Abashidze to Saakashvili: Ultimatums have no place in 'families'

Aslan Abashidze will not bow to the ultimatum put forward by Mikhail Saakashvili, the Adjarian leader declared to journalists here today, a Rosbalt correspondent reported. Abashidze said ultimatums are not an acceptable way to deal with domestic political questions. 'The head of a family cannot go about with a weapon in his own house and intimidate his children and others in his family,' he said. The leader of Adjaria also noted that he had been elected by his people and, accordingly, it was not in the power of the president of Georgia to remove him from his post.

Abashidze expressed readiness to discuss any and all questions with Saakashvili but only within the framework of Georgia's constitution. He said he was ready, too, to allow the Georgian president to enter Batumi, but only if he comes alone or is accompanied by two or three persons.