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This doesn't mean that the West can now pay less
attention. The lessons learned from countries in
transition, not least in the Baltics, is
that international involvement is critical for success. And I do not mean
just the hands-on support for developing democratic institutions, as
important as that is. In this strategic and rough neighborhood, political
symbolism and gestures have immense significance. It is crucial for the
people and their leaders to feel that the future of their democracy and
continued self-determination is a real European concern.
It was Russian pressure on this young democracy, after
all, that contributed to the recent crisis. Russia
is now the only major country to declare Georgia's elections
"undemocratic." Opposed to Georgia's turn to the West after the
2003 Rose Revolution, Moscow launched an economic, energy and propaganda war,
cutting trade with Georgia and raising tensions in the two breakaway regions
of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Kremlin's ceaseless pressure has led to
mistakes, by both the government and the opposition.
The West can't of course accept any trade-offs between
democracy and the rule of law on the one hand, and Georgia's
fears of Russia.
At the same time, it is unacceptable that Russia seeks to destabilize its
neighbors. Europe should not make any trade-offs with Russia on
this either. This includes the West's full and nonnegotiable support for Georgia's
territorial integrity.
The best way to guarantee the stability in the region is
to keep the door open for Georgia
to NATO. In a separate vote last Saturday, an overwhelming majority of
Georgians supported joining the West's military alliance. As a first step, Georgia has
long hoped for an invitation to join NATO's Membership Action Plan, a program
designed to help aspiring members meet NATO's standards for democracy and
peaceful conflict resolution. Rejecting Georgia's
bid now would discourage not only Tbilisi
but other countries trying to embrace democracy. Georgia has made impressive
progress. As Western politicians we are obliged to continue to engage in this
process. This is not the time to bail out, but to be part of the solution.
Mr. Laar, a former prime minister
of Estonia, is an economic adviser to Mikheil Saakashvili.
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