Georgian Election - 1.04.04

 

Georgian Jewish Report on Presidential Election Following Sunday's Presidential election in Georgia, NCSJ received the following letter from Maurice Krikheli, Director of the Tbilisi Hillel and one of the leaders of the Georgian Jewish community.

Maurice Krikheli chairing the opening of Tbilisi's new Jewish Community Center, August 2003

 

Also read:

JTA report Moscow Watching Election Results Christian Science Monitor coverage

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Dear NCSJ Friends,

First of all I would like to congratulate you on New Year 2004 and wish you health, happiness, success and all that you wish yourselves.

Today is the day of Presidential Elections in Georgia, which are full of hope for the people of Georgia for a better future. 

Just a few minutes ago, the central election committee and international observers acknowledged our elections as transparent, equitable and fair. We in Georgia are all very proud that the newest choice of the Georgian people is for a proper, true, veritable democracy:  a choice to abandon leftovers of the communist regime such as corruption, violence, and falsehood; a choice to build a new free society with prospects in business, prospects in healthy relationships with the international community, prospects in a secure life for our own citizens and for any foreigners – tourists, businessmen, scientists, etc. 

A very high number of voters who came out to exercise their right to vote expressed their faith in the new leadership of the country.  We deeply hope that Michael Saakashvili will be a President worthy of the trust that Georgians have placed in him.

Regarding the Jewish community:  On Thursday, December 25, Israeli Ambassador Rivka Cohen hosted a Chanukah reception to which Michael Saakashvili, Zurab Zhvania and other national leaders were invited. Michael Saakashvili, while wearing a kipa on his head, lit one of the Chanukah candles and acknowledged the importance of the Georgian-Israeli strategic relationship, and the friendship between the Georgian and Jewish peoples. On Friday, December 26, they visited the main synagogue before Kabbalat Shabbat services, again and again expressing their respect for the unique relations between Georgians and Jews and their desire to deepen business, cultural and scientific ties relationships between Georgia and Israel.

We in the Jewish community are very hopeful, and we believe that the near future will confirm our expectations. But we also realize it is time to start actively building a modern, appropriate Jewish lobby, which will protect the interests of Jews of Georgia not only in words, but in real acts.

With the best wishes and warmest regards.

Sincerely,

Maurice Krikheli