Opposition Negotiators Meet Bakradze

A group of opposition politicians are meeting with Parliamentary Chairman, Davit Bakradze, in Sheraton Metekhi Palace hotel.

Opposition parties, those behind the ongoing protests rallies, have selected four politicians as negotiators with Bakradze to, as they said, arrange the format of talks with President Saakashvili.

The opposition negotiators involve: Gubaz Sanikidze of National Forum; Tina Khidasheli of the Republican Party, part of Alliance for Georgia; Viktor Dolidze from Irakli Alasania’s political team, also part of Alliance for Georgia and Koka Guntsadze, an individual opposition politician.

Along with Davit Bakradze, the ruling party at the meeting is represented by lawmakers Petre Tsiskarishvili, leader of parliamentary majority; Goka Gabashvili; Giorgi Meladze, chair of parliamentary committee on sector economy and Zurab Melikishvili, as well as Minister for Prison System and Penitentiary, Dimitry Shashkin.

Irakli Alasania, the leader of Alliance for Georgia, said at a news conference before the launch of the meeting, that it was “a positive step made by the both sides.”

He also said that “the format” of possible talks with President Saakashvili would be discussed at the meeting.

This is the first meeting between the representatives of opposition and the authorities since the launch of street protest rallies on April 9.

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