BY NURAY BASARAN
AKSAM- Tension is rising between the Georgian central government and Adzharia. This problem has no immediate solution. The situation is this: Georgia is trying to distance itself from Russia in favor of closer ties with the West and NATO. Georgia is formed by federal autonomous republics, and it has problems with each of them. For instance, Abkhazia has claimed independence since 1992, and Southern Ossetia and Adzharia don’t recognize the central government in Tbilisi. While closing Russian bases, Georgia is offering bases to the United States. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline’s construction is also continuing and is expected to be completed at the end of this year. About 250 km of the 1,767-km pipeline goes through the borders of Georgia and Armenia. Last year Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed an agreement to protect the pipeline, so Tbilisi has to do its part.
Then there’s Russian President Vladimir Putin. After gradually losing his influence in the Caucasus, Putin was recently reelected with 72% of the vote and is planning a more active role for Russia’s foreign policy. Moscow has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the pipeline. It even tried to join the project, but this offer was rebuffed. It’s clear that Moscow is supporting Adzharia. A hot conflict in the region would derail the pipeline and serve as punishment for Georgia’s move away from Russia as well as an obstacle to its relations with the West. Russia says that it’s in the game too. But let’s ask ourselves the same question: Where is Turkey in this game? Shouldn’t we be more active in solving regional problems? The prospect of a damaging civil war in Georgia is not so remote. Ankara must get engaged in this issue and offer mediation before the problem grows more serious. We would be the loser in any power struggle with Russia in the region. Therefore shouldn’t we work to solve the problem together?