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WHY GEORGIA MATTERS
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/10/25/why-georgia-matters/
October 25, 2012 1:28 pm
By Edmond Y. Azadian
While Azerbaijani dynastic rule continues its repressive policies
against the opposition and while Armenia is engaged in a witchhunt and
the decimation of the opposition in preparation for the forthcoming
presidential election, Georgia has been moving credibly towards
democratic rule, as a role model in the Caucasus region.
Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement, which swept to
power in 2003 through the Rose Revolution, acceded defeat to Bidzina
Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream Coalition, in the last parliamentary
election held on October 2. As Ivanishvili forms his cabinet as the
new prime minister, Georgia enters into an era of cohabitation between
the ruling Georgian Dream and Saakashvili's team, who will continue
his term as president for another year.
A very familiar political setup in Europe, but it is a novel experiment
for the nations, which gained independence after the collapse of the
Soviet Union.
During his nine-year reign, Saakashvili transformed Georgia at a
rapid pace, with the help of the West. He virtually ended corruption,
reintroduced the rule of law and reformed the economy by moving
towards prosperity. The West invested $10 billion to turn Georgia
into a showcase, to demonstrate to the other nations in the region
that siding with the West has its tangible rewards. Russia did not
learn the lesson to emulate Western approaches in the region. Moscow
instead hardened its grip on Armenia's economy without sensitivity
to the economic polarization in the country, helping the rich to get
richer and driving the rest of the population to destitution.
But in Georgia, Saakashvili's reforms were achieved at a stiff cost
domestically and regionally. Indeed, his hostile policies with regards
to Moscow resulted in territorial amputation; during a 2008 war with
Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia were snatched from Georgia, most
probably forever.
Georgian rulers, including former leaders Shevardnadze and
Gamsakhurdia, have been insensitive towards the ethnic makeup of their
country, conducting a xenophobic policy against them. The new emerging
ruler Ivanishvili does not seem to be any different, as one of his
first pronouncements was directed towards Armenians. He is reported
to have said, "Why do ethnic Armenians live in Georgia when their own
homeland is next door?" The statement demonstrates an obscene level of
insensitivity towards history; most of the Armenians living in Georgia,
except for those in the capital Tbilisi, have been in Georgia because
portions of historic Armenian territories were incorporated into that
country during the murky years of 1918-1920. If Javakhk Armenians one
day decide to leave Georgia, they have to move their native land to
Armenia as well.
Domestically, Saakashvili's fall came as a consequence of his
zero-tolerance policy, which sent minor offenders to jail for
unusually long terms. A video of prison tortures was released at the
most convenient political period before the parliamentary elections.
The video undermined the president's tough policies. That, coupled with
his fallout with the spiritual leader of Georgia, Patriarch Ilia II,
brought about the demise of Saakashvili's regime.
The Patriarch wields a very strong political influence in the country.
He also symbolizes Georgian nationalism. In his haste to reform the
country and to please his patrons in the West, Saakashvili passed
legislature to recognize the legal existence of other religious
denominations in the country, especially giving equal rights to the
Armenian Church, which touched a raw nerve in Georgia. Particularly,
it irritated the Patriarch, who was already enjoying the lavish
contributions of the billionaire tycoon Ivanishvili. The Patriarch
influenced the electorate to side with the rising opposition. From
now on, no political leader can ignore the Patriarch's power in
the country.
Unfortunately, the Armenian Church and the Catholicos do not enjoy
similar clout in Armenia, courtesy of the opposition and Mr. Levon
Ter-Petrosian, who insulted the Catholicos and his docile press
unleashed an indecent campaign against him.
The new leader, Bidzina Ivanishvili, is an enigmatic figure, a
reclusive billionaire, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes to
be $6.7 billion, mostly from business dealings in Russia. He has
no record of earlier political involvement and his rash political
pronouncements are blamed on his inexperience. Upon his victory,
he called for Saakashvili's resignation before his term is up. That
alarmed capitals in the West. He has retracted his statement since;
he has also retracted his statement about the Armenians, which some
political observers attribute to Javakhk Armenian voting patterns
favoring Saakashvili's party out of fear of reprisals.
His political credo seems simple and simplistic: "It is Europe,
Euro-Atlantic integration and NATO. There is no substitution," he
said in a recent interview. In the same breath, he plans to improve
relations with Russia. These two are mutually exclusive propositions,
which can lead nowhere, as NATO's advances in the Caucasus are anathema
for the Kremlin.
Armenia and Georgia are strange bedfellows. Christian Georgia has
always sided with Turkey and Azerbaijan in UN votes. Tbilisi's
government has also cooperated with Baku and Ankara in isolating
Armenia politically, economically and militarily by building pipelines
for energy transportation and rail infrastructure in the Caucasus by
bypassing Armenia.
Yet, Georgia remains our main trade route with the outside world as
the US continues its sanctions against Iran, rendering Armenian-Iranian
relations into a risky political business.
Georgia's ruptured relations with Russia continue to affect Armenia's
relations with Moscow, Armenia's strategic partner. Any improvement
between Moscow and Tbilisi will impact favorably on Armenia's relations
with the outside world.
Of course, we should not pin our hopes for an early easing of tensions
in the lives of Armenians in Georgia. With the Patriarch fanning the
flames of nationalism to continue holding Armenian churches hostage
and the repressive measures against Javakhk
Armenians, the immediate future does not seem promising.
Mr. Ivanishvili's reckless statement about Armenian presence in
Georgia can only aggravate the plight of Armenians in Georgia. Sooner
or later, the Georgians will realize that the friendship with Turkey
and Azerbaijan will contribute to the demise of the Christians in
the region.
Turkey, by giving a contemporary spin to it historic rivalry with
Iran, is actually not contributing to the West's interests. Using
the West's interests as a cover, Turkey and Azerbaijan are trying
to revive the old dreams of Pan-Touranism, extending Turkey's power
to Central Asia. At that time, Armenia will be at risk as well as
Georgia. Souring relations at the point will be too late for Georgia.
Our love-hate relations with Georgia have to be addressed through a
policy of political realism.
That is why Georgia matters.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/10/25/why-georgia-matters/
October 25, 2012 1:28 pm
By Edmond Y. Azadian
While Azerbaijani dynastic rule continues its repressive policies
against the opposition and while Armenia is engaged in a witchhunt and
the decimation of the opposition in preparation for the forthcoming
presidential election, Georgia has been moving credibly towards
democratic rule, as a role model in the Caucasus region.
Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement, which swept to
power in 2003 through the Rose Revolution, acceded defeat to Bidzina
Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream Coalition, in the last parliamentary
election held on October 2. As Ivanishvili forms his cabinet as the
new prime minister, Georgia enters into an era of cohabitation between
the ruling Georgian Dream and Saakashvili's team, who will continue
his term as president for another year.
A very familiar political setup in Europe, but it is a novel experiment
for the nations, which gained independence after the collapse of the
Soviet Union.
During his nine-year reign, Saakashvili transformed Georgia at a
rapid pace, with the help of the West. He virtually ended corruption,
reintroduced the rule of law and reformed the economy by moving
towards prosperity. The West invested $10 billion to turn Georgia
into a showcase, to demonstrate to the other nations in the region
that siding with the West has its tangible rewards. Russia did not
learn the lesson to emulate Western approaches in the region. Moscow
instead hardened its grip on Armenia's economy without sensitivity
to the economic polarization in the country, helping the rich to get
richer and driving the rest of the population to destitution.
But in Georgia, Saakashvili's reforms were achieved at a stiff cost
domestically and regionally. Indeed, his hostile policies with regards
to Moscow resulted in territorial amputation; during a 2008 war with
Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia were snatched from Georgia, most
probably forever.
Georgian rulers, including former leaders Shevardnadze and
Gamsakhurdia, have been insensitive towards the ethnic makeup of their
country, conducting a xenophobic policy against them. The new emerging
ruler Ivanishvili does not seem to be any different, as one of his
first pronouncements was directed towards Armenians. He is reported
to have said, "Why do ethnic Armenians live in Georgia when their own
homeland is next door?" The statement demonstrates an obscene level of
insensitivity towards history; most of the Armenians living in Georgia,
except for those in the capital Tbilisi, have been in Georgia because
portions of historic Armenian territories were incorporated into that
country during the murky years of 1918-1920. If Javakhk Armenians one
day decide to leave Georgia, they have to move their native land to
Armenia as well.
