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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.
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.