1news.az interviews Alexander Rondeli, head of the Georgian Fund of Strategic and International Studies and political scientist.
What can you say about the current relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia?
I think the relations are excellent. We are strategic partners and our relations are based on common interests which is most important. We are bound with economic and political interests, as well as interests of security.
The Upper Lars checkpoint has recently opened. Azerbaijan fears the supply of arms to Armenia via the opened border.
This is completely ruled out. There will only be the transit cargo of economic importance, including Georgian. There will be not any military transit.
What can you say about the current attitude of Obama’s administration to our region?
Today Obama’s administration is accused of the attempts to present the country as friendly to everyone. Therefore, most former opponents accuse Obama of presenting the country as weak though the United States are really experiencing not the best period, both in connection of international financial problems and external ones such as the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This period of uncertainty will end somehow and more realistic approaches will prevail. Certainly, the Caucasus has never been among the main priorities of the US Security, but under Obama our region has become even more unimportant. I think this will change soon because no one likes weak presidents, especially in the United States. In other words, Washington’s strategic interests will be observed because they have a definite interest to our region.
When new administration comes, the interests are reviewed, sometimes old ones are recovered or updated. Thus, I think this will end soon and we will take the due place in the list of the US priorities.
Do you think the border between Turkey and Armenia may open and how can it affect our region?
Certainly, this change can influence the region. I suppose the opening of border between Turkey and Armenia must be viewed in a complex because the Karabakh conflict cannot be viewed separately.
Any move – either to better or worse, in any country or between the countries- will immediately cause changes. In the long-term sense the changes will be positive because it is important for the region to be attractive for investors and be a good place for people who want to trade. We, the three countries, will finally realize that we must represent our region to the best advantage.
Which position will Georgia take in case of worsening of ties between the United States and Iran?
This is a very delicate issue. In such cases small countries try to be far from the fire, because they do not decide anything.
Nevertheless, few expect such developments-this is not the best we can see in our region.
1news.az