27 November 2003 22:53
Irakly Areshidze Moscow Times, November 26
"Mr Shevardnadze's leadership was critical to securing Georgian independence in the early 1990s. But over
the years the Georgian president became an inept leader, whose circle included many extremely corrupt individuals.
Though the US provided $1.5bn [pounds 900m] of aid over the past decade, Georgia was unable to emerge from political
instability, economic stagnation, and poverty. By the time he resigned on Sunday . . . opposition to him had grown
throughout the country . . .
"The bad news is that Mr Shevardnadze is the second post-Soviet Georgian president unable to finish his term in
office. The fear is that removing an unpopular leader extra-constitutionally could become the norm, leading many to
question whether it is possible for Georgia to ever have stable constitutional government."
[UKIR [UK & Ireland Intelligence Wire]] |
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