Category: News

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 19 2004
OIC AMENDS THE RESOLUTION “ON AGGRESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
AGAINST AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC”
[May 19, 2004, 13:11:59]
In the information received by AzerTAj from the embassy of Azerbaijan
in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it is stated that the next assembly
of top officials of member-states of the Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC) was held in Jeddah. Discussed was the issue of
preparation to the XXXI conference of the foreign ministers of the
OIC member-countries in Istanbul.
Before the arrangement, the permanent representative of Azerbaijan in
OIC, ambassador Elman Arasly has met the Secretary General of this
international structure Abdulwahid Bilgeziz, his assistant Izzet
Al-Mufti and other high-ranking officials of the Organization, has
discussed with them questions of the further expansion of relations
of Azerbaijan with OIC, has addressed the Secretary General with the
request for support of initiatives of our republic.
As earlier, at this assembly, the OIC member- states have supported
the issue connected to Azerbaijan. So, the resolution of OIC “On
aggression of the Republic Armenia against the Azerbaijan Republic”
under the offer of the Azerbaijan side has been amended. Participants
of assembly have agreed to include Azerbaijan’s draft resolution
submitted by the delegation “Youth initiative of Islamic Conference”
in the agenda of XXXI Istanbul conference of the ministers of foreign
affairs of the OIC member–states.
At the assembly in Jeddah, discussed was the report of Secretary
General A. Bilgeziz, decided to submit for discussion in the Istanbul
conference the question in connection with the appeal submitted to
the OIC Secretary General on admission of the Central African
Republic and the Republic Mauritius in membership of the
Organization. Taking into account the appeal on granting to some
states of the status of the observer in OIC, it was decided to create
special commission for preparation of offers concerning entering into
the Charter of structure of respective alterations. Participants of
the assembly condemned the inhuman treatment of the American soldiers
with the prisoners in Iraq.
The draft resolution “Concerning new position of Cyprus” submitted by
the delegation of Turkey has been unanimously adopted by the
assembly.

US military, NATO join forces to stabilize Caucasus
By Brian Whitmore, Globe Correspondent | May 19, 2004
Boston Globe, MA
May 19 2004
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany — US Army Colonel Michael Anderson
has Georgia on his mind. He spends a lot of time thinking about
Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well.
Plagued by ethnic conflicts, political instability, organized crime,
and porous borders, the volatile South Caucasus region has long been
viewed by Western officials as a hotbed of chaos and of instability
in Europe’s backyard.
The US military and key NATO allies are now laying the groundwork for
an unprecedented engagement in the region that will include coordinated
military and humanitarian assistance, education, and training aimed
at eventually bringing these troubled nations and their armed forces
into Europe’s mainstream.
“We want these nations to ultimately be able to stand on their own
and to be secure and stable states,” said Anderson, the US military’s
European Command point man for policy in the Caucasus.
The emerging initiative in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan is part
of a focus on what military commanders call “an arc of instability”
ranging from the Caucasus through the Middle East to the Gulf of
Guinea in West Africa. Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, US armed
forces worldwide have been taking steps to redirect their resources
to fight the war on terrorism more effectively.
Officials at the US European Command say that since they do not
anticipate a major war in their area of responsibility in the near
future, they are focusing on preventing conflicts on and beyond the
continent’s hinterlands before they become full-blown security crises.
In the South Caucasus, as well as in North Africa, US military
officials say they are seeking to use “the prudent application of
soft power” — gaining access and influence in these regions by
exposing nations there to Western thinking and values — to advance
the interests of the United States and its allies.
“We are applying a regional, cooperative approach . . . helping
nations help themselves,” Air Force General Charles Wald, deputy
commander of US forces in Europe, said in a statement.
At a two-day conference this month at the George C. Marshall European
Center for Security Studies in this southern German Alpine town, US
defense officials met with their counterparts from key NATO allies to
coordinate their efforts to assist a defense overhaul in the region.
Officials from Georgia and Armenia also attended. Officials from
Azerbaijan were invited, but did not attend amid the continuing
animosity with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabach.
By helping stabilize the South Caucasus and assisting in improvements
in the region’s armed forces, officials say, the initiative contributes
to the war against terrorism.
