updated
Karabakh war
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 23, 2001
The US ambassador to Armenia, Michael Lemmon, has said that he does not believe Azerbaijan is seriously intending to resume hostilities in Nagornyy Karabakh. He said that only fresh approaches could create conditions for economic development in the region. According to Lemmon, lasting security in the Caucasus can only be achieved through the successful resolution of all conflicts in the region. The following is text of report by Armenian news agency Snark:
Yerevan, 23 June: The international community is firmly against the resumption of hostilities in the zone of the Karabakh conflict, US ambassador to Armenia Michael Lemmon said in an interview with Snark news agency.
Asked about the possibility of hostilities resuming in the conflict zone in the light of permanent statements in Baku about Azerbaijan's readiness to resolve the conflict by force in line with their own scenario, the ambassador voiced his full confidence that "nobody, including those who are making such statements, wants the conflict to resume". In his opinion, "such statements are partly a result of an emotional and psychological climate in which people have found themselves when they first faced a difficult question - what mutually acceptable compromise means". "I do not think that these statements are serious," Lemmon said. The settlement of the Karabakh conflict is "quite a difficult problem, and we can only assist the parties to the conflict in finding a solution acceptable to them because in the end they will have to live with it", the ambassador said.
It is very important, he said, that the people see the region as a single whole. Conditions for economic development and prosperity can be created only on the basis of new appraisals and approaches. This can be achieved in cooperation with neighbouring countries. A simple example, the envoy said, are railway lines throughout the entire region, through Armenia and further. If used, these railway lines will open great prospects for communication. Central Asia, Russia and Ukraine will have railway lines through the Caucasus and Armenia to Iran, Turkey, the Middle East, the Persian Gulf countries and Europe. All the countries of the region, their neighbours and the international community will benefit from this integration. This will, in turn, help improve living standards, create new possibilities for business and promote the opening of jobs.
Lasting regional stability and security is the most important prerequisite for investing money in Armenia. This will increase investors' confidence, which is needed for investing large funds in the development of regional infrastructure, including roads, railways, pipelines etc, the ambassador said. This, in turn, requires resolution of regional conflicts. All this is in the interests not only of Armenia but also of all countries in the region and of the international community, Michael Lemmon said.
The only way to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey is to seek ways for a constructive dialogue. The USA assists and supports the dialogue idea, the US envoy said.
He said that Armenian-Turkish relations were rather complicated and conditioned not only by historic reasons but also contemporary ones. Relations should not be expected to normalize at once, the envoy said. The USA supports any contacts at any level and in any sphere which could lead to a constructive dialogue. The two countries have much to discuss both at the official and public levels, the US diplomat said.
He also spoke about the need to focus attention on priorities in the implementation of the idea of common Caucasian regional security system. He said that the Karabakh settlement should be seen as one of the priorities.
A successful solution to the Karabakh, Abkhazian and other conflicts should create a new climate in which the countries of the region and their neighbours will be able to discuss the problem of establishing stable security for all countries in the region constructively and not through opposition to each other, the envoy said. He said that at the same time work should continue on concrete projects - irrespective of whether these programmes are in the sphere of transport, adaptation of customs laws, irrigation or other - which could be implemented now in order to improve people's living standards today, develop the economy and lay the foundations for further cooperation and integration when an expanded political environment allows this.
Speaking about Washington's attitude to the idea of limiting the number of participants in the common Caucasian security system to the countries of the region - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia - with the possible involvement of neighbouring states - Turkey and Iran - and also about the US administration's intention to participate in this initiative, Michael Lemmon said: "An answer to this question will be clear after the conflicts are resolved and when a new climate is created; it will become clear in this new environment what can be right." He said that it is too early to speak of a possible failure of regional and transregional economic projects if the USA and Europe do not participate in this system for one reason or another.
Source: Snark news agency, Yerevan, in Russian 0530 gmt 23 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Azeri-Armenian poll shows lack of confidence
in Karabakh mediators
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 23, 2001
Text of S. Abbasov and A. Qafarzada report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 23 June entitled "Armenians and Azerbaijanis do not trust the Minsk Group"
These are the results of virtual surveys by Ekho newspaper and site PanARMENIAN
The Ekho newspaper is continuing to conduct weekly surveys on its Internet site (www.echo-az.com). The following question was put to virtual interviewees this time: "Do you trust the international mediators (the [OSCE] Minsk Group)?"
At the same time a similar virtual survey was conducted by the Armenian site PanARMENIAN. For this reason, we considered it interesting to compare the results of the voting of Azerbaijani and Armenian interviewees.
A total of 151 people participated in our survey. Their opinion divided in the following way - 11 people (7.28 per cent) responded "yes", 138 people (91.39 per cent) - "no", and two people (1.32 per cent) found it difficult to answer.
The results of the voting on PanARMENIAN are as follows: out of 449 people who voted, 187 people (42 per cent) responded "yes", and 263 people (59 per cent) - "no".
