Georgian President calls PM for second dialogue

By AzerNews

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has regarded as "interesting" the second face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili after the October 2012 parliamentary elections, which was held on Monday.

"First of all, the meeting with Ivanishvili is always very interesting. Interesting means that there are fundamental differences in our visions and none of us is hiding it. But it is always nice to have a chance... to have such conversations; it is right to talk about these issues openly to each other, and not through TV cameras and open letters," Saakashvili said after the meeting, according to the civil.ge website.

According to Saakashvili, he informed Ivanishvili about his views over the political situation in the country and highlighted the sources of concern including independence of the judiciary and media, the need to stop politically-motivated persecution of United National Movement (UNM) activists and officials, as well as amnesty.

"Of course, we could not have agreed on everything today, because our visions on many issues are different... but I think we both have agreed that we are all the children of Georgia and that we should take care of Georgia, that Georgian people need tranquility, stability and guarantees for long-term development. We agree that none of the sides wants any complications," Saakashvili said.

Speaking about the speculations that the president may dismiss the Georgian government or dissolve the parliament by using his powers, Saakashvili said: "It is simply not true, because this government was elected by the Georgian people. Thus, any talk that such an intention may emerge should be ruled out - here I am, the first-hand source. It is absolutely impossible for me to do it."

Furthermore, Saakashvili stated that the sides mulled the issue of constitutional amendments and dialogue.

"I think that everyone understands that our interest is to maintain a free judiciary in the country. Georgian citizens need a judiciary which is free of dictate. This judiciary cannot naturally be under my dictate because I do not have such levers anymore and I think we all understand it. It should not either be under the dictate of the prosecutor's office or any government agency," Saakashvili said.

In conclusion of his speech, Saakashvili called for continuation of dialogue to make consensus decisions on all issues, including constitutional amendments.

According to Saakashvili, the new and old government must go forward. He said the outstanding issues should be solved in meetings.

In turn, Ivanishvili accused Saakashvili of the same wrongdoings, saying that "it would be better if there would be no meetings like the one today, which was just for the sake of holding a meeting."

Speaking about the constitutional amendments on presidential powers, he said that it would be put to the vote in parliament by the end of March.

"I have a sense that this draft will be passed," Ivanishvili said, but expressed his belief that "even if it's not passed, it would not cause any major negative political consequences."

The Georgian parliamentary majority has introduced some constitutional changes for limiting the powers of the President. The majority and minority still have not agreed on the proposed changes to the constitution. The tensions began to escalate after the Georgian president's annual speech was postponed due to his refusal to recognize the constitutional changes limiting presidential powers.