Imagining a Neutral Georgia
Op-Ed
The United States’ recent controversial announcement about relocating the American Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem instigated almost universal condemnation: a surfeit of comments on the issue in global media that sounded utterly contradictory, as if the world does not have anything else to do except talk about the best venue in which to execute the American diplomacy in the Promised Land.
Why did the current American administration want to do this? Are they earnestly trying to perpetuate the American political values around the globe or are they just distracting the world’s attention from hotter issues, the urgency of which is really a bother to us all; like hunger, pollution, poverty, disease, conflict, crime, violence, weapons of mass destruction, education, human rights, discrimination and what not.
Whatever the overblown blah-blah is all about, the world community still feels obligated to react, and they do.
As a Georgian, I envy Israel: they always have something in store about themselves to have the world talk and quarrel about, thus staying in the focus of the world’s attention on a ceaseless basis. I wish Georgia were the subject of the world’s discussion as often as Israel. On the other hand, this envy of mine is a kind-hearted sentiment, without even a vestige of wicked jealousy. I love Israel and I appreciate its friendship and cooperation with Georgia. I also love and appreciate America, which is vigorously developing its outstanding multifaceted relationship with Georgia. I love our great neighbor Turkey too, notwithstanding our historical disagreements on various issues, and I truly appreciate our strategic partnership. I’m also looking forward to regenerating peaceful and fruitful Russian-Georgian cooperation that might turn out mutually beneficial some day in the future.
I value Georgia’s friendship with the nations of the world, both those who persistently support the recent American move about Jerusalem and those ardently against the plan. And squeezed right in between those two radically differing attitudes, I feel embarrassed about making a statement thereupon. This is exactly when it occurred to me that the only way to rid ourselves of that irksome pain in our politically overstrained neck is Georgia’s international neutrality. And it makes no sense to start throwing stones at me for this: I’m just dreaming! Imagine a neutral Georgia! Even the former soviet Turkmenistan has managed to find itself in this happily relaxed category. Why not us?! Just imagine how much better off we could be if we were part of the non-aligned movement: we could dissolve our cute little army and save a lot of money, time and youthful energy; we could stay away from the awkwardness of international statements that push us to take sides; we could save our friendships with other nations and maintain our valuable strategic partnerships; we could regain the benevolence of some of our powerful neighbors; we could open our doors a little wider to foreign investments; we could sleep calmer nights and live brighter days; and we could even receive an unexpected chance to reinstate our lost territories!
I know that the neutrality of a country is no easy thing to achieve, and that it cannot be done without a certain international consensus. It is also difficult to compare Georgia with Switzerland, which has been neutral since the beginning of the 19th century and whose neutrality is strengthened and adamantly supported by universal international recognition. How about other countries whose neutrality is comparably fresher? Liechtenstein, The Vatican, Costa Rica, Panama! I envy them even more than I envy Israel. Once, I raised this question with considerably mature and believable political scientists, experts and commentators, and frankly speaking, I was looked down on and even laughed at. What I heard from them was that Georgia’s neutrality is practically impossible and the dream has no perspective. I cannot say that I will understand them only because they have more political knowledge and experience than I do. I simply want to continue this controversy in favor of this nation. Why should it be impossible to give a better chance to Georgia? I insist, although naively and hopelessly for the time being, that Georgia could be one of the best and most optimal candidates for the enviable status of international neutrality.
Nugzar B. Ruhadze