Day.Az, Azerbaijan
Nov 23 2008

Azerbaijan runs Georgian gas network, owns pipeline to Armenia –
expert

"Mubariz Ahmadoglu: `The latest problems in the Southern Caucasus are
connected with wrong regional policy of Georgia’"

A Day.az interview with the head of the Centre for Innovations and
Political Technologies.

[Correspondent] We’d like you to comment on information that Georgia
would make available its opportunities for the repair of military
hardware of the Armenian army.

[Ahmadoglu] One of the main sources of the latest problems in our
region is that Georgia cannot determine parameters of its regional
policy. The talk is not about declaration of its integration into the
European Union or NATO. Georgia’s regional policy is full of
mistakes. Up until now, official Tbilisi wants to integrate into NATO
and is punished for this by Russia. On the other hand, Georgia has
closer relations with Armenia, which, in its turn, is an executor of
Russia’s policy in our region. Georgia allows Armenia to use its
territory to get access to the [Black] sea.

Armenia has been recently aggravating the ethnic situation in
Samtskhe-Javakheti, in exchange for this, the Georgian president
awards the Armenian president an order. Armenians wish to eliminate
Orthodoxy in Georgia and establish Catholicism, in a reply to this,
Georgia is creating conditions for Armenia to deliver Russian weapons
[to Armenia]. It is also obvious that the destination of the Russian
military base in Armenia is changing as official Moscow is in more and
more friendly relations with Turkey and wants to further establish
more solid ties with Azerbaijan. Everyone knows that Russia’s enemy in
our region is Georgia. If one fine day NATO troops arrive in our
region, then this country would come under double blow on the one
hand, Russia, on the other hand Iran. One should remember that during
the war in South Ossetia, Georgia received double blow from Russia and
Armenia.

All these take place only for the reason of uncertainty of Georgia’s
regional policy. Actually, Armenia is not a regional country, she is
only a neighbour of this region. Georgia, making manoeuvres with
regard to Armenia, as if wants to bare its fangs to
Azerbaijan. Exactly this policy has led the Georgian leadership to the
current sad realities.

[Correspondent] What is the point? Why is Georgia trying to prove or
show something to Azerbaijan? We give them everything, do not we gas,
oil, low interest credits and so on?

[Ahmadoglu] All these are connected with ambitions of the current
Georgian leadership. In fact, for its resources both natural and
human, for economic figures and others, Azerbaijan is the leader of
the region. However, Georgia wants that the region is ruled from
Tbilisi. Exactly, for this reason, they want to prove something to
Azerbaijan.

[Correspondent] What should be our position then?

[Ahmadoglu] I have already said that the current problems of Georgia
are results of its ambiguity. We should remember that some two-three
years ago, Georgia even did not let closer the Azerbaijani investment
[in its economy]. One should also recall that as soon as Mikheil
Saakashvili came to power, his wife and the mayor of the town of Poti
visited Armenia to ask them to mediate in the issue of investment in
Georgia by the Armenian lobby. However, they failed to be successful.

Georgia tried to attract investment from Europe and nothing came out
of this. Georgia managed to attract investment from Kazakhstan but it
was not at a sufficient level. Now for about two years, Georgia treats
the Azerbaijani investment loyally. A contract on supplies of
Azerbaijani gas to Georgia has already been signed and the price for
gas is in keeping with world rate. That is to say, we export
relatively cheap gas and in exchange for this, Azerbaijan will own the
whole gas network, which belonged to Russia in this country, for five
years. The gas pipeline going to Armenia through Georgia will also be
Azerbaijan’s property. The current policy of Azerbaijan is relevant to
Georgia’s policy and I think that this policy should be continued.

[Correspondent] Well, what is a way of warning the Georgian side about
inadmissibility of implementing plans for the repair of military
hardware of Armenia in Georgia?

[Ahmadoglu] I think the fact that the Azerbaijani press is reporting
about it is a warning to official Tbilisi.