The present Government has, in fact, pursued the Nationals’ economic course – Gia Khukhashvili
InterPressNews sat down with Chairman of the board of Georgia’s Development Research Institute, Gia Khukhashvili, to discuss the acute issues of Georgia’s internal and external policy.
--The EU resolution regarding Georgia has recently been become the subject of ongoing debates. The majority of observers think that the resolution has shed light on all complaints and accusations the Nationals have issued towards the Government. Some people have defined the aforementioned resolution as a political fiasco of the Georgian Dream Coalition, while others have described it as a manifestation of disrespect towards the Georgian voters as well as the Government. As expert Goa Nodia says, the statement from Tedo Japaridze as per which the resolution is of no legal value rings true; however, as per him, the European values are absolutely alien for Georgia as well as the Georgian people and our key problem lies in their inaptitude to accept them. What kind of a comment could you release regarding this issue?
-- The EU has drafted the aforementioned document due to several reasons. It would not be rational from us if we brought one single reason that made the EU pass the resolution. First of all, they have seen that unlike the National Movement that has taken really active steps in our political arena, the representatives of the Georgian Dream have mainly been inactive and lax. We can understand that the National Movement has certain ties with our western partners, but …
The core task of the Government must be to draw a distinct line between justice and politics. Unfortunately, the Government has failed to do this. Irrational tactics may be identified as subjective reasons that made them adopt the aforementioned resolution. Accordingly, those people who don’t know the ins and outs of our “internal kitchen”, those who have no idea what kind of a man Data Akhalaia was and who follows the ongoing developments in the country will not be able to assess the situation properly. These people as well as the western leaders see how the Government institutes one case after another and they obviously suspect that the authorities simply subject their political rivals to political persecution. Personally I obviously do not think that we deal with political persecution in this particular case. Bacho Akhalaia, for instance, has brought nothing good to our country; however, the actual fact is that the Government has failed to elaborate effective tactics to fight against criminals like him. And precisely this can be defined as a key reason having pushed them to adopt the resolution.
As for the repercussions of this resolution, they are mistaken if they actually think that the resolution will not have a negative ripple effect for Georgia. On the contrary, the document is likely to create really serious predicaments on Georgia’s path to the EU. It’s true that the resolution offers us only recommendations but if we pass them off as something unimportant, I don’t think that by doing this we will move closer to the EU.
--Head of Georgia’s parliament, Davit Usupashvili, has stated that the “Government will adequately respond to the accusations from the representatives of the EU parliament… “
-- I do also wish this; it would be really beneficial for us if they managed to give them an adequate response. Davit Usupashvili is also sure the Government will provide an adequate explanation; however, Mr. Usupashvili’s statement does not seem to be close to the truth. And by the way, releasing absurd statements is not really in Mr. Usupashvili’s blood.
- Two years after the Georgian Dream took the reins of the country, many diametrically different statements have been issued in Georgia. We have taken interest in your statement saying that the Government has found it immensely difficult to make independent decisions. Unlike the National Movement, the Georgian Dream Coalition does not qualify as an effective body. In your opinion, why have the acting authorities failed to be molded into independent decision-making figures?
- We can name a great number of reasons that have prevented the acting officials from becoming independent decision-makers. In my mind, first of all, we must blame the pre-election campaign of the Georgian Dream in which one single man had taken on such a great responsibility that all decisions, important or nugatory were made solely by him.
In my opinion, the members of the Government have simply gotten used to this situation, and in the wake of this, they have stepped away from the responsibility of making their own decisions. This man has voluntarily disengaged from politics but our politicians have still refused to undertake the responsibility of solving this or that issue by counting on their forces only. I cannot describe the existing situation as stagnation but the fact is that our politicians are unable to make their own decisions.
-- From this it follows that we must pin blame on Bidzina Ivanishvili due to the fact that our politicians cannot make their own decisions…
-No, I am not claiming this. We cannot hold Mr. Ivanishvili responsible because of the fact that our politicians are stuck in the era when all decisions were made by this man.
