GEORGIA: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES NAME MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI AS THEIR SOLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHILE FORMER PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE EMPTIES HIS OFFICE

Record ID: 584931

  • Title: GEORGIA: MAIN OPPOSITION PARTIES NAME MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI AS THEIR SOLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHILE FORMER PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE EMPTIES HIS OFFICE
  • Date: 26th November 2003
  • Summary: (W4) TBILISI, GEORGIA (NOVEMBER 26, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. ACTING GEORGIAN PRESIDENT NINO BORDZHANADZE AND OTHER MAIN OPPOSITION LEADERS MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI, ZURAB ZHVANIA AND OTHER OFFICIALS ARRIVING TO MEET MEDIA (2 SHOTS) 0.12 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) ACTING GEORGIAN PRESIDENT NINO BURDZHANADZE, SAYING: "We have made a decision that on the early presidential election we will have a single candidate for president and this candidate for president will be Mr. Mikhail Saakashvili." - BORDZHANADZE THEN TURNS TO SAAKASHVILI AND SAYS: "congratulations." / BORDZHANADZE AND SAAKSAHVILI SHAKE HANDS 0.26 3. MEDIA LISTENING 0.31 (W5) TBILISI, GEORGIA (NOVEMBER 26, 2003) (REUTERS - NO ACCESS GEORGIA) 4. FORMER GEORGIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE INSIDE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE 0.34 5. SHEVARDNADZE AND HIS GRANDDAUGHTER LOOKING THROUGH A MAGAZINE (2 SHOTS) 0.45 6. CU: SHEVARDNADZE POINTING OUT A PICTURE IN THE MAGAZINE TO HIS GRANDDAUGHTER 0.50 7. SHEVARDNADZE'S DESK, POSSESSIONS WRAPPED UP AND LEFT ON DESK 0.54 8. SECRETARY SHOWS FRAMED PICTURE TAKEN FROM WALL TO SHEVARDNADZE 1.07 9. CLOSE-UP OF VELVET COVERED BOXES ON TABLE 1.08 10. SCU: SHEVARDNADZE TAKING SOME BOOKS FROM BOOKSHELF 1.16 11. DESK WITH PILE OF PAPERS 1.19 12. SHEVARDNADZE KISSES HIS PERSONAL CAMERAMAN 1.32 13. SHEVARDNADZE WALKING OUT OF LIFT AND LEAVING BUILDING 1.44 (U3) TBILISI, GEORGIA (NOVEMBER 26, 2003) (REUTERS) 14. MAN ENTERING PARLIAMENT BUILDING 1.49 15. MAN PLANTING TREE IN PRESIDENTIAL YARD 1.51 16. (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) FORMER GEORGIAN PRESIDENT EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE, SAYING: "I can't answer [who shall be president] I think they [opposition] must agree amongst themselves." 1.55 17. SHEVARDNADZE GETS INTO LIMOUSINE AND DRIVES AWAY 2.14 (W5) TBILISI, GEORGIA (NOVEMBER 26, 2003) (REUTERS) 18. MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI IN HIS OFFICE / MEDIA (2 SHOTS) 2.23 19. (SOUNDBITE) (Georgian) MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING: "I think one of my first visits, perhaps even before the election, should be to Moscow to discuss all our bilateral relations. For us, it is very important to overcome all disagreements and restore normal, human, friendly and warm relations with our great, northern neighbour." 2.49 20. MEDIA 2.54 21. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAAKASHVILI, SAYING: "Concerning Adzhara, first of all we will settle with peaceful means. Then, nobody can take Adzhara away from Georgia, this is as stupid as saying that one of the districts of Tbilisi might decide one day to be independent. The only difference is, there are no human differences there, there is only a governor there who doesn't like me. Then what? He doesn't like me and I certainly don't like his methods of being dictatorial and authoritarian. But, does not mean that there should not be dialogue. There will be dialogue, there will be a peaceful settlement. The normal development of the country should be upheld and we'll do that." 3.41 24. MEDIA 3.47 25. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAAKASHVILI, SAYING: "Every third Georgian, even before those elections, even before the revolution, voted for us. Every sixth Georgian voted for United Democrats. So, we together already then control almost 50 percent of the Georgian vote. Now, it's-I mean-at least more than that, at least many more, that I can say. So I cannot see how anyone can compete well unless do some very weird, stupidities for these days to come." 4.25 26. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 4.31 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th December 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: TBILISI, GEORGIA
  • Country: Georgia
  • Reuters ID: LVA6LNUQRQCM72A8ZZG5ZXLDOQHX
  • Story Text: Georgia's main opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili has
    been named as presidential candidate as former leader
    distances himself from race.


    Georgia's main opposition parties named Mikhail
    Saakashvili on Wednesday (November 26) as their sole
    candidate in forthcoming presidential elections to replace
    ousted Eduard Shevardnadze as head of state.

    As the announcement neared, former Shevardnadze paid a
    visit to his former office to clear out his personal items.

    He said he met with his former aides and passed out
    books with his signature.

    U.S-trained lawyer Saakashvili immediately said he
    expected to triumph in the January 4 presidential polls and
    a partial re-run of disputed parliamentary polls that
    triggered the mass protests which preceded Shevardnadze's
    downfall.

    "I think one of my first visits, perhaps even before
    the election, should be to Moscow to discuss all our
    bilateral relations. For us, it is very important to
    overcome all disagreements and restore normal, human,
    friendly and warm relations with our great, northern
    neighbour," Saakashvili told journalists at a news
    conference.

    Saakashvili, 35, was the driving force of the people-power
    revolution that toppled Shevardnadze on Sunday
    (November 23). Commentators said that, on his current
    popularity, Saakashvili will almost certainly win the
    election.

    Several other candidates were expected to stand,
    including some well-known fixtures on the Georgian
    political scene, commentators said. But none enjoys
    anything like the mass approval of Saakashvili and the
    January 4 election was not expected to go to a run-off,
    they said.

    Interim President Nino Burdzhanadze and fellow
    opposition figure Zurab Zhvania flanked Saakashvili as the
    announcement was made.




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