Georgia has not only survived, but also it withstands all troubles. I am here now (in the Presidential palace - author's comment), because this is our achievement, the achievement of Georgian people. "- Mikheil Saakashvili, President of Georgia said in summarizing last year. However to this point of view some may disagree. But it is a fact that in 2009 from the Georgian sky Russian military aviation disappeared. Many other minor achievements may be of the little importance for many of us. The year is over ... Many things were revalued, estimated and reasons to think about overcoming of troubles are plenty.
"This was the hardest period. The war and the following occupation, hardest world economic crisis, which touches all world, all regions and as well in addition here was the long internal political destabilization. We endured and we withstand both, "- President said.
In connection with the comments of President, Ramaz Sakvarelidze, political scientist said that the world economic crisis was not in touch with our country, and at the same time during the protest actions the Georgian population showed the highest political culture.
"President did not say that the situation is an ideal one, but he said that the worse might happen, and this worse did not happen. In connections with this Saakashvili underlined the endowment of Georgian people. The world economic crisis severely affected many countries. We even did not notice this process. Despite of this the situation is not an enviable one, but in the circumstances of the world economic crisis we had no such deep problems as in many other countries it was the case. What about the internal destabilization, in this case the population showed such a high political culture, and this is thanks to the opposition witch did not allow the protest actions to be a radical one, "- Ramaz Sakvarelidze said to GHN.
Yes, the 2009 was harder then 2007, when President dissolving the November 7 manifestation discredited own image. The hard one was as well 2008, when in the circumstances of the Russian aggression, President travelled around the world in search of the support. Having the territories lost and the generals fled from the battlefield, it is no surprise that one part of the Georgian society is very angry, and the protest is expressed in many different ways.
But President managed to turn some oppositionists to own supporters. He dissolved the "United Opposition" and some of them even tried to leave the opposition. The opposition noted many times that President played using wrong methods. He played dirty game against the opposition. But this people, (opposition) forget that no government will recede easily. But opposition as well appeared to be a week one; it did not respond with the same force. Even more, President said that the protest action was staged by the Russian special services FSB.
We gave to the society a chance to take a decision; we stay aside from the events. The society was severely traumatized after August war. In fact the protest actions were dissolved by the society itself and it called the protesters to the wisdom. Fortunately they could not implement the project "Tbilisi a dead city" and they will never do this. President said that many politicians are trying to establish a close and warm relations with Kremlin, it is a hard accusation, but it is a fact as well.
This makes the society to be disposed nihilistically towards the opposition. Moreover the fact is that the government suppressed one part of the opposition and manipulates with it.
"For the last period of time I am spending more time with the opposition, then with the majority and this is very useful for me. Almost all political forces were present at the Security Council's sitting. Almost all participated in the work under the elections code. Maybe someone of the oppositionists say that they dislike the elections code, but they did not refused to take part in the elections, and consequently they accept it, " - President said.
We only can suppose that the President is right and simply he said far less then he could say and knows far more then expressed.
However in this respect Ramaz Sakvareliadze, political scientist said: "Opposition is in a very hard situation. Despite of the fact that the opposition is not accepting the new elections code it has no choice but to participate in elections. Otherwise it will appear out of the game, out of the politics."
So the things will be repeated again. In the near future at the third day of the local self governance elections opposition will talk again about the falsified elections. Again the protest actions will be held.

But how many times the same things will be repeated again and again?

For the last period President did not criticize any more the opposition in disrespectful way. Maybe this is because he changed his attitude towards them and respects own opponents. This is to be said in his favor.

But again I would like to repeat that after the August war I was waiting and did not hear from him the only phrase: "I resigned!"
Unfortunately as well Zurab Nogaideli, former Prime Minister did not said to Vladimir Putin: "What future for my homeland?" After all this I am sure that I prefer the defeated soldier of my poor country to the ex-Prime minister dressed up in Pierre Carden's suit. Moreover, I would say Putin is to be respected more then some of our politicians as he defends the interests of own country, own "Empire".
"So, what future for my country?" - Politicians not asking such question to any Russian official are reconciling with the existing poor situation.
This question should be asked to know what intentions have for the future Kremlin in respect with Tbilisi.
Is it expected any positive steps from Russian Federation in connection with Georgia, or this country is for Russia as a province from which it takes agricultural goods and wine, and cheers with the glass of our own wine our enemies.
We get already that the Russian political establishment loves Georgia, but without Georgians. Yes they love it, they love our land, The Georgian as a geographical unit. They love as well Abkhazia in the same way, which is now the "recognized" independent country - province of Russian Federation.
President as well was unsatisfied with the actions of former PM Nogaideli. He said that he did not expected such actions from him.
What should be said about the old Europe, in the view of international cooperation with Russian Federation? They are choosing to be closer with Russia in cold winter and turn to us innocently at Spring and Summer.
So in the international arena our official government is acting with the own tactics. It forces the international community to notice Georgia, to take into account this country. Is it good or bad, our government tries to do this forcedly.
But no one form the oppositional spectrum could do this. Not Salome Zurabishvili with her huge diplomatic experience, not Nino Burjanadze, with her ex-status, not Alasania with his UN political-diplomatic ethics. They failed to achieve any result in the international arena. We should remind you that the minimal but necessary stability on the international arena still is kept by Saakashvili and his team.

Frankly speaking, we should admit that in 2009 no Georgian politician or political party could achieve any desirable result.
Ramaz Sakvarelidze, political scientist said that after the April protest actions the government is taking into consideration people's needs much more.
He believes that the April protest actions were not useless. Political scientist said that now the government tries to satisfy demands of people:
"The fight of opposition was for change of political power. This fight the opposition loose. But it is a question won the government or not. This process was not useless, however it did not achieved the aim. The opposition won in the more respect towards people from the government. The result of the protest actions now is that the government tries to satisfy the demands of people. Now the government pays more attention to people, than it was before the protest actions. So, we can say that the people won in this respect"

Summarizing all this we should say that no political person could perform the task, to achieve the desirable result (If we will not take into consideration the moving of Nino Burjanadze from the official position to oppositional team, but this move is still questionable). But the aim of Burjanadze was much higher positions then the oppositional area.
Not Shalva Natelashvili suggested to us something new and original. What about Alasania it is a hard case. Not for Salome Zurabishvili, who was so active during the April protest actions, was the year successful.
What about Levan Gachechiladze, he himself refused yo be a politician.
Following all this we should to agree with President, who summarizing the past year said that "Georgia not only survived but as well it is firm in its positions. We will hope that in 2010 together with Georgian people Georgia as well will survive.

GHN

Gocha Mirtskhulava