Azerbaijan tries to strengthen its presence in Ajaria

PanARMENIAN.Net - Realizing the importance of Ajaria as one of the most important spheres of influence in Caucasus, Azerbaijan actively tries to strengthen its politico-economical and ethnical influence, MITQ analytical center expert Eduard Abrahamyan told PanARMENIAN.Net



Armenian and Azeri media actively follow up and comment on the confrontation that takes place between Armenian and Azeri communities for dominant ethno-economical role in Ajaria, according to him.



"Particularly, it's not a secret any more that Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict went beyond Karabakh borders and that political interests are battling already not only in Caucasus. For the moment, we can surely mention that Adjaria, as a politico-economical entity, is a place of confrontation of many countries. Azerbaijan accepts this part of Georgia as a region where Baku has the most actual issues to solve and strategic interests. Recently, Azeri leaders launched a number of economical and national projects to strengthen its influence in counterbalance to Armenians. They say, Azerbaijani companies along with Turkey are buying seacoasts attractive for tourists and plan to do the same with oil and sea port terminals. Reinforcement of Azeri Diaspora is the key goal of official Baku. To activate the local Azerbaijanis National Assembly of Azerbaijanis of Georgia along with Kvemo-Kartli and Kakheti organizations have created some public youth organizations to mobilize the small local Azeri community of Ajaria. Besides, member of Azeri-Georgian benevolent organization intently watch after the ethnical Armenian minority and businessmen as well as Armenian consulate office. Most likely, official Baku not only follows to its economic interests but also tries to cause problems to Armenia in transporting the transit goods whenever it is possible," the expert said.



Abrahamyan also mentioned that according to some sources, the number of Azeris in Adjaria has increased as compared to 1990s, when there were amounting about 15000.



"Today, taking into account the active investments of Turkey and Azerbaijan and creation of auspicious conditions for replacement of Azeris from other parts of Georgia, the number of local Azeri community has increased up to 5000. Azerbaijani political and public officials are constantly visiting the region and meeting with community. This way Baku will smoothly implement the plans to strengthen its influence in the region with out any resistance from neither Georgia, nor Armenia. After August 2008 events, Baku started systematically to change its political course to West and simultaneously intensified relations with Moscow. The matter is that for the last 15 years Baku was hoping to have Russia as an ally in Nagorno Karabakh conflict, which also explains the political maneuvers of Russia between Yerevan and Baku on Karabakh conflict. Activity of Turkey and its agreements with Russia on unique division of influence areas in Caucasus made good bases for converging Baku and Moscow on regional military and political cooperation. And now Moscow will look for other alternative options to solve the Karabakh conflict, but already taking into account the "caprices" of Baku and Ankara and ignoring its strategically ally - Armenia," Abrahamyan said.