Burjanadze told about the price of mistakes of Ukraine and Georgia

Kyiv: The ex-chairman of the Georgian parliament, Nino Burjanadze, told in her exclusive interview with Front News International her opinion on the latest developments around Ukraine and Georgia, and also why it was a mistake to grant the Ukrainian citizenship to Saakashvili, and why NATO exercises in Georgia will only lead to additional Confrontation.

 

Front News: What do you think about the situation with the deprivation of the third Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili of Ukrainian citizenship? And how do you think, what will happen to him next?

 

Nino Burjanadze: In general, I am very worried about the situation in Ukraine, because I am not indifferent to the fate of this country. I really love this country and I like Ukrainians very much, and I have very good memories with the Ukrainian people. I have repeatedly said that the new leaders of Ukraine make mistakes, they practically repeat step by step the mistakes that at one time allowed Saakashvili, which led to the loss of the territory of Georgia. I tried to convey my word and concern to the new leaders, but, unfortunately, they did not hear it, and I am more than sure that their further actions with the confrontation that is now going on with Russia and not seeking ways out of this crisis, Ukraine Will be much worse.

 

As for Mr. Saakashvili and Poroshenko, you know, in my time I also gave an interview when Poroshenko gave Saakashvili citizenship and “sheltered” the entire elite of the Saakashvili team, I then regretfully noted that it was a slap in the face of the Georgian people and the Georgian state, because any reservations that Poroshenko did not know about the allegedly persecution of Saakashvili in his homeland, this, of course, is an absolute lie. He could not not know this, everyone knew about this, repeated statements were made about it.

 

It is another matter that I have claims to our law enforcement bodies that did not make normal claims against Saakashvili, for example, with respect to the same August war, and they claimed to him about some jackets and going to the bath with Yushchenko. This, of course, was disgusting on the part of our law enforcement bodies. But Poroshenko knew everything perfectly.

 

And I repeat once again that I personally took it as a slap in the face to the Georgian people. Now it is clear to me that Poroshenko has tried to remove this inconvenient politician because I do not care about Saakashvili, but one thing I can say is that he is very strong in the opposition, and if he is fighting against someone from the position Opposition, then it is very difficult to fight with him.

 

I followed, of course, all these events, for me it is not clear why the Ukrainians do not ask why Georgians treated Saakashvili like that, but, nevertheless, the fact remains that Saakashvili was gaining popularity, people began to believe in him. For Poroshenko, this was a headache, and he simply tried to remove Saakashvili from the political map of Ukraine.

 

I will not guess what Saakashvili’s future is, but I do not know if he is now part of any project that is being implemented by certain American circles, or he acts independently. His next steps will be conditioned precisely by this. I do not rule out that certain circles in the United States can now use Saakashvili as an anti-Russian, anti-Putin card in Ukraine, because, believe me, no one worries either Ukraine or Georgia. Everyone wants to ensure their own interests and the interests of their states, which, in principle. And it is understandable, therefore I do not rule out that the Americans can now use Saakashvili as an anti-Putin card in Ukraine, and this could have a catastrophic impact on the Ukrainian political future.

 

FNI: NATO military exercises started today in Georgia. Given that Russia usually reacts morally to such exercises, what can we expect from it now?

 

NB: With regard to NATO exercises. I recall that when Russia conducted the exercises on its own territory, the NATO Secretary General and all NATO countries announced that they were very concerned about Russian exercises. I do not really want to justify NATO or Russia, Ialways try to be objective. But if the exercises that Russia conducts on its own territory, in its own country, are worried about NATO and they say it creates a threat to stability in the region, so please , Tell me why Russia does not have the right to also refer to the “NATO” exercises that take place on its southern borders ?! I am sure that such teachings lead nowhere to anything but to confrontation, except to irritate Russia.

 

I watched today, including Russian channels, and watched the naval parade of the Russian military … and why tease the superpower – to conduct “NATO” exercises in a country that is not a member of NATO? And I perfectly remember August 2008, when no NATO exercises, no “NATO” soldiers came to our aid when we had a war in South Ossetia.

 

Therefore, it is not necessary to focus on the exercises, but we need to focus on dialogue and on detente. This does not mean that we must block and cancel flights to Brussels, or even stop relations with either NATO or the European Union, do not in any case have to do so to be an irritant, especially when it comes to the legitimate security interests of a neighboring state .

 

FNI: What do you think about the visit of the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia to Moscow, where they met with State Duma deputies and even agreed to create an informal group of cooperation?

 

NB: I welcome any steps that will be taken by Georgia to establish a dialogue with Russia. I have one absolutely clear position that this, of course, should be dealt with by the government, and I always called on the government to do this, because it’s good when opposition politicians talk, but it’s not enough to seriously move the problems that seriously Exists between our countries.

 

It seems to me that the Alliance of Patriots made a very serious mistake during this visit, when they proposed to Russia to create a tripartite Russia-NATO-Georgia group. I do not consider this a correct step, although this is their personal position. I do not consider it right just because I know the position of Russia. With Russia, it is necessary to negotiate in a bilateral format, directly. Now in this situation – this is the only possible way.

 

Against the backdrop of that anti-Russian hysteria, which is now completely artificial in many cases, it is not always possible, but in many cases is being pumped in the west. I believe that for Georgia and Ukraine the best way out is to talk directly with Russia and act in defense of our own Own interests, and not in defense of the interests of Western states, which both Ukraine, Georgia, and any other country use in their own interests.

 

FNI: And the last question is about relations with the European Union. This year, Ukraine and Georgia received a visa-free regime. How, in your opinion, should our relations develop further?

 

NB: The fact that we received a visa-free regime, of course, is positive, on the one hand. On the other hand, in the difficult economic situation in which both Georgia and Ukraine are located, this can cause a massive outflow of young people and brains, which has been happening for a long time. On the other hand, I can say that yes, it’s good that we were given a visa-free regime. But what’s next? We were clearly told: neither Ukraine nor Georgia is expected in the European Union. The EU has its own headaches now. So I watched the visit of European high-ranking representatives to Ukraine, and there was not even signed a final communiqué between Ukraine and the EU. Exclusively because Ukraine demanded to note Ukraine’s desire to be in the European Union, and the EU was not ready for it. And it’s all for himself says.

 

Secondly, let us ask directly: did Ukraine have a visa-free regime for what is happening now. I have never even in the worst dream could not imagine that what is happening in Ukraine can happen. And, probably, most Ukrainians could not imagine it, and even very many Russians could not imagine this. Was there a visa-free regime, or an association agreement with Europe, or even membership in the European Union of what is happening in Ukraine now?! Not only from the point of view of human destinies, even from the point of view of purely pragmatic state interest – I think that it should not be done.

 

 

Interviewed by Maria Streltsova, Front News