Saakashvili vows never to allow "disagreements on main issues"

February 8, 2010 by georgiamedia

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Georgia's policy towards Ukraine appears confused tonight as President Mikheil Saakashvili (pictured) suggested democracy was dead in Kiev after yesterday's presidental poll: despite having congratulated the people of Ukraine on a successful and democratic election in the early hours of the Georgian morning.

Speaking to his parliamentary allies this evening Georgia's president hinted that he intended to keep an iron grip on dissent in his country, telling MPs - reports InterPressNews - that "Georgia must never repeat the fate of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s problems were compromises with regard to reforms, and national disagreements on main issues, which are lethal for democracy."

Yet earlier, speaking on late-night Ukrainian TV, Saakashvili said of the poll "Ukrainian democracy has won" and this morning deputy foreign minister Nino Kalandadze said Georgia welcomed "the choice of the people of Ukraine".

Saakashvili may hope to communicate one message internationally - that he will accept the result of the Ukrainian poll - while using it as a way of attacking the opposition at home. With complete control over the three national television channels the president has little reason to fear - certainly outside Tbilisi - being exposed as delivering mixed messages.

And his claim that "national disagreements on main issues ... are lethal for democracy" suggests he has no intention of sharing power or even of allowing vigorous debate.

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