Ukrainian - Georgian relations have always historically been distinguished by mutual sympathy and respect. Moreover, there is a particular spirituality in these relations, manifested in many dimensions and impressively embodyed in the works of the classics of Ukrainian and Georgian poetry Lesya Ukrainka and David Guramishvili.
Later, sandwiched in the shackles of the Russian and then the Soviet empire, the two nations always treated each other with special warmth. For example, Ukrainians always cheered “Dynamo” Tbilisi football club, unless, of course, the team met with the Ukrainian club; “Dynamo” Kyiv team also enjoyed the same attitude from Georgian fans.
The Ukrainian-Georgian relations gained a qualitatively new content with the restoration of independence as a result of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. A significant event in this sense was the signing of the Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance Treaty between the Ukraine and Georgia. The Agreement, unique one to the legal practice of both states, was signed by the Presidents of the two countries, Eduard Shevardnadze and Leonid Kravchuk, on April 13, 1993, in Kyiv [1] .
This was not an accident, nor it was just a reflection of a special emotional climate natural for bilateral relations either. The two Presidents were guided by the fundamental interests of Ukraine and Georgia - the aspiration for freedom and independence, the proper positioning of two states in a developing network of international and regional relations. Later, these trends will result in the formation of almost synchronous set of foreign policy priorities,with coinciding main components. Ukraine and Georgia consider membership in the European Union and NATO their main foreign policy goals, and their main challenge is the confrontation of the Russian Federation - aggressor and occupier.
Both Ukraine and Georgia have repeatedly proved their commitment to the letter and spirit of the framework Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. In the fall of 1993, Russia ceased to pretend to be a guarantor of a ceasefire agreement / mediator and openly supported the separatists in Abkhazia, Georgia with military power and equipment. After the fall of Sukhumi, thousands of refugees were forced to leave Abkhazia. Ukrainian helicopter pilots played an invaluable role in these tragic events. At the cost of risk for their own lives, they saved the lives of thousands of refugees, including women and children.
In the 1990s, Georgia was left without a fleet - all of the ships of the former Navy of the Soviet Union, based in Batumi and Poti, were withdrawn by Russia. Georgia had to start building the fleet itself, primarily the coast guard, from scratch. Of course, we counted on the assistance of friends. But someone was supposed to be the first. Such a first step was taken by Ukraine, handing over to Georgia a coast guard boat of the “Grif” series with full armament; The Georgian team was trained free of charge at the Training Center of the Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company in Izmail. This boat with the Georgian team and two Ukrainian instructors - mechanics, accompanied by the flagship of the Ukrainian fleet, the cruiser ”Getman Sagaidachny”, with the Georgian flag raised, made the Balaklava - Poti crossing, cruising through the Abkhazian section of Georgian territorial waters. In general, in the 90s of the last century, cooperation between the border agencies of Ukraine and Georgia was indicative. The decisive role was played by the heads of the border services of Ukraine and Georgia - Generals Viktor Bannykh and Valeri Chkheidze, who wrote their names in gold letters in the history of Ukrainian-Georgian relations ... After Ukraine handed over to Georgia a coast guard boat “Grif”, Georgia received ships of the coast guard from its other friends - the USA , Turkey, Germany, etc.
A manifestation of further strengthening the strategic partnership relations was the establishment of the GUAM international initiative (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova) in 1997. Later, in 2006, it was transformed into a full-fledged international regional organization with the international Secretariat in Kyiv. Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM unites states with a consistent commitment to rigorous implementation of the norms and principles of international law. They share coinciding vision of the network of international relations development prospects as well. These two fundamental components form Organization’s unique potential for cooperation in the region, which is still waiting to be fully implemented.
The strategic partners of Ukraine and Georgia are well known - the USA, the European Union and NATO. Both countries have developed a privileged partnership with NATO, with a membership prospect reaffirmed by the decisions of the 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit. Ukraine and Georgia signed the Association Agreement with the European Union, an integral part of which is the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Citizens of both countries enjoy a visa-free regime for visiting the Schengen Area.
Particular attention should be paid to the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Georgia with the United States. The Charter on Strategic Partnership, similar in structure and spirit, was signed by both countries in Washington, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice almost simultaneously - with a difference of less than a month - by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ogryzko (December 19, 2008) and Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze (January 9, 2009).
