ArmInfo. Unfortunately, one should not expect any drastic breakthroughs in negotiations between Moscow and Tbilisi on transport corridors through Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Director of the Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan expressed this opinion to ArmInfo.
On February 26, another round of talks between Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin and Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia for Relations with Russia Zurab Abashidze took place in Prague. Diplomats, in particular, discussed the implementation of the agreement of 2011 on the creation of transport corridors through Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The latest meeting of diplomats ended with the settlement of the necessary formalities, allowing beginning the transit of goods through two disputed territories.
"Of course, Armenia is extremely interested in the prospects for successful completion of the Russian- Georgian negotiations. Our country is one of the most interested ones in establishing relations between Russia and Georgia. Opening transport corridors through two unrecognized republics will open a new route to Russia, not as problematic for Armenia as the Upper Lars", the analyst said.
However, Iskandaryan does not see any reasons for particular optimism. According to his estimates, there are no special prerequisites for this. And this is despite the series of meetings between Karasin and Abashidze and all the optimism around these meetings, demonstrated by Armenia as well.
As the Russian media informs, according to Karasin, the main problem on the way to reaching an agreement on the creation of transport corridors through Abkhazia and South Ossetia is the question of their status. "Two of the three trade corridors pass through Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which causes certain political emotions on the part of our partners. But we must follow this agreement, we will go forward," the Russian diplomat emphasized.
According to Karasin, another problem between Russia and Georgia is the NATO agenda, which is becoming increasingly active in Tbilisi's foreign policy. "Quite often, large-scale NATO exercises are held in Georgia, and Tbilisi contributes to the participation of other countries in the region, for example, Armenia," the diplomat said.