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Monday,
July 23,
2007, #138 (1405)
The new State Minister for Conflict Resolution Davit Bakradze vowed to more actively involve the EU in conflict resolution, while South Ossetian and Abkhazian de facto authorities doubted his appointment would have a positive affect on the process. Former MP Bakradze, who previously chaired the parliamentary Committee on European Integration, replaced Merab Antadze as a state minister on July 19. Bakradze suggests there is no need for radical changes in official Tbilisi policy on conflict resolution, adding that a radical shift already came when the government created the temporary administrative unit in South Ossetia and restored control over the upper Kodori Gorge. “I’ll do my best to support this process [of conflict resolution] based on my previous post [in parliament] and also based on the contacts I have with the European Union countries, and not only with them,” Bakradze told Mze TV. Bakradze was key in arranging Dmitry Sanakoyev’s June visit to the EU parliament in Brussels. President Mikheil Saakashvili, speaking about the appointment, said that Bakradze’s “significant experience” in the international arena was the main reason for his appointment to the post. “His experience in international relations and politics is very important in helping us intensify our actions in regards to conflict resolution,” Saakashvili said. Former state minister for conflict resolution Merab Antadze agreed that his replacement’s far-reaching diplomatic contacts will play a significant role in conflict resolution. “Today is the right time for international organizations and leading countries to become active in the process of peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Georgia,” Antadze said. Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze also asserted that Bakradze has the resources to continue negotiations with the de facto authorities. But Abkhazian and South Ossetian de facto authorities say Bakradze’s appointment to the post will not positively affect conflict resolution if the Georgian government doesn’t change its policy. South Ossetian co-chair of the Joint Control Commission Boris Chochiev said there was no need to change the state minister, but rather the very policy of the Georgian government towards conflict resolution should be reconsidered. “Replacing the state minister just demonstrates the weakness [of the Georgian government] in this direction,” the de facto official said. De facto foreign minister of Abkhazia Sergey Shamba said replacing main negotiators will be of little help. “Today the process [of the negotiations] is in absolute deadlock, and that’s why these [staff changes] are not integral,” Abkhazian websites report Shamba as saying. |
Bakradze’s “Significant Experience” Reason for Reshuffle, Saakashvili Says
