High-Profile Forum Hails Rose Revolution
The two-day forum “Europe’s New Wave of Liberation: Democracy and Transformation” was opened on November 22 in Tbilisi with the participation of high-profile guests who arrived in Georgia to take part in events marking the second anniversary of the Rose Revolution.
The Forum was opened by a short documentary that featured Beethoven?s 9th Symphony and depicted peaceful demonstrations in Tbilisi which led to the Rose Revolution on November 23, 2003.
In his video address to the participants of the Forum, U.S. Senator John McCain noted the importance of the Rose Revolution and described it as the time Georgia was ?reborn? and a time for ?inspiration? which fostered democratic changes in other countries as well.
Senator McCain also said that after the Rose Revolution Georgia successfully launched a fight against corruption and implemented defense, economic and political reforms. He noted the importance of Adjara?s peaceful reincorporation, but added that peaceful reintegration of breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia is now a challenge for the Georgian authorities.
In his remarks, President Saakashvili spoke about his administration?s achievements since the rose revolution and stressed that it is of vital importance to maintain a high level of confidence among citizens towards state institutions.
?Of course, we face great challenges ahead? The most important thing today is that the level of trust towards institutions has significantly increased; we have gained trust in the education system, law-enforcement system, tax system. This is our basic capital. The trust towards leaders will increase and decrease, leaders will change, ministers and governments will change. The main thing is to preserve a high quality of trust towards institutions – this is our key challenge and the key lesson of the rose revolution,? Saakashvili said.
He also said that Georgia is ?the first post-Soviet country which was able to totally change its old Soviet elite? in the government. ?I want to say that we should be grateful to [late Georgian Prime Minister] Zurab Zhvania for this,? he added.
Saakashvili said that there was a supposition ?voiced by skeptics? that his administration was doomed to fail because of ?inexperienced and young? governmental officials.
?But since the very first day of our coming to power we have acted in accordance with a well-planned agenda,? Saakashvili said.
?Opponents also say that we are populists. But we have also disavowed these suppositions. For example, we told citizens that there will be no electricity without paying fees – this was a very unpopular move but we did it and we have even increased the collection of [electricity] taxes,? the Georgian President said.
Other presenters, including French philosopher Andre Glucksmann and former Soviet dissident and former Israeli cabinet member Nathan Sharansky, spoke about the importance of the spread of democracy in the world.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza will also speak about lessons of post-revolutionary reform at the Forum.
President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko, President of Estonia Arnold Ruutel and President of Romania Traian Basescu, who are expected to arrive in Tbilisi on November 22, will address the forum on November 23 and speak about the necessity to consolidate efforts for development of regional democracy.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
