Matthew L. Bryza on "Fully Reloaded Georgian Parliament the Best Shot for the future of Georgia?"

matthew_l...@yahoo.com

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Jan 13, 2008, 1:51:56 PM1/13/08

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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.

matthew_l...@yahoo.com

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Jan 14, 2008, 7:43:02 PM1/14/08

to

A
vapour, a drop of water suffices to kill him. But, if the universe were to
crush him, man would still be more noble than that which killed him, because
he knows that he dies and the advantage which the universe has over him; the
universe knows nothing of this.

All our dignity consists, then, in thought. By it we must elevate ourselves,
and not by space and time which we cannot fill. Let us endeavour, then, to
think well; this is the principle of morality.

348. A thinking reed.--It is not from space that I must seek my dignity, but
from the government of my thought. I shall have no more if I possess worlds.
By space the universe encompasses and swallows me up like an atom; by
thought I comprehend the world.

349. Immateriality of the soul--Philosophers who have mastered their
passions. What matter could do that?

350. The Stoics.--They conclude that what has been done once can be done
always, and that, since the desire of glory imparts some power to those whom
it possesses, others can do likewise. There are feverish

Debbie Smythe

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Jan 15, 2008, 10:14:32 AM1/15/08

to

this dude Bryza seems to sincerely love the Georgian common man and
villagers too!

Deb

FULLY LOADED NEW PARLIAMENT THE BEST SHOT FOR THE FUTURE OF GEORGIA?

Matthew L. Bryza
for ...the future of Georgia

Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi

I believe Ms. Hammick, a reporter recently 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,

starting back in 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 old insiders and new
"graspers," only.

Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your

memories of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedures
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 Mikhail

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 devotion-oriented family traditions, how

many Americans do you know who actually look after their old parents

and grandparents themselves, and who do not put them into criminally
overpriced USA-style and shamefully profitable nursing/senior/memory
care homes, backed up in large measure by HHS/MEDICARE political
insiders, working along with State and Federal congresspersons to milk
the tax system? 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 [penny] of paid overtime, and
who never complain 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 and sparkling 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 and Polish governments, 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 Parliamentary "stuffing" 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 that these
Georgians need to immediately reload their Parliament?

Georgians themselves, excluding the ever and over and twice again

prospering current Members of Parliament, the normal children 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 current

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 the Saakashvili MPs and he as their leader, and most of the
old Opposition MPs, simply repeat the same mistakes again and again?

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 and France-- the EU, et al.

A parliament comprised of 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 desperate people of Georgia, and along with
them also the passionate property rights activists fighting the
Chancellery, 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 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 Shevardnadze and Moscow-resonating
fiddlers 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 on these pot-holed streets?

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

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 missile 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 camaraderie
business ties to Russia 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

mickey...@yahoo.com

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Jan 27, 2008, 11:21:59 AM1/27/08

to

http://markalmondoxford.blogspot.com/2007/11/black-roses-georgias-reformers-fall-out.html

Comments:
MICKEY RORGK said...

Mark Almond, that was a FINE piece of writing, thanks!

2008 January Presidential Election in Georgia:
http://www.geocities.com/matthew_lulu_bryza/Georgian-Parliament.html

2008 Parliamentary Spring Election in Georgia:
http://mickey.rorgk.tripod.com/XmasTbilisi.html

27 January 2008 07:25
Post a Comment

> model transition, ...
>
> read more »

matthew_l...@yahoo.com

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Jan 29, 2008, 10:29:23 AM1/29/08

to

DID ANYONE SEE THE STAGED AND SCRIPTED FAKED INTERVIEW WITH
SAAKASHVILI ON EURO NEWS at 9:50pm last night? Have you ever seen
something so contrived and faked? Why has Euronews sold out to non-
objective reporting?

in addition, from THE MESSENGER:

"Concerning the coming Spring Parliamentary elections in Georgia, he
[Saakashvili] said, they would be "another step forward" for Georgia's
development and democracy.

"I cannot promise that they will be flawless, but I can assure you
that our government will use every hour of every day between now and
then to make our electoral process as fair and effective as possible."

