Turkey-Georgia : no more passports

[white-wolf]

Today Erdogan with Georgian leader Saakashvili opened new border buildings at Sarpi, at Georgian side of border, just Turkish Sarp point of border.

Erdogan says Turk and Georgian citizen will not use passports but identification cards at crossing the border.

Sorry it is just a new new and there is only Turkish source;
link

[Salvatorel]

As for the event,well,on the one hand well... it might be of use for some of those who do "bussiness" in Turkey and for Turkish citizens too,as is stated here(or at least I read it in this way)

Başbakan Erdoğan, şunları kaydetti: "2002 yılında iki ülke arasındaki 240 milyon dolar olan dış ticaret hacmi, 2010 yılı itibarıyla 1 milyar doları aşmış durumda. Elbette, bu hacimde bir dış ticaret için sınır kapıları çok büyük önem arz ediyor

but considering what's happening in Ajara,I'd still prefer visas.

[white-wolf]

As for the event,well,on the one hand well... it might be of use for some of those who do "bussiness" in Turkey and for Turkish citizens too,as is stated here(or at least I read it in this way)
but considering what's happening in Ajara,I'd still prefer visas.

He says it was 250 million US dollars at 2002, at 2010 it is 1 billion US dollars, the business I mean.

What do you mean about "business"?

What is happening in Ajara?

A note : This thread is dedicated who are saying Turkey is turning its back to West and becoming closer to her Muslim neighbors.

[Salvatorel]

What do you mean about "business"?

What is happening in Ajara?

A note : This thread is dedicated who are saying Turkey is turning its back to West and becoming closer to her Muslim neighbors.

Bussiness? Both ways,Bussiness(lawful activities.e. trade relations,etc) and "Bussiness"(I think not a hard thing to figure out)

As for Ajara,well,I can say it's swarmed with Turkish bussinesses,but it's not a problem in this case,problem is in that,Turkish activists from Islamist and Pan Turkist parties have absolute freedom in spreading their propaganda about Muslim Ajarians being Turks,Christianity being evil,etc,this,combined with total indifference of both,local and central goverments regarding proposals aimed at opening Islamic seminary in Tbilisi to avoid problems with foreign radical Islamists spreading their ideas,makes me think that future of Ajara is somewhat bleak,if the things keep going in the way they do now.

[white-wolf]

Bussiness? Both ways,Bussiness(lawful activities.e. trade relations,etc) and "Bussiness"(I think not a hard thing to figure out)

As for Ajara,well,I can say it's swarmed with Turkish bussinesses,but it's not a problem in this case,problem is in that,Turkish activists from Islamist and Pan Turkist parties have absolute freedom in spreading their propaganda about Muslim Ajarians being Turks,Christianity being evil,etc,this,combined with total indifference of both,local and central goverments regarding proposals aimed at opening Islamic seminary in Tbilisi to avoid problems with foreign radical Islamists spreading their ideas,makes me think that future of Ajara is somewhat bleak,if the things keep going in the way they do now.

Trade is growing both ways, that is a good thing. I hope it will be better.

Ah that "business", I thought it was winded down since Russian sources can not come over Georgia.

I think it is overestimating the Islamists effects on Ajara. In Turkey, not many take it seriously, excepts Ulusalcis, anymore. Batum is in Ajara, right? It was Ottoman land but given to Russia after WW1 to ensure Soviets support during Turkish Nationalists struggle against the occupation, if my memory does not lie me. But, saying Ajara is Turks is false. I have a theory: all ultra-nationalists are dump.

[Salvatorel]

.

I think it is overestimating the Islamists effects on Ajara. In Turkey, not many take it seriously, excepts Ulusalcis, anymore. Batum is in Ajara, right? It was Ottoman land but given to Russia after WW1 to ensure Soviets support during Turkish Nationalists struggle against the occupation, if my memory does not lie me. But, saying Ajara is Turks is false. I have a theory: all ultra-nationalists are dump.

