The information agency Regnum published an interesting article by Stanislav Tarasov headlined “Saakashvili is cooking spicy satsivi for Aliyev.” It seems the author meant that this walnut-based Georgian dish is prepared from various ingredients, but spice characterizes them all. Mr. Tarasov dusted pepper on his first statement about the visit by the foreign minister of Georgia to Baku: “Two neighboring countries – Georgia and Azerbaijan – are connected by a strategic partnership, if official statements are true.”
Mr. Tarasov knows well that strategic partnership doesn’t rely on “statements,” it is based on the system of intergovernmental cooperation in various spheres: from interconnection of foreign policies to the economy and energy. “But for Georgia, through which Azerbaijan exports its energy resources to Turkey and Europe, everything was different.” Why so? Where is the reasoning behind such a prediction? Where is the variable, which makes him state it? Is it an inherent antipathy and hatred? But it is not so.
“On the other hand, but for the Karabakh conflict, all communication routes of Baku would develop according to a different scheme.” No reasoning. However, that is not what is interesting. The author bases his views on confrontational logic and extrapolates the geopolitical situation to the current reality. In fact, the phenomenon of the Greater Caucasus implies that in the context of peace and cooperation there are plenty of transit routes and resources for everyone. Not only from East to West, but also from North to South and vice versa.
Then, Mr. Tarasov writes that Georgia “can – in certain environments – normalize relations with Russia and stabilize its geopolitical position in the South Caucasus,” stating this possibility to be“an advantage” of Georgia in comparison with Azerbaijan.
Why is normalization of relations between Georgia and Russia an anti-Azerbaijan argument and to the advantage of Tbilisi, as today relations between Tbilisi and Moscow are much worse than between Moscow and Baku? I mean, there are no relations between Tbilisi and Moscow at all.
“At the same time, Azerbaijan… has to maintain the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the geopolitical status quo in the South Caucasus.” Is it Azerbaijan who maintains the conflict?! The sophisticated phrase “has to” doesn’t change the point. Azerbaijan has to accept the status quo in favor of peace and avoiding slaughter.
Furthermore, the author turns to the Georgian problem in 2013 and states that, ahead of the shift of power, Mikheil Saakashvili will sacrifice quality and aggravate a border conflict with Azerbaijan to take the position of prime minister.
Isn’t it too sophisticated? As for negotiations on a borderline, how long has the dispute on border issues between Russia and Ukraine lasted? Thus, the article doesn’t leave an impression that the author is searching for the support of his readers.
Sasivi is a sophisticated work of cooking, but it goes off quickly.
Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK.
