Georgian diplomacy: Its tasks and prospects

An 'Ambassadorial' was held in Tbilisi on 7-9 September attended by around 50 Georgian ambassadors from different countries. At the beginning of the event the Georgian Foreign Minister, Grigol Vashadze outlined the tasks, goals and incentives which the Georgian diplomats should try to fulfill over the coming year. There are three major issues: first is attracting foreign investments, second is the international recognition of Georgia’s occupation by Russia and the third is the acceleration of integration into European structures.

The first issue of attracting foreign investments has been priority of the Georgian diplomatic corps for the last several years. This has now become a very sensitive matter since investments into the country have been dramatically decreasing. The assistance given to Georgia after the Russian invasion has been exhausted and the country is on the verge of facing problems. While the ambassadors have been instructed to work to attract investments, the major issue is the image of the country in the investment arena, which consists of different important components. Some independent analysts suggest the country’s investment image is not as attractive as the country’s leadership claims. Because there is the real and simple question that if the country is as attractive as the leadership claims why is investment not flowing in? Foreign Minister Vashadze talks of the country's development democratically and as a liberal free economic principled state and instructs our ambassadors to promote these facts to other countries, but again we repeat, the attractive climate should be a reality and not a myth.

The second issue is Georgia’s occupation by Russia. All the statements Georgia is making should be judicially supported. The policy should not just be about ensuring other countries do not recognise Georgia's breakaway regions as independent states, though this should be observed stills. The number one task is that Russia should be recognised worldwide as an occupier, stated the minister for reintegration Temur Yakobashvili. According to him such worldwide recognition will facilitate the de-occupation process.

The third issue of the 'ambassadorial' was integration into European structures. Georgia started aiming for this following the Rose Revolution, promising integration into European structures as soon as possible. In reality however to achieve this goal, the country must comply with a great number of preconditions: developing democratic values, freedom in the courts, freedom of the press, protection of human rights, free elections and many others. Clearly, as of now there still remain many shortcomings.