Press Digest 30.06.2014

Don’t celebrate victory in advance … Georgia is not geared up to meet Europe’s requirements – Mamuka Areshidze

Our initial steps on the long road

What should I be ashamed for? We have not gifted ourselves those bonuses; we have just accumulated them – Irakli Shikhiashvili

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Don’t celebrate victory in advance … Georgia is not geared up to meet Europe’s requirements – Mamuka Areshidze

"The completion of the Association Agreement has brought about some changes in our country. I cannot really define this document as a warrant of national safety or economic wellbeing; however, it has opened a door for us to new possibilities. Don’t deflect blame for our troubles and don’t pin it on our western partners or northern neighbors… Negotiating the deal with the EU is paramount for us today, however, I do not think that Georgia is geared up to take the next step and meet their requirements. We’d better not celebrate victory in advance,” declares expert Mamuka Areshidze in his interview with the Kviris Palitra gazette.

“There may be exceptions but I do not really think that the majority of our politicians have read that 1000 page document from cover to cover. Their incompetent speeches and superficial analysis can easily bolster up my allegation. On top of that, in my opinion, Georgia is not ready to pass all reforms the EU requires from us. Neither the political upper crust, nor the grassroots is ready for these changes. In addition, the public also falls short of the information regarding this issue; and only the political elite that have used this paramount document for their own political PR must be held responsible for this,” maintains Mr. Areshidze.

“Our country also abounds with forces systematically trying to discredit Georgia’s aspiration to the EU. And the fact that the public lacks information regarding this subject obviously plays into their hands. For instance, the issue of LGBTs jars the nerves of our conservative public; the actual fact is that this document doesn’t oblige us to stand by such people; however, it holds us responsible to provide a solution to the issue of regional languages as well as the Muslim Mesks. And we have expressed readiness to undertake these obligations earlier to signing the deal; our political elite should have obviously judged for a while whether or not our public was ready to comply with these requirements before signing the deal. If they keep pursing this policy, if they keep hiding some information from their people, if they continue keeping the Georgians in an information vacuum, this will undoubtedly incite a rift between them and their own people,” contends the respondent.

“Russia has already proven that its threatening words are always translated into deeds after a definite period of time. By taking this into consideration, its move to close its market for the three countries having recently finalized the EU pact will not strike me in the slightest. Georgia's exports to Russia have tripled since Moscow lifted a seven-year ban on Georgian wine and mineral water in 2013. After the restoration of trade relations with Russia, they managed to get Georgia’s battered economy as well as many realms of our life back on its feet. And If Russia closes the door to its market for our country this will obviously be a big blow for us. Thus, after signing this political-economic document, we can risk a severe economic and trade backlash from Russia. And if we ever complete a military political deal with NATO, Russia will easily take military actions in our country as it did in the past,” declares the expert.

“I am clueless regarding the fact of what this package of reinforced cooperation means; I hope that the western diplomats will enlighten us soon in terms of this issue; however, against this backdrop, one thing is absolutely clear – today the West lacks charismatic and eccentric leaders able to take the situation into their own hands. Today, each of Europe’s moves proves that its endless talks regarding values are ostensible and faked. At this point in time, Georgia is being oppressed because of the fact that European leaders are inapt to render a final verdict; why don’t they say that Georgia does not deserve NATO membership? Why don’t they leave our poor country alone? Why are they always playing with us? Why are they trying to hide their interests? Why are they casting this cursed bait at us and some other countries? Let’s bring the example of Ukraine that has become a battlefield of two opposing poles – Russia and the West. The Ukrainian people do not interest anyone today… and precisely this is a woeful reality of today’s world politics,” concludes the respondent.

"The deal with the EU has been finalized; festive ceremonies have been held; congratulations received. And now Georgian as well as the western politicians are reiterating that everything is in our hands. In their words, the more vigorously we try to comply with their requirements, the more zealously we pass some regulations, the sooner we gear our legislative base to that of Europe, the more benefits will we get from the Association agreement. By the way, the agreement is completed for an indefinite period of time, but it can be withdrawn by either of the sides; and after that, it becomes invalid within 6 months time,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.

