Threat of Armenian separatism in Georgia

As communications of global importance and integration ties between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey continue to develop in the South Caucasus, destructive forces of Armenian separatism are becoming more active. Isolated after occupation of Azerbaijani territories, Armenian nationalists and aggressive separatists are trying to prevent implementation of international projects. Moreover, this aggression, which has different forms, is directed not only against Azerbaijan, but also against Georgia - as a participant in processes aimed at creating united peaceful space of cooperation from Caspian to Aegean Sea.

In order to break through self-isolation, Armenian nationalists promote the idea of "corridors" through the territory of Georgia. Not only they want to get economic benefit, they also want to inflict maximum damage to Azerbaijani-Georgian relations. Armenian nationalists believe that the more they will damage Azerbaijani-Georgian relations, the better it will be for Armenia. Now there are reports about the return of militants of Armenian terrorist organization - the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia - to Georgia. This group seemed to have completely disappeared in the 1980s. But, as it turns out, it was just in a "sleep mode". Another organization of separatists, Virk, is becoming more and more active in Georgian region of Javakheti, where Armenians compactly live.

Plans are being made to disrupt beginning of railway traffic on the new Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route. This railway passes through Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki. In exchange, Georgia can get Georgian-Armenian "corridors", mentioned above. But, as the former deputy foreign minister of Georgia Nikoloz Vashakidze noted, no opening of transport corridor through Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region is implied. "There are no benefits for Georgia, but there can be troubles," Vashakidze said. He stressed that there is are fears that Armenia will begin to import weapons using this railway route, which will lead to escalation of a great war in the Caucasus. "Things that can annoy Azerbaijan can become dangerous for Georgia," Vashakidze believes.

Famous Georgian experts discussed the topic of Armenian separatism in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

Irakli Machavariani, former representative of Georgian President on conflicts settlement:

- I study Armenia, I speak Armenian and know situation in Javakheti quite well. Fortunately, there is no open conflict in this region, but there are certain problems. The problem of Armenian separatism in Javakheti exists since the 19th century, when ethnic Armenians moved there from the Ottoman Empire. They settled in Akhalkalaki and Bogdanovka. Moreover, ethnic Armenians occupied those lands that Muslim Georgians had to leave. There is a problem of separatist trends in Javakheti since then.

- But this situation can't go on forever. How can Georgia deal with it?

- This problem will exist until formation of Georgian statehood is completed. We're not a well-established state like France yet. In addition, it's necessary for ethnic Armenians living in Javakheti to feel themselves like citizens of Georgia and become patriots. Until this understanding will be established, the danger of separatism in Javakheti will continue to exist.

Another thing is that open conflict is unlikely, because Armenian population of Javakheti "obeys" Armenia, and Armenia, no matter how many governments change, perfectly understands how dangerous it is for it to hurt relations with Georgia in conditions of ongoing war with Azerbaijan and lack of diplomatic ties with Turkey.

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Irakli Batiashvili, former head of Georgian special services:

- Virk organization didn't exist in the early 1990s, it appeared in Javakheti in the early 2000s, when I wasn't chief of special services, but head of the parliamentary committee on defense and security. Of course, foreign special services worked with this organization and other local separatists. We monitored their contacts closely.

- Can Armenian separatist organizations in Javakheti become so active they will create serious problems for Georgia?

- A lot depends on overall situation in the region and on when and what commands from the outside they receive or will receive in the future.

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Mamuka Areshidze, Caucasologist:

- The Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia disappeared in the 1980s. It would be very unexpected for it to appear in Javakheti. As for the Virk organization, it does exist.

- How dangerous is it?

- So far situation in Javakheti is under control. A lot depends on how events will develop in the future. There is a dangerous criminal situation in the region and there is information that there are a lot of weapons, especially in criminal circles. But right now Georgian authorities are monitoring situation in Javakheti. Although someone from the outside financially supports radical groups in order to aggravate situation or at least prepare for the future.

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Tornike Sharashenidze, political scientist:

- There are separatist circles in Javakheti, but it would be irresponsible to try to affect situation in the region, trying to hinder Baku-Tbilisi-Kars through Akhalkalaki.

- But there are forces in Yerevan that believe that Javakheti is a leverage that can be used to influence Georgia, which will hurt ties between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and make Tbilisi agree on Armenian "corridors" through Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

- Maybe some people in Yerevan have the illusion of having such "leverage", but it's not Armenia that has this "leverage", but Georgia, because Georgia can completely shut off Armenia.

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Ramaz Sakvarelidze, publicist.

- Armenia always insisted on opening of railway traffic through Abkhazia and road traffic through South Ossetia. But Georgia didn't pay attention to these claims, developing relations with Azerbaijan instead. For Georgia, economic cooperation with Azerbaijan is much more interesting. Of course, political interests follow economic interests. Armenia also wants to join various communication projects, but Georgia is trying to take the Karabakh problem into account when it comes to such issues.

- Will Georgia be able to maintain balance in the Tbilisi-Baku-Yerevan triangle?

- This balance doesn't exist as a result of the events in Karabakh. But Georgia is not the initiator. There is an important line of cooperation - Baku-Tbilisi-Ankara - and no one will be able to destroy it.