Month: August 2008

CSTO REPRESENTATIVES TO JOIN OSCE MILITARY OBSERVER MISSION IN S. OSSETIA

Interfax
Aug 27 2008
Russia

Representatives from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
will join a mission of OSCE military observers in the Georgian-South
Ossetian conflict zone, CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha told
Interfax on Wednesday.

"Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia have already declared their
interest in participation in the OSCE [Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe] military observer mission. Participation of
other members of the organization is possible as well," Bordyuzha said.

The selection of candidates for the mission is under way in the said
countries, a process influenced by the factor of time and a number
of criteria that the future military observers are supposed to comply
with, Bordyuzha said.

"The CSTO secretariat is interested in participation of organization
representatives in the military observer mission, as this would
improve objectiveness of the monitoring in the conflict zone.

Representation of our states in the said mission is within the
framework of the efforts to strengthen the CSTO’s interaction with
other international security structures," Bordyuzha said.

FLASHPOINTS IN THE CAUCASUS

Agence France Presse
August 27, 2008 Wednesday 6:33 PM GMT

The strategic flashpoint region of the Caucasus is the scene of
regular clashes between its different ethnic groups.

CHECHNYA: Chechnya unilaterally proclaimed independence from Russia
in late 1991, just before the fall of the Soviet Union. Russia fought
two wars to crush separatist rebels in the 1990s and continues to
have sporadic clashes with them even after imposing a pro-Moscow
regional government. Chechen rebel forces led a fierce independence
fight in which as many as 100,000 civilians — about 10 percent of
the population — are feared to have been killed since 1994.

DAGESTAN: The biggest of Russia’s Caucasus republics, mainly-Muslim
Dagestan has been the scene since 1999 of incursions by Chechen
rebels, in which several hundred have been killed. Dagestan kept
out of the first Chechen war though it was used by the Chechens as
a supply corridor. In 1999, homegrown Muslim radicals were joined by
guerrillas from Chechnya in an attempt to establish an Islamic state
that was quickly stamped out by the Russian army.

INGUSHETIA: Ingushetia, a sister republic to Chechnya inhabited by
a related ethnic group, is one of Russia’s poorest regions. Like the
Chechens, the Ingush were deported to Central Asia in 1944 by Stalin
for "collaborating" with Nazi Germany. There has been some spillover
from the Chechen conflict, and members of the military and police
are regularly targeted in Ingushetia amid frequent clashes between
security forces and pro-Chechen rebels.

NORTH OSSETIA: North Ossetia, one of the smallest Russian republics,
hosts the main Russian military base in the Caucasus and has
historically had closer ties to Moscow than any other republic in
the region. In 1992, more than 500 died in a brief ethnic conflict
pitting North Ossetia against Ingushetia over a disputed region. In
2004, armed rebels seized a school in the North Ossetian town of
Beslan and more than 330 hostages, mostly children, were killed in the
ensuing bloodbath. North Ossetians accuse the Ingush Muslim minority
of fuelling terrorism in the region.

SOUTH OSSETIA: South Ossetia, whose independence was recognised on
Tuesday by Moscow less than 20 days after a failed Georgian attempt
to retake control, is a pro-Russian separatist region of Georgia
which proclaimed its independence after the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991. It has long sought unification with the neighbouring
Russian region of North Ossetia.

In 1992, after a conflict with Georgia, a peacekeeping force of
Ossetians, Georgians and Russians was deployed in the region but
incidents continued.

ABKHAZIA: Abkhazia, whose independence was recognised on Tuesday
by Russia, is a pro-Russian separatist territory situated along
Georgia’s Black Sea coast which took up arms in 1992 to proclaim
its independence.

