Shevardnadze Offers Post Of Prime Minister To Adzhar Leader

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze does not rule out the possibility of appointing the leader of Georgia's Adzhar Autonomous Republic Aslan Abashidze the prime minister of Georgia. In an interview with Georgia's Rustavi-2 TV channel, Shevardnadze publicly admitted to offering the post of the country's prime minister to Abashidze during a trip to Batumi on November 3. He added that he hoped the parliament would support Abashidze and confirm his appointment after restoring the country's Cabinet of Ministers and the post of prime minister, which were abolished in 1995, by introducing an appropriate amendment to the Constitution. Aslan Abashidze, 63, the Chairman of the Adzhar Supreme Council from 1991 to November 4, 2001, was elected leader of Adzharia two days ago. He also heads a political bloc called Georgian Revival, the largest faction of the Georgian parliament that holds 60 of the parliament's 235 deputies' seats.