Patriarch of Georgian Orthodox Church Meets Burjanadze

Patriarch of Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II met with Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze on November 9.

Ilia II will hold a separate meeting with opposition leaders as well. The Georgian Orthodox Church said earlier it was ready to mediate between the opposition and the authorities to facilitate dialogue between both sides.

?I hope today we will be able to begin ? or to be more precise ? resume constrictive dialogue [with the opposition],? Burjanadze told the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) after the meeting with Ilia II.

Meanwhile, riot police and troops were withdrawn from the capital’s main boulevard and adjoining streets – the focal point of the November 7 unrest ? on Friday.

Parliament is expected to be convened later today to discuss the presidential decree on the state of emergency. Emergency rule will be lifted if lawmakers refuse to endorse it. Otherwise, it will remain in force for another two weeks.

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