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Georgian Leader Defuses Crisis with Rebel Region
BATUMI, Georgia (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili Thursday defused the worst crisis since he came to power, lifting an economic blockade on the rebellious Adzhara region in return for more of a say in local affairs. The agreement, reached after three hours of talks, leaves the pro-Moscow leader Aslan Abashidze still in charge of Adzhara on the Turkish border, where Saakashvili accused him Saturday of acting like "a feudal lord from the Middle Ages."

The 36-year-old U.S.-backed president, who swept to power after a people's revolution last year, struck a more measured note Thursday, but made clear he intended to unite all of Georgia including separatist Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "I believe we have achieved full mutual understanding," a beaming Saakashvili told a crowd of several thousand after the talks. "There is no conflict in Adzhara."
Unless Abashidze back-tracks.
In return for lifting a blockade that crippled the 200,000 barrel-a-day port from midnight, Saakashvili will appoint a personal representative to watch over the Black Sea port and customs officials, according to a statement released by Abashidze. Abashidze will also guarantee free election campaigning for a parliamentary poll on March 28, allow citizens to move freely, disarm his supporters, and revise with Georgian prosecutors the cases of people who had been imprisoned under controversial circumstances, the statement said.

An unsmiling Abashidze told the crowd: "This meeting shows that there are no issues which cannot be resolved." "It's clear what Georgia gains and what Saakashvili gains, and what Abashidze gains is more time for his smooth departure," said political analyst Temuri Yakobashvili, vice president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies.
Time to cash in those Kruggerrands, Abashidze!

Posted by: Steve White 2004-03-19
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=28546