Iosif Tsiskarishvili: it is necessary to divide policy and sports during the Olympic Games

The known Georgian political scientist Iosif Tsiskarishvili tells about the relation of the Georgian society and politicians to the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in interview of «The world and we».

—The statements for need to boycott the Olympic Games in Sochi repeatedly sounded during Mikheil Saakashvili’s board. What relation to the upcoming Olympic Games prevails in Georgia now?

Recently the most part of the Georgian society and the new power had an accurate mood — to divide policy and sports, to give the chance to athletes to remain full-fledged members of the Olympic family. At the same time there is the practice in policy peculiar to the states, not having diplomatic relations.

Therefore the decision to send athletes to Sochi, but not to be the presented any leaders of power structures there is made. Thus supporters of National movement and the former president Mikheil Saakashvili arrange meetings against participation in the Olympic Games to this day. But it is already unimportant part of a situation in society which became a little significant background.

— How the Georgian authorities treat the participation of representatives of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in the Olympic Games?

There are serious statements of the new government and the prime minister for possible steps of a protest to Sochi if the heads of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will present in the rank of official guests. There were messages in mass media about possibility of such situation. And it would be already direct call for the Georgian state. Readiness of the Georgian authorities in that case to withdraw the Georgian athletes can become quite real.

Today the official reaction about it based on communications of the Georgian party with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. The confirmation came from that there are no present heads of Abkhazia and South Ossetia among the officials invited to the Olympic Games. But if in reality it is not so, the number of protesters against participation of the Georgian Olympic team in Games in Sochi will sharply grow, and with it, of course, the authorities should be considered. Not so long ago it was accurately declared in several interviews by the present prime minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili who gave it to different mass media, being in Brussels.

— Also some Georgian politicians expressed negative statements concerning the involvement of Abkhazia, including its resources, building materials in preparation for the Olympic Games in Sochi. As far as this subject is now actual?

Concerning that any Abkhazian resources were got in damage of nature protection processes — this subject stops being actual as everything is already made and constructed.

Everything depends on success of the Sochi Olympic Games as a whole. Certainly, the Olympic ideals are higher than any political opposition. And if the Georgian population is convinced that this action will be presented as the real Olympic Games, of course, the success will be the general. Such communications in sports, culture and the social sphere between Russia and Georgia can create new level of interaction at the population of our two countries and as to become a reason for non-standard and constructive decisions in the difficult interstate relations.

— How much the safety issue of the forthcoming Olympic Games, emergence of provocations and terrorism threat is acute?

Certainly, something can’t be claimed in advance. There are those who wish to create the similar. But I think that Russia is that state which can cope with such calls. The spirit of the Olympic Games is an effective component of safety, and the activity of persons to whom tranquillity preservation in Sochi will be entrusted, no doubt, convincing for tranquillity of participants and guests of the Olympic Games.

At the same time, it is possible to note some intensity in connection with excessive security measures. Including this invasion into 11-kilometer zone on the territory of Georgia. It can increase only danger because if the Olympic Games will be used by Russia for change of borders with neighbours, it will be reflected very painfully in tranquillity of this region sooner or later.

Concerning the terrorist threat I don’t think that any aggression in the period of the Olympic Games can bring though any positive result for terrorists. In that case they doom themselves to reciprocal extreme intolerance from all world community in advance. There are many other opportunities to prove own truth and terrorism — it is the worst form for achievement any goal.