Valery Kvaratskhelia: "Russia should speak with honest politicians"
Leader of the "Neutral Georgia" party Valery Kvaratskhelia in an interview with VC expressed doubts that former Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, who has recently signed a cooperation agreement with the “United Russia,” will manage to improve Russian-Georgian relations.
- Mr. Kvaratskheliya, what is the reason for your skepticism?
- I understand and accept, when a person changes his world outlook, including its political aspect. But when the policy and attitude towards the major issues has experienced turnover, he should explain to the people why it has happened. And in this case, no one has explained anything. They've just changed their position, announcing that are ready to talk with Moscow. But why? For what reason? I personally consider it all alarming. Maybe, here lies a somewhat different underlying reason, but not care about their homeland? I as yet don't assert anything, but at least there are some questions arising and these questions were to be answered.
- What do you think motivates Zurab Nogaideli and other politicians who have also expressed their readiness to go to Moscow and start a dialogue?
- I think they are not acting absolutely frankly, and, perhaps, this is a kind of order from the Georgian authorities - that is, a game of “good cop, bad cop.”
- If this is the order of the authorities, what is its essence?
- This is another attempt to deceive people. Ostensibly, some new political force comes into the picture, but in reality nothing has changed. In fact, they try to deceive their electorate, in the first place, feeling that the public of Georgia is bent on improving relations with Russia. The people understand that without Russia, without the restoration of good-neighborly relations with it, we will not succeed, including in the restoration of Georgia’s territorial integrity and the revival of its economy.
- But the people with whom the Georgian politicians meet in Moscow are not political novices ...
- Yes, of course, to deceive someone in our country is possible, but to deceive [Russian Prime Minister] Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is not an easy thing for them to do. Moreover, I have already expressed the view that, perhaps, Nogaideli, as former prime minister and finance minister, has some information that is interesting for Putin. Possibly, Russian intelligence services failed to obtain this information and now want to receive it directly from Nogaideli. Anyway, that's my supposition.
- It turns out that Vladimir Putin and [State Duma Speaker] Boris Gryzlov do not themselves believe that they will be able to improve relations with Georgia.In any event, with the help of Nogaideli?
- Russian leaders sincerely want to improve relations with Georgia. But to what extent it will be achieved with Nogaideli and to what extent his attitude towards it is honest is another question. Time will show. Russia is not so easy to deceive. As to cheating their country and their electorate, if Nogaideli and others like him have selfish thoughts, it will not happen and soon everything will clear. That is, what is done by night appears by day. By themselves, the meeting with Russian politicians, the Russian leadership, is a good thing. And the blackening of such politicians by pro-government mass-media sources is inapplicable and unacceptable. Once again, if Nogaideli is sincere, and if all this is not a part of an artful game.
- Zurab Nogaideli said that the turning point for him became the August 2008 war. Does your negative attitude originate in the past of the ex-prime minister?
- Zurab Nogaideli belonged to that group of politicians who from the very beginning of their activity were biased against Russia and consequently spoiled relations with Russia. He was constantly profusely talking, saying they saw the future of Georgia only with the West and NATO. And then suddenly there happened such an about face.
- And what forces, in your opinion, Russia should dialogue with? On whom should Moscow gamble?
- I would like to emphasize that dialogue should be conducted with all. But first and foremost with those forces that from the very beginning adhered to a pro-Russian position. If they are joined by others, for example, the very same Nogaideli, there is nothing bad about it.
- Apparently, you consider "Neutral Georgia" one of those forces. But, perhaps, the real resources of partners are being calculated in Moscow, and your party resources are far more scanty than those of the former prime minister. A pragmatic calculation, taking into account the real impact of Noghaideli, has been made (compared with, for example, your party, which for the last 20 years has been consistently adhering to a pro-Russian position, but does not have such influence in social, political and business circles).
- I fully agree with you that we lack resources. We were not even allowed to speak in the mass media and are not allowed now. It is as if we, and in our person pro-Russian forces, did not exist in Georgia. We lack financial resources, because we have not stolen anything from the state. But the funds that some politicians have are right crooked. And if Russia wants to talk with the Georgian people, it should talk with honest politicians. With those who did not rob their people. So, their attitude should be reconsidered.
- Are you going to raise the question of meeting with Russian politicians?
- If there is an opportunity for such a meeting, then, of course, we are ready.
- Who do you contact with in Russia, with whom do you communicate?
- We have a lot of friends and associates in Russia. Among them, there are Russians and ethnic Georgians. We act openly and do not hide anything.
Interviewed by George Kalatozishvili in Tbilisi, exclusively for VC
