Georgian president proposes reforms, foes scoff

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili offered his opponents electoral reforms Monday, and called for political unity in the face of a common enemy - referring to Russia as an occupying foe with forces a few dozen kilometers (miles) from the capital.

Opponents demanding Saakashvili's resignation dismissed his proposals as a propaganda stunt ahead of Wednesday's planned visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

Saakashvili's proposals, laid out during his address to Parliament, include changes to the Central Election Commission and a greater role for the opposition in running public television. He also called for direct mayoral elections in the capital, Tbilisi, where the opposition is stronger, and said next year's municipal elections nationwide should be held in spring, rather than in the fall when they are scheduled.

It appeared the proposals were meant to appease political foes, who launched a protest campaign in April that lasted several months, and to please the United States. Washington has stressed that improving Georgia's democracy is key to the country's hopes of joining NATO.

Eka Beselia, an opposition leader, called Saakashvili's address "a public relations move" timed to Biden's visit and said his proposals did not go far enough.

"Saakashvili is trying to create the illusion of pluralism, but nothing he says can be taken seriously," she said. "The country is in deep crisis, we are demanding an early presidential election, but he is talking about municipal elections. This is not serious."

Biden is due to arrive Wednesday for a visit designed to ease fears that the United States may slight Georgia as it seeks to mend ties with Russia.

U.S.-Russia relations sank to post-Cold War lows after Russia fought a five-day war with Georgia in August.

Russia has also been angry over Saakashvili's drive to decrease Moscow's influence and bring Georgia into NATO.

After the war, Russia recognized Georgia's separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent nations and has posted thousands of troops in the two provinces, which are still recognized by the rest of the world as part of Georgia.

"The enemy stands just kilometers from Tbilisi," Saakashvili said in his address. "This is a time when unity is needed."

Saakashvili urged opponents who renounced their parliament seats over electoral fraud claims to join the legislature, at least for an expected address by Biden.

Outside parliament, Georgia's political turmoil persisted. Police dispersed a group of young opposition activists, seizing some and dragging them away. Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the activists were harassing people trying to enter parliament, and that five were detained and would face fines.

Biden arrived Monday in Ukraine - another former Soviet republic whose leader has courted the West and sought distance from Russia. His trip follows weeks after President Barack Obama traveled to Moscow for the first full-scale U.S.-Russian summit there in years.
MyWay