MP DENIES PLANS TO QUIT PARLIAMENT OVER ‘ETHNIC SLUR’
Civil Georgia, Georgia
May 17 2007
Lawmaker from the ruling National Movement party Beso Jugeli denied
speculation on May 17 that he planned to quit the legislative body
after being rebuked by President Saakashvili for his disparaging
comments on ethnic minorities.
Controversy has surrounded Jugeli since he allegedly made remarks in
an interview with Tbilisi-based radio Ucnobi (Unknown) and in another
interview with Imedi TV in April.
The Georgian daily, 24 Saati (24 Hours), ran an op-ed last month
slamming Jugeli for allegedly saying while defending a new tax
scheme for residents of Tbilisi’s Old Town that the proposal "is not
directed against Georgians" because "mainly Armenians, Azerbaijanis,
Kurds and other nationalities live in these historic districts."
In other remarks made to Imedi TV, Jugeli said: "There is no necessity
for Mikirtich [an Armenian name] to always live in Sololaki [a district
in the old part of Tbilisi]."
Jugeli apologized for the latter remarks by saying in an interview
with the Georgian weekly, Kviris Palitra, on April 30 that it was
"a mistake" to say so. "I am a politician and I should not have even
misspoken such a thing. A politician should be careful; but every
one can make a mistake," Jugeli said.
On May 17, Jugeli said that President Saakashvili also told him that
"I made a mistake."
But Jugeli strongly denied making the remarks attributed to him by
24 Saati, which he allegedly voiced in the interview with the radio
station, Ucnobi. A taped interview is not available.
"I have never said anything like this [remarks reported by 24 Saati]…
Why should I quit Parliament?" Jugeli said on May 17.
"I was going to sue the journalist, Eka Kvesitadze, [the author of
the op-ed in 24 Saati]; but I have changed my mind," he added.
"Let him sue; why doesn’t he sue me if he thinks that he is right?"
Eka Kvesitadze told Rustavi 2 TV on May 17.
Key lawmakers from the ruling party also denied the speculations
that Jugeli was pressured by his party colleagues to quit Parliament
because of his remarks.
"I have not heard anything about [Jugeli’s plans to quit Parliament],"
Giga Bokeria, an influential lawmaker from the ruling party, told
Rustavi 2 TV on May 17.
"The major priority of this government has always been the principle
that Georgia belongs to all of its citizen regardless of their ethnic
background. I am sure that Mr. Jugeli also thinks the same way,"
he added.