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Last edited on February 21, 2000
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, DASHNAKS DISCUSS KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS.
Robert Kocharian met with Vahan Hovannisian and other leading
members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation--
Dashnaktsutiun (HHD) on 19 February to discuss ongoing
diplomatic efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict and the
overall political and economic situation, RFE/RL's Yerevan
bureau reported. At the close of its congress earlier this
month, the HHD had warned against a solution to the conflict
that would entail concessions from Armenia (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 15 February 2000). In an interview published in
"Iravunk" on 17 February, Hovannisian stated that none of the
peace proposals advocated to date by the OSCE Minsk Group is
acceptable to his party. He termed recent developments in the
peace process "very dangerous," and argued that Armenia
should not engage in further talks on resolving the conflict
until it has made progress toward resolving economic and
domestic political problems. LF
Copied with permission from RFE/RL newslist
Parties' Roundtable on Scientific Approach to Karabakh
Turan in Russian
1609 GMT 03 Feb 00
Baku, 3rd February: On the initiative of the PFAP [People's Front of
Azerbaijan Party], a round table was held today with the participation of
political parties on the subject of ways of settling the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
In the opinion of some participants in the round table, the lack of
scientific methods for settling the conflict and the nebulous nature of
the concept - "the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict" - were hampering a
successful solution to the problem.
The participants in the event made proposals on creating scientific
centres and groups to study and resolve the conflict. Among the main
elements on which the system of the settlement should be based were the
active use of international law, normative models (for example, the model
of the Aland Islands), world globalization and the erosion of state
borders.
Zardusht Alizade, cochairman of the Social Democratic Party of
Azerbaijan [SDPA], said that one of the things hampering a solution to the
conflict was bellicose nationalism. Mais Safarli, chairman of the
Compatriot Party, thinks that the problem cannot be solved as long as the
corrupt reactionary regime is in power.
The participants in the round table agreed to continue the dialogue
on the problem of a Nagornyy Karabakh settlement, using chiefly
scientific approaches.
Copyright Habarlar-L
Edited on February 20, 2000
ARMENIAN HACKERS STRIKE BACK
Baku takes action to thwart Armenian cyber forces following a spate of
hacker attacks on Azeri websites.
By Shahin Rzaev in Baku
The authorities in Baku are to protect Azeri web sites from Armenian hackers
following an escalation in the regional cyber war.
Azerbaijan's National Security Minister, Namik Abbasov, announced on
February 14 that a technical council would be created to deal with Internet
security after Armenian hackers sabotaged scores of Azeri sites.
The attack was retaliation for an earlier Azeri raid on Armenian sites
accused of spreading lies about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Among the 100 or so victims of the revenge attack was the Baku newspaper,
Zerkalo (Mirror), which had ironically been strongly critical of the Azeri
hackers.
The Armenian saboteurs posted disinformation on the Zerkalo site, claiming,
for example, that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan had agreed to a
land swap to help settle the Karabakh conflict and that Turkey was about to
open its border with Yerevan.
"The war between the Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh has moved on to
the Internet now the frontline is quiet, " said Zerkalo's deputy editor Nair
Aliev.
The Armenian hackers warned the raid was only the first phase of their
retaliation for the Azeri sabotage last month, which targeted several dozen
sites, including that of Armenian State Television.
Visitors to the hijacked sites were greeted by a blank page, which forwarded
them to the hackers' site, where they were regaled with a litany of
anti-Armenian abuse as well as offensive messages from other callers.
The opening shots in the cyber war were condemned by the press in both
Azerbaijan and Armenia. Zerkalo accused the hackers of trying to curry
favour with the Baku authorities, while the Yerevan paper, Golos Armenii
(Voice of Armenia), branded them hooligans.
There's growing concern the escalation in the cyber war could increase
tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Azerbaijan is certainly taking the problem very seriously. In addition to
providing protection for Internet sites, Namik Abassov said the National
Security Ministry would raise its concerns at an international level.
Shahin Rzaev is Project Editor for IWPR in Baku.
