Nika Gvaramia: Economic ties with Iran and China are one thing, strategic partnership is quite another

“Nothing is standing in the way of economic relations. I have said this many times. If economic ties with Russia are acceptable, then obviously they are acceptable with China and Iran as well. However, economic relations are one thing, and a strategic partnership is quite another,” stated Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Opposition Alliance.

Gvaramia was responding to a question on whether a state aspiring to join the European Union should maintain close ties with Iran.

“It is absolutely impossible for Georgia to have a strategic alliance with Iran. I cannot envision such a thing. How can we cooperate in the military sphere, the security sector, or allow Iranian infiltrators transit through our territory with a nation like Iran, given what we saw it doing just a few months ago, and indeed, what it does in general?” Gvaramia noted.

When asked to comment on the Iranian Vice President’s recent visit to Armenia, Gvaramia observed that relations between Armenia and Iran have deep historical roots.

“First of all, a clear declaration needs to be made as to whether Armenia is genuinely striving towards the European Union. We know the situation has shifted significantly, but the relationship between Armenia and Iran has historical roots. For a very long time now, Iran, alongside Russia, has been Armenia’s primary economic partner. This does not happen out of choice; it is largely a consequence of geography.

However, Georgia certainly cannot adopt the same stance. I won’t delve into historical precedents, but today, Georgia has a European orientation and is a far more European country. I must reiterate, I take no pleasure in seeing our friendly Armenian neighbours in this predicament, but unfortunately, it is driven by its own historical and geopolitical realities,” Nika Gvaramia concluded.