Politics > Politics-USA > Matthew L. Bryza on "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shotfor the future of Georgia?"
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Matthew L. Bryza on "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shotfor the future of Georgia?" |
Matthew L. Bryza on "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot
for the future of Georgia?"
TEXT
Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot for the future of
Georgia?
Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi
by Matthew L. Bryza
I believe Ms. Hammick writing for JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY upon the
upcoming election in Tbilisi, was practicing the art of, as F. Scott
Fitzgerald once said, of "the test of a first rate intelligence is the
ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and
still retain the ability to function".
How so? She was evidently flipping through her mind the several
conflicting tentative dates set for the parliamentary elections, since
late 2003. Since Nov. 23rd, 2003, when President Saakashvili
parachuted into his position as ruler of Georgia, and the rarely
clarified-in-the-media Georgian constitutional amendments made in
December, 2005, most people are understandably deeply confused and
divided on basic democratic procedures here, regarding efforts that
would help the majority of people, rather than propping up some cold
and abstract ideology in its stead, helping insiders only.
Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your
memory of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedure here:
[First, Saakashvili and NED and the Liberty Institute set in train
the protests which brought him to power on 23rd November, 2003.
Thus, it can be argued, that parliamentary elections should have
been held in Nov. of 2007.]
15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House, the 2004 elections were somewhat
free and fair; however, the level of political pluralism had been
severely
reduced, as no party could compete with National Movement-Democrats
("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32929], [ID 4745]
"...the elections of 2004 were considered generally free and fair,
though voter lists were still not fully complete. There was no
harassment of the opposition. However, the level of political
pluralism was sharply reduced as the former ruling party completely
disbanded and no political group could compete with Mikheil
Saakashvili and his National Movement-Democrats. Only one opposition
bloc of the New Rights and Industrialists was able narrowly to
overcome the 7 percent threshold for party lists."
RHETORICAL QUESTION: Compared to Georgians and their 6 or 7 thousand
year old fiercely loyal and devoted family traditions, how many
Americans do you know who actually look after their old parents and
grandparents themselves, and do not put them into criminally USA-
style overpriced and shamefully profitable nursing/senior/memory care
homes, backed up in large measure by MEDICARE political insiders,
working along with State and Federal congresspersons? Probably two,
one, or none. How many Americans typically speak and read three
languages and alphabets, and who work 45 to 65 hours a week with not a
tetri of paid overtime, and without complaining about the total lack
of labor laws in their Parliament??? Again, nearly zero. You can
count such Americans on one hand! Here, in Georgia , such models of
self-sacrifice and duty are as common as khachipuri, their local
grilled cheese sandwich.
These diamantine Georgians illustrated briefly above are the citizens
who belong in their Parliament, and not only elites and millionaire
businessmen/women, and THEY should be the ones to select a new
president, if there is to be any hope of true democracy here in
Georgia any year soon.
A president such as "Misha" [short for Saakashvili], who galloped into
power overnight on the day quoted above, would be fairly tested by the
people of his new democracy, if and only if, the people themselves
gave him something like his report card grades after the last 4 long
years in which he could evaluate himself too, in careful and painful
self-examination. The result of a revitalizing and invigorating new
parliamentary election process, in which a `new batch of 2007/2008
parliament MPs', not in any way part of Saakashvili's clan, nor part
of the current Opposition's clan, could and would implement fresh and
vigorous legislation and programs. If only they had been allowed to
do so at the end of 2007, a global miracle would have been born - a
real beacon of light !!!
A real beacon of light, especially when one considers the helpful and
democracy-building funding from outside agencies of the last 4 years,
thanks to credits and currencies from the USAID, the EU, the UN, SECO/
SDC, the German government, et al, who have greatly helped make many
of the improvements the Georgians have desperately needed, after the
mayhem and ugly scenarios following the collapse of communism in this
nation.
Isn't this the nub of the conflict today, and a major cause of the
loss of public and international confidence in the current Saakashvili
government? Aren't I correct?
Georgians themselves, excluding the ever and over and twice again
prospering current Members of Parliament, the normal members of the
legendary Family of Georgia are cut off at the knees from any kind of
truly democratic structures and planks and platforms, in nearly every
respect, in the current situation? Can anyone remember how
Shevardnadze reinstated most of his Parliament after he dismissed
them, more or less, can you dig out these events from the faded
memories of the past? How many key players in Saakashvili's clan
worked at one time [for quite a long while, indeed] on the monorail of
Shevaradnadze's express train to disunity and oblivion and hunger?
Will not they simply repeat the same mistakes?
So we might conclude after an hour or two of productive thought on
this matter, [i.e., of a fresh and uncompromised Parliament], that the
Georgian people were indeed deprived of a timely, and legal, and in-
their-favor, parliamentary election, in November of 2007, which might
have brought about the promising guiding-light of fresh teams of
Georgian MBAs and MDs and Masters degree winners, coming back from
USA, UK, and Germany, the EU, et al.
Along with the principals and top teachers of Tbilisi and Kutaisi and
Batumi and Telavi schools, and Georgian physician-activists for the
desperately needed hospital care and health care here for the
struggling desperately people of Georgia, and along with them also the
passionate property rights activists, and the grey panthers of
organized parties of disgruntled pensioners, and the many magnificent
and proud Georgians, which include displaced farmers from their
hectares who are being replaced by huge corporate conglomerate
automated farms, owned by many current MPs, these urgently needed new
MPs -- who could have stampeded into parliament as newly elected MPs
this new year, if just given the chance -- and that this imagined
truly democratic and model parliamentary election, could have come
into being at the most opportune time for the natives of this land,
late 2007, early 2008, consisting of the non-elite of Georgia
basically. They would have swept out most of Misha's MPs, and along
with them the bulk of old Shevaradnadze and Moscow-resonating fiddle
stringers too, who/which are frequently and deeply embedded in the
half-dozen or more, old and very tiresome Opposition parties here, as
time rolls on like tank treads?
These never recruited and never elected new MPs would have averted the
hurried and hasty presidential elections of Jan. 5, 2008, and would
just as likely waited until a late 2008 election date to install their
new president. By this time there would have been nearly a full year
of generous and hospitable Georgian debates, within a newly
transfigured Parliament, MPs most probably not in tune with Misha
during this hypothetical 2008 year's passing, and they would all have
had to agree and/or disagree with each other in a gentlemanly or
ladylike way, until end of 2008. Political pluralism would have
flowered like the Garden of Eden, and new and friendly coalitions
would have emerged [only in this scenario] and triumphed from the
basic reforms of Saakashvili's first two years.
These new and unheard of , but now lost to Georgia's better and
undiscovered destiny, these many freshly minted MPs could have TRULY
debated issues and policies and finances, rather than the mud slinging
ejaculations and shout spasms we see today, and these angels of
democracy were in many aspects stolen from the garden of justice, just
as its flowers were showing her firsts blossoms. These hypothetical
MPs might have had the chance to vote in Parliament on the issues
TRULY important to THEM and to their constituents, and not just to
pocket USAID money for imported goods laden highways, nor toady up to
the Pentagon's strategies for Georgia, nor kneel to the proponents of
Vladimir Putin, his inner team evidently NOT allies of Georgia, nor
would these ideal MPs have supported the old business ties to Russia
that are still deeply entrenched here, but not clearly seen, and
counterproductive to a new democracy.
