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IRAKLY ALASANIA: "OUR DEFENSE COOPERATION ACQUIRED MORE PRACTICAL DIMENSIONS"
Mediamax, Armenia
March 6 2013
Exclusive interview of Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Alasania
to Mediamax
On March 7, Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Alasania will pay his
first visit to Armenia. On the eve of the visit, he gave an exclusive
interview to Mediamax agency.
- Mr. Alasania, what do you think about the possibilities of developing
Armenian-Georgian defense and military cooperation? Do you think that
our countries need to deepen cooperation in this field?
- First of all, let me underline that our countries enjoy good
neighborly relations that is well reflected on the cooperation in many
directions. Defence field is not exceptional at all. We are cooperating
for years in the different areas that cover military education and
training, experience sharing on strategic defence planning and reforms
in defence field. We invite Armenian military personnel to attend
the international courses in our military educational institutions on
the regular bases. Furthermore, our cooperation has intensified for
last several years and has acquired more practical dimensions. Let
me add here that it is essential to cooperate with all the neighbors
in order to preserve stability, security and peace in the region.
- As far as we know, there are no documents signed between Armenia and
Georgia on military cooperation. Do you plan to draft any documents
with your Armenian counterparts in the foreseeable future?
- I would like to inform that Ministries of Defence of Georgia and
Armenia are already working on several documents in order to formalize
concrete directions of our cooperation. Currently these documents are
draft versions, undergoing internal procedures and will be signed as
soon as both parties agree on the text.
Besides, since 2010 we have been concluding annual bilateral
cooperation plans which define particular activities to be carried
out throughout the year within the defence cooperation.
- Do you think that Georgia and Armenia can organize joint military
exercise?
- As I have mentioned above, we enjoy quite intensive cooperation that
provides good opportunities to participate in many joint endeavors. As
an example, I can draw joint participation in trainings at NATO/PfP
Sachkhere Mountain Training and Education Center.
- What you think about the possible cooperation and experience sharing
between Armenian and Georgian peacekeeping units?
- Georgian Armed Forces have good experience of participating in
international peacekeeping operations in different parts of the world.
Since 1999 we have been sending our personnel to Kosovo, Iraq and
now in Afghanistan. I believe the diversity of the operational
environment and the duration, we have served in these missions,
has generated unique experience within our Armed Forces. We can
say the same for the Armenian Armed Forces as well. It is essential
to exchange experiences and the lessons we have learned from those
missions in order to ensure the effectiveness of our involvement in
current missions and future possible ones.
In this respect, we have already made some steps. In 2011 the
representatives of the Armenian Armed Forces visited Georgia to
hold the discussions on experience from engagement in peacekeeping
operations. I think, we can continue cooperation in that direction
successfully in future.
- Some Georgian politicians perceive Russian military base in Armenia
as a "potential threat" to Georgia. What is your position on this
issue?
- It is known to everyone that Russia occupies 20% of Georgian
territories that poses threat not only to our national interests and
statehood, but also can be considered as destabilizing factor for the
entire region. We consider the Russian military presence on Georgian
soil as a threat to regional stability.
Amiable relations with Armenia makes us strongly believe that Russian
military base in Armenia's territory would not be used against us. In
our vision, in order to ensure peace and stability in the region, it
is essential to work on relations with the Russian Federation. Thus,
one of the declared priorities of the new government is to gradually
ease tensions in relations with Russia. With our pragmatic approach
that envisions starting the cooperation with Russian counterparts
on soft issues like economic, cultural and social one would lead to
constructive talks on the occupied territories. At the same time,
it should be clear that normalization of relations with Russia will
not proceed at the expense of Georgia's territorial integrity. Thus,
normalization of relations with Russia will remove the possible
threats from the agenda.
- In past years Georgian-Turkish military cooperation was a matter for
concern for Armenia. Do you plan to discuss this with your Armenian
counterparts?
- As I said, it is essential to cooperate with all the neighbors in
order to preserve stability, security and peace in the region. This
cooperation is not directed against the national interests of any
country and serves only the peaceful purposes.
- In spring 2011, when you were still in opposition, you said in an
interview with our agency that you will like to have more Armenian
politicians in Georgia. "Georgia will only benefit from it", you said.
Do you think that the ruling coalition is ready to encourage Georgian
Armenians to more active participation in political processes and
how this could be done?
- Yes, I do agree with the idea and can reiterate once again, that
political pluralism and engagement of all ethnicities and political
actors in the country's political processes is essential factor to
develop the nationhood in accordance with democratic values. We are
encouraging all members and groups of Georgia's society to take more
active part in Georgia's central and local political life.
