Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Fire Flares over Frozen Conflicts in the Caucasus

De Volkskrant
Dutch daily newspaper

11 March 2008

By our correspondent Arnout Brouwers

Background
Brussels and Washington are worried about increasing tensions in
Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia and Abkhazia
The independence of Kosovo opens ³the Pandora box² on the Caucasus

MOSCOW – Officially, it has nothing to do with the independence of Kosovo,
but the turmoil that has broken out in the ³Frozen conflicts² in the
Caucasus is watched with great worry by Brussels and Washington.

It began last week on the borders between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh,
the Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, which after the bloody fighting in the
nineties, now claims to be independent. The clashes were the worst since
many years. Western delegates hurried there to ask both parties to respect
the cease fire. They got that promise, but only after Azerbaijan had
threatened to solve the conflict "by means of force".

Then, Thursday, Russia poured oil on the fire of another smouldering
conflict by lifting ³all commercial restriction² in her trade with Abkhazia.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia are separatist regions in Georgia which are
propped up by Russian help. Georgia called it an ³extremely dangerous
provocation².

Russia has always warned that the independence of Kosovo will open ³the
Pandora box². Abkhazia and South Ossetia called on the international
community this week to recognize their independence. Moscow, however, did
not want to go this far.

The restoration of the full economic relations, which practically are
closely-knit, is an intermediate step that serves Russia¹s own interests.
Russia is going to organize the 2014 Olympic Winter games in Sochi, a city
that lies near the border with Abkhazia. By the decision taken this week,
Abkhazia can be brought in to assist in the construction of Olympic
facilities. According to Georgia, this will open the door to delivery of
weapons to Abkhazian separatists and to the strengthening of Russian
presence in Abkhazia.

While the Georgian ³frozen conflicts² were being heated up, the western
delegations were busy quelling the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis. Matthew Bryza of
America and Simmons of NATO, turned up there quickly to hold parties back
>From new ³large-scale incidents². Also the British John Prescott flew to
Armenia on behalf of the Council of Europe in connection with the state of
emergency that has been put in force after the government last week made a
bloody end to the protests by the opposition.

It appears that due to the tension in the Caucasus, the Western Real-politic
is winning over the promotion of democracy. In January, the western
countries endorsed the re-election of Sahakashvili in Georgia despite
indications pointing to election fraud. Likewise, after heavy-handed ending
of the demonstrations in Armenia, it was conspicuously silent on the western
front.

The demonstrations had been organized by the opposition to protest against
election fraud that brought Kocharian’s ally to power. Western observers
mentioned irregularities; nonetheless they endorsed the outcome of
elections.

³Armenia is such a rare case where the western and the Russian observers
share the same opinion, a Ukrainian commentator wrote. He also affirmed that
the time for colour revolutions (nick name for popular street revolutions in
Ukraine and Georgia in 2003) seemed to be over.

While the state of emergency is still in force in Armenia and many
opposition politicians have been arrested, Sahakashvili called on the
Georgian opposition to unity because of the existence of foreign threat. The
opposition went, instead, to the streets in protest against his ³falsified²
victory and the leaders of the opposition went on hunger strike.

Next to possible Russian intrigues, it is thus mainly the internal tensions
in Armenia and Georgia that explain why western delegations flew out like a
swarm of bees to the Caucasus. After all, Kosovo, as is heard officially,
has to remain "a unique case".
From: Baghdasarian

KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE ENCOURAGES POST-SOVIET FORMATIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.03.2008 14:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Azeri leaders have reiterated readiness to restore
the territorial integrity of their country by any means, including
the use of force. According to surveys, about 60 per cent of the
population share this opinion," said Sergei Markedonov, the head
of the interethnic relations department at Moscow’s Institute of
Political and Military Analysis.

"Ilham Aliyev said his country is ready to fight to a successful
end. Although it would be wrong to assert that Baku is ready for
incursion in fortified Karabakh. Azerbaijan is facing presidential
election in autumn. Victims and casualties can boomerang against the
political elite. We should understand that patriotic rhetoric and
real action are different things. In this respect, existence of a
"protocol of Baku’s wise men" on offensive against Karabakh in view
of domestic crisis in Armenia seems rather doubtful," he said.

"Who is to blame for ceasefire violations at the line of contact? The
Armenian and Azeri publics are turned on. It’s specifically vivid in
Azerbaijan, which has not resigned itself to the defeat of 1994 so
far. The popularity of revenge grows and each spark may cause great
fire," he said.

