Temporary Truce
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| Saakashvili was satisfied after talks. Photo: Batumelebi newspaper |
Lifting of economic sanctions in exchange of liberalization of governance in Adjarian Autonomy – a deal described by skeptics as a short-term.
Troops were withdrawn from the streets of Adjarian capital Batumi and administrative border with the rest of Georgia opened, as central authorities lifted blockade of the region after an agreement between President Mikheil Saakashvili and Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze in Batumi on March 18.
A deal ended five-day long crisis, which sparked on March 14, when Georgian President was barred by the armed supporters of Abashidze from entering troubled region.
An agreement has been reached over disarmament of paramilitary forces in Adjara, release of political prisoners, joint control of the customs and port of Batumi, providing conditions for free election campaigning in Adjara, holding of free and fair elections.
“I want to tell you that there is no conflict with Adjara and there could not be any. I will be a guarantor of Georgia’s territorial integrity,” Saakashvili said addressing hundreds of supporters rallying in Batumi.
After the talks Saakashvili and Abashidze exchanged with mutual conciliatory gestures. “Mikheil Saakashvili is a very cleaver man,” Abashidze said. Saakashvili responded that he has “no personal confrontation with the Adjarian leader.”
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| According to officials in Tbilisi Abashidze’s forces include: • 1500-strong armed group • four T-72 battle tanks • military vessel |
Political analysts in Tbilisi suggest that Georgia’s government has successfully overcome a crisis, which was the country’s new and young government’s first real test.
Authorities set up a special anti-crisis center, chaired by Prime Minster Zurab Zhvania to coordinate conflict settlement and economic sanctions were successfully enforced. Ships en route to Batumi were convoyed by the Georgian coast guard vessels to port of Poti and bank operations banned in Adjara.
International efforts were under way as well. President Saakashvili spoke by phone with Russian President Putin and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Georgian National Security Council Chief Vano Merabishvili was dispatched to Moscow, while chief of the Georgian President’s Administration Irakli Chubinishvili was visiting Ankara.
As a result, despite initial refusal to meet Saakashvili, Abashidze had to agree on talks later.
Observers say that concessions made by Aslan Abashidze mean that the unilateral style of governance in Adjara should be modernized and liberalized.
However, one thing worries now – how long this agreement will work?
“It is unclear, whether Aslan Abashidze manages to fulfill the agreement, however it is quite possible. This completely depends on his good will,” political analyst Ia Antadze told Civil Georgia.
She added that Adjarian crisis has been overcome, adding that the agreement “seems to be temporary, rather than a long-term” although the meeting apparently was successful.
Ghia Nodia of the Tbilisi-based think-tank Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development says that meeting was “very successful.”
“The central and region’s authorities took a positive move for overcoming the current crisis. Of course, it is difficult to define further development of events, but one thing is quite clear – the elections will be held in Adjara and the economic sanctions will be lifted, which threatened with crisis to the economy of entire Georgia,” Ghia Nodia told Civil Georgia.
However, he added that it remains unclear how absolutely different political figures – an unilateral ruler Abashidze and pro-western Saakashvili will coexist.
Observers say that relations between two leaders will be come clearer after the March 28 parliamentary elections.
Before conciliation on March 18, Saakashvili told reporters “Abashidze’s time has passed” and described Adjarian leader “the old Soviet nomenklatura” and “middle-aged feudal.”
Political analysts say Saakashvili was more frank while describing Abashidze as “middle-aged feudal,” rather when saying that he “achieved mutual understanding” with Abashidze.