Georgia: View from Armenia

While the world watches Georgia, few consider Armenia’s interest in the conflict with Russia. Although considered to be closer to Moscow than Tbilisi or Washington, over 90 percent of Armenia’s trade goes through Georgia and the destruction of a railway bridge outside of Kaspi risks affecting the country’s imports and exports.

Nevertheless, while both Armenia and Azerbaijan sent engineers to help repair the bridge, official Yerevan has been careful to take a more neutral stance even with it’s pro-Russian leanings. Even so, RFE/RL reports that the president, Serge Sargsyan, has now commented on what the failed Georgian attempt to take back South Ossetia.

“We believe that the military way of resolving conflicts is futile and that the events in South Ossetia will have a sobering impact on those who still have illusions about forcible solutions,” he told visiting senior defense officials from former Soviet republics making up the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

[…]

Sarkisian for the first time publicly drew parallels between the conflicts in Karabakh and South Ossetia and criticized Georgia for its August 8 military assault on the breakaway territory, which triggered a harsh Russian retaliation. “The tragic events in South Ossetia showed that a military response to self-determination movements in the South Caucasus are fraught with serious military and geopolitical consequences,” he said.

They also underscored the need to settle regional ethnic conflicts on the basis of the principle of nations’ self-determination, added Sarkisian.

Meanwhile, in lieu of U.S. support for his failed attempt to achieve regime change through street protests, Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrossian continues to court Russia instead. Ter-Petrossian accuses Georgia of “Genocide,” and sides with Moscow — although he does also support the government’s perceived neutrality on the matter.

More alarmingly, perhaps, nationalist groups might be looking to resurrect what Tbilisi will consider to be another separarist movement in the mainly Armenian-populated region of Samtskhe Javakheti in Georgia.

Photo: Serge Sargsyan, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008

Published:: 08.25.08 / 11am by Onnik

Category:: Armenia, Economy, Georgia, News Briefs, Russia

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Onnik 08.25.08 / 12pm

Interestingly, I don’t think Sargsyan is being as critical of Georgia as RFE/RL wants people to make out. Instead, while I don’t doubt that personally Sargsyan — like most Armenians — side with Russia, he is being very careful and cautious.

This is especially important for a statesman — unlike Ter-Petrossian who incorrectly accuses Georgia of Genocide while human rights groups instead concern themselves with matters of ethnic cleansing (which is NOT Genocide) on both sides — and particularly by South Ossetian and Northern Caucaus militias operating with the Russian army.

Regardless, I think Armenia’s position is so far comendable and I hope it continues. Ter-Petrossian’s overtures are unfortunate and have lost him sympathy from some journalists and analysts I know who were concerned with democratization in Armenia.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA COMMENTING ON RECENT EVENTS IN SOUTH OSSETIA

AZG

President of Armenia Serge Sakisian on his meeting with the Defense Ministers and the Secretary General of CSTO stated that issues of national self-determination must be solved on the basis of people’s free will,

“Today, we are strongly concerned over the crisis in South Ossetia. This is a humanitarian disaster, which needs to be overcome quickly. In these circumstances, we welcome the joint initiative of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy - the six-step plan of how overcoming the present situation and to attain long-term peaceful resolution,” the Armenian President said.

Mr. Sarkisian added that the tragic events in South Ossetia had shown that such conflicts, if not solved according to the free will of the nations, result in ethnic separatism and violation of the international humanitarian law.

“We have repeatedly pointed to the dangers of the unprecedented efforts of some countries of the region to build up their military capacities in an attempt to solve the existing conflicts,” Sargsian said.

Armenia is ready to provide its territory as a humanitarian corridor. “We are also ready to provide humanitarian assistance,” Serge Sarkisian stated said

In this case, Sargsyan seems more like a president than either Ter-Petrossian or indeed, Mikhail Saakashvili. Who would have thought it? He might surprise us yet.

Onnik 08.25.08 / 4pm

Incidentally, I did speak to some Armenians in Tbilisi (the new presidential palace is being constructed in the Armenian area of town) and most seemed to be against Russia’s actions. Those that weren’t were just confused.

Of course, it wasn’t very scientific nor even a large sample of opinion, but just seen this:

ArmInfo News Agency

Aug 22 2008

Georgian Armenians call for Russian withdrawal

Tbilisi, 22 August: The Armenian diaspora of Georgia is demanding the timely withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia.

This was the demand voiced by the troupe of Tbilisi’s Armenian Drama Theatre at their rally near the village of Igoeti. The protesters came to the Russian military checkpoint with placards in Georgian and Armenian, reading: “Russia stop aggression against Georgia”, “We are all Georgians today.”

“We must be together today. We love multiethnic and beautiful Georgia, we want peace. We call to get together and stop this aggression. All that happened is inadmissible in the 21st century,” a protester said.

The attitude is somewhat different in Armenia proper and the Diaspora, of course. Here and there this confict is seen solely in geopolitical terms with Russia considered more a friend to Armenia than the West. The issue of Nagorno Karabakh will also influence other Armenians.

Russian parliament recognises Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence
Russian parliament unanimously recognised the independence of Georgia’s two breakaway regions in an extraordinary session. The decision, which is non-binding, will now be sent to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev for approval.

Should this move gets materialised by Kremlin, i.e. should Russian president formally recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, this could serve an important precedent for other breakaway regions in a post-Soviet space. Regardless of differences, this move would strengthen Karabakh positions in its quest for independence.

http://unzipped.blogspot.com/2008/08/russian-parliament-recognises-abkhazia.html

Armenia & the South Caucasus | The Caucasian Knot » Blog Archive » Georgia: Armenian Hopes 08.27.08 / 3am

[…] although Yerevan is trying to remain as neutral as possible, given Russia’s warning to Moldova about following Georgia’s example in taking back […]

Armenia & the South Caucasus | The Caucasian Knot » Blog Archive » Georgia: Armenia’s Predicament 08.28.08 / 3pm

[…] neighbor looks on and has wisely not come down on either side in the conflict. For Armenia, much is at stake. Over 90 percent of its trade goes through Georgia, and although Russia is considered its most […]

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