“Terrorists are looking for areas of instability where they can play
the East-West cultural card, and the Caucasus is a region that is ripe
for that,” a senior British defense official said on the condition
of anonymity. “If we don’t turn our attention to it, they will.”
The new emphasis on the Caucasus seeks to build on recent
US initiatives in the region. From May 2002 until last month, US
soldiers trained four Georgian light-infantry battalions and a tank
company under a $64 million program called the Georgia Train and Equip
Program. The program aimed to professionalize Georgia’s armed forces
and to equip them to root out suspected terrorists linked to Al Qaeda
in the country, most notably the Pankisi Gorge region near Chechnya.
US military officials have since identified illicit weapons, narcotics,
and human-trafficking across the region’s porous frontiers as other key
security concerns. Easy access to smuggling routes empowers organized
crime groups, compromises the authority of central governments,
and destabilizes the region, the officials say.
“Who do we want running these countries, stable democratic authorities
or criminal elements?” US Army Lieutenant Colonel Albert Zaccor
said. “We’re trying to foster the kind of countries we can be
partners with.”
To help eliminate what military officials and strategists call
“ungoverned areas” in the region, the US military and its European
allies seek to help train the region’s border guards. A new American
program called the Caspian Guard Initiative also intends to help
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan improve air, ground, and maritime security
in the Caspian Sea Basin.
Protecting the flow of oil out of the region is also a top security
concern for the United States and its allies. A major pipeline running
from Baku, Azerbaijan, through Tblisi, Georgia, to Ceyhan, Turkey,
is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Analysts say
the pipeline will reduce the West’s energy dependence on the Middle
East and the Persian Gulf, but could also become a potential target
for terrorists.
Longtime NATO allies like Britain, Germany, and Turkey — as well
as new alliance members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — are also
contributing with assistance programs in the region.
Germany is helping to train noncommissioned officers in the region,
Britain has a civilian adviser assisting the Georgian Defense Ministry
and junior officer-training programs in the region, and Turkey is
offering to help coordinate security for the oil pipeline.
The former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which
have reformed their militaries sufficiently to join NATO this year,
say they are now prepared to help Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan
do the same.
The Baltic nations are also offering to help train border guards.
Nikoloz Laliashvili, head of defense policy and NATO integration for
Georgia’s Defense Ministry, said it is his country’s “aspiration”
to follow in the footsteps of the three Baltic countries. “They have
strong experience and advice to offer,” Laliashvili said.
US and other Western officials concede privately that Georgia, Armenia,
and Azerbaijan have made uneven progress. Georgia, which tossed out
its Soviet-era leaders in favor of the pro-Western government of
Mikhail Saakashvili in a peaceful revolution in November, has shown
the most serious commitment to an overhaul, the officials say.
Earlier this month, Georgia peacefully seized control of the rebel
province of Ajaria, in the country’s southwest corner, although
Saakashvili is still struggling to bring other breakaway regions like
Abkhazia and South Ossetia under Tblisi’s control.
Other ethnic and political issues, most notably Armenia’s and
Azerbaijan’s longstanding and bitter dispute over the Nagorno Karabach
region, remain obstacles to progress.
Nevertheless, analysts say the optimism generated by Georgia’s
democratic “Rose Revolution” in November, coupled with the new Western
engagement in the region, has created a window of opportunity. “With
the rise of a new generation of politicians coming into power, the
possibilities for change are greater than ever before,” said Robert
Parsons, director of Radio Free Europe’s Georgia service.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
[May 19, 2004, 14:35:03]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 19 2004
Workshops held May 10-18 in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Eliminating environmental problems helps to ease political tensions:
that is the basic idea behind a new initiative launched in the
Southern Caucasus region by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the U.N. Environmental Program (UNEP)
and the U.N. Development Program (UNDP).
An initiative focusing on the links between environmental problems
and security was launched this week with national events in Georgia
and Azerbaijan.
Through the Environmental Security Initiative, the OSCE, the United
Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the UN Development Program
(UNDP) aim to identify cases in which environmental degradation
may pose threats to human security and contribute to instability,
and suggest action to deal with them.
The initiative began on 10 May in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with
two days of consultations among government officials, non-governmental
organizations and local and international experts. They discussed
key environmental risk factors that have the potential to hamper
security in Armenia.
The workshops continued on 14 and 15 May in Tbilisi, Georgia. They
focused on the role of environmental security in economic growth and
poverty reduction in Georgia, both greatly dependent on the quality
and quantity of existing natural resources in the country.
Concluding the series, a workshop in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 17 and 18 May
focused on principal environmental concerns with security implications
in the country, including trans-boundary water pollution and freshwater
quality as well as contamination of the Caspian Sea and deforestation.
The main idea behind the Environment and Security Initiative, launched
in 2002, is that eliminating environmental problems helps to ease
political tensions. In order to achieve this, the Initiative seeks to:
Raise awareness of environmental risks and their impact on security;
Engage with government and non-government groups to identify both risks
posed by environmental change and opportunities for trans-boundary
co-operation to promote sustainable development, peace and stability;
Map risks, as well as needs and opportunities, for environmental
co-operation to improve sustainable resource management, crisis
prevention and peace promotion;
Develop and implement projects to reduce risks identified.
National consultations are considered to be a key element of the
Initiative as they generate information on specific problems that
can then be addressed through individual projects.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 19 2004
POSITION OF AZERBAIJAN EXPLAINED AT THE CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS IN
STRASBOURG
[May 19, 2004, 14:34:24]
On May 16, the parliamentary delegation headed by chairman of Milli
Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov, has arrived in Strasbourg for participation
in conference of the chairmen of assemblies of the European
Parliament on the topic “Civil Europe – participation of parliaments
and citizens”.
The meeting of chairmen of parliaments of the Southern Caucasus
countries was held on 17 May. At the meeting, discussed were issues
of cooperation of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Chairman of the
parliament of Armenia has put forward an idea of adjustment of
cooperation between the countries of Southern Caucasus and creation
of joint parliamentary assembly of these countries. The Azerbaijan
side, explaining the position concerning the question, has stated
that our country, in fact, is not against such cooperation.
It has been marked that Azerbaijan has adjusted very good relations
with the next Russia, Turkey and Georgia. And as to Armenia, if this
country will refuse the aggressive policy and will return the
occupied Azerbaijan lands, only in this case it is possible to speak
about any cooperation with it. And consequently the Azerbaijan side
has made resolute protest against the offer of chairman of the
parliament of Armenia on creation of joint Parliamentary Assembly of
the countries of Southern Caucasus.
On May 18, in the residence of the Council of Europe was held a
conference on the topic “Is our democracy democratic?” Chairman Milli
Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov made remarks the conference.
Having noted, that after gaining state independence our country has
selected the way of integration to Europe, chairman of parliament
Murtuz Alaskarov has told: Azerbaijan has great potential to deepen
democracy. This potential is enriched with centuries-old traditions
and tolerance of our people, he stressed. For the last years, in
Azerbaijan radical political, economic, social-legal reforms have
been conducted, the notable achievements in restoration of the
European values, creation of democratic institutes in maintenance of
the rights and freedom of the person, transition to market economy
were reached.
He has emphasized that one third of clauses of the new Constitution
of Azerbaijan adopted in 1995 is devoted to maintenance of the rights
and freedom of the person. In our country, tens political parties
function. Censorship has been cancelled. There is an independent TV
and radio displaying all sides of political life of Azerbaijan.
Consecutive work is being carried out in the field of maintenance of
the rights of national minorities, freedom of faith, more than 600
nongovernmental public organizations have been registered in the
country.
Chairman of Azerbaijan Parliament has especially emphasized that one
of the important steps undertaken by our state in the field of
protection of human rights, is adoption in 1993 of the moratorium on
application of death penalty and cancellation for the first time in
the East in 1998 of this kind of punishment. In the country, radical
judicial reforms have been carried out and the three-stage judicial
system created. Penitentiary system was harmonized with the European
standards. On the basis of multi-party system democratic, fair, free,
transparent presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections were
repeatedly carried out. In 2001, Azerbaijan became a full member of
the Council of Europe.
Chairman of Milli Majlis has told: “Our country confidently marches
ahead on the way of deepening of democracy. As the head of Azerbaijan
State Ilham Aliyev in April, in the spring session of Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe has stated, Azerbaijan will never
change the way of construction of a democratic, legal, civil society.
