Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, November 23, 2003
Georgian opposition attempt to grab power 'unacceptable': CIS
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma Saturday condemned as "unacceptable" the opposition moves in Georgia to seize power from President Eduard Shevardnadze and urged all sides to end the crisis by legal means.
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma Saturday condemned as "unacceptable" the opposition moves in Georgia to seize power from President Eduard Shevardnadze and urged all sides to end the crisis by legal means.
"Political forces are ready to take power by unconstitutional means. Such an attempt is unacceptable for any democratic state," Kuchma said in a statement issued on behalf of the Commonwealth ofIndependent States (CIS), which groups 12 former Soviet republics.
"The CIS countries call on all of Georgia's political forces who are concerned about their country's independence and territorial integrity to return to the framework of democracy and constitution," he added.
The statement also called on all sides in Georgia to use legal means to settle the political crisis and said the CIS countries are willing to help mediate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on a mediatory mission to Georgia Saturday night.