Paata Davitaya: "Azerbaijan and Georgia are turning into the leading powers in the resolution of problems of economy, security and geopolitics in the Caucasus"

- First of all, we would like to congratulate you on being appointed for a responsible position of the deputy head of the Georgian parliament. We would like to learn your opinion of prospects of further development of relations with Azerbaijan including on the parliamentary level?

- Thanks for congratulations. I am a member of the parliamentary group of friendship Azerbaijan-Georgia. For me Azerbaijan is a close state, I am a professor of the National Academy of Science of Azerbaijan. No matter where I am, when I speak of Georgia I always mention Azerbaijan.

It is not by accident. Problems of Georgia and Azerbaijan are similar. This is primarily the problem of territorial integrity. My position regarding Karabakh is well-known: the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored and the Karabakh problem be settled in these frames.

- Heads of external political structures of Georgia and the United States signed a charter of bilateral cooperation late last week. What role does this document play for Georgia?

- This is an important, I would even say, a historical document for Georgia. It supports the territorial integrity of Georgia, raises issue of security of our country, a joint struggle for this security. This is a wide concept, which is of great importance for us. It proves the appearance of the strategic partner of Georgia. You know that the United States have signed such a charter on partnership and support only with several countries. This document is among one of the main guarantors of Georgia's security. It is important that this document was signed today. I think the August events in Georgia have promoted its soonest signing.

- Is the dislocation of US military bases on Georgian territory possible on the basis of this document? Is it possible to say that the charter rules out the repetition of August events?

- You know, nothing can be ruled out, this is my personal view. As for the dislocation of US military bases in Georgia, the charter does not imply it, though it can be considered one of the main guarantors of security of the Georgian state. This charter enables the United States to act opely in assisting to Georgia. It is difficult to say what the assistance imply, today we speak of the financial and legal assistance and so on, but it does not imply hostilities.

It is true that stopping aggression is among its main messages. But it would be incorrect to say that the charter promotes the non-invasion of Georgia by Russian troops as Russia's actions are difficult to predict.

- What can you say of ways of normalizing relations with Russia?

- It is necessary to hold a dialogue with Russia and Georgian side is ready to it. The second issue - it is necessary to settle issues with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. No one in Georgia will ever recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, no one in Georgia will ever make any concessions in the resolution of this issue. Taking this account I think that it is necessary to settle this problem some way and join efforts for the purpose. If this, main, problem is not settled in this relations between Georgia and Russia, no problem will ever be settled.

- Azerbaijan and Georgia are strategic partners in joint energy problems. Is the bilateral cooperation profitable in the resolution of not only our own tasks, but also global issues, especially of energy security of Europe in conditions of the current gas crisis?

- I think this cooperation is very perspective. Such partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia already exists and in case of its further deepening and appearance of more strategic tasks, then I think our two countries will be dominating in resolution of any other issues, especially security and geopolitical problems in the Caucasus.

Today we see that Europe is searching an alternative to the working energy system. In fact, Azerbaijan, that has already created an alternative for Georgia, and helps our country, will be an alternative for Europe as well. Thus, it is a global issue. I do not want to go deeper into this topic, but this is among the main issues, which will face us in the future.

/Day.Az/