IWPR'S CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, NO. 19
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 12:08:30 -0800 (PST)
Copied with permission from Habarlar-L Newslist
Edited on February 19, 2000
OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Expected On A Visit
In late February, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are expected
to hold talks on Upper Karabakh conflict with the OSCE
chairman-in-office, Austrian Foreign Minister Wolvgang Shussel.
After the meeting due in Vienna, the co-chairs are scheduled to
visit the region with some new proposals, according to the
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev. Mr. Guliyev went
on to say that Azerbaijan still opposes the "condominium state"
proposal of the co-chairs and expects new proposals at a
negotiated settlement.
AzerNews-Azerkhabar, No. 7 (137), February 16-22, 2000
US Attaches Great Importance To Conflict
Resolution, Says Lemmon
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)-Among the main subjects
discussed during a recent meeting of the US ambassadors
to the region was the Karabakh conflict resolution and the
issue of aid to be rendered to the sides to the conflict
following the settlement, US Ambassador to Armenia
Michael Lemmon said in a Noyan Tapan interview.
The Ambassador went on to say that the United States
considers the Karabakh settlement to be of special
importance, even more important than the resolution to other
conflicts in the South Caucasus.
This is partly explained by the fact that there now seem to
be good possibilities of achieving a settlement of this
conflict.
At the same time Lemmon emphasized that the United States
was not imposing any settlement proposal, considering that
specific forms of settlement should be found by the parties to
the conflict themselves.
Among other issues discussed during the aforementioned
meeting was that of aid to the parties to the conflict following
a settlement.
The Ambassador believes that in this sense huge sums
could be expected to be allocated by international donors
primarily for the restoration of war-damaged areas and the
creation of appropriate conditions for the return of refugees
and displaced people. Describing it as a very complicated
task requiring preparatory work, the Ambassador added that
the United States has already launched such preparations.
In particular, negotiations are to be held soon with
international financial institutions and other possible donors.
Lemmon described as natural the competition between
Russia and the US for domination in the region, since both
states have their own "legitimate interests" here.
At the same time, the Ambassador underlined that the United
States and Russia are of the same opinion regarding the
need for establishment of peace in the region.
Armenian News by Noyan Tapan and Asbarez, February 18, 2000
########################################################################
HL NOTE: The following news article ignore such basic facts that:
1) Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was, is, and will remain to be a
legitimate part of the Azerbaijan Republic;
2) Karabakh, and seven other regions are illegally occupied by
the Republic of Armenia, the aggressor;
3) That the puppet leaders and regime(s) of some self-proclaimed "NKR"
entity are recognized by no state and lack any legitimacy whatsoever.
Further, the Stalin imposed name of Stepanakert in 1923, is invalid and
the historic name of the city, Khankandi, has been restored since
Azerbaijan's re-establishment of independence.
#########################################################################
Karabakh Foreign Ministry Blasts Azerbaijan
STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)-The foreign ministry of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic issued a statement Friday
blasting the Azeri foreign ministry for warning European
countries against cooperation with the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic.
The Azeri warning came after Karabakh prime minister
Anushavan Danielian began a visit of several European
countries to bolster Karabakh's role in the international
community and to garner economic support from Europe.
"On February 15, in connection with Prime Minister of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Anoushavan Danielian's
recent visits to foreign countries the Foreign Ministry of
Azerbaijan issued a `warning' to the world regarding the
`inadmissibility of cooperation with Nagorno Karabakh,'"
said the Karabakh foreign ministry statement.
"Attempts by the Azeri foreign ministry were aimed at
frightening the international community and foreign
companies, which received protest notes regarding their
activities aimed at promoting the recovery of the Karabakh's
war-damaged economy, are deemed at the least to naive,"
the statement added.
The Karabakh Foreign Ministry explained that similar
"threats" issued by official Baku and directed at the
international community and foreign businessmen have
nothing whatsoever to do with the economic recovery of the
region, which is regarded as a primary priority by the
international community in the conflict resolution process.
