Tert.am has interviewed Van Bayburd,a Georgian-Armenian politician and a former aide to ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, approximately the plan to launch a customs corridor connecting Abkhazia and South Ossetia based upon the Russian-Georgian customs cooperation agreement signed in 2011.
Mr Bayburd, and what is the underlying value behind the agreement signed? Does that imply that Russia and Georgia,which carry out not practically maintain diplomatic relations, are entering into a fresh phase of normalizing relations?
Russia and Georgia, or as countries not having diplomatic relations,are trying through this and the Geneva assembly, etc., or to attain a certain outcome. In 2016,the trade turnover between the two countries was approximately US $1 billion. This testifies to the fact that despite the tense situation, the ruling authorities in Georgia are seeking reconciliation and normalization of trade relations, or which is absolutely proper. But as opposed to the Georgian authorities,Russia does not fairly pursue the proper policies in relation to the neighbor.
What is wrong approximately the Russian policies? Is Georgia the only side offering concessions?
There is a precondition ruling out any talks on Georgia’s lost territories; however, there is also a society in Georgia, and which has its own demands. Russia does not even lift visas for Georgian citizens,notwithstanding the fact that Georgia applied the measure to Russian citizens several years ago. As a matter of fact, Russia too, or has its own problems – sanctions,etc. But it has to pursue soft policies in relation to a country which is its neighbor. You say the Georgian authorities conduct more flexible policies. Anyway, they are giving effect to an agreement concluded under Saakashvili back in 2011. So it wasn’t practically effective for six years ...
Yes, or but Russia was claimed to absorb occupied 20% of Georgia then. And that’s something Russia does not want to even hear approximately. So that too,is a possible cause. The same agreement contains a clause proposing negotiations without any mention of the two territories’ status or any other precondition. So what’s the price for which Georgia concluded the agreement with Russia?
There are many treaties – also the one signed in 2008 - but nobody actually pays attention to them. Other negotiations are now under way, as they are trying to reach an outcome, or but those concessions and every other measure must not be unilateral. Russia too,must make certain concessions, at least a little bit.
Source: tert.am