Press Digest 03.09.2014
NATO entering Georgia
Francis Fukuima: some strategic issues are playing against Georgia’s integration within the alliance
Georgians forced to flee Abkhazia
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NATO entering Georgia
“On the eve of the Wales Summit, we, in fact, know what we will get from NATO which is supposed to found a military training center in our country. No further details regarding this paramount issue have been uncovered thus far. Different contradictory speculations have been released though– if the Government claims that Georgia has, in fact, integrated itself within the alliance, the military experts assert that the promise is vague and the Government’s expectations – a bit over the top,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.
“Our move to offer a new package to Georgia will move the country closer to NATO,” declared NATO General Secretary, Anders Fogh Rasmussen yesterday, in response to one of the journalist’s question in Brussels at the last press conference prior to the Wales Summit. He also added that a NATO military Training Center may be set up in Georgia. “We will establish what we call a defense capacity building mission in Georgia with a particular focus on the Ministry of Defense and assist Georgia in continued reforms and modernization of the defense and security sector. Next we will step up our efforts to improve the ability of Georgia’s armed forces to work and operate together with NATO forces including through more Georgian participation in NATO exercises. Thirdly, occasionally military exercises might also be organized in Georgia, in particular with the view of engaging NATO partners in such exercises. Fourth, we are also considering the establishment of a military training center in Georgia again with a particular view of engaging NATO partners. There might also be a regional dimension in such a training center. And finally we also are considering an expansion of the NATO liaison office in Tbilisi. So, all in all you will see very concrete measures that will bring Georgia closer to NATO,” declared Mr. Rasmussen.
"As you know, a summit planned to be held in the U.K. will be opened on 4-5 September. President Giorgi Margvelashvili will head the Georgian Delegation. Within the delegation members there will be Minsiter Maia Panjikidze, Defense Minister Irakli Alasania, State Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Alexi Petriashvili,” says the article.
"As Head of Georgia’s Defense and Security Committee, Irakli Sesiashvili maintains, this is one of the most important elements of the NATO package and it shows quite clearly that the alliance takes Georgia and its integration within NATO really seriously.” And I do hope that the NATO member states will support Georgia’s aspiration to find its niche in the large European family,” announces Mr. Sesiashvili.
"However, Irakli Sesiashvili finds it difficult to answer the questions as follows: “What kind of a function will the center accomplish? Will NATO defend it if out of the blue the country is thrown into disarray? ““Where can the Center be established?””How long do you think this process will take?” etc. In his words, at this point in time it’s a bit early to speak of such issues.
“Then we moved on to another matter and asked our respondent whether or not NATO’s move to set up a military training center in Georgia, will annoy our northern neighbor. To this question he replied:” Georgia is unwavering in its decision to follow the taken path to NATO. On no account will we forego our ambition and turn our back on the alliance. We are moving closer and closer to NATO and Russia has already geared itself to this fact. Some obstacles can really be put on our path but they will not block our entrance to NATO.”
“Before all details are uncovered, our military experts find it cumbersome to predict whether or not the NATO Center will turn out beneficial for Georgia and whether or not it will ensure our security. According to Vakhtang Maisaia, a similar center has existed in Georgia, in the village of Sachkhere and this is nothing new. This center has already trained our military and produced special service battalions. As for Sesiashvili’s announcement saying that NATO’s move to set up the center means that its door is wide open to us, he defines this allegation as pompous and ungrounded. “The initiation itself is obviously interesting but firstly we must find out who will pour financial resources into this center; secondly, they must tell us whether or not NATO will bind itself with the responsibility of protecting the center if another country will take military actions here. Before these questions are answered, I, as a military expert, cannot expend on this issue,” concludes the expert.
