Armenia followed the events quite closely. The Akhalkalak terminal, which will serve as a major hub in the region and for the transportation of goods and passengers through the Akhalkalak-Kars railway, is only 30 kilometers from Armenia’s border. It is also 90 kilometers from Armenia’s second-largest city, Gyumri, and around 210 kilometers from the capital Yerevan. There have been speculations in Armenia that Azerbaijan would be in no position to influence Georgia’s decision to allow Armenia to benefit from the railway. That confidence was based on the assurances that various Georgian politicians were sharing with Armenians for years. They underlined that Georgia is a sovereign country and is in a position to decide whom to allow to use its transportation infrastructure.
“ A question should be raised on how much the Armenian authorities were able to reach out to the power corridors in Georgia and make a convincing argument about the importance of Armenia’s participation in the project. There are different ways to communicate with Georgian authorities and one of them is, of course, the official channel – the Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi. ”
Some 70-75 percent of Armenia’s foreign trade goes via Georgia, and the transit fees that Armenia pays are quite high. Armenia’s participation in that railway infrastructure could be yet another opportunity for Georgia to secure tangible income.
The Georgian government is also aware that the Akhalkalak terminal has been constructed in a region largely populated by ethnic Armenians. The Armenians of the Javakhk region can also benefit from the project, which will in turn increase Tbilisi’s attractiveness there. Other drivers also there indicate Georgia needs to be interested in Armenia’s participation in the Kars-Akhalkalak railway.
In addition to that dimension, a question should be raised on how much the Armenian authorities were able to reach out to the power corridors in Georgia and make a convincing argument about the importance of Armenia’s participation in the project. There are different ways to communicate with Georgian authorities and one of them is, of course, the official channel – the Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi.
On October 31, the day after the opening ceremony in Baku, the name of the new Armenian ambassador to Tbilisi was announced. Without knowing the recent events on the diplomatic front, one would speculate that it was a decision made by the Armenian government to raise the profile of the country’s diplomatic representation in Georgia. For several months before this appointment, another proposed appointee was waiting for Georgia’s agreement, however, it became obvious his candidacy had been refused. A number of questions linger about the profile of the new ambassador and the message that Armenia is sending to Georgia and to regional players.
Ruben Sadoyan, Armenia’s new ambassador to Georgia, was a member of a parliament from the ruling Republican Party from 2007-2017. However, for the wider public he is better known not for his unproductive years at the legislature, but for his business contacts with the former mayor of Yerevan, Gagik Beglaryan. It goes without saying that Mr. Sadoyan, a former tax-collector turned millionaire, was not the most successful candidate for this important post. During his ten years in parliament he never made a single statement nor did he ever introduce a draft bill. By appointing him, what message is Armenia sending to Georgia and to regional players? Given the importance of Georgia for Armenia, the latter should have sent one of its most experienced diplomats to Tbilisi to show that Armenia cares about Georgia and Armenia’s interests in that country. One can only wonder whether Mr. Sadoyan will able to propel that message forward. Of course, he is not the first in line of Armenian ambassadors to Georgia, who had no previous experience in diplomacy.
Armenia should change the way it works with Georgia and Georgian Armenians. Javakhk Armenians look to Armenia with hope that their concerns are being heard and considered in Armenia’s power circles.Their sense of marginalization from Armenia now goes even deeper as the railway became operational. The Armenian government should hear these concerns and let the Javakhk Armenians know about that.
“ The Akhalkalak-Kars railway, according to Azerbaijani authorities, is not the final goal. In the future, they plan to extend it southward to Igdir then to Nakhijevan. ”
One of the steps that Armenia can take is to organize a presidential visit to Javakhk. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, only Levon Ter-Petrossian has been to Akhalkalak. The meeting of Armenia’s and Georgia’s leaders in Akhalkalak will send a significant message to the Javakhk Armenians. The other step that Armenia should re-initiate is to open a consulate in Akhalkalak which will send a strong signal to Turkey and Azerbaijan that Armenia cares about Javakhk and will not allow the marginalization of the region. The Armenian government should also negotiate with the Georgian authorities to revisit the existing tariffs of Georgian ports and transit fees. Armenian authorities should work closely with Georgian authorities to explore prospects of reopening the Abkhazian railway. Additionally, Armenian authorities should help their Georgian counterparts understand that Armenia needs a strong and sovereign Georgia as much as Georgia needs a reliable Armenia. Armenia’s concerns about the increasing influence of Turkey and Azerbaijan in Georgia’s economy and on some foreign policy choices are based on solid evidence. As recent mass rallies in Tbilisi showed, some parts of Georgian society and the Georgian Orthodox Church are also not at ease with these developments. This makes Georgia and Armenia partners and this ideas should be promoted in Georgia.
The Akhalkalak-Kars railway, according to Azerbaijani authorities, is not the final goal. In the future, they plan to extend it southward to Igdir then to Nakhijevan. This effectively means that Baku will be able to connect with Nakhijevan using the territory of Georgia and Turkey. Last week, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Tehran met in Iran to reconfirm their interests in the North-South transport corridor which aims to go through Baku. These processes confirm that Armenia should revise its regional communication policy.
