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US admits failure in its strategy towards Georgia
Published: 11 June, 2010, 14:12
Edited: 25 June, 2010, 17:36
Georgia, Tbilisi (AFP Photo / Vano Shlamov)
TAGS: Arms, Conflict, Election, Meeting, Military, NATO, CIS, Georgia, Protest, Politics, Saakashvili, Human rights, Mass media
The US Administration has Georgia on their minds – and it's not one of the fifty states.
Speaking in Washington DC, Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and senior director of Russian and Eurasian Affairs Michael McFaul admitted the US considers the situation in Georgia to be dire, and blames America for it.
The White House seems to be determined to improve economic situation and strengthen democracy in the small Caucasus country that is situated halfway across the world, obviously demonstrating its displeasure with the current condition of Georgia.
A darling of the US just a couple of years ago, Georgia is now struggling to retain its role, but all signs from Washington DC indicate it is failing to do so.
In fact, Georgia seems to be losing ground on the international arena.
Though NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen spares no words, repeatedly assuring Tbilisi it will be welcomed into the Alliance, he always underlines the fact that no concessions will be made. This means that Georgia will have to wait its turn until NATO countries deem it ready to become a fully-fledged member.
At a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Rasmussen underlined Tbilisi still needed to implement many reforms, and suggested that the Alliance closely monitors Georgia's defense strategy.
Meanwhile, Georgian opposition leaders continue to press the country's leadership is failing at improving democracy, and continue to stress the need to overthrow Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.
The issue of unity is one of the hottest dishes on the table for the opposition. Georgia's former Minister of Defense Irakly Okruashvili and former Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli have announced plans to create a unified opposition party.
In an interview to Georgia's Maestro TV, Noghaideli said: “The longer Georgia's present leaders keep power, the more problems the country will have and the lower its chances will be to unite and revive the country.”
He stressed, however, the importance of a peaceful transfer of power from Saakashvili.
The Georgian opposition has suffered from a lack of support from the public, largely due to its inability to deliver on promises to oust the current regime over the past several years.
Though they share a common goal, until recently, opposition leaders have failed to agree on a unified leadership or common strategy to fulfill their promises to the people.
While the US and NATO continue to assure the Georgian government of their interest in the country's prosperity and democratic process, the Georgian people are left waiting and hoping that at least one side finally goes from words and promises to actions and fulfillment.
Irina Galushko, Tbilisi, Georgia
11.06.2010, 11:23
4 comments
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No, not much has changed. Granted, US would like to see at this point their Misha go. And up until now, majority of opposition leadership would be acceptable to US, as the policy of anti-Russian sentiment is part and parcel of their role in Caucases. In fact, there is genuine disappointment that the Georgian people are not supporting opposition in greater numbers. This will make it difficult to install the new set of "democratic" leaders, and turn the "new/same old" page. Now, they are stuck with the status quo, with the President Saakashvilli whose image cannot be repaired. Not that it has not been tried. From Hollywood to political support in the region --- everything was tried to get his tarnished image shine. Now, the hope is on the opposition. The problem is --- Georgian people. People have a feeling that the opposition leaders are just another Saakashvilli, albeit in a new, more polished gown and more acceptable manners. And their support is, therefore, lukewarm. So, for now --- everybody is stuck with the status quo. The future for Georgia is not pretty. For the status quo will continue until a brand new, more independent opposition takes root. And that can happen only when the country deteriorates economically so that the new leadership will not feel obliged to chant the mantra of "reclaiming lost territories" When the new political consciousness emerges, the population will be ready to vote the current elite --- not just Saakashvilli --- out of power. The new ideas could do well to emulate Turkey's goal: "Zero problems with neighbors". This would require a brand new form of nationalism, the one that puts its nation's economic developement, and good relations with neighbors, above the previously cherrished and now tarnished image of "being important" to great powers.
For Washington Georgia is an expendable matter. After the |"the reset bottom" with Russia nobody really cares for Georgia in Washington. What a dead end that Georgians have brought themselves to. That is going to happen to all those who let themselves get involved with US. Georgians have gotten their country dismantled into peaces never to be merged again, they are treated with disdain even in US and also in the EU/NATO, the citizens of Georgia will never be allowed again to make money in markets of Russian cities. What a miserable position for once a proud nation. No one should think in Georgia that the change of the leadership will bring Abhazia and Osetia within Georgian state again. For the decades and centuries to come Georgians will remember this Suchasswilly period with bitter feelings.
Nothing new in this article. Opposition is not good in Georgia - only bunch of opportunists - power hungry people. They lost support not becuase they could not get rid of Saakashvili but becuase they are running to Russia for help. The Russia is viewed as number 1 enemy, irrational blood thirsty neighbor.