Month: September 2008

EU CAUCASUS SUMMIT CRITICIZES RUSSIA BUT WITHOUT SANCTIONS

DDP News Agency
Sept 1 2008
Germany

Brussels: This was an EU summit consisting of worried statements. On
Monday [1 September], the European Union sharply criticized Russia’s
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, condemned the deployment of
Russian troops on Georgian core territory as "breaching international
law" and offered Georgia the establishment of a free-trade zone. Yet
the s-word, sanctions, was not uttered. "The result is a good
compromise. All sides have made concessions," EU observers pointed
out after the crisis summit in Brussels.

Participants in the summit held in the Belgian capital grappled for
hours with finding a wording that demonstrated the determination of the
27 EU member states to the outside world but would not cut the "thread
of dialogue" with Moscow. After all, notwithstanding all outrage in
the European Union about Russia’s infringement of international law,
the country continues to be Europe’s "strategic partner" on important
international issues. "We need Russia’s cooperation," was an often
repeated view at the EU summit.

Earlier, the Russian government had already made its own attitude
very clear, urging both EU and NATO to take a "balanced approach"
in view of the independence of Kosovo. Although for the EU leniency
is out of the question, sanctions were suddenly no longer an issue,
which Eastern European countries such as Poland and the Baltic states
had initially demanded.

There are several punitive measures conceivable, not only the
suspension of the EU negotiations on a partnership and cooperation
agreement with Moscow. Yet EU diplomats point to the downside of such
a move. Such an agreement, if it finally materialized, could lay down
Russia’s role as Europe’s "reliable energy supplier". The EU has a
great interest that it takes on that role, because it gets 42 per cent
of its gas supplies and 33 per cent of its oil imports from Russia.

As a result, a condition that could swiftly be met and save Russia’s
face was set – withdrawal from all the regions and no mention
of security zones. Then, the negotiations could continue. German
Chancellor Angela Merkel (Christian Democratic Union) preferred to
speak about a "deferral" of the talks in a "foreseeable" timeframe.

The next escalation stages would be a blockade of Russia’s membership
in the World Trade Organization or even an exclusion from the ranks
of the leading industrial nations, the G8. Yet experts on Russia rule
that option out completely. The West depended too much on Moscow’s
participation in resolving explosive international issues such as the
Iranian nuclear conflict or the Middle East. In addition, severing
ties with Russia meant, in the final analysis, to increase the West’s
dependence on Iranian oil, for example.

Observers in Brussels, therefore, speak of a "balancing act" – voicing
unanimous criticism of Russia, proposing to Georgia economic and moral
support, as well as specific assistance to calm the tense situation,
while offering Russia talks at the same time. "We managed to reach
agreement – and not only by finding the lowest common denominator."

Hans-Gert Poettering, president of the EU Parliament, looks ahead into
the future. The EU was now able to "accept greater responsibility in
the region", extending its partnership relations with countries such as
Armenia and Azerbaijan, and aiming to set up a "European economic area
plus" – including a free-trade zone reaching down to Georgia. That,
Poettering said, required continuing the "dialogue" with Russia –
"We must not slam the door shut."

PRESIDENT SAYS GEORGIA ON FRONTLINE OF STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM

Channel 1
Sept 1 2008
Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, together with his wife and
two sons, joined the human chain on Freedom Square in Georgian capital
Tbilisi on 1 September. The human chain was organized in Tbilisi and
other towns throughout Georgia ahead of the EU summit in Brussels,
which is to discuss ways out of the recent Georgian-Russian armed
conflict. A bit later, Saakashvili addressed people assembled on
Freedom Square. His speech was broadcast live by the Georgian Public
Broadcaster and Rustavi-2 TV stations. Saakashvili said that Georgia
was "on the frontline of the struggle for freedom" and was "united
as never before". Recalling how Georgia survived "most dangerous
conquerors" in the past, Saakashvili said it would also survive the
"hordes of the 21st century", implying Russian troops that invaded
Georgia in August 2008. "Georgia fought and Georgia will continue
fighting," he said, noting that "for the first time in our history
we can say that Georgia is not alone.

The whole civilized world is with Georgia", and compared Georgia’s
"struggle for freedom" with "a struggle between justice and injustice,
between a major brutal force and a small but unbeaten nation, which
is clenched together as a fist. This is a struggle between David
and Goliath," he said. Saakashvili noted that the "brutal force and
these new hordes that entered Georgia decided to start the revival of
Russian imperialism from Georgia", stressing that "not only Russian
imperialism will be unable to win a victory in Georgia, but the Russian
imperial idea will be buried in Georgia once and for all. The empire
cannot revive, as Georgia will resist this," he said, pledging that
"Georgia will create a very beautiful and successful united country,
and Georgia, its multiethnic society, will certainly prevail together
with Europe and the rest of the civilized world". The following
is the text of Saakashvili’s speech broadcast live by the Georgian
Public Broadcaster (Channel One) on 1 September; subheadings have
been inserted editorially:

I am addressing the whole of Georgia, our citizens of all
ethnicities. I am addressing Azerbaijani Georgians, Armenian Georgians,
Jewish Georgians, Abkhaz Georgians, and our Ossetians. I am addressing
people of all ethnicities from all regions [of Georgia].

Georgia on frontline of struggle for freedom

Up to now, we have been proud of Georgia being a big nation, because
it survived millennia and innumerable conquerors, preserving its
nationality, statehood, and religion. Today, we can tell the entire
world that we are proud of our history, but we are most of all proud
of the present time, when Georgia is united as never before. More
than a million Georgians are on the streets today. [Applause; people
chanting "Misha! Misha!"]

This is the biggest gathering of people since [several words unclear],
velvet revolutions took place in Europe, and the Baltic nations stood
against the Russian and Soviet imperialism in the 1990s. Then too,
we saw hundreds of thousands of people, as well as bright eyes. Never
before have so many people assembled. Georgia is on the frontline of
the struggle for freedom again. We are fortifying the frontline of
freedom. [Applause; people chanting "Misha! Misha!"]

My dear people! The Georgians closed their united strong chain
today. I would like to tell you that, several months ago, I visited
Mount Athos, the holy soil of Athos in Greece and saw the hauberk
of Tornike Eristavi [10th-century Georgian nobleman and outstanding
military leader, who founded a monastery on Mount Athos]. I had
the opportunity and the honour to see and touch the hauberk of this
worthy patriot of ours. A new hauberk, which is big and strong as
never before, is being woven of this Georgian chain today. It is a
hauberk for Georgia, Europe, and freedom. [Applause; people chanting
"Misha! Misha!"]

Georgia standing united against "hordes of 21st century"

We stopped the hordes [Russian troops] moving towards
Tbilisi. Previously, Georgia survived Tamerlane’s numerous invasions,
as well as invasions by many most dangerous conquerors. The first
line for the protection of civilization, freedom, and independence
was in Georgia. Today, when the hordes of the 21st century came to
Georgia as in the past, Georgia is standing united. Georgia fought
and Georgia will continue fighting. Georgia is united. [Applause;
people chanting "Georgia! Georgia!"]

My dear people! I would like to tell you that not only our citizens
of various ethnicities are in this chain, but also Davit the Builder
[regarded as the most successful Georgian king – reigned in 1089-1125],
[5th-century Georgian King] Vakhtang Gorgasali, and Sulkhan-Sana
Orbeliani [1658-1725 – Georgian nobleman and diplomat, who tried to
gain European states’ support for Georgia against Muslim powers],
who wanted Georgia not to remain alone. For the first time in our
history we can say that Georgia is not alone. The whole civilized
world is with Georgia. Our struggle for freedom is a struggle between
justice and injustice, between a major brutal force and a small
but unbeaten nation, which is clenched together as a fist. This is
a struggle between David and Goliath. Like St George defeated the
unjust emperor with his spiritual strength and firmness, although the
emperor had an innumerable army, Georgia will also win a victory in
this unequal but very noble struggle. It will win a victory for our
future and the future of the entire free world. [Applause]

Georgia to build "humane society"

I would like to say that not only our struggle will not stop and the
chain will not disperse today, but it will grow and expand, because
Georgia has a long way to travel ahead. The struggle does not end
today. A big struggle is starting today. A struggle for uniting
and building a new country, which will be much more beautiful,
successful, modern, and civilized, which our future generations,
our great grandsons, and the rest of the world will be happy to
see. Our struggle is for taking care of all people, who have become
homeless. Some time ago, I met Mrs Mediko Jikia, who is a displaced
person from Sukhumi. She is not allowed to go to Sukhumi just because
she is an ethnic Georgian. Her husband and children were killed
in Sukhumi. She was here together with her grandsons. None of such
people will remain without homes and without being taken care of,
because Georgia’s further development is impossible without taking
care of, supporting, and aiding Mrs Jikia and people like her. We
should first and foremost be a humane society, which takes care of
the weak and vulnerable.

