THE DYNAMICS OF DEVELOPMENT OF RA-GEORGIAN POLITICAL RELATIONS IN THE POST-SOVIET PERIOD Текст научной статьи по специальности «Политологические науки»

ԳԻՏԱԿԱՆ ԱՐՑԱԽ

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THE DYNAMICS OF DEVELOPMENT OF RA-GEORGIAN POLITICAL

RELATIONS IN THE POST-SOVIET PERIOD

UDC 327

DOI: 10.52063/25792652-2024.3.22-88

KAREN GHAZARYAN

Yerevan State University, Faculty of International Relations,

Department of Political Science, Ph.D. Student

Spitak, the Republic of Armenia

[email protected]

ORCID: 0009-0009-9413-8329

Georgia has transit strategic importance for Armenia. The purpose of this

article is to present the development of RA-Georgia relations, the impact of

changes in political leaders, and geopolitical developments in both countries in the

post-Soviet period. The following objectives were set in the given research:

1. to study RA-Georgia relations and their changes, basic and main

documents,

2. to analyze the influence of political leaders and geopolitical developments

of the two countries on bilateral relations,

3. to present the role of regional and extraterritorial actors, balancing policy

and influence in regional developments.

The systematic methods of historical-comparative, event, and content

analysis were used in the research.

The research resulted in the following conclusions:

1. Based on the historical and geopolitical circumstances of the two

countries, they have always emphasized the neighborly relations between the two

countries and their development.

2. The character of relations can be considered strategic and friendly. Georgia

can have a positive influence on the RA-Azerbaijan and RA-Turkey dialogue. RA

can be an important bridge in Iran-Georgia relations.

3. Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey strategic cooperation can become a big threat

for Armenia.

Key words: Armenia, Georgia, Bilateral relations, Regional policy, Security,

Regional cooperation, South Caucasus.

Introduction

A new course of relations between Armenia and Georgia began in the 1990s. The

entire region, being in a rather complicated and tangled state, had its influence on the

formation of the relations between the two countries, as both newly independent states

were under various threats, up to the loss of independence. The two countries pay quite a

lot of attention to their relations with each other and try to constantly develop relations,

both in bilateral and multilateral fields.

 Հոդվածը ներկայացվել է 30.08.2024թ., գրախոսվել` 26.09.2024թ., տպագրության

ընդունվել` 31.10.2024թ.:

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Since the declaration of independence, regional factors such as․

•

The different character of the approaches shown by the parties in the relations

between the regional powers (Russia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan),

•

The disunity of the parties regarding the settlement of regional conflicts,

•

Georgia's strategic cooperation with Turkey and Azerbaijan in the conditions of

Turkey and Azerbaijan's policy aimed at isolating Armenia,

•

Differences in approaches to involvement in regional processes and international

organizations, etc.

From the beginning of the 1990s, the turbulent events in Georgia and Armenia

caused great obstacles for the formation of bilateral relations. However, taking into

account the previous experience and a number of other circumstances, the two states

also initiated steps aimed at creating the prerequisites for contact with each other. As a

result, diplomatic relations were established between the two countries already on July

17, 1992, and already in 1993. The RA Embassy in Tbilisi was opened in July (RA, MFA,

RA-Georgia bilateral relations 2023). The agreement "On Friendship, Cooperation and

Mutual Security" signed between the two countries on May 19, 1993 was quite significant

(Ratifying the Agreement on Friendship 1995).

Armenian-Georgian Relations Prior to Saakashvili's Presidency

The first and second presidents of Georgia have always emphasized the role of RA

in the foreign policy of Georgia, about which statements have been made many times. I

would also like to mention that the relations with the neighbors have a great role and

importance for RA, in which special attention is paid to the relations with Georgia. During

the tenure of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the first president of the Republic of Armenia,

Georgia, as a neighboring country, was important in Armenia's foreign policy direction,

the clear proof of which was the state and official visits to both sides and the many

agreements signed during those years. In 1998 after the February elections, Robert

Kocharyan was elected the second president of RA, who in his turn gave a new impetus

to foreign policy and especially to Armenian-Georgian relations. On April 28-30, during

the summit of the heads of the CIS countries held in Moscow, the President of Armenia

supported Georgia's point of view regarding the settlement of the Georgian-Abkhazian

conflict. This was an additional boost to that relationship. On April 29, R. Kocharyan and

E. Shevardnadze had the first meeting in Moscow, during which the presidents confirmed

their willingness to continue cooperation, develop and deepen bilateral relations, both in

the fields of political and economic, as well as regional cooperation (Caucasus Report

1998). In November 1998, within the framework of the official visit of the RA President

Robert Kocharyan, various meetings were held with the official representatives of the

neighboring country and an agreement was reached to activate the bilateral economic

relations using the existing legal framework between the two countries, and they also

agreed to sign new agreements for closer cooperation in the future. The Georgian side

expressed interest and willingness to develop cooperation with Armenia in a number of

regional projects. About a month later, on December 21-23, the Ministers of Transport of