In detail informing on the historical roots and heavy consequences of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Chairman of
Azerbaijan Parliament has emphasized that as a result of this
conflict the one fifth of the Country’s territory up today is under
occupation, one million people, that is each eighth inhabitant is
refugee and IDP. The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict continuing more than
a decade, certainly, delays the process of democratic transformations
that renders negative influence not only on these countries, but also
to all Southern Caucasus. The occupied lands of Azerbaijan have
turned to uncontrollable zone. They became the center for preparation
of terrorists, cultivation of narcotics, burial places of radioactive
wastes, trade of the weapon and people. However, we are sure, that
the victory will triumph and that this heavy problem for Azerbaijan
will be solved by peace way according to all norms and principles of
international law, and the main thing, on the basis of principles of
inviolability of borders and territorial integrity of borders of the
states.
Statement of the Chairman of Azerbaijan Parliament has been listened
with attention and interest.
***
The meeting of chairmen of parliaments of the GUUAM countries also
was held in Strasbourg. At the meeting attended by Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan and Moldova, discussed were the questions of preparation
for constituent conference in connection with creation of
parliamentary assemblies of member-countries of this international
organization.
The vice-president of parliament of Ukraine, chairmen of parliaments
of Georgia and Moldova have noted special role of GUUAM, created in
1997, in development and strengthening of relations between the these
member-countries, have emphasized necessity of creation of
Parliamentary Assembly of the structure.
Speaking at the sitting, Chairman of Milli Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov
has noted, that two more years back during his visit to Ukraine he
has drawn attention to the initiative of the Azerbaijan on creation
of Parliamentary Assembly of the GUUAM countries. And, since we
support this offer, he stressed.
During the discussions, exchanged were opinions on definition of
place and date of carrying out of constituent conference. The sides
came to a consensus to conduct the conference in second half of
September in the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, or in Yalta.
At the conferences and meetings participating was the head of the
permanent mission of Azerbaijan at the Council of Europe, ambassador
Agshin Mehdiyev.

EU to benefit from cheap gas imports
EUpolitix, Belgium
May 19 2004
European consumers should be able to benefit from cheap gas imports
from Azerbaijan in five or six years time, the country’s leader
has predicted.
The delivery of Azerbaijani gas to Turkey and to Europe in large
quantities would ensure “an alternative and cheap supply” for European
customers, President Ilham Aliyev told a meeting of the Brussels-based
think tank, the European Policy Centre.
“In five or six years, Azerbaijani gas in big quantities will be
supplied to Europe,” he said, commenting that this would be even more
important for consumers than the country’s burgeoning oil industry.
“We will allow our neighbours and friends to benefit,” he assured.
Aliyev, on a two day diplomatic visit to the EU’s Brussels
headquarters, stressed Baku’s “strategic choice” to pursue closer
ties with Europe.
“Our relations with the EU are developing very successfully.
Azerbaijan has a strategically committed to a policy of integration
into European structures.”
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Tuesday he expected
the EU’s relationship with the former Soviet state to increase,
specifically in the field of energy.
The country, along with Caucasus neighbours Armenia and Georgia was
recently added by the European Commission to its ‘New Neighbourhood’
policy, which seeks closer relations with countries around the newly
expanded EU.
Aliyev used a Tuesday meeting with European Commission chief Romano
Prodi to appeal to the EU to help find a solution to a ten year
territorial dispute with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
“We hope that the EU, other international organisations and the OSCE
[Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe] will play a more
active role and allow the people of Azerbaijan to come back,” he said.
Although the two republics have signed a ceasefire, no political
solution has been found to end the bitter dispute over the enclave,
which makes up around five per cent of the area of Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory which falls entirely within Azerbaijan
and is populated by Christian ethnic Armenians, broke away from Baku
when the Soviet Union collapsed.
A five year war over the land claimed around 35 000 lives and created
around one million refugees.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Talk Is Cheap Blasts Abelyan
By Chris Roberts, PA Sport
The Scotsman, UK
sportinglife.com, UK
May 19 2004
William Abelyan has hit back at WBO world featherweight champion Scott
Harrison and vowed to shut the Glaswegian’s mouth at the Braehead
Arena on June 19.
The Armenian started the war of words before the original fight date
but he has been riled by the Scot’s bold prediction that he is going
to dish out a hammering.
