MIDDLE EAST HISTORY POLITICS CULTURE XIII MIDDLE EAST XIII | Page 243

Թուրքիայից: Տնտեսական կախվածությունը իր հերթին կարող է հանգեցնել նաև քաղաքական կախվածության։ ARTAK ZARGARYAN (IOS) THE TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GEORGIA UNDER THE PRESIDENCY OF M. SAHAKASHVILI During the presidency of M. Saakashvili, the trade and economic relations between Georgia and Turkey went through unprecedented development. Turkey became one of the main trade and economic partners of Georgia. The Georgian authorities, at the level of the president, promoted the flow of Turkish capital into the country. The Turkish businessmen were provided with privileged conditions to foster development of their businesses on the territory of Georgia. Due to these prerogatives, Turkey was able to expand its economic presence and influence in Georgia. In fact, Turkey pursued a policy of economic expansion towards Georgia. Big Turkish companies in the field of heavy industry, construction, agriculture, telecommunications, transport, could easily penetrate the Georgian economy and take the dominant, if not monopolistic position in Georgia. In these circumstances, the appearance and development of such industrial trends in Georgian economy became practically impossible. This led to complete dependence on Turkish goods, and to a partial or complete absence of national production in relevant areas of the Georgian economy. 243