How to solve the problem of David Garedji/Keshikchi mount?

Dear political leaders of Azerbaijan and Georgia!

My appeal to you is connected with deep concern over the situation around the David Gareji/Keshikchi Mount monastery complex. The recent events have shown that this issue is very sensitive for both our states and nations. It is already obvious that if in a short time we do not find mutually acceptable options for resolving the situation, incitement of our external ill-wishers and provocations of various marginal groups can break the traditional relations of friendship and strategic partnership that have developed between our peoples and which we value so much. This obliges us to discuss in a calm and respectful atmosphere and find a solution to this issue, which n did not divide, but on the contrary, brought our peoples even closer, strengthened Azerbaijani-Georgian relations and our mutually beneficial cooperation.

We remember how the Karabakh, Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts began, how dangerous it is not to react to events in time, to hide our heads in the sand and to think that the problems will resolve themselves. It is just as dangerous to generate unjustified public expectations and illusions, which, when confronted with realities, evoke a sense of deception and anger in society.

Something similar is happening now, when public opinion is artificially focused on the work of the Joint Commission on the Delimitation and Demarcation of the Border, which has recently resumed its work. But this joint commission has a very specific and limited mandate, and cannot solve all the issues raised in the community in connection with this monastic complex. And his decision is likely predetermined. This is evidenced by both some statements by officials and an understanding of the objective realities that have developed around this issue. The boundaries existing from Soviet times, which divided this historical complex, are fixed in our Constitutions, Azerbaijan and Georgia gained independence and were recognized by the international community in these documents, the idea of ​​belonging to this history and culture was formed in both states, both nations faced the problem of armed separatism and the forcible rejection of part of its historical territory and, therefore, are particularly sensitive to the issues of inviolability of borders, etc.

Under these conditions, a joint commission cannot come to a different decision on how to establish existing boundaries and there is no doubt that our ill-wishers will try to present this unique solution as someone's "defeat" or "unresolved problem" to give impetus to new provocations and pumping emotions.

Meanwhile, there is another approach that, in my opinion, can contribute to the achievement of a result that would meet the public expectations and state interests of our countries. In world practice, special interstate agreements on transboundary objects of an economic, natural, historical and cultural nature, are usually concluded on rules for the joint use, protection, restoration, etc.

Therefore, in parallel with the work of the joint commission on the delimitation and demarcation of the border, we should launch another negotiation process aimed at signing an interstate agreement that will remove all the contradictions around this monastic complex. The agreement between the two countries can be based on the following principles:

- this monastery complex is a single historical and cultural monument located in the territory of both states

- by a joint decision, the two states create a historical and cultural reserve, which includes all objects on both sides of the border that belong to this monastic complex

- free visit and use of this monument is provided to believers, scientists, tourists

- a joint board of trustees and a joint reserve administration mechanism are being established to ensure the preservation, functioning and support of the complex.

In other words, the solution of the David Garedji/Keshikchi Mount complex is not how to redraw the existing border, but to remove the dividing lines on the territory of this complex, to make it unified, accessible to people and a symbol of friendship between the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples.

By the way, this is not the only transboundary object on which such decisions should be made. The Azerbaijani-Georgian border also runs across the lake Jandar-gol/Jandari. The famous tugai forests of Garayazi also divide our border. In order to conserve and protect these unique water resources, rare species of flora and fauna, we also need intergovernmental treaties to save them for future generations by joint efforts.

I urge the political leadership of Azerbaijan and Georgia to consider this approach and, if they consider it rational, order the creation of a joint working group to develop an intergovernmental agreement on the creation of a historical and cultural reserve David Gareji/Keshikchi Dag.

The simultaneous signing of both intergovernmental agreements - "On the delimitation of borders" and "On the creation of a historical and cultural reserve David Gareji/Keshikchi Dag" is, in my opinion, the most reasonable way out of this situation.