12 June 2004 12:19
EU/GEORGIA - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES EU`S HEIGHTENED ROLE IN GEORGIA
Europe Information: What are your expectations for the donor conference for Georgia on June 16-17? Salome
Zourabishvili: The donor conference of is extremely important as a focal point following debt restructuring deadlines in
June and the meeting of World Bank Directors. As the culmination of these efforts, the conference of donors is central
for us, providing us with an opportunity to outline the priorities of certain major programmes that have been launched
but require urgent funding if they are to be completed. Priorities include infrastructure, energy, agriculture and
agri-foods as well as regional development which, alongside regional government, the next phase, is absolutely vital
now. Combating poverty and enhancing development are an issue in itself but the problem of the regions is an even more
serious and difficult problem within that of the Georgian economy.
Europe Information: Regarding the regions, the Georgian Government sent troops to the frontier with South Ossetia
during the recent troubles - what is the current situation? Salome Zourabishvili: I spoke on this issue earlier at a
meeting with NATO at which I presented our action plan. The situation is entirely stabilised. South Ossetia has been in
the news a lot but that is understandable: it is the media's vision of a situation in a far away place about which
it knows very little. The media has focused above all on the soldiers sent to the region. Georgian soldiers have indeed
entered the region but they are part of the joint peace-keeping force in which we have a right to maintain 500 troops.
This number was not used during the recent Shevardnadze period - when troop numbers descended to 90, ill-equipped and
barely dressed. Following a first overhaul of the army we have now decided to re-establish the full peace-keeping
contingent to ensure the force can honour its mandate, that is to man check-points at the frontier and combat smuggling.
Following the resolution of the situation in Ajaria, the North-South route through South Ossetia is now the major
smuggling route in Georgia. This has led to a degree of uneasiness on the part of the peace-keeping force's Russian
contingent and in particular the local commander, who over-reacted by indicating that he planned to launch an offensive
against Georgian check-points. His comments led Georgia's President to call up his Russian counterpart Vladimir
Putin. The two leaders went some way towards calming the water before the meeting of the joint local committee that
regulates peace-keeping operations on June 2. The committee concluded that the Georgians were indeed only meeting their
quota; agreement has been reached on check-points and on the fact that they should continue to operate normally. The
committee concluded that there is no disagreement. Moreover, the local commander of Russian peace keeping forces has
been relieved of his command, probably because of his bellicose and ill-judged talk. His comments were understandable -
at the local level, interests are closely linked to smuggling and that is why he reacted.
What matters is that alongside these military and security measures, policies are being put in place in conflict
areas. In Ossetia in particular, in parallel with the opening of check points and the reintroduction of a peace-keeping
force, the President announced that pensions would be paid throughout South Ossetia, railways built - work began the
same day on a link to the capital -; and an investigation launched into the principal incident of the conflict of 1992
which is almost universally blamed on Georgians. This should be seen as a sign that the Georgian authorities are
prepared to assign blame where it is due. The President has also introduced a number of measures designed to enable
Ossetians who want to return to the region - that is, those who left the Georgian part - to be either compensated or to
return to their homes. This is not conflict resolution but an effort to advance dialogue, create a climate that improves
on the previous situation, and reopen the debate on what can be done in the longer term. Clearly this doesn't
address status issues but the debate is at least opened.
Little by little the same thing is happening with Abkhazia - a more complicated situation since in Abkhazia there is
still considerable hostility between populations, which is not the case in South Ossetia. In Abkhazia we are at a much
earlier stage consisting in establishing a minimal dialogue, proposals including the lifting of sanctions and the
reopening of rail links in exchange for the effective introduction of an international police fore and international
administration. Here, however, it is the Russians who hold the key. Whereas in Ossetia it is possible to have direct
dialogue and the Russians were simply required not to act out of line, in Abkhazia the Russians must formally agree, for
example, to the introduction of a police force, an issue on which they have remained silent. Perhaps they are still
considering their response. Europe Information: In this context, do you envisage an enhanced role for the European Union
at the political level in Georgia? There is talk of an EU judicial reform project in Georgia.
Salome Zourabishvili: Yes, the EU has a greater role to play in Georgia from all points of view. Firstly, the
EU's Special Representative is already more active than was previously the case and this has given more visibility
to regional questions in Brussels and vice-versa; the European Union itself is a little more visible than it has been
over recent years and that is a good thing. We consider that it must be more active everywhere, including on questions
of conflict; for the moment there is perhaps no area in which it can play a genuine role but there will come a time when
it will be required to do so. When that time comes, the European Union can surely have an influence.
There is now also the mission on the rule of law, the first CFSP/CSDP mission in this region on an issue that is key
in accompanying the fight against corruption. Arrests and systemic measures within the various Ministries are
insufficient if they are not backed up by a legal system robust enough to take on what promises to be a complicated and
long drawn out fight.
Europe Information: There is much talk of Russian and American spheres of influence in Georgia. Do you believe the
European Union can act to some extent as neutral ground in this regard? Salome Zourabishvili: As Foreign Minister - and
I know that the President shares this vision of things -, I consider that the Shevardnadze method which consisted in
balancing and playing the Americans off against the Russians and the Russians against the Americans as needs demanded is
untenable and only leads to great difficulties for Georgia and no solution, particularly regarding conflicts. Our view
is that the only alternative for Georgia is to force our leading partners - and all three are major partners, America,
Russia and Europe, all of which have legitimate interests in this region - to collaborate and work together towards
these interests. What we need is constructive co-operation on terrorism, energy, transits and conflict resolution which
is in the interest of all. However, our partners must still be persuaded, especially the Russians who are still
newcomers in this area and who feel they are not necessarily well understood or well received in the region. However, if
people come to co-operate in a constructive frame of mind, they all have their place.
Europe Information: What is the situation regarding Russian military bases in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which
Georgia would like to see dismantled? Colin Powell mentioned this last week.
Salome Zourabishvili: It is a theme that remains on the table, but the Russians, when dialogue was resumed, asked us
to stop making such an issue of it, a throw-back to the Shevardnadze method. We have agreed not to constantly reiterate
this demand as the first point in negotiations but it is clear that it is a key issue in the context of discussions with
Russia. The Russians know very well that there is no change in our fundamental request, that the bases be dismantled. We
are waiting for them to appoint their head negotiator and come to the table. We have presented a number of proposals in
the context of these negotiations as well as some more informal proposals and the ball is now in their court. For us,
this is an issue on which there is total unanimity among Georgia's politicians and there can be no backtracking on
such a fundamental point. The bases no longer have any military purpose, politically they are liable to generate
problems for us when we seek to establish neighbourly relations, and they may one day represent a target for terrorist
attack; three good reasons then not to maintain bases that no longer have any raison d'etre.
Europe Information: Is it reasonable to expect that bases will be dismantled within three years as demanded by the
Georgian Government? Salome Zourabishvili: We are calling for a three-year deadline on the basis of normal negotiating
practices, but if we adopt a more original and audacious approach, including our proposal for a joint anti-terrorism
centre, troops might be withdrawn in a matter of months not years. However that represents a conceptual leap in our
co-operation. We still have no indication as to how the Russians aim to begin the negotiations. At present the
initiative lies more with Georgia. I think the Russians are thinking a little and that is perhaps a good sign.
[European Report] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