Francis Fukuima: some strategic issues are playing against Georgia’s integration within the alliance
"From the geographical point of view, NATO will find it difficult to defend Georgia. The same can be said in terms of Ukraine. In the present state of play when Russia has adopted an immensely aggressive posture, Georgia can easily get involved in a military conflict with this state before it becomes a full member of the alliance,” announces one of the most prominent political experts of our day-to-day world, Francis Fukuima, who is now in Tbilisi and is taking part in the International Leaders Forum “Future of Democratic Reforms – the Formation of a Modern State in the 21st century,” reports the Rezoansi gazette.
“Putin is a man who can go as far as he can get away with, and, thus, making predictions regarding this issue is a bit difficult. The Russian leader has already crossed the line and he really cannot back down now. He intends to control the Russian-speaking part of Ukraine, and he will try to attain this goal whatever it takes. The only thing that can thwart him in doing this is his unwillingness to wade into a large-scale war with Ukraine,” asserts Mr. Fukuima.
“First of all, the West definitely should have taken a stronger stand against Russia by exercising tougher sanctions against it. Now the only measure the West can take is to bolster NATO by transforming it into a powerhouse organization. The actual fact is that during the last 20 years, NATO has strained to uphold its democratic values and has been oriented on achieving political purposes only. However, now it has also focused its attention on military issues, military training, deployment of its troops in this or that country and other military matters,” says Mr. Fokuima.
“As for the alliance enlargement issue, I do know that in Georgia it’s a bit difficult to expand on this issue. The fact is that Georgia’s integration within the Alliance is being hampered by some strategic problems. From the geographical point of view, NATO will find it difficult to shield Georgia from military aggression. The same words are also applicable to Ukraine. The issue of providing this country with weapons has recently been thrown into the mix. As for Georgia, I do think that providing it with military back-up is a must in the present state of affairs. However, from a logistical point of view, safeguarding the territorial integrity of these two states is a really difficult task to cope with. I will put it straight, I don’t even have an idea how NATO will manage to do this,” states the respondent.
“As for the recently occurred events in your country, I, as many people, am a bit concerned regarding your Government’s decision to subject a number of former high officials to a large-scale legal prosecution. Some people describe this process as political persecution and, thus, your Government must try its best to scatter these doubts. However, we all know that the former political biggies are not innocent as a lamb and, thus, by pinning blame on one group only will not play a fair game. At this point in time, implementing just and fair rules and restoring justice by following these rules is paramount for you and your country,” concludes the expert.
Georgians forced to flee Abkhazia
"Those at the helm of Georgia cannot see the necessity of completing the no-use of force agreement with the breakaway enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Paata Zakareishvili issued this comment in response to an announcement from the newly elected President of the de-facto republic of Abkhazia, Raul Khajimba, who called on the Georgian side to finalize a “none use of force” agreement with them and recognize Abkhazia as an independent state,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.
“In the words of the de-facto leader, the only “arena” where the aforementioned issue will be scrutinized is the Geneva discussions. In his interview with Russian media representatives, the de-facto President also underscored that Georgia must stop issuing threats in their direction,” says the article.
“Georgia has taken on the unilateral “none use of force” responsibility several times and has never failed to uphold this obligation. The EU mission does also monitor this process. As early as in 2010, in his speech in the European Parliament, Georgia’s ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili touched upon this issue and a relevant article was also included in the resolution of March 7, 2013. Now it’s Russia’s turn to take a page out of our book. As for our breakaway regions, with respect to them, we see no need for doing the same. There are no pending dangers from them; these regions even lack their own military forces and the occupants control their territory,” maintains Mr. Zakareishvili.
“Over the last few months, the situation in Abkhazia has been aggravated; tensions are really high there and the locals have also touched upon this issue. As a 65-year-old resident of Gali informed the Rezonansi gazette, after the new President came into power, the persecution against them has become more palpable in the region. “Every single day they abduct people and require around $15-17 thousand to free them. Their key goal is to force Georgians to flee Abkhazia. First they has “declared a war against” the haves and then the turn of the have-nots will come too,” claims the respondent.