"Under the circumstances, proclamation of Kosovo’s independence
can provoke conflict but not promote peace. However, if the factor
of force has become the major in Balkans, the same may happen in the
South Caucasus where traditions of political violence has struck roots
as deeply as in Europe," Mr Markedonov resumed, Politcom.ru reports
From: Baghdasarian

Abkhazia appeals to world organizations over independence

07.03.2008, 14.45

SUKHUMI, March 7 (Itar-Tass) – The parliament of Georgia’s breakaway
republic of Abkhazia on Friday appealed to the Russian upper and lower
houses of parliament as well as the United Nations, international
organizations and countries of the world to recognize its independence.

Appeals were approved on Friday at an extraordinary session of the
People’s Assembly (parliament).

The parliament noted that the process of the establishment of an
independent democratic state of Abkhazia and its independence are
irreversible. The gaining of state independence `has deep and objective
historical preconditions and is a political manifestation of the
achieved level of national consolidation as well as social, economic
and cultural development of the Abkhazian nation,’ the appeal said.

The people of Abkhazia see that it is `only within the framework of an
independent state’ that the republic can develop further, maximally
ensure its needs and strategically guarantee its national security, it
emphasized.

`In connection with the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by many
states of the West, the geopolitical situation has changed to a great
extent, and favourable preconditions have developed for the recognition
of a state independence of the Republic of Abkhazia,’ it added.

The appeal stressed that `the parliament and people of Abkhazia highly
appreciate the role of Russia as the main guarantor of peace and
security in the region’.

The document also referred to `the fundamental principle of the right
of nations to self-determination’, `historical realities of the
establishment and development of Abkhazian statehood’, as well as noted
`an exceptional role of Russia in the fate of the Abkhazian people,’
`fraternal ties and close historical relations between the people of
Abkhazia and the peoples of the Russian Federation’.
From: Baghdasarian

Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS Military Newswire
March 6, 2008 Thursday

AZERBAIJAN INTERESTED IN RESUMING TALKS OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH …

Azerbaijan is interested in the soonest possible resumption of
negotiations with Armenia on the resolution of the conflict over
Nagorno- Karabakh, said Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

"I support the sooner resumption of peace talks. It is very important
for us to resolve this issue quickly, because the Azeri leadership
cannot accept the situation in which Azeri land is occupied,"
Mammadyarov told journalists on Thursday.

Commenting on an armed clash between Azeri and Armenian forces on
March 4, Mammadyarov described the incident as "provocation on the
part of Armenia, which resorted to it because of the political
situation at home."

Mammadyarov said he met with OSCE chairman-in-office’s personal
representative Andrzej Kasprzyk to discuss the incident on Wednesday.

Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev also met with both Kasprzyk and
U.S.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairman Matthew Bryza.

However, Mammadyarov said he did not expect the negotiations to
proceed easily. "It is difficult to expect a constructive approach
from Armenia. The latest events showed that it is hard to talk about
any constructiveness."
From: Baghdasarian

PanARMENIAN.Net

Sargsyan: like U.S, authorities of Armenia will keep on combating extremists
07.03.2008 13:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan received
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair
Matthew Bryza. The meeting was attended by U.S. Charge d’Affaires in
Armenia Joseph Pennington and Embassy Adviser on Political and
Economic Issues Steven Banks, the RA government’s press office
reported.

With reference to the post-election situation in Armenia, the parties
have touched upon the ways out of it. They have also discussed the
efforts for averting ceasefire breaches like the one that occurred on
March 4 in the contact line between the NKR and Azerbaijan and the
issue of the Armenian-Turkish relationship settlement.

In presenting the objectives behind his visit, Mr. Bryza said that he
had a mission on the part of the U.S. Secretary of State to get a
first-hand view of the situation at hand by meeting representatives of
different sides, as well as to forward specific messages. Mr. Bryza
further advised that before this meeting he was able to hear on TV the
Prime Minister’s constructive remarks made at today’s cabinet session
and was very pleased with the highlights of his statement. "This is
just what I expected to hear from you at this meeting, but to my
satisfaction you have already voiced them," Mr. Bryza said.

