INTERVIEW: RUSSIA NEEDS TO INVOLVE DIASPORAS TO RESOLVE
RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 5 2005
Nagorny-Karabakh – political scientist
15:49 | 05/ 09/ 2005
MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti, Andrei Malyshkin) – A prominent
political scientist said Monday that Russia had to take a new
approach in its efforts to resolve the Nagorny Karabakh conflict,
one of the bloodiest territorial and ethnic disputes to affect the
former Soviet Union.
Sergei Markedonov, the deputy head of the department of international
relations at the Institute for Political and Military Analysis,
said Russia must involve its Armenian and Azerbaijani Diasporas to
increase trust between the two sides in the conflict.
“The main problem in the resolution of the Nagorny Karabakh issue
is the restoration of trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he
said. He added the problem could not be decided by the mediators in
the conflict: Russia, the United States, Turkey or the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group.
The expert said Azerbaijan wanted Armenia first to withdraw its
troops from Nagorny Karabakh, UN-recognized Azerbaijani territory
with an Armenian majority, and then decide on the status of the
disputed territory.
“Armenia in its turn doubts that Azerbaijan will honor its promises and
that Nagorny Karabakh will not become a province within Azerbaijan,”
Markedonov said.
The expert said new models were needed to resolve the conflict,
which reached its height in the early 1990s.
Speaking about potential initiatives from Russia, the expert said,
“There must be a clear-cut Caucasus strategy, which we do not have
currently, to make such statements.”
“There is no perception that Armenia and Azerbaijan need Russia,”
he added.
He said, taking into account the large Armenian and Azerbaijani
Diasporas, Russia could establish contacts between their
representatives and make them regular. After that Russia could
“relay” the experience onto Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in the
South Caucasus.
“I would put the accent on the Diasporas,” the expert added. “This
is a very rich resource in all senses and Russia needs to organize
contacts within its borders. With the huge financial and political
influence of Diasporas on Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia could use
it as a resource for informal reconciliation.”

ARMENIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES
By Patricia Norris
The Republican, MA
Sept 5 2005
SPRINGFIELD – St. Mark Armenian Church’s Festival was a little taste
of home for Irina Tumasyan.
Tumasyan, her husband and their children spent the day at the church
festival on Wilbraham Road, visiting, eating and dancing. She and
her family came to the area from Armenia six years ago, she said.
“We enjoy it. We meet other Armenians here,” she said as she watched
a group of women perform an ethnic dance called kochary.
“The dance is a tradition from Lebanon or places like Iran,”
Tumasyan said, two of the countries that absorbed Armenians during
the Diaspora resettlement from the Ottoman Empire at the beginning
of the 20th century.
Armenia is considered the first country to have officially embraced
Christianity as its religion, around 300 A.D.
At all food and drink tables, large glass jars were set up to collect
donations for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Money raised went to
the National Council of Churches Humanitarian Relief Effort.
People tossed change into the jars as they bought traditional breads,
sweets and foods like kufta – stuffed meatballs.
Eleanor Demirjian of Longmeadow, who organized the bake sale, said
she and other volunteers began preparing food a month before the
festival, freezing what they could and then working many hours last
week on the fresh items.
For many people it is a treat to try some of the foods, as many of
the traditional dishes are time consuming to make, Demirjian said.
She said there was no best-seller at her table, but many people seemed
partial to the cheese-filled pastries and the difficult-to-make
meat pies called lahmajoon that the church brought to the festival
from Boston.
“It’s a good reason to get together,” she said, “to share food,
family and camaraderie.”
It was also a time to let non-Armenians learn about their culture
and traditions.
Suren Tumasyan bragged about the fine brandy being served.
“Everyone says it is the best cognac in the world,” he said.

KREMLIN LOSING WAR FOR NORTH CAUCASUS
Mikhail Zygar
MosNews, Russia
Sept 5 2005
Kommersant.ru
The tragedy in Beslan happened four months after the start of Putin’s
second term. In fact, he began with this tragedy, and not with his
inauguration. Beslan has become a landmark that separates Putin-1
policy from Putin-2.
The Russian authorities learned several lessons after Beslan which
Vladimir Putin pointed out in his famous mourning speech. The Kremlin
decided not to change just its attitude towards security – it changed
all its policies. And it was successful in doing so.
The most important promise Putin made was to adopt “the complex of
measures that would unite the country.” He meant to replace elected
governors with appointed ones. This step made it impossible for the
regions to argue with the federal center. The heads of the local
administrations become more compliant, and the ones that didn’t left
their posts.
Another important goal for the authorities after Beslan became the
“mobilization of the nation in the face of a common threat.”
“Terrorists receive the most effective response when they encounter
not only a powerful state but also a united civil society,” the
president said.
This goal was also reached. Opposition in Russia disappeared. Not
a single opposition party reacted to Beslan. There was no kind of
independent commission created.
Moreover, the opposition totally missed Beslan. The past year proved
that the opposition is extinct. Neither the communists, nor the
liberals reacted to further political crises like the monetization
of welfare benefits, the events in Blagoveshchensk and the North
Caucasus. The opposition became a marginal body with the “face”
of Eduard Limonov.
One more element illustrating “the organization and unification of
civil society” was the final victory over television. Right after
Beslan the news in fact died. There were no discussions after Beslan.
Beslan changed Russia not only politically but psychologically as
well. Russians started to think that there cannot be democracy and
order at the same time. And to get the latter the people should be
ready to give up the first. In October of last year, a month after
Beslan, according to a poll by the Levada Center, 60 percent of
Russians were ready to sacrifice temporarily “some constitutional
freedoms” and 59 percent agreed with the closure of media that
questioned presidential policy. However, 79 percent recognized that
the authorities could not protect them from terrorism.
Beslan did not noticeably lower the rating of the president. However,
if the population supports the president, it does not necessarily mean
that it is happy with the current situation. According to the polls,
in May of this year 43 percent saw around them increased disorder,
chaos and anarchy. In other words, the authorities do not enforce
order enough.
The year after Beslan was very successful for the authorities. The
Kremlin got everything it wanted. However, it came with some losses.
The main problem, which led to Beslan was left unresolved – terrorism
in the Caucasus. Before Beslan all the troubling news was coming
from Chechnya and rarely from Ingushetia. After Beslan the war spread
across the entire North Caucasus.
Last September, the people of Beslan went into the streets to
demand the resignation of President Dzasokhov. Moscow refused. The
authorities thought if the Ossetians were able to remove their
president by street protests, tomorrow other Caucasus people would
follow their example. And they were right. A month later the crowd
seized the Government House in Karachaevo-Cherkesia and demanded the
resignation of the president. However, Moscow said “no” again. The
Kremlin was afraid that if it gave in, all the authorities in the
North Caucasus would be swept away.
It does not mean that the Kremlin trusts the local Caucasus rulers.
The now famous secret report of the presidential envoy to the North
Caucasus, Dmitry Kozak, describes a pretty bleak picture in the region.
“The authorities of the North Caucasus republics are detached from
society and turned into an enclosed class. The corporate society
that was formed in the power structures monopolized the political
and economical resources, which serves only their own interests. All
the high positions in the republics are occupied by relatives,” the
envoy told the president. In other words, the Kremlin knows what is
going on but cannot change anything.
By doing nothing Moscow ran itself into a dead end. So far, the main
struggle in the region is going against the local authorities. By
going against their local presidents and governments, the people of
the Caucasus are asking Moscow for help. They hope that President
Putin’s involvement will change the situation. However, if Moscow were
to replace those hated leaders and exchange them for similar ones,
the people would start struggling against Moscow.
The power crisis in the region has already created a local civil war.
News of conflicts is now coming not only from Chechnya and
Ingushetia, but also from Dagetsan, Karachaevo-Cherkessk, and
Kabardino-Balkaria. Tanks and heavy artillery are attacking houses
in the towns of Kaspiysk, Makhachkala, Nalchik and Nazran.
Law-enforcement officers are being killed almost every week.
In his “Beslan speech,” Vladimir Putin said that he won’t let “millions
of people submerge into a chain of bloody conflicts like in Karabakh,
Pri-Dnestrovie and other tragic places.”
However, it looks like the North Caucasus is sinking more and more
into conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI EX-PRESIDENT ALLOWED TO SEEK DEPUTY SEAT
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic
Sept 5 2005
5 September 2005 (RFE/RL) — Election officials in Azerbaijan’s
capital today authorized former President Ayaz Mutalibov to run as
a candidate in the 6 November parliamentary elections.
Mutalibov, who is wanted in Azerbaijan for his alleged failure
to prevent the loss of territory to Armenian forces during the
Nagorno-Karabakh war, has been living in Russia since his resignation
in 1992.
Another prominent political exile, former parliamentary speaker Rasul
Quliyev, was registered as a candidate last month.
The Council of Europe, of which Azerbaijan is a member, has long
demanded that both Quliyev and Mutalibov be allowed to take part in
Azerbaijan’s political life.
But the Prosecutor-General’s Office has warned that both men would
be arrested as soon as they come back to the country.
The secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, who is
on a visit to Baku, today insisted that the upcoming parliamentary
polls should be free and fair.

