ARMENIA CALLS GEORGIA ITS ‘STRATEGIC PARTNER’
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
The Messenger, Georgia
May 21 2007
"The Georgian-Armenian relationship has always been what can be called
a ‘strategic partnership’," stated Armenian President’s Assistant
Vigen Sarkisian commenting on the differences that exist in Georgia’s
and Armenia’s concepts of national security.
In Georgia’s national security strategy, Armenia is listed as one of
those countries Georgian should have ‘pragmatic relations’ with, while
in Armenia’s national security plan, Georgia is considered Armenia’s
‘strategic partner’.
"No one in Armenia nor in Georgia doubts that we are very close
neighbours and have an historic partnership," stressed Sarkisian.
Sarkisian was asked if Georgia’s strengthening relationships with
Azerbaijan and Turkey as well as its participation in cross-border
transportation projects that further isolated Armenia could be
considered a danger to Georgian-Armenian relations.
"No," he answered, adding that the only danger could be stopping
current projects on which Georgia and Armenia cooperate. Future
projects that did not include Armenia’s cooperation would not
present a barrier to the relationship he said implying the recent
initiative that will construct the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway
line connecting Azerbaijan to Turkey bypassing Armenia and instead
running through Georgia.