Press Scanner
Compiled by Londa Mindiashvili
Monday, June 15
Patrol police flee from journalists
Sakartvelos Respublika writes that the leaders of the National Forum have had problems with the patrol police. Party members say that patrol police stopped their cars on the outskirts of Batumi and tried to impound one of them, explaining that there was a penalty notice on the car of Misha Peiqrishvili, who was with them. The National Forum members state that Peiqrishvili was not driving his own car, and it was Kakha Shartava’s car the police were trying to take away.
The party members refused to let the police take the car and those concerned discussed the matter for about an hour and a half. The police abruptly withdrew after journalists appeared. The National Forum believes the incident was a provocation connected with their activities in Adjara. The party’s leaders are holding meetings with the residents of Khulo.
Soso Tsintsadze: I cannot understand what the Saakashvili and Gachechiladze talked about
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that in order to expain why President Saakashvili chose to invite Levan Gachechiladze to meet him, political analyst Soso Tsintsadze says:
“Gachechiladze was the most effective opponent of Saakashvili at the last Presidential election. He is also the most influential leader of the opposition. So it is natural that the President invited him. It’s possible that there were some other reasons not known to the public, and I cannot speak about these, but the President invited the natural choice.
“Frankly speaking, I listened to Gachechiladze’s statement after the meeting and cannot understand what the conversation was about. It is difficult to imagine, and to me unbelievable, that Saakashvili talked to Gachechiladze about Russia. I cannot believe that Saakashvili asked for this meeting just to assure Gachechiladze that he is still President. There were other items discussed, but what?
“Gachechiladze has not said what Saakashvili actually said to him. When his brother asked him what Saakashvili had told him the answer was: “Saakashvili lives in another world. There are two Georgias – the one in his head and the one other people live in.” but could not he be more concrete?
“Utsnobi’s statement was also very interesting to me. He said, “Without meetings and negotiations nothing is done.” The brothers Gachechiladze were among the more radical of opposition members but now they are demanding negotiations. This demonstrates that the gap between the leaders of the opposition is deepening.
“Of course, the meeting in Shavnabada was confidential. Under the terms of the meeting neither participant can fully reveal what they talked about. But a three hour conversation is not a joke. It is a lot of time to spend talking, especially for politicians such as Saakashvili and Gachechiladze. They have known each other for more than ten years. They know each other’s sympathies and antipathies very well. We are interested in what the President offered Gachechiladze, and whether it was offered to him personally or as the leader of the opposition. There are a lot of questions still to be answered about this meeting.”
Sakartvelos Respublika writes that the leaders of the National Forum have had problems with the patrol police. Party members say that patrol police stopped their cars on the outskirts of Batumi and tried to impound one of them, explaining that there was a penalty notice on the car of Misha Peiqrishvili, who was with them. The National Forum members state that Peiqrishvili was not driving his own car, and it was Kakha Shartava’s car the police were trying to take away.
The party members refused to let the police take the car and those concerned discussed the matter for about an hour and a half. The police abruptly withdrew after journalists appeared. The National Forum believes the incident was a provocation connected with their activities in Adjara. The party’s leaders are holding meetings with the residents of Khulo.
Soso Tsintsadze: I cannot understand what the Saakashvili and Gachechiladze talked about
Sakartvelos Respublika reports that in order to expain why President Saakashvili chose to invite Levan Gachechiladze to meet him, political analyst Soso Tsintsadze says:
“Gachechiladze was the most effective opponent of Saakashvili at the last Presidential election. He is also the most influential leader of the opposition. So it is natural that the President invited him. It’s possible that there were some other reasons not known to the public, and I cannot speak about these, but the President invited the natural choice.
“Frankly speaking, I listened to Gachechiladze’s statement after the meeting and cannot understand what the conversation was about. It is difficult to imagine, and to me unbelievable, that Saakashvili talked to Gachechiladze about Russia. I cannot believe that Saakashvili asked for this meeting just to assure Gachechiladze that he is still President. There were other items discussed, but what?
“Gachechiladze has not said what Saakashvili actually said to him. When his brother asked him what Saakashvili had told him the answer was: “Saakashvili lives in another world. There are two Georgias – the one in his head and the one other people live in.” but could not he be more concrete?
“Utsnobi’s statement was also very interesting to me. He said, “Without meetings and negotiations nothing is done.” The brothers Gachechiladze were among the more radical of opposition members but now they are demanding negotiations. This demonstrates that the gap between the leaders of the opposition is deepening.
“Of course, the meeting in Shavnabada was confidential. Under the terms of the meeting neither participant can fully reveal what they talked about. But a three hour conversation is not a joke. It is a lot of time to spend talking, especially for politicians such as Saakashvili and Gachechiladze. They have known each other for more than ten years. They know each other’s sympathies and antipathies very well. We are interested in what the President offered Gachechiladze, and whether it was offered to him personally or as the leader of the opposition. There are a lot of questions still to be answered about this meeting.”