ARMENIAN PM VISITS GEORGIA
By Temuri Kiguradze

The Messenger
Dec 10 2008
Georgia

Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sarkisian participated in a session
of the Georgian-Armenian Economic Development Commission in Tbilisi
on December 9.

Speaking to local journalists, Sarkisian stated that Georgian-Armenian
relations are very important for Yerevan and the "enlarging and
developing of relations between the two peoples is a primary task
for the [Armenian and Georgian] Governments."

Sarkisian met his Georgian counterpart Grigol Mgaloblishvili
and said afterwards that he was "impressed" by the discussion,
considering it would create a "good basis for a new beginning" for
Georgian-Armenian cooperation. "There are no relations that can’t be
negotiated. This is our first meeting and I am very grateful for the
open and honest conversation," stated the Armenian PM on December
9. Grigol Mgaloblishvili also expressed his satisfaction with the
results of the meeting, saying it would give a "new impetus" to the
future development of Georgian-Armenian relations.

One of the issues discussed by the Commission was the projected new
road linking Armenia and the Georgian coast. Sarkisian stated that
the Eurasia Foundation might sponsor this project and promised to
"start serious work on it in the near future." This project has
aroused criticism among many Georgian experts and politicians for both
economic and political reasons. "The project should reflect reality,"
said Niko Orvelashvili, Georgian political and economical expert
in October 2008. He doubted the possibility of its realization and
pointed out that it had been discussed for many years already without
any progress being made. He also mentioned political instability was
one of the reasons that may make the road unnecessary.

Several Georgian opposition politicians have protested against
the project. Niko Orvelashvili pointed to the statement of
Shalva Natelashvili, leader of the Georgian Labour Party, that a
Yerevan-Batumi road may serve as "a second Roki Tunnel," meaning that
in the event of conflict Russian military forces will be easily able
to enter southern Georgia from Armenia as the Russian troops entered
breakaway South Ossetia through the Roki Tunnel during the August
conflict. Soso Tsiskarishvili, another Georgian expert, said that
after the Russian-Georgian war, Russian troops which occupied a large
part of Georgian territory are finally leaving the country, but adds:
"Many of them have returned to military bases in Armenia. These troops
can only dream about a good road which will allow them to easily
enter Georgia once again." He added that he would welcome the road
if the project is dedicated to the economic development of the two
countries, however he is concerned that the new road may be another
"Putin preparation" for future conflict.

Among other issues discussed by the Commission were the restoration
of direct flights between Tbilisi and Yerevan and changes in
the Georgia-Armenia free trade agreement. Both parties signed the
Programme on Cooperation between the Georgian and Armenian Ministries
of Culture. Sarkisian was due to meet Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili on Tuesday evening.