Zaman, Turkey
June 26 2004

Turkey to name Saakashvili ‘Democracy Hero of the Year’

Georgian President Mikhael Sakaashvili, who arrived in Istanbul
yesterday for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit,
will be presented the ‘Democracy Hero of the Year’ award.

Saakashvili assumed the Georgian presidency after last November’s
‘Velvet Revolution’ that ousted former president Eduard Shevardnadze.
Additionally, as a result of Saakashvili’s decisive policies,
Adzharia Autonomous Republic leader Aslan Abashidze was forced to
leave the country. Pro-Saakashvili parties claimed victory in last
week’s first independent parliamentary elections in Adzharia.

Mustafa Sarigul, Mayor of Istanbul’s Sisli district, will present the
award to Saakashvili during a ceremony tomorrow. The Georgian
President will also be given the key to the city of Istanbul.

Saakashvili will speak at a conference entitled ‘Atlantic Alliance at
a New Crossroad’. The conference is co-organized by the
American-German Marshall Fund and The Turkey Economic and Social
Studies Foundation (TESEV).

Meanwhile, within the framework of the NATO summit, Foreign Ministers
from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey will meet to discuss the
Nagarno-Karabag (Karabagh) issue. The Turkey-Armenia border entry
issue and bilateral relations will also be taken up.