|
Monday,
August 13,
2007, #153 (1420)
"I don't think
it's right to use Georgian teenagers in Abkhazia like this. Our government
should find other ways to solve these problems. It's a big risk, and
if our young people are involved in the process, maybe the Abkhaz will
take advantage of the situation for their own ends." "According
to Saakashvili it's a simple thing to solve all these problems, but
that's not true. Talking about serious things with this sort of levity
is not a smart move from the president." "I think we'll
never solve the conflicts with discos and hit songs, our government
needs a more serious policy for solving these problems. Using young
people like this isn't the right approach-I'd never go to that camp.
Patriotism is not about being in a summer camp." "I think it's
a good idea to move students and youth there-what our parents didn't
do, we will. We will show Abkhazians that we want peace." "These children
were sent to the hot zone. It's dangerous. You never know what to expect
from those people. The government should be more responsible. They want
to take back Abkhazia, okay, but it must not be done at the expense
of our children." "Well, if
the government can guarantee these children that nothing will happen,
then it's fine. But I still wouldn't send my child there. Our generation
remembers the Abkhazian war, and the terrible things they did. I just
want everything settled soon." "I don't know
how it can help. I'm not totally against these camps, but opening them
in a conflict zone won't help things. What does the government think
it will do?" "I don't really
understand what Saakashvili is thinking about putting camps in the conflict
zone. In fact, I'm really worried about the security issue there. Would
the president take personal responsibility if something happens there-if
someone bombs it, for example? Children shouldn't be in a position of
being targets." "It serves
no purpose. It's just a camp for teenagers, how can it help in conflict
settlement? What's actually significant is that the de facto secessionist
authorities are really angry about Saakashvili opening them in the conflict
zone. I think Saakashvili is just trying to upset them." |
Over
the weekend, President Saakashvili opened a new youth patriot camp in
Tbilisi-controlled upper Kodori Gorge. Taking back control of the area
was achieved, he said, by building roads and discotheques. "Youth
energy," he added, "can confront any kind of violence."
Do you think building youth camps and discos in a conflict zone is a
good strategy for conflict settlement? Is it right to use Georgian teenagers
to "confront" violence in Abkhazia?