Recently, the appearance of Russian president Vladimir Putin in public has been accompanied with sensations. After seeing the ballet Esmeralda, Russia’s leader announced divorcing his wife Lyudmila. And a few days ago, in a conversation with the staff of the Russian English-speaking channel Russia Today, Putin stated that Russia wanted to restore relations with Georgia and was ready for cooperation with the country it was at war with in August 2008. Besides, he mentioned removal of a number of barriers on food supply and promised that the government would move further in that direction. At the same time, Putin stated that Russia would not change its policy on recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Georgian Security Council Secretary Giga Bokeria commented on this statement to Georgian mass media. “This rhetoric is typical for Russian political environment and Putin in particular. During all these years, they have loved the Georgian people, but they cannot bear with the Georgian government’s desire for freedom, sovereignty, and being closer to the West. This can be interpreted in a different way: ‘We love the Georgian people, but without a state, as our favorite colony,” Bokeria said.
The Day asked Georgian political scientist David BERITASHVILI to comment on the meaning of the Russian president’s statement, assess the incumbent Georgian government’s actions in relations with Moscow, and tell how Georgia can return the occupied territory.
“I think that Putin’s words do not commit him to anything, as usual. This is a kind of habit of being in power and saying correct diplomatic words, while doing his own thing anyway. For example, Saakashvili, whom he lovingly called by name and patronymic for the first time in this interview, is no longer in power, but some strange things are happening nonetheless. For example, the barbed wire fence, which divided some villages, was moved 300 meters further into Georgia’s territory. A part of farms suddenly ended up on the other side of the wire. Or it split farmsteads, when houses remained on one side and gardens, which support people living in those houses, on the other.
“In my opinion, those are just empty words, because they do not affect Russian policy in any way. My viewpoint on the new stage of these relations is as follows: earlier, only one issue was on the agenda of Russo-Georgian relations: implementation of the agreement made on August 12 between Sarkozy and Medvedev: to withdraw troops beyond the line which was there before the military action, vacate these premises, and allow observers to come there.
“Now the Georgian side, the new government, has kindly added the wines Kindzmarauli, Mukuzani, radish, cilantro, and other agricultural produce to the agenda. So, if you put it all together, there are more than 10 issues on the agenda. This makes it look like Russia gives in when it comes to radish, cilantro, Kindzmarauli, and some other goods. But the problems of 300,000 refugees and whether they should come back, and what should be done to military bases built in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, are the most important ones on the list. I think that the Kremlin can say to the international community now: these Georgians are just insane, we have successfully solved 10 out of 11 issues. It is impossible to settle everything at once.
“All this agricultural and wine business with Russia, even if it is productive to the maximum extent, will make no more than two percent of Georgian GDP. It is not as essential as it is presented by the Georgian government and Putin.
“Also, I want to say that Saakashvili has never been a Russophobe. A number of ordinary Russian tourists is growing by the hour. Our border is open for Russians. What Russophobia can you talk about? We believe that Putin and Medvedev are doing something wrong.
“Regarding Putin’s conditions relating to implementation of the visa-free regime between the two countries. He makes some promises, but what else can he do after Georgia has taken so many obsequious steps? Putin gets a report: you know, Georgians are trying so hard, we need to send them some kind of signal. Those supporting unconditional closer relations with Russia must be exhilarated. Oh look, Putin is so kind, he loves us so much.”
What is your opinion on the Ivanishvili government’s actions in relations with Russia?
“His words cannot be criticized at all. Because when he voices a written text, he is flawless. He has a lot of advisors and competent diplomats who write for him. But if we talk about his activity, questions start emerging. Why did he need to break the Geneva format, in which, figuratively speaking, Georgia talks to Russia in the presence of a caretaker, policeman, and two witnesses – the Council of Europe and the UN, where all the actions are recorded and logged. And now this representative Zurab Abashidze meets with Karasin and as far as I understand, he does not have a privilege of asking any question. For example, he says: ‘Let’s discuss this weird shift of the demarcation barbed wire line.’ To which Karasin answers: ‘No, this is not on the agenda, this should be discussed in Geneva, and now let us talk about goods exchange and facilitating the visa regime.’ And this happens while Georgia has completely removed visa restrictions for Russian citizens. We just register their entrance, that is all.”
Did Georgia pay much to hear from Putin that Russia wants to restore the relations, or does it have to pay for it yet?
“Georgia has nothing to pay with. We have given everything we could. And Russia will move another 300 meters deep in our territory if they feel like it. At least, earlier one could say that Saakashvili had criticized them somewhere in the international arena, and they moved forward in response. But now these new rulers keep mum as a fish. They are anxious to not irritate Russia, whatever it takes. Russia demands that Georgia modernize the law on border crossing by canceling criminal liability for crossing the Georgian border. Georgia thinks that the border recognized by the international community should remain. If Moscow’s demand is fulfilled, Georgia will have two types of borders. One of them will be including the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and the other will not include these breakaway autonomies.”
Do you see the prospects of returning the occupied territories to Georgia under Ivanishvili’s government?
“In my opinion, this process should look like the Baltic. Each resolution that was adopted by the previous government (enforcing the Sarkozy-Medvedev agreement, or declaring the autonomies an occupied territory) is an investment in the future. Just as it was in the case of the Baltic States, which were part of the Soviet Union, because the West never recognized their occupation. And after all, these republics ended up free. I think, this is a long-term process. The demand to vacate the occupied territories should be consolidated in writing and orally, and someday it will work.”