Armenia, Georgia and Bulgaria met in Yerevan and agreed on the creation of a railway

corridor between the three states through the Poti-Varna ferry connection (Karapetyan

2012). In the concept of national security of Georgia, Armenia is mentioned as its close

partner, a good neighbor, with whom there are areas of overlap of interests and great

prospects for the development of cooperation, and these factors can contribute to the

stabilization of bilateral political ties (National Security Concept of Georgia 2005). In the

concept of national security of RA (The decree of the President of RA 2007), the relations

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with Georgia are mentioned as friendly and it is also mentioned that Georgia is important

as a state with high-level relations with Armenia in the region, and the development of

mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and their deepening derives from the

long-term strategic interests of Armenia and Georgia. Georgia is also important for

Armenia due to the presence of a large Armenian community living in that country. The

Republic of Armenia cooperates with the Government of Georgia in the direction of

solving the socio-economic problems of Georgian-Armenians, including the Armenian

community of Samtskhe Javakheti region.

The external factor was an obstacle in the development of bilateral relations, in the

hands of a number of states and large international structures, which tried to quickly

establish themselves in the South Caucasus region and fill the gap created here after the

collapse of the Soviet Union. In RA-Georgia relations, there is a number of uneven or

unsolved problems, around which both sides are trying to reach mutually beneficial

solutions through negotiations. The relations between the two countries have a rather

large influence on the differences between the parties regarding the settlement of

regional conflicts. On November 5 (1999), Shevardnadze, speaking at the session of the

Government of Georgia, stated that one of the main priorities of the country's foreign

policy is relations with its closest neighbors, Azerbaijan and Armenia, and also stated that

Georgia can assume a unique role in the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.

emphasizing that everything should be done to fully involve Armenia in regional

programs, because Armenia's isolation is not in Georgia's interests (Minasyan 2012). The

President of Georgia E. Shevardnadze's official visit to Yerevan in 2001 (RA, MFA, RAGeorgia bilateral relations 2024). (October 23-24). Within the framework of the latter, the

parties signed the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the

Republic of Armenia and Georgia (according to Article 1 of that "Great" Treaty, the two

countries sought to deepen partnership relations) (RA, MFA, RA-Georgia bilateral

relations 2024). With the new agreement, the parties also undertake to hold consultations

in the event of a situation creating a threat to the security of their countries and the

region, in order to determine measures and actions for the maintenance of peace and

mutual security. In addition, the parties undertake not to undertake any action directed

against the other party, as well as not to allow the formation of such groups and

organizations in their territory that may create danger or cause economic damage to the

other party. It should be noted that the above-mentioned "Great" contract shows that

Yerevan was able to use the recently created geopolitical situation in the region,

simultaneously, for the protection of Armenia's national interests and for ensuring stable

and long-lasting peace. Agreeing with the point of view of the Armenian side that RAGeorgia relations are one of the most important guarantees of maintaining stability in the

region.

However, sometimes many promises made by Georgia had a more declarative

character and Georgia continued its traditional policy in the European structures, that is,

to silently defend the anti-Armenian resolutions presented by Azerbaijan. On May 4,

2001, on the eve of the meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,

the Committee of Delegates of Ministers of the Council of Ministers discussed the draft

resolution of the Committee of Ministers, where the Council of Ministers included the

Caucasus, in particular, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. Here, Azerbaijan proposed an

amendment to the principles of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, giving

the priority to the peaceful settlement of the conflict to the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan

(Tbilisi recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan 2011), and the delegate of

Georgia, Lana Gogoberidze, supported the Azerbaijani amendment (Sportel and

Tchkoidze 2011). Unfortunate this is not the only case when Georgia openly supports

Azerbaijan and its anti-Armenian propaganda, thus violating the agreements with the RA

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official circles and provisions of a number of bilateral agreements. 2003 was quite an

important period in Armenian-Georgian interstate relations. As a result of the presidential

elections held in February, Robert Kocharyan was re-elected to the position of president

(The second (President of the Republic of Armenia 2008). On June 27 of the same year,

at the invitation of the President of Georgia, Shevardnadze, he went on a two-day official

visit to Tbilisi. The main topic of discussion was that Robert Kocharyan emphasized that

Armenia is faithful to the principles it adopted within the framework of friendly relations

with Georgia. A number of agreements was also reached regarding future activities,

covering fields like free trade, indirect taxes, goods and services etc. At the end of the

meeting, the parties ratified protocols. (Agreement "Between the Government of RA and

The Government of the Republic of Georgia on Free Trade"; Agreement "Between the

Government of RA and The Executive Authority of Georgia on the Principles of Collection

of Indirect Taxes During the Export and Import of Goods (Works, Services)".

