Eduard Shevardnadze Quotations

I couldn't stand the idea of bloodshed, casualties.

But the Americans have no extra money. They have their own problems. They can provide financial assistance for two, three, four, or six months at most.

Germany is determined to provide substantial help. So are the Netherlands and other states. But a day will come when we have to count on our own resources.

But we cannot rely on foreign help indefinitely.

I believe that with the help of foreign countries - and under that condition only, because they have no other source of financing - the new government may temporarily extricate Georgia from the current situation.

But on second thought, after I decreed the state of emergency, I came to the conclusion that that was impossible to achieve without bloodshed because the street protesters were full of anger and nearly out of control. This is why I thought we needed to find another way out.

Prospects of normalizing our relations with Russia look good.

It is absolutely impossible to settle the debts to pensioners, teachers, and others. The country hasn't got enough money to do so.

As for myself, I was never against Russia.

Now, the entire world community recognizes Georgia. We are members of the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Everything is being prepared so that we will soon enter the European Union.