As can be seen, the greater part of the population in both countries is disappointed in the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group. However, this percentage is much higher in Azerbaijan than in Armenia. We asked for comments the deputy chairman of the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party [PFAP], Asim Mollazada; political scientist Rasim Musabayov; and the deputy chairman the Liberal Party, Rasad Rzaquliyev.
Asim Mollazada, PFAP deputy chairman for international issues and MP:
"The lack of trust in the mediators is a psychological reaction to those who try to help to solve a complicated problem. Such a reaction in Azerbaijan is primarily connected with the fact that in their approach to the settlement of the conflict, international organizations were not based on international legislation, did not give an evaluation of the fact that Armenia grossly violates international legislation, as well as the charters of those mediating international organizations. It seems to me that this is the reason behind the negative reaction among the Azerbaijani public."
Rasad Rzaquliyev, the Liberal Party's deputy chairman:
"The results of the survey on the whole quite clearly convey the public mood in the states involved in the Karabakh conflict. Time has shown that the institution of international mediation in the form that has been demonstrated to us in the recent years has been completely discredited. It has not become possible to break the spirit of our nation and foist a shameful capitulation in the name of somebody's economic and geopolitical interests. And this is the main thing. Armenia also understands that they will just not survive a second Karabakh war. The ideology of "miatsum" [unification of Karabakh with Armenia] failed on the day when [Robert] Kocharyan became the country's president. I am confident that already in a couple of months the bet on the efforts of the international mediators in this country will increase even further."
Rasim Musabayov, political scientist:
"In essence, the question should be seen in the following way: do you believe in the effectiveness of the Minsk Group? Naturally, the population sees the absence of results of the eight years of activities of the Minsk Group and responds negatively to this question. The fact that most Azerbaijanis do not trust the mediators testifies to the fact that the Minsk Group has a largely pro-Armenian position. For the Armenians this issue is softened - they do not believe in effectiveness, but they certainly trust the mediators."
Source: Ekho, Baku, in Russian 23 Jun 01 p5
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Azeri Speaker Said To Suggest 'Friendship Group' With Armenian Mps
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, Murtuz
Aleskerov, has called for the creation of an Armenian-Azerbaijani
inter-parliamentary "friendship group" to promote reconciliation between
the two warring nations, according to Armenian lawmakers that visited Baku
this week.
The four deputies were in the Azerbaijani capital for a regular session of
the parliamentary assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), a
loose grouping of 11 states, including Russia, Ukraine and Turkey.
One of them, Victor Dallakian of the majority Miasnutyun faction, said
Friday that Aleskerov floated the idea at a separate meeting with the
visiting Armenian delegation. He said Aleskerov expressed readiness to pay
an official visit to Yerevan at the head of an Azerbaijani parliamentary
delegation.
But Dallakian added that the Milli Mejlis speaker rejected the Armenian
proposal to begin commercial and other contacts before a solution is found
to the Karabakh dispute, while accepting that Armenian-Azerbaijani
economic cooperation is "inevitable." "He contradicted himself," Dallakian
told reporters on return to Yerevan.
Official Baku argues that the opening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontier
for cargo transit and cross-border commerce would be a disincentive for
Yerevan and Stepanakert to seek a peace settlement. The Armenian side and
the European Union believe that such contacts would facilitate the search
for peace.
The lawmakers said they were satisfied with the way they were received by
Azerbaijani officials. "We were treated very well, the hospitality was on
a high level," Dallakian said.
His colleague Manvel Badeyan, who also represents Miasnutyun, said the
Armenian deputies even did some shopping in Baku, each of them buying a
jar of Azerbaijani caviar "because it's cheaper there."
Copyright 2001 RFE/RL
ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI TALKS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST...
Following the 19 June meeting at which Armenian President Robert Kocharian
briefed political party leaders on the continuing Karabakh peace process,
Orinats Yerkir (Law-Based Country) parliament faction leader Artur
Baghdasarian told Armenian National Television that the next meeting
between Kocharian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Heidar Aliev will take
place in August, Groong reported. Both Baghdasarian and National
Democratic Union Chairman Vazgen Manukian said that the postponement of
the talks scheduled for Geneva this month was due to Azerbaijan's reneging
on an earlier agreement. LF
...BUT AZERBAIJAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER REMAINS PESSIMISTIC
Speaking at a conference on the Karabakh conflict in Baku on 19 June,
Vilayat Quliev said the OSCE Minsk Group charged with mediating a solution
to the Karabakh conflict has proven incapable of doing so, according to
"Zerkalo" on 20 June, as cited by Groong. "There is a vicious circle: the
Minsk Group co-chairmen place their hopes on the talks between the two
presidents and base their activity on the results of those talks while the
presidents and public in the two countries are waiting for results from
the Minsk Group," Quliev observed. He said there appears to be no way out
of this "vicious circle," given that the Minsk Group has not put forward
any new proposals since November 1998. He implied that a solution to the
conflict depends not merely on an agreement between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, but also on Armenia securing approval for such an agreement
from its "patrons," by which he presumably meant Russia. Quliev also again
rejected any economic cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, branding
Armenian proposals to embark on such cooperation "a well-thought-out step
which is intended for the European mentality," according to the
independent daily "Ekho," as cited by Groong. LF
RFE/RL Transcaucasia Newsline, June 21, 2001
ARMENIANS VIOLATE CEASEFIRE REGIME IN NAKHCHIVAN
Source:Press Service of Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan
21.06.01--BAKU--The military units of the Armenian Armed Forces stationed
in the villages of Khndzorut, Bartsunuri, Martiros and Barksnavar of the
Vayk region shelled from machine and sub-machine guns the positions of the
Azeri Army near the village of Ashagi Buzgov of Nakhchivans Babek region
and villages of Shada, Yukhari Remeshin and Bichenek of the Shahbuz region
from 6:20 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., from 7:30 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. and from 11:00
p.m. to 11:15 p.m. on May 20. The enemy ceased shelling after the return
fire opened by Azeri troops. No casualties are reported.
By Staff Writers
U.S. AMBASSADOR SHOCKED BY WAR DESTRUCTION IN FUZULI REGION
Source:ANS
20.06.01--FUZULI--The U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to
Azerbaijan, Ross Wilson visited Azerbaijans Fuzuli region. In his
exclusive interview with ANS, the American diplomat said the following: I
came here for two reasons. First, I wanted to see the process of min
clearing. Also did I want to witness the process of peoples return to this
region. The second reason is the fact that we want to know whether the
currently realized mine clearing projects will continue if a peace
agreement is concluded in future. It should be noted that the total area
of the Fuzuli region which is considered by experts as mined makes 3
million square meters. 90,000 square meters of the area were cleared by
hands, while 231,000 square meters - with the use of dogs. Mr Wilson
highly rated the mine clearing process going in the region. Said the U.S.
envoy: The international community has done a great job within the
framework of the UN Development Program. The cleaning works have been
deepened and we are currently seeing its fruits. Azerbaijan could create
its own mine clearing structures in future. The U.S. ambassador visited
villages around the Horadiz settlement and was shocked by the destruction
brought by war to this place. Mr Wilson called this a tragedy.
By Vafa Ibrahimova
AZERBAIJAN NOT EXPECTING NEW PROPOSALS FROM MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
Source:ANS
20.06.01--BAKU--Azerbaijan is not expecting new proposals from the OSCE
co-chairs. This is the opinion of Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Vilayat
Guliyev. We would remind you that the last Armenia-Azerbaijan meeting
involving the OSCE co-chairs was held in Key West, Florida in April 2001.
According to the agreement reached at the talks, the next round of the
talks was to be held in Geneva on June 15. Although attempts was made to
explain the postponement of the talks by the time granted to both
presidents to prepare their countries for compromises, both Azeri and
Armenian presidents accused each other in holding non-constructive
position. The June 22 meeting of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Malta
will discuss the situation after the Key West talks. Said Mr Guliyev: I
think the co-chairs should assess the current situation and determine the
directions of their further activities. We will only be waiting for this
meetings results. But the Minsk Groups Russian co-chair Nikolai Gribkov
didnt recommend to expect anything from the Malta meeting. According to
the Russian diplomat, this is going to be a simple consultation of the
three co-chairs. At the same time, the co-chairs will coordinate their
next actions in the process of adjustment of the Karabakh conflict. Mr
Gribkov also said the co-chairs havent prepared any new proposals. Despite
all this, the Russian co-chair reckons that the negotiating process is
going quite normally. As for postponement of the talks, Mr Gribkov said it
was normal as well. Because, according to him, talks cant always continue
at the same rhythm.
By Gulshan Aliyeva
REFERENDUMS SHOULD EXPRESS STANCES OF AZERI AND ARMENIAN PEOPLES TO
KARABAKH ADJUSTMENT
Source:ANS
20.06.01--BAKU--The Republic of Armenia expresses for peaceful resolution
of the Karabakh conflict and official Yerevan always underlines this
stance. This was announced by the chairman of Armenias state law
commission Viktor Dallakian. Said the Armenian official: We welcome those
contacts and negotiations which are held by both presidents within the
framework of OSCE. We highly rate the diplomacy of Mr Aliyev and Mr
Kocharian. The Armenian MP reckons the economic contacts within the
framework of the Black Sea community could promote political ones and
eventual fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Mr Dallakian expressed
hope that both two parliaments and popular diplomacy will soon work in
this direction. The Armenian diplomat also noted that when principles of
adjustment are known to the Azeri and Armenian public, one needs to hold
referendums in both countries based on the results of which the two
nations will express their stance.
By Shahin Kazimzadeh
CONSULTATIONS OF MINSK CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN MALTA JUNE 22-24
Source:Turan News Agency
19.06.01--MOSCOW, Russia--Enlarged consultations of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be held in Malta on June
22-24. According to Russian diplomatic sources, the consultations will be
held without participation of Azeri and Armenian representatives. The
sources noted that the consultations are aimed at adding dynamism to the
negotiating process of the Azeri and Armenian presidents concerning
adjustment of the long-running conflict. The results of the recent visit
of the co-chairs to the conflict region in late May say that two nations
positions on a number of conflict-related issues are mutually elusive
which makes the meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia a
premature issue this day. The Russian delegation will be led buy First
Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Trubnikov.