Developments in Georgia during the First Period of Saakashvili's Presidency

In the extraordinary presidential elections of January 4, 2004 in Georgia, Mikheil

Saakashvili was elected president with an absolute majority of votes (Kandelaki 2006). It

is worth noting that the newly elected young president introduced quite serious and

radical changes in the internal and external political life of the country. Saakashvili, who

had an extreme pro-Western orientation, announced the importance of relations with

Armenia. It was no coincidence that he arrived in Yerevan on a two-day official visit on

March 12, 1.5 months after assuming the post of president. During the press conference,

he announced that Armenia is an excellent partner for Georgia and he is in Armenia

primarily on a visit to the heart (Saakashvili wants to "learn” from Kocharyan 2004). Then

there were statements regarding the discussion of issues and problems on the agenda of

bilateral relations and their solution in the near future. It is also noteworthy that during the

meeting, Georgian President Saakashvili emphasized that Armenia plays an important

role in Georgian-Russian relations, and Georgia plays an important role in ArmenianTurkish relations. RA President Robert Kocharyan paid a return visit on November 21,

where he met with high-ranking officials of Georgia. The strained Russian-Georgian

relations could not leave their mark on the Armenian-Russian relations, as Armenia is

Russia's strategic ally. The next event of 2005, which had an impact on ArmenianGeorgian relations, was the agreement signed on May 25 between Georgia, Azerbaijan

and Turkey, by which the parties planned the construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak-TbilisiBaku railway (Lussac 2008), which was rather negatively received by Armenia, because it

contributed to the isolation of Armenia in the region. Despite the fact that Georgia made a

formal proposal to involve Armenia in regional programs, which was initially rejected by

the parties, in particular, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Azerbaijani President

Ilham Aliyev announced that Armenia would be able to participate if it resolves the

Karabakh conflict. Another important event in 2005 the opening of the Baku-TbilisiCeyhan oil pipeline (Starr and Cornell 2005) was the act of isolating Armenia once again.

As a result of these programs, Georgia would have serious financial gains, which would

later be effectively used in the way of solving its foreign political relations. Georgia's

position regarding the Armenian Genocide is noteworthy, where Georgia states that in

1915, Armenians were forcibly deported, avoiding the terms genocide, extermination or

other similar terms. Russian-Georgian relations sharply worsened due to Georgia's

decision to withdraw Russian peacekeeping troops from Tskhinvali, the capital of South

Ossetia. These troops were there to maintain peace within the framework of the CIS

(Commonwealth of Independent States), actually covering up Russian influence in

Tskhinvali region. Russia had quite moved away from the South Caucasus, losing its

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influence on Georgia, and was trying to provoke separatist aspirations in the territory of

the latter. Georgia, which had clearly chosen the path of European integration, orienting

its foreign policy to the west, having the support of the USA there, wanted to keep South

Ossetia so that it would not inherit the fate of Abkhazia. The situation escalated sharply

after July 8, when Georgia unilaterally closed the only legal Georgian-Russian crossing,

Upper Lars (Silaev and Sushentsov 2012).

The period of Serzh Sargsyan's Presidency and Relations with Georgia

In the presidential elections of 2008, Serzh Sargsyan was elected the President of

Armenia (The biography and activity of Sargsyan Serzh 2019), he also gave great

importance to Georgia and its role and place in the events in the region in foreign policy.

It should be noted that Armenian-Georgian relations had a dynamic development during

the 10 years of the second president Robert Kocharyan's tenure. Solutions were given to

a number of issues of concern to both sides, but a number of issues remained

unresolved and incomplete (In particular, the delimitation and demarcation of the

borders remained unresolved. Although during the meetings it was talked about its

necessity and creation of a relevant committee), there were a number of unused

opportunities, which were considered as an agenda issue in the foreign policy considered

by Serzh Sargsyan. However, the post-election upheavals that took place in Armenia in

the spring of 2008 also strained Russian-Georgian relations, which led to a 5-day war in

South Ossetia in August (Blandy 2009), and that was the reason that only on September

30, 2008, the newly elected President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, had a two-day an

official visit to Georgia. This also proved that the neighboring Georgia has a great

importance in the foreign policy of Armenia. The president also repeatedly added and

noted that maintaining, deepening and strengthening friendly relations with Georgia has

always been in Armenia's interests. During his speech, President Serzh Sargsyan

described Georgia's role for Armenia as "strategic", which Robert Kocharyan avoided for

many years. The new leader of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, also attaches great

importance to Armenian-Georgian relations. On May 30, 2018, Nikol Pashinyan made his

first official visit to Armenia's northern neighbor, Georgia (Nikol Pashinyan's visit to

Georgia 2018). During the 32-year history of Armenia's independence, this is the first time

that the head of the country makes the first official visit to Georgia and Samtskhe

Javakheti region, where he also had meetings with the Armenian community.

