Saakashvili Speaks of NATO ‘Breakthrough’ at Meeting with NGO Leaders

In a televised address on September 25 President Saakashvili slammed political opponents and some media sources for attempting to downplay the importance of the launch of an Intensified Dialogue with NATO, which was made possible despite, as he put it, “hysterical obstacles” created by Russia.

The President made the televised remarks in the presence of some Georgian civil society leaders and analysts, with whom Saakashvili held a close-door meeting after the address. Ghia Nodia of the think-tank Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD); Alexander Rondeli of the think-tank Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (GFSIS); Davit Darchiashvili, head of the Open Society – Georgia Foundation and Levan Ramishvili of the Liberty Institute were among the participants of the meeting.

“We are in a unique historical moment now. We have made huge progress, but we also face numerous challenges and threats ahead; but we also have huge chances to overcome these challenges. So you are here to share your advice and wisdom,” Saakashvili told civil society leaders.

He said that NATO’s decision to grant an Intensified Dialogue to Georgia was “a huge breakthrough that means the launch of the irreversible process of our integration into NATO.”

“I do not want to set any exact timeframes [for Georgia’s NATO integration], but I do not see any reason why our NATO membership should be protracted, especially against the background of the already existing Intensified Dialogue,” Saakashvili said.

He said that “huge obstacles, I would say, hysterical obstacles” were created to thwart the launch of an Intensified Dialogue “by a country that is not even a NATO member and which formally has nothing to do with out NATO-membership.”

“All possible methods have been used [to create obstacles]: attempts to discredit [Georgia], creating [illusions] that this [Georgia] is an unstable country,” Saakashvili said.

He also responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks, who said on September 23 that the Georgian leader is “hot-tempered.”

“One of my colleagues stated that the Georgian President is emotional and a hot-tempered person and that hot-tempered people live in the Caucasus. No. We are moving towards our goals very steadily, purposefully, calmly and without any anxiety… The only thing they have now is to say that we [the Georgian leadership] are hot-tempered and unpredictable. But the rest of the world has an absolutely different impression of us. So we are going to follow our path with determination,” Saakashvili said.

He noted that despite his opponents’ attempts to downplay the importance of the Intensified Dialogue, people in Georgia understand very well the value of this achievement.

“Some of the so-called Georgian politicians – I can only use ‘so-called’ when talking about them – say: ‘so what if we have been granted something like this Intensified Dialogue?’ If it is not a huge event, then why are some very influential figures in world politics reacting to it? Maybe here, someone at the pre-election rally might say that this means nothing but in some capitals this event is perceived as a very important fact,” Saakashvili said.

He said it is important that politicians and all media sources share the same opinion about Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

“I think that the entire political circle should realize the importance of this fact. It is also important that all media sources be united in this respect. Here is one Georgian newspaper [holds up the daily Akhali Taoba (New Generation)] that was issued a day after we received the Intensified Dialogue with NATO. And look, nothing is said here about NATO, instead the front page says: ‘We will Force [Interior Minister] Merabishvili to Resign’ also here is ‘Georgia Under the Invasion of 12 [religious] Sects’… Comments made by some of the politicians were of a similar quality,” Saakashvili said.

He also recalled his recent bilateral talks with U.S. President George Bush in Washington in July, complaining that the event was covered by the Georgian television stations not as a top news.

“This is real provincialism and lack of education,” Saakashvili said.

He said that the progress made by Georgia today will be recalled in thousands of years and is much more important than “election battles.”

“But of course, the democratic process and voters’ activeness is also very important for me,” Saakashvili said.