06 May 2004 20:55
Former Ajarian leader in no danger - Georgian ambassador
MOSCOW. May 6 (Interfax) - Tbilisi is not at all worried by the news that Aslan Abashidze, who has resigned as
president of Georgia's internal republic of Ajaria, has arrived in Moscow and will possibly seek political asylum
in Russia, Georgian Ambassador to Russia Konstantin Kemularia told Interfax Thursday morning.
Kemularia recalled that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili had earlier said that if he resolved the conflict
between Georgia and Ajaria in a civilized way, Abashidze would not be prosecuted.
"Abashidze is in no danger, he may follow in the footsteps of former Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze and
write memoirs in Tbilisi or, if he wishes, in Moscow," Kemularia said.
The visit of Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili to Moscow later on Thursday will proceed "against a
very good background," he said.
"Tbilisi is pleased with the Russian aid in resolving the situation in Ajaria," Kemularia said.
"There are quite a few bilateral issues" on the agenda of Zurabishvili's talks in Moscow, he said. [GG
ASIA EMRG DIP RU POL] ap aw <>
[Interfax] |
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