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Georgian President may call early elections: ex-speaker

Politics Materials 23 December 2008 12:14 (UTC +04:00)

Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 23 / Trend , N.Kirtskhalia /Georgian President Micheil Saakashvili has started an election campaign, and may call early parliamentary and presidential elections, Nino Burjanadze, the ex-Speaker and leader of the opposition Democratic Movement Unified Georgia party, said after returning from Ukraine and the U.S.

However, "it is impossible to hold normal elections in undemocratic terms in the country", said Burjanadze.

Saakashvili stated that he was intended to take office until 2013 and not to be a candidate subsequently to the post of the President.

Burjanadze said after her trip to Ukraine and the U.S. that "Georgia lost confidence abroad, and respect, as well". She considers that "only early elections can save the country".

Ex-Speaker predicts the possible loss by Georgia of financial aid of the West, which has already been achieved. Previously donors promised Georgia $4.5bln of aid.

"If the authorities of the country do not undertake real democratic changes, then the U.S. will not shut eye to deficiencies in democracy in Georgia", she said.

According to Burjanadze, "if the authorities of Georgia continue to behave in the manner that they conduct, and they will, probably continue, then the West will stop aiding".

The democratic development of Georgia, freedom to media and court is needed.

Touching the visit to the U.S., Burjanadze said that she has met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Ex-Speaker again expressed her dissatisfaction due to the fact that the Justice Ministry, until now, has not registered her movement so far.

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