Tensions rise in Georgia over vote results

[Cocoa]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1112/p06s01-woeu.html

Shevardnadze accused opposition leaders Monday of trying to engineer a coup. Officials said Tuesday that he plans to meet with opposition leaders in the capital, Tbilisi, for a second time to try to resolve the issue.

Thousands of Georgians - irate at their deeply unpopular president and frustrated by widespread government corruption and alleged vote rigging - have gathered for a fourth straight day outside the parliament building, braving soaking rains to demand change.

more...


It looks like "mission accomplished" for James Baker...

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030703-15.html

Presidential Envoy James Baker to Visit Tbilisi, Georgia
Statement by the Press Secretary
Visit by Presidential Envoy James Baker to Tbilisi, Georgia

Former Secretary of State James Baker will visit Tbilisi, Georgia on July 4 and 5 on behalf of President Bush. The mission's primary objective will be to discuss with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze ways to advance political and economic reform in Georgia through free and fair Parliamentary elections this fall. Mr. Baker will also discuss U.S. -Georgian cooperation on counterterrorism and other security matters. The Baker mission reflects the United States' readiness to work with all Georgian citizens who are committed to advancing reform and fighting corruption in pursuit of a democratic, prosperous, and stable

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030703-15.html

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Jeez--they have the same problem with elections in THAT Georgia

as we do in ours.

[brainshrub]

2. LOL! When I first saw this I thought

great! They are finally realizing what happened!!!

[PartyPooper]

3. Me, too!

:-)

[tom_paine]

4. hah hah, Baker going over to promote free and fair elections

Is like Capone going over to promote honest union practices...

My Gpd, George Orwell, you sure got it right! Just 17 years off with your title, though...

[0007]

7. Hillarious! Capone probably was more honest......

"The president is not listening to protesters because "he has an old-style Soviet mentality - a Soviet functionary who doesn't respect people," Khutsishvili says. "Democracy can't be built with people like that."

.....our junior listens to protesters, 'eh?

am I in a time warp or something? The White House letter sending James A. Baker III to monitor fair & honest elections in Georgia is dated last July. WTF!

[Cocoa]

5. note that the U.S. has "anti terrorism" troops in Georgia

they should come in handy for enforcing Baker's results, and keeping the pipeline project safe.

[bleedingheart]

6. To bad we can't send Zell to that Georgia!

[E_Zapata]

8. ugh! Wrong GA. But I am sure Mr. Baker will fix everything all up!

To the rescue!!!!!!!

[DemBones DemBones]

9. As a Georgian, I pray James Baker never comes near my home.

We don't need the Bush family consigliere here!

[Cocoa]

10. update

can civil war be averted...

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/11/12/georgia.elections.reut/

TBILISI, Georgia (Reuters) -- Georgia's opposition said on Wednesday it was ready for what could be last-ditch talks with President Eduard Shevardnadze to resolve an election crisis, ending round-the-clock protests and avoiding bloodshed.

The opposition says authorities stole the November 2 parliamentary poll. Hundreds of protesters again joined stalwarts who drank, danced and sang through the night outside parliament to push demands for a new election or Shevardnadze's ouster.

Shevardnadze, 75, has softened his stance, saying he wanted to work with "those on the other side of the barricade."

Western powers have appealed to both sides to resolve the crisis peacefully, hoping to avoid a resurgence of the unrest and separatist violence that shattered the ex-Soviet state in the early 1990s.

The country of about five million is seen as key to securing an oil pipeline from neighbouring Azerbaijan to Turkey's Mediterranean coast -- an alternative to a Gulf outlet.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/11/12/georgia.elections.reut/