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Georgia Ruins Relations With Turkey Over Italian Clothes

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  • Georgia Ruins Relations With Turkey Over Italian Clothes

    GEORGIA RUINS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY OVER ITALIAN CLOTHES

    PRAVDA
    May 28 2009
    Russia

    The Georgian government aggravated relations with neighbors. Until
    recently Turkey was the only Georgia friendly border state. However,
    Saakashvili Government "corrected this omission" and threatened with
    sanctions to Turkish companies engaged in business with Abkhazia.

    Georgia spoiled relations with the last friendly neighbor -
    Turkey. Georgia does not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. She
    accuses Russia of the aggression, committed by Georgia itself. Georgia
    has some discord with Azerbaijan and Armenia rooted mainly in the
    problems with Armenian and Azeri nationals living in Georgia. In case
    of Armenia, the situation is worsening by the fact that Georgia once
    and again threatened to cut gas supplies to this country.

    Now it is Turkey . Apparently the Turks and the Georgians have nothing
    to quarrel about. Today Turkey is not pursuing its former aggressive
    politics in the Caucasus and does not aspire to expand its influence
    to Georgia. But strange as it may seem, the conflict is initiated
    in Tbilisi.

    On May 2 Turkish paper The Hurriyet published an article saying that
    the Turkish branch of Italy's Benetton company, one of the world's
    fashion brands, is planning to open stores in Sukhumi, the capital
    of Abkhazia. The publication was followed by the angry response from
    Tbilisi . Georgia demanded explanation from Turkey.

    Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze made an official
    statement. "Tbilisi requests the Turkish Benetton representation
    to act in the framework of Georgian law. Georgia is not against the
    activity of any commercial firm or company on Georgian territory in
    case this activity is in compliance with the Georgian law for the
    occupied territories. Before starting its work in Georgia and on the
    occupied territories, Benetton should have been officially registered
    possessing the tax code, paying taxes and acting on the permission
    of Tbilisi authorities. If any company is not in compliance with the
    rules or violates them, legal and economic consequences will follow,"
    the minister said.

    But that was not the end of the story: Mr. Ertan Tezgor, Turkish
    Ambassador was requested to submit official explanations in regard
    with the plans of Turkey's Benetton Branch to open its premises in
    Abkhazia territory. Imagine the astonishment of the Turkish ambassador
    on hearing the pretensions more so that he was not in a position to
    represent a private company.

    It is worth to recollect that the present aggravation between Georgia
    and Turkey was first noted in April 2009 when Georgian border guards
    detained several Turkish ships in neutral waters. Those ships were
    carrying construction materials, fuel and different commodities
    including pork to Abkhazia. Thus on May 5 they stopped "Denfa Demet",
    on 24 May - "PUR NAVOLOK" freighter and the "New Star" - on May 30.

    In connection with the incidents Mr. Zaur Ardzinba, Director, "Abkhaz
    Merchant Marine Shipping Company" said: "Georgian border guards behave
    like Somali pirates in the Aden Gulf".
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