Month: August 2008

Xinhua General News Service
August 15, 2008 Friday 11:40 AM EST

Results of men’s 85kg weightlifting at Beijing Olympics

BEIJING Aug. 15

Following are the results of the men’s 85kg weightlifting at the
Beijing Olympics on Friday:

1. Lu Yong, China, 394kg WR (180kg in snatch/214kg in jerk)

2. Andrei Rybakou, Belarus, 394kg (185kg/209kg)

3. Tigran Varban Martirosyan, Armenia, 380kg (177kg/203kg)

4. Vladimir Sedov, Kazakhstan, 380kg (180kg/200kg)

5. Jadier Valladares, Cuba, 372kg (169kg/203kg)

6. Benjamin Hennequin, France, 367kg (162kg/205kg)

7. Mansurbek Chashemov, Uzbekistan, 367kg (165kg/202kg)

8. Intiqam Zairov, Azerbaijan, 361kg (166kg/195kg)

The Times of Central Asia
August 15, 2008 Friday

`Territorial integrity’ and Cold War thinking

By Charles van der Leeuw

TCA contributor

ALMATY, August 15 (TCA Editions) — If the makers of Australia’s Mad
Max soap movies are thinking of a new episode, the Caucasus will be
their obvious location. Mikhail Saakashvili’s reckless adventure into
Georgia’s breakaway territory of South Ossetia, carrying the risk of a
second offensive against the other escapist province of Abkhazia,
ended up in disaster as could have been predicted – even though
Russia’s open and fierce response to it may have surprised friend and
foe.

Moscow’s overall goal must have been to set an example and send a
clear message once and for all – less in the face of Georgian than in
that of the United States. The message is: Stop meddling as though the
Cold War were still in full swing – or else collaborators are bound to
regret it.

When the same thing happened back in 1991, the main perpetrator was
Tengiz Kitovani, the first lieutenant of the turbulent and ultra-right
President Zviad Gamsakhurdia. The irony is that the latter had
unilaterally split Georgia off from the USSR two years earlier, in
spite of protests from South Ossetia and Abkhazia, until then two
autonomous regions within the Soviet republic of Georgia. Kitovani’s
troops were literally shot out of South Ossetia, and a later attempt
under Edward Shevardnadze to retake Abkhazia ended in a similar
disaster. In both cases, the Georgian party had hoped for support from
the Western powers, who, however, wisely kept themselves aloof from
the battles. Russia as well kept its discretion and, though providing
some logistic support, not one Russian soldier intervened until the
sky had been cleared of gun smoke.

This time, the situation looks different. Ever since Bush Junior came
to power, Washington has dreamed of one more powerful enemy to keep
America’s arms industry in business and the US army in its full force
at hand. The US government has abused its "war on terror" on the other
side of the globe to create a spearhead into Central Asia and
undermine Russia’s hegemony in the volatile region. It would probably
not hesitate to encourage Uzbekistan to do the same thing in
Kyrgyzstan’s Osh that Saakashvili has tried to undertake in
Tskhinvali. Borders in Central Asia have only vaguely been agreed on,
and ethnic minorities occupying potential separatist zones are
everywhere. The recent discover of weapons in American officers’ home
in Bishkek, enough to organize a palace revolution with, amply
illustrates that America has other plans with Central Asia than just
fighting off Taliban hordes.

Just like American peddle diplomat April Glaspy in the late 1980s
virtually told Saddam Hussein to occupy Kuwait (and was later
surprised to see that he responded by doing just that) her successor
Condoleezza Rice hardly more than a fortnight previous to
Saakashvili’s crackdown on Tskhinvali must have at least given him the
impression that he could go ahead with the fulfillment of his election
promise to "restore the fatherland’s territorial unity" by force if he
could. This silent nod and what followed was all based on a formidable
miscalculation. Will it all lead to the end of the flag-carrier of the
Pink Revolution’s political life, as it did in the case of
Gamsakhurdia in late 1992? Some think that this is what the Russian
leadership has in mind – hence the big guns they put in. But it is far
from sure how the Georgian community will react.

