What is this Putin planning?
Our feelings are just cooled down with regard to stability in our region after downing of the Armenian helicopter by Azerbaijani side, in particular, the statements made by the countries concerned and the structures regarding the need for urgent settlement of the Karabakh conflict, when a new event took place. Russian President Vladimir Putin and self-proclaimed President of the Republic of Abkhazia Raul Khajimba signed a Treaty of federation and strategic partnership on November 24, in Sochi. It will be effective for 10 years and later, it can be extended for another five years. Under this agreement, Russia shall double the economic aid to Abkhazia. Putin promises new long-term projects and funding, he ensures that 5 billion rubles will be allocated to Abkhazia during the year of 2015. According to Putin, the new Treaty proves of a high level of inter-state relations between the two countries. It assumes formation of a common area of defense and security, the Russian side shall ensure growth of social level in Abkhazia, also, the wages of the staff in health, education and science shall gradually be brought to the Russia’s standards.
In other words, a Treaty will be signed, with which Abkhazia de facto becomes a part of Russia, and this means a new tension in the relations with Georgia. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili estimated signing of the Russian-Abkhazian Treaty as an act of annexation of Georgian territories by Russia and a threat to Georgia’s statehood. The U.S., NATO, the EU and other Western countries have declared that they do not recognize this treaty, and demand Russia to give up with the actions addressed at recognizing the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, because they consider that this Treaty breaches Georgia’s territorial integrity. It is noteworthy that Putin also spoke about the possibility of transit rail corridor. “We believe that it is possible in the event of agreement by all partners to discuss and implement such a program as the opening of Sukhumi-Tbilisi rail transit corridor – up to Armenia and on the other hand, to Russia.”
Putin has added that such projects would contribute to collaboration of all interested partners in the region. Prime Minister of Abkhazia Beslan Butba noted that they are planning to develop the railroad communication. “There is a desire and an adequate work is conducted to make Abkhazia become a transit country. The cargo will pass from Russia to Armenia through Georgia and the opposite direction.” Raising this issue caused excitement in Georgia.
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Personal representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia for Russia Zurab Abashidze interpreted Putin’s statement about the opening of the Abkhaz railway as follows, “We will consider this issue in case it serves the settlement of the Abkhazian conflict, and if it is implemented with preservation of the principle of Georgia’s territorial integrity, in case of showing respect for the sovereignty of Georgia. In this case, we can listen to Russia’s initiative of how it sees the restoration of the railway.” Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Paata Zakareishvili added that the restoration of the Abkhazian railway under the initiative of Moscow and Sukhumi is impossible, as including Abkhazia in Russia’s plans would never be driven by the interests of Georgia. Georgian Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili noted that using Georgia’s transport and transit potential is the exclusive and sovereign right of the country, for which another country is not entitled to implement similar projects, such as the reopening of Abkhazian railway.
So, what is this Putin planning? Maybe, he is just preparing a ground for Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be integrated into the EaEU? Numerous statements in the course of years were voiced about reopening of the Abkhazian railway. The Armenian side still after the former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili’s visit to Yerevan noted that there are real prerequisites for the operation of the Abkhazian railway, and Ivanishvili seemed to be seeing the potentials of its operation. However, this issue was not resolved then.
It seems that today, Putin, making the topic of opening of the transit railway corridor an item of agenda, raises an enticing program. But here, a question arises as to why so far the Russian side had not contributed to the implementation of this idea, and what has been changed now. For many years, the Armenian side was making positive remarks on this issue, signals with regard to operation of the Abkhazian railway, and Georgia has claimed that under the tenure of Shevardnadze or Saakashvili, negotiations were held on this matter, working groups have been formed and designs are developed, and that Georgia in principle has always been in favor of this idea, constantly noting that negotiations may be held between Georgia and Russia, but the Abkhaz side cannot be in favor of these negotiations. Are there any prerequisites that Putin will sit at the negotiating table next to the Georgian side and will seriously consider this issue, moreover, after the recent Russian-Abkhaz Treaty on strategic partnership, or it is a demonstration of another “good” will?
Emma GABRIELYAN
