It was a day of military music and parades in the
capital of Tbilisi as the former opposition leader formally took on the
responsibilities as Georgian head of state.
Crowds of supporters enthusiastically chanted Saakashvili's nickname -- Misha
-- as he arrived in front of the parliament building to take his oath.
Just two months ago, the 36-year-old Saakashvili led massive street
demonstrations that ousted former President Eduard Shevardnadze.
For yesterday's event, the parliament was decorated with four white and red
medieval-styled banners that had been adopted as a symbol of Saakashvili's
opposition movement.
"I'm not pro-American or pro-Russian. I am pro-Georgian."
After being sworn in, Saakashvili signed an act that made the banner Georgia's
new official flag.
In his inaugural remarks, Saakashvili recalled the memory of Georgians who
have fought throughout history for the country's independence -- including
those who opposed the Bolshevik revolution.
"Greetings to all the guests. This is the place where all the devoted
heroes of Georgia died for independence and the freedom of Georgia. They did
everything not to allow the Bolsheviks to occupy Georgia and to cut Georgia
off from international life during those decades," Saakashvili said. He
also told members of Georgia's military services that there is a need "to
create a new army and revive the spirit that helped save Georgia" during
the times of its legendary medieval kings.
"We'll do everything to improve the conditions in the army and to make
Georgia's armed forces something more prestigious and more important for each
Georgian," he said. Saakashvili won more than 96 percent of the vote in
presidential elections earlier this month. His agenda is ambitious. He is
promising to lift the country from its post-Soviet morass of economic decline,
civil wars, and corruption in order to launch a new era of stability and
growth.
In a visit seen to emphasize U.S. interests in the strategically placed south
Caucasus country, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell attended the
inauguration ceremony and was warmly greeted by Saakashvili. Washington
supports the construction of a key pipeline through Georgia in order to
transport Caspian Sea oil resources to Western markets starting next year.
Analysts say that makes stability in Georgia important for the United States.
But Russia and the United States are wary of each other's activities in
Georgia. Powell yesterday sought to calm Russian concerns about a small group
of U.S. military instructors that is in the country. Saakashvili told
reporters that he would try to maintain good relations with both the United
States and Russia while doing what is best for Georgia. "We need to
survive in a very complicated geopolitical environment and we don't want to
turn this country into a battlefield between the different superpowers. I'll
do whatever it takes not to alienate any of the countries, especially our
neighbors. We want good relations with Russia. I'm not pro-American or
pro-Russian. I am pro-Georgian," Saakashvili said.
But Saakashvili did complain about the continued presence of Russian military
forces in Georgia more than a decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
"Basically, we are talking about a few hundred Russian soldiers and
officers with some old fashioned tanks -- metal scrap equipment -- that are
useless for Russian security. Now they are not useful for Russian security.
They have symbolic importance to bolster imperial self-confidence of some
people in Moscow. Why we are worried by [this], however, is that it is a good
framework for any potential future intervention in Georgia. And I hope
[Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin is not contemplating any of that. But if
any other future government, if they have this kind of illegal base here and
they can use it for future possible aggression, that is not acceptable. We
should exclude any risks of that," Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili said he welcomes a personal meeting with Putin to discuss
bilateral relations. "I'm willing to have one of the first visits to
Moscow and to see [President Putin] personally and to develop some personal
relations. By the way, [U.S.] President [George W.] Bush, when we spoke [by
telephone], especially underlined that they are also welcoming very much if we
deliver our own personal contacts with the Russians and with Putin,"
Saakashvili said.
Powell also called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia in accordance
with a promise made by Moscow in 1999. Powell told reporters he would raise
the issue during his own talks in Moscow, where he is traveling next. Powell
also pledged that the United States would provide $166 million of assistance
to Georgia during the current fiscal year. He conveyed an invitation from Bush
for Saakashvili to visit Washington on 25 February.
