Month: August 2008

WHAT DOES RUSSIA WANT IN THE WEST PART OF THE CAUCASUS?
by Igor Chirnov-Rezakin

Center for Research on Globalization
hp?context=va&aid=9886
Global Research
Aug 20 2008
Canada

Global Research Editor’s Note:

This article was published prior to the Georgian attack on South
Ossetia on August 7, 2008

——————————————– ————————————

Russia should concentrate on promoting the idea of making Georgia
a confederation.

Summer’2008 in the west part of the Caucasus began traditionally –
with provocations against Russian peacekeepers, explosions in Gagry,
ritual aggressive statements from Tbilisi…

According to special services, what Georgia procured in terms
of military hardware (or what it received as a gift from Russia’s
"partners") over the years include almost 400 armored vehicles (half
of them tanks), almost 200 artillery pieces and mortars (including
volley-fire rocket launchers and Howitzers 152 mm caliber), 25
antiaircraft complexes and 200 portable missile launchers, 45 aircraft
and helicopters (eight of them drones), 10 boats, light weapons,
radios, earth-moving machinery for military engineers, uniforms,
munitions by the ton… Georgia has no external enemies and nobody
aspires to its territory or part of it, but arms expenditures grow
with each passing year.

The Hard facts:

Russia withdrew its troops from Georgia by late 2007;

Euro-Atlantic crisis-resolution specialists frantically chart the
plans to integrate the Caucasus into NATO and "united" Europe. All
these plans stand for absorption of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by
Georgia but also include some attractive (or so they authors think)
offers to Abkhazian and South Ossetian leaders.

And what about Russia? What does it need in and from the west part
of the Caucasus?

First, it must be made quite plain to everyone that Russia does not
want a single square meter of the former Georgian Soviet Socialist
Republic! Strategically speaking, any part of Georgia is nothing
Russia needs.

Second (but much more significantly), Russia cannot permit
the transformation of the neighbor territory into a multipurpose
anti-Russian bridgehead: with separatist bases, velvet revolutions lab,
GUAM’s locomotive force, and NATO barracks all rolled into one.

What Russia needs is:

A safe transit route to Armenia by land. Now that Adjaria is lost
(actually, abandoned) and Russian troops no longer man the Batumi
-Akhalkalaki line, strategic transit to Armenia as Russia’s only ally
in the Caucasus depends on Armenia’s neighbors. These latter include
hostile Azerbaijan, neutral Iran, NATO member Turkey, and fiercely
pro-NATO Georgia. The Karabakh conflict settlement plan one of NATO’s
"experts" charted involved exchange of territories between Armenia and
Azerbaijan so as to cut the former off Iran. Air ferry service is not
an option because Russia’s transport aviation is not up to it. Even
Russian trucks with relief aid barely make it across civilized Europe
to Serbia. Armenia meanwhile is where Russia has the 102nd Military
Base and some strategic enterprises under its control and management.

Poti is out of the question as a base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet
no matter how it ends with Ukraine (the so called 2017 problem). It
is clear that neither Poti not revamped Novorossiisk will do even if
the Black Sea Fleet is downsized to a mere flotilla!

Prices in the global oil and gas market draw attention to oil and
gas exports from the Caspian basin to the West bypassing the Russian
territory. Georgia is playing a central part in these plans. Baku-Supsa
and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipelines are already running. Whenever they
recall it, Russian state officials get mad and regularly deploy the so
called "administrative resource" even though every such attempt costs
Russia dearly. Suspend the transit so as to change the anti-Russian
vector? But why? Oil export is business. One may make money in oil
fields development or in shipment or oil refining – as long as the
terms are acceptable (which is always easier to assure than enforcing
of the ban).

The safety of transit pipelines may be turned over to "private
armies". Why wouldn’t we draw on our Anglo-Saxon "partners"
‘experience?

The attempt in the early 1990s to rebuild the Georgian micro-empire,
an analog of the one remembered from 1918, created a crisis that
continues to this day.

A confederation as the natural – is not only – solution is not
something anybody has been giving a thought to. This state of affairs
offers Russia a chance to become the settlement leader in the region
with an emphasis on precisely this idea.

Seizing the initiative in the west part of the Caucasus, Russia may
even rejuvenate integration all over the rest of the Commonwealth and
elevate these processes to another level. Consider Europe. It never
occurs to Georgia to return Alsatia and Lorraine. It never occurs to
Italy to part with Nice or Austria with South Tirol.

Russia’s success in the Caucasus will put an end to development of
"sanitary cordons" along its own borders. Success in the Crimea and
Ukraine will even wreck beyond repair NATO’s and European Union’s
plans to expand eastward, into the zone of Russia’s national interests.

