updated
HL NOTE: The latest on the Azikh situation is that the Ministry of Culture
and some other local and int-l authorities are planning a due diligence
trip to the Azikh cave. Only after this trip they plan to reveal the
details of their findings in the world media. The trip is scheduled in 3-4
days. (A.M.)
NATO reluctant to prevent Armenians from destroying
Azeri monuments � Azeri TV
Text of report by Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 21 March
[Presenter] Although Azerbaijan has joined the NATO Partnership for Peace
programme, provisions of this programme are not being fulfilled. For
instance, a NATO representative says that if there is a danger of
destruction of a 100-year-old historical monument, assistance is to be
rendered to members of the Partnership for Peace programme. Azerbaijan's
1,500-year-old Azix cave [in Nagornyy Karabakh] has been razed to the
ground.
[Correspondent over video of destroyed mosques and buildings] The Armenians
have razed to the ground the Azix cave that has a history of 1,500 years,
the chief of the main department for the exploitation, protection and
restoration of monuments of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, Faxraddin
Miralayev, has said.
[Faxraddin Miralayev] Nothing remains of the cave. Because, as we know, the
Armenians used it as an ammunition depot.
[Correspondent] Historical monuments in Susa [Shushi], which will soon be
included on the UNESCO cultural heritage list, have also been destroyed. Mr
Miralayev says that this is proven by video tapes.
[Miralayev] For instance, monuments in Susa have almost been razed to the
ground. I say this on the basis of these video documents. Mosques and Muslim
religious schools were all destroyed. We have material proving that the
Armenians have destroyed many monuments.
[Correspondent] It seems that Azerbaijan's history is being destroyed right
before our eyes.
[Miralayev] Yes, we are losing our history. The Armenians will use the
materials discovered during excavations there as they please.
[Correspondent] To recap, a NATO representative, (?Robert Pshel), has said
that if historical monuments are destroyed on the territory of the
alliance's member-countries or the Partnership for Peace programme, concrete
measures could be taken. Azerbaijan is a member of the programme. But Mr
Pshel described this ANS report as speculation.
[Pshel over telephone in Russian with Azeri voice-over] This is speculation.
I do not remember when this issue was discussed within the framework of
NATO. Of course, this is a political issue. But I have to note that
representatives of Partnership for Peace programme member-countries can
raise this issue during their meetings. But I cannot say what the reaction
by representatives of other countries will be. This is a policy.
[Correspondent over video of Taleban blowing up Bamiyan Buddhas] We wonder -
when the Taleban were destroying the Buddhist monuments in Afghanistan, this
was described as a crime against humanity. No discussion was needed for
this. But similar actions by Armenians in Azerbaijan have yet to be
discussed. Here we have double standards again. The cultural monuments
destroyed both in Afghanistan and Azerbaijan are not Christian ones. We
would not like to say in advance what Western countries would do if the
Christian culture was subjected to such vandalism. Anyhow, parallels are
dangerous, although criminals do not have a religion or nationality. Etibar
Mammadov, Elxan Huseynov,
ANS.
BBC
International Commentary
Armenia and Azerbaijan Can Make Peace
By Vladimir Socor
The Wall Street Journal
March 23-24, 2001
Earlier this month in Paris, President Jacques Chirac hosted peace talks
between presidents Haidar Aliev of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharian of
Armenia. Two weeks from now, U.S. President George Bush will play host to
Messrs. Aliev and Kocharian at the Florida White House in Key West for
another round of peace negotiations.
An unprecedented sense of urgency can be noticed in these Western efforts
to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, that big stumbling block to
modernity and prosperity in the South Caucasus-Caspian region. Its
resources and its potential as an international transit route are important
to the European and world economies. For that potential to be fulfilled, it
is necessary to heal this bleeding wound on the edge of Europe.
Sadly, the history that spawned the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict holds
both nations and their leaders in its grip. And there are vested interests
in Moscow to conserve the deadlock and play both sides against each
another. It was precisely through such tactics that Soviet Russia
subjugated Azerbaijan and Armenia 80 years ago. By the time the Soviet
Union breathed its last, the largely Armenian-populated Karabakh
constituted an autonomous region within Azerbaijan. The Karabakh Armenians
voted to unite with the newly independent state of Armenia. That unleashed
a three-year war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Moscow initially supported
Azerbaijan, then switched sides and enabled Armenia to win. An uneasy
cease-fire has basically held since 1994.
The war left tens of thousands of dead, two ruined economies and a
potentially explosive political situation. Beyond Karabakh itself, Armenian
forces occupy six purely Azeri, now totally deserted districts. Their
800,000 inhabitants--some 10% of Azerbaijan's population---have been turned
into destitute refugees.
No one has yet come up with even the outline of a solution that both sides
could accept. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe plays
the leading role as a mediator. In practice, that effort is in the hands of
Russia, France and the United States, as co-chairmen of the mediating
group. Its successive proposals have proven short on vision and on just
about everything else. That may have been inevitable, given the divergent
interests of its members, among whom the U.S. seemed mostly passive during
the Clinton years.
Given the OSCE's ineffectiveness, Western countries have encouraged
Messrs. Aliev and Kocharian to negotiate directly toward a solution or at
least the outline of one, which would then receive the OSCE's blessing. The
presidents' upcoming session in Florida will be their 16th in the past two
years. Their differences center on two distinct sets of issues: the
legal-political and the territorial.
The first set involves a dilemma between the principle of national
self-determination, and that of the territorial integrity of states and
inviolability of their recognized borders. The Armenian side basically
seeks: 1) A political status for Karabakh that would either result in its
independence, or leave it within Azerbaijan in a purely formal sense,
ruling out any subordination to Baku; 2) "No enclavization"--meaning,
instead, the establishment of a permanent territorial link between Karabakh
and Armenia through the Lachin corridor, situated outside Karabakh and held
by Armenian forces; 3) International security guarantees to the people of
Karabakh, including a right for Armenia to intervene if necessary in
defense of Karabakh.
The Azerbaijani side insists on exercising formal sovereignty, but also a
degree of control over Karabakh--by granting it "the highest level of
autonomy within Azerbaijan." The differing views on political status could
prove bridgeable if the Armenians would stop insisting that Karabakh must
have its own armed forces. But Azerbaijan's own, rigid insistence on the
territorial integrity principle discourages progress on that and other key
aspects of a settlement.
The second set of issues focuses on approach to negotiations and an
eventual settlement. Armenia seeks a "package" solution, whereby its troops
would hold on to the six Azeri districts beyond Karabakh until the
political status of Karabakh is determined. Those two issues would be
discussed in parallel or as a package solution. This is designed to
maximize the pressure on Baku to yield on the Karabakh status issue in
order to regain the Azeri-populated districts and repatriate their
refugees. By contrast, the Azerbaijani-favored "stage-by stage" approach
envisages the withdrawal of Armenian forces from those six Azeri districts
and the return of refugees as a first stage, to be followed by the
determination of Karabakh's political status.
Armenia's former President Levon Ter-Petrosian (1991-98) accepted the
stage-by-stage approach in 1997 and was, as a result, overthrown the
following year by hardliners. These included Mr. Kocharian, who went on to
become president. After his first year in office, Mr. Kocharian adopted the
thinking that had motivated his predecessor. He realized that holding on to
territories inside Azerbaijan proper would perpetuate Yerevan's dependence
on Russia, exacerbate Armenia's poverty through high military spending, and
leave the country without friends in the region other than Iran. Most
importantly, holding on to those territories would preclude a rapprochement
with Turkey--the economic powerhouse which may hold the key to Armenia's
development.
The next logical move for Mr. Kocharian would have been to openly endorse
the stage-by-stage approach himself. He didn't, though. Armenian hardliners
made a public point of reminding him of President Ter-Petrosian's fate. Mr.
Kocharian has since begun contending overoptimistically that Armenia's
economic prospects have brightened and are not linked to reconciliation
with Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The impasse seems made to order for exploitation by Moscow through
divide-and-rule tactics. While amply supplying Armenia with weapons and
maintaining military bases there, the Kremlin is currently hinting at
possible concessions to Azerbaijan if the latter changes its pro-Western
orientation.
Progress toward peace will become possible when both Yerevan and Baku
decide to proceed from a clear-cut distinction between Karabakh and the six
Azeri districts. Azerbaijan can not realistically hope to exercise control
over the Armenian population of Karabakh, and the Armenian side can not
indefinitely hold to Azeri areas without condemning itself to isolation and
deeper poverty. Some form of the stage-by-stage approach seems the only way
out of a deadlock that is hurting all parties and jeopardizes the region's
full integration into the world economy.
Mr. Socor is a senior analyst for the Washington-based Jamestown Foundat
ion, publishers of the Monitor: A Daily Briefing on the Post-Soviet States.
[email protected]
The Wall Street Journal Europe
(Copyright (c) 2000, Dow Jones & Company,Inc.)
Armenia/Azerbaijan: Pessimism Over
Nagorno-Karabakh Peace Talks Prevails
By Jean-Christophe Peuch
Early next month (April 3) leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan travel to the
southeastern U.S. state of Florida for a new round of talks to try to find
a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh territorial dispute under the aegis of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). But both
presidents have recently expressed pessimism over the upcoming meeting.
RFE/RL correspondent Jean-Christophe Peuch looks at the latest
developments.
Prague, 23 March 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Armenian President Robert Kocharian and
Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliev have both recently dismissed hopes that
a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute is within reach.
Addressing students at the Yerevan State Institute of Economics on
Wednesday (March 21), Kocharian admitted that direct talks with his
Azerbaijani counterpart were in a deadlock:
"We have exhausted the resources of our face-to-face meetings [with
President Aliev]. We have discussed all possible solutions, all possible
combinations of plans, and we have no more resources to continue within
this format."
Speaking the same day in Baku for the Nowroz New Year celebrations, Aliev
warned that if a peaceful settlement is not attained, "the Azerbaijani
people will show all their strength and power and liberate the occupied
Azerbaijani lands by military means."
An ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, Karabakh seceded from Azerbaijan
in 1988, triggering a six-year war with Baku. The conflict halted with a
ceasefire in 1994, but ethnic Armenian forces still occupy the enclave and
six neighboring districts in Azerbaijan. An estimated 800,000 Azerbaijanis
from Karabakh and occupied territories were turned into refugees during
the active phase of the conflict.
Kocharian and Aliev are due to hold a new round of talks next month in Key
West, Florida. The meeting will start April 3 and is expected to last at
least four days.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who met on Tuesday (March 20) with
visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, will open the meeting.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the U.S. administration
expects the next round of talks to bring the negotiating sides closer
after a fruitless meeting earlier this month in Paris:
"The Key West talks are another attempt to move this process forward, to
narrow the differences."
Kocharian and Aliev have already had 16 face-to-face meetings since 1998.
They met most recently in Paris on March 4 and 5 under the auspices of
French President Jacques Chirac.
France co-chairs with the United States and Russia the so-called "Minsk
Group" that has been tasked by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, with monitoring the peace talks. Aliev
returned from Paris in a rather pessimistic mood, saying the meeting had
been unable to produce any concrete results.
Last month, media outlets in Baku released for the first time details of
three proposed peace plans drafted by the Minsk Group since 1997.
A debate in Azerbaijan's Milli Meclis (National Assembly) immediately
followed the publication of these drafts, which legislators and political
leaders ultimately described as "unacceptable."
Since then opposition parties, war veterans, and refugees called for the
return of occupied territories through military means.
In a passionate speech before the Milli Meclis last month (February 24),
Aliev warned his opponents that should hostilities resume, he would
declare a state of emergency and ban all opposition parties and media,
thus making clear he would favor a peaceful solution.
Azerbaijani journalist Hasan Guliyev is a former aide to late President
Abulfaz Elchibey. He notes that, within only a month, Aliev's stance has
significantly changed:
"When you look at his public speeches over the past month, you see that
the emphasis is progressively shifting. During the first 10-15 days
(following his address to the parliament), he spoke more of the potential
of the peace negotiations and seemed to obstruct the militaristic
psychosis that was developing [in the media and the opposition]. But now,
in his speeches, he sounds more sympathetic to those who favor a military
solution."
Shortly after the Paris talks, Aliev went on a five-day state visit to
Turkey for meetings mainly focused on regional security problems.
Turkish media have reported that the Karabakh issue was the main topic of
Aliev's talks with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit, and Army Chief-of-Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu.
Details of the talks remain sketchy.
Observers point out that, contrary to Aliev's previous trips to Ankara,
this month's visit was unusually confidential. Upon his return to Baku,
Aliev declined to comment on the results of his talks with Turkish
leaders.
Guliyev noticed a change in the Azerbaijani president's attitude after his
visit to Ankara:
"There have been changes in Aliev's behavior that you can explain to a
certain extent. Of course it is not the main explanation but, still, it
certainly played a significant role. [I think that] his talks in Turkey
gave him a reason to change his tune."
Turkey supports Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia. Since Baku's
military defeat, Ankara has introduced economic sanctions against Yerevan
and has closed its border with Armenia.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey were particularly close under
Elchibey's nationalist regime. In 1993 both countries were considering
signing a broad defense cooperation treaty similar to the one that was
signed four years later between Armenia and Russia.
But Elchibey was then ousted by a military coup that brought Aliev to
power and the Turkish-Azerbaijani treaty was shelved.
Guliyev believes that Aliev may have discussed with Turkish officials ways
to boost bilateral military cooperation.
In a interview with Turkey's NTV private television channel, Aliev last
week called for increased military cooperation with Turkey, saying he
would welcome a Turkish military base on Azerbaijani territory. Russia has
a military base in Armenia.
Also last week, a high-ranking Turkish General Staff officer went to Baku
to meet with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiev. Details of the
talks between General Nusret Tasdeler and Abiev were not disclosed.
Vahan Hovanisian is one of the top leaders of the Armenian nationalist
Dashnaktsutyun Party. He also chairs the defense, interior, and national
security committee in the Armenian National Assembly (parliament).
In an interview with RFE/RL, Hovanisian said that despite Aliev's harsh
rhetoric, prospects of fighting resuming between Armenia and Azerbaijan
remain hypothetical for the time being.
"I think that not only Aliev but also a significant part of Azerbaijan's
society are, deep in their heart, perfectly aware that the reality has
changed and that they are ready to compromise. They are ready to make real
compromises that would take into account the interests of both the
Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples."
Yet both Hovanisian and Guliyev believe that there is little chance that
the Key West talks will produce any result.
In his address Wednesday to the Yerevan State Institute of Economics,
Kocharian said if the Key West meeting fails to bring the two sides closer
to an agreement, a new meeting will take place in Moscow.
(RFE/RL's Armenian Service provided audio for this feature.)
Copyright 2001 RFE/RL
U.S. Urges Armenia to Make Peace
With Azerbaijan, Turkey
MOSCOW, Mar 23, 2001 -- (Agence France Presse) Armenia must settle the
longstanding Nagorno-Karabakh crisis before a military cooperation accord
between Yerevan and Washington can take effect, a top U.S. military
official said Thursday.
The United States called on Armenia to resolve its dispute with long-time
rival Azerbaijan over the small mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh,
even offering U.S. observers to watch over a final settlement, the deputy
chief of U.S. forces in Europe, General Carlton Fulford, said.
However, U.S. army would not participate in any cooperation activities
with the Caucasian states until peace and stability were restored, Fulford
warned after his meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan,
according to an Interfax report.
Fulford also urged Yerevan to involve U.S. ally Turkey in the peace
process, which Armenia had earlier opposed due to strong historic and
ethnic ties between Ankara and Baku and Turkey's pro-Azerbaijani stance in
the crisis.
During his two-day visit, Fulford also offered Yerevan U.S. aid in
minesweeping operations and other issues of regional security, such as
creating an Armenian peacekeeping force.
Azerbaijan and Armenia, former Soviet republics, fought a three-year war
over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region largely populated by Armenians that
proclaimed its independence from Azerbaijan in 1991 with Yerevan's
backing.
Some 30,000 people were killed and a million forced to flee their homes
before a ceasefire was signed in 1994, but a final settlement has been
inconclusive and tension in the South Caucasus still runs high.
Kocharian and Aliyev are to meet in Key West, Florida, in April in an
attempt to resolve their states' bitter rivalry over the breakaway
mountainous region.
The U.S.-hosted Key West summit will be mediated by U.S., French and
Russian negotiating teams, representing the three co-chairs of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk group
that deals with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
So far, all of the Minsk group's attempts to settle the dispute have
failed. After the Paris talks broke down, Aliyev said he had no hope that
the OSCE could offer any new initiatives on the issue.
Aliyev also complained that it was Armenia's unyielding stance on the key
issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute that had stalled the peace process
so far.
((c) 2001 Agence France Presse)
Azerbaijan calls for NATO bases in Caucasus
Agence France Presse
Baku, March 24, 2001
Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Safar Abiyev has called for NATO to set up
bases in the Caucasus, to help bring peace and stability -- and curb its
rival Armenia's influence in the volatile region.
"NATO military bases in the Caucasus would promote peace and pacify those
nations that try to destabilize the situation," Abiyev said during a
meeting with the deputy chief of US forces in Europe, General Carlton
Fulford.
Armenia's activities in particular had drawn Baku's ire, with Azerbaijan's
disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region under Yerevan's sway.
"Armenia has occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, and now
uncontrolled guerrilla bands formed there," Abiyev said.
The defense ministry spokesman claimed Fulford, who had just completed his
two-day visit to Armenia, said the idea of founding NATO bases in the
Caucasus deserved consideration.
The US commander in turn reportedly urged Azerbaijan to boost its ties
with Turkey, Baku's traditional ally in the region and a NATO member.
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev had indicated earlier that he would
welcome a Turkish military base on Azerbaijan's soil. Abiyev himself had
also sought to enlist Turkey's help to "show Armenia its proper place."
Turkey has strong ethnic and historic ties with Azerbaijan, which had
prompted Armenia to accuse it of taking a pro-Azerbaijani stance in the
Karabakh issue.
In addition, Turkey refuses to acknowledge the 1915 mass killings of
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, which had further soured relations
between Yerevan and Ankara.
Azerbaijan and Armenia, former Soviet republics, fought a three-year war
over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region largely populated by Armenians that
proclaimed its independence from Azerbaijan in 1991 with Yerevan's
backing.
Some 30,000 people were killed and a million forced to flee their homes
before a ceasefire was signed in 1994, but a final settlement has been
inconclusive and tension in the south Caucasus still runs high.
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani President Heydar
Aliyev are to meet in Key West, Florida, in April in an attempt to resolve
their states' bitter rivalry over the breakaway mountainous region.
The US-hosted Key West summit will be mediated by US, French and Russian
negotiating teams, representing the three co-chairs of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk group that deals
with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
So far, all of the Minsk group's attempts to settle the dispute have
failed.
Aliyev had said he had no hope that the OSCE could offer any new
initiatives on the issue, and complained that it was what he described as
Armenia's unyielding stance that had stalled the peace process so far.
sab-cal/sas
Copyright 2001 Agence France Presse
ALIEV AND KOCHARYAN WILL BE "LOCKED UP" IN FLORIDA
A NEW PHASE IN THE KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
The U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has initiated the next phase of
negotiations between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, which would "hasten the the final
peace making in the region", the American side believes.
It is significant that Washington has notified Yerevan and Baku only of
the date of the meeting, which is planned to be on April 3 on the Ki West
Island in Florida. It looks as if Americans, allegiant to the traditions
invented by themselves, will "lock up" Robert Kocharyan and Heidar Aliev
in the Florida island and will hold them there until they come to some
concrete agreement on the problem settlement. It should be marked,
however, that the similar Americans' measures have failed and failed more
than once, in particular, when applied to participants of the
Palestine-Israel negotiations. The participants of the meeting themselves
are likely to predict that the meeting will result in failure.
