Tweet
WPS Agency, Russia
December 25, 2012 Tuesday
VEXING AZERBAIJAN
BY: Yuri Roks
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 273, December 25, 2012, p. 2
PRIME MINISTER OF GEORGIA BIDZINA IVANISHVILI WILL VISIT AZERBAIJAN;
Georgian PM Ivanishvili is about to visit Azerbaijan.
Georgian PM Bidzina Ivanishvili will visit Azerbaijan, tomorrow.
Bilateral relations and regional issues will be discussed at the
meetings with Azerbaijani leaders. It was only recently that
Ivanishvili was quite critical of the railroad
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars whose construction is supposed to be
over in spring 2013.
Georgian ex-foreign minister Salome Zurabishvili and economic expert
Giya Khukhashvili once wanted to know, "Who can give us guarantees
that once the railroad is built and running, Georgian ports on the
Black Sea coast won't be left idle?" Official Tbilisi never deigned to
answer then.
According to Zurabishvili, Georgian negotiators had been so inadequate
that they had failed to consider all consequences and implications of
the project. Specifically, that the consignments currently going to
Azerbaijan via Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi to be reloaded to
freight trains of the Georgian Railroad might as easily start using
Turkish ports and Turkish railroad. Ditto consignments out of
Azerbaijan. "It might cost Georgia a good deal of money," she warned.
Zurabishvili said as well that it was Azerbaijan and not Georgia that
really needed the railroad. "Well then, it is up to Azerbaijan to
finance its construction. But the Georgian part of the railroad is
being built with the money Azerbaijan loaned to Georgia."
Armenia, Georgia's other neighbor was the third "weak link"
Zurabishvili mentioned. "It's not very logical to strengthen the
relations with one neighbor but spoil them with another... considering
that the railroad will stiffen its economic blockade," said
Zurabishvili.
It was Ivanishvili who repeated some of these arguments on eve of the
visit to Azerbaijan and said that he intended to discuss them in Baku.
His words were heard in Azerbaijan. Official reaction was quite
diplomatic. Chief of the Azerbaijani Transportation Ministry's PR
department said, "The project was approved by the heads of
Azerbaijani, Turkey, and Georgia. Central Asian and European states
need this project... Azerbaijan is convinced that this project has
colossal strategic importance for the regional economy. Moreover, it
will eventually become an element of the regional security framework.
Azerbaijan has always honored its obligations within the framework of
international agreements... and expects the same attitude from its
partners."
Azerbaijani media outlets were less diplomatic. Newspapers quoted an
anonymous source within the government as saying that Tbilisi had
better stop it or Azerbaijan might boost the gas price and withdraw
its investments from the Georgian economy.
Before becoming the premier, Ivanishvili used to be a successful
businessman. He could not help knowing therefore approximately how
Azerbaijan would react to his words. Still, Ivanishvili went ahead and
made the statement all the same. Does it mean that he has an ace up
his sleeve?
WPS'2012
[Translated from Russian]
December 25, 2012 Tuesday
VEXING AZERBAIJAN
BY: Yuri Roks
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 273, December 25, 2012, p. 2
PRIME MINISTER OF GEORGIA BIDZINA IVANISHVILI WILL VISIT AZERBAIJAN;
Georgian PM Ivanishvili is about to visit Azerbaijan.
Georgian PM Bidzina Ivanishvili will visit Azerbaijan, tomorrow.
Bilateral relations and regional issues will be discussed at the
meetings with Azerbaijani leaders. It was only recently that
Ivanishvili was quite critical of the railroad
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars whose construction is supposed to be
over in spring 2013.
Georgian ex-foreign minister Salome Zurabishvili and economic expert
Giya Khukhashvili once wanted to know, "Who can give us guarantees
that once the railroad is built and running, Georgian ports on the
Black Sea coast won't be left idle?" Official Tbilisi never deigned to
answer then.
According to Zurabishvili, Georgian negotiators had been so inadequate
that they had failed to consider all consequences and implications of
the project. Specifically, that the consignments currently going to
Azerbaijan via Georgian ports of Poti and Batumi to be reloaded to
freight trains of the Georgian Railroad might as easily start using
Turkish ports and Turkish railroad. Ditto consignments out of
Azerbaijan. "It might cost Georgia a good deal of money," she warned.
Zurabishvili said as well that it was Azerbaijan and not Georgia that
really needed the railroad. "Well then, it is up to Azerbaijan to
finance its construction. But the Georgian part of the railroad is
being built with the money Azerbaijan loaned to Georgia."
Armenia, Georgia's other neighbor was the third "weak link"
Zurabishvili mentioned. "It's not very logical to strengthen the
relations with one neighbor but spoil them with another... considering
that the railroad will stiffen its economic blockade," said
Zurabishvili.
It was Ivanishvili who repeated some of these arguments on eve of the
visit to Azerbaijan and said that he intended to discuss them in Baku.
His words were heard in Azerbaijan. Official reaction was quite
diplomatic. Chief of the Azerbaijani Transportation Ministry's PR
department said, "The project was approved by the heads of
Azerbaijani, Turkey, and Georgia. Central Asian and European states
need this project... Azerbaijan is convinced that this project has
colossal strategic importance for the regional economy. Moreover, it
will eventually become an element of the regional security framework.
Azerbaijan has always honored its obligations within the framework of
international agreements... and expects the same attitude from its
partners."
Azerbaijani media outlets were less diplomatic. Newspapers quoted an
anonymous source within the government as saying that Tbilisi had
better stop it or Azerbaijan might boost the gas price and withdraw
its investments from the Georgian economy.
Before becoming the premier, Ivanishvili used to be a successful
businessman. He could not help knowing therefore approximately how
Azerbaijan would react to his words. Still, Ivanishvili went ahead and
made the statement all the same. Does it mean that he has an ace up
his sleeve?
WPS'2012
[Translated from Russian]