THIS SUMMER ABOUT 100 PARENTLESS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN TO HAVE REST
IN CAMP AT ST. CROSS CHURCH
AKHALKALAKI, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). This summer about 100 parentless
and vulnerable children of Akhalkalaki will have a rest in a camp at
the St. Cross church, which is organized by the Samtskhe-Javakheti
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Participants of the camp are
taught religion and the Armenian history. Taking into account their
social conditions, the children will also undergo medical
examination. Pilgrimage to saint and historical sights (Gumbordo,
Tmkaberd, etc.) is also within the program. The Pan-Armenian Youth
Foundation and American-Armenian philanthropists Shake and Poghos
Terterians have sponsored the camp program.

AGREEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT STATUTES NOT IN LINE WITH RA
CONSTITUTION
YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). At the August 13 sitting the RA
Constitutional Court made a decision that the obligations stipulated
in the agreement on the Statutes of the International Criminal Court
signed in July 1998 in Rome are not in line with the RA
Constitution. Felix Tokhian, a member of the Constitutional Court,
noted that the International Criminal Court was established with the
purpose of replacing the intra-state criminal authorized bodies.
However, according to him, these and many other provisions of the
agreement contradict the RA Constitution and other Armenian
laws. According to Kim Balayan, another member of the CC, the document
was not in line with the Constitutions of the post-Soviet and some
other European countries either. The agreement will be ratified only
after the appropriate constitutional amendments in some countries. The
agreement was approved to exclude the impunity of those who committed
the gravest crimes against humanity, including genocide, hostilities
and aggression. However, RA Justice Minister David Harutiunian noted
that the International Criminal Court cannot examine the issue of the
1915 Armenian Genocide since the agreement is not retroactive. The
Minister also mentioned that the International Criminal Court did not
recognize Armenia as the aggressor against Azerbaijan since the
Armenian people exercised its right to self-determination.
139 countries signed the Agreement on the Statutes of the
International Criminal Court. At present it is in force in 96 of these
countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF “MARMARA” PAYS VISIT TO ARMENIA TO BE PRESENT AT
“ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” FESTIVAL
YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). Rober Hattechian, editor-in-chief of
the Armenian “Marmara” daily newspaper of Istanbul, paid a visit to
Armenia on August 13 morning with his wife reciter Makruhi
P. Hakobian, editor of the newspaper. The purpose of their visit to
Yerevan is to be present at “One Nation, One Culture” first
Pan-Armenian cultural festival. They were invited by the RA Ministry
of Culture. This information is provided by the “Marmara” daily
newspaper.

MEMBERS OF “CHHARMAHAL” UNION MEETS WITH HEAD OF ARMENIAN DIOCESE OF
TEHRAN
TEHRAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). A group of members of the Armenian
“Chharmahal” educational union of Tehran accompanied by Yesayi
Abrahamian, Chairman of the board of the union, and executives of
units, met with Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian, Head of the Armenian
Diocese of Tehran, on August 9. The purpose of the meeting was to
receive the blessing and advices of the holy father for their upcoming
performances to be held in Armenia within the framework of “One
Nation, One Culture” Pan-Armenian festival. These units are the youth
literary group of the union (16 members headed by art critic,
intellectual Misha Hairapetian), the “Kanach” dance group (16 members,
Arus Avagian is the dancing-master), the “Akunk” dance group (24
members, Karine Manucherian is the dancing-master). At the beginning
of the meeting Yesayi Abrahamian explained the cultural work carried
out at the union, speaking about the activities of the indicated
groups. The youth literary group of the union was established 20 years
ago, Misha Hairapetian is the founder and head of the union. The
literary group had and has vital literary and recitation activities
and educated many art amateurs during many years. Misha Hairapetian
said that during the festival the literary group will perform the
works of Sayat Nova, Charents, Hovhannes Grigorian, as well as the
works of several Iranian-Armenian writers. At the end of the meeting
the Archbishop Sepuh Sargsian spoke about the role of the Armenian
culture and emphasized the necessity of the succession of the national
and spiritual-cultural values of the Armenian youth.

