EurasiaNet Recaps - Opposition Unity Needed "To Disband" Shevardnadze's Government in Georgia

RECAPS

OPPOSITION UNITY NEEDED "TO DISBAND" SHEVARDNADZE’S GOVERNMENT IN GEORGIA
Giga Chikhladze 6/05/03
A Q&A with Zurab Zhvania conducted by Giga Chikhladze

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Georgia’s President Eduard Shevardnadze has announced that he is willing to meet with opposition leaders to discuss the electoral framework for the parliamentary vote scheduled for November. Speaking at a government session June 4, the Georgian president downplayed the significance of anti-government protests held across the country the previous day. Opposition leaders are vowing to keep up the pressure on Shevardnadze’s administration to conduct a free and fair parliamentary election. On June 3, Rustavi-2 television reported that five opposition parties had forged a "United Resistance Front." One of the parties joining the anti-Shevardnadze front is the United Democrats, led by former parliament speaker Zurab Zhvania. EurasiaNet contributor Giga Chikhladze recently interviewed Zhvania. His comments on the parliamentary election and other key issues facing Georgia today follow:

EurasiaNet: Do you think the November 2 parliamentary election will be free and democratic?
Zhvania: It is very hard to say for sure whether the upcoming elections will be free and democratic or not. The [Shevardnadze] administration’s behavior today indicates that the government would rather decide to falsify the election results. They may use "administrative resources" and tamper with the election commissions rather than let the voting process pass calmly and follow a democratic path. Therefore we are certainly much concerned about the possibility of election fraud. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive].

EurasiaNet: What could be done to avoid electoral fraud?
Zhvania: First of all, the election commissions should be composed of members who are impartial and independent from the Georgian political leadership. And secondly, you will have to update voter-registration lists. The lists of voters should correspond to reality. A series of amendments to the electoral code have been developed, and they have been submitted to parliament for approval.

EurasiaNet: Do you think it is possible to unify the opposition and create a coalition bloc?
Zhvania: I was among the first to call for a unified opposition, and I remain a staunch defender of this idea. This is the only way to completely disband the current leadership. Anyway, pro-Western opposition forces seeking liberal reforms and democratic governance will receive the overwhelming majority in parliament, and this will mark a new point of departure for Georgia.

EurasiaNet: What kind of relations do you have with Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of the opposition National Movement? Is it possible to see both of you in a single bloc and cooperating with each other? Who would assume the primary leadership in such a political alliance?
Zhvania: There can’t be any single leader in such an alliance. Nobody in Georgia would believe that I could be put under command, and be directed by anyone. Anyway, I do not claim to become the one and only leader.

While Mikheil was raised up and built a political reputation as a member of Zhvania’s team, I cannot deny that now his rating is one of the highest among Georgian political leaders. I do not seek the leadership. I am saying on the contrary � that we should have a group of leaders. � As for relations with Saakashvili, I cannot say that I always agree with the course taken by the National Movement party. In many cases, I would adopt a much more discreet approach and avoid redundant populism. But overall we have common goals, and, in many respects, we share the vision of the country’s future. We do cooperate in fact, and we intend to extend that cooperation.

EurasiaNet: Shevardnadze’s government has strongly supported the US military action in Iraq. Could it happen that the Bush administration will in turn support Shevardnadze in the upcoming parliamentary election? And could this support lead to the victory of the pro-Shevardnadze forces in newly elected parliament?
Zhvania: First of all, this is something to be decided by Georgian citizens, and it is highly improbable that the Americans or British could decide for Georgians what the character of the future parliament will be. Secondly, I am well informed of the details of American foreign policy, and I maintain very good relations with [members of] the former Clinton administration and with the current policymakers within the Bush team. I cannot assume that Americans would betray the ideals of freedom, and reject free and independent elections, and stake everything on one individual [Shevardnadze].

EurasiaNet: You are considered a pro-Western politician. Do you reckon to get support from the West, and during an election campaign as well?
Zhvania: I am counting on support of our vision for the country’s future, and on ensuring free and democratic elections. .. However, most of all, I am counting on the support of my constituents.

EurasiaNet: In your opinion, how are the geopolitical changes following the Iraqi campaign affecting Georgia?
Zhvania: These changes have already affected Georgia. Many politicians in Georgia do not understand that Georgia today cannot expect to be high priority on the agenda of Washington, London, Brussels and Berlin. And you can’t expect anybody in these capitals, I mean serious people, taking serious decisions, to spend time on nuances of Georgian domestic politics. We have to understand that the international agenda today is extremely strained. Therefore we must take responsibility to think about the future of our country all by ourselves.

The most important [priority] is to formulate a message from Georgia to the West in a concise and clear way. I figure it has to sound like this: we are the forces that envision a future for Georgia within the framework of Europe and NATO; we stand today together, and we set aside our differences, ready to take all responsibility for Georgia’s renewal. �

As for the concerns about an influx of Iraqi oil on the world market, and [the possibility] that it would damage Georgia’s economic prospects and challenge the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline’s viability, I assure you that all these misgivings have no basis. Georgia retains its influence as a transit state and plays a certain role on the world market not only in terms of transit volume, but also in terms of [offering] diversified energy transit options. This is not going to change significantly.

EurasiaNet: What do you think of the military cooperation between United States and Georgia?
Zhvania: I am proud that I had the privilege to be one of the first Georgian politicians who worked on making this military cooperation a reality. In contrast to many other politicians, I had a chance, apart from general statements, to take practical steps in this direction. When I served as parliament speaker, I lobbied this idea for years in the US Congress and other American government agencies. It is only natural that I view the military cooperation very positively and believe that it should be developed further.

EurasiaNet: Do you think Russia will in some way try to hamper strategic cooperation between United States and Georgia?
Zhvania: Georgian-Russian relations remain one of the most sensitive issues [for Tbilisi]. Viewing the United States as a principal partner of Georgia today and in the future, I nevertheless believe that we should do all we can to ease the tension with Russia. Russian leaders have to understand and believe that our cooperation with the United States is not directed against Russia. We must come to an understanding with the government of the Russian Federation. And I am sure that the future Georgian leadership will certainly be capable of achieving this goal.

EurasiaNet: Are you talking about a new administration, or the current one?
Zhvania: The current administration is hardly capable of resolving not only this problem, but also any other out of the numerous problems facing Georgia today. In spite of extremely strained relations with Shevardnadze, I have to say that he has done a lot of good for Georgia, and undoubtedly deserves great respect. In no case can you negate the extremely important role of Eduard Shevardnadze in making the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project a reality, and also in arousing US interest in forging closer relations with Georgia.

But today we need something else. We have to move forward. Society demands real changes. The people want to see benefits and the results of reforms on their dinner tables. The people are tired of corruption, injustice and irresponsibility reigning in Georgia.

Editor�s Note: Giga Chikhladze is an independent journalist based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

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