AZG Armenian Daily #112, 17/06/2006
Seminar
DIFFERENCES IN FOREIGN POLICY AS BASIS OF
ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS
Experts Discuss
The seminar on prospects of Armenian-Georgian
relations organized by the Spectrum Center for
Strategic Analysis and supported by the Friedrich
Ebert Foundation had one main approach ~V not to harm
Armenian-Georgian relations as much as possible.
Georgian ambassador to Armenia, Revaz Gachechiladze,
welcomed all participants saying that
Armenian-Georgian relations are very important in
terms of regional stability. Meanwhile, he stated that
new problems in bilateral relations are reducing with
time.
Senior expert at the Georgian center for Development
and Cooperation, Paata Zakareishvili, thinks that
while discussing Armenian-Georgian relations one
should first of all consider different vectors in both
states~R foreign policy. The less differences, the
fewer problems in Armenian-Georgian relations, the
expert said.
Paata Zakareishvili thinks that if Georgia is declared
to conduct a pro-American policy than in Armenia~Rs
case it is not pro-Russian but a forced pragmatic
policy. In taking decisions Armenia considers Nagorno
Karabakh issue, but Georgia creates a hostile image of
Russia and takes steps based on this assumption; also
the country~Rs authorities are young and have not
necessary experience to establish priorities.
Speaking about Javakhk the Georgian expert said: "This
issue is more fuming than burning." The issue of
churches, for one, should not be that overrated; let
the historians deal with it. In effect, viewing such a
vital for the Armenians issue out of the public
context, Mr. Zakareishvili stated that our peoples
were strong enough to preserve their culture and
history.
His approach to the Armenians of Javakhk is somewhat
different. Mr. Zakareishvili is not scared by the
statements about autonomy, he simply regrets that such
issues are not discussed in Tbilisi where they
listened to. As to the possible return of Meskhet
Turks to Javakhk, the Georgian expert said that the
state~Rs authorities understand this is a risky step.
The language issue remains topical but in this issue
too the local population should work in concert with
the authorities to integrate into public life.
Paata Zakareishvili thinks that everything that was
possible to spoil in Armenian-Georgian relations has
been already spoiled. Gayane Novikova, head of the
Spectrum Center for Strategic Analysis, agreed to this
idea. Considering the Armenian-Georgian relations
generally outlined, she emphasized that there are few
negative moments in these relations. Gayane Novikova
thinks that problems arise also because of discrepancy
in economic interests of Armenia and Georgia and as a
consequence participation in different regional
projects. Meanwhile, In her words, our countries do
not properly use the chance to integrate into the
Euro-Atlantic structures.
However, the experts preferred to round off on
optimistic note saying that it~Rs time put in order
Armenian-Georgian relations and settle issues on the
agenda. But, in Georgian expert~Rs words, as the
experts do not have much influence on politics, we can
only wait for the Armenian and Georgian authorities to
sit at a table in such optimistic mood and meet the
challenges.
By Aghavni Harutyunian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress