Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili talked with The Wall Street Journal

17.07.2009 | Wall Street Journal | Link zur Quelle | Bilder | Video |
On his demonization by the opposition:
"I have the same problems as Obama will have in future. Everyone expects miracles. But when they don't happen, they throw you to the floor and stand on you."
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On Russia's Georgia policy:
"There's no contact with the Russians. They have one policy: regime change. Russia wants the Soviet Union back. The Soviet Union had 15 countries. At least seven of them would go back if Georgia fell. Georgia holds the key. Next time we get our 15 minutes of world attention I don't want it to be because we've disappeared from the map."
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On months of opposition protests calling on him to resign:
When you see 40-50,000 people gathering in a small country it's not nice but it's a sign of normality. It's much nicer to be a universally loved leader that people think walks on water. But you have to do things and behind every problem there's always someone to blame."
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On feeling low after losing the war:
"I looked angry and depressed and like someone who didn't know what he was doing for some time. Of course I did but appearances count. I was very angry and depressed by what the Russians had done to us and by how the world had reacted. That was what got me. I thought that the noose was tightening around the Russians' necks and then I realized it was tightening around our neck. Some Europeans told us that America had abandoned us so why should they help us. It was pretty distressing."
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On the Obama administration:
"They have reset with Russia. Obama was very good in Moscow. Soon afterwards, the Russians began trying to quietly explain to their population on TV why there wouldn't be a war with Georgia this summer."
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On joining NATO:
"We all know that the issue is almost dead. It's tragic. If they manage to kill NATO [Georgia's hopes of joining the alliance], it means the Russians fought for the right reasons. It would mean you can still achieve political goals with brutal sinister means and that [Russian Prime Minister Vladimir] Putin was proved right. He told me many times. He told me your allies promise good things but don't have a good record of delivery. I can't promise good things but I always deliver."
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On George W. Bush:
"On day one [of the war] when he said the Russians were using disproportionate force…that emboldened the Russians. The very moment he gave the public order to move the Sixth Fleet was key. Within 20 minutes, Putin had disappeared from TV screens. George Bush contributed to saving Georgian democracy. A street named after him will always be in Tbilisi for that reason."
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On Putin:
"Putin wants to hang me by the balls and wants to replace me. The biggest response I can have is to organize a smooth transition of power not controlled by the Russians. That would show the Russians they didn't succeed and destroy Georgian democracy. It would be very bad news for them. It would tell the neighbors -- the people and not just the leaders -- that Putin is no longer the main street bully in the neighborhood."

Stichworte: Georgien, Innenpolitik, USA, Russland, Sprache: englisch, Archiv: #