TURKEY TO HOLD TALKS WITH ARMENIA ON PROPOSED CAUCASIAN UNION PROJECT

Hurriyet
Aug 20 2008
Turkey

Turkey has sped up its efforts on works to form a stability and
partnership forum in the Caucasus and plans to hold talks with
neighboring Armenia, which Ankara has no diplomatic relations for
more than a decade. Armenia welcomed Turkey’s plan to launch talks,
Interfax reported. (UPDATED)

"The talks would also be held with Armenia. The foreign minister
(Ali Babacan) would meet his Russian counterpart (Sergei Lavrov) this
week to hold talks. After those talks, the format of the contacts
with Armenia would be shaped," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
told reporters.

There is no diplomatic relations between two countries, as Armenia
presses the international community to admit the so-called "genocide"
claims instead of accepting Turkey’s call to investigate the
allegations, and its invasion of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory
despite U.N. Security Council resolutions on the issue.

Armenia welcomed Turkey’s plans to launch talks, Interfax
said. "Armenia has always advocated dialog and talks, especially over
issues of cooperation and security in our region," Armenian Foreign
Minister Edvard Nalbandian said in answer to questions from a Turkish
newspaper, according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry’s press service.

Erdogan pays a visit to Azerbaijan to discuss his proposal of a
forming a Caucasian union with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.

Turkey had proposed the formation of the "Caucasian Stability and
Partnership Platform" to resolve the disputed issues in the region
through diplomacy and to enhance economic ties after the clashes that
erupted between Russian and Georgian forces.

Erdogan said the proposal was welcomed by both the Russian and Georgian
leaders. "The recent situation in Georgia had confirmed the urgent
need of ensuring peace, trust and stability in the Caucasus. We as
Turkey have crucial interest in doing that," he added.

The United States has not been informed about such an initiative,
Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs told on Tuesday. He added he was surprised by
Turkey’s efforts.

MAJOR PROGRESS REPORTED IN BUILDING JORDAN’S BAPTISM SITE

CCTV
Aug 20 2008
China

AMMAN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) — Jordan’s tourist authorities has made major
headway in efforts to build the Baptism Site, where Jesus was said
to be baptized, into a global pilgrimage destination, local daily
The Jordan Times reported on Wednesday.

"The infrastructure work for the Russian Pilgrimage House, the Roman
Catholic Church on the east bank of the Jordan River as well as the
Greek Orthodox monastery have been completed and others are on track
as planned," Baptism Site Commission Director Dia Madani said.

At least five more churches representing various Christian
denominations are set to be established this year, including the
Coptic, Armenian, Syrian and Ethiopian churches, according to Madani.

"Once the churches are built and monks and priests settle in, the
entire concept of the site will be transformed from a historically
important site to a leading destination for Christian pilgrimage,"
Madani said, adding that the site will be open 20 hours a day and
offer facilities for pilgrims who choose to spend the night.

According to the official, the site is growing steadily in prominence
among tourists and pilgrims, citing figures that tourist arrivals
has climbed to 108,000 in the first seven months of this year, an
increase of 99 percent from a year ago.

The official expects the site to attract up to half-a-million visitors
annually in three years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NEW START FOR THE ADL?
by Kat Powers

Wicked Local
Aug 20 2008
MA

The Anti-Defamation League has a new regional leader in Needham’s
Derrek Shulman, and it remains to be seen whether this will change
how folks see the organization.

As for the controversy last year involving the national ADL’s
position on the Armenian Genocide, Shulman directed such questions to
Kappel. Last summer, the national director, Abraham Foxman, called the
"consequences" of the World War I-era murder of 1.5 million Armenians
at the hands of the Ottoman Empire "tantamount to genocide," a position
local Armenian-Americans felt fell short of full acknowledgement.

ANKARA GOES EASY WITH FLIGHT ACCESS TO ARMENIA

Gözlem Gazetes
Aug 20 2008
Turkey

As Ankara relaxes its air space quota for Armenia, it appears Turkey
has spotted an opportunity to use the crisis in Georgia to ease its
strained relationship with Armenia.

Ankara decided to loosen its air space quota for Armenia to allow
easier access for humanitarian aid to war-torn Georgia. The most
visible aim is to contribute to aid efforts by facilitating the
transfer of material via Armenia and to help civilians leave Georgia by
using Yerevan as an alternative to Baku, which is already overcrowded.

European countries mostly used Georgian and Russian air space before
the war. Charter flights from Istanbul and Trabzon to Yerevan were
already available; now all planes flying to and from Yerevan are
granted flight permission.

