Kuchma collects awards

The visit of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has reminded us once more, rather explicitly (and unnoticed only by the blind) about upcoming elections, in which someone (that is, the people) is supposed to vote for someone (no doubt, for Leonid Kuchma). Quite recently, our President was awarded the name of Golden Eagle and decorated with such an order supposedly for his significant services to the Kazakh people. On October 2 Leonid Kuchma became almost a dzhigit [Caucasian horseman]: apparently, our head of state deserved the Georgian order. Eduard Shevardnadze stressed that the Honor of Georgia Order, which our President attained, is awarded to “The most worthy sons and daughters for their services to the Motherland (of course, Georgia — Author ), for special contributions to the development of statehood and strengthening the peace.” Georgians must have been surprised at such an award going to none other than a Ukrainian. One might think that giving awards has lately become a good tradition between heads of state, an integral part of any official visit. The Georgian President seized the moment: elections are coming, and it would not be a bad thing to raise his colleague's rating. God willing, our head of state will remember this gesture of good will and not fail to support to the incumbent Georgian head of state in his future presidential elections (as we know, Shevardnadze is also going run for reelection in his country's next elections).

No wonder that the Georgian leader, summing up the results of his visit, called his discussion with Leonid Kuchma unique. According to him, it was “an absolutely frank, very multifaceted dialogue covering almost all lines of cooperation.” By uniqueness Shevardnadze obviously meant rather traditional discussions about partnership, integration, and so forth. The heads of state have even signed a declaration on cooperation. In all probability, the signing was rather symbolical (which is also characteristic for most agreements signed by Ukraine). But no matter what they say, our President certainly knows how to sign them. Since the declarative creation of the GUUAM (an economic union comprising Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) there has been quite enough time to implement at least some provisions of the treaty. However, the member countries are still discussing existing problems and long-term prospects. Leonid Kuchma is convinced that GUUAM has a future, but, it should be noted, no present. Also, the Presidents said warm words about the CIS, as monotonously, predictably, and groundlessly as always.

The burning Chechnya issue was also inescapable for the heads of states. As it turned out, Ukraine and Georgia can make a noticeable contribution to the Russia-Chechnya negotiation process. However, the Presidents think Aslan Maskhadov and Boris Yeltsin need no go- betweens for the moment. But “should it be necessary and useful,” said Shevardnadze, he and President Kuchma will “ participate in normalizing relations between Chechnya and Russia.” However, it is not clear what role will be assigned our Mr. Kuchma in such negotiations. If the Georgian leader has a diplomatic track record (after all, he was USSR Minister of Foreign Affairs), Leonid Kuchma can, at best, act in this situation as a peaceful observer, who must do everything possible to avoid any unexpected consequences of this war for Ukraine. In addition, for the moment it was only the head of Georgia to whom the Chechnya leadership is going proposal he act as mediator between Grozny and Moscow. Kuchma is mentioned nowhere and by nobody, unless, of course, he mentions himself, or, if you call a spade a spade, exposes himself, which he is stubbornly trying to do.