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Eduard Shevardnadze: Georgia is to blame for tense relations with Russia

16 July 2007 11:00 (UTC +04:00)

Ex-president of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadzeâ€™s interview to APA

- What is your assessment of internal and foreign policy of present Georgian government?
- The present policy has positive sides. But there also are unsolved problems. The main unsolved problem is unemployment. There are no enough jobs in the country. The main reforms land, educational and health reforms were carried out during my tenure and continue at present. As regards the international relations, the present authority is pursuing active policy.
- Did you have enough power to keep the authority? Would you use this power, if it were possible to turn back the clock?
- If I had not left the power voluntarily, civil war could have broken out. I did not want bloodshed. People used to live in peace and stability at that time, they had jobs though their salaries were little. Was there need for any bloodshed?..
- How do you appreciate current relations between Georgia and Russia, especially when the situation is too tense in the conflicting zone?
- Georgia is to blame for tense relations with Russia. Selling low-quality wines, fruit and vegetable to Russia, we caused discontent between the two countries. Russiaâ€™s dissatisfaction was grounded. But Russia made some mistakes while taking retaliatory measures. It was wrong to deport Georgians living in Russia. Over half million Georgians live in Russia and it is impossible to deport all of them.
- What can you say about the solution of the conflicts in the South Caucasus?
- I can not say exactly when, but conflicts in the south Caucasus â€“ Nagorno Karabakh, South Ossetia and Abkhazia conflicts are about to be solved. I believe that Sochi Olympiad in 2014 will have great influence on the solution of problems with Abkhazia. Sochi is close both to Georgia and Abkhazia.
- Do you think that Georgia is ready to be admitted to NATO and implement its commitments?
- NATO is not against Georgiaâ€™s membership. I have twice been to NATO headquarters, they were not against it at that time, but it needs time. I think that Georgiaâ€™s membership will be debated only after Ukraineâ€™s membership will be solved. Georgian government tries to implement necessary standards. Georgia will be ready to be admitted to NATO in a year or two.
- What can you say about repatriation of Ahiska Turks?
- I negotiated with Moscow on repatriation of Ahiska Turks during the former Soviet period. We mainly negotitied on repatriation of Ahiska Turks not to the places they had been deported from, but to different territories of Georgia. Other people now live in the places used to be settled by Ahiska Turks. Repatriation of Ahiska Turks to these places might cause new problems. If they are repatriated now, they will not be able to settle in this area. On the other hand, Ahiska Turks may not want to return. Necessary living conditions should be created for them, which need time. The majority of Ahiska Turks live in Krasnodar, Russia. They have houses and all necessary living conditions. The state of Ahiska Turks living in Azerbaijan is also normal. They might not want to return.
- It would be interesting to know your opinion of Azerbaijanâ€™s internal and foreign policyâ€¦
- Heydar Aliyev was my closest friend. Azerbaijanâ€™s development and prosperity shows that the decision on bringing Ilham Aliyev to power was passed in time. I wish peace, welfare and happiness to Azerbaijani people. /APA/