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THE GEORGIAN TIMES: “THE PEOPLE MUST DEMAND SAAKASHVILI’S IMPEACHMENT”, NINO BURJANADZE
Some have connected the broadcasting of the hoax Chronicle programme on Imedi TV with the local elections, others with opposition leaders Zurab Noghaideli and Nino Burjandze’s visits to Moscow. Some analysts and members of the public do not regard them as both being part of the same opposition. In this interview Nino Burjanadze did not respond to GT‘s question about Noghaideli, but pointed out that the two of them are discussing different issues with the Russians and their actions are not co-coordinated.
Q: Can you tell us why you are talking to the Russians?
A: Saakashvili is not capable of talking to Russia. Until 13 March he was able to talk to the Europeans and Americans but now he cannot. That is why he is trying to persuade people that if he is not in power for 30 years we will be destroyed. Saakashvili has understood that Burjanadze can hold talks in Moscow, Brussels, Washington and this is scary for him. That is the reason for his hysterics. He wants to inculcate fear that the tanks are coming. He is trying to get the public to focus on being afraid of war and ignore other issues. In reality we have seen that Saakashvili is ready to shoot people if they protest against falsified elections.
Q: Does this mean that Saakashvili is expecting to be liquidated?
A: He is very scared. Is this not evident? Incidentally a foreigner told me that he understood the programme was a fake when it reported that the Government had been evacuated and the President was still in Tbilisi. Do you know how much I took this to heart? It is shame to have such a President in Davit the Builder’s country.
Q: Diplomats in Georgia were shocked, weren’t they?
A: The international community has reacted very badly to this stunt and the Ambassadors to Georgia are also bewildered. Saakashvili has begun to dig his own political grave. I do not wish death to anyone but I assure you I am helping prepare a political grave for him and many other people too. 13 March was a very serious step towards his political death and a very small step now needs to be made. The world is shocked, there is no media outlet which does not make bewildered comments about such an unprecedented falsification, with which Saakashvili has terrorised his people.
Q: How did you react to the statements made about you in the report?
A: There was a time when I was accused of money laundering, purchasing weapons and having links with special services. They joke about this in Moscow, Brussels and Washington. I am thankful that this has made me immune to such accusations and none of the nonsense I have seen or heard lately worries me now. The court has not found the time to discuss the suit against in over 8 months. If I am financed by Russia and am an agent they must provide documentary proof of this.
Q: Was the intervention of Moscow in the Rose Revolution in 2003 not an act of treason by the three of you who organised it?
A: You should ask Saakashvili this. I will ask you: when I saved Batumi from being bombed, and was hanging on the phone in Saakashvili’s study for 24 hours, and woke up Ivanov at 3 in the morning, was I a traitor then?
Q: Since 2003 the press have not been invited to his press conferences and my only chance to ask him this was in 2005, that is why I am asking you…
A: I know for sure what I was, neither at that time nor today have I betrayed the country and I never will. People will see what each person has have done for the country and who has spoilt it, who the real patriots are. I cannot say more at this time but I promise I will attend court as the witness.
Q: Politicians, analysts and the public have different attitudes towards your visit to Moscow. What do you hope to achieve by them?
A: When I tell people it is possible to regulate relations with Russia I must really know what is going on in Russia. Although I read many websites before visiting Moscow the statements of the Government of Russia were really surprising. Both compassionate and sceptical people were telling me that my visit would serve no purpose if I came back without getting results. My aim was to find out if Georgian-Russian relations can really be improved. If Russia had made different comments I would have responded appropriately to them.
Q: It is not be difficult for you to say this: is Russia an occupier or not?
A: Naturally if anyone in Moscow had told me that Georgia must become a province of Russia, lose its sovereignty and forget about Abkhazia and South Ossetia I would have responded appropriately to this. After Putin and Lavrov’s statements (which were even on their websites) I would be abnormal as both a citizen and a person to start abusing and scolding them instead of taking advantage of the window of opportunity left further open by these people.
Q: Which of their statements are most trustworthy for you?
A: During the last year and a half Russia has stated clearly at Brussels, Geneva and elsewhere that there are some issues which cannot be discussed. During their meetings with me Lavrov and then Putin nevertheless stated that there are no issues which are taboo in Russia-Georgia relations and it is possible to resolve all issues if relations are based on equality, goodwill and respect. Putin called the developments in August a tragedy for our country and unlike our President he did not say that they won the war, although his tanks remain on our territory.
Q: Did Putin explain why this ‘tragedy’ occurred?
A: He said that it was the result of our irresponsible actions. But he was very scabrous to say these words. I was not pleased to hear such comments about my President despite my own attitude towards him.
However this was another hint that these people want to conduct negotiations in a normal manner. When someone calls something a tragedy he will not repeat it and will seek to improve things to prevent it happening again. The main thing is that he said we must go back to the time before the crisis. This is a very vital issue, unfortunately, at this time. For those who have not been given fusty eyes and ears by Saakashvili’s propaganda (which even the Bolshevik propaganda machine would have envied) it is clear that if someone really wants to gain a positive result it is possible, but without Saakashvili.
Q: As I understand at the first meeting you did not discuss when the Russians are going to remove their tanks from Georgian territory....
A: You are absolutely right, the problems between our countries are so big right now that it would have been impossible to start discussing this issue. At this moment I am in the opposition and have no real authority to make decisions, but we talked about what the vital problems are what is hindering their resolution. We have a real chance to level the temperature of Russian- Georgian relations. The main thing is not to allow violations and new provocations to happen.
Q: You mentioned that the people must ultimately put a stop to what is happening in Georgia now. There is also an opinion that the President’s impeachment should be on the agenda. Do you agree?
A: If the Imedi hoax had happened in France or Greece half the country would have been in front of the TV station and the Government would have resigned. If we are a proud nation we must not want our President to be removed by America, Russia or Europe. We must do our own business ourselves but the public must be active to ensure this can happen. The people must demand Saakashvili’s impeachment. Saakashvili has been seen to be an inadequate President, a joke. If we put up with such people for a long time we will become objects of amusement ourselves.
By Nino TSKHOIDZE, translated from the Georgian edition of The Georgian Times newspaper
“The Georgian Times”, March 22, 2010
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