European Forum

Georgia's opposition parties issue statement on events in Kodori Gorge

STATEMENT

by Georgia’s opposition parties on events in Kodori Gorge

Lawlessness begets lawlessness.

Regrettably, President Saakashvili and his team have failed to comprehend this important lesson from Georgia’s recent fifteen-year history. The permanent neglect of democratic principles by the incumbent authorities, creation of the cult of violence, ignoring the rule of law and the constant disregard of the dignity of the Georgian citizens have formed a fertile ground for triggering armed confrontations by the enemies of the Georgian statehood. The irresponsible and feeble government of Saakashvili will put the country in many dangers in the future as well. However, the country faces biggest threats from those internal or external forces, who by concocting a plan for a new armed conflict want to achieve their political goals.

The opposition parties of Georgia unanimously express their unconditional position – all problems must be solved through only Constitutional means. Otherwise, the political problems do not get solved, but rather, they get aggravated and further prolonged.

We consider that the main agenda of the organizers of the military adventure started in Kodori Gorge was to provoke the Georgian authorities to a large-scale military confrontation in the strategically most significant and vulnerable region of Georgia. Unfortunately, this goal has been achieved and now Georgia may get one more spot of destabilization instead of the most important strategic area in Kodori Gorge, which even if insurgent Emzar Kvitsiani is disarmed may become a catalyst for larger-scale problems.

The events ongoing in Kodori Gorge are one more product of the critical situation in the country the most important reason for which is the reckless policy of Saakashvili’s government. One of the most lucid examples of such policy-making are the murder cases of Girgvliani and Robakidze after which the appointment of Vano Merabishvili as Interior Minister again turned the President and his ruling party into obvious advocates and protectors of those horrific incidents and the society, as a result, has finally lost all hope of justice and lawfulness in this country.

We, the opposition parties of Georgia, assume responsibility for the future of our country and will not allow events develop according to the scripts worked out by various special services of certain countries. Despite of whatever those power-hungry and power-obsessed political or financial groups may do, who serve the interests of foreign states, we, parties representing interests of different social strata of our country, will anyways manage to conduct the political processes within the framework of democratic principles and establish the tradition of changing authorities in the country by means of the Constitution.

Therefore, the opposition parties of Georgia direct all our efforts towards the consolidation of our society in order to replace Saakashvili and his team through peaceful means.

David Gamkrelidze MP, New Rights (Conservative) Party

David Usupashvili, Republican Party

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Freedom Party

Koba Davitashvili MP, Conservative Party

Shalva Natelashvili, Labor Party

Zurab Tkemaladze MP, Industry Saves Georgia

Akaki Asatiani, Public Forum