Experts: Georgia & Ukraine Have Similar Foreign Threats & Interests
Georgian experts say that Georgian and Ukrainian foreign threats and interests coincide, and approve of the fact that the Ukrainian Delegation initiated a discussion at the United Nations (UN) Security Council on Wednesday regarding the situation in Georgia, condemning Russia’s ratification of a military deal with Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia.
The information about the initiative of Ukraine was released by Ukrainian news agency, LB.ua.
“The Ukrainian delegation to the United Nations initiated in the Security Council a review of the situation in Georgia in connection with the decision of the Russian Federation to deploy a joint group of troops in Abkhazia,” the article reads.
LB.ua says that Ukraine's permanent representative at the UN, Volodymyr Yelchenko, said the Ukrainian and other delegations condemned Russia's actions which constitute an attempt to legitimize the illegal deployment of Russian troops on the occupied territory of Georgia.
“It was highlighted that Russia is blatantly violating its international commitments, in particular the cease-fire agreement reached on 12 August 2008,” Yechenko told LB.ua.
Representative of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, Batu Kutelia believes that Georgia and Ukraine can simultaneously speak up about the threats coming from Russia, as they have similar foreign problems.
“I think this opportunity is not used by the Georgian government. From the point of view of our partners abroad, Georgia and Ukraine are not working closely on such issues. That is why I think that Ukraine’s initiative was a bright spot,” he stated.
Another analyst, Giorgi Badridze, says Ukraine’s initiative proves this country is Georgia’s true friend.
“Despite the fact that our government deliberately distances itself from this country, Ukraine maintains a state approach towards us. Georgia’s careful politics towards Russia, which mean trying not to irritate it, have not brought any positive results,” Badridze noted.
The opposition party United National Movement (UNM) says it is strange the news was spread by the Ukrainian media and demands an explanation from the government.
“In general, this process of annexation from Russia is ongoing and this problem is not raised before the UN properly by the Georgian government,” Elene Khoshtaria, member of the UNM stated.
The ruling team Georgian Dream welcomes the initiative of Ukraine and says the process in general was started by the Georgian government.
“The Georgian Foreign Ministry and diplomatic corps are regularly in contact with its international friends and partners and do their best to achieve good results,” the Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Sopo Katsarava said.
Thea Morrison