GEORGIA IS UNWILLING TO SEE THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER OPENED
Karine Ter-Sahakyan

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.04.2009 GMT+04:00

Georgia is in a way involved in stirring up the Armenian-Turkish
relations: if it were not for the August war, there would be no
Caucasus Platform of Stability, consolidation of Turkey in the position
of a regional power, and much more.

The number of those going up against opening the Armenian-Turkish
border has increased. It is rather natural that Baku should twitch at
opening the Armenian-Turkish border. But now the number of adversaries
has increased "thanks to" the Georgians, which is quite explicable
too. The matter is that in that case Tbilisi completely loses first
of all her levers of exerting pressure on Yerevan, and secondly,
her money. She loses all the money she got for goods transited to
and from Armenia.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The possible opening of the Armenian-Turkish border
will affect Georgia, which has served as a transit for Armenian cargo
so far," said Jemal Inaishvili, Chairman of the Georgian Chamber of
Commerce. "Opening of the border is a positive phenomenon in itself
– two countries normalize relations between each other. However,
establishment of direct trade relations between Armenia and Turkey
will inflict losses on our economy. The flow of cargo destined for
Turkey will decrease. Besides, the freight turnover in Poti and Batumi
ports will be cut," said Inaishvili. The Chairman is right: it would
cost Armenia much cheaper to railroad goods through Turkey to the
Black Sea ports, as, for example, to the port of Trabzon. Georgian
frontier guards will be deprived of great sums too. In a word,
the close Armenian-Turkish border means much to Georgia. However,
if Azerbaijan has some chances to play on the "brotherly feelings of
Turkic nations", Georgia can find no such "consolation" at all. Though,
who knows, a feeling of solidarity might arise in Tbilisi authorities
and, following the example of Baku, they may launch an inquiry among
the population, trying to find out who benefits from opening the
Armenian-Turkish border.

However, there are also sober-minded politicians in Georgia. "Opening
of the Armenian-Turkish border will undoubtedly affect Georgia’s
economy and bring forth some difficulties. However, these difficulties
will be temporary. Opening of the border will bring peace and stability
to the Caucasus and will outweigh disadvantages for Georgia," said
Georgian expert Paata Zakareishvili, Head of the Center of Development
and Cooperation. "I welcome the possible opening of the border as it
would be a serious guarantee of peace and stability in the Caucasus,
as well as will offer opportunities to expand economic cooperation
between the countries of the region."

Georgia faces great difficulties presently: opposition has decided
to overthrow Mikhail Saakashvili, who has lost the tiniest remains
of trust and respect he had in the West. And no matter how often
the Georgian MFA repeats that "the West will help as before", it’s
already a long-forgotten category for Georgia.

Thus, Georgia is in a way involved in stirring up the Armenian-Turkish
relations: if it were not for the August war, there would be no
Caucasus Platform of Stability, consolidation of Turkey in the position
of a regional power, and much more. However, as it is known, history
is like a boomerang, and Georgia has begun to reap the fruits of her
own reckless moves and lack of foresight. By the way, the weakening
of dependence on Georgia will urge Armenia to reconsider some clauses
of her foreign policy, particularly her position towards limitless
encroachments of the Georgian Orthodox Church on the Armenian churches.

"Opening of Armenian-Turkish border is very important to Armenia, as
the country is greatly dependent on Georgia," said CIMERA Geneva Center
representative, expert Viken Cheteryan. According to him, Armenian
economy will see many benefits from open borders. "Transportation
through Turkey will be faster and less expensive, than through Georgia,
which is very important, considering current political situation
in Georgia. Moreover, it is in Armenia’s national interest to have
neutral Turkey rather than hostile Turkey as a neighbor. Positive
aspects prevail in establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey," Cheteryan emphasized.

It is simply interesting to see what Saakashvili will say when his
favourite West orders to keep silent and withhold her point of view on
the issue. Most likely, he will oblige his state officials to praise
Turkey for her prescient and peacemaking policy in the region.