Author: Giorgi Kandelaki
Publication: Eurasianet
Date: September 26, 2003
URL: http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav092603.shtml
Editor's note: EurasiaNet provides
information and analysis about political, economic, environmental, and
social developments in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus,
as well as in Russia, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.
Against the background of a contentious
parliamentary campaign in Georgia, the government recently backed away
from signing an agreement with the Vatican that would legally establish
the Roman Catholic Church in the country. Political analysts suggest a
major factor in the decision was the government's desire to avoid alienating
the country's nationalist constituency - a potentially influential voting
bloc in the November 2 parliamentary election.
A Vatican representative arrived
in Tbilisi on September 18 to sign a treaty that would have formally established
a framework for the Roman Catholic Church's activities in Georgia. In the
face of student-led protests in Tbilisi, the government abruptly announced
that it would not go through with the agreement. Georgian State Minister
Avtandil Jorbenadze cited the "extreme sensitivity of the matter," as the
basis for the government's sudden reversal.
"Public opinion should be considered
before any action is taken," Jorbenadze said in comments broadcast by Imedi
TV on September 19. "Unfortunately, it seems that the people who were working
on these issues failed to take public opinion into account and they made
a mistake."
The strongest opposition to the
proposed Georgian-Vatican pact came from the Georgian Orthodox Church,
whose leaders complained that negotiations had been conducted largely in
secret. "It is a regrettable fact that no consultations were held with
the Georgian [Orthodox] Church and this is what causes concern ... in society,"
Ilia II, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, told state television
on September 18. Ilia II went on to warn that the pact would aggravate
relations between the Roman Catholic and Georgian Orthodox churches.
At least 75 percent of Georgia's
4.9 million population are, at least nominally Orthodox -- most of them
belonging to the Georgian church. Catholics are a tiny religious minority,
estimated to number in the tens of thousands.
A statement issued by the Vatican
expressed regret over the Georgian government's decision. "The failure
of Georgian authorities to carry out the agreement ... will damage the
Catholic community in Georgia and leave it without legal guarantees," the
statement said.
The Georgian Orthodox Church is
widely viewed in Georgia as a key pillar of national identity and of statehood,
and it continues to exert a considerable amount of influence over public
life. Given the lack of debate, many Georgians, especially those with rightist
political sympathies, were worried that the pact would effectively erode
the Orthodox church's standing in Georgian society.
Georgia's Foreign Ministry downplayed
the potential impact of the treaty. "The agreement implies the cooperation
between two states and has nothing to do with the church," Deputy Foreign
Minister Kakha Sikharulidze said
Giga Bokeria, a civil society activist
at Tbilisi's Liberty Institute, said opponents of the Vatican treaty could
not specify how the Catholic Church could threaten the Georgian Orthodox
church's position. "They simply viewed Catholicism as threat per se," Bokeria
said.
Bokeria pointed out that many of
those who led opposition to the pact were well-known figures in youth branches
of pro- government political parties, along with those aligned with the
administration of state-run universities. Bokeria has long criticized the
government for helping to foster an atmosphere of religious intolerance
in Georgia. [For additional information click here].
Presently, allies of President Eduard
Shevardnadze control the parliament, but recent public opinion polls show
that the pro- presidential For a New Georgia bloc will be hard-pressed
to retain control of the legislature after the November election. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. The pro- presidential bloc
has become increasingly reliant on nationalist- leaning forces to bolster
its election prospects, some observers say. For instance, right-wing political
figures, including Guram Sharadze, are part of the For a New Georgia election
slate. Sharadze gained notoriety for his outspoken attacks against religious
minorities in Georgia.
Some observers indicate electoral
politics played a significant role in the government's decision not to
sign the Vatican pact. Without right-wing support, pro-presidential forces
would seem to stand no chance of retaining control of parliament. At the
same time, some analysts, including Bokeria, point out that some opposition
politicians also expressed concern about the Vatican treaty. Indeed, parties
from across the political spectrum appear wary of angering the Georgian
Orthodox Church out of fear it could cost them votes.
Giorgi Kandelaki is a student at
Tbilisi State University and a member of the Youth Atlantic Council of
Georgia.
