Go Georgia Go
Press the go go go button for Georgia…
The U.S. government is expected soon to approve a large aid package to Georgia through its new Millennium Challenge Account program. A top Georgian official says the program — aimed at rewarding poor countries that are thought to be governed honestly and transparently — has already triggered a dramatic change in the way Georgians approach economic development. A nationwide consultative process has produced initiatives to improve road and energy infrastructure, agriculture and tourism. Funding is likely to be approved this summer.
Georgia is going to zoom past Armenia and Azerbaijan. But will it look back? Can there be positive side effects for Armenia?
Katy, what’s the link for this news? Armenia is also elligible under the MCA but the Government messed up their first attempt and the second was significantly smaller. Would be nice to compare the two.
As for your comments re. Georgia, it’s always had the potential to develop further than Armenia and Azerbaijan but some well known problems, and not least corruption and ethnic separatism, hindered it.
I also personally believe that Georgia has huge potential to develop again after the November 2003 Rose Revolution and consider any dissent within Georgia as expecting things to change overnight whereas it will take years if not decades to change mentalities and to ensure the rule of law.
On the other hand, however, there are some valid criticisms that can be made and not least that the once vibrant civil society that was the envy of Armenia and Azerbaijan is no longer. Most moved into Government and as we all know and can repeat until we’re blue in the face, this is important a component of democracy as an effective opposition which Georgia also now lacks.
Basically, I do believe that mentalities in Government are different now and they do honestly want reform and to move closer to Europe whereas sometimes I think that in Armenia, the Government just passes laws without ever thinking whether they’ll ever work. As we know, international assistance is linked to legislative changes and other reforms.
So, I’m still holding judgement on Georgia and not least because while I’ve spoken to visiting Georgians, I haven’t been there since Spring 2003. There is the potential for Georgia to steam ahead into the distance as you say but on the other hand, people thought that around 1999 / 2000 as well when it entered the CE and WTO long before Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Then it all went wrong and it could all go wrong again. Despite these recent Freedom House rankings on the press, for example, while Georgia is still “freer” compared to Armenia and Azerbaijan there is also no doubt that there is some concern that the media is not in the same situation as it was when Saakashvili was in opposition.
Probably, the real test for Georgia has yet to come. That is, during the next elections. Will they be democratic or not? If the EU and the US is serious about integration of the region while it must assist Georgia it must also be critical.
Even so, democratically it is still more impressive than Armenia and Azerbaijan who show no signs of even wanting to strive towards a democratic system of governance. My concern, however, is that just as there can be development, there can also be regression and the Georgian Government must be careful as they walk the line between authoritarianism and “authoritarian modernization.”
There’s a summary of an online Armenian / Azeri / Georgian discussion of “One Year After the Rose Revolution” at:
http://www.oneworld.am/journalism/articles/rose_revolution_0001.html.
Maybe at the end of the year (as Azerbaijan has more unrest on its streets come the November Parliamentary Elections and as Armenia passes through a potentially volatile set of local elections) we’ll have a clearer idea if they’re on the right track or not.
Regardless, any real change in any of the countries of the South Caucasus region will take decades. The issue is whether the intention is genuine and I would at least say that I think it’s more so in Georgia.
Cheers,
Comment by Onnik — 4/29/2005 @ 5:53 pm
Eurasianet has a similar article: http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/business/articles/pp042905.shtml
Comment by Katy — 4/29/2005 @ 8:44 pm
Katy, where’s the original quote from, however? I think you forgot to put in the link and I’d like to read more.
Cheers,
Comment by Onnik — 4/29/2005 @ 10:54 pm
Awww, a good pet to good ol’ USA… How nice.
Comment by Dan Marsden — 4/30/2005 @ 2:06 am
Dan, on what basis? Because it’s applying for MCA funding? If that’s the case, so is Armenia (and for around the same amount) and that’s on top of $90 million or whatever in US funding.
Let’s face it. The South Caucasus nations are very small and very weak financially and politically. They’re the pets to anyone with money and power. However, at least Georgia might actually become a democratic country before Armenia and Azerbaijan do.
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 7:01 am
RFE/RL - sorry about that: http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/4/4BA9DBCB-CA30-4FD1-9EEE-1DFBBEE64865.html
Comment by Katy — 4/30/2005 @ 3:33 pm
Okay, same article. I should learn to read!
Comment by Onnik Krikorian — 4/30/2005 @ 11:28 pm