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| A strong
proponent of “regionalism” as a basis
of conflict resolution, President Abashidze
is seen here at a recent meeting with the Council
of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer. |
Adjara first became an autonomous region within
Georgia in 1921 and that status of autonomy was
formally enshrined in the modern Georgian Constitution
by amendments passed by the national Parliament
on April 20, 2000. Prior to that date the constitution
of post-Soviet Georgia only referred to Adjara as
a “territorial unit” of the country. The
historic change in 2000 restored the status that
had been granted in the 1921 “Friendship Agreement”
among Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, along
with the participation of the Soviet Union.
Adjara’s own Constitution was adopted on February
21, 2000, specifying the authority and limitations
of local self-government. The charter corresponds
to the European Charter of Local Self-government,
an internationally recognized standard for regional
governance.
The region’s first local elections were held
in 1998, providing for selection of a City Council
(Sakrebulo). This body then chose the City Mayor.
Employing the principal of secret ballots and direct
voting, on November 4, 2001, the people of Adjara
elected Aslan Abashidze the first democratically
chosen President of the Autonomous Region. For the
ten previous years Mr. Abashidze had led the region
in his role as Chairman of the Adjara Supreme Council.
The President of the Autonomous Republic holds
the highest political post of the state. As head
of the executive branch he represents the Autonomous
Republic both domestically and internationally.
The President serves a five-year term of office,
although he is subject to removal after an impeachment
vote by two-thirds of both bodies of Parliament.
Also on November 4, 2001, the Republic’s bicameral
Parliament was chosen in an open and democratic
election, with 35 members being elected to the Republican
Council and 10 selected for the Senate, with each
member of Parliament serving a five-year term. Seven
of the Senators are elected from geographic districts
within the Region and three are named by the President.
On June 16 of this year elections were held throughout
the region to name officials to leadership positions
in the various villages, communities and towns.
This election also saw the selection of a new city
council and Mayor in Batumi, the Regional capital.
The Mayor, Mr. George Abashidze, is the son of President
Abashidze, and is serving a four-year term of office
There is an established basis of international
law on regional government, function and co-operation.
In keeping with these procedures, the Autonomous
Republic of Adjara participates in activities of
international regional institutions and maintains
an active program of bilateral and multilateral
regional relations. Under international law, and
in the statutes of both Georgia and Adjara the Republic
is fully entitled to enter into agreements and contracts
in accordance with appropriate public and civil
laws.
Constitutional supervision in the Republic is exercised
by the Constitutional Court of the Autonomous Republic
of Adjara. Among the rights granted in the Constitution
is that of local self-governing in the cities, districts,
communities, communes and villages, along with a
strong defense of human rights and freedoms.
Of course, violence and civil confrontation are
discouraged, and the peace-making process is promoted
for the region and nation. The Constitution also
provides for promotion of sustainable development,
calls for the nation of Georgia to take its place
among the globe’s developed nations and has
guarantees for open and representative participation
in the governing process at all levels.
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