Rasim Musabekov

If, in principle, the path for all the states of the South Caucasus is a single one, then the pace of progress along this road will differ. If we compare this to driving, then Georgia will accelerate, Armenia will use the brakes, and Azerbaijan will step on the gas and brake pedals at the same time (a lot of noise, little gain). As for external sponsors, things are clear with Georgia. The West will assist, and Russia will punish it for the excessive drive and rush to European integration. As it seems to me, the West will make more promises to Armenia (albeit smaller ones than to Georgia) and Moscow will start putting pressure on it. As for Azerbaijan, there will be few stimuli from the West (we will soon have enough money of our own from oil); on the contrary, we will be pushed towards making peace with Armenia, in order to free it from the Russian influence. Moscow, on the other hand, will turn its face to Baku and strive to demonstrate constructiveness and friendliness, in order to hinder our leaving, right after Georgia, for the sphere of the complete influence of NATO and the EU. It is clear that all of this may be subject to chance, just like any scheme. Life will turn out much richer and more convoluted than any theoretical schemes and conclusions.

Archil Ghegheshidze

We are not going anywhere yet. This is because firstly, no one is awaiting us there, inviting us; secondly, we do not have enough money to buy a ticket (read as resources in a broad sense of the word). Thirdly, we have not made up our minds: should we all go in one direction or in different ones? Unfortunately, it is harder to scramble out of the swamp we have found ourselves in alone than all together. However, the absence of unification makes common efforts in this direction impossible. That is why individual attempts are being made, first of all by Georgia, to leap out of the swamp. Munchausen's methods are not sufficient to guarantee success in modern circumstances. You need to be helped. But for that you need to somehow impress the rescuers. This "somehow," as I tried to explain on the first day of our conference, is a bigger degree of commonality and compatibility with the political systems of the West (the rescuers). Hence, attempts are being made in Georgia to provide this compatibility through swift reforms. How sincere, or well planned these attempts have been and, in the end, how effective they will be, is a different story. And on the whole, can these individual attempts be successful? Interesting times await us.