The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 24 2004

Zhvania’s and Saakashvili’s parties formally unite
On anniversary, the three revolution leaders stress unity, pride in
achievements, need to do more
By Mary Makharashvili

On Monday, the day before the first anniversary of the Rose Revolution,
the two main governmental parties, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania’s
United Democrats and President Mikheil Saakashvili’s National Movement
were formally united to form the United National Movement.

The creation of the new party was announced at a governing faction
congress held at Tbilisi’s Sports Palace. The congress, which opened
with a video film of the new national anthem made by producer Avto
Varsimashvili, was attended by over 10,000 people from all the regions
of Georgia and included 2,000 delegates.

The three leaders of the revolution, Zhvania, Saakashvili and Speaker
of Parliament Nino Burjanadze, whose smaller faction did not join the
new party, were joined on stage by Tsiuri Tsereteli, the mother of
national hero Zaza Damenia, who was killed when he threw himself on
a landmine in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone during the summer
so as to protect other soldiers from the blast, and Shorena Khubua,
a teacher of Georgian language from the ethnically Armenian village
of Sadakhlo.

The performance of the government in the year since the revolution,
and the continuing unity of the three leaders, were the main issues
addressed in the leaders’ speeches.

Prime Minister Zhvania denied categorically any rift between the three
leaders. “I want to say that all talks of some kind of confrontation
between the revolution leaders are absolutely groundless. Yes, there
are some arguments and misunderstanding over this or that issue that
should still be, but I can declare with full responsibility that we
are united,” he said.

The Speaker of Parliament stressed the importance of honesty and
communication within the government, saying, “Of course, there will be
critics from Parliament as well as critics directed toward Parliament,
but this is a normal, healthy process. Our strength is in the fact
that we do not avoid telling the truth or saying things that might
be unpleasant to hear.”

“But we have no right to be satisfied; we have no right to close our
eyes to even the smallest problem,” Burjanadze continued. “We need
to say everything to each other loudly and clearly so that mistakes
can be avoided.”

While Zhvania focused on the continuing unity of the leaders, and
the government’s willingness and ability to deliver on its promises,
and Burjanadze reflected on the fact that the government still had a
long way to go, President Mikheil Saakashvili added a note of bravura,
harking back to Georgia’s golden age under King David the Builder
to proclaim that under his administration the country was entering
a new golden age.

“Our model of building Georgia is based on that of King Davit
Aghmashenebeli,” he declared saying that his government would fight
without compromise to reintegrate the country’s breakaway regions of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

“Georgia will only finally be an independent country when the most
beautiful flag of five crosses flies over the Roki tunnel,” the
president said referring to the land border between South Ossetia
and Russia. He went on to warn the audience that they are facing a
great fight ahead.

“We want good relations with all the neighboring country but not at
the expense of the independence,” said the president.

The president also stated that education reform, strengthening the
army, and encouraging Georgians living in foreign countries to return
to their homeland remain the main priorities for him.

Saakashvili also warned participants that former allies of Eduard
Shevardnadze are trying to protect their interests and destabilize the
current administration. According to Prime News, Saakashvili stated
imprisoned “mafiosi” own millions in banks, control some parts of
the press and political groups and they are occupied with a fight
against the Georgian government.

Fighting corruption remains a priority too, Saakashvili saying that
especially in the regions corruption still exists. The government has
been “cleared [of corrupt officials], though the rats have moved the
battlefield to the regions and plan to return to power from there,”
Prime News cites the president as saying.

Parties of government unite

Saakashvili is the chairman of the newly-formed United National
Movement, while the General Secretary of the National Movement Giorgi
Arveladze will retain his post in the consolidated party.

“We formed our political unity before the revolution and this unity
is still strong,” commented Arveladze.

Giorgi Kirkitadze will be Executive Secretary, Gocha Kuprava
Organization Secretary, and Mikheil Machavariani will head the regional
department of the party.

Speaker Nino Burjanadze is not a party member, although two of her
team, Irakli Kovzhinidze and Nino Nakashidze, are among the twenty
other members of the party council. “The most important thing for me
was the unification of the Nationalists and Democrats,” she said.

Ten former National Movement members (Koba Bekauri, Giga Bokeria, Roman
Gotsiridze, Nodar Grigalashvili, Nikoloz Gvaramia, Davit Kirkitadze,
Rati Shamkurashvili, Gigi Targamadze, Giorgi Kheviashvili and
Irakli Tsipuria) and eight former united Democrats (Zurab Zhvania,
Giorgi Gegelashvili, Khatuna Gogorishvili, Gocha Kuprava, Mikheil
Machavariani, Eduard Surmanidze, Davit Tkeshelashvili and Gigi
Tsereteli) are also Council members.

Chair of the parliamentary Committee for Health, Labor and Social
Affairs Gigi Tsereteli described the overall message of the congress
as unity of the parties, pride in the administration’s achievements,
and awareness of the need to do more: “Yes, during this one year, we
have achieved a lot but there are still a lot of things to be done.
So this was the reason of our unification. We should do more things
together,” he said.