"IN SOME CASES EXTRAORDINARY DECISIONS HAVE TO BE TAKEN" TEMUR IAKOBASHVILI
Nino Edilashvili
Daily Georgian Times
Feb 4 2008
Georgia
The Georgian Parliament approved a new Cabinet of Ministers on
January 31. While previously members were selected by their party
affiliation, now, professionalism has been the key criteria,
as explained by the Prime Minister. Opposition representatives,
however, say that while professionalism has been decisive, they
claim, only professionals with high loyalty to the government were
nominated for the posts. Mainly they seem to be referring to Temur
Iakobashvili, Executive Vice-President of the prominent think-tank
Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies [GFSIS]
appointed as Minister of Reintegration (formerly named Ministry for
Conflict Resolution Issues), and Ghia Nodia, head of the Caucasian
Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (CIPDD) appointed
Minister of Education and Science.
Both were involved in exit polls, commissioned by four Georgian
television stations, for the January 5 presidential election. Along
with CIPDD and GFSIS, the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA)
and Ilia Chavchavadze State University were in charge of managing the
exit polls. The results, largely questioned by opposition supporters,
showed that Saakashvili garnered 53 percent of the vote while his
key opponent Levan Gachechiladze, representing the United Opposition,
scored only 26 percent.
Political expert and psychologist Ramaz Sakvarelidze is open to see
exit polls behind Iakobashvili and Nodia’s appointment. Kakha Kukava of
the United Opposition agrees. He argues the two are "puddle experts"
for the national Movement Party. "[Their appointment] demonstrates
that they have never been unbiased in their judgment," he says.
Asked how he feels about the comments, which say exit polls have
contributed a lion’s share to his promotion, Temur Iakobashvili
replies with his natural humor that he too has doubts. "But not as
big a role as opposition or some experts insist," he adds.
Iakobashvili revealed some of his concerns and thoughts on his recent
appointment in an interview:
Temur Iakobashvili: Concerning exit polls, we had the option to stay
in a safe place and thus allow outer forces to interfere with Georgia’s
affairs. Realizing many would disapprove our decision, we still engaged
in the process that prompted part of the civil sector to suffer the
first pains from the opposition’s critical attacks. For Saakashvili
it may have been decisive to invite persons who do have the courage
to make decisions and involved in unpopular processes for the sake of
their homeland. This could be a link between exit polls and me, if any.
As for the Cabinet of Ministers, let it do some work and then start
criticizing. What I have been hearing until now is not criticism
but abuse. There is a big difference between those two. Criticism is
appropriate to disapprove of what somebody’s doings. Since the new
cabinet has not done anything yet, it is not correct to criticize. I
am not against criticism in general, but there should be a clear line
between criticism and abuse.
G.T: You are not only a new face to politics but the name of the
ministry is new as well. How will the renaming affect your agenda
and strategy as a minister considering that the officials in the
breakaway republics have harshly condemned the change?
T.I.: The renaming will reflect the new strategy certainly. Speaking
endlessly about conflict resolution means putting the sides apart
so that they do not fight and clash, while reintegration means
establishing closer ties. Generally, the thing is not what the name
of a Ministry is; rather the point is what the Ministry is doing. The
fate of a person, his well-being will be our number one priority, be
it a displaced person or the one living in Abkhazia or South Ossetia.
For me the slogan "Georgia without Poverty," means not only Kakheti
without poverty but also Abkhazia and South Ossetia without poverty.
My priority will be to take consultancy from all people who have ever
had any link with the issue regardless of if he or she is in the
government or in the opposition, in Georgia or oversees. Moreover,
I would like to ask everybody not to stick political labels to this
decision since this is an issue, which should not be politicized.
I can understand skepticism of Sergey Shamba [de-facto Foreign
Minister of breakaway Abkhazia] and Boris Chochiev [Vice-premiere
of de facto South Ossetia], as nothing has been achieved during the
15-year period. We have been in talks for these years but have not
brought anything to the end. So why should they [Shamba and Chochiev]
be optimistic, I do not know.
Q: Do you plan to take responsibility for reintegrating ethnic minority
groups living in Georgia?
T.I.: Please do not assign me with the task to reclaim Sochi
and Artvini(Georgia lost these units at the beginning of the 20th
century – GT). I think reintegration of Azeri and Armenian people is
very important but it is a different topic. My ministry will target
Abkahzia and South Ossetia and reintegration of those living there.
G.T: with you and Mr. Nodia in the government, the civil sector
has experienced a loss of two heavyweights. Should we expect that
the non-government sector would grow weaker as it happened in the
aftermath of the Rose Revolution?
T.I.: In case of Gia Nodia, that is definitely the right conclusion as
he is a very high class professional and the loss will be huge. In my
case, some of my counterparts and opposition members say I am a new
face and a non-descript person. Therefore, I assume there will be no
loss for the civil sector. Furthermore, the basic principle for our
organization has been the organization rather than personalities.
In 2003, we witnesses massive replacements from NGO-sector to the
authorities. Now we have only one example. Besides, Aleksander Rondeli
[President of GFSIS], the key pillar of the foundation, will stay in
the organization.
G.T: Georgia and Russia have both voiced willingness to thaw
relations. Your ministry has an important task in this regard. How
do you see your role?
T.I.: I do not think we should speak of compromises at the time. We
have passed through the worst crises. Now we should work intensively
to restore our relations. It is not normal that in the 21st century
two neighbors speak with such forms. No time to discuss where the
truth is… we have to think of normalization of our ties.
Well, there is a conflict of interests in a number of issues. For
instance, Georgia’s NATO integration attempts, but I think the issue
has been mythologized by Russia and it is not at all harmful for them.
Certainly, we should assist Russia’s integration into international
organizations so that we can establish civil cooperation. Some topics
should be discussed in international formats where Georgia will say
what its concerns are, and Russia will be responsible to reply.
In some cases, extraordinary decisions have to be taken. For instance,
Russia seeks to hold elections on the territory of Georgia.
It is usual to ask this, but since we have only one consulate in
Tbilisi, some unexpected decisions should be taken for Abkhazia and
South Ossetia. We cannot say there are no Russian citizens living in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, the issue should be considered
through negotiations and legal means.
G.T: Is it the same with Russia’s accession into WTO?
T.I.: Extraordinary decisions should be made in this case as well.
This is not something unusual. We should not politicize these processes
and everything will go smoothly.
G.T: You accepted the President’s offer to join his team. Would you
give consent in case of the previous Prime Minister? Have personal
contacts played any role or the political environment, of which you
have mentioned above?
T.I.: The political background is even worse now. Saakashvili’s
administration is more unpopular today than it was before. So state
interests have been vital for me and I will make all efforts while
fulfilling new tasks.
G.T: As a representative of a think-tank, what had you disapproved
most among the government’s actions? What kind of minister are you
going to be?
T.I.: I will be similar as I was while Vice President of GFSIS –
goal-oriented! It is not important for me how many resolutions are
issued by UN and what is written there. The most important thing is
that our displaced people go back to their homes. We have to reconcile
Abkhazians and South Ossetians, restore normal relations so that such
topics should no longer hinder the process of re-building.