On February 1, the Atlantic Council held a discussion with the Honorable Mikheil Saakashvili, president of Georgia, at the US Institute of Peace.

The 2011 wave of revolutions and protests has sent a clear message to the international community: freedom, democracy and accountability matter. Nearly a decade before the Arab uprisings, the color revolutions had swept across Eastern Europe. As North Africa and other parts of the world seek to reinvent themselves, Georgian President, Mikheil Saakashvili, drew on Georgia’s democratic transformation to explore the common challenges and opportunities that post-revolutionary societies face. His talk addressed the myriad of issues that these new governments must undertake from building democratic institutions to confronting corruption and earning the trust of their empowered citizens. Stating that these leaders should “ride the wave” of revolutions, he urged that they undertake reforms immediately while popular support is strong. The president also mentioned his meeting with President Obama, and their discussion about launching a free trade agreement and reaffirming Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic ambitions.

Featuring

Dr. Richard H. Solomon
President
US Institute of Peace

Mr. Damon Wilson
Executive Vice President
Atlantic Council

The Honorable Mikheil Saakashvili
President of Georgia

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