I am truly astonished by the bright and hopeful and hard-working and
self-sacrificing Georgians in their 20s and 30s and 40s and 50s also,
who are well educated with admirable characters and genuine integrity
and who want to make a big difference in their country's destiny, in a
disciplined communitarian manner, women most welcome too, to join the
ranks, and they are all blocked by the current `map of democracy', by
both teams, Saakashvili's team, and the motley cluster of Opposition
teams. Typical and honest Georgians must control the future of
Georgia , and not American military investment conglomerates nor old
Russian mafia business networks.
These sterling Georgians mentioned directly above are the citizens
who belong in Parliament and THEY should select a president, if there
is to be any hope of true democracy here any year soon. After this
"turn-around", Presidential elections could be arranged to coincide
with Parliamentary elections, as in other nations. After such a
model transition, Saakashvili would go down in history as a fine and
admired agent of transition, a team player who saw he should enter
private business after 4 years at the helm, rather than what is in
store for his legacy should he win the election this Jan. 5th. His
past achievements would quite likely be blemished beyond repair by
another term in office.
These new hypothetical MPs would be loyal to Georgia, and her best
interests, and not to Saakashvili, as if he were their beloved CIS
factory boss, or a Godfather in a Francis Ford Coppola film, or a
mirror of Putin's autocracy, and these new hypothetical MPs would not
and could not be loyal, either, to any tricked-out business interests
of the old Opposition, one would pray.
Georgia needs a totally new opposition, or she will sink.
.
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| User: "Debbie Smythe" |
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| Title: British Petroleum pipeline mastery over Rep. of Georgia Parliament'sHelp for the Needy |
04 Feb 2008 08:47:35 AM |
|
|
MARTIN NAUGHTON outlines the British Petroleum pipeline mastery over
Rep. of Georgia Parliament's Help for the Needy
BEHEMOTH CONTROL DIVISION IN THE HEART OF THE TBILISI PARLIAMENT
BP oil/ENRON in the heart of Georgian Parliament ---BP's Business and
Economic Centre (BEC)/International Association of Business and
Parliament (IABP)
In March of this year, the Business and Economic Centre (BEC) was
officially opened by the chairperson of Parliament, Nino Burjanadze.
The centre was financed by BP to the tune of $400,000 and is operated
by the International Association of Business and Parliament (IABP).
It's located right in the heart of Parliament, taking up a section
that was, according to BP's government affairs advisor, David
Magradze, "a big mess. Before," he says, "it was a big space with a
lot of trash in it."
Now though, that mess has been transformed into a state-of-the-art
research facility, where members of parliament (MPs) can come and have
any query relating to business or the economy answered. The centre has
a small staff of experienced researchers, but importantly, it has, as
Bruce George, British MP and president of the IABP, puts it, "a series
of concentric circles of expertise available." Because of the IABP's
involvement, the British House of Commons's library and the research
facilities of the European Parliament are accessible. David
Glendinning, BP's communications and external affairs manager, likens
it to "trying to really leverage and piggy back on data sources that
exist and bring them into a single place."
Mundane as research may seem, it is of vital importance to the
functioning of a legislature, particularly one in its infancy. "In my
experience in the British House of Commons," says George, "to do your
job effectively as an MP, you need a lot of staff support and
research. However smart you think you are, you don't have time to
become an expert in economics, international relations, social or
health policy." The BEC, as the name would suggest, of course doesn't
propose to cover all these areas - there is already an existing
research facility in the Parliament to deal with such issues - but, as
George puts it, "if it's related to the economy, business, or
attracting industry, well then, this is the place."
BP Magazine, Issue Two 2007 - Georgia 11
Even though the centre has only been operating for less than two
months, the amount of work it has performed to date is impressive.
Standard notes have been released for MPs on a wide range of topics,
such as auditing and accounting systems of various countries and the
World Trade Organization. In-depth research into the economic
development of Ireland and the key to its success is ongoing. A whole
host of enquiries from MPs, relating to such matters as trade policy,
free economic zones and corporation tax, have been dealt with.
The centre, as well as providing information for parliamentarians,
also acts as the IABP's base in Georgia. Other programmes, also funded
by BP, such as the Foreign Investment Advisory Council and Business/
Company Attachments for MPs, will continue to be run from the centre.
These programmes, linking investors, business people and
parliamentarians, serve to strengthen dialogue and mutual
understanding. The need for this in Georgia is alarmingly obvious.
Varlam Kiladze, deputy chairman of the Sector Economy and Economic
Policy Committee and now regular user of the BEC, remembers well the
attitude he had before entering Parliament. "When I was in business,"
he says, "I saw politicians as mosquitoes." The prejudice works both
ways. MPs are generally ignorant of, and unsympathetic to, the needs
of the business community. IABP's placement of parliamentarians in
businesses in this respect is very important. "I remember," says
Kiladze, recalling his participation in one of these placements, "the
boss explaining in a human way how he operated and what were his
problems, how he succeeded, different things. You could see in the
people who were with me who were not from business backgrounds that
something changed: not everything, not the whole perception, but at
least somewhat towards that business." Giorgi Gegelashvili, MP and
deputy chairman of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee, didn't
even see the necessity for co-operation or dialogue with the business
community. "When I started as an MP, I planned absolutely no contact
with business," he explains. "I thought to deal with social and
medical issues, I would have no need for it."
The need, however, is apparent. Georgia has indeed made spectacular
gains in past last four years. "A lot of that change has been about
reform of public finances, of institutions, and very much about reform
of the business climate itself," says Glendinning. "These have largely
been very positive. It's about stripping away rules and regulations
and the permit requirements that were inefficient and bred corruption,
and about allowing a much more streamlined system and a major new tax
code." The World Bank's 'Doing Business' survey ranked Georgia as the
top reforming country in 2006 and Transparency International's report,
although still critical, said that corruption had significantly
decreased. That said, judicial protection of property rights and
investor protection still remain problematic. The speed at which the
reform process has taken place, ironically, has also caused concern.
"A lot of reform has happened very quickly," says Glendinning. "At the
end of last year, we saw several hundred pieces of legislation passed
in a very short period of time. Inevitably, that means changes to law
are made which have unforeseen consequences. Those in most cases could
be mitigated by better dialogue."
The need for discussion is essentially the raison d'=CBtre of the BEC.
"An instrument like the Business and Economic Centre is, in my mind,
about promoting dialogue between the wider business community and the
legislature, because the two go hand-in-hand," says Glendinning. "One
side provides the economic engine of growth and the wealth of the
country, and the other creates the legal environment in which these
businesses have to operate." That dynamic is underscored by George.
"This country will survive, prosper or fall on its ability to produce
goods that the world wishes to purchase. To take a coercive attitude
towards business, to assume that they're all crooks is very dangerous.
So you have to have this good relationship," he says.
While facilitating dialogue and creating the legislative basis for a
successful economy are the immediate objectives of the BEC, its
significance is also political. A healthy democracy requires an
informed, proactive legislature. "If a legislature wishes to be taken
seriously, then the Members of Parliament have to behave seriously and
professionally," says George. "Unless Georgian legislators have got
some hidden qualities hitherto unknown, or were experts before coming
in to this place, then they can't really bring much to the table,
without having quality information. Otherwise, they may as well be in
another job. If they're not prepared to do their job and scrutinise,
then the executive will roll all over them," he adds.
