Translated material
And Clinton's portrait on the chest
US Secretary of State spoke in Tbilisi about Russia
The Georgian authorities received even more from the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton than they expected. The Secretary of State concluded her tour with negotiations in Tbilisi, during which she also visited Ukraine , Poland , Azerbaijan and Armenia. Yesterday, at the final press conference, President Mikheil Saakashvili thanked the Americans for being the first to call the Russian presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia an “occupation” after the August 2008 conflict. Secretary of State Clinton also stated that she does not like the fact that “the Russians are building military bases” in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, since this “does not correspond to the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan” (recall that this plan two years ago made it possible to stop hostilities in the zone conflict).Georgian television networks monitored the Secretary of State's every move, presenting the visit and her statements as events of historical importance. Clinton confirmed that she had come to convey “strong support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia,” and also said that during meetings with Russian representatives at various levels, she constantly reminds of the need to implement the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreement concluded in August 2008. Moscow assures that it has fully complied with the clauses of the agreement signed by the presidents of Russia and France, which at that time chaired the European Union. The main differences are that the United States and Georgia do not recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Before meeting with the Georgian leader, Hillary Clinton talked with women who play a significant role in the political life of Georgia. During a conversation with them, she suggested looking for “points of contact” with Russia. In her opinion, this benefits the interests of both Moscow and Tbilisi. In addition, in this case, it will be easier for the United States to reset relations with Russia: “We, as we wanted, have made some progress in improving relations with Russia. But we do not agree with Russia on the Georgian issue.” “Russia hoped that everyone would forget about its obligations under the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreement, but now it has been reminded and will be reminded of this regularly, clearly using the term “occupation,” which Moscow does not like most,” Vremya Novostei said. on this occasion, the first deputy chairman of the Georgian parliament, Mikhail Machavariani.
“The United States considers it necessary for its partners, including Georgia, to also take the path of resetting relations with Russia,” Tbilisi political scientist Ramaz Sakvarelidze told Vremya Novostei. “By supporting the principle of Georgia’s integrity, Washington will insist on normalizing relations between Georgia and Russia.”
Several of the 140 Georgian women came to the meeting with the Secretary of State wearing T-shirts with a portrait of Hillary Clinton, emphasizing their admiration for her work. In addition, ladies professing opposition views asked Clinton to influence the country's first man. Lawyer Eka Beselia gave Clinton a list of political prisoners, consisting of 61 names, and said that there were “prisoners of conscience” in the country, called by former US President George W. Bush as a “beacon of democracy” (the Georgian authorities do not admit their presence). Hillary Clinton also heard that Georgia has problems with media freedom and the independence of the judicial system. Among the women who met with Clinton was not ex-speaker of parliament Nino Burjanadze, who considered that in this format it was impossible to convey to the United States the real views and problems of the opposition.
At Saakashvili’s residence, before the start of face-to-face negotiations with the Georgian president, the Secretary of State saw a familiar face. It was a photo of Hollywood legend Andy Garcia, who starred in a film about Georgia as its leader during the conflict with Russia. Saakashvili also showed his guest a copy of the American constitution, saying that his team professes similar values, and the Georgian people “love the Americans very much”: “We felt and feel great support from the United States, President Barack Obama, we have long-term strategic cooperation.”
The Georgian president showed Hillary Clinton and the model of the future parliament of Georgia. The new building will be built within a year and a half in Kutaisi, 240 km west of the Georgian capital. Deputies will gather there for sessions, and committee hearings will be held in Tbilisi, at the old address on Rustaveli Avenue. While clearing the territory for the parliament building in Kutaisi, in December 2009, a memorial to those killed in the fight against fascism was blown up, killing a woman and her little daughter who were nearby.
An analogue of the Kutaisi monument will be built in Moscow as a tribute to the joint victory in the Great Patriotic War. The opposition criticizes Saakashvili, considering the expense of moving deputies around the country unnecessary, but the president is adamant, calling the move a symbol of decentralization of power. Clinton then pledged to support Georgia in strengthening the democratic ideals of the 2003 Rose Revolution. At the airport, Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze presented the guest with a bouquet of white roses. True, seven years ago the revolution was accomplished with scarlet roses...
Now the task of Georgian diplomacy is to conduct equally successful negotiations with European partners. On July 14, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will visit Tbilisi.