If the public realizes that Ivanishvili wants to host a TV show in order to “pin his opponents to the mat”, his program will definitely not deserve any sympathy -- Nugzar Ruhadze

InterPressNews sat down with Nugzar Ruhadze, a renowned Georgian journalist with vast experience as a news anchor in Georgia and the U.S. to discuss different important aspects of his profession as well as acute issues of Georgia’s internal and external policy.

- Information saying that Bidzina Ivanishvili will be a co-host of the political-intellectual talk show on GDS has been confirmed. This news has triggered a massive backlash from the public. What could you say regarding the decision by Bidzina Ivanishvili who is the most influential, wealthy and best-informed figure in Georgia?

- I would say why not?! Generally, this kind of approach and mindset from our people is really good. Even more, it’s the best possible manifestation of freedom in general and the freedom of speech in particular. Tell me why not? I will listen to him with great pleasure and will credit his words if he manages to persuade me.

Obviously, one can spin arguments out of thin air and can bring them against this extremely interesting novelty, but why rack our brains on this issue? In my opinion, a man on whom shined an idea to create such a project is a genius.

It’s not necessary to assert that Ivanishvili’s decision to gear himself to the role of a presenter is not a casual event. The rating of his program would presumably go up to the sky on the very first day it will be broadcasted. The viewers’ curiosity is boundless. Personally I would hold all my affairs over to watch Mr. Ivanishvili’s program. Then everything will be in his hands; his professionalism, smartness, wits, charisma, appearance, manners, voice, a style of posing a question to respondents, an ability to listen to a respondent’s answer, patience, journalistic tact and savvy, loyalty to a respondent and the viewer, zest for being at the service of the truth, aptitude to endure criticism and certainly his intellect will determine the future rating of his program. In this particular case, he and only he is running a risk, no one else. And I think he is not afraid to take risks, even incredible ones. We have already witnessed the gigantic political steps he has taken; so, how can we compare the risk Ivanishvili is running by this decision to those ventures and hazards he has already faced?

- Can you remember a similar situation in world history? Has a person having disengaged from politics ever expressed a desire to host a TV program?

-No, I cannot. However, such a thing may have really occurred. Regarding this particular issue I can more easily speak on the example of the U.S., where one of the leading figures of Clinton’s administration is hosting NBC today. I am sure if one proposes any American ex-president or former high official to become a TV star or to play a leading role in a Hollywood movie, they will accept this proposal without hesitation. Tell me why not?! What can prevent them from taking this step?!

- In your opinion what could have fueled Ivanishvili’s decision to host a TV program?

- In this particular case we can only make presumptions. However, we can also easily guess that Bidzina Ivanishvili’s decision is prompted by a mere interest and desire to put his abilities to the test…That is why once again I will say why not?! If for the sake of argument we will assume that by following this path he will more easily make a positive influence on our society than through other measures, even political means, let it be so! Ivanishvili is a valuable national resource, multi-faceted and heterogeneous. And I think that the aptitude to use this resource rationally clearly points to the fact that the nation is sage. If the profession of journalist is Ivanishvili’s asset that has not been unlocked thus far, let him try this route. The only thing we have left is to wish him success on his chosen path.

- In the present state of play, when Ivanishvili’s team members preside over country, how will the public as well as the Government react to the former PM’s praise and criticism towards the acting or former top officials? Can we presume that Ivanishvili’s every word will spur the authorities to take this or that step?

- Well, this can be defined as one of the greatest threat that can be posed to Mr. Ivansihvili’s program. I am deeply convinced that the founders of the program as well as its future co-host will repeatedly turn this issue over their mind and will determine what kind of repercussions each opinion aired live in their program will yield.

Obviously, each word from Ivanishvili carries more weight than mine for instance. I, as a future viewer of this program and a true-blue patriot of my country, long to be sure that such outrageous mistakes will not be made on this program. By all odds, each and every word from them will be taken seriously and will have to be handled with kid gloves. They must be strongly determined not to let this program hurt the nation. Otherwise, the program will lose its purpose and will become functionless.

-- As the specialists allege, PR is the Achilles’ heel of our Government for one reason only – the Government itself has refused to influence political processes via television. By the way, they link the Government’s inaptitude to hold successful PR campaigns to ex-PM Ivanishvili. From your viewpoint, with what kind of image will Ivanishvili appear before the public on his program? Will he chose the image of intellectual, a psychoanalyst or a mentor…

- I have already told you what kind of risks he can be taking by laying the foundation for this TV program. And, in fact, what will the Government or the PR technologies have to do with this issue? Who can entitle the Government with the right to set the PR technologies into motion within media space on this particular occasion? This is a private business and it’s up to me, a particular inpidual, to make decisions. If I don’t breach the law, my rights are unlimited. A private TV Company is a private business that makes money and the Government must leave it alone. As for what kind of image Ivanishvili should choose, I do not think that he needs to search for an image beforehand. He simply is a man who wants to host a TV program and to realize this intention he is moving to this particular sphere.

-In your opinion, what kind of format should the program have to be interesting for our public and to enjoy popularity among our people? As for the already existing talk shows, it’s without question that they do lack trenchant and qualified analysis… Frankly speaking, it would be immensely interesting to listen to a comprehensive analysis on Georgia’s domestic and foreign policy by Ivanishvili…

- We cannot necessarily expect that Ivanishvili will cast light on Georgia’s internal and external policy. We are making a crude mistake by programming this man in advance. And you know because of our move, Ivanishvili can easily pose the people a question as follows: What do you want guys? Why are you programming me beforehand?! All these expectations from us are ridiculous and preposterous. This man simply desires to be a presenter and is helping his son to advance his TV Company and beat its opponents. He will definitely achieve his goal and do you know why? Each and every Georgian simply longs to find out how successfully Ivanishvili will inure himself to the profession of journalist. As for the format, there is no need to focus on the issue which is of pure technical nature and will be handled by the specialists.

- Reports fly that Ivanishvili and his co-host will invite the experts who pass criticism to the Government and will “scold” them live on the air. If this allegation rings true, what do you think can such a program enjoy popularity in our country?

- If this kind of program is created without planning each detail beforehand, obviously, this move from the Government will wither its reputation. I do hope that a person who has initiated this project is a consummate professional who knows the ropes and will never make such a gross mistake. If the people smell a rat in this situation, if they realize that Ivanishvili wants to host a TV show in order to “pin his opponents to the mat”, his program will definitely not deserve any sympathy from the public.

If the TV program fails to make our lives better, the project will undoubtedly slump.

- How would you asses the ongoing processes in Georgia’s foreign and domestic policy? Has the new power succeeded in fulfilling its duties?

- Everyone, including the authorities, does have their strong and weak points. Personally I want our Government to install an optimal ruling system within our country. This system has not been implemented here thus far though. However, we have chosen the right path and have not been veered from this path so far. We are on course now and our political troubles as well as those connected to our agricultural system are gradually melting away.

Unfortunately, as far as I can see, they have neither taken steps forward nor backwards. The life which we live today is balanced and slow, and I do not think that in this particular situation it is worth going against the tide. Certainly, an optimal system is the best possible system if they manage to implement it.

The Founding Fathers of the United States introduced this system in their country long ago. And the country has remained steadfast to this system thus far; however, a number of Americans are malcontented with it and do you know why? A man apt to change this ruling system has not been born yet. Millions of people in the U.S. don’t hide their overt dissatisfaction with their acting authorities. In addition, they failed to implement this type of ruling even in Europe including Switzerland and Luxembourg.

Koba Bendeliani

InterPressNews