“Harrison’s got a big mouth and I’m going to shut if for him,” said
the WBO mandatory challenger from his training camp in Las Vegas.
“I’ve read what he’s been saying on the internet and he’s talking a
lot of garbage.
“He’s scared, that’s why he’s talking big, but I’ll be over there
for the fight soon and we’ll see if he talks just as big when he’s
face to face with me.”
The 25-year-old insists his training has not been disrupted despite
the second postponement of the fight following Harrison’s recent
wrist injury.
“I’m ready to fight Harrison right now,” he stated. “If my team said
to me ‘William we’re going to Scotland tomorrow to fight Harrison’
I would be straight on the plane.
“I have never been up for a fight more than this one.”
Originally from Yerevan in Armenia, Abelyan moved to America when he
was nine and now resides in California.
“It’s the world title and the fame I want not the money,” he added.
“After I win the title I will return to Armenia a hero. I have
never been back since I moved to America because I wanted to achieve
something spectacular before I returned.
“I will be the first world champion boxer to ever come out of the
country.
“The boxing ring is my house and Harrison is not welcome.”

No word from ‘mercenaries’ in EGuinea
Related links
‘Mercenaries’ will take SA government to court
Sunday Times, South Africa
May 19 2004
The attorney for eight South Africans held in Equatorial Guinea for
allegedly preparing a coup has still not had telephonic contact with
his clients, he said.
Attorney Bernard van der Hoven said he had met the attorney general
of Equatorial Guinea, Jose Olo Obono, in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Although he was promised telephonic contact with the men, who had
been detained for over two months, Van der Hoven did not know when
this would be allowed.
“That’s the major concern,” he said.
He had also not been granted a visa to visit the West African state.
“We’ve been trying for eight weeks, but nothing,” he said.
Van der Hoven had also asked the Presidency to place the men under
diplomatic protection. “We haven’t received their decision yet,”
he said.
Obono was reportedly in South Africa as part of an investigation
team from Equatorial Guinea. The team planned to leave South Africa
on Wednesday evening, Van der Hoven said.
The detainees are among a group of 15 men accused of planning to
overthrow Equatorial Guinea’s leader Teodoro Obiang Nguema.
They include Angolans, Armenians and South Africans, some of Angolan
origin.
There is also a German, who subsequently died after “an attack of
cerebral malaria”, according to the authorities, French news agency
AFP reported.

Turkish FM: Turkey Is Knocking On EU’s Door
Anadolu Agency
May 19 2004
BRUSSELS – Turkey was knocking on the door of the European Union (EU),
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said
early on Wednesday.
Gul, who is in Belgian capital Brussels to attend the meeting of
Turkey-EU Association Council, told reporters that he informed his
interlocutors about recent reform wave in Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul said that he also told his interlocutors
that Turkey had adjusted with Copenhagen political criteria at
great extent.
Gul stated that Turkey was preparing those reform packages for its
own sake not for the EU.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul recalled that he had earlier told his
interlocutors during the former Association Council meetings that
Turkey would not knock on EU`s door before it met the political
criteria.
Gul noted that he had earlier said that “he could not say that Turkey
met the political criteria if he was to write a report on Turkey.“
Also, he had earlier noted that “Turkey would not knock on EU`s door,
being aware of its shortcomings but it would knock on EU`s door when
it met all the criteria“, Gul stated.
Gul said that he told his interlocutors during this Association
Council meeting that “Turkey was knocking on EU`s door.“
Turkey had still some problems stemming from implementation of the
reforms, Gul pointed out.
Gul noted that all those problems would be overcome and said, “we
won`t stop launching new initiatives saying we have fulfilled most
of criteria we have to do.“
He and his interlocutors also took up Cyprus issue during their
meetings, Gul stated.
Gul recalled the approach that “Cyprus is not a political criteria
for Turkey`s EU accession but is a political fact.“
“Our Cyprus policy has created sympathy and has been supported. This
will definitely be reflected on the progress report to be prepared
by the EU Commission,“ Gul said.
He explained Turkey`s Cyprus policies during his meetings and noted
that economic embargo on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
should be lifted without losing any time, Gul said.
Gul, who went to Belgium on Tuesday morning, held separate meetings
with EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen, EU foreign
policy chief Javier Solana and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
the same day.
