Reports & Papers
from
Caspian Studies Program
Summary by Abby Williamson
On Wednesday, October 3, 2001, President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze addressed the Harvard community, speaking on the topic of "Searching for Security in a Changing World." President Shevardnadze was accompanied by a delegation of Georgian dignitaries, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Irakli Menagharishvili and Minister of State Security Vakhtang Kutateladze. The speech was co-sponsored by the Caspian Studies Program and the Institute of Politics Student Advisory Committee.
Professor Graham T. Allison, director of the Belfer Center, introduced President Shevardnadze as a man who has played a decisive role in the fate of two countries -- first as foreign minister of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, and then as president of Georgia from November 1995 to the present. Allison lauded Shevardnadze for his role in drawing the Cold War to a close and for serving as a "moral compass of a new world order." In reference to the September 11 terrorist attacks, Allison pointed out that Shevardnadze has personally experienced acts of terrorism -- namely, three failed assassination attempts against him. Following September 11, Allison noted, Shevardnadze was one of the first heads of state to express his support for the United States struggle against terrorism.
President Shevardnadze began his comments by recognizing the significance of the events of September 11, calling them "a historical watershed, an infamous hallmark." Known for his advocacy of both the United Nations' ideals and its need for organizational reform, Shevardnadze reiterated his appeal to convene a UN summit to address "the means for fighting terrorism and the sources that feed it." He explained his view that the anti-terrorist coalition formed by the United States would help to punish the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks in the short-term, but would not serve as a long-term solution to the challenges posed by international terrorism. He warned that excluding some countries from the coalition would further polarize the world at a time when unity was the key to defeating terrorism. Moreover, Shevardnadze explained his belief that international institutions, primarily the UN Security Council, should authorize use of force. Related to the battle against terrorism, Shevardnadze expressed his belief that the greatest challenge facing leaders in the new century was to address the widening gap between rich and poor.
Shevardnadze stressed the important role scholars can play in developing a new ethic for peaceful and productive world relations. Although scholars had not predicted the fall of the Soviet Union, Shevardnadze explained that perhaps the greatest factor contributing to its demise was a change in mentality, referred to as the "new thinking" based on the ideas of Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell. New thinking involved "liberation from manifold traditional chimeras" and the embrace of "universal humanist values and principles." Shevardnadze indicated that he was among the first individuals within the Soviet Union to speak out against the destructive ideological doctrine of class-based foreign policy in an address to the staff of the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Soviet Diplomatic Corps. The change in mentality that was occurring in the Soviet Union at that time enabled the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War.
Based on successful negotiations of the early 1990s (the Malta Summit and the Wyoming meeting between Shevardnadze and Secretary of State James Baker), the foundations for constructive U.S.-Russian relations were put in place. Unfortunately, issues such as the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty and NATO expansion have revived what Shevardnadze considers to be counterproductive patterns in U.S. relations with Russia.
Although some believe that NATO should be disbanded in response to the dismantling of the Warsaw Pact, Shevardnadze expressed his view that such a parallel action would be inappropriate. NATO, he explained, was formed by democratically-elected governments to defend democracy and freedom -- the collective values of Europe and the West -- in the post-Cold War era. Shevardnadze, who has expressed hopes that Georgia will ascend to NATO membership by 2005, offered his endorsement of further NATO development and expansion, saying, "aspiration toward NATO membership is the inviolable right of every democratic nation in Europe."
In reference to the ABM treaty and the Bush administration's intentions to develop a missile defense system, Shevardnadze reiterated and explained his full endorsement of U.S. plans in this field. First, he expressed his utmost trust in American moral judgment and his belief that "a well-protected America means a more secure world." Second, he explained that only the United States has the resources to develop such a system, which may in turn lead to other valuable scientific discoveries. Finally, he stressed that in a world in which many nations now possess the potential to launch a nuclear attack, the most sophisticated defense technologies have become essential.
Along with the development of military alliances and technology, Shevardnadze promoted the need for "moral progress" towards "moderation, magnanimity, and tolerance" in political decision-making. He noted that Russia's recent cooperation with the U.S. in responding to the terrorist attacks is an encouraging sign that relations may become more productive.
Shevardnadze offered an example of Georgia's own experience with magnanimity in foreign relations. He explained that during Georgia's civil war in Abkhazia, Chechens participated as mercenaries on the side of the Abkhaz, who succeeded in expelling the ethnic Georgian population from the region. Russia also provided financial and military support to the Abkhaz. Three years later, in 1996, the Russian-Chechen conflict erupted in the northern Caucasus. In 1999, eight thousand Chechen women, children, and men fled Chechnya to seek refuge in Georgia. As Shevardnadze explained, Georgians have accepted these refugees without harboring resentment against the actions of Chechens in the Abkhaz conflict.
Nonetheless, Shevardnadze described how the presence of the Chechen refugees in the Pankisi Gorge region of Georgia has led to increasingly tense relations with Russia. He criticized the Russian media's accusations that Georgia is harboring terrorists, saying that these comments were "designed to trigger the spread of military hostilities onto Georgian territory and to apply blunt pressure on our government to change the course of our independent foreign policy, which is aimed at integration with European and Euro-Atlantic institutions."
Shevardnadze recognized that Georgia faces significant foreign relations challenges due to its strategically important geopolitical location. He expressed gratitude to the Belfer Center's Caspian Studies Program for promoting improved understanding of the region. Such efforts, he hopes, will facilitate improvements in Georgian-Russian relations and lead to the resolution of problematic issues, such as Russia's role in Abkhazia and the continued presence of Russian military bases in Georgia, which were supposed to be dismantled as part of the 1999 OSCE Istanbul agreement.
Currently, however, Shevardnadze explained that Georgian-Russian tensions had increased due to dangerous suggestions by the Russian media and leaders that Georgia -- like Afghanistan -- could be attacked as a nation that harbors terrorists. Shevardnadze expressed relief that the West has not been swayed by what he considered baseless accusations against his country. In addition, he reminded those present that the terrorist accused of orchestrating the three attempts on his own life, Igor Giorgadze, is currently living openly and comfortably in Russia.
Shevardnadze closed his remarks by recognizing the contributions of U.S. assistance to the development of Georgia's new democracy. He explained that due to Georgia's limited experience of democracy, the challenges of democratic development are great. Yet, he emphasized that Georgia wants to "follow the road already paved by the West; to join all the major international institutions and to cooperate bilaterally with Western democracies in building our own political institutions and market economy." He added that the United States is a special ally and potent symbol of freedom for Georgians. Quoting President Bush's recent address, Shevardnadze expressed confidence that the events of September 11 would not damage the strength or liberty of the United States.
He noted that Harvard University played a special role in preserving archives related to Georgia's brief experience as an independent state from 1918 to 1921. He recognized the efforts of Harvard Professor Richard Pipes, who safeguarded the archives at Harvard from 1974 to 1997. Shevardnadze concluded by inviting Harvard scholars to come to Georgia to study the archives and to experience the hospitality of Georgia's newly independent state.
Following the speech, journalists and audience members addressed questions to President Shevardnadze. Lorne Madilson of ABC asked how Georgians would feel if the UN Security Council decided the use of military force was the avenue through which to address the terrorist attacks. In response, Shevardnadze reiterated his belief that while force was necessary, force alone would not be adequate to address the problem and that the UN should convene an international summit to address the anti-terrorist struggle.
Paul Joyle from the Daily Report on Russia and the Former Soviet Republics brought up the issue of Russia's harboring Igor Giorgadze, a terrorist who attempted to assassinate Shevardnadze and who has a valid Interpol warrant out for his address. Shevardnadze responded that the Russians apparently have an interest in keeping Giorgadze at large. Therefore, he did not expect that Giorgadze would be extradited. Shevardnadze joked that the Russians could consider Giorgadze as his gift to them.
Borys Tarasyuk, the former Ukrainian minister of foreign affairs who is currently a fellow at Harvard's Ukrainian Research Institute, praised Shevardnadze's contributions to global security. He then asked President Shevardnadze how likely he considered the possibility of Georgia's ascension to NATO. Shevardnadze noted that Georgia and Ukraine enjoyed particularly warm relations, calling their unique partnership one of "neighborly and mutual assistance." He explained that Georgia's prospects for NATO ascension are similar to Ukraine's prospects, although he added that Ukraine was more likely to ascend in the near future. He also noted that Georgia and Ukraine hold similar views on the efficacy of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), although Ukraine is not a member, while Georgia is gradually withdrawing from some aspects of the alliance.
Georgi Zedgenidze, a student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, asked about Chechen leaders' recent request that Shevardnadze serve as a broker in a peace settlement between their forces and Russia. Shevardnadze, who had in earlier press reports expressed his willingness to serve as a broker, explained that the Chechen invitation was not a sufficient basis for his participation. In order for his role in any negotiations to be effective, the Russians would have to agree to his presence, which he considered highly unlikely.