October 6, 2008 - 17:49 AMT
Armenia's regional authority grew after August events
The visit of the Armenian President to Georgia proved timely, a Georgian political scientist said.

"The Armenian diplomacy manifested professionalism during the Georgia-Russian clashes in August. It managed to separate the interests of a strategic and a permanent partner, thus strengthening Armenia's regional authority," Soso Tsiskarishvili said during Yerevan-Tbilisi TV space bridge today.

"The visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Georgia proved timely. The results of this visit will be fruitful, to begin with the construction project of Akhalkalaki-Batumi highway. Georgia and Armenia need an alternative highway. Although, there are opponents to this project, who think that it can provoke separatist attitude of mind in Javakheti, I am confident that all obstacles will be overcome," he said.

Meanwhile, expert on economic issues Niko Orveashvili noted that first of all an economic-technical conclusion on expediency of the project should be drawn. "Before this, any talk about a motorway to connect Georgia and Armenia is premature," he said.