The conflict, which left thousands dead and 250,000 mostly ethnic
Georgians displaced, ended in 1993 with the victory of the Abkhazians
backed by Moscow. Despite a ceasefire signed in 1994 followed by the
deployment of a Russian peacekeeping force and a UN observer mission,
clashes continued. Many took place in the Kodori Gorge, a sliver of
territory along the Abkhazian-Georgian administrative border.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH: Backed by Armenia, ethnic Armenian forces took
control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a 4,400 square kilometre (1,699 square
mile) enclave surrounded by Azerbaijan but with a predominantly
Armenian population, during a war in the early 1990s that killed
thousands and forced nearly a million people on both sides to flee
their homes.

A ceasefire was signed between the two former Soviet republics in
1994 but the dispute remains unresolved after more than a decade
of negotiations. Troops remain in a tense stand-off and shootings
are common.

TURKISH COMMANDERS DENY VIOLATING MONTREUX CONVENTION

Anatolia News Agency
Aug 27 2008
Turkey

Ankara, 27 August: The chief of the General Staff, Gen Yasar Buyukanit,
has said, "Current situation in the Black Sea is not against the
Montreux treaty. It is as simple as that."

Responding to questions put by reporters during an official reception
which followed a ceremony held at the headquarters of the Land Forces
Command for the inauguration of the new chief of the Land Forces as to
whether the passage of warships through the Straits was permissible
under the Montreux Convention, Buyukanit said, "Some people write
about the Montreux Convention in spite of the fact that they have
not actually read it. I urge them to read it, for God’s sake. They
are making various allegations about ships. The Montreux Convention
is being strictly implemented. Current situation in the Black Sea is
not against the Montreux treaty. It is as simple as that. But they
imply that the Montreux Convention has been seriously violated. Some
countries are not pleased with the Montreux Convention. This is
unavoidable. But the Montreux Convention is of crucial importance
to us. The Black Sea is the most stable sea in the region. But they
have begun to stir trouble there. I have also emphasized this in
the symposium. They attempt to ascribe all problems in the region,
including those facing Nagorno-Karabakh, Moldova and Armenia to the
Black Sea. Turkey should, therefore, be extremely cautious about the
Black Sea. Stability in the Black Sea should not be undermined."

The chief of the Navy, Adm Metin Atac, for his part, stressed that
the passage of US ships through the Straits was consistent with the
Montreux Convention. He said, "We examined all minute details of the
issue before their passage."

RUSSIAN CARRIERS USING AZERI SPACE TO FLY TO ARMENIA DUE TO GEORGIAN CRISIS

Haykakan Zhamanak
Aug 28 2008

Armenia

"Over Azerbaijan"

It emerged yesterday [27 August] that over the past 20 days, Russian
air companies have been carrying out flights from Russian cities to
Armenia via the Azerbaijani air space and not via Georgia as usual.

The spokeswoman for the Armenian Civil Aviation Department, Gayane
Davtyan, confirmed to our correspondent the change of route from
Russian cities to Armenia. She said that air companies choose
their routes on their own and that it is not dangerous to fly over
Azerbaijan.

Russia’s Aerflot representative in Armenia, Tigran Nersisyants,
told our correspondent that back on 8 August, one day after the
Russian-Georgian confrontation began, the Russian agency for air
transportation sent a letter to their air companies recommending that
beginning 9 August they "should not carry out flights over Georgia
and temporarily use other routes, taking into account the current
limitations.

RUSSIAN PUNDIT OUTLINES NEW REGIONAL MAP IN WAKE OF GEORGIA WAR

Regnum
Aug 21 2008
Russia

Modest Kolerov, a former department chief at the Russian presidential
administration and now the chairman of the Free Russia Public
Association Union, has suggested a new regional map following the
war between Russia and Georgia. He slammed the US involvement in the
Caucasus, in particular, in Georgia, accusing the USA of all problems
in the region. Kolerov believes the US efforts will not reach the
target in the Caucasus despite its success in the Balkans. Kolerov
urged the USA, which has no historical connection to the region, to
leave it. The following is the text of report in English by Russian
internet news agency Regnum, specializing in regional reporting,
on 21 August headlined "Modest Kolerov: The New Big Caucasus. Mutual
containment without aliens. What exists no more and what can happen":

