Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadzewas a Georgian politician and diplomat. He served as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party, the de facto leader of Soviet Georgia from 1972 to 1985 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. Shevardnadze was responsible for many key decisions in Soviet foreign policy during the Gorbachev Era. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he was President of Georgiafrom 1992 to 2003. He was forced to retire in 2003 as...
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth24 January 1928
came isolated
When I came back to power, Georgia was completely isolated on the international stage.
immediate pay serves song
They're making a song and dance because that serves their immediate interests. But what will happen tomorrow? They will have to pay salaries and pensions.
countries determined germany provide
True, other countries are helping us. Germany is determined to provide substantial help. So are the Netherlands and other states. But a day will come when we have to count on our own resources.
committed external georgia
The external world is committed to helping Georgia settle its problems.
biggest came secretary
Zhvania was the general secretary of the organisation which I founded, the Citizens' Union. It was the biggest organisation and came first in all elections, and Zhvania was the leader.
looked throughout
To sum up, what has been our policy? We looked for and found friends all throughout the world.
happen happening history looking president seem sure today
I'm sure that was the right step, even though, formally speaking, it may seem disadvantageous for a president to resign. But, looking into what is happening today and what is going to happen in the future, I think history will show I made the right decision.
ideas casualties bloodshed
I couldn't stand the idea of bloodshed, casualties.
two three six-months
But the Americans have no extra money. They have their own problems. They can provide financial assistance for two, three, four, or six months at most.
germany netherlands helping
Germany is determined to provide substantial help. So are the Netherlands and other states. But a day will come when we have to count on our own resources.
helping rely
But we cannot rely on foreign help indefinitely.
country believe government
I believe that with the help of foreign countries - and under that condition only, because they have no other source of financing - the new government may temporarily extricate Georgia from the current situation.
way emergencies impossible
But on second thought, after I decreed the state of emergency, I came to the conclusion that that was impossible to achieve without bloodshed because the street protesters were full of anger and nearly out of control. This is why I thought we needed to find another way out.
russia perspective looks
Prospects of normalizing our relations with Russia look good.