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David Usupashvili: We don't discuss the issue of Abkhazian railway

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  • David Usupashvili: We don't discuss the issue of Abkhazian railway

    David Usupashvili: We don't discuss the issue of Abkhazian railway

    Georgian Parliament speaker David Usupashvili
    Photo: REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
    Interviews | January 30, 2015 12:16
    exclusive


    Mediamax's exclusive interview with Speaker of the Parliament of
    Georgia David Usupashvili

    Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia David Usupashvili will visit
    Armenia on February 1. On the eve of the visit he talked to Mediamax.

    - In an interview with our news agency in January 2013, former
    Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said it is necessary to
    duly assess the "huge potential for the development of cooperation
    between Armenia and Georgia and to elaborate a new and multichannel
    strategy for interaction". In your opinion, to what extent do the
    parties employ that potential today?

    - First of all, profiting by this occasion I would like to thank my
    Armenian counterpart Galust Sahakyan for the invitation. It will be my
    second visit to Armenia in the rank of the Georgian Parliament's
    Speaker and this fact itself also attests to our friendly and
    good-neighborly ties.

    Before proceeding to the question, I would like to extend my
    condolence to entire Armenia over the Gyumri tragedy. The slaughter of
    an entire family, including infants is not the tragedy of only the
    Armenian people but also the humanity. This tragedy was horrifying for
    the Georgian community - we all filled with severe resentment and
    pain.

    As to greater use of cooperation potential, it should be noted that
    our intergovernmental ties are many-sided. The transit infrastructure
    of Georgia is vital for Armenia. The "basilar artery" between Armenia
    and Russia passes through Georgia. Georgia offers Armenia sea access
    and access to the world economic space from where it gets virtually
    all sorts of goods and utilities. Armenia uses the same roads to
    export its products to Russia and other countries. All of this implies
    effective cooperation in such a sector of the economy as transport.
    Armenia and Georgia trade in agriculture, raw materials and
    construction materials, and tourism is intensively developing.

    Traditionally, coffee from Armenia as well as exotic fruit juice used
    to sell well at Tbilisi stores. But when the Armenian grape appeared
    on the counters we started thinking - shouldn't we reconsider our
    trade ties? But we were then "lulled" - you cannot make wine from it,
    thus it will not compete with the Georgian. Just kidding!

    Now getting in earnest about the matter - let's cast a glance at the
    numbers. We registered 50% increase in trade turnover between our
    countries in 2013. Growth dynamics was observed in 2014 as well, even
    though the potential was not explored fully. For instance, what about
    carrying out several economic projects in overall regional context? It
    would make our products more competitive in the world market. Or, what
    if Armenian and Georgian tour operators offer a package to foreign
    tourists, which will also include visiting the neighboring country?
    This might result in significant increase in tourist flows to the
    region. But it requires thorough study of all the spheres, careful
    consideration of such ideas, correct calculation of everything and
    in-depth analysis in order to define the niche the Caucasian product
    can gain worldwide.

    Certain steps have already been taken to this end, and mutual
    high-level visits are not the only "evidence" of it. Last October the
    chairpersons of the committees of the parliaments of both countries
    had a meeting, the sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission on
    Economic Cooperation between Armenia and Georgia was held, and joint
    task forces on economic affairs were set up. All of this points to the
    clear desire by the legislative and executive powers of our countries
    to ramp up cooperation on not only general policy matters but also at
    sectorial level.

    - Armenia and Georgia are engaged in different integration projects -
    Armenia has joined the EEU, while Georgia has signed the Association
    Agreement with the EU and want to become NATO member. In one of your
    interviews you stated that the difference in foreign policies should
    be used in an effort to converge. How can it be applied in practice?

    - The foreign policy alignment of our countries indeed differs.
    Georgia signed the EU Association Agreement, whereas Armenia entered
    the Russia-formed EEU. Our countries join international organizations
    on their own volition depending on their interests and considering the
    mutual relations with the friendly states. I can assure you that
    Georgia does not enter any organization that might infringe upon its
    sovereignty. We hope that despite its EEU membership Armenia will
    preserve a degree of independence that will enable us to persist with
    our cooperation without third-party intervention.

    Our countries have obtained wide practice in this regard.
    Historically, the Caucasus region was in the center of geopolitical
    battles and was under the pressure of empires. Despite that, our
    ancestors, regardless of what the empires aspired, were wise enough to
    maintain good-neighborliness and eventually show the door to the
    unbidden guests. This practice should be taken into account. Despite
    current political realities, countries in the South Caucasus should
    accurately identify the best development prospects for our region and
    have a clear account of the future and progress. They should also
    clearly determine where fights with the ghosts of the past as well as
    restriction of freedom occur in our region. If we make a right choice
    based on values, and if we clearly define the goals and tasks, we will
    then overcome current challenges through cabals and will not only not
    harm the historic traditions of good-neighborliness but on the
    contrary, will also support one another's development.


    Georgia's former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili, Patriarch Ilia II and
    Parliament speaker David Usupashvili
    Photo: REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

    I would like to underline that Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic
    choice was accounted not only by its own prospects but also by the
    development prospects of the entire region. After all, the involvement
    of the South Caucasus into the political-economic boundaries of Europe
    suggests a better future for all its inhabitants. Thus, the free trade
    area agreement between Georgia and Armenia opens doors to one of the
    largest and steadiest markets for not only Georgia but also Armenia
    and the entire region, on the whole. The closer the EU is to the
    Armenian borders, the easier it will be for Armenia to supply its
    goods to the EU market. We do not view our agreement with the EU as an
    obstacle in our relations with Armenia. We believe Georgia will become
    a bridge linking the EU and the entire region by shortening the way
    leading to European benefits. I hope Armenia's EEU membership also
    sprang up from such principles. The rest depends on the skills of our
    entrepreneurs.

    - From time to time, the possible restoration of railway communication
    through Abkhazia, which is of utmost importance for Armenia in order
    to breach the transit blockade, outcrops. Do Georgian authorities
    stand ready to discuss it separately from the political issues of the
    settlement of Georgian-Abkhazian conflict?

    - The restoration of railway communication in Abkhazia indeed
    regularly becomes relevant in media. We understand Armenia's interest
    in the restoration of railway communication with Russia, however,
    Georgia does not discuss this issue. No governmental department holds
    talks to this end. This issue cannot be viewed out of the context of
    Russia's relations with the occupied region of Georgia - Abkhazia.

    Apparently, the so-called "allied treaty" recently signed between
    Russia and occupied Abkhazia adversely affects the discussion of that
    matter and so does the divergence of views on the UN resolution on the
    "Status of Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia and
    the Tskhinvali region".

    - Baku-Tbilisi-Kars new railway might also open a window of
    opportunities for Armenia but there are opinions that Turkey and
    Azerbaijan might influence Georgia to "drive out" Armenia, for the
    latter not to benefit from the railway. What do you have to say on
    this?

    - Georgia's relations with other countries in the trade-economic,
    educational, medical or any other sector is regulated by relevant
    agreements and laws. The Georgian government is free from informal
    pressures and acts with regard to its own interests. In this respect,
    it is needless to say Ankara or Baku might affect Tbilisi's stance.
    Had there been such pressure, the variety of products Armenia
    currently receives through Georgia, would not reach it.

    - April 24 marks the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide committed in
    Ottoman Turkey. Should we expect any statement or declaration by the
    Georgian Parliament on this?

    - The response to Gyumri massacre showed once again that the Georgian
    people feel pained at the grief of Armenian people and beyond doubt,
    the ethnic cleansing in the early 20th century is a huge tragedy the
    Armenian people went through. Darting a glance at the modern history
    of Georgia you will see that the pain of ethnic cleansing is not alien
    to us.

    As to your question, I think we should not expect new approaches or
    Georgian parliament's statements on this issue.

    Ara Tadevosyan talked to David Usupashvili


    http://www.mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/13023#sthash.LN8brnot.dpuf

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