Irakli Alasania Presents His Political Team

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A former UN envoy Irakli Alasania, who presented his team on February 16 at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, remains at the centre of Georgia’s internal political arena. The hall where the presentation was held was full of opposition politicians, diplomats, experts and media.

The appearance of this fresh, new political team was welcomed by both the analysts and the opposition leaders who attended the presentation and expressed commitment for future cooperation with Alasania.

The consultations with the opposition is ongoing - according to Alasania by the end of the week it is expected to become known what kind of partnership and cooperation will be agreed upon with other political forces.

Meanwhile the team of former UN envoy is composed of some well-known persons, among which are the former ambassadors; Levan Mikeladze, a former Head of the mission of Georgia in the International Organizations in Geneva, Victor Dolidze, who recently quit his post as an ambassador to OSCE and Aleksi Petriashvili, who until February 1, 2009 served as Georgia’s ambassador to Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

Shalva Shavgulidze, a famous lawyer also joined the team. Shavgulidze is known for a number of court hearings and cases, among which is Sandro Girgvliani’s murder case, where he defended the rights of Girgvliani’s family.

Among Alasania’s co-thinkers were Dimitri Tvildiani, President of Dimas Radiology and founder of the medical institute, Aieti, Nino Goguadze who at some points worked as a coordinator of educational programs, Zurab Abashidze who was an advisor of Chairman of Constitutional Court until January and was a head of the General Inspection at the Chamber of Control until August 2008 as well as Giorgi Chikovani, who served at different positions at the Government of Abkhazia in exile.

In two days after Alasania presented his team, one more well known figure, Gia Karkarashvili, a former defense minister, also expressed at the press conference his full support to Alasania and his political program. According to analysts the appearance of Karkarashvili among Alasania’s allies will strengthen and increase the number of supporters of the new political team set up by Alasania.

Alasania reiterated his criticism on one person governance and decision making process in Georgia and the unlimited power of the President. He also repeated his support on holding early elections in Georgia.

“We should keep and develop all achievements reached in the past and at the same time objectively assess the hardest state of the country,” said Alasania. “At a new epoch only moral and highly trusted government may bring success to Georgia. We think the only way for overcoming the all encompassing political crisis is holding early presidential and parliamentary elections in Georgia,” he said.

The shortcomings of the political system are seen in the economy of the country, according to him. Talking about a new economic vision that is desperately needed, Alasania said that for its implementation, a long term economic model is needed.

“Unfortunately our country’s economy policy in recent years has been deliberately and sequentially refuting the need of strategic sectors, strategic objects and in general economy strategy,” said Alasania.

Government and business should be real partners and supporters of each other, he said.

“In case of dictatorship, any of them, it will be impossible to develop a healthy and competitive and sustainable economy in Georgia,” said Alasania.

He also said that violations of property rights by the authorities does nothing to bolster faith in the investment environment and moral image of Georgia. Contrarily, it damages it. The independent arbitrary court should be created for property rights disputes and restoration of justice for those owners whose rights were violated in recent years and who had to leave their property to the state “involuntarily”.

Alasania also stressed an increase of the budget funding of education and called on return “real autonomy” to universities. The state obliges to return the personnel who were illegally dismissed from Georgian universities mainly due to political reasons.

He also stressed that at the background of political and military threats in the region Georgia should have rapid reaction, mobile professional army and effective air and coast guard systems.

Talking about foreign policy, Alasania said that serious corrections are needed in its realization. He also stressed that the Georgian reputation and credibility was seriously damaged by the war.

“The image of an unstable country whose acts are based on emotions has been formed during the recent years. Such policy created serious problems in the international community and our ally countries, to our region and strategic partners,” said Alasania.

“I think our people do not want Georgia to be an arena for international confrontation. On the contrary we should be a country of cooperation and stability,” he said. “It can only be achieved through careful, consistent, multilateral and balanced foreign policy strategy.”

“Only through such policy would Georgia be able to stop occupation and de-integration process which is openly compromised by Russia”, said Alasania.  Meanwhile, Russia’s efforts restricting the presence of international monitors in Georgia is alarming, said Alasania stressing on the need for direct dialogue with Russia in parallel to using the international formats.

The key priorities for Georgia’s foreign policy, is a full integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, stressed Alasania.

“Unfortunately the reckless steps have been a serious blow to the process of our country’s integration process into NATO. I think the EU’s new neighborhood initiatives should be used meaningfully for final integration of the country into European organizations,” he said.

The strategic partnership with the United States will be based on political, regional interests and shared ideas about energy and security regarding the two countries., said Alasania. He also pushed on strengthening and deepening the relations with neighboring countries; Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Iran.

The respect towards the principle of Georgia’s territorial integrity, unrecognizing of the occupied regions and de occupation of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region, as well as the return of refugees and creation of international components, are the key in policy of the conflict resolution envisaged by Alasania.

“We should realize that there is no way for fast, military and one-side resolution of these conflicts. Our strategy will be based on direct contacts, dialogue, confidence building and reconciliation with Abkhaz and Ossetians,” said Alasania.

“We should certainly take into consideration their security concerns and concerns related to their national identity,” he added.

Nina Akhmeteli

20.02.2009