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Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Georgia and Armenia: from strategic partnership to pragmatic cooperation
The newly authored Concept of National Security for Georgia has raised
eyebrows not only for what it implies for Georgia's European and western
integration but also for its relations with neighboring counties,
specifically Armenia. The document, which defines the country's specific
security interests, is being discussed in Parliament but has yet to be
officially released.
The draft, prepared by the National Security Council and submitted to
Parliament on May 13, assesses threats and also establishes Georgia's
foreign priorities and its cooperation with other countries. Armenian
commentators have expressed dissatisfaction that Ukraine and Turkey are
considered to be Georgia's strategic partners while the relationship with
Yerevan appears to have been relegated to one of pragmatic cooperation.
In the Concept of National Security only three countries are considered to
be Georgia's strategic partners: the United States, Ukraine and Turkey. The
document then briefly characterizes the importance of each country's
cooperation with Georgia. Next the Concept discusses partnerships with the
Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia, the latter of which is depicted
as a relationship of pragmatic cooperation in all spheres of mutual
interests.
The newspaper Rezonansi cites an Armenian commentator in the internet site
PanArmenian.net as expressing disapproval toward this position. "Of course
cooperation and pragmatism is not bad," the paper quoted. "It is another
matter that our position does not fit into the stated 'centuries of
brotherhood and love.'"
Deputy chair of the parliamentary national security committee Nika Rurua
tells Rezonansi he cannot see any reason for dissatisfaction or blame for
Georgia in stating that the U.S., Ukraine and Turkey are its main strategic
partners. "I cannot understand why they have to be so displeased. Pragmatic
cooperation is not bad. Such cooperation includes open partnership oriented
towards mutual interests," Rurua states.
The fine line Georgia must walk in its Concept for National Security is
giving proper consideration to Armenia and Azerbaijan as both key neighbors
and allies while also recognizing their differences.
Georgia's relationship with Azerbaijan is most strongly linked with energy,
transport and commercial projects. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrumi natural gas pipeline have not only economic
significance but at the same time have helped promote stability in the
region. After these projects are operational, desperately needed alternative
energy resources will be opened to the European and American markets. In
addition to economic projects, Georgia has tight cooperation with Azerbaijan
in the sphere of politics and security, specifically both are members of
GUAM and both have strong desires to integrate with Euro Atlantic
institutions, including NATO.
Armenia's political vector toward Russia and its closed borders with both
Azerbaijan and Turkey are a cause of lessened political opportunities
between Tbilisi and Yerevan. All the same Armenia is a major partner -
according to governmental statistics, in 2004 Armenians were the second most
frequent travelers to Georgia behind only Turkey. In addition, as energy
projects evolve between Armenia and Iran, Georgia is increasingly looking
south for possible energy projects. According to drafts of the Concept
obtained by Georgian media, it thus stresses that "To deepen the good,
neighborly relations with Armenia is in both countries interests and this
will help the two countries' economic welfare and political stability as
well."
The Concept pays further attention to Armenia's transit potential. "Both
countries must utilize united economic, energy and transport projects.
Georgia believes that Armenia can benefit from its transit location by
transporting Armenian products through its territory," the Concept states.
However currently the fact that Abkhazia remains a separatist state prevents
Georgia from satisfying Armenia's main transit interest of restoring the
railway link to Russia.
Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would certainly improve the
political situation in the South Caucasus, and the Concept of National
Security says that all separatist conflicts are threats to the region's
prosperity. "The existence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict damages the
regional countries' stability. Georgia will welcome the settling of these
conflicts and greater involvement of foreign partners in the peace process.
This will help to strengthen security and deepen cooperation in the region,"
the document states.
The Concept of National Security deserves further refinement, first of all
through full public disclosure of its contents. Next it requires serious
discussion and analysis by governmental and non-government specialists.
