GEORGIAN EXPERT: ARMENIA AND GEORGIA ARE SIMPLY DOOMED TO DEVELOP AND DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONS
by Tatevik Shahunyan
Thursday, January 17, 16:25
An interview of the head of the Republican Institute of Georgia,
Ivlian Khaindrava, with Arminfo news agency
Mr Khaindrava, how do you assess the current situation in the
Armenian-Georgian relations taking into consideration the media
hype regarding the last statements by Georgia’s foreign minister and
Patriarch Ilia the Second, about the necessity of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict within the frames of the principle of territorial
integrity?
I calmly treat this hype, as the church does not settle political
issues in secular states and Patriarch’s viewpoint (if it was
expressed) cannot affect the process around Nagornyy Karabakh. As for
the statement by Georgia’s foreign minister made in the European Club
under the parliament of Latvia, it was not beyond the frames of the
standard diplomatic vocabulary, as I know.
Do these statements reflect the impartial situation in the
Armenian-Georgian relations, or are the fruit of the mass media
fantasy?
Coming of the new political force to the power in Georgia caused
certain nervousness within the country as well as among its neighbors
and partners. This is clear, as premier Ivanishvili and the ruling
coalition are taken by many people like a “dark horse”. However,
there are all the grounds to suppose that foreign political course
of Georgia will not radically change and the Euroatlantic integration
will gain new impulse. Anyway Georgia and Armenia are simply doomed to
develop and deepen their relations, though it is no secret that their
positions differ in certain issues. This is reflected, for instance,
when voting in UN and other international organizations. However, the
political elites did not dramatize such a circumstance long ago. By
the way, the Armenian businessmen and ordinary citizens of Armenia
are directly contacting with Georgia more and more. This is evidence of
the fact that they feel themselves rather comfortably in our country.
May the created situation affect the visit by Georgia’s Prime Minister
Bidzina Ivanishvili to Armenia?
The forthcoming visit by Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili
to Armenia is one of his first foreign visits like a premier. This
is evidence of the dynamically developing Armenian-Georgian relations.
Unfortunately, we have got opponents of further development of
the Armenian-Georgian relations not only outside our countries but
also within them. However, they cannot disrupt the grounds of the
big policy.
What key issues will be discussed during Ivanishvili’s visit to
Armenia?
The visit by Georgia’s Prime Minister Bedzina Ivanishvili to Armenia
on 17 January is first of all targeted at establishment of personal
knowledge with his Armenian counterparts. This is always necessary
and important from the point of view of formation of the mutual
trust regime for the future years. I think that pragmatic leaders
will easily find common ground. They will touch on all the issues of
common interest and fix the lines of the coinciding interests. I hope
the needed attention will be drawn to the driving of both countries
to the free trade agreement with European Union, as Tbilisi as well
as Yerevan have been working in this direction. In this context,
we noticed the decision of Armenia about unilateral cancel of the
visa regime with the countries of the EU, after which Georgia and
Armenia formed a single non-visa area for the Europeans.
In his last interview the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan
said that opening of the Abkhazian railway by the new authorities of
Georgia will positively affect the economic situation in Armenia. How
do you assess such an opportunity?
The new authorities of Georgia have initiated opening of the Abkhazian
railway thanks to the relevant political will and readiness to discuss
practical aspects of the issue. However, the authorities of Sukhumi
quickly passed up Tbilisi’s proposal, Moscow’s reaction was obscure
and Baku’s – extremely nervous. It is clear, that in such a situation
only Georgia cannot open the railway traffic through Abkhazia, which
is beneficial to Armenia. But this issue will return to the regional
agenda sooner or later.
Why Vahagn Chakhalyan’s name was not among the political prisoners
which were amnestied?
I think that there were certain grounds for Vahagn Chakhakyan not
to be amnestied. You may address to relevant instances regarding the
possibility of his setting free on parole.
From: Baghdasarian