“Georgia should not be pro-American or pro-Russian, it must become pro-Georgian,” Mr. Dzhaparidze said. He said he did not accept the antagonism expressed by some members of the authorities towards the opposition. “In witch-hunting and the search for political enemies, we can lose everything that we have thanks to Eduard Shevardnadze,” Mr. Dzhaparidze stressed.

He said it was unacceptable to use the ethnic standoff for achieving political goals. The official said a political dialog was needed “to reach a maximum consensus and punish people who brought the country to this state”. “There should be constitutional order in the country. To establish it, it is necessary that the branches of government and the whole of the political opposition realize their responsibility to the country,” Mr. Dzhaparidze said.

In his opinion, the November 2 parliamentary election in Georgia was held amid an open struggle for power, not for the interests of the people. He said the voting was marred by serious irregularities, in which all political forces of the country were involved. Mr. Dzhaparidze accused all political forces of attempting to strike deals behind Eduard Shevardnadze’s back. “Everyone is against everyone in Georgia now, and there is a danger of bloodshed at the hands of Georgians themselves,” he said. “Should it happen, nobody will receive what he wants, and let no one think that this will remain unpunished,” he added.

Mr. Dzhaparidze believes that Georgia’s image has been damaged significantly, and there is a serious danger that the country’s European integration will slow down or even collapse. At the same time, he does not rule out the possibility that criminal forces could use Georgia’s political standoff to their interests.

The Central Election Commission of Georgia announced the results of the November 2 parliamentary election on Thursday. The President’s group, For A New Georgia bloc, won a 21.23 percent share (38 seats in the parliament), the Revival bloc came in second, with 18.84 percent (33 parliament seats) and the opposition bloc Saakashvili-National Movement garnered 18.8 percent of the vote (32 seats). The party Laborists has 12.04 percent (20 seats), the bloc Burdzhanadze-Democrats – 8.79 percent (15 seats), and the New Rightists bloc gathered 7.35 percent (12 seats). The document on the results of the vote was signed by 10 members of the Central Election Commission, and five members refused to sign it, saying that it was necessary to hold a re-vote or recount the votes.

Meanwhile, Mikhail Saakashvili, the radical opposition leader, promised to prevent the parliament from holding its session. “Dictator Eduard Shevardnadze has usurped power and, together with his henchmen, appointed a new parliament. The legislative body was not elected by the people", Mr. Saakashvili said.