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Turan news agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 26 2012
Georgian premier's remarks cause mixed reaction in Azerbaijan
Remarks by Georgian Prime Minister Bedzina Ivanishvili questioning the
importance of building the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has caused a
mixed reaction in Azerbaijan.
Recalling that as a businessman Ivanishvili made his billions in
Russia, ANS reported on 23 December that Russia is one of the most
interested side in halting the construction as the project will
isolate Armenia and hurt Russia's interests in the region.
The issue has become a matter of concern for Azerbaijan which has
undertaken almost all construction expenditures. In addition, the
railway bypasses Armenia and is very important for Azerbaijan both
politically and economically, said the TV report. Moreover, Azerbaijan
has arranged a 775-million-line of credit to Georgia to cover the
construction of the railway corridor.
ANS TV quoted Ivanishvili as saying to the Georgian newspaper
Rezonansi that "the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway
raises a set of questions".
"It is kind of a dangerous policy, because if they call Azerbaijan a
political and strategic ally, then they should stick to the policy,
but such questions and statements cast a shadow on this alliance.
Georgian President Enhanced Coverage LinkingGeorgian President
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DaysSaakashvili is loyal to this strategic and political alliance,
while Ivanishvili is trying to humiliate Saakashvili by forgoing the
projects that Saakashvili gave the green light. As a result, it goes
beyond the scope of personal relations and may negatively affect
bilateral relations between the two countries," political expert Elxan
Sahinoglu told ANS TV.
Earlier last month, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
offered NATO to transport military hardware and troops from
Afghanistan in 2014 via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway which will be
put in operation by early 2014.
Before his visit to Azerbaijan Ivanishvili should seriously think,
whether the dream he is planning to realize is Georgian or Russian.
Otherwise, the Georgians who do not sympathize with Russia and who
have become quite democratic under the Saakashvili's tenure can give a
present to the current prime minister by depriving him of power, ANS
TV reported.
Experts
Commentator Rauf Mirqadirov wrote in the Zerkalo newspaper on 25
December that Ivanishvili is trying to cleanse bilateral relations
that were marred by corruption at the highest level. He pointed out
that the Georgian segment of the railway was expected to cost 220m
dollars in 2007 when the project started and reached the "astronomical
sum of 775m dollars in 2012" as Baku footed the bill.
According to Mirqadirov, Ivanishvili will manage to reduce the price
to the reasonable level and return money to Azerbaijan. Old agreements
will be reviewed and new ones will be struck, he said. "The new
reviewed accords will show that a new era is dawning in
Georgian-Azerbaijani relations without the element of corruption
imposed by some officials in Baku," Mirqadirov said.
He added that Ivanishvili will still capitalize on Azerbaijan's need
for Georgia as a transit country. "Ivanishvili is simply trying to use
this dependency of Azerbaijan to charge Baku for some expenses to
implement his own pre-election promises to improve social and economic
situation of citizens," Mirqadirov said.
In its report on 27 December, Turan news agency said that during his
visit to Baku Ivanishvili will also discuss the sales of Azerbaijani
oil products in Georgia. Turan pointed out that Azerbaijan's state oil
company, SOCAR, controls 38 per cent of the market for car fuel in
Georgia.
"In years 2007-2011 SOCAR Georgia paid to the Georgian state budget
some 470m dollars in taxes and fees. Over the last three years, it was
the biggest tax payer in Georgia," the report said.
In an interview with Azadliq newspaper on 25 December political
analyst Vafa Quluzada said that many matters will be resolved in a
normal way once Ivanishvili visits Baku.
"I believe that after he visits Baku and conducts talks, all problems
will be resolved normally. I do not believe that Ivanishvili is able
to turn Georgia towards Russia. This is an impossible task and he does
not intend to do so. Therefore, money is the main issue here. When it
comes to money, if it were me, I would help Georgia. Azerbaijan has
money and large oil and gas income. With Georgia in this difficult
situation both Azerbaijan and Turkey have to help it so that Georgia
does not sink and chaos does not ensue," Quluzada said.
