Four Presidents Call for Promotion of Democracy in Region

(from left to right:) Victor Yushchenko, Mikheil Saakashvili, Traian Basescu and Arnold Ruutel at the Tbilisi Forum.

Presidents of Estonia, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine reiterated the importance of consolidating efforts to promote democracy in the Black Sea-Baltic region.

Arnold Ruutel, Mikheil Saakashvili, Victor Yushchenko and Traian Basescu gathered and spoke at the Tbilisi Forum: “Europe’s New Wave of Liberation” on November 23 to mark the second anniversary of Rose Revolution. In early December these Presidents will meet again in Ukraine to form a regional Community of Democratic Choice. The leaders of Lithuania and Latvia are also expected to join them in Kiev on December 1-2.

In his address, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who opened the presidential panel of the Forum, said that the Rose Revolution in Georgia two years ago and the Orange Revolution in Ukraine one year ago, “has destroyed a myth that this region was only a place for failed states.”

Saakashvili said that Estonia is a model for Georgia’s development. He said that Estonia “was a country similar to us, but is now among the world’s most developed countries.”

He hailed Romania as Georgia’s partner and said that Tbilisi counts on Romania’s assistance in Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. “We plan to become a member of NATO with Romania’s assistance,” he added.

The Georgian president also spoke about Ukraine and said that the latter’s success is of vital importance for Tbilisi: “Ukraine’s victory is our victory,” Saakashvili said. 

While speaking about Georgia’s Rose Revolution Saakashvili emphasized the importance of “Georgians’ courage.”  Video footage of events in the western Georgian town of Zugdidi on November 7, 2003 -when a group of armed masked men opened fire while peaceful demonstrators were protesting against the fraudulent elections – was shown at the Forum. The footage showed a woman resisting the armed masked men. Saakashvili said that that woman was a symbol of the fight against terror and invited her to the presidential panel and awarded her with a Medal of Honor.

Saakashvili said that “whatever force is used, people will anyway take power. This is irreversible. This wave of democracy has no alternative.”

In his address, Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko mainly focused on the importance of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, which was marked on November 22. He noted economic reforms, a decrease of the shadow economy, an increase of state revenues and increase of salaries as the major achievements of the Orange Revolution.

“Ukraine is absolutely different today… We are sure that we are on the right path of development,” Yushchenko said.

He also said that Ukraine has firmly decided to follow the path of Euro-Atlantic integration, but also added that Kiev has to take into account the political realities of the region.

“Russia is our neighbor in the east and the EU in the west. So we have to find out a correct approach… We will not take any step which will harm the interests of Russia; but at the same time we are acting in accordance of our interests… We will stick to our course, but also take into consideration political realities,” Yushchenko said.

He also called on the regional leaders to intensify efforts to solve separatist conflicts in Transdnestria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Estonian President Arnold Ruutel underlined the importance of institutional reforms and said that these reforms can not be implemented overnight. 

“Estonia has become a member of the EU and NATO and this is a concrete result of our reforms… Our model of development might be useful for your reforms… We are ready to contribute to your reforms,” President Ruutel said.

Romanian President Traian Basescu said that Romania was one of the first countries to overthrow its modern dictatorship.

“But revolution was not enough; institutions also needed reforms and transformation… A change of the mentality of the people is also very important,” the Romanian President said.

Traian Basescu also spoke about the separatist conflicts and said that internationalization of the conflict resolution process is the key to a settlement. He also said that these conflicts can also be regarded as a potential source of terrorism.

“Our approach is that one of the top priorities should be that all countries of the region, including Russia, should be involved in conflict resolution… Internationalization of efforts in solving conflicts will also contribute to the fight against arms and drug trafficking,” Traian Basescu said.

After addressing the Forum, the four Presidents participated in a groundbreaking ceremony of the Liberty Monument, which will be constructed in Tbilisi’s Freedom Square, despite opposition from one part of society.