Azerbaijan currently shows concern about the situation, and its
high-ranking officials more often issue statements that the Azerbaijani
side could apply military force to settle the conflict. The Azerbaijani
president Heidar Aliev has personally declared this while addressing a
special sitting of the Turkish parliament recently. The Azerbaijani
president has urged Ankara to render Azerbaijan with military-political
aid in the conflict settlement. Aliev has expressed confidence that the
Azerbaijani and the Turkish should punish the Armenians together, whatever
it would cost.
International mediators who are trying to prevent renewal of military
operations and to secure peaceful settlement, are naturally concerned with
the similar statements. This circumstance is most likely to explain the
intensification of both Washington's and Moscow's diplomatic efforts. The
U.S. and Russia nevertheless are convinced that the situation is so far
under their control, so there is no reason to give way to panic.
The majority of diplomats somehow involved in the settling of this
longstanding conflict, consider Azerbaijan's statements on possible
renewal of military operations to be of declarative nature. By the way,
the fact that among 92 proposals on the Karabakh settlement, submitted to
the Azerbaijani presidential administration by public political
organizations, over 80 envisage exceptionally peaceful solution of the
problem, is evidence. Moreover, Aliev's administration has began to carry
out for the present confidential poll to study public opinion about the
ways to settle the conflict, Azerbaijani mass media report.
Taking into account the actual sentiments in the Azerbaijani society and
the fact that the survey is conducted anonymously, it is not very
difficult to figure out the results of this invention. The majority of
experts think that official Baku will soon declare openly that the
majority of Azerbaijan's population advocate the peaceful settlement,
while Heidar Aliev is their true mouthpiece.
Aram ARAMYAN, Mamed ALIZADE
21.03.2001
Trans-Caspian Project
HEIDAR ALIEV APPROACHES CAREFULLY TO THE U.S. MODERATION
By Farhad MAMMADOV
Immediately after the failure of the negotiations held in Paris with the moderation of the French president Jacques Chirac, Colin Powel, the U.S. secretary of state, has invited the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the state of Florida on April 3 for continuing the negotiations on Upper Karabakh conflict. At present, both parties are preparing for the next stage of negotiations. Kerry Kovano, American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group, has already stressed that these negotiations will have a result, and this may be considered a factor bewaring of the parties in the conflict. There is such an opinion in Azerbaijan that the U.S. may again pressure on Aliev for gaining a result at the negotiations. And this may result with agreement of the Azerbaijani president with a peace variant that does not correspond to the interest of the country.
But there has appeared very complicated position of official Baku on the eve of Florida negotiations. The news that the next stage of negotiations will take place in the U.S. spread when Aliev was in an official visit in Turkey, and he said in his interview at the Turkish media that he approaches optimistic to the U.S. moderation in the negotiations. "I hope that after the negotiations in the U.S. Armenia will agree to free the occupied Azerbaijani lands". And in Baku Heidar Aliev approached carefully to the settlement of the conflict with the U.S. moderation.
On March 20, the Azeri president has received the American ambassador to Azerbaijan and the ambassador has presented a confidential letter of Mr. Colin Powel to Heidar Aliev. Aliev told the ambassador that if the American administration wants to gain a result at the negotiations, then it must dissuade Armenia from non-constructive position. "Armenia claims independence to Nagorno Karabakh and has not abstain from this position despite of the continuation of the bilateral negotiations for over 2 years with intervals. If that position is repeated in the U.S. too, it means that we simply measuring the ways". In that meeting Heidar Aliev has also stressed that there has increased tense at the Azerbaijani community on Karabakh problem and also increased supporters of regulating the conflict by military way.
One of the steps put by official Baku on the eve of Florida negotiations is its statements on broadening military partnership with Turkey. Heidar Aliev has first time approached positive to the idea of placing Turkish military bases in Azerbaijan during his power. But the position of his son Ilham Aliev that prepares to power as a "heir" differs with that of his father. In his interview at the Russian media Ilham Aliev stated that he supports regulation of Karabakh conflict with the moderation of Russia. In his words, the key of the problem is in the hands of Russia. And the Russian half-official newspaper "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" has written such news that Heidar Aliev prepares to bring his son to power with the mini-war variant. The newspaper thinks that Russia can help Heidar Aliev for gaining small military success on Armenians. Perhaps, just the question of "heir" has caused statements of Ilham in favor of Russia. According to several versions, the Russian leadership has agreed governing Azerbaijan by Aliev's son after him. So, there appear relations between the settlement of Karabakh conflict and "heir" problem of Heidar Aliev.
Official Yerevan is seriously preparing for the Florida negotiations, too. Armenia foreign minister held discussions in Moscow and Washington around the Karabakh problem during the last week. And there are tension and concern at the Azerbaijani community as stressed Aliev on the eve of next stage of negotiations. The opposition besides supporting Aliev's strong statements, is also stating that in case of signing any contract against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan they will begin mass protest actions against the government authorities.
One of the reasons that caused concern of the community is that Heidar Aliev has given verbal agreement to give a status to Upper Karabakh very close to independence during the Paris negotiations. One of the ambassador of the power that heads Minsk group gave such information to the opposition that these negotiations remained resultless because Armenia has refused to give a corridor to Nakhchivan.
AUTHORITIES ARE EMBARRASSED
By Mustafa HAJIBEYLI
After the negotiations in Paris the Azerbaijani president Heidar Aliev said that there was not gained any agreement in that stage of negotiations on the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, too. Nevertheless, during the last weeks Armenia has several times spread such news that there was an agreement in France. Official Baku neither confirmed nor denied this news. If there really has been gained an agreement at the negotiations in France and Azerbaijani government hides this fact from community, this factor informs that the model of agreement does not correspond to the interest of Azerbaijan.
According to several political observers, at present the government authorities are holding campaign on two directions. On the one hand, the state-owned TV channel propagates the power of the Azerbaijani army, and separate government officials are giving statements on impossibility of releasing Nagorno Karabakh by military way, on the other. Heidar Aliev continues peaceful negotiations with the moderation of the powers being co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, and at the same time, asks for support, as well as military assistance from Turkey that is a strategic ally of Azerbaijan for the regulation of Karabakh conflict. All of these shows that the authorities have lost control over peaceful negotiation process. It seems Aliev administration that face both with domestic and foreign pressures is embarrassed and has not concrete position on later steps towards the regulation of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
According to several comments, Aliev administration has already understood that it can not achieve peaceful agreement facing the interests of Azerbaijan by negotiations. But it has to continue the negotiations as a result of pressures of several big powers and international organizations. It is notable that the next meeting between Aliev and Armenian president Robert Kocharian will take place in April in the U.S. Can there be signed a peaceful agreement in that meeting? In his official statement Kerry Kovano, American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, said that the process of peaceful negotiations would be concluded just in this meeting. While it is not still known which model of agreement will be discussed in this meeting. In observers' opinion, it is excepted that Heidar Aliev will be presented capitulating agreement variant from the viewpoint of interests of Azerbaijan in this meeting, as well. But Aliev is deprived of possibility to sign a capitulating agreement even if he wants it. Because such step may cause not recognizing this agreement by the Azerbaijani community, and even collapse of Aliev's power.
AZERBAIJAN BULLETIN No: 12 (266), March 22 2001[ENGLISH]
Copyright (c) THE AZERBAIJAN BULLETIN [AzB] 2001
OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO PARTICIPATE IN AZERI-ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL TALKS FOR THE FIRST TIME
Source: ANS, Turan News Agency
19.03.01--BAKU--The initiative of holding the Azerbaijan-Armenia
presidential meeting in Key West, Florida on April 3 came to being as a
result of consultations among the presidents of the United States, Russia
and France. This was announced by President Heydar Aliyev upon his return
from Turkey. According to the Azeri president, the meeting will be
participated also by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. This is what the
importance of the current stage of talks is about, Mr Aliyev said. On the
forthcoming meeting, the Minsk Group co-chairs will for the first time
hold negotiations with both presidents - Aliyev and Kocharian. Besides,
many high-ranked diplomats from all three co-chairing countries will
participate in the meeting, while the summit will be opened by the U.S.
Secretary of State, Colin Powell. The Azeri president side-stepped the
question on how long his meeting with Armenias Kocharian will last and
whether it will match those held in Camp David between the Israeli and
Palestinian leaders. At the same time, Mr Aliyev didnt exclude that the
meeting could last a few days. Answering the question on the reason of his
sharp words against Armenia while speaking to Turkish MPs, President
Aliyev said he realized the whole responsibility. He also noted that he
knew the reaction of the Armenian side. I did it knowing what tricks they
resort to, said Mr Aliyev hinting at the actions of the Armenian side.
By Ganira Pashayeva
[ANS] News, March 20, 2001
GARABAGH: US TAKE OVER INITIATIVE
Will the meeting follow suit of Camp David talks?
The White House has invited Presidents Aliyev and Kocharian to the USA to
hold talks over Garabagh settlement. A statement released by the US
Department of State on March 14 indicates the place and time of the
meeting: the historic event has been scheduled for April 3 at the small
White House named after Harry Truman in Key West city, Florida.
The statement says that the meeting would serve as continuation of the
talks held on the initiative of French President Jacques Chirac on March
4-5.
The Department of State hopes that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs from the
USA, Russia and France would stay in permanent touch with presidents of
the two parties to the conflict and do their utmost for a final resolution
of the dispute.
The statement also indicates that the US thinks that the non-resolution of
the problem is the main obstacle in the way of stability and prosperity of
this important region.
The talks are expected to be extremely tense. They may even be final,
according to the US co-chair in the Minsk Group Carry Cavanaugh. He added
that around 100 diplomats would be involved in the negotiations.
[AssA-Irada] News Digest, March 17-18, 2001
AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT UNDERSCORES SIGNIFICANCE OF FLORIDA
KARABAKH TALKS...
Speaking to journalists at Baku airport on 17 March
following his return from a five-day official visit
to Turkey, President Heidar Aliev said U.S. Secretary of
State Colin Powell's invitation to himself and Armenian
President Kocharian to discuss the Karabakh conflict in
Florida early next month is "the most important" recent
initiative aimed at resolving the Karabakh conflict, Interfax
reported. Aliev noted that it will be the first time that the
three co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group will be present at
talks between the two presidents. In Ankara the previous day,
Aliev expressed the hope that the Florida talks will result
in the withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied
Azerbaijani territories, according to ITAR-TASS. Also on 16
March, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian visited
Moscow for talks on Karabakh and bilateral ties with his
Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov and Russian Security Council
Secretary Sergei Ivanov, ITAR-TASS and Noyan Tapan reported.
