In response to President Zurabishvili's speech;
I have listened to your speech carefully and I want to express my position on this issue not only as the third president, but also as a patriot who is thinking about the future of this country.
In my opinion, the best format in this regard is the so-called model of the South African Republic, where the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up. However, in this format one side is not speaking from behind bars and in the presence of prosecutors; we all need to sit at a round table and discuss together the past and most importantly the Euro-Atlantic democratic future of our homeland, the prosperous and secure life of our nation.
I cannot but recall the proposal voiced in the media by the fourth president of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, regarding the meeting of the three Georgian presidents. I think we should move forward with this idea. I believe that the fourth President of Georgia, Giorgi Margvelashvili, would be the most relevant and credible figure for all parties of the process.
Being a political prisoner, I have no illusions that I will be released for participating in the meeting. Therefore, I propose to hold the first such meeting in the Gori Military Hospital, where I am still held in the status of a prisoner but not asking you for pardoning me and have no intention to do so at this meeting either. It is my deep conviction and profoun belief that there is no alternative to such a dialogue. Any attempt to suppress the minority by the majority, no matter how many billions and punitive troops the majority may possess, carries the enormous threat of a civil strife. I doubt that not just careering risks but possibly it is the main aim to be achieved by enemies of western democratic future of Georgia.
This will end our country and will be a catastrophe for all Georgian patriots. The only subject interested in it could be Russia, our number one and only enemy who wants and needs to bring back Georgia to failed countries list with no any perspective for democracy, western integration, security and prosperity.
Peace, development and a complete reset – that is what we need.
Time is very short and not a single minute can be wasted. Therefore, I would like to ask the Georgian society, political forces, non-governmental sector, media, international community to support the reconciliation process and to consider the format I propose.
Mikheil Saakashvili