SPONSORED BY:

Mikheil Saakashvili : Where Are My Western Friends?

 

Email To A Friend

Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.

Separate multiple addresses with commas

SPONSORED BY
 

Do you think it is possible that the Russian and American presidents might make a deal over Georgia? How do you think U.S. politics will affect Georgia under the new president?
The Kremlin might make an attempt to agree with Obama—say, that Russia helps the U.S. in Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia, and the U.S. helps Russia to achieve their geopolitical interests in this territory, to help Russia change leadership in this country. For many, I seem to be a dead end for relations with Russia. I used to be much more charmed by U.S. politics.

Who are your supporters in the U.S. today?
I have quite a few good contacts. Of course, my best friend was always John McCain. You can say he is Georgian already. We expect McCain to come and visit us in a week or so. I have good relationships with Hillary Clinton, Joseph Biden and especially Richard Holbrooke—he is my teacher. I learned a lot of great things from him.

Do you feel that the West is disappointed with you? Have you been in touch with President Obama yet?
Oh, yes, I have talked to him on the phone. The problem is not about us—the problem is about their own internal politics. We have integrated into U.S. internal politics. So during the change of power, there was some sort of vacuum in America. Nobody knew what to do with us. Everybody, including France, was waiting for Obama's guideline on what to do about Georgia. I admire American ideas. I used to idealize America under Bush, when ideas were above pragmatic politics. Now it is a new time, when pragmatic politics are in charge of ideas. That might spoil the America I know.

Would your policy with Russia be different now if you could turn time back?
Moscow blamed us for not keeping our promises. I am not sure what could be done now. I could hardly do anything differently. The values we appreciate are not embraced by Russia. Should I have compromised? If I did, we would have been like Kyrgyzstan, losing our democratic values now, or as poor as Armenia, whose economy fully depends on Russia. Just as our politics have been independent from the Kremlin all these years, we will handle the demonstrations as if the Russian issue did not exist, and Russia as if the demonstrations did not exist.

© 2009

Label

Newsweek Top Stories
Gone Rogue
Gone Rogue

How Sarah Palin hurts the GOP … and America.

The Decade's Best Quotes
The Decade's Best Quotes

NEWSWEEK's 20/10 Project recalls the lines we'll never forget.

Best Celebrity Mugshots
Best Celebrity Mugshots

10 unforgettable arrest photos from the 2000s.

An Evolutionary Edge
An Evolutionary Edge

How grandmas may play favorites.

Discuss

Sponsored by

Member Comments

  • Posted By: Bumpkin @ 05/12/2009 8:55:24 AM

    Anarchism is a political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which consider the state, as compulsory government, to be unnecessary, harmful, and/or undesirable. Anarchism is usually considered to be a radical left-wing ideology. We have radical street opposition in Georgia. The so-called radical street opposition in Georgia is the union of anarchists, because they share its ideology!!!. Their main goal is anarchy in the country and they do their best to achieve it, they refuse any talk or dialogue with the government. Salome Zurabishvili for example said that the word dialogue is a devil???s language and that they never talk in devil???s language. What kind of opposition are they? They are Anarchists!!!! Georgian Anarchists!!!! They know very well that they have no brain in any political debate they are losers, so VIVA to ANARCHY!!! Anarchy means political disorder and confusion, just like our street opposition. Anarchy means an absence of any cohesive principle, such as a common standard or purpose (just like our union of 16 opposition parties who doesn???t know what they want). Which country likes anarchists? Georgia has professional anarchists who call themselves democratic opposition. They are misleading the whole society. They should use correct terminology, they strongly believe and share the values of anarchy. So They are ANARCHISTS and not radical opposition.

  • Posted By: smansfield @ 04/27/2009 5:48:03 PM

    What a disaster. While his countrymen starve,and he jails political prisoners he spends $200,000 for Dr. Dot and American masseuse and was just caught on camera lounging around at a Turkish resort with an unidentified young woman who was not his wife. This man is deluded if he thinks Obama 's going to support him. The State Department is finished with the jerk and the country deserves new leadership. Yes, Misha, America is different under Obama.

  • Posted By: St. Petersburger @ 04/22/2009 2:20:15 PM

    Dear Bumpkin - let's not forget that the Kremilin's "authoritarian grip" was most effectively enforced by one of the most revered of Georgians - Stalin (and his cadre of helpers). So to the extent the Kremlin exercises an authoritarian grip now - it was taught by masters.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse

My Take

Customize the NEWSWEEK homepage
to feature your favorite columnists.

Customize Now