“The Deep and Comprehensive free trade agreement, a chance to enter Europe’s market, an opportunity to import western products, introducing and implementing European values in our country, visa-free travel – these are some benefits Georgia will eventually get from the EU. However, first the document must be ratified by the 28 member states of the EU. Latvia will be the first country which will ratify this document on July 3. Georgia’s Parliament plans to ratify the agreement in July too. And finally, 2015 will mark the complete passage of the agreement; however, in autumn, 2014, the DCFTA portion of the agreement is planned to come into affect,” the article says.

“Georgia and the EU have received the Association agenda that is a three year action plan (2014-2016) of the mandatory obligations with which the deal imposes on us. In addition to this, an Association Council for monitoring the process of executing the agreement will also be founded. Plus, this council will also discuss all bilateral or multilateral issues within the agreement. The Association Council will be convened by the ministers once a year when the necessity to summon it emerges. Following the decisions made by the council will be mandatory,” reads the article.

“After the completion of the landmark deal, Georgia has received congratulations from the leaders of different countries around the globe. Among them were Euro Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and NATO General Secretary Anders Fog Rasmussen. Georgian politicians also did not forget to congratulate their people on returning to their family in stentorian tones. “The long-cherished dream of a number of our generations has finally come to fruition – Georgia has made a free choice by taking a step towards Europe, which is not perfect but which is the most impartial, the most secure and free region throughout the world,” declared head of the Parliament, Davit Usupashvili, who thanked all politicians who have made a strenuous effort to achieve this paramount goal.

The delegation of Georgia returned to their homeland on June 27 and joined the festive concert on European Square, where the President, the PM and the Patriarch of Georgia addressed their people,” concludes the author of the article.

"First of all, I must underscore that I have not received a bonus of 12,000 GEL; they have transferred only 8.500 to my bank account. However, I really cannot define the decision from the Council as irrational or incorrect, especially when we aimed at performing good deeds thanks to this money. Personally I have donated those 8,500 laris to Monk Andria’s Fund. The Council officials have worked overtime during the last month and all of them should definitely have been given credit for this,” announces the Head of the Council, Irakli Shikhiashvili in his interview with the Kviris Palitra gazette.

“Why are you misrepresenting reality? Why are you twisting the truth? We have not granted ourselves with these fringe benefits; we have simply accumulated them. Why do you try to hurt those who have just been given credit for a job well-done? By the way, good employees, quintessential government inspectors and PR managers refused to work unless they enjoyed high salaries. I do agree that pensions must be more than 150 GEL but we cannot force people holding responsible positions to work for peanuts. On this particular occasion, normal salaries are a must, if we don’t want to slip into the corruption mire,” maintains Irakli Shikhiashvili and to the question whether the allegation saying that his colleagues did not attend the session where the issue of bonuses was scrutinized as well as the reports as per which he remembered charity after their decision sparked a massive backlash from the public ring true, the respondent answers:

“What do you want to say? Are you accusing me of standing behind the destitute children’s back? We had come to the decision to donate this money to that fund before this matter hit the headlines, and the document corroborating this information is in our hands. I personally did not attend that session too. But does this entitle me with the right to shirk the responsibility? If anyone thought that they did not deserve those bonuses, they should have done us a favor and return that money. As for us, we claimed credit for a job well-done and decided to donate that money to Monk Andrea’s fund to give a helping hand to those in need. How can you impugn everyone’s integrity? How can you challenge everyone’s motives?” asks the respondent.

"Once again I repeat, we deserved those bonuses, however, I personally was against issuing them. If I wanted to deplete our budget, I would have channeled all that money into my pocket. God saved us and you are not the Governor’s of Tbilisi. If you think that the budget is only for handling social issues, then … cook a nourishing soup in a huge pot and sate the hungry people… don’t you know that we must contribute to physical as well as spiritual development of the public?” concludes the respondent.