CIS diplomats meet in Kyiv to discuss crisis in Georgia (11/30/03)

CIS diplomats meet in Kyiv to discuss crisis in Georgia

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Diplomatic representatives from the 12 countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, including Foreign Ministers Igor Ivanov of Russia and Kostyantyn Gryshchenko of Ukraine, issued a statement calling on democratic principles and rule of law to predominate in Georgia as the country prepares for new parliamentary and presidential.

The statement was released in Kyiv on November 26 after foreign diplomats from the CIS had met in special session to review the situation in Georgia, where President Eduard Shevardnadze had resigned three days earlier after weeks of civic unrest and political turmoil in response to charges that the Georgian leader and his supporters had rigged recent parliamentary elections. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, who now chairs the CIS and is a close friend of Mr. Shevardnadze, requested the special session to discuss the topic.

The document the diplomats issued, after a meeting that went an hour longer than had been anticipated, criticized the unconstitutional manner in which the Georgian leadership was deposed, and emphasized that the events "could have destabilized not only Georgia but the region as a whole."

"We are not indifferent to the fate of Georgia, and we retain hope that the new Georgian leadership along with all the leaders of the Georgian nation will do all that is needed to ensure that political processes continue in a constitutional manner, to establish normal functioning government structures that will ensure civil peace. Towards this end we are ready to take all action and give all help that is required," read the statement.

It emerged after the meeting of CIS diplomats that another, perhaps more important issue discussed during the meeting was how the "velvet revolution," as the victors in the Georgian civil unrest have described their ouster of Mr. Shevardnadze, took place so quickly and so decidedly. That discussion addressed the methods needed to be developed to make sure that another Georgian scenario does not develop and is not repeated in other CIS member-states.

"This was one of the questions we addressed," explained Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov at a brief press conference after the special session. "Not only the matter of Georgia's situation, but how not to let this happen again on the territory of the CIS. I think we addressed the issue successfully."

Mr. Ivanov did not explain what specific actions had been agreed upon.

Mr. Ivanov also underscored that, while rumors abounded about efforts by at least one Georgian province to become part of Russia, Moscow had no intention of absorbing any part of the beleaguered country.

"Russia recognizes and will continue to recognize the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. We have no desires for any part of Georgia. As we have said before, we want normal diplomatic and economic relations with that region," explained Mr. Ivanov.

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