By Staff Writers
AZERIS DEPORTED FROM ARMENIA
TO DEMAND AUTONOMY
Source:ANS
21.06.01--BAKU--Rumors are being spread that the Western Azerbaijan
International Society which was created only a month ago will defend the
interests of the National Independence Party (AMIP). The main factor which
prompts such speculations is the fact that of AMIP activists Shadman
Huseyn is at the head of the newly created organization. Rumors say the
AMIP leader Etibar Mamedov is gaining electorate at the expense of people
deported from Armenia. But Mr Huseyn refuted all such statements.
Grounding his thought, he says there a lot of members of the ruling New
Azerbaijan Party (YAP) which register with the new society. They apply to
our society only as Western Azeris, said Mr Huseyn. Added the latter: The
main objective of the society is to defend the rights of Azeris deported
from Armenia. We must build our strategy within the framework of
international organizations. The society is also preparing for demanding a
compensation from the Government of Armenia for the material and moral
damage caused to the Azeris during their violent deportation from Armenia.
Mr Huseyn said some three million Azeris have been deported from Armenia
over the past two centuries. According to international norms, we
(deported Azeris) have the right to demand an autonomy from Armenian
authorities at any time, said Mr Huseyn.
By Eldaniz Veliyev
ANS News, June 18-21, 2001
Armenian Azeris to demands 50bn dollars'
compensation from Armenia
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 22, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 21 June
[Presenter] The Western Azerbaijan [Armenia] society is demanding about 50bn dollars in compensation from the Iravan [Yerevan] government because of Armenian deportations of Azerbaijanis [from Armenia] in 1801-2001, member of the organizational committee of the Western Azerbaijan international society, Sadman Huseyn, has said. He said that if the 300,000 Armenians deported from Azerbaijan were demanding 5bn dollars' compensation, then the three million Azerbaijanis deported from Armenia should demand compensation 10 times greater this sum.
[Correspondent] There are reports that the Western Azerbaijan society, which was established about a month ago, serves the interests of the Milli Istiqlal Party. The reason for such reports is the fact that Milli Istiqlal Party activist Sadman Huseyn heads this society. Some people believe that Etibar Mammadov's electorate is being formed on the basis of refugees from Armenia. However, Sadman Huseyn vehemently rejected these reports and said that there were many members of the [ruling] New Azerbaijan Party in this society as well, and that they joined this society as people from Western Azerbaijan.
[Huseyn] The chief reason for setting up this society is to defend the rights of deported Azerbaijanis. We want to carry out our activity not on the republican level, but in the international arena.
[Correspondent] The society is going to demand compensation from Armenia for material and moral damage inflicted on Azerbaijani refugees. Calculation of the compensation is under way. It is certain that about three million Azerbaijanis have been deported from Armenia over the last two centuries.
[Huseyn] More than three million Azerbaijanis have the right to autonomy and according to international law we can use this right and demand autonomy from Armenia at any time.
[Correspondent] Members of the society have appealed to the OSCE, PACE and embassies of foreign countries in Azerbaijan and asked for autonomy according to international standards and guarantees from Armenia and international organizations that Azerbaijanis can repopulate those areas. Eldaniz Valiyev, Ramil Qulammirzayev, ANS.
Source: ANS TV, Baku, in Azeri 1600 gmt 21 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Opposition leader says Baku agreed to establishment of "second Armenian state"
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 22, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Bilik Dunyasi
Baku, 21 June: The policy of the Azerbaijani authorities has been directed at suppressing the potential of their people, Ali Karimov, chairman of the People's Front of Azerbaijan Party [PFAP, reformists], has said.
The process of drawing up a draft of a "peace agreement" between Azerbaijan and Armenia continues, Ali Karimov has told Bilik Dunyasi news agency. The document stipulates the establishment of a second Armenian state on Azerbaijani territory.
The PFAP chairman, quoting a diplomatic source, said that the Azerbaijani leadership consented a priori to the so-called Nagornyy Karabakh Republic having its own currency, constitution, legal bodies and army not subordinate to the appropriate bodies of the Azerbaijani Republic, and other attributes.
To substantiate his information, Karimov cited an example when Milli Maclis Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov had difficulties answering a deputy's question on this issue.
Source: Bilik Dunyasi news agency, Baku, in Russian 21 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Analyst says Azerbaijan should solve Karabakh
problem militarily
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 20, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency MPA
Baku, 20 June: "Our republic will have to solve the problem by using [military] force if the negotiation process over the Karabakh problem does not change," political analyst Eldar Namazov has told MPA news agency. He said that Armenia's current position is hard and uncooperative. Namazov said that the Yerevan formula - "return of the Azerbaijani occupied territories for the independence of Nagornyy Karabakh" - for the settlement of the conflict is not acceptable to Baku. Some of the cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group do not wish and some cannot exert strong pressure on Armenia. That is why, the political analyst believes, Azerbaijan has a very limited choice: either to freeze the conflict for many years like the Arab-Israeli conflict, or agree to the loss of part of its territory, or use [military] force against the aggressors.
