Press Digest 13.12.2012
"Even if one removes the Russian factor, Abkhazians and Ossetians have a very negative attitude toward the development of relations with Georgia" - Gogi Khutsishvili
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"Even if one removes the Russian factor, Abkhazians and Ossetians have a very negative attitude toward the development of relations with Georgia" - Gogi Khutsishvili
“Next year, the CIS will be presided by Belarus. Lukashenko made these statements in order to prepare for the future summit; that if Georgia returns to the CIS, Russia will give up its positions on the issue of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. This is unrealistic, because Russia would not do that. Therefore the issue of Georgia’s return to the CIS will not arise. Lukashenko wants to try out the role of a peacemaker, to impress the EU and to take a spectacular position of a mediator. I think it will not work. The confrontations in conflict zones are so deep that Russia and Georgia will not be reconciled. I do not think that Russia will make concessions on this issue. Therefore Belarus will not be able to perform this function”, - said Gogi Khutsishvili, expert, in an interview with the newspaper “Rezonansi”.
“If the relations between Russia and Georgia develop in different directions, if we move forward in certain areas and another international geopolitical situation is formed in the future, in this case the concessions from Russia will be more real. If Russia comes to this decision, I mean that it is unprofitable to support Abkhazia and South Ossetia, then it will be ready to consider certain agreements with Georgia. Such a situation may be created in the future. While there is a clear background of the confrontation, the initiative of Belarus will not be fulfilled. To accomplish this, one should go through a painful and long process of negotiations between Russia and Georgia”, - noted the respondent.
“Even if one removes the Russian factor, Abkhazians and Ossetians have a very negative attitude toward the development of relations with Georgia. This situation can only be changed by warmed up relations between Georgia and Russia. When this happens, it will affect the climate in Sukhumi and Tskhinvali. It requires some time”, - concluded the respondent.