-- On the Radio “Palitra” program “Résumé,” you declared that “finances are not poured into our economy.” What can be the cause of this?
- We can define only systemic shortfalls that were characteristic of the former authorities as well as the present Government as the cause for this. Due to some kind of unknown reasons, the acting authorities have concluded that they are the investors of our economy. And precisely this is one of the unwarrantable mistakes of theirs. The present Status Quo strongly suggests that they have to adopt some really effective measures to advance our private businesses. The Government forms some funds alone, initiates and executes some projects; all this obviously dulls the investor’s desire to carry out private investments in the country.
Political risks are still high in our economic environment. It’s not a secret that by carrying out its own investments, the Government puts a private investor in an extremely bad situation and thwarts him in getting involved in the country’s economic processes.
The Government is really not obliged to carry out investments in our economy; it must simply create a suitable environment for others to channel funds into our economy by making investments. In fact the present authorities have kept pursuing Saakashvili’s chosen course in this sphere.
- Next year, interesting economic processes are expected to take place in Abkhazia’s economy. Namely, from 2015, Moscow is expected to double the funds it has channeled into the economy of Georgia’s breakaway region. They plan to pour about 300 million USD into this sector. How would you assess the processes that are expected to occur in Abkhazia next year?
- This initiation cannot really be defined as something auspicious for us. However, I am not really sure that they will actually take this step. Anyway, if this still happens, the distance between us and our Abkhazian brothers will obviously increase. The only tool that can enable us to regain the lost territories is launching the process of economic integration by carrying out different co-investment projects.
- As Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Grergory Karassin announced, even if the Georgians and Russians manage to cultivate their relations, any prospect that the Russian leaders will recant acknowledging the independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions does not loom on the horizon. It is understandable that our authorities are moved by a strong desire to mend economic ties with Russia but do you think that they are ready to achieve this objective at the expense of our breakaway regions?
- We all know that Russia will never retreat and making it back down cannot really be our strategic task. We must simply hamper Russia from thwarting the Georgian and Abkhazian as well as the Georgian and Ossetian sides in launching a dialogue.
In fact, if this dialogue is really kicked off and if the parties decide to cohabitate by forming a federation or confederation Russia must stand aside and must abstain from meddling in our affairs. I don’t really believe that Russia will actually do this; however, if we somehow succeed in achieving this aim, this will be a truly great accomplishment for us.
- How would you evaluate the present situation in Georgia?
- I don’t really want to dramatize the situation but our internal policy is replete with problems. I cannot really argue with an allegation that the humane rights are much more observed in our country under the present Government; however, the authorities still have to handle one of the most fundamental problems of our democracy. This is the power sharing process. As you see, under the present rule, the executive Government has done its best to usurp the power and this by all odds contradicts the core principles of democracy.
The closed political space and the fact that signs of a multi party democratic system have not even surfaced thus far can also be defined as one of the key problems that has been mishandled under the present Government…
- Our Government strongly hold that the Nationals want to fan the flames of revolution in the country… Against this background we have been left with the impression that our country has entered a new phase of its development…
- I cannot really notice any signs making me presume that we have entered a new phase; however, the situation in our country is immensely fragile today. We stand a strong chance of being dragged back into the dark ages again…
Nowadays, the Government must avoid provoking any radical dispositions from our people. No matter what kind of objectives these radical groups will set, the Government must try to prevent them from taking active steps on our political scene. Otherwise, the situation can become really uncontrollable.
-All our allies have called on us to pass through this immensely turbulent situation extremely carefully. In your opinion, what has actuated the activists of the Nationals as well as our Government and what has pushed them to take such active steps on our political stage?
- As you know aggression is a sign of weakness and only the weak are inclined to perform aggressive acts. By trying to hide something through aggression is a really dangerous practice. The Government is simply obliged to use common sense while taking some steps on our political scene. They cannot use aggression as a tool to hide their weakness and inaptitude to meet their goals.
Koba Bendeliani
InterPressNews
