At any rate, the relationship with Armenia is classified as “pragmatic” in the security charter of Georgia. However, Azerbaijan is classified as Georgia’s “strategic partner” (and everybody knows how Georgia’s relationship looks like with Russia after the “Revolution of Roses”). In regard to this, during the press conference with RA Foreign Minister V. Oskanyan yesterday, organized within the framework of the two-day visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Gela Bezhuashvili to Armenia, Oskanyan mentioned: “According to the “National Security Charter” only USA, Turkey and Ukraine are considered Georgia’s strategic allies. The Charter also says that the neighboring states Armenia and Azerbaijan are also in good relationship with Georgia. You have noticed correctly that in terms of Azerbaijan the Charter uses the word strategic. This was done for the purpose to show that at the present, several energetic streams are crossing through the territory of Georgia. So it was done mainly for security purposes”. Mr. Bezhuashvili also added that there are broad horizons for developing strategic relationship with Armenia. “This doesn’t mean that we should not build strategic relationship with Armenia. There are great outlooks to turn the relationship between the two countries into strategic ties. For the development of strategic relations among the three countries of our region we need certain political conditions, which I’m sure will be created”, said the Foreign Minister of Georgia. During yesterday’s press conference they also spoke about the construction of Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi railway. It is clear that the construction of this railway does not reflect the interests of our countries. If the railway is constructed, Armenia will be isolated. Mr. Bezhuashvili rushed to inform that the construction has not started yet, however each project is considered strategic for Georgia. “I have expressed my viewpoint. If there is a railway what’s the point of building a new one and spending resources?”, said Mr. Oskanyan in this regard. To the concern of his Georgian colleague, according to which it won’t be enough to exploit only one railway for load transfers from Iran, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Mr. Oskanyan responded the following way, “Use the built railroad, build a new one if necessary”. “We haven’t implemented any program, which would isolate our neighbors”, Mr. Bezhuashvili calmed Mr. Oskanyan down. The latter also mentioned that the official Tbilisi does not mind the construction of Gyumri-Ninotsminda railroad construction. “We will not hinder any project which might lead to the diversification of our transportation means. We might not be able to invest our means in that process but we will not hinder”, specified the Foreign Minister of Georgia.
Regarding the most popular topic of these days – increase of gas price on the part of Russia- Bezhuashvili mentioned that in terms of Georgia it was a political decision. “The increase of gas price on the part of Russia was a political decision and doesn’t have anything to do with economy”, mentioned Mr. Bezhuashvili and added that being a strategic partner is not determined by gas price. “However if the gas price, which is reasoned more by political aims rather than economic, is the price to pay for freedom we are ready to do that”, he said. As for Oskanyan, while speaking about the increase of the gas price by Armenia’s closest strategic partner, he said, “There are a few factors of strategic cooperation between the two countries, the most important of which is the security factor. Our relationships with Russia are strategic and I think that the increase of the oil price should not make the strategic partners revise their strategic relations. We still have the same issues and interests with Russia. Thus there is no need to rush while drawing conclusions”. According to Mr. Oskanyan the negotiations concerning the gas price increase are not over yet. Mr. Bezhuashvili says that the closing of the Sadakhlo market by the Georgians is done to solve certain financial issues of the market. “Within the last two years serious work was done in Georgia to prevent smuggling. As soon as all those financial issues are solved there won’t be any problem to open the market”, mentioned the Foreign Minister of Georgia.
P.S. Recently it seems that the myth of colorful revolutions is gradually disappearing in the post-Soviet countries. According to the Russian media, Mikhail Sahakashvili’s rating is gradually falling down in Georgia. In Ukraine a political crisis has started. Mr. Bezhuashvili said that there is no need to believe the Russian media because Sahakashvili’s rating is still high in Georgia. According to him, after the “Revolution of Roses” the government has started to make reforms and bring the country back on its feet. The Russian hysteria towards Georgia originated because of the fact that Georgia closed their neighboring markets to prevent smuggling. “And people who used to make money with that are dissatisfied now”.