Foreign

Foreign

Georgian FM Grigol Vashadze: â€œThough there is not military threat in the South Caucasus, the risk of political conflict remainsâ€

19 February 2011 12:31 (UTC +04:00)

Delivering speech at a conference on â€œUnited Statesâ€™ strategy related to the South Caucasus and the Caspianâ€ held at the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies, Vashadze said that even if there was not military threat in the South Caucasus, the risk of political conflict remainsâ€.

According to assessment of the minister, the U.S. is involved in its own problems more, but Russia is very interested in strengthening own positions in the South Caucasus: â€œLike it or not, but Russia - a large part of the Caucasus and, of course, it has own national interests there. We would like Russia to respect our national interests, and the South Caucasus countries would ensure its own sovereignty and independence without any influence from abroad. It is our rightâ€.

Vashadze said that people living in the region were captives of mythology and every nation created it itself: â€œWe are prisoners of the idea that everything that happens to us the negative events are certainly related to a third country. Nations living in the South Caucasus have no particular fault in our problemsâ€.

The minister also commented on the issue of eliminating visa regime between Georgia and Northern Caucasus: â€œWe are closely following the processes in the North Caucasus. The North Caucasus citizens arrived in Georgia after the elimination of visa regime have not committed any crime. And now every day 900 vehicles cross the borderâ€.

To minister, the more Russia enters its armed forces into the region, doe not realize normal strategy in relation to education, human rights and freedom of religion, the situation will be even more dangerousâ€.