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Eduard Shevardnadze was born on January 25, 1928 in Mamati settlement of Lanchkhutsky Region.
Eduard Shevardnadze left Mamati after eight years of a secondary school and then continued education at the Medical College in Tbilisi and graduated it with honors. During the first year of education he was elected secretary of the Komsomol (the Communist youth league) under the College.
From 1946 he was engaged in various Komsomol work. In 1951 he graduated from the Party School under the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia, in 1959 he graduated the Kutansk State Teacher's Training College as historian.
From 1957 he filled in position of the first secretary of Georgia's Komsomol Central Committee.
In 1961-1962 he was the secretary of the Mtshetskiy Regional Committee of Georgia’s Communist Party, in 1963-1964 – the first secretary of the Pervomaysk Regional Committee of Georgia’s Communist Party in Tbilisi .
From 1964 to 1965 he was the first deputy Minister on Public Order Security of Georgian S.S.R., but from 1965 – the minister in the organization.
In the period of 1968 to 1972 he was the ruler of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
From 1972 to 1985 Eduard Shevardnadze headed the Central Committee of Communist Party of Georgia as the first secretary.
Shevardnadze became a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1976 and a candidate member of the Politburo in 1978. In 1985 Shevardandze was promoted to full membership in the ruling Politburo.
He was decorated with an orders and medals by the government and was conferred the rank of the hero of Socialist Labor.
From 1985 to 1990 he was the U.S.S.R. Foreign Minister. At that period he was the participant and organizer of historical processes and favorable changes happened in the world. As a highly experienced politician he was the first who anticipated and foretold possible threat of dictatorship in the Soviet Union, the danger that was prognosticated by opposition as a step forward to positive relations between the greatest and advanced states worldwide, achieved as a result of hard work and efforts by progressive officials. He publicly stated of that and resigned his position of the Foreign Minister in 1990 showing his protest. After resignation he was the head of the Association of Foreign Policy.
At the instance of the population of Republic of Georgia in 1992 Eduard Shevardnadze returned to Georgia. From March 1992 he was the Chairman of the State Council of Georgia. . In October 1992 his leadership was confirmed when he was elected chairman of Parliament, Ruler of the State and commander-in-chief of Armed Forces of the republic.
On November 5, 1995 a majority of Georgia’s population elected Eduard Shevardnadze President of Georgia.
On April 9, 2000 the population of the country confirmed adherence to principles proclaimed by Eduard Shevardnadze and elected him for the second term.
Eduard Shevardnadze is a the honorary doctor at Harvard, Boston, Atlanta, Los-Angeles, Providens (USA), Triest (Italy) Universities. He is the author of "Moy Vibor" (My Choice) monograph and other articles.
Mr. President, what is your view on present geopolitical situation of Georgia as one of member-states in global energy projects, which are put into effect in the Caspian region?
Establishments of geopolitical and regional function of the country have become priority tasks for us since restoration of Georgia’s state independence.
Through participation in implementation of the global energy projects we not only provide investments into the economy and open new jobs but we also strengthen independence of Georgia. The international support, active participation with the neighboring states can certainly be considered as the most stable warranties of independence, sovereign and stability of any state.
Presently, Georgia together with Azerbaijan build a "geopolitical bridge" for the shortest way from the Central Asia and Caucasus (or "Central Eurasia" as per modern definition) to Europe. The energy projects are just a part of the meaning "Eurasian Bridge" as it going to be in the XXI century. The Great Silk Way as well as its space constituent will become carrier for not only energy recourses and technologies but also new ideas reinforcing freedom, setting up justice ideals, peace and cooperation.
Future of Georgia as an independent, democratic state is substantially connected with prospects of the regional cooperation and if we re-phrase famous expression from the perestroika time one can say that the slogan "For our and your independence and prosperity" could be recognized in our region.
Now, when the Georgian parliament has already ratified agreement on MEP and experts study the future pipeline’s route, could you please tell about major and key stages in putting this strategic project into effect, its impact on solution of economic and, possibly, political problems of Georgia in a long-term prospect?
Presently we are already getting down to implementation of the "Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan" project. At the moment the Georgian specialists together with colleagues from oil companies develop a specific route of the "Great Pipeline" through Georgia. As a result of that action it is expected to define a route that will meet interests of economic expediency and environmental security, as well as, will allow us keeping cultural heritage as the pipeline will cross regions rich in historical and cultural monuments.
The work on basic and detailed design is starting in parallel resulting in final approval of the engineering parameters of the project.
The work is also ongoing on establishment of consortium for the "Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan" oil pipeline and negotiations with international financial institutions on extending funds needed to put the project into effect.
Successful performance will allow starting the construction of the pipeline as early as end-2001, and we expect the first barrels of "the black gold" through the Great Pipeline in 2004.
In your opinion, what is prospect for the Kazakhstanian and Turkmenian gas transit via Georgia?
Besides oil produced in Azerbaijan the "Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan" oil pipeline will also transport oil produced in Kazakhstan. Such the agreement has been achieved in Istanbul during the "Millennium Summit" by signing the "project of the century". We still consider it profitable to transport gas by Trans-Caspian pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey and other regions of Europe. Of course, the interests of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan (which also possess huge reserves of natural gas) and other participants of the project should be taken into account.
What do you think about future Caspian oil and gas pipelines system?
In a few years the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey gas pipeline will be added to already existing and successfully operating oil pipeline on the Baku to Supsa route.
Discovery of large oil reserves at the Kazakhstanian field of "Kashagan" confirms that the Caspian region has huge oil recourses. A number of pipelines will be required to transport the recourses to the world markets and it has been repeatedly expressed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan. The oil and gas pipelines system will lead to creation of common multi-functional infrastructure contributing to cooperation between the states of Caucasus and Middle Asia.
What is probability of Georgia participating in the Caspian projects as not a transit country but one of oil and gas exporters to the world markets? What activities will be undertaken in this direction?
It is already two years as Frontera Recourses, the US company, is working at the Tariban field which is located in the east of Georgia, in Kahetia. Availability of 1bn barrels of oil at the field has actually been confirmed. Now Frontera works on projects aimed at refining this recourse in Georgia and exporting end product t the world markets.
Huge amounts of natural gas have also been discovered in Georgia in the east. It should be noted that participation in the Caspian projects will allow Georgia reviving its chemical and oil refinery industry – and so participating in the "project of the century" for us is not just "a transit" although this component is of importance to us as well.
Besides the energy sphere, where else can you see future development of relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan?
I would like to note that personal friendship between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia became the considerable factor for establishment of the strategic partnership relations between the both countries.
I think that that are model interstate mutual relationships at the present between Georgia and Azerbaijan. The relationships are based on the principles of cooperation, neighborly relations, complementarity of national cultures.
A solid legal foundation contributes to development of relations between the both our states in all fields, including political, economic and cultural on the international arena.
However, the most important is that we created conditions for free communication between people – Georgians and Azeries. The fact that Georgians can easily visit Azerbaijan as well as Azeries can freely go to Georgia, and get acquainted with sights and develop business are the great achievements and privilege. I reckon that this is the most important – even more important than grandiose projects which are called up to provide free and happy life for the people.
In your opinion, can reinforcement of the Presidential power in Russia affect policy of the state in the Caspian region?
During my meetings with Vladimir Putin, the new President of Russia created an impression on me of a clever and far-seeing politician. He understands it very well that the peace and stability in the region of South Caucasus meet long-term interests of Russia, as well as, just settlement of conflicts.
