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Georgian leader triumphs in georgia reunification { May 6 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5057694 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5057694 Georgian Leader Triumphs, Sees Reunited Country Thu May 6, 2004 05:53 AM ET By Margarita Antidze BATUMI, Georgia (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili proclaimed the start of his country's reunification on Thursday after forcing out the Adzhara region's rebel leader in his second "rose revolution" in six months. After a night of opposition rallies and a massive defection of his loyalists, Adzhara's leader Aslan Abashidze flew into exile with Kremlin envoy Igor Ivanov who had helped to negotiate a peaceful end to the crisis. "I'd like to say thank you to all of you, for your bravery," Saakashvili told supporters from Abashidze's former residence. The ouster of Abashidze, who ruled the Black Sea region as a fiefdom for 14 years, was a first step to Saakashvili fulfilling his pledge to restore central rule over the whole fractious former Soviet republic of 5.5 million. Saakashvili announced he would introduce presidential rule in Adzhara, which has a tradition of autonomy going back to the Czars, with a temporary council in charge until new elections. "I congratulate everyone on this victory, on the beginning of Georgia's unification. Georgia will be united," he said in Tbilisi before flying to Batumi. Hours after the coup, Batumi looked sleepy and deserted with only dozens of Saakashvili supporters lounging in front of Abashidze's former residence and the hotel where the Georgian leader was resting up after an emotional night. He now faces the burden of running the province, whose 200,000-barrel-per-day oil port and customs point on the Turkish border, so far under the control of Abashidze, could now become major contributors to a lean national budget. Georgian authorities, who on Wednesday said the port had been mined by Abashidze's supporters, said on Thursday they would de-mine it within hours. A port source said it was working smoothly and expressed doubts it had ever been mined. MAJOR CHALLENGES The two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia still pose major challenges to Saakashvili, a 37-year-old U.S.-trained lawyer elected in January after leading a bloodless coup to oust veteran president Eduard Shevardnadze last year. Continued ... © Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

Big georgia oil pipeline { January 6 2004 } Bush hails georgia rose revolution 2003 inspiration { May 10 2005 } Bush to meet with new georgia preisdent { February 25 2004 } Celebration as georgian leader quits { November 24 2003 } Coup leader consolidates control Exiled tycoon visits georgia { December 5 2003 } Georgia coup similar yugoslovia coup Georgia revolt carried mark of soros Georgian jews optimistic Georgian leader triumphs in georgia reunification { May 6 2004 } Georgias new leaders win backing from washington Georgias new rulers tighten grip on power New party financied by soros New president may start civil war { January 23 2004 } News western pipeline flows through georgia { May 25 2005 } Political turmoil grips georgia { November 22 2003 } Regional leader decires georgia coup { November 27 2003 } Revolution tactics same yugoslavia { December 4 2003 } Rumsfeld pledges support for georgia { December 5 2003 } Rumsfeld urges russian troops withdrawn Russias putin worried by georgia power change Shevardnadze accuses geroge soros financiing coup Shevardnadze blames soros for his downfall Shevardnadze coup attempt 2001 { November 2 2001 } Shevardnadze says us betrayed him { November 27 2003 } Us envoy discuss aid to goergia govt Us pressuring russia to withdraw georgia troops { January 26 2004 } Us privatises its military aid to georgia { January 6 2004 } Us sends troops to georgia { March 20 2002 } Us trained lawyer key coup figure { November 24 2003 } Files Listed: 30

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