Atlantic Council member mentions threats Georgia will face if it loses democracy
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, February 5
Laura Linderman, a representative of the US Atlantic Council, an American think tank in the field of international affairs told the Voice of America that if Georgia loses democracy, it will disappear from the agenda of many western countries, including the United States.
Linderman claims that one of the main reasons why Georgia matters for the United States is Georgia’s democratic development.
"Georgia is distinguished with democratic characteristics in the region and beyond it... If democracy is reversed, Georgia will lose its main component. Georgia is in a difficult neighborhood, in a difficult situation in terms of security, the economy is growing, but it is not so great compared to other countries. If Georgia loses its democracy, it will disappear from the agenda of many western countries, including the United States", she said.
The view is shared by former Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine and Uzbekistan, John Herbst.
"The first is the excellent cooperation with regard to security issues. Georgia's contribution to various missions, in Afghanistan, etc., is very valuable for Washington. They understand that Georgia has done a lot in defense in order to get ready for NATO integration. The second is democracy and reforms. Georgia has gained a very good reputation since 2003.
He says that many people in Washington, friends of Georgia, are worried that over the last few years they see a reverse.
“The last election [the presidential elections] was not good for Georgia's image. If this is a separate case and we will openly see that they are back to the democratic framework, it will not be important. But if it is a tendency, it will have an impact on [the two countries'] relations," Herbst told the Voice of America.
Georgian officials say that the Georgia-US relations are “an all-time high,” and the recent, pro-Georgian bills and supportive acts by the US Congress, prove this.
The US top officials and the US embassy to Georgia also say that Georgia is a regional leader in terms of democracy.
