Burjanadze Doubts Saakashvili will Agree on Talks

Nino Burjanadze, a former parliamentary chairperson and leader of Democratic Movement-United Georgia, said she do not think that President Saakashvili would agree on talks with the opposition.

Speaking to reporters after meeting of the opposition leaders, which agreed to hold a meeting with parliamentary speaker Bakradze to arrange talks with the President, Burjanadze said: “Are you sure that this meeting [Saakashvili] will be held?”

“I doubt that the President will take such a brave step and meet the opposition because I cannot see any arguments, by which the President can answer to the opposition’s arguments. Unfortunately, I do not expect anything positive from any of such meetings and I have said about it not once based on my own experience. I would be glad if I am wrong,” Burjanadze said.

Although the decision to hold “a preparatory meeting” with Bakradze was made jointly, some opposition leaders said that they disagreed.

Eka Beselia of the Movement for United Georgia – party founded by ex-defense minister Irakli Okruashvili – said that her party was against of such meeting with Bakradze; but she also added that the decision had already been made and those who were against would not object.

Irakli Alasania, the leader of Alliance for Georgia, who has been defending such a meeting, also acknowledged that no all the opposition leaders were in favor of such meeting with Bakradze.

“There have been differences among the leaders on the matter, but it will not impede the process,” he said.

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, leader of Freedom party, part of Alliance for Freedom, did not attend the opposition leaders’ meeting, said that he was against of the meeting with either Saakashvili or Bakradze. He said that his party would not participate in such meeting. Alliance for Freedom was among the group of opposition parties, which are organizers of the ongoing street protests.

“Meeting with Saakashvili will have no sense,” Gamsakhurdia told Imedi television on May 8. “The only way out is peaceful, democratic protest rallies that should lead us to real compromise. I think they [authorities] are not ready for it yet.”  

”We have information that they will not accept any proposal even in respect of the public television, to say nothing about early elections,” Gamsakhurdia said.

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