Author: Hovhannisian John

SOUTH CAUCASUS NEEDS "HELSINKI-TYPE" SECURITY CONFERENCE
Leyla Tagiyeva

news.az
Nov 24 2009
Azerbaijan

Alexandros Petersen News.Az interviews Alexandros Petersen, Dinu
Patriciu fellow for Transatlantic Energy Security and associate
director of the Eurasia Energy Centre at US think-tank the Atlantic
Council.

How do you see the state of the Karabakh conflict settlement process,
considering recent events?

There is no doubt that the Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan
and Armenia is not only of bilateral but also of regional concern,
since Turkey is now normalizing relations with Armenia which affects
the situation. Russia is involved in the process, supplying Armenia
with money and arms. Moreover, this assistance is provided at the
diplomatic level. We should not forget Iran either.

Another factor that makes the conflict of international concern is
the interest of the superpowers, primarily, the United States, the
transatlantic community and the EU in its resolution.

We should also realize that not only the West but also the East –
the countries from the other side of the Caspian Sea and further to
the East – are interested in the settlement.

Azerbaijani authorities call the conflict a threat not only to regional
but also international security. Do you agree with this?

Yes, this conflict is a hindrance to the East-West transportation
corridor from Asia to Europe. So there is no doubt that this
is an international conflict. To be honest, it should not be
viewed as a purely regional problem. It is odd that despite the
international importance of this problem, little is being done to
achieve a settlement, at least by the countries that call themselves
"superpowers". I think Russia plays a big role here, hampering progress
on the part of the Minsk Group, but there are other reasons too.

What changes are needed to make the superpowers take effective measures
to settle the conflict?

There are several important aspects here. First of all, we should
step up the work of the Minsk Group, especially the United States and
France. Moreover, we should let Turkey become active in the process
as a Minsk Group member and a country that plays an important role,
especially in relations with Armenia. I think these three powers –
the United States, France and Turkey – should put consolidated pressure
on Russia to play a constructive role in the Minsk process.

But Russia has repeatedly proposed several initiatives on settlement of
the problem, in particular, promoting meetings between the presidents.

Yes, in recent years we have seen Russia playing a leading role here
by promoting high level meetings, including between the presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia without involving other Minsk Group co-chairs.

Yet, in the current situation, Russia’s attempts to become the only
arbiter in the conflict settlement are counterproductive. Therefore,
we should strengthen the Minsk process and put pressure on Russia
not to replace this process.

There is another aspect related to the medium and long-term. In order
to achieve a settlement of the conflict, regional integration and
cooperation between the three states in the South Caucasus, a kind of
a conference on regional security based on the Helsinki process needs
to be created. I think by doing this we would achieve settlement not
only of the Karabakh problem but also the South Ossetian and Abkhaz
conflicts, thereby promoting the interests of all the aforementioned
superpowers.

DANGER IN THE CAUCASUS

The Daily Telegraph
November 23, 2009 Monday
London

Nagorno-Karabakh is the Schleswig-Holstein question of our day. Of
that 19th-century conflict Lord Palmerston said that only three men
in Europe had ever understood it; one was dead, the second became mad
and the third was himself, and he had forgotten it. Nagorno-Karabakh,
a territory within Azerbaijan but with a largely Armenian population,
made the news in the early 1990s when Azerbaijan and Armenia waged a
bloody war over it as the Soviet Union was breaking up. Since then,
the enclave has slid from public consciousness, at least in the West,
as one of those intractable problems that bedevil the Caucasus. That
neglect, however, has not deterred diplomacy. Yesterday the presidents
of the two republics met in Munich; France, America and Russia are
mediating under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe.

Their talks have been given added momentum by a rapprochement between
Turkey and Armenia, a historic move given the long shadow cast by the
Ottoman massacres of Armenians between 1915 and 1917. But Ankara has
said that the re-opening of their common border and the establishment
of diplomatic relations depend on progress over Nagorno-Karabakh. The
Schleswig-Holstein question led to three wars, the last, when Prussia
seized control from Austria, the first of Bismarck’s campaigns to
unify Germany through "iron and blood". The future of Nagorno-Karabakh
carries serious implications for Turkey’s role in the Caucasus, and,
by extension, its bid for EU membership, for the supply of oil and
gas to the West, and for Armenia’s crippled economy.

Finding a solution, based on Armenia’s ceding of territory in exchange
for an eventual referendum on the enclave’s status, is daunting. But
the stakes, in an area of great strategic importance, are high.

POSSIBILITY OF A NEW WAR IN KARABAKH IS MINIMAL

news.az
Nov 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Stanislav Chernyavski News.Az interview with Stanislav Chernyavski,
chief of the Center of Post-Soviet Studies under MGIMO.

What do you think is the main problem in the resolution of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict?

I would like to speak of the prehistory. In late 1993 Azeri troops
started successful attack at all fronts. The attack failed in January
1994. In March Russia offered its mediatory services. An oral agreement
on ceasefire was reached in Bishkek on 12 May 1994 just after Heydar
Aliyev’s visit to Great Britain where he expected London to support
Azerbaijan. But it did not happen. The sides concluded an agreement on
ceasefire that was not confirmed in any document. After it, the case
was transferred to the OSCE’s Minsk Group. The CIS interparliamentary
assembly ceased to be a mediator and Russia ceased to be the only
mediator. In the result, the talks came to a deadlock.

Does it mean that today the success in negotiations depends on mutual
understanding between Russia and the United States?

No I do not think so. Primarily, it depends on mutual understanding
between the ruling elites of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Meanwhile, Baku continues voicing dissatisfaction with the mediators’
position saying ‘Agree yourself and we will support any agreement’. If
the parties could agree, they would have done this without mediators.

This was especially stated by chief of department of foreign ties
under presidential administration Novruz Mammadov at a conference on
security in the South Caucasus held in Baku.

Novruz Mammadov, whom I respect greatly, has more ground to say so.

But I have no such grounds.

How did last year’s war in Georgia influence the Karabakh settlement:
has it been a stimulus or complicated it?

It has no influence at all. I, like everyone in Russia, regret much
about the conflict with Georgia. But this paradoxical situation was
inevitable. On the one hand, there were too many people with Russian
passports in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Russia was responsible
for them. On the other hand, attacks on peacekeepers occurred. When
Georgian started to kill people, Russia had no other way out. It was
obliged to take steps. Thus, Russia did not intend to attack Georgia.

I am not a president but I can guarantee this. We were not going
to attack.

Is the resumption of war in Karabakh possible?

It is difficult to say. I think the possibility of a new war is
minimal, if not zero.

There is an opinion that the keys to the Karabakh conflict lie in
the Kremlin.

I do not agree with this. The post-Soviet elites are so powerful
now that they settle all their national, international and interstate
issues independently. And no elite would make concessions contradicting
to its sovereignty for the sake of any other state. This is a matter of
Azerbaijanis and Armenians. I think both parties should involve their
diasporas more actively. Both Diasporas are strong, they should be
involved, they should realize that both countries will have economic
benefits from reconciliation. Population will benefit and settlement
of most social issues will be facilitated. Both countries and the
whole region will benefit and it is incorrect to say that the keys
to the settlement lie only in Moscow or in Washington.

Karabkh war hero Leonid Azgaldyan would this year celebrate his 67th
birth anniversary
21.11.2009 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On November 20, 2009, hero of Karabakh liberation
war Leonid Azgaldyan would celebrate his 67th birhday. In 1960, he
entered Moscow Lomonosov University, Department of Physics. Later, he
continued his education in Yerevan State University, receiving the
qualification of radio-physicist.

>From the very first days of Karabakh movement, Azgaldyan was involved
in national-liberation war. Since February 1990, he took command of
Independence Army, organizing self-defense operations in several
settlements, particularly, Vardenis, and fighting in the first line
during Nuvadi battles. Totally devoting himself to Karabakh liberation
war, Azgaldyan fought in Getashen, Shahumyan and Martakert. In June
1991, he created `Liberation Army’ military organization, and was its
Commander-in-Chief till the end of his life.

Leonid Azgaldyan died on June 21, 1992 in Martakert region, on the
outskirts of Tonashen village. He was posthumously awarded with
Armenian and NKR Military Cross First Degree Order.

ANDREI NESTERENKO RESPONDS TO EDWARD NALBANDIAN’S ACCUSATIONS

APA
Nov 20 2009
Azerbaijan

Moscow – APA. Director of the information and press department of the
Russian foreign ministry Andrei Nesterenko responded the accusations
by Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian, APA reports. "Moscow
doesn’t pass over the sensation made by some Armenian press agencies
around the statement of Russian foreign ministry official on November
17. Armenian newspapers said that Moscow supposedly changed its
position and was linking the processes of the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and Turkish-Armenian rapprochement now. This is
misunderstanding. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov made a number
of statements about the Moscow’s position. It remains unchangeable.

The question is about two different processes", said Nesterenko.

He said Russia positively appreciated the documents signed between
Turkey and Armenia. "We believe that friendly neighbor relations
between Armenia and Turkey will have objective effect on enhancing
of peace security in the South Caucasus. Regarding the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, despite existing discords, the sides achieved
certain progress toward the agreement on basic principles of the
settlement process. We see our role in this process in promoting of its
development, assisting the sides to reach common denominator, but we
don’t forcibly suggest any solution recipe to the conflicting parties.

Our position is based on that the Azerbaijanis and Armenians are
responsible to make last choice. Russia is ready to support any
solution option acceptable by all sides and to play a role of guarantor
for the settlement in the case of compromise agreement".

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN DOESN’T CONTEND FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL POST

Aysor
Nov 18 2009
Armenia

"The information spread by media outlets some of these days, in
particular, by Haykakan Zhamanak paper and Azerbaijani Day.az web-site,
that Secretary of the National Security Council, Arthur Baghdasaryan,
will be appointed as Armenia’s Attorney General in place of Aghvan
Hovsepyian, is false," said in statement released by NSC’s spokeswoman,
Gayane Gasparyan.

"This is completely absurd information. Arthur Baghdasaryan holds one
of four highest offices in Armenia, so, sure, doesn’t put in lower
in rank," she said.

A STATE HEADQUARTER ESTABLISHED IN ARTSAKH TO CONDUCT THE REGULAR NATIONAL MONEY GATHERING OF "HAYASTAN" ALL-ARMENIAN FUND IN AN EFFICIENT WAY

ARMENPRESS
Nov 17, 2009

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: A state headquarter has been
established in Artsakh for conducting the regular national money
gathering of "Hayastan" all-Armenian fund in an efficient way, headed
by NKR Deputy Prime and Finance Minister Spartak Tevosyan.

Media and Information department of NKR government told Armenpress
that a consultation was held today, where a number of issues connected
with money gathering were discussed.

S. Tevosyan noted that there are already positive responses from
numerous Karabakh state, public and business institutions and
individuals, who have expressed readiness to actively participate in
money gathering. A decision has been adopted at the consultation to
address a relevant application to Artsakh population.

The money gathered as a result of all-Armenian donation will be
extended for the reconstruction of Shushi town.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SIGNED THE LAW "ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR POWER BLOCK"

ARKA
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 17. /ARKA/. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan
signed the law "On construction of new nuclear power block (blocks)".

The law adopted by National Assembly of Armenia on October 27 envisages
opportunity of construction of new nuclear power defines the main
requirements of the construction space and security, construction and
exploitation of the block (blocks), liabilities of the Government of
Armenia and outreach of population.

For the construction of nuclear power block in Armenia about $4-5
billion is needed. The cost of construction depends on the capacity of
power block and will be known after finalization of construction works.

Armen Movsisyan, Minister of Energy of Armenia said that in case of
right organization of preparation process and construction of new
power block with capacity of 1-1.2 thousand MVt, there will not be
any problem with funding.

All preliminary studies showed that the most optimal option is
construction of new power block (blocks) on the basis of functioning
Armenian Nuclear Power Station. Moreover, its capacity is 400 MVt
when the space of the station envisages exploitation of the block
with the capacity of 1.2 thousand MVt.

The operating Armenian Nuclear Power Station is located near the city
Metsamor (approximately 20-30 km to South from Yerevan). The station
is functioning since 1976.

ARMENIAN MEDIA: THE NEXT MEETING OF AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS WILL BE HELD IN MUNICH

APA
Nov 16 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. The next meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan may be held in
Munich, APA reports quoting Armenia’s news.am website.

news.am reports that OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs visit the region this
week to organize the meeting.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov had said the presidents’
next meeting would be held in a European city, the date and place of
the visit would be known soon.

The minister said he had no information that the mediators would
visit the region again.

GOVERNMENT TO SUPERVISE QUALITY OF WATER IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-11-16 11:56:00

ArmInfo. Parliament of Armenia has amended the Law On National Water
Program in the first reading on Monday.

Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia Aram Haroutiunyan says quality
of water in Armenia needs improvement. This amendment aims to prevent
pollution of water resources and improvement of water quality in the
country. The Government of Armenia and not Standardization Department
will set the water quality norms.