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BAKU: Azeri, Armenian "mafia bosses" in fear of Georgia's crackdown

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  • BAKU: Azeri, Armenian "mafia bosses" in fear of Georgia's crackdown

    Hurriyyat, Baku, in Azeri
    11 Mar 04, p 4

    Azeri, Armenian "mafia bosses" in fear of Georgia's corruption
    crackdown - paper


    Serious processes are under way in the South Caucasus. The region has
    attracted the world's attention. After his election [Georgian]
    President Mikheil Saakashvili started economic and political reforms
    that have global significance.

    [Passage omitted: More on Georgian politics]

    The fight against corruption in Georgia is a highly risky undertaking
    since Saakashvili takes on not only local corrupt officials, but also
    giant international corrupt networks which earn dirty money and use
    Georgia for transit. The directives to protect the borders have
    caused fear among certain mafia-related structures in Ukraine,
    Azerbaijan and Armenia. Saakashvili said that by controlling the
    railway he would rid the country of corruption. Suffice it to recall
    the arrest of the former Georgian railways chief, Akaki Chkhaidze.

    [Passage omitted: More on Georgian politics]

    During his visit to Azerbaijan, Saakashvili sent a message to
    [Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev by saying that "together we can
    work miracles". Our newspaper reported that Georgia handed over to
    the Azerbaijani authorities a list of Azerbaijani officials with
    criminal links to their venal Georgian counterparts. There are even
    reports that some officials will be summoned by court when Chkhaidze
    is tried by the Georgian law-enforcement bodies.

    [Passage omitted: Details]

    The Georgian government closed down corridors on its territory
    between the Azerbaijani and Armenian borders, which caused fear among
    mafia bosses in Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to unofficial
    statistics, Armenia and Azerbaijan are involved in shady dealings to
    the sum of 35m dollars. This mainly amounts to export of Azerbaijan's
    oil and food to Armenia. The closure of borders means that
    higher-ranking state officials will lose their dirty profits.
    Moreover, this will create an economic crisis in Armenia. That the
    Azerbaijani bodies have failed to take any serious measures to stop
    the trade confirms that the state bodies protect the mafia.

    In the wake of Saakashvili's visit to the USA, the fight against
    corruption and closure of borders has become more intense. This leads
    to the conclusion that the USA uses Saakashvili as a stick to punish
    the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders for their servitude to Russia.
    During the upcoming visit to Armenia, Saakashvili will discuss with
    [Armenian President Robert] Kocharyan the fight against corruption
    and urge Kocharyan to join efforts. Otherwise, Georgia will refuse to
    restore the railway to Armenia.

    Should Aliyev and Kocharyan fail to take serious measures against
    corruption, the processes in Georgia may trigger a US export of
    "velvet revolution" to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
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