The appointment of a new composition of the State Commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Georgia has brought the border issue between the two countries back onto the agenda. Against the backdrop of the relevant decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev, recent disputes between the parties over historical religious monuments are also drawing attention.
But what contribution can the commission’s new composition make to advancing the delimitation process that has continued for many years? How are recent events affecting Azerbaijan-Georgia relations, and can the parties resolve their existing disagreements without harming their strategic partnership?
Speaking to Globalinfo.az, political analyst Tamilla Gulami said that the statement of the Georgian Orthodox Church regarding the Church of St. George — the Kurmuk temple in Azerbaijan’s Gakh district — and official Baku’s reaction to the matter have come onto the agenda in recent days as a dispute over religious and cultural heritage and as one of the sensitive points in relations:
“The Georgian side expressed its concern over the work being carried out around the temple, while Azerbaijan‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this approach does not correspond to the spirit of friendship and strategic partnership that exists between the two countries.
In such circumstances, the approval of the new composition of the state commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the Azerbaijani-Georgian border was timely. This step will, above all, create the opportunity to discuss border issues on a more systematic, professional and institutional basis. The participation in the commission of bodies representing foreign policy, border security, ecology, geodesy and local governance creates the conditions for a comprehensive approach to the matter.
Tamilla Gulami
Nevertheless, renewing the commission does not in itself mean that agreement will be reached on the disputed areas. Delimitation is a complex process that requires a careful comparison of historical maps, legal documents, the actual situation and the parties’ positions. The long-running disagreements over the David Gareja monastery complex also show that issues of religious and historical heritage can make border negotiations more sensitive in socio-political terms.
On the whole, disagreements arising in Azerbaijan-Georgia relations should not cast a shadow over the two countries’ strategic partnership. The new delimitation commission must contribute to resolving border issues on the basis of legal and historical documents and to strengthening mutual trust. The main goal is to resolve sensitive issues related to religious and cultural heritage through diplomatic dialogue, without turning them into political confrontation. Let us not forget that stable relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are important not only for both countries, but for the security of the South Caucasus as a whole and for regional cooperation.”
Turan Rzayev
Globalinfo.az
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