Saakashvili Speaks of U.S. Visit, Conflicts, Hints on Cabinet Reshuffle

Civil Georgia, Georgia
July 11 2006

President Saakashvili, who convened a news conference on July 11 upon
arrival from trip to the United States and Croatia, spoke much about
his recent talks with President Bush describing them as "historic" and
announced about planned visit of the U.S. Vice President to Georgia.

He also hinted that he may reshuffle the cabinet, but added "no
dramatic changes" will take place.

During his 40-minute press conference Saakashvili also spoke about his
opponents and slammed the current political environment where personal
humiliation prevails and called for civilized political debates "on
any kind of topic." But he said nothing about the Sandro Girgvliani
high-profile murder case, which has recently once again topped the
country’s political agenda.

‘Historic’ U.S. Visit

Saakashvili said that his recent visit, as well as timing of the
visit, was "a historic" as it came ahead of a summit of the G8 leaders
scheduled for July 15-17 in St. Petersburg.

"[Timing of the U.S. visit] is an indicator of role of our small
country in the world’s big politics," Saakashvili said.

"It was historic because the U.S. President for the first time has
stated about the U.S. firm support towards Georgia’s NATO membership,"
Saakashvili said.

"The second important thing: [the U.S. President] has openly supported
Georgia’s territorial integrity," he added.

Saakashvili also said that after the Bush’s statements Russian
President Putin again spoke about "Kosovo precedent" and principle
of universality while dealing with conflicts.

"But the statements by the U.S. President are more valued,"
Saakashvili said.

He said that there is unanimous position about Georgia among the
political circles of the United States.

"We should use this huge support," he added.

He said that Georgia has "very intensive relations" with the United
States. "In a period of two and a half years we [Saakashvili and Bush]
had three officials meetings," the Georgian leader said.

He said that an agreement was reached during the visited that the
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Georgia "in coming few
months."

After visiting the United States, President Saakashvili participated
in the Croatia Summit 2006 on July 9-10 in Dubrovnik, which gathered
senior officials from the South East Europe to discuss the region’s
Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

Secessionist Conflicts/Russia

At the news conference Saakashvili reiterated that Georgia is committed
to solve secessionist conflicts through peaceful means.

Recently the South Ossetian side has been intensively warning about
possible incursion of Georgian troops. About 8 000 Georgian troops
are currently participating in the large scale military exercises at
the Orpolo firing range.

"Troops are not going from Orpolo to Tskhinvali," Saakashvili said
at a news conference.

He also denied allegations of the secessionist authorities that in the
United States Saakashvili received an approval on forceful resolution
of the conflicts.

"I am not kind of a leader who travels abroad for taking permissions,"
Saakashvili said.

He also said that Georgia will solve conflicts "peacefully together
with Russia, or without Russia."

"No one else has a key to a solution to these conflicts except of
Russia, but of course we should understand that we will anyway solve
these conflicts… We are not going to drag-out resolution of these
issues," Saakashvili said.

He criticized Russian President Putin’s statements made on July 6 in
which he recalled referendum in Chechnya and hinted about this option
as one of the ways to solve conflicts.

"I really do not want a kind of referendum which was held in Chechnya,
because referendum in Chechnya was held at the expense of slaughter
of hundred of thousand of people, at the expense of a huge human
tragedy… Are they offering us to hold a referendum of this
kind? Absolutely unacceptable statements are made," Saakashvili said.

He described recent statements by the Russian officials as "a hysteric
reaction" to the Georgia’s policy.

He also criticized Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the Abkhaz
conflict zone and said that "Georgian territory’s intensive annexation
is taking place behind these peacekeeping troops."

"Time for making decision on peacekeepers is approaching… We are
waiting for the Parliament’s decision about his issue," he said.

The Georgian Parliament is expected to consider the Russian
peacekeeping troops’ performance in the Abkhaz conflict zone at a
special session on July 13-15 as it is envisaged by the Parliament’s
resolution passed in October, 2005.

Saakashvili noted that he wants to meet with his Russian counterpart
after the G8 summit. Apparently the meeting will take place on the
sideline of the CIS summit in Moscow in July.

He said that it is not difficult for him to talk with Putin, "who is
very intelligent person."

Saakashvili also noted that Georgia has to take a decision about the
CIS membership as well.

"We are counting everything. We are not going to deceive ourselves
about this issue. We are not going to take a decision which might
create even a slight problem to our entrepreneurs," Saakashvili said.

‘Huge Challenges’ Ahead

Saakashvili said that Georgia is facing "huge challenges" ahead and
added that Georgia has "very strong friends, but we also have very
strong enemies."

"Georgia is under the huge attack. Georgia is the country which faces
the greatest ever economic embargo… Georgia is in the situation,
when several days ago we became deprived of free movement with
Russia [after Moscow closed down Zemo Larsi border crossing point],"
Saakashvili said.

"We will not suffer much from the economic point of view with this
decision, as no Georgian exports are carried out anyway to Russia.

But it is very negative for people and it is especially negative for
Armenia," Saakashvili said.

He also warned that "a scenario of energy blockade, which will be of
larger scale that it was this January, is planned for this winter."

Cabinet Reshuffle

President Saakashvili said at the news conference that no major
changes are expected in the cabinet, which he hailed as stable.

"There always have been certain corrections in the cabinet, but it
has become very stable as well recently… Team will remain unchanged.

Of course persons might change but it will not mean change of a
course," he said.

Saakashvili noted that he will consider possibility of appointment
of Giorgi Papuashvili, the Environmental Minister, on the position of
Chairman of the Constitutional Court with the Parliamentary Chairperson
Nino Burjanadze.

"But no final decision is taken about this issue… Let us see,"
the President said.

"But I can say directly that I do not expect any dramatic changes,"
Saakashvili said.

Dismissal or resignation of at least one Minister will automatically
lead to a resignation of the entire cabinet, as it will be sixth
replacement among the government members since the current cabinet was
approved in February, 2005. According to the law the entire cabinet
should resign if one-third of its members change.

The opposition parties are slamming Saakashvili for his refusal to sack
Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili who is accused by the opposition
leaders of covering up some top-level police officials who have
allegedly been behind the Sandro Girgvliani high-profile murder case.

"I am really surprised with the hysteric tone of some politicians.

There is a huge concentration of stupid [persons] in the politics,"
Saakashvili said.

He said that personal humiliation of opponents prevails in the Georgian
politics, which is unacceptable.

"As a President, it is important for me to create a political
environment free of this kind of debates and these dirty things,"
Saakashvili said.