[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 91 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6830-S6832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    SEMINAR ON THE GEORGIA REPUBLIC

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, in May 2000, a delegation from Georgia 
attended a five-day seminar in western Sicily to help further a culture 
of lawfulness in Georgia. The delegation consisted of government 
officials as well as senior educators, representatives from the 
Orthodox Church, and the media. The program was organized by two non-
governmental organizations--the National Strategy Information Center in 
Washington, D.C. and the Sicilian Renaissance Institute in Palermo, 
Sicily--with financial assistance from the City of Palermo and the U.S. 
Department of State. The seminar featured presentations on key aspects 
of the Sicilian Renaissance as well as one-on-one meetings between 
Georgians and their Sicilian counterparts to discuss specific programs 
that could be implemented in Georgia. The focus was on how in recent 
decades cultural change in Palermo and other parts of Sicily helped 
reduce crime and corruption, the lessons from the Sicilian experience 
that may have applicability to Georgia, and how the Sicilian experience 
can be modified or replicated in Georgia. The consensus of the Georgian 
delegation was that the achievements of the Sicilians were remarkable 
and that many of the practices that have been effective in Sicily are 
applicable to the prevention of crime and corruption in Georgia. The 
delegation is now developing culture of lawfulness programs with 
specific products, and methods of evaluation. Additional sectors of 
society such as the police, social workers, NGO's will become involved 
as progress is made.
  Mr. President, this program is one that attempts to go to the root of 
one of the major problems left over from decades of communist rule: 
corruption. The National Strategy Information Center should be 
commended and encouraged in these types of programs. This is exactly 
the kind of program we should be encouraging not just in Georgia but in 
the other Silk Road countries as well.
  I request unanimous consent that the following article from the 
Giornale di Sicilia (Palermo) be printed in the Record with my remarks. 
It is an interview with Vakhtang Sartania, Rector of the Pedagogical 
University of Tblisi, Georgia, and head of the delegation visiting 
Sicily, about the visit to Sicily.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

        [From the Giornale di Sicilia (Palermo), June 5, 2000.]

             Tbilisi. In Palermo for Lessons of Lawfulness

                         (By Franco Di Parenti)

