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UNM SLAMS IVANISHVILI FOR NAMING ARMENIA AS MODEL FOR TIES WITH RUSSIA, NATO
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=25657
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 18 Jan.'13 / 20:29
President Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) party said on
January 18 that PM Bidzina Ivanishvili's remarks that Armenia was
"an example" for Georgia how it is possible to have good relations
with both NATO and Russia was "alarming" and "dangerous".
"Armenia is our friendly state and I respect their choice, but Armenian
path and its relation with Russia and NATO cannot serve as [a model]
for Georgia; it is in conflict with Georgia's state interests,"
UNM secretary general and former PM Vano Merabishvili said.
A senior UNM lawmaker Giorgi Gabashvili said that Armenia, which is a
member of Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
and which cooperates with NATO but does not seek its membership,
cannot serve as a model for Georgia's foreign policy.
"It would amount to U-turn in Georgia's foreign policy," he said.
"This is very alarming and very dangerous for Georgia."
Another UNM lawmaker Davit Darchiashvili said that "nothing more
scandalous and alarming" than that had been said by new government
since coming into power three months ago.
"If it was said because of lack of experience that's also source of
alarm," MP Darchiashvili said.
Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said on January 18 that there were
no changes in Georgia's foreign policy.
"I do agree with the course that Georgia should try to have good
relations with everyone. That's what every normal country tries and
many of them achieve it. What the PM said is that it's desirable to
have good relations with everyone," she said.
When asked during an interview with the RFE/RL Armenian service on
January 17, when PM Ivanishvili visited Yerevan, if Georgia's foreign
policy priorities would change, he responded: "In the near future it's
hardly [possible], but in general countries develop, people develop,
society develops and they change priorities, but I do not think that
in the near future we will be changing our priorities."
"We have stated about our priorities for multiple times - that's Europe
and Euro-Atlantic alliance; we will unwaveringly follow this path,"
Ivanishvili said.
"But in parallel to it a question arises: is it possible to combine
restoration of friendly relations with Russia and at the same time to
have good relations with NATO and to aspire towards NATO and to have
good relations with the United States and NATO-member states? I think
that here Armenia is a good example; Armenia gives a good example
for Georgia and it can be a source of envy in positive sense," the
Georgian PM said.
"Armenia is on excellent terms with Russia and has friendly relations
with [Russia] while also being on excellent terms with the United
States and with other NATO-member states. So I think it's possible
and I think that we have to and I believe that we will combine it,"
Ivanishvili added.
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=25657
Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 18 Jan.'13 / 20:29
President Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) party said on
January 18 that PM Bidzina Ivanishvili's remarks that Armenia was
"an example" for Georgia how it is possible to have good relations
with both NATO and Russia was "alarming" and "dangerous".
"Armenia is our friendly state and I respect their choice, but Armenian
path and its relation with Russia and NATO cannot serve as [a model]
for Georgia; it is in conflict with Georgia's state interests,"
UNM secretary general and former PM Vano Merabishvili said.
A senior UNM lawmaker Giorgi Gabashvili said that Armenia, which is a
member of Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
and which cooperates with NATO but does not seek its membership,
cannot serve as a model for Georgia's foreign policy.
"It would amount to U-turn in Georgia's foreign policy," he said.
"This is very alarming and very dangerous for Georgia."
Another UNM lawmaker Davit Darchiashvili said that "nothing more
scandalous and alarming" than that had been said by new government
since coming into power three months ago.
"If it was said because of lack of experience that's also source of
alarm," MP Darchiashvili said.
Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said on January 18 that there were
no changes in Georgia's foreign policy.
"I do agree with the course that Georgia should try to have good
relations with everyone. That's what every normal country tries and
many of them achieve it. What the PM said is that it's desirable to
have good relations with everyone," she said.
When asked during an interview with the RFE/RL Armenian service on
January 17, when PM Ivanishvili visited Yerevan, if Georgia's foreign
policy priorities would change, he responded: "In the near future it's
hardly [possible], but in general countries develop, people develop,
society develops and they change priorities, but I do not think that
in the near future we will be changing our priorities."
"We have stated about our priorities for multiple times - that's Europe
and Euro-Atlantic alliance; we will unwaveringly follow this path,"
Ivanishvili said.
"But in parallel to it a question arises: is it possible to combine
restoration of friendly relations with Russia and at the same time to
have good relations with NATO and to aspire towards NATO and to have
good relations with the United States and NATO-member states? I think
that here Armenia is a good example; Armenia gives a good example
for Georgia and it can be a source of envy in positive sense," the
Georgian PM said.
"Armenia is on excellent terms with Russia and has friendly relations
with [Russia] while also being on excellent terms with the United
States and with other NATO-member states. So I think it's possible
and I think that we have to and I believe that we will combine it,"
Ivanishvili added.