The Messenger, Georgia
March 27 2007
‘Perpendicular competition’ in the South Caucasus?
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
According to the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Russian Information Agency
Regnum Vigen Akobian March 19, 2007 was an important day for the
South Caucasus. On the same day, Caspian natural gas crossed over the
Georgian border from the east and Iranian natural gas crossed over
the Armenian border from the south.
He calls this ‘perpendicular competition’: competition between a
north-south axis from Russia to Iran backed by Russia, and an
east-west axis from Azerbaijan to turkey backed by the USA.
Development in the South Caucasus, especially economic development,
is closely linked to the politics in the region. The political
context of the relationships between the South Caucasus countries and
the big powers in the region define the hydrocarbon and
transportation-communication projects there.
According to this logic, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey that have
common interests regarding transporting oil and gas supplies, will
widen their cooperation in the military sphere as well and will be
oriented towards NATO for regional security.
Because of Armenia’s exclusion from large regional projects, Yerevan
is strengthening their ties with Iran.
Akobian asserts that some analysts’ statements published in the
Armenian press regarding Armenia’s integration into NATO are just
unreal, he believes Armenia will never seek membership of the
alliance. Even if Georgia and Azerbaijan integrate into NATO, Armenia
will be devoted to its strategic partner Russia, which will guarantee
the maintenance of the region’s status quo, he asserts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
