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SAAKASHVILI SEEKS TO ENGAGE MINORITIES
The Messenger
June 14 2010
Georgia
President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili re-opened the newly
rehabilitated Public Administration School named after late Prime
Minister of Georgia Zurab Zhvania in Kutaisi on June 12. Saakashvili
initiated establishing the School of Public Administration in 2005
in order to integrating the non-Georgian population with the rest
of the local community by teaching Georgian, the official language,
to members of ethnic minorities in the remote mountanous regions to
help them gain employment.
15 ethnic Armenian and 15 ethnic Azerbaijani public officials working
in Government and local government institutions in various nearby
regions will soon undertake intensive courses in Georgian and English
and human resource management at the Public Administration School.
"Education is one of the main means of promoting Georgia in various
respects. Children will be able to start school at the age of 5 from
2010 and all first graders will receive a personal computer which
will introduce them to a new psychology and mentality," the President
told the audience, stressing the importance of the school for Georgian
statehood and the unity of the peoples of the Caucasus.
"This country belongs to us all, not a particular political group. Let
God save us from returning to psychological sickness," said the
President, referring to the Soviet Era when Russia dominated the
other countries around it who were trapped in a closed circle. "Zurab
Zhvania was a very interesting political phenomenon and this school
named after Zhvania is very important for our country - it encourages
different ethnic groups to participate in governing the country.
Georgia should be a source of pride for all its citizens regardless
of their origin. Everything is based on intelligence and patriotism.
Let's cross the borders of alienation," said the President, adding
that he would be the representative of any of ethnic or religious group
which others hate but would remain a Georgian patriot despite this.
Saakashvili said that conducting reforms to ensure political
development of the country after 2013 is very important to
him. "As soon as the local elections were over the main subject of
discussion became 2013 [the Presidential elections] and the "terrible
Saakashvili". The new State Constitution in Georgia will be democratic,
European and the most open model ever, meaning more people will
have an opportunity to participate in governance regardless of their
origin or location. Georgia will have many new leaders by that time
as the country will have a new President and a highly representative
Government. I can't say who those people will actually be - I just
hope that a team of reformers will continue in the same direction and
more political parties become engaged in this process," the President
added, stressing that participation in the reform process is necessary
to ensure a calm transition of power. Saakashvili highlighted that
he aims not to keep his own team and friends in power but to conduct
successful reforms, so that no "thief-in-law" (legalised gangster) can
bribe a state institution and policemen will not stand in the streets
with sticks [to control traffic with and fine people illegally].
"This is the first time that the other political parties have confirmed
the accuracy of the results of the local elections in our country. The
parties spoke to the people during their campaigns and realised they
were not at all interested in political intrigues. Our people have
gained much experience and expanded their political spectrum. This
election was called the most democratic in the whole post-Soviet
space," Saakashvili said, stressing that the Georgian people know
the meaning of patriotism and betrayal and those who think they can
go running to Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin in Red Square
will not deceive the experienced Georgian electors.
Political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze told The Messenger that after
Saakashvili's interview with French newspaper Le Monde the President
should have addressed the succession issue differently. "The interview
in Le Monde left readers concerned that Saakshvili was going to keep
his current political team in power after 2013, and that's perhaps why
he tried to counterbalance this concern by talking about the future
from a different perspective," Sakvarelidze explained, referring to
Saakashvili's "readiness" to welcome new faces into Government.
Nika Chitadze excluded Saakashvili participating in Presidential
elections for a third time, saying that Saakashvili may run again but
not in 2013. "The State Constitution doesn't allow a third consecutive
term of Presidency. But if Saakashvili becomes Prime Minister he will
have more authority than the next President, as under the new draft
constitution the President can't set internal and foreign policy.
Georgia needs new faces in Government and the engagement of
experienced politicians even in reforms would be quite beneficial for
our country," Chitadze said, stressing that good governance is the
most important aspect of the country's political life, which should
be absolutely transparent and abolish partiality within State and
public institutions.