Finally Georgia and its partners both strategic and pragmatic will have to
find concrete means of cooperation to prove the worth of their
relationships.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Georgia and Armenia: from strategic partnership to pragmatic cooperation
The newly authored Concept of National Security for Georgia has raised
eyebrows not only for what it implies for Georgia's European and western
integration but also for its relations with neighboring counties,
specifically Armenia. The document, which defines the country's specific
security interests, is being discussed in Parliament but has yet to be
officially released.
The draft, prepared by the National Security Council and submitted to
Parliament on May 13, assesses threats and also establishes Georgia's
foreign priorities and its cooperation with other countries. Armenian
commentators have expressed dissatisfaction that Ukraine and Turkey are
considered to be Georgia's strategic partners while the relationship with
Yerevan appears to have been relegated to one of pragmatic cooperation.
In the Concept of National Security only three countries are considered to
be Georgia's strategic partners: the United States, Ukraine and Turkey. The
document then briefly characterizes the importance of each country's
cooperation with Georgia. Next the Concept discusses partnerships with the
Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia, the latter of which is depicted
as a relationship of pragmatic cooperation in all spheres of mutual
interests.
The newspaper Rezonansi cites an Armenian commentator in the internet site
PanArmenian.net as expressing disapproval toward this position. "Of course
cooperation and pragmatism is not bad," the paper quoted. "It is another
matter that our position does not fit into the stated 'centuries of
brotherhood and love.'"
Deputy chair of the parliamentary national security committee Nika Rurua
tells Rezonansi he cannot see any reason for dissatisfaction or blame for
Georgia in stating that the U.S., Ukraine and Turkey are its main strategic
partners. "I cannot understand why they have to be so displeased. Pragmatic
cooperation is not bad. Such cooperation includes open partnership oriented
towards mutual interests," Rurua states.
The fine line Georgia must walk in its Concept for National Security is
giving proper consideration to Armenia and Azerbaijan as both key neighbors
and allies while also recognizing their differences.
Georgia's relationship with Azerbaijan is most strongly linked with energy,
transport and commercial projects. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrumi natural gas pipeline have not only economic
significance but at the same time have helped promote stability in the
region. After these projects are operational, desperately needed alternative
energy resources will be opened to the European and American markets. In
addition to economic projects, Georgia has tight cooperation with Azerbaijan
in the sphere of politics and security, specifically both are members of
GUAM and both have strong desires to integrate with Euro Atlantic
institutions, including NATO.
Armenia's political vector toward Russia and its closed borders with both
Azerbaijan and Turkey are a cause of lessened political opportunities
between Tbilisi and Yerevan. All the same Armenia is a major partner -
according to governmental statistics, in 2004 Armenians were the second most
frequent travelers to Georgia behind only Turkey. In addition, as energy
projects evolve between Armenia and Iran, Georgia is increasingly looking
south for possible energy projects. According to drafts of the Concept
obtained by Georgian media, it thus stresses that "To deepen the good,
neighborly relations with Armenia is in both countries interests and this
will help the two countries' economic welfare and political stability as
well."
The Concept pays further attention to Armenia's transit potential. "Both
countries must utilize united economic, energy and transport projects.
Georgia believes that Armenia can benefit from its transit location by
transporting Armenian products through its territory," the Concept states.
However currently the fact that Abkhazia remains a separatist state prevents
Georgia from satisfying Armenia's main transit interest of restoring the
railway link to Russia.
Resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict would certainly improve the
political situation in the South Caucasus, and the Concept of National
Security says that all separatist conflicts are threats to the region's
prosperity. "The existence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict damages the
regional countries' stability. Georgia will welcome the settling of these
conflicts and greater involvement of foreign partners in the peace process.
This will help to strengthen security and deepen cooperation in the region,"
the document states.
The Concept of National Security deserves further refinement, first of all
through full public disclosure of its contents. Next it requires serious
discussion and analysis by governmental and non-government specialists.
Finally Georgia and its partners both strategic and pragmatic will have to
find concrete means of cooperation to prove the worth of their
relationships.