Yep,Batumi is the capital of Ajara.
As for ultra nationalist,well,I fear ultra nationalist,while not taken seriously by many,are not as harmless as some might think,especially considering popularity of irredentism among them and existence of historians like Yunus Zeyrek,who have at least some influence on the opinion of such groups.
Anyway,I think the ignorance that reigns in Georgian government is the root of all dangers,after all its them, who don't care about their obligations and responsibilities and have no ability to judge something from any point of view but oriented on profit.

[white-wolf]

I do not know who is Yusuf Zeyrek.

I agree you about nature of ultra-nationalists. They are not harmless.

Some columnists here say because of Turkey's effect on Ajara (or for a better word; Turkey's inactivity comparing to Russia), Ajara is not at the same situation as Abhazia or Ossetia. I do not know thought.

[Odenat]

Great news for us,
i'll visit Batum as soon as possible

[neoptolemos]

This is progress.

[Heavy Weapons Guy]

Time 2 colonize Georgia!

[white-wolf]

I seriously think on visiting Georgia with my family.

Anybody know how long it takes via car from Samsun to Georgia on new otobahn? Places to visit, hotel/cities to stay, eating, things to see?

[Armenum]

Well, not really surprising as Georgia-Turkish ties have significantly improved with the Saakashvili's government. Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey have been cooperating on several economic projects. Won't be surprised also if the Laz minority takes advantage of this and visits Georgia more often.

[Salvatorel]

Its not propaganda if its true!

Danger is that this risks outburst of religiously motivated violence,after all Georgia is majority Christian.

Well, not really surprising as Georgia-Turkish ties have significantly improved with the Saakashvili's government. Georgia-Azerbaijan-Turkey have been cooperating on several economic projects. Won't be surprised also if the Laz minority takes advantage of this and visits Georgia more often.

Laz? to be honest,many of them are more Turkish in their identification than pure blooded Turks,I think you mean "Chveneburis",many of them,unlike the Laz,still have memories of the tales told by their ancestors about their departure from Georgia.

[Dr. Oza]

Turkist parties have absolute freedom in spreading their propaganda about Muslim Ajarians being Turks,Christianity being evil

Its not propaganda if its true!

[Burnum]

Its not propaganda if its true!

Propaganda still can be true.

[NotYetRegistered]

Caucasian Union?

[white-wolf]

Caucasian Union?

Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan Yay!

Maybe if there is similar one with Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, then one person can go from Georgia to Jordan without passport.

Dreams. But, possible dreams.

[Jom]

Caucasian Union?

The number of FTAs and customs unions has steadily been on the rise throughout the 20th century, although I don't know the extent of inter-trading that goes on amongst the countries in the Caucasus, and it's possible that Russia may feel a bit slighted by the creation of a customs union there, although this is complete speculation on my part and I fully expect someone in possession of the facts to point out the actual chances of this taking place.

[white-wolf]

The number of FTAs and customs unions has steadily been on the rise throughout the 20th century, although I don't know the extent of inter-trading that goes on amongst the countries in the Caucasus, and it's possible that Russia may feel a bit slighted by the creation of a customs union there, although this is complete speculation on my part and I fully expect someone in possession of the facts to point out the actual chances of this taking place.

There is nothing indicated about any custom union in the article/news, however I am sure Turkish F. Officials have been working on it behind closed doors. This, if happened, will be a win-win situation for all. From the news that we already know Turkey wants to bring a similar Custom Union between Turkey-Syria-Lebanon-Jordan before the Arab Spring. Why not a Caucasus Custom Union?

[procmac]

Why not a Caucasus Custom Union?

Because the customs union agreement of Turkey with the EU prohibits a customs union with a 3rd party?

Cry me rivers....

Accept it, no body wants Armenia. Then ask yourself; why?

Don't you think this is a bit of an impolite and immature response which serves no goal but aggravation?

...Turkey still illegally maintains closed borders with Armenia and thus physically blockades any type of flow between the countries.

As far as I know Turkey doesn't block the flow of goods and passengers by airway so it doesn't "blockade any type of flow between the countries". (please correct me if I'm wrong)

Edit:clarification about the flow of goods and persons between Turkey and Armenia added to my post.