news.az, Azerbaijan
Oct 8 2011
No place for Armenia in United Caucasus Home
Sat 08 October 2011 07:54 GMT | 3:54 Local Time
News.Az interviews Guram Markhulia, doctor of historical sciences,
professor of Sukhumi State University (Georgia).
Though Russia recognized independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
the Georgian government is planning different ways of return of these
regions under its jurisdiction. Do they take into account the fact
that the Tbilisi allies will not be able to do anything more than a
verbal support to territorial integrity of Georgia like it was during
the August was of 2008?
Yes, no one stood up, but these are all geopolitical interests. We
have common problems with Azerbaijan, but Azerbaijan holds a different
external policy, and different ties with Russia. We sharply opposed
the Russian state, because our nation, and our government are
emotional, so they took such a quick solution. Anyway, I hope every
leader of Georgia in the future will certainly decide to return to
historic lands
As to allies, I cannot say anything … It is the prerogative of the
government. Geopolitical allies supported us in words during those
events, but fighting against a country such as Russia is a different
thing. I do not hope that anyone ` either America or European
countries – will help the Georgian state in the military sphere to
return to their territories. No country will help Georgia if Georgian
people will not fight themselves. The same goes for Azerbaijan. In
this regard, Azerbaijan and Georgia should cooperate not only in a
geopolitical sense, but also in the military aspect. We have one
problem, one destiny, so we need to work together to fight against the
invaders of our territory, those peoples and nations, which occupied
our lands.
What do think about the initiative to create confederation of
Azerbaijan and Georgia, recently proposed by President of Georgia
M.Saakashvili?
Of course, this is a good idea, but now neither Georgia nor Azerbaijan
is ready to any confederation. Now it is not the time to unite our
countries. Our enemies will benefit from it today.
In general, the idea of ??a confederation in the South Caucasus was
proposed by America dictated by the Armenian lobby. This, according to
their interpretation, is the creation of a confederation of Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well, imagine the Nagorno-Karabakh (!), The
Tskhinvali region and Abkhazia (!). They believe that this is the only
way to solve regional conflicts. But neighbor Karabakh, nor Tskhinvali
and Abkhazia will ever join any Caucasus federation in separate. If a
federation, it will be the Georgian-Azerbaijani federation. There is
no place for Armenia in the federation. This is how I see the
geopolitical future of the Caucasus.
By the way, the idea of creation of federation in the South Caucasus
is periodically offered by some analysts as a way to solve territorial
problems by local countries.
Of course, ideally the best option is that we should live together.
There was a time when there was the Transcaucasian Federation. But
Armenians have their own idea. We have “Caucasus is our common home”
and the Armenians have the idea of “Great Armenia”. There are two
ideas in the Caucasus opposing each other. If we are talking about the
unity of the Caucasus, the Armenians are still talking about their
idea. There can not be a family where one looks to the left, the other
to the right. Such a family will certainly be destroyed. So I think
that Armenia is unnecessary in such a federation or confederation.
Even today, it is clear that in the case of our co-existence within a
single territorial unit Armenians will come up with their maneuvers
again. It is better not to admit this country anywhere. This is a
nation, who always betrays, and always has a negative impact on
Georgia and Azerbaijan. So in this family there should be no place for
Armenia. Otherwise it will be a pre-doomed state.
I mean only Georgia and Azerbaijan. Armenia should not be there if we
do not want new troubles. Under the guise of the common house, they
will do something belong to their nation but in our territory, in Baku
and Tbilisi, saying: “We live in one country.” And it will continue
doing their tricks. In no case can Armenia be admitted to the family.
F.H.
News.Az