Source: MPA news agency, Baku, in Russian 20 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Azeri defence minister slams transfer of Russian
base to Armenia
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 20, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani Space TV on 20 June
[Presenter] The Russian military base at Vaziani [east of Tbilisi] and its airport will be transferred to the Georgian side on 20-22 June and 25-28 June respectively. According to an agreement signed at the OSCE Istanbul summit in 1999, the Russian base at Vaziani should be closed on 1 July 2001. Part of the military personnel of the Vaziani base will be divided among other Russian bases in Georgia and Armenia and the other part will be sent to Russia.
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev commented on the transfer of the Russian bases from Georgia and the fact that military facilities from this base would be redeployed in Russian bases in Armenia.
[Abiyev] We welcome the fact that Russian base is being transferred from Georgia. This is good for Azerbaijan's security. But I condemn the redeployment of this base to Armenia. This proves once again that Armenia is not an independent country and that this country is dependent on others.
Source: Space TV, Baku, in Azeri 1200 gmt 20 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Azeri foreign minister rules out economic ties with Armenia
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 20, 2001
A Conference entitled "Karabakh: war and peace" was held at Xazar University yesterday [19 June]. One of the questions raised at the conference concerned the [OSCE] Minsk Group's activity. [Passage omitted: no special progress achieved in Karabakh peace talks]
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliyev gave an exclusive interview to Ekho newspaper.
[Correspondent] Do the sides intend to reject the OSCE Mink Group's services?
[Vilayat Quliyev] No.
[Passage omitted: Minsk Group cochairmen to meet in Malta on 22-24 June
[Correspondent] Azerbaijan is frequently asked to participate in joint regional economic projects with Armenia. Could these projects play any role in the Karabakh conflict settlement?
[Vilayat Quliyev] Such appeals are made at almost every international meeting, at the level of the Council of Europe, the Caucasus Four and even at meetings between presidents. This is the favourite subject of the Armenians. They did their dirty business, occupied Azerbaijani land, killed civilians and soldiers, committed massacres and ethnic cleansing. But now when we are talking about all this at meetings, the Armenians are talking peace - let's forget past offences and live in harmony.
In my speech at a NATO summit I spoke about everything the Armenians had done in Karabakh. Then my Armenian colleague, Vardan Oskanyan, took the floor, saying that all this had happened in the past, that we should not live for yesterday but should look to the future, that Karabakh should become a bridge between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and then he proposed to establish economic cooperation.
This is a well-thought-out step which is intended for the European mentality. Everybody thinks: these Armenians are such humanists, they are ready to forget all problems and live in peace. It is sometimes difficult to make the world public understand that peace will be restored in the Caucasus only when the [Karabakh] problem is resolved in line with international law.
They suggest to us to establish economic cooperation with Armenia, to lift the existing blockade, Turkey should open its doors to Armenia, in a word, everyone must be tolerant towards the Armenians.
Azerbaijan, naturally, opposes this approach. Regional cooperation cannot be a means for reaching peace. What cooperation can be between the aggressor and the state whose territory is occupied?
[Passage omitted: presidential decree on script change]
Source: Ekho, Baku, in Russian 20 Jun 01 pp 1, 2
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DISCUSSES KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS WITH PARTY LEADERS
Robert Kocharian met in Yerevan on 19 June with the leaders of Armenia's
main political parties to brief them on the ongoing Karabakh peace
process, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Neither the presidential press
service nor party leaders who attended the meeting divulged details. Also
on 19 June, Turan quoted former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe
Talbott as saying that Armenia and Azerbaijan were "very, very close" to
finding a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict on the eve of the
October 1999 parliament shootings. Talbott described that massacre as "a
human, political, and geopolitical catastrophe." LF
RFE/RL Transcaucasia Newsline, June 20, 2001
Karabakh foreign minister says "ethnic demarcation" is only solution to conflict
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 19, 2001
#########################################################################
HL NOTE: The following news articles ignore such basic facts that:
1) Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was, is, and will remain to be a
legitimate part of the Azerbaijan Republic;
2) Karabakh, and seven other regions are illegally occupied by
the Republic of Armenia, the aggressor;
3) That the puppet leaders and regime(s) of some self-proclaimed "NKR"
entity are recognized by no state and lack any legitimacy whatsoever.
Further, the Stalin imposed name of Stepanakert in 1923, is invalid and
the historic name of the city, Khankandi, has been restored since
Azerbaijan's re-establishment of independence.
#########################################################################
Text of report by press release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic on 18 June
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] Foreign Minister Naira Melkumyan gave a lecture at the American University of Armenia on 11 June on the subject "the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement: peace through demarcation".