If it is true that breakaway self-styled maverick states on one’s
territory are painful and humiliating, ways to deal with them are not
amply available and giving in to provocations by third parties is the
least wise thing to do. Looking back in time, it has become clear that
Azerbaijan’s attempt to take back its Armenian-backed enclave of
Nagorno Karabakh by force between 1992 and 1994 only resulted in a
crushing defeat and more of its territory occupied, with about a
million survivors chased from their homes. Moldova cherishes little
hope of getting its left bank, on which separatists have proclaimed
the so-called Trans-Dnyestr Republic, back within its borders.

The trouble is that once a community has entrenched itself on the
territory it occupies, it is hard to reintegrate it with the former
state structure. The only compromise within reach is the formation of
what would be a federation at best, and probably more of a
confederation. For all it matters, split-offs have taken place
throughout world history. Thus, France was the result of a split-off
from Charlemagne’s Franco-German realm. The Netherlands used to be
part of France from the 6th to the 10th Century AD, only to fall in
the hands of the Germans subsequently, and after a brief incorporation
into the Spanish kingdom in the 16th Century, it fought itself out of
it and gained full independence. Both France and Germany have tried to
retake it by force – somewhat less than successfully.

Today, it would be hard to imagine Spain claiming Holland back. The
slogan "territorial integrity", as agreed upon in the UN charter, may
look nice but it simply denies the course of history. And even the UN
has made a number of exceptions, the most important of which are
Alaska, Hawaii and Greenland, whose right to establish fully
independent states is being recognized by the international community
including Denmark and America. A referendum by Copenhagen in the 1990s
among the Eskimo-and-a-half living in Greenland resulted in an
overwhelming majority rejecting independence.

Targeted News Service
August 15, 2008 Friday 9:41 AM EST

Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World

WASHINGTON

National Geographic issued the following news release:

In a riveting personal memoir illustrated with stunning images that
she risked her life to capture, renowned photojournalist Alexandra
Avakian shares the challenges, insights and rewards of nearly two
decades of photographing the lives of Muslims around the world in a
new book from National Geographic, WINDOWS OF THE SOUL: My Journeys in
the Muslim World (National Geographic Focal Point; ISBN
978-1-4262-0320-6;

Sept. 30, 2008; $40).

The book is the first title in National Geographic Books’ new Focal
Point imprint, which draws on National Geographic’s legendary
photographic archive of more than 10 million images and the work of
distinguished photographers around the world. The imprint will present
the finest in documentary photography past and present, and monographs
will celebrate individual photographers’ unique style, vision and
skill.

Avakian’s work has taken her to countries torn apart by poverty,
repression and conflict, and she has captured some of the most
important stories of our time. Brought up by a show business family
in Manhattan, N.Y., and Malibu, Calif., she lived for two years in
Gaza, often in Islamic dress, shot at by Israeli soldiers and beaten
by Hamas. She faced down murderous militias with loaded guns in
Somalia, where death can come at any time, over nothing at all. She
traveled extensively with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who
called her "troublemaker" and "dictator," yet gave her unprecedented
access. She spent eight weeks gaining entry to the inner circles of
Hezbollah, the highly secretive organization that maintains one of
the world’s most disciplined guerrilla armies. She pursued her
Armenian roots in Iran and documented Muslim culture in the United
States, discovering vibrant cultures where Middle Eastern and Middle
American qualities blend. She admits feeling fear in some situations,
but that paled against her desire to record the human struggle for
freedom and the willingness of people to risk their lives to gain it.

Related in gripping words and astonishing, emotive photographs,
Avakian’s remarkable experiences draw readers into the Muslim world to
meet families and radicals, farmers and artisans, leaders and
refugees, and many who lost their lives from street violence or
starvation. Her style is probing, yet sensitive and compassionate. She
introduces us to unfamiliar societies, opening a window into the lives
of people struggling to survive conflict, civil war, famine and
prejudice. She has captured the cold, crazed stare of a gun-toting
child, the anguish of families bereaved by terrorism, the beauties of
festivities and everyday happiness.

In his foreword, National Geographic Society President and CEO John
Fahey remarks, "Our mission at National Geographic is to show our
readership the life behind the news — and to do this with
objectivity, texture, depth, and intimacy. Alexandra Avakian has made
and continues to make a unique contribution to this aspiration of
ours. … Her pictures are straightforward in their portrayal of
reality, yet as layered and subtle as life itself. At times her style
is cinematic, at other times still. These pictures have the power of
intimacy that allows the viewer in and up close. ,,, Her photographs
are driven by great passion and great heart. Her inspired photography
in terribly fraught circumstances bears witness not only to pain but
also to beauty and joy. She shows us oppression and also freedom,
poverty and also power."

