ArmInfo. The host of the first official meeting in the "3 + 3" format held in Moscow on December 10 easily "eliminated" the inconvenience of Georgia's refusal to participate in this action by displaying the country's flag next to the flags of Russia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia. A similar opinion was expressed to ArmInfo by Professor of the Georgian Technical University, doctor of international relations, conflictologist Amiran Khevtsuriani.
"From a purely pragmatic point of view, this event can be attributed to a number of curious cases. Its perception in terms of humor was also not devoid of content. However, I would like to emphasize that Georgia is certainly not up to jokes when it comes to the intentions and plans of the Kremlin. In this regard, a logical question arises: what message did official Tbilisi receive from Moscow, and what should it expect in the near future? "3 + 3" is just meaningless chatter for it. And sooner or later Russia will force Georgia to join this format, "he stressed.
Khevtsuriani believes that the key moment in this situation is the development of regional processes without the active participation of the West, which is categorically unacceptable for the national interests of Georgia. Moreover, it is completely incomprehensible for what reasons Georgia, with its pro-Western aspirations, should join the alliance established under the auspices of three undemocratic states. Especially in the context of the threat posed to its pro-Western future in this situation, and especially in the conditions when one of the initiators of the "3 + 3" still occupies 20% of the Georgian territory.
The professor assesses the situation around "3 + 3" as another serious challenge for the Georgian government, a challenge that can become fatal for it, since the issue is exclusively geopolitical and threatens the country's declared foreign policy. He also considered the strong support from Georgia's Western partners as an unequivocal necessity. Which, in Khevtsuriani's opinion, should be reflected in concrete steps, since Georgia remains the only country in the region that still clearly declares its adherence to the Western course.
"Of course, at this stage, it is difficult to predict how effective the West will be, as well as how long Georgia will be able to withstand powerful pressure from Moscow. Today, one thing is clear - Georgia's possibilities are also not unlimited, and at one point, it may simply not be able to withstand the pressure and give in, the signs of which, unfortunately, are already visible And of course, speaking of the "3 + 3" format, I cannot but touch upon the topic of Armenia, whose fate is important to us. I strongly doubt that Armenia will benefit from participation in this format. And to our great regret, we have to admit that in "3 + 3" Armenia looks like a "Caucasian captive," Khevtsuriani summed up.