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TBILISI: Between Two Problems

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  • TBILISI: Between Two Problems

    BETWEEN TWO PROBLEMS

    The Messenger
    Aug 4 2011
    Georgia

    President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has found himself in an
    awkward situation since he initiated the Caucasus reunion idea. Due to
    the confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan it is impossible to
    hold dialogue in a trilateral format. Therefore Saakashvili operates
    in a bilateral format. Sometimes he asserts Georgia's great links with
    Armenia, sometimes with Azerbaijan. Accordingly he is under pressure,
    sometimes from Azerbaijan and sometimes from Armenia.

    Any step in one direction attracts criticism from the other side and
    vise versa.

    Lately the Georgian president highlighted Georgia's unity with
    Azerbaijan. This resulted in a storm of criticism from Armenia. In
    his interview to magazine 'The Business Year - Azerbaijan 2011'
    special issue the Georgian president stressed upon the fact that both
    Georgia and Azerbaijan have territorial problems and that opponents
    of Azerbaijan and Georgia are enemies of both of the countries. 'Our
    strength is in unity', he mentioned. He also underlined the importance
    of strategic partnership of both countries, expressing his hope that
    good relations and unity between the two countries are a precondition
    of further success and a better future. Saakashvili highlighted the
    importance of joint projects, in particular the construction of the
    Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railways calling this project a modern version of
    the so called Silk Road. He also mentioned that there are no problems
    between countries. Not surprisingly what was liked by Azerbaijan
    was disliked by Armenia. Some Armenian organizations demanded a
    public explanation from the Georgian President. Saakashvili's words
    were interpreted as declaring Armenia as Georgia's enemy and it was
    suggested that Georgia could face problems because of its president's
    position.

    The Armenian diaspora in Russia became particularly active in this
    direction. They started releasing information that Armenians in Georgia
    have problems, that Georgia deliberately delays transportation of
    Armenian transit cargo through Georgia, that Georgia participates in
    anti Armenian economic projects and that it supports anti Armenian
    resolutions on an international level proposed by Azerbaijan. The
    Armenian diaspora in Russia states that if Saakashvili does not give a
    public explanation for his position, those in the Georgian population
    of Armenian origin would be recommended to protest and boycott the
    2012 parliamentary and 2013 presidential elections.

    Of course one does not have to be a local expert to understand that
    behind the Armenian diaspora in Russia there is the persuasive hand
    of the Kremlin supported Russian special services which is trying
    to provoke Georgian-Armenian tension in the region. But one thing
    is certain, statements and declarations of this type should be made
    more consciously considering all the possible outcomes, developments
    and consequences.

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