Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchkher Mottaki will visit Georgia in June and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has already sent an invitation to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It is noteworthy that a diplomatic rapprochement between Tehran and Tbilisi is taking place now, during a relative cooldown between Georgia and the US. But not so long ago, Georgia was considered to be Washington's closest partner in the Caucasus region. After the Georgian-Iranian diplomatic conflict, when an Iranian nuclear physicist was extradited from Georgia to the USA, relations between Tbilisi and Tehran were put on hold.
Meanwhile, two days before the visit of the Iranian delegation to Georgia, Saakashvili received Turkish Premier Recep Erdogan in Batumi, right after the signing of a much talked of uranium exchange deal between Iran, Turkey and Brazil. It is not a secret that the US considered the deal insufficient and still insists on new anti-Iranian sanctions.
It is expected that at a session of the joint commission on economic cooperation a visa-free agreement for citizens of Iran and Georgia will be signed and investments in Georgian agriculture will be discussed. Moreover, Iran promises to invest in the construction of power plants and even provide Georgia with gas supplies. But Georgian experts believe that cooperation with Iran may affect relations with the West, Georgii Huhashvili, a political analyst, said in an interview with VK.
Georgii Huhashvili: The recent shift in Iranian-Georgian relations is, without doubt, a message to the West. Theoretically, some could believe that Georgia is being involved in the global processes around Iran, but in practice the current situation shows a different process. I consider this is an initiative of our authorities, who are trying to gain some geo-political significance. On the other hand it's a "resentful message" to the West, which did not give enough support during the conflict with Russia. But this is a dangerous game, especially regarding Iran. I was confused by the statement of the Iranian delegation's head, broadcasted by the Georgian TV channels. He accused and threatened the USA, Georgia's ally. This behavior of the Georgian authorities may result in far-reaching repercussions. No doubt we have to establish good relations with all the countries, but not by sacrificing relations with our allies. I have the feeling that regarding Georgia it is more correct to speak not about the extending of relations but about substituting one contact for another.
VK: How can Georgia benefit from economic cooperation with Iran? What will be the effect of visa-free regime between the states?
Georgii Huhashvili: I do not think that visa regime with Iran was some kind of an obstacle for Georgian citizens. Frankly speaking Iran is not a top-ranked state among Georgians' most favorite places to visit. But anyway it is quite a good step. I do not stand against cooperation with Iran; I call to refrain from the substitution of contacts with one state by contacts with another. In general, foreign policy is not a sphere which benefits from such dramatic shifts. I'd hail the aspiration for a participation in the resolution of regional conflicts, but not by these means. The situation with Iran shows that the Georgian authorities are not willing to find compromises, in particular in foreign policy. Turning Georgia into a stage for Iranian accusations against the USA misbalances foreign policy. I do not deny the fact that Iran is an important partner, although our authorities have to realize their responsibility and do everything not to lose our allies.
Meanwhile the ex-foreign minister of Georgia (1995-2003) Iraklii Menagarishvili does not share this opinion. "I would draw such a conclusion," he said in an interview with VK. "Our relations with Iran go back deep in history and we've always tried to establish closer ties with this country. Currently our relations remain in the traditional frame."
Georgy Kalatozishvili, Tbilisi. Exclusively for VK.
