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VAKHTANG KIKABIDZE: GEORGIANS AND ARMENIANS SEEK TO JOIN NATO OUT OF BARE NECESSITIES OF LIFE
by David Stepanyan
Wednesday, June 18, 21:22
Unfortunately, it is very difficult today to answer the question where
European integration will bring Georgia to, first of all because a
very strong country's government does not want us to go to the West,
Soviet and Georgian pop singer, actor, scriptwriter Vakhtang Kikabidze
says in his interview with ArmInfo.
"Unfortunately, everything depends on the will of that government,
which will decide itself whether to shoot or to pat on the back. It
is necessary, therefore, to be big diplomats. Georgians seek to join
NATO out of bare necessities of life. I was at the scene and saw
everything with my own eyes. People are afraid; they just want to
have a peaceful sleep. They think that NATO will ensure their peace
and security", he says.
In the meantime, Kikabidze thinks that instead of playing down the
fears, Russia increases these fears by exerting pressure on Ukraine and
forcing it to give up the movement towards the West. "Armenians also
seek to join NATO. I know. But you have no way out, your geopolitical
location is far from being good, you have got stuck between two
countries", he says. Therefore, he thinks that the solution should
be diplomatic and delicate. "We are given birth only once. It was
not our fault that we were born in the Soviet Union. For many years
in youth my major thought was where to get sausages and cheese. It's
enough! I'm sick and tired", says Kikabidze.
The actor thinks that Georgians have a good attitude to Armenia and
Azerbaijan. "The relations with these neighbors of Georgia meet my
idea of peaceful co-existence of nations. Whatever appearances, we are
Caucasians, and it is a separate house. We have a different mentality.
We are fond of receiving guests. Based on my experience, I should say
that there are nations who do not like guests. There are nations who
like guests but cannot receive guests. It is very important.
Therefore, they shouldn't speak to us the way they are doing now",
he says.
"Nobody can shoot at me. I don't like shooting, nor do I like when
somebody shoots at me. There is not much of me, as a matter of fact,
and I don't like when a strong man pressures a weak one, when a big
nation speaks like this with a small one. Armenia and Georgia are
ancient cultures, so, our being few is more a plus than a minus. Now
it seems that Vladimir Putin is trying to restore the Soviet Union.
But this is not our way. I don't know perhaps he has something
different in mind but if he actually wants to unite our nations under
old principles and rules, this will have a very sad end for us all.
This will ruin everything - for there will be no more sausage costing
2.20 rubles. Those times have gone for ever."
"The current events in Ukraine have shown that this is not yet possible
as there is somebody skillfully orchestrating this process.
None of us can say who exactly is controlling it but there is no doubt
that it is being controlled. By the way, I am also People's Artist
of Ukraine. Today before coming here, I watched TV and was aggrieved
to see what is going on in that country, what a hostility is being
enforced between the Russians and the Ukrainians. Unfortunately,
this is what the man is - once you allow him to do something, you can
no longer stop him. There are people who prefer standing aloof. But
there are also people who you can easily control. Unfortunately,
there are such people," Kikabidze said.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=2972ED00-F70D-11E3-875D0EB7C0D21663
by David Stepanyan
Wednesday, June 18, 21:22
Unfortunately, it is very difficult today to answer the question where
European integration will bring Georgia to, first of all because a
very strong country's government does not want us to go to the West,
Soviet and Georgian pop singer, actor, scriptwriter Vakhtang Kikabidze
says in his interview with ArmInfo.
"Unfortunately, everything depends on the will of that government,
which will decide itself whether to shoot or to pat on the back. It
is necessary, therefore, to be big diplomats. Georgians seek to join
NATO out of bare necessities of life. I was at the scene and saw
everything with my own eyes. People are afraid; they just want to
have a peaceful sleep. They think that NATO will ensure their peace
and security", he says.
In the meantime, Kikabidze thinks that instead of playing down the
fears, Russia increases these fears by exerting pressure on Ukraine and
forcing it to give up the movement towards the West. "Armenians also
seek to join NATO. I know. But you have no way out, your geopolitical
location is far from being good, you have got stuck between two
countries", he says. Therefore, he thinks that the solution should
be diplomatic and delicate. "We are given birth only once. It was
not our fault that we were born in the Soviet Union. For many years
in youth my major thought was where to get sausages and cheese. It's
enough! I'm sick and tired", says Kikabidze.
The actor thinks that Georgians have a good attitude to Armenia and
Azerbaijan. "The relations with these neighbors of Georgia meet my
idea of peaceful co-existence of nations. Whatever appearances, we are
Caucasians, and it is a separate house. We have a different mentality.
We are fond of receiving guests. Based on my experience, I should say
that there are nations who do not like guests. There are nations who
like guests but cannot receive guests. It is very important.
Therefore, they shouldn't speak to us the way they are doing now",
he says.
"Nobody can shoot at me. I don't like shooting, nor do I like when
somebody shoots at me. There is not much of me, as a matter of fact,
and I don't like when a strong man pressures a weak one, when a big
nation speaks like this with a small one. Armenia and Georgia are
ancient cultures, so, our being few is more a plus than a minus. Now
it seems that Vladimir Putin is trying to restore the Soviet Union.
But this is not our way. I don't know perhaps he has something
different in mind but if he actually wants to unite our nations under
old principles and rules, this will have a very sad end for us all.
This will ruin everything - for there will be no more sausage costing
2.20 rubles. Those times have gone for ever."
"The current events in Ukraine have shown that this is not yet possible
as there is somebody skillfully orchestrating this process.
None of us can say who exactly is controlling it but there is no doubt
that it is being controlled. By the way, I am also People's Artist
of Ukraine. Today before coming here, I watched TV and was aggrieved
to see what is going on in that country, what a hostility is being
enforced between the Russians and the Ukrainians. Unfortunately,
this is what the man is - once you allow him to do something, you can
no longer stop him. There are people who prefer standing aloof. But
there are also people who you can easily control. Unfortunately,
there are such people," Kikabidze said.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=2972ED00-F70D-11E3-875D0EB7C0D21663