"The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen repeatedly stated
this fact during their meetings with the parties to the conflict,
in particular, with Azeri leaders, about which the head of
the Azeri Foreign Ministry, V. Guliyev was, of course,
well-informed. Thus, Azeri diplomatic circles are attempting
to conceal their own ineptitude in the real Karabakh conflict
resolution process.
"It has been several years now that Baku has been trying to
convince the world that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
does not exist. But, despite these efforts, the international
community is more and more inclined to believe that
Karabakh's place and role should be acknowledged not
only in the Karabakh settlement process but also in the
establishment of peace, stability, confidence and
cooperation in the region," the statement continued.
Switzerland was the second country Prime Minister of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Anushavan Danielian visited
as part of his 10-day trip to Europe. From February 14 to
17 the Karabakh prime minister held meetings at
organizations, funds of Armenian communities of German-
and French-speaking communities of the country, as well
as with Swiss and Armenian businessmen.
During his meetings with the Armenian communities in
Zurich and Geneva, the Karabakh prime minister outlined
the economic and investment policy of the Karabakh
government, provided information about the leading
industrial enterprises of the country, presented the
prospects for the development of new branches of industry.
Armenian businessmen in Switzerland showed great interest
in investing funds in the Karabakh's economy, establishing
enterprises in the country. In that connection, preliminary
agreements were reached.
Danielian also held a meeting with representatives of Swiss
firms. An agreement was reached on a visit of a delegation
of Swiss industrialists to Stepanakert to study the conditions
and possibilities of cooperation.
In Geneva the Karabakh prime minister also held a meeting
with the Board of Trustees of the "Hayastan" Fund. An
agreement was reached on the Fund's sponsoring a number
of social, economic, educational and medical projects in the
Karabakh.
On the last day of his visit to Switzerland, in the Armenian
Center of Geneva the Karabakh prime minister held a
meeting with the local Armenian community. Danielian
outlined the social and economic situation to those present
and presented his views on conflict resolution.
Karabakh Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian left Geneva
for Milan where he is scheduled to hold a meeting with the
local Armenian community. Thereafter the Karabakh prime
minister will leave for Budapest to participate in the first
consultative meeting of the Forum of Armenian Businessmen
of Europe.
-----------------------------------------------------------
France should refuse from discussion of "Armenian genocide" if it desires to take an objective position in the Karabakh problem settlement
Baku. 18.02.2000. /AzadInform/. Today Foreign minister Vilayet Guliyev
addressing at the Parliament stated on turning of so-called "Armenian genocide"
into the tool of political pressure.
It is already 100 years as Armenians turned Armenian-Turkish confrontation into
the political show and try to gain image of " long-suffering" people all over
the world. Under conditions of intensification of negotiations on Karabakh
conflict, Armenians bring a "genocide" issue to the agenda. In their articles in
Russian independent press Armenian scientists try to impose Turkey to compensate
the damage. "Genocide" issue which was implied to be submitted for consideration
of the French Senate has caused indignation of Azeri society. France is one of
the OSCE Minsk group cochairmen for the settlement of the Karabakh issue.
Recognizing of one of the conflicting party as the victim of genocide will cast
doubt on France's impartial position in the Karabakh conflict's settlement. If
France desires to take an objective position in this problem's settlement it
should reject to consider so-called "Armenian genocide" issue, said V. Guliyev.
RFE/RL Caucasus: Ex-Aliyev Aide Warns of Russian Ambitions
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 20:52:56 -0800 (PST)
Caucasus: Ex-Aliev Aide Warns Of Russian Ambitions
By Beatrice Hogan
Former Azerbaijani presidential advisor Vafa Quluzada continued his
U.S. speaking tour this week by delivering a warning about what he
called a new Russian imperialism in the Caucasus. Citing the current
conflict in Chechnya, Quluzade said Azerbaijan and Georgia face
the greatest threat to sovereignty. RFE/RL correspondent Beatrice
Hogan reports.
