May 16, 2003 - 20:36 AMT
SHEVARDNADZE CONSIDERING CANDIDATES FOR FUTURE GEORGIAN PRESIDENT
Eduard Shevardnadze considers several candidates for future president of Georgia, however he has not made his final choice yet. "These are erudite and highly educated people, but I will not name them at the moment," - he said. As reported by "Novosti" Russian agency, Shevardnadze thus wishes to protect the future successor from "undeserved criticism." He stated, "I will give my view concerning it at a certain stage and will even substantiate it." It should be noted, that the recurrent election of the Georgian leader will be held in spring 2005. Eduard Shevardnadze has stated many times that he is not going to run for the president at the coming election.