ENOUGH OF DREAMING

R+'s interview with Georgian MP from the "Georgian Dream" coalition, Vakhtang Khmaladze

- The basis of the foreign policy of Georgia in past years was the country's integration with the West. Can we expect a review of this policy?

- The Coalition announced long before the election and it was noted in the election platform that we will strive for Georgia's integration into European structures and pursue policies to promote it.

- What are the main differences in the foreign policy views between the coalition of "Georgian Dream" and President Saakashvili?

- The declared level of fundamental differences in its relations with the West does not exist. However, we believe that the administration of Mikhail Saakashvili did not lead a consistent policy. Did not do its best for this cooperation to be more intense, did not fulfil the conditions that were passed in the EU and which had to be carried out in Georgia. That is on the declared level it was all fine, but in the reality not everything was accomplished.

- How will relations with Russia develop?

- We have a difficult situation with Russia. Moscow occupied parts of Georgian territory and it creates significant problems not only for Georgia but also in relations with Russia. We recognize that Russia is a neighboring country, it has its own interests in the South Caucasus. Moscow is a major international political player and we need to try to normalize the relationship, but without damage to the interests of the Georgian state. In any case, we will try to improve those sharply confrontational relations that exist today. Movement in this direction will not be easy. And we are ready to start a conversation in the areas that are of mutual interest. For example, in the economic field, and about Georgians living in Russia. Our coalition wants to establish more civilized relations with Russia than those that exist at least in these areas.

- The issue of Georgia's accession to NATO is still on the agenda?

- Of course.

- Can it be that the differences between the president and the parliament will boil into a confrontation with undesirable ramifications?

- Theoretically possible. Based on the current constitutional model of Georgia, destabilization is quite possible with sharp differences between the parliament and the president. But I would hope that the promises the president and secretary of the Security Council of Georgia will be fulfilled. They stated that they recognize the victory of "Georgian Dream", go to the opposition and provide an opportunity for the parliamentary majority to form the government. For our part we have expressed a willingness to cooperate. If all this continues, the risk of a political crisis will be very low.

I would like to note that Azerbaijani-Georgian relations are not in danger if the situation is stable. The coalition will only be glad to deepen relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

- What can national minorities, in particular the Azerbaijani population of Georgia, expect from the new government?

- In this case it is important to move in two directions. First, we need to establish a deeper integration of national minorities. The largest of them are Azerbaijanis and Armenians. We need to develop and implement a state program that will facilitate the study by minorities of Georgian. It is necessary to create conditions for the development of regional media, to give them complete freedom to establish real self-government in the field. It is necessary to carry out a radical reform of government. Today, the local government is so limited in authority, its financial resources are so small that they are unable to afford even what little authority they have. They can not be called self-governing communities. We plan to reform the system. A real self-government will provide opportunities for regional development.

- Georgia's image on the international arena is that of the country successfully fighting corruption. Will this issue remain paramount for the new government?

- In Georgia, the corruption at the lower level is really eradicated, and this must be preserved. But amid the eradication of corruption at the lower level the so-called elite corruption blossomed. We say that we need to preserve what has been done and eradicate the elite corruption. This places a responsibility on the government and calls for political will. In particular, it is necessary to free the courts from political pressure, to carry out a reform in order to ensure independence of the courts, to appropriately organize the work of law enforcement: the prosecutor's office, which must also be depoliticized. In this case, it will be an opportunity to eradicate the elite corruption.