Tweet
HOW WILL DOMESTIC CRISES IN GEORGIA AFFECT FOREIGN POLICY?
Today's Zaman
Nov 13 2012
Turkey
Despite the fact that only a short period of time has elapsed since
the Georgian parliamentary elections that gave an unexpected victory to
the Georgian Dream coalition, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili,
concerns about the new government have been raised in both domestic
and international circles.
Ivanishvili attracted a great deal of popular support by promising
that the people's work and efforts would be honored properly, but the
expectations and demands this created have led to turmoil and upheaval
in the country. People agreed that Mikheil Saakashvili had failed to
adequately administer the aftermath of the Rose Revolution and that
living conditions had worsened since then, so many people decided
to support a different candidate who offered bold promises. Now,
however, due to the coalition government's failure to honor those
pre-election promises, workers and prison inmates have resorted to
strikes in protest.
Prison strikes: The first of a series of protest strikes is an ongoing
hunger strike in Ksani prison. An estimated 2,000 or more inmates
are participating in the strike to protest prison conditions, and 15
inmates sewed their mouths closed. Hunger strikes are also being held
in other prisons to demand a change in the prison administration,
which has been accused of abusive behavior.
Drivers are also holding protests: The protest of 1,400 yellow bus
drivers that started on Nov. 8 still negatively affects transportation
in Tbilisi. The drivers want to draw attention to their working
conditions and to their salaries, and have announced that they will
continue to protest unless their 16 demands are met. Among their
requests, the drivers are asking the government to raise their wages.
The national government, however, stresses that the increase is at the
discretion of the Tbilisi Municipality, administered by Giorgi Ugulava
from the United National Movement (UNM), led by Saakashvili. The
protestors are asking for Ugulava's removal from office, but with
this move they contradict themselves because Ugulava has attempted
to communicate with the current government in an effort to address
the drivers' problems. Ugulava, elected mayor of Tbilisi in the
2010 elections, is also seeking solutions to ensure that the current
government provides operating funds to the municipality.
Metro workers may go on strike: Underground Transportation Union
President Giorgi Khitalishvili has noted the metro workers had
forwarded a list of 12 demands to the city council as well and stressed
that they would start a massive strike in support of the drivers'
protests in the event their demands are not addressed.
1,600 mine workers continue to protest: At a coal mining site run by
the Gruzugol Company in the Imereti region, 1,600 workers continue
to suspend their operations in protest of the recent decision to
reduce salaries and lay off workers. A local parliament deputy,
Eliso Capidze, Georgian Dream member of Parliament David Bezhuashvili
and parliamentarian and partner in the Georgian Industrial Group
Gia Zhorzholiani are trying to bring the laborers and the mine
administration together to find a reasonable solution. The Gruzugol
Company, which runs the mining site, is a partner in the Georgian
Industrial Group.
A deal has been made with the Poti Seaport workers: The Poti port
workers who stopped work demanding a raise in their salaries have
made a deal with Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. Under the
agreement, the salaries of the port workers will be raised by 20
percent effective Dec 1.
Employment struggle expected to negatively affect foreign policy: The
power struggle between the municipalities and local administrations
over employment opportunities continues. The former interior minister,
chief of general staff and a top commander have all been arrested.
Footage of incidents of torture in prison was aired on television, and
demonstrations demanding accountability for the officers responsible
affected public opinion ahead of the 2012 elections. Former Interior
Minister Bacho Akhalaia was held responsible for these incidents
of torture and was arrested for misconduct, as were Chief of Staff
Giorgi Kalandadze and Commander of the 4th Brigade Zurab Samatava,
though the latter two were subsequently released on bail.
There are ongoing effects associated with the arrest of Akhalaia, who
was appointed defense minister after the Russian-Georgian war in 2008.
Saakashvili viewed the arrest of Akhalaia as a move that would hurt
Georgia's integration into the world of European and American affairs.
Akhalaia had enjoyed a good relationship with American diplomats,
but after these incidents, NATO military authorities suspended a
November visit to Tbilisi, which surprised the government and raised
some questions. The opposition parties, noting that such incidents
would hurt Georgia's relations with NATO, blamed the government for
the strained relationship.
Georgia's NATO representative, Grigol Mgaloblishvili, noted that
the emergence of such a crisis before the NATO Foreign Ministerial
Meetings to be held in December would be a problem. The Georgian
authorities seek to identify the source of the problem; however, NATO
has not offered any explanation so far. Amid ongoing discussions as
to whether Georgia will move away from the West due to its internal
crises, there are some major issues the government could use to make
some serious offers and take the initiative. In particular, these
include policies of rapprochement with Russia, which will boost the
Armenian economy and lead to some problems along the Azeri-Turkish
axis. The new government has not yet clarified its foreign policy
path. It seeks to improve ties with Russia on the one hand, and also
preserve its strong relations with NATO. But this would lead to a
total collapse in foreign policy. The repercussions of this ambivalent
stance and indecisive approach will be seen very soon.
