GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN RELATIONS SHOULD DEVELOP WITHOUT THIRD PARTY INVOLVEMENT

The Messenger
June 26 2009
Georgie

President Saakashvili’s recent visit to Armenia was very important
not only on the bilateral level but from a regional point of
view. Georgian-Armenian relations have been seriously challenged
recently and Armenia is Russia’s key strategic partner in the South
Caucasus, whereas Moscow considers Tbilisi its main enemy and is
occupying almost 1/5 of Georgian territory. Armenia is also occupying
the territory of its neighbour Azerbaijan.

Some analysts predict a further Russian attack on Georgia and also
some tension between Armenia and Georgia provoked and encouraged
by the Kremlin. In these very complicated circumstances it is very
important for both countries, Armenia and Georgia, to maintain good
neighbourly relations. For Georgia this means calming the Armenian
separatist forces in southern Georgia, which is populated by Georgians
of Armenian descent. For Armenia it is very important to maintain
transport and communication links through Georgia to the Black Sea,
Russia and the rest of the world. Both Presidents, Serzh Sargsyan
and Mikheil Saakashvili, have highlighted these topics.

It is in the national interest of Armenia that Georgian-Russian
relations are promptly reestablished, said the Armenian
President. Armenia has strategic relations with Russia and at the
same time it has a long historic relationship with Georgia. Armenia
is openly deepening its relations with both Russia and Georgia. If
Armenia’s good relations with both Russia and Georgia will facilitate
the establishment of good relations between Georgia and Russia
Armenia will be very happy, stated Sargsyan. President Saakashvili
stated that it is unacceptable to conduct divide and rule politics
in the South Caucasus. He said that actions were being planned which
sought to prevent unity in the region and reduce its international
significance. Saakashvili mentioned that the Caucasus has a united
future which should be based on the concept that no outside party
should be able to manipulate any one of the Caucasus countries at
the expense of another.

Of course good Armenian-Russian relations will not in themselves
facilitate good Georgian-Russian relations but it is very important for
Georgia that Armenia does not adopt Russia’s aggressive policies. Most
likely Saakashvili received guarantees to this effect in Yerevan. In
return Tbilisi is ready to provide Armenia with regular transportation
and communication links with Russia via Georgia, specifically the
Kavkaz Russia-Poti ferry and the Zemo Larsi customs checkpoint on
the Russian-Georgian border.

For Armenia the stable functioning of the Georgian transport corridor
is vitally important as it is unlikely that the Armenian-Turkish border
will open very soon. The Zemo Larsi customs checkpoint was closed by
the Russian side in July 2006, officially so that construction works
could be undertaken, but in reality as one of the punitive measures
Moscow applied in that year against Georgia to create problems for
its southern neighbour. On May 5, 2009 the Russians declared that
the construction works have been completed but when Georgia and
Russia have no diplomatic relations, Moscow has occupied Georgian
territories and is adopting aggressive policies towards Tbilisi it
is not easy to reestablish normal border and customs relations.

Tbilisi is aware that any steps taken by Russia always involve
a disguised threat. Moscow’s readiness to reopen the Zemo Larsi
checkpoint and reestablish normal border exchange relations with
Tbilisi presumably has two motivations behind it. The first is that the
reopening of this border would be beneficial for Russia’s strategic
partner Armenia, and although Georgia would gain no direct benefit
from it would still have to behave in a civilized way when dealing
with the Russians. The second is that if Georgia refused to reopen
the border this would upset Yerevan, which suffered a lot from its
closure in 2006, and the problems this created between Georgia and
Armenia would be exploited by Russia for its own ends. The Georgian
leadership did not fall into the Russian trap this time. "Armenia’s
welfare has a positive influence on Georgia’s welfare," stated
Saakashvili. He also suggested a further simplification of border
procedures between the two countries and invited Armenian tourists
to take more summer holidays at the Georgian seaside.

Historically speaking Georgia and Armenia are ‘doomed’ to enjoy
good neighbourly relations and this has been and should be the
precondition of stability in the Caucasus, in particular the South
Caucasus region. Much could therefore be achieved, if only these two
countries were left to get on with it.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress