Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the coalition Georgian Dream, said that President Saakashvili’s resignation was not “a political demand” or “ultimatum” of his coalition, adding that he was ready for dialogue with Mikheil Saakashvili and present government.

“I have said numerously that we are ready for constructive relations with the representatives of present authorities, including with the Georgian President,” Ivanishvili said in his written statement on October 3.

“As far as my yesterday’s remarks are concerned, this is neither mine, nor the coalition’s political demand. I only stressed that the Georgian constitution tailored only to one person creates a lot of difficulties in the current political situation and probably the resignation might be the best solution to the situation for the President,” the statement reads.

“In this connection, I reiterate that we do not raise any political ultimatums and, for the wellbeing of the country, we are ready for dialogue and settlement of state issues with the Georgian President and other representatives of the present government in a working atmosphere,” Ivanishvili said.

Ivanishvili says that the current Georgian constitution makes inevitable the relations between his parliamentary majority and President Saakashvili and for that reason the Georgian Dream established a three-member working group in charge of consultations with the present authorities.

The group includes Irakli Alasania, leader of Our Georgia-Free Democrats, Davit Usupashvili, leader of Republican Party and Irakli Garibashvili, who is a senior figure from Ivanishvili’s party, Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia.

“After overwhelming victory in the parliamentary elections, the coalition Georgian Dream started to perform its duties mandated by the Georgian people. One of our major tasks is to ensure constitutional order and unhindered work of the state agencies in the process of changing the authorities. At the same time, until the new government is formed, the responsibility for public order and smooth functioning of the state agencies lies on the present government,” Ivanishvili said.