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Edited on May 22, 2000
U.S. ADMINISTRATION KEEN ON KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
The U.S. co-chair in the OSCE Minsk Group Carry Cavano, who was
visiting Baku last week, said his country intends to take decisive
steps in the issue of resolution of the Upper Karabakh conflict.
The purpose of his visit to the region was to help accelerate the
peace process and revitalize the dialog between parties to the
conflict.
Mr. Cavano had visited Tbilisi and Yerevan before arriving to Baku.
Mr. Cavano, who is also U.S. administration`s envoy for the
conflict, met with President Aliyev Wednesday. The U.S. diplomat
told President Aliyev that "there are tremendous opportunities for
moving things off the ground in the foreseeable future". Mr. Cavano
said the U.S. President and Secretary of State were interested in
the solution of the Armenian- Azerbaijan conflict, restoration of
peace in the Caucasus and intend to multiply their effort in this
direction.
He added that the Upper Karabakh issue would be on agenda during
President Clinton`s visit to Moscow scheduled for June. According
to Mr. Cavano, MG co-chairs will meet in Geneva May 17 to discuss
new proposals at conflict settlement, while on May 18
representatives of 12 international organizations will make an
assessment of restoration operations in the territories to be
liberated from under Armenian occupation. Also to be outlined in
Geneva is the plan of settling refugees in these territories.
President Aliyev underscored the importance of the endeavor to
resolve the conflict and emphasized Azerbaijan`s adherence to a
negotiated settlement of the dispute.
In conclusion, the U.S. diplomat congratulated President Aliyev on
his birthday, by presenting him with a piece of stone from an Agdam
mosque.
Moved with the gift, the President made a wish to visit the mosque
together with Mr. Cavano after the town is liberated.
Azernews, No. 20 (150), May 17-23, 2000
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT FACTIONS REJECT EXCHANGE OF TERRITORY.
Meeting on 19 May, the leaders of parties and factions
represented in the Armenian parliament issued a statement
rejecting any proposed exchange of territory between Armenia
and Azerbaijan as a violation of Armenia's territorial
integrity, Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported.
It added that any proposed settlement of the Karabakh
conflict must be endorsed by the Armenian parliament. The
statement noted presidential spokesman Vahe Gabrielian's
denial the previous day that Kocharian and his Azerbaijani
counterpart, Heidar Aliev, had reached any such agreement
(see "RFE/RL Newsline," 19 May 2000). LF
Armenian Parliament issued statement on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement
The leaders of the parliamentary factions and groups have
discussed the recent reports on a possible territorial exchange
between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The statement issued after their meeting today, says that any
attempt to violate the territorial integrity of Armenia is
unacceptable for the leaders of factions and groups of the
National Assembly. According to the Armenian constitution and
laws issues relates to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can not be
solved without the consent of parliament, the statement says.
Parliamentarians also noted the fact that President Kocharian has
officially denied those reports.
Some Armenian newspapers have speculated recently that Armenian
and Azeri Presidents have already agreed to exchange land in
Meghri and Nakhichevan region. Presidential spokesman Vahe
Gabrielian flatly denied the report, saying that there is no such
agreement between the two presidents.
(Ruzan Khachatrian)
Azerbaijan/Armenia: Panel Reviews Crisis In Nagorno-Karabakh
By Lisa McAdams
Washington's American University hosted a panel discussion
Thursday on the protracted dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the mainly Armenian-populated enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is located in Azerbaijan. RFE/RL's Senior Correspondent
Lisa McAdams reports that while panel participants called for
fresh ideas in the long elusive search for peace, they offered
little new in the way of concrete proposals.
Washington, 19 May 2000 (RFE/RL) -- High-profile participants
addressing Thursday's panel entitled, "The Nagorno-Karabakh
Crisis: A Time For Resolution," offered little in the way to
actually bring that long-sought goal to fruition. But all agreed
that talking remains the only way over and potentially through the
territorial dispute which, for seven years now, has seen mediation
by numerous countries, but no political solution.
For six years in the late 1980s an undeclared war raged in
Nagorno-Karabakh causing tens of thousands of deaths and the
displacement of some 1.3 million refugees.
The conflict between the two parties reached a watershed in 1991.
That year witnessed the disintegration of the Soviet Union and, in
its wake, declarations of independence from Azerbaijan, Armenia,
and Nagorno-Karabakh, among others.