The USA advised quite roughly to Syria not even to speak about the
war in South Ossetia and responsibility of Georgia for its outcomes,
but to occupy itself with "regional" problems instead. It is quite
a precise and timely idea: for Syria, one of key regional problems
is the alliance of Turkey and Israel. The Turkey whose military,
economic, political, special Ajarian and special Abkhaz interests
are intertwined with Georgia and its prospects. And the Israel who
had been arming Georgia – the aggressor – up to the most recent days,
who stated by lips of its ambassador to Georgia that Holocaust only
was the genocide, rather than the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire (Armenians once found their shelter in the territory of the
current Syria and Lebanon controlled by it).

To cut it short, here we have our own complicated, historical
"regional" drama. It is not for a representative of the other side
of the Moon, who is unable to find Syria and the Caucasus without
consulting a global map, to step forward with methodological
instructions. However, the USA unwillingly noted rightly the main
thing: the new Caucasus that fell prey to the failed American game
in a "controllable conflict" in South Ossetia and Georgia cannot
afford remaining the ground for provocations of stranger, be they
very interested, parties. The Balkans managed to do this, but the
Caucasus failed.

The matter is about the need for a new system of security in the
Caucasus that, independently from diplomatic victories and failures,
from number of new wars and genocides, will call for absolute exclusion
of "global" players, who are not connected with the fate of the
Caucasus in terms of life or physically, for simple survival of the
region as a most complicated ethnic, religious and political unity.

It is these "global" incompetent players that force Ukrainian
premier-contender [Yuliya] Tymoshenko sign by her political name an
article made of the Kennan’s "long telegram" and almost Hitler-style
main features, headlined "Containing Russia". For the same purpose of
"containment," they bring to Tbilisi a descent of leaders of the Baltic
countries, Poland and Ukraine touring far away from their domestic
problems. Or, they glue together the poverty-struck Moldova with the
well-off Azerbaijan into the internally unmotivated GUAM. It would
be of the same dubious nature, if, for instance, Indonesia sponsored
"containment" of Argentina by including the neighbouring Paraguay
into a pro-Indonesian alliance named after Java Island… [ellipses
as given]

In the Caucasus, even without such players, the need for rational
containment of regional nations is unquestionable; such containment can
be only mutual and full of mutual responsibility for the Caucasus. Any
containment from outside is its opposition, a manipulation.

Completing the foreword to the following assertions I would like to
stress they are extending the approach to the new system of security
in the Caucasus systematically developed by Regnum Editor-in-Chief
Vigen Hakopyan in his article "Georgia’s mortal enemies" (in
Russian) comprised of three leaders (Russia, Turkey, Iran) and three
"middleweights" (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia). Thus, as a result of
the war in South Ossetia, what does no more exist politically in the
Caucasus and around it? What politically new things can appear? What
questions have no evident answers?

What does no more exist politically and will never exist again in
the Caucasus and around it?

1. The Commonwealth of Independent States

2. GUAM

3. "The Baltic – Black Sea arc" from the Baltic to Caspian Sea

4. The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and similar types

5. Georgia that includes Abkhazia and South Ossetia

6. Azerbaijan’s blitzkrieg in Nagornyy Karabakh

7. Azerbaijan including the Armenian Nagornyy Karabakh

8. Transit communication corridors from the Caspian Sea to the Black
and Mediterranean Sea through the territories of Azerbaijan and Georgia

9. Alternative role of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan in
delivery of energy carriers to the West

10. Participation of Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova in Caucasus issues

11. Russian separatism in Crimea

12. Project of unification of Adygea and Krasnodar Territory in Russia

What political novelties can appear?

1. Recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia

2. Recognition of Nagornyy Karabakh by Armenia

3. Recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

4. Federalization of Georgia without South Ossetia and Abkhazia with
autonomization of, apart from Ajaria, at least Kvemo Kartli (Borcali).

5. Associate relations of South Ossetia with Russia (North Ossetia)

6. Regional security system established by Russia, Turkey and Iran

7. Regional security system of Caspian Sea nations

8. Regional security system of Russia, Turkey, Iran and Armenia
counterbalanced by NATO members: Azerbaijan and Georgia (and Armenia?)

9. Regional security system of Russia, Turkey, and Iran, including
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.

10. Regional security system of Russia, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Armenia, including Abkhazia and South Ossetia (and
Nagornyy Karabakh?)

11. Armenia-Russian union similar to the Belarus-Russia Union State

12. Recognition of Iraqi Kurdistan as an independent state by the USA

13. Federalization of Ukraine

14. Confederation of Moldova and Dniester

What questions have no answer?

1. Will the united front of Turkey and Azerbaijan be restored
regarding Georgia?

2. How stable and perspective will be the alliance of Turkey and Iran,
especially against Kurdistan?

3. When will Georgia and Azerbaijan enter NATO?

4. Will Armenia join NATO?

5. When will the provisional plan of the Karabakh settlement "peace
for territories" be implemented?

6. Does the new security system guarantee a corridor from Azerbaijan
to Naxcivan Autonomy [the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic] like the
Lacin corridor into Karabakh, will Turkey remain protector of Naxcivan?

7. When will the Crimean-Tatar separatism come in practice in Crimea?

8. Will Turkey become the second after Russia guarantor of security
of an independent Abkhazia?

9. What new goals will be set by the radical Islamist and other
subversive underground in Russia’s North Caucasus and in Abkhazia?

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNYY KARABAKH CONFLICT: POTENTIAL FOR REVENGE IN THE LIGHT OF THE US-RUSSIAN CONFRONTATION
by Vuqar Masimoglu

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 27 2008
Azerbaijan

How will the recent events in the South Caucasus affect the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict settlement? This question has become particularly
urgent after both houses of the Russian parliament recognized Georgia’s
separatists regions as independent states.

The main damage from the recent military conflict has been caused
not to Georgia but to the existing public opinion with regard to
the "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union. The former Soviet
republics’ belief in the possibility of solving the "frozen conflicts"
militarily has diminished after Russia’s latest steps. This can be
felt in different comments, overviews, interviews and news on the
Georgian events. Is it true that the military settlement of the
"frozen conflicts" has been removed from the agenda? In fact, this
wording of the question is incorrect and it should be put as follows:
"Is the resolution of conflicts in the former Soviet Union possible
without considering Russia’s will?"

It is known who this question is addressed to. The West should
respond this question. In order to answer this question in the
affirmative, the USA and the European Union should achieve progress
in the resolution of at least one of the "frozen conflicts" in the
former Soviet Union. The West has restricted the opportunity to
choose conflicts in Georgia for revenge. Russia has taken concrete
steps in regard to South Ossetia and Abkhazia and has demonstrated
that it could resort to a military confrontation to protect its own
interests. Hence, the West will have to choose between the Dniester
and Nagornyy Karabakh conflicts if it wants to change public opinion
in its favour. The first option is less likely and if we take into
account that US interests in the South Caucasus are superior to those
in Moldova, Washington’s choice of Nagornyy Karabakh for the revenge
is more likely. This is one of the scenarios of how the processes in
Georgia might affect the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

How can the USA realize the plan for revenge? First, Washington may
reject the use of double standards on the Nagornyy Karabakh problem
and totally support Azerbaijan. In contrast to the Georgian-Abkhaz
and Georgian-Ossetian conflicts, the USA’s position in the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict is as vital as Russia’s. At the same time, by
contrast to Georgia, Washington has the opportunity to fight on equal
footing with Russia in Azerbaijan. Namely, by contrast to Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, the USA has the opportunity to influence both
sides in the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Therefore, if the struggle
over interests in the South Caucasus becomes aggravated, the USA may
take revenge in Nagornyy Karabakh.