Ankara’s move is also considered a new gesture towards Armenia,
in addition to considerations of aid to civilians. The neighboring
countries’ ties are strained over genocide claims, Armenian occupation
on Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenian referral to eastern Anatolia as
western Armenia’in official documents. However, the possibility of
a thaw has been seen in recent months, as Armenian President Serge
Sarkisian invited Turkish President Abdullah Gul to watch a World
Cup 2010 qualifying game between the two countries in Yerevan on
Sept. 6. Gul’s answer to Sarkisian’s invitation is still not clear.

It is not known whether Ankara will extend its relaxed air space
quota until the match date.

Armenia to be drawn to Caucasus stability platform Meanwhile, Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to Azerbaijan to talk over
his proposal for a Platform for Stability and Cooperation in the
Caucasus. Erdogan is expected to go to Baku today to present his plan
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. We will discuss the project
with Armenia to construct a cooperation region with five countries,
Erdogan said during a lunch at the Turkey-Africa summit in Istanbul
yesterday.

Erdogan previously held talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin following the outbreak of war. He
also shared the proposal to form a platform for promotion of
multilateral dialogue with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

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CAS TO REVIEW SWEDISH WRESTLER CONTROVERSY HEARING TO BE HELD FRIDAY IN BEIJING

NBC13.com
Aug 20 2008
AL

BEIJING (AP) – The Court of Arbitration for Sport will investigate
a controversial Olympic bout that so incensed Swedish wrestler Ara
Abrahamian that he dropped his bronze medal in disgust and eventually
had it stripped by the International Olympic Committee.

The court said Wednesday it will hold a hearing on Friday in
Beijing. The inquiry was requested by Abrahamian and the National
Olympic Committee of Sweden, who are seeking to change the result of
the wrestling match and sanction the officials involved.

Last Friday, the IOC disqualified Abrahamian and stripped his bronze
medal after he dropped it in protest during a medal ceremony on
Aug. 14.

Abrahamian was upset that a disputed penalty call decided his semifinal
match against Italian Andrea Minguzzi, who went on to win the gold
medal in the Greco-Roman 84-kilogram division.

The Armenian-born Abrahamian – who also lost a 2004 Olympic semifinal
match on a disputed call – took the bronze from around his neck
and angrily dropped it on the mat as he walked away. The 28-year-old
Abrahamian also had to be restrained from going after matside officials
following his loss to Minguzzi.

The IOC executive board ruled Abrahamian’s actions amounted to
a political demonstration and a mark of disrespect to his fellow
athletes. He was punished by the IOC for violating the spirit of fair
play during the medal ceremony.

The Geneva-based CAS said Abrahamian and the Olympic committee "do
not seek from the CAS any particular relief" regarding the ranking of
the medals for the event, or a review of the IOC decision to exclude
Abrahamian from the games.

RUSSIA’S RECOGNITION OF INDEPENDENCE OF SOUTH OSSTIA AND ABKHAZIA CAN PARALYZE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL EXPERTS

Trend News Agency
Aug 20 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 August/ TrendNews, corr I. Alizade/ The political
experts of Azerbaijan believe that Russia’s recognition of independence
of South Osstia and Abkhazia can paralyze international relations.

"The recent moves by Moscow and its recognition of independence of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia contradicts Russia’s national interests,
it is an emotional step and can cause serious problems in the
international community," Vafa Guluzade, the political expert said
to TrendNews.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia autonomous republics of Georgia broke away
in 1990 and declared their independence. The international community
have not recognized their independence yet. Sergey Mironov, speaker
of Russia’s Council of Federation said that the Upper Chamber of
the parliament is prepared to recognize the independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia. Mironov said that the will of the population
of self-declared republics is important with this regard. If the
people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia wish so, Russia is prepared to
recognize their independence.

If Moscow resumes ‘cold war’ with US and NATO, it can destroy Russia.

"There are a lot of autonomies in Russia and they can also demand
independence. If Russia recognizes the independence of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia, this will give a rise to this process within its own
territory," the political expert said.

Aydin Mirzazade, member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE and
MP said to TrendNews that if Russia recognizes independence of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, it will make the biggest mistake in its history.

"Such a move can create a negative precedent all over the world. Given
the frequent separatist trends in Russia’s territory, this precedent
can one day be used against Moscow itself," Mirzazade said.

"The decision by Kremlin not coordinated with the international
community can lead to the sanctions against Russia and revival of
‘cold war’ of 1950s and 1960s," he added.

The political expert also said that such a move by Russia calls into
question the activities of the UN Security Council. Because each
state is recognized by the decision of the Security Council. "Russia’s
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence will violate
key principles of UN which cause serious crisis in UN. Therefore,
I hope that this is inaccurate statement by the Russian official,"
he said.

The political expert Rasim Musabayov said to TrendNews that if the
confrontation between Russia and West goes on, Moscow is likely to
recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"But this possible move by Russia will not be left without
response. Russia will be banished from all international organizations
excluding OSCE. Moscow will not have any international relations at
all," Musabayov said.

Azerbaijan may also suffer from this move by Kremlin. It can
necessitate the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia and
Russia. Therefore, this move by Moscow can create problems in
Russia-Azerbaijan relations, he said.

ARMENIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MINISTER ACCUSES AZERBAIJAN OF REJECTING TO COOPERATE WITH ARMENIA

Today.Az
s/47095.html
Aug 20 2008
Azerbaijan

"Azerbaijan still rejects cooperating with Armenia in the ecology
sphere", said Armenian Minister of Environmental Protection Aram
Arutyunyan.

He said that despite the repeated proposals of the Armenian side about
joint ecological monitoring of the Araz river, no positive response
has been received so far. "At the same time, it should be noted that
Araz river in Azerbaijan is more polluted that in Armenia", admitted
the Armenian Minister,

He noted that the monitoring with the Iranian side proceeds in line
with the schedule. "We have been cooperating with Iran for several
years, sharing information, and we have no any unsettled issues in
this sphere", noted the Minister.

The Armenian-Iranian monitoring of the Araz waters is conducted from
6 Armenian and 8 Iranian stations. 76% of Armenian territories refer
to the Araz river basin.

It should be reminded that according to the Azerbaijan Ministry of
Ecology and Natural Resources, it was revealed that the number of
phenols and copper compounds exceed the acceptable norm by several
times on the part of the Araz river on the Armenian border.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER: "I WILL DISCUSS CREATION OF THE PLATFORM OF PEACE AND COOPERATION IN THE CAUCASUS REGION WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF AZERBAIJAN"

Today.Az
s/politics/47093.html
Aug 20 2008
Azerbaijan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babajan will meet and discuss creation of
a new platform of security in the Caucasus with the Foreign Minister
of Russia and then hold discussions with Armenia, said Prime Minister
of Turkey Tayip Erdogan, according to Turkish Daily News.

He noted that the events in South Ossetia make creation of the platform
of peace and cooperation in the Caucasus region important. "I will
discuss this platform with the Azerbaijani leadership. Turkey is
interested in peace and stability in the Caucasus", noted he.

Erdogan also announced that the format of talks with Armenia on
the issue will be defined following Babajan’s meeting with Foreign
Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov.

It should be reminded that Erdogan managed to discuss the security
system in the Caucasus, proposed by Turkey, in Tbilisi and Moscow. Both
sides positively assessed the Turkish initiative. On August 20 Erdogan
directed to Baku to meet Ilham Aliyev and discuss the initiative
with him.

ANGRY SWEDISH WRESTLER TO HAVE PENALTY CASE REVIEWED

Toronto Star
Aug 20 2008
Canada

BEIJING-Wrestler Ara Abrahamian and his country’s Olympic committee
asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to investigate a controversial
semifinal bout that so incensed the Swede that he dropped his bronze
medal in disgust and eventually had it stripped by the IOC.

CAS said Wednesday that a hearing will be held on Friday in Beijing
after it received a request from the National Olympic Committee
of Sweden and from Abrahamian against the International Wrestling
Federation.

The Geneva-based CAS said in a statement that it will decide whether
the international federation’s consideration of Abrahamian and the
Swedish Olympic committee’s requests "to change the result of the
bout and to sanction the officials in the bout comply with the Olympic
charter and FILA’s own internal rules."

CAS said Abrahamian and the Olympic committee "do not seek from the
CAS any particular relief" regarding the ranking of the medals for
the event, or a review of the IOC to exclude Abrahamian from the games.

Last Friday, the IOC disqualified Abrahamian and stripped his bronze
medal for dropping the medal in protest after Thursday’s disputed
loss. He was punished by the IOC for violating the spirit of fair
play during the medal ceremony.

Abrahamian was upset that a disputed penalty call decided his semifinal
match against Andrea Minguzzi of Italy, who went on to win the gold
medal in the Greco-Roman 84-kilogram division.

During the medal ceremony, the Armenian-born Abrahamian – who also
lost a 2004 Olympic semifinal match on a disputed call – took the
bronze from around his neck and dropped it on the mat as he walked
away. He did not take part in the rest of the medal ceremony.

The IOC executive board ruled Abrahamian’s actions amounted to
a political demonstration and a mark of disrespect to his fellow
athletes.

The 28-year-old Abrahamian had to be restrained from going after
matside officials following his loss to Minguzzi. He stormed away
from the area where interviews are conducted and slammed a door to
the dressing rooms.