IT IS EASIER TO BELIEVE THAT EVERY HOUR AND EVERY DAY WILL BE USED TO
SELL OFF MOST OF THE ASSETS AND PROPERTIES OF THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA,
TO DEEP POCKETED FOREIGNERS, money to be deposited with the elite
members of parliament and with Firebird Holding Company!

On Jan 27, 8:21 pm, mickey.ro...@yahoo.com wrote:
> http://markalmondoxford.blogspot.com/2007/11/black-roses-georgias-ref...
>
> Comments:MICKEY RORGKsaid...

++

unread,

Jan 29, 2008, 1:31:06 PM1/29/08

to

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for caring about hte people of Georgia.

matthew_l...@yahoo.com wrote:

>DID ANYONE SEE THE STAGED AND SCRIPTED FAKED INTERVIEW WITH
>SAAKASHVILI ON EURO NEWS at 9:50pm last night? Have you ever seen
>something so contrived and faked? Why has Euronews sold out to non-
>objective reporting?
>
>

I have never heard of euronews, but I do not get cable television.
Maybe it owuld be nice for you to post a URL of a transcript of the talk
and then your own thoughts on the talk.

>in addition, from THE MESSENGER:
>
>"Concerning the coming Spring Parliamentary elections in Georgia, he
>[Saakashvili] said, they would be "another step forward" for Georgia's
>development and democracy.
>
>"I cannot promise that they will be flawless, but I can assure you
>that our government will use every hour of every day between now and
>then to make our electoral process as fair and effective as possible."
>
>IT IS EASIER TO BELIEVE THAT EVERY HOUR AND EVERY DAY WILL BE USED TO
>SELL OFF MOST OF THE ASSETS AND PROPERTIES OF THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA,
>TO DEEP POCKETED FOREIGNERS, money to be deposited with the elite
>members of parliament and with Firebird Holding Company!
>
>

This has happened to a number of countries in transition where assets
are sold with less than the required transparency, only a few people
enriched and the people defauded of their patrimony.

>On Jan 27, 8:21 pm, mickey.ro...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>
>>http://markalmondoxford.blogspot.com/2007/11/black-roses-georgias-ref...
>>
>>Comments:MICKEY RORGKsaid...
>>
>>Mark Almond, that was a FINE piece of writing, thanks!
>>
>>2008 January Presidential Election in Georgia:http://www.geocities.com/matthew_lulu_bryza/Georgian-Parliament.html
>>
>>

>Perhaps you could explain the leections to us on the Orthodox newsgroup?

Debbie Smythe

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Feb 4, 2008, 9:40:18 AM2/4/08

to

MARTIN NAUGHTON outlines the British Petroleum pipeline mastery over
Rep. of Georgia Parliament

BEHEMOTH CONTROL DIVISION IN THE HEART OF THE TBILISI PARLIAMENT

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'кtre 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, matthew_lulu_br...@yahoo.com 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

> model transition, ...
>
> read more >>

Debbie Smythe

unread,

Feb 4, 2008, 9:41:51 AM2/4/08

to

On Jan 13, 10:51 pm, matthew_lulu_br...@yahoo.com 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

On Jan 27, 8:21 pm, mickey.ro...@yahoo.com 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/matthew_lulu_bryza/Georgian-Parliament.html
>
> 2008 Parliamentary Spring Election in Georgia:http://mickey.rorgk.tripod.com/XmasTbilisi.html
>
> 27 January 2008 07:25
> Post a Comment
>
> On Jan 13, 10:51 pm, matthew_lulu_br...@yahoo.com 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

> ...
>
> read more >>- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

mickey...@yahoo.com

unread,

Feb 4, 2008, 10:59:55 AM2/4/08

to

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.

> The need for discussion is essentially the raison d'Ëtre of the BEC.

++

unread,

Feb 4, 2008, 11:34:02 AM2/4/08

to Debbie Smythe

Debbie, darling,

Could you please quote your source where you copied this and pasted it
to the newsgroup? Do you have any commentary on the articles? Could
you at least provide the authors and the publications associated with them?

Thanks in advance,

Galina

++

unread,

Feb 4, 2008, 11:44:53 AM2/4/08

to mickey...@yahoo.com

Mickey, darling,

You are reaching the Orthodox newsgroup with your post. Please provide
sources and URLs for your material so that people can verify the sources
for themselves.

