Press Digest 20.10.2014

We must redouble effort to persuade our western friends to change the Geneva format -- Soso Tsiskarishvili

“Two-chamber parliament can see us through this critical situation”

Do some drug addicts actually use soil instead of narcotics?

***

We must redouble effort to persuade our western friends to change the Geneva format -- Soso Tsiskarishvili

"The allegations saying that Russia’s aggressive acts are fueled by Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations seem absolutely toothless to me. We know perfectly well that Moscow snatched all tools via which Georgia could exert control on Abkhazia and the so-called South Ossetia as early as the 1990s, when the only person who talked regarding NATO and Georgia’s presumable integration with the Alliance was Irakli Tsereteli. Thus, those claiming that this document is hasty or has been adopted due to the Georgian authorities’ irrational policy are wrong,” announces expert Soso Tsiskarishvili in his interview with the Kviris Palitra gazette.

“It became clear long ago, as early as under de-facto leader, Anakvab, that these processes would have taken place; as you know, after the annexation of the Crimean peninsula, Mr. Anakvab categorically declared that he would have never accepted such a model of Abkhazia. The Russian high officials shared his position then; however, shortly after this, they forced the de-facto president out of his office. Precisely Russia triggered the protest rallies that swept away Mr. Anakvab then. Russia’s perseverance paid off and finally it succeeded in installing its protégé, Mr. Khajimba, into power in Abkhazia. Russia managed to attain its end only after the third attempt, and this clearly demonstrates that the Abkhazian people have never allowed the Russian leader to lead them by the nose. By all odds, a great deal of Abkhazians support Russia; however, I don’t think that they are a majority today,” claims Mr. Tsiskarishvili.

“The fact that in our legislative body our deputies have drafted a document in reference to the ongoing processes in a usual tensed atmosphere as well as the fact that by the aforementioned document they addressed to Russia only and have not put even a single, miserable word in these papers for Abkhazians, has proven to be immensely deplorable to me. All right, we can get that Russia is a key target towards which we issue these protest announcements but are we so blind we cannot see that these announcements have failed to draw any positive change in our lives? It’s high time to perform deeds! Mere words will get us nowhere. Let’s ignore Russia and try to get involved in a dialogue with the Abkhazian side. It’s shameful that over the decades, the Georgian Government has not even tried to introduce a new approach to Georgian-Abkhazian relations,” contends the respondent.

“We have brought in the law on the occupied regions; however, we have not even thought to pass a law that would bridge the Georgians and Abkhazians and that would let the Abkhazians enjoy certain benefits. Thus, today the statements, the actions as well as desires must be targeted at Abkhazia and not Russia. At this point in time, the Abkhazians are going through a rather sticky patch – they are caught between a rock and hard place and don’t know which is better to join Russia or to stay with Georgia. They are sitting on the fence now but they will have to make a decision soon. Why are we not giving them a chance to comprehend the repercussions of both alternatives? Thus, it is paramount for us to involve the international organizations in this process and pass detailed information onto the Abkhazians through them,” maintains the expert.

“As for the Geneva format, I think that those who think that it will bring about any positive results are hopeless optimists. Hence, we must make redoubled efforts to persuade our western friends to change this format. As you know, Russia persistently insists that it is not a conflicting party; however, it has remained the center of these negotiations so far. Its explicit aim is to keep the conflict frozen. Thus, I strongly hold that in Geneva, in parallel to these quadripartite talks, the negotiations must also be held between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali, Tbilisi and Sokhumi, as well as Tbilisi and Moscow. We must raise this initiation on the international stage as soon as possible,” asserts Mr. Tsiskarishvili.

“Two-chamber parliament can see us through this critical situation”

“A key objective of an interparty group of the political parties is to ameliorate the election environment. They have never talked regarding their presumable consolidation around one political goal or idea. Within this interparty format, they merely endeavor to improve the election environment. This group has been formed precisely for this sole purpose. At one of our meetings we agreed on the core principles of our game; we have also drafted a list of those political organizations that will be involved in this process,” declares Head of the “Independence” party, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, in his interview with the Akhali Taoba gazette.