New York, 18 February 2000 (RFE/RL) -- Vafa Quluzade says that
unless the United States plays a more active role in bringing about
peace in the Caucasus, it could lose a vital influence in the oil-rich
region.
Quluzada, former foreign policy advisor to three Azerbaijani
presidents, made his remarks to a group of regional specialists at a
forum (on Wednesday) sponsored by the Central Eurasian Project of
the Open Society Institute in New York.
His comments follow a meeting earlier this week in Washington
between Quluzade's former boss, President Haidar Aliev, and U.S.
President Bill Clinton. Aliev requested greater international
involvement by the United States, Russia and France to settle the
long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
But Quluzada repeated comments he made during an address at
Harvard University last week, contending that Russia has a vested
interest in the continuation of that dispute and would likely block any
peace resolutions.
"It's not in Russian interests now to achieve peace in the region. If
peace will be signed now between Armenia and Azberbaijan, it
means that Russia will lose its influence with both countries, Armenia
and Azerbaijan. Now both countries are dependent on Russia --
Armenia for support, military supplies, and Armenia is intimidated that
Azerbaijan is an enemy and Turkey an enemy."
A spokesman at the Russian Embassy in Washington, Mikhail
Shurgalin, denied this interpretation. Shurgalin said that Moscow
recently hosted a summit where Aliev and President Robert
Kocharian of Armenia discussed the conflict -- and that both
leaders praised Russia's efforts. Shurgalin also said that Russia has
served as a co-chair of the Minsk Group, the official negotiating
body for the conflict.
Quluzada says a more alarming indicator of Russian designs in the
Caucasus is its conflict in Chechnya. He said the military campaign
reflects Russia's imperial designs in the Caucasus and threatens the
sovereignty of all the independent states in the region, especially
that of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Soon after the first Chechen War concluded with the Khasav-Yurt
accord in 1996, Quluzada asserted that Russia began to lay the
groundwork for its current campaign.
"This time, after Khasav-Yurt, the Russian Federation was not
preparing for peace. Russian Federation was preparing for war. And
they made a very smart ideological work before the war. First of all
they depicted all Chechen people as terrorists. Russia is a big, great
state. Russia has huge means of propaganda. That's why every day
in media, in newspaper (were reports) that Chechens are kidnappers,
Chechens are torturing people, Chechens are criminals."
Russian spokesman Shurgalin responds that the current Chechen
conflict does not meet the internationally accepted definition of a war
because the action is contained within the boundaries of a single
country. Rather Russia calls its campaign an "anti-terrorist
operation."
However it is defined, Quluzada says the conflict in the North
Caucasus threatens the sovereignty of states in the South Caucasus.
In addition to the Russian rockets that landed on the territory of
Georgia and Azerbaijan, he says that Russian border patrols have
stymied the free passage of people, goods and communication
between the Caucasus countries.
Moreover, Quluzade says the conflict has energized pro-Russian
elements in Azerbaijan, whom he says harbor hopes of having their
power restored.
He said the situation warrants a more proactive Western stance on
Chechnya and the Caucasus. Until now, he says Western countries
have steered clear of involvement in the internal affairs of the
Russian Federation. But if Western countries wait too long on the
sidelines, says Quluzada, they could lose their influence in the
energy-rich Caucasus as Russia retakes control of the region.
"If our sovereignty will be under the threat, if our stability will be
under the threat, it means that the interests of the United States [and]
Europe will be under threat. That's why all events in our region are
becoming a problem of Russian-American relations. And I think that
both Russia and America might think very seriously about it."
But the Russian embassy spokesman, Shurgalin, says Russia's
official position is very clear: it wants stability and peace in the
Caucasus. As for critics, Shurgalin says they either do not
understand simple facts or they deliberately distort them.
Guluzade resigned last October as Aliev's foreign policy aide after a
long career in Azerbaijan government affairs. He is currently affiliated
with the Caspian Geopolicy Research Foundation, an independent
research institute.
