Why Georgian “buns” do not attract Abkhazia and South Ossetia
In the years since the August 2008 conflict, the Georgian authorities have continued to take steps to bring the de facto independent Abkhazia and South Ossetia back into their orbit. Why haven't Tbilisi's initiatives worked? What's wrong with them?
As an example, let's take the "Step to a Better Future" project , which was developed with the active support and generous funding of the American and European governments. The project includes a package of proposals for Tskhinvali and Sukhumi in three areas:
-expansion and simplification of trade. Support and encouragement of individual and joint business initiatives;
-providing ample opportunities for Abkhaz and Ossetian youth to receive education in Georgian universities;
-creation of a mechanism that provides the opportunity for the population of breakaway regions to enjoy such benefits of European integration as visa-free travel and free trade with the EU.
Despite its declared noble intentions, the project was viewed with skepticism from the very beginning, both by Abkhazians and Ossetians, as well as by some Georgian experts and politicians.
In the de facto independent republics, Tbilisi's initiative was rightly seen as a soft power tool that merely claims to improve the quality of life of the population of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but in reality is an attempt to bribe them and draw the republics into the Georgian legal framework.
However, a number of Georgian politicians and experts consider the very feasibility of the proposals questionable. Experts' skepticism regarding the project's feasibility was particularly fueled by the proposal to grant residents of the breakaway provinces visa-free travel and free trade with EU countries, which is problematic for Georgian citizens. Even more cynical are the promises of introducing Abkhazian and Ossetian goods into the European market that are far from meeting European standards.
The project also presents potential for corruption. Georgia has a sad history of embezzling Western funds. Not only experts and politicians, but also ordinary citizens of our country, remember well the ups and downs of the enormous funds allocated by the West to the Georgian state after the August 2008 war to overcome its economic consequences and assist refugees. The generosity shown by the United States and the European Union at that time exceeded all expectations of the Georgian authorities, as the sum donated by the West exceeded four billion dollars.
However, suspicions soon arose in the same West that a significant part of the impressive allocations allocated to Georgia was not spent for its intended purpose, but on increasing the well-being of officials in the then Georgian government.
Against the backdrop of the ostentatious Georgian elite, a hastily constructed settlement for Georgian refugees from South Ossetia, built 15 kilometers from Tbilisi in the town of Tserovani, stands in stark contrast and evidence of unheard-of embezzlement. It's no coincidence that ordinary citizens have dubbed this settlement a "ghetto."
Observing such an attitude towards their own people, of course, one cannot be surprised at the distrust of Abkhazians and Ossetians towards humanitarian initiatives coming from the Georgian side.
One can, of course, argue that this story took place under Saakashvili, and that it has nothing to do with the current government of Georgia. Indeed, many of the vicious practices of the previous government are not characteristic of the current ruling political force, but many experts predict the same unenviable fate for the humanitarian project “Step to a Better Future” that befell the “Involvement through Cooperation” program developed by the Saakashvili government.
The passion for money of officials responsible for implementing the “reintegration” of lost territories, as before, will not be the last reason for the failure of the initiative.
In fairness, it should be noted that the free medical care provided by Tbilisi to the Abkhazians, after all, has a positive effect on relations between the two peoples at the grassroots level. The high level of professionalism of Georgian doctors and the general friendly attitude towards patients coming from Abkhazia from not only the medical staff, but also the population of Georgia are reflected.
But no humanitarian program can play a decisive role in restoring full trust between the parties without a change in foreign policy by the Georgian authorities. Pro-Western rhetoric and a generally pro-Western foreign policy will always be an insurmountable obstacle to reconciliation.
If a single security space is not restored with the participation of Russia, if the military-political threat posed to Abkhazia and South Ossetia from pro-Western Georgia is not thus completely neutralized, the rapprochement of Sukhumi and Tskhinvali with Tbilisi will not happen.
English version :: Read in English Why Georgian perks aren't enticing Abkhazia and South Ossetia