Ambassador Ashot SMBATYAN: "Friendly relations between Armenia and Georgia have reached their political peak"

29.07.2025 (Caucasian Journal) The Caucasian Journal is pleased to welcome His Excellency Ashot SMBATYAN, the Ambassador of Armenia to Georgia, for our second interview.

Since the Ambassador’s previous interview in 2023, significant developments have occurred in Armenia, the South Caucasus, and globally. We hope to address all major topics in this conversation.

▶ Հայերեն. Read the Armenian version here.

▶ ქართულად: Read the Georgian version here.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of CJ: Your Excellency, since we are in Tbilisi, let’s begin with Armenia–Georgia relations. Our countries now have a Strategic Partnership Agreement signed about 18 months ago. Beyond its evident symbolic weight, what tangible results have been recorded, and what future initiatives are being developed? In addition to political and economic dimensions, could you also comment on military cooperation as outlined in the agreement signed last year by the defense ministers of Armenia and Georgia?

Ashot SMBATYAN: Yes, you are absolutely right, for over 30 years now, the friendly relations between Armenia and Georgia have reached their political peak, and in January 2024, the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia signed the Joint Declaration on Establishing a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Armenia and Georgia in Tbilisi. This elevated our relations to a qualitatively new level and laid the foundation for further deepening of bilateral ties in various fields.

Sjur BERGAN: “I don't think you can have democracy without good education” (watch video or read)

24.07.2025 (Caucasian Journal). What is the relationship between education and democracy? Why is EU membership important for education? 

The Caucasian Journal has a rare opportunity to pose these and other questions to Sjur BERGAN, one of Europe's leading education policymakers. He served as the head of the Council of Europe's Education Department for many years and played a pivotal role in shaping European higher education policy. Previously, he represented the CoE in the Bologna Follow-Up Group for over two decades, chaired the working groups on structural reforms, and was the main author of the landmark Lisbon Recognition Convention.

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

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The full text version of the interview is below:

Sjur BERGAN: “I DON'T THINK YOU CAN HAVE DEMOCRACY WITHOUT GOOD EDUCATION”

Kai PURNHAGEN: “There is no compromise on safe food production and marketing”

16.07.2025. (Caucasian Journal) Given the current crucial period for Georgia's EU aspirations, our journal wants to help keep the public informed about what EU candidacy and integration really mean. One important topic that doesn’t get enough coverage is the EU’s food safety regulations. Today, we delve into the world of food regulation with our distinguished expert, Dr. Kai PURNHAGEN (Germany).

Professor Purnhagen holds the Chair for Food Law at the University of Bayreuth, where he also serves as Co-Director of the Research Centre for German and European Food Law. He is the co-author of the authoritative EU Food Law (Oxford University Press).

▶ ქართულად: The Georgian version is here.

Alexander KAFFKA, editor-in-chief of Caucasian Journal:  Dear Dr. Purnhagen, thank you for joining us. Let me start with a simple question, one that many citizens in an EU candidate country might ask: Will my food quality significantly improve or be better protected once our country enters the EU?

Kai PURNHAGEN: Thank you very much for having me, it’s a great privilege for me. I do not know enough about the Georgian food system to meaningfully answer your question. But what I do know is that the EU has the most rigorous agri-food legal system when it comes to food safety. It is very likely that on these terms, Georgian food will improve. Whether this will also have an impact on food prices will largely depend on how well the Georgian competition enforcement authorities will work. We have observed that in EU countries, where enforcement of competition laws functions effectively, food prices have remained relatively low compared to food safety and quality.