Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

TBILISI: Neighbors fated for cooperation

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • TBILISI: Neighbors fated for cooperation

    Neighbors fated for cooperation

    The Messenger
    Monday, April 4, 2005, #060 (0834)

    Despite divergent foreign policy directions, Georgia and Armenia remain
    close friends. Armenian President Robert Kocharian's unofficial visit
    to Gudauri, where he met with President Mikheil Saakashvili on April
    1, can be seen as an urgent need for consultation between the two
    countries' leadership, however.

    Saakashvili's press service, which learned of the unannounced visit
    first from reporters, states the two presidents discussed issues
    of strategic cooperation and regional security among neighboring
    countries. Saakashvili himself underscored the close relationship
    between the countries, explaining that state formalities were not
    always necessary. "We do not need ceremonies and political limitations
    with our neighbors. Without any prior preparations we can always
    visit and hold talks with each other," he said.

    Georgia's relations with Armenia have necessarily been affected by
    the fact that Armenia was and still is Russia's principal ally in the
    South Caucasus. Armenia has benefited significantly from this alliance,
    first of all during the war with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and
    afterwards as the conflict froze in Armenia's advantage. At the end
    of the last decade, Georgia and Azerbaijan found themselves looking
    to the west in order to balance Russia's domineering role in the
    South Caucasus; by contrast Armenia was openly pro-Russian oriented.

    The new century, however, has ushered in new realities, with the west
    and particularly the United States strengthened its position in the
    South Caucasus Georgia's categorical demand that Russia withdraw
    its military bases from the country has created a situation that
    could eventually lead to Russia losing its domineering role in the
    region. Once oil begins flowing through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
    pipeline this fall, the west will take an even greater interest in
    the region.

    Russia, however does not want to give up so easily, especially
    regarding the military bases. Only after great resistance have Russian
    negotiators reduced their timeline for base withdrawal from a laughable
    11 years to 3-4 years. Still, in recent months Moscow officials have
    repeated demands for USD 300 million in order to finance the withdrawal
    and construct new bases on Russian soil.

    For Georgia, the issue is also connected to domestic ethnic issues.
    Over the weekend two rallies in Akhalkalaki and Batumi demanded
    that the cities' Russian bases remain in place. In Akhalkalaki in
    particular, Russia's base is of major economic importance for the
    community. The ethnic Armenians living in the remote city are cut
    off from most of Georgia's political and economic life; only through
    protests were they able to get a national passport office in their
    town last month. Despite its large population, Akhalkalaki's residents
    were forced to go to distant, and smaller, towns like Akhaltsikhe for
    this purpose. Moreover, with dwindling infrastructure and no major
    transport routes to the center, residents find themselves dependent
    on the Russian base for survival.

    Tbilisi's relationship with Yerevan becomes all the more important
    as Saakashvili makes his latest gambit against Russian influence in
    the area. Not only is Yerevan in a position to intervene positively
    in talks between Akhalkalaki and Tbilisi, it is also a reliable
    supplier of electricity. Armenian support is of great importance,
    and Saakashvili seems to have won this, President Kocharian stating
    that the withdrawal of Russian military base from Akhalkalaki was
    Georgia's decision and Yerevan would never support any anti Georgian
    force, as quoted by Khvalindeli Dghe.

    Although neither president has commented in detail on the talks,
    it seems likely that as well as the withdrawal of Russian bases,
    the tough economic and social condition faced by the predominantly
    ethnic Armenian population of the region and transportation of cargo
    to Armenia would have been the main issues discussed.

    Georgian experts think that while the Armenian president could defuse
    the situation in the Akhlakalaki region, Saakashvili could for his
    part help Yerevan develop stronger ties with the west and also help
    the country avoid a velvet revolution predicted by several regional
    analysts.
Working...
X