       Palermo. ``Being in Sicily is like being at home. There are 
     lots of similarities between this country and Georgia: here, 
     too, people are straightforward, well-disposed towards others 
     and proud of their culture; even nature is very similar.'' 
     Vakhtang Sartania is about to leave Palermo and, together 
     with some souvenirs, he is bringing back in this suitcase the 
     image of a city that he found different from the usual 
     cliche. And he tells it with great enthusiasm. Sartania is 
     the Rector of the Pedagogical University of Tbilisi, the 
     capital (twinned with Palermo) of the former Soviet State of 
     Georgia; he led a delegation, invited by the Sicilian 
     Renaissance Institute and the City of Palermo, that had 
     meetings at all levels for five days in order to understand 
     what ``Palermo's spring'' is about, what the ``culture of 
     lawfulness'' of which Leoluca Orlando speaks so much consists 
     of, and how it happened that in the city of the mafioso 
     terror there are today only a few murders. It was not be 
     change that the Georgian delegation included mostly 
     educators, plus an orthodox priest from the Academy of 
     Clergy, and only one specialist in national security.
       ``Perhaps,'' Sartania says ``the image which most impressed 
     me was that of a schoolboy, Umberto, who during our visit 
     came up to Mayor Orlando and patted him on the arm, showing 
     how happy he was to meet him.''
       It can be read as a sign of a new relationship between 
     citizens and institutions * * *
       ``It surely can. You see, I come from a country that has 
     experienced war and has only recently regained freedom. But, 
     just like Sicily, Georgia too has given a remarkable 
     contribution to the world culture. That's why I was very 
     pleased to see Palermo so lively from the civil point of 
     view, and I think that credit for this must be given to the 
     Church and Mayor Orlando, who can be considered the symbol of 
     such transformation.''
       Did Palermo appear to you different from what you expected?
       ``Movies and books often give us a different image of this 
     country, and I must admit that I expected to find here a 
     gloomier atmosphere. Perhaps many, even in my country, think 
     it to be still so; the truth is that you have nice people and 
     nice cities here. Anyway, I was expecting a city different 
     from the way it is usually described.''
       What did this feeling originate from?
       ``From past contacts between Sicilians and Georgians. For 
     instance, in 1968 some earthquake refugees from the Belice 
     Valley were given hospitality in my country for some time. 
     And since Sicilians don't like to feel in debt, six years ago 
     some Sicilian families began to give hospitality to children 
     coming from Abchasia, A Georgian region with many 
     difficulties''.
       You came here to understand what's behind local successes 
     in the fight against the Mafia. Is your country too menaced 
     by organized crime?
       ``Georgia has a very important geo-political position 
     because it connects Asia with Europe. Commercial links have 
     just started being developed, such as those in the oil sector 
     or the so-called ``silk route''. There's the risk that 
     organized crime may infiltrate into or exploit such links for 
     illicit traffic. We must be ready to avoid it. Above all, we 
     must work on prevention''.
       Is this the reason why your delegation consists mostly of 
     educators?
       ``Your experience in combating the Mafia is very 
     interesting, and we look at the promotion of a ``culture of 
     lawfulness'' with special attention. We must transmit 
     positive values, such as patriotism and tolerance, and must 
     invest resources in that direction. In our current phase, so 
     delicate for our country, we must explain that welfare is 
     good, but it has to be legal; that family has a great value; 
     that family, school and society are the foundations of an 
     educational system. But I wish also to add that our 
     relationship must be based on a two-way exchange. We've got a 
     lot to learn, but others too can learn from us.''
                                  ____


   [From the Press-Office of the President of Georgia, July 11, 2000]

         Statement of the President of Georgia, E. Shevardnadze

       My fellow compatriots, I would like to draw your attention 
     to one of the urgent problems facing Georgia.
       Yesterday I signed the Decree on the ``National 
     Anticorruption Program'', according to which a special 
     authorized group of the highest level was established, headed 
     by Mr. Lado Chauturia, Chairman of the Supreme Court of 
     Georgia.
       This group shall elaborate several stages of the 
     anticorruption program, oriented on various trends, which 
     will be the ground for very radical actions and corresponding 
     policy.
       There is no time left, the situation is unbearable, our 
     society expects the urgent measures from us.
       I would say, that I made this very hard decision after 
     beginning of the process of economical improvement in the 
     country. It is

[[Page S6831]]

     enough to say, that in the first part of the current year the 
     Gross Domestic Product has increased by 5 percent, and the 
     industrial output by--11 percent in comparison with the same 
     period of the last year. The export volume is increasing, and 
     it is important, that since 1998 the change in the tax 
     incomes' gross has taken place for the first time.
       All I said indicates that the country will definitely 
     overcome the both--the budgetary and the financial crisis; 
     the significant economic growth will occur, the problems 
     related to unpaid salaries, pensions and other kinds of 
     payments will be solved as well as those of social 
     assistance.
       But the success will be temporary only; the country will 
     fail to recover entirely, if we do not have the clear, exact 
     and active anticorruption program as a firm basis for it.
       Let me label this social disease as ``malignant tumor'', 
     that is removable with pain, but necessary measures should be 
     taken urgently.
       I should be fair and remind you--much was done during the 
     last 4 years in order to set some limits to ``corruption 
     space'' and for creation of the anticorruption basis in 
     Georgia.
       Proper legislative system was created and that is very 
     important. Criminal, Civil and Administrative Codes 
     reflecting contemporary realities and national specific 
     nature were worked out and approved. The common courts and 
     Supreme Court have the new legislative basis.
       Many laws have been approved, intended against the 
     corruption processes in the society. The law ``On Licenses'', 
     ``On State Purchase'', ``On Monopoly Activities and 
     Competition'' and many others are among them.
       The law ``On Conflict of Interests at Public Service and 
     Corruption'' is worth to mention on the ground of which 
     Information Bureau for Ownership and Financial State of 
     Higher Officials has done a large-scale work.
       The judicial reform has been carried out--the penitentiary 
     system was subordinated to the Ministry of Justice.
       Two thousand persons were arrested within last three years 
     for committing crimes like abuse of one's position and 
     misappropriation of State property. The six hundred of them 
     have been already imprisoned.
       These facts seem to prove the intensity of our struggle, 
     but our efforts are not still enough. At the same time, one 
     must consider the unfit system of the law enforcement bodies 
     extremely hard material and financial conditions of the 
     employees, poor technical basis.
       Yet, I believe, that law enforcement bodies and reforms 
     therein are of great importance and they will intensify 
     combat of corruption.
       They should not wait final preparation of the program but 
     intensify the activities for establishment of the 
     corresponding fund.
       The interested bodies have suggested the several versions 
     of the anticorruption program.
       Most of them are interesting and I would emphasize the 
     suggestions of the local administrations, local self-
     governing bodies, and of course, the corresponding 
     Parliamentary Committees.
       As for my yesterday's special Decree about the 
     anticorruption program, I have already said, it has a very 
     important function and liabilities.
       Well, I think I must share several opinions.
       The first conceptual thesis is that the corruption has 
     reached the crucial level with its scale and nature, that 
     makes dubious almost every State initiative and 
     implementation of some Governmental programs.
       Unfortunately, the high level of the corruption has damaged 
     authority not of the Government only, but of the Georgian 
     independent state.
       The fulfillment of both interior and foreign priorities is 
     immediately connected with the necessity of suppressing 
     corruption.
       I am not departing from my responsibility and am fully 
     responsible for this situation.
       But nobody should forget that President of the State is 
     able to do only what the society and the whole country are 
     capable of performing.
       Since the end of the civil war and bloody conflicts, and 
     until now, I had to compromise on some issues, in order to 
     rescue the other more important and more priority values for 
     the moment.
       Last 8 years of my governing have been devoted to turning 
     of almost ill independent Georgian State into a healthy one, 
     and to create it in fact.
       That's why I had to make a hard choice concerning, problems 
     to be solved on the first stage and proper use of our poor 
     resources more effectively.
       Once more, I declare with all responsibility: nowadays 
     nothing can be of more important issue for Georgia's society 
     and State development, than combating corruption.
       All other issues must be subordinated to the settlement of 
     this strategic issue.
       The second: the long-term and detailed analysis of the 
     corruption as a phenomenon in the country allows me to 
     conclude the following: In spite of some proper programs, the 
     anticorruption activities up to now produced no desirable 
     results. The local programs failed to create proper State 
     mechanisms, able to solve the problems.
       In other words, the solving of the State-scale problems 
     appeared impossible within the framework of the separate 
     actions. Even the judicial reform, quite effective 
     anticorruption action by itself was not enough evidently.
       It goes without doubt, that in order to solve large-scale 
     State problems, it is necessary to elaborate a multistage 
     statewide program.
       Meanwhile, the program must be supported by the consequent 
     actions systems, finances, and social-political factors and 
     by the active support in the society.
       The third: My long-term experience of being at the wheel of 
     the country, has assured me that unprepared actions hear only 
     a campaign, surface character and can yield only temporary 
     results.
       In some cases, the populist impulsiveness may only 
     aggravate the problem. So, instead of recovery from the grave 
     disease we are likely to get the opposite result.
       That is why I acted so carefully.
       That's why, I consider it both necessary and possible to 
     undertake the radical measures after common State program for 
     complex anticorruption policy was prepared. I would say, the 
     national program and the corresponding executive mechanism 
     will be created.
       As we established the anticorruption service and some 
     corrupted officials have been arrested, I could have earned 
     more ``grades'' in the pre-electoral period, but I am sure, 
     that we would not be able to combat corruption, and that 
     would only worsen the situation by populist actions.
       The fourth: working out of the anticorruption program will 
     be the ultimate step for the fulfillment of my main purpose--
     to combat corruption in Georgia for good.
       I am sure, that after recovery from the disease, the 
     Georgian State will be healthy and sound, and Georgian people 
     will have own everlasting prospects of the national 
     development.
       I declare that the statement of the anticorruption program 
     that will be submitted to me by the group, working on it 
     presently will be a cornerstone of my policy during the 
     second term of my Presidency, as it is economic growth at 
     present stage.
       The same statement and recommendations define the purposes 
     and rights of the special anticorruption service or the 
     anticorruption committee.
       The necessity of creation of such a body is the topic of a 
     large-scale discussion in the society, which must be 
     continued.
       The fifth: the members of the group, working at the 
     program, (it is remarkable, that the number of the group's 
     members may be enlarged, if necessary), as well as the 
     invited guests (I mean the well-known foreign experts), must 
     gain the trust and create the necessary authority in the 
     society, important for implementation of the program.
       This group will depart from narrow political interests. It 
     will realize a super-party, nationwide mission and shall 
     cooperate with those political forces, for which corruption 
     is national insult, humiliation of national dignity, source 
     of national and social jeopardy and not the life style.
       The sixth: I completely understand the great national 
     importance of these tasks. I have made this strong decision. 
     My political will is firm. I address to my adherents, 
     companions, the members of government, parliamentarians; I 
     categorically demand from them to accept president's will 
     with complete responsibility and understanding.
       The first victims of anti-corruption policy should be those 
     unkind officials and statesmen, who are determined to reach 
     their aims and goals by using their positions, enjoying 
     partisan or relationship links with me for their own 
     prosperity and not for strengthening the national buildup.
       The seventh, I strongly believe that anti-corruption 
     activities will receive complete support from the citizens of 
     Georgia and from the whole Georgian society. At the same 
     time, all of us need to acknowledge our civil and national 
     responsibilities.
       In this complicated and non-compromising combat, we, the 
     society and government, must defend the superiority of 
     justice and law, we must categorically exclude the efforts of 
     mutual punishment, blackmailing and civil counteract.
       I gave a special importance to the support and principal 
     attitude of the press, primarily television and mass media at 
     large.
       The Georgian media is our democracy's important 
     achievement. For several times, it showed veritable national, 
     patriotic attitude toward the national affair and devotion 
     toward any national interest.
       Even more patriotism and intense sense of responsibility 
     are necessary today.
       In the process of being of vital importance, the unity of 
     words and actions must turn into principal measure and basis 
     of patriotism for every citizen and government official.
       More than this, during the program elaboration, and while 
     its implementation, no single agency shall avoid the 
     responsibility that it invested in it by the law and all 
     agencies shall be obligated to fight against corruption.
       I want to add that to combat corruption with some 
     repressive methods implies a certain preventive system, an 
     active application of economic lever and mechanism, the 
     restriction and suppression of criminals in the economic 
     sphere.
       I don't suspect that in the present circumstances, when the 
     society has realized the importance of such a destructive 
     vice, with joint will and endeavor Georgia can overcome this 
     problem and recover from such a shameful disease as 
     corruption represents itself.
       In response, our generation will regain the right and honor 
     to look into the face of the next generation proudly and 
     create healthy, honest and democratic order in Georgia.
       It is my firm decision and I will use all my strength, 
     experience and facility to realize it.

