Posted on 06/01/2006 11:11:38 AM PDT by Lukasz
While Russia is at war with Georgia Ukraine decided to help its Georgian friends.
Before Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvilli’s visit to Kyiv for a GUAM summit there appeared lots of bill-boards supporting Georgian wine.
In particular, on Saakashvilli’s way along Boryspil-Kyiv highway there have been set billboards with a glass of wine and inscription: “Try the wine of freedom”, “It has more freedom than it’s allowed”
Both variants of billboards had an additional inscription “Georgian wine is forbidden in Russia”.
The same billboards and light-boxes have been set in all central streets in Kyiv.
As known, at the end of March Russia kicked up a row supposedly over mass import of fake Georgian wine, and thus forbade any export.
Last week tractors crushed bottles of Georgian wine in Moscow region, Borjomi soda was poured out into sewerage, and Channel 5 broadcasted a “No comment” b-roll showing people who were arrested because they dared to drink Georgian soda.
Georgian administration suspects that prohibition of wine importation had nothing to do with its quality but with political disputes between the countries.
Last week TV channels and advertising agencies in Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Georgia took up a decision granting Georgian wine producers advertisement spaces at reduced prices.
According to “Rustavi-2” TV Company, which initiated this action, advertisement agencies in Baltic countries and Kazakhstan will soon join the action.
This weekend real signs of mini anti-Russian revolt appeared in Kyiv streets.
Mikhail Saakashvilli did like such Ukrainian demarche which added to his confidence concerning GUAM prospects.
“This summit unites us. Alone we are weak, but together we can overcome any difficulties”, Georgian President said, having just come to Kyiv.
Well, it looks like slogan “together we are many and thus invincible”… for Russia.
Sure, Georgian president didn’t forget about wine. Mr. Saakashvilli believes that such prohibition of importation caused international market promotion for Georgian wine.
“Thanks for boycott initiators. Suddenly England, America and Europe got acquainted with Georgian wine”, the president pointed out, visiting festival of Georgian wines in Kyiv.
At the same time Saakashvilli believes Georgian wine should enter Ukrainian market as well. “It was a pity that Georgian wine was commercially sold in Russia with the small rate of import to Ukrainian markets”, Georgian president pointed out.
At the same time he chided on unloved neighbor, saying that Ukrainians are much more sophisticated than other peoples and they greatly appreciate both taste of wine and its quality”.
Commenting on Russian claims to wine quality, Saakashvilli replied the claims were ungrounded. “They’d better take care of their own frauds”, he said.
According to Saakashvilli, all imported Georgian wine is of the finest quality. “I can guarantee you that all export wine is excellent and its quality is secured”, he pointed out.
Commenting on negotiation process concerning restoration of Borjomi soda supplies to Russia, Saakashvilli marked that it was a temporal inconvenience and that Russian people were upset with the stupidity of own government”. He expressed his hopes that Georgian soda would come back to Russian market.
Besides, Georgian president stressed that “there is too little wine but too much of politics in this problem”.
At the same time he pointed out that there was much freedom in Georgian wine. “We’re not going to stop, moreover we’ll broaden the limits and horizons”, he added.
“You can’t stop freedom”, Maidan would say. Concerning Russia, sometimes it seems that political expediency (let’s recall Ukrainian meat, milk, Georgian and Moldavian wine) will soon make its citizens eat pure coal, washing it down with fat free oil.
The Kremlin more resembles the Tony Saprano "family", than a government these days.
That reminds me to pick up some Georgian wine and Borjomi on the way home this evening.
(“You can’t stop freedom”, Maidan would say. Concerning Russia, sometimes it seems that political expediency will soon make its citizens eat pure coal, washing it down with fat free oil.)
I love these Georgians! It's great to see Russia's bullying unite its neighbours. As usual the free world is opposing the world's tyrants.
Fantastic Georgian wine. don't take my word for it
What a idiots... :)
They are the most delightful people to visit that you can imagine.
Soprano family had some class…
I'm surprised they don't advertise Georgia's famous STALIN'S TEARS VODKA featuring a heroic pose of their favorite son.
You mean those drinking Georgian soda, or those arresting them? :-)))
Unless Putin dies in office, he can get a job as a Marketing Director for Georgian Wineries -:))))
I love Borjomi but my favorite mineral water in Georgia was called something else....I think began with "S"..rings any bells?
Nope, MarMema. I've never heard about Nabeglavi. Well--there are so many beverages, so you just can't hear about them all unless you collect bottles -:)))
Borjomi is the mineral water I grew up with.
As for "S", I think it's called "Sacili" or something like that. Never tried it.
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