"The South Caucasus countries are tired of the endless instability"
Georgian experts on President Aliyev's initiative

INTERVIEWS  18 June 2022 - 15:03

The Georgian experts interviewed by Caliber.Az spoke positively about the Azerbaijani President's initiative at the Baku Global Forum on the necessity of starting a trilateral dialogue with Armenia and Georgia, including such important problems as transboundary rivers and transportation hubs.

According to David Bragvadze, director of the Georgian Institute for Security Policy and an expert on international security issues, trilateral dialogue and cooperation in the South Caucasus are beneficial for everyone.

"I think all the countries in the region are interested in this, including Armenia. However, I do not hope that the issue of the Zangazur corridor will be solved quickly. If it were not for the conflict in Karabakh and the Russian occupation of Georgian territories, the South Caucasus would be a very developed region. But unfortunately, we must solve a lot of issues for trilateral cooperation to become a reality.

President Aliyev's initiative is really good, but I don't think it is possible in the nearest future," Bragvadze said.

Another Georgian political scientist, Nikoloz Bitsadze, believes that the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been an obstacle to possible profitable economic projects for the South Caucasus for many years.

"It seems that this is the historical period when all countries are ready for development and tired of the endless instability.

The Zangazur corridor is a complex logistical project and also has great symbolic importance. As in any situation, the parties, I have no doubt, will try to embody additional interests in the implementation of the project, which, of course, will lead to slow progress towards the set goal.

Since it is not only a railroad but also a motorway, it will be important to agree on customs and duties. But I am sure that it is a profitable project for all the republics of the South Caucasus, and everyone understands that its implementation will be one of the important elements of the new, hard-won peace," Bitsadze stressed.

According to Mamuka Tuskadze, a Georgian political scientist and chairman of the Political Movement for Social Justice, the initiative of the President of Azerbaijan is significant not only for the development of the South Caucasus region but also for the whole Caucasus.

"This initiative is also beneficial for the Middle East. First of all, it makes the Caucasus region attractive. As for Armenia and its negative reaction, unfortunately, this country has not yet decided on its place in world politics.

In my opinion, the Armenian state is not satisfied with a peaceful and developed South Caucasus. They think they are moving to the second place, if not to the last one. They are satisfied with staying in the swamp in which they are floundering now," Tuskadze said.

Doctor of Economics, historian, and analyst Vazha Kakabidze agrees with him and he has no doubt that Armenia and Russia are not happy with the rapprochement of Georgia and Azerbaijan.

"But they are not satisfied with a strong Georgia either, and if that happens, Armenia will have to return the seized lands to the Georgians and Azerbaijanis. Armenia is Russia's left boot.

As for the Zangazur corridor, it has always been an initiative of Türkiye and Europe, and Armenia has always opposed such prerogatives. Armenia only supports projects where Russia has the initiative," Kakabidze is indignant.

Political scientist and doctor of historical sciences Badri Nachkebia has a different approach to the Armenian issue in South Caucasus. He believes that despite the desire of the Armenian side to participate in the region, Moscow puts special pressure on them.

"We have seen it well in recent days at protest rallies by the Armenian lobby and Russia. And it's also internal aggression from people who don't want calm and peace, it's the so-called Karabakh clan, who hope for a revanchist policy in the future and are not aware of the fears this is comparable to. Azerbaijan's position is very productive, it offers long-term peace and economic prosperity. I think Armenia should think about this once again," he urges.

In his turn, retired Georgian brigadier general, military and political analyst Amiran Salukvadze believes that President Aliyev voiced a very interesting initiative.

"The development of our states requires peace in the region, which is facilitated by the processes developing between Baku and Yerevan, and the projects and agreements that have been reached. As for Georgia, our country has always been for the development of the region, and for maintaining both bilateral and multilateral relations between our states. We can say that Georgian-Azerbaijani relations have reached a new qualitative level over the last year. This is facilitated by trusting relations between our leaders - President Aliyev and Prime Minister Garibashvili. I hope that this initiative will be supported by all states, and there will be good prospects for our countries," Salukvadze notes.

Georgian expert, Doctor of Political and Military Sciences, Professor Vakhtang Maisaya has no doubt that President Aliyev's interests are always identified with new and interesting initiatives.

"This is a very interesting initiative that everyone should support, especially Georgia. The reason for Armenia's isolation is the prevailing political crisis there. The society inside Armenia has not yet consolidated around the events that took place during the Second Karabakh War. There are some forces opposing the peace process. But the Armenian leadership itself will support this initiative, which will result in a new format in the context of the three South Caucasus countries, which will be equal actors in our region," Maisaya said.

Caliber.Az