Shevardnadze ready for dialogue with opposition

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze is ready for dialogue with the opposition but does not accept its ultimatum.

"The parliament is ready to start the meeting. The deputies who wish to come may come /to the first session of the new Georgian parliament/, those who don't want to come are free not to do it," Shevardnadze said live of the Georgian TV on Saturday.

"I detest appeals to civil unrest. There were no such appeals during the civil war," the president said.

He called on the opposition to dialogue in parliament and State Chancellery.

"The actions of the opposition have nothing to do with democracy. Maybe it's my fault that I permitted a lot but we can't have too much democracy. At least, there is no dictatorship," Shevardnadze concluded.

The first session of the new Georgian parliament should take place at 15.00 Moscow time, on Saturday, November 22. The meeting is expected to start with Shevardnadze's address to the deputies.

A rally of the united Georgian opposition demanding the president's resignation started by the building of the Georgian parliament at 12.00 Moscow time.