Ara Tadevosyan talked to Irakly Alasania.
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/7019/
Mediamax, Armenia
March 6 2013
Exclusive interview of Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Alasania
to Mediamax
On March 7, Georgian Defense Minister Irakly Alasania will pay his
first visit to Armenia. On the eve of the visit, he gave an exclusive
interview to Mediamax agency.
- Mr. Alasania, what do you think about the possibilities of developing
Armenian-Georgian defense and military cooperation? Do you think that
our countries need to deepen cooperation in this field?
- First of all, let me underline that our countries enjoy good
neighborly relations that is well reflected on the cooperation in many
directions. Defence field is not exceptional at all. We are cooperating
for years in the different areas that cover military education and
training, experience sharing on strategic defence planning and reforms
in defence field. We invite Armenian military personnel to attend
the international courses in our military educational institutions on
the regular bases. Furthermore, our cooperation has intensified for
last several years and has acquired more practical dimensions. Let
me add here that it is essential to cooperate with all the neighbors
in order to preserve stability, security and peace in the region.
- As far as we know, there are no documents signed between Armenia and
Georgia on military cooperation. Do you plan to draft any documents
with your Armenian counterparts in the foreseeable future?
- I would like to inform that Ministries of Defence of Georgia and
Armenia are already working on several documents in order to formalize
concrete directions of our cooperation. Currently these documents are
draft versions, undergoing internal procedures and will be signed as
soon as both parties agree on the text.
Besides, since 2010 we have been concluding annual bilateral
cooperation plans which define particular activities to be carried
out throughout the year within the defence cooperation.
- Do you think that Georgia and Armenia can organize joint military
exercise?
- As I have mentioned above, we enjoy quite intensive cooperation that
provides good opportunities to participate in many joint endeavors. As
an example, I can draw joint participation in trainings at NATO/PfP
Sachkhere Mountain Training and Education Center.
- What you think about the possible cooperation and experience sharing
between Armenian and Georgian peacekeeping units?
- Georgian Armed Forces have good experience of participating in
international peacekeeping operations in different parts of the world.
Since 1999 we have been sending our personnel to Kosovo, Iraq and
now in Afghanistan. I believe the diversity of the operational
environment and the duration, we have served in these missions,
has generated unique experience within our Armed Forces. We can
say the same for the Armenian Armed Forces as well. It is essential
to exchange experiences and the lessons we have learned from those
missions in order to ensure the effectiveness of our involvement in
current missions and future possible ones.
In this respect, we have already made some steps. In 2011 the
representatives of the Armenian Armed Forces visited Georgia to
hold the discussions on experience from engagement in peacekeeping
operations. I think, we can continue cooperation in that direction
successfully in future.
- Some Georgian politicians perceive Russian military base in Armenia
as a "potential threat" to Georgia. What is your position on this
issue?
- It is known to everyone that Russia occupies 20% of Georgian
territories that poses threat not only to our national interests and
statehood, but also can be considered as destabilizing factor for the
entire region. We consider the Russian military presence on Georgian
soil as a threat to regional stability.
Amiable relations with Armenia makes us strongly believe that Russian
military base in Armenia's territory would not be used against us. In
our vision, in order to ensure peace and stability in the region, it
is essential to work on relations with the Russian Federation. Thus,
one of the declared priorities of the new government is to gradually
ease tensions in relations with Russia. With our pragmatic approach
that envisions starting the cooperation with Russian counterparts
on soft issues like economic, cultural and social one would lead to
constructive talks on the occupied territories. At the same time,
it should be clear that normalization of relations with Russia will
not proceed at the expense of Georgia's territorial integrity. Thus,
normalization of relations with Russia will remove the possible
threats from the agenda.
- In past years Georgian-Turkish military cooperation was a matter for
concern for Armenia. Do you plan to discuss this with your Armenian
counterparts?
- As I said, it is essential to cooperate with all the neighbors in
order to preserve stability, security and peace in the region. This
cooperation is not directed against the national interests of any
country and serves only the peaceful purposes.
- In spring 2011, when you were still in opposition, you said in an
interview with our agency that you will like to have more Armenian
politicians in Georgia. "Georgia will only benefit from it", you said.
Do you think that the ruling coalition is ready to encourage Georgian
Armenians to more active participation in political processes and
how this could be done?
- Yes, I do agree with the idea and can reiterate once again, that
political pluralism and engagement of all ethnicities and political
actors in the country's political processes is essential factor to
develop the nationhood in accordance with democratic values. We are
encouraging all members and groups of Georgia's society to take more
active part in Georgia's central and local political life.
Ara Tadevosyan talked to Irakly Alasania.
http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/7019/