In her introduction, Avakian explains what drove her to spend nearly
two decades covering revolution and conflict and how moved she was by
the help and acceptance she received from so many ordinary and
extraordinary people with whom she formed enduring friendships. She
writes, "For nearly 20 years I have photographed Muslims around the
world. I have witnessed life, death, weddings, prayer, famine and
uprisings. … Here I hope to share a wider view of that journey. I am
neither an authority on Islam, nor the Middle East. The book is not a
statement about Islam or the people of the Muslim world. It is simply
a memoir of what I saw and experienced in these lands."

Each of the book’s six chapters — The Palestinians, Iran, Central
Asia & the Caucasus, Somalia & the Sudan, America, and Hezbollah —
begins with an introductory essay by Avakian, and her captions to the
photographs include personal anecdotes and recollections.

Going beyond the brief news reports that most of us see, Avakian
shares a richer, wider view of the Muslim world through her
extraordinary storytelling and photographs, which will captivate,
educate and linger with her readers. While writing and editing the
book, Avakian survived a battle with breast cancer.

A member of the prestigious Contact Press Images photo agency in New
York, Avakian has been a top photojournalist since 1984. Her work has
been published in National Geographic, Time, The New York Times
Magazine and many other publications. She lives near Washington, D.C.

TNS gv51gv-080815-1762670 18MASHGema

The Russian Oil and Gas Report (Russia)
August 15, 2008 Friday

BAKU-TBILISI-ERZURUM GAS PIPELINE IS SHUT DOWN;

The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline stopped working after the
oil pipelines Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa.

BP-Azerbaijan announced stopping of gas export via the BTE on August
13. According to representatives of the company, gas pumping to the
pipeline was stopped due to security reasons. Gas transportation may
be restarted only when there is assurance of security of this
pipeline. Thus, the North-South gas pipeline via which Russian gas is
supplied to Armenia remains the only normally functioning pipeline in
Georgia.

Source: Gazeta, August 14, 2008

Translated by InterContact

Mediamax news agency, Armenia
Aug 13 2008

No plans to withdraw from CIS – Armenian official

Yerevan, 13 August: Membership of the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent
States] is "Armenia’s long-term political choice" and "the issue of
withdrawing from the Commonwealth cannot be on the republic’s foreign
policy agenda", the Armenian deputy foreign minister, Gegham
Garibjanyan, has said.

Garibjanyan said that "we have been implementing effective programmes
within the framework of the CIS over the past years, and a plan for
the CIS’s further development was approved last year".

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced on 12 August that his
country would withdraw from the CIS.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WPS Agency, Russia
What the Papers Say (Russia)
August 15, 2008 Friday

HOW COME CIS COUNTRIES DISMISSED SAAKASHVILI’S CALLS?

by Sanobar Shermatova

CIS COUNTRIES ARE KEEPING A LOW PROFILE IN THE RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN
CONFLICT; CIS countries neither support Russia nor intend to follow
Saakashvili’s advice to quit the Commonwealth.

The situation is quixotic. No ally of Russia in the Commonwealth of
Independent States spoke up in its support. On the other hand, no
country heeded Mikhail Saakashvili’s recommendation to withdraw from
the Commonwealth. To a certain extent, CIS countries’ silence might be
ascribed to the lack of precedents. After all, this is the first time
the Russian regular army invades the territory of a CIS country.

Members of the Commonwealth, an organization proclaimed dead more than
once already, have established horizontal ties and maintain them
without much ado. Moreover, these ties do not necessarily involve
Moscow itself. Russia remains a powerful Eurasian center but that does
not make it the command post. In other words, Saakashvili’s wrathful
promise to quit an "organization run by Russia" have little to do with
the actual state of affairs. Also interesting, the Georgian president
himself appraised the Commonwealth in a different manner just a couple
of years ago. "Granted that it was humiliation (Georgia was forced
into the Commonwealth – Gazeta), we find membership in this
organization quite beneficial," he said. "We retained contacts with
post-Soviet republics. We signed bilateral treaties… set up
commercial ties, ensured free movement of the population… I’m happy
that so many Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Kazakhs, Belarussians,
Ukrainians, and others come to Georgia."