LF
...WHILE FOREIGN MINISTER DENIES FILING CHARGES
AGAINST ARMENIAN PRESIDENT.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliev has
rejected as untrue Azerbaijani media reports that
he has filed charges with the International War Crimes
Tribunal in The Hague against Armenian President Kocharian
for war crimes against the Azerbaijani people, Turan reported
on 17 March. But Quliev admitted he has appealed to
international organizations to issue a formal condemnation of
the killing of several hundred Azerbaijani villagers in
February 1992. At that time, Kocharian headed the
unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's wartime government.
LF
ARMENIA DENIES TERRITORIAL CLAIMS ON AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY.
An Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on 15 March denied that
Presidential Human Rights Commission Chairman Paruyr
Hairikian's call for the abrogation of the 1921 Treaty of
Kars reflects official policy, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau
reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 and 16 March 2001). She
said Hairikian's statements "absolutely do not correspond to
Armenia's foreign policy." LF
RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 5, No. 54, Part I, 19 March 2001
PRESIDENT ALIYEV SAYS HOLDING TALKS IN U.S. SHOULD
INFLUENCE ADJUSTMENT OF KARABAKH PROBLEM
Source: Turan News Agency
16.03.01--BAKU--The current state of the OSCE Minsk Group is to let the
Azeri and Armenian presidents to come to terms when any agreed decision
would be supported by the Group,- the President of Azerbaijan, Heydar
Aliyev said in his interview with Turkish television. This decision,
President Aliyev said, must be based on mutual compromises but +Armenia is
using the factor of occupation of Azeri lands and is seeking unreal
concessions.- In 1999, we have reached a certain agreement, although it
wasnt that acceptable for Azerbaijan. But working on it, one could have
made more steps forward but Armenia broke this agreement,- the Azeri
president said. Then the two presidents again met in Moscow and Paris and
now they are planing a Key West, Florida meeting. Asked whether any
headway could be reached during the U.S. meeting taking into account the
vainness of the Paris talks, Mr Aliyev said continuation of the process in
the United States following France shows they should exert some pressure
on resolution of the conflict.-
By Staff Writers
Copyright ANS
AZERI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS TO MEET IN FLORIDA
Source: Associated Press
15.03.01--BAKU--The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed to hold
talks concerning resolution of the Karabakh conflict in Florida on April
3. According to Richard Boucher, the official representative of the U.S.
Department of State, both leaders will visit the Sunshine State on
invitation of the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell. The talks between
Heydar Aliyev and Robert Kocharian will be held under the auspices of the
OSCE. The United States, France and Russia, the Minsk Group co-chairs,
will play the role of mediators on the talks. +We are hoping that working
directly with the presidents, the U.S., France and Russia will be able to
increase their potential on resolution of the conflict,- said Mr Boucher.
By Staff Writers
Copyright 2001 Azerbaijan News Service
www.ans-dx.com
Key West a 'humble setting' for peace talks
By Linda Gottwald
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been invited by the U.S. State Department to Key West's Little White House in early April for peace talks that will focus on long-standing ethnic and territorial conflicts."In a sense, this is a fishing trip, but we'll be fishing for peace rather than tarpon," ambassador Carey Cavanaugh, U.S. special negotiator, said Thursday. "These are going to be very intense discussions and we were looking for a humble setting in a pleasant community.
"Being from Florida, I thought the Little White House in Key West would be perfect."Sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and mediated by U.S., French and Russian experts, the talks, scheduled to begin April 3 and last through the weekend, will be the latest in a series of international efforts to bring peace to the war-torn countries.
Since 1999, a dozen prior meetings between Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani President Haydar Alivev have failed to result in any progress in the negotiations.
At the center of the conflicts is the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is occupied by Armenian forces despite international recognition as part of Azerbaijan. Armenians in Armenia and Karabakh demand secession of the region, while Azeris argue it is the cradle of their culture.
The Karabakh conflict began in 1988 and was exacerbated after both countries became independent following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
A cease-fire has been in place since 1994, but hundreds of people are still killed each year by land mines and snipers along the border of the two countries.Cavanaugh said Secretary of State Colin Powell will participate in the talks and an entourage of about 100 diplomats and negotiators will accompany the presidents. He said Key West was selected because of its neutral position and the fact that there is not a significant Armenian or Azerbaijan population in the area.
"We may have a few protesters come down, but I think it will be a very low-key setting," Cavanaugh said, adding neither Kocharyan or Alivev have been to Florida before but appeared pleased by descriptions of Key West.
City Manager Julio Avael said he had been contacted by the State Department two weeks ago, but the meeting was not confirmed until Wednesday. "It's wonderful to think Key West may be part of the history in bringing peace to this conflict," he said. Police chief Buz Dillon said most of the security for the meetings will be handled by the State Department, and city officers will work with the county sheriff's office to escort the caravan from the airport and help with crowd control.
"They've got the inside [of the Truman Annex] covered -- and we've got the outside," Dillon said.While Cavanaugh said there would be little time for sight-seeing, he did not rule out the possibility of the two presidents watching the sunset festival in Mallory Square.
"It would be remiss if we did not show it to them, seeing as they're going to be in walking distance," he said. "I think they might really enjoy it. "Cavanaugh, who has been working on resolving the conflict between the countries for two years, said while it was possible this would be the final summit, he would hesitate to speculate on its outcome.
"Of course, it would be wonderful," he said. "But peace is a really difficult thing to achieve."
KEY WEST, Friday, March 16, 2001
Copyright 2001 Key West Citizen
US. TO HOST ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI SUMMIT
The U.S. State Department said on 14 March that Secretary of State Colin
Powell has invited Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani
President Heidar Aliev to Key West, Florida, on 3 April for talks about
the Karabakh conflict, Reuters reported. The State Department said the
talks would be sponsored by the OSCE group in Minsk. On the same day,
Turkey's "Cumhuriyet" reported that Aliev, who is currently in Turkey, had
discussed possible resolutions of the Karabakh conflict with Turkish
leaders. PG
MOST ARMENIANS SUPPORT FREEZING
KARABAKH CONFLICT
A poll reported in "Haykakan Zhamanak" on 14 March showed that 72 percent
of Armenians believe that Armenia should "freeze" the conflict over
Karabakh and focus on developing its national economy. Only 30 percent
believe that a peaceful resolution of the conflict is possible. PG
AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT SUPPORTS
POLL ON KARABAKH
The office of President Aliev is supporting a poll to be conducted by
Azerbaijani sociologists on the opinions of Azerbaijani citizens
concerning the Karabakh crisis, Turan reported on 14 March. The range of
opinions may be broad: Turan reported a day earlier that the parliament
had received 92 different proposals for solving the crisis, only six of
them by force. Meanwhile, a group of Azerbaijani political parties in
Nakhichevan demanded that Baku protest statements made in the Armenian
media which suggested that Yerevan wants to annex part of that Azerbaijani
enclave, Turan reported. PG
[RFE/RL] Transcaucasia Newsline, March 15,
92 SETTLEMENT PROPOSALS SUBMITTED
TO PRESIDENT
The 15-day period during which public proposals on the settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict were being accepted for consideration has
already completed. The Milli Mejlis submitted a total of 92 proposals to
President's office Tuesday.
Of these, 86 proposals suggest that the dispute be patched up in a
negotiated manner, while the other 6 advocate for war. "Our purpose is to
resolve the conflict in a peaceable way. If it yields no fruits, other
modes of solution will be considered", the speaker of the Milli Mejlis
said Saturday.
[AssA-Irada] News Digest, March 13 - 15, 2001
NEW PROPOSALS ON RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH PROBLEM BEING MADE
Source: ANS
15.03.01--BAKU--The Center for Social and Strategic Studies and Analytical
Research held presentation of its program on resolution of the Karabakh
conflict. According to the director of the Center, Anar Ali Polad, the
project first of all envisions breaking all diplomatic relations with
Armenia, strengthening the military and patriotic education in secondary
and high schools, holding in shortest terms a propaganda campaign with the
purpose of reaching psychological superiority before Armenia for future
military victory. According to Mr Polad, one needs to conduct a number of
military exercises in the regions which abut on Armenia.
By Shahin Kazimzadeh
[ANS] News Digest, March 16, 2001
Turkish MP: army will support Azerbaijan
"in all respects" if it goes to war
Excerpt from C. Nasibov and R. Sixli report by Azerbaijani newspaper
Zerkalo entitled "Strong Azerbaijani army backed by Turkey will oppose
Armenia"
[Subhead] If Yerevan does not give up its claims, Turkish MP Bulent
Akarcali has said
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev's recent visit to Turkey was most
successful - that is the opinion of some political commentators,
particularly Vafa Quluzada. From this point of view it is interesting to
know how the visit was regarded in Turkish official circles. Zerkalo
newspaper put this and some other questions to Bulent Akarcali, a member
of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the head of the Democratic
Society and aide to the Motherland Party chairman, Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister Mesud Yilmaz.
[Bulent Akarcali] Heydar Aliyev's speech in the Turkish parliament was
met positively. Such speeches help a closer rapproachement between the
two states. At a time when Armenia is expanding its ties with other
countries, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia should strengthen relations
between them. Increased contacts between these three countries will help
common sense to prevail in Armenia, which is led by the "Caucasian
Saddam", Robert Kocharyan.
[Correspondent] The Azerbaijani president met representatives of
Turkish military circles. In your opinion, is it possible that Turkey
will render any form of military assistance to Azerbaijan?
[Bulent Akarcali] There is no doubt that military cooperation should
expand and it should cover Georgia as well. This is necessary for the
security of the Caucasus. The Azerbaijani and Turkish armies must be
brought to a common denominator.
