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