Political analyst Zardust Alizada told the Baki Xabar newspaper on 26
December that Ivanishvili's remarks are natural for politics and
business, and pursue the goal of obtaining more from Azerbaijan. "Even
under Saakashvili some agreements about large projects that went
through Georgia were later amended. Back then Saakashvili managed to
obtain extra funds from Azerbaijan for transit. Now the new prime
minister is using various means to get more money from Azerbaijan,"
the analyst said. "Ivanishvili is a billionaire and he knows business
very well," he added.
Baki Xabar quoted anonymous experts as saying that Georgia may be
seeking some concessions in Azerbaijan regarding border delimitation
issues. "However, since Baku so far ignores blackmail from Russia and
the West gives grounds to say that the 'efforts' of Bidzina
Ivanishvili will be in vain as well," the newspaper said. It noted
that Ivanishvili's policies can lead the Georgian government to a
crisis. "The overt attacks of this person against Saakashvili are
growing increasingly radical," the report said.
Web user comments
Azerbaijani web users offered different takes on Georgia's policies
under Ivanishvili. In a comment posted on azadliq.org, the website of
the Azeri Service of Radio Liberty, on 25 December, user "Aga"
suggested that Ivanishvili was Moscow's man. "Not only we, but
Georgians too can see this. For Georgians to cast doubt on projects
with Azerbaijan means axing the tree they are sitting on".
User "Emil": "Reviewing Azerbaijan's projects in Georgia or seeking
some provisions in contracts serves only one goal: let us see what
more concessions can we obtain from our generous neighbour Azerbaijan.
I believe that Azerbaijan has to give a stern reaction to these
statements and if there is enough confidence should threaten Georgia
with an international court".
In comments posted on Azadliq.info, the website of the major
opposition newspaper Azadliq, user "Azad" wrote: "It is regrettable
that Ivanishvili came to power in Georgia. This is against
Azerbaijan's interests. In general, Ivanishvili is pro-Russian. He
will make Georgia dependent on Russia without realizing this himself".
User "karal": "Raise the gas price to 400 dollars and they will shut up".
User "Ulvi": "These Georgians are very ungrateful. They will know
Saakashvili's worth later".
[Translated from Russian]
Dec 26 2012
Georgian premier's remarks cause mixed reaction in Azerbaijan
Remarks by Georgian Prime Minister Bedzina Ivanishvili questioning the
importance of building the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has caused a
mixed reaction in Azerbaijan.
Recalling that as a businessman Ivanishvili made his billions in
Russia, ANS reported on 23 December that Russia is one of the most
interested side in halting the construction as the project will
isolate Armenia and hurt Russia's interests in the region.
The issue has become a matter of concern for Azerbaijan which has
undertaken almost all construction expenditures. In addition, the
railway bypasses Armenia and is very important for Azerbaijan both
politically and economically, said the TV report. Moreover, Azerbaijan
has arranged a 775-million-line of credit to Georgia to cover the
construction of the railway corridor.
ANS TV quoted Ivanishvili as saying to the Georgian newspaper
Rezonansi that "the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway
raises a set of questions".
"It is kind of a dangerous policy, because if they call Azerbaijan a
political and strategic ally, then they should stick to the policy,
but such questions and statements cast a shadow on this alliance.
Georgian President Enhanced Coverage LinkingGeorgian President
-Search using:Biographies Plus NewsNews, Most Recent 60
DaysSaakashvili is loyal to this strategic and political alliance,
while Ivanishvili is trying to humiliate Saakashvili by forgoing the
projects that Saakashvili gave the green light. As a result, it goes
beyond the scope of personal relations and may negatively affect
bilateral relations between the two countries," political expert Elxan
Sahinoglu told ANS TV.
Earlier last month, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
offered NATO to transport military hardware and troops from
Afghanistan in 2014 via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway which will be
put in operation by early 2014.
Before his visit to Azerbaijan Ivanishvili should seriously think,
whether the dream he is planning to realize is Georgian or Russian.
Otherwise, the Georgians who do not sympathize with Russia and who
have become quite democratic under the Saakashvili's tenure can give a
present to the current prime minister by depriving him of power, ANS
TV reported.