CHILDREN’S-JUNIOR THEATRICAL FESTIVAL “NRAN HATIK” TO BE HELD IN
ARMENIA FOR FOURTH TIME
YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The children’s-junior theatrical
festival “Nran Hatik” will be held in Yerevan on August 14-22 within
the framework of the first Pan-Armenian festival “One Nation, One
Culture”. Levon Ivanian, Chairman of the steering committee of the
festival, said about it during the August 12 press
conference. According to him, 19 children’s theatrical staffs from
Armenia, Artsakh and Javakhk will participate in the
festival. According to him, the festival organized upon the initiative
of the heads of the children’s-junior theaters in 2001 became
traditional and is held for the fourth time in succession. “The
children’s-junior festival gives our children an opportunity to show
their talent and love and value dramatic art,” mentioned Levon
Ivanian.
Garnik Seiranian, Chairman of the “Nakhabem” (“Proscenium”)
Educational-Cultural Union, the main organizer of the festival, said
that the Armenian authorities also paid attention to the festival that
united children of the Homeland and the Diaspora. By the decision of
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian the state will render support to
the holding of the children’s-junior festival “Nran Hatik” till
2015. Garnik Seiranian also said that the festival has no competition
program. All the theatrical troupes participating in festival will
receive the bronze statuettes “Flight” and diplomas of gratitude. On
August 14, participants of the festival will visit Khor Virap, then
the theatrical troupe of school N5 of Masis will perform the play
entitled “Armenians, 1915” in Artashat. On August 15, children will
participate in the ceremony of the consecration of grapes in
Etchmiadzin. On August 16, they will visit Matenadaran and
Tsiternakaberd. The theatrical troupe “Pearllets” will perform the
“Loud-Voiced Silence” play at the State Theater of Gavar the same
evening. The day of the establishment of “Nor Hatik” will be marked on
August 19, and the hymn of this children’s-junior theatrical festival
will be sounded for the first time. On August 22, young actors will
visit the Pantheon after Komitas, and the solemn closing of the
festival will be held in the evening.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Investment Opportunities in Armenia
BISNIS Armenia Update
12 August 2004
Contents:
1. Now on the BISNIS web site – CCG FY05 and Customs Report
2. New BISNIS SFP lead from Armenia
3. News – Armenian Economy Continues to Top Growth Expectations
4. New EBRD project in Armenia
Now Available on the BISNIS web site!
Country Commercial Guide for Armenia FY05 –
Customs Clearance Process in Armenia, part of BISNIS Survey on Logistics
of Exporting to Eurasia –
BISNIS Search for Partners lead
Yerevan, Armenia
Industry: Construction Materials
Company: Comfort R&V
Comfort R&V was established in 1993 as a private company. The company is
the distributor of a number leading European and American producers of
building materials. The company plans to establish a large trade center
specializing in the wholesale and retail distribution of building
materials. The total project cost is $4 million. The company seeks a
U.S. partner that would co-invest in the project. Comfort R&V will
finance 50% of the total project cost.
Web site:
Source: BISNIS Representative in Armenia
LeadLink,
From ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Monday, August 2, 2004
Visit to read Armenia This Week
issues since 1997.
ARMENIAN ECONOMY CONTINUES TO TOP GROWTH EXPECTATIONS
Armenia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by more than nine percent in the
first half of 2004, the National Statistics Service reported this week.
While below the record-high 2002-2003 growth of 12 and 14 percent
respectively, the increase was well above the six to seven percent
anticipated by the government and international financial institutions
earlier this year.
Significantly, this year’s robust growth comes after completion of
infrastructure projects funded by the U.S.-based Lincy Foundation, as well
as an 11 percent decrease in diamond-processing and jewelry production,
which had been one of the fastest growing sectors in recent years.
Industrial output was up 4.5 percent, driven by growth in generation of
energy (up 17 percent) and mining and metallurgy (up 46 percent). Textiles
production was up 2.2 times, with garment / leather and rubber / plastics
up 1.4 times each. Investments in construction increased by 12 percent, with
agricultural production up 8.5 percent.
In January-June 2004, the volume of Armenian exports grew by over 7 percent
to $340 million and imports by 4 percent to $625 million. Dependence on
outside supplies of energy and fuel, and raw materials imported for
processing in Armenia, kept the trade deficit large. The list of main export
destinations for Armenian goods continued to be topped by Belgium (19
percent of all goods), Israel (12), Russia (11), the United States (10),
Germany (9) and Switzerland (6). Most imports arrived from Russia (18
percent), Belgium (11), the United States (8), Israel (7) and Great
Britain (6).