Such a long-term perspective is very much the rationale for BP's
involvement in the BEC. The enduring economic and political stability
of Georgia is obviously beneficial for BP. It has a host government
agreement for 40 years, with scope for two 10-year extensions.
Although the oilfields in the Caspian have a far shorter lifespan, the
intent, according to Glendinning, "is to draw in third-party business.
You have in Kazakhstan particularly," he says, "a very large resource
base, some of which will certainly find its way into the BTC pipeline
through Georgia." BP, he adds, "hopes to be doing good business here
for a long time to come."
The company's support for the centre is also a vote of confidence in
the country. "In many ways, we invested in this project," says
Glendinning, "because we had confidence in the commitment of a group
of parliamentarians
On Jan 13, 10:51 pm, wrote:
Matthew L. Bryzaon "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot
for the future of Georgia?"
TEXT
Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot for the future of
Georgia?
Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi
byMatthew L. Bryza
I believe Ms. Hammick writing for JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY upon the
upcoming election in Tbilisi, was practicing the art of, as F. Scott
Fitzgerald once said, of "the test of a first rate intelligence is the
ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and
still retain the ability to function".
How so? She was evidently flipping through her mind the several
conflicting tentative dates set for the parliamentary elections, since
late 2003. Since Nov. 23rd, 2003, when President Saakashvili
parachuted into his position as ruler of Georgia, and the rarely
clarified-in-the-media Georgian constitutional amendments made in
December, 2005, most people are understandably deeply confused and
divided on basic democratic procedures here, regarding efforts that
would help the majority of people, rather than propping up some cold
and abstract ideology in its stead, helping insiders only.
Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your
memory of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedure here:
[First, Saakashvili and NED and the Liberty Institute set in train
the protests which brought him to power on 23rd November, 2003.
Thus, it can be argued, that parliamentary elections should have
been held in Nov. of 2007.]
15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House, the 2004 elections were somewhat
free and fair; however, the level of political pluralism had been
severely
reduced, as no party could compete with National Movement-Democrats
("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32929], [ID 4745]
"...the elections of 2004 were considered generally free and fair,
though voter lists were still not fully complete. There was no
harassment of the opposition. However, the level of political
pluralism was sharply reduced as the former ruling party completely
disbanded and no political group could compete with Mikheil
Saakashvili and his National Movement-Democrats. Only one opposition
bloc of the New Rights and Industrialists was able narrowly to
overcome the 7 percent threshold for party lists."
RHETORICAL QUESTION: Compared to Georgians and their 6 or 7 thousand
year old fiercely loyal and devoted family traditions, how many
Americans do you know who actually look after their old parents and
grandparents themselves, and do not put them into criminally USA-
style overpriced and shamefully profitable nursing/senior/memory care
homes, backed up in large measure by MEDICARE political insiders,
working along with State and Federal congresspersons? Probably two,
one, or none. How many Americans typically speak and read three
languages and alphabets, and who work 45 to 65 hours a week with not a
tetri of paid overtime, and without complaining about the total lack
of labor laws in their Parliament??? Again, nearly zero. You can
count such Americans on one hand! Here, in Georgia , such models of
self-sacrifice and duty are as common as khachipuri, their local
grilled cheese sandwich.
These diamantine Georgians illustrated briefly above are the citizens
who belong in their Parliament, and not only elites and millionaire
businessmen/women, and THEY should be the ones to select a new
president, if there is to be any hope of true democracy here in
Georgia any year soon.
A president such as "Misha" [short for Saakashvili], who galloped into
power overnight on the day quoted above, would be fairly tested by the
people of his new democracy, if and only if, the people themselves
gave him something like his report card grades after the last 4 long
years in which he could evaluate himself too, in careful and painful
self-examination. The result of a revitalizing and invigorating new
parliamentary election process, in which a `new batch of 2007/2008
parliament MPs', not in any way part of Saakashvili's clan, nor part
of the current Opposition's clan, could and would implement fresh and
vigorous legislation and programs. If only they had been allowed to
do so at the end of 2007, a global miracle would have been born - a
real beacon of light !!!
A real beacon of light, especially when one considers the helpful and
democracy-building funding from outside agencies of the last 4 years,
thanks to credits and currencies from the USAID, the EU, the UN, SECO/
SDC, the German government, et al, who have greatly helped make many
of the improvements the Georgians have desperately needed, after the
mayhem and ugly scenarios following the collapse of communism in this
nation.
Isn't this the nub of the conflict today, and a major cause of the
loss of public and international confidence in the current Saakashvili
government? Aren't I correct?
Georgians themselves, excluding the ever and over and twice again
prospering current Members of Parliament, the normal members of the
legendary Family of Georgia are cut off at the knees from any kind of
truly democratic structures and planks and platforms, in nearly every
respect, in the current situation? Can anyone remember how
Shevardnadze reinstated most of his Parliament after he dismissed
them, more or less, can you dig out these events from the faded
memories of the past? How many key players in Saakashvili's clan
worked at one time [for quite a long while, indeed] on the monorail of
Shevaradnadze's express train to disunity and oblivion and hunger?
Will not they simply repeat the same mistakes?
So we might conclude after an hour or two of productive thought on
this matter, [i.e., of a fresh and uncompromised Parliament], that the
Georgian people were indeed deprived of a timely, and legal, and in-
their-favor, parliamentary election, in November of 2007, which might
have brought about the promising guiding-light of fresh teams of
Georgian MBAs and MDs and Masters degree winners, coming back from
USA, UK, and Germany, the EU, et al.
Along with the principals and top teachers of Tbilisi and Kutaisi and
Batumi and Telavi schools, and Georgian physician-activists for the
desperately needed hospital care and health care here for the
struggling desperately people of Georgia, and along with them also the
passionate property rights activists, and the grey panthers of
organized parties of disgruntled pensioners, and the many magnificent
and proud Georgians, which include displaced farmers from their
hectares who are being replaced by huge corporate conglomerate
automated farms, owned by many current MPs, these urgently needed new
MPs -- who could have stampeded into parliament as newly elected MPs
this new year, if just given the chance -- and that this imagined
truly democratic and model parliamentary election, could have come
into being at the most opportune time for the natives of this land,
late 2007, early 2008, consisting of the non-elite of Georgia
basically. They would have swept out most of Misha's MPs, and along
with them the bulk of old Shevaradnadze and Moscow-resonating fiddle
stringers too, who/which are frequently and deeply embedded in the
half-dozen or more, old and very tiresome Opposition parties here, as
time rolls on like tank treads?
These never recruited and never elected new MPs would have averted the
hurried and hasty presidential elections of Jan. 5, 2008, and would
just as likely waited until a late 2008 election date to install their
new president. By this time there would have been nearly a full year
of generous and hospitable Georgian debates, within a newly
transfigured Parliament, MPs most probably not in tune with Misha
during this hypothetical 2008 year's passing, and they would all have
had to agree and/or disagree with each other in a gentlemanly or
ladylike way, until end of 2008. Political pluralism would have
flowered like the Garden of Eden, and new and friendly coalitions
would have emerged [only in this scenario] and triumphed from the
basic reforms of Saakashvili's first two years.
