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The Messenger, Georgia
May 11 2005
In "frank" discussion, Bush offers support for Georgia
Aid in resolving internal conflicts most likely to flow, however,
through international bodies
By Warren Hedges
After a brief official welcome ceremony Tuesday morning in
Parliament, Presidents George Bush and Mikheil Saakashvili and their
aides met in private to discuss, among other things, Georgia's
ongoing reforms and how the U.S. is willing to assist Georgia.
"We had a very frank discussion. That's what I like about the
President [Saakashvili]," Bush said at a press conference immediately
following the meeting. "What I find on his mind is very refreshing;
he loves democracy and loves freedom, and he loves the people of
Georgia."
Calling the Rose revolution "a powerful moment in modern history,"
Bush said he was willing to give significant support to Georgia but
called on the country to take on the task of peacefully resolving
internal disputes on its own.
"If the president were to call and wanted me to make a phone call or
two, I'd be more than happy to do so," Bush said of resolving
Georgia's longstanding conflicts with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"But this is a dispute that is going to be resolved by the Georgian
government and by the folks in the separatist regions," Bush
immediately followed, "The United States cannot impose a solution,
nor would you want us to."
According to Bush, "what we can do is we can help," and the most
likely places where this will occur is in the UN and other
international bodies. "We can work with other groups, all aimed at
helping resolve this issue peacefully. But this is an issue that will
be resolved by the duly-elected government of Georgia in a peaceful
way," Bush said.
The U.S. president also praised Saakashvili's peace plan and said
Georgia must reunite its territories but also respect local autonomy
while settling its conflicts. "He can solve them peacefully, with our
help," Bush said.
The brief press conference allowed both leader to give short remarks
and then take a total of four questions, two from Georgian
journalists and two from international media.
Bush also gave a show of support for Georgia's NATO ambitions. "The
president is very clear about his intentions to meet the obligations
to join NATO. And, Mr. President, we look forward to working with you
to meet those obligations," Bush said.
"NATO is a very important alliance for the United States of America.
It's a place where we have our strategic conversations with our
transatlantic friends, and we want to help you achieve your objective
there."
Following the press conference, Bush was scheduled to meet with a
group ethnic minorities in Georgia, including representatives of
Jewish, Armenian, Azeri, Ossetian and Kurdish minorities. During the
press briefing, President Saakashvili touted Georgia's diversity as a
"strength."
"I know how people can feel strongly about their identities.
Georgia's strength is its diversity. It's not its weakness, it's our
strength," Saakashvili said, speaking in English for most of the
press conference.
President Bush said he would use the meeting to stress the importance
of protecting minorities. "The president kindly set up a meeting
where I will remind people that a truly democratic society is one
that honors and respects minorities. This is a very diverse country.
You've had a great tradition of honoring minorities in this country,
and your democracy will continue to do so," he said.
May 11 2005
In "frank" discussion, Bush offers support for Georgia
Aid in resolving internal conflicts most likely to flow, however,
through international bodies
By Warren Hedges
After a brief official welcome ceremony Tuesday morning in
Parliament, Presidents George Bush and Mikheil Saakashvili and their
aides met in private to discuss, among other things, Georgia's
ongoing reforms and how the U.S. is willing to assist Georgia.
"We had a very frank discussion. That's what I like about the
President [Saakashvili]," Bush said at a press conference immediately
following the meeting. "What I find on his mind is very refreshing;
he loves democracy and loves freedom, and he loves the people of
Georgia."
Calling the Rose revolution "a powerful moment in modern history,"
Bush said he was willing to give significant support to Georgia but
called on the country to take on the task of peacefully resolving
internal disputes on its own.
"If the president were to call and wanted me to make a phone call or
two, I'd be more than happy to do so," Bush said of resolving
Georgia's longstanding conflicts with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
"But this is a dispute that is going to be resolved by the Georgian
government and by the folks in the separatist regions," Bush
immediately followed, "The United States cannot impose a solution,
nor would you want us to."
According to Bush, "what we can do is we can help," and the most
likely places where this will occur is in the UN and other
international bodies. "We can work with other groups, all aimed at
helping resolve this issue peacefully. But this is an issue that will
be resolved by the duly-elected government of Georgia in a peaceful
way," Bush said.
The U.S. president also praised Saakashvili's peace plan and said
Georgia must reunite its territories but also respect local autonomy
while settling its conflicts. "He can solve them peacefully, with our
help," Bush said.
The brief press conference allowed both leader to give short remarks
and then take a total of four questions, two from Georgian
journalists and two from international media.
Bush also gave a show of support for Georgia's NATO ambitions. "The
president is very clear about his intentions to meet the obligations
to join NATO. And, Mr. President, we look forward to working with you
to meet those obligations," Bush said.
"NATO is a very important alliance for the United States of America.
It's a place where we have our strategic conversations with our
transatlantic friends, and we want to help you achieve your objective
there."
Following the press conference, Bush was scheduled to meet with a
group ethnic minorities in Georgia, including representatives of
Jewish, Armenian, Azeri, Ossetian and Kurdish minorities. During the
press briefing, President Saakashvili touted Georgia's diversity as a
"strength."
"I know how people can feel strongly about their identities.
Georgia's strength is its diversity. It's not its weakness, it's our
strength," Saakashvili said, speaking in English for most of the
press conference.
President Bush said he would use the meeting to stress the importance
of protecting minorities. "The president kindly set up a meeting
where I will remind people that a truly democratic society is one
that honors and respects minorities. This is a very diverse country.
You've had a great tradition of honoring minorities in this country,
and your democracy will continue to do so," he said.