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MORE FOREIGN POLICY FAUX PAS FOR IVANISHVILI?
http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=10780
The predictions of Armenian experts proved to be correct: the visit
of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili turned out to be ~Ssimilar to
an acrobat walking on a rope.~T This is a metaphor for diplomatic
relations between Tbilisi, Baku and Yerevan becoming a dangerous road
for Georgia~Rs billionare leader.
Several economic agreements signed in Yerevan and cultural agreements
reached verbally seemed to define the innocent nature of the visit.
However, several ~Scompliments~T on Armenia~Rs foreign policy and the
initiative to restore the Abkhazian section of the Russia-Georgia
railway apparently made the Prime Minister lose his geopolitical
balance.
The railway initiative of PM Ivanishvili is not a new topic. The PM
has voiced it before, but what he told Radio Liberty journalist was
truly something new and was like lightning in a clear sky.
Ivanishvili~Rs belief that Armenia~Rs balanced foreign policy should
become exemplary for Georgia was followed by a big stir in the
oppositional circles back in Tbilisi.
The UNM accused Ivanishvili of changing the country~Rs foreign policy
priorities and betraying the publicly declared policy. United National
Movement authorities believe this is a 180-degree turn from the course
that Georgia had previously been pursuing for the past several years.
According to minority leader Goka Gabashvili, developing the
foreign policy based on other country~Rs examples cannot be
allowed. ~SGeorgia~Rs wish to become a NATO member [has been]
determined by the population through a referendum. Therefore, any
statement on other countries foreign policy trajectory being examples
to Georgia is dangerous for Georgia, as our country has its own state
interests just as other countries have theirs,~T Gabashvili commented
after the interview of Prime Minister Ivanishvili.
~SIs it possible to restore friendly relations with Russia and at
the same time have good relations with NATO?~T The Prime Minister~Rs
answer to this rhetorical question caused political turmoil. According
to the PM~Rs response, Armenia has good relations with Russia and
NATO and this should be exemplary for Georgia as well. ~STherefore,
[this scenario] is possible and I think we are obliged and I hope
that we will manage to combine all that,~T Ivanishvili told Radio
Liberty in Yerevan.
The lack of diplomatic experience showed in the response of the Prime
Minister again. In other cases it is truly hard to believe that the
country~Rs leader would be willing to change foreign priorities and
present the idea in a neighboring country. The Prime Minister probably
did not take into consideration that the goal of Armenia~Rs foreign
policy is not NATO integration, unlike Georgia, which aims to join
the organization. Not to mention, Armenia~Rs collective security
agreement organization and its CIS membership.
A much bigger stir followed the PM~Rs announcement of old the
initiative of restoring the Abkhazia part of the Russia-Georgia
railway. After Ivanishvili~Rs visit to Baku three weeks ago, this
issue seemed to be closed. However, raising the issue in Yerevan put
everything upside down.
Meanwhile, interesting changes are noticed in the reactions of the
Sokhumi government. In particular, if the issue of restoring the
railway was categorically excluded in Sokhumi, today they state their
readiness to discuss the issue collectively.
President of separatist Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, said with regard
to the restoration of the Georgia-Russia railway via Abkhazia ~V ~SI
have a vague idea on all that can be implemented. [But] it is hard for
me to say what is possible now,~T he added. ~SSpecialists should sit
down and discuss it, calculate what the Abkhazian side can get from it;
whether it is worth it; what the goals are and the interests of the
participants of the process. Until now, everything is quite unclear.~T
According to Alexander Ankvab~Rs statement, the opening of the railway
requires a large amount of money as the existing railway in the region
is not in order. The leader of the occupied Abkhazia spoke about the
issue with Apsny Press.
Ivanishvili had not finished his visit to Yerevan when President
Mikheil Saakashvili commented on his initiative. The president is
certain that restoration of the railway does not take into account
Georgia~Rs geopolitical interests and is only in Russia~Rs interests.
~SThe railway through Abkhazia is the railway that perviously connected
Georgia to Europe, via Russia. Georgia has practically no need to
connect to Europe with this railway. Building the road is beneficial
to Russia only, as the Karsi-Akhalkalaki railway is a competitor to
the Trans-Siberian railway,~T the president said. He added that the
one making the statement was deliberately undermining Georgia~Rs
independence and liberty.
~SBy opening the railway Russia wants to legitimize the de-facto
occupation of Abkhazia. I think those who make such statements have no
idea about Georgia~Rs strategic instruments, or they are deliberately
undermining Georgia~Rs independence, Georgia~Rs future and are acting
according to the interests of Georgia~Rs occupant,~T Saakashvili said.
In a public opinion survey conducted in Georgia in November 2012 by
the National-Democratic Institute, 68 percent of respondents said they
are positive about the perspective of restoring the railway between
Georgia and Russia via Abkhazia. Only 6 percent expressed skeptical
attitude and 24 percent of people said they have no definite position
on the issue.