So far, the USA has been hesitating to intensify the confrontation in
the South Caucasus and has been interested in maintaining the status
quo. Yet, the situation is dictated by Moscow not by Washington and
the USA has to consider alternative options. US Vice-President Richard
Cheney’s scheduled visit to Azerbaijan shows that Washington intends
to delegate to Azerbaijan the main role in its plans. Richard Cheney
may spend the same amount of time on discussing the resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem as on ensuring the security of energy
corridors.

RUSSIA TO MODERNIZE CIS MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM

Asia Pulse
August 28, 2008 Thursday 12:50 PM EST

Russia will allocate over 20 million rubles ($827US,500) for the
modernization of the combined CIS missile defense system in 2008,
Sergei Bulkin, a representative of the secretariat of the CIS
Council of Ministers, said at a meeting of the Council of Ministers
coordination committee on anti-ballistic missile issues in Dushanbe
last week.

Every year, Tajikistan and other CIS countries receive funds for the
modernization of their ABM systems. This year, Tajikistan has received
4 million rubles for this purpose, said Bulkin.

An estimated 21.5 million rubles will be allocated for the development
of the CIS ABM system this year, not taking into account Russia,
Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan.

Belarus will receive 4.3 million rubles for the repair and
modernization of its air defense missile systems, Armenia will
receive 3.5 million rubles for modernization of its radar stations,
and Kazakhstan will get 3.1 million rubles to buy parts for its C-200
air defense missile systems.

The coordination committee is also considering the possibility of
supplying Kazakhstan with equipment for a regional command point
and the headquarters of the combined CIS missile defense system in
central Asia.

In addition, Uzbekistan will probably receive 6.6 million rubles to
buy parts for its missile defense systems.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC HAILS RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA INDEPENDENCE

ARMENPRESS
Aug 28, 2008

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS: The foreign ministry of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) hailed today Russia’s recognition of
the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In a statement the ministry said the recognition of both republics’
independence is in full compliance with the basic principles of the
peoples’ right to self-determination, as it is fixed in the fundamental
documents and legal standards of the OSCE, UN and other international
organizations. "We have warned many a time that threats of use of
force, the excessive military build-up and the strive to resolve
problems by force are fraught with humanitarian catastrophes,’ the
statement said adding that Nagorno-Karabakh hopes that all stakeholders
will draw right conclusions from the latest developments in the South
Caucasus and will make concrete steps to solve all existing conflict
exclusively through peaceful means and restore the region’s stability.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN RECEIVES CHINA’S AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

ARMENPRESS
Aug 28, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan
received today China’s ambassador to Armenia Hun Zioun and thanked
him for the warm welcome given to Armenian athletes at the Beijing
Olympic Games.

President Sargsyan was quoted by his press service as saying that
Chinese authorities and the people did everything possible to organize
the Games at the highest possible level.

Serzh Sargsyan singled out the Chinese’ hospitality, their attention
and willingness to help the guests. He then spoke about Armenia’s
excellent participation in the Games.The ambassador spoke for his
part about his government’s efforts to make the game an unforgettable
sporting event to its participants.

The two men also spoke about prospects for boosting bilateral ties. The
ambassador said his government gives great attention to cooperation
with Armenia.

CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS IN STEPANAKERT

AZG Armenian Daily
29/08/2008

Nagorno Karabakh

On the occasion of the 17th anniversary of declaration of NKR
independence ceremonial occasions are scheduled in Stepanakert. As
member of the coordination and management commission Michael Gasparian
told Armenpress, the first lesson in the secondary schools and high
educational institutions of the republic on September 1 will be
devoted to the declaration of independence.

At the event that has become traditional members of NKR Government,
Parliament and National Security Service will present at the schools
and universities the way and the sense of NKR independence.

On September 2 at 10 a.m. NKR soldiers will march along the streets
of Stepanakert that will herald the start of the ceremonial events.

The officials and citizens of the country led by NKR President Bako
Sahakian will pay a visit to the city memorial.

At 8 p.m an open-air concert in Stepanakert Renaissance Square will
mark the occasion. Fireworks will close the concert.