Azernews.Az

By Jamila Babayeva

Georgian experts believe that an association agreement between Georgia and the European Union (EU) is a step forward in resolving Abkhazia and South Osetia conflicts.

Georgia initialed association agreement with the EU at a summit in Vilnius dedicated to the European Union's 'Eastern Partnership' countries - ex-Soviet states on November 29. The signing is just the first step in a ratification process for the EU association agreements that could take a year.

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili called the signing of the agreement a historical step towards European integration."An EU Association Agreement will allow Tbilisi to solve problematic issues with Abkhazia and South Ossetia."

The former Soviet republic lost control over its two autonomous republics in 2008. Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in late August. In response, Tbilisi ended diplomatic relations with Moscow and has called the two unrecognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occupied territories.

Georgian expert Gela Vasadze said if Georgia becomes an associate member of the EU, the country will obtain a significant advantage in the struggle for de-occupation of regions. "Any move forward will bring actually to Georgia's unification," Vasadze told Azernews.

Vasadze believes that civilized and "European" Georgia will be more attractive for Abkhazians and Osetians than the current model, proposed by Russia. "We still have to pass a long way for this," he stressed.

Vasadze noted it will not an exaggeration to say that Georgia has been on the way to the association agreement with the EU for over 20 years and finally the country is in the homestretch. "Georgia will sign the Association Membership Agreement with the EU by September 2014 unless there is force majeure."

The association agreement has three components - political-legal, economic and mental, he said.

"First, the agreement commits the Georgian authorities to comply with European standards in the field of human rights, justice, fair and transparent elections and other issues related to the relationship of civil society and the state. Undoubtedly, this is a crucially important step," he noted.

Second, Vasadze thinks, all large infrastructure projects implemented over the last years, multimodal logistics hubs, the energy potential of Georgia and construction of a new port on the Black Sea were aimed at the opening of the EU market for Georgia. "This step will allow many European countries to establish enterprises which will work for European market, which in turn will give a powerful stimulus to the development of the economy and solving social problems."

Third, a mental aspect of the agreement, Georgian people really dreamed of returning the country to Europe, he said. "This dream is so close to realization today and this undoubtedly will improve the situation in the society, tired of internal strife and external aggression."

In the opposite, Khatuna Lagazidze, a Georgian expert, does not believe that the association agreement with EU will impact the resolution of Georgia's conflicts in the short-run.

"The problem can move off "deadlock" gradually if Osetians and Abkhazians believe that "European" Georgia gives more assurance them than Russia for survival as an ethnic group," she told Azernews.