Saakashvili Addresses PACE

President Saakashvili addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg:

? Today democracy in Georgia speaks with many voices;
? No matter how difficult it is we will not deviate from the democratic course;
? I reached out to opposition parties to give them a more influential role;
? Agreed with the opposition to reform public TV board? Dialogue will continue on reform of composition of election administrations;
? New cabinet will be nominated this evening; fresh faces will be introduces in the new cabinet, including prominent members of civil society;
? Saakashvili spoke about Georgia?s achievements including economic growth and anti-corruption;
? Although poverty has been halved, 20% of people still live in poverty;
? Now our great challenge is to build Georgia without poverty;
? Meeting these challenges require strong political will; but it will not be enough; human rights and a strong judiciary will be also a priority;
? Saakashvili then raised the issue of human rights abuses in breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia;
? Georgian Euro-Atlantic aspiration does not mean disregarding the interests of our neighbors;
? I will continue to ask the opposition for their ideas and help;
? Georgian political system remains fragile;
? I have asked the Council of Europe to send a group of experts to prepare parliamentary elections and to even arbitrate in election disputes to make the process even more transparent.

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