YEREVAN. – Relations with Georgia are extremely important for Armenia in terms of its Eurasian Economic Union accession—with regards to transit communication—, and regional policy. Armenia-based Caucasus Institute Deputy Director, political analyst Sergey Minasyan noted the aforesaid at a press conference on Wednesday.

The political scientist recalled that the Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey defense ministers had met in Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan, several weeks ago.

“And rumors were circulating in the media that a joint military—or a paramilitary—union is planned to be established, whose mission will be the protection of oil pipelines.

“It is also possible that Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania’s visit to Armenia, several days ago, was due to this, to some extent,” Minasyan stated.

In the analyst’s view, Georgia is well aware that the presence of Georgian forces in the noted part of Azerbaijan—and to ensure security—can cause serious problems because if military operations were to commence, the very oil facilities will be the likely targets of the response strikes by both the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army, and Armenia’s armed forces.

“Therefore, the Georgian side should seriously consider: Does it want to find itself in such a difficult situation, taking into account the fact that Armenia is Russia’s military and political ally, and a CSTO [i.e., the Collective Security Treaty Organization] member country?” Sergey Minasyan asked in closing his remarks.