It is clear now that no other CIS member intends to follow in
Georgia’s steps and cede. Ukraine has already said that matters of
this magnitude are not to be decided at rallies. Official Kiev knows
that a mere suggestion to withdraw from the Commonwealth may split the
country for good. Moreover, there are other benefits of being a CIS
member neither Ukraine nor other countries will want to lose.

Source: Gazeta, August 15 – 17, 2008, p. 6

Translated by Aleksei Ignatkin

The Jakarta Post, Indonedia
Aug 13 2008

Indonesia significant in Azerbaijan foreign policy – minister

[Interview by Veeramalla Anjaiah: "Indonesia ‘significant’ in
Azerbaijan foreign policy: Minister"]

Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Foundation recently invited The Jakarta
Post’s Veeramalla Anjaiah to Baku to attend an International Forum on
the Role of Women in Cross-Cultural Dialogue. Azerbaijan Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov agreed to a written interview with the
Post. The following are excerpts.

[Veeramalla Anjaiah]: How does Indonesia figure in your country’s
foreign policy? The present bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and
Indonesia are at a nominal level. What measures do you think are
needed to upgrade these ties?

[Elmar Mammadyarov]: Indonesia, as the largest Muslim nation, a
leading ASEAN member and a responsible player in global and regional
affairs, occupies a significant place in Azerbaijan’s foreign
policy. In 2006, we opened our embassy in Jakarta.

Indonesia’s stance on Armenian military aggression against Azerbaijan,
based on support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, is highly
valued. Indonesia’s efforts under the OIC (Organization of Islamic
Conferences) and other international organizations are also
appreciated. Politically, we have witnessed a very high level of
understanding and support.

But our economic relations do not match this level of political
cooperation, despite [there being] huge economic potential in both
countries. Indonesia is a huge country with a diversified economy and
a developed economic sector, while Azerbaijan has been the world’s
fastest growing economy for the last four years.

We should put more effort into balancing and further developing the
content of our bilateral economic relations.

[VA] Many people in Indonesia do not know much about your country. How
do you raise your country’s profile in Indonesia and Southeast Asia?

[EM] The first step towards improving the situation was opening the
embassy in Jakarta. Through our diplomatic mission we have been able
to spread the word about our country. We have also tried to develop
people-to-people relations. By organizing conferences and inviting our
Indonesian friends, we allow people to see what Azerbaijan really
stands for. And we have a lot to show: great architecture; a tolerant,
rich and all-inclusive culture; a booming economy, and much more.

[VA] What are your country’s plans to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

[EM] Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement of the conflict has
remained unchanged from the first day of talks.

We see no other option but the withdrawal of the armed forces of
Armenia from all the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, and the
restoration of the sovereign rights of Azerbaijan in those
territories.

The legal and political grounds for the settlement of the conflict are
based on the norms and principles of international law as reflected in
the UN Charter, Helsinki Final Act, the United Nations (UN) Security
Council resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884 (adopted in 1993) as well as
the appropriate documents and decisions of the OSCE (Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe) and the European Council.

These documents affirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
the internationally recognised borders of Azerbaijan.

[VA] Do you expect any assistance from Indonesia on this issue?

[EM] We highly appreciate Indonesia’s position in support of
Azerbaijan’s just cause and are confident in the continuation of this
position. At the same time, promotion of the whole notion, based on
primacy of the principle of territorial integrity should be amongst
the priority issues in our international efforts.

WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 15, 2008 Friday

FIGHTING ONE’S WAY OUT OF COMMONWEALTH
Foreign peacekeepers might appear in Georgian conflict areas

by Aleksei Malashenko

WHAT CONSEQUENCES FOR SELF-PROCLAIMED REPUBLICS MAY STEM FROM THE
EVENTS IN SOUTH OSSETIA?; The latest developments in South Ossetia
prove peacekeeping efforts fragile.

First, this is a precedent that allows for outright hostilities after
years of negotiations and peacekeeping efforts. What it means for
Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, and even the Trans-Dniester region is
clear: war remains an acceptable (but not necessarily effective) means
of reintegration for the states split by separatist tendencies. The
South Ossetian precedent exposed fragile nature of the talks that
exist parallel to war preparations.

Second, this latest war on the post-Soviet territory spells an end of
the Commonwealth. Relations between Russia and Georgia bear an
increasingly stronger resemblance to the Azerbaijani-Armenian
relations. Yes, Russia will be feared. In the meantime, it is this (or
analogous) fear that compels former Soviet republics to keep their
distance from Russia and seek powerful allies in the international
community.

Third, the Georgian-Russian war became a strike at President Dmitry
Medvedev who had to go public with quite serious decisions in the
premier’s absence. Medvedev deserves credit for doing so without
unnecessary hysterics. It was clear that he was disturbed and upset
indeed.

The German foreign minister admitted insecurity in the matter of who
the guilty party was. Information from Tskhinvali makes it plain that
it was the Georgians who shed the first blood and that the Georgian
troops were not always an example of humanity. What happened in South
Ossetia is a humanitarian catastrophe.

The enemies will meet for negotiations again one day. Arranging the
talks will be a chore, but they are the only option.

And since they are patently unable to settle the conflict all by
themselves, the involved parties may even find it necessary to invite
some respected and independent intermediaries or even peacekeepers.

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, August 12, 2008, p. 3

Polish News Agency, Poland
Aug 15 2008

Polish reporter barred from Armenia

Warsaw, 15 August: Wojciech Jagielski, journalist on the Polish
national daily Gazeta Wyborcza, was barred from entering Armenia from
Georgia on Thursday.

The reporter, who planned to fly to Poland from Armenia today, was
informed that his name was on the black list of people barred from
entering CIS countries.

Jagielski, who had to turn back to the Georgian capital Tbilisi, said
he did not know why he had been blacklisted. I’ve never written
anything about the CIS states, he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zerkalo, Azerbaijan
Aug 15 2008

Will Georgian example prove contagious?

In our politicians’ opinion, with its actions, Russia has demonstrated that it is an aggressor

The results of the Russian-Georgian military stand-off are very important for the negotiations on the issue of Nagornyy Karabakh. Zeyno Baran, director of Hudson’s Centre for Eurasian Policy, said this in an interview to the Voice of America radio station. In her view, the events that are unfolding in Georgia, make the issue of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity a topical one.

Expecting "positive effect"

Thus, [opposition] Musavat Party Chairman Isa Qambar believes that the events in Georgia are affecting not only the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict but the general situation in the region as well. "It is too early to say whether the influence will be positive or negative since the process itself has not yet been completed. But, overall, I think that the processes that are unfolding in Georgia will have a positive effect on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict," Qambar said.

According to Qambar, the Russian authorities have fully exposed their true nature with their actions. "Official Moscow has once again demonstrated that it is not going to give up on its previous imperialist ambitions and intends to carry out aggressive policy," the Musavat party chairman said.

Our respondent noted that the democratic world has come to better understand that one should not be pinning hopes on Russia’s assistance in the issue of settling the territorial integrity problems in the countries of the South Caucasus. "The West has realized that Russia is not an element of stability in the region but, on the contrary, a factor facilitating destabilization. Based on this, I think that the influence of the Georgian events on the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict will be positive," he underscored.

Indeed, Russia has fully exposed its true nature. And this nature lies with the fact that official Moscow is openly supporting separatism, in spite of the norms of international law. In his case, a reasonable question arises: how can a country which supports separatist regimes in South Ossetia and Abkhazia be a mediator in peaceful settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict?

Note that Russia is one of the countries that co-chair the OSCE Minsk Group which has undertaken a mediating mission in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

As Qambar said, the recent events have demonstrated that Russia has no right to be a mediator in settling a conflict, specifically, the one in Nagornyy Karabakh. "And as long as Russia is among the ‘peacekeepers’, the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is out of the question. Understanding this truth will facilitate the change in the approach to the resolution of this problem," he said.

Qambar also said that Russia made a serious mistake with its thoughtless actions. "It is not an accident that Georgia has declared its intention to withdraw from the CIS. Not just Georgia but we too have to make relevant conclusions from the situation that has taken shape. I think that the Azerbaijani authorities have to propose holding a GUAM [Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova] summit and discuss President Saakashvili’s proposal. I think that after everything that has happened, the Azerbaijani leadership too can withdraw from the CIS on condition that our country will maintain bilateral relations with these countries, the Musavat chairman said.

