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NEW GEORGIA: IVANISHVILI'S COMING TO POWER TO INFLUENCE MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING ARMENIAN DIASPORA
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
08.10.12 | 12:55
Photo: From Bidzina Ivanishvili's Facebook page
Georgian-Armenian relations have passed a difficult test following
the October 1 parliamentary elections in Georgia that ended in the
victory of the opposition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
In an interview with the Russian Novoye Vremya (New Time) online
newspaper soon after the elections Ivanishvili said he was surprised
"why Armenians live in Georgia, if their home is next door." As the
politician later explained, his words were taken out of context:
in fact, he said that he admired the Armenians and Jews, who can
create Diasporas anywhere in the world, while Georgians (like himself)
yearn for their homeland. "I would like to note that all citizens of
Georgia are equal in their rights despite their ethnic origin. This
is guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, and at the same time
this is my credo," Ivanishvili said on his Facebook account.
Before this clarification came, there was already a flurry of comments
in Armenia expressing dissatisfaction and resentment with the words
of Ivanishvili. However, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that,
regardless of who will lead Georgia, Armenia will do everything for
bilateral Armenian-Georgian relations to be at an excellent level.
And Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said: "Armenia and Georgia
share centuries-old ties of friendship. Georgia is home to thousands
of Georgian Armenians who are an important factor strengthening our
friendship. We have managed to build a mutually beneficial inter-state
relationship with Georgia based on mutual respect and we hope that
we will continue our joint efforts to further strengthen our friendly
cooperation."
Further developments of the Armenian-Georgian relations, however,
will largely depend on several factors. And Georgia's choice of the
geopolitical path to follow is a key component in it.
Immediately after the election Ivanishvili said that he sees joining
NATO as one of the major tasks for his nation, at the same time noting
that he would try to restore trade relations with Russia.
This circumstance cannot but be viewed as positive by Georgian
Armenians. At the same time, there is another important factor, which
is the problem of Javakhk, an Armenian populated region of Georgia on
the border with Armenia. Javakhk's Armenians demand respect towards
their ethnic rights. Head of the Multiethnic Georgia organization
Arnold Stepanyan said that about 80 percent of the population of
Javakhk voted for President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National
Movement party, and only 12-13 percent for Ivanishvili's Georgian
Dream bloc. Apparently, Armenians attributed to Saakashvili certain
progress in Javakhk - road construction and respect for the rights
of ethnic Armenians.
"In Georgia, 6.5 percent of the population is ethnic Azeris,
6 percent is ethnic Armenians, and there is a real threat from
people like Ivanishvili in Georgia or Berlusconi in Italy. For
such people money is God. There is a risk when everything depends
on one eccentric person. It also shows that, in contrast to Armenia,
Georgia is unpredictable," said Director of the Regional Studies Center
Richard Giragosian. "In no country is it appropriate that a tycoon be
in power. Business in politics leads to more losses than achievements.
This also applies to Armenian political figures, who have turned the
country's parliament into a business club." The expert said, however,
that changes will be taking place in Georgia.
The Javakhk factor is being heavily used by foreign forces, in
particular by Russia against Georgia. Many associate the "misprint"
in the Novoye Vremya paper as a desire of certain forces to spoil
Georgian-Armenian relations.
Javakhk is considered a potential threat to the integrity of Georgia,
though neither Armenia nor major Armenian organizations have expressed
any separatist sentiments, they only have demanded protection of
their rights.
These rights can be protected only in a stable Georgia going along
the path of democratic reform and economic liberalization. Javakhk
Armenians acknowledge that now in Georgia it is easier to start a
business, that state officials do not take bribes or discriminate.
Perhaps that's why they had decided to vote for Saakashvili.
It is remarkable that of the prominent political figures of Armenia
only former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan has so far congratulated
Ivanishvili on his victory.
From: Baghdasarian
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
08.10.12 | 12:55
Photo: From Bidzina Ivanishvili's Facebook page
Georgian-Armenian relations have passed a difficult test following
the October 1 parliamentary elections in Georgia that ended in the
victory of the opposition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili.
In an interview with the Russian Novoye Vremya (New Time) online
newspaper soon after the elections Ivanishvili said he was surprised
"why Armenians live in Georgia, if their home is next door." As the
politician later explained, his words were taken out of context:
in fact, he said that he admired the Armenians and Jews, who can
create Diasporas anywhere in the world, while Georgians (like himself)
yearn for their homeland. "I would like to note that all citizens of
Georgia are equal in their rights despite their ethnic origin. This
is guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, and at the same time
this is my credo," Ivanishvili said on his Facebook account.
Before this clarification came, there was already a flurry of comments
in Armenia expressing dissatisfaction and resentment with the words
of Ivanishvili. However, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said that,
regardless of who will lead Georgia, Armenia will do everything for
bilateral Armenian-Georgian relations to be at an excellent level.
And Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said: "Armenia and Georgia
share centuries-old ties of friendship. Georgia is home to thousands
of Georgian Armenians who are an important factor strengthening our
friendship. We have managed to build a mutually beneficial inter-state
relationship with Georgia based on mutual respect and we hope that
we will continue our joint efforts to further strengthen our friendly
cooperation."
Further developments of the Armenian-Georgian relations, however,
will largely depend on several factors. And Georgia's choice of the
geopolitical path to follow is a key component in it.
Immediately after the election Ivanishvili said that he sees joining
NATO as one of the major tasks for his nation, at the same time noting
that he would try to restore trade relations with Russia.
This circumstance cannot but be viewed as positive by Georgian
Armenians. At the same time, there is another important factor, which
is the problem of Javakhk, an Armenian populated region of Georgia on
the border with Armenia. Javakhk's Armenians demand respect towards
their ethnic rights. Head of the Multiethnic Georgia organization
Arnold Stepanyan said that about 80 percent of the population of
Javakhk voted for President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National
Movement party, and only 12-13 percent for Ivanishvili's Georgian
Dream bloc. Apparently, Armenians attributed to Saakashvili certain
progress in Javakhk - road construction and respect for the rights
of ethnic Armenians.
"In Georgia, 6.5 percent of the population is ethnic Azeris,
6 percent is ethnic Armenians, and there is a real threat from
people like Ivanishvili in Georgia or Berlusconi in Italy. For
such people money is God. There is a risk when everything depends
on one eccentric person. It also shows that, in contrast to Armenia,
Georgia is unpredictable," said Director of the Regional Studies Center
Richard Giragosian. "In no country is it appropriate that a tycoon be
in power. Business in politics leads to more losses than achievements.
This also applies to Armenian political figures, who have turned the
country's parliament into a business club." The expert said, however,
that changes will be taking place in Georgia.
The Javakhk factor is being heavily used by foreign forces, in
particular by Russia against Georgia. Many associate the "misprint"
in the Novoye Vremya paper as a desire of certain forces to spoil
Georgian-Armenian relations.
Javakhk is considered a potential threat to the integrity of Georgia,
though neither Armenia nor major Armenian organizations have expressed
any separatist sentiments, they only have demanded protection of
their rights.
These rights can be protected only in a stable Georgia going along
the path of democratic reform and economic liberalization. Javakhk
Armenians acknowledge that now in Georgia it is easier to start a
business, that state officials do not take bribes or discriminate.
Perhaps that's why they had decided to vote for Saakashvili.
It is remarkable that of the prominent political figures of Armenia
only former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan has so far congratulated
Ivanishvili on his victory.
From: Baghdasarian