The Russian-Georgian business conference which took place last week in Tbilisi was a pretty important event and effective. The conference was based on throwing blame on one another but was important for international relations which are in a stage of crisis. But it turned out that the political parties are not creating problems for Russia to be the main economic investor for Georgia and Georgia to be the main trade partner of Russia in the former Soviet region. Taking into consideration the rise in circulation of products between the two countries, we can talk about the intimate economic relations. Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Nogaideli, who has announced the new stage of privatization in the country starting next year, called on Russian businessmen to be active. It appears the businessmen like that idea. During the days of the conference, the Russian “Promishlennie Investori” (Producing Investors) company had bought the large “Mandeuli” mining factory and is going to produce copper in South Georgia. RAO EES is not against starting a new transaction and completing the multi-cascade Khudon hydro electric power station. Work on the hydro-electric station had been stopped during the Soviet era after being under the pressure of the “Greens”. Minister of Transportation of Russia Igor Levitin said during the closing ceremony of the conference that progress has been made after reopening the Abkhazian section of the Georgian railway. According to him, that issue was discussed with president of Georgia Mikhail Sahakashvili and Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli and the Georgian side had understood that the direct railway connected to Russia must be reconstructed. In any case, there is no demand for the return of refugees to Abkhazia. The only topic has been the railway.
Georgian authorities are more careful when speaking and they tie the issue concerning refugees with the reconstruction of the railway communications. According to sources, Moscow and Tbilisi have come to terms to create a consortium which will help reconstruct the railway. That consortium will not be two-way. Armenia, which has problems with foreign communications, is also going to help. Other countries may help too-perhaps Turkey, despite the fact that Ankara is currently worried about the Kars-Akhalkalak- railway. According to politicians, however, that will not forbid Turkey to participate in the “Abkhazian” project at any given time. Not much money is needed to reconstruct the Abkhazian section of the railway and the dividends can be given out in the beginning of the reconstruction period, the political phase.
But there are some complaints already. There is a big question mark for this project, which is really interesting in all aspects and can change the situation of the region as a whole. One way or another, Georgian authorities must solve the issue concerning refugees. NGOs have complained about reopening the Abkhazian section of the railway. They have applied to Mikhail Sahakashvili and blamed him for betrayal. The announcement states in particular: “…Reopening the railway connections between Sochi and Tbilisi is an act of betrayal, which means to agree with the confiscation of our lands by the Abkhazians.” The announcement also talks about how Georgian authorities are not doing anything to solve the Abkhazian issue and the present day president is similar to the former president in that he is being called a “traitor” in the announcement. But this is a totally different story.