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CONFLICTS
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ARKADY GHUKASIAN: MOUNTAINOUS KARABAGH WILL STRUGGLE FOR ITS INDEPENDENCE
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Source: “Golos Armenii” newspaper (Armenia) [July 21, 2005]
Author: “De Facto” news agency
`The principles proclaimed by Mountainous Karabagh in 1991have not
changed. We exclude Karabagh subordination to Azerbaijan. We will
struggle for our independence, as stated by President of Mountainous
Karabagh Republic Arkady Ghukasian in the interview to Armenian Public
Television.
In his opinion, MKR authorities understand that it is a long and
complex process. However, if today the international community is not
ready to recognize independence of Mountainous Karabagh, this
possibility should not be excluded altogether, he stated. If
previously we considered MK status respecting territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, today all the options are on the agenda. It is clear for
both international community and Azerbaijan that MK will not agree to
be a part of Azerbaijan, as emphasized by Arkady Ghukasian.
“We repeatedly stated about our principles: Mountainous Karabagh
should be independent, Mountainous Karabagh cannot be a part of
Azerbaijan, Mountainous Karabagh should have security guarantees,
whereas the security frames of MK are also determined at
negotiations. We certainly have benchmarks for compromise that we
cannot trespass’, MKR President stated.
Answering the question about the impact of various factors on the
negotiation process: attitude of the international community, Baku
oil, democratic elections, Arkady Ghukasian noted that any of these
factors is considered in the negotiation process. However, he thinks
the principle of democracy is of primary importance today
“International community closely follows the development of the
processes both in Mountainous Karabagh and Azerbaijan. It is not by
accident that the parliamentary elections in Karabagh got so much
attention’, MKR President stated. In his opinion, today the decisive
role will be with such points as the willingness of MK people to build
a sovereign state, develop democratic relations, market economy,
ability to implement the goals and objectives set. `I am confident
this circumstance might not be a priority for today. In this respect,
I think we have a serious advantage’, Arkady Ghukasian
stated. Commenting on the statements that the process of Karabagh
settlement undergoes a new stage of activation, MKR President noted
that this conclusion may be made considering that today Azerbaijani
position is more constructive compared to previous years. `They are
not so aggressive and expressed willingness to discuss those issues
that have always been a priority for Mountainous Karabagh. If
previously Azerbaijan refused to discuss the status of MK, today this
issue is on the agenda of the negotiation. It means Azerbaijan
gradually enters the constructive field’, Arkady Ghukasian said.
As an answer to the request for explanation of this phenomenon,
President of MKR did not exclude the fact that one of the reasons is
the fact that in November Azerbaijan will have parliamentary
elections, on which a lot will depend. On the other hand, he noted
that international community has long worked with the Azerbaijani
authorities convincing them that a rigid position will not settle the
problem. `It is a mistake to ignore the Karabagh factor and discuss
issues only with Armenia. I am convinced that this view is also shared
by OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen and it is also the result of the
mediators’ activity with Azerbaijani authorities’, Arkady Ghukasian
stated. On the other hand, he continued that there are developments
that are not hinging either on Azerbaijan, Karabagh or Armenia, and
the Azerbaijani authorities should take it into account. `Today, the
international community is interested in settling the conflict through
peaceful means, and in my opinion Azerbaijan cannot ignore this
circumstance”. The request to characterize the fact that the
negotiations are mainly conducted between Armenian and Azerbaijan on
the level of Foreign Ministers and Presidents and the mediators
periodically visit Stepanakert informing MKR authorities about the
progress of negotiations, was answered by Arkady Ghukasian as follows,
“The fact that MK does not actively participate in these processes not
counting the visits of the mediators, sets the impression that
Stepanakert is outside the negotiation process. When we speak of a
real format of negotiations – Karabagh-Azerbaijan-Armenia, there is an
impression that we need it. Meanwhile, I am convinced that it is
essential for the process. We have much stronger attributes of
statehood than negotiations with Azerbaijan”.
MKR President is confident that without Karabagh participation the
problem cannot be solved. `The fact that today Azerbaijan refuses to
hold negotiations with Karabagh is another matter. I may draw one
conclusion – Azerbaijan is not yet ready for settlement, since any
contacts with Armenia without MK is propaganda based on the approach
that hinges on the principle `Armenia – aggressor, Armenia occupied
the territories of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan naturally conducts
negotiations with Armenia on these and other issues’, Arkady Ghukasian
stated. `I am confident that Mountainous Karabagh is not outside
negotiations. Half in jest, I emphasized several times that if we are
all interested in the result, it is not important whether MK
participates in the negotiations: let the negotiations be conducted by
Portugal and Spain. If as a result of these negotiations MK
independence is recognized and we get what we aspired to, I see no
problems’, MK President noted.
In his opinion, MK participation in the negotiations is not an end in
itself. `However, I am confident that there are issues impossible to
be solved without MK participation. All the mediators understand it. I
am confident that today both the Co-chairmen and the authorities of
Azerbaijan understand that we are approaching a stage when MK
participation becomes necessary. It is essential for Armenia
too. Herein, we have no problem of mistrust, the issue is not that we
do not trust the Armenian authorities or doubt their negotiating
skills. The point is that MK participation will make the negotiation
process more efficient, since there are issues that cannot be solved
without MK participation. Armenia cannot answer these questions
instead of Karabagh’, Arkady Ghukasian stated. He noted in particular
that without MK participation it is impossible to work on the details
of peaceful agreement. The Karabagh side is aware of the working
process. “In any case, these principles are agreed with MK. If
currently Armenia defends some principles, these are primarily MK
principles. The fact that today we have no agreement between Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Karabagh and the mediators on these principles is another
matter’, Arkady Ghukasian stated.
“Again, I want to emphasize that participation in the negotiations is
not an ending goal for us. In propaganda aspect, our failure to
participate sets the impression that Mountainous Karabagh is not a
subject but object of negotiations. This circumstance is really in
place and we should take it into account’, MKR President noted.
Answering the question whether he believes that Azerbaijan really
aspires to peaceful settlement, Arkady Ghukasian stated, `I think
peaceful settlement is a risk primarily for political leadership. I am
not sure the Azerbaijani authorities are willing to take this risk, to
show political will. Still I am confident of their intention to do
so. It is hard to imagine a political figure, who would be unwilling
to solve a problem that is a priority for his country. However, desire
is not enough. Political will is what we need. It was not by accident
that I said it is a risk. The Azerbaijani authorities clearly perceive
that it is impossible to implement all the ideas they voiced
throughout these years. They cannot get everything without making
concessions. Considering the fact that they gave great promises to
their people from which they need to gradually withdraw for they are
unreal, I think the problem is whether they will take the risk or
not. Recently, I notice that the Azerbaijani press became less
aggressive. It means certain activity was started with the people
through artificially imbuing hatred and hostility towards Armenian
people. Something we did not do these years in our country. We were
much more reserved’. There was a concern that Azerbaijani authorities,
who repeatedly organizing information leakage and then instigating
public opinion against the information disseminated by them similarly
to the proposal about `a common state’ and later around Prague
principles of settlement, will likewise fail the frequently discussed
idea of conducting a referendum and a temporary status of MK. Arkady
Ghukasian stated that such a conclusion can me made.
`If the authorities of Azerbaijan are interested in the conflict to be
settled as soon as possible, there should be no leakage, since this
process is confidential. There is a principle – if all the issues are
not agreed upon, we cannot consider the issue is solved. It is a
process and the leakages put it at risk. The principle of
confidentiality should be respected by all the sides. It is impossible
for one country to respect confidentiality and the other one give
leakages. Taking this into account, it can be assumed that Azerbaijan
attempts to avoid the process’, he stated.
Alongside this, MKR President did not exclude the attempts for
probing by the Azerbaijani authorities. `Azerbaijani authorities
voiced loud statements of spread-eagle type like, `Karabagh is our
inalienable part! We will never put up with the occupation of our
territories!’ etc and today they became hostages of their own
statements. I think we need time for the Azerbaijani authorities to
pass into a constructive field’, Arkady Ghukasian stated. }
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REGION
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THE EQUIPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN BASE IN SOUTH GEORGIA CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN
GIVEN THE POOR CONDITION OF THE BRIDGES
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Source: “Zerkalo” newspaper (Azerbaijan) [July 26, 2005]
Author:
The equipment of Russian military base 62 (Akhalkalaki) cannot be
withdrawn from Georgia under own power or by trailers, as Deputy
Commander of the Group of Russian Forces in the Transcaucasus (GRFT),
Colonel Vladimir Kuparadze stated.
“Five bridges on the route from Akhalkalaki to the railway station in
Akhaltsikh are not fit for equipment passage, so its further
transportation by the railway to Batumi is impossible. We informed the
Georgian side about it’, Kuparadze stated.
He noted that the headquarters of the Russian forces called the
attention of the Georgian side to the necessity of taking adequate
measures for transportation of the equipment.
As a reminder, Foreign Ministers of Russia and Georgia, based on the
results of the negotiations in Moscow May 30, signed a joint statement
stipulating that the withdrawal of the Russian military bases from
Georgian territory should be over in the course of 2008. After the
negotiations, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov
stated to the journalists that `the withdrawal will be stage-by-stage:
starting from heavy equipment, personal stuff and later handing over
the Russian military objects to Georgia”.
However, afterwards member of the Security Committee of State Duma,
Gennady Gudkov stated after his trip around the Russian military bases
in Georgia that Russia is unable to fully withdraw the troops and
equipment from Georgia by 2008. `Russia will meet the deadline if part
of the property and equipment is left behind and the people are taken
to open field’, Gudkov stated. He proved his point by the results of
the analysis of technical and technological possibilities of troops
withdrawal, which was conducted by himself and member of the Defense
Committee of State Duma, Nikolay Bezborodov – also on a visit to
Russian military bases in Georgia. According to Gudkov, just
withdrawal of the heavy equipment – by large landing ships through sea
– will take 3,5 or 4 years. `If it is easier to do from Batumi, how
can we withdraw equipment from Akhalkalaki? This issue has not been
considered at all’, Gudkov said. In his opinion, heavy equipment from
Akhalkalaki will not get to the sea under own power: only 5-6 out of
16 bridges might not keep the weight of the tanks.
As a reminder, the withdrawal of the military equipment from the
Russian base in Batumi was started on June 1. The train with 15 cars
left Batumi and arrived in Tbilisi by midnight and later to
Armenia. Based on the data of GRFT, the transportation of the
equipment and munitions was carried out in compliance with the plan of
withdrawing surplus of munitions and equipment from Batumi base out of
Georgia, developed a few moths ago before the Georgian-Russian
negotiations on the terms of withdrawing Russian military bases from
Batumi and Akhalkalaki were over. }
ARMENIA CONCERNED OVER THE RAILWAY
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Source: “Milliyet” newspaper (Turkey) [July 23, 2005]
Author: Semih Idiz
With the negotiations on Turkey’s EU membership on October 3
approaching, Yerevan again showed concern. Armenia, whose economic
isolation still more increased after launching of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline, directed its energy to obstruction of Kars-Akhalkalaki
railway project with the support of the Diaspora. If the project of
Kars-Akhalkalaki railway, that was again raised at the opening
ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in May with the participation
of the Presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, is implemented,
these three countries will be connected to Europe, avoiding Armenia.
Armenian Minister of Transportation Andranik Margarian (apparently
Andranik Manukian is meant – Ed.) in his interview published recently
in the Armenian press, stated that in case the project is implemented,
Armenian blockade will be in full. Margairian noted that they do their
best to prevent the project.
Attack For Prevention
Armenia is also inspired by the fact that the costs of the project are
high – 600 million USD. As anticipated by Yerevan and Diaspora, the
implementation of the project requires foreign investment. In fact, it
is also confirmed by the Turkish officials.
It is for this reason that during the meetings with the colleagues
from EU, Margairian constantly puts this issue on the agenda, trying
to convince the European community that the project is directed
against his country. The main argument of Armenia is the fact that the
railway connecting Kars with Armenian city of Gyumri already
exists. Armenia states that the railway Kars-Gyumri is blocked for 15
years `because of the Turkish hostility’, presenting this fact to the
EU officials as a violation, so it attempts to show it as a violation
of `good neighborly relations’ to the EU countries. The Armenian side
is also encouraged by the fact that TRASECA European project, that
foresees joining of Caucasus and Europe by a railway, does not mention
Kars-Akhalkalaki project and refers only to Kars-Gyumri railway.
EU Encourages
The coincidence of the Armenian attack and the attempts of certain EU
members, who are against Turkey’s membership, to introduce in the
framing document on Turkey-EU negotiations the conditions on opening
the Armenian border is not accidental. It is also no accident that
right now the famous figures of the Armenian lobby in US Congress Joe
Nollenberg, Frank Pallone and George Radanovich submitted to the House
of Representatives the draft law on this issue. Based on the
supposition that the interested parties will try to get financial
support of Washington for construction of Kars-Akhalkalaki railway,
the representatives of the Armenian lobby are trying to pass a draft
law preventing implementation of this route in circumvention of
Armenia. Their main argument is inexpediency of constructing a new
railway while there is inactive Kars-Gyumri railway.
Time will show whether USA and EU will support these initiatives of
the Armenian side. We repeatedly witnessed how USA and EU openly
support Genocide allegations, in the past moving this issue to the
background, defending their own economic interests. Thus, all the
attempts of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora to prevent launching
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline failed. The same may happen now. Small
interests are always sacrificed to bigger ones, whereas Armenia
constantly ignores this factor and thus it suffers. }
WHY DIDN’T THE GRENADE EXPLODE?
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Source: `Koveldgiuri Gazeti’ newspaper (Georgia) [July 22, 2005]
Author: Leonid Gordeli
The photos, made from the space by one of American satellites of the
Earth, led the investigation about the grenade cast at US President on
the track of an unemployed resident of Tbilisi, Vladimir Harutiunian
(27). More exactly, the main contribution was with broadcasts by the
local channels and the assistance of unknown persons, responding to
the promise of 150 thousand lari (about 80 thousand USD) by Georgian
Ministry of Interior for providing information by the `hot
line’. There were several `feelers’ according to the Minister of
Interior Vano Merabishvili, and the sum will be divided among
them. Meanwhile, currently the law and order bodies are much more
concerned by other problems.
Who is he, Vova Harutiunian – an individual with anti-global
orientation, who was on his own or a humble tool in the hands of
foreign special services? The Georgian authorities are now in
anticipation of a very important answer to this question. Harutiunian
faced charges of a terrorist act by several articles: terrorism,
premeditated murder of a policeman, illegal storage of arms and
explosives. He already confessed to throwing the grenade by himself
and even provided some details describing the movement of his arm: a
throw over the head (something like a basketball technique called a
`hook’) to reach the tribune, barred from the 120 thousand crowd with
a construction of bulletproof glass. He made his confession at a
hospital ward. Harutiunian was taken to the clinic after he was
wounded in shootings during a special operation on his
detention. Trying to escape, with a burst of machine gun the suspect
killed the Head of Primary Investigation Department of the Ministry of
Interior Anti-terrorism Center, Zurab Kvlividze (35), who wounded him
from his gun (the operation was conducted in the yard of Valdimir
Harutiunian’s house). Thus, in setting a penalty for three-months
imprisonment, the incrimination was both illegal storage of arms and
premeditated murder of a policeman.
In the shed built by Harutiunian at his small garden, the
investigators found several grenades, some explosives, and
detonators. The shed is wrapped in wires inside and outside,
resembling a movie `Timur and His Team’. As his acquaintances say,
Vova was a good expert in electrical devices. He installed an alarm
system warning of strangers approaching and to provide a connection
with the apartment where he permanently resided. The criminal experts
found several books. One of them is `Jackal’s Day’ about a failed
attempt at General Charles de Gaulle. Another – a manual on primary
military training. The neighbors testify that Vova had a reputation of
a guy reading a lot and enjoying it. Still, they say he was reserved
and actually had no friends. Knowing a family he came from, they were
sincerely astonished over the incident stating that they would never
think Vova might be involved in any street fight to say nothing of
such a serious crime as an act of terrorism or an attempt to commit
it. It is not surprising that he had never had any criminal record or
other contacts with law and order bodies. His hatred to George Bush,
as US President, was expressed by Vladimir Harutiunian in the form of
a bad language and a characteristic gesture of raising a middle finger
immediately after detention.
Harutiunian was unemployed although several years ago he could work as
a motor mechanic. He left the technical support station without any
reason, preferring breeding and sale of hamsters. His mother, Anjela
Harutiunian – a teacher of French, is also unemployed and earned her
living by the sale of disposable napkins. The neighbors testify that
despite their destitution, they never applied for help to anyone. For
instance, unable to pay for the elevator, they did not use it though
the neighbors kindly asked them to. Such was the living of this family
whose main provider, Harutiunian’s father, passed away over 20 years
ago.
What is it – `Herostratus Complex’, impact of the books on a `definite
topic’ or a burst of personal indignation accumulated for the past
years? Is there any connection with other people or organizations
inside or outside the country? There are still quite few suppositions
voiced. The version about enraged `lonely wolf’ is not very
popular. In particular, Chairman of Parliamentary Committee on Defense
and Security Givi Targmadze thinks, `the track might lead to Russia or
any other state. A similar opinion, promoted by the inertia of
thinking, was expressed by a couple of experts. However, if
Harutiunian had qualified instructors, the grenade should have
exploded but it failed to. As Minister of Interior Vano Merabishvili
stated, one of the main reasons is that the hand grenade of Degtyarev
`was wrapped in a handkerchief’. Another reason, according to the
preliminary conclusion of military technical experts, might be the low
quality of the grenade, which appeared to be `made in Armenia’, as
they asserted. Armenian Defense Minister gave a quick response,
explaining that the military industrial complex of the country does
not produce grenades of this type. Apparently, this statement will be
repeated by Armenian Prime Minister, Andranik Margarian, planning an
unofficial visit to Georgia this weekend. According to some data, he
intends to raise the issue of `Armenian terrorist’ at the meetings
with a Georgian colleague Zurab Nogaideli and President Mikhail
Sahakashvili…
Just to remind, prior to Vladimir Harutiunian’s birth, many future
celebrities lived among Tbilisi Armenians: composer Aram Khachatrian,
astrophysicist Victor Hambartsumian, chansonnier Charles Aznavour,
world chess champion Tigran Petrossian, movie director Sergey
Parajanov and other famous people. Nevertheless, the fact remains that
Vova Harutiunian committed a crime impossible to be forgiven.
}
NB: Dear readers, the next MediaDialogue update will be made in early
September.
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