VAN BAIBURT: RECENT SARGSYAN-SAAKASHVILI MEETING WAS IMPORTANT FOR BOTH PEOPLES
armradio.am
06.10.2008 18:14
"Those in Georgia are glad that Armenia differentiates between
the concepts of ‘strategic partner’ and ‘close neighbor,’"
Georgian political scientist Soso Tsiskarashvili said today
during the Yerevan-Tbilisi space-bridge. According to him, the
latest visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Georgia was
urgent and expected, because Georgians had concerns connected with
Armenia’s attitude towards "Georgian secessionist" states. At
the same time Tsiskarashvili noted that the construction of the
Batumi-Akhaltskha-Akhalkalak-Gyumri-Yerevan highway and granting
of "new passports" to Javakhki Armenians could put an end to the
cooperation between the two countries, since Georgia does not need
a new secessionist movement in Javakhk.
In response to that political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan noted
that Armenians understand the concerns of Georgians in the context
of latest transformations in the South Caucasus. In his words, it was
important for Armenian authorities to dispel those concerns. Alexander
Iskandaryan added that different forces have exerted influence on
Armenia to recognize or not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
and in general there are forces in the outer world, for which it is
beneficial to provoke clashes between Armenians and Georgians. However,
according to th e political scientist, Armenia and Georgia have always
managed to maintain normal friendly relations.
Adviser to Georgian President Van Baiburt declared that the latest
Sargsyan-Saakashvili meeting and the agreements reached were important
for both peoples.