GEORGIAN PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON ABKHAZ ELECTION OUTCOME

Imedi TV, Tbilisi
18 Oct 04

(Presenter) I cannot say whether a rose revolution has taken place in
Abkhazia, although it is a fact that our enemies are worried because
their hopes were dashed, says President Saakashvili. (Passage omitted)

(Saakashvili, speaking to journalists) I do not want to draw any
comparisons (between Georgia and) Abkhazia. (Abkhaz presidential
candidate Sergey) Bagapsh himself says that this was a new rose
revolution. However, one thing is clear that our worst enemies have
had their plans thwarted. I am happy about that.

I cannot say that I am very optimistic about these other people
though. One thing is clear. No-one should stick their nose into
Abkhazia. I do not advise anyone to meddle with people in Abkhazia,
certainly not the local people and especially not the vulnerable
Georgian residents of Gali District.

We are watching the situation very closely. We want peace, not war.

We now have adequate resources in place to ensure that the public are
protected and we certainly do not intend to back down. No-one will be
allowed to expel anyone, neither Georgian locals nor those of any
other ethnicity, just as they have not been able to in other regions.

Abkhaz who have left Abkhazia should return, as should others such as
Estonians, Ukrainians, Greeks, Armenians and of course Georgians
should return. That’s the way it is.

Our enemies are very nervous. I am not worried about them being
nervous.