Michail Saakaschwili - Presidente de Georgia en la Conferencia de Seguridad de München

Las palabras de Michail Saakaschwili, el presidente de Gergia en la Conferencia de Seguridad de München están aquí

La foto es de Sebastian Zwez, gracias a la página de la Conferencia por facilitarnos las fotos, gratis.

Se sale del texto, después de decir " I thought I would take a few minutes to reflect on the conditions needed for stability—not only in southeastern Europe, but in the Black Sea region, the Caucasus and beyond".

Dice que la región donde está ubicada Georgia hay muchas culturas diferentes, muchos pueblos distintos. El camino a la democracia no es fácil. Lo primero es la estabilidad.

"A few years ago, Georgia, following in the footsteps of the Baltics and others in Central Europe, made a fateful choice.

"We decided that democracy and integration into the Euro-Atlantic alliance would be the basis of our stability, our security, and our economic prosperity.

"Our decision to look West made sense for Georgia. We are joined by a common and unbreakable bond—one based on culture—on our shared history and identity—and on a common set of values".

Nuevamente aclara que no es un camino fácil. Los cambios en Georgia han sido muy rápidos.

No sólo se trata de un cambio económico, sino de una revolución cultural. Dice que hay que proteger la democracia y sus instituciones.

"The idea of NATO beats very powerfully in new democracies like Georgia.

"If you want to confirm the value and relevance of the Alliance today, just talk to an average Georgian citizen.

"It is extraordinary to note that in a plebiscite held together with our presidential election last month, 77 percent of the Georgian people supported our NATO path.

"To have good friends, we understand that we have to be good friends. And we must be a strong ally".

Sobre Kosovo, dice... y fíjense bien, que si Georgia se comportata como Chipre, Grecia o España y extrapolara el caso de Kosovo al interior de sus mismos países, debería estar en contra de la independencia de Kosovo; pero no lo está, por las razones que explica a continuación, porque entienden el problema:

"Today I am often asked—how will Kosovo affect the unresolved territorial conflicts in Georgia?

"Let me be clear—Georgia has never been against the resolution of the Kosovo situation. Our concern rather lies rather with the how.

"For it bears reminding that while the Kosovars were the victims of brutal ethnic cleaning that was halted by international military intervention.

"The separatists in Abkhazia were the victors of ethnic cleansing.

"And no one intervened to save the hundreds of thousands who today remain cleansed from their homeland due to their ethnicity.

"Morally—the two conflicts are the polar opposite. We must not let the politics of hate or violent separatism grow. Any attempts to do so will be deeply destabilizing. But again let me be clear—Georgia is and remains ready for a peaceful, 21st Century European solution to this conflict.

"Where the instruments of law and broad autonomy can and must safeguard and guarantee the rights of all inhabitants.

"We are a democratic nation—committed to acting responsibly to ensure stability, equality and prosperity regardless of ethnicity".

Y agrega: "Kosovo is sui generis because of moral, legal, and historic reasons".

Sobre Rusia y la relación de su país, cada día más cercano a la NATO, explica:

"Russia has a special stake in the stability and security of the Caucasus region", pienso en lo que conversábamos con rayco en el foro de Jung en la Conferencia de München

"We are ready for joint efforts in this direction and believe that new tension and new threats are in nobody’s interest.

"Let me be clear about our commitment to working peacefully and constructively with Russia, while also pursuing our NATO path.

"There is no contradiction in this—these are, in fact, mutually reinforcing goals.

"Fulfilling the dreams and desires of the people of Georgia does not mean disregarding the concerns and interests of our neighbors.

"Fifteen years ago, the Baltics faced conditions similar to those in Georgia today. Now, these countries are thriving—they are at the vanguard of Europe.

"Georgia will join them, one day soon. In many ways, we already have.

"We are already contributing to our common goals of international security, economic prosperity, and energy security.

"My country, and many others, need a confident Euro-Atlantic alliance to hold out its hand—as it did in the Nineties, first to the Baltics and then to the countries of eastern Europe.

"I look forward to our continued partnership".