In 1994, after a series of mediation attempts by outside agents, a
ceasefire was achieved. But efforts toward a permanent settlement
remain deadlocked to this day.
Originally seeking unification with Armenia, the Karabakh
Armenians now want the right to self-determination. They argue
that just as Azerbaijan had the legal right to secede from the
Soviet Union, so too should Karabakh Armenians they say have the
right to exercise self-determination and secede from Azerbaijan.
The government of Armenia supports the claims of the Karabakh
Armenians but does not consider itself a disputant in the
conflict. Rouben Shugarian, deputy foreign minister of Armenia,
spoke to Yerevan's perspective on the conflict at Thursday's
meeting.
Shugarian noted that while today there is a 6-year long ceasefire
in Nagorno-Karabakh, he said the ceasefire is an element of a
broader process and can not be seen as stable on its own. He said
the region will not be stable until there is a durable peace
safeguarded by international guarantees and equally accepted by
all parties.
At the same time, Shugarian said he thought the negotiation
process under the Minsk group, comprising Russia, the United
States, and France, got a much-needed boost last year, when
mediators brought forth some new ideas.
Shugarian said there is now a proposal on the table for a
"common-state," accepted by Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, but
rejected by Azerbaijan. It is but one idea he said, stressing
that Armenia remains, "ready and open" to the negotiation process.
Shugarian did, however, note that Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh
may well have to play the greater future role.
"We will come to a point where Armenia, as much as it is
interested in a resolution of the conflict, will not be in a
position to decide for Nagorno-Karabakh and at that point, I
think, the Azerbaijani government should be flexible enough to sit
at the negotiation table with the elected authorities of
Nagorno-Karabakh."
The government of Azerbaijan declined to participate in Thursday's
panel discussion, but speaking to the Azerbaijani perspective was
Jayhun Mullazade, president of the U.S.-Azerbaijan Council.
Mullazade said Azerbaijan seeks to maintain its territorial
integrity and to protect its sovereignty. Alluding to the
Karabakh Armenian's goal of self-determination, he pondered,
"Where does one draw the line?"
He also pointed the finger of blame on further progress outside
the immediate region, saying he and many other Azerbaijanis
believe in "conspiracy theories." Mullazade elaborated by saying
that he firmly believes there are certain outside elements who do
not wish to see the parties solve the dispute, and are even less
interested in seeing a westward orientation of the south Caucasus.
Sounding a more somber note than Shugarian, Mullazade said he
could not envisage a day when an Azerbaijani government would sign
an agreement establishing the independence, or secession, or
unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.
Mullazade also said the course of peace may be determined more by
actions in Russia than by mediators from the West.
"The most important (thing) is how the new Putin government views
the South Caucasus -- whether new Russian leadership will be more
focusing on Russian economy and cooperation and stability in the
Caucasus, which may help stabilize Chechnya and may stabilize
North Caucasus, or they will be in opposite policy of
destabilizing South Caucasus, in order to take over the Caspian
region."
Mullazade says that if Russia chooses to play the role of a
spoiler in the region, he does not think regional peace and
security will be achievable. He said the other key determinant
for the future will be the stability of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani governments. Harry Gilmure, the former U.S.
ambassador to Armenia, said he sees a new and invigorated Karabakh
peace process driven by the quest for Caspian Oil reserves and
increasing calls for regional cooperation and security. At the
same time, Gilmure said he does not see much evidence of
statesmanship, or vision, or even responsibility among leaders of
the region.
Gilmure said he also shared the unpopular view among some that
there are significant internal political obstacles to a settlement
on both the Armenian and Azerbaijani side and, to a lesser extent,
in Karabakh as well. Gilmure said he did, however, agree with
Mullazade that Russia will play a pivotal role.
"I believe there is a sincere commitment, (as) certainly during my
term, to work effectively with Russia. In an earlier period,
there were times when the Russians really were not as comfortable
with other mediator's efforts, but I think that is changing. But
here I think when President (Bill) Clinton goes to Moscow to meet
with President (Vladimir) Putin this issue will be on the agenda."
Presidents Bill Clinton and Vladimir Putin are slated to meet June
4-5 in Moscow for summit-level talks. Gilmure said such talks
will be helpful. He also said he was encouraged to hear all sides
express strong support for enhanced regional security cooperation,
which he said could only serve to strengthen the environment for a
long-sought peace.
