Georgia to upgrade border delimitation process
By Jamila Babayeva
The Georgian government should develop an action plan to complete the process of delimitation of borders, the new Border Management Strategy for 2014-2018 approved by the government reads.
"Completion of demarcation and delimitation of the state border between Georgia and neighboring states is of great importance , since the delay in this process has a negative impact not only on the management of the state border , but also on the political, economic and social stability of the country and the region as a whole," the strategy reads.
The document noted that in order to complete the demarcation and delimitation of the Georgian borders with Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan, for compliance with the fundamental interests of the state, the Georgian government should take effective measures for full implementation of border policy for the continuation of the process of demarcation and delimitation.
"The process of demarcation and delimitation of the Russian -Georgian border will continue after the de-occupation of Georgian territories," the strategy further said.
Furthermore, the document suggests the development of a new agreement on the border regime with Turkey.
Georgia agreed on 71 percent of the border with Azerbaijan and 66 percent with Armenia so far. As for Russia, 36 per cent of the common border was agreed with this country. However, after Russia`s recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali regions the agreement was canceled.
Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over two rebel regions -South Ossetia and Abkhazia- and later recognized the regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.