Evaluating the political-diplomatic road that Nagornyy Karabakh has taken, Melkumyan especially highlighted the declaration of the NKR's independent statehood. The minister presented the development of the negotiating process, pointing out that simultaneously with hostilities, Nagornyy Karabakh had actively joined the process of political negotiations, the final aim of which was to convince the international community that it was impossible to surrender Nagornyy Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
Speaking about the NKR's role in the region, the NKR foreign minister pointed out that as Nagornyy Karabakh had ensured the military-political balance here and was one of its key elements, it would have a decisive impact on the future of the South Caucasus.
"I must stress another important aspect - the Republic of Armenia's official support since 1998 for the position and principles of the settlement put forward by the NKR authorities has had a significant impact on the nature and quality of the international mediators' proposals," Naira Melkumyan said.
"For this reason, we think that our joint diplomatic efforts should be directed at preserving the NKR's state independence and its full participation in the negotiating process up to the international recognition of its political status, which de facto exists today."
Speaking about the legal basis of the conflict, the minister stressed that the Armenian people of Nagornyy Karabakh had established themselves on the territory which was illegally torn away from the genocide-weakened Armenia in the period after the collapse of the Russian Empire and during the formation of states in the South Caucasus. In Melkumyan's view, this precisely explains the expediency and justification of the trilateral format of the negotiating process. She stated that the fate of the people and their territory can be and will be solved in mutual dependence. The minister said that the Republic of Armenia was in the position today to assume historical and political responsibility for the Armenian people of Artsakh [Karabakh], but that from a legal point of view it is the people of Artsakh who are the bearer and primary source of power on this territory.
Naira Melkumyan stated that in spite of the continuing negotiations between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, xenophobic and bellicose statements by the Azerbaijani side were continuing unabated. "All this confirms the assertion that it is necessary to recognize the fact of ethnic territorial demarcation in the region between the Armenians and Azerbaijanis as the only possible means to settle the conflict," the NKR foreign minister stated.
Source: Nagornyy Karabakh Foreign Ministry, Stepanakert, in Russian 1430 gmt 18 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
US, Russia using Karabakh to develop cooperation - Azeri president's aide
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 19, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Bilik Dunyasi
Baku, 18 June: Azerbaijan expects the meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush to give an impetus to the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the head of the international relations department of the presidential executive staff, Novruz Mammadov, has said. "There is no doubt that the Karabakh problem was discussed during the meeting between the US and Russian presidents, but, regrettably, this conflict has become an instrument for the development of constructive cooperation between Russia and the USA," Mammadov said.
Source: Bilik Dunyasi news agency, Baku, in Russian 19 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Radio commentary says Iran could help settle
Karabakh conflict
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 19, 2001
Text of commentary in English by Iranian radio on 19 June
According to Mediapress [news agency], Vilayat Quliyev, the foreign minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on Monday 18 June claimed that Iran's participation in negotiations concerning the mountainous region of Karabakh is not possible for now. Meantime, the unofficial Television Network of the Azerbaijan Republic, ANS, in its news edition yesterday [18 June] spoke of the possibility of the presence of Iranian representatives in the future summit of the Minsk Group member states.
The Minsk Group is comprised of 11 members and chaired jointly by the US, France and Russia. The Minsk Group summit is scheduled to be held in Malta from the 22 to 24 June. According to political experts, in view of Iran's strategic statues in the region, particularly in the Caucasus and its neighborhood with the republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the presence of Iran in the peace talks of Karabakh can helps settle the conflict.
The recent gesture of the foreign minister of the Republic of the Azerbaijan is in contrast with his previous gesture made on 9 February when he described as positive Iran's cooperation's in this regard.
Prior to the formation of the Minsk Group, Iran was assigned by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 1999 to play a role in the peace talks between Baku and Yerevan. The first cease-fire in the Karabakh war between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia was established with Iran's mediation. Therefore, last month the Russian and French presidents of the Minsk Group stressed Iran's participation in the Karabakh peace talks.
On the other hand, Iran maintains goods relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia and can play an effective role in helping bring an end to the Karabakh conflict. The reason why should necessarily be present in the Karabakh peace talks is that the security of the regional states is linked to one another. Security in the Caucuses would mean security for Iran and the continued war in Karabakh would cause instability in the northern Iranian borders.
In response to the invitation by the Minsk Group for helping settle the Karabakh crisis, last May Iran assigned Mohammad Farhad Koleyni, a senior Iranian diplomat who was also present at the Karabakh cease-fire talks, as its authorized representative to the Minsk Group. In view of Iran's effective role in the reinforcement of peace and stability in the region, experts believe that contrary to Quliyev's statements the Karabakh peace talks do not appear to be leading to anywhere without the presence of all the regional states.
Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran external service, Tehran, in English 1100 gmt 19 Jun 01
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
RETHINKING 'PHASED' VS. 'PACKAGE.
In an article published in the May issue of "Nezavisimaya gazeta-Sodruzhhestvo,"
Vladimir Kazimirov, who from 1992 to 1996 served as Russia's representative to
and co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group tasked with seeking to mediate a solution
to the Karabakh conflict, reviews the mediation process to date, analyses the current
impasse, and suggests one approach to surmounting it.
