Русская версияGeorgia should be allowed to make the decision itself, similarly as former Czechoslovakia made it after the breakup of the Soviet bloc in 1989, he says.
Once this right is recognised, then Georgia's future entry into NATO cannot be ruled out if Georgia meets the necessary conditions, Sobotka says.
If one believes that Georgia does not have this right with respect to Russian interests, one acknowledges Russia's right to geographically organise the states around it in order to get them in its sphere of influence and discipline them, irrespective of the opinions and decisions of the citizens of these states, Sobotka writes.
But then it would be too late to criticise Russia for using unscrupulous methods to achieve this, he says.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili seems an unpredictable person who has no regard for human life, but such politicians unfortunately appear even in more democratic countries than Georgia and they are always dangerous, Sobotka writes.
However, Georgian voters can deal with the problem in a democratic way, similarly like the Serbs gradually succeeded in distancing themselves from the regime of Slobodan Milosevic, Sobotka points out.
Russian troops entered Georgia in early August after Tbilisi tried to dominate its province South Ossetia by force.
Russia then recognised the independence of the Georgian breakaway regions of South Abkhasia and Abkhasia.
The Czech government has condemned the Russian operation in Georgia and called on Russia to respect Georgia's territorial integrity. The EU organises an extraordinary summit on Georgia on Monday.
(Ceske Noviny)
more info >>
<< Back