicts and we highly welcome involvement of everyone in this process,? he said.

?But [drafting of] the new constitution is a process linked with the process of restoration of Georgia?s territorial integrity,? Saakashvili added.

On January 10 Mikheil Saakashvili urged opposition politicians to find “a broad consensus” on the launch of developing a new constitution. He said the creation of a new constitution will be a ?long-term process which may take years.?

Most opposition parties hailed the proposal, but some opposition politicians said that any new constitution should go into force right after the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Lawmakers from the ruling National Movement party have already criticized the opposition for putting forth these conditions.

?Setting of conditions and ultimatums is not a good sign for launching cooperation,? MP Levan Bezhashvili, a lawmaker from the ruling party who chairs the Parliamentary Committee for Legal Affairs, said on January 11.

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