To the Editor,

On November 13, you published my letter entitled, “The day of truth for the West.” In response, Jim O’Neill sent a letter, published the next day, asking on whose behalf I was writing.

His legitimate question requires a straightforward answer. As a matter of fact, I was writing on behalf of all the businesspeople in Georgia who have invested their hard-earned money into the country, and are responsible for keeping tens, hundreds or even thousands of people with jobs.

All businesspeople falling into that category are very concerned about the instability created by the “hostage taking” attitude of the united political opposition.

I was surely not writing on behalf of Mr. O’Neill or any other Western ex-patriot in Georgia who has no money invested inside the country and enjoys a bulletproof guaranteed income.

In concluding his letter, Mr. O’Neill clearly advocates the closing of “the umbrella,” i.e. cutting off Western assistance to Georgia. This knee-jerk reaction confirms my concerns, and makes my point, as to how trustworthy and reliable some Western friends will prove to be in times of need.

In the unlikely scenario that Western assistance is suspended, Mr. O’Neill, as a contractor to a Western government, could ironically become one of the first victims of his own advocacy.

Fady Asly, Tbilisi

Fady Asly is president of Agritechnics Holding, a shareholder of the Messenger.