Aliyev and Gul exchanged views about Armenia-Upper Karabakh and Cyprus
issues during their meeting. Gul thanked Aliyev for Azerbaijan`s
support to Turkish theses during the senior officials meeting of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Gul and Aliyev also took up starting flights between Azerbaijan and
Cyprus and lifting embargo imposed on TRNC.
Foreign Minister Gul will leave Belgium on Wednesday and go to
Russian capital Moscow to hold meetings on Middle East peace process
and Cyprus.

Azerbaijani Officer May Face From 15 Years To Life In Prison, Lawyer Says
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
May 19 2004
Hungarian prosecutors are charging Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov
with intentional and brutal murdering his Armenian classmate Gurgen
Markarian, a crime, if proved, is punishable by from 15 years to
life in prison, one of Safarov’s defense lawyers told reporters
on Wednesday.
The lawyer, Adil Ismailov who were in the Hungarian capital of Budapest
on 3-17 May, pointed out to some shortcomings of the investigation
into the murder case, such as its being done in Russian, which Safarov
does not speak well. The lawyer said the Hungarian authorities have
promised to settle this problem soon. Ismailov also said Hungarian TV
channels are spreading biased and incorrect reports about classified
investigation materials. He added that the investigation is due to
finish in a few days.
Citing a statement issued by Budapest police last Wednesday, the
Associated Press reported that the Azerbaijani officer Safarov has
confessed that he deliberately murdered Markarian in revenge for the
massacre Armenians committed in Khojaly on Feb. 26, 1992.
According to the report, there was no concrete grievance between the
two before the bloody incident happened on Feb. 19 in a dormitory
for attendees of an English language course organized under NATO’s
Partnership for Peace Program.
The statement said Safarov initially had planned to kill any Armenian
on the day of Khojaly massacre even before coming to attend the
classes in Budapest.
Based on Safarov’s testimonies, police investigators recommended
Budapest Attorney General’s office to charge the Azerbaijani officer
with premeditated murder done with unusual cruelty with “vile motives
and aims,” according to AP.
Ismailov said the officer’s trial would start no earlier than
September.

Caucasus: EU, Azerbaijan Discuss Nagorno-Karabakh
By Ahto Lobjakas
Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
May 19 2004
Yesterday’s visit to Brussels by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
came on the heels of a decision by the European Commission to recommend
the inclusion of the three South Caucasus countries in the bloc’s
European Neighborhood Policy. The decision — to be formally confirmed
during the EU summit in June — will mean increased integration, but
also greater EU involvement in the region’s crises. EU officials told
RFE/RL yesterday that the bloc is preparing to bring its diplomatic
muscle to bear on Nagorno-Karabakh.
Brussels, 19 May 2004 (RFE/RL) — The decision to start preparing
for the inclusion of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia in the EU’s
European Neighborhood Policy promises to bring with it new levels of
EU involvement in the region’s so-called “frozen conflicts.”
Yesterday’s talks between visiting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
and top EU officials indicated the bloc is ready for the first time
to invest significant diplomatic capital in the region.
Both the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, and the
EU’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, were unusually critical of
the 10-year-long efforts of the so-called Minsk Group — sponsored by
the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) — to
negotiate a settlement to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.”Azerbaijan is strongly convinced
that broader international attention, the attention of European
structures, and of public opinion in Europe will help find a quick and
peaceful resolution to the conflict.” — Azerbaijani President Aliyev
“It is true that progress does not seem to be taking place in the last
part of this period of time,” Solana said. “We would like to see if
we can contribute to move the negotiations forward. We hope that the
[latest] of the meetings — not only between the two presidents [of
Azerbaijan and Armenia], but the continuous contacts that are taking
place between the two ministries of foreign affairs — may contribute
to move the process [forward], restart the process. Whatever we can
do — and I promised the president — whatever we can do, we’ll try
and do it.”
Solana, like Prodi before him, stressed that the “Minsk process”
will continue to be managed by the OSCE. The EU, they say, will try
to help where it can and only when invited.
