Recently the mass media spread information about a meeting in Baku between the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava. According to limited information from official Baku sources, Gigi Ugulava sent President Aliyev best wishes from President Saakashvili and said that during his visit he had followed the dynamic processes of Azerbaijan’s development. The president of Azerbaijan noted that Baku pays attention to reconstruction of historic buildings and the cultural heritage of the capital.
The limited information doesn’t cover any significant political matters of the development. The president of Azerbaijan rarely meets mayors of cities, even if they are from friendly countries.
Gigi Ugulava left Baku and headed to Brussels for participation in the conference of the Covenant of European Cities on environmental security. Tbilisi is a pioneer of promoting this initiative in the former Soviet space. Mr. Ugulava has many times stated that he tries to encourage his colleagues from Yerevan and Baku to take the same responsibilities. But these issues could be discussed with the mayor of Baku, while meeting with the President of Azerbaijan is on a higher level.
It seems Ilham Aliyev met mayor Ugulava at the request of Mikhail Saakashvili. It is obvious that Gigi Ugulava is the strongest political figure in the presidential team. Despite a seeming absence of political ambitions, non-interference in big politics and concentration on the problems of the residents of Tbilisi, 35-year old Ugulava is a born politician. He is smart, careful, farsighted, and skillful. He is an outstanding speaker able to detect talented professionals.
Ugulava is the first mayor of Tbilisi elected by the residents of the city in transparent and fair elections in May 2010. He has managed to cope with many city problems; that is why Ugulava’s rating is high. He is young and active. People who have never supported the ruling party voted for Uguluva, who is a member of it.
Ugulava explained the paradox with the words: “People want to see an upgraded Misha.” They appreciate everything positive and useful that was established during the last 8 years, but they do not forgive the mistakes and failures of the period. Probably Ugulava will be the best choice.
So the meeting of Tbilisi's mayor and the President of Azerbaijan could appear to be a “bride-show” held by Aliyev and Saakashvili.
Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively to VK
