Georgian opposition politicians remarked on President Salome Zourabichvili’s initiative for unity.

Iago Khvichia, leader of the parliamentary Girchi Party, said he would not take part in the meetings with the President, saying he had attended similar meetings twice or three times before. In his words, he arrived to pitch his initiative. “However, I guessed that President does not want to do anything, just creates a working aura,” he said, adding Salome Zourabichvili seems to lack “courage to make serious moves.”

According to Paata Manjgaladze, a member of the Strategy Aghmashenebeli party, unification of all opposition parties was impossible but Zourabichvili’s initiative could be useful for joint work in the EU recommendations’ implementation. Manjgaladze also inquired if the President believed the court was unfair, so why the ex-president Saakashvili still is behind bars.

“In this process, I also see a step towards breaking the ice against election fraud. The opposition must agree over two main issues – the change of power and integration in Europe,” he said.

Opposition MP Teona Akubardia said she liked the President’s initiative and pledged readiness to engage. She said she would meet President Zourabichvili to know her viewpoints on how she “imagined unification for the country’s national interests.”

The For Georgia party rejected the meeting initiative.

From February 7, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili kicks off meetings with representatives of political parties and civic society over her proposed initiative for unity. The opposition Lelo party leaders, Mamuka Khazaradze and Zurab Japaridze arrived at the Orbeliani Presidential Palace.

In her annual report, delivered in the parliament on February 6, President Salome Zourabichvili said: “The country needs peace, protection. Therefore, from this floor, I propose a way and the formula from this deadlock, the creation of a future charter – Unity Platform for Europe.”