Our struggle continues and this is not a struggle for Georgia
alone. This brutal force and these new hordes that entered Georgia
decided to start the revival of Russian imperialism from Georgia. I
would like to tell them and the rest of the world on your behalf
that not only Russian imperialism will be unable to win a victory
in Georgia, but the Russian imperial idea will be buried in Georgia
once and for all. The empire cannot revive, as Georgia will resist
this. [Applause]

We are proud of the present. We are proud that we are united as
never before. If you allow me, I would like to declare 1 September
day of Georgia’s unity, when Georgia is standing united as never
before. [Applause; people chanting "Georgia! Georgia!"]

Tbilisi "new gate of freedom"

I would like to tell all freedom-loving nations that are standing
beside us and Europe: take a look at this ocean of people and more
than a million of our citizens of all ethnicities. It is time now for
Europe to extend its hand to us. Take a look at the European flags
flying here. We are the country of the Golden Fleece and Argonauts. We
are an ancient country of Christian civilization. We are a magnificent
example of unity and joint life of all ethnic and religious groups. We
are a unique example of good-neighbourly relations, brotherhood,
and peace. At the same time, as never before, the fate of Europe
and civilization, the gates of freedom, and the problem of freedom
are being decided in Tbilisi, which is a new boundary. Tbilisi is
a new gate of freedom, which the enemy of freedom will be unable to
break. Freedom is starting its great upsurge here in Tbilisi, Georgia,
from Freedom Square and under the guidance of St George, who is here
in front of us [reference to St George’s monument erected on Freedom
Square]. [Applause; people chanting "Georgia! Georgia!"]

Sisters and brothers! My dear people! My compatriots! I would
like to address everyone. I would like to address the rest of the
world. Georgia was attacked in a very unjust manner. Hundreds of
thousands of Georgians and people of other ethnicities – Ukrainians,
Jews, Estonians, Russians, Abkhaz, and Ossetians – were evicted from
their homes just because they wanted to be united and free and just
because they wanted to live in a normal democratic country. I would
like to tell everyone that this injustice will be unable to win a
victory. I would like to tell about 500,000 people of all ethnicities
displaced from Abkhazia that this injustice will be unable to win
a victory. We will without fail return to our homes. I would like
to tell people evicted from Tskhinvali that injustice cannot win
a victory and we will without fail return to our homes. We will
evict injustice and the brutal force, together with the rest of
the world. Through our peaceful struggle and our standing together,
our calmness, firmness, democracy, and freedom, we will definitely
defeat those, who are afraid of freedom as of plague, who want to
enslave freedom-loving nations, who want to build new walls in Europe,
and who want to see a new Berlin wall in Georgia. No new walls can be
erected in Georgia. We will stand together and we will do all we can
to prevent Georgia and Europe from being returned to the thick gloom,
to the lack of freedom, and to the era of violence, which we have got
out of. We will definitely reach the place of safety. We, the Georgian
people, will stand hand in hand with other nations in the world and
will without fail reach the place of safety together. [Applause]

Georgia enjoys broad support throughout world

My dear people! I would like to welcome all the nations standing beside
us. I would like to welcome the Ukrainians, Azerbaijanis, Armenians,
the Baltic countries, the United States, the EU, France, which is the
EU president, Germany, whose chancellor came here and supported us at
the very beginning, and all those who are standing on European squares
at this moment – in Stockholm, Munich, Berlin, London, and Prague. I
would like to welcome the former Czech president, legendary Vaclav
Havel, who declared his solidarity with us. All of us together will
wave here in Georgia the flag of what Havel has initiated. [Applause]

I want to greet our compatriots who are left in Russia and tell them:
do not be afraid of anything. You have seen that nothing could scare
Georgia. Freedom and common sense will prevail. I want to tell everyone
that Georgia is no-one’s enemy, nor is it the enemy of the Russian
people. But we are an enemy of everyone, who crosses our border,
who bombs our towns and who constantly tries to destroy our freedom
and trample our honour and all principles of freedom underfoot. We
will always resist these people.

"Peaceful resistance" to continue

I want to tell everyone that as long as there is one occupier on this
side of the Psou [River dividing Georgia and Russia in Abkhazia],
as long as there is one occupier on this side of the Roki [tunnel
connecting South Ossetia with Russia’s North Ossetia], as long as our
people are not allowed to return to their homes, as long as people
are being detained, killed and humiliated in every way, Georgia will
not stop resisting, Georgia will never surrender, Georgia will never
fold up its five-cross flag. [Applause]

We will continue our peaceful resistance in our towns, our villages,
and our streets. We will stand together and we will say: violence
shall not prevail, imperialism shall not prevail, and all insults
to freedom will ultimately fail. Our dignity shall not be trampled
underfoot. Our historic flag, the five-cross flag we are so proud
of, which is also the flag of Europe and which is now a symbol of
unbreakableness and standing together for the world, for Europe, for
civilization, and for freedom, shall forever fly and forever oppose
violence, forever oppose the enemies of freedom, forever oppose those
who wish to subdue the rest of the world and trample it underfoot. Long
live our battle for freedom! [Applause]

And I want to tell everyone that Georgia is not a country that does not
appreciate other ethnic groups. Our wealth is in our ethnic diversity,
our wealth is in the fact that our greatest king, Davit the Builder,
would go to synagogues and mosques in addition to of course pray in
church. For many centuries, we have been praying in our churches, for
many centuries we have been going to synagogues, for many centuries
we have been going to mosques and for many centuries we have spoken
in different languages and dialects, but nonetheless the Georgian
people has existed as a single entity for several thousand of years,
as a single unit that today has stood up for the whole world to see
and is asking the world for help and support. [Applause]

And when people of all ethnicities gather together, when people of
all confessions gather together, when our past and our present gather
together so that we all together can go towards the future, when our
national soul has been revived as never before, when our unity sets an
example for the rest of the world, we must tell everyone that Georgia
will keep fighting, Georgia will keep fighting peacefully for its
reunification. Georgia will never again fall to its knees. Georgia
will stand fully upright, Georgia will create a very beautiful and
successful united country, and Georgia, its multiethnic society,
will certainly prevail together with Europe and the rest of the
civilized world.

I want to greet our warriors. I want to greet those who spilt blood
and fell for Georgia. I want to greet representatives of all political
groups, who today are standing together here in Georgia. We are not
divided into politicians [of different camps], we are not divided
into the government and the opposition, we are not divided according
to our blood type, we all share the same beating heart, we all want
most of all to give our children, our future generations a normal
and peaceful country so that they can live in humane conditions and
to be allowed to develop and integrate with Europe, live like people,
as we have dreamt of doing for so long. And no-one will ever be able
to return us to where we were before and from which we have emerged
with difficulty; we barely managed to cross this Rubicon.

So I want to tell you: all of us will stand together, all of us will
be steadfast, all of us will be strong, all of us will be successful
and all of us will be victorious. Long live united, free, independent,
strong, European, and victorious Georgia!

MEDVEDEV SAYS RUSSIA, ITS CLOSEST CIS ALLIES TO PRESENT UNITED FRONT ON GEORGIA

Rossiya TV
Sept 2 2008
Russia

[Presenter] The situation concerning South Ossetia and bilateral
economic cooperation have been the main subject of talks between
the Russian and Armenian presidents. Dmitriy Medvedev received Serzh
Sargsyan at his Sochi residence.

After expressing condolences over the death of peaceful civilians and
Russian soldiers, the Armenian president said that his country was
ready to receive South Ossetian schoolchildren to study in its schools.

The talks were held ahead of a summit of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization [CSTO, which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan], whose chairmanship will be taken
over by Armenia. At the summit, which is being held in Moscow at the
end of the week, the CSTO members will formulate their single position
on recent events in the Caucasus.

[Medvedev, addressing Sargsyan] We have a CSTO summit coming
up literally in a few days’ time. Armenia is taking over the
chairmanship. I think we could consider how to organize work,
especially as we have not met since Georgia’s aggression against
South Ossetia. Let’s also discuss these difficult problems.

[Sargsyan] I would again like to express my condolences in connection
with the death of many people – Russian citizens, peacekeepers –
my regret that events have unfolded this way, and a wish for the
consequences of the humanitarian catastrophe to be dealt with as soon
as possible.

[Medvedev] Thank you, Serzh [patronymic indistinct], for the
humanitarian forms of support. As for everything else, including the
consequences of what happened – I mean our work in the CSTO format –
we will have a preliminary discussion about it now, but the final
position of the CSTO member states will be formulated during the CSTO
summit in Moscow.

TURKISH MINISTER SAYS NO DECISION YET ABOUT PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO ARMENIA

Anatolia news agency
Sept 1 2008
Turkey

Ankara, 1 September: Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on
Monday [1 September] that no decision was made regarding President
Abdullah Gul’s visiting Yerevan.

"If President Gul pays a visit to Yerevan, this will be a reflection
of Turkey’s constructive efforts to contribute to peace and stability
in its region and international area, not because of external pressures
and impositions," Babacan told Anatolia.

He said that they had not made a decision for Gul’s visiting Yerevan
for the soccer game to be played between Turkey and Armenia.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan recently invited President Gul to
Armenia to watch together the 2010 World Cup qualifying-round game
between the two countries on 6 September.

ARMENIAN LEADER OFF TO SOCHI TO MEET RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Sept 2 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 2 September: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan left for
Sochi this morning on a one-day working visit, the president’s press
service has reported.

According to Russian sources, the Russian and Armenian presidents,
Dmitriy Medvedev and Serzh Sargsyan, will discuss the situation in
the Caucasus as well as the implementation of new larger projects. A
high-ranking Kremlin official said that "the parties will discuss the
possibilities of implementation of projects in mining and processing
sectors and transport with an aim to boost Russian investments in
the coming years and at least double them".

[Passage omitted: Sargsyan and Medvedev have already met twice
this year]

The Kremlin official said that "Sargsyan and Medvedev will discuss
the situation in the Caucasus, exchange views on several urgent issues
on the Russian-Armenian agenda".

"Medvedev will also brief Sargsyan on the Russian assessment of the
situation that has emerged after Georgia’s aggressive steps in the
Caucasus, and the hard but the only possible decision to recognize
South Ossetia’s and Abkhazia’s independence and the Russian steps –
including international and legal – to ensure stability in the region,"
the source said.

ARMENIANS GETTING BIASED COVERAGE OF GEORGIAN EVENTS – OPPOSITION MP

ArmInfo News Agency (in Russian)
Sept 2 2008
Armenia

The Armenian public does not get comprehensive and fair information
from the local media on the events in Georgia, an opposition MP
has said.

Speaking to Armenian news agency Arminfo, Stepan Safaryan, the
secretary of the opposition Heritage party faction in parliament, said
that the public would be informed better about the positions of the
sides in the conflict if the "state propaganda media, and especially
the Public TV, provided full information" about the events in Georgia
and the international community’s position on the conflict. He said
that that simple comparison of the Armenian media to their Western
counterparts shows that the Armenian media is in a dire situation,
Arminfo reported.

Armenian viewers do not know that there is no unity on the issue among
the Western countries, and the Russian channels aired in Armenia
"air biased information, they do not report about Georgia’s losses
and sufferings," Safaryan said according to Arminfo.

Safaryan also said that destabilization of the situation in Georgia
is very undesirable for Armenia, Arminfo reported. He added that
Armenia should work with the Georgian leadership to get serious
security guarantees for the Armenian population in Georgia. He said
that there is a serious threat of pushing Armenians towards a conflict
with Georgia in terms of the "Javkahk" card played by third parties.

"After gaining full control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia
has lost its leverage over Georgia. Javakhk [Javakheti region of
Georgia] and territories populated by Azerbaijanis have remained the
only cards for Russia," Arminfo quoted Safaryan as saying.

ANALYSE: LE CAUCASE BOUSCULE PAR LA GUERRE
par Gaïdz Minassian, [email protected]

Le Monde
2 septembre 2008 mardi
France

Dix-sept ans après l’effondrement de l’URSS, le Caucase du sud a
retrouve sa place de carrefour economique dans la mondialisation :
l’Azerbaïdjan avec son petrole, la Georgie avec son littoral et
l’Armenie avec sa diaspora.

Coinces entre les mers Noire et Caspienne, et les massifs caucasien et
iranien, ces trois Etats doivent leur existence a la chute des Empires
russe et ottoman en 1918. Cette independance leur a coûte cher. Sous
les Sovietiques, Moscou a impose un decoupage territorial cynique,
dont les effets se font encore sentir aujourd’hui. Les Abkhazes et les
Ossètes, deux peuples sans Etat, refusent la tutelle georgienne. Les
Armeniens du Haut-Karabakh, province rattachee a l’Azerbaïdjan,
revendiquent leur union a l’Armenie. Resultat : l’independance du
Caucase du sud rime avec trois guerres de 1990 a 1994. La Georgie a
perdu l’Ossetie du Sud et l’Abkhazie. L’Armenie a remporte la guerre
du Haut-Karabakh contre l’Azerbaïdjan.

Des processus de paix fragiles ont ete instaures sous l’egide de la
communaute internationale, consciente que le Caucase est un brasier qui
couve. En temoignent des regimes nationalistes, des societes hantees
par la guerre, des budgets pour la defense demesures et des alliances
strategiques contradictoires. L’Armenie est l’alliee de la Russie
dans la region. La Georgie est candidate a l’OTAN et l’Azerbaïdjan
maintient une politique d’equilibre entre Washington et Moscou.

Cette course a l’armement s’est doublee d’une competition
economique. Les trois marches se sont redresses et desenclaves de facon
spectaculaire grâce aux plans du FMI et de la Banque mondiale. Leur
croissance atteint deux chiffres depuis 1999, notamment pour
l’Azerbaïdjan, grâce a sa rente petrolière, qui profite a la Georgie
mais pas a l’Armenie, victime d’un blocus impose depuis 1993 par les
Azeris. Dès lors, il n’y a aucun plan collectif entre les capitales,
aucune volonte de partager a trois les fruits de la croissance. Les
pays du Caucase du sud prefèrent le statu quo de l’Etat-nation aux
projets de cooperation et d’echanges. Tous ces enjeux accentuent la
complexite d’une region qui existe mais reste encore a creer.

Les Etats du Caucase du sud ne sont pas les seuls fautifs. La Russie a
sa responsabilite dans cette absence d’unite regionale. La guerre entre
la Russie et la Georgie rappelle a ceux qui en doutaient encore que le
Caucase du sud compte a plus d’un titre pour Moscou. Symboliquement,
les Russes ont mis trois siècles a conquerir le Caucase. Ilest hors de
question pour eux de le quitter. Strategiquement, contrôler le Caucase
du sud, c’est s’ouvrir sur le Proche-Orient et l’Iran. Moscou refuse
toute emergence d’un Caucase du sud comme pôle de stabilite dont les
perspectives peuvent contrarier ses relations avec l’Iran.

Politiquement, la Russie est contre les " revolutions colorees
" qui ont emporte la Georgie et l’Ukraine, et dont l’un des
objectifs est de les eloigner de l’influence russe au profit des
interets americains. Moscou a reussi, en mars, a casser la dynamique
revolutionnaire en Armenie. Economiquement, la Russie ne digère pas
l’existence des pipelines qui la contournent (Bakou-Tbilissi-Ceyhan,
Bakou-Tbilissi-Soupsa et prochainement Bakou-Tblissi-Erzeroum) et
bloque tout projet d’exploitation des hydrocarbures de la Caspienne
qui ne transiterait pas par son territoire.

L’onde de choc de la guerre en Georgie a donc redistribue les cartes
dans le Caucase du sud. Pour les stratèges russes, contrôler la
Georgie, c’est dominer la region. Depuis sa deroute, la Georgie n’est
plus le pivot regional, la terre a travers laquelle passaient tous les
projets regionaux. La Russie a impose des zones tampons aux abords de
l’Ossetie du Sud et installe des check-points sur le principal axe
routier georgien, ce qui paralyse l’economie du pays et contraint
l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan a s’adapter. Aux premières heures de la
guerre, les presidents armenien et azeri, Serge Sarkissian et Ilham
Aliev, qui se trouvaient a Pekin pour l’ouverture des JO, ont reagi
avec retenue. L’Armenie, qui a perdu 90 % de ses approvisionnements
après la destruction des infrastructures georgiennes, a " souhaite
un règlement politique de la crise ". L’Azerbaïdjan, qui a ferme
ses oleoducs en direction de la Georgie et transfere la livraison
de son petrole sur le pipeline russe, situe plus au nord, a appele
" ses amis russe et georgien a se reconcilier ".

SUD FRAGMENTE ET SANS PIVOT

Cette ponderation cache une triple inquietude. La Russie defend
desormais ses interets par les armes. L’Armenie faisant partie de
la zone d’influence russe, l’Azerbaïdjan, qui organise son election
presidentielle le 15 octobre, est averti. Meme si Russes et Azeris
ont signe un partenariat economique en juillet, les interets
armeniens n’ont pas ete sacrifies sur l’autel de la normalisation
russo-azerie. Mais l’Armenie reste sur ses gardes.

Ensuite, le coup de force de la Russie peut affecter la question
du Haut-Karabakh. Depuis 1992, cette crise, prise en charge par
l’Organisation pour la securite et la cooperation en Europe (OSCE),
n’a toujours pas ete reglee. A la lecture des evenements en Georgie,
tout recours a la force pour resoudre ce conflit paraît exclu ou
risque. En outre, le plan franco-russe, signe par Moscou et Tbilissi
sans aucune reference a l’integrite territoriale de la Georgie,
inquiète l’Azerbaïdjan, confronte a la meme problematique avec le
Haut-Karabakh.

L’UE l’a assorti de trois points dont le principe d’intangibilite de
la Georgie. Mais les Azeris accordent plus d’importance aux propos
equivoques de Dmitri Medvedev sur la distinction qu’il opère entre
" souverainete " et " integrite " qu’a l’engagement relatif de
l’Europe des 27, unis derrière un protocole d’accord fragile et
dont l’interpretation reste aleatoire. Par ailleurs, le president
de la Russie a reconnu, le 26 août, l’independance de l’Abkhazie et
de l’Ossetie du Sud, après le vote des deux Chambres russes. Qu’en
sera-t-il du Haut-Karabakh ?

Enfin, l’Armenie et l’Azerbaïdjan n’ignorent pas que la Russie peut,
en cas d’echec de la diplomatie dans la crise georgienne, utiliser
les minorites armeniennes et azeries de Georgie pour destabiliser
le regime de M. Saakachvili. Ces populations, etablies dans le sud
du pays dans les regions de Samtskhe-Djavakheti et Kvemo-Kartli, ont
des velleites d’autonomie. En cas d’escalade en Georgie, l’Armenie et
l’Azerbaïdjan risquent d’etre pris dans le tourbillon de la guerre,
au seul profit de la Russie. Car pour elle, seul compte un Caucase
du sud fragmente et sans pivot, le regard tourne vers Moscou.

–Boundary_(ID_8Yod5d2VgZcpq0E454BDzQ)–

KOREAN AIR CARRIERS SAFEST IN THE WORLD, AUDIT FINDS
[email protected]

ChoSun
sun.com/w21data/html/news/200809/200809030015.html
Sept 3 2008
South Korea

Korea has received top marks for aviation safety seven years after
it was branded a loser in the category.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs on Tuesday
said in the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program conducted by
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency,
for 190 member states, Korea tops the list of 108 countries that have
so far undergone the audit.

Korea got a safety standard compliance rating of 98.82 percent.

In the first evaluation conducted by ICAO in 2000, Korea ranked 53rd
with a safety standard compliance rating of 79.79 percent among 162
members. When the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration gave Korea a
category 2 rating in 2001, Korea was restricted in code sharing with
foreign carriers and banned from increasing flight routes to the
U.S., while U.S. soldiers and government officials were prohibited
from using Korean air carriers. Korea was given a category 1 rating
after a reassessment four months later.

ICAO assesses 190 member countries from 2005 to 2010 on 9,608 safety
standards in eight areas. Korea has achieved a compliance rating of
96.35 to 100 percent in each area.

"Until recently, the world’s top safety compliance rating was at
the 96 percent range and the world’s average was 57.77 percent,"
said Hong Soon-man, the head of Civil Aviation Safety Authority. "In
view of this, even after the ICAO’s assessment of all member states
is done by 2010, our international safety standard compliance record
will not easily be broken."

According to the interim results, Armenia ranked second with 96.32
percent and Canada third with 95.38 percent.

ARSEN MELIK-SHAHNAZAROV: KOSOVO NOT UNIQUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.09.2008 14:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is nothing unique in case with Kosovo,
Arsen Melik-Shahnazarov, advisor to NKR Foreign Minister, said in an
interview with PanARMENIAN.Net.

"It’s as unique as abjunction of Sudet region from Czechoslovakia
in 1938. Moreover, no referendum on self-determination was held in
Kosovo. NATO forces acted like Turk Bolsheviks in Nakhichevan in
1920-21. Unlike Nagorno Karabakh, no settlement process goes between
Serbia and Kosovo. There is nothing but diktat from outside, which
conflicts with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The Kosovo
model is not unique. Meanwhile, one-sided recognition of independence
will inevitably affect the Azeri-Karabakh conflict," he said.

EUROPEAN UNION NOT TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.09.2008 15:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Council of the European Union issued Presidency
conclusions of extraordinary summit held in Brussels on 1 September,
2008. The statement says,

1. The European Council is gravely concerned by the open conflict
which has broken out in Georgia, by the resulting violence and by
the disproportionate reaction of Russia. This conflict has led to
great suffering on both sides. Military action of this kind is not a
solution and is not acceptable. The European Council deplores the loss
of human life, the suffering inflicted on the population, the number of
displaced persons and refugees, and the considerable material damage.

2. The European Council strongly condemns Russia’s unilateral decision
to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. That
decision is unacceptable and the European Union calls on other States
not to recognize this proclaimed independence and asks the Commission
to examine the practical consequences to be drawn. It recalls that
a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict in Georgia must be
based on full respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity recognized by international law, the Final
Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
and United Nations Security Council resolutions.

3. The European Council emphasizes that all European States have the
right freely to determine their foreign policy and their alliances,
while respecting international law and the principles of good
neighborliness and peaceful cooperation. It is also legitimate for
the security interests of each to be taken into account, so long as
the fundamental principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial
integrity and the independence of States are respected.

4. The European Council is pleased that the six-point agreement
achieved on 12 August on the basis of the European Union’s mediation
efforts has led to a ceasefire, improved delivery of humanitarian
aid to the victims, and a substantial withdrawal of Russian military
forces. The implementation of that plan has to be complete. The
European Council calls on the parties to continue the full
implementation in good faith of the agreement they have signed. The
military forces which have not yet withdrawn to the lines held prior
to the outbreak of hostilities must do so without delay. Besides the
provision of assistance to the victims, the urgent issue at the moment
is to finalise the international monitoring mechanism, in which the
Union is prepared to participate, and which is provided for in point
5 of the agreement, so as to replace the Russian additional security
measures in the zone adjacent to South Ossetia. It is also a matter
of urgency to begin the international talks provided for in point 6
of the agreement concerning the security and stability arrangements
in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

5. The European Union is ready to commit itself, including through a
presence on the ground, to support every effort to secure a peaceful
and lasting solution to the conflict in Georgia. To that end,
the Member States of the European Union are making a significant
contribution to strengthening the OSCE observer mission in South
Ossetia, by sending observers and by making substantial material and
financial contributions. The European Union has also decided on the
immediate dispatch of a fact-finding mission with the task of helping
to gather information and defining the modalities for an increased
European Union commitment on the ground, under the European Security
and Defense Policy. The European Council invites the relevant Council
bodies to conclude all the necessary preparatory work in order that
a possible decision to commit such an observer mission can be taken
by the Council by 15 September 2008, depending on how the situation
develops, and in close coordination with the OSCE and the United
Nations. To this end the European Council requests the President of
the Council and the SG/HR to undertake all the necessary contacts
and discussions.

6. The European Union has already supplied emergency aid. It is
prepared to supply aid for reconstruction in Georgia, including
the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It is ready to support
confidence-building measures and the development of regional
cooperation. It also decides to step up its relations with Georgia,
including visa facilitation measures and the possible establishment
of a full and comprehensive free trade area as soon as the conditions
are met. It will take the initiative of convening an international
conference shortly to assist reconstruction in Georgia and requests the
Council and the Commission to start preparations for this conference.

7. The European Council notes with concern the impact which the current
crisis is having on the whole of the region. The European Union
considers that it is more necessary than ever to support regional
cooperation and step up its relations with its eastern neighbors,
in particular through its neighborhood policy, the development of the
"Black Sea Synergy" initiative and an "Eastern Partnership" which the
European Council wishes to adopt in March 2009; to this end it invites
the Commission to submit proposals in December 2008. In this context
the European Council stresses the importance of the forthcoming summit
between the European Union and Ukraine on 9 September.

8. The European Council decides to appoint a European Union Special
Representative for the crisis in Georgia and asks the Council to make
the necessary arrangements.

9. Recent events illustrate the need for Europe to intensify its
efforts with regard to the security of energy supplies. The European
Council invites the Council, in cooperation with the Commission,
to examine initiatives to be taken to this end, in particular as
regards diversification of energy sources and supply routes.

10. With the crisis in Georgia, relations between the EU and Russia
have reached a crossroads. The European Council considers that given
the interdependence between the European Union and Russia, and the
global problems they are facing, there is no desirable alternative
to a strong relationship, based on cooperation, trust and dialogue,
respect for the rule of law and the principles recognized by the
United Nations Charter and by the OSCE. It was for this reason that
we launched negotiations for a new framework agreement between the
Union and Russia last July.

11. We call on Russia to join with us in making this fundamental
choice in favor of mutual interest, understanding and cooperation. We
are convinced that it is in Russia’s own interest not to isolate
itself from Europe. For its part, the European Union has shown itself
willing to engage in partnership and cooperation, in keeping with the
principles and values on which it is based. We expect Russia to behave
in a responsible manner, honoring all its commitments. The Union will
remain vigilant; the European Council requests the Council, with the
Commission, to conduct a careful in-depth examination of the situation
and of the various aspects of EU-Russia relations; this evaluation
must begin now and continue in the run-up to the forthcoming summit
scheduled to take place in Nice on 14 November 2008. The European
Council gives a mandate to its President to continue discussions
with a view to the full application of the six-point agreement. To
that end, the President of the European Council will go to Moscow
on 8 September, accompanied by the President of the Commission and
the High Representative. Until troops have withdrawn to the positions
held prior to 7 August, meetings on the negotiation of the Partnership
Agreement will be postponed.