Thanking you in advance for posting sources and URLs,

Galina

TOEFL Xenon Element

unread,

Feb 9, 2008, 8:57:26 AM2/9/08

to

Gallina,

go to
http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9018790&contentId=7034203

download the entire PDF file.

Click here to read the article in full (pdf, 842KB) www.bp.com
Report by Martin Naughton
Photography Sophie Sitwell & Simon Kreitem

Reads like James Bond's home office where he receives his orders,
chats it up with Miss Moneypenny, and obtains his new electronic spy
gizmos from the lab. So much for a new democratic parliament in
Tbilisi!

On Feb 4, 8:34 pm, ++ <sp...@erols.com> wrote:
> Debbie, darling,
>
> Could you please quote your source where you copied this and pasted it
> to the newsgroup? Do you have any commentary on the articles? Could
> you at least provide the authors and the publications associated with them?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Galina
>
>
>
> Debbie Smythe wrote:

> >MARTIN NAUGHTONoutlines the British Petroleum pipeline mastery over
> >Rep. of Georgia Parliament
>
> >BEHEMOTH CONTROL DIVISION IN THE HEART OF THE TBILISI PARLIAMENT- Hide quoted text -

muckraking...@yahoo.com

unread,

Mar 10, 2008, 11:02:03 AM3/10/08

to

re: Georgia needs a totally new opposition, or she will sink.

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? AP News

Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi

by Matthew L. Bryza

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.

matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza
matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza
matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza
matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza
matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza
matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza
matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza
matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza
matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza
matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza
matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza
matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza
matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza
matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza
matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza
matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza
matthew l. bryza matthew bryza

muckraking...@yahoo.com

unread,

Mar 10, 2008, 11:17:13 AM3/10/08

to

MORE THAN ONE SECRET MICROPHONE in Parliament in Republic of
Georgia......more than one hundred MPs paid and compromised by BP Oil
Pipeline monies and trade offs.

HEY......DID YOU HEAR IT YET? FIREBIRD AURORA is undermining the
soul of Georgia and the Parliament and new PM are buying up Euro
Bonds----which will deprive the children and grandchildren of Georgian
parents today of their last teeny tetris, and this insider network
will auction off all the rivers and waterfalls and forests and
farmland and mines of Georgia, for a fiddle and a song! It won't take
long!!

Who in the Parliament in Tbilisi LOVES their Georgian people? Not
Nino Burjanadze! Not new PM Lado Gurgenidze!

TBILISI TBILISI TBILISI TBILISI
TBILISI TBILISI
TBILISI TBILISI
TBILISI TBILISI
TBILISI TBILISI

re: Georgia needs a totally new opposition, or she will sink. Georgia

needs a totally new opposition, or she will sink.
Georgia needs a totally new opposition, or she will sink.
Georgia needs a totally new opposition, or she will sink.

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? AP News

Nov. 7th, 2007, Tbilisi

by Matthew L. Bryza

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.

matthew lulu bryza matthew l. bryza matthew bryza matthew lulu bryza

++

unread,

Mar 10, 2008, 3:12:31 PM3/10/08

to

Dear Matthew, is this your article or is muckraking hillbilly another
person?

What you are talking about in issue one, care for the elderly and other
people in need, is kindness toward our elders and extended families
which works if people are both Orthodox, inclusive, community oriented
and are able to atually give the care, something you can't do if you
have both members of a couple working jobs outside the home in order to
afford that home for the family to live in.

Issue two, reasonable alternativves to people in power is a problem in
many countries, not just Georgia. Who are the alternatives to
Saakashvili? Why don' twe ever hear about these alternatives? Why
isn't at least the Georgian diaspora showcasing new leadership and ideas
online? I recognize your effort - great.

muckraking...@yahoo.com wrote:

>matthew l. bryza matthew bryza
>
>
>

matthew_l...@yahoo.com

unread,

Apr 7, 2008, 6:49:37 AM4/7/08

to

Daniel Friedman concurs?

Robert Kiene, Deputy Chief--NATO will NEVER protect vested BP profit
interests in Georgia!

