MPs Pass Draft Law on S. Ossetia with Second Hearing

The Georgian Parliament, on its second reading, passed today a draft law with 162 votes to one on the creation of a provisional administrative entity in South Ossetia.

?I can only welcome the fact that the number of votes supporting the draft law has exceeded the constitutional requirement,? Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze said after the vote.

?This is a very serious political message for both our population and the international community. This draft law lays the foundation for real steps to ensure that we have very serious consultations with all sides, who are ready for the peaceful resolution of the conflict,? Burjanadze added.

The entity aims at creating tools, which will help to resolve the conflict peacefully, to define the region?s autonomous status and to prepare for democratic elections, according to the draft legislation. The final reading of the draft law is planned for April 13.

Burjanadze and other MPs are due to meet foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia to brief them over the objectives of the new initiative on creating the provisional administrative entity.

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