Georgia advised to show strategic patience
By Messenger Staff
Monday, January 25
Estonia is one of the countries which expressed its support for Georgia’s territorial integrity immediately and without hesitation during the August 2008 Russian attack. It has demonstrated this support openly many times since then.
On January 20-21 2010 the President of Georgia visited Estonia. During his visit he stated what kind of friends Georgia needs. Saakashvili said that Georgia needs friends who will help it solve problems, criticise it and correct its mistakes. These were sound words, because Estonia tried to do exactly this during the Georgian President's visit. Saakashvili was advised to identify the situation in Georgia correctly and further steps he could take in the right direction were outlined for him.
During their joint press conference Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves confirmed once again that the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia would be upheld but added realistically that it will not be restored any time soon. Instead he suggested that Tbilisi show strategic patience and concentrate on the successful development of the country. It was not clearly identified how long this strategic patience should last, but Ilves mentioned that Estonia kept patience for 50 years until the window of opportunity presented itself and it took the right step.
They key to the successful completion of the tasks before Georgia is defining the right sequence of tasks to do. The Estonian President presented a pragmatic vision, advising Georgians not to waste time and energy on problems which are unlikely to be resolved in the near future but encouraging further democratic and economic reforms, stating that these would be the key to the country’s success.
There is no point having strategic patience if you do not have the ability to identify and take the opportunity you are waiting for when it does come along. “Many countries, including Georgia’s allies, know that injustice can prevail for some time; however, history has windows of opportunity, which open once and then close – and we need to stay alert to wait for them to open and then be wise enough to seize the moment,” the Estonian President said. He highlighted that democratic reforms will help create this opportunity, but here in Georgia almost all the opposition spectrum and most of the general public believe that there are some serious shortcomings in this direction in Georgia.
Georgia drawing closer to the West and accelerating this process depends on Georgia itself. The process will inevitably involve developing more democracy and improving the human rights and media situations. President Saakashvili has therefore received the correct and pragmatic advice he sought. The Estonian President said what any devoted friend of Georgia would have said. Increasing the freedom of the media, protecting human rights, exercising the rule of law, ensuring the independence of the court system and the other steps which need to be taken to act on this advice do not require much investment, if any. What they need above all is goodwill from the administration, which often talks about these issues but has not done enough to convince the world that it actually means what it says.
The major indicator of how much the Georgian leadership is devoted to the principles of real democracy, how it receives friendly advice and how committed it is to the values it claims it has will be what happens before, during and after the local elections of May, 2010. These will provide a very good test for both Georgia’s leadership and the people of Georgia as such. They will also definitely determine the country’s future steps, either in domestic or foreign policy, and condition the attitude of democratic nations towards Georgia.
On January 20-21 2010 the President of Georgia visited Estonia. During his visit he stated what kind of friends Georgia needs. Saakashvili said that Georgia needs friends who will help it solve problems, criticise it and correct its mistakes. These were sound words, because Estonia tried to do exactly this during the Georgian President's visit. Saakashvili was advised to identify the situation in Georgia correctly and further steps he could take in the right direction were outlined for him.
During their joint press conference Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves confirmed once again that the principle of territorial integrity of Georgia would be upheld but added realistically that it will not be restored any time soon. Instead he suggested that Tbilisi show strategic patience and concentrate on the successful development of the country. It was not clearly identified how long this strategic patience should last, but Ilves mentioned that Estonia kept patience for 50 years until the window of opportunity presented itself and it took the right step.
They key to the successful completion of the tasks before Georgia is defining the right sequence of tasks to do. The Estonian President presented a pragmatic vision, advising Georgians not to waste time and energy on problems which are unlikely to be resolved in the near future but encouraging further democratic and economic reforms, stating that these would be the key to the country’s success.
There is no point having strategic patience if you do not have the ability to identify and take the opportunity you are waiting for when it does come along. “Many countries, including Georgia’s allies, know that injustice can prevail for some time; however, history has windows of opportunity, which open once and then close – and we need to stay alert to wait for them to open and then be wise enough to seize the moment,” the Estonian President said. He highlighted that democratic reforms will help create this opportunity, but here in Georgia almost all the opposition spectrum and most of the general public believe that there are some serious shortcomings in this direction in Georgia.
Georgia drawing closer to the West and accelerating this process depends on Georgia itself. The process will inevitably involve developing more democracy and improving the human rights and media situations. President Saakashvili has therefore received the correct and pragmatic advice he sought. The Estonian President said what any devoted friend of Georgia would have said. Increasing the freedom of the media, protecting human rights, exercising the rule of law, ensuring the independence of the court system and the other steps which need to be taken to act on this advice do not require much investment, if any. What they need above all is goodwill from the administration, which often talks about these issues but has not done enough to convince the world that it actually means what it says.
The major indicator of how much the Georgian leadership is devoted to the principles of real democracy, how it receives friendly advice and how committed it is to the values it claims it has will be what happens before, during and after the local elections of May, 2010. These will provide a very good test for both Georgia’s leadership and the people of Georgia as such. They will also definitely determine the country’s future steps, either in domestic or foreign policy, and condition the attitude of democratic nations towards Georgia.