NATO Focus on BTC Security
05/04/2008 21:16 (1 Day 17:19 minutes ago)
The FINANCIAL -- "NA-TO is rea-dy to provi-de secur-ity for the Baku-
Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeli-ne," Patrick Gor-dowin, Depu-ty Sec-re-
ta-ry Ge-ne-ral of the All-ian-ce on reg-ion told jour-nalists on Febr-
ua-ry 3.

The all-ian-ce is al-so rea-dy to provide techn-ical support to the
partic-ipant count-ries of the BTC project and pro-tect the pipeli-ne
from any possible dan-gers.

The BTC pipeline, which was one of the key topics discussed at the 7th
Georgian International Oil, Gas, Energy and Infrastructure Conference
and Showcase (GIOGIE) held in Tbilisi , Georgia on 3-4 April 2008,
began operating in June 2006. With a total construction cost of USD 4
billion, the BTC pipeline is the first direct transportation link
between the Caspian and the Mediterranean seas. At full capacity, it
can deliver one million barrels of oil to market, generating important
revenues for the Georgian government for decades to come.

"I had not seen this information, it is a report of what Gordowin is
supposed to have said, and therefore I can't comment on it. The NATO
public affairs office in Brussels or Gordowin himself would better
clarify what NATO is and is not willing to do for the BTC. As for the
US interests in Georgia's oil sector, there are already two successful
American players in the field: Anadarko and Frontera," Robert Kiene,
Deputy Chief, Political/ Economic Section of the US Embassy to
Georgia, told The FINANCIAL.

Anadarko is the operator of the consortium holding the 8,900 sq.km
exploration licence, offshore Georgia (JKX: 4% net profit interest).
Following extensive seismic and geological data acquisition, a
preferred location for the first exploration well has been identified.
This commitment well is dependent on Anadarko attracting additional
farm-in partners, following the recent withdrawal of BP and Chevron
from the consortium, and securing a suitable drilling rig.

Frontera Resources Corporation is an independent Houston, Texas,
U.S.A. - based international oil and gas exploration and production
company whose strategy is to identify opportunities and operate in
emerging markets around the world. Frontera has operated in Georgia
since 1997 where it holds a 100 percent working interest in a
production sharing agreement with the Government of Georgia. This
gives Frontera the exclusive right to explore for, develop and produce
oil and gas from a 5,060 square kilometre area in Eastern Georgia
known as Block 12.

"According to the Host Government Agreements that govern the BTC
project, provision of security services on the pipelines and its
facilities is the responsibility of the Government of Georgia. The
Georgian government is responsible for securing the pipelines - as it
does any strategic asset inside its borders. Therefore there is not
much more we can say on the topic. The question is really one for the
government to respond to," Matt Taylor, Communications and External
Affairs Manager of British Petroleum (BP), told The FINANCIAL.

As for NATO 's reasons for hesitation on providing security for the
BTC pipeline, Turkish Weekly writes in April 3, 2008 publication that,
Geopolitics assumes that every action, even a seemingly irrational
one, must have an agenda. Having said that, the decision to lay the
Trans-Caucasian pipeline via potentially unstable regions in
Azerbaijan, Georgia suffering from separatist conflicts, and Turkey,
where the threat of Kurdish PKK terrorist attacks persists, could
indirectly facilitate allocation of NATO troops to the conflict zones
to secure the stability and protect the pipeline.

"Fears were sounded repeatedly that security of the BTC is in danger
from international terrorist organizations and from instability in
rural communities. The United States as one of the biggest investors
and a promoter of the regional pipeline projects, also an influential
NATO member, has reasonable concerns about pipeline security and
wishes to protect its investment".

Some suggest that America wants to ensure its military presence in
this geo-strategic territory. Clearly, passing through a turbulent
region, the pipelines need special protection from possible terrorist
attacks. NATO might see this as its duty to allocate special units in
the region, which would strengthen its presence and influence in the
South Caucasus and the Caspian. Although, so far NATO officials state
there are no plans to get directly involved in the protection of the
pipeline, they have offered their assistance in providing "NATO's
military expertise to local security forces."

