GAMQRELIDZE IS ABOUT TO GO TO UNITED STATES

Rezonansi , Georgia
Aug 26 2008

Nino Mikiashvili’s interview with Davit Gamqrelidze

Government must react strongly to Russian move

New Right leader Davit Gamqrelidze has said in an exclusive
interview with Rezonansi that his moratorium on critical statements
against the government will end on 8 September. However, he still
voiced strong criticism of the government’s failure to react to the
latest developments, namely the Russian parliament’s decision on the
Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia. He suggested that the government has
ignored the event so far.

[Gamqrelidze] A very serious event has occurred. A negative process
has begun. If the Georgian government and the international community
fail to react to this, Medvedev will uphold the decision and there
will be no point in revoking the mandate of the [Russian] peacekeepers
since Russia will probably deploy a larger force there on the basis
of a military alliance treaty.

[Rezonansi] Will the West ignore the Russian parliament’s decision too?

[Gamqrelidze] Unless the Georgian government reacts as strongly
as possible and raises the question in the most radical manner,
no one will try to trigger another dispute with Russia. The failure
to act could start a chain reaction. Some websites reported today
that Armenia is planning to recognize the independence of Nagornyy
Karabakh. Other processes could begin that would have very serious
consequences for the civilized world. The issue is therefore very
important to them too, while for Georgia it is a matter of existence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Again, a failure to fight hard to ensure that organizations like
the Council of Europe and the United Nations impose heavy sanctions
on Russia would mean that the government is completely inept and
incapable of protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity. These are not the words of a man who is trying to capitalize
on the government’s mistakes. These are the words of a patriot who
believes that it is still possible to do a lot of things to preserve
Georgia’s territorial integrity.

Georgian leadership preoccupied with domestic PR

[Rezonansi] Why has the Georgian government ignored the problem so far?

[Gamqrelidze] The government is preoccupied with domestic PR today. The
government’s primary objective at present is to somehow neutralize
the impact of the defeat and of the resulting problems on the public
opinion. The constant calls for unity are starting to sound a bit
weird. They are trying to ensure that any future critical statements
or questions are dismissed as the enemy’s tricks. It is, however,
very important to assess and analyse all the past and future events
appropriately and to discuss the issue of responsibility. Otherwise,
there can be no guarantee that similar mistakes will not be made
again in the future either by this government or the next one. This
is inadmissible and I will do my best regardless of the accusations
that they may level at me.

Whether or not the question of punishing or sacking certain people
will be raised after this kind of analysis is a different matter.

[Rezonansi] Is it possible that the discussion of the Georgian
government’s mistakes and the suggestions that Saakashvili was the
one to start the war will play into the enemy’s hands?

[Gamqrelidze] Let us discuss this in the future. Let us also make sure
that no questions are prohibited. Every politician and every citizen
will establish the limits for himself or herself and everyone will
then have a chance to form their opinion.

The government’s mistakes and erroneous moves do not justify the
barbaric acts, genocide and crimes against humanity committed by
Russia. These will be discussed in the Hague court, the Council of
Europe and the EU. This does not mean, however, that we must stay
silent and suspend domestic debates and criticism.

[Rezonansi] What do you think of [opposition Party of People leader]
Koba Davitashvili’s proposal to form a government of national unity?

[Gamqrelidze] I strongly disagree with the proposal. A coalition
government cannot be effective under the political system and the
Constitution that provide a single individual with all the power. We
need an effective government in the current situation. For this
reason, so long as we have this type of a government, it is better
if it comprises like-minded people.

When the government eventually changes through an election, it should
once again be replaced by a group of like-minded people. On the other
hand, we need to think seriously about the necessary changes in the
political system and constitutional amendments because the recent
events stemmed to some extent (I am trying to be moderate) from the
system of one-man rule that I have criticized together with my friends
(and not only them) over the last four years.

USA not looking for Georgian president’s replacement

[Rezonansi] Nino Burjanadze, Davit Usupashvili and Davit Bakradze are
in the United States at present. There have been different theories
about the reasons for their visit.

[Gamqrelidze] The three of them have gone to the United States to
attend the Democratic Party convention. I will travel to attend the
Republican Party convention in five days. It is an oversimplification
to suggest that the United States is selecting candidates for Georgian
president. I can assure you that this is not the case. It is not
typical for the United States to replace one leader with another.

[Rezonansi] However, you will probably agree that the US support is
very important.

[Gamqrelidze] It is a different thing and it is completely normal
just like the support offered by Europeans. It would be incorrect and
unacceptable to discuss the possibility to replacing the Saakashvili
government in the coming months. On the other hand, we will need to
create conditions for political stability after a certain period of
time if the country is to have a chance of overcoming the economic
crisis. This can only be done through a snap election.

[Rezonansi] Will the West become more critical towards the Georgian
government once the Russian troops pull out of the country completely?

[Gamqrelidze] You will see that it is critical today too if you take a
look at the US, French and German newspapers. However, it is natural
that everyone refrains from criticizing the Georgian government in
the current situation, especially political leaders and political
elite. At the same time, the current assessments are a lot more
realistic as they emphasize that there have been serious problems in
the last four years in terms of democracy and checks and balances.

[Rezonansi] Who is saying this?

[Gamqrelidze] People in the US Administration understand this very
well and so do the people in the US and European political elite.

[Rezonansi] However, they are not talking about this in public.

[Gamqrelidze] They are right to refrain from doing this in the
present situation.

[Rezonansi] Will they eventually start to talk about it?

[Gamqrelidze] I do not know, it depends on different factors. I
am under no illusion that the Russians will pull out tomorrow and
everything will be over. The latest development is a proof that
the crisis will continue to get worse. Russia is implementing its
imperialist policy with political and legal instruments and this is
a blatant act of annexation.

Even if Russia does not incorporate Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali
region today and grants them formal independence, no one should
think that Russia actually wants Abkhazia and the so-called South
Ossetia to be independent. What they are doing is direct annexation
and incorporation of Georgian territories. The Bolshevik Russia did
this to us in the early 20th century and the same thing is happening
in the early 21st century.

New Right supports McCain

[Rezonansi] Who are you going to meet in the United States?

[Gamqrelidze] I will go to the United States on 30 August to attend
the Republican Party convention where John McCain will be officially
nominated as a presidential candidate. The right-wing Republican
political elite, including the politicians involved in formulating the
foreign policy, will attend the convention. Analysts and journalists
will be there too.

I will stay in Minneapolis for about a week unless the situation
deteriorates in Georgia. During the convention, some very important
meetings involving political leaders who deal with foreign policy and
economic issues will take place. I will therefore have a chance to
meet all the leaders who will be in charge of formulating policies
should McCain win the election. I will have an opportunity to talk
to them all.

[Rezonansi] Do you support McCain?

[Gamqrelidze] Since we are a centre-right party, it is logical that
we support the Republican Party and its candidate. I know John McCain
very well. He has been in this office on a number of occasions and
we have even held a joint news conference. Since Russia is acting so
brazenly today, the United States certainly needs a president like
McCain who would employ an unambiguous and harsh policy towards Russia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress