Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov.14 / Trend, N. Kirtskhalia
The NATO Secretary General's visit to Georgia is linked with his need to familiarise himself with the 'new political reality', former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said in an interview with the weekly Asaval-Dasavali.
"He wants to get to know the situation after the appearance of a new political figure, namely Bidzina Ivanishvili and the people's attitude towards him," Mr Shevardnadze believes.
He stressed that the Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili's appearance in the political arena has changed the situation in Georgian politics and now the West's interest in him 'dramatically increased'.
"They want to know who will run Georgia after two years and no one doubts that it will be Mr Ivanishvili," he said.
He went on to say that if only Mr Ivanishvili headed up his own party, the NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen would have surely met him.
"I do not doubt that in 2012 Mr Ivanishvili will win the parliamentary elections," Mr Shevardnadze said.
He also gave praised Mr Ivanishvili for his intention to cooperate with the former parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze, calling him a 'strong and experienced politician'.
Mr Shevardnadze also supported the Georgian Patriarch's idea to return citizenship to the billionaire expressing confidence that it will happen.
"After Mr Ivanishvili wins the elections, the country will have a new master," he said.