Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-12-18-Speech-4-168"
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"en.20031218.7.4-168"2
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"Mr President, Commissioner, following the euphoria over the peaceful revolution that took place a few weeks ago, we are now preoccupied with a growing number of major concerns. Firstly, there is the terrible economic situation. We all know, partly from comparison with other countries, that if the situation remains as bad as this, if there is no prospect of an improvement in the economic situation, this will have a very negative impact on the chances of improving the functioning of democracy. We all support this: that is laid down in our resolution. We also know, however, that many people’s perspective is determined primarily by their economic situation, and that the confidence in parliamentary democracy – and that confidence is not so great in Georgia as it is – melts away if there is no improvement in the economic situation. To put it bluntly: without food or heating, democracy soon becomes a luxury. A situation such as this must be avoided at all costs, but it is a great danger, one that is threatening at the moment.
My second great concern is the role of Russia. Of course, Mr Ivanov, the Foreign Minister, played a very positive role in the departure of Mr Shevardnadze, for which he deserves great credit. At the same time, however, we know that the influence of Russia in Georgia is very bad in the long term from a structural point of view. Firstly, there are the military bases, which Russia said years ago it was going to remove. That did not happen, which is a very bad thing. In recent years, of course, there has been Russia’s support for the three separatist movements in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Ajaria. That assistance is military, but the assistance is often much more subtle: making it easier for the people from the regions to travel to Russia or to adopt Russian citizenship, for example. This has to stop.
In order to change the role of Russia, assistance is required from the European Union. Georgia cannot do it alone. One way is for us to offer mediation. I am very much in favour of this: that is also laid down in the resolution. If Europe can play a role in this, it must be sure to do so. I am afraid that that will not suffice, however. I think that it will also be up to us to exert pressure on Russia to put an end to the negative role it is playing in Georgia. To be honest, the European Union is not good at this. The example of Chechnya shows that we often handle Russia with kid gloves when it comes to their conduct in the northern Caucasus, and now likewise in the southern Caucasus. This really has to stop. Supporting the elections is a very good thing, but it is just a drop in the ocean. Nor will our help in boosting the economy there suffice – which is also essential for the preservation of confidence in democracy – if, at the same time, we know that the great neighbour to the north, Russia, is very actively engaged in pulling the country apart into three pieces. The European Union must play a pioneering role in order to prevent this: if possible, by convincing Russia; but if necessary, by seeking confrontation."@en1
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