Negotiations Between Mamuka Khazaradze and Giorgi Gakharia Expected to Reach Final Agreement Tomorrow
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of Lelo for Georgia, and Giorgi Gakharia, leader of For Georgia, are on the verge of reaching a final agreement following ongoing negotiations facilitated by President Salome Zourabichvili. The two political figures met at the Orbeliani Palace, with discussions set to continue tomorrow, aiming for a resolution that would unite pro-Western opposition forces.
After leaving the presidential palace, Khazaradze spoke to journalists, emphasizing the importance of the negotiations for Georgia's European trajectory:
"The whole process is directed toward one goal - for Georgia to embark on the path to Europe, for the full consolidation of pro-Western and opposition forces, so that we can lead the country toward a peaceful, stable, and free world. It's not an easy negotiation. We are close in principle. I want to make it clear that there is no talk of positions or lists, despite the rumors I've heard. The discussion is about how to defeat Georgian Dream, how to prevent the return of the old government, and how to create a new reality so that our country can soon implement the reforms outlined in the charter that we have."
Khazaradze expressed gratitude toward President Zourabichvili and Gakharia, describing the discussions as difficult but constructive:
"I want to thank the president, and thank Giorgi for a tough but constructive negotiation. Tomorrow, we will continue in a working state again with the president. As you know, time is very short; the preparation period ends in just one week, so we hope to finish everything by tomorrow."
Gakharia also provided insights into the progress, acknowledging that while certain agreements have been reached, final details remain unresolved. He voiced optimism that a complete agreement would be reached by tomorrow:
"We haven't finished yet. I had high hopes that it would be done today, but it's not over yet - it will be finalized tomorrow. Certain agreements have been made, but some issues still need resolution. I won't discuss them here... Yesterday, I mentioned there was one issue left concerning parity, which unfortunately wasn't settled as it should have been, though we did find some sort of solution. Now, there are a few more specific matters that should, in principle, be finalized by tomorrow, and I'm hopeful that an agreement will be reached," stated Gakharia yesterday, September 18th.
Both leaders have left the Orbeliani Palace, with tomorrow expected to be a decisive day for concluding the talks.
