Orbeli Analytical Center had an interview with a Georgian political analyst Ghia Abashidze on Georgia's foreign policy, Georgia's mediation role, aftermath of 44-day Artsakh war and Armenian-Georgian current relations.

Mr. Abashidze, the last few years have been unstable in the region, and 2020 completely changed the status quo. Did the 44-day war have any impact on Georgia?

Military confrontations affect fragile situation and do harm to the peaceful development of the South Caucasus and the region. Georgia has a big hope that in spite of sporadic small-scale disputes and clashes on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the ceasefire agreement reached over Nagorno-Karabakh will be respected. A long-lasting peace is very much needed for the peoples of the South Caucasus. It must be noted that official Tbilisi supports Minsk Group’s efforts and engagement.

In recent years, Tbilisi has regularly offered its mediation role in the Karabakh conflict. Meanwhile, only months after the war we witnessed its successful experience. Some of the Armenian POWs returned to their homeland through the mediation of the Prime Minister of Georgia. How do you assess this step? And if you are aware, are there any ongoing efforts?

Recently, Georgia came with an idea of a trilateral format of cooperation, providing a dialogue platform for Azerbaijan and Armenia. Actually, Georgia is exploring and looking for specific projects and initiatives, where the trilateral cooperation can be the most effective and can benefit the most. Engagement of Western partners is very much desired and welcomed.

The release by Azerbaijan of 15 Armenian detainees and their return to their families through the Georgian territory, as well as the release of the information by Armenia regarding mined territories is undoubtedly an important step forward. This was made possible by an active facilitation of the Prime Minister Garibashvili and engagement of Georgia’s strategic partner - the United States. Tbilisi strongly believes that this precedent creates a promising groundwork for further cooperation between the neighbors. Many important things are discussed behind the closed doors and I do believe that in this regards, statements and forecasts will be followed by deeds.

After the signing of the trilateral statement, the President of Georgia congratulated Armenia and Azerbaijan noting, "A new era starts in the Caucasus." The President was criticized both in Georgia and by international partners, such as by former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly. In your opinion, were the fears related only to the Russian factor or to other actors as well?

The United States, the European Union, its members states, almost all international organisations have expressed their public gratitude to Georgia for its vital role in facilitating the latest discussions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In Georgia as elsewhere in the world, the main attention is paid to the official statements of capitals and international structures. What former officials are saying who are mostly perceived for their political biased rhetoric as outsider lobbyists of certain political parties are not a subject of concern at all. Of course Moscow was not happy with the Georgian and Western activities on the matter. However, Georgia is looking forward to seeing more partners from neighboring regions, including but not limited to Europe and Asia. Tbilisi hopes that the scope of cooperation of the countries of South Caucasus region will not be limited to adjacent neighbors only, since the future of our region in close partnership with international community addressing important threats and challenges of the modern World.

After the war, the issue of the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the area under the control of Artsakh was constantly discussed in the Georgian media. The media presented it as a threat to Georgia's security.

Georgian society welcomes the efforts to support peace and stability in our common region. However, for Georgian citizens Russia is the main threat and will be so until the Kremlin takes concrete steps in terms of de-occupation of Georgian regions and respect of international law and order.

What are the opinions and concerns on this issue in the expert field?

Not for the expert field but commonly in Georgia, Russia’s growing military presence and power projection in the South Caucasus and in the Black Sea region is of a particular concern. Any attempts of Moscow or any other outsider to declare the South Caucasus region as the zone of its privileged interest are unacceptable.

Georgia is currently pursuing an active policy in the wider Caucasus Region. This means strong bilateral relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as expanding relations with Turkey and Iran. Georgia's relations with Russia remain troubled by Russia's support for its protectorate states in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia can benefit much from expanded regional cooperation and even its role, as an EU associated state will be much enhanced by an active and positive Caucasus policy. The current Georgian leadership has understood this and is actively pursuing this policy for almost a decade.

Cooperation is a non-stop, boundless process even in the long-established international organizations and blocs. The countries of South Caucasus have many opportunities for a peaceful development. Georgia sees South Caucasus as a place for collaboration and partnership based on the norms and principles of international law.

Turkey and Azerbaijan are Georgia's strategic partners. What opportunities will the sharp increase of the weight of these two countries in the region create for Georgia?

Deepening relationship with its neighbours, boosting effective regional cooperation that ensures sustainable peace and stability in the region remain an important foreign policy dimension for Georgia.

In a newly formed, quite complex geopolitical environment, Georgia aims at creating a setting where cooperation is achievable and viable and it is beneficial to not only certain countries in the region, but also to the region as a whole and far beyond.

Georgia vividly sees the importance of Western engagement as a key to peace, stability and swift economic development of our common region. Countries of the South Caucasus as well as allies from the Western bloc might benefit from such collaboration. Areas of energy supply safety, transport communication, Black Sea security, long-lasting settlement of the existing conflicts and many other perspective fields could serve as possible dimensions for partnership. 

Several weeks ago, PM Garibashvili visited Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey and once again emphasized Georgia’s readiness for an intensive dialogue and cooperation with its partners and neighbors.

There are opinions that Armenian-Georgian relations have significantly developed in the last few years, which will give an opportunity to enter into a strategic partnership in the near future. Do you consider such a development realistic? If so, what steps need to be taken to achieve a strategic partnership?

Armenia and Georgia are neighbouring countries with a shared common history. Their people have interacted, created families and lived together for centuries. The relations between Georgia and Armenia are in many ways exemplary and they have the potential to expand further. The active interstate dialogue anchored in Georgian-Armenian peoples' deep ties creates serious prerequisites to outline new dimensions for comprehensive partnership.

In which spheres of Armenian-Georgian cooperation is there an unrealized potential? Which spheres should be pushed to the forefront?

During his official visit to Armenia, Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili stressed the importance of additional development of trade and economic relations, cultural ties and cooperation in fields such as transportation and logistics. These issues are one of the top priorities for the governments of the two countries. The pandemic has halted many things globally including relations with neighbours and further advancement of cooperation. There is also a big opportunity of enhancing tourism cooperation.

In your opinion, do our two societies know each other well enough? What tools should be introduced to increase mutual recognition?

Again, there is a lot to enhance our relationship in many fields. I do hope that after pandemic regulations vanish following massive vaccinations our people from different segments of our society will be able to travel. Though many Armenians have visited Georgian touristic places many Georgians have not seen the beautiful sights of Armenia. Tour operators from both countries must be more active in organizing trips not only to Armenia for Georgians but for Armenians who have not discovered many interesting places in Sakartvelo/Vrastan. Also, professional dialogue between scholars, academicians, exchange of experience between experts of many fields must increase as well as cultural exchanges. There are many spheres and I am sure that there is more to be achieved provided that we have long-lasting peace and stability in the region.