Political scientist Paata Zakareishvili: Georgian society takes aggressive attitude to South Osetia and Abkhazia

The interview with Paata Zakareishvili, a Georgian political scientist and expert in the issues of resolution of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict:

- Paata Kartlosovich, new ideas on the resolution of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict have appeared recently. They have been expressed during non-governmental meetings up till now. What is the concrete essence of these ideas and can they be projected onto the resolution of the Georgian-Osetian conflict?

- We had conflict with both the Osetins and Abkhazians, and we will not be able to build peaceful relations with them properly without taking their fears, hopes and interests - both private and national - into consideration. The new president of Georgia has said neither about the Abkhazians nor about the Osetins that he considers them his people. It is quite another matter how much these people consider him their president. He must think about their dignity, interests and security. The neglect of the interests of the Osetian and Abkhazian people raises my deep concern; I totally disagree that they have no their own interests, that they are just Russia's puppets. Georgian and Abkhazian politicians, as well as representatives of the third sector, meet very often on different levels, mainly abroad, and there is certain mutual understanding between them. But unfortunately, this mutual understanding does not reach top officials; it was so under Shevardnadze, and it continues to be so now. Though we have tried many times to engage people from the president's staff in the Georgian-Abkhazian dialogue that have been carried on in Austria and Germany for 12 years already.

- Do active politicians take part in the dialogue?

- Yes, they do. They are both ministers and their deputies. The Abkhazians must know what exactly Georgia offers them, and the Georgians must know what Abkhazia fears of and how these fears can be removed. Reports we receive from Abkhazia show that some Abkhazian politicians are more ready to accept new ideas and proposals than the Georgian party is ready to present these proposals. And against such a background, the Georgian aggression against Abkhazia becomes apparent.

- No place have been found in the structure of the new government for the ministry for special affairs, which engaged in the issues of conflict resolution, as well as for the ministry for refugees. It is another index of the attitude to these problems in the modern Georgian politics, isn't it?

- These ministries, if to say honestly, did not do much. Their abolition shows the process does not move towards aggression. But from the other side, it is clearly seen that today's Georgia is attractive neither for the Osetins nor for the Abkhazians. Georgia must grow to be reliable and interesting state for them from the economic and political points of views. Both Osetian and Abkhazian politicians often make statements that they aspire to join Russia. It means that these people find it possible to be a part of another state. But why can they not be a part of Georgia if it is a safe country for them?

- We have a feeling the reanimation of Zviadizm is taking place.

- We have the same feeling too. This tendency can grow in fact but it does not do yet. For now there is quite a serious struggle against corruption, in other words, the president is fulfilling his promises. But we don't like that he didn't promise us to change the state structure, to introduce the officer of the prime minister, and to weaken the parliament.

- Are there any evident showings that force will be used to settle the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict?

- It seems to me there are no such showings yet. But unfortunately, there are no showings that the conflict will be settled in a peaceful way either. Unfortunately, I can say the society's spirits are rather aggressive. And since our leaders play with the society's spirits, I am afraid their peacekeeping goals will not show up for a long time. The leaders will fear of losing rating. The new authorities enjoy great confidence and have total carte blanche regardless of how much we criticize them. I hope everything they will do will be under strict control of the West, which will not allow them to move towards aggression.