Unlike Ukraine, Georgia is not torn between Russia and EU. Neither Georgia sells its position on the 'who gives more' principle. The statement came from Erika Lerner, a Czech member of the Association of the European Center of Meetings between East and West, in response to ArmInfo's question in an online interview.
"As before, there are two conflicting camps in Ukraine: those who see their future besides Russia and those who cannot imagine their future with Russia and strive for European integration. There are many nationalists among those Ukrainians who are currently demanding a power change. And they are especially active. However, they can hardly be blamed for ties with Russia. Therefore, one cannot find Moscow's trace in these developments. Nevertheless, President Yanukovich's application for a Russian loan has spurred the situation. EU was also ready to provide a loan to Ukraine, but the EU's terms have probably displeased Yanukovich. This is what exploded the boiling pot," Lerner says. She thinks Russia has enough problems to settle and will hardly want to involve into the problems of the neighbor states. On the other hand, Russia should have refused Yanukovich's application for the loan to reduce tension in the Ukraine. Lerner recalled that even after taking the Russian loan, Ukraine did not refuse the association with Europe officially. It has just postponed the signing procedure and continued to negotiate. Hence, Ukraine and Georgia have a common strategy towards the EU and the political influence of the Russian loan looks insignificant here.
Joint online press conference of experts from various countries for Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian mass media on the relevant problems are organized within the project "Expansion of knowledge of Armenians and Azerbaijanis about each other and confidence building through first-hand information". The project of the "Region" Research Center (Armenia) and Peace and Democracy Institute (Azerbaijan) is supported by the British Embassies in Armenia and Azerbaijan.