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Rezonansi, Tbilisi, Georgia
Nov 8 2012
Will the opening of the Abkhaz railway result in a conflict with Baku?
by Salome Sigua
[Translated from Georgian]
Azeri experts disapprove of the opening of railway communication
between Georgia and Russia. They think that by doing so, Georgia,
which they are supplying with cheap gas, is helping to strengthen the
Russian-Armenian commercial partnership. In response to this, Georgian
experts say that "if we manage to open the railway with Russia, we
will get gas from Russia at a much cheaper price".
It should be noted that the new Georgian leadership is thinking of
opening railway communication with Russia via Abkhazia. The railway
has been closed for 20 years now. As Reintegration Minister Paata
Zakareishvili put it, the process should be completely free of
political implications and should be considered only within an
economic context.
According to Sergey Harutyunyan, the chief engineer of the Armenian
South Caucasus railway, the process is not going to be hindered
provided there is political good will. He thinks that the process will
have strategic importance for Armenia, "as this is the cheapest and
shortest way to Russia".
Opening railway not to affect Georgia-Azerbaijan relations
As the reintegration minister said, everyone will feel satisfied with
the opening of this transport artery, Armenia included. However, an
Azeri pundit's interview in [Russian] Vesti TV programme shows that it
might anger Azerbaijan and, as a result, it will raise gas tariffs.
"The railway is going to greatly improve economic communications
between Russia and Armenia, which is an aggressor country for
Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan is Georgia's strategic partner. We
have made large investments in Georgia and we supply it with cheap
gas. In cases like this, all things should be taken into
consideration. And Georgian politicians, too, should hold
consultations with the Azeri side," Azeri pundit Farhad Mehtiyev told
Vesti.
According to the Azeri pundit, in case the railway is opened, Armenia
is going to have easier trade communications with Russia, and by doing
so "[Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina] Ivanishvili will strengthen
Azerbaijan's enemies".
Is it possible to restore railway communication with Russia through
Abkhazia and will it bring tensions to the Georgian-Azeri relations?
Rezonansi spoke to pundit Kakha Gogolashvili, according to whom,
Georgia is not going to have any problems with Azerbaijan as
Azerbaijan needs Georgia more than Georgia needs Azerbaijan.
Kakha Gogolashvili: "The idea of re-opening the Georgian-Russian
railway going through Abkhazia existed even in 1999, but at that time,
it was not put into action, resistance of the legitimate
[Tbilisi-based] Abkhaz government being one of the reasons. Apart from
this, forcefully displaced people from Abkhazia insisted that the
question of their return was solved first and then the aforementioned
process was linked to it.
"At present, in my opinion, the state minister is planning to put the
idea into action without any pre-conditions provided he is supported
in Georgia, first and foremost by the displaced, of course. However,
we should also remember that this re-opening is going to be followed
by many problems, security issue first of all. It is not easy to
establish railway communications on occupied territories. This
envisages everyday communications, which might include shipping of
military cargo to Armenia by Russia. Consequently, it is not easy,"
Gogolashvili told Rezonansi.
Opening of railway communications "complicated issue"
He also said that Azerbaijan has taken responsibilities to support the
re-opening of the railway communication.
"As regards Azerbaijan's possible irritation, I think that it is
possible to regulate the problem. The Azeri government will understand
the issue and realize that this is an issue of Georgian-Russian
relations. Azerbaijan should by no means interfere because of the
problems with Armenia. We have never promised Azerbaijan that we would
never open the railway. Apart from this, in 1999, the Azeri government
signed a European Union declaration saying that Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia undertake the responsibility to open the railway. This
means that Azerbaijan has signed a document on opening the Abkhaz
railway. This fact will make Azerbaijan suppress its irritation.
"Against the background of the Azeri side reminding us of the cheap
gas, I would like to say that if we manage to open railway
communications with Russia, we will be able to get gas from Russia,
and at a cheaper price, too.
"Whatever the situation, Azerbaijan and Georgia should remain
strategic partners, and we will. As for Azerbaijan, Georgia is the
only territory for transporting its petrol to Europe. That is why,
Azerbaijan actually has no other way out," Gogolashvili told
Rezonansi.
Pundit Gia Nodia says that restoration of Georgian-Russian railway
communications via Abkhazia is a complicated issue. However, if
implemented, it is going to be beneficial. As for problems with
Azerbaijan, they should be ruled out.
"This is going to be a complicated issue to negotiate on, as it
requires the Abkhaz side's agreement. In general terms, it is going to
be economically beneficial, but politically disputable.
"As regards the dissatisfaction expressed by Azerbaijan, there might
be problems from their side, but I would not qualify them as really
serious or capable of ruining our relations. Azerbaijan needs good
relations with Georgia," Nodia told Rezonansi.
[Translated from Georgian]
From: Baghdasarian
Nov 8 2012
Will the opening of the Abkhaz railway result in a conflict with Baku?
by Salome Sigua
[Translated from Georgian]
Azeri experts disapprove of the opening of railway communication
between Georgia and Russia. They think that by doing so, Georgia,
which they are supplying with cheap gas, is helping to strengthen the
Russian-Armenian commercial partnership. In response to this, Georgian
experts say that "if we manage to open the railway with Russia, we
will get gas from Russia at a much cheaper price".
It should be noted that the new Georgian leadership is thinking of
opening railway communication with Russia via Abkhazia. The railway
has been closed for 20 years now. As Reintegration Minister Paata
Zakareishvili put it, the process should be completely free of
political implications and should be considered only within an
economic context.
According to Sergey Harutyunyan, the chief engineer of the Armenian
South Caucasus railway, the process is not going to be hindered
provided there is political good will. He thinks that the process will
have strategic importance for Armenia, "as this is the cheapest and
shortest way to Russia".
Opening railway not to affect Georgia-Azerbaijan relations
As the reintegration minister said, everyone will feel satisfied with
the opening of this transport artery, Armenia included. However, an
Azeri pundit's interview in [Russian] Vesti TV programme shows that it
might anger Azerbaijan and, as a result, it will raise gas tariffs.
"The railway is going to greatly improve economic communications
between Russia and Armenia, which is an aggressor country for
Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan is Georgia's strategic partner. We
have made large investments in Georgia and we supply it with cheap
gas. In cases like this, all things should be taken into
consideration. And Georgian politicians, too, should hold
consultations with the Azeri side," Azeri pundit Farhad Mehtiyev told
Vesti.
According to the Azeri pundit, in case the railway is opened, Armenia
is going to have easier trade communications with Russia, and by doing
so "[Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina] Ivanishvili will strengthen
Azerbaijan's enemies".
Is it possible to restore railway communication with Russia through
Abkhazia and will it bring tensions to the Georgian-Azeri relations?
Rezonansi spoke to pundit Kakha Gogolashvili, according to whom,
Georgia is not going to have any problems with Azerbaijan as
Azerbaijan needs Georgia more than Georgia needs Azerbaijan.
Kakha Gogolashvili: "The idea of re-opening the Georgian-Russian
railway going through Abkhazia existed even in 1999, but at that time,
it was not put into action, resistance of the legitimate
[Tbilisi-based] Abkhaz government being one of the reasons. Apart from
this, forcefully displaced people from Abkhazia insisted that the
question of their return was solved first and then the aforementioned
process was linked to it.
"At present, in my opinion, the state minister is planning to put the
idea into action without any pre-conditions provided he is supported
in Georgia, first and foremost by the displaced, of course. However,
we should also remember that this re-opening is going to be followed
by many problems, security issue first of all. It is not easy to
establish railway communications on occupied territories. This
envisages everyday communications, which might include shipping of
military cargo to Armenia by Russia. Consequently, it is not easy,"
Gogolashvili told Rezonansi.
Opening of railway communications "complicated issue"
He also said that Azerbaijan has taken responsibilities to support the
re-opening of the railway communication.
"As regards Azerbaijan's possible irritation, I think that it is
possible to regulate the problem. The Azeri government will understand
the issue and realize that this is an issue of Georgian-Russian
relations. Azerbaijan should by no means interfere because of the
problems with Armenia. We have never promised Azerbaijan that we would
never open the railway. Apart from this, in 1999, the Azeri government
signed a European Union declaration saying that Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia undertake the responsibility to open the railway. This
means that Azerbaijan has signed a document on opening the Abkhaz
railway. This fact will make Azerbaijan suppress its irritation.
"Against the background of the Azeri side reminding us of the cheap
gas, I would like to say that if we manage to open railway
communications with Russia, we will be able to get gas from Russia,
and at a cheaper price, too.
"Whatever the situation, Azerbaijan and Georgia should remain
strategic partners, and we will. As for Azerbaijan, Georgia is the
only territory for transporting its petrol to Europe. That is why,
Azerbaijan actually has no other way out," Gogolashvili told
Rezonansi.
Pundit Gia Nodia says that restoration of Georgian-Russian railway
communications via Abkhazia is a complicated issue. However, if
implemented, it is going to be beneficial. As for problems with
Azerbaijan, they should be ruled out.
"This is going to be a complicated issue to negotiate on, as it
requires the Abkhaz side's agreement. In general terms, it is going to
be economically beneficial, but politically disputable.
"As regards the dissatisfaction expressed by Azerbaijan, there might
be problems from their side, but I would not qualify them as really
serious or capable of ruining our relations. Azerbaijan needs good
relations with Georgia," Nodia told Rezonansi.
[Translated from Georgian]
From: Baghdasarian