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What Threats Should We Expect from Military Radars Installed In Georgia

March 21, 2007

Interview with Giorgi Gachechiladze, the leader of “Georgia’s Greens”

Giab.gifPublic society is concerned about the USA statements about installation American military radars in the Caucasus. According to specialists, it cannot be allowed, because in this case Georgia will run a serious risk. We should expect the attack every moment. Giorgi Gachechiladze, the leader of the Georgia’s Greens said in his conversation with the Human Rights Centre that we would be attacked by Iran, because American campaign is committed to launch hostilities with Iran.

Journalist:American government has not announced that radars would be installed in Georgia. They only mentioned the Caucasus. How can you claim that they are going to use exactly our country for the purpose?

Gia Gachechiladze: You are quite right. The Lieutenant-General Henry Obering, the head of the USA Anti-Racket Defense Agency did not mention exactly Georgia; however, he stated that the anti-racket radars might be installed in the Caucasus. It was his official statement. You know that they cannot install radars in Armenia, on the one hand, because it is strategic partner of Russia and besides that there is a contract of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) on anti-racket attack and Armenia is the member of it. Thus, Armenia should not be considered in the project.

It is too doubtful that the USA will install radars in Azerbaijan because it boarders with Iran. In parallel to it 25% of Iran population is Azeri. Thus, Azerbaijan always avoids sharing the US’ position that opposes Iran. Subsequently, although they have not mentioned Georgia, abovementioned circumstances prove that they meant our country.

- After the statement was made, several estimations concluded that the initiative was committed against Russia. Could you explain what the problem is?

-  The most interesting is the fact that according to expert conclusions, it is not committed against Russian military machine. Radars cannot detect rackets on Russian territory from Georgia because of the Caucasian Mountainous Range. Everything is planned against Iran. We should also take into consideration that most part of Iranian Space Rackets are in the North-west of the country, so it is in our direction.

- Population is not fully aware what risk we will run if military radars are installed on Georgian territory. Could you explain us the real situation?

-  At present Georgia has good relationship with Iran. We are trading with them and when we baldy needed gas, they supplied us with it. However, as soon as we let the USA install radars on our territory, Iran will turn into our enemy. The military object will target at Iran and the whole defense system of Iran will focus on Georgia. Georgia will be a target of Iranian rackets. If the conflict unleashes between the USA and Iran, that is quite possible because of tense relationship between these countries, Georgia will become one of Iran’s targets. As soon as conflict starts, Iran will try to annihilate everybody that will fight against it.

One more interesting fact is that Turkey is in this region too and is a member of the NATO. As for Israel, everybody knows that it is strategic partner of the USA. Let them host the US rackets in their territories.

 - How do you think, why did they choose exactly Georgia?

- The USA selected Georgia to build such bases here that are not very important for them, but they may cause serious problems for our country. Thus, the USA will have a guarantee to remain in Georgia politically. The same is going on in the Eastern Europe.

 - Obering made similar statements regarding Poland and Czech Republic; they are going to install radars on their territories too…

-  The reaction from the European Union was too harsh regarding those statements. Germany expressed its negative positions about the situation. The Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister stated that although the European Union is not in power to prevent the USA from implementing similar projects, they categorically contradict the initiative. The statement of the NATO Secretary-General, Schaefer, was too interesting where he opposed the USA. He said that the NATO would have greatest problems if radars are installed in the Eastern Europe. As a result the NATO might break into two.

As for your question regarding Poland and Czech Republic, their populations categorically refuse the USA initiative. 80% of them do not support the idea.

 How do you think, why should Georgia be interested to have radars installed in its territory?

- I think Georgia should not have any interest in it. Although, Georgia is a strategic partner of the USA, it does not mean that we must become a target of a very aggressive country.

- Thus the only reason for Georgia to accept the US proposal about placing military radars on its territory is strategic partnership with the USA.

- Of course, not. However, I cannot exclude the possibility that our authority might be offered some money as well.

- According to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, radars would not be installed in Georgia. Do you trust this statement?

- When we spread information about the statement, it was on March 7, the Georgian President was in Kazakhstan. I think he was not informed about it. His comment was too strange. He said he had never heard anything about it. In fact, the Pentagon officials made this statement on March 1. Hearing the president’s statement, I guessed they got afraid of what I was speaking about. If Georgian government concerns about the security of its country, they should not accept similar projects.

 - Have you shared your reasonable arguments with the government?

- We held a press-conference and made a public statement. Could we do anything more?
They are very well aware about the situation; however they do not intend to make their position public. Our statement was translated into English and then was submitted to every Embassy in Georgia, as well as to international organizations throughout Europe. If we have no result, we will start collecting the signatures.

Eka Gulua

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