Copyright 2000 RFE/RL
Copied with permission from Habaral-L Newslist
Kocharian vows public debate on Karabakh during television interview
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 21:12:40 -0800 (PST)
(note: formulations may apply to Armenian political position)
YEREVAN (Armenpress)-Armenian president Robert Kocharian
gave an exclusive interview to Armenian National TV February 11.
The following is the text of the interview.
Armenian National Television: Mr. President, it is quite clear now
that the resolution of the Karabakh conflict remains the most pivotal
problem. The public's attention to it is also quite understandable.
Negotiations to resolve the conflict within the framework of the
OSCE Minsk group have been suspended during recent years.
However, during that period of time you have had many meetings
with Azeri president Heydar Aliyev. You have declared that the
meetings must not be seen as a substitute of the negotiation
process within the Minsk group and that one of the goals of these
meetings is the resumption of talks within the Minsk group. In what
phase are the negotiations today? Does the lack of negotiations
mean that a deadlock continues?
Robert Kocharian: I would like to remind you about the events that
have taken place over the last year and a half. The Minsk group
came out with a proposal that was accepted both by Armenia and
Karabakh but was rejected by Azerbaijan. That was the principle
of "common state." Actually, the issue appeared in a deadlock and
it was clear that the Minsk group had to come out with a new
proposal which must be less shifted to Azeri wishes.
I suppose we could have said "no" to the new proposal and
Azerbaijan would have accepted it. Thus, the cycle would have
continued to turn in a circle, since such developments had already
occurred twice in the past. And here the idea of direct meetings
between the presidents was born. We met and the following
agreement was reached: we are ready to consider all possible
options of solution, the discussions should be confidential, the
content of negotiations must not place any commitments on either
side and none of us must use the discussed topic with different
political goals.
Let me try to explain what concessions mean. We all say that the
conflict must be solved through peaceful means and concessions. I
think this is quite clear and understandable. But concessions mean
that both pleasant and unpleasant questions must be discussed.
And if I try to present to our public only the pleasant moments of
the negotiations, proceeding only from personal interests and the
Azeri president does the same all we would be doing is addressing
out personal interests
Thus, the following agreement was reached: our peoples have the
same problem and we are to be partners for the solution of that
problem. I think that this principle is correct. I must express my
satisfaction with the fact that none of us tried to give preference to
personal matters.
ANT: Mr. President, after your two recent meetings with Aliyev
some reports appeared in the Armenian press alleging that the
option of territorial exchange is being discussed during your
negotiations with Aliyev. To be more exact, the reports claimed that
the region of Armenian Meghri will be given to Azerbaijan. In any
case, to what extent can you comment about the possibilities being
discussed?
R.K.:. I can say with certainty that we don't have any concrete
agreement today, besides the one referring to maintenance of a
cease-fire. I think that the reduction of incidents on the front line
and sharp decrease of victims on the front lines is a serious gain.
But regarding the conflict solution, I would like to say it once again
that we have not reached any final agreement. We are discussing
all possible options, there is a deadlock and the only way out of it
is the discussion of all possible options, there is no other way.
Within this context there was the idea of territorial exchange. This
idea is quite different from the one that was published in our press
nevertheless, I rejected it and current speculations about it are
simply pointless. But I have to say that that option had its logic. It
was supposed to bring long-lasting peace in the region.
ANT: How long are the negotiations with Aliyev are supposed to
last? Let's suppose they will be crowned with success. What is to
happen next? The issue of Karabakh is debatable and any
decision would not be accepted by all Armenians equally. Does
the parliament have to approve it, must a referendum be held or
does it have to be approved otherwise?
R.K.: As to the first question, we have been negotiating for almost a
year and the talks will not continue this way. I think there are other
options, other potential that has not been fully implemented. If we
come to the conclusion that we have exhausted the negotiation
resources we shall appeal to the Minsk group co-chairmen to
request their more active involvement in the process. This option
too is open to us. But of course, it would be more desirable that we
ourselves, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Karabakh, find the solution..
As to the second question on how we would implement the peace
agreement, it is a question of technology. I fully agree that all
solution options that would be accepted by all sides to the conflict
must become a topic of public discussion. I have reiterated it
during my meetings with faction leaders. Accepting any resolution
to the conflict would take the following path: We, all sides to the
conflict, agree to approaches and appeal to the co-chairmen who
are ready to support and promote the reached agreements. Then
we begin wide-scale consultations with political forces.
I think this issue must become a topic for wide discussion by the
parliament and I also do not exclude the option of holding a
referendum. We shall have to convince the public that the decision
reached is the correct one and the best way to learn the people's
opinion is a referendum. So there is nothing secret here since the
entire world knows about the negotiations, the negotiations have
their own technology and laws. We must respect these
technologies if we want to solve the conflict.
ANT: Mr. President, what has changed over these two years, that
is, what progress has been registered in the Karabakh issue?
R.K.: I think there has been a qualitative change in the overall
situation regarding the conflict. Many conflicts over these two
years were solved and are being solved. Serious progress has
been recorded in the settlement of conflicts in Balkans,
Arab-Israeli opposition, in Eastern Timor and Russia is solving the
conflict in Chechnya. The Karabakh conflict thus has shown up in
the focus of the international community. Since the region
witnesses interesting developments and is supposed to become an
important transport corridor qualitative changes can also be
observed.
ANT: Mr. President, while speaking about international politics, it is
assumed that the policy of threats and bribery is option. The
co-chairmen are enthusiastic today about the negotiations you are
holding with Aliyev, they say they welcome them and are ready to
accept any option agreed by Armenia and Azerbaijan. Do you
think that there may be a phase when the policy of threats and
bribery may be applied and what should be done to prevent it ?
R.K.: I think that the international community is trying to encourage
the presidents and peoples of the two countries to resolve the
problem. I think it to be quite natural. And in case of settling the
conflict, all sides to it will get serious economic, and financial
support from it. All political leaders and heads of states abroad say
that the peoples must see the advantages of peace. The peoples
must feel in a very short period of time that peace changes the
quality of life.
In this respect I have no doubts that if a solution is found the
international community will make very serious investments both in
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Karabakh. It is very important that we
ourselves find the solution, it must not be imposed. If we succeed
in doing so, the support on behalf of the international community
would be more serious. I think this is well understood both in
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Karabakh.
ANT: Are you an optimist?
R.K.: Yes, I am. I think that we must work more actively to find the
solution. As to the possibility of using threats and bribery, I don't
rule it out. But I would like to repeat that we have to do everything
in our power to find a consessionary solution that would also take
into account our national interests.
Copyright 2000 Armenpress
Habarlar-L
Edited on February 18, 2000
Is Yerevan ready for new talks?
In the last several weeks the US and Russia have launched separate
efforts to reinvigorate the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh which
stalled in the wake of the 27 October assassinations of leading Armenian
politicians. Special adviser to the US secretary of state on newly
independent states, Stephen Sestanovich, and the US cochairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Carey Cavanaugh, traveled to the region in late January
to introduce proposals for new meetings in the OSCE Minsk group
framework. (SNARK, 1235 GMT, 22 Jan 00; FBIS-SOV-2000-0124, via World
News Connection) However, it was Vladimir Putin who brought Aliev and
Kocharian together on the sidelines of the CIS summit on 25 January for
the first time since the assassinations. After the meeting, Putin told
journalists that Russia was ready to serve as a guarantor of a
settlement. (INTERFAX, 27 Jan 00; via lexis-nexis)
In marked contrast to last year when the US promoted the bilateral
dialogue, Russia has emerged as the new broker of the presidential talks.
These talks and the meeting of the four Caucasian states, held for the
first time at the January CIS summit and due to be held again at the
April summit, threaten to eclipse the international initiatives, the new
Stability Pact project and the existing OSCE Minsk Group. A second
meeting of the two presidents was held on the sidelines of the Davos
economic summit on 30 January. That session produced only vague promises
to hold more talks and prompted Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat
Guliev to comment that Armenia still seems unprepared to continue the
negotiations, "this meeting showed once again that Armenia has not got
over the shock caused by the events of 27th October." (TREND NEWS
AGENCY, 1609 GMT, 3 Feb 00; via lexis-nexis)
Although the meetings may have resumed, the radical demands and tense
political environment in Yerevan will probably prohibit any progress
along that route. Last week the very influential union of
Nagorno-Karabakh war veterans, Yerkrapah, announced it would oppose any
settlement "that entails the return to Azerbaijani jurisdiction of
occupied Azerbaijani territories bordering on the unrecognized
Nagorno-Karabakh republic." (RFE/RL NEWSLINE, 8 Feb 00) This suggests
that the Yerkrapah leadership claims not only the Nagorno-Karabakh area
but also the indisputably Azerbaijani districts that border it --
Azerbaijani areas which Armenian forces have been occupying since the
cease-fire of 1994. Moreover the group insists on having a veto over any
settlement plan and a national referendum on the issue. Prime Minister
Aram Sarkisian agreed that no peace deal can be adopted without
Yerkrapah's approval, while deputy parliamentary speaker Tigran Torosian
suggested that any plan must be put to public debate. It seems that
Yerevan's most powerful political factions have gotten behind a position
on the occupied territories which is guaranteed to breed resentment in
Baku.
Since the assassinations, the military wing --Yerkrapah and its political
representation, the Republican Party, which is part of the ruling
coalition Miasnutiun -- has emerged as the major political force in
opposition to the president. Immediately after the assassinations, the
military had presented the president with suggestions for his new
cabinet. That demand was not met but a military prosecutor was charged
with carrying out the investigation to placate some of the criticism from
that quarter. In December, a Yerkrapah congress called for the
president's resignation. That call was echoed in January by Vazgen
Manukian, the leader of the National Democratic Union and a contender in
the 1996 and 1998 presidential elections. The idea of early presidential
elections met with approval from several other opposition figures who had
opposed such calls in December. (IWPR'S CAUCASUS REPORTING SERVICE, 28
Jan 00) Although so far Kocharian has managed to remain in his post,
some very astute analysts believe that new elections are only being
postponed until the Miasnutiun parliamentary coalition can find a
suitable candidate. (RFE/RL CAUCASUS REPORT, 28 Jan 00)
In the meantime, the military prosecutor arrested six more persons in
January, bringing the total to 20, based ostensibly on the testimony of
the assassins in his custody. (NOYAN TAPAN, 1324 GMT, 10 Jan 00;
FBIS-SOV-2000-0111, via World News Connection) Among the suspects are
several associates of the president, including a presidential aide,
Aleksan Arutyunyan. The arrests of influential members of the
president's circle fuel the popular speculation that Kocharian and his
entourage were behind the assassinations. At the same time, Prosecutor
Gagik Dzhangirian told reporters the terrorist act may have represented
the first phase of an attempted coup. (NOYAN TAPAN, 0600 GMT, 13 Jan 00;
FBIS-SOV-2000-0113, via World News Connection) This seems like a very
odd scenario. Why would Kocharian sponsor a coup against himself? He
lost political clout in domestic politics as a direct result of these
events and his diplomatic initiative on Nagorno-Karabakh was scuttled.
Unless some new evidence is revealed, this version seems unpersuasive --
the ostensible culprit lacks a motive. Others, like Vafa Guluzade, the
former national security advisor to Aliev, advance a different view and
suggest that Russian interests were behind the assassination. (See Vafa
Guluzade "Russia, Turkey and Caucasian Stability," at
http://www.cacianalyst.org/Forum%20sums.htm) This version seems more
logical: The military and its Russian sponsors used the terrorist act to
cower the president, just when the negotiations over Nagorno-Karabakh
were beginning to bear fruit, and press for their own militant stand on
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The manner in which the investigation into the parliamentary slaying has
been carried out is perhaps even more troubling than the attacks on the
president. Obshchaya gazeta reported that masked men burst into a
parliament session to drag off a presidential aide. The paper compared
the proceedings to the great purge of 1937. The parallel is an apt one.