Meanwhile, Carey Cavanaugh, the U.S. special negotiator to the
Minsk process, was due to address Thursday's event but was instead
reported en route to Geneva, where it is said the Minsk group
negotiations will resume again soon. One panel leader said he had
been asked to convey Cavanaugh's sense of "optimism" that this
next round could well yield progress.
Copyright 2000 RFE/RL
Armenian News by Noyan Tapan and Armenpress, May 19, 2000
#########################################################################
HL NOTE: Some or all of the following news articles ignore such basic
facts that:
1) Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was, is, and will remain to be a
legitimate and internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan;
2) Karabakh, and seven other regions are illegally occupied by
armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, the aggressor;
3) Puppet and self-proclaimed (Nagorno) Karabakh Republic ("NKR") is an
illegitimate and criminal entity, not recognized by any international
organization or state;
4) As of 1992, Khankandi has been restored as an official historical name
of the town, that was renamed to Stepanakert by J. Stalin in 1923
#########################################################################
Karabakh Foreign Minister's Visit To France
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--During her visit to France, on May 16
Karabakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Naira Melkoumian gave a
speech in the French Institute of International Relations. The
topic of her speech was the prospects of the Karabakh conflict
settlement. Melkoumian noted that Baku's policy concerning the
Karabakh settlement had become quite stiffer over the last two
years. Accepting the latest proposals of the OSCE Minsk Group as
a basis for resuming the negotiations, Karabakh, according to the
Minister, actually gave up a part of its independence, agreeing to
create a common state with Azerbaijan. But Baku didn't take
meeting steps. Melkoumian stated that the Armenian party wouldn't
make any compromises until Azerbaijan clarified itself in this
issue. "Independence isn't an end in itself for us. We aspire
for stability in the region, and to this end, first of all,
Azerbaijan's recognition of the independence of Nagorno Karabakh
is necessary. However, Baku refuses to hold any negotiations,
considering that they will mean indirect recognition of Karabakh's
independence," emphasized the Republic's Foreign Minister.
That evening, Melkoumian met with the French co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Jean-Jacques Gaillard. Issues concerning the
internal political situation in Karabakh and the OSCE
co-chairmen's meeting to be held in Geneva on May 18-19 were
discussed. The forthcoming visit of the OSCE co-chairmen to the
region, as well as issues of restoration and economic development
in the South Caucasus will be touched upon at the Geneva meeting.
On May 18, Naira Melkoumian left for Washington to participate in
the a conference entitled "The Karabakh Crisis: Time for
Settlement."
Kocharian Discusses Refugees With UN Rep
YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--Armenian President Robert Kocharian
received the UN Secretary General's Representative on internally
displaced persons Francis Deng on May 19.
The UN high-ranking official, who has already visited the
republic's provinces to study the problems of internally displaced
persons, informed the president that in 2000 the UN is starting
the development of special programs immediately related to IDPs.
He outlined the basic principles of these programs. Deng noted a
considerable difference in the refugee situation in Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Kocharian said that unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia does
not turn the refugee problem into a subject of political
speculations. "Our country is trying to integrate the refugees
into society as far as possible," the president emphasized.
The problem of IDPs, according to Kocharian, has political,
economic and social significance in the country. He highly
appreciated the aid of the UN mission and attached importance to
the relevant resolution of the UN aimed at facilitating solutions
to the problem of IDPs.
Stressing that at present the government lacks means to solve the
problems of IDPs, Kocharian said that the government would be
grateful to all organizations that render assistance in solving
this problem. He declared Armenia's willingness to work in
keeping with the rules and closely cooperate with the UN mission.
Both sides were unanimous in their opinion that the program being
implemented should be open and transparent.
A day earlier, the UN Representative and UN Development Program
Resident Representative Katica Cekalovic visited the borderline
villages of Armenia's Tavush region. The officials were
accompanied by Armenia's Head of the Department of Migration and
Refugees Gagik Yeganian and Tavush Governor Armen Gularian.
The UN officials said the goal of their visit was to study the
situation in the region's borderlands. They visited the village
of Vazashen, Ijevan region, which came under heavy shelling during
the Armenian-Azeri hostilities. Then, they visited the village of
Nerkin Karmiraghbiur in the country's Berd region where 86 homes
were ruined under Azeri shelling and 266 homes were severely
damaged.
Currently, medical and educational establishments in the Tavush
region are being restored under the UN Development Program.
Azeri President Calls Resumption of War in Karabakh 'Lunacy'
YEREVAN (Armenpress)--"The resumption of military actions in
Karabakh would be lunacy," Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev was
quoted by Itar-Tass as saying.
Aliyev was speaking at an international conference on Development
Problems and Strategic Direction, held in Baku and devoted to
refugee problems. "By resuming military actions on the front we
may liberate the occupied territories but our losses would be even
greater," he said, calling for a peaceful regulation of the
conflict. At the same time he said that delaying the peace
process would complicate the already dire conditions of
approximately 1 million refugees left homeless as a result of the
conflict.
In a related development, former defense minister of Azerbaijan,
co-chairman of the public organization "Freedom to Karabakh"
announced that the occupied territories could be liberated in two
months.
Copyright 2000 Noyan Tapan and Armenpress
RFE/RL Armenia Report, May 19, 2000
PEACE REMAINS THE ONLY MEANS FOR LIBERATION OF OCCUPIED AZERI LANDS
The process of assuming the role of liberation of Azerbaijan?s
occupied lands started in 1993 when incumbent President Heydar
Aliyev came to power. He announced at that time that the Azeri
lands will be liberated through military way if peace talks
fail. Thus, Azeri society began living around the thought
"peace or war" and from time to time dared to utter with fear
"we are ready to liberate our lands if necessary." It was
afterwards followed by ceasefire regime, OSCE Minsk Group's
activities, summits, direct presidential talks and so on. So,
the "to be" part of the "to be or not to be" and the "peace"
part of the "peace or war" phrases remained for Azeris. It
was once again proved that for Azerbaijan being prevails over
not being and peace prevails over war. Another evidence of it
was the speech delivered by President Aliyev at the
international conference "Development Programmes and Strategic
Directions" held in Baku's Gulustan Palace May 18. We would
remind you that the head of the Azeri state criticized all
pro-war statements being made in Azerbaijan. Thus, it was
definitely decided that Azerbaijan prefers to solve the
long-running Karabakh problem through peace talks. Political
observers are trying to explain in a few ways the fact that
Aliyev excluded the military variant of solution of the
conflict. First, the president is confident the lands will be
liberated through peace talks. Second, he is confident the
world?s powers won't allow the war to happen. Third, he is
confident the war won't give any positive results. And fourth,
he is confident that Azeri citizens and MPs say "war" but
agree with him in their hearts.
By Alakbar Abbasov
INTERNATIONAL AID TO AZERBAIJAN
DECREASES
The deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers? department on
refugees, IDPs, migration affairs and work with international
relief organizations, Ilham Mazanli said in his interview that
every IDP in Azerbaijan receives 3-4 kgs of food per month.
Their food ration includes mainly flour, rice, sugar and
vegetable oil. According to Mazanli, only extraordinary
situations envision granting 17-20 kgs of food to refugees and
IDPs. The same thought was expressed by the head of the Peace
and Democracy Institute?s Conflictology and Migration
Department, Arif Yunusov. As for the recent decrease in the
size of humanitarian aid, Yunusov said it depended on the
number of refugees and the scale of assistance. In his turn,
Mazanli said 17-20 kgs assistance are rendered for 5 years at
the farthest according to international standards. According
to him, donors who render assistance for 5 years get tired upon
expiration of this term and this is why the size of aid
decreases from year to year. But Yunusov said the food
assistance programmes are designed for 4 years. Yunusov
explains the reason of the decrease in international
humanitarian aid with the fact that international relief
organizations have been leaving Azerbaijan since 1998. Mazanli
said on the contrary that some 70 international relief
organizations are currently operating in Azerbaijan.
By Etibar Mamedov
ANS News, May 19, 2000
Baku Hosts Conference On Refugee Problems
An international conference "Refugees and displaced persons:
development problems and strategic directions", organized by
the Azerbaijan Government and the UN House in Azerbaijan, was
held in Baku Thursday. Socio-economic problems of refugees and
IDPs were discussed by representatives of donor countries and
international humanitarian organizations.
In his opening remarks, vice-premier Ali Hasanov said
international organizations had provided Azerbaijan $425
million worth of humanitarian aid over the last 8 years. Oil
companies alone have allocated $9 million. For the last 3
years, 146 billion manats have been allotted from the state
budget on social security of refugees, 47,000 hectares of land
given to refugee farmers. Besides, a lot has been done to
employ refugee and IDP population. This, however, does not
represent a comprehensive solution to their
problems, he said.
Mr. Hasanov indicated that despite the deplorable plight of
refugees, the volume of assistance has significantly shrunk.
Also addressing the conference, Acting Resident Coordinator of
UN in Azerbaijan Sharif Amin Zager, representative of the WB
Tevfik Yaprak and others confirmed the vice-premier`s
statement on tumbled down volume of assistance and stated that
it was therefore necessary to implement development programs
stage-by-stage in order to achieve self-subsistence for
refugees.
President Aliyev, in turn, said the reduced quantity of
assistance was a worrying factor. He highlighted as well that
at the same time the condition of refugees over these years
has not improved. He supported the implementation of
development programs, but added that this was a long-term
process. Petrodollars will only start arriving in several
years, the President said and asked international
organizations not to cut down the volume of assistance.
The President demanded the Customs Service and Police not to
interfere with the work of humanitarian organizations.
AssA-Irada News, May 18, 2000
Referred from Habarlar-L
Last edited on May 19, 2000
AZERBAIJAN'S ALIEV SAYS NEW WAR IN KARABAKH WOULD BE 'INSANE.'
President Aliev said on 18 May that "it would be
insane to resume military actions in Karabakh," Caucasus
Press reported. Aliev made his comment during an
international conference on refugees and development. In
other remarks, he lashed out at Azerbaijani officials who
were blocking the distribution of humanitarian aid to
refugees. PG
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DENIES AGREEING TO LAND SWAP WITH BAKU.
Presidential spokesman Vage Gabriyelyan on 18 May denied
reports in the Armenian press that President Kocharian has
agreed with Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliev to a land-swap
as the basis for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute, the Snark agency reported. There has been no such
agreement, Gabriyelyan said. PG
YEREVAN DENIES DISCUSSING REDEPLOYMENT OF RUSSIAN BASES FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA.
Acting Armenian Defense Minister
Lieutenant-General Mikayel Arutyunyan described as false
recent reports of talks between Armenia and Russia on
shifting to Armenia Russian military bases currently located
in Georgia, Snark reported on 17 May. "Such talks are not
being held," he said. PG
U.S. SAID PRESSING ARMENIANS TO BACK KOCHARIAN ON KARABAKH.
Following a recent visit to Washington, Victor Dallakian, the
chairman of the Armenian parliament's Committee on State and
Local Affairs, said that U.S. State Department officials had
urged him and his colleagues to support President Kocharian
on the resolution of the Karabakh issue, RFE/RL's Armenian
Service reported on 17 May. Dallakian said that the U.S. side
hinted that such a resolution might require a territorial
swap, an outcome Dallakian said he and his colleagues would
oppose. PG
Copyright RFE/RL
US Urges Deputy to Back Kocharian's Karabakh Policy
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Senior Armenian parliamentarians, who have visited
the United States, said on Wednesday that they were urged by State
Department officials to back President Robert Kocharian's policy on
Nagorno-Karabakh. American officials were also understood to view a
swap of territories between Armenia and Azerbaijan as one of
possible peace options.
"Mr. [Brad] Kiesling (a senior State Department official) was
urging us to stand by the president of the republic in the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," said Victor Dallakian,
chairman of the Armenian parliament committee on state and legal
affairs. Dallakian and four other committee chairmen returned on
Tuesday to Yerevan after a month-long tour of America. They were
all present at the meeting with Kiesling, who is a former first
secretary of the US embassy in Armenia.
"He made the point that Kocharian has certain concerns related to
[the attitude on Karabakh peace] of the people and the parliament of
Armenia," Dallakian told RFE/RL in an interview. He said the
Armenians told Kiesling that Kocharian has not yet discussed any
specific peace deals with the legislature.
With the active encouragement from the United States, the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan have held a series of face-to-face talks
over the past year, raising hopes for a breakthrough on Karabakh.
Kocharian's opponents in the Armenian leadership, which are led by
the Yerkrapah Union, favor a tougher line on a settlement with
Azerbaijan.