By Zaza Jgharkava 24.01.2013
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=10780
The predictions of Armenian experts proved to be correct: the visit
of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili turned out to be ~Ssimilar to
an acrobat walking on a rope.~T This is a metaphor for diplomatic
relations between Tbilisi, Baku and Yerevan becoming a dangerous road
for Georgia~Rs billionare leader.
Several economic agreements signed in Yerevan and cultural agreements
reached verbally seemed to define the innocent nature of the visit.
However, several ~Scompliments~T on Armenia~Rs foreign policy and the
initiative to restore the Abkhazian section of the Russia-Georgia
railway apparently made the Prime Minister lose his geopolitical
balance.
The railway initiative of PM Ivanishvili is not a new topic. The PM
has voiced it before, but what he told Radio Liberty journalist was
truly something new and was like lightning in a clear sky.
Ivanishvili~Rs belief that Armenia~Rs balanced foreign policy should
become exemplary for Georgia was followed by a big stir in the
oppositional circles back in Tbilisi.
The UNM accused Ivanishvili of changing the country~Rs foreign policy
priorities and betraying the publicly declared policy. United National
Movement authorities believe this is a 180-degree turn from the course
that Georgia had previously been pursuing for the past several years.
According to minority leader Goka Gabashvili, developing the
foreign policy based on other country~Rs examples cannot be
allowed. ~SGeorgia~Rs wish to become a NATO member [has been]
determined by the population through a referendum. Therefore, any
statement on other countries foreign policy trajectory being examples
to Georgia is dangerous for Georgia, as our country has its own state
interests just as other countries have theirs,~T Gabashvili commented
after the interview of Prime Minister Ivanishvili.
~SIs it possible to restore friendly relations with Russia and at
the same time have good relations with NATO?~T The Prime Minister~Rs
answer to this rhetorical question caused political turmoil. According
to the PM~Rs response, Armenia has good relations with Russia and
NATO and this should be exemplary for Georgia as well. ~STherefore,
[this scenario] is possible and I think we are obliged and I hope
that we will manage to combine all that,~T Ivanishvili told Radio
Liberty in Yerevan.
The lack of diplomatic experience showed in the response of the Prime
Minister again. In other cases it is truly hard to believe that the
country~Rs leader would be willing to change foreign priorities and
present the idea in a neighboring country. The Prime Minister probably
did not take into consideration that the goal of Armenia~Rs foreign
policy is not NATO integration, unlike Georgia, which aims to join
the organization. Not to mention, Armenia~Rs collective security
agreement organization and its CIS membership.
A much bigger stir followed the PM~Rs announcement of old the
initiative of restoring the Abkhazia part of the Russia-Georgia
railway. After Ivanishvili~Rs visit to Baku three weeks ago, this
issue seemed to be closed. However, raising the issue in Yerevan put
everything upside down.
Meanwhile, interesting changes are noticed in the reactions of the
Sokhumi government. In particular, if the issue of restoring the
railway was categorically excluded in Sokhumi, today they state their
readiness to discuss the issue collectively.
President of separatist Abkhazia, Alexander Ankvab, said with regard
to the restoration of the Georgia-Russia railway via Abkhazia ~V ~SI
have a vague idea on all that can be implemented. [But] it is hard for
me to say what is possible now,~T he added. ~SSpecialists should sit
down and discuss it, calculate what the Abkhazian side can get from it;
whether it is worth it; what the goals are and the interests of the
participants of the process. Until now, everything is quite unclear.~T
According to Alexander Ankvab~Rs statement, the opening of the railway
requires a large amount of money as the existing railway in the region
is not in order. The leader of the occupied Abkhazia spoke about the
issue with Apsny Press.
Ivanishvili had not finished his visit to Yerevan when President
Mikheil Saakashvili commented on his initiative. The president is
certain that restoration of the railway does not take into account
Georgia~Rs geopolitical interests and is only in Russia~Rs interests.
~SThe railway through Abkhazia is the railway that perviously connected
Georgia to Europe, via Russia. Georgia has practically no need to
connect to Europe with this railway. Building the road is beneficial
to Russia only, as the Karsi-Akhalkalaki railway is a competitor to
the Trans-Siberian railway,~T the president said. He added that the
one making the statement was deliberately undermining Georgia~Rs
independence and liberty.
~SBy opening the railway Russia wants to legitimize the de-facto
occupation of Abkhazia. I think those who make such statements have no
idea about Georgia~Rs strategic instruments, or they are deliberately
undermining Georgia~Rs independence, Georgia~Rs future and are acting
according to the interests of Georgia~Rs occupant,~T Saakashvili said.
In a public opinion survey conducted in Georgia in November 2012 by
the National-Democratic Institute, 68 percent of respondents said they
are positive about the perspective of restoring the railway between
Georgia and Russia via Abkhazia. Only 6 percent expressed skeptical
attitude and 24 percent of people said they have no definite position
on the issue.
By Zaza Jgharkava 24.01.2013
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress