Georgian plan to build airport on military base alarms observers

TBILISI -- A Georgian government plan to turn one of the country's main military bases into an airport has raised security concerns from military analysts.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on June 5 announced that the Vaziani military base, situated about 20km outside Tbilisi, would be converted into an airport.

"We want to become the region's aviation hub. And a new airport needs a new location. Vaziani is the ideal location," Garibashvili said.

Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili an hour later announced a time frame for the project.

"We are still consulting with local experts and looking for international consultants. There are several options. We hope to approve the best one by the end of the year, and start construction next year," Davitashvili said.

"The trend is very positive: passenger traffic grew by 20% in a year," he noted.

Spread over 10,000 hectares, Vaziani saw its first airfield built during World War II, and eventually became the site of an infantry training centre.

Russia controlled the base until 2001, after which Georgian forces took possession.

Across the road from the airfield is an enormous training ground that hosts not only training of Georgian units but also, for example, annual joint exercises with US soldiers from the European Command.

To participate in these manoeuvres, US forces transport armoured vehicles, including Abrams tanks, all the way from Germany, across the Black Sea, and then through all of Georgia.

'Unacceptable'

If constructed, the airport in Vaziani would be double the distance of Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport from the city centre.

But officials have claimed that it would offer better conditions for navigation and advantages in terms of urban and economic development.

The airfield at Vaziani, which is only 2.5km long, would have to be extended to meet the requirements of civilian aircraft that need more than 3km of runway.

Such construction would put it closer to Vaziani's training centre and hinder the live-fire exercises across the road.

The plan has come under fire by observers who say the planned airport is aimed at ending military co-operation with the West.

"Building a civil airport in Vaziani is unacceptable," Teona Akubardia, a Georgian opposition lawmaker, told Caravanserai. "This base is critical not only for Tbilisi's defence but also for joint exercises with NATO partners."

"Cancelling the base and training grounds will put an end to co-operation with NATO," said Akubardia.

"[The ruling party] Georgian Dream is trying to use money to obscure the betrayal of the motherland," Gen. Zaza Gogava, a former Georgian military chief of staff, told Caravanserai.

"We see the step-by-step betrayal of political interests and the Euro-Atlantic course."

At stake is the security of the country, more specifically, the security of the capital, he added.

Disappearing a base to help Russia

The airport would benefit only Russia, which resumed nonstop flights to Tbilisi in May, say observers.

"Keep in mind that we were just trying to compete with Istanbul and Baku, which already handle a huge volume of passengers and cargo. I can guarantee that, at least for the first 10 years, there will be no profit from the hub," Tina Khidasheli, former defence minister, told Caravanserai.

Yet the Georgian government's plan is even more ambitious and costlier than that -- relocating or doing away with a large military base besides building an airport.

"Where can such huge military infrastructure be moved so that the new base is accessible by road, rail, and air and is close to the capital? I just don't know of such a place around Tbilisi."

"I think that the authorities simply don't have a plan to move the base. If it were up to them, they would have abolished the army altogether. After all, this government looks at Georgia's security from a window at the Kremlin," she said.

"The hub is a completely contrived issue," Akia Barbakadze, former chief of logistics of the Georgian armed forces, told Caravanserai.

"Its only purpose is to shut down the entire infrastructure, including the NATO training centre. You can use the Kopitnari airfield (near Kutaisi, western Georgia) for civilian purposes," Barbakadze said.

"But look, instead of East-West infrastructure, the government is developing North-South infrastructure, which is fully in line with Russia's interests."