Analysis of the Main and Basic Documents of Bilateral Relations

2005 on July 8, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the concept of national security

of Georgia (National Security Concept of Georgia 2005), where the importance of building

a pro-Western foreign political line was mentioned in the section of the main priorities of

foreign policy, and in relations with neighbors, in particular, to continue "partnership" with

Russia, "pragmatic cooperation" with Armenia.

In the Foreign policy strategy of Georgia (2006-2009) the following was written:

There are historically established good-neighborly ties between Georgia and Armenia

and Azerbaijan. Intensification of partnership between the three states of the South

Caucasus is of immense importance for the further development of the region. Georgia

will deepen its strategic partnership with the Azerbaijan to attain energy security, fully

exploit the potential of South Caucasus transport corridor and implement new large-scale

regional projects. Georgia will continue close cooperation with Armenia over the broad

spectrum of bilateral interests. Georgia supports wider participation of Armenia in regional

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projects and welcomes the intensification of Armenian partnership with European and

Euro-Atlantic bodies, which should have a positive impact on regional security. To ensure

an effective fight against international terrorism, Georgia will cooperate with states of the

region, in particular with immediate neighbors: the Russian Federation, Turkey,

Azerbaijan, and Armenia (Foreign policy strategy of Georgia 2006-2009).

It seems that relations with Azerbaijan are given greater importance, marking them

as strategic․ The same can be viewed in 2019-2022 strategy, which covers a wide range

of issues that the country aims to address in the next four years.

Some of the key priorities for Georgia in 2019-2022 are:

•

Sovereignty and territorial integrity,

•

European Union and NATO integration,

•

Sustainable economic development,

•

Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the region and worldwide

•

Contribution to the global security (Foreign policy strategy of Georgia 20192022).

In the National Security Concept of Georgia (National Security Concept of Georgia

2011), the parts related to Armenia are presented in several contexts. First, the

settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is mentioned. In particular, the Security and

Environment Chapter states: Moreover, the military aggression by the Russian

Federation worsened the security environment in the Caucasus region as a whole. In

addition, the instability in the North Caucasus and the unresolved conflict over NagornoKarabakh both negatively impact Georgia’s security environment. The creation of a

peaceful and cooperative environment in the Caucasus region would pay positive

dividends for the security of Georgia (Ibid.). The 9th Chapter of the Concept of

Economics Security Policy states that Georgia will continue its economic relations with

Armenia and a number of other countries. Cooperation in the South Caucasus Chapter

talks about the importance of regional cooperation programs. In the section concerning

Armenia, it is stated that: The unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is undermining the

stability of the countries in the region. Georgia would welcome a peaceful resolution to

this conflict, based on the principles of international law and greater involvement of the

international community in the peace process. Georgia enjoys close cooperation with

Armenia in all areas of mutual interest. Georgia believes that the deepening of good

neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation with Armenia is in line with the

national interests of both countries and strengthens the traditional friendship between

them, while also fostering economic prosperity and political stability.

Georgia aspires to strengthen trade, economic, and transportation ties with

Armenia. Cooperation in trade, transport infrastructure, tourism, and other fields will

support the economic development of Georgia and Armenia.

Georgia supports Armenia’s active participation in the European Union Eastern

Partnership and welcomes Armenia’s more active cooperation with NATO. Georgia

welcomes all efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenian relations and to establish good

neighborly ties between them (National Security Concept of Georgia 2011). "Government

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2020-2024 Directed to the "Building a European State" program is also of great

importance.

After the 2020 parliamentary elections, the Parliament of Georgia approved the

new composition of the government, a new program of ministers and Government, which

defines the vision of the ruling party. According to the plan, the construction of the

European state is one of the priorities of that period from 2021 to 2024. The "European

state" is the main pillar of the document, which revolves around it in various directions,

including foreign policy and security. Here, Georgia emphasizes the development of

Armenia's relations with Western organizations and countries and welcomes this process

(Georgian Foreign Policy The Quest for Sustainable Security)․

Georgian diplomat David Zalkaliani presented on August 9 (2021) a 10-year plan of

the Foreign Ministry, determining where the country is heading to in the coming decade.

The plan titled “Foreign Policy Focused on Western Values and the Country’s

Interests: 10-year Vision, 10 Goals” lays out 10 key goals covering de-occupation, the EU

and NATO membership aspirations, bilateral partnerships, regional cooperation, relations

with Russia, and other foreign policy issues. The ten goals to be achieved in ten years as

per the plan are as follows:

1. Launching “irreversible” process of the country’s de-occupation and achieving

“substantial progress” towards strengthening Georgia’s sovereignty and restoring

its territorial integrity by 2030;

2. Applying for the EU membership by 2024, obtaining membership candidate

status by 2030, and opening membership talks with the 27-member bloc;

3. NATO membership plan developed with the Alliance, full preparedness for the

NATO’s “political decision” to make Georgia its member;

4. Achieving tangible results “in terms of upgrading the high-level formats of bilateral

relations to a new strategic level” to contribute to pursuing diverse domestic and

foreign policy interests;

5. The establishment of a comprehensive U.S.-Georgia alliance reinforced by

military-political and trade-economic components;

6. The establishment of the South Caucasus “as an area of cooperation, good

neighborhood and dynamic development overcoming existing differences”

through “a well-balanced and mutually beneficial regional policy based on

partnerships;”

7. Emergence of the possibility of normalization of political ties with Russia in

accordance with the principle of de-occupation and the territorial integrity of

Georgia – the beginning of the real process of conflict resolution.

