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GEORGIA AND ITS ~QARMENIAN~R WAY: TBILISI LOOKS TO SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR IN TRYING TO MEND TIES WITH RUSSIA
OPINION | 25.01.13 | 13:57
Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) and Dmitry Medvedev reportedly met in Davos
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
For this first time in many years Georgia and Russia are going to
hold a business forum, a sign of a coming thaw in the relations of
the two bitter Caucasus rivals. The agreement on such an event - to
be hosted in Tbilisi in March - was reached this week in the Swiss
winter resort town of Davos at the meeting of the head of the National
Investment Agency of Georgia Georgiy Pertaya and head of the Business
Association of Russia.
Apparently, Russia is returning to Georgia, and the new leadership
represented by current Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili tacitly
recognizes the annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, whose
independence was recognized by Moscow after the Russo-Georgian war of
2008. It is no coincidence that a meeting of the Prime Ministers of
Georgia and Russia took place in Davos - for the first time since 2008.
"When your lands are taken away, when your territory is occupied, you,
of course, must speak out about it. Now a very consistent erosion
of all this is taking place, and signs of weakening of the position
of Georgia have appeared," out-going Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili said.
There is a deepening conflict in relations between President
Saakashvili and Prime Minister Ivanishvili in Georgia. The current
head of state, Saakashvili, insists that Georgia must consistently
continue the path towards European Union and NATO integration and
build relations with Russia only on condition of the de-occupation of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Ivanishvili, a likely next head of state
after his party won a general election last October, has advocated
settlement of relations with Russia, but still he hasn't renounced
his country's pro-Western aspirations.
Armenia's role in the process is remarkable. While visiting Yerevan on
January 17, Prime Minister Ivanishvili said that he envied Armenia,
which is conducting a so-called complementary policy and maintains
good relations with both NATO and the Russia-led new eastern bloc
represented by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The
same day, Saakashvili expressed his outrage, saying that "the Armenian
way" was unacceptable for Georgia.
In fact, if earlier Armenia tried to go "the Georgian way", building
democracy and a liberal economy, striving towards the West and
declaring its aspirations for European integration, then now it is
Georgia that has decided to go "the Armenian way" by maneuvering,
but rather returning to the zone of Russian influence.
By his statements in Yerevan, the Georgian prime minister in fact
questioned the concept of development for his country that has
been implemented during the past 20 years, says the head of the
Armenian Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation,
political analyst Stepan Grigoryan. The expert believes Ivanishvili
is unlikely to succeed in doing so, as an overwhelming majority inside
his political bloc continues to support a pro-Western course.
The Armenian way - its relations with Russia and NATO - are
unacceptable to Georgia and run against its national interests, said
General Secretary of the United National Movement (the political party
of President Saakashvili), former Prime Minister Vano Merabashvili.
And Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Nikoloz Vashakidze
resigned from his post, and his departure was linked to Ivanishvili's
comments made on a visit to Armenia.
Armenia may play an important role in the Georgian-Russian
rapprochement and Armenian diplomacy should be able to benefit from
this situation, said Director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute,
political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan.
Armenia is interested in the restoration of the railway connecting
Armenia and Russia via Abkhazia, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edward Nalbandian stressed at a press conference in Yerevan on January
24. He noted that Armenia attaches great importance to this issue
and is ready to make all efforts for its speedy solution.
Apparently, Armenia has indeed become a mediator between Georgia and
Russia. It is noteworthy that after returning to Georgia from Armenia
Ivanishvili made some important gesture to Armenia. Vahagn Chakhalyan,
a Georgian-Armenian activist from Javakhk, was released from prison
on Thursday. He and his supporters have protested his imprisonment
since 2008 and called him a political prisoner. Open access to Georgia
has also been granted to Armenian MP Shirak Torosian, who was banned
from traveling to his native Javakhk. The first meeting of the joint
group for the protection of Armenian churches in Georgia has been
held in Tbilisi.
The fact that the current Georgian authorities intend to
improve relations with Russia, in principle, is advantageous for
Armenia. In particular, it concerns the opening of the railway. But
Georgian-Russian friendship is unlikely to be limited to the opening
of the Abkhaz railway. Chances are that Georgia will, indeed, take a
step back towards the post-Soviet reality and old values. Apparently,
the "Armenian Way" has become a major one in the Caucasus.
From: Baghdasarian
OPINION | 25.01.13 | 13:57
Bidzina Ivanishvili (left) and Dmitry Medvedev reportedly met in Davos
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
For this first time in many years Georgia and Russia are going to
hold a business forum, a sign of a coming thaw in the relations of
the two bitter Caucasus rivals. The agreement on such an event - to
be hosted in Tbilisi in March - was reached this week in the Swiss
winter resort town of Davos at the meeting of the head of the National
Investment Agency of Georgia Georgiy Pertaya and head of the Business
Association of Russia.
Apparently, Russia is returning to Georgia, and the new leadership
represented by current Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili tacitly
recognizes the annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, whose
independence was recognized by Moscow after the Russo-Georgian war of
2008. It is no coincidence that a meeting of the Prime Ministers of
Georgia and Russia took place in Davos - for the first time since 2008.
"When your lands are taken away, when your territory is occupied, you,
of course, must speak out about it. Now a very consistent erosion
of all this is taking place, and signs of weakening of the position
of Georgia have appeared," out-going Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili said.
There is a deepening conflict in relations between President
Saakashvili and Prime Minister Ivanishvili in Georgia. The current
head of state, Saakashvili, insists that Georgia must consistently
continue the path towards European Union and NATO integration and
build relations with Russia only on condition of the de-occupation of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Ivanishvili, a likely next head of state
after his party won a general election last October, has advocated
settlement of relations with Russia, but still he hasn't renounced
his country's pro-Western aspirations.
Armenia's role in the process is remarkable. While visiting Yerevan on
January 17, Prime Minister Ivanishvili said that he envied Armenia,
which is conducting a so-called complementary policy and maintains
good relations with both NATO and the Russia-led new eastern bloc
represented by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The
same day, Saakashvili expressed his outrage, saying that "the Armenian
way" was unacceptable for Georgia.
In fact, if earlier Armenia tried to go "the Georgian way", building
democracy and a liberal economy, striving towards the West and
declaring its aspirations for European integration, then now it is
Georgia that has decided to go "the Armenian way" by maneuvering,
but rather returning to the zone of Russian influence.
By his statements in Yerevan, the Georgian prime minister in fact
questioned the concept of development for his country that has
been implemented during the past 20 years, says the head of the
Armenian Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation,
political analyst Stepan Grigoryan. The expert believes Ivanishvili
is unlikely to succeed in doing so, as an overwhelming majority inside
his political bloc continues to support a pro-Western course.
The Armenian way - its relations with Russia and NATO - are
unacceptable to Georgia and run against its national interests, said
General Secretary of the United National Movement (the political party
of President Saakashvili), former Prime Minister Vano Merabashvili.
And Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Nikoloz Vashakidze
resigned from his post, and his departure was linked to Ivanishvili's
comments made on a visit to Armenia.
Armenia may play an important role in the Georgian-Russian
rapprochement and Armenian diplomacy should be able to benefit from
this situation, said Director of the Yerevan-based Caucasus Institute,
political analyst Alexander Iskandaryan.
Armenia is interested in the restoration of the railway connecting
Armenia and Russia via Abkhazia, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edward Nalbandian stressed at a press conference in Yerevan on January
24. He noted that Armenia attaches great importance to this issue
and is ready to make all efforts for its speedy solution.
Apparently, Armenia has indeed become a mediator between Georgia and
Russia. It is noteworthy that after returning to Georgia from Armenia
Ivanishvili made some important gesture to Armenia. Vahagn Chakhalyan,
a Georgian-Armenian activist from Javakhk, was released from prison
on Thursday. He and his supporters have protested his imprisonment
since 2008 and called him a political prisoner. Open access to Georgia
has also been granted to Armenian MP Shirak Torosian, who was banned
from traveling to his native Javakhk. The first meeting of the joint
group for the protection of Armenian churches in Georgia has been
held in Tbilisi.
The fact that the current Georgian authorities intend to
improve relations with Russia, in principle, is advantageous for
Armenia. In particular, it concerns the opening of the railway. But
Georgian-Russian friendship is unlikely to be limited to the opening
of the Abkhaz railway. Chances are that Georgia will, indeed, take a
step back towards the post-Soviet reality and old values. Apparently,
the "Armenian Way" has become a major one in the Caucasus.
From: Baghdasarian