EUROPEAN PEACEKEEPERS: THE CAUCASUS UNDER ME?
by Sergei Markedonov, Political and Military Analysis Institute
Translated by Elena Leonova
Source: Izvestia, June 21, 2006, p. 6
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part A (Russia)
June 21, 2006 Wednesday
What does the European Union really want in the Caucasus?; The
Europeans are saying that Russia should not only abandon its exclusive
political role in the South Caucasus, but also open up the gates to
European peacekeeping in the North Caucasus. For Russia, such an
approach would be tantamount to admitting its own incompetence as
a state.
Europe has come to the Caucasus. “The Caucasus and Central Asia region
will be among the most important issue for Germany’s forthcoming
period of chairing the European Union. The Caucasus is being called a
‘special region’ which has been overlooked by Europe for some time,”
says Roland Goetz, head of the Russia and CIS group at the German
Institute for International and Security Affairs (an influential
think-tank consulted by the German government).
What kind of significance do the Europeans attach to the Caucasus
region? Its unique natural and geographic significance isn’t the only
reason for their interest. “The Caucasus, with its fairly limited
natural resources, is not a key region,” says Roland Goetz. The
Americans regard the Caucasus as important primarily as a bridge for
their sweeping geopolitical combinations (Iran, the Middle East).
Europe, which is building a “good neighbor” policy, regards the
Caucasus as a political patient suffering an illness known as “ethnic
conflicts.” For European politicians, the priority in the Caucasus
is to overcome ethnic conflicts and disseminate the “European” system
of values.
But the Europeanization of the Caucasus goes back before 2006. The
“special region” has been a focus of attention for European politicians
since the early 1990s. In contrast to the United States, the European
Union’s approach to Caucasus policy emphasizes socio-economic issues,
not military-political issues. The EU’s second priority direction is
promoting stability in the region, as well as striving to ensure that
“European standards” in human rights and democratic liberties are
respected and observed. The common policy plan on South Caucasus
states, adopted by the EU Council in 1995, emphasizes the need
for assisting the former Soviet republics in the Trans-Caucasus
to establish democratic institutions. However, while the EU claims
to uphold universal democratic values, it frequently fails to take
account of ethnic and cultural differences and traditions in Georgia,
Armenia, and Azerbaijan.
Russia plays a special role in the “great game” of the Caucasus
region. Firstly, part of Russia’s own territory is in the Caucasus.
Secondly, Russia is extremely active in the South Caucasus, and its
role in regulating the “frozen conflicts” can hardly be disregarded.
It seems that European experts are now prepared to see the Caucasus as
an integrated region, not isolating the problems of the “independent”
South Caucasus from those of the Russian North Caucasus. But this
approach, which is shared by most Russian politicians and analysts,
is interpreted differently in Europe. The Europeans are saying that
Russia should not only abandon its exclusive political role in the
South Caucasus, but also open up the gates to European peacekeeping
in the North Caucasus.
For Russia, such an approach would be tantamount to admitting its own
incompetence as a state and in government. It isn’t clear exactly
what kind of solutions the countries of Europe are proposing to
Russia. Negotiations with the separatists? In the wake of the Beslan
school hostage siege and the death of Aslan Maskhadov, the “Ichkerian
movement” itself has experienced a severe crisis, becoming fragmented
and essentially giving up calls for secession from Russia. Even when
“Ichkerian President” Maskhadov was still alive, negotiating with him
was no more than a sweetly utopian European idea, since the reality
of Chechnya is such that no separatist leader had his authority
recognized by all the others. These days, the European view of the
Caucasus is a combination of obsolete impressions from the mid-1990s
(that is, the period of active military confrontation between the
federal government and the separatists).
All the same, Europeanization of the Caucasus region is a political
reality that we must learn to live with. We need to be able to defend
our vital national interests in language that is comprehensible in
terms of European political and legal thinking. We need to initiate
not only conservation, but also progressive development of the South
Caucasus countries, recognizing that stability in itself, without
progress, is impossible. Russia is the country that can teach the
Europeans to combine the schemes and formulas of legal theory with
Realpolitik in a rational way. Without that, long-lasting pacification
of the Caucasus is impossible.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE “KAISER” AND GERMANY 2006 ARE MAKING FRIENDS!
By Appo K. Jabarian
Executive Publisher/Managing Editor
USA Armenian Life Magazine
Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly
June 16-23, 2006
I would have loved being in Germany starting this June 9. Alas! That
didn’t happen. But the next best thing that happened when Jochen
Scherr, my German friend , invited me to the Goethe Institute,
a German cultural center in Los Angeles.
On Friday morning, several dozens of expatriate Germans gathered at
the center to see the opening ceremonies of the long-awaited “Germany
2006” international soccer extravaganza. Opening they saw. We all
saw. The very first match of the tournament pitted the host nation
Germany and Costa Rica. Germany won 4-2.
32 nations converged on German soil to compete through July 9 for
the Federation International de Football Association 2006 World Cup.
According to several sources, the worldwide audience watching this
18th FIFA World Cup, organized by Germany, is estimated to be at over
2 billion soccer fans. The 32 qualified nations are among the 205
nations that have competed during a period of nearly two years for a
spot in the World Cup. 205 nations were divided into six continental
football (soccer) conferences as follows:
– Asian Football Confederation “AFC” with 45 national teams. Qualified
national teams are: Iran, Australia, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia;
– Conference of African Federations “CAF” with 52 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Ivory Coast, Angola, Ghana,
Togo, Tunisia;
– Central and North American Confederation “CONCACAF” with 35 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Costa Rica, Trinidad, Mexico, USA;
– South America Confederation “CONMEBOL” with 10 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador,
Paraguay;
– Oceania Football Confederation “OFC” with 11 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: none;
– Union of European Football Associations “UEFA” with 52 national
teams.
Qualified national teams are: Germany, Poland, England, Sweden,
Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia,
France, Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine.
Armenians and friends may ask: “Where is Armenia?” Armenia couldn’t
qualify.
Armenia is a part of the Union of European Football
Associations. According to FIFA World Ranking, she ranks 44th among the
52 European national teams, and 109th among the world 205 teams. That’s
not bad for a country with a population of less than 4 million that
re-emerged as an independent state only 15 years ago. If it’s any
consolation, let’s look at China with a population of over 1.2 billion,
and India with nearly 1 billion. But no, Armenians would only compare
themselves, and compete with the top world soccer powerhouses such
as Germany, Italy, England, France, Spain, Brazil, etc.
The next question that may be asked: “Is Armenia represented?”
Of course! The valiant team of Iran (despite its tragic loss against
Mexico 1-3) has an Armenian player on its team. His name is Andranik
Teymourian. He wears jersey no. 14. Teymourian represents his country
of birth Iran, and his country of ethnic origin Armenia with flying
color. During the game against Mexico, Teymourian was the Iranian
player who was targeted the most to be subjected to fouls by several
Mexican players.
How about Alecko Eskandarian? Alecko is the American Major League
Soccer’s top scorer. Had he not been subjected to head injury nearly
a year ago he would have surely been qualified to be on team USA. Now
he has recovered and continues to out-perform his competitors. He
has a lot going for him. He is young, energetic, and currently the
top scorer of MLS. Many soccer experts think that his time will come
and he will represent USA with elan.
How else is Armenia represented at this World Cup? Armenia,
Armenians and friends around the world solemnly remember that
several countries out of 32 qualified, have recognized the Armenian
Genocide, and represent Armenians in a much more valuable arena:
political righteousness and morality. Germany, along with USA,
France, Argentina, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands,
has officially recognized the genocide at the hands of Turkey.
Armenians and friends also remember when Greece and France officially
recognized the genocide respectively in 1996, and 1998, both received
the blessings of the one and one half million martyred saints. France
became the gracious host of the spectacular 16th FIFA World Cup
tournament in 1998. A blessing that was well earned. An added blessing:
France became the world champion.
Speaking of Greece, the underdog Greeks astonished the world audience
and became great Greeks, the champion of Europe in 2004.
And now, Armenia, Armenians and friends around the world continue
to remember with gratitude that Germany has not only recognized the
genocide but also legislated a law against the denial of the Armenian
genocide. It is in the spirit of political courage and integrity
that Germany is putting to good use this World Cup’s official slogan
“A time to make friends”.
Franz Beckenbauer, Germany’s most popular soccer player, coach and
manager ever, known as the “Kaiser”, was one of the architects of
then West Germany’s victory in 1974 World Cup. The “Kaiser” is now
the President of the Organizing Committee Germany 2006 FIFA World
Cup. He wrote in the February/March 2006 issue: “… in Leipzig, a
city that in 1974, when DFB hosted a World Cup for the first time,
belonged to the GDR in a divided Germany, but has since become
one of the unmistakable symbols of the peaceful transformation
of the political situation both in Germany and Europe. … We do
not want to attach excessive ideological significance to the 2006
World Cup in Germany. Nonetheless, I consider it one indicator
of how different cultures have come together in recent years in a
Europe with many states. At the beginning of the 21st century, 82
million people … live together peacefully in Germany. And here,
following reunification in 1990, millions of people who were moulded
and divided by two different political systems have joined together
in an open society.”
Kermania (Germany) of Central Europe is civilized, blessed, vibrant
and reunified. Can Ermania of the Caucasus and of the Armenian
Highlands in Western Ermania (Armenia) emulate their Kerman “Kaiser”
cousins? It’s not a question of “if” but “when!” So, can we all start
working toward securing Armenia’s participation in South Africa 2010
FIFA World Cup? Next, can we jointly endeavor for the Armenia 2030
FIFA World Cup possibly in a reunified homeland?

MUSLIM LEADERS URGE ARMENIAN WITHDRAWAL FROM KARABAKH ENCLAVE
Agence France Presse — English
June 21, 2006 Wednesday 2:04 PM GMT
Leaders of Muslim states urged the immediate and unconditional
withdrawal of ethnic Armenian forces from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave in Azerbaijan in a declaration signed in Baku on Wednesday.
In a document called the Baku Declaration, the 57 member states of
the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) said they “strongly
condemn the aggression” of Armenia against Azerbaijan and “urge
the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian
occupying forces.”
The Armenian-majority enclave of Karabakh seceded from Azerbaijan
in the late 1980s, sparking a six-year conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan that claimed 25,000 lives and displaced hundreds of
thousands of people.
Despite a 1994 ceasefire, tensions remain high in the mountainous
region — one of the world’s most militarized zones.
The OIC declaration called on member states to “support Azerbaijan
on the issue of full restoration of its territorial integrity.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OIC DEMANDS ARMENIAN FORCES PULLOUT FROM AZERBAIJAN
by Sevidzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 21, 2006 Wednesday 11:48 AM EST
The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) demanded Armenia
immediately, unconditionally and irrevocably withdraw its armed units
from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, according to a declaration
adopted at the 33rd session of the Council of OIC Foreign Ministers.
The foreign ministers said the settlement of the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan, the economic activity and the exploitation of natural
resources “are illegal and cause damage to the peace process.” They
condemned the destruction of cultural monuments and voiced concern
about mass fires in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
The OIC urged the international community to take all the necessary
measures to achieve a peace agreement on the dragged-out conflict
in Nagorno-Karabakh. “We urge the OIC member-states to support
Azerbaijan’s efforts to restore its territorial integrity and
sovereignty,” the declaration says.

ISLAMIC GROUP SAYS IRANIAN NUCLEAR CRISIS MUST BE RESOLVED THROUGH U.N. WATCHDOG
Aida Sultanova
AP Worldstream
Jun 21, 2006
Foreign ministers from member nations of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference said Wednesday that the dispute over Iran’s nuclear
program needs to be resolved through the U.N. nuclear watchdog _
the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Tehran also has insisted the issue should be dealt with solely within
the IAEA, but the United States and other Western countries have
pushed for possible referral to the United Nations Security Council.
In recent weeks Iran has indicated it might be is willing to negotiate
the nuclear dispute with six world powers who have offered a package
of rewards if halts uranium enrichment.
In a statement issued at the end of a three-day meeting in the
Azerbaijani capital of Baku, diplomats said the Islamic organization’s
57 member nations had “the inalienable right” to develop nuclear
energy for peaceful purposes.
“We believe that the outstanding issues between the Islamic Republic
of Iran and the IAEA should be resolved within the IAEA framework as
the sole competent authority,” the statement said. “The only way to
resolve the issue is to resume negotiations without any preconditions.”
Iran insists that its nuclear program is aimed at generating
electricity, but the United States and European Union suspect that
it is aimed at building weapons.
Tehran is considering a Western package of incentives, also backed by
Russia and China, that calls on Iran to suspend, not permanently halt,
uranium enrichment as a condition for the start of talks, although
the negotiations are aimed at getting Iran to agree to a long-term
moratorium on such activity.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the OIC’s secretary general, said the
organization also called for ridding the Middle East of all nuclear
weapons _ a long-standing demand by many Arab states directed mainly
at Israel and its clandestine nuclear arms program. Israel neither
acknowledges nor denies having nuclear weapons.
The OIC ministers also condemned Azerbaijan’s neighbor, Armenia,
blaming it for the lingering conflict over the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Ethnic Armenian forces have controlled the mountainous territory
located entirely within Azerbaijan since six years of open fighting
ended in 1994 and the lack of resolution about its status has hampered
development of the strategic Caucasus region.
Ihsanoglu also criticized the media for last year’s controversy
surrounding the publication of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. A
Danish newspaper first printed the cartoons, and other foreign
newspapers later followed, infuriating much of the Muslim world and
sparking deadly riots.
“This is impermissible. This is a crime against Islam. This is an
insult to Muslims,” Ihsanoglu said.
“Freedom and responsibility should go hand-in-hand,” he added.
“Irresponsible freedom is anarchy. We call on the Europeans to pay
attention to this issue.”

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW MEETS HEAD OF ARMENIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, URGES SOLIDARITY
Benjamin Harvey
AP Worldstream
Jun 21, 2006
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I urged the world’s Orthodox churches
to minimize differences and seek solidarity as he met with the head
of Armenian Orthodox Church on Wednesday.
Deep divisions are prevalent throughout the Orthodox Church. Although
Bartholomew controls several Greek Orthodox churches around the world,
including the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and is considered
the spiritual leader of some 250 million Orthodox worldwide, relations
with two of the largest churches, in Russia and Greece, remain tense.
The Armenian Orthodox Church also operates independently and is not
under his jurisdiction.
“We must always keep in mind that we aim only for the glory of God,”
Bartholomew said after meeting Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul. “He himself taught us this:
‘May they all be one.’ It is a sacred goal.”
Armenian Christians pride themselves on being descendants of the first
people to adopt Christianity as their official national religion. The
Armenian national church was established in A.D. 301.
That predates the Roman Empire’s edict of A.D. 313 tolerating
Christianity, which was previously illegal, and was 94 years before
it became the official religion of Rome and the Orthodox lands of
the East.
Karekin arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday for a weeklong visit to the
Armenian community here and to hold talks with Bartholomew.
Police tightened security to protect the visiting leader from Turkish
nationalists who protested his arrival on Tuesday night, prompting
the police to accompany Karekin out of the airport through a separate
entrance.
Karekin has angered Turks by saying the country committed genocide
against Armenians around the time of World War I, an allegation
vehemently denied by Turkey.
Turkey, which has no diplomatic relations with Armenia, denies that
Turks committed genocide, saying Armenians who lived under the Ottoman
Empire were killed in internal fighting among ethnic groups as the
empire collapsed.
___
Associated Press Writer Selcan Hacaoglu in Ankara contributed to
this report.

NKR MEETS EUROPEAN STANDARDS MUCH BETTER THAN BAKU
Yerkir
21.06.2006 16:48
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “I was glad to learn about the international
conference dedicated to the 15th anniversary of proclamation of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic.
This is an evidence that our state has formed,” NKR President Arkady
Ghukasian stated in Stepanakert at the opening of the international
conference titled “Nagorno Karabakh Republic: Past, Present and
Future.”
In his words, recent 15 years have proved that the people of Nagorno
Karabakh have the right to live in an independent state that was
proclaimed according to the former USSR legislation and norms of the
international law.
“Though the NKR has not been recognized by the international community
yet, our republic meets the European standards much better than
Azerbaijan, which having imposed a war on us attempted to get rid of
the Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh.
However our people not only held out in an unequal bloody opposition
but also managed to cure the wounds of the war, restore the economy
and raise the cultural life during a short period of time.
The NKR possesses an efficient and equipped army, which is the best
guarantor of security and prosperity of Nagorno Karabakh and its
people,” Arkady Ghukasian said.

BORDYUZHA: NATO DOESN’T WISH TO COOPERATE WITH CSTO MEMBER STATES
PanARMENIAN.Net
21.06.2006 15:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The member states of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) are concerned over the NATO military infrastructure
being built around Belarus and Russia. At that the Alliance has not
responded to the CSTO proposal on partnership so far, CSTO Secretary
General Nikolay Bordyuzha stated. “A year and a half ago we proposed
partnership to the Alliance but have not received any response so
far. We understand that this is not a technical fault and we are
concerned over the fact,” Bordyuzha said. “The NATO’s unwillingness
to cooperate is conditioned by political reasons,” he added.
In Bordyuzha’s opinion, new members will be accessed in the NATO
for the fulfillment of certain military tasks. “We are concerned
that states will be accessed to the NATO without accomplishing the
necessary military procedures,” Nikolay Bordyuzha said adding that
the accession of Ukraine and Romania is nothing but “a political
decision for the fulfillment of military tasks,” reported Interfax.
The CSTO member states are Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The military-political union of these six
states was fixed by the Treaty on Collective Security signed May 15,
1992. The Council of the Collective Security is the supreme body of
the CSTO.

“IF IT CONTINUES IN THIS WAY, WE CAN’T HOLD STATE ELECTIONS”
Margaret Yesayan
Aravot.am
21 June 06
The “Justice” group representative in the CEC Felix Khachatrian
expresses his apprehension.
The “Justice” group representative in the CEC Felix Khachatrian
opposing to the CEC chairman Gourgen Azarian’s thought that the
opposition makes declaration for justifying its real defeat, said;
“We have never lost, we have won both in presidential and parliamentary
elections in 1998 and 2003 and during constitutional referendum in
2005, people like Spartak Eghiazarian and those who appoint them
have lost, it’s another matter that the authorities have rigged our
real victory. And Grigor Haroutiunian’s words are completely true,
he had said that they had gathered for taking courses in Goris city
but the lecturers hadn’t come, I myself has phoned the chairman of the
commission informing him about it”. Felix Khachatrian explains this
unorganized situation with a special intention by the authorities,
to do their best for less people take courses and for being possible
to give certificates whom they want.
Felix Khachatrian considers important the teaching project of the
members of commissions but he thinks as a specialist that the project
doesn’t serve its purpose as the responsibility of the case is given
to the leaders of communities who try to fail the process.
Mr. Khachatrian also has complaints from the whole duration of
course organization though he is also a teacher; ”16-hour project
is formed which is too little for realizing such a great documental
study. I was myself taking part as a teacher in Masis City of Ararat
region. My first impression was too bad and referred to organization
part of courses. The group with which I must have lessons was a group
by 154 members by the list. But a hall with 90 seats was given for
lectures. It was the hall of Masis Municipality. And it became clear
that only 92 persons were present in the hall and on the end of the
day the future members of commissions have run away from lectures and
it became clear that only 27 remained. And only 25 persons instead
of 154 took part in the test. This means if everything continues in
this way we won’t be able to hold the coming state elections. But
perhaps it will become clear that all future members of commissions
have passed the test in Masis region”, – F. Khachatrian expressed
his apprehension. M. Khachatrian is sure that if a lot of people from
this region get certificates of commission members, it will be obvious
that the authorities acted by their designed scenario again. To our
question the representatives of the authority or opposition take part
in the courses more, Felix Khachatrian answered that only the name and
surname if written in list given to him and the number of passport,
there isn’t any other information and he can’t answer to that question.
–Boundary_(ID_2+4QZKZAsEhmG4OhFCcefg)- –
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. SENATE TO DISCUSS RICHARD HOAGLAND NOMINATION FOR U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
21.06.2006 16:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Americans across the U.S. will be closely
following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearings for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland,
in hopes of gaining concrete insight into the exact nature of the
State Department’s policy of complicity in Armenian Genocide denial –
particularly as it relates to the firing of the current U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA). The hearing comes as Armenian American
activists across the U.S. continue to call on Senators to demand a
full explanation for the early recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
John Marshall Evans.
To remind, the recall of Amb. Evans was caused by his statement on
the Armenian Genocide made February 19, 2005 at a meeting with the
Armenian Diaspora in California. “Today I will call it the Armenian
Genocide,” Amb. Evans said.