8. Launching an EU-Georgia connectivity dialogue, establishing Georgia as a

regional leader and “assuming the important function of a bridge connecting the

East and the West;”

9. Achieving enhanced investment capacities, effective implementation of national,

regional and international economic projects, preferential treatment for Georgian

export goods and diversified export markets;

10. A further strengthened diaspora with successful cultural and educational centers

abroad by 2030. (Georgian Foreign Ministry Unveils 10-Year Action Plan)

This document is important to understand Georgia's foreign policy priorities until

2030 and the place that Armenia has there. The document talks about the importance of

Georgia's regional policy, as well as the development of relations with Armenia․ The

section related to Georgia in the 2020 National Security Strategy of Armenia is

noteworthy, namely point 10 of chapter 4 states that stability in neighboring Georgia and

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Iran is of great importance to Armenia. Based on its mutually beneficial, special

neighborly relations with Georgia and Iran, Armenia will develop effective cooperation in

various directions, while keeping these relations free from geopolitical side effects

(National Security Strategy of the RA 2020).

It is also crucial that the RA Government's 2021-2026 program highlights its

commitment to fostering and advancing special and neighborly relations with Georgia.

An inter-parliamentary friendship group was formed between Armenia and

Georgia. The intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation operates between

the two countries, the 12th session of which was held inon January 12, 2023 in Yerevan

under the leadership of the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Armenia and Georgia.

Following Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's working visit to Georgia in July, Armenia and

Georgia announced their intention to engage in high-level dialogue on strategic issues,

creating an additional impetus for effective cooperation. (RA, MFA, RA-Georgia bilateral

relations, 2023). Prime Minister Pashinyan visited Georgia on October 26 (2023) to

participate in the 4th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum. Azerbaijan’s PM Ali Asadov also

participated in the event.

“After the banquet, an informal contact took place between the prime ministers of

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement

(Pashinyan held informal meeting 2023). This event could be a good precedent as the

leaders of Georgia have repeatedly stated that they are ready to act as a mediator in the

settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, and Tbilisi can be the platform for these

meetings and discussions.

Meetings and contacts between high-ranking officials of RA and Georgia and

heads of sectorial departments are of a periodic nature. Regular consultations are held

between the foreign ministries of the two countries (RA, MFA, RA-Georgia bilateral

relations 2024). In this discussion, it is important to highlight the fact that the GeorgianRussian economic relations are gradually developing, which can be a fertile ground for

the regulation of political relations as well. And it is no coincidence that the Russian

Federation ranks second among Georgia's foreign economic partners, second only to

Turkey (Turkey, Russia, China Georgia’s top trading partners 2023).

Conclusion

Summarizing the dynamics of the development of Armenian-Georgian political

relations, we can draw the following conclusions.

• The two countries based on the historical and geographical realities, have always

emphasized the development of relations with each other, mutually beneficial

cooperation, as well as mutual interests, which have always been a historical

necessity for both sides.

• despite the contradictions that arose between each other at the time, the relations

between the parties mainly developed in a strategic and friendly atmosphere,

• From the point of view of regional stability, Georgia has always been one of the

most important links for Armenia and will continue to be as long as our neighbors

continue their blockade policy, isolating Armenia from regional developments.

• Taking into account Georgia's good relations with neighboring Turkey and

Azerbaijan, the Georgian side can become an important player in the process of

regulating Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani relations by investing all

its potential.

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Armenia, as a partner state, trying to conduct a balanced policy, can obtain a

connecting bridge role in Georgian-Iranian relations.

Despite the differences in the foreign policy direction of the neighboring states,

both sides emphasize each other's role and importance and show caution in their

relations with each other.

The political line adopted by the two friendly states since the formation of the Third

Republic continues even today, giving special importance to bilateral relations. In recent

years, despite the certain retreat of Georgia's European integration, Georgia continues to

emphasize the Western direction in its foreign policy, and Georgia's status as a candidate

for EU membership has given rise to new hopes for Georgia. In this matter too,

everything is not clear, because after the latest developments and especially after the

adoption of the Law on Foreign Agents, the EU Ambassador to Georgia announced that

the accession process of Georgia is currently suspended. Georgia is now oriented

towards the West and is trying to ensure its security by deepening military relations with

the United States, with the aim of joining NATO. The above can be an additional stimulus

from the point of view of establishing deeper relations with RA, which deepens relations

with the EU and NATO member states.

The role of Georgia will continue to be important for Armenia, especially in the case

of Turkey and Azerbaijan's policy of isolating Armenia, and although Georgia is able to

reap great economic benefits with its transit role and use this factor as political leverage,

it is still interested in the process of regulating Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and the

region. with stability, because stability can be a stimulus for greater economic

development for all countries in the region. At the same time, the deepening of GeorgiaAzerbaijan-Turkey relations in all directions, including the military, can turn into a serious

threat to the National Security of the Republic of Armenia.

Based on the issue, we can conclude that the changes of the regimes in both

countries did not bring great changes to the development of relations, the relations had

the character of dynamic development in different directions, but different leaders gave

different impetus to the development of these relations. It should be noted here that

geopolitical developments also had a great impact on these relations․

It is true that today there is a deepening of relations between the two countries,

but the corresponding efforts are not consistent and sufficiently stable, they lack a

strategic approach, and it often turns into a mere reaction to the problems that have

arisen. A more effective approach at the governmental level would be the development

and implementation of a joint strategy for the cooperation of the two countries, which

would define the goals in different time perspectives, evaluate the perspectives of future

cooperation and also the existing challenges and obstacles. It is desirable that, in parallel,

civil non-governmental organizations, educational and research institutes, professional

and business associations also search for ways to deepen cooperation, its financing,

optimization and institutionalization in common areas of interest. Support and assistance

for such efforts by Western partners would be extremely important and valuable. The

deepening of military cooperation would also be important in the ways of cooperation

between the two countries. A favorable geopolitical environment has been created for the

above circumstance․ The democratic development of the two countries further increases

the mutual interests between the parties, but more work and consistency are needed in

the existing processes. Against the background of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and

Western-Russian tension, new realities have emerged in the region, and it seemed that

the Georgian side would worsen relations with the Russian Federation, but the Russian

Federation has become the second leading state among Georgia's foreign trade partners.

Day by day, the Russian Federation increases its influence in Georgia and it seemed that

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it would have a positive effect on the relations between Armenia and Georgia, taking into

account the strategic and alliance relations between the Republic of Armenia and the

Russian Federation, but there is an increase in tension in the relations between the RA

and the RF, and the relations between the RA and the West are recording dynamic

development. All this also affects RA-Georgia relations. Against the backdrop of tense

West-Georgia relations, the developing RA-West relations can create new realities in the

region, where the parties may have new challenges, so it is necessary to develop a joint

strategy with the Georgian side, which will be aimed at ensuring bilateral relations and

regional stability. The West is trying to resolve regional conflicts by depriving Russia of

additional tools and regional presence. This competition, which has also been joined by

Iran, creates new threats in the region, which can be dangerous for Armenia and

Georgia, so it is necessary to deepen relations with Georgia and neutralize the abovementioned threat , as well threats which are coming from the Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey

trilateral deepening relationships.

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National Security Concept | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (mfa.gov.ge).

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3,

2024.

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August 17, 2024. http://surl.li/gdlkg.

13. “On Ratifying the Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security

between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Georgia.” October 11, 1995.

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14. “Pashinyan Held Informal Meeting with Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister on Sidelines

of 4th Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.” October 27, 2023. Accessed July 15, 2024.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1122946.html

15. “RA-Georgia Bilateral Relations 2024.” RA MFA official website. Accessed

August 8, 2024. https://www.mfa.am/hy/bilateral-relations/ge (in Armenian).

16. “Saakashvili Wants to 'Learn from Kocharyan': Armenia in a Week.” March 17,

2004. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://regnum.ru/article/232921.

17. “Tbilisi Recognizes the Territorial Integrity of Azerbaijan.” Ambassador, May 12,

2011. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://news.am/arm/news/59064.html

18. “The Biography and Activity of Sargsyan Serzh.” 2019. Accessed July 19, 2024.

https://nankr.am .

19. “The Decree of the President of RA on the Concept of National Security.”

February

7,

2007.

Accessed

July

28,

2024.

https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docID=31189 .

20. “The Official Website of the Commonwealth of Independent States.” 2024.

Accessed August 22, 2024. https://e-cis.info/.

21. “The Official Website of the President of the Republic of Armenia: The Second

President of the Republic of Armenia.” 2008. Accessed August 7, 2024.

http://www.president.am .

22. “Turkey, Russia, China: Georgia’s Top Trading Partners in 2022.” January 20,

2023. Accessed August 10, 2024. https://agenda.ge/en/news/2023/223.

23. Blandy, C. W. “Provocation, Deception, Entrapment: The Russo-Georgian Five

Day War.” Advanced Research and Assessment Group, Defence Academy of the UK,

March 2009. Accessed July 8, 2024. https://ethz.ch.

24. Kandelaki, G. "Georgia’s Rose Revolution: A Participant’s Perspective." United

States Institute of Peace, July 5, 2006. Accessed August 2, 2024. https://www.usip.org.

25. Karapetyan, R. “The Economic Factor as an Important Direction in ArmenianGeorgian Relations (1998-2008).” Bulletin of Yerevan University: International Relations

and Political Sciences 2012: 136.6 (in Armenian).

26. Lussac, S. “The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railroad and Its Geopolitical Implications for

the South Caucasus.” Caucasian Review of International Affairs, Autumn 2008. Accessed

July

20,

2024.

https://www.academia.edu/220716/The_Baku_Tbilisi_Kars_Railroad_And_Its_Geopolitic

al_Implications_for_the_South_Caucasus.

27. Minasyan, S. “Armenian-Georgian Relations: Problems and Prospects.” 2012.

Accessed August 1, 2024. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/armyano-gruzinskieotnosheniya-problemy-i-perspektivy/viewer .

28. Silaev, N., and A. Sushentsov. "Georgia After the Elections and Prospects for

Russian-Georgian Relations." Moscow, 2012. Accessed August 11, 2024.

https://mgimo.ru/4e84554b71808f146e3b466c0792b414.pdf

29. Sportel, E., and V. Tchkoidze. "Strengthening Oversight of the Security Sector in

Georgia: An Agenda by The Centre of European Security Studies." Netherlands,

September

2011.

Accessed

July

3,

2024.

https://cess.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/12/Georgia-GP-27.pdf.

30. Starr, F., and E. S. Cornell. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline: Oil Window to the

West. 2005. Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program – A Joint

Transatlantic

Research

and

Policy

Center.

Accessed

July

29,

2024.

https://silkroadstudies.org/resources/pdf/Monographs/2005_01_MONO_StarrCornell_BTC-Pipeline.pdf.

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WORKS CITED

1. Hayastani Hanrapetutyan ev Vrastani Hanrapetutyan mijev barekamutyan,

hamagorcakcutyan ev poxadardz anvtangutyan masin paymanagir, [On Ratifying the

Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the Republic of

Armenia

and

the

Republic

of

Georgia],

11.10.1995,

https://www.irtek.am/views/act.aspx?aid=1659 (In Armenian)

2. Hayastani Hanrapetutyan karavarutyan ev Vrastani Hanrapetutyan gorcadir

ishxantutyan mijev apranqneri (ashxatanqneri, carayutyunneri) artahanman ev

nermucman jamanak anughghaki harkeri gandzman masin hamadzaynagir, [“Agreement

on the Principles of Collection of Indirect Taxes During the Export and Import of Goods

(Works, Services)”]. May 18, 1999, https://www.irtek.am/views/act.aspx?aid=7000 (In

Armenian)

3. Hayastani Hanrapetutyan karavarutyan ev Vrastani Hanrapetutyan karavarutyan

mijev Azat arevtri masin hamadzaynagir, [“Agreement Between the Government of RA

and the Government of the Republic of Georgia on Free Trade”]. January 16, 1996,

https://www.irtek.am/views/act.aspx?aid=1712 (In Armenian)

4. HH Azgayin anvtangutyan razmavarutyun, [National Security Strategy of the

Republic

of

Armenia],

July

2020,

primeminister.am/u_files/file/Different/AARazmavarutyun-Final.pdf (in Armenian)

5. HH naxagahi pashtonakan kayqej. HH erkrod naxagah, [The official website of

the President of the Republic of Armenia: The Second President of the Republic of

Armenia], 2008, (in Armenian)

6. HH-Vrastan erkkoghm haraberutyunner 2024, [“RA-Georgia Bilateral Relations

2024”], RA MFA official website, https://www.mfa.am/hy/bilateral-relations/ge (in

Armenian)

7. Karapetyan, R., Tntesakan gorcony vorpes hay-vracakan haraberutyunneri

karevor ughghutyun (1998-2008), [The Economic Factor as an Important Direction in

Armenian-Georgian Relations (1998-2008)]: In: Bulletin of Yerevan University D:

International Relations and Political Sciences 2012, 136.6. (In Armenian)

8. Minasyan S., Armjano gruzinskie problemy otnosheniyja, problemy i perspektivy

2012,

[Armenian-Georgian

Relations,

Issues

and

Prospects],

2012,

https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/armyano-gruzinskie-otnosheniya-problemy-iperspektivy/viewer (in Armenian)

9. Nikol Pashinyani aycy Vrastan, naev Javakhq, [Nikol Pashinyan's visit to Georgia,

also Javakhk] 30.05.2018, http://surl.li/gdlkg (in Armenian)

10. Serj Sargsyani kensagrutyuny ev gorcuneutyuny, [The Biography and Activity of

Serzh Sargsyan], 2019, Sargsyan Serzh (nankr.am) (in Armenian)

11. Tbilisin chanachum e Adrbejani taracqayin amboxjakanutyuny, Despan [Tbilisi

Recognizes the Territorial Integrity of Azerbaijan. Ambassador],12.05.2011,

https://news.am/arm/news/59064.html (In Armenian)

