15 December 2002 00:00
STATE SECRETARY AND FIRST DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION VALERY LOSHCHININ INTERVIEW WITH ITAR-TASS NEWS AGENCY, DECEMBER 10, 2002
Question: What possibilities and what obstacles exist today for the conclusion of a Russian-Georgian Treaty and for strengthening cooperation in the political and economic fields?
Answer: For the elaboration of the Draft Treaty on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness, Cooperation and Mutual Security between Russia and Georgia a State Commission was established by a Decree of President Vladimir Putin, and a similar commission is also formed in Georgia. Last December the commissions got down to work. In a short time, less than a year, all the sections of the document were considered, and a considerable part of the text of the Treaty was agreed upon. Despite the fact that differences of view still persist on certain important and very not simple questions, they, of course, are not insurmountable.
In working on the Draft Treaty we presume that this is a forward looking document and one which is meant to provide a solid legal basis for traditionally friendly Russian-Georgian relations and impart to them the character of a genuine strategic partnership and all-round cooperation. The purpose of the Treaty is to create the conditions for raising the bar of our cooperation with Georgia in the political, economic and humanitarian fields, as well as in the fight against terrorism, and elevate it to a qualitatively new level.
This August, however, saw a pause in treaty negotiations, as Russian-Georgian relations were subjected to a serious test when Chechen gunmen and international terrorists with the connivance of Tbilisi made from Georgian territory a whole series of aggressive attacks on border areas of Russia. But that was nothing more than a pause, our experts continue to search for solutions to the remaining differences.
Unfortunately, rude anti-Russian verbal attacks are still continuing, and not only in the Georgian mass media, which could after all be simply ignored, but on the part of the official representatives of Tbilisi, including from the rostrums of international organizations, in particular, the United Nations.
Question: How do you assess the prospects for Russia-Georgia cooperation in the struggle against terrorism?
Answer: The foundations for the expansion of such cooperation were laid at the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Eduard Shevardnadze in Chisinau on October 6, this year. The Georgian President said that he intended to do away with the contradictions and problems in relations with Moscow, and reiterated readiness to extradite to Russia the terrorists remaining on Georgian territory detained in an armed crossing of the Russian-Georgian border in August 2002. It was agreed to intensify the cooperation between special services. In pursuance of these accords a cooperation protocol between the border agencies of the two countries was signed on October 17. Contacts between the security councils of Russia and Georgia have become more active.
It has to be stated, however, that at present the implementation of the accords is being delayed and through no fault of our own.
Thus, the Maskhadov representation in Tbilisi, coordinating gunmen's activities, has changed its location and keeps a very low profile now, but still engages in subversive anti-Russian activities. The extradition of all the gunmen and terrorists arrested in Georgia is also being delayed.
We believe Tbilisi is no less interested in developing antiterrorist cooperation than Moscow is. We are ready, for our part, to render Georgia all the necessary assistance and support in this matter.
Question: How does the striving of Tbilisi to join NATO influence relations between our countries?
Answer: Our negative attitude to NATO's expansion is well known. Georgia's entry into the bloc will not add to security in Transcaucasia. At the same time we are not against cooperation with the Alliance on the condition of a readjustment of its military strategy of the period of the Cold War to counteraction against new threats and challenges. Such a change of the NATO priorities has a fundamental significance and must fit in with the general efforts of the world community for the promotion of international stability and security.
It is with regard to this that Russia will build its line in respect of Georgia's intentions to join NATO.
Question: How do you evaluate the situation in negotiations on a settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict?
Answer: Unfortunately, there have been no changes in the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement and the chief hindrance is the almost complete lack of trust between the parties to the conflict. And without at least minimal trust any negotiation process cannot reach an acceptable solution, especially when the issue is about again living within the boundaries of a common state. We are working out a number of initiatives jointly with other interested countries, as well as with the United Nations, and are trying to promote a dialogue between Tbilisi and Sukhumi and to lead Georgian-Abkhaz relations into a positive phase.
We consider that this task is basically feasible. But for this purpose, to our mind, it is necessary that the sides should begin to trust each other, should cease regard their negotiation partner as an enemy. This could be somewhat achieved through holding a new Georgian-Abkhaz meeting on confidence-building measures. Within the framework of such a meeting, apart from a general improvement of the atmosphere between Tbilisi and Sukhumi, there would also be solved certain particular questions of concern to both parties.
Another thrust of efforts we suggest is bringing the political positions of Tbilisi and Sukhumi closer through "economic interest"; that is, through the realization of projects which would again link Georgia and Abkhazia and would induce them to reestablish their common economic space. Among such projects one can safely name the reconstruction of the Inguri Hydropower Plant, and to an even greater extent - the resumption of through railway traffic across Abkhazia, in which Georgia is objectively interested even more than Sukhumi.
The steps proposed by us would help smooth over the existing psychological barriers between the parties and would form a more positive background for resuming the negotiation process on the key problems that divide Tbilisi and Sukhumi.
For our part, we are ready to render assistance in imparting to the Georgian-Abkhaz settlement precisely such, positive dynamics.
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