[[Page S6832]]

       And now, let me announce the Decree.
       ``On Elaboration of National Anti-corruption Program''
       ``Taking into consideration the scale and the complexity of 
     the corruption and to increase the effectiveness of 
     activities for its suppression a national group shall be set 
     up to the office of President of Georgia. The group with the 
     following membership shall develop the anti-corruption 
     program:
       1. Lado Chanturia--Chairman of Georgian Supreme Court, Head 
     of the Group;
       2. David Usuposhvili--Lawyer, Executive Secretary of the 
     Group;
       3. Gia Nodia--Director, Caucasus Institute for Peace, 
     Democracy and Development;
       4. Sulkhan Molashvili--Chairman of Georgian Chamber of 
     Control;
       5. Levan Dzneladze--First Deputy of Georgian Minister of 
     Finances;
       6. Nana Devdariani--Georgian Public Defender;
       7. Gia Meparishvill--Member of Parliament;
       The task group shall present the main trends of the program 
     by September 20, 2000. The essential components and plans 
     will be implemented before the final presentation of the 
     program. The deadline of developing and publishing complete 
     version of national anti-corruption program is fall, 2000.
       While working out national anti-corruption program the 
     Group shall:
       Gather, analyze and collect recommendations of 
     international organizations concerning corruption in Georgia, 
     programs worked out in governmental structures, research 
     agencies and ideas based on private initiatives shall be 
     presented to the Group;
       Be provided with the idea of the national consensus--to 
     negotiate with each interested person, political and social 
     groups;
       Work out a specific mechanism to make a program taking into 
     account society involvement and their proposals and opinions;
       Explore, analyze and use experience in corruption problems 
     of foreign countries and leading international governmental 
     and non-governmental organizations;
       Define the separate sections of anti-corruption system, 
     provide their systematic description, (legislative base, 
     institutional structure, political system, economical base, 
     moral, psychological preceding, etc. . . .) and explain the 
     relationship concerning reasons and results, hence, set up a 
     system of priorities;
       Elaborate on political, financial, institutional, 
     legislative and personnel staff providing schemes for anti-
     corruption program implementation;
       Analyze acting legislation of Georgia, make complex program 
     of legislative amendments and thus eradicate those 
     legislative defects that promote formation of corruption 
     based relations or hinder effective struggle against 
     corruption;
       Study the relations of separate national traditions to 
     corruption-based relations spread all over the country and 
     take appropriate measures;
       Make a prognosis for main obstacles expected on the 
     definite stages of project implementations process and define 
     the ways to avoid them;
       According to definite program activities make a prognosis 
     for the most afflicted social groups and regions and plan to 
     take social protection measures;
       Seek and invite Georgian and foreign specialists to 
     elaborate on concrete problems and thus to arrange working 
     conditions for at least two specialists on every issue;
       Discuss the materials offered by experts, plan to take 
     concrete measures in definite directions and unite them 
     within the frames of complex anti-corruption program stages;
       Define the mechanisms for the monitoring of program 
     implementation process and for adequate reaction towards 
     variable environment;
       Present concrete recommendations concerning anti-corruption 
     activities to the president of Georgia in case of demand, or 
     by private initiative, in case of especially important 
     issues;
       Demand from every state and local administration requested 
     information in timely order without any obstacles.
       We acknowledge that foreign countries and international 
     organizations and/or missions acting in Georgia shall provide 
     active support and give necessary assistance (including 
     financial aid) to the Group;
       Non-governmental organizations, political units and 
     representatives of public society shall be urged to cooperate 
     with the group and respond their requests on time;
       The group shall work out the working schedule within next 
     week. It should be taken into consideration that a special 
     anti-corruption plan and materials thereof are designed at 
     the national Security Council to President of Georgia and 
     according to the order of President of Georgia will be handed 
     over to the Group to utilize them while working process.
       The members of the Group who are not in civil service shall 
     receive their salary from exploring funds of the Program;
       The executive secretary shall provide administrative and 
     technical arrangements for the Group.

                          ____________________