CORRIDOR OF GLOBAL SCALE

- An agreement on the implementation of Phase 2 of the development of the Sah Daniz [Shah Deniz] 2 gas field and exports of fresh volumes of Azerbaijani gas was signed in Baku very recently. Georgia is one of Azerbaijan's main partners in the transportation of energy resources to European markets. How does your country assess the significance of this agreement for our region as a whole?

- The Sah Daniz project is of great importance for the development of the South Caucasus region. In particular, for Georgia as a transit country this agreement opens up new great prospects, namely new investments and opening of jobs. For Tbilisi, of great strategic importance is the fact that Georgia undertakes to ensure the transit of not only Azerbaijani oil and gas but also of energy resources from the eastern coast of the Caspian. The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey energy corridor being created will be of global significance. Oil already goes via this corridor to all parts of the world and now large volumes of gas will go to European countries. Georgia should create the most optimal conditions for the implementation of projects with Azerbaijan. Cooperation with Azerbaijan is of vital importance. I think that revenue that will come out of the implementation of this project will serve towards a powerful development of our countries and the Caucasus region.

- What is the progress with the construction of the Georgian part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway?

- We attach very great importance to this project. Work is in full swing, and the construction of the railway will be completed in about a year. The first experimental train is to run approximately in October 2014. Azerbaijan and Turkey are carrying out an inspection. So, we expect visitors from Azerbaijan next autumn.

- Incidents involving Armenian border guards take place from time to time near the Georgian-Armenian border, in the Azeri-populated region of Kvemo-Kartli. Armenia interprets the borderline with Georgia in a fairly arbitrary manner. Armenian border guards often detain people on the Georgian side [of the border] or drive their cattle away. When will the issue of delimitation of the border with Armenia be resolved?

- Yes, there is that problem. A joint Georgian-Armenian commission is working towards resolving this issue. It is to delimitate and demarcate the border in accordance with maps available to Georgia and Armenia. Ethnic Azeris in Georgia face problems that should be resolved. The thing is that in the times of the USSR only external borders of the Soviet Union were clearly identified. For example, there is no problem with Turkey about delimitation. There was no clear identification of internal borders between republics. The borders were redrawn and changed for decades. We are actively working so that the borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey are clearly identified in accordance with existing maps and so that the rights of our neighbouring countries are not infringed upon. I think the issue of delimitation with Armenia will very soon be resolved.

- Will the initialling by Tbilisi of the association agreement with the EU have a negative impact on the process of restoration of Georgia's territorial integrity? May it happen that Georgia will be in one geopolitical space while the rebel Abkhazia and South Ossetia will be in another?

- Quite the contrary. The agreement with the EU will have a positive impact on the process of de-occupation of the Georgian territories. Georgia has no alternative to European integration. Convergence with the EU will serve towards Georgia's economic development, give a powerful impetus to socio-economic reforms and draw the Georgian and European peoples together. In no circumstances will Georgia join the [Russian-led] Customs Union. According to the results of a public opinion poll, 85 per cent of Georgia's population support close cooperation with the EU. As for Georgia's occupied territories - Abkhazia and South Ossetia, their population should see how much they have lost as a result of hostility to us, the deployment there of the occupying country's military bases, the banishment of Georgian population, etc. In the modern world, people should live in an integrated manner and should be friends and should cooperate.  Georgia should show that on our side [of the de facto border] people, regardless of their ethnicity and faith, live a lot better than in the occupied territories. When Abkhazia and South Ossetia get convinced that Georgia is not going to fight anyone and that Georgians want to live in peace in a united state, then both Abkhaz and Ossetians will think differently about everything. Nobody will want to live in a state that has a bad leadership and dead economy. For us, movement towards Europe promises a great advantage. The thing is that the occupying authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have ruined everything, ruined the entire infrastructure, the agriculture, and education. These regions have turned into "black holes" into which dirty money, drug dealing and arms trade flow.

- Does the issue of joining NATO remain on the agenda for the new Georgian government?

- The issue of joining NATO definitely remains on the agenda. For many years now Georgia has actively participated in NATO's peacekeeping operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. NATO provides money for the creation of a strong Georgian army. We continue to closely cooperate with NATO and do not hide our intention to join that organization. I should recall that in a referendum four years ago 80 per cent of Georgia's population voted for membership of NATO.