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ՀՀ-ՎՐԱՍՏԱՆ ՔԱՂԱՔԱԿԱՆ ՀԱՐԱԲԵՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԻ ԶԱՐԳԱՑՄԱՆ

ԴԻՆԱՄԻԿԱՆ ՀԵՏԽՈՐՀՐԴԱՅԻՆ ՇՐՋԱՆՈՒՄ

ԿԱՐԵՆ ՂԱԶԱՐՅԱՆ

ԵՊՀ միջազգային հարաբերությունների ֆակուլտետի

քաղաքագիտության ամբիոնի ասպիրանտ,

ք. Սպիտակ, Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն

Վրաստանը Հայաստանի համար ունի տարանցիկ

ռազմավարական

նշանակություն։

Սույն

հոդվածի

նպատակն

է

ներկայացնել

Հայաստան-Վրաստան

հարաբերությունների զարգացումը, քաղաքական ղեկավարների փոփոխությունների

և աշխարհաքաղաքական զարգացումների ազդեցությունը երկու երկրների վրա

հետխորհրդային ժամանակահատվածում։ Գիտական աշխատանքի ընթացքում մեր

առջև դրվել են հետևյալ նպատակները.

1. ուսումնասիրել Հայաստան-Վրաստան հարաբերությունները և դրանց

փոփոխությունները, հիմնային ու հիմնական փաստաթղթերը,

2. վերլուծել

երկու

երկրների

քաղաքական

ղեկավարների

և

աշխարհաքաղաքական

զարգացումների

ազդեցությունը

երկկողմ

հարաբերությունների վրա,

3. ներկայացնել

տարածաշրջանային

և

արտատարածաշանային

դերակատարների դերը, բալանսավորման քաղաքականությունը և ազդեցությունը

ռեգիոնալ զարգացումներում։

Գիտական աշխատանքը շարադրելիս օգտվել ենք պատմահամեմատական,

իրադարձային և բովանդակային վերլուծությունների համակարգային մեթոդներից։

Ուսումնասիրության ընթացքում արել ենք հետևյալ եզրահանգումները.

1. Երկու երկրների պատմական և աշխարհաքաղաքական հանգամանքներից

ելնելով՝ մշտապես կարևորել են երկու երկրների միջև բարիդրացիական

հարաբերությունները և դրանց զարգացումը։

2. Հարաբերությունների բնույթը կարելի է համարել ռազմավարական և

բարեկամական։

3. Վրաստանը կարող է դրական ազդեցություն ունենալ Հայաստան-Ադրբեջան և

Հայաստան-Թուրքիա երկխոսության համար, իսկ ՀՀ-ն կարող է կարևոր կամուրջ

լինել Իրան-Վրաստան հարաբերություններում։

4. Վրաստան-Ադրբեջան-Թուրքիա

ռազմավարական

համագործակցությունը

կարող է մեծ սպառնալիք դառնալ ՀՀ-ի համար։

Հիմնաբառեր՝ Հայաստան, Վրաստան, երկկողմ հարաբերություններ,

տարածաշրջանային քաղաքականություն, անվտանգություն, տարածաշրջանային

համագործակցություն, Հարավային Կովկաս։

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ДИНАМИКА РАЗВИТИЯ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ РА-ГРУЗИЯ

В ПОСТСОВЕТСКИЙ ПЕРИОД

КАРЕН КАЗАРЯН

аспирант кафедры политологии

факультета международных отношений

Ереванского государственного университета,

г. Спитак, Республика Армения

Грузия имеет важное транзитное стратегическое значение для Армении.

Цель данной статьи – представить развитие отношений РА-Грузия, влияние

смены политических лидеров и геополитических событий на обе страны в

постсоветский период. В ходе научной работы перед нами были поставлены

следующие цели:

1. изучить отношения РА-Грузия и их изменения, основные и базовые

документы,

2. проанализировать влияние политических лидеров и геополитических

событий двух стран на двусторонние отношения;

3. представить роль региональных и экстерриториальных игроков, политику

балансирования и влияния на региональные события.

В ходе исследования мы использовали системные методы историкосравнительного, событийного и контент-анализа.

В результате исследования мы сделали следующие выводы:

1. исходя из исторических и геополитических обстоятельств, всегда

подчеркивались добрососедские отношения между двумя странами и их развитие;

2. характер их отношений можно считать стратегическим и дружеским. Грузия

может оказать положительное влияние на диалог РА-Азербайджан и РА-Турция, РА

может стать важным мостом в отношениях Ирана ̶ Грузия;

3. стратегическое сотрудничество Грузии-Азербайджана-Турции может стать

большой угрозой для Армении.

Ключевые

слова:

Армения,

Грузия,

двусторонние

отношения,

региональная политика, безопасность, региональное сотрудничество, Южный

Кавказ.

101