The Armenian government also reported to be on track with a projected
increase in revenue collection to reach $450 million this year. Combined tax
and customs revenue in the first half of 2004 reached $211 million, up 17
percent year-on-year. Nevertheless, the State Taxation Service chief
estimated that the so-called shadow sector continued to account for 30
percent of economic activity, with an equivalent portion of profits and
incomes remaining officially untaxed. At the end of June 2004 the average
private sector monthly salary was estimated at $100, up 28 percent
year-on-year, while average public sector wages stood at a meager $50,
despite a 46 percent increase. The unemployment rate remained largely
unchanged at 9.3 percent of the adult population. (Sources: Armenia This
Week 2-6, 4-30; Arminfo 7-31, 8-2; Golos Armenii 7-31)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ()
Project name: Armenian Economy Development Bank Equity Investment
Country: Armenia
Project Approval Date: 20.07.04
Funds Approved: 0.79 million Euro
Project Type: Purchase of 25% plus one share of capital and voting rights
Project number: 27309
Business sector: Financial Institutions: Bank equity/Bank lending
State/Private: Private sector
Project description and objectives: The proposed project envisages an
equity investment in Armeconombank. The project will strengthen
Armeconombank’s capital base to be used for anticipated growth in
lending and development of its infrastructure. Management guidance and
institution building is envisaged through technical assistance and
EBRD’s seat on the bank’s Supervisory Board.
Transition impact: This project will be the first equity participation
in an Armenian-owned financial institution. The combination of
additional capital and institution building through technical assistance
is expected to support strengthening of a key player in the Armenian
banking sector. By promoting competition and consolidation in the sector
the project will contribute significantly to the development of the
banking sector in Armenia. The project is also expected to provide a
demonstration to other market players of the benefits of having an
international institutional investor as a shareholder.
The client: Armeconombank is one of the largest banks in Armenia at 31
December 2003 with total assets of US$ 33.4 million. The bank is based
in Yerevan and has a network of 24 branches. The bank offers all major
services currently available on the market.
EBRD finance: Equity investment of AMD (Armenian Dram) 566,670,000 (EURO
equivalent of 789K at 1 June 2004).
Total project cost: AMD 566,670,000
Environmental impact: Armeconombank will carry out its operations in
accordance with the EBRD’s Environmental Procedures for Financial
Intermediaries, which provide for the integration of environmental due
diligence into Armeconombank’s credit appraisal processes and a
requirement that the bank complies, at a minimum, with national and
local health, safety and environmental regulations and standards and
public consultation requirements. Armeconombank will submit annual
environmental reports to the EBRD.
Technical cooperation: The bank has benefited from access to a
Japanese-funded credit advisor tied to a loan under the Multi-bank
facility for Armenian banks. This has assisted in all aspects of
screening, approving and monitoring of potential borrowers and sub-loans.
It is proposed that this equity investment be made together with
technical assistance for institutional development. Funding is expected
to be provided under the 2002 Action Program for the EU-EBRD Investment
Preparation Facility. EBRD approval will be sought in 3q2004.
For consultant opportunities for projects financed by technical
cooperation funds, visit procurement of consultants.
Company contact: Armeconombank OJSC
23/1 Amiryan Street
Yerevan 375002
Armenia
Contact: Edward Marutyan, Deputy CEO
Phone: (3741) 534 801
Fax: (3741) 538 904
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Web :
Business opportunities: For business opportunities or procurement,
contact the client company.
