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`Lessons from Georgia' and Messages Also for Serzh Sargsyan?
August 9 2013
On the eve of the 5th anniversary of Russian-Georgian 5-day war of
August 2008, an interesting episode was noted in Georgian-Russian
relations: Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev gave an interview to
Georgian Rustavi 2 TV. The very fact of the interview on the
anniversary of August war in itself is noteworthy. And the messages
voiced were even more interesting: the messages addressed to Georgian
leadership, particularly to Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina
Ivanishvili and the Georgian society were somewhat Moscow's `lessons
from Georgia' and were also addressed to Serzh Sargsyan who has to
make a decision on signing association agreement with the EU this
fall. Medvedev referred to Michael Sahakashvili as a political
criminal noting that back in 1990-s there were issues with country's
territorial integrity, adding that `no one prohibited the Georgians or
the Georgian leadership to unite the country. It was to be done
without hastiness by making arrangements. At some point there were
chances to establish may be not a federation, but at least a
confederation and to coexist. Those opportunities were missed,
Sahakashvili tore his country apart'. Further the Russian Prime
Minister stated that the Eurasian Economic Community was not an effort
to revive the former Soviet Union. Medvedev opined that Eurasian
Economic Community is an effort of integration between neighbors to
facilitate trade and investments, which may also be of interest for
Georgia. He pointed out to the successful integration of Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan and added that he expects some `pragmatic
steps' from Ivanishvili. He noted that Ivanishvili has got a tough
legacy. `I met Ivanishvili in Davos and we had a brief conversation. I
got the impression that he is a pragmatic who understands the
importance of normalization of relations with Russia. Politicians
should always be pragmatic and take decisions as necessitated by the
situation without making fatal mistakes; they should try to address
all the issues in the legal framework with consideration of
international law and not through pressures or complaints to
authorities on the other side of the ocean'. Then the Russian Prime
Minister reiterated Moscow's official position almost resorting to
threats that `NATO accession will not offer any development advantages
to Georgia; however it may become a source of tension with Russia'.
According to him the motive for possible tension would not be the
events of 2008 in Caucasus but rather `Georgia's becoming part of a
strong military-political alliance which under certain circumstances
is a potential adversary to Russia' He added that nuclear missiles of
NATO are targeting Russia. Statements of Medvedev demonstrate Moscow's
final efforts not to leave the South Caucasus: the Kremlin recently
has openly demonstrated its fight for South Caucasus. Moscow uses
every opportunity possible to remind about its existence, about its
interests and keeps talking about the Eurasian Economic Community,
even turning to Georgian authorities. Yesterday Turkish media reported
that on August 13, 2013 President Putin will pay an official visit to
Azerbaijan. In this situation, Armenia is staying face to face with
the Kremlin. On the hand, Medvedev is telling Georgia of the
consequences of joining NATO and, on the other hand, invites them to
join the Eurasian Economic Community and then reminds the example of
`criminal' Sahakashvili and the `lessons from Georgia' from the
perspective of the Kremlin. The messages of the Kremlin on the eve of
Armenia's deepening relations with the EU are clearly for official
Yerevan too. It's hard to predict how Armenian authorities will
overcome the pressures from Russia but it's for sure that they have to
handle them.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/09/155927/
August 9 2013
On the eve of the 5th anniversary of Russian-Georgian 5-day war of
August 2008, an interesting episode was noted in Georgian-Russian
relations: Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev gave an interview to
Georgian Rustavi 2 TV. The very fact of the interview on the
anniversary of August war in itself is noteworthy. And the messages
voiced were even more interesting: the messages addressed to Georgian
leadership, particularly to Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina
Ivanishvili and the Georgian society were somewhat Moscow's `lessons
from Georgia' and were also addressed to Serzh Sargsyan who has to
make a decision on signing association agreement with the EU this
fall. Medvedev referred to Michael Sahakashvili as a political
criminal noting that back in 1990-s there were issues with country's
territorial integrity, adding that `no one prohibited the Georgians or
the Georgian leadership to unite the country. It was to be done
without hastiness by making arrangements. At some point there were
chances to establish may be not a federation, but at least a
confederation and to coexist. Those opportunities were missed,
Sahakashvili tore his country apart'. Further the Russian Prime
Minister stated that the Eurasian Economic Community was not an effort
to revive the former Soviet Union. Medvedev opined that Eurasian
Economic Community is an effort of integration between neighbors to
facilitate trade and investments, which may also be of interest for
Georgia. He pointed out to the successful integration of Russia,
Belarus and Kazakhstan and added that he expects some `pragmatic
steps' from Ivanishvili. He noted that Ivanishvili has got a tough
legacy. `I met Ivanishvili in Davos and we had a brief conversation. I
got the impression that he is a pragmatic who understands the
importance of normalization of relations with Russia. Politicians
should always be pragmatic and take decisions as necessitated by the
situation without making fatal mistakes; they should try to address
all the issues in the legal framework with consideration of
international law and not through pressures or complaints to
authorities on the other side of the ocean'. Then the Russian Prime
Minister reiterated Moscow's official position almost resorting to
threats that `NATO accession will not offer any development advantages
to Georgia; however it may become a source of tension with Russia'.
According to him the motive for possible tension would not be the
events of 2008 in Caucasus but rather `Georgia's becoming part of a
strong military-political alliance which under certain circumstances
is a potential adversary to Russia' He added that nuclear missiles of
NATO are targeting Russia. Statements of Medvedev demonstrate Moscow's
final efforts not to leave the South Caucasus: the Kremlin recently
has openly demonstrated its fight for South Caucasus. Moscow uses
every opportunity possible to remind about its existence, about its
interests and keeps talking about the Eurasian Economic Community,
even turning to Georgian authorities. Yesterday Turkish media reported
that on August 13, 2013 President Putin will pay an official visit to
Azerbaijan. In this situation, Armenia is staying face to face with
the Kremlin. On the hand, Medvedev is telling Georgia of the
consequences of joining NATO and, on the other hand, invites them to
join the Eurasian Economic Community and then reminds the example of
`criminal' Sahakashvili and the `lessons from Georgia' from the
perspective of the Kremlin. The messages of the Kremlin on the eve of
Armenia's deepening relations with the EU are clearly for official
Yerevan too. It's hard to predict how Armenian authorities will
overcome the pressures from Russia but it's for sure that they have to
handle them.
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/09/155927/