Saakashvili Discusses ‘S.Ossetia Administration’ with Opposition

President Saakashvili met with senior opposition lawmakers on March 28 and discussed Tbilisi?s plans to set up ?a temporary administrative unit? in South Ossetia.

In his opening remarks, aired on Georgian television, Saakashvili told the lawmakers that ?mistakes have been made by all parties, including from the legislative point of view in respect of conflicts in the past.?

?But, I think it is always possible to rectify these mistakes,? he added.

Saakashvili did not go into further detail, but his remarks were a clear reference to the decision of the Georgian legislative body to abolish South Ossetia?s status as an Autonomous District prior to the armed conflict in the early nineties.

MP Davit Gamkrelidze, leader of the opposition New Rights Party; MP Davit Berdzenishvili of the opposition Republican Party; MP Zviad Dzidziguri of the Conservative Party and MP Zurab Tkemaladze, the leader of opposition Industrialist Party, participated in the meeting. Senior lawmakers from the ruling National Movement Party, including Giga Bokeria and majority leader Maia Nadiradze were also present at the meeting.

Saakashvili told the lawmakers that Tbilisi?s proposal to set up an administrative unit in South Ossetia was part of the Georgian side?s attempts to counter ?provocations? and plans ?to separate Georgia into pieces? with ?vigorous actions and initiatives.?

?Your [opposition lawmakers?] opinion is very important for me, even if our opinions may diverge in certain details,? Saakashvili said.

After the talks opposition MPs declined to comment on the details of the meeting, although they said that the proposal on the South Ossetian administrative unit was ?interesting.?

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