“The number of the aforementioned organizations has reached 15 so far. As far as I am concerned, Nino Burjanadze is involved in the process. In addition, they have brought in the representatives of the labor party in the interparty group. They were not present at the meeting; however, the door to them is kept open. Georgian Dream Coalition and the National Movement will not be presented here but we plan to address both of them in the immediate future,” states Mr. Gamsakhurdia.

“The acting authorities have been in power for 2 years; over this period of time they have done a great deal; much has still been left to be done though. As for the election environment, it is truly normal which is why we decided to work on it to make it better. Although first we have to prioritize all key issues we plan to take up. In order to improve the pre-election environment, we will have to put our heads together to come up with productive ideas that will definitely work. The Interparty Group urges the Government to abrogate a majoritarian system. I am for this idea in one case only – if we implement a chamber which will be represented by the majoritarians only that is a two-chamber legislative body,” claims the respondent. 

To the question whether or not forming a senate can serve as a solution to this issue, the “Independence” party Head replies:

“Surely, it can. Today we live in a half-parliamentary and half-presidential republic. And you know this model is rather problematic. Along with other factors, precisely this has fueled a conflict between the President and the Head of our Government. Thus, our constitution must undoubtedly be refined and all faults in it must be eradicated as soon as possible.”

Do some drug addicts actually use soil instead of narcotics?

"Narcotics are posing more and more daunting threats for the Georgian people. As the Rezonansi gazette found out, to enjoy a taste of the pleasures of drugs, they even use the soil where the officials of MIA destroy the illegal substance. In the wake of this, the remains of drugs as well as the ashes are left on the ground. They mix these remnants and ashes with different substance and take them like drugs. One of such place, where the narcotics are as a rule burned and destroyed is near the village of Gamarjveba, the Gardabani region. A large amount of ground has reportedly been taken from this place too; however, the law-enforcers have already taken preventative measures by bringing several tons of pure soil here as well as installing surveillance cams on this territory,” reports the Rezonansi gazette.

“However, the MIA Press Service has refused to confirm the afore-presented information. In their words, MIA incinerates narcotics trough high-tech equipment, and it’s simply impossible to replace drugs with these ashes. “You have received some false information; we hold this procedure through technically sophisticated equipment only; and thus, the drug-edicts do not stand even the smallest chance of using the ashes instead of narcotics. In addition, all information in terms of the place where we deal with illegal substances is strictly kept under wraps,” declared deputy Head of MIA Press Service, Vika Klimicheva. However, those specializing in this issue assert the opposite,” says the article.

“I am a resident of the village of Gamarjveba, the Gardabani region. A couple of months ago, narcotics were burned in our village. Although this information did not reach our ears as the place where the drugs were incinerated is uninhabited. Later, I learned that some young guys took this contaminated soil, mixed it with some substance and took them as narcotics. I have not tasted this substance; however, I know that some of the locals have done this. As it seems, these reports have also reached MIA. Around a month ago, they covered this area with pure soil and installed surveillance cams here too,” an anonymous resident of the village of Gamarjveba tells us.

"As professor and Doctor of Medical Sciences, Khatuna Todadze says, similar reports have not reached her ears for a rather long period of time. “However, such instances have really repeatedly occurred in the past. They really use this dirt to prepare the illegal substance. As for the side effects, such “narcotics” can have, it is difficult to expand on this issue, because they destroy the drugs by using different kinds of technology. The burning of some narcotics can result in the production of toxic substances. No one knows whether or not the remnants of the narcotics can really be found in this soil. No official data has been provided regarding this issue. Thus, taking some unknown substance can have any kind of imaginable or unimaginable side-effect on a person,” states the professor.