Georgia continues believing in its special destiny

Georgia continues believing in its special destiny. It is the only country of the ex Soviet sphere which calls for membership in NATO and the European Union, and pursues radical reforms to that end. Yet Tbilisi is wary of being neglected by its Western partners, who are absorbed by the “reset” of their relationship with Moscow.

US congressman David Dreier reiterated the US support towards Georgia in his speech on June 22. Dreier, who visited Georgia earlier in June told the US congressmen that the consequences of the military conflict between Georgia and Russia of August 2008 are still being felt. “For the people of the republic of Georgia, this conflict has been going on for nearly three years.

Georgia’s national airline is starting the first direct flights between Moscow and the port city of Batumi as the Black Sea nation seeks to boost tourism in the Adjara region.

Tbilisi Mayor’s Office has proposed to tie monthly fee for waste collection services, provided by the capital city’s municipality, to electricity bills.

Negotiators are meeting in Moscow today (June 21) to re-launch the 5+2 format (Russia, Ukraine, OSCE, the United States, European Union, Chisinau, Tiraspol) for Transnistria conflict-settlement, after a five-year breakdown in the official negotiations. This meeting is expected to decide the resumption of official negotiations at the next meeting on the ministerial level.

The mistakes of Georgia's president should not be used as a pretext to neglect a pro-Western country. Blinking, yawning and scratching, the European Union is waking up to the idea that enlargement to the western Balkans is a pressing priority.

The campaign launched last month to enable Eduard Kokoity, de facto president of Georgia's breakaway republic of South Ossetia, to serve a third consecutive presidential term has suffered two setbacks within two days.

"This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense! Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy!"