TBILISI, DFWatch – Frank Wisner, former US Ambassador to the UN, who last year negotiated with Hosni Mubarak to defuse the Egyptian crisis, is in Georgia to hold meetings.
Wisner arrived on invitation of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the Georgian president’s main political competitor, and has already met with the Georgian businessman at his business-center on a hill above Tbilisi.
No information was available about in what capacity Wisner is visiting. After the meeting Wednesday, the guest said he received good information about the current reality of Georgian political life.
“I’m enormously interested in Georgia’s future, the future of Georgian democracy. Over the past 20 years I’ve followed your history as closely as Americans normally can or are able to do and I believe very much in the course that you’ve set for yourselves to have vibrant democracy that contributes to stability throughout this region of the world and that is in harmony with the most fundamental values of Euro Atlantic community and my country,” Wisner said.
Last year during the popular uprising in Egypt, Wisner was sent to Cairo by the Obama administration to talk with Hosni Mubarak to try to defuse the crisis.
Coming to Tbilisi and meeting Ivanishvili was a special pleasure for him, Wisner said, and he hoped Georgians will define a democracy which is be based on strength of values.
Answering questions from journalists, Wisner noted that there are no exact parallels between Egypt and Georgia. He was asked this question on the background fact that he negotiated the Egyptian president’s resignation.
“This country has begun the process of democracy. We all want to see it now become real and deep and commitment on the part of all Georgians, those in authority, those in opposition. Georgia has experience to make this happen. Georgia has friends around the world; Georgia has partners to begin process,” Wisner said.
Bidzina Ivanishvili remarked that to his surprise the guest is very well informed about the current Georgian political situation, including the government’s actions against him.
“He asked really hard questions and we also discussed what crisis awaits us in 2012 and 2013 and in case of our theoretical victory in parliament elections. We had a very interesting discussion, received interesting advice, how to continue fighting in this
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