Burjanadze Speaks of Recent Developments

Parliamentary Chairperson, Nino Burjanadze, said the authorities were ready to negotiate on three out of four opposition?s demands, but issue of holding elections in spring instead of late 2008 was closed for discussions.

Speaking at the parliamentary session on November 6, Burjanadze denied the opposition?s accusations about the authorities? unwillingness to have a dialogue by saying: ?Is not it a readiness for a dialogue when we say that we are ready to negotiate on opposition?s three demands??

Meanwhile, speaking at a protest rally outside the Parliament, opposition leaders said they were not going ?to step back? unless the authorities meet the demand on elections to be held in spring.

In an appealing remarks to those thousands protesters who keep for rallying for a fifth successive day outside the parliament, Nino Burjanadze said the authorities fully acknowledged those social problems persisting in the country.

?These people, who have absolutely different demands [from those pushed forth by the opposition parties], should know that the authorities will definitely react on their problems; they should know that the authorities are not turning a blind eye on their problems,? Burjanadze said. ?The authorities will spare no efforts to resolve their problems.?

She also said that the authorities have made ?mistakes ? some of them were minor, some of them serious.?

?One of the examples of the mistake is Irakli Okruashvili [the ex-defense minister],? she said. ?It was shame that this person was beside us for a long time and was one of the leaders. This is shame, a real shame. This person in dirt was one of the leaders.?

She then spoke about the same foreign factors, which the authorities think, is the reason why the elections can not be held in spring and said she hoped ?at least part of the opposition will understand it separate? from other groups pushing for this demand.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)