"An Antiterrorism Centre was established in Georgia and radar antenna
granted to Azerbaijan. Local security corps have already been granted
training from NATO -member countries: Georgian Special State
Protection Service and Azerbaijani Pipeline Security Service have been
trained by American Security Company "Equity International", whereas
the Turkish Gendarmerie received training from Northern Ireland
security forces. In addition to this, the three governments jointly
with BP Field Security teams have established a special area
patrolling force along the route of BTC and BTE from the local
population".

Main news in Georgia especially during the last couple of months has
been the April 2008 Bucharest summit of the transatlantic alliance
whether the country and its neighbour Ukraine would get to the so-
called Membership Action Plan, or MAP. Though, eventually, due to the
strong opposition from Germany and France, the two countries' route to
MAP has been postponed till the end of 2008. Germany and France were
said to have been blackmailed by Russia and urged to deliver negative
voting.

During the Bucharest summit representatives of the 26 legislatures of
NATO agreed to the accession of Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, and
Albania and invited them to join NATO .

Speaking jubilantly to Georgian journalists in Bucharest, President
Saakashvili said that the NATO summit's eventual outcome was much
better than receiving the Membership Action Plan, which Tbilisi was
denied at this stage.

"I am sure that we will become NATO member much sooner than my
presidential term expires," declared the President.

Apart from the BTC pipeline issue, unlike Russia, Germany and France,
the U.S.A has a rather positive outlook about Georgia joining NATO .
The U.S President Bush said he would like to see Georgia become a NATO
member at some point.

In the analysis of 2007, JOHN C.K. DALY, UPI International
Correspondent claims that The Azeri, Georgian and Turkish governments
may not have to go it alone in providing BTC protection, as NATO is
already considering the issue of the BTC pipeline security. Speaking
after a recent NATO summit in Riga, Robert Simmons, the NATO secretary
general's special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia,
said the issue of protecting energy infrastructure belonging both to
NATO members and their partners was on the agenda.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, which carries Caspian oil to
world markets via the Haydar Aliyev terminal in Ceyhan, keeps earning
Turkey significant amounts of revenue. As of March the BTC pipeline
had transported 333 million barrels, earning revenue of USD 1.5
billion.

BTC transported 750,000 barrels of crude oil per day during the first
quarter of 2008, adding that their goal is to increase the daily
capacity to 840,000 barrels by the end of this year.

Approximately USD 3.4 billion was invested in the BTC project, which
carries crude oil from Azerbaijan to the port in Ceyhan via Georgia
and onwards to the rest of the world. The 1,776-kilometer-long BTC, of
which 1,076 kilometres pass through Turkey, has a full transport
capacity of 1 million barrels per day and 50 million tonnes per year.

As Turkish Daily News reported on January 17, an economically and
socially healthy Georgia, cooperating with its new allies on all
aspects of security, will stabilize the Black Sea and provide a solid
beachhead for the East-West corridor. In sum, Georgia in NATO is the
best way to maximize the potential of that first train engine that
will make its way from Kars to Baku in 2010, and Turkey should lead
its NATO partners to this realization.

Robert Kiene, Deputy Chief--NATO will NEVER protect vested BP profit
interests in Georgia!

GIOGIE has become the traditional annual forum attracting over 250
delegates from 15 countries. The conference was officially supported
by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Ministry of Energy of Georgia,
Ministry of Economic Development, and Georgian Oil & Gas Corporation
(GOGC). Senior level delegations from USA, UK, Turkey, Kazakhstan and
Azerbaijan attended GIOGIE.

"Georgia's role as a transit state and principal regional player is
hard to underestimate. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum and
Baku-Supsa represent projects of regional importance. Within the
framework of these projects GOGC acts as a monitor of the process thus
representing the state's interest during the operation/implementation
phase of the "contracts of the century", Zurab Janjgava, the General
Director of GOGC, told The FINANCIAL.

In Janjgava's words, GOGC together with foreign investors
participating in oil production totalled 56,630.72 tonnes of crude oil
and 24,606,251 cubic metres of gas production in the year 2007. An
entire volume of crude oil has been exported from Georgia.

"With the financial support of the US government, GOGC is in the
second stage of an energy infrastructure rehabilitation project
financed under the Millennium Challenge Compact," stated Janjgava.

