Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part A (Russia)
December 13, 2004, Monday

THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE MUST BE EXTINGUISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

SOURCE: Expert, No. 46 (446), December 12, 2004, p. 36

by Oleg Khrabryi

Question: Over the past few years, the West has seen a great deal of
research and articles about Ukraine and Belarus. What led to this
flood? Might it have been a dress rehearsal for the events we are
witnessing now?

Robert Legvold: It would be a tragedy if people in Russia, or the
friends of Russia in Ukraine, interpreted these events as part of a
large-scale historical strategy by the West with the aim of
undermining Russian influence in the region or turning anyone against
Russia. Many people in Russia are probably already thinking that
someone in Brussels or Washington is organizing all these schemes and
“steering the process.” This is not the case. It s quite obvious that
organizations like George Soros’s Open Society Foundation have played
the key role in supporting the youth movements and other
non-governmental organizations in Georgia, leading to the collapse of
the Shevardnadze regime. With regard to Ukraine – and I can speak
about this with competence – the rallies there have not been a part
of preplanned efforts by any Western country, NATO or the European
Union.

After the “revolution of roses” in Georgia, many people in the West
including some governmental structures decided that it would inspire
other countries to move in a similar direction or at least will
encourage the governments of Central Asian and Caucasian countries
and probably Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus to think about the need for
greater openness and democracy. In reality the effect from the
“revolution of roses” was the opposite. It was taken as a negative
lesson. Askar Akaev, Emomali Rakhmonov and Islam Karimov took the
Georgian revolution as a threat to stability of their regimes and
started defending. Harsh measures against the opposition followed
immediately. Before Ukraine the only country that tried to follow the
example of Georgia was Armenia, where a part of opposition decided to
mobilize the people in the street for struggle against the
authorities in April 2004.

Question: Which conclusions did you make for yourself after the
Ukrainian events about relations between the West and Russia?

Robert Legvold: Interest of the West in Russia and Ukraine has a
deeper nature than the current disputes about legitimacy of victory
of this or that candidate at the elections. Unfortunately,
aggravation of interests occurred in the last few years. These are
interests of Europe and America on the one hand and Russia on the
other. This means that relations between the West and Russia started
having a nature of harsh confrontation and not cooperation. This
resulted in a situation when Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus turned into
the so-called “median lands.” I, as a researcher into these processes
at Ukrainian elections, was most of all astonished not because the
West indicated its candidate and Russia indicate a candidate of its
own but by the reasons why they did this. A real attitude of the
parties to each other was manifested in substantiation of this
choice. Russia backed Yanukovich because it considered Yushchenko a
puppet of the West, the European Union, NATO and America. The US and
Europe, permanently emphasizing their interest in openness of the
process and purity of elections, chose Yushchenko because Yanukovich
was not only considered a protege of Kuchma’s regime but was also
exposed to a strong influence of Moscow. Now everything stood on its
own place in relations between the West and Russia and this is a very
disheartening piece of news.

Along with this, destabilization of this region is not in the
interests of the West or Russia. Judging by my numerous conversations
with officials in Brussels, Kiev and Washington I can say that all my
interlocutors prefer taking into account the interests of Russia in
Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine. It is only necessary to create a
balance. What is happening now? Ukraine is rapidly moving to one side
and a dramatic conflict of interests has appeared. The theoretical
statements that are now extracted from Brzezinski’s books only
aggravate this dissent.

Question: What do you think Russia will lose in reality if the
revolution wins and Yushchenko becomes the president?

Robert Legvold: Many people in the West think that Yushchenko as the
president of Ukraine is not a bad guarantor for observance of
Russia’s interests in Ukraine. Being the prime minister he was
actively working on strengthening of economic ties with Russia. Yes,
he will not be very enthusiastic about the common economic space. It
is also true that he will start establishing closer relations with
the European Union and NATO but this is such a long process that it
does not pose an immediate threat to Russia’s interests. Moreover,
Ukraine will remain in technological dependence on Russia for a long
time.

Putin and his people make a big mistake believing that Yushchenko
will be too bad as a partner. After all, this false opinion made
Moscow interfere into the course of the election campaign. I talked
not only to Ukrainians but also to some Russian specialists. They
think that it was direct interference of Putin and his political
advisors that persuaded the people who had been neutral or skeptical
about both candidates that they had to vote for Yushchenko. Russia’s
role in this campaign was taken very negatively.

If the problem of legitimacy of Yushchenko is solved, I think that
his behavior will be similar to the behavior of Kuchma after he won
his first presidential elections in 1994, defeating Kravchuk.
Everyone was saying then that the new president would turn to the
West. But what was his first step? In October, right after the
elections, he went to Moscow and started establishing bilateral
relations. I believe that Yushchenko will do the same.

Question: Which consequences can this collision of interests in
Ukraine have for bilateral relations between Moscow and Washington?

Robert Legvold: Rivalry between the US and Russia in Eurasia arose in
the early 1990s during the presidency of Bill Clinton, when the
routes of pipelines from the Caspian region were only being
discussed. The rivalry grew worse during the presidency of Bush when
Ukraine started participating in the Partnership for Peace program.
This rivalry was permanently felt with regard to the Baltic republics
until they were not accepted to the European Union and NATO. After
September 11, Putin approved the American military operation in
Central Asia, accepted it, even despite the phobias dominating in the
Russian military establishment and also accepted deployment of
American special forces in Georgia. Russia is one of the few
countries that consider the struggle against terrorism a war. Europe
does not think so, Japan does not think so and many people do not
think so. In this sense Putin is probably one of the most reliable
partners.

He started projecting Russia’s influence primarily by economic tools
hinting to all regimes in the former CIS countries that Russia was a
better partner for them than America. In the US many members of the
Administration, at least at the level of experts, think that Central
Asia should be a place where we will cooperate with Russia. That is
why it is very important to extinguish the conflict in Ukraine as
soon as possible. This conflict could determine the future of our
relations in the most diverse regions. If Europe and US are drawn
into in harsher rivalry with Russia over Ukraine, we will feel a
negative impact from this everywhere, and primarily in Central Asia.

Translated by Pavel Pushkin

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
December 13, 2004, Monday
16:21:15 Central European Time

E.U. ministers leave key Turkish entry decisions for leaders

Brussels

European Union foreign ministers Monday failed to settle key details
of Turkey’s drive to join the 25-nation bloc, leaving E.U. leaders at
a summit on Dec. 16 and 17 to decide the date for opening the talks –
and set new conditions for Turkish accession.

The 25 foreign ministers continued to differ on a range of important
issues, including the critical question of whether leaders should
make a reference to a so-called “plan B” of offering Turkey a special
partnership instead of membership.

Germany remains adamant that the goal is to ensure Turkish accession
to the bloc, not forge special ties with Ankara, German Foreign
Minister Joschka Fischer told reporters.

“There was no discussion of a privileged partnership with Turkey,”
Fischer said.

Conservative politicians in Germany and France have stepped up
demands that E.U. leaders must offer Ankara a special relationship
rather than full-fledged entry.

But rejecting such a half-measure, Fischer insisted: “Our aim must be
Turkish accession.”

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, however, said Paris wanted
the summit statement to include a reference to a fall-back plan.

If negotiations with Turkey failed, E.U. leaders should make clear
that they were ready to preserve “strong links” between Turkey and
the E.U., Barnier said.

Reflecting a more cautious stance on Turkey being adopted by French
President Jacques Chirac, Barnier insisted that an E.U. decision to
open negotiations with Turkey did not guarantee that Ankara would
eventually join the bloc.

“Negotiations will be long, difficult and transparent…there will be
no shortcuts,” he warned.

Negotiations should only open in end-2005, the French Foreign
Minister said, adding that discussions would be subject to constant
monitoring and could be suspended at any time by either side.

France does not want its referendum on the new E.U. constitution set
for next summer to be complicated by public opposition to Turkish
accession. Barnier cautioned that the question of Turkey’s entry was
a source of great anxiety and unease in many parts of France.

The E.U. summit is expected to set additional conditions for Turkey,
including demands that Ankara must recognize the government of
(Greek) Cyprus and accept a permanent cap on labour migration.

Barnier said France would also ask Ankara during the negotiations to
recognise the “tragedy” of the Armenian genocide in the early years
of the last century.

Pointing to the geo-strategic importance of allowing Turkey to join
the E.U., Fischer said this was a guarantee for the modernisation and
“Europeanisation” of the country.

He added that a summit statement on just how and when Turkey must
recognise (Greek) Cyprus was still being worked out by the current
Dutch presidency of the E.U.

In separate comments made in Berlin, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter
Balkenende said Turkey must recognise Cyprus in the run-up to this
week’s E.U. summit.

“Turkey must understand that all member states say relations between
Turkey and Cyprus should change in the future,” said Balkenende,
after talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

The Turkish government has declined to give diplomatic recognition to
Cyprus which joined the E.U. earlier this year. Ankara only
recognizes the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Greek Cyprus is now part of the E.U. while Turkish Cyprus is not.
Balkenende said Turkey should approve a protocol extending its E.U.
customs union to Cyprus.

Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos has said such a move
would be a de facto recognition of Cyprus. The island’s government
could in theory, block the start of accession negotiations with
Ankara given that a E.U. decision must be unanimous.

Meanwhile, an opinion poll published in France’s Le Figaro newspaper,
said two of three French respondents and 55 per cent of Germans were
opposed to Ankara becoming an E.U. member.

On the other hand, people in Italy (49 per cent for, 24 per cent
against), Britain (41 per cent for, 30 per cent against) and
especially Spain (65 per cent for) said they were in favour of
Turkish E.U. membership. dpa si ms

Agence France Presse
10 décembre 2004 vendredi 9:52 AM GMT

UE: les ratés de l’intégration musulmane inquiètent l’opinion
publique (DOSSIER – SYNTHESE)

BERLIN

Les ratés de l’intégration des musulmans dans les sociétés
européennes accroissent encore le décalage entre des gouvernements
officiellement favorables à une entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union
européenne et une majorité de l’opinion qui l’appréhende
économiquement, socialement et culturellement.

L’assassinat par un islamiste du réalisateur Theo van Gogh aux
Pays-Bas a déclenché une prise de conscience dans de nombreux pays
européens de l’intégration insuffisante de la minorité musulmane.

La discussion est vive en France qui compte la plus forte communauté
musulmane d’Europe avec près de 5 millions de personnes. La majorité
de la classe politique et de l’opinion du pays, qui compte aussi
450.000 personnes d’origine arménienne, sont opposées à l’adhésion
turque. Le président Jacques Chirac s’y est toujours proclamé
favorable, alors que notamment son propre parti UMP s’est prononcé
contre.

Autres clivages profonds en Allemagne, qui compte près de 3,5
millions de musulmans, dont 2,8 de Turcs, où les troubles
interculturels aux Pays-Bas ont provoqué un débat sur le
“patriotisme”.

Le ministre de l’Intérieur Otto Schily a dénoncé le
“multi-culturalisme béat” des décennies passées. Le chancelier
Gerhard Schroeder a mis en garde contre les “sociétés parallèles” et
un “conflit des cultures”, demandant aux musulmans d’adhérer aux
“valeurs des Lumières” de la démocratie allemande.

Le gouvernement, qui soutient à fond une adhésion pleine de la
Turquie, veut persuader son opinion rétive de l’abîme séparant une
minorité extrémiste d’une majorité musulmane pacifique.

Aux Pays-Bas, réputés pour leur tolérance, l’affaire van Gogh a
suscité de véritables tensions intercommaunautaires. Une semaine
après le meurtre, 80% des Néerlandais espéraient un durcissement de
la politique d’intégration.

En Belgique, le débat sur l’intégration des musulmans s’est
radicalisé avec la montée en puissance en Flandre du Vlaams Blok,
parti d’extrême droite au discours xénophobe.

En Autriche, plus de 75% de la population est opposée à l’ouverture
de négociations avec Ankara.

En Grande-Bretagne, la tradition reste libérale à l’égard des 1,6
million de musulmans, mais la crainte du terrorisme islamiste a amené
les hommes politiques à leur demander de faire davantage pour
s’intégrer. Le ministère de l’Intérieur a relancé l’idée d’une loi
qui condamnerait l’incitation à la haine religieuse.

En Espagne, l’intégration des musulmans se pose sous l’effet conjugué
d’une poussée migratoire en provenance du Maghreb et du terrorisme
international. La xénophobie commence à se développer.

En Italie, le débat est surtout agité par la Ligue du Nord, populiste
et xénophobe. A propos de la Turquie, elle va à contre-courant des
positions du président du Conseil Silvio Berlusconi, de longue date
défenseur de son adhésion.

En Scandinavie, celle-ci fait surtout débat au Danemark, où elle est
plutôt mal vue. Le renforcement des lois sur l’immigration et
l’influence de l’extrême droite y traduisent un climat difficile dans
l’opinion vis à vis des musulmans.

Le facteur religieux joue un rôle dans ce débat. Dans l’entourage du
ministre français des Affaires étrangères Michel Barnier
reconnaissait que l’opposition en France “est fondalement due à des
questions de religion”.

Les Eglises, dépitées par l’absence de mention des racines
chrétiennes dans la Constitution de l’UE, alternent les appels au
respect mutuel et des remarques acerbes à l’égard des dignitaires
musulmans qu’ils accusent de non-réciprocité.

Putin casts doubt on Iraq polls, US combat deaths near 1,000

Agence France Presse
Dec 7 2004

12-07-2004, 19h57

Mehdi Fedouach – (AFP)

BAGHDAD (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin cast doubt over the
viability of holding elections as planned next month in an Iraq under
“total occupation”, as the number of US soldiers killed in combat
neared 1,000.

In the latest violence, assailants targeted the country’s minority
Christians by setting off explosions in two churches — one of them
Chaldean, the other Armenian — in the northern city of Mosul, but
without causing casualties.

“Each attack against a church pushes Christians to emigrate,” said
Faid Touma Hermez of the Chaldean Democratic Union. The insurgents
“want to erase any trace of the Christian presence in Iraq.”

In Baghdad, US soldier died after his patrol was ambushed, the
military said.

A total of 999 US military personnel have now been killed in action
in Iraq since the US-led invasion of the country in March 2003,
according to Pentagon statistics.

In other violence, an Iraqi entrepreneur working for US forces was
shot dead in his car near an American base in Samarra, north of the
capital, police said. Some 40 such killings have been carried out in
the region over two months.

“I cannot imagine how elections can be organized in conditions of
total occupation of the country by foreign troops,” Putin said as he
met Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi at the Kremlin.

“At the same time, I don’t understand how you alone can remedy the
situation in the country and prevent its disintegration,” he told
Allawi.

Putin noted, however, that Moscow had supported the UN Security Council
resolution calling for elections in Iraq to be held on January 30
and said Russia stood “ready to support your efforts to stabilise
the situation in the country”.

General John Abizaid, commander of US forces in the Gulf, said
American troops in Iraq could have a different role overall after
the elections, as their focus could shift away from combat and toward
training Iraqi forces.

“If the Iraqi security forces start to gel in terms of leadership and
seasoning in important areas around the country — which I think will
happen — then we can talk about reshaping our forces,” he told the
Washington Post.

But the general noted that, at the moment, the Iraqi troops “are
not as mature as they need to be for the security environment that’s
going to exist in the next several months.”

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, meanwhile, said the US-led
multinational forces should speed up their departure from Iraq by
training local troops more quickly.

Training Iraqis would provide an “exit strategy” for the foreign
troops, he told the British parliament.

In Moscow, Allawi was seeking in his talks with Putin to smooth
diplomatic relations, following a similar mission to Germany on a
European tour of powers that opposed last year’s invasion.

The premier said Moscow would be given a “leading role” in helping
restore Iraq’s shattered industries — a clear signal was Baghdad
was ready to give Russia access to its lucrative oil industry.

Officials in Moscow said Russia would try to win back oil contracts it
signed under Saddam Hussein’s regime in exchange for Moscow’s promise
to write off 90 percent of Iraq’s eight billion dollar Soviet-era debt.

Allawi said in a Belgian newspaper interview that Iraq’s elections —
faced with an insurgency determined to derail the process through
bloodshed — could be spread out over a period of 15-20 days in
late January.

“Everyone — Shiites, Sunnis, Christians, Kurds, Turkomans — should
take part in the vote,” he was quoted as saying by the daily Le Soir.

“For that I think one could envisage elections spread over 15 days,
20 days, with polling on different dates for different provinces …
That would allow for adequate security arrangements to be put in
place,” he added.

But in a classified cable sent in late November, the CIA station
chief at the end of a year-long tour of duty in Iraq warned that the
security situation was only likely to worsen in the runup to the polls,
The New York Times said.

More violence is in the pipeline, said officials familiar with
the cable.

On a positive note, two Sunni Muslim parties, including the key Islamic
Party, announced Tuesday plans to take part in the general elections,
despite earlier calls for the polls to be postponed.

The head of a leading Shiite Muslim movement, meanwhile, warned that
delaying the polls would create legal complications and could lead
to chaos.

“Delaying elections will lead to a legal problem, because the Iraqi
government will be illegitimate … as it expires with the election
date,” said Abdulaziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for
the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

In other developments, the US military announced the arrest in Hawija,
50 kilometres (30 miles) from the northern city of Kirkuk, of Salam
Daud, who it described as a chief of the Saddam Fedayeen militia
loyal to the former dictator.

Colonel Lloyd Miles said a number of other people were also arrested,
including Iraqi police and national guardsmen working with insurgents.

Poughkeepsie Journal, NY
Dec 4 2004

With tears and smiles, 17 gain U.S. citizenship
Newcomers urged to share heritage
By Alicia Amodeo
Poughkeepsie Journal

Kathy McLaughlin/Journal
>From left, Patricia Richards Deon, a native of Jamaica, Karen Therese
Ferdinand Calabro, a native of Germany, and Jun Wang, a native of
China applaud after taking the Pledge of Allegiance at naturalization
ceremonies Friday in the Dutchess County Courthouse.
Proud smiles and tears of joy illuminated the faces of family and
friends as they witnessed loved ones become American citizens Friday.

The final naturalization ceremony of the year was held at the
Dutchess County Courthouse in Poughkeepsie, as County Clerk Colette
Lafuente and Judge Damian J. Amodeo welcomed 17 new U.S. citizens to
the region.

”This is always the most significant and most important duty I have
as county clerk,” Lafuente said. ”We are so fortunate that you have
come to the United States and have decided to make your home here.”

Candidate citizens from countries all over the world, including
China, Ethiopia, Ecuador and Yugoslavia, were officially granted the
rights and opportunities of the United States as they took the oath.

”I have a 3-year-old daughter born here, so it’s exciting to share
what she already has,” said Sudharsana Srinivasan, a native of
India.

Although they are now U.S. citizens, Amodeo stressed to candidates to
share their heritage with their fellow Americans.

”As our newest citizens, please be generous in sharing all the good
you have experienced in your former land,” Amodeo said.

Right to vote stressed

Guest speaker Marty Rutberg, president of the Dutchess County Bar
Association, reminded candidates of the importance of voting in
elections.

”Your vote is your responsibility and your right,” said Rutberg.
”Please don’t forget to vote.”

Candidates were also urged to be active in politics and to speak out
on issues that are important to them.

”Become participants in the political process,” Amodeo said.
”Speak out, vote and actively seek public office.”

Jun Wang of China expressed her gratitude at being given the right
participate in politics.

”I’m very proud and happy that I can now vote,” Wang said. ”I
finally feel like a part of the country.”

Even with all the rights and privileges of becoming an American
citizen, there are still issues new citizens may face.

”This country is not perfect,” Rutberg said. ”As new citizens you
will face new challenges that your children will not face, but that
is part of the adventure.”

For Tigran Alexander of Armenia, whose wife and child are American
born, becoming a citizen is a risk worth taking.

”This is very emotional,” Alexander said. ”I’m very proud to be a
part of this country.”

Armenia asks EU to discuss Turkey’s policies toward the ex-Soviet country

.c The Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Armenia has asked European Union leaders to
discuss the policies of Turkey, its long-time foe, toward the former
Soviet republic at an upcoming EU summit, the foreign minister said.

Armenians accuse Turks of killing up to 1.5 million Armenians in
genocide between 1915 and 1923. Turkey claims the number of deaths is
inflated and says the victims were killed in civil unrest. The two
countries have no diplomatic relations.

Armenia and Turkey are also at odds over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region of
Turkish ally Azerbaijan that has been under ethnic Armenian control
since a war that ended in 1994 without a political settlement.

In a letter, Armenian President Robert Kocharian asked EU leaders to
discuss what Armenia sees as a Turkish economic blockade during their
Dec. 17 meeting, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said in a televised
interview late Wednesday. Turkey keeps its border with Armenia closed,
aggravating the impoverished country’s economic plight.

EU leaders are to vote at the forthcoming summit on whether to open
membership negotiations with Turkey.

12/02/04 11:39 EST

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE
30 December 2004

Minister Oskanian receives Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for
HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe

On November 30th, Minister Oskanian received Mr. Lars O. Kallings, the
Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe,
who is in Armenia for a regional visit.

At the meeting both parties stressed the importance of coordinating efforts
in a fight against the disease, both on international and national levels,
and through engaging governmental structures, health and public
institutions. In this respect Minister Oskanian stressed that social
awareness should be increased as necessary.

Minister Oskanian used statistics from 1988-2004 to illustrate the situation
of AIDS in Armenia. Although the number of infected persons in Armenia is
comparatively small, both sides emphasized that the government must maintain
its focus on this issue.

According to the minister, Armenia has already gained experience in its
struggle against AIDS, and in the frame of combating the “20th century
disease” is ready to cooperate with various organizations, especially with
the UN.

Mr. Kallings has stressed the important work of the Commission, established
with mutual efforts of Armenian governmental structures, public
institutions, and international organizations. The Commission is closely
cooperating with Global Fund Organization, exchanging data and experience
with the similar commissions in other countries. The Fund supplies AIDS
medicine to infected persons for free. It has provided similar assistance to
Armenia, amounting to a sum of 7.5 million USD.

Russian security boss negative about NATO’s possible role in Karabakh
settlement

Mediamax news agency
30 Nov 04

YEREVAN

The secretary of the Russian Security Council, Igor Ivanov, today
expressed his satisfaction with readiness of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
continue a high-level dialogue to settle the Karabakh conflict.

He said “there is hardly a need for introducing changes which could
make it difficult to expand this dialogue”.

At journalists’ request, Ivanov in Yerevan was commenting on the
recent statement of official Baku on the desirability of NATO’s
involvement in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. Regional conflicts were not been discussed at a meeting of
the committee of the secretaries of the security councils of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, which was held in Yerevan
today, because “this is not in our organization’s competence”, Ivanov
said.

“The Russian Federation thinks that the parties to the conflict should
find a solution to the Karabakh problem with active international
assistance. Russia will continue to provide such assistance within the
framework of existing mechanisms,” Ivanov said.

The secretary of the National Security Council under the president of
Armenia and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, noted that the OSCE
Minsk Group was dealing with the resolution of the conflict and none
of the parties can make a unilateral decision to expand or change the
mediation format.

POLITICAL FIGURES COMMENTING ON KARABAKHI CONFLICT

A1+
26-11-2004

“Karabakhi issue is politicized so much that it reached a deadlock”,
Aram Gaspari Sargssyan, Chairman of “Democratic Party of Armenia”,
said at the discussions on Karabakhi conflict. He supports the idea
of changing the political line – Karabakh returns to the negotiation
table.

“Justice” Bloc member Shavarsh Kocharyan is sure that the territories
where the Armenian Forces are located are considered occupied just
because of moving Karabakh out of the negotiation process.

Political figure Albert Baghdasaryan wondered whether Armenia and
Karabakh adopt the policy to support NK independence or NKR joining
Armenia. He answered his own question – “No”.

He doesn’t believe that the issue is settled inside Armenia. “It is
necessary to invite Russian Chairman of Minsk Group, to listen to
him and to find out at what price our ‘strategic partner’ will sell
our historical land”, he says.

Khosrov Harutyunyan, Chairman of Christian and Democratic Union
wondered if we want to solve the problem. “We must do everything
possible that the conflict is viewed as the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi
one. We must be guarantors of arrangements”, he announced.

However, Khosrov Harutyunyan, Shavarsh Kocharyan and Aram Gaspari
Sargssyan are sure that a legitimate power is necessary for the
country to settle the NK conflict.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
November 25, 2004

AZERBAIGIAN: MISSIONE ITALIANA NELLA DALLAS DEL CAUCASO/ANSA ;
VISITA ON. BONIVER, RAPPORTI BILATERALI E PROBLEMI REGIONALI

BAKU (AZERBAIGIAN)

(dell’inviata Elisa Pinna)

(ANSA) – BAKU (AZERBAIGIAN), 25 NOV – Baku, la capitale
azera, si presenta come una Dallas del Caucaso. Nuovi
grattacieli di acciaio e vetro che sovrastano i quartieri poveri
e le mura chiare dell’antica cittadella medievale dello Scia’,
sottolineano la scommessa degli azeri in un futuro fatto di
greggio e di ricchezza.

La citta’ trasuda letteralmente petrolio circondata com’e da
pozzi e trivelle che fanno del Golfo di Baku, sul Mar Caspio,
un’immensa unica piattaforma di estrazione. In questo centro
strategico per le future fonti energetiche mondiali, ha fatto
l’ultima tappa nel suo viaggio nel Caucaso l’on. Margherita
Boniver, sottosegretario agli Esteri. I rapporti tra Italia e
Azerbaigian sono buoni e stretti e lo dimostra il fatto che
l’Italia e’ attualmente il principale importatore di petrolio
dall’Azerbaigian (circa 214 mila barili al giorno per miliardo
di dollari annui); l’Agip partecipa con una quota del 5% alla
costruzione dell’oleodotto Baku-Tiblisi-Ceyhan, che dal prossimo
annuo dara’ uno sbocco sul Mediterraneo, in Turchia attraverso
la Georgia, alle esportazioni azere affrancandole dall’ipoteca
dal passaggio del territorio russo.

Perche l’operazione funzioni, la regione ha bisogno di
stabilita’. Ed il primo ministro azero, Artur Rasi-Zade, ha
riproposto con forza – nel colloquio con Boniver – il problema
di una soluzione rapida al conflitto del Nagorno-Karabakh, la
regione secessionista a maggioranza armeno-cristiana.
“L’Armenia – ha denunciato – occupa il 28% del nostro
territorio, un milione di azeri sono dovuti fuggire. E’ un
problema che deve essere affrontato. Non vogliamo sentire
parlare di ‘guerre congelate o di tatticismi diplomatici’ “, ha
detto il premier, un anziano funzionario emigrato dall’epoca
sovietica alla nuova repubblica.

Il governo italiano – attraverso il sottosegretario agli
Esteri – ha ribadito la “necessita’ della via negoziale” da
portare avanti, innanzitutto sul piano bilaterale e poi nel
contesto dell’Osce (Organizzazione per la sicurezza e la
cooperazione in Europa) e del gruppo di Minsk (creato in seno
all’Osce per mediare fra Armenia e Azerbaigian), senza
trascurare tutte le istanze internazionali. L’on. Boniver ha
prospettato anche ingenti aiuti economici europei nel caso le
due parti trovino un accordo al tavolo delle trattative.

Vanno bene gli aiuti economici, ha risposto l’esponente
azero, ma – come recita un proverbio russo – “chi affonda deve
salvarsi da solo”. Ed a cio’, tanto per essere ancora piu
chiaro, ha aggiunto una massima di Mao: “La poesia e’ una cosa
bella, ma l’arma e’ una cosa migliore”.

Se la questione irrisolta del Nagorno-Karabakh continua a
condizionare il futuro del paese, l’Azerbaigian chiede
all’Italia anche di diversificare il proprio interscambio
economico, non concentrandolo solo nel settore energetico ma
estendendolo anche in quello agroalimentare, nei trasporti e
nelle infrastrutture.

In una immediata risposta a questa esigenza, il
sottosegretario agli Esteri ha firmato stamani, insieme al suo
collega vice ministro Kh. Khalafov, un accordo per la creazione
di un forum consultivo per i rapporti economici bilaterali che
sara’ affiancato da una Camera di commercio italo-azera.

Se con la mente e il portafoglio l’Azerbaigian guarda ad
occidente, il cuore di questo paese laico (a stragrande
maggioranza musulmana sciita) sembra essere rimasto ad oriente.
Tra i paesi del Caucaso, la democrazia azera appare ancora la
piu’ imperfetta. Un nuovo grattacielo-museo del defunto
Heydar-Aliev, l’uomo che e’ riuscito nel miracolo di guidare il
paese quasi ininterrottamente dagli anni Settanta al 2003 per
essere poi sostituito nel 2004 dal figlio Ilham, domina la
citta’, ed e’ quasi un obbligo per le delegazioni straniere
visitare il suo mausoleo. I manifesti del nuovo capo di Stato
Aliev jr., eletto con un voto che ha generato forti perplessita
nella comunita’ internazionale, tappezzano i muri della
metropoli.

Il neo presidente ha tuttavia espresso la voglia di avviare
un processo di democratizzazione e, come gesto di buona
volonta’, ha liberato, appena due mesi fa, alcune centinaia di
prigionieri politici. Di cio’ ha parlato con l’on. Boniver, in
vista anche del viaggio che compira’ in Italia il 24 febbraio
2005. (ANSA).