"Democracy is a guarantee of our security"

In the opinion of political analyst Hikmet Hacizada, the events in Georgia will affect the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict without fail. Asked what kind of influence these events will have, Hacizada responded: "First, it has become clear to many Azerbaijanis that it is impossible to just go ahead and start a war with Nagornyy Karabakh. This is clear because Russia and Armenia are behind Nagornyy Karabakh and there is no-one behind us. The example of the war in Georgia has made it clear to everyone that one cannot fight against Russia one-on-one.

"Second, Armenia will be a lot more comfortable during peace talks if Moscow consolidates its positions in South Ossetia. This is concerning negative aspects.

"However, there are positive aspects too: the conflict between Russia and Georgia has finally drawn the attention of the international community to the problems of the South Caucasus," the political analyst said.

According to Hacizada, the West has realized that the problem of the South Caucasus concerns them as well and "one cannot forget about it". "In light of these events, I think that Azerbaijan has two ways: either integrate with NATO or choose a strong ally who could help it stand up to the Russian-Armenian alliance," Hacizada said.

In addition, the political analyst said that the country needs to be democratized. "Judge for yourselves. Presidents of five countries went to Georgia to support Saakashvili. Would anyone come here had our authorities launched an attack on Xankandi? I am not so sure. And Saakashvili managed to create an image of a democrat and reinforced this with real deeds. The thing is that democracy is not a whim of mine or anyone else’s. Democracy is a guarantee of our security," he said.

Precedent set

In turn, Ali Karimli, chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party, said in conversation with our correspondent that "Russia’s open aggression has demonstrated that the issue of South Ossetia’s and Abkhazia’s autonomy is nothing but a tool used for putting pressure on Georgia". "Everyone has understood perfectly well that conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia were created by Russia and play into Moscow’s hands," he underscored.

He said that the same situation can be observed with regard to the Nagornyy Karabakh issue. "Everyone knows that official Moscow is an instigator of all conflicts in the South Caucasus and a factor impeding their resolution. And Russia needs this situation to consolidate its military and political positions in the region," Karimli said.

He said that the Russian-Georgian confrontation has clearly demonstrated that official Moscow is trying to take advantage of individual hotbeds of conflict in the region. "This has made it easier for Azerbaijan to let the international community know the truth that Russia’s imperialist ambitions are behind Nagornyy Karabakh’s separatist ambitions," the chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan Party said.

According to him, the same handwriting can be discerned in the Kremlin’s actions. "Note that the Russian armed forces did not limit themselves to seizing Tskhinvali and took Gori too. The same scenario could be observed in 1993, when the Armenian armed forces, under Russia’s protection, occupied regions adjacent to Nagornyy Karabakh," he noted.

Karimli said that this conflict has once again made the international community face the dilemma: separatism or territorial integrity. "I have no doubt at all that the United States and European countries will offer serious support to Georgia in the issue of the country’s territorial integrity. And this factor will let Azerbaijan receive the West’s support in the issue of its own territorial integrity. Of course, should our leadership decide to integrate with the North-Atlantic alliance," he added.

Karimli also stated that Georgia has created a precedent of defending its territorial integrity by military means and this step was not seriously condemned by the international community. "A precedent has already been set for us. But, to tell you the truth, I do not believe that the Azerbaijani authorities could follow Georgia’s example given the situation prevailing in our country today. The thing is that we do not have an ally like the one Georgia has," he said.

Commenting on this issue in an exclusive interview with Zerkalo – we will publish its full text in tomorrow’s issue [16 August] – Irina Khakamada, former deputy speaker of the Russian State Duma [and currently an opposition politician], voiced a pessimistic forecast.

In Khakamada’s opinion, should Russia find itself cornered and in the conditions of international isolation, it could do anything with regard to the Nagornyy Karabakh issue. The famous Russian of Japanese origin believes that, in this case, "the Russian Federation would be ready for indirect as well as direct, head-on, including military, response to Azerbaijan’s attempt to restore its territorial integrity by strong-arm methods". In this regard, Irina Khakamada assesses the line of behaviour of Azerbaijan and its leader Ilham Aliyev as principled and, at the same time, balanced and the only correct one.

[translated]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress