Joseph Biden criticizes Georgian opposition for its methods of protest

US vice-president Joseph Biden who has recently made a visit to Georgia voiced a number of critical remarks addressed to the opposition during his meeting with its leaders in the Marriot hotel in Tbilisi. In particular, Biden criticized the actions of protest by the opposition and the fact that its representatives call Mikhail Saakashvili illegitimate president.

For reference, US vice-president Joseph Biden came to Georgia with a two-day visit on July 22 and 23. In Tbilisi he had meetings with the country's president, parliament deputies, leaders of the opposition and human rights non-government organizations. In the course of his visit, Biden made a number of statements, in particular, that the USA would help Georgia ensure its energy safety and support Georgia, but without a guarantee of military assistance. In his statements, Biden repeatedly stressed the phrase that "the rose revolution is not over yet", and noted that "there is no full independence of Georgia".

The Georgian TV company "Imedi" broadcast a report in which a journalist, not disclosing the information source, cited information handed over to him in a shorthand form.

In particular, according to the information, Joseph Biden said the following in response to the claims of ex-speaker Nino Burdzhanadze with regard to the legitimacy of 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.

"We, democrats, too, have lost elections to George Bush, our loss was much more dramatic and difficult, but we did not go into the streets and destroy the state system", said Biden.

However, in the opinion of Burdzhanadze, the comparison was not entirely correct. "At least you have courts which you trust, while we do not trust even courts", said Burdzhanadze.

"We also lost the legal suit at the time", responded Biden. "It was the court which gave the victory to our opponent and we disagreed with its ruling. That was a wrong decision of the judge but, despite it, we did not express distrust to the court and never went into the streets".

In response to the claim by Nino Burdzhanadze to the effect that the Georgian president is illegitimate Biden said: "Except you, no country, not a single leader or politician in the world doubts the fact that Saakashvili won the election. You may damage your political future if you remain the only people who refuse to recognize him as president".

Biden also expressed his bewilderment at the form of protests by the opposition. "In America, nobody can dictate the Congress from the street. America is a strong state because political disputes never go beyond the constitutional framework".
 
In a TV broadcast, Nino Burdzhanadze confirmed that the source had given almost exact information but she noted that the main goal of the meeting with Biden was to demonstrate Saakashvili's errors rather than to prove election falsification.