The introductory section of Kazimirov's article deplores the failure to
make any serious progress towards a political solution of the conflict
since the signing of a cease-fire agreement in May 1994. He lays the blame
for that failure on both Armenia and Azerbaijan, criticizing in particular
efforts by the opposition in both countries to make use of the negotiating
process to achieve their short-term political aims, specifically by taking
a categorical stance on any concessions and thereby narrowing the
leaderships' freedom of maneuver.
It is time, Kazimirov says, for all political factions on both sides to
face up to their collective responsibility to reach a settlement of the
conflict, as the opposition's "irresponsible" failure to do so poses a
threat not only to them but to [unnamed] neighboring states. At the same
time, the international community can and must insist that all mainstream
political forces clearly commit themselves to seeking a swift and fair
solution to all disputed issues by exclusively peaceful means.
What is needed, Kazimirov stresses, is an approach to conflict resolution
that would bring about "historic reconciliation" and preclude a resumption
of hostilities in the future. In that context, he warns against any
attempt by either side to alter the geopolitical status quo to its
advantage, since any such attempt by one side would prompt the other to do
likewise and thus only serve to compound mutual suspicion and undermine
the chances of reaching a peace agreement.
Comparing the relative merits of the "package" and "phased" approaches to
resolving the Karabakh conflict, Kazimirov assumes that during their
face-to-face talks over the past two years, the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents have been aiming for a "package" peace agreement that would
simultaneously address all aspects of the conflict -- which is why the
process has taken so long.
While conceding that a "package" deal is the ideal approach, he points out
that it is difficult to achieve, and not without risks resulting from the
confidentiality of the peace process, insofar as the apparent lack of any
tangible progress engenders impatience on the part of both the Armenian
and Azerbaijani public and distrust in their respective presidents. He
therefore suggests that if the two presidents have in fact reached
agreement on specific aspects of a settlement, they should consider
whether it is expedient to make those points of agreement public.
Alternatively, he proposes that the conflict parties could now switch to
the "phased" approach, focussing on whatever aspects appear the most
urgent at each successive stage.
Although Kazimirov does not say so, the use of the terms "phased" and
"package" with reference to the Karabakh conflict originally addressed
very specific aspects of a settlement. As former Armenian presidential
advisor Gerard Libaridian explains in his 1999 study "The Challenge of
Statehood. Armenian Political Thinking Since Independence," the phased
approach favored by the OSCE Minsk Group until late 1996 entailed first
reaching an agreement on the liberation of occupied territories, the
return to their homes of displaced persons, the release of prisoners of
war, and measures to strengthen the cease-fire, before proceeding to a
discussion of the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh. That approach
essentially constitutes the "land-for-peace" model," while a "package"
settlement would take the "land-for-status" approach, aiming to resolves
all aspects simultaneously.
Kazimirov advocates a new approach which he claims would help reduce
mutual distrust. That model comprises several consecutive packages of
mutual, if on occasion asymmetric, concessions. He points out that each of
the three parties to the conflict -- Baku, Yerevan, and Stepanakert -- has
its own priorities: Baku seeks the withdrawal of Armenian troops from
seven occupied raions contiguous to Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan wants
transport communications with Russia via Azerbaijan restored, and
Stepanakert wants its status defined and guarantees of its security.
Therefore Kazimirov proposes that the first of several stages should
comprise the withdrawal of Armenian forces from "a broad swathe of
territory in southwestern Azerbaijan along the River Araks" (but
apparently not from the strategic Lachin corridor linking Nagorno-Karabakh
with Armenia) and the return to those districts of their Azerbaijani
population; the restoration of rail communication between Baku and
Yerevan; and the beginning of direct talks between Stepanakert and Baku on
the future status and security of Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, the
three leaders, possibly in consultation with the OSCE Minsk Group, would
prioritize issues to be addressed in a second, and possibly a third and
fourth, group of mutual compromises.
Kazimirov's initial proposal at first glance appears fair and reasonable,
but the devil, as always, is in the details, specifically the timing. In
that the occupied territories constitute Stepanakert's sole ace,
Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia are unlikely to agree to begin a withdrawal
from any of those districts until agreement is reached both on the
enclave's future status and on security guarantees, although reports such
as that in "Aravot" on 9 June that Karabakh has for several months been
engaged in preparing new lines of defense along its southern borders
suggest that the Karabakh leadership may be preparing for an eventual
withdrawal. In fact, Kazimirov's first package of compromises appears to
be based on the package peace plan proposed by the Minsk Group in
September 1997 and rejected by Stepanakert on the grounds that it did not
provide adequate security guarantees for the unrecognized enclave. (Liz
Fuller)
RFE/RL Caucasus Report, 15 June 2001, Volume 4, Number 22
Azeri Karabakh group draws attention to plight of refugee children
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Jun 22, 2001
Text of Gunduz report by Azerbaijani newspaper 525 qazet on 21 June entitled "Most of the refugee and displaced children are not psychologically healthy"
There are about 300,000 refugees and displaced persons below the age of 18 in Azerbaijan
A round table on the subject "Protection of the rights of refugee and displaced children" was held at the Ideal Press Club yesterday at the initiative of the Youth Union for the Liberation of Karabakh.
Addressing the conference, Ali Quliyev, chairman of the congress of non-government organizations, suggested to hold an international conference in Azerbaijan on the protection of the rights of refugee and displaced children. In his words, the international community should be given detailed information about the Azerbaijani children killed in the Karabakh conflict: "We all know how brutally the Armenians killed Azerbaijani children. We should inform the world about this. Let all nations see in what conditions refugee and displaced children live. Maybe after that they will understand that we, Azerbaijanis, are the victims of this conflict. As for how this will be carried out, the state should deal with this issue. If the state is not taking any measures, then we should be operating in this direction. Because it is the civic duty of each of us to care for our countrymen."
Akif Nagi, chairman of the Organization for the Liberation of Karabakh (OLK), who said it was important to constantly hold such conferences, added that it was also important to pay attention to refugee and displaced children. He said it was one of the greatest problems facing Azerbaijan: "The living standards of refugee and displaced children are deplorable today. Some of them are not receiving an education. In the future, those children will be people of the criminal underworld. But we should take into account that these children are the children of the Azerbaijani people and that our state needs them. They might form the basis of the Azerbaijani army in the future."
According to Nagi's information, the number of refugees and displaced persons below 18 is about 300,000 at the moment: "This is a very large number. Imagine so many people living in such deplorable conditions. How can we help children growing up in smelly hostels and achieve results?" According to Nagi, on the basis of a psychological poll conducted among refugee children and women, it was discovered that most of them were suffering from psychological diseases: "In these conditions, our greatest concern for our refugees and displaced persons is to return them to their homeland."
Source: 525 qazet,Baku, in Azeri 21 Jun 01 p 3
/BBC Monitoring/ � BBC.
Recent Publications on the Nagorno-Karabagh Peace Process
Tue, 19 Jun 2001 18:27:49 -0400
At the Caspian Studies Program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government,
we have been following the Nagorno-Karabagh peace process with great
interest and have been encouraged by significant signs of progress this
spring. Following the April 3-7 negotiations convened in Key West, Florida
by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Caspian
Studies Program organized a special panel discussion entitled "Negotiations
on Nagorno-Karabagh: Where Do We Go From here?" on April 23, 2001 in
Cambridge. Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Director of Research at the Caspian Studies
Program, moderated the panel which included Ambassador Carey Cavanaugh,
U.S. Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabagh and NIS Regional Conflicts,
and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair; Professor Hamlet Isaxanli, President of
Khazar University in Baku; and Professor Ronald Suny, Department of
Political Science at the University of Chicago. The panelists discussed the
progress made at Key West, the prospects for peace moving forward, and the
challenges to establishing lasting peace in the region.
More than one hundred researchers, graduate students, current and former
U.S., Azerbaijani, and Armenian government officials, journalists, and
other members of the Harvard community attended the panel and engaged the
panelists in a rich and lively discussion after their presentations. The
panel received extensive press coverage in the U.S. and in the region. Our
report from this event contains a summary and full transcript of the panel
discussion as well as photographs from the event. This report is available
on the web at http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/BCSIA/Library.nsf/pubs/NKPanel
Other recent publications include a policy brief, "Peace Pending in
Nagorno-Karabagh: Recommendations for the International Community," by
Blanka Hancilova and a transcript of Brenda Shaffer's keynote speech at the
Evangelische
Akademie, Loccum, Germany during the International Workshop: "Stability and
Peace in the Caucasus: The Case of Nagorno-Karabakh," May 2-4, 2000. These
and other publications on the Nagorno-Karabagh peace process are available
on our home page (http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/BCSIA/SDI.nsf/web/Caspian)
and can also be accessed from our special Nagorno-Karabagh page:
http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/BCSIA/SDI.nsf/web/NKSpecial
--Melissa Carr, Program Director
Book, 'The Armenians In The Late Ottoman Empire,' will be presented
for world public opinion
A book titled, "The Armenians In The Late Ottoman Empire," which was
prepared to refute Armenian claims, directed at the Republic of Turkey,
with scientific data and historical realities, will be presented at the
Republic Senate Hall to a meeting held by Turkish Parliament (TBMM) on
June 27.
TBMM speaker Omer Izgi, members of the State protocol, foreign mission
representatives and native and foreign press have been invited to the
meeting.
The aim of the book is to present historical facts for world public
opinion. While preparing this book a number of native and foreign
scientists, researchers and writers contributed voluntarily.
The Turkish History Association considered the book suitable because of
it's scientific data, factual history and impartial approach.
In the book, Turkish-Armenian relations were evaluated in a historical
process, with political, cultural and legal points of view. The book will
be distributed to world parliaments, university libraries and related
associations, through the Turkish Parliament Culture, Art and Publication
Association.
A Turkish version of book will be prepared and presented for Turkish
public opinion.
Copyright 2001 Turkish Daily News
News referred from Habarlar-L