[Correspondent] As in the times of [former Turkish presidents] Turgut
Ozal and Suleyman Demirel, the Turkish political establishment says that
it will support any decision taken by Azerbaijan for a Karabakh
resolution. In what form could this support be if Azerbaijan prefers the
military way?
[Bulent Akarcali] If Armenia does not give up its claims, it will
become the culprit in a new war.
In this case a well-trained and completely equipped Azerbaijani army
will oppose it and Turkey will support it in all respects. One must
prepare thoroughly for war in order not to suffer territorial losses.
Today the Turkish army is one of the most valiant in the world. The army
has got stronger in the struggle against terrorist movements. Therefore I
said before that the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies should be brought to
a common denominator.
Azerbaijan has the right to liberate its territories. If need be,
Azerbaijan will get back its lands by force. Moreover, I think that if
Azerbaijan starts hostilities, all Turkic states will back it.
[Correspondent] One of the Armenian politicians, Paruyr Ayrikyan, said
recently that the Kars Treaty of 1921 between Soviet Russia and Turkey
must be annulled. So he has made claims on Naxcivan, Kars and Ardahan...
[ellipses as published]
[Bulent Akarcali] This is such a stupid statement that I do not think
it worth answering it. It is senseless to reply to any mongrel's barking.
If they are bold enough, let them come from words to deeds. Then they
will receive a worthy reply.
[Passage to end omitted: minor details]
(Baku) Zerkalo
in Russian
18 Mar 01
President Aliyev Discusses Armenia-Azerbaijan
Draft Peace Agreement in Ankara
Report by Deger Akal: "Aliyev Brought Draft Peace Agreement"
Haydar Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, brought to Ankara the draft
peace agreement that was prepared related to the Karabagh problem, which
has lasted for eight years between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and obtained
views on it.
Aliyev brought with him to Ankara the draft peace agreement prepared
by the United States, Russia, and France, the members of the OSCE
[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] Minsk Group, and
presented to him and Armenian President Robert Kocharian during their
contacts in France last week. Aliyev presented the draft peace
agreement to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit,
and Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu and asked for their views.
Aliyev stated that their talks should be one-to-one and top secret, and
expressed his insistence on the issue with the following sentence, "What
I will relate to you is top secret, and I do not want to have any
high-level officials included in our talks."
Aliyev asked Turkey to evaluate the draft agreement. The Turkish
officials, led by President Sezer, said to Aliyev, "Turkey is always on
the side of Azerbaijan. Turkey will also support a solution that will
be accepted by the Azeri people."
The draft agreement reportedly comprises the following proposals:
--The withdrawal of the Armenian forces from a portion of the lands
it occupied,
--The opening of a corridor between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan and
the establishment of an organic tie between them, and
--The deployment of an international force along the borders.
Ankara Became Active
Yesterday, Aliyev met, first of all, with General Kivrikoglu. At
the same time, Prime Minister Ecevit met with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem
and high-level officials, and they discussed the draft agreement.
Later, Cem met with President Aliyev. In the talks, Aliyev thanked
Turkey for the support it has provided so far for a peaceful solution to
the problem. Turkey gave assurances that the interests of Azerbaijan
will be protected in Turkey's policies toward Armenia.
Aliyev also met yesterday with Deputy Prime Ministers Mesut Yilmaz
and Devlet Bahceli, as well as with former President Suleyman Demirel.
[Description of Source: Istanbul Sabah (Ankara Edition) in Turkish --
Right-of-center, Mass Appeal Daily; One of Country's Top Circulation
papers]
(Istanbul) Sabah (Ankara Edition)
in Turkish
14 Mar 01 p 18
Paper sifts reasons behind Armenia's refusal to
open corridor to Azeri exclave
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 14, 2001
Text of Farhad Mammadov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq entitled
"Karabakh's fate depends on the Naxcivan corridor"
[Subhead] The threat that our president will cede Nagornyy Karabakh to the
Armenians has not been eliminated yet
Since the latest negotiations in Paris, society has been facing two opposite
positions. According to the first position, declared by Heydar Aliyev, no
agreement was reached in Paris and the negotiations yielded no result due to
Armenia's nonconstructive position. According to the second position (the
Armenian side and the mediators prefer to talk about this), "important
headway" was made during the Paris negotiations.
While discussions about these two opposite directions continue, Azadliq has
found out details about these Paris negotiations from diplomatic sources,
which have a direct interest in obtaining information about them. These
details were published in the previous edition of our newspaper and we
should point out briefly that talk is about granting Nagornyy Karabakh
status which is very close to the "common state" model, within the framework
of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, which will be a mere formality. The
source says that during the first negotiations in January this year, the
Armenian side took a positive attitude to granting a corridor to Naxcivan in
return for this concession. However, during the second negotiations,
[Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan deemed this option impossible. It
emerges that Azerbaijan was saved from a defeatist peace during the Paris
negotiations by Armenia's refusal to grant a corridor to Naxcivan.
This information makes it necessary to recall again what happened after the
first Paris negotiations. French President Jacques Chirac informed US
President George W. Bush about those negotiations. After that George W. Bush
sent a letter to Heydar Aliyev and said he was happy about the news that
important headway had been made during the negotiations. Along with that,
the US president promised "internal support" for Heydar Aliyev if a peace
agreement was signed. We should remind you that telephone diplomacy went on
during this period between Jacques Chirac, Vladimir Putin, Heydar Aliyev and
Robert Kocharyan. All this confirms the reports about the details of the
Paris talks. Not least because it seems implausible that the US president
would congratulate Heydar Aliyev on "important headway" just for diplomatic
form's sake.
What made Kocharyan give up the idea of granting a corridor to Naxcivan
during the second Paris negotiations? If we take into account that what is
mean here is a strip of about 150 metres along the Araz River (i.e. near the
Iranian-Armenian border), then the first factor that crosses our mind is
Russia. Because the granting of such a corridor would mean the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border in fact falling under the control of the OSCE.
This fact irritates Russia. It is quite possible that it is Russia that made
Armenia turn down the idea of granting a corridor to Naxcivan. We should
remind you that as soon as the option for granting a corridor to Naxcivan
became topical during the 1999 US-sponsored negotiations, Russia decided to
open a consulate in the town of Megri, situated on this corridor. After
that, a terrorist act took place in Armenia [27 October shootings in the
Armenian parliament] and the negotiations ground to a halt.
According to the second theory, seeing the negative public reaction to the
Minsk Group proposals before going to Paris, Aliyev hesitated about the
issue of any status close to independence. As a result, Kocharyan backed
down from the idea of the corridor. In any case, the threat of Aliyev ceding
Nagornyy Karabakh to the Armenians has not been eliminated. If Aliyev is
ready to give the green light to the creation of a second Armenian state in
return for a corridor to Naxcivan, then what is the reason behind the
toughness demonstrated by the government since the latest Paris
negotiations?
How sincere are the Azerbaijani authorities in making statements like "if
necessary, we will use force"? It is difficult to answer this question for
the time being. But one thing is clear - the Azerbaijani president is in no
hurry to specify within the framework of which principles he will agree to
concessions.
Source: Azadliq, Baku, in Azeri 14 Mar 01 p 3
ALIEV ASKED FOR HELP FROM TURKEY
By Farhad MAMMADOV
The 5-day visit of the Azeri president Heidar Aliev to Turkey that began since March 12th still continues. On the first day of visit Aliev has met with Hussein Kivrikoglu, chief of the Turkish Armed Forces Headquarter, and held closed talks. And on March 13th he made a speech at the Turkish parliament. Heidar Aliev called "strategic" the partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan and asked for assistance from Turkey for the regulation of Karabakh conflict. Stressing that Armenians have already put forward territorial demands against Turkey, Aliev stated that "Turkey and Azerbaijan should together settle the Karabakh problem".
At the current time, when there have increased intensive discussions about the ways of settlement of Upper Karabakh conflict within Azerbaijan and calls to free the occupied territories by military way in society, Azeri president's visit to Turkey has caused broad resonance. Even several media organs commented Aliev's call on "help" like "Azerbaijan asks for a military assistance from Turkey". And one of the officials of the Azerbaijani authorities stated that recently there will be signed an agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey about military partnership. Before Aliev's visit to Turkey the Azerbaijani government has declared that chief of the Turkish Chief Headquarter would pay a visit to Baku. But the date of this visit is not known, yet. Perhaps, the next document on Military-technical Corporation between the two countries will be signed just during that visit.
Several factors make important the strengthening of Azerbaijan's relations with its closest ally Turkey. First, the negotiations held for several years for the peaceful regulation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict have reached a deadlock. After the last negotiations held in Paris on March 4 and 5 by the moderation of the French president, the president Aliev has stated that there has not been got any result. Because Armenia does not abstain from its claims of giving full independence to Upper Karabakh. Second, Azerbaijan does not exclude beginning of military operations for restoring its territorial integrity. And it makes necessary taking several complex measures, as well as widening military-political relationships with Turkey. It is clear that Turkey has one of the strongest armies in the world and is a member of NATO. From this viewpoint, assistance of the Turkish army to Azerbaijan may play an important role. And if the military operations begin, Azerbaijan will have to face with the Armenian army supplied by Russia and organized corresponding to the former soviet military system. So, Azerbaijan should develop its army corresponding to the NATO system, alternative to soviet military system, for gaining success at the military operations. Even if the military operations do not begin, Azerbaijan's broadening military-strategic partnership with the member-country of NATO will influence on strengthening its political position.
Aliev's visit to Turkey has activated radical political groups in Armenia, as well. Paruyur Ayrikyan, advisor of the Armenian president on human rights, stated that they would begin struggle for unifying Nakhchivan province of Azerbaijan and Kars province of Turkey to Armenia. The president Heidar Aliev has explained the statement of Armenians as "their becoming insolent" during his speech at the Turkish parliament.
NEW TERRITORIAL CLAIMS OF ARMENIA
TO AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY
By Vefa ALLAHVERDIEVA
The inconsistent attitude of the president Heidar Aliev towards Armenia and preference of the Azerbaijani nation that does not agree with the unjust peace to free their occupied lands by military way have re-actualized Armenians plan of "Great Armenia". On March 12th, Paruyur Ayrikyan, chairman of the human rights commission of the Armenian President Apparatus, has issued a statement and stated that they have begun a campaign for annulling the Kars agreement, which was concluded between the Soviet Russia and Turkish Republic. Ayrikyan said that the main goal was to return back Kars, Ardahan, and Nakhchivan- "historical Armenian lands that were taken from Armenia" on the basis of this agreement. Armenia comes out with a territorial claim not only against Azerbaijan, but against Turkey, as well.
It is notable that that statement did not cause such an agiotage in Azerbaijan. Because Armenia's policy of occupant and fantastic territorial claims is not a new thing for Azerbaijan, Turkey, as well as international community. But what makes necessary sounding such claims so open at the current situation when Nagorno Karabakh question has not been settled yet?
The Azerbaijani opposition leaders think that Armenians not seeing sufficiently aggressive reaction by the international community, as well as by the current Azeri government has aroused their interest to take new lands. Second, here the main effort is to be forgotten Karabakh to the Azerbaijani nation in light of claims on Nakhchivan. That is, to privatize Nagorno Karabakh by drawing attention to Nakhchivan. Gabil Huseinli, advisor chairman of the Musavat Party, professor, and analyst, stated that Armenians want to achieve beginning of discussions that may give ground forming of disputes, polemics, territorial problems at the international opinion by territory improvisation having no political perspective and legal result.
As mentioned above, Armenians have raised Nakhchivan issue for being concerned of campaign held in Azerbaijan towards war spirit. It seems, the Armenian government authorities are trying to form despondency at the Azerbaijani nation with the imagination that the military power of the country is able not only for Karabakh, but even for Nakhchivan.
Vefa Guluzade, an independent policy-maker and former state advisor on foreign affairs, has estimated the claim of Armenians as a senseless step, and wish of forming scandal. Nevertheless, the Azerbaijani community understands that if it is considered so senseless and nonsense claims, it can be approached indifferent. Strong socio-political-public wave should be ready to face with Armenians at any moment. Though the Azerbaijani nation that does not forget useless of Aliev's policy until now and his attitude to the land is concerned for Nakhchivan, it relies upon its power and energy. Political forces together with the nation are able again to put on the agenda the scale and effect of protest in 1998, too.
At the current period, the opposition has already suggested the needed steps. Azerbaijan and Turkey must work together for preventing the new wave of plan of "Great Armenia". The territory campaign of Armenians should be weakened with adequate, but more effective campaign. They must be accepted the false claims of Armenia both to it and to the international community. Neither Armenians nor the world powers that support it must forget the Kars agreement. According to that agreement, Turkey is a guarantor of international status of Nakhchivan. If Armenia attacks on Nakhchivan, Turkey has right to use of its army. Armenians, first of all, must think about it and consider their losts.
"THERE WILL BE PEACE OR WAR IF ARMENIA WANTS IT"
Stated Azeri foreign minister Vilayat Guliev in his interview.
QUESTION [Q]- After the trilateral Paris meeting the French president Jacques Chirac has stated that he suppose there would be signed a peace agreement till the end of this year. President Heidar Aliev has stated that Paris meeting has not given any results. And Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian said that there have been gained important progress at the Paris negotiations. What does all it mean?
Vilayat Guliev [V.G]- President Aliev's statement on gaining no results at the Paris meeting reflects the reality. Armenia's coming out from the position of taking Upper Karabakh from Azerbaijan and unifying it to its territory has caused gaining no result at the Paris negotiations. It will be impossible to speak about any progress until Armenia stops its severe, non-constructive position at the negotiations. And the views of Jacques Chirac are simply his wish. France wants regulation of the conflict soon. And the views of my colleague Vardan Oskanian are declarative statement aimed to keep domestic stability in Armenia. There are increasing dissatisfaction from the policy run by Robert Kocharian in Armenia. Even recently some deputies of the Armenian parliament have demanded resignation of Kocharian, and stated that he takes the country to tragedy. Those rightly estimating the reality in Armenia understand well that without settlement of Upper Karabakh problem they can not achieve to revival, emigration will increase, occupant state image of Armenia in the region will always be obstacle for regional corporation and stability, and the country will not have any future outside of that corporation.
Q- The Azerbaijani side state the possibility of compromises in the regulation of the conflict. What should be understood by saying a compromise?
V.G.- It can be compromises only towards giving higher self-government status to Nagorno Karabakh [NK] within providing territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, creating conditions for harmonic development of relations of NK with Armenia, and providing the security of NK Armenians. 3 claims -equal subjectivity of NK, not being NK in enclave situation, giving an international guarantee to the security of NK- put forward by the Armenian president Robert Kocharian are inadmissible for Azerbaijan. While NK has been occupied by Armenians de-facto, the world union recognizes these lands as territories of the Azerbaijan Republic. Azerbaijan will use all the positive variants for providing its territorial integrity.
Q- How Azerbaijan will form its policy henceforth in connection with the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict?
V.G.- We think that the potential of negotiations does not exhausted yet, political dialogue must be continued. Azerbaijan should take strong course basing on fair demands at the negotiations. Parallel to this, there must be increased attention to army building, raising military patriotism spirit, unifying the efforts of citizens towards the sovereignty of our country regardless of their opinions, and to the development of economy in the country. There should be held more intensive work with the international community. We expect constructive approach from the opposite party in the settlement of the conflict. If Armenia wants peace, the peace will be, and if war, the war will begin.
Putting on the parliament debate the suggestions of the OSCE Minsk group has caused re-actualization of the views on the settlement of the conflict around NK in society. The discussions showed that the community is not so indifferent to the NK problem as think some people. Several political parties, public organizations do not exclude war besides supporting peaceful way in the regulation of the conflict. In his speech at the parliament Heidar Aliev stated that it is not excluded the regulation of the conflict by military way if the majority of society supports it.
Q- How important is the formation of national solidarity, citizen's union in Azerbaijan for the regulation of the conflict?
V.G.- It is extremely important. It is not possible to achieve positive progress in the settlement of the question without unity. In fact, on the basis of defeat of Azerbaijan in this conflict stands the ability of unification of all the political forces, all the layers of society. This is why, it is extremely important the unification of everybody, all the layers of society around the authorities that regulate the conflict in the struggle for Karabakh.
Q- Will there be appealed to the UNO for forming military tribunal in connection with the participation of the Armenian armed forces, personally Robert Kocharian in military crimes against Azerbaijan, as well as peaceful residents of Khojali city?
V.G.- There has been given information about the Khojali genocide to the international organizations several times. Actions in this direction will continue henceforth. It is already time to appeal officially to the Hague Court. Naturally, we should increase our efforts in this direction despite of the still existence of double standards.
Q- What is your opinion about the suggestions on raising the Azerbaijani-Turkish military partnership at a level of military union? Which document will there be signed during Aliev's visit to Turkey?
V.G.- Turkey is the only ally of Azerbaijan. Turkey is the only power that regularly supports Azerbaijan in NK conflict, renders financial and moral assistance to our nation and country, recognizes Armenia as an occupant party, has not formed any diplomatic relations with this occupant state until now, and does not open its borders for this country. We highly appreciate this course of Turkey. Azerbaijan and Turkey have military partnership with each other both bilaterally and within the program of NATO on "Partnership for the sake of peace". In addition, in difference with Armenia, Azerbaijan excludes placing military forces and bases in its territory. The current form of military partnership satisfies Azerbaijan more. There will be discussed widely the military partnership among other issues during the visit of Aliev to Turkey.
<Turan/ newspaper "525-ci gazet", March 13 2001>
AZERBAIJAN BULLETIN No: 11 (265), March 15 2001
http://www.andf-az.org/
Opposition parties in exclave demand action over
Armenian territorial claims
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan
Baku, 13 March: The Naxcivan branches of the People's Front of Azerbaijan
Party (traditionalists), Musavat, Party for National Independence of
Azerbaijan and Democratic Party have issued a joint statement about the
territorial claims on the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan being
made with growing frequency by Armenia.
As the document notes, "these actions testify to the determination of the
aggressive Armenian state to create a new seat of tension in the Caucasus
region". The authors of the statement call on the Azerbaijani authorities
to take measures to stop such aggressive aspirations. The Naxcivan
branches of these opposition parties demand that the Milli Maclis
[parliament] and other state bodies express their attitude regarding
territorial claims on Naxcivan.
Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 1640 gmt 13 Mar 01
BBC summaries for 16 March
Azeri opposition party presents Karabakh
settlement proposals
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 15, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Sarq
Baku, 15 March, Sharg correspondent F. Huseynzada: Chairman of the PFAP
[People's Front of Azerbaijan Party, reformists] Ali Karimov held a news
conference today to make public the party's proposals for resolving the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. These proposals have been adopted by the
party and submitted to the Milli Maclis [parliament]. We have to say that in
general the PFAP's proposals were not original: in the opinion of Karimov
and his supporters, the Karabakh problem must be resolved within the
framework of the Azerbaijani Constitution, the norms of international law
and UN resolutions. Officials in Baku take the same stand at the
negotiations. In their programme, the PFAP proposes setting up a special
state structure - a centre for strategic research for Karabakh. Karimov sees
the centre's activity in collecting information relevant to a Karabakh
settlement from the moment it emerges, bringing it to the government's
notice and taking preventive measures. The PFAP paid special attention to
organizing the Azerbaijani diaspora and drawing up a strong information
policy.
To implement all these proposals (Karimov said that this is quite
practicable) the state must be strengthened from inside: a national security
concept and military doctrine should be adopted, the economy should be
strengthened and forces should be united within the state.
However, Karimov said that neither he nor his supporters had any illusions
about the authorities taking these proposals seriously or the proposals
being submitted for consideration by parliament. "By presenting our
programme, we want to dispel the impression which the authorities are
foisting on the public that the opposition has no concrete proposals and
utters banal phrases. We have proved the opposite. Now we are waiting for
the authorities to present their programme to us."
"If the authorities continue their ineffective policy, the opposition must
unite and voice its protest openly," Karimov told Sharg news agency. Asked
whether the PFAP and its supporters intend to join the rally that the Union
of Right Forces is planning to stage soon, Karimov said no. "A protest
action should not be initiated by some specific parties, by the Unity Party
or some other party. A rally should unite the entire opposition, it must be
an all-nation one."
Source: Sarq news agency, Baku, in Russian 1225 gmt 15 Mar 01
Azeri Leader Rejects Opposition Peace Plan
BAKU, Mar 13, 2001 -- (Reuters) Azeri President Haydar Aliyev on Monday
dismissed an opposition proposal on ending Azerbaijan's 13-year-old
conflict with neighboring Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh province.
Before leaving for a five-day visit to Turkey, Aliyev said the proposal,
calling for a phased withdrawal of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh,
had been rejected by Armenia several years ago and was "far from a
solution to the conflict".
Ten opposition parties had proposed that Nagorno-Karabakh --
internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan -- should be retaken by
force if Armenian forces did not pull out.
Aliyev blamed Armenia's "unconstructive position" for the impasse and said
a military solution would never be ruled out.
"We should always be ready for war...Our army increases its strength every
day. However, to talk about war or waging war is not easy. Whoever is now
talking about war is pursuing private goals," Aliyev said.
He made an appeal in Azerbaijan's parliament last month for new ideas to
end the deadlock in negotiations.
He said on Monday he had hoped to have new proposals to put forward in his
talks in Paris last week with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.
"I was counting on something new which I would have used with pleasure
during negotiations, but, unfortunately, I received no concrete
proposals," Aliyev, 77, told journalists.
Last week Aliyev returned from the Paris talks saying no progress had been
made towards a solution for the region -- legally a part of Azerbaijan but
populated by ethnic Armenians.
Azerbaijan suffered a humiliating defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh after six
years of fighting which cost 35,000 lives and left much of the ex-Soviet
republic occupied by ethnic Armenian forces.
A ceasefire deal was signed in 1994, but the two sides have failed to
strike a comprehensive peace deal.
(C)2001 Copyright Reuters Limited.
AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT, FOREIGN MINISTER AT ODDS OVER KARABAKH SETTLEMENT?
On 7 March, former Azerbaijani presidential advisor Eldar Namazov and
former Foreign Minister Tofik Zulfugarov unveiled their "Initial Platform
towards a Settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict." That blueprint
reflects policy recommendations the two men made in a series of interviews
in the independent daily "Zerkalo" last year, but it also, according to
Namazov, includes suggestions made by unnamed political scientists and
members of the Azerbaijani intelligentsia.
The "Platform" comprises two parts: "Analysis and Evaluation of the
Situation," and "Proposals on Negotiations within the Framework of the
OSCE Minsk Group." The two former officials argue that Azerbaijan's
negotiating position should be formed on the basis of combining a clearly
formulated political position (insistence that Baku can grant
Nagorno-Karabakh no more than "broad autonomy" and that only the
"step-by-step" approach to resolving the conflict is both acceptable and
realistic, provision for the deployment of an international peacekeeping
force to monitor compliance with an eventual peace agreement), backed by
the implicit threat that the country is both militarily able and
politically willing to risk military action if all attempts to reach a
political solution to the conflict fail.
But that military operation would, at least initially, apparently be
restricted to implementation of what Namazov and Zulfugarov refer to as "a
humanitarian operation" to return to Baku's control the seven districts
adjacent to Karabakh currently occupied by Armenian forces in order to
enable displaced persons to return to their homes. In the wake of such a
successful military operation, the two ex-officials say, Azerbaijan might
toughen its negotiating position, withdrawing the offer of autonomy to the
disputed enclave and insisting instead on the creation of an Azerbaijani
administration that would "ensure security and the constitutional rights
and freedoms of citizens of the Azerbaijan republic, regardless of [their]
nationality."
The blueprint was immediately endorsed by several opposition party
leaders, and on 12 March, Azerbaijan's current foreign minister, Vilayat
Quliev, termed it "praiseworthy," adding, however, that it contains
"nothing new." But President Heidar Aliev the same day was scathing in his
rejection of the Namazov-Zulfugarov initiative, implying that officials
who had been closely involved in the negotiating process, as they had
been, should have been able to draft more realistic and effective
proposals. At the same time, however, Aliev stopped short of ruling out a
military solution to the conflict. (Liz Fuller)
...AS MORE POLICY PROPOSALS ROLL IN.
Addressing the Azerbaijani parliament on 13 March,
speaker Murrtuz Alesqerov said that no fewer than 92 proposals
for resolving the Karabakh conflict have been submitted to the
legislature. The overwhelming majority of those (86) advocate a political
solution to the conflict, while only six involve military actions, he
added. During the 23-24 February debate on the conflict, President Aliev
had called on the parliament and the population at large to suggest how
the conflict might be solved (see "RFE/RL Caucasus Report," Vol. 4, No.
10, 9 March 2001).
Among the opposition political figures who submitted such proposals was
Azerbaijan National Independence Party Chairman Etibar Mamedov, who
suggested staging mass protests by Azerbaijani displaced persons along the
Line of Contact that separates that Armenian and Azerbaijani positions.
The reformist wing of the divided Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AHCP)
unveiled its own seven-point proposal for resolving the conflict on 15
March. That program encompasses measures to resolve the conflict; foreign
policy in general; the formation of an Azerbaijani diaspora organization
that would lobby the international community; strengthening the country's
armed forces; instilling a sense of military and patriotic duty into the
population; the establishing of a center for Karabakh strategic research;
and information policy. The leader of the AHCP reformist wing, Ali
Kerimov, implied that in each of these spheres the Azerbaijani
leadership's activities have proven ineffective. Like Namazov and
Zulfugarov, he argued that creating a stronger and more effective army
"will enable us to negotiate with Armenia in a different way," meaning
from a position of strength rather than weakness.
In what appears to be an allusion to Mamedov's call for demonstrations in
support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, Kerimov argued that such
protests must mobilize "hundreds of thousands" of participants to be taken
seriously by the international community. He said that hopes of Turkish
military support to liberate occupied territories are misplaced, since
Turkey as a NATO member has limited scope for independent military
activity. Finally, Kerimov said that his party will ask the Azerbaijani
government not to discuss the political status of Nagorno-Karabakh within
Azerbaijan until after the occupied territories have been freed. (Liz
Fuller)
16 March 2001, Volume 4, Number 11
[RFE/RL] Caucasus Report, 16 March 2001, Volume 4, Number 11
Armenian suspect in 1994 Baku metro blast
on Interpol's wanted list
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 15, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani newspaper 525 Qazet on 15 March entitled
"Interpol is looking for Zoriy Balayan" by Kanan
[Subhead] Armenian writer Zoriy Balayan, who is charged with masterminding a
terrorist act on the Baku underground on 3 July 1994, is wanted by 177
countries
The Interpol Chief Secretariat based in the French city of Lyons has put
Zoriy Balayan, an Armenian writer and nationalist, who is famous for his
anti-Turkic stance, on the wanted list. It is curious that this decision was
made in 2000 after a relevant representation by the Azerbaijani bureau of
Interpol. According to this report, the reason why the Azerbaijani bureau of
Interpol put Balayan on the wanted list was his complicity in a horrific
terrorist act which killed 13 people on the Baku underground on 3 July 1994.
In May 1998, one of the criminals who organized the aforesaid terrorist act
and member of the [Lezgin] Sadval organization, Azar Aslanov, testified that
Balayan had had a hand in masterminding the explosion, too. The Azerbaijani
side signed the arrest warrant for Balayan, who is wanted by 177 countries
through Interpol, on 6 March 2000. The warrant shows that as a result of the
explosion masterminded by Balayan, 13 people died, 42 were wounded and
damage worth 1.73m dollars was inflicted on the state. Balayan is also
charged with sabotage and killings.
Balayan regards as "physical and moral damage" on himself the fact that
Interpol "made this decision without even looking" at the arrest warrant
presented by the Azerbaijani section of this structure.
Several news agencies yesterday published Zoriy Balayan's appeals to
Interpol and the international court.
Denying in his letter all the charges against him, Balayan alleges that he
found out about the explosion on the Baku underground from the papers and
that he had nothing to do with the incident. According to Balayan's
allegations, anger and hatred of him have always been rampant in Azerbaijan.
The "campaign" against him "intensified" even more after Heydar Aliyev was
appointed first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
Azerbaijan [in 1969]. Several sentimental points draw special attention in
Balayan's letter: "How could I have had a hand in blowing up transport used
by the civilian population - children, women and old people?!"
We should point out that Balayan is now afraid to leave Armenia. His
aforesaid letter says that in May 2000, his close friend and surgeon in Los
Angeles, Vage Yagubyan, invited him to the USA for surgery. Balayan prepared
all the necessary documents to go to the USA. But in June the Armenian
bureau of Interpol received a letter saying that he was on the international
wanted list and advised him to put off his foreign trip: "I was told that I
would be arrested at any airport of the world if I left Armenia." The most
ridiculous aspect of the issue is that the Armenian bureau of Interpol
immediately contacted their Azerbaijani colleagues, told them that the
wanted Zoriy Balayan was living in Yerevan and demanded for this reason that
the arrest warrant be revoked: "I have found myself in a ridiculous
situation: Everyone knows where I am, but in spite of this, I am on the
international wanted list!"
Armenian Interior Minister Gayk Arutyunyan sent a letter to Interpol
Secretary-General Raymond Kendall and urged him to intervene in the
incident. But Mr Kendall left this appeal unanswered. If we believe what he
says, Balayan did not get a chance to undergo surgery, being afraid even to
go to Moscow. As a result, his condition deteriorated and he was taken to
the Yerevan Cardiological Surgery Centre in a life threatening condition.
After surgery here, Balayan's condition continued to deteriorate. The
doctors said that he was a first category invalid now.
Thus, Balayan is blaming Interpol for his illness: "I have been defamed. My
name and honour have been besmirched in 177 countries of the world."
But at the end of this "heartbreaking" letter, Balayan could not conceal his
essence. The chauvinist writer is demanding 17.7m US dollars (100,000
dollars per each of the 177 countries) from Interpol for physical and moral
damage.
