WHY SARGSYAN LEFT FOR GEORGIA
Naira Hayrumyan

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17:38:32 – 01/03/2010

Serge Sargsyan paid a two-day visit to Georgia where he issued a
number of statements in particular he said that the current year will
be decisive for the Armenian-Georgian relations. What he meant was
not explained but evidently, some moves nevertheless took place.

We have to presume that Sargsyan’s visit was connected with the opening
of the Upper Lars checkpoint which was closed by the Russian party in
2006. The fact that the checkpoint resumed its work means that Russia
somehow changed its attitude towards Georgia. Though Saakaskhvili was
declared a persona non grata in Russia, nevertheless, it is evident
that signs of comprehension are noticed in the Russian and Georgian
relations. Armenia, apparently, is decided to arrogate to itself the
merit of opening the Upper Lars, perhaps Serge Sargsyan meant this
by visiting Georgia.

The second important component of the Russo-Georgian relations-
the Abkhazian and South Ossetian problems also moved. Russia set its
final position in connection with these regions: Sukhumi and Moscow
signed interstate agreements including ones on military cooperation
which legalized the stay of the Russian armed forces in Abkhazia. In
addition, a number of influential Western media came out to be calling
on the Georgian leadership to come to terms with the loss of Abkhazia
and Ossetia, and look at the realities soberer. In other words,
Tbilisi is called to open the border with Abkhazia.

The third vector is Javakhk. The Russian impact in the promotion
of worries in Javakh is viewed quite often – just yesterday Javakhk
community of Russia issued a sharp statement addressed to the Georgian
leadership. In this context the proposal of the Georgian authorities to
implement the country’s federal system is important. It is proposed to
create separate states, which, like the U.S., will have representatives
in the Senate. Under this proposal, the issue of human rights of
Javakhk Armenians can get an effective solution.

It is symptomatic that international non-governmental organizations
decided to deal with the question of establishing "the already
friendly" relations between Armenia and Georgia. Recently in Yerevan
Armenia-Georgia meeting of representatives of NGOs, mass media took
place, during which it was decided to start a range of joint programs.

Note that so far contacts between Armenian and Georgian journalists
and public figures have been mainly in the framework of regional
multilateral projects.

True it is not ruled out that Sargsyan’s visit was personal, better
to say non-working. Possibly, he just went to clarify something on
the transition of personal baggage of someone.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress