Bakradze Downplays Opposition’s Call for ‘Televised Talks’

Davit Bakradze, the parliamentary chairman, said the opposition leaders’ proposal to hold a televised meeting with President Saakashvili was not serious.

“We are in favor of a dialogue and not in favor of TV shows,” he said while speaking in the Rustavi 2 TV’s talk show, Position, late on Friday. “What they are offering us is televised debates, not a meaningful dialogue… This offer is not a result-oriented.”

This call of ‘televised talks’ by some opposition leaders, seemed to be a spontaneous proposal made during the rally earlier on April 10 after the protesters reacted angrily on the opposition leaders’ statement about their readiness to meet President Saakashvili in presence of non-political figures who enjoy with public trust.

Davit Bakradze said that he saw “no problem” in arranging of the meeting that would be attended by high-profile civil society representatives.

Bakradze said that President Saakashvili’s personal involvement in talks with the opposition was possible if the dialogue was result-oriented. He also said that “as usually this type of rallies do not last for long.”

Eka Tkeshelashvili, the secretary of Georgia’s national security council, told journalists on April 10 that the authorities kept contacts with the opposition. She, however, said these contacts were not as intense as they were before the demonstrations. Tkeshelashvili declined to go further into details citing that media scrutiny could undermine those contacts.

On April 10, apart of Rustaveli Avenue, the focal point of the rallies, demonstrations were also held outside the public broadcaster’s office and the presidential residence. The opposition said simultaneous rallies at those three venues would continue in following days. Traffic remains blocked on the Rustaveli Avenue and traffic was blocked for few hours outside the presidential palace and public TV.

President Saakashvili told a group of foreign journalists on April 10, that the authorities’ proposal for a dialogue on democratic reforms was “real” and “profound.”

Asked about the opposition’s demand on his resignation, Saakashvili responded according The Associated Press: “It’s obvious the answer to this question is ‘no.’ It has always been ‘no,’ because that’s how it is under the constitution.”

Victor Dolidze, Georgia’s former OSCE envoy and an ally of Irakli Alasania, leader of Alliance for Georgia, said on April 10, that he was confident that the opposition’s drive would eventually lead to the change of authorities, but he added: “It won’t happen in the near future.”

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