President Zurabishvili Interviewed by National Public Radio/NPR
As part of her official visit to the US the Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili gave an interview to NPR. She spoke of Georgia’s EU aspirations, the war in Ukraine and its impact on Georgia and the world, about the emerging new world order and other issues.
On Russia’s war in Ukraine:
The President stressed that Ukraine has shown “incredible capacity for resilience” in this “tragic war”. Although the price has been “very high” for Ukraine, Russia “has not achieved any of the war aims.” Ukraine demonstrated “that in 21th century Russia is not an all-powerful empire” that it was during the Soviet Union era. Zurabishvili noted that in contrast to 2008, when Russia attacked Georgia, today Russia is “really isolated” and the main change is that now “everyone understands what Russia is about.”
On new opportunities
The President noted that Ukraine opened up new opportunities, including for Georgia. Responding to a question about Georgia’s EU membership and where it stands, the President said that when Georgia was not granted EU candidate’s status a year ago, unlike Moldova and Ukraine, it was a “big disappointment”. But, she stressed that it did not change the determination of the Georgian people. Asked if she was optimistic regarding EU and NATO membership, she said things have changed for the better compared to previous years. “At each step people were doubting that Georgia could go further”- she said, adding that she is “completely optimistic” and she is “sure in one thing – that Georgian population’s resilience is there”, and that she counts on it.
On bigger picture and whether the war marked a shift in a world order since the WWII
The President’s answer was that “it has completely”. She noted that the EU is no longer the EU “that was doubting whether it could have real defense strategy.” She emphasized that “the fact that Finland and Sweden are trying to join NATO is an enormous shift as well.” She further added that “the relationship between EU and US on strategic issues has never been in the past years so close as today.” The President then concluded that “new geopolitical image has been forged through the Ukrainian war, that will define our future. And the important thing for Georgia is to be part of that community, whatever form it takes.”
On what is the President’s ask of Americans, what does she want Americans to know
Salome Zurabishvili said she wanted to share the centuries-old Georgian experience with Russia. Now, she added, “the West is on the verge of really discovering what Russia is”. She stressed: “If the Russian leadership does not understand – what is theirs is theirs, and what is not is not- they can never become a full member of the [international] community. And that will be the subject of the peace negotiations whenever they happen.”
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This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)
