On Saakashvili’s heritage and Ivanishvili’s priorities

All world mass media have given different assessments of recent presidential elections in Georgia and Mikheil Saakashvili’s leaving the power; many people in the world connected democratic changes in this Caucasian country with his name. And many were surprised that Georgians voted at first against Saakashvili’s ruling party, and then – against this party’s candidate in presidential elections. Den/The Day has written much on this topic, and now our readers are welcome to read the viewpoint of member of the new government, Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic integration Aleksi PETRIASHVILI on current Georgian events.

“WE ARE NOT GOING TO REFUSE FROM ALL ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT”

The opposition has been at power for a year; we would like to hear your assessment of Saakashvili’s heritage. When he came to power, there was no electricity in the country, whereas now Tbilisi and Batumi signs are illuminated, and roads are being constructed. Nonetheless, there are calls to put the former president to jail.

“We belong to the category of politicians who, unlike our predecessors, have never denied or been lavish of positive assessments of the reforms and results achieved by the previous government. I think fighting the criminality and corruption alike was very successful; some very serious steps have been made towards realization of the plans needed to reform Georgia and turn it into a European state. I also consider that one of the most successful reforms carried out by Saakashvili was the abolishment of road inspection department and establishing of patrolling service. At the same time, there were some serious drawbacks.”

What kind of drawbacks?

“I mean the penitentiary system, monopoly, elitist corruption, which was confirmed by international reports.”

Hasn’t elitist corruption in Georgia been invented by Transparency International, which in fact failed to find corruption in your country during Saakashvili’s rule? How did it show itself?

“Elitist corruption showed itself by privileges enjoyed by businessmen, who were loyal to high-ranking officials of the country. All this despite the fact that according to international standards, the indices of entrepreneurship in Georgia were high at first. But this business could only be preserved and developed in close cooperation with certain persons from the previous government of Georgia. We are going to eliminate these problems after the parliament approves the new law on antimonopoly service, which has been abolished by the previous government.

“Unfortunately, simultaneously with creation the patrolling service in the internal affairs structures, political uniformed services were established: the department of constitutional security and special operational department, which were supposed to help keep the power and control the political system in Georgia. Both the society and the image of security structures have been harmed by this to a certain extent, as well as the state on the whole.

“We are not going to refuse from all the achievements made by the previous government. However, I must admit that the course towards the European and Euro-Atlantic integration, which was our country’s priority during Saakashvili’s rule is not exclusive for some concrete government – it is the choice made by the Georgian people. And the first official statement of Georgia’s aspiration to become a member of NATO was voiced in the time of President Shevardnadze, in 2002. Nearly 80 percent of Georgian population support Georgia’s integration into the EU and NATO. So, these priorities have been clearly defined and I think we will achieve certain success in the future in this direction.”

They say current government has halted many construction projects launched by Saakashvili. What is the reason?

“This question needs an explanation. All by no exception infrastructure projects, which are advantageous for our economic development, are functioning. For example, the strategically important project Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, which links the east and the west of the country, will be accomplished in the end of the following year. Next will be the strategic large-scale project – development of the new Anaklia port. It needs a detailed research. After that we will attract foreign investments for its implementation. We think that this kind of projects will boost economic development.”

Except for Lazika?

“The construction of the city of Lazika was Mikheil Saakashvili’s brainchild. Our country is not rich enough to waste money for such projects, affordable only for strong economies. Therefore we have reoriented our resources for social needs of our population.”

“WE DON’T HAVE A GOAL IN ITSELF TO ARREST MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI”

During the election campaign members of government broached the question that Saakashvili must go to jail. Does it mean that your government intends to send Saakashvili to prison?

“Society has questions concerning all high-ranking officials from the previous government, including Saakashvili. And I can see no problem in addressing these questions to him by corresponding structures, if it is necessary. According to international practice, if there are sensational cases which need a topmost level of response, they must be answered. But we don’t have a goal in itself to arrest Mikheil Saakashvili or some concrete members of previous government.”

But the previous prime minister has been arrested.

“They appointed him prime minister very fortunately before the elections and now everyone appeals that he is a former prime minister. In Georgia he is known as former minister of the interior, who has headed this department for many years. Only the United National Movement propagates him as a prime minister, but as a minister he was involved in the questions which have been very actively studied by the prosecutor’s office and corresponding agencies. He is facing very serious accusations. But the government is not going to intrude into this case, unlike the acting president of Georgia, who practically yesterday granted pardon to former minister of defense Bacho Akhalaia. The court makes rulings independently, and we are trying to create all conditions for an independent decision to be made by the court.

“I am sure the democratic and economic reforms, as well as EU and NATO integration processes will be successful, all the I’s will be dotted, and the EU will have no questions to Georgia concerning the so-called selective justice.”

“GEORGIA HAS WON IN THESE ELECTIONS”

Mr. Petriashvili, some observers consider that Russia has won in these elections, because it wanted to remove Saakashvili from power. What can you say about this?

“Everyone has an opinion of his own, the right to express this opinion, but I think that not the Georgian Dream, some separate party or candidate have won in this election, but entire Georgia. Presidential elections were held in an unusual atmosphere for Georgia, when there were no incidents on polling stations. And everyone was pleasantly surprised. I think that it was one of the most important steps on the way of Georgia’s democratic development and its integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. We have proved that democracy can be consolidated in Georgia and one can proceed in development of democratic society. Georgian society has proved its political maturity at two elections: parliamentary in 2012 and presidential in 2013. For the first time in the history of independent Georgia we have managed to formalize the transfer of power as a result of the elections. And now we have shown that we can elect our president in normal, calm, and free conditions.”

The new prime minister of Georgia also comes from the ministry of the interior. What was the ground for this choice?

“He does not come from the ministry of the interior; however, he has indeed headed this department for a year. Since the first days when Ivanishvili’s government came to power and Irakli Garibashvili was appointed the minister of the interior, there have been skeptics and opponents who said that the level of criminality has increased and that the ministry of the interior was unable to keep control of the situation in the country. According to all statistic indices, over one year the number of criminal cases has decreased in Georgia and the number of cases solved has increased by 35 percent. Above all, Garibashvili started with depoliticizing of this important structure. Before the elections he made a decision on closing the so-called closed ballot stations for employees of the ministry of the interior and security services and abolished the department of constitutional security and special operational department.

“And persecution of political opponents and illegal overhearing has become part of history. The minister in front of the members of NGOs, including international organizations, destroyed most of 24,000 recordings, which were made by special structures in the time of the previous government. And now we can say with confidence that both political activity and freedom of expression have become a reality in Georgia.

“Garibashvili has proved to be a good manager and a good team player. Therefore I believe that Garibashvili can gather a team and make the decisions, which will be favorable for our state.”

At the moment your country is facing the task to initial the Association Agreement in Vilnius. Many Western diplomats say it is not the signing that is the most important thing; rather it is the realization of this agreement, which may be painful for the society, especially at the beginning. How do Georgians view this?

“We have a clear notion of the processes envisaged by the EU association. Indeed people should know about this. We have developed a special strategy of communication for 2014-17, in order to bring the information to as many Georgian citizens as possible, so that they learned what EU integration is, what commitments and what the advantages of the Association Agreement and free trade area are.

“The government and the parliament are actively working to speed up the process of reforming and harmonization of Georgian legislation and accomplish it as soon as possible. We expect to get EU support, but at the same time we are developing concrete means and events to support our citizens in all possible ways. During the process of reformation and implementation of European standards of production with an aim to realize Georgian production on internal European markets our government will help our farmers, small- and medium-scale businesses financially and technically.”