The investigation proceeds in total secrecy; the military holds suspects
for months and makes arrests based entirely on their testimony. One
newspaper editor was arrested because his name was mentioned by a
suspect. He was released when it was proven that he was out of the
country on 27 October. As it turns out, the evidence against him
consisted of the claim that he had commissioned an article from one of
the assassins. (OBSHCHAYA GAZETA, 13 Jan 00; FBIS-SOV-2000-0114, via
World News Connection)
The military prosecutor added another creepy undertone when he hinted at
a possible link between the assassinations and the Vano Siradegian trial.
(NOYAN TAPAN, 0600 GMT, 13 Jan 00; FBIS-SOV-2000-0113, via World News
Connection) IWPR referred to those proceedings against the former MVD
minister and 11 other defendants as a "show trial." (IWPR CAUCASUS
REPORTING SERVICE, 4 Feb 00 ) It might be possible to imagine some
strange scenario by which this case, which dates back five years, has
some bearing on the October 1999 events, but such concoctions bear an
even stronger resemblance to 1937, when prosecutors uncovered vast
conspiracies to terrify the population and annihilate the opposition.
The NIS Observed: An Analytical Review
Volume V, Number 3 (15 February 2000)
by Miriam Lanskoy
online database: http://www.bu.edu/iscip/database.html
Copied with permission from Habarlar-L Newslist
AZERBAIJAN SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Press Release no. 19
THE ARMENIAN TERRORISM ON THE INTERNET
For further information on this PR, contact
Javid Huseynov, Administrator
Azerbaijan Society of America
[email protected]
February 17, 2000
The Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) denounces the recent Internet
crime (so called LIAZOR action) committed by Armenian hackers against
mostly privately-owned Azeri sites. The result of this vandalist action
affected numerous pages, including the websites of the Embassy of
Azerbaijan in the U.S., private organization AzerIn, independent magazine
Azerbaijan International, independent newspaper Zerkalo, and many others,
which are unavailable as of now.
Armenian net criminals have also attempted an attack on ASA homepage, and
changed the contact addresses in our InterNIC contact records, using
their popular "inspirer" Joseph Dzhugashvili's (Stalin, Coba) name and
fakely referring the address to the Republic of Georgia. Creating fake
addresses and pages for propaganda is not rare among Armenian
"truth-tellers" on the Internet. One of them is Ovannes Manucharyan, the
creator of infamous www.aliyev.com, which spreads baseless and
undocumented lies about the history and the presence of Azerbaijan.
This is not the first sign of Armenian net terrorism. Such a crime was
committed once already on May 28, 1997 against the website of "Azerbaijan
International" magazine. But now the manner of the crime committed
by Armenian hackers is truely unique. Bearing on their physical location
outside the United States, they broke into records of Network Solutions,
world's biggest Internet domain registry. By doing so, they violated the
U.S. and international Internet laws, and have undermined the reputation
of Armenia on the Internet.
Armenian hackers, at this time acting from occupied Karabakh region of
Azerbaijan, once more prove to the world and the Internet community, that
they are ready to spread all Armenian crimes committed against peaceful
Azeri population of Karabakh and Armenia to the Internet. They show the
helplessness of their illegal, militaristic and puppet regime on the
occupied and internationally recognized Azerbaijani lands.
The leader of Armenian hackers, Samvel Mailian, was detected red-handed
and identified, while failing to hack one of the protected Azeri sites.
According to some news sources, this young Armenian net criminal proudly
"warns" that "he is in control" of Azeri sites for "at least one
year". However, Mailian forgets that he attacked an independent U.S.-based
worldwide domain provider, and sooner or later, he and his teammates from
Arminco and AIC will be brought to justice for crimes on Internet.
The Azerbaijan Society of America will immediately contact Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. State Department, the Department of
Justice, the Network Solutions as well as the Internet Service Providers
for each domain that came under attack to conduct further investigation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Azerbaijan Society of America is a non-profit organization dedicated
to enhancing knowledge about the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azeri
people, their culture and history.
###
JJH
Press Release ASM, CA/254
