Posted on 05/08/2005 4:32:13 PM PDT by jb6
Commentary > Opinion from the May 09, 2005 edition
Bush and Georgia's faded 'rose'
By Irakly Areshidze
WASHINGTON – Unlike Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, where President Bush's morally clear leadership has been instrumental in expanding freedom, following the 2003 Rose Revolution, Georgia has seen a dramatic downward spiral. Unfortunately, some US officials - who need democratic "success stories" to prove that the president's foreign policy is working - conveniently ignore key political developments in Georgia. When President Bush travels there Tuesday, he should press leaders toward real democratic change. For much of the 1990s, former Georgian leader Eduard Shevardnadze was lionized as a democrat, even though he was clearly failing at reforms. Today, some US officials are repeating this mistake by tying US policy to the new President Mikhael Saakashvili rather than to the country's political process. The irony is that Georgian leaders, who view Bush as a great friend, are bound to listen to constructive criticism from Washington.
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In 1995, with US assistance, Georgia established the most balanced constitutional system of any former Soviet republic. While the Constitution granted extensive powers to the president, it also empowered the legislative and judiciary branches with the independence to check presidential dominance. Mr. Saakashvili's first move in office was to amend the Constitution to create a "superpresidential" system, eliminating checks and balances and concentrating powers in the executive. Bush should urge him to begin an open dialogue with all political elements about restoring the constitutional balance of power and implementing these changes by the end of the year.
An independent press was one factor that made the Rose Revolution possible, but since then this freedom has steadily eroded. When Giga Bokeria, Saakashvili's closest parliamentary ally, was asked whether the cancellation of shows critical of the government on three channels violated press freedoms, he declared that if a station owner "wants a good relationship with the government, that is his choice, and freedom of speech has nothing to do with this, because freedom of speech means that he can have the kind of television that he wants."
Since the revolution, only four of the original six private TV networks still operate in the capital, Tbilisi. Of the four remaining, one was "sold" to the brother of the president's national security adviser; another was "sold" to the defense minister's best friend. A new network was refused a transmission license. Government pressure on political journalists is common, while investigative reporting is nonexistent.
It is vital for Bush to address the problems faced by the Georgian media. He should publicly ask the government to rethink its approach to freedom of expression and he should speak to journalists candidly about the censorship they face. Bush should direct the US Embassy and USAID to help reporters set up a trade union to defend their rights.
Georgia's democratic experiment requires stable political parties competing in free and fair elections. Last month, Parliament approved legislation to fill the central and district election commissions with presidential appointees, without any representation for opposition groups. Understandably, elections conducted by such commissions will never pass democratic muster.
It's not even clear that the Georgian president wants opposition groups to exist. During his State of the Nation address in February, Saakashvili declared that parties that disagree with him on issues such as the presence of foreign troops in Georgia, which he opposes, or membership in the European Union, which he supports, should be "outlawed."
Bush should meet opposition leaders to demonstrate his commitment to a multiparty democracy and speak publicly about the need to respect political pluralism.
Finally, Bush should enlist the support of the Georgian Orthodox Church, a powerful potential ally often ignored by democracy activists, including American ones. Georgians are extremely faithful; a majority regularly attend services. America's standing with the Georgian people would be well served if Bush met with Ilia II, the beloved moderate patriarch of the church, to encourage him to maintain support for the democratic process.
• Irakly Areshidze was chief strategist for the November 2003 and March 2004 parliamentary election campaigns of Georgia's opposition New Conservative Party and is completing a book on democracy in Georgia in the aftermath of the Rose Revolution.
It's not even clear that the Georgian president wants opposition groups to exist. During his State of the Nation address in February, Saakashvili declared that parties that disagree with him on issues such as the presence of foreign troops in Georgia, which he opposes, or membership in the European Union, which he supports, should be "outlawed."
Soros also helped rig the Romanian elections, and was heading towards Armenia for their round.
Saakashvili would be a fool not to close the door through which he seized the power :( Georgia is in a very tough neigbourhood and losers are not treated kindly.
bookmarking and pinging
general fyi ping
Sheesh some of these foreign countries are learning from us fast!!
Well, nice to see our disruptor EU troll Judas has arrived, fresh from selling out Poland and here to add, as usual, absolutely NOTHING to any thread he perches on.
Why? Georgia with a nice little dictatorship is just fit to join the EU, just like you communists and the Communists in Moldova. One big Trotskyte family and you even got 30 pieces of silver for selling out what thousands of Poles died defending. Must make you feel warm inside. Nazi Germany shouldn't have invaded in 1939, I'm sure there were plenty of Judases in Poland who would have sold it down the river just like you did in 2003.
By the way, Judas, it must be what now: 3 or 4 AM in Poland? Oh, yes, this isn't your job, disrupting on FR, you just stay up every night all night to catch the American crowd when we're still awake. Hmmm.
"Saakashvili would be a fool not to close the door through which he seized the power :( Georgia is in a very tough neigbourhood and losers are not treated kindly."
Thank you"A.Pole"
I want some hot stuff baby this evening, I want some hot stuff baby tonite..............
I also know some guys here in Florida who re-enact WWII American, British amd GERMAN ( yes, Germans!!) troops. They have traveled to Europe several times in the past 10 years.
My son and daughter-in law are considering joining the American WWII group. There is also group of ladies who dress-out as American Army nurses and his wife wants to get into that group.
I have seen a group of gals who do a great impression of the Andrews Sisters singing group and perform at WWII re-enactments.
Re-enactment groups are REALLY big in the USA. In Europe, the Napoleanic Wars has a HUGE group of re-enactors... INCLUDING RUSSIANS dressed in period costumes.
"Would you knock it off and let others express their opinions, and their personal point of views. Come on knock it off with this. I guess my previous statement of knocking off personal attacks went abetted and was ignored, so I would regress and let you guys debate yourself. If this is what you want; then let it be. None of you would last in my group in GROM for a second, for you have no patience. Give respect where is do and get over with it. If I sound harsh is because I have been able to deal around with people who not only sacrifice their life but also went further then that. I hope you will take this criticism with salt and bread and won't hold this against me. As your fellow country man, there is a point to stop this nonsense and let others express their opinion. As much as we may disagree with it, they have the right to express what they believe in and stand for. Its too late for me to write further, and I'm still tired, try to look at this from different prospective Thanks"
Better not come to the South or you'll be accusing Civil War reenactors of being slave wanting racists. About your speed.
Stop LIW, this is Grzgy, he doesn't want you confronting his propoganda with the facts.
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