Paata Kalandadze: "Kazakhstan has no desire to reclaim its investments back from Georgia"

Kazakhstan and Georgia intend to increase relations, not reduce them.

Fact sheet: The service record of Kalandadze includes work in the Georgian embassies in Israel and Belgium. The diplomatic mission to Kazakhstan is his first to a Central Asian state.

Georgia is ready to consider all proposals of cooperation with Kazakhstan within the limits of legislation, said Georgian ambassador Paata Kalandadze in an interview to "Vestnik Kazvkaza". According to him, the visit of Georgia's Foreign Minister to Astana, which took place in April this year, boosted cooperation between the states.

- Mr. Ambassador, as you know, three years ago Kazakhstan was among the top three investors in Georgia trailing only the US and UK.

- According to recent information, Kazakhstan is currently in seventh place in amount of investment in the economy of this country. This happened because new players have entered the Georgian market. Over recent years some Arab states have profoundly increased their investments in Georgia. But the point is not in the figures, but in the joint spiritual mentality of our nations, which has continued since the era of the USSR.

- A visit of your Premier Nika Gilauri to Astana was held in early April. What are the results of this?

- I would like to point out that the visit was successful and effective. Firstly, we have reached agreement on the deadline for introducing particular projects to the governments of the states. I personally think that the time has come for a rebirth in Georgian-Kazakh relations, which have been in a frozen state for a while. There some objective reasons for this situation, for example the economic crisis and the Russian- Gorgian war of 2008.

Meanwhile, we have to acknowledge the fact that one of the reasons for the decrease in levels of cooperation is that not a single session of the interstate commission has been held since 2007. Admittedly, development of relations between states is intensive, meticulous work, which, apart from anything else, requires coordination of positions. And meetings at the top official level boost the implementation of ideas and projects. These meetings see the resolution of pressing and problematic issues, moreover new perspectives in relations are determined. In my view, during the visit several decisions were made to precipitate the implementation of many projects, which should have been realized prior to 2008, but have been put on hold due to the outbreak of the Russian-Georgian war. Within the framework of the visit a session of the joint bilateral commission took place. This was a frank and open discussion, which turned up problematic issues along with successful ones. It's a good sign that both sides have confirmed their intention to continue closer cooperation. Georgia has expressed its readiness to consider all proposals of cooperation with Kazakhstan within the limits of legislation.

- What agreements have been reached on resolving the financial difficulties of the joint venture "KazTransGas-Tbilisi"?

- Yes, there are some misunderstandings. But both sides are ready to make all possible efforts to resolve these problems. Both sides will approach this problem, and ways to overcome it should be found by the time of the arrival of Kazakh Premier Karim Maksimov to Tbilisi, scheduled this year for September-October. This means we have six more months to complete work on this problem. I can state that our Kazakh partners have no intention of recalling investments from Georgia. On the contrary, during the negotiations new directions in cooperation have been found.

- Could you please give more details?

- For example we have discussed the issue of such an important and strategic benefit as wheat. As you know, Kazakhstan follows a policy of diversification of export routes to world markets. There are routes through Russia, Ukraine and China, but there is also a Transcaucasian route, which runs through the territory of Georgia and our seaports. This is another alternative export route for Kazakh wheat. We make no claim to exclusivity, but this route can be used by Kazakhstan. You should also bear in mind that a supplier should take account of needs.

- Do you mean Egypt, which your Premier Nika Gilauri visited at the beginning of the year and proposed importing Kazakh wheat through Georgian territory? To what extent is your country ready to deliver substantial volumes of wheat, as far as I know this refers to 1.5 million tons of wheat?

- Yes, including Egyptian wheat. According to the statement of the director of "KazAgro" Asilzhan Mamitbekov, Kazakhstan will supply Egypt with 1.5 million tons of wheat this year. Taking into consideration that Georgia has all the transit facilities, and that its transport position has strengthened in recent years, this project is quite realistic. As for the volume of wheat exports through the territory of Georgia, it's hard to give exact figures, since the new route should be worked out through the transit of small amounts of goods, to estimate its economic profitability. Moreover, the Kazakh premier is well aware of Georgia's transit facilities.

- During the visit of Nika Gilauri to Astana an agreement was made to consider construction of a grain storage facility on the territory of Georgia. In which Georgian ports could it be built - Poti or Batumi?

- This is to be decided by out Kazakh partners. Kazakhstan operates in Batumi under the treaty. And as I've mentioned before, the Kazakh Premier was informed about the transit facilities of the port of Poti during his visit three years ago. Nowadays, Poti is successfully developing within the framework of the free economic zone. More than 24 different terminals have been built and successfully operate here. In addition, I'd like to mention that Georgia has created all the conditions for foreign investors to build infrastructural facilities, including grain storage silos.

- What else regarding the new direction of cooperation was discussed during the visit of the Georgian Premier to Astana?

- Tourism. We are going to restore the reputation of a top health-resort on post-Soviet territory. Over the last three years more than 100 hotels have been built. More than a million tourists visited Georgia last year, but unfortunately only 5,000 of them were Kazakh citizens. That's why we are going to organize a tour of Georgia for representatives of leading Kazakh tourist agencies, so they can estimate for themselves the prospects for winter and summer trips, try our national dishes and witness Georgian hospitality. I hope this will promote the reopening of regular flights between Astana and Tbilisi.

- Further to the issue of Kazakh investments, it is known that last summer the Georgian President criticized Kazakh investors for delays in the construction of a sanatorium in Lazania. What is the current situation?

- A political decision was made on this issue. There is Kazakh investment in Georgia, now it's about economic transactions. I can say for sure that both sides are working on the project, and interested in quickly resolving the points at issue. Representatives of "KazMunaiGaz" confirm its guarantees and it is ready to start accelerated construction of hotels in Batumi and Likani in the near future. All agreements are in force.

Interviewed by Kulpash Kanirova. Astana.