Experts
Commentator Rauf Mirqadirov wrote in the Zerkalo newspaper on 25
December that Ivanishvili is trying to cleanse bilateral relations
that were marred by corruption at the highest level. He pointed out
that the Georgian segment of the railway was expected to cost 220m
dollars in 2007 when the project started and reached the "astronomical
sum of 775m dollars in 2012" as Baku footed the bill.
According to Mirqadirov, Ivanishvili will manage to reduce the price
to the reasonable level and return money to Azerbaijan. Old agreements
will be reviewed and new ones will be struck, he said. "The new
reviewed accords will show that a new era is dawning in
Georgian-Azerbaijani relations without the element of corruption
imposed by some officials in Baku," Mirqadirov said.
He added that Ivanishvili will still capitalize on Azerbaijan's need
for Georgia as a transit country. "Ivanishvili is simply trying to use
this dependency of Azerbaijan to charge Baku for some expenses to
implement his own pre-election promises to improve social and economic
situation of citizens," Mirqadirov said.
In its report on 27 December, Turan news agency said that during his
visit to Baku Ivanishvili will also discuss the sales of Azerbaijani
oil products in Georgia. Turan pointed out that Azerbaijan's state oil
company, SOCAR, controls 38 per cent of the market for car fuel in
Georgia.
"In years 2007-2011 SOCAR Georgia paid to the Georgian state budget
some 470m dollars in taxes and fees. Over the last three years, it was
the biggest tax payer in Georgia," the report said.
In an interview with Azadliq newspaper on 25 December political
analyst Vafa Quluzada said that many matters will be resolved in a
normal way once Ivanishvili visits Baku.
"I believe that after he visits Baku and conducts talks, all problems
will be resolved normally. I do not believe that Ivanishvili is able
to turn Georgia towards Russia. This is an impossible task and he does
not intend to do so. Therefore, money is the main issue here. When it
comes to money, if it were me, I would help Georgia. Azerbaijan has
money and large oil and gas income. With Georgia in this difficult
situation both Azerbaijan and Turkey have to help it so that Georgia
does not sink and chaos does not ensue," Quluzada said.
Political analyst Zardust Alizada told the Baki Xabar newspaper on 26
December that Ivanishvili's remarks are natural for politics and
business, and pursue the goal of obtaining more from Azerbaijan. "Even
under Saakashvili some agreements about large projects that went
through Georgia were later amended. Back then Saakashvili managed to
obtain extra funds from Azerbaijan for transit. Now the new prime
minister is using various means to get more money from Azerbaijan,"
the analyst said. "Ivanishvili is a billionaire and he knows business
very well," he added.
Baki Xabar quoted anonymous experts as saying that Georgia may be
seeking some concessions in Azerbaijan regarding border delimitation
issues. "However, since Baku so far ignores blackmail from Russia and
the West gives grounds to say that the 'efforts' of Bidzina
Ivanishvili will be in vain as well," the newspaper said. It noted
that Ivanishvili's policies can lead the Georgian government to a
crisis. "The overt attacks of this person against Saakashvili are
growing increasingly radical," the report said.
Web user comments
Azerbaijani web users offered different takes on Georgia's policies
under Ivanishvili. In a comment posted on azadliq.org, the website of
the Azeri Service of Radio Liberty, on 25 December, user "Aga"
suggested that Ivanishvili was Moscow's man. "Not only we, but
Georgians too can see this. For Georgians to cast doubt on projects
with Azerbaijan means axing the tree they are sitting on".
User "Emil": "Reviewing Azerbaijan's projects in Georgia or seeking
some provisions in contracts serves only one goal: let us see what
more concessions can we obtain from our generous neighbour Azerbaijan.
I believe that Azerbaijan has to give a stern reaction to these
statements and if there is enough confidence should threaten Georgia
with an international court".
In comments posted on Azadliq.info, the website of the major
opposition newspaper Azadliq, user "Azad" wrote: "It is regrettable
that Ivanishvili came to power in Georgia. This is against
Azerbaijan's interests. In general, Ivanishvili is pro-Russian. He
will make Georgia dependent on Russia without realizing this himself".
User "karal": "Raise the gas price to 400 dollars and they will shut up".
User "Ulvi": "These Georgians are very ungrateful. They will know
Saakashvili's worth later".
[Translated from Russian]