Source: 525 qazet, Baku, in Azeri 15 Mar 01 p1
Armenian MPs "do not take war threat seriously" - Yerevan paper
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 13, 2001
Text of report by Armenian newspaper Azg on 13 March entitled "If they want
to be defeated again, let them come" by Gor Abraamyan
[Subhead] Armenian politicians do not take the resumption of war seriously
Azg has tried to find out the opinion of some parliamentary forces about the
discussions in Azerbaijan's Milli Maclis [parliament] and the coming meeting
[between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents].
Andranik Margaryan (Armenian prime minister, chairman of the Armenian
Republican Party): We have a state, an army and must not wait for anybody's
opinion. We have been ready for action at all times and we are also ready
today. Let them comment on the outbreak of war. Why must I comment on
[Azerbaijani President Heydar] Aliyev's and other people's statements?
Grant Voskanyan (Armenian Communist Party): These warlike statements may be
explained by internal problems. And all this racket is made for such a
purpose, but I do not consider it serious. There are serious people there
who will not allow a plunge into adventurism.
Artur Bagdasaryan (Orinats Yerkir [Law-governed State]): I view this
hysteria calmly but I believe that our army and defence forces must be ready
to respond on any action. The fact that today the Karabakh army is
considered one of the best trained armies of the region must be proved by
concrete actions. That means that political forces as well as defence forces
must be ready for any provocation. These are simply provocations by some
extremist officials in Azerbaijan.
Grant Khachatryan (Constitutional Law Union): A veritable hysteria has been
whipped up in Azerbaijan. Frankly speaking, I cannot remember if the
hysteria is really stronger this time than at other times, or is it
commented on a much wider scale in Armenia? This kind of a response from the
Azeri side is fully understandable, as first of all they are a people who
suffered defeat in what they believe to be an unjust war. Political forces
there have a power problem and if in Armenia, where the Nagornyy Karabakh
issue has always been one of the most crystal pure questions, it is natural
that in the neighboring country this is expressed several times stronger.
There is also another side to the issue: what kind of a response can such
statements have in the world? I do not think that any self-respecting
society would take internationally condemned statements as a basis and form
a policy on the basis of them. But I do not rule out that separate
supranational, monopolistic forces may draw up some definite programmes on
the basis of these statements. On the whole, the internal political life of
Azerbaijan must not trouble us much and we have to understand that the
hysteria is directed more at resolving their internal political problems
than settling regional problems.
Vahan Ovanesyan (Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutyun): I do
not see any danger. This is undoubtedly a bluff, as those who made noise are
people who had once suffered defeat in war. If they want to be defeated
again, let them come.
Vazgen Manukyan (Armenian Democratic Union): We all understand how terrible
the resumption of war would be for our people and for the people of
Azerbaijan. I think that in any case Azerbaijan is not ready yet. Secondly,
if it starts a war it will undoubtedly suffer defeat. Thirdly, all the
negotiating means have not been exhausted yet and such a hysteria can only
cause damage to the issue. Such an approach was reinforced by Defence
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who said that if Azerbaijan was even for a second
certain that it would win the war, it would undoubtedly launch combat
actions. In any case, such a step would have no prospects and would be
irresponsible because on the one hand Azerbaijan itself might stick the
label of aggressor on its forehead, prove that it is not ready for the
negotiating process or for any compromise, and would turn the world
community and the Council of Europe, of which it is a new member, against
itself. And most importantly: it would avert the process of the unstable
army's formation, because the authority and the opposition forces themselves
suspect that the issue may be successfully settled by means of war, without
taking the current situation in their army into consideration.
Source: Azg, Yerevan, in Armenian 13 Mar 01 p1
Azeri retired officers' group replies
to "paper heroes" remark
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 13, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan
Baku, 13 March: "The recent statement by the Armenian defence minister that
the Armenians will occupy more Azerbaijani territory if the war resumes is
another confirmation of the fact that Armenia is a direct participant in the
Karabakh conflict," a statement by the Azerbaijani Union of Retired Officers
(AURO) says.
Commenting on remarks by some Karabakh spokesmen about the combat efficiency
of Azerbaijani officers, calling them "paper generals", the authors of the
statement are reminding the Armenians of the words of their former President
Levon Ter-Petrosyan that Azerbaijan has lost the battle but not the war and
that some day Armenia will be asking for what it is rejecting now.
"As for the level of the Armenians, this is well known from history, which
is full of examples of betrayal, venality and meanness. The Armenians'
present is the continuation of their history. By staging a revolt in Turkey
at the beginning of the century and thinking that they could create their
own state on foreign land, the Armenians got their just deserts and lost
everything they had. However, to all appearances, the lesson was not very
useful for them. Someone in Karabakh is thinking today that the end will be
different today and that, tying the shoelaces of former US State Secretary
Cyrus Vance and kissing the hand of Boris Yeltsin, they can hide under the
wing of the big powers forever.
"With the help of foreign weapons and aid, it is possible to occupy
districts of Azerbaijan, but the day of reckoning will come when the
Armenians will no longer be needed.
The Azerbaijani army will prove that the Armenians will pay very dearly for
these delusions and then it will become clear who is a `paper general'", the
AURO statement said.
Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 1220 gmt 13 Mar 01
Azeri foreign minister says Armenian president should be tried for war crimes
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Mar 13, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan
Baku, 12 March: The reason why the Paris meeting between Heydar Aliyev and
Robert Kocharyan yielded no results is Armenia's desire to unite Nagornyy
Karabakh with Armenia. There can be no talk of any progress in the
settlement until Armenia gives up such an unconstructive position,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev has told Turan in an exclusive
interview.
Commenting on French President Jacques Chirac's remarks that the Karabakh
conflict could be regulated by the end of this year, the minister called
this "wishful thinking". Quliyev regards as "declarative" the recent
statement by his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanyan that progress had
allegedly been made on the settlement issue. He said he believed that this
statement was directed at ensuring internal stability in Armenia where
dissatisfaction with Robert Kocharyan's policy is growing.
As far as compromises by Azerbaijan are concerned, they are only possible in
the form of a high degree of self-government granted to Nagornyy Karabakh
within the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Baku also
guarantees the security of Nagornyy Karabakh's Armenian population and
conditions for the harmonious development of ties between Armenia and
Karabakh. For this reason, Azerbaijan cannot accept the conditions that
Armenia is setting: the existence of Azerbaijan and Nagornyy Karabakh as
equal subjects, ground communication between Nagornyy Karabakh [and Armenia]
and international guarantees for Nagornyy Karabakh's security.
Talking about Azerbaijan's future policy in this respect, Vilayat Quliyev
pointed out that the negotiating potential was still not "exhausted and the
political dialogue should continue". Azerbaijan should retain its "tough"
stance in the negotiating process. Simultaneously, it is necessary to lay an
emphasis on the military buildup, the minister pointed out. "Armenia will
get what it wants - war or peace," the minister said.
In spite of the "unsatisfactory" activities of the [OSCE] Minsk Group, it is
necessary to continue the search for ways to settle the conflict within the
framework of this structure and the direct dialogue between the presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Quliyev believes.
Answering a question about possible pressure by the big powers on Armenia,
which is ignoring international laws, Quliyev said that most leading
countries had still not recognized Armenia as the aggressor. Moreover, the
OSCE Minsk Group cochairing countries "support" Armenia in their own way. In
other words, the USA maintains the discriminatory Section 907 against
Azerbaijan, Russia sells weapons to Armenia and France recognizes the
"Armenian genocide".
The foreign minister also touched on the issue of Azerbaijan's appeal to the
United Nations to bring Armenia and Robert Kocharyan personally before a
military tribunal for war crimes against Azerbaijan's civilian population
and the Xocali tragedy. The minister said that the time had come for an
official appeal to the International Court in The Hague. "We should
intensify our activities in this direction," Vilayat Quliyev said.
Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 1600 gmt 12 Mar 01
BOOK ABOUT YOUNG AZERI HERO
Renowned intellectuals from the occupied Jabrayil province of Azerbaijan
have conducted a presentation ceremony of a book, Soldier Tigana,
dedicated to the youngest Azeri warrior, 15-year-old Samir Aliyev.
At 12, Samir joined a group of volunteers that was defending his native
village. He could not be drafted for military service for not being old
enough. However, Samir was aiding soldiers with food, water and
ammunition, repeatedly saving besieged villagers with badly needed bullets
and going on reconnaissance missions to the opposite side.
His love of his motherland, as well as the atrocities perpetrated by
Armenian thugs in his native soil, urged Samir to drop school and
fearlessly fight against the enemy. In 1990-1993, he was known all along
the front-line. The young Azeri hero was nicknamed Tigana for his strong
resemblance with a renowned French soccer player Jean Tigana, for his
agility and ardor.
The author of the book is a doctor, senior lieutenant of a medical platoon
Maleyka Sema. It was in her arms that the deadly wounded Tigana died at
the age of 15. His last fight was on August 15, 1993, when he was severely
wounded while helping ambushed Azeri soldiers.
[AssA-Irada] News Digest, March 17-18, 2001
Armenian problem resolved through payout
Unemployed youth agreed to play Armenian soldiers in a reenactment of the
liberation of Pasinli only when paid
Ankara- Turkish Daily News
14 March 2001
The district of Pasinli in Erzurum celebrated the 83rd anniversary of its
liberation from Armenian occupation yesterday, the Anatolia news agency
reported. Unemployed youth were to play the role of Armenians in a
reenactment of the liberation but at first refused to do so. Eventually,
the Mayor of Pasinli Bunyamin Ucun agreed to pay each one TL 10
million. "We had no other choice," he said. The youths paraded in front of
the visitors' stand dressed as Armenians before being chased out of the
district by other Turks, who subjected them to a long beating with sticks.
Speaking at the festivities, Mayor Ucun said that 83 years previously
Ataturk's army had liberated Pasinli from the clutches of the Armenians,
who had wanted to form a state on Turkish soil. He condemned France's
acceptance of the Armenian genocide bill and said that it would still not
alter the historical facts.
Copyright Turkish Daily News
News referred from Habarlar-L