Domestically, Saakashvili's fall came as a consequence of his
zero-tolerance policy, which sent minor offenders to jail for
unusually long terms. A video of prison tortures was released at the
most convenient political period before the parliamentary elections.
The video undermined the president's tough policies. That, coupled with
his fallout with the spiritual leader of Georgia, Patriarch Ilia II,
brought about the demise of Saakashvili's regime.
The Patriarch wields a very strong political influence in the country.
He also symbolizes Georgian nationalism. In his haste to reform the
country and to please his patrons in the West, Saakashvili passed
legislature to recognize the legal existence of other religious
denominations in the country, especially giving equal rights to the
Armenian Church, which touched a raw nerve in Georgia. Particularly,
it irritated the Patriarch, who was already enjoying the lavish
contributions of the billionaire tycoon Ivanishvili. The Patriarch
influenced the electorate to side with the rising opposition. From
now on, no political leader can ignore the Patriarch's power in
the country.
Unfortunately, the Armenian Church and the Catholicos do not enjoy
similar clout in Armenia, courtesy of the opposition and Mr. Levon
Ter-Petrosian, who insulted the Catholicos and his docile press
unleashed an indecent campaign against him.
The new leader, Bidzina Ivanishvili, is an enigmatic figure, a
reclusive billionaire, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes to
be $6.7 billion, mostly from business dealings in Russia. He has
no record of earlier political involvement and his rash political
pronouncements are blamed on his inexperience. Upon his victory,
he called for Saakashvili's resignation before his term is up. That
alarmed capitals in the West. He has retracted his statement since;
he has also retracted his statement about the Armenians, which some
political observers attribute to Javakhk Armenian voting patterns
favoring Saakashvili's party out of fear of reprisals.
His political credo seems simple and simplistic: "It is Europe,
Euro-Atlantic integration and NATO. There is no substitution," he
said in a recent interview. In the same breath, he plans to improve
relations with Russia. These two are mutually exclusive propositions,
which can lead nowhere, as NATO's advances in the Caucasus are anathema
for the Kremlin.
Armenia and Georgia are strange bedfellows. Christian Georgia has
always sided with Turkey and Azerbaijan in UN votes. Tbilisi's
government has also cooperated with Baku and Ankara in isolating
Armenia politically, economically and militarily by building pipelines
for energy transportation and rail infrastructure in the Caucasus by
bypassing Armenia.
Yet, Georgia remains our main trade route with the outside world as
the US continues its sanctions against Iran, rendering Armenian-Iranian
relations into a risky political business.
Georgia's ruptured relations with Russia continue to affect Armenia's
relations with Moscow, Armenia's strategic partner. Any improvement
between Moscow and Tbilisi will impact favorably on Armenia's relations
with the outside world.
Of course, we should not pin our hopes for an early easing of tensions
in the lives of Armenians in Georgia. With the Patriarch fanning the
flames of nationalism to continue holding Armenian churches hostage
and the repressive measures against Javakhk
Armenians, the immediate future does not seem promising.
Mr. Ivanishvili's reckless statement about Armenian presence in
Georgia can only aggravate the plight of Armenians in Georgia. Sooner
or later, the Georgians will realize that the friendship with Turkey
and Azerbaijan will contribute to the demise of the Christians in
the region.
Turkey, by giving a contemporary spin to it historic rivalry with
Iran, is actually not contributing to the West's interests. Using
the West's interests as a cover, Turkey and Azerbaijan are trying
to revive the old dreams of Pan-Touranism, extending Turkey's power
to Central Asia. At that time, Armenia will be at risk as well as
Georgia. Souring relations at the point will be too late for Georgia.
Our love-hate relations with Georgia have to be addressed through a
policy of political realism.
That is why Georgia matters.
From: A. Papazian