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FOREIGN POLICY OF MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI
KONSTANTIN GABASHVILI,
Chairman of the Committee on the Foreign Affairs of Georgia’s Parliament, Tbilisi
President Mikheil Saakashvili’s active foreign policy goes in line with his aspiration to make Georgia a connecting link between Asia and Europe.
That’s why Georgia is trying to develop relations both with the Asian and European countries. In this connection Mikheil Saakashvili’s visit to Kazakhstan (5-6 March, 2007), which actively invests in Georgian economy, and his visit to Japan (7-11 March) are logical.
Kazakhstan invests in Georgia’s tourist industry. For example, it builds hotels in Adjara, thus improving living standards of the local inhabitants and reducing unemployment. Besides, Astana is going to invest in the oil-refining industry, which is of great importance to any country.
In terms of investments, Japan and China are also of interest to Georgia. After Kazakhstan the Georgian President visited Tokyo.
Ukraine has become the most important market for the Georgian wine.
The Arab countries that have great experience in developing the free economic zones have also declared their readiness to invest in Georgia. And we are looking to these investments.
Such a policy contributes to President Saakashvili’s rating. The Georgian society favorably views foreign investment inflow and creation of new jobs.
Washington does not find Georgia’s versatile foreign policy annoying. The USA does not demand that Georgia should develop particular relations with any of the countries, and imposes no conditions on Georgia but sticking to the democratic standards.
Given the current situation, Russia’s position is incomprehensible. It almost bans its capital from entering Georgia’s economy, though Georgia is willing to effectively cooperate with all countries.
March 9, 2007
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