The South Caucasus gas pipeline and the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan)
pipeline allow oil and gas to flow from Azerbaijan through Georgia to
Europe. Over the last decade, USD 5 billion has been invested by BP
and its partners into development of the major oil and gas pipelines
that cross Georgia.

Reconstruction work on the Batumi Oil Terminal is now complete and
reconstruction of the Poti port is currently underway. Construction of
a new, Kulevi Oil Terminal, operated by SOCAR , will be completed this
year.

"Nowadays a quarter of the Georgian market is controlled by SOCAR
products, that's 200 thousand tonnes and in 2008 the figure will reach
300 thousand. We plan to invest USD 100 million in Georgia in 2008.
The aggressive retail approach development in the country has been
reflected in SOCAR turnover - USD 400 million. Since April 25 we'll
exploit the very first complex including 15 filling stations and by
the end of 2009 I assume the number will reach 32-33," Elshad
Nassirov, Vice President of SOCAR , Azeri State owned company, told
The FINANCIAL.

> ...
>
> read more >>- Hide quoted text -

carlos_the...@yahoo.com

unread,

May 3, 2008, 11:06:58 AM5/3/08

to

FULLY re-LOADED NEW PARLIAMENT THE BEST SHOT FOR THE FUTURE OF
GEORGIA?

by Matthew L.
Bryza

Georgia needs a totally new opposition, or she will sink.

For the Future of
Georgia !!

I believe Ms. Hammick, a reporter recently 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,

starting back in 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 old insiders and new

“graspers,” only.

Here is a blurb from Freedom House back in mid 2005, to refresh your

memories of the jigsaw puzzle of parliamentary election procedures
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 Mikhail

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."

Historical Margin Note #1 on Georgia before you read further: Compared

to Georgians and their 6 or 7 thousand year old fiercely loyal and

family-relations-devoted traditions, how many Americans do you know
who actually continue to look after their old parents and older
grandparents and perhaps their great grandparents too, themselves?
Perhaps in the same household? These Georgians, all of them here,
would NEVER put an older family member into a rest home, or a Memory
Care Home or into a criminally overpriced USA-style and shamefully
profitable nursing/senior/memory care home, you know -- the kind of
racket in the States backed up in large measure by HHS/MEDICARE

political insiders, working along with State and Federal

congresspersons, to milk the tax systems bone dry! These same
Georgians are trying to use this familial passion and commitment to
forge a new and democratic Parliament this May 21st, 2008, but the
likelihood of any success is as slender as the homeless of New Orleans
to get their property back via FEMA programs after Hurricane Katrina.
The forces here preventing a true democracy in Georgia are the
identically same forces at work against them there in Louisiana and
Mississippi and Texas. Margin Note #2--QUESTION: How many Americans

typically speak and read three languages and alphabets, and who work

anywhere from 10 to 25 hours a week overtime, with not even a tetri
[penny] of paid overtime, and who never complain about the total lack
of labor laws coming out of their Parliament??? Again, nearly zero.
These Georgians here have not yet been educated by their strictly
censored media, in any shape or form, upon labor laws or labor rights,
yet the USAID personnel here and the US embassy swear this is a
"beacon of light" regarding fulfillment of democratic ideals!

A whole new team of concerned Georgians need to take over their
parliament, this May 21st, these citizens desperately need new
opposition forces deep in their Parliament, and not only the elites
and millionaire businessmen/women that they now have as MPs, and THEY
should be the 'new ones' to select a new president, if there is to be

any hope of true democracy here in Georgia any year soon.

click here http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/2008/04/30927_en.pdf

for a full OSCE report on the unlikelihood of a fair and square
parliamentary election in Tbilisi on May 21, 2008 [HIGHLY UNLIKELY]

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 2008
parliamentary 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 and Polish governments, 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 Parliamentary “stuffing” 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 that these
Georgians need to immediately reload their Parliament?

Georgians themselves, excluding the ever and over and twice again
prospering current Members of Parliament, the normal children 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 current

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 the Saakashvili MPs and he as their leader, and most of the

old Opposition MPs, simply repeat the same mistakes again and again?

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