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Nino BurdjanadzeChairman of the Parliament of Georgia
Date of Birth: 16.07.1964
Country:  Georgia |
Content:
- Biography of Nino Burjanadze
- In the vast office of Shevardnadze, she stands confidently.
- Unity and Power Sharing
- The Future of Georgia
Biography of Nino Burjanadze
Nino Burjanadze, the Acting President of Georgia and the Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, is 39 years old. She is a true Georgian homemaker and mother, with two sons aged ten and eighteen. She has been involved in politics for almost ten years.
Her husband resigned from his position as the Deputy Prosecutor General of Georgia two days before the revolution, in which Burjanadze played a leading role. He has not been invited to join the new government led by Burjanadze's ally, Zurab Zhvania.
Burjanadze's father, Anzor Burjanadze, held positions as the Secretary of the District Committee and the Head of the Tourism Committee in Soviet Georgia. He was one of the associates of Eduard Shevardnadze, who has not been the President of Georgia for a whole week now. Shevardnadze's daughter now leads the country from his former office in the State Chancellery.
In the former Shevardnadze's office, the same furniture from the days of Soviet decay remains, with shabby walls, a bureaucratic smell, and a bulletproof glass door that protects the President's floor. Burjanadze hardly leaves the building, where they work almost around the clock.
She shares her experience of the recent events with a correspondent from "Izvestia" Natalya Ratiani in the same office, with the same furniture and open windows through which the Saturday sun and fresh wind penetrate.
The building, in front of which the flag of the revolution was waving just a few days ago, has not changed. The same furniture from the times of Soviet decay, worn-out walls, and a bulletproof glass door that protects the President's floor. "There are even cockroaches - small red ones," young guys from Zhvania's team admit with a smile. "But soon there won't be any left."
As for the 26 volumes of the 1976 edition of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia that Shevardnadze left in his reception room, they probably won't be there either.
In the low-ceilinged building with a "heavy aura," as it is described not only by the representatives of the new government who moved into these offices last week, but also by the local janitors, Burjanadze hardly ever leaves.
"Two days ago, Saakashvili and Zhvania left my office at half-past five in the morning, and I stayed there until half-past eight when the new working day began. And it's practically every day," says Nino Burjanadze, who doesn't show a hint of tiredness on her face. On the contrary, she wears a friendly smile.
In the vast office of Shevardnadze, she stands confidently.
Goals and Relations with RussiaIn an interview, Burjanadze talks about the goals of Georgia and its relations with Russia. She emphasizes that Georgia's goal is to become a member of NATO and the EU, as well as to integrate into other European structures. She also stresses the importance of developing good, mutually beneficial relations based on mutual respect with Russia.
When it comes to Russia, she questions why it cannot be friends with the West, while Georgia cannot. She believes that it is in Russia's interest to have a united, integral, and civilized Georgia, just as it is in Georgia's interest to have a united, civilized, and democratic Russia.
Regarding the possibility of a simplified visa regime with the territories of Georgia where the situation is stable, she expresses her disagreement. She believes that it is illogical to exclude certain regions from the visa regime based on their stability, as it contradicts Russia's statements about respecting Georgia's territorial integrity.
She also mentions her discussion with Sergey Mironov, the Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia, about the visa regime during a meeting of the heads of parliaments of the "Caucasus Four" - Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. She argues that the current actions by Russia regarding the visa regime in Adjara raise negative concerns in Georgia.
Unity and Power Sharing
When asked about the unity among the revolutionaries and the potential power struggles, Burjanadze acknowledges that disagreements and disputes are part of the decision-making process. However, she believes in the importance of listening to each other's arguments and finding the truth for the sake of the country.
She emphasizes that she has always spoken the truth to Shevardnadze, which is why he has not answered her calls in the past four days. She hopes that none of them will reach a point where they stop listening to each other's opinions.
The Future of Georgia
When it comes to the future of Georgia, Burjanadze believes in the federalization of the country as a good model that can be modernized and improved for the benefit of the different peoples living in Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
She concludes the interview by stating that she is open to any advice, even if it contradicts her own opinions. She emphasizes that her ultimate goal is to serve the interests of her country and its people.
