Transcript of U/S Daniel Fried’s interview with Rustavi 2
Rustavi 2: Has the issue of MAP status for Georgia and Ukraine been discussed at the 2+2 meetings in Russia? What is the role that Russia can play and is playing in the process of Georgia's integration into NATO?
U/S Fried: It did not come up at the 2+2 because we made it clear that NATO makes its own decisions and it’s not part of the US-Russian relationship, but I’ll say quite honestly that we’ve discussed NATO enlargement with the Russians in other fora. I had a discussion on NATO enlargement with Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin and we are well aware of Russia’s views. NATO will make its own decisions, no outside country, not Russia not anybody else gets the veto. NATO has to make a decision about Georgia not to join NATO right away, but the Membership Action Plan. NATO is consulting about this. Obviously President Bush and President Saakashvili had a pretty good discussion in Oval Office on this subject. You heard what President Bush said. I would not think to add to it.
Rustavi 2: In the telephone interview with our TV channel you commented on Russian Government's decision to lift sanctions on Abkhazia. How far do you think Russia is ready to go? Do you think the Russian Government may recognize independence of Georgia's breakaway regions: Abkhazia and South Ossetia? What is USG doing to prevent that from happening?
U/S Fried: First of all, we’ve had some good news in Georgian-Russian relations recently. The Russians may be ready to lift some of the sanctions they’ve had on Georgia for some time. This is good news. Let’s build on that together, but we’ve been very clear with the Russians. We think that recognition of Abkhazia or South Ossetia would be grave, grave mistake. It would be huge problem. Russians have not done this. I cannot speak for them obviously, but we’ve made clear our views. There can only be a peaceful solution. That solution has to recognize Georgia’s territorial integrity and also has to address legitimate interests of those people; [it] has to provide for return of refugees especially to Abkhazia. This is a tough issue, but angry slogans, threats, provocations, that’s not the way.
Rustavi 2: How intensively will USG look at upcoming parliamentary elections in Georgia? What do you think of the processes in Georgia, with Government and opposition being confronted to one another?
U/S Fried: We’re going to be following these parliamentary elections very, very closely. They need to be good. They need to be clean. Georgia has much stronger economy than it did four or five years ago. Now it needs to have strong political institutions, free institutions. That includes strong free press, strong responsible opposition and this needs to be all based on basic freedoms like freedom of assembly, and free elections, but the opposition has to help work with the government as well. There are certain rules of the game. They need to be understood. They need to be respected. |