General enquiries: EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168; Fax: +44 20 7338 7380
Email: [email protected]
********** Forwarded by: ***************************
Ellen S. House, BISNIS Trade Specialist for Armenia
U.S. Department of Commerce
Tel: 202/482-2284, Fax: 202/482-2293
Additional information on Armenia is available via BISNIS Online at

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/13/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Georgian PM Comes Under Fire in Ossetia 2) New Pastors Appointed to Western Prelacy Parishes 3) Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School Receives LAUSD Grant 4) The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Another Four Years 1) Georgian PM Comes Under Fire in Ossetia TBILISI (AFP/Civil Georgia)--Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said Friday that he came under attack from South Ossetian troops while visiting the separatist region on a peace mission. He told Georgia's private television that no one was hurt in the attack. The station showed footage of gunfire as he passed through an area that saw three Georgian soldiers killed Thursday. "They were shooting directly at us," he said. "I see this as Ossetia's response to our peace initiative. "Both Ossetian and Russian peacekeepers knew that only my convoy was passing through that region at the time," he said. Zhvania went to its northern separatist region, which is trying to join Russia, late Thursday amid Georgian efforts to win back its control. Those attempts have so far led to shootouts between Georgian, Ossetian, and Russian troops, which are also acting in the region as peacekeepers. The pro-Moscow region's self-declared president denied his forces were responsible for any attack. The village of Eredvi, where the incident occurred, "is controlled by Georgian troops," Eduard Kokoity told Russia's Interfax news agency. "There was no shooting from the Ossetian side, and we view this as a provocation." At least five villagers were reported injured at Eredvi in shooting that started early Friday morning, according to Georgian television. The station claimed the attack came from the Ossetians in yet another exchange of accusations in the escalating conflict. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili raised the prospect on Thursday of "ethnic cleansing" in the separatist region after fighting there left four soldiers dead and around 40 people injured. A senior Russian official also sounded an alarm over the latest developments in South Ossetia, a territory located along the Georgia-Russia border which has enjoyed a measure of de facto independence since fighting a war with Tbilisi in the early 1990s. Russia has proposed an emergency meeting of a tripartite Georgian-Ossetian-Russian commission charged with resolving the dispute and appealed in the meantime for an immediate ceasefire. The United States on Thursday urged Russia and Georgia to end rising tension over the separatist Georgian region. "We are urging Georgian officials to move quickly to avoid further conflict," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said. "We're also making the point with Russian officials that it's important to work with the South Ossetian authorities to end hostilities immediately." He said US diplomats had been in touch with Georgian authorities in Tbilisi and that the message had been conveyed to Moscow in meetings with officials from the Russian embassy in Washington. Ereli also told reporters that the United States backed Russia's call for an emergency meeting of the so-called "Joint Control Commission," a tripartite Georgian-Ossetian-Russian commission charged with resolving the festering dispute. Georgia's parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution demanding that Russian peacekeepers withdraw from its separatist region of South Ossetia and instead be replaced by international troops. The non-binding resolution has been passed in a 117-3 vote on the same day Zhvania came under fire from South Ossetian troops while visiting the separatist region. Georgian Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze was barred from entering South Ossetia's self-declared capital Tskhinvali region on August 13. "The Ossetian side is categorically against my entering the Tskhinvali region. I simply want to pass via Tskhinvali [capital of breakaway South Ossetia] and meet with Georgian population of the breakaway region," Nino Burjanadze said at the Tkviavi administrative border between breakaway South Ossetia and the rest of Georgia. She reiterated that the Georgian Prime Minister is ready to hold talks with South Ossetian de facto President Eduard Kokoity; however, the latter is categorically against. Saakashvili has vowed to reassert Tbilisi's authority over the entirety of his Caucasian country, which splintered into several separatist regions in the wake of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. 2) New Pastors Appointed to Western Prelacy Parishes LA CRESCENTA--On Thursday, the Prelate and the Joint Session of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America announced new pastoral appointments in three parishes of the Prelacy. The appointments, which were based upon the considerations discussed during the 32nd Representative Assembly held in May of this year, will help advance the Prelacy's mission. Rev. Fr. Vrouyr Demirjian was appointed as assistant to the Prelate at the Prelacy and will be in charge of the Christian Education department and Youth Movement program. Rev. Fr. Hrant Yeretsian was appointed as Pastor of Forty Martyrs Arm. Apostolic Church in Orange County. Rev. Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian and Rev. Fr. Ashod Kambourian were appointed as pastors of Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello. Rev. Fr. Khoren Baboushian was appointed as Pastor of St. Sarkis Arm. Apostolic Church in Pasadena. 3) Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School Receives LAUSD Grant ENCINO--Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School was able to obtain a $56,000 grant allocation from Los Angeles Unified School District for use during the school year 2004-2005. The grant was allocated under the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001." A large portion of these grants will be applied toward faculty development programs and approximately $10,000 will be devoted toward attaining scientific resources. In addition, a special grant allowed five elementary teachers to attend the 5-day Governor's Reading Institute this past summer. Through the institute, teachers acquire training in the use of the Open Court Reading series. 4) The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Another Four Years BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN So I think I've finally figured out how this internet thing works. For a system of communication that's supposed to simplify the way we do things, this internet business is pretty confusing. Trying to understand how to work with it when you're coming in at the middle is like starting to watch `Days of Our Lives' midway through the season and understand what the heck is going on. (I still don't know why Stefano is evil or why Marlena was possessed). I've finally set up my web blog. After trying and trying and giving Asbarez readers the runaround, the blog/website is finally up and can be visited at This time it's for real. Feel free to write back and exchange ideas. I don't take things personally, so all types of comments and letters are welcome. After all, everyone has an opinion, and it's not a crime yet in this country to share your opinions openly. Take last week's column for instance. I wrote about the flip-flopping of the Democrats at their National Convention and stated my opinion. In response, I received numerous letters from Republicans and Democrats alike. Republicans praised me for finally seeing the light and Democrats thought I had been sniffing glue. But my column wasn't an endorsement of Republicans. I simply stated my opinion about the Democratic Convention. I doubt anyone would disagree with me when I say that it was probably the most boring week of television up until the Republican Convention later this month. One of the letters I received last week was a forward of a letter to the Editor by an Armenian who is presumably a Republican and was obviously a President Bush supporter. I've decided to share an excerpt from this letter because it illustrates an opinion that I disagree with and is part of my response this week to Armenian Bush supporters. `[T]his Presidential election is not about the issues that both parties are talking about, or who can make the most promises to whichever interest group gives them the most money or votes--because all of these factors are irrelevant. The issue is simply who Osama and his buddies would fear most as President of the United States of America.' I agree with the first part of this statement that says that this election is not about the issues that the parties are talking about because the issues that the two parties are talking about non-issues such as Kerry's war and post-war record. Did Senator Kerry throw medals or ribbons over the fence of the White House in protest of the Vietnam War? Did he throw his own ribbons or someone else's ribbons? Who cares? I don't care if Kerry threw an orangutan in pajamas over the fence because its irrelevant. The real issue in this election is the question that Ronald Reagan asked Americans when he challenged Jimmy Carter and then when he was seeking reelection to the White House against Walter Mondale--`Are you better off today than you were four years ago?' My answer is a resounding `no.' And as for the question of whom Osama and his buddies would fear more? I personally think they would fear someone who was able to restore America's glory and respected position in the world rather than gallivanting around the globe like a vigilante gunslinger from an old Western. I appreciate that there are folks out there that still believe this election is about the War on Terror, but the War on Terror isn't going to put books in classrooms for our schoolchildren. Nor has it helped bring down the cost of colleges and universities or created any stable, long term jobs. The next time you call AOL or any other Internet Service Provider and you wonder why your customer service call is being answered by some young kid living in Punjabi, India, ask yourself why these jobs have left America and why places like West Virginia have an economy that parallels those in the third world. Or the next time you hear about another kid that died in Iraq, ask if he was looking for Bin Laden. Ask where your retirement investments have disappeared to and why the top executives of Enron (Bush's top campaign contributors) are still free and being driven around in limousines. And finally, the next time Vice President Dick Cheney talks about national energy policy and national security, ask how much money his former employer, Halliburton Inc., has invested in Azerbaijan, a country which harbors Al Qaeda cells and hires Taliban fighters to fight against Christian Armenians defending their land in Karabagh. I'm not a fan of Michael Moore and this column isn't my version of `Fahrenheit 9/11.' Nor is this an endorsement of one candidate over another. But, I'm sorry to say that there are a lot more questions to ask in this election that simply who will Osama Bin Laden and his buddies fear more. The real question is not who we will fear more but how long will we have to live being afraid of ourselves, of the world around us, and those enemies out there who relish in terrorizing us and our children. There are too many questions to be asked and no one who is willing to answer them truthfully. I don't want to live in a country where my beliefs and political views are defined by who a nefarious criminal genius fears more. We'll just have to wait until November to see if the rest of America shares my sentiments. Skeptik Sinikian is an angry Armenian-American with lots of useless ideas and opinions. He'd love to hear from you at [email protected] or visit him at All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

New Polish ambassador, Armenian leader hail dynamic ties
Noyan Tapan news agency
13 Aug 04
YEREVAN
Armenian-Polish relations are developing quite dynamically, Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan said on 13 August at a meeting with the new
Polish ambassador to Armenia, Tomasz Knothe, who presented his
credentials to the president.
Kocharyan noted the importance of developing bilateral relations with
Poland in the context of the European direction of Armenia’s foreign
policy.