From: A. Papazian
The Messenger
June 14 2010
Georgia
President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili re-opened the newly
rehabilitated Public Administration School named after late Prime
Minister of Georgia Zurab Zhvania in Kutaisi on June 12. Saakashvili
initiated establishing the School of Public Administration in 2005
in order to integrating the non-Georgian population with the rest
of the local community by teaching Georgian, the official language,
to members of ethnic minorities in the remote mountanous regions to
help them gain employment.
15 ethnic Armenian and 15 ethnic Azerbaijani public officials working
in Government and local government institutions in various nearby
regions will soon undertake intensive courses in Georgian and English
and human resource management at the Public Administration School.
"Education is one of the main means of promoting Georgia in various
respects. Children will be able to start school at the age of 5 from
2010 and all first graders will receive a personal computer which
will introduce them to a new psychology and mentality," the President
told the audience, stressing the importance of the school for Georgian
statehood and the unity of the peoples of the Caucasus.
"This country belongs to us all, not a particular political group. Let
God save us from returning to psychological sickness," said the
President, referring to the Soviet Era when Russia dominated the
other countries around it who were trapped in a closed circle. "Zurab
Zhvania was a very interesting political phenomenon and this school
named after Zhvania is very important for our country - it encourages
different ethnic groups to participate in governing the country.
Georgia should be a source of pride for all its citizens regardless
of their origin. Everything is based on intelligence and patriotism.
Let's cross the borders of alienation," said the President, adding
that he would be the representative of any of ethnic or religious group
which others hate but would remain a Georgian patriot despite this.
Saakashvili said that conducting reforms to ensure political
development of the country after 2013 is very important to
him. "As soon as the local elections were over the main subject of
discussion became 2013 [the Presidential elections] and the "terrible
Saakashvili". The new State Constitution in Georgia will be democratic,
European and the most open model ever, meaning more people will
have an opportunity to participate in governance regardless of their
origin or location. Georgia will have many new leaders by that time
as the country will have a new President and a highly representative
Government. I can't say who those people will actually be - I just
hope that a team of reformers will continue in the same direction and
more political parties become engaged in this process," the President
added, stressing that participation in the reform process is necessary
to ensure a calm transition of power. Saakashvili highlighted that
he aims not to keep his own team and friends in power but to conduct
successful reforms, so that no "thief-in-law" (legalised gangster) can
bribe a state institution and policemen will not stand in the streets
with sticks [to control traffic with and fine people illegally].
"This is the first time that the other political parties have confirmed
the accuracy of the results of the local elections in our country. The
parties spoke to the people during their campaigns and realised they
were not at all interested in political intrigues. Our people have
gained much experience and expanded their political spectrum. This
election was called the most democratic in the whole post-Soviet
space," Saakashvili said, stressing that the Georgian people know
the meaning of patriotism and betrayal and those who think they can
go running to Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin in Red Square
will not deceive the experienced Georgian electors.
Political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze told The Messenger that after
Saakashvili's interview with French newspaper Le Monde the President
should have addressed the succession issue differently. "The interview
in Le Monde left readers concerned that Saakshvili was going to keep
his current political team in power after 2013, and that's perhaps why
he tried to counterbalance this concern by talking about the future
from a different perspective," Sakvarelidze explained, referring to
Saakashvili's "readiness" to welcome new faces into Government.
Nika Chitadze excluded Saakashvili participating in Presidential
elections for a third time, saying that Saakashvili may run again but
not in 2013. "The State Constitution doesn't allow a third consecutive
term of Presidency. But if Saakashvili becomes Prime Minister he will
have more authority than the next President, as under the new draft
constitution the President can't set internal and foreign policy.
Georgia needs new faces in Government and the engagement of
experienced politicians even in reforms would be quite beneficial for
our country," Chitadze said, stressing that good governance is the
most important aspect of the country's political life, which should
be absolutely transparent and abolish partiality within State and
public institutions.
From: A. Papazian