YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Official Yerevan disapproved of Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze on Wednesday for reportedly describing Armenia’s latest defense agreement with Russia as a threat to regional security.
Vashadze was quoted by the Azerbaijani APA news agency as saying on Tuesday that the deal extending Russia’s lease on a military base in Armenia until 2044 and upgrading its mission will impede “stability, security and cooperation” in the South Caucasus.
“The sole goal of the Russian military base is to heighten tension in the region. The extension of the term of that base’s deployment in Armenia by 24 years and the change in its functions poses a big threat to the region,” he said, according to APA.
Vashadze’s reported remarks were at odds with official Tbilisi’s initial reaction to the Russian-Armenian pact that was voiced by Deputy Foreign Minister Nino Kalanadze. She said late last month that Yerevan remains “conscious of threats to Georgia emanating from Russia.” “We have no reason to suspect that Armenia is calling regional security into question in any way,” added Kalanadze.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. The ministry spokeswoman did not respond to phone calls throughout the day.
Commenting on the statement attributed to Vashadze, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan said, “We do not share that view.” He suggested at the same time that it was distorted by the government-controlled Azerbaijani media outlet.
“In any case, no foreign official has the right to meddle in our affairs and make comments on our security issues,” Balayan told RFE/RL’s Armenian service. He added that Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will telephone Vashadze to discuss the matter later in the day.
Nalbandian’s office reported no such phone conversation as of 9 p.m. local time.
Vashadze met with Armenia’s ambassador in Tbilisi, Hrach Silvanian, on August 31, less then two weeks after the signing of the Russian-Armenian accord. His press office said they spoke about the “the need to further strengthen ties traditionally existing between the two countries and the importance of carrying out bilateral visits.”
Mr. Grigol Vashadze, Why don’t you ameliorate the deplorable state that your minority Armenians are living in Akhalkalake and Akhaltskha regions in your Georgian State?
Please leave the affairs of Armenians to Armenians. The only threat in the Caucaus region are the Azeris that are very often waging war against the Armenians in (formerly known Nagorno-Karapakh) Artsakh State.
Thank you.
Mr. Grigol
I love to see the Georgians squirm. Should have kept those Russian bases on your territory…. sad.
you mean, Georgeans should have live under Russia’s supervision. have Russian military bases in Georgean lands like russian bases in Armenia. What is the point of being independent and free then?
Dear Aramar, IIf Georgians don’t have to live under Russian supervision ,then most likely it would be under NATO supervision,either way it would be under someone’s supervision. use your head (and I don’t mean the one hangin’ between your legs.)
Jay: is that why Armenia has chosen to live under Russian supervision? Why Georgia and Armenia cannot live independently without being under anyone’s supervision; like Azerbaijan for example. What was the point of getting separated from USSR? And by the way, judging by language you use in your comments, you are the worst Armenian I have ever communicated with. Thank God, not all Armenians are like you.
Caesium, Who told them to go against their neighbours the Russians and lose all credentials with Russia. They acted stupidly and now they are jealous of Armenia? Too bad. Armenians are much more intelligent than that. All along they kept their alliances with their humongous neighbour, the Russian empire, and thank goodness. We need the Russians and the Russians need us as well. Russia can only rely on the Armenians in the Caucaus region as we are both Christians and reliable people. On our behalf, we need the support of Russia, being landlocked and sandwiched between two of our enemies; Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Grigol Vashadze should see to it that the deplorable situation in Georgia’s Armenian minorities in Akhalkalake and Akhaltsekhe are in a much better state and they should have the freedom of electing their own mayors and elected officials. They should undoubtedly have the right to refurbish their Churches and have all the rights as a citizen of Georgia.
ARE THERE ONLY STATEGIC FOOLS AND IDIOTS IN GRUSIA ???.
SEEMS AS THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND AND CANT READ HISTORY.
WHAT A BEBEFIT TO THIS REGION IT WOULD HAVE BEEN,
IF THE GEORGIANS WOULD HAVE SIDED WITH RUSSIA AND ARMENIA,
TO STOP THE TURKISH STRATEGIC INTERESTS AND PLANS IN THIS REGION.
IT WOULD EVEN HAVE MADE THE RUSSIANS SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF ABCHASIA AND OSSETISTAN IN GEORGIA.
THE GRUSIANS ARE BETTING ON THE WRONG HORSE AND IF THEY PERSEVERE THEY WILL LOOSE.
AND GRUSIA IS THE HOMECOUNTRY OF THE SWEDISH PEOPLE,
MAY GOD CONVERT THIS COUNTRYS CONSCIOUSNESS.
Arn.Sweden.
Armenia is being blackmaild by turkyfied Georgiansent wasy …e.g. whenever Georgians like they cut the Internet due to constructions in.. or simply they create other problems.. Official Georgia is a child in kindrgarten….Remember all of sudden an Armenian church is ruined.. WE ARMENIANS SHOULD NEVR AND NEVR FORGET HOW THEY – THE GEORGINAS – ARE/WERE!