Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze what to seems to have had a largely successful, four-hour meeting yesterday with more than 100 business leaders. It included leaders of the Free Business Platform (FBP) grouping, set up on Dec. 15 in opposition to the government’s decision to put Tbilisi’s EU membership on hold. The FBP has called for snap elections and the release of imprisoned protesters.
On the decision on the EU, Kobakhidze reiterated that the policy was to join the EU, but only “with dignity and prosperity towards Europe.” His government has objected to the EU’s demeaning conditions, which included an assassination threat, and has insisted on its right to neutral business dealings with both the EU and Russia.
The recent anti-government protests, sometimes violent, have caused economic concerns, in particular for tourism, which has put pressure on Tbilisi to find a way out. Discussions about just redoing the election don’t get very far, as the same protesters who presented no evidence of any problem in the last election, would simply restart if they didn’t get their way in a second election.
On the release of protesters, Kobakhidze apparently gave indications to the assembled that the protesters who had been arrested might be released shortly after former President Salome Zourabichvili obeyed the law and vacated her office on the Dec. 29 deadline. However, attendees reported that there was no consideration for redoing the October election.
As reported by the Civil Georgia, one attendee, VR Holding’s founder Noshrevan Namoradze, was asked whether new elections might diffuse the tensions; he responded by asking the journalist in turn whether Georgia’s stability the last 12 years was better than having Georgia turned into a Ukraine. Another, Zurab Chkhaidze, the General Director of Kakhetian Traditional Winemaking, reported: “The government team has a specific plan, which includes ensuring that the country’s development continues at the pace it is now. I think that this rate, as it is, and these monthly and quarterly data are very good.”
The Minister of Economy and Vice-Prime Minister, Levan Davitashvili, reported that every question was answered: “We talked about the current process, the extreme polarization that exists in the society, and the challenges that our country faces today in terms of stability. Of course, the business community and all groups in the society want peace and prosperity in our country. Regardless of the political platform of different groups in our society or business, I think everyone has the same desire: to have more prosperity, a stable and predictable development environment in this country.”
