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SARCOZY IN THE CAUCASUS
WPS Agency
September 14, 2011 Wednesday
Russia
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 197, September 14, 2011, p. 2
[translated from Russian]
NICOLAS SARKOZY OF FRANCE WILL TOUR THE CAUCASUS BEFORE LONG; President
of France Sarkozy is to visit Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
President of France Nicolas Sarkozy will tour the southern part of
the Caucasus soon. Exact date of the trip is not known at this point
but ebullient comments from the three capitals of the region plainly
show the importance they attach to the forthcoming visit.
What Tbilisi and Baku expect from Sarkozy is more or less clear.
Georgia will complain to the visitor that Russia refuses to honor the
Sarkozy-Medvedev accords stipulating, among other things, withdrawal to
pre-war positions. It will remind the guest of his promises regarding
integration of Georgia into European structures.
Azerbaijan will have its own tale of woe to tell. Once again, Russia
will be condemned for the failure (unwillingness) to tell Armenia to
make a compromise with Azerbaijan in the matter of Karabakh. France
will be all too happy to replace Russia in the trilateral talks. Paris
is not sisterly Ankara, of course, but neither it is entirely hopeless
(at least this is how the Azerbaijanis must be thinking). Besides,
Baku will almost certainly promise France oil and gas from its Caspian
reserves. (Analogous promises to Russia of oil and gas after resolution
of the Karabakh conflict failed to convince Moscow.)
There is no saying in the meantime what awaits Sarkozy in Yerevan.
After Russia, France is Armenia's second closest ally in international
affairs.
In any event, France is not Russia's worst adversary in geopolitical
intrigues. And yet, does Russia really need another competitor in
the southern part of the Caucasus? Life itself dictates the necessity
to maintain genuine strategic relations with Yerevan and Baku. Even
strategic relations with all involved parties are the only advantage
Russia might convert into peace in the region.
From: A. Papazian
WPS Agency
September 14, 2011 Wednesday
Russia
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 197, September 14, 2011, p. 2
[translated from Russian]
NICOLAS SARKOZY OF FRANCE WILL TOUR THE CAUCASUS BEFORE LONG; President
of France Sarkozy is to visit Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
President of France Nicolas Sarkozy will tour the southern part of
the Caucasus soon. Exact date of the trip is not known at this point
but ebullient comments from the three capitals of the region plainly
show the importance they attach to the forthcoming visit.
What Tbilisi and Baku expect from Sarkozy is more or less clear.
Georgia will complain to the visitor that Russia refuses to honor the
Sarkozy-Medvedev accords stipulating, among other things, withdrawal to
pre-war positions. It will remind the guest of his promises regarding
integration of Georgia into European structures.
Azerbaijan will have its own tale of woe to tell. Once again, Russia
will be condemned for the failure (unwillingness) to tell Armenia to
make a compromise with Azerbaijan in the matter of Karabakh. France
will be all too happy to replace Russia in the trilateral talks. Paris
is not sisterly Ankara, of course, but neither it is entirely hopeless
(at least this is how the Azerbaijanis must be thinking). Besides,
Baku will almost certainly promise France oil and gas from its Caspian
reserves. (Analogous promises to Russia of oil and gas after resolution
of the Karabakh conflict failed to convince Moscow.)
There is no saying in the meantime what awaits Sarkozy in Yerevan.
After Russia, France is Armenia's second closest ally in international
affairs.
In any event, France is not Russia's worst adversary in geopolitical
intrigues. And yet, does Russia really need another competitor in
the southern part of the Caucasus? Life itself dictates the necessity
to maintain genuine strategic relations with Yerevan and Baku. Even
strategic relations with all involved parties are the only advantage
Russia might convert into peace in the region.
From: A. Papazian