Two days ago on Eka Beridze’s air a well-known American expert Paul Goble gave the best master-class to the entire political elite, experts and journalists community of Georgia: foreign political prospects of Georgia, rather real chances for restoration of territorial integrity in case of pursuing calculated and thought over policy by Georgia.
I was listening and thinking – but during Saakashvili’s 9-year-long rule abounding with war rhetoric and actions, there existed such an America: pragmatic, sober-minded, well-disposed and able to give Georgia the most efficient and right direction at the given historical span of time. The America, that said and still says that Georgia’s road to NATO and European Union doesn’t go through confrontation with neighbors but through cooperation. The America that is interested not in Georgia as a target for Russia but Georgia, that is able and should take upon itself the responsibility to assist in securing stability in Caucasus. Paul Goble didn’t say that parallel to this America there is another one, or, to put it more exactly, the part of American political elite that as well got stuck in not-so-far 90s and mainly considers Georgia as an outpost and, excuse my French – as a sore on ‘Russian bear’s’ body. Saakashvili was indeed their adherent and we can conclude from Paul Goble’s logic that whatever happened in August of 2008 was a provocation not only for Georgia but for Russia as well because by recognizing independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia it got a huge mine planted in the North Caucasus: extension of centrifugal tendencies in the North Caucasus is directly proportional to deepening of the process of Abkhazia’s recognition.
It took the American analyst a couple of strokes to show us an optimal road: 1.to NATO and European Union; 2. restoration of territorial integrity. For the attention of the short-sighted political class that hates our strategy, I’ll permit myself to summarize Goble’s theses in these two directions.

Long-wished-for Alliances
1. Georgians can’t fully realize the meaning of NATO and UN membership that isn’t only rights but obligations as well. It requires fundamental revision of laws, approaches, behavior for which the authorities must prepare the people and prepare themselves too;
2. Regulation of relations with neighbors is one of the main requirements of EU. Georgia will sooner become the NATO and EU member in case it is with Russia not in the mode of confrontation but of cooperation;
3. Out of the former USSR countries Georgia has the most authentic chance to become NATO and EU member.

Hallo, Abkhazia!
1. Get rid of Russian complex: not only Russia holds trumps! It’s time to realize that Russia needs Georgia’s good disposition just like we need theirs;
2. The hazard coming from Muslim groups from within as well as outside the country, threatening Russia from Central Asian and North Caucasus regions makes it see the need of a strong orthodox ally as represented by Georgia;
3. To rely only upon Armenia doesn’t give much to Russia in the South Caucasus. Georgia is the road and key to Azerbaijan, Iran and Persian Gulf;
4. To control the North Caucasus is unimaginable without the South Caucasus. In this regard, Georgia can offer Russia something vital: territorial integrity in return for territorial integrity!
5. Within the nearest 5 years Abkhazia may turn for Russia into a threat that will distance it from the Black Sea and make it lose bigger territory in the face of the North Caucasus. Just imagine that Abkhazia is internationally recognized and embassies of all NATO countries are presented on its territory. What will be done by stimulated and incited North Caucasus?! Russia will completely lose control of the North Caucasus?! For this reason, selling Abkhazia to Georgia may become very profitable for Russia.
6. With regard to Abkhazia Georgia may act according to the ‘Trade Union principle’: Trade Union is strong when threatening but not when beginning the strike. Why can’t Georgia ‘threaten’ Russia with recognition of Abkhazia’s independence that will turn into the North Caucasian nightmare for Russia?!
And generally, Georgians, let’s be optimists and creative. There is McCain’s America and that of Paul Goble. And if we love our country, we’ll realize that Georgia is the trump that 2500-year-long history couldn’t cover and we’ll meet the future with our heads raised.