CREATING CAUCASIAN PACT OF STABILITY UNREAL
Trend News Agency
15.08.08 21:06
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, Baku, 15 August /corr. Trend News S.Ilhamgizi,
V.Zhavoronkova / Because of different positions of the Caucasus
countries regarding conflicts, creating platform "Caucasian pact of
stability", proposed by Turkey, is impossible within the next years.
"I do not think that this proposal will yield results in short period
because the countries of Caucasus demonstrate different positions
on conflicts," Head of the Center for International Relations and
Strategic Researches ‘Turksam’, Sinan Ogan, told TrendNews.
In order to resolve the conflict in Georgia peacefully and ensure peace
in the region, the Prime Minister of Turkey, Rajab Tayyip Erdogan,
proposes creating platform "Pact of stability" (Caucasian Union) with
the participation of the Caucasus countries. "I shared this idea with
my Russian and Georgian counterparts and obtained positive response
from them in this regard," Erdogan said to a joint press conference
with the President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili on 14 August.
Head of Turksam noted that the proposal of Turkey to create "Caucasian
pact of stability" is not new. Earlier this initiative was made by
the 9th President of Turkey Suleyman Demirel and former President
of Azerbaijan, late Heydar Aliyev. However, other countries did not
express positive opinion in this regard. According to Ogana, if this
proposal would be realized at that time, now there would not be the
current centers of conflicts in Caucasus.
"The idea of realizing Caucasian Union appears already very difficult
precisely now because the equilibrium, which ruled in Caucasus over
decades, was broken in favor of Russia after the conflict in Georgia,"
said politician.
In his opinion, the role of Russia in Caucasus further strengthened. If
the Caucasian Union, proposed by Turkey, will be created, then the
role and position of Turkey in the region will strengthen: "But Russia
will never wish strengthening the position of Turkey in this region,"
said Ogan.
According to the Turkish politician, Russia can appear as supporter of
discussions regarding the Union, but later will not make it possible
to realize this because the positions of Turkey and Russia concerning
Georgia are different. Erdogan said that the territorial integrity of
Georgia is very important for Turkey. The Foreign Minister of Russia
Lavrov noted that there is not any more the question of territorial
integrity of Georgia.
"Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey support the territorial integrity
of the countries. But Armenia and Russia act against these
principles. This is very serious differences in the positions,"
said the politician scientist.
Currently the basic goal Russia is to replace power in Georgia and
bring the leader to power, who will carry out his policy in favor
of Russia.
"Because of the contradiction of position and interests, unification
of the Caucasus countries in the pact is not possible," the politician
said.
The chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia, Heydar Jamal,
considers that the realization of Turkey’s proposal is impossible.
"Creating this Union is till impossible from the practical point of
view. Because Georgian, Armenian factors will not make it possible
to reach consensus here," Heydar Jamal told TrendNews.
According to the Russian politician, creating this structure, on the
level of ensuring stability in Caucasus, is aimed at extruding the
USA from the region.
Jamal considers that North Caucasus also should join the initiative
of Caucasian union. However, the realization of this idea must pass
specific way.
"At present, Armenia and Georgia is not completely ready to accept
the proposal by Erdogan. Therefore, this proposal still takes a
sign character, and its realization does not appear real," Russian
politician said.