Georgian-Azerbaijani Relations

[SevSpitak]

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Georgia still thinks about selling gas pipeline to Azerbaijan

December 13, 2010 | 16:26
Georgian government has not defined its position on selling of North South gas pipeline to Azerbaijani SOCAR, Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze told the journalists today.

“SOCAR is carrying out big and successful projects. Decision on the pipeline may be made, meeting the interests of both states,” Kalandadze said, Trend reported.

The official statement on intention to purchase Georgian section of the pipeline was made by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev.

According to him, the gas pipeline can be used to accelerate implementation of Interconnector Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania (AGRI) projects providing for supplies of Azerbaijani liquefied natural gas via Georgia’s territory and the Black Sea to Romania.

As NEWS.am reported, gas main passing through Georgia and connecting Russia with Armenia was excluded from the privatization list.

Original Article

[SevSpitak]

Azerbaijan to cede David Gareja in exchange for other territory

December 13, 2010 | 18:02
Gareja region located between Azerbaijan and Georgia will be returned to Tbilisi by Baku in exchange for other territory, said Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze.

According to her, the problems between two states will be solved as soon as Azerbaijan and Georgia solve the issue of precise demarcation of the border.

David Gareja monastery complex and Erisimedi village are located between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Georgian expert Mamuka Areshidze does not rule out that Georgian government will cede Erisimedi village in exchange for David Gareja.

Areshidze stated that Georgia faces the same problem with Marneuli region southern part of which is bordering with Armenia.

Original Article
Wikipedia Article about the complex

Quote from the Wikipedia article:

In April 2007, Khalafov [Azerbaijani] told a press conference in that it was "out of the question" for Azerbaijan to "give up its claims to the borderlands" including David Gareja. He then made a controversial statement that the monastery "was home to the Caucasian Albanians, who are believed to have been the earliest inhabitants of Azerbaijan." This prompted a response from Georgian foreign minister Gela Bezhuashvili. "It is absolutely unclear to me why my colleague made these remarks," he told reporters in Tbilisi. "His history lessons are absolutely incomprehensible. He should read up on world history."

The Albanian theory is also supported by some Azerbaijani historians who are strongly opposed to transferring any part of their territory to Georgia. "The monastery was inside Georgia only in the 12th century," stated Ismail Umudlu, an Azerbaijani journalist and historian. "Both before and after this period, the area was part of a state to which Azerbaijan is a successor."[6] Georgian art historian Dimitri Tumanishvili dismissed this claim and stated that the complex "is covered in the work of Georgian masters." "There are Georgian inscriptions everywhere dating back to the sixth century," he said "There are no traces of another culture there. After that, I don’t think you need any further proof." "The idea that this monastery was founded by the Caucasus Albanians is simply absurd," said Zaza Datunashvili, a monk from David Gareja. "You might as well say that Georgians built the Great Wall of China."

Great response by Georgians. Very similar to our responses. How coincidental.