Mikhail Saakashvili is logically proposing relations to Azerbaijan, though official Baku’s policy is aimed at resolving its own problem, namely, returning territories and preventing Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, Director of the CIS Institute Konstantin Zatulin told NEWS.am, commenting on the Georgian leader’s proposal for Azerbaijani-Georgian confederation.
"Georgia and Azerbaijan bear a fundamental similarity, and Saakashvili wants the common interests in struggling against so-called separatism to take up the form of a clear agreement. The Georgian-Azerbaijani arrangement about confederation minimizes Azerbaijan’s chances to get a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict it seeks though," the expert said.
Zatulin believes that, along the obvious community of interests in cooperation with the West, the states show a cautious attitude to Russia. Georgia is apparently hostile, while Azerbaijan is friendly out of necessity – its wish is to prevent any violations of guest workers’ rights in Russia, remain a European country in Asian surroundings and try making use of Moscow in its struggle for Nagorno-Karabakh.
"By making this proposal, Georgia is galvanizing Azerbaijan to finally decide on which side it is going to take. Ion the one hand, Azerbaijan is flirting with NATO, being a GUAM member. It is far from being enthusiastic about Armenia’s membership in the OSCE. On the other hand, Azerbaijan benefits from trade and economic relations with Russia, trying to reduce the effect of Russia’s actions against its interests in the Caspian region – sale of oil and gas," the expert said.
Making use of its relatively friendly relations with Russia, Azerbaijan is trying to take into account the weak points of the Georgian-Russian confrontation. Georgian did not get anything. Seeing this, Azerbaijan is unwilling to get into a fix.
"The common interests of Georgia and Azerbaijan make Russia think of the reasons for their cordial relations. Saakashvili may suggest some thoughts to some people not only in Armenia, but also in Russia," Zatulin said.