Dallakian also claimed that Kiesling hinted "dimly" at an exchange
of territories between the conflicting parties, wondering about the
opinion of the Armenian parliamentarians on such a deal. "We told
him our view is that parts of Armenia's territory can not be traded
for Armenian lands," Dallakian said.
Armenian government officials have acknowledged that the idea of a
territorial swap was floated by international mediators last year
but was rejected by Yerevan out of hand.
Also discussed in Washington, Dallakian said, was "the health
condition of [Azeri President] Haydar Aliyev" and the possibility of
a Baku-Ceyhan pipeline running through Armenia. In the words of
Gagik Tadevosian, chairman of the parliament committee on social
security and public health, "We discovered that a Karabakh
settlement is not as urgent [for mediators] as is presented." He
did not elaborate.
Together with Russia and France, the US co-chairs the Minsk Group of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which
spearheads international efforts to find a solution to the Karabakh
dispute.
Copyright 2000 RFE/RL
Rererred from Habarlar-L
TURKEY EXPANDS AID TO AZERBAIJANI
ARMED FORCES.
Turkish and Azerbaijani officials on 16 May signed an accord that calls
for Turkey to provide the Azerbaijani military with $3.1
million in assistance, the Trend news agency reported on 17
May. PG
Copyright RFE/RL
AZERBAIJAN MARKS ANOTHER SAD ANNIVERSARY
The residents of Azerbaijan's western Lachin region were leaving the
regional centre - the town of Lachin - in mass order. If other
now-occupied Azeri region - Shusha surrendered after a 17-hour-long
resistance, Lachin was ceded by the national army without any bullet
shot. It?s still unknown who gave the order to leave the town and
let Armenians occupy it. Everyone was just fleeing the town at the
time. Someone called it a treachery. But one is for sure that the
loss of Lachin, the gates of Karabakh, was linked with the processes
going in Baku. Asked how he rated the socio-political situation in
the country, the ex-defense minister of Azerbaijan, Rahim Gaziyev
said the following: "I rate the socio-political situation in
Azerbaijan as the most dramatic and disgraceful period in the
history of our country." Having faced the cruel reality, the
residents of Lachin realized that they were to experience the fate
of Shusha occupied by Armenians earlier, because their town was the
direct target of Armenian cannons and missiles after the
strategically important Shusha was occupied. The occupation of
Lachin wasn't that difficult at the moment. Meanwhile, the
atmosphere in the capital Baku was quite different. The Azerbaijan
Popular Front which was in power at that time was getting ready for
presidential election. "That was a treachery. I had kept telling
at that time not to hold presidential election, because our fate,
the fate of Azerbaijan, was at stake," Gaziyev concluded. Eight
years have passed since occupation of Lachin. The ninth year is on
the way.
By Eldaniz Veliyev
LACHIN REFUGEES WANT TO LIBERATE THEIR LANDS BY FIGHTING
Armenian aggressors occupied Azerbaijan?s eastwestern Lachin region
on May 17, 1992. A group of people of Lachin origin have settled in
the region of Agjabedi since their land was occupied. A settlement
has been founded in Agjabedi for Lachin refugees in 1996 with the
assistance of Turkish and German relief organizations. Some 900
refugees have settled there so far. The Lachin refugees themselves
reckon that their town was occupied through lack of coordination in
the Azeri army at that time. But the Lachinians still hope they
would return to their native land and expressed their readiness to
do so even by fighting.
By Vafa Ibrahimova
BOUNDARY AZERI REGIONS UNDER PERMANENT ARMENIAN FIRE
The village of Kemerli, the remotest in the western Gazakh region of
Azerbaijan, abuts on four villages of Armenia?s Noemberian region.
Aladdin Mamedov, the representative of the Gazakh executive power in
Kemerli, although the nearness to the Armenian border has some
effect on the 750 household-strong village, the local population is
engaged in agriculture and livestock breeding. Mamedov said there
were some problems with water-supply in the village, because
Armenian militants hold under permanent fire the springs the
Keremlians use as drinking water. The village is experiencing
natural gas and power energy problems. According to the executive
power representative, the regional leadership is trying to solve the
village?s problems within their means. Surrounded by Armenian
villages from three sides, the village still goes on living despite
all obstacles.