[Passage omitted: The president said he would visit Poland on 5
September; no details]

Azeri police arrest Japanese student suspected of spying for Armenia
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
13 Aug 04
An act of sabotage by Armenia was foiled in Baku today. Employees of
[Baku’s] Sabayil district police department detained Japanese citizen
(?Ogawa Siniawa), 28, when he was taking photos of the Azarbaycan
Hotel and other facilities.
The preliminary investigation showed that the Japanese resident, who
is a first-year student of Yerevan State University’s social studies
department, arrived in Tbilisi from Yerevan on 1 August and went to
Saki [northern Azerbaijan] two days later. He stayed in Saki for three
days, arrived in Baku on 6 August and stayed at a hotel in Baku. He
came to Azerbaijan as a tourist. The investigation is continuing.

Tensions thaw Russia’s frozen border conflicts
By Andrew Jack
FT
August 13 2004
The death of three Georgian soldiers yesterday in clashes with
separatists in the breakaway region of South Ossetia highlighted how
the long-dormant conflicts around the borders of the former Soviet
Union are being reawakened.
An uneasy period of peace risks being replaced by one of the first
significant redrawings of the regional map since the collapse of
communism.
With intensified fighting and renewed diplomatic activity, Russia
yesterday called for a ceasefire in South Ossetia, and Georgia sent in
a top negotiator.
One reason for the tensions has been a more aggressive stance taken by
Mikheil Saakashvili, the youthful and populist pro-western leader
elected president of Georgia last year. He is keen to break the
deadlock since he came to power with increasing efforts to bring the
region back under Georgian control.
But the attitude of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, against a
backdrop of simmering conflict in the neighbouring republic of
Chechnya, and the expansion of the European Union eastwards have
introduced an international dimension.
South Ossetia is not alone. Along with Abkhazia, it is one of two
so-called “frozen conflicts” in Georgia. There are two others
elsewhere: the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan and
Transdnistra in Moldova. All were created by military action at the
time of the collapse of the USSR, replaced by an uneasy peace with
their “host” states.
Between them, they are home to more than 1m impoverished people,
living under regimes that are economically and diplomatically
isolated, accused of corruption and autocracy. Now the security risks
they present are putting them back on the agenda.
“Their residents feel like forgotten Europeans, within but outside
Europe,” says Walter Schwimmer, secretary-general of the Council of
Europe, the inter-governmental human rights organisation. and
The common denominator for all the conflicts is the Soviet Union. When
it collapsed, a series of “grey zones” emerged, resistant to the newly
independent states to which they were historically attached.
Hundreds of thousands of small arms remain, raising concerns over the
militarisation of the regions and the risk of weaponry falling into
the hands of criminal groups and terrorists.
Modern Russia continues to play a role in maintaining the
conflicts. They touch on its “near abroad”, the border zone of
traditional Soviet influence that has again become a foreign policy
priority under Mr Putin as the EU and Nato have expanded into
territory Moscow controlled for the second half of the last century.
Russia has offered easy transit and passports to residents in South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, overseen commercial transactions and maintained
leverage through peacekeeping troops in Georgia and Transdnistra that
operate outside the jurisdiction of the OSCE. “Fundamentally, Russia
keeps these places alive by passively supporting them,” says Dov Lynch
from the EU Institute for Security Studies in Paris.
But he stresses that the frozen conflicts have their own internal
momentum, with the local regimes perpetuating their power and few
democratic institutions.
The international community also helps maintain the status quo,
traditionally through political neglect and the provision of
humanitarian assistance that supports the population and reduces the
chance of social explosion of popular revolt.
There are signs that the problem is starting to be taken more
seriously, however. In the past few months, the EU has become more
active, imposing travel bans on the leadership of Transdnistra in an
attempt to force negotiations for a political settlement with Moldova,
which may be an EU neighbour if Romania joins the EU in 2007.
Russia has also become more assertive, withdrawing troops and military
stockpiles from Moldova, and attempting to broker a settlement late
last year.
“Disintegration is the worst scenario,” says Konstantin Kosachev, head
of the Russian parliament’s foreign affairs committee. “If Georgia
goes out of control, Russia will be the next to be destabilised.”
Without more power-sharing and prosperity from the “metropolitan”
countries from which they have broken away, the tensions in South
Ossetia and its counterparts may defrost in a far less elegant way.