These new and unheard of , but now lost to Georgia's better and
undiscovered destiny, these many freshly minted MPs could have TRULY
debated issues and policies and finances, rather than the mud slinging
ejaculations and shout spasms we see today, and these angels of
democracy were in many aspects stolen from the garden of justice, just
as its flowers were showing her firsts blossoms. These hypothetical
MPs might have had the chance to vote in Parliament on the issues
TRULY important to THEM and to their constituents, and not just to
pocket USAID money for imported goods laden highways, nor toady up to
the Pentagon's strategies for Georgia, nor kneel to the proponents of
Vladimir Putin, his inner team evidently NOT allies of Georgia, nor
would these ideal MPs have supported the old business ties to Russia
that are still deeply entrenched here, but not clearly seen, and
counterproductive to a new democracy.
I am truly astonished by the bright and hopeful and hard-working and
self-sacrificing Georgians in their 20s and 30s and 40s and 50s also,
who are well educated with admirable characters and genuine integrity
and who want to make a big difference in their country's destiny, in a
disciplined communitarian manner, women most welcome too, to join the
ranks, and they are all blocked by the current `map of democracy', by
both teams, Saakashvili's team, and the motley cluster of Opposition
teams. Typical and honest Georgians must control the future of
Georgia , and not American military investment conglomerates nor old
Russian mafia business networks.
These sterling Georgians mentioned directly above are the citizens
who belong in Parliament and THEY should select a president, if there
is to be any hope of true democracy here any year soon. After this
"turn-around", Presidential elections could be arranged to coincide
with Parliamentary elections, as in other nations. After such a
model transition, ...
read more >>
On Jan 27, 8:21 pm, wrote:
http://markalmondoxford.blogspot.com/2007/11/black-roses-georgias-ref...
Comments:
MICKEY RORGK said...
Mark Almond, that was a FINE piece of writing, thanks!
2008 January Presidential Election in Georgia:http://www.geocities.com/mat=
thew_lulu_bryza/Georgian-Parliament.html
2008 Parliamentary Spring Election in Georgia:http://mickey.rorgk.tripod.c=
om/XmasTbilisi.html
27 January 2008 07:25
Post a Comment
On Jan 13, 10:51 pm, wrote:
Matthew L. Bryzaon "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot
for the future of Georgia?"
TEXT
Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot for the future of
Georgia?
Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi
byMatthew L. Bryza
I believe Ms. Hammick writing for JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY upon the
upcoming election in Tbilisi, was practicing the art of, as F. Scott
Fitzgerald once said, of "the test of a first rate intelligence is the
ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and
still retain the ability to function".
How so? She was evidently flipping through her mind the several
conflicting tentative dates set for the parliamentary elections, since
late 2003. Since Nov. 23rd, 2003, when President Saakashvili
parachuted into his position as ruler of Georgia, and the rarely
clarified-in-the-media Georgian constitutional amendments made in
December, 2005, most people are understandably deeply confused and
divided on basic democratic procedures here, regarding efforts that
would help the majority of people, rather than propping up some cold
and abstract ideology in its stead, helping insiders only.
Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your
memory of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedure here:
[First, Saakashvili and NED and the Liberty Institute set in train
the protests which brought him to power on 23rd November, 2003.
Thus, it can be argued, that parliamentary elections should have
been held in Nov. of 2007.]
15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House, the 2004 elections were somewhat
free and fair; however, the level of political pluralism had been
severely
reduced, as no party could compete with National Movement-Democrats
("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32929], [ID 4745]
"...the elections of 2004 were considered generally free and fair,
though voter lists were still not fully complete. There was no
harassment of the opposition. However, the level of political
pluralism was sharply reduced as the former ruling party completely
disbanded and no political group could compete with Mikheil
Saakashvili and his National Movement-Democrats. Only one opposition
bloc of the New Rights and Industrialists was able narrowly to
overcome the 7 percent threshold for party lists."
RHETORICAL QUESTION: Compared to Georgians and their 6 or 7 thousand
year old fiercely loyal and devoted family traditions, how many
Americans do you know who actually look after their old parents and
grandparents themselves, and do not put them into criminally USA-
style overpriced and shamefully profitable nursing/senior/memory care
homes, backed up in large measure by MEDICARE political insiders,
working along with State and Federal congresspersons? Probably two,
one, or none. How many Americans typically speak and read three
languages and alphabets, and who work 45 to 65 hours a week with not a
tetri of paid overtime, and without complaining about the total lack
of labor laws in their Parliament??? Again, nearly zero. You can
count such Americans on one hand! Here, in Georgia , such models of
self-sacrifice and duty are as common as khachipuri, their local
grilled cheese sandwich.
These diamantine Georgians illustrated briefly above are the citizens
who belong in their Parliament, and not only elites and millionaire
businessmen/women, and THEY should be the ones to select a new
president, if there is to be any hope of true democracy here in
Georgia any year soon.
A president such as "Misha" [short for Saakashvili], who galloped into
power overnight on the day quoted above, would be fairly tested by the
people of his new democracy, if and only if, the people themselves
gave him something like his report card grades after the last 4 long
years in which he could evaluate himself too, in careful and painful
self-examination. The result of a revitalizing and invigorating new
parliamentary election process, in which a `new batch of 2007/2008
parliament MPs', not in any way part of Saakashvili's clan, nor part
of the current Opposition's clan, could and would implement fresh and
vigorous legislation and programs. If only they had been allowed to
do so at the end of 2007, a global miracle would have been born - a
real beacon of light !!!
A real beacon of light, especially when one considers the helpful and
democracy-building funding from outside agencies of the last 4 years,
thanks to credits and currencies from the USAID, the EU, the UN, SECO/
SDC, the German government, et al, who have greatly helped make many
of the improvements the Georgians have desperately needed, after the
mayhem and ugly scenarios following the collapse of communism in this
nation.
Isn't this the nub of the conflict today, and a major cause of the
loss of public and international confidence in the current Saakashvili
government? Aren't I correct?
Georgians themselves, excluding the ever and over and twice again
prospering current Members of Parliament, the normal members of the
legendary Family of Georgia are cut off at the knees from any kind of
truly democratic structures and planks and platforms, in nearly every
respect, in the current situation? Can anyone remember how
Shevardnadze reinstated most of his Parliament after he dismissed
them, more or less, can you dig out these events from the faded
memories of the past? How many key players in Saakashvili's clan
worked at one time [for quite a long while, indeed] on the monorail of
Shevaradnadze's express train to disunity and oblivion and hunger?
Will not they simply repeat the same mistakes?
So we might conclude after an hour or two of productive thought on
this matter, [i.e., of a fresh and uncompromised Parliament], that the
Georgian people were indeed deprived of a timely, and legal, and in-
their-favor, parliamentary election, in November of 2007, which might
have brought about the promising guiding-light of fresh teams of
Georgian MBAs and MDs and Masters degree winners, coming back from
USA, UK, and Germany, the EU, et al.
Along with the principals and top teachers of Tbilisi and Kutaisi and
Batumi and Telavi schools, and Georgian physician-activists for the
desperately needed hospital care and health care here for the
struggling desperately people of Georgia, and along with them also the
passionate property rights activists, and the grey panthers of
organized parties of disgruntled pensioners, and the many magnificent
and proud Georgians, which include displaced farmers from their
hectares who are being replaced by huge corporate conglomerate
automated farms, owned by many current MPs, these urgently needed new
MPs -- who could have stampeded into parliament as newly elected MPs
this new year, if just given the chance -- and that this imagined
truly democratic and model parliamentary election, could have come
into being at the most opportune time for the natives of this land,
late 2007, early 2008, consisting of the non-elite of Georgia
basically. They would have swept out most of Misha's MPs, and along
with them the bulk of old Shevaradnadze and Moscow-resonating fiddle
stringers too, who/which are frequently and deeply embedded in the
half-dozen or more, old and very tiresome Opposition parties here, as
time rolls on like tank treads?
These never recruited and never elected new MPs would have averted the
hurried and hasty presidential elections of Jan. 5, 2008, and would
just as likely waited until a late 2008 election date to install their
new president. By this time there would have been nearly a full year
of generous and hospitable Georgian debates, within a newly
transfigured Parliament, MPs most probably not in tune with Misha
during this hypothetical 2008 year's passing, and they would all have
had to agree and/or disagree with each other in a gentlemanly or
ladylike way, until end of 2008. Political pluralism would have
flowered like the Garden of Eden, and new and friendly coalitions
would have emerged [only in this scenario] and triumphed from the
basic reforms of Saakashvili's first two years.
These new and unheard of , but now lost to Georgia's better and
undiscovered destiny, these many freshly minted MPs could have TRULY
debated issues and policies and finances, rather than the mud slinging
ejaculations and shout spasms we see today, and these angels of
democracy were in many aspects stolen from the garden of justice, just
as its flowers were showing her firsts blossoms. These hypothetical
MPs might have had the chance to vote in Parliament on the issues
TRULY important to THEM and to their constituents, and not just to
pocket USAID money for imported goods laden highways, nor toady up to
the Pentagon's strategies for Georgia, nor kneel to the proponents of
Vladimir Putin, his inner team evidently NOT allies of Georgia, nor
would these ideal MPs have supported the old business ties to Russia
that are still deeply entrenched here, but not clearly seen, and
counterproductive to a new democracy.
I am truly astonished by the bright and hopeful and hard-working and
self-sacrificing Georgians in their 20s and 30s and 40s and 50s also,
who are well educated with admirable
...
read more >>- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
On Jan 13, 10:55 pm, wrote:
Matthew L. Bryzaon "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot
for the future of Georgia?"
TEXT
Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot for the future of
Georgia?
Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi
byMatthew L. Bryza
I believe Ms. Hammick writing for JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY upon the
upcoming election in Tbilisi, was practicing the art of, as F. Scott
Fitzgerald once said, of "the test of a first rate intelligence is the
ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and
still retain the ability to function".
How so? She was evidently flipping through her mind the several
conflicting tentative dates set for the parliamentary elections, since
late 2003. Since Nov. 23rd, 2003, when President Saakashvili
parachuted into his position as ruler of Georgia, and the rarely
clarified-in-the-media Georgian constitutional amendments made in
December, 2005, most people are understandably deeply confused and
divided on basic democratic procedures here, regarding efforts that
would help the majority of people, rather than propping up some cold
and abstract ideology in its stead, helping insiders only.
Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your
memory of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedure here:
[First, Saakashvili and NED and the Liberty Institute set in train
the protests which brought him to power on 23rd November, 2003.
Thus, it can be argued, that parliamentary elections should have
been held in Nov. of 2007.]
15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House, the 2004 elections were somewhat
free and fair; however, the level of political pluralism had been
severely
reduced, as no party could compete with National Movement-Democrats
("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32929], [ID 4745]
"...the elections of 2004 were considered generally free and fair,
though voter lists were still not fully complete. There was no
harassment of the opposition. However, the level of political
pluralism was sharply reduced as the former ruling party completely
disbanded and no political group could compete with Mikheil
Saakashvili and his National Movement-Democrats. Only one opposition
bloc of the New Rights and Industrialists was able narrowly to
overcome the 7 percent threshold for party lists."
RHETORICAL QUESTION: Compared to Georgians and their 6 or 7 thousand
year old fiercely loyal and devoted family traditions, how many
Americans do you know who actually look after their old parents and
grandparents themselves, and do not put them into criminally USA-
style overpriced and shamefully profitable nursing/senior/memory care
homes, backed up in large measure by MEDICARE political insiders,
working along with State and Federal congresspersons? Probably two,
one, or none. How many Americans typically speak and read three
languages and alphabets, and who work 45 to 65 hours a week with not a
tetri of paid overtime, and without complaining about the total lack
of labor laws in their Parliament??? Again, nearly zero. You can
count such Americans on one hand! Here, in Georgia , such models of
self-sacrifice and duty are as common as khachipuri, their local
grilled cheese sandwich.
These diamantine Georgians illustrated briefly above are the citizens
who belong in their Parliament, and not only elites and millionaire
businessmen/women, and THEY should be the ones to select a new
president, if there is to be any hope of true democracy here in
Georgia any year soon.
A president such as "Misha" [short for Saakashvili], who galloped into
power overnight on the day quoted above, would be fairly tested by the
people of his new democracy, if and only if, the people themselves
gave him something like his report card grades after the last 4 long
years in which he could evaluate himself too, in careful and painful
self-examination. The result of a revitalizing and invigorating new
parliamentary election process, in which a `new batch of 2007/2008
parliament MPs', not in any way part of Saakashvili's clan, nor part
of the current Opposition's clan, could and would implement fresh and
vigorous legislation and programs. If only they had been allowed to
do so at the end of 2007, a global miracle would have been born - a
real beacon of light !!!
A real beacon of light, especially when one considers the helpful and
democracy-building funding from outside agencies of the last 4 years,
thanks to credits and currencies from the USAID, the EU, the UN, SECO/
SDC, the German government, et al, who have greatly helped make many
of the improvements the Georgians have desperately needed, after the
mayhem and ugly scenarios following the collapse of communism in this
nation.
Isn't this the nub of the conflict today, and a major cause of the
loss of public and international confidence in the current Saakashvili
government? Aren't I correct?
Georgians themselves, excluding the ever and over and twice again
prospering current Members of Parliament, the normal members of the
legendary Family of Georgia are cut off at the knees from any kind of
truly democratic structures and planks and platforms, in nearly every
respect, in the current situation? Can anyone remember how
Shevardnadze reinstated most of his Parliament after he dismissed
them, more or less, can you dig out these events from the faded
memories of the past? How many key players in Saakashvili's clan
worked at one time [for quite a long while, indeed] on the monorail of
Shevaradnadze's express train to disunity and oblivion and hunger?
Will not they simply repeat the same mistakes?
So we might conclude after an hour or two of productive thought on
this matter, [i.e., of a fresh and uncompromised Parliament], that the
Georgian people were indeed deprived of a timely, and legal, and in-
their-favor, parliamentary election, in November of 2007, which might
have brought about the promising guiding-light of fresh teams of
Georgian MBAs and MDs and Masters degree winners, coming back from
USA, UK, and Germany, the EU, et al.
Along with the principals and top teachers of Tbilisi and Kutaisi and
Batumi and Telavi schools, and Georgian physician-activists for the
desperately needed hospital care and health care here for the
struggling desperately people of Georgia, and along with them also the
passionate property rights activists, and the grey panthers of
organized parties of disgruntled pensioners, and the many magnificent
and proud Georgians, which include displaced farmers from their
hectares who are being replaced by huge corporate conglomerate
automated farms, owned by many current MPs, these urgently needed new
MPs -- who could have stampeded into parliament as newly elected MPs
this new year, if just given the chance -- and that this imagined
truly democratic and model parliamentary election, could have come
into being at the most opportune time for the natives of this land,
late 2007, early 2008, consisting of the non-elite of Georgia
basically. They would have swept out most of Misha's MPs, and along
with them the bulk of old Shevaradnadze and Moscow-resonating fiddle
stringers too, who/which are frequently and deeply embedded in the
half-dozen or more, old and very tiresome Opposition parties here, as
time rolls on like tank treads?
These never recruited and never elected new MPs would have averted the
hurried and hasty presidential elections of Jan. 5, 2008, and would
just as likely waited until a late 2008 election date to install their
new president. By this time there would have been nearly a full year
of generous and hospitable Georgian debates, within a newly
transfigured Parliament, MPs most probably not in tune with Misha
during this hypothetical 2008 year's passing, and they would all have
had to agree and/or disagree with each other in a gentlemanly or
ladylike way, until end of 2008. Political pluralism would have
flowered like the Garden of Eden, and new and friendly coalitions
would have emerged [only in this scenario] and triumphed from the
basic reforms of Saakashvili's first two years.
These new and unheard of , but now lost to Georgia's better and
undiscovered destiny, these many freshly minted MPs could have TRULY
debated issues and policies and finances, rather than the mud slinging
ejaculations and shout spasms we see today, and these angels of
democracy were in many aspects stolen from the garden of justice, just
as its flowers were showing her firsts blossoms. These hypothetical
MPs might have had the chance to vote in Parliament on the issues
TRULY important to THEM and to their constituents, and not just to
pocket USAID money for imported goods laden highways, nor toady up to
the Pentagon's strategies for Georgia, nor kneel to the proponents of
Vladimir Putin, his inner team evidently NOT allies of Georgia, nor
would these ideal MPs have supported the old business ties to Russia
that are still deeply entrenched here, but not clearly seen, and
counterproductive to a new democracy.
I am truly astonished by the bright and hopeful and hard-working and
self-sacrificing Georgians in their 20s and 30s and 40s and 50s also,
who are well educated with admirable characters and genuine integrity
and who want to make a big difference in their country's destiny, in a
disciplined communitarian manner, women most welcome too, to join the
ranks, and they are all blocked by the current `map of democracy', by
both teams, Saakashvili's team, and the motley cluster of Opposition
teams. Typical and honest Georgians must control the future of
Georgia , and not American military investment conglomerates nor old
Russian mafia business networks.
These sterling Georgians mentioned directly above are the citizens
who belong in Parliament and THEY should select a president, if there
is to be any hope of true democracy here any year soon. After this
"turn-around", Presidential elections could be arranged to coincide
with Parliamentary elections, as in other nations. After such a
model transition, ...
read more >>
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: British Petroleum pipeline mastery over Rep. of GeorgiaParliament's Help for the Needy |
04 Feb 2008 09:56:14 AM |
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Man! That Martin guy really laid it out how BP controls not only the
BTC oil pipeline but also the Georgian government, especially the
parliament!
here is some other dirt on tyrannical aspects of the USA/UK backed
proto-government:
Annual Human Rights Watch report has strong words against Saakashvili
administration
By Eter Tsotniashvili
Monday, February 4
Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemns underdeveloped democratic backbone
in Rep. of Georgia
The government approach to human rights is "leading Georgia away from
international standards" and "represents a gamble with freedom,"
according to an annual Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released
January 31.
The report also lists poor prison conditions and the restriction of
fair trial and private property rights as cause for concern and says
government actions in the run up to the January 5 snap presidential
election "marred the pre-election campaign."
The police crackdown on demonstrators caused a "serious human rights
crisis," the report says, adding that there is an emerging, dominant
view in the government that "short-term, supposedly minor sacrifices
in human rights are justifiable to build a stronger state, which can
better protect human rights in the long term."
It also highlights instances of attacks by unidentified assailants on
opposition activists and cases of the police detaining people on
"questionable charges such as hooliganism," at the time of the
November 7 crisis.
The annual report comes days after HRW published its submission on
Georgia to the European Commission's ENP Progress Report, calling for
a "comprehensive, independent, transparent and conclusive
investigation into [the] excessive use of force on November 7."
However, ruling party MP Davit Kirkitadze told the Messenger that a
commission to investigate the November 7 crisis will be established
after parliamentary elections, which are expected to be held in
spring. Kirkitadze said there is not enough time for a full
investigation before the current parliamentary session ends in March.
The state of emergency and the aftermath of the November crisis
impacted upon the election campaign, the annual report says, with
media restrictions and shutdown of Imedi TV, a "key alternative media
outlet," tainting the pre-election environment.
HRW also points to human rights violations in the prison system,
stating that inmates face "inadequate nutrition, medical care and
exercise," and that penitentiary facilities in Georgia continue to be
overcrowded.
Between October 2006 and October 2007 the prison population doubled,
with the government building more prisons as opposed to finding
alternatives to pretrial detention, the report says.
It criticizes the government decision in May to lower the criminal age
of responsibility from 14 to 12, as against international
recommendations and "further weakening the protection of children in
conflict with the law."
On property rights, the report says the government has failed to
"adequately compensate" owners of confiscated property, and cites
cases of authorities seizing property before owners can properly mount
a legal challenge.
HRW also underlines instances of restrictions on fair trial.
On Feb 4, 6:47 pm, Debbie Smythe <debra_smy...@yahoo.com> wrote:
MARTIN NAUGHTON outlines the British Petroleum pipeline mastery over
Rep. of Georgia Parliament's Help for the Needy
BEHEMOTH CONTROL DIVISION IN THE HEART OF THE TBILISI PARLIAMENT
BP oil/ENRON in the heart of Georgian Parliament ---BP's Business and
Economic Centre (BEC)/International Association of Business and
Parliament (IABP)
In March of this year, the Business and Economic Centre (BEC) was
officially opened by the chairperson of Parliament, Nino Burjanadze.
The centre was financed by BP to the tune of $400,000 and is operated
by the International Association of Business and Parliament (IABP).
It's located right in the heart of Parliament, taking up a section
that was, according to BP's government affairs advisor, David
Magradze, "a big mess. Before," he says, "it was a big space with a
lot of trash in it."
Now though, that mess has been transformed into a state-of-the-art
research facility, where members of parliament (MPs) can come and have
any query relating to business or the economy answered. The centre has
a small staff of experienced researchers, but importantly, it has, as
Bruce George, British MP and president of the IABP, puts it, "a series
of concentric circles of expertise available." Because of the IABP's
involvement, the British House of Commons's library and the research
facilities of the European Parliament are accessible. David
Glendinning, BP's communications and external affairs manager, likens
it to "trying to really leverage and piggy back on data sources that
exist and bring them into a single place."
Mundane as research may seem, it is of vital importance to the
functioning of a legislature, particularly one in its infancy. "In my
experience in the British House of Commons," says George, "to do your
job effectively as an MP, you need a lot of staff support and
research. However smart you think you are, you don't have time to
become an expert in economics, international relations, social or
health policy." The BEC, as the name would suggest, of course doesn't
propose to cover all these areas - there is already an existing
research facility in the Parliament to deal with such issues - but, as
George puts it, "if it's related to the economy, business, or
attracting industry, well then, this is the place."
BP Magazine, Issue Two 2007 - Georgia 11
Even though the centre has only been operating for less than two
months, the amount of work it has performed to date is impressive.
Standard notes have been released for MPs on a wide range of topics,
such as auditing and accounting systems of various countries and the
World Trade Organization. In-depth research into the economic
development of Ireland and the key to its success is ongoing. A whole
host of enquiries from MPs, relating to such matters as trade policy,
free economic zones and corporation tax, have been dealt with.
The centre, as well as providing information for parliamentarians,
also acts as the IABP's base in Georgia. Other programmes, also funded
by BP, such as the Foreign Investment Advisory Council and Business/
Company Attachments for MPs, will continue to be run from the centre.
These programmes, linking investors, business people and
parliamentarians, serve to strengthen dialogue and mutual
understanding. The need for this in Georgia is alarmingly obvious.
Varlam Kiladze, deputy chairman of the Sector Economy and Economic
Policy Committee and now regular user of the BEC, remembers well the
attitude he had before entering Parliament. "When I was in business,"
he says, "I saw politicians as mosquitoes." The prejudice works both
ways. MPs are generally ignorant of, and unsympathetic to, the needs
of the business community. IABP's placement of parliamentarians in
businesses in this respect is very important. "I remember," says
Kiladze, recalling his participation in one of these placements, "the
boss explaining in a human way how he operated and what were his
problems, how he succeeded, different things. You could see in the
people who were with me who were not from business backgrounds that
something changed: not everything, not the whole perception, but at
least somewhat towards that business." Giorgi Gegelashvili, MP and
deputy chairman of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee, didn't
even see the necessity for co-operation or dialogue with the business
community. "When I started as an MP, I planned absolutely no contact
with business," he explains. "I thought to deal with social and
medical issues, I would have no need for it."
The need, however, is apparent. Georgia has indeed made spectacular
gains in past last four years. "A lot of that change has been about
reform of public finances, of institutions, and very much about reform
of the business climate itself," says Glendinning. "These have largely
been very positive. It's about stripping away rules and regulations
and the permit requirements that were inefficient and bred corruption,
and about allowing a much more streamlined system and a major new tax
code." The World Bank's 'Doing Business' survey ranked Georgia as the
top reforming country in 2006 and Transparency International's report,
although still critical, said that corruption had significantly
decreased. That said, judicial protection of property rights and
investor protection still remain problematic. The speed at which the
reform process has taken place, ironically, has also caused concern.
"A lot of reform has happened very quickly," says Glendinning. "At the
end of last year, we saw several hundred pieces of legislation passed
in a very short period of time. Inevitably, that means changes to law
are made which have unforeseen consequences. Those in most cases could
be mitigated by better dialogue."
The need for discussion is essentially the raison d'=CBtre of the BEC.
"An instrument like the Business and Economic Centre is, in my mind,
about promoting dialogue between the wider business community and the
legislature, because the two go hand-in-hand," says Glendinning. "One
side provides the economic engine of growth and the wealth of the
country, and the other creates the legal environment in which these
businesses have to operate." That dynamic is underscored by George.
"This country will survive, prosper or fall on its ability to produce
goods that the world wishes to purchase. To take a coercive attitude
towards business, to assume that they're all crooks is very dangerous.
So you have to have this good relationship," he says.
While facilitating dialogue and creating the legislative basis for a
successful economy are the immediate objectives of the BEC, its
significance is also political. A healthy democracy requires an
informed, proactive legislature. "If a legislature wishes to be taken
seriously, then the Members of Parliament have to behave seriously and
professionally," says George. "Unless Georgian legislators have got
some hidden qualities hitherto unknown, or were experts before coming
in to this place, then they can't really bring much to the table,
without having quality information. Otherwise, they may as well be in
another job. If they're not prepared to do their job and scrutinise,
then the executive will roll all over them," he adds.
Such a long-term perspective is very much the rationale for BP's
involvement in the BEC. The enduring economic and political stability
of Georgia is obviously beneficial for BP. It has a host government
agreement for 40 years, with scope for two 10-year extensions.
Although the oilfields in the Caspian have a far shorter lifespan, the
intent, according to Glendinning, "is to draw in third-party business.
You have in Kazakhstan particularly," he says, "a very large resource
base, some of which will certainly find its way into the BTC pipeline
through Georgia." BP, he adds, "hopes to be doing good business here
for a long time to come."
The company's support for the centre is also a vote of confidence in
the country. "In many ways, we invested in this project," says
Glendinning, "because we had confidence in the commitment of a group
of parliamentarians
On Jan 13, 10:51 pm, wrote:
Matthew L. Bryzaon "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot
for the future of Georgia?"
TEXT
Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot for the future of
Georgia?
Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi
byMatthew L. Bryza
I believe Ms. Hammick writing for JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY upon the
upcoming election in Tbilisi, was practicing the art of, as F. Scott
Fitzgerald once said, of "the test of a first rate intelligence is the
ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and
still retain the ability to function".
How so? She was evidently flipping through her mind the several
conflicting tentative dates set for the parliamentary elections, since
late 2003. Since Nov. 23rd, 2003, when President Saakashvili
parachuted into his position as ruler of Georgia, and the rarely
clarified-in-the-media Georgian constitutional amendments made in
December, 2005, most people are understandably deeply confused and
divided on basic democratic procedures here, regarding efforts that
would help the majority of people, rather than propping up some cold
and abstract ideology in its stead, helping insiders only.
Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your
memory of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedure here:
[First, Saakashvili and NED and the Liberty Institute set in train
the protests which brought him to power on 23rd November, 2003.
Thus, it can be argued, that parliamentary elections should have
been held in Nov. of 2007.]
15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House, the 2004 elections were somewhat
free and fair; however, the level of political pluralism had been
severely
reduced, as no party could compete with National Movement-Democrats
("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32929], [ID 4745]
"...the elections of 2004 were
...
read more >>- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
.
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| User: "Jack Linthicum" |
|
| Title: Re: Matthew L. Bryza on "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the BestShot for the future of Georgia?" |
13 Jan 2008 01:30:07 PM |
|
|
On Jan 13, 1:55 pm, wrote:
Matthew L. Bryza on "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot
for the future of Georgia?"
TEXT
Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot for the future of
Georgia?
Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi
by Matthew L. Bryza
I believe Ms. Hammick writing for JANE'S DEFENSE WEEKLY upon the
upcoming election in Tbilisi, was practicing the art of, as F. Scott
Fitzgerald once said, of "the test of a first rate intelligence is the
ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and
still retain the ability to function".
How so? She was evidently flipping through her mind the several
conflicting tentative dates set for the parliamentary elections, since
late 2003. Since Nov. 23rd, 2003, when President Saakashvili
parachuted into his position as ruler of Georgia, and the rarely
clarified-in-the-media Georgian constitutional amendments made in
December, 2005, most people are understandably deeply confused and
divided on basic democratic procedures here, regarding efforts that
would help the majority of people, rather than propping up some cold
and abstract ideology in its stead, helping insiders only.
Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your
memory of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedure here:
[First, Saakashvili and NED and the Liberty Institute set in train
the protests which brought him to power on 23rd November, 2003.
Thus, it can be argued, that parliamentary elections should have
been held in Nov. of 2007.]
15.06.2005 - Source: Freedom House, the 2004 elections were somewhat
free and fair; however, the level of political pluralism had been
severely
reduced, as no party could compete with National Movement-Democrats
("Nations in Transit 2005") [#32929], [ID 4745]
"...the elections of 2004 were considered generally free and fair,
though voter lists were still not fully complete. There was no
harassment of the opposition. However, the level of political
pluralism was sharply reduced as the former ruling party completely
disbanded and no political group could compete with Mikheil
Saakashvili and his National Movement-Democrats. Only one opposition
bloc of the New Rights and Industrialists was able narrowly to
overcome the 7 percent threshold for party lists."
RHETORICAL QUESTION: Compared to Georgians and their 6 or 7 thousand
year old fiercely loyal and devoted family traditions, how many
Americans do you know who actually look after their old parents and
grandparents themselves, and do not put them into criminally USA-
style overpriced and shamefully profitable nursing/senior/memory care
homes, backed up in large measure by MEDICARE political insiders,
working along with State and Federal congresspersons? Probably two,
one, or none. How many Americans typically speak and read three
languages and alphabets, and who work 45 to 65 hours a week with not a
tetri of paid overtime, and without complaining about the total lack
of labor laws in their Parliament??? Again, nearly zero. You can
count such Americans on one hand! Here, in Georgia , such models of
self-sacrifice and duty are as common as khachipuri, their local
grilled cheese sandwich.
These diamantine Georgians illustrated briefly above are the citizens
who belong in their Parliament, and not only elites and millionaire
businessmen/women, and THEY should be the ones to select a new
president, if there is to be any hope of true democracy here in
Georgia any year soon.
A president such as "Misha" [short for Saakashvili], who galloped into
power overnight on the day quoted above, would be fairly tested by the
people of his new democracy, if and only if, the people themselves
gave him something like his report card grades after the last 4 long
years in which he could evaluate himself too, in careful and painful
self-examination. The result of a revitalizing and invigorating new
parliamentary election process, in which a `new batch of 2007/2008
parliament MPs', not in any way part of Saakashvili's clan, nor part
of the current Opposition's clan, could and would implement fresh and
vigorous legislation and programs. If only they had been allowed to
do so at the end of 2007, a global miracle would have been born - a
real beacon of light !!!
A real beacon of light, especially when one considers the helpful and
democracy-building funding from outside agencies of the last 4 years,
thanks to credits and currencies from the USAID, the EU, the UN, SECO/
SDC, the German government, et al, who have greatly helped make many
of the improvements the Georgians have desperately needed, after the
mayhem and ugly scenarios following the collapse of communism in this
nation.
Isn't this the nub of the conflict today, and a major cause of the
loss of public and international confidence in the current Saakashvili
government? Aren't I correct?
Georgians themselves, excluding the ever and over and twice again
prospering current Members of Parliament, the normal members of the
legendary Family of Georgia are cut off at the knees from any kind of
truly democratic structures and planks and platforms, in nearly every
respect, in the current situation? Can anyone remember how
Shevardnadze reinstated most of his Parliament after he dismissed
them, more or less, can you dig out these events from the faded
memories of the past? How many key players in Saakashvili's clan
worked at one time [for quite a long while, indeed] on the monorail of
Shevaradnadze's express train to disunity and oblivion and hunger?
Will not they simply repeat the same mistakes?
So we might conclude after an hour or two of productive thought on
this matter, [i.e., of a fresh and uncompromised Parliament], that the
Georgian people were indeed deprived of a timely, and legal, and in-
their-favor, parliamentary election, in November of 2007, which might
have brought about the promising guiding-light of fresh teams of
Georgian MBAs and MDs and Masters degree winners, coming back from
USA, UK, and Germany, the EU, et al.
Along with the principals and top teachers of Tbilisi and Kutaisi and
Batumi and Telavi schools, and Georgian physician-activists for the
desperately needed hospital care and health care here for the
struggling desperately people of Georgia, and along with them also the
passionate property rights activists, and the grey panthers of
organized parties of disgruntled pensioners, and the many magnificent
and proud Georgians, which include displaced farmers from their
hectares who are being replaced by huge corporate conglomerate
automated farms, owned by many current MPs, these urgently needed new
MPs -- who could have stampeded into parliament as newly elected MPs
this new year, if just given the chance -- and that this imagined
truly democratic and model parliamentary election, could have come
into being at the most opportune time for the natives of this land,
late 2007, early 2008, consisting of the non-elite of Georgia
basically. They would have swept out most of Misha's MPs, and along
with them the bulk of old Shevaradnadze and Moscow-resonating fiddle
stringers too, who/which are frequently and deeply embedded in the
half-dozen or more, old and very tiresome Opposition parties here, as
time rolls on like tank treads?
These never recruited and never elected new MPs would have averted the
hurried and hasty presidential elections of Jan. 5, 2008, and would
just as likely waited until a late 2008 election date to install their
new president. By this time there would have been nearly a full year
of generous and hospitable Georgian debates, within a newly
transfigured Parliament, MPs most probably not in tune with Misha
during this hypothetical 2008 year's passing, and they would all have
had to agree and/or disagree with each other in a gentlemanly or
ladylike way, until end of 2008. Political pluralism would have
flowered like the Garden of Eden, and new and friendly coalitions
would have emerged [only in this scenario] and triumphed from the
basic reforms of Saakashvili's first two years.
These new and unheard of , but now lost to Georgia's better and
undiscovered destiny, these many freshly minted MPs could have TRULY
debated issues and policies and finances, rather than the mud slinging
ejaculations and shout spasms we see today, and these angels of
democracy were in many aspects stolen from the garden of justice, just
as its flowers were showing her firsts blossoms. These hypothetical
MPs might have had the chance to vote in Parliament on the issues
TRULY important to THEM and to their constituents, and not just to
pocket USAID money for imported goods laden highways, nor toady up to
the Pentagon's strategies for Georgia, nor kneel to the proponents of
Vladimir Putin, his inner team evidently NOT allies of Georgia, nor
would these ideal MPs have supported the old business ties to Russia
that are still deeply entrenched here, but not clearly seen, and
counterproductive to a new democracy.
I am truly astonished by the bright and hopeful and hard-working and
self-sacrificing Georgians in their 20s and 30s and 40s and 50s also,
who are well educated with admirable characters and genuine integrity
and who want to make a big difference in their country's destiny, in a
disciplined communitarian manner, women most welcome too, to join the
ranks, and they are all blocked by the current `map of democracy', by
both teams, Saakashvili's team, and the motley cluster of Opposition
teams. Typical and honest Georgians must control the future of
Georgia , and not American military investment conglomerates nor old
Russian mafia business networks.
These sterling Georgians mentioned directly above are the citizens
who belong in Parliament and THEY should select a president, if there
is to be any hope of true democracy here any year soon. After this
"turn-around", Presidential elections could be arranged to coincide
with Parliamentary elections, as in other nations. After such a
model transition, ...
read more =BB
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