Saakashvili: Young Countries Need Young Leaders

December 2, 2011

Saakashvili: Young Countries Need Young Leaders

On December 1st, 2011, the day Central Asia witnessed its first peaceful transfer of power since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili called on students and young leaders in the Kyrgyz Republic to take action.  "Only the Kyrgyz people can bring about change in the Kyrgyz Republic," the President said when asked how the Georgian anti-corruption program could be duplicated in Central Asia.

President Saakashvili was on hand for the inauguration of Almazbek Atambayev as President of the Kyrgyz Republic.  A supporter of young leaders across the region (he cited himself as the oldest government official in Georgia at 43), he agreed to address a group of 200 young leaders and students at the American University of Central Asia.

Saakashvili said that he envied the students.  "The opportunity for change is in the air here.  There is an energy and a desire very similar to what we had in Georgia.  If someone asks me where in the world I would want to be today, I would tell them that I want to be here in the Kyrgyz Republic."  

The president stated further that the similarities between the two countries run deeper than their shared Soviet past.  They both have young populations unburdened by the Soviet mindset.  They both have limited natural resources, meaning that they have to depend on their human capital for development.  And they both are striving to develop the institutions that will make the most of their human capital, though Georgia has certainly progressed further on this goal.

"The reforms in Georgia set an example for countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Kazakhstan, Panama and even the Philippines.  Who would have thought 10 years ago that these people would be coming to us for advice?  I believe the link between all of us is an active youth population and an open democratic space.  Young people support these reforms, and our experience has shown that the reform process is best in those countries where young people are active," Saakashviliv said.

AUCA students were happy to have the chance to listen and learn from the Georgian leader.  In addition to their concerns about the corruption of state services, the students were eager to invite the president back to the Kyrgyz Republic to help them with the monumental task ahead.  Although Saakashvili said that reforms of that kind must be home grown, he did indicate that he would like to return to the country.  "I have a big list of things I want to do here.  When I have some free time, I will come back to the mountains and go fishing in Issyk-Kul.  The rest you can do without me."

<< go to news list