Bobokhidze: “Europe Is Eager to Turn Georgia Into a Habitat of Wolves”

Nino Khakhishvili, Netgazeti

On May 31, the draft amendments to the law about Creation and Management of Kolkheti Reserved Territories were passed at the first hearing in the parliament though it contradicts the international conventions.

In accordance to the draft-amendments to the Law about Creation and Management of Kolkheti Reserved Territories, 842.4 hectares of land in the multifunctional territory of Kolkheti will no longer belong to reserved territory and the state will launch infrastructural projects there.

Members of parliamentary majority, who attended the committee discussions of the draft-amendments, clarified that construction of Poti-Anaklia motorway will significantly reduce traffic movement from Batumi to Anaklia and it will finally promote development of resort zone.

The only person, who did not vote for the amendments, is MP Dimitry Lortkipanidze from the parliamentary minority.

“The initiated amendments aim to remove 842 hectares from the reserved territories. It contradicts the Ramsar Convention. International law is above all national legislations. With their activities, the government is destroying unique eco-system of Kolkheti lowland which does not have an analogue in Georgia. I request formal basis of their decisions but the majority cannot satisfy my request because only one person has decided to do it,” Lortkipanidze said.

After the session of the environmental committee of the Parliament of Georgia, deputy minister of environment and natural resources Gocha Mamatsashvili clarified that they had decided to make changes into the law in order to encourage investors to invest money in the area more bravely and it will farther support the development of state economics.

Member of the parliamentary majority and chairman of the parliamentary committee of environment and natural resources MP Akaki Bobokhidze does not think that the draft amendments contradict the international law, which Georgia ratified in 1996.

“Of course we do not breach anything because none of the documents state that agreements shall not be changed ever in future or they do not envisage changes in dynamics; nobody claims that those decisions will never be changed. No decisions are made in the world which will not be changed in future. But even if they still believe that we have breached the law, they will expel us and that is all. Even if they impose any sanctions on us, it will happen only once,” Bobokhidze said.

Representatives of Georgian environmental organizations protested the initiative of removing 842.4 hectares of land from the Kolkheti Reserved Territory before its first hearing in the parliament and said “the draft law contradicts Ramsar, Bern and Orhus Conventions as well as EU Habitat Directive, Birds Directives and Environmental Impact Directives.”

Akaki Bobokhidze said it was natural of the environmental organizations to protest the initiative. It is sensitive topic for them. They receive funds for the protection of environment. Economic development of the country is second issue for them. We are not environmental organization and we consider interests of both nature and our citizens simultaneously,” Bobokhidze said.

When commenting on international conventions, the MP spoke about European policy.

“Europe is eager to turn Georgia into a habitat of wolves. Europe, with no wolves on its territory, is protecting wolves in Georgia. I have stressed several times – we will send them wolves if they are eager to have them. As for us, we first of all want our country for people where nature and people will live in harmony. Any government of Georgia will have to look through not only reserved territories but some other projects too,” Bobokhidze said.