By Shahla Abdinova
AZERBAIJAN?S ARMY INTENSIFIES MILITARY EXERCISES
The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan are continuing their exercises which
are being held with the purpose to increase the level of the
fighting efficiency of the Azeri Army. Meanwhile, the intensity of
military exercises of the national army is increasing from year to
year. Battalions replace each other in the training centre, where
optimal conditions for life and war have been set up. The main part
of the exercises starts with preparation of artillery and mortar
batteries. It is followed by the infantry being accompanied by
tanks. The infantry passes through a mine field and engages in a
?battle? with a conditional enemy. Covering is provided by a
platoon of mortar men. In accordance with the military order, the
advancing infantry is supported by tanks and air defense complexes.
Medical units are involved as well. The first attack echelon gets a
backup from behind after annihilation of the first line and takes
the defense position right away. The form of exercises changes but
its dynamics remains the same. A battalion to fulfil its task,
returns to the place of its stationing to be replaced by another
battalion.
By Ilgar Mikayiloglu
ANS News, May 18, 2000
Heydar Aliyev stated no peace would be reached without mutual concession in the Upper Karabakh problem's resolution
Baku. 18.05.2000. /AzadInform/. Today Azeri Republic President Heydar Aliyev
addressed the conference dedicated to refugees and IDPs state and held on the
subject "Development problems and strategic directions" in the "Gulustan" place.
Azeri president Heydar Aliyev emphasized the conference was of great importance
for Azerbaijan and one of the most difficult problems of the transitional period
was Armenian-Azeri conflict. Azeri president stressed Azeri IDPs and refugees
problem has 12-year history date and pointed first refugees troop had come from
Armenia in 1988, from Khankendi in 1990 and from different occupied villages and
regions of Upper Karabakh since 1990-91 (till the cease-fire).
Head of state announced in view of conflicts in other countries of the world,
the assistance rendered to Azerbaijan had been reduced year by year. He stated
informed Azerbaijan didn't want to live at the expense of assistance, but for
the last years there were no changes in situation.
H. Aliyev specially appraised allotment of 47 thousand ha of land for refugees.
Azeri President give instructions to the Cabinet of Ministers, some Ministries
and government structures on removal of heard problems.
Head of state asked international assistance organizations participated in
ceremony not to decrease humanitarian assistance rendered to Azerbaijan and to
extend repair works and development strategy.
At the end Azeri Republic President laid stress upon importance of the
compromise of two parties for achieving a peace and resolution of the Upper
Karabakh problem and announced "no peace would be reached without it".
Results of the OSCE Minsk group's co-chairs meeting to be put on the Clinton-Putin meeting's agenda
Baku. 18.05.2000. /AzadInform/. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs met yesterday in
Geneva. Participants discussed new proposals on the settlement of the
Armenian-Azeri conflict. Novruz Mamedov, head of the President's Office Foreign
Contacts Department, holds the parties should make a certain decision having
discussed up-to-day achievements. According to him, co-chairs will conduct
negotiations with a number of financial organizations as well as experts of
donor countries under participation of UN representatives. Financial items on
carrying out of restoration works on liberated territories will be considered
too. Restoration works assume re-building of roads, energy nets, communication
and houses.
The US and Russian presidents will be informed about results of OSCE Minsk
group's co-chairs meeting. The issue is to be discussed on the US President B.
Clinton's June 4-5 visit to Russia. N. Mamedov expressed his hope co-chairs
would reach progress in resolution of the conflict.
The Azeri and Armenian presidents are expected to meet on June 21 during the
summit of the CIS heads-of-states.
The two presidents are to discuss achievements.
AzadInform #371(451) 18/05/2000
Referred from Habarlar-L
Last edited on May 17, 2000
Aliyev Backs Caucasus Security Pact, Calls
for Nagorno-Karabakh Solution
ANKARA, May 15, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Azerbaijani President
Heydar Aliyev has voiced backing for a Caucasus security pact, which
he said could bring peace to the region after a decade of conflicts,
the Azerbaijani embassy in Ankara said.
The embassy said in a statement late Saturday that Aliyev had voiced
his support for a security pact in a letter to Turkey's outgoing
president Suleyman Demirel, who along with his Georgian counterpart
Eduard Shevardnadze, had encouraged the development of such a pact in
January.
Aliyev's letter lauded the pact as having the potential to play a key
role in establishing peace and security in the region, the statement
said.
"The letter noted that the eradication of military conflicts in the
southern Caucasus, especially the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the establishment of perpetual peace is
necessary for productive and lasting relations in the region," it
added.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a predominantly ethnic Armenian region that broke
away from Azerbaijan in the Soviet Union's last years and tried to
unite with Armenia.
