MALKHAZ GULASHVILI: TIME WILL SHOW WHETHER RUSSIA WILL HELP AZERBAIJAN RESOLVE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
Daily Georgian Times
Dec 15 2008
Georgia
In his annual live Q and A session recently broadcast Russian Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia was ready to help Georgia
restore its territorial integrity but its authorities had spoiled
everything. Azeri news agency 1news Az contacted Malkhaz Gulashvili,
President of The Georgian Times Media Holding, to interview him
concerning this statement. This interview is reprinted below.
Q: In the Talks with Putin programme the Russian Prime Minister said
that the Russian Federation "was ready to help Georgia restore its
territorial integrity but its authorities had spoiled everything." How
sincere do you believe Putin was in this statement?
A: It’s difficult to say, but I can tell you what I think about
Russia. Sooner or later Moscow will have to reconsider its decision
of recognizing the separatist republics [South Ossetia and Abkhazia]
and think of a new formula, together with the Georgian people, for
how this problem can be solved, if it wants to halt the processes
which may lead Russia itself into dismemberment.
Q: Putin added that they had recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia
as the August war had demonstrated it was impossible to restore the
territorial integrity of Georgia. Do you think this was a mistake?
A: I believe there are no impossible things in politics, especially now
Germany and Russia, having once fought a bloody war, are emerging as
allies. No one could have expected that. I believe a common language
can be found in the Caucasus and Russia’s national interest – which
sees Georgia’s NATO membership plans as jeopardizing its security –
should also be taken into account.
I support Russia in this particular aspect. I believe the South
Caucasus and its three countries should become a neutral region. The
Caucasian states should pursue an active policy of neutrality
guaranteed by both Russia, Turkey and Iran and the US, China and
the EU.
I believe Russia and Georgia will still find a common language and
a third party hampers the development of their relations, making
the Georgian Government feel strongly anti-Russian. Russia tried
to hold Georgia responsible for that, not the ones who conduct the
orchestra. We are not the ones who conduct the orchestra, we just
play the music. If Russia is a strong power it should react against
those who conduct the orchestra, not us.
I personally believe that without restoring the territorial integrity
of Georgia we will not achieve much. We have to bring those people
back and pursue a policy free of military rhetoric. It seems to
me that Obama’s rise to the Presidency will give a push to this
process. The August war did not bring anything good to Russia or,
especially, Georgia.
Q: We know you are developing a peace plan which envisions the return
of the IDPs to their homes. You chair the Georgian delegation, while
Maksim Shevchenko, a representative of the Russian Public Council,
heads the Russian side. Has this Commission started to work?
A: Yes, it is already working. We have conducted four sessions. Before
the one in Georgia we had meetings in Baku, Berlin and Vienna. We
also had a TV transmission bridge between Tbilisi and Moscow. Now we
are planning a trip to Moscow to discuss more specifically how the
IDPs can return. We will select two or three villages to start with.
Those who work actively in the Russian Public Commission will act as
guarantors of their security. The Commission includes Olga Kostina,
Marina Riklina, Bishop Theophan and others.
The Georgian Commission also includes well known public figures,
like the publisher and editor of the Svabadnaia Gruzia newspaper Tato
Laskhishvili, political analyst Mamuka Areshidze, famous directors
and actors, Gogi Kavtaradze, a member of the Georgian Academy who is
also an IDP from Sokhumi, Soso Jachvliani the director and actor etc.
We believe that the Commission will work productively, not only on
the return of IDPs but on many other issues. All the contacts between
the Russian and Georgian Governments have been severed and there is
a vacuum. Now society has to fill in this vacuum and unfortunately
the people have not played any role so far.
We have agreed that politicians will not be involved in the Commission,
neither in Georgia nor Russia. The Russian Public Council is an
influential organisation and has contacts with the President and Prime
Minister. So the initiative comes from Russia and we believe it is
poised to improve relations and help the IDPs return home. Rumours
flew that the IDPs would have to take Russian citizenship but this
has been ruled out. They are all citizens of Georgia.
Q: Azerbaijan too has an unresolved conflict. Do you think Russia
will help Azerbaijan settle this issue?
A: I believe that Russia has reevaluated its policy in the Caucasus. I
think Russia can become a guarantor of stability and security not
only in the Caucasus but in the Euroasian space, if it wants to be
a leader, not a ruler which sows fear.
If it wants to become a regional leader, it has to create the
conditions for economic prosperity and mutually beneficial cooperation
in energy. It will become a leader naturally if it does this. But if
it tries to resolve issues by force it will collapse and dismember,
and the status quo will change for the benefit of those countries
which lost the territories. Therefore Russia’s dismemberment will be
more bane than boon. So, it’s up to Russia to make a choice between
becoming a leader or ruler.
It has to look at separatism issues from a different angle. We know
that Karabakh is a part of Azerbaijan. I don’t believe Azerbaijan will
manage to govern this region on its own, but some joint mechanisms
can be developed through economic projects.
Time will show whether Russia will help Azerbaijan resolve its
territorial disputes. Some shifts are taking place in this direction,
but still no outcome is in sight.
Pridon Dochia, translated from the Georgian edition fo The Georgian
Times newspaper 2008.12.15 13:55