All this period, almost until recently, Ukrainian-Georgian relations were not only based on the principles of strategic partnership, but also were characterized by a high degree of multi-level trust. In addition to official, diplomatic communication channels, officials (Presidents, Prime Ministers, Speakers of Parliaments, Foreign Ministers, industry ministers, deputy foreign ministers, etc.) directly and straightforwardly communicated with each other, using cell phones as well. Well-prepared issues were put on the agenda of bilateral relations; in principle, the practice of declaring unilateral position was excluded, as one which is unacceptable for friendly relations. As an outcome of active consultations, positions on the platforms of international organizations, both universal and regional, were well coordinated or agreed.
Recent developments in bilateral relations demonstrate that the quality of interaction and trust is at least partially lost. Why did this happen?
Apparently, countries have chosen different tactics of confronting common challenges. The hope is that this applies only to tactics, not strategy. As a result, the sense commonality has been lost, the parties prefer to solve their problems, including opposing the common enemy, separately, without consultations, demonstrating mutual support at best in general statements. This is good for normal, smooth relations, but completely insufficient for strategic interaction. The paradox of the situation is that Ukraine, having maintained diplomatic relations with the aggressor, is actively opposing it on all fronts, both in the literal and figurative sense of the word. Georgia, having broken diplomatic relations with Russia, is trying to smooth out corners and develop economic relations with it. As a result, Ukraine is at the center of the sanctions policy against Russia, and Georgia has completely disappeared from this picture. This can be clearly seen when analyzing recent G7 documents [2].
The active mutual interaction is not perceived as necessity by the leadership, contacts are lost. Few visits. After the official visit of President Petro Poroshenko to Georgia in July 2017, only couple of bilateral events can be recalled. President Salome Zurabishvili travelled to Kyiv on the occasion of the inauguration of President Vladimir Zelensky and Prime Minister Georgi Gaharia visited Kyiv on the occasion of the GUAM Prime Ministers Summit (bilateral meetings also took place within the framework of the visit), Foreign Ministers have not exchanged visits for several years. In Tbilisi, there is a clear deficit in the demand for active cooperation with Ukraine from the upper echelons of power.
Trade relations are left to chance. Ukraine is the largest supplier of wheat (in 2019, Ukraine exported more than 40 million tons [3]) and sunflower oil (exports about 6 million tons annually [4]) to the world market. Nevertheless Georgia spends up to $ 100 million annually to purchase wheat in Russia (about 83 % of imports) and 30 million US dollars for the purchase of sunflower oil there as well (also about 83% of imports) [5]. Afterwards, enjoying taxes from these revenues, Moscow pursues a policy of "creeping occupation" in Georgia. These facts, as well as many other ones demonstrate that Ukraine and Georgia are fading from each other‘s landscape of political and economic interests. We continue to address each other as strategic partners, but the quality and content of relations clearly hardly meet the standards of this high notion.
Not any separate issue can question the fundamental value of the Ukrainian-Georgian strategic partnership. Generation of Ukrainian and Georgian diplomats have invested their commitment, knowledge and experience to develop these relations. The fundamental interests of Georgia and Ukraine require the return of bilateral relations to the mainstream of full-fledged strategic interaction. It's time to stop declaring unilateral positions though letters. This form of communication is not relevant for the nature of strategic partnership.
To start with you need to renew communication. At all levels. An exchange of high-level official visits would give a good impetus to the process. They could be charged with both the actual political component (there are more than enough problems) as well as interesting economic and humanitarian agendas. And the cornerstone idea should be the following: shared strong message to our common adversary. Russia should say goodbye to hope to separate Ukraine and Georgia. It is also important to actively consult and speak out with agreed positions on international platforms, as well as to demonstrate the coincidence of approaches in negotiations with common strategic partners. Actually, as it has been happening for many years. Ukrainian and Georgian diplomats know how to do this.
The hope is that the both capitals are aware of the need for urgent change.
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*Information about the author:
Amb. Valeri Chechelashvili is a Senior Fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies since 2016. Mr. Valeri Chechelashvili has been a career diplomat since October 1989. He held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia from Second Secretary to Deputy Foreign Minister (1998 - 2000). He was Minister f Finance in 2005 and First Deputy Foreign Minister (2005 - 2007).
He has served as an Ambassador to Ukraine (1994 - 1998), Ambassador to Russian Federation (2004 - 2005), Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (2000 - 2004) and Secretary General of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM (2007 - 2016).
Mr. Chechelashvili has graduated from the Kiev State University, faculty of International Relations and International Law, Department of International Economic Relations (1983) and completed Ph.D. in International Economy.
Mr. Chechelashvili was awarded with a number of medals and orders. He is the author of number of articles on the regional economic cooperation and international relations.