According to him, it is time to ease the current tension, anyone
should show great sense of responsibility by realizing that Armenia
must recover those assets gained before this situation. Speaking about
the state of emergency, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
mentioned that it cannot last endlessly and now efforts have to be
made towards this end. Matthew Bryza agreed with the prime minister in
that the state of emergency is really an instrument that helps ease
tensions and direct processes towards a natural course. He stressed
that it is impossible to move along the path of democracy unless there
is law and order in the country.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that the statement made at today’s session was
not an extraordinary one. `I said what I used to say for the past few
months. He stressed that work should be continued with those desirous
of cooperating with the authorities. He further mentioned that either
those who do not want to do so are Armenian citizens and may think
anything within the bounds of law, but if they commit offences they
must answer for their deeds before the law. He went on to note that,
like the United States, the authorities of Armenia will keep on
fighting against extremists. According to the Prime Minister,
objectively formulated and unbiased estimates must be issued on all
sides if the situation is to be stabilized. "I deem we have still much
to do and will of course strive for stabilizing the situation in the
country and continuing reforms. I am confident in success. All we need
at this point is public order," Serzh Sargsyan said.

During the meeting, Mr Bryza said he had had the opportunity of
knowing better Serzh Sargsyan by discussing with him questions high on
the bilateral agenda. "You are a special leader. We support you in
principle. The U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Armenia and I believe that
you have the kind of vision and approaches that we want to see in the
implementation of joint programs. We want you to succeed and we want
Armenia to succeed," he said.
From: Baghdasarian

PanARMENIAN.Net

Unsuccessful blitzkrieg or strength trial?

The Turkish sudden actions gave birth to a number of questions among
which the most important one is whether or not Iraq is a sovereign
state. If yes, which were Turkey’s grounds for invasion of the
territory of the independent state?

04.03.2008 GMT+04:00

The Turkish army’s actions in Northern Iraq obviously didn’t bring the
anticipated results. The negative reaction from the part of the USA
followed it immediately. In fact, the Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates demanded that the Turkish troops are withdrawn from the regions
of Northern Iraq. The Turkish Joint Staff had to justify itself
mentioning that "the blood of a Turkish soldier is more valuable than
the military operation." It is clear, that the Kurdistan Workers Party
is a trouble not for Turkey and Iraq only, but also for Kurdistan
itself. In any case, this is what the Prime Minister of Kurdistan
Nechirvan Barzani attempts to show.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ He called the PKK to signing an armistice, saying
that for the regional government of Kurdistan it is not acceptable
that offensives on neighboring countries are held from the territory
of Iraqi Kurdistan. Together with this Barzani is certain that the
USA’s behavior was not appropriate. "We think that it was a big
mistake from the part of the USA to have allowed Turkey to invade and
bombard the territory of Kurdistan. It wasn’t supposed to happen." He
also touched upon the issue of Turkish military bases, and mentioned
that the Kurds, together with Baghdad will put the question of their
withdrawal.

The Turkish sudden actions gave birth to a number of questions among
which the most important one is whether or not Iraq is a sovereign
state. If yes, which were Turkey’s grounds for invasion of the
territory of the independent state? If no, then the USA carries all
the responsibility for the lack of adequate reaction on such a
unfriendly action from the part of its Turkish allies.

The next question is: Why did the Turkish authorities choose this
exact period for carrying such a wide-raging operation against the
Kurds. The Kurdish troops are situated in the mountainous areas, and
these areas are very difficult to access both from air or land either
in summer or in winter, when the mountains of Kurdistan are all
covered with snow and the roads are closed. Things are more or less
clearer here – "little victorious war" is needed for "concealing" the
inner political crisis in the Turkish society and the gaps caused by
the expansion of the relations between the Turkish troops, political
groups and public powers on the one hand, and between the current and
other authorities on the other.

There are big disagreements between the militants, who have been the
guarantee of the secular way of Turkey’s development since the times
of Kemal Ataturk and the Turkish government with its pro-Islamic
traits, trying to fasten the Islamic values in the country. The local
war is necessary for the Turkish Islamists to distract the attention
of the Turkish society from the creeping Islamification for political
survival and blaming the nation’s resentments on the Kurds.

According to experts, the government of Recep Erdoghan may have the
opposite results. After Turkey’s recognition of the independence of
Kosovo and the continuation of the Turkish offensives in Iraqi
Kurdistan which causes the sufferings of the majority of the
population, the answer to the Turkish actions may become the
declaration of the independence of the territory of Iraqi
Kurdistan. And if for the official Ankara the Kurdish rebels are taken
for terrorists, the Kurdish party they are the symbol of the national
aspiration, assertion for political and cultural rights of the great
nation, which is separated by the historical injustice with four
borders.

It must be mentioned, that with the demand of several political
groups, in the European Parliament on March 3-4 a conference is being
held with the title of "The Destiny of the Kurdish Problem in Northern
Kurdistan". The importance of this conference is undeniable, since
Turkey is not standing on the threshold of big changes, also
constitutional changes. The conference is organized with the
initiative of five groups: the socialists, liberal, greens, "Democrats
for Europe", and "Free Europe". Famous political figures and
parliamentarians from Turkey and Europe, as well as Turkish
journalists are invited to participate in the conference.

«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department
From: Baghdasarian

DISORDER BEING LED FROM ONE CENTER
lilit poghosyan

Hayots Ashkhar
March 05, 2008

Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan convened a press conference
yesterday to sum up the consequences of the mass disorder provoked
in the center of Yerevan on March 1.

Estimating this unprecedented act of vandalism as not proper
to our people, as a "terrible phenomenon, horrible incident" the
Prosecutor General recorded: " Legally what happened on March 1-2 was
a grave crime. And criminal cases have already been instituted. By
my instruction the cases are united in one procedure. Inspectors of
special investigation service are realizing the inquest, investigators
from all the departments are involved: around 50 inspectors from
the National Security, the Police, Tax Agency, as well as Defense
Ministry."

According to the latest data, 8 people have died (from which one
is a police officer) due to the mass disorder. 48 citizens and 117
policemen have been injured. Their life is out of danger. 1055 iron
sticks, cudgels and special arms to cause bodily injuries, guns,
150 liter fuel and 62 bottles with fuses, prepared to start fires,
have been found in the scene of action.

The people who live in the apartments where the shops were ruined and
robbed by the slaughterers were located, as A. Hovsepyan stated, were
terrified, because these houses were built in 30-ies, 40-ies and they
have wooden ceilings and in case of fire it would have been impossible
to put it out, as in case of the building of the Ministry of Justice.

"The inquest is in process. All the evidences, all the statements
and facts are being thoroughly checked." The Prosecutor stated and
also said that the volume of the criminal cases linked with the mass
disorder was unprecedented and requires: " a large-scale investigation
activity, examination, numerous questionings, confrontations and only
due to all this can we draw final conclusions. "

Whereas yesterday, during the discussion of the petition submitted by
the Prosecutor General regarding the arrest of the 4 MPs, certain MPs
demanded from the Prosecutor to give concrete details regarding the
illegal acts. By the way two of the before mentioned MPs, Kh. Sukiasyan
and Sasun Mikaelyan are hidden.

According to A. Hovsepyan the latter: "Managed to hide very swiftly
and successfully and the searching activities haven’t shown any good
results by now.

Regarding the rumors about the "missing ones" A. Hovsepyan said:
" It is a fabrication. The police haven’t received any application
about the "missing ones". Those who make similar announcements must
first of all ask me."

The Prosecutor General partially opened the brackets, saying that
the mass disorder was being led by one center. It is obvious. We
have many testimonies, according to which those who were delivering
speeches said one thing and did quite another thing in a hidden
manner. They instructed them to be armed with cudgels, iron sticks,
and guns. Why? Why were they armed with special things to cause bodily
injuries? To whom and for what?"

Moreover there are testimonies that many of them came for robbery:
"They were invited there to rob the shops. They have even promised them
different posts. We have even testimonies that their leaders said they
are going to take power at any price. And this price we already saw."

A. Hovsepyan said it was due to the controlled, clever activity of
the law enforcement agencies that they managed to avert: " fires
through the whole city, uncontrolled activities in the streets,
which would have created favorable conditions for the organizers."

As regards the activity of the law enforcement bodies, that caused
death the Prosecutor said: "it was due to the extreme necessity for
protection" in such cases the person is free from criminal liability.

We must add that, according to the decree of the Prosecutor General
a special group of prosecutors has been formed, which is authorized
to directly control and realize judicial leadership on the activity
of the inquest bodies. The members of this group will appear as
prosecutors defending the charge.
From: Baghdasarian

US CONCERNED ABOUT FIGHTING IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH
By David Gollust

Voice of America
March 5 2008

The United States Wednesday expressed concern about this week’s
outbreak of fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian soldiers
near the disputed Armenian-held territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. A
senior U.S. envoy is in the region discussing the issue with Azeri
and Armenian officials. VOA’s David Gollust reports from the State
Department.

The Nagorno-Karabakh fighting is described as the most serious of
its kind in several years and it has prompted an appeal for restraint
from the State Department, which says there is no military solution
to the issue.

Azerbaijan and Armenia are blaming each other for the clash, which
broke out Tuesday along the cease-fire line in the disputed region,
and reportedly killed four Azerbaijani and 12 Armenian soldiers.

Officials said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs
Matthew Bryza – ordered to the region earlier this week because of
post-election political unrest in Armenia – has also been discussing
Nagorno-Karabakh with the two parties.

Tom Casey (file photo) In a talk with reporters, State Department
deputy spokesman Tom Casey said the United States is concerned by
the violence and wants to see that Tuesday’s incident is not repeated:

"Clearly all this does is show the need for the parties to engage
with the Minsk Group chairs, and work on resolving this conflict,"
said Tom Casey. "I know it’s one that’s been out there for a long time,
but there is absolutely no military solution to this issue.

It’s one that has to be dealt with through a diplomatic process."

Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic-Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, declared
independence in 1988, triggering a six-year conflict that claimed
35,000 lives.

The Minsk Group, chaired by France, Russia and the United States,
was created in 1992 and since then has been leading diplomatic efforts
to settle the conflict.

Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of taking advantage of its election
crisis to foment the latest trouble.

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, alleges that militant ethnic-Armenians in
Nagorno-Karbakh have been encouraged by international recognition of
Serbia’s breakaway former province, Kosovo.

Asked about that comparison, State Department spokesman Casey said
majority-ethnic Albanian Kosovo, a scene of ethnic cleansing by Serb
forces a decade ago, was a unique situation:

"Its status was managed under a specific U.N. Security Council
resolution, with an understanding in that resolution that final
status was something that was going to be decided by the international
community at an appropriate time," he said. "And that’s where we are
now. Kosovo is not a precedent and should be seen as a precedent for
any other place out there in the world. It certainly isn’t a precedent
for Nagorno-Karabakh."

Casey said U.S. envoy Bryza began his mission in Baku with talks with
Azerbaijani officials and was due in the Armenian capital Yerevan
on Friday. He said Bryza has already discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh
situation in a telephone call to Armenia’s foreign minister, Vardan
Oskanian.
From: Baghdasarian

NAGORNO-KARABAKH HAS NO "ROAD MAP"
by Yury Simonyan

DEFENSE and SECURITY
March 3, 2008 Monday
Russia

The main task for the unrecognized republics is self-identification

INTERVIEW OF FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH REPUBLIC
GEORGY PETROSYAN; Recognition of the independence of Kosovo served
as a signal for the self-declared republics on the territory of the
former USSR. Foreign Minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, Georgy Petrosyan, spoke about the possible consequences of
such important international event.

Recognition of the independence of Kosovo served as a signal for the
self-declared republics on the territory of the former USSR. Foreign
Minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Georgy
Petrosyan, spoke about the possible consequences of such important
international event.

Question: The US played a huge role in the recognition of Kosovo.

Along with this, if we focus our attention we can see a clear original
"road map." Does Stepanakert have something like this?

Petrosyan: There are significant differences between Kosovo and
Stepanakert. The similarity is only in the legal field. The "road map"
for Kosovo was developed by an actor from the outside. The fate of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is in our own hands. The negotiation
process goes on without our participation and this is hardly correct.

This is a kind of nonsense to determine someone’s future without
asking them.

The task of development is actually formed for the authorities and
for the nation now. This is for development and not survival. For
this purpose, it is necessary to achieve the status of a free subject
and to be citizens. This is one of the main strategic goals set by
Nagorno-Karabakh for itself. It concerns both the nation and the
authorities.

Question: There is an impression that Nagorno-Karabakh is separated
from other unrecognized states of the post-Soviet space. The
Trans-Dniester Republic, Abkhazia and South Ossetia contact each
other actively and establish organizations and Nagorno-Karabakh is
somehow aside.

Petrosyan: Nagorno-Karabakh is an observer of these
processes. Along with this, we are in permanent contact with other
unrecognized states. Our representative is permanently present at
inter-parliamentary assemblies. However, each country chooses the
formats and a certain model suitable for it independently. In this
case our stance is the following: we do not give the communication
up at all but also do not act in a unified front.

Question: The topic of future of Nagorno-Karabakh grew important
lately. Will it be an independent unit or will it be within Armenia?

Petrosyan: My answer as a person and a minister is independence.

Question: Will there be two Armenian states?

Petrosyan: I do not find any discomfort in this. There are Arab
countries with common roots and there is Kosovo and Albania. An
inevitable question results: what is Armenia in this case? Armenia
is a recognized state that has all the necessary attributes and has
passed 15 years of independence. We consider Armenia a guarantee of
our security and independence but Nagorno-Karabakh is almost as old.

Question: As a rule, two principles are laid down in the
basis of conflict resolving, this is the right of a nation for
self-determination and territorial integrity. How can these two
principles be combined in the case of Nagorno-Karabakh?

Petrosyan: The terminology is often absurd. Let us start from what
we want. Do we want the elimination of a conflict, its resolving or
regulation? Despite the similarity these are different approaches. If
we move towards the elimination of a conflict we need to use one
kind of model, if we move towards resolving, we need to use another
model and if we move towards regulation this is like plastering a
growing crack. We need to end the conflict. This is actually the
problem of the negotiation process on Nagorno-Karabakh. We need to
seek approaches that take into account the Helsinki agreement, which
has ten equal principles. We do not need to try to unite them.

Question: How can this be done without a return of the Azerbaijani
refugees?

Petrosyan: I have a counter question: how can this be done without the
return of Armenian refugees. I would like to address this question
to the Azerbaijani party and to the intermediaries. We never set a
task of creating a ghetto on our territory.

Question: Is Armenian society prepared for this?

Petrosyan: We have no xenophobia but it is too early to speak about
readiness to start the process. Baku is not ready for this either.

Just recall the reaction to the trip of representatives of Azerbaijani
intellectuals together with Armenian cultural and scientific leaders
to Nagorno-Karabakh when the respectable people were exposed to
harsh critique.

Question: Can peace ever be established between Armenians and
Azerbaijanis?

Petrosyan: This is inevitable. Naturally, nobody can say when this
will happen but the current situation cannot last forever. It is
unnatural and contrary to human nature.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN PROMISE CEASE-FIRE

Associated Press
Wednesday March 5 2008 By DESMOND BUTLER

WASHINGTON (AP) – A U.S. official said Wednesday he has received
assurances from Armenia and Azerbaijan that they have returned to
a cease-fire along the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after
shooting broke out in recent days.

After meetings in Baku with officials including Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza is now
heading to Armenia to try to encourage talks between the government
and opposition figures who claim fraud in last month’s election.

Reached by telephone en route to Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, Bryza
said that he intends to deliver a stern message in Armenia about
recent violence between police and demonstrators that has left eight
people dead and more than 100 injured.

"We simply deplore the violence," he said. "That simply can’t be
repeated."

Bryza said he intends to press the government to lift a state of
emergency it declared Saturday and to ask both sides to move their
dispute from the streets to the negotiating table.

Demonstrators have been rallying for presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian, who has appealed to the country’s constitutional
court to overturn the results of the Feb. 19 election. Ter-Petrosian
finished a distant second to Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian in the
official results.

Western observers issued an overall positive assessment of the
election, but noted serious flaws, especially during the vote count.

The opposition says Sarkisian stole the election by resorting to
vote-buying, ballot stuffing and pressuring media to skew coverage
in his favor. Several opposition members said they were beaten on
election day to prevent them from monitoring the vote. The government
denies any wrongdoing.

After his meetings in Azerbaijan and a telephone call with Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on Tuesday, Bryza says he is satisfied
that tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh have subsided.

"Based on everyone I have talked to it is clear that the shooting
has stopped and the level of tension is decreasing," said Bryza,
who has been the chief U.S. mediator to end the conflict in the region.

Armenian and ethnic Armenian local forces drove the Azerbaijani army
out of Nagorno-Karabakh in one of the bloodiest conflicts of the
post-Soviet era.

Some 30,000 people were killed and about 1 million were forced from
their homes during six years of fighting that ended with the 1994
cease-fire.

Nagorno-Karabakh’s separatist ethnic Armenian government is not
recognized internationally, despite more than a decade of efforts by
foreign mediators led by the United States, Russia and France to help
reach a resolution.
From: Baghdasarian