AZERI ANALYSTS COMMENT ON CLOSER TIES WITH GEORGIA, LEADER’S VISIT

Turan news agency
May 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Georgia are determined to jointly withstand external
pressure, a prominent Azerbaijani political analyst has said.

The implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan energy corridor has
united Azerbaijan and Georgia with economic links and predetermined
their strategic partnership, Azerbaijani news agency Turan quoted
political analyst Vafa Quluzada as saying while commenting on the 20-21
May visit of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to Azerbaijan.

Quluzada added that the alliance of the two countries is the
result of external challenges and threats. "The current visit of the
Georgian president and his statement on confederative [relations with
Azerbaijan] is to be viewed as a demonstration of the unity of the
Caucasus states. This is a display of the determination to defend
interests and not to give in to blackmail," Quluzada told Turan.

Speaking about relations with Russia, another political analyst,
Rasim Musabayov, told Turan that Moscow’s policies were aimed at
weakening Georgia.

"There have been many media reports on Russia’s plans to create a
corridor from Ossetia to Armenia via Georgia’s territory. Implementing
these plans will result in Georgia’s destruction. They will also put
Azerbaijan on its knees and connect Armenia and Russia," Turan quoted
Musabayov as saying.

"However, should Moscow continue in the same fashion, it will be faced
with another alliance – this time between Baku, Tbilisi and Ankara,"
Musabayov added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress