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PROSPECTS FOR A UNITED CAUCASUS
The Messenger
Dec 2 2011
Georgia
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is actively promoting the idea
of a United Caucasus. A year ago he mentioned this idea to Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliev, a couple of days ago he said the same thing to
the Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan. Both leaders of the neighbouring
countries kept silent and left the idea without comment.
Some analysts and the representatives of the Georgian opposition
express their doubt about the possibility of a United Caucasus.
During his meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Saakashvili spoke
in detail about the idea of a United Caucasus, which would mean a
united economic space and in the long run the creation of a political
commonwealth. There is no alternative for our little countries,
stated Saakashvili, adding that all the conflicts in the Caucasus
are initiated by imperialist forces from outside, meaning Russia
of course. Analyst and expert in Caucasus issues Mamuka Areshidze
mentioned that making such statements is senseless and confusing
because the issue is not prepared and is unrealistic. How can one
offer unification between countries which are embroiled in military
confrontation? Areshidze thinks that Saakashvili's idea is based on
a certain concept probably coming from the west and maybe based on
economic unity which might look attractive, however is not realistic.
Maybe the Georgian president as usual is under the influence of some
attractive idea and wants to promote it in the usual hasty way.
The leader of the Green Party Giorgi Gachechiladze thinks that
Saakashvili is making some steps and it is not only talk. According
to him moving the government to Kutaisi is a move towards the
implementation of the United Caucasus. Thus Saakashvili wants to move
the capital of Georgia to make the capital of a Caucasus confederation
Tbilisi, thinks Gachechiladze. Most of Georgian society assesses
the idea of a Caucasus confederation skeptically despite the fact
that Saakashvili took the decision of moving parliament to Kutaisi
and even stated the date for that, May 26, 2012 though most of the
opposition thinks the move is unacceptable.
As for the idea of a United Caucasus most commentators think that the
idea is not formed and shaped even for Saakashvili himself. There is
no viable plan or calculation, parameters or other technical issues
thought out and these are absolutely necessary when any kind of
serious and solid plans are put together. Even conceptually there
are no ideas about the role and position of Russia with its North
Caucasus republics and their interests and so on. Many question marks
exist and before any move is made everything should be reconsidered.
From: Baghdasarian
The Messenger
Dec 2 2011
Georgia
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is actively promoting the idea
of a United Caucasus. A year ago he mentioned this idea to Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliev, a couple of days ago he said the same thing to
the Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan. Both leaders of the neighbouring
countries kept silent and left the idea without comment.
Some analysts and the representatives of the Georgian opposition
express their doubt about the possibility of a United Caucasus.
During his meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Saakashvili spoke
in detail about the idea of a United Caucasus, which would mean a
united economic space and in the long run the creation of a political
commonwealth. There is no alternative for our little countries,
stated Saakashvili, adding that all the conflicts in the Caucasus
are initiated by imperialist forces from outside, meaning Russia
of course. Analyst and expert in Caucasus issues Mamuka Areshidze
mentioned that making such statements is senseless and confusing
because the issue is not prepared and is unrealistic. How can one
offer unification between countries which are embroiled in military
confrontation? Areshidze thinks that Saakashvili's idea is based on
a certain concept probably coming from the west and maybe based on
economic unity which might look attractive, however is not realistic.
Maybe the Georgian president as usual is under the influence of some
attractive idea and wants to promote it in the usual hasty way.
The leader of the Green Party Giorgi Gachechiladze thinks that
Saakashvili is making some steps and it is not only talk. According
to him moving the government to Kutaisi is a move towards the
implementation of the United Caucasus. Thus Saakashvili wants to move
the capital of Georgia to make the capital of a Caucasus confederation
Tbilisi, thinks Gachechiladze. Most of Georgian society assesses
the idea of a Caucasus confederation skeptically despite the fact
that Saakashvili took the decision of moving parliament to Kutaisi
and even stated the date for that, May 26, 2012 though most of the
opposition thinks the move is unacceptable.
As for the idea of a United Caucasus most commentators think that the
idea is not formed and shaped even for Saakashvili himself. There is
no viable plan or calculation, parameters or other technical issues
thought out and these are absolutely necessary when any kind of
serious and solid plans are put together. Even conceptually there
are no ideas about the role and position of Russia with its North
Caucasus republics and their interests and so on. Many question marks
exist and before any move is made everything should be reconsidered.
From: Baghdasarian