Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Opposition leaders as anti-Russia as Saakashvili himself

Opposition leaders as anti-Russia as Saakashvili himself 
 
Ian Bremmer, the leading American expert on CIS affairs, the President of
influential Eurasia Group consulting firm speaks on his attitude to
ongoing crisis in Georgia in an interview to RIA Novosti New York Bureau
Chief Dmitry Gornostaev. 
According to Mr.Bremmer, one  should expect to see a higher degree of
American criticism for obvious democratic shortcomings in Georgia. He also
believes, that Washington will focus on persuading President Saakashvili
to lift the state of emergency declared by him earlier this week. 
- Mr.Bremmer, what is your attitude towards the motions taken by the
President Mikhail Saakashvili at one end, and the opposition at another
end, including shutting the TV news coverage, declaring the state of
emergency and violent clashes between the police and the protesters? 
- The government's extreme reaction to the protests has strengthened the
opposition's anti-government drive and made it more difficult for
Georgia's western allies to stand by the government. While the
democratically-elected Georgian government remains the legitimate
authority, support for Saakashvili has undoubtedly deteriorated both
domestically and internationally. 
- What is the difference between the perception in the US of the
anti-Saakashvili demonstrations which are taking place now, and the street
protests that led Saakashvili to power four years ago? 
- I think it's safe to say that the two are connected only so far as the
recent protests were the largest anti-government protests since the Rose
Revolution and the fact that the opposition timed the protests to coincide
with the 4th anniversary of the revolution. The US, although obviously
frustrated with recent events in Georgia and the government's moves, still
strongly supports the Georgian government and Saakashvili.  
- How would you comment on Mr.Saakashvili's saying that it's Russia that
was fomenting the crisis in Georgia including the street protests of the
opposition? 
- Saakashvili's ongoing allegations that Russia is fomenting civil unrest
will exacerbate existing tensions with Moscow and with the
separatists. Meanwhile, the Russian embargo on Georgian imports continues
to hurt
the economy and prospects for long-term economic growth will not
improve without a resumption in trade with what was once Georgia's largest
trading partner. 
The government's efforts to discredit the opposition by accusing it of
being aligned with Russia and subsequent moves to continue this line of
reasoning, which includes recalling the Georgian ambassador to Moscow and
expelling Russian embassy officials from Tbilisi, are unlikely to make any
headway. In fact, the opposition parties have already launched a
diplomatic offensive in the West, proclaiming in a joint manifesto that
their political goals include improving relations with the EU and joining
NATO. The opposition leaders have been just as anti-Russia in their stated
foreign policy goals as Saakashvili himself. Moreover, the opposition is
bankrolled by the wealthy oligarch Badri Patarkatsishvili, a close friend
of outspoken anti-Kremlin dissident Boris Berezovsky. 
- Could you forecast the steps that the US Administration might undertake
towards the crisis parties in Georgia or toward Russia in the situation? 
- The US supports the move to hold early presidential elections which has
 diffused the political crisis and will keep Tbilisi relatively calm. The
US will focus now on getting Saakashvili to lift the state of emergency.
After the recent series of events, the US will be much more closely
monitoring events on the ground and we should expect to see a higher
degree of criticism for obvious democratic shortcomings than we have in
the past. 
- Will this crisis affect in any way the relations between the US and
Georgia? 
- Georgia remains a very important US ally and relaitons will not be
harmed in the long run. The sequence of events between Georgia and Russia
with Georgia recalling its ambassador to Moscow and expelling Russian
embassy officials, following my similar moves from Russia risks worsening
already poor relations with Russia.  
New York
-- 
visitate 
http://www.comunisti-italiani.it/frames/index.htm
 
http://www.italia-cuba.it/associazione/associazione.htm
questo articolo e` stato inviato via web dal servizio gratuito 
http://www.newsland.it/news
 segnala gli abusi ad 
ab...@newsland.it

 foreign policy goals as Saakashvili himself. 
Mi basterebbe che fossero meno fuori di testa. Credo sarebbe nel 
pieno interesse della Georgia cercare di ristabilire relazioni 
più decenti con la Russia, purtroppo la questione delle regioni 
autonome nell'attuale stato delle cose è quasi irrisolvibile.
M.