Press Digest 16.09.2014

The US playing the role of a whistle-blower

Is constitutional coup being organized in Georgia?

If today we refuse to give the Russian leader a pretext to proclaim war with us, he will find it difficult to do this – Akaki Asatiani

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The US playing a role of a whistle-blower

"Considering the challenges that each and every country is faced with across the world, Georgia must focus on its European values and stick to its commitment to move closer to Europe. Our experts have expressed their opinions regarding the statement from the US Department of State and have unanimously admitted that these ongoing political spats and tit-for-tats must be brought to an end in our country once and for all,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.

“Political expert Korneli Kakachia thinks that the European and American leaders have more adequately assessed the present situation in our country and have detected the pending threats Georgia is faced with today than the Georgian leaders. In his mind, the statement from the US Department of State is nothing more than a warning. “In Europe and the USA, they can see perfectly well all those geopolitical challenges Georgia is faced with. They are well aware of the fact that Russia strives to take all post-soviet states under its thumb by pulling them on its orbit again and forcing them to integrate with the Eurasian Union. The state from the US Department of state is nothing more than an appeal to us – they want all groups that are committed to the Euro-Atlantic course to consolidate by healing the rift which now exists between them. If we cast a glance at the geopolitical changes posed to us, we will easily deduce that Georgia cannot be left alone, especially disintegrated and torn apart. In the present state of play, the Government, opposition as well as the people must consolidate and fight to achieve a common goal through joint efforts. Sometimes pending threats are more easy to notice from a long distance; these endless political tit-for-tats has engrossed all their attention which is why they are now unable to notice pending threats and dangers,” declares Mr. Kakachia.

“As for Georgia’s former foreign Minister, Irakli Menagharishvili, he views a statement from the department as an advice offered by a well-wisher, by a friend. “I deem this statement to be an advice from a strategic ally, from a friend; by issuing this statement, they simply want to spur our political spectrum to mobilize power to achieve their common objective. Everyone with Euro-Atlantic aspirations, who don’t want to forgo their ambition to move closer to the EU, must unite today; however, tackling this issue is not a peace of cake in Georgia. I am deeply convinced that the aforementioned statement was released due to one sole purpose – to make us focus our attention on the institutional drawbacks that must be eliminated as soon as possible,” states Mr. Menagharishvili.

“Expert Soso Tsiskarishvili links a statement from the US Department of State to the Nationals’ “accidental” visit to the US. “Frankly speaking I cannot bring a strong argument corroborating an allegation that the Nationals’ visit to the US and the statement by the US department of State simultaneously took place by an accident. In addition, this issue has once again demonstrated that our Foreign Ministry is a weak body that is unable to compete with Giorgi Kandelaki, who is always convincing while spreading totally different information… In messages like this, there is always hidden a connotative meaning as follows: “shortly after the Parliamentary elections of 2012, the National Movement set to implementing a term “operative work.” Since than they have hoped that power would be shared by two leading force in our country… How can we believe that by they view the right-wing party as the pro-European force? They must be thinking regarding the National Movement and not regarding our acting authorities while issuing this statement,” announced Mr. Tsiskarishvili.

"We would like to remind our readers of the fact that on 13 September, the US Department of State issued a statement in which they called on all of Georgia’s pro-democracy and pro-Euro-Atlantic forces to safeguard their common interests and move the country forward through joint efforts.

“The United States urges all of Georgia’s pro-democracy and pro-Euro-Atlantic forces to focus on their common interests, build on recent achievements, and work together to move the country forward and address the pressing economic and regional security challenges of the day. We are concerned by the continued investigations and criminal charges against opposition figures and the risks that politicized prosecutions would pose for Georgia’s democracy. The United States continues to support Georgia’s democratic development, which must include respect for political pluralism and open debate,” says the statement.”

Is constitutional coup being organized in Georgia?

“Having disengaged from big politics, Bidzina Ivanishvili turns up on the political scene only in extreme situations. He has understood that the political impasse in the country has deepened. Ivanishvili always sees through a job he starts. We have very often argued whether or not he could take on the responsibility to tackle this or that issue; whether or not this was a right decision… He always tried to hold his ground; we are faced with precisely the similar situation today. Some of his messages are old, for example, those linked to the representatives of our media outlets. He has never liked the pathos of the Georgian journalists,” declares expert Mamuka Areshidze in his interview with the Alia gazette.

“They’ve always monitored Ivanishvili’s private telephone conversations… Once again I repeat, in the Ministry of Internal Affairs as well as in the Prosecutor’s Office, there is still functioning the “Fifth Column” which complies with the political orders from other powers, and this “Fifth Column” is obviously the National Movement that have proven to be the their perpetual headache with which they failed to do away thus far. That is why the fact that our former Prime Minister’s private phone conversations are being monitored does not strike me in the slightest. To back up my allegation, I can even bring an incident in the region of Akhaltsikhe as an example; I am not entitled to give away further details regarding this issue though,” declares Mr. Areshidze.

“Now it’s a bit difficult to predict whether or not Giorgi Margvelashvili will join opposition in the future. Reports regarding Margvelashvili’s intention to organize a revolt in the country have hit the headlines; Margvelashvili is not that type of man who can or will organize a rebellion in Georgia though. He may go against his team but he will never go against his own country. I hoped that they would manage to provide a solution to this issue by putting a stop to these endless political spats. What is happening in Georgia today is simply shameful,” contends the respondent.

“However, nothing can be totally excluded… they may even impeach the President. If I were in Margvelashvili’s shoes, I would have tried my best to cultivate relations with the acting and former Prime Ministers without bringing everything to light; they must handle their problems behind the scenes; these confrontations will clearly bring us nothing good,” maintains the expert.

“There is the only outlet from this blind alley – if Margvelashvili proves unable to heal the rift between him and the Government, he must relinquish his power. Against the present background, when myriad challenges and threats are posed to us, a gap between the two state institutions must cease to exist,” concludes the expert.

If today we refuse to give the Russian leader a pretext to proclaim war with us, he will find it difficult to do this – Akaki Asatiani

"Vladimir Putin has made it clear that he plans to occupy Slavic States and the northern regions of Kazakhstan to create a country which will be based on cohabitation. In his statement, he also gave a hint to some countries that want to stand aside that they can do this as they will be dragged back to Russia’s orbit anyway. As for Georgia, all plans he had regarding this country came to fruition in 2008. However, if today, we refuse to give the Russian leader a pretext to declare war on us, he will find it difficult to do this. Our future is in our hands today,” announced, Akaki Asatiani, Head of the “Traditionalists” in his interview with the Rezonansi gazette.

"The Nationals claim that the acting authorities have not received any prolific results from the NATO Wales Summit; this is hogwash though. We don’t have any kind of foundation to celebrate our victory; one thing is clear though – after the 9 years, we have been faced with a really tangible result for the first time. As you know they even intend to found a military training center in Georgia, and this is really paramount for us. By all odds, this move can also put our security at stake, but, tell me, what is Russia offering to us?! We have the only one option and this option is the EU,” maintains Mr. Asatiani.

“As for the military trainings that our soldiers are expected to undergo in the NATO Training Center this will more or less deter Russia’s aggression. God save us but if Russia decides to carry out a military strike in Georgia, NATO will respond to its move in this case. Even if we coordinated with Russia and had harmonious relations with it, we would need NATO Military Training Center anyway,” alleges the respondent.

“Today, the former SU states including Georgia are clearly at risk. The Russian strongman followed through with his plans in relation to us in 2008. But if today we refuse to give him a pretence to launch a war here, he will find it difficult to do this,” concludes Akaki Asatiani.