* Mehmet Fatih OZTARSU is a strategic outlook analyst.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-298087-how-will-domestic-crises-in-georgia-affect-foreign-policy-by-mehmet-fatih-oztarsu*.html
Today's Zaman
Nov 13 2012
Turkey
Despite the fact that only a short period of time has elapsed since
the Georgian parliamentary elections that gave an unexpected victory to
the Georgian Dream coalition, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili,
concerns about the new government have been raised in both domestic
and international circles.
Ivanishvili attracted a great deal of popular support by promising
that the people's work and efforts would be honored properly, but the
expectations and demands this created have led to turmoil and upheaval
in the country. People agreed that Mikheil Saakashvili had failed to
adequately administer the aftermath of the Rose Revolution and that
living conditions had worsened since then, so many people decided
to support a different candidate who offered bold promises. Now,
however, due to the coalition government's failure to honor those
pre-election promises, workers and prison inmates have resorted to
strikes in protest.
Prison strikes: The first of a series of protest strikes is an ongoing
hunger strike in Ksani prison. An estimated 2,000 or more inmates
are participating in the strike to protest prison conditions, and 15
inmates sewed their mouths closed. Hunger strikes are also being held
in other prisons to demand a change in the prison administration,
which has been accused of abusive behavior.
Drivers are also holding protests: The protest of 1,400 yellow bus
drivers that started on Nov. 8 still negatively affects transportation
in Tbilisi. The drivers want to draw attention to their working
conditions and to their salaries, and have announced that they will
continue to protest unless their 16 demands are met. Among their
requests, the drivers are asking the government to raise their wages.
The national government, however, stresses that the increase is at the
discretion of the Tbilisi Municipality, administered by Giorgi Ugulava
from the United National Movement (UNM), led by Saakashvili. The
protestors are asking for Ugulava's removal from office, but with
this move they contradict themselves because Ugulava has attempted
to communicate with the current government in an effort to address
the drivers' problems. Ugulava, elected mayor of Tbilisi in the
2010 elections, is also seeking solutions to ensure that the current
government provides operating funds to the municipality.
Metro workers may go on strike: Underground Transportation Union
President Giorgi Khitalishvili has noted the metro workers had
forwarded a list of 12 demands to the city council as well and stressed
that they would start a massive strike in support of the drivers'
protests in the event their demands are not addressed.
1,600 mine workers continue to protest: At a coal mining site run by
the Gruzugol Company in the Imereti region, 1,600 workers continue
to suspend their operations in protest of the recent decision to
reduce salaries and lay off workers. A local parliament deputy,
Eliso Capidze, Georgian Dream member of Parliament David Bezhuashvili
and parliamentarian and partner in the Georgian Industrial Group
Gia Zhorzholiani are trying to bring the laborers and the mine
administration together to find a reasonable solution. The Gruzugol
Company, which runs the mining site, is a partner in the Georgian
Industrial Group.
A deal has been made with the Poti Seaport workers: The Poti port
workers who stopped work demanding a raise in their salaries have
made a deal with Economy Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. Under the
agreement, the salaries of the port workers will be raised by 20
percent effective Dec 1.
Employment struggle expected to negatively affect foreign policy: The
power struggle between the municipalities and local administrations
over employment opportunities continues. The former interior minister,
chief of general staff and a top commander have all been arrested.
Footage of incidents of torture in prison was aired on television, and
demonstrations demanding accountability for the officers responsible
affected public opinion ahead of the 2012 elections. Former Interior
Minister Bacho Akhalaia was held responsible for these incidents
of torture and was arrested for misconduct, as were Chief of Staff
Giorgi Kalandadze and Commander of the 4th Brigade Zurab Samatava,
though the latter two were subsequently released on bail.
There are ongoing effects associated with the arrest of Akhalaia, who
was appointed defense minister after the Russian-Georgian war in 2008.
Saakashvili viewed the arrest of Akhalaia as a move that would hurt
Georgia's integration into the world of European and American affairs.
Akhalaia had enjoyed a good relationship with American diplomats,
but after these incidents, NATO military authorities suspended a
November visit to Tbilisi, which surprised the government and raised
some questions. The opposition parties, noting that such incidents
would hurt Georgia's relations with NATO, blamed the government for
the strained relationship.
Georgia's NATO representative, Grigol Mgaloblishvili, noted that
the emergence of such a crisis before the NATO Foreign Ministerial
Meetings to be held in December would be a problem. The Georgian
authorities seek to identify the source of the problem; however, NATO
has not offered any explanation so far. Amid ongoing discussions as
to whether Georgia will move away from the West due to its internal
crises, there are some major issues the government could use to make
some serious offers and take the initiative. In particular, these
include policies of rapprochement with Russia, which will boost the
Armenian economy and lead to some problems along the Azeri-Turkish
axis. The new government has not yet clarified its foreign policy
path. It seeks to improve ties with Russia on the one hand, and also
preserve its strong relations with NATO. But this would lead to a
total collapse in foreign policy. The repercussions of this ambivalent
stance and indecisive approach will be seen very soon.
* Mehmet Fatih OZTARSU is a strategic outlook analyst.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-298087-how-will-domestic-crises-in-georgia-affect-foreign-policy-by-mehmet-fatih-oztarsu*.html