Quotes by Eduard Shevardnadze

About Eduard Shevardnadze:

Eduard Shevardnadze was a Georgian politician and diplomat. He served as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party (GPC), the de facto leader of Soviet Georgia from 1972 to 1985 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. Shevardnadze was responsible for many key decisions in Soviet foreign policy during the Gorbachev Era. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he was President of Georgia (or in equivalent posts) from 1992 to 2003. He was forced to retire in 2003 as a consequence of the bloodless Rose Revolution.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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 ...

Eduard Shevardnadze

When I came back to power, Georgia was completely isolated on the international stage.

Eduard Shevardnadze

I don't want to go down in history as a man who allowed blood to be shed.

Eduard Shevardnadze

Prospects of normalizing our relations with Russia look good.

Eduard Shevardnadze

I'm sure that was the right step, even though, formally speaking, it may seem disadvantageous for a president to resign. But, looking into what is happening today and what is going to happen in the future, I think history will show I made the right d...

Eduard Shevardnadze

In my life I have always found ways of dealing with a situation.

Eduard Shevardnadze

I don't plan to return. I have a lot of unresolved things to do.

Eduard Shevardnadze

Zhvania was the general secretary of the organisation which I founded, the Citizens' Union. It was the biggest organisation and came first in all elections, and Zhvania was the leader.

Eduard Shevardnadze

I believe politicians should always remain realistic.

Eduard Shevardnadze

I think my resignation was the only way to avoid bloodshed.

Eduard Shevardnadze

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

Eduard Shevardnadze

You know, to address crowds and make promises does not require very much brains.

Eduard Shevardnadze

But eradicating corruption is not enough to sustain a country.

Eduard Shevardnadze

Corruption has its own motivations, and one has to thoroughly study that phenomenon and eliminate the foundations that allow corruption to exist.

Eduard Shevardnadze

To sum up, what has been our policy? We looked for and found friends all throughout the world.

Eduard Shevardnadze

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.

Eduard Shevardnadze

We also have a real opportunity to join NATO.

Eduard Shevardnadze

The external world is committed to helping Georgia settle its problems.

Eduard Shevardnadze

You know in the West they support realistic forces.

Eduard Shevardnadze

True, other countries are helping us. 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.

Eduard Shevardnadze

Author Bio

  • NameEduard Shevardnadze
  • DescriptionGeorgian politician and diplomat
  • BornJanuary 25, 1928
  • DiedJuly 7, 2014
  • CountryGeorgia
  • ProfessionPolitician; Diplomat
  • AwardsOrder Of Lenin; Hero Of Socialist Labour; Order Of The October Revolution; Order Of The Patriotic War 1st Class