December 16-21, 2002
Yes, it snows indeed – the heavy onset of the white flaky substance from the skies is undeniably the news number one in Georgia’s recent socio-political life. Interestingly, the deeds of wild nature, untamed as they are, prove to be a critical test for the governments. Some of us remember that back in the Soviet times, the government was constantly shocked by natural events. “Wow, those grains we have sown did bring a good harvest” a startled face of the Moscow news anchor would inform the audience, “Lo and behold – we launch a battle for the harvest.”
These youth memories have resurfaced during the last weeks, just as the energy [god]fathers looked at us with their faces full of awe, saying they did not expect it would snow in winter… Someone, if I am not mistaken the State Minister, was admiring the “good professionalism and deep knowledge” of our energy guys. Thank goodness Mr. Jorbenadze has left his medical practice early on, with such a diagnostic skill in this world full of germs… God forbid…
As if to confirm Mr. President’s monumental oxymoron that “even Russian companies can be good and even the US ones can fail” Mr. Iribarren’s lot has also surprised us last week. Yes, they did not think SIEMENS-made electronics of the 9th Block of AES Mtkvari energy station (yes, yes, THE 9th Block) would freeze in winter if the roof would be out… A bit stretched the trust in western virtue there, guys.
Talking of the blocks of the energy generating stations and their numbers: do not you wonder how many technical details we, the fellow citizens and poor dear guests have learned during all these years? Only here in Georgia, we know what the feeder cable is, what does it mean to “lose the phase”, and how exactly the pressure of the natural gas is regulated by the pumping station.
For all of you out there who read Civil.ge without ever visiting this blessed land, the above paragraph could have been a bit blurry – come by amigos, visit us! Distance learning is not helpful for feeling the sheer depth of it all!
For all those who understood, I continue: All the above arguments were used by our highly professional cadre to convince us that it is not their fault we are in the dark, and without heating all these past ten years. But they are in trouble now, because following their diligent education efforts during those very ten years, we can now tell which of the technical explanations sound convincing. Most of them – do not. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how education drives development.
But let us leave the painful theme of energy aside and, trying to warm our semi-frozen knuckles, revert to the only well-heated place over here in Georgia – politics.
Mr. Vakhtang Goguadze stunned us this week with the quote right on target, saying “there is a time for some beasts in the Georgian politics.” No, he did not mean that the field was humming with the beauties before and there was a need to fill the void in a marketing line. Au contraire: in such a brilliant statement Mr. Goguadze saluted the entrance of the political party called “Bear.” Led by the pardoned convict charged with three counts of homicide, and staffed by the former communists, this charming beast promises to root out those who would “inhibit implementation of the policy of Shevardnadze and Putin.” What a style, what a dish.
Meanwhile, we were reminded that not all kidnapping stories have a happy ending, with traffic lights looming on the horizon for the escaping victim a la Hollywood’s Fugitive. The latest one ended in a tragedy as Mr. Sadi Sharifov, 77, was found dead after being kidnapped by an unidentified gang. Interior Ministry responded with “special operations” and says the suspects are apprehended. No specificities are available though, and the faith in the young interior minister, which appeared, frankly, out of nowhere, tends to dissipate quickly.
Also last week 600 Georgian soldiers graduated from the Train-and-Equip. OK, we have the soldiers in nice uniforms, which are well-trained and do not look like bums. Their US trainer quoted Churchill saying that graduation “is an end to the beginning” (or something of this sort). Most of us here really hope the reverse does not prove to be true. Let us cross our fingers for these guys and prey for those that have to survive the winter, without being dressed and warmed by Uncle Sam.
On the civic side, the NGO sector was bristling hot this past week. Firstly, on December 18 the Advocacy Steering Committee of 6 national and 1 US NGO unveiled the plans to spearhead the protection of public interests during the coming three years. Then, the Democracy Coalition of seven leading NGOs was announced on December 20. The coalitions are here for real it seems, as this latter one scored a major victory while winning in court re-counts for utterly fraudulent Rustavi by-elections. Congratulations to ISFED, which led the effort.
Of course, when talking of NGOs, Mr. Sharadze comes in a package as arch-rival. A narcissist crusader of our politics has run out of slogans on the parliament floor this week. To say at least something, he demanded again, with the support of his henchman Mr. Mishveladze, to put back the ethnicity requisites in the ID cards. Mr. Sharadze has to be commended for his perseverance, but for heaven’s sake man, we have heard this already. Probably upset with parliament’s slow uptake of his novel plan, Mr. Sharadze tried to focus the lights of the cameras back onto his beloved self by staging a hunger strike at the mayor’s office (don’t ask what for, as Mr. Sharadze puts style over the content). A terribly important hunger strike has ended in a day. Media was there, and ambitions are satisfied.
And last but not least, our MPs shocked us yet again, by proving that the unimaginable is indeed possible. Pro-governmental MPs staged a walkout blocking the review of the budget for 2003. There were 70 or so of them in the 235-member parliament. Yet, all the opposition ones were out, Christmas shopping, thus the sessions were blocked. Plus, to culminate all this comedy, on Friday the remaining lot in the Main Chamber was debating whether or not to play the anthem (some said it is a shame to do it in the empty chamber, others opposed). Am I missing something or it really doesn’t make sense? Blizzard.
