Saakashvili: 'I want to establish control over Ajaria, and I will'

"Yes, I want to establish control over Ajaria, and I will," this is how President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia commented on the statement Ajaria's leader Aslan Abashidze had made in Moscow "accusing" the central leadership of the nation of trying to establish "totalitarian control" over the regions.

Back to Tbilisi from Baku, Azerbaijan, this evening, President Saakashvili expressed surprise at this statement by Abashidze and noted this intention of the Georgian government was "natural," so it turned out "judging by his statements Aslan Abashidze considered it a problem that the Georgian leadership is trying to establish control" over the autonomy.

"Self-will is coming to a close. I am not Shevardnadze, and I am not going to dismember and destroy Georgia," Saakashvili said. "The process of Georgia's consolidation has begun, and I call on all citizens to take part in this process." The president also said the forthcoming parliamentary election on March 28 would be conducted within the scope of the Constitution in Ajaria, and it would reveal a lot. "We are not going to tolerate any manifestations of insubordination," Saakashvili emphasized.