Delegation of the Republic of Georgia to the CSCE Review Conference in Budapest

Working group 4

4 November, 1994

Mr. Chairman,

During our previous meetings we have already stated the importance of the economic and and environmental cooperation within the framework of the CSCE. Today I would like to speak about cooperation in the fields of science and technology, which is in close interconnection and interdependence with the previous ones.

Putting this item in the agenda of our Review Conference makes us believe that CSCE, besides economic and environmental problems, will pay much attention to the cooperation in the fields of science and technology. We welcome CSCE's involvment into this area and hope that there will be an appropriate chapter in the final document of the Budapest Summit. As you well know in the Helsinki 1992 document science and technology were compeletely missing.

Mr. Chairman,

Speaking about the cooperation in the fields of science and technology I would like to pay your attention to some problems which my Republic, as well as the most of the newly independent states, is facing in these fields.

It is well known fact that an unexpected and rapid collapse of the Soviet regime, and therefore transition to the democratic society and market economy without proper preparation, have created problems of different kinds almost for all former soviet republics, leading them to the political, economic and social crises. It seems quite natural that all these difficulties braked down the development of science and technology in these republics.

The world community reacted at this situation properly - various kinds of international and national foundations and programs were created to help the former Soviet republics. Some of them were mentioned at our previous meetings by the distinguished representeatives of the European Union, The United States, Turkey and others. I would like to underline the importance of this support. Of course it is a great relief for us, and we are very much thankful to all these countries and organizations for their sincere assistance. The same time, I should mention that sometimes this aid is distributed among the republics only according to their actual needs. Meanwhile, the eeality i that in some small, multinational republics, where the process of transitions to the democracy and market economy turned to be very much sensible and painful, situation is extremely complicated. Moreover we can say it about the countries with conflict situations, civil wars and other disturbances.

The unfortunate example of this kind is the Georgian Republic.

Let me, Mr. Chairman, very briefly describe the science and technology development situation in my country.

You may know that Georgia has a rather rich scientific backround. Having the first Academy in the 5th century, our country was growing it's intellectual capacity in the course of centuries. At present it has rather well developed net of educatonal and research universities and institutions. The Georgian Academy of Sciences, which was created in 1941 as a main scientific research body of the republic, unites 56 scientific - research institutions and covers all fields of natural sciences, technic and humanities. Original Georgian schools of mathematics, geology, phsysiology, psychology and others are well known all over the world. Georgia was very popular place for organizing international congresses, conferences and symposia not only because of it's beautiful nature and the famous Georgian hospitality, but mostly because of the high international reputation of Georgian scientists.

I have made this small review just to show you that our republic has rather high intellectual capacity.

But what is the present-day situation?

We have to state with great regret that the political, economic and social crises, conflicts in Abkhazia and South Osetia, disturbances in other parts of the country, have left no resources for science and technology development. Our Government has no possibilities to share out necessary funds funds for scientific research, equipment, literature, participation of our scientists in international forums etc. That is why, instead of further development of our science and technology, we are trying at least to maintain the existing level.

As for Georgian scientists, they appeared to be one of the socially the most unprotected parts of the population. For instance - their salary is miserable, about 50 cents a month, ( taking into the consideration the high rate of inflation of our coupon, even less ).

The other problem, which is one of the consequences of above mentioned financial difficulties, is the problem of "Brain drain": inside of the country - from science to business and other activities, and outside the country - to the foreign scientific centers. During last few years many Georgian scientists had to go abroad and work there on the conctract bases, and there is a big probability that some of them, especially young scientists, will not be back. The same time, we have big problems with the preparation of a new generation of scientists.

All above mentioned has resulted the significant decrease of scientific activity in Georgia.

Mr. Chairman,

Having no internal resources, we are trying to improve the situation by our involvement into the international scientific cooperation, and we have reached some positive results in this field. For instance, the Georgian Academy of Sciences has joined the All European Academies Meeting and World Laboratories, has become the national member of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and some other international organizations, established fruitful scientific cooperation with some European Academies and scientific centers. But unfortunately we can not go too far this way as it require considerable extra - budgetary financing.

As I have already mentioned, we are getting some foreign aid and technical assistance, but unfortunatelly it is not sufficent for solving our problems.

Mr. Chairman,

As you may see the situation in Georgia in the fields of science and technology development in extraordinary, that is why, for our point of view, the improvement of the situation requires also extaordinary measures and special care.

We believe that concerning Georgian and other similar republics, we better think not only about the scientific cooperation in general, but rather about te necessity to save science and technology in these countries.

Our believe is that CSCE is in position to play an important and active role in this case. Our vision of this role is that CSCE could:

- Send a group of experts to these countries for reviewing the situation and offering assistance;

- Organize seminars and conferences on science policy and science management for the countries in transition;

- Initiate a special, we can call them "Science and technology Save Programs", for ceratain newly independent states encouraging developed countries and international organizations to meet the specific needs of these states.

For better orgenization of this activity in the framework of the CSCE, for us it seems quite reasonable to create a new post of the "High Comissioner on Economy, Environment, Science and Technology", as all these fields are closely interconnected and interdepended.

Before drawing to a close, I would like once again to stress the importance and emergency of the rescue measeures for science and technology in some newly independent states, because, as they say, it is very easy to destroy in some months what was built up for centuries, but its restoration will take hard work of generations.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.