Zourabichvili's provocations: Paris's pawn in the South Caucasus

Salome Zourabichvili, the former president of Georgia, now reduced to little more than an impostor, commented on her attendance at the pre-inaugural reception in an interview with Fox News, where she was invited by Donald Trump Jr. This would not have attracted much attention if not for her remarks during the interview.

"Georgia is one of the oldest, together with Armenia, we say we are the oldest, they say they are the oldest. But we are both the oldest Christian states in the world, and that is something that links us very strongly...We need America. But I think America needs us too," Zourabichvili said, in particular.

As we can see, she did not mention Azerbaijan, which is the leading country in the South Caucasus, even once. It is also worth noting that Zourabichvili deliberately emphasized the religious factor, contrasting the Christian nations of Georgia and Armenia with the Muslim Azerbaijan. This was undoubtedly a premeditated provocation. Moreover, it was a pathetic attempt at petty revenge by this woman against the current leadership of Georgia.

Zourabichvili is certainly aware that on January 17, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, made a working visit to Baku. During his meeting with the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Ali Asadov, the significance of joint efforts to fully activate the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was emphasized. It was noted that, thanks to additional investments from Azerbaijan and efforts from the Georgian side, the cargo capacity of this railway has been increased from 1 to 5 million tons. Active work is also underway to increase the cargo capacity of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, an important link in the Middle Corridor, from 15 million tons to 25 million tons per year.

The economic aspect of the relationship between the two countries is undoubtedly exceptional. However, another important factor also deserves attention. On January 17, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze addressed the press. Kobakhidze emphasized the significant role of Ilham Aliyev, stating, "You are a unique leader in the region and a role model for us. You are leading your country by protecting the interests of your state." Furthermore, what likely struck a nerve with Zourabichvili and her foreign backers, Kobakhidze expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijani president, saying, "I would also like to thank you for your congratulations on the victory of our party. It is important for ensuring stability and security in our region and for the relations between our countries. This is of exceptional importance."

He spoke the truth. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was one of the first to congratulate the Georgian Dream on its victory in the parliamentary elections last October. These elections, the results of which were essentially predetermined in Paris and Brussels, were marked by open statements that only a defeat of the Georgian Dream would be accepted. There, efforts were made to impose the will of a minority on the majority, disregarding the will and interests of the Georgian people. It was Zourabichvili who was appointed as the overseer of these plans, which ultimately failed.

Now, the self-proclaimed "legitimate authority in Georgia," Madame Zourabichvili, seeks to position herself as a trusted ally to the new U.S. president. As we recall, she attended the opening ceremony of the renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, where everyone saw how, despite her age, she practically sprinted toward the newly elected American president. French President Emmanuel Macron helped her in this endeavor, which, of course, comes as no surprise. Zourabichvili was born to Georgian political refugees in Paris. She held positions such as head of the French Ministry of Defence's General Secretariat for International Affairs and Strategy (2001–2003) and ambassador of France to Georgia (2003–2004). Therefore, she is more of a French diplomat and politician than a Georgian one, with all the steps she takes aligning with France's interests rather than those of Georgia. And as is well known, France has supported, supports, and will continue to support Armenia.

It is evident that Zourabichvili is actively involved in implementing the official plans of Paris in the region. Her mask has been completely and decisively removed. Yes, the woman who recently held the office of President of Georgia has chosen to act against the interests of her own country. She is visibly frustrated by the strengthening of Azerbaijani-Georgian relations. However, this bitterness is powerless. Zourabichvili will continue to oscillate between political irrelevance and the annals of history, nothing more. Meanwhile, Baku and Tbilisi will continue to strengthen their ties, for the benefit of both nations and the entire South Caucasus.