An EU official, who asked not to be named, told RFE/RL after Aliyev’s
talks in Brussels that the Azerbaijani president had lobbied strongly
for increased EU involvement. The official said Aliyev had said
Azerbaijan feels there is a palpable pro-Armenian bias within the
Minsk Group. The group is chaired by the United States, Russia,
and France. Both France and the United States are seen by Baku to be
susceptible to lobbying by the strong Armenian diaspora in the two
countries. Russia still plays a large role in guaranteeing Armenia’s
security — for instance, it provides the country’s border guards.
Aliyev yesterday told reporters after meeting Solana that although
Azerbaijan is not challenging the OSCE mandate of the Minsk Group,
he would like the EU to assume a greater role.
“We consider that the EU is playing a very important role in [relation
to Nagorno-Karabakh]. Of course, the Minsk Group of the OSCE has a
mandate to deal with that issue and of course we are not trying to
change that mandate. But at the same time, Azerbaijan is strongly
convinced that broader international attention, the attention of
European structures, and of public opinion in Europe will help find
a quick and peaceful resolution to the conflict,” Aliyev said.
The unnamed EU source said the bloc has been well served by its
first-ever special envoy to the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, a
Finnish diplomat. Talvitie has earlier worked with the Minsk group
and knows the region well. His six-month mandate will come up for
renewal next month, but its extension is virtually guaranteed.
The EU official said that while maintaining its support for the
Minsk Group, the bloc is currently pursuing a wider strategy of
“triangulation,” involving Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. In so
doing, the EU is trying to tackle not just Nagorno-Karabakh, but the
overall context of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations.
The source said Aliyev had yesterday strongly argued against steps
aimed at lifting the border closure between Turkey and Armenia
currently in effect. Azerbaijan was said to view the closure as an
essential, if not sole, lever to secure Armenian concessions over
Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied areas.
In fact, when the United States recently put strong pressure on Turkey
to lift the blockade, Baku was said to have warned Washington that
such a move would result in an end to the search for a solution to the
conflict. According to the source, Azerbaijan told the United States
that Armenia would then lose interest in working for a settlement.
Conversely, sources say, Armenia’s president, Robert Kocharian, has
announced that in protest of the border closure, he will not be going
to the NATO summit in Istanbul next month, where he has been invited
as a guest.
The EU official said the strategy of “triangulation” pursues an
incremental approach. In order to secure an easing of the border
closure with Turkey, Armenia will have to initiate a pullback of its
forces from the occupied areas of Azerbaijani territory surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh.
This is a strategy that appears to suit Baku. According to the EU
source, Aliyev told Solana that once Armenia withdraws from the
occupied territories — but not necessarily from Nagorno-Karabakh
— Baku would be ready to launch talks on the final status of the
breakaway region. Armenia, on the other hand, is seen as demanding
a decision on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh before acquiescing to
any further talks.
According to the source, the EU favors Azerbaijan’s step-by-step
approach. The official said the bloc considers it very difficult,
if not impossible, to achieve a comprehensive settlement at one stroke.
Aliyev made clear yesterday that Azerbaijan would not give up
Nagorno-Karabakh. Speaking to the media, the Azerbaijani president
stressed that any solution must respect the country’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity.
However, the EU source said Aliyev had told the bloc’s officials that
Baku was prepared to accord full respect to the “Armenian heritage
and history” of the region, as well as to its “ancient ties” with
Armenia. He did not spell out yesterday the precise details of the
kind of autonomy Azerbaijan would be prepared to offer the breakaway
republic.
The official also said the EU believes the weak domestic standing of
Armenian President Kocharian means it will be very difficult for him
to make concessions. In contrast, the official cited Azerbaijan’s
recent impressive record on domestic issues.
Baku has released hundreds of political prisoners. Ilham Aliyev has
resettled the Azeri refugees fleeing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
— an issue on which his father and predecessor, Heydar Aliyev,
had stalled. Aliyev junior also presides over a rapidly expanding
economy, which grew by 11 percent last year. The EU source said all
this strengthens Aliyev’s hand.
The official said that although the EU still considers the human
rights situation in Azerbaijan “far from satisfactory,” the bloc
recognizes the recent improvements.
Sources say Aliyev had yesterday asked European Commission President
Romano Prodi to open a commission office in Baku. The EU’s executive
arm already has a mission in Tbilisi and has a “sub-office” in
Yerevan. However, EU sources said the current commission, which will
step down in October, is unlikely to be in an “expansionary mood”
at this stage.