Georgia's Saakashvili eyes corruption, poverty, Abkhazia

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 05, 2004

Georgia's Saakashvili eyes corruption, poverty, Abkhazia

Mikhail Saakashvili, favorite in Georgia's presidential poll, pledged Sunday to fight corruption, combat poverty and restore central control over the restive regions of the former Soviet republic.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Mikhail Saakashvili, favorite in Georgia's presidential poll, pledged Sunday to fight corruption, combat poverty and restore central control over the restive regions of the former Soviet republic.

At a press conference held after Sunday's presidential election, Saakashvili said he would uphold peaceful negotiations with the breakaway province of Abkhazia.

Georgia is willing to give Abkhazia extensive autonomy within the framework of one nation, but no separation of Abkhazia from Georgia will be allowed, Saakashvili stressed.

He also expressed hope that the United Nations and Russia wouldplay constructive roles in settling the issue.

Abkhazia's independence movement culminated in a 1992-93 war that forced out Georgian authorities.

Saakashvili pledged that he would live up to his promises by seeking national unity, carrying out constitutional reform and fighting corruption.

On foreign policy, Saakashvili stressed the importance of developing friendly ties with neighboring Russia, which he took asone of new government's major tasks.

The two countries should manage to seek common ground while upholding the national interests of each side, he said.

Smooth voting

Georgia's presidential election was called swiftly after former President Eduard Shevardnadze's resignation last November following mass protest against alleged fraud in the parliamentary elections.

The run-up to the poll was marred by violence and threats of boycott by discontented regions, but the polling day turned out tobe peaceful.

According to Georgia's electoral law, a 50 percent threshold isrequired to make presidential polls valid.

But exit polls conducted by Georgian and American agencies indicated that Saakashvili netted 85.8 percent of the votes, an absolute lead over his four rivals.

Georgia's Central Elections Commission (CEC) has declared the election valid, citing a preliminary voter turnout of 65 percent.

CEC Chairman Zurab Chiaberashvili described the election as "almost impeccable," saying the voters "behaved very decently and displayed political culture" and that "no flagrant violations wereregistered in the ballot."

Official preliminary results of the presidential election are expected to be announced Monday and the final results will come out on Wednesday.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Georgia's Saakashvili launches presidential election campaign

Georgia holds presidential election

Saakashvili claims victory in Georgia's presidential poll

Will China's rise trigger Sino-US confrontation? ( 47 Messages)

China may participate in reconstruction of Iraq ( 8 Messages)

Gas field blowout kills 191in SW China, 290-odd hospitalized ( 32 Messages)

HK singer Anita Mui dies of cancer ( 7 Messages)

China offers emergency humanitarian aid to Iran ( 14 Messages)