More than 30,000 died and nearly one million individuals were forced
from their homes since the ethnic Armenian majority there rebelled in
1988.
Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan, refuses to establish diplomatic
relations with Armenia until Armenian-backed fighters withdraw from
the disputed enclave.
In their call for a security pact, Demirel and Shevardnadze had
stressed that it would be a "collective effort" by several countries
and were looking at other countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Russia and Iran, to take part in it.
Copyright 2000 Agence France Presse
Cavanaugh Calls for Compromise for
KarabakhPeace
WASHINGTON (Noyan Tapan)--The US Special Negotiator on
Karabakh and the US co-chariman of the Minks Group Carrey
Cavanaugh told Voice of America that in order to achieve peace, all
sides must be willing to make compromises.
"I think that time has proven that peace of utmost importance to the
region, and the sides understand that only with peace can Armenia
and Azerbaijan realize their full potential," said Cavanaugh during
the interview.
The US envoy said both Armenia and Azerbaijan have been
affected economically because of the conflict, adding that continuing
hostility between the two countries is deterring foreign investment.
Cavanaugh said that both presidents have been honest enough to
recognize that the only way to achieve lasting peace is through
mutual compromises.
After accepting the importance of compromises, people also realize
that such an avenue is not only beneficial for politically, but also for
the people's daily life, Cavanaugh said.
The US official stated that the compromises may be such that they do
not threaten the security of the region, while at the same time are
fair. This will provide the leadership with the means to proceed to
everyone's benefit.
Copyright 2000 Noyan Tapan
AZERI ARMY UNDER ARMENIAN FIRE
The positions of Azerbaijan?s national army near the Sumuklu Mount of
the western Gadabay region had been under fire of Armenian troops for
50 minutes (from 6:00 p.m. till 6:50 p.m.) on May 14. According to
the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan, the fire was opened from the
territory of Armenia?s Krasnoselsk region. The shelling was stopped
after the Azeri side opened a return fire. No casualties are
reported.
By Leyla Nasirova
ANS News, May 17, 2000
UKRAINE WILLING TO SERVE AS PEACEKEEPER
IN KARABAKH, ABKHAZIA.
In Kyiv yesterday, President Leonid Kuchma and Foreign Affairs Minister Borys
Tarasyuk discussed with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Vilayet Guliev the
possibility of Ukraine's participation in a peacekeeping operation in
Karabakh. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe envisages
such an operation, once Armenia and Azerbaijan will have signed a political
agreement that would make possible the deployment of international
peacekeeping troops. Azerbaijan would especially value the participation of
Ukraine as a fellow-member of the GUUAM
(Georgia-Ukraine-Uzbekistan-Azerbaijan-Moldova) group of countries. In the
course of the Kyiv meeting, Guliev cited with some emphasis the statements
made by Kuchma during his visit to Azerbaijan in March. On that occasion,
the Ukrainian president identified with Azerbaijan's position in the
dispute with Armenia over Karabakh. He strongly endorsed the principle of
the territorial integrity of states as opposed to that of national
self-determination, and he called for the early and unconditional return of
Azeri refugees to their homes in the solidly Azeri areas, seized by
Armenian forces outside Karabakh.
[pasage omitted: about Abkhazia conflict]
Copyrights ANS
News referred from Habarlar-L
YERKRAPAH FORMS PARLIAMENTARY GROUP.
Deputies affiliated with
the Yerkrapah Union of Nagorno-Karabakh war veterans have
formed their own parliamentary bloc, RFE/RL's Armenian
Service reported on 16 May. This finalizes their split from
the Miasnutiun bloc. The 12 deputies in the new group, called
Hayastan, object to Miasnutiun's willingness to cooperate
with President Kocharian. Hayastan's chairman, Miasnik
Malkhasian, said that his union believes Kocharian should
step down and let the Armenian people choose a new leader. PG
COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE BACKS ARMENIAN, AZERBAIJANI MEMBERSHIP.
The political committee of the Council of Europe
on 16 May voted to recommend the inclusion of Armenia and
Azerbaijan into the Council of Europe, RFE/RL's Armenian
Service reported. The two countries have had special guest
status in the council since 1996 because of the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict. PG
Copyright RFE/RL