AZERI CEC: ARMENIAN OBSERVERS CANNOT TAKE PART IN THE ELECTIONS
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 5 2005
According to the Azeri CEC, representatives of Armenia cannot take part
in the Azeri Parliamentarian elections on November 6 as observers.
“Azerbaijan has no diplomatic ties with Armenia, so the Armenian
representatives cannot take part in the elections as observers”,
stated AR CEC International Department Head Rovzat Gasymov during the
interview for Trend Agency. In his words, even though the Armenian
observers are in the CIS mission, they cannot visit Azerbaijan with
the Armenian passports. “If we do not have diplomatic ties with
Armenia, how can the observers arrive in Azerbaijan with Armenian
passports? That is the Central Electoral Commission’s stand. Azeri
Foreign Ministry may hold its own position on the issue”, said Gasymov.
According to Day.az, CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Roushajlo said
if Armenia wished to take part in the elections’ monitoring it was
its right. He noted the leadership of the country holding elections
had filed a note to CIS to send observers to the elections. “We send
the notes to CIS countries, including Armenia”, stated Roushajlo.

ILHAM ALIYEV IS READY TO GUARANTEE “KARABAKH ARMENIAN COMMUNITY’S SECURITY”
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 5 2005
During the interview for Hurriyet newspaper (Turkey) Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev said Baku was ready to guarantee “Karabakh Armenian
community’s security”.
“I told Kocharyan we were ready to guarantee Karabakh Armenian
community’s security. I stressed Baku would not allow the community
to face any danger”, stated Aliyev.
In his words, “Azerbaijan is very strong, and Armenia will not manage
to withstand its onslaught”. “However, we do not want a war, as a
lot of people will die. I believe we’ll recover our lands sooner or
later. Let no one doubt it”, said Aliyev.
Commenting on the outcomes of the Kazan meeting with RA President
Robert Kocharyan Ilham Aliyev said there had been no results so far.
“The Armenians are waiting for us to grant independence to them.
However, it is impossible. The maintenance of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity is of primary importance for us”, noted Azeri President.
He stated after the Kazan meeting he had felt some easing in
Kocharyan’s stand; however, it was not enough for the conflict’s
settlement, Freedom Radio Station reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT SENT A CONDOLING MESSAGE TO GEORGE BUSH
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 5 2005
RA President Robert Kocharyan sent a condoling message to the US
President George Bush in connection with the disastrous results of
the “Katrina” hurricane. DE FACTO received the information at the
RA President’s press service. The message runs: “Your Excellency,
I learnt with deep sorrow about the devastating hurricane “Katrina”,
which hit the Eastern shores of the United States causing great
destruction and loss of human lives. We share your grief and pain, and
on behalf of the people of Armenia and my own behalf, send our sincere
condolences to you, friends and families of those, who were affected
by this disaster. We wish you great endurance and moral strength”.

THE ORGANIZATION FOR LIBERATION OF KARABAKH CONDUCTED A SOCIOLOGICAL POLL ON THE WAYS OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
DeFacto, Armenia
Sept 5 2005
The Organization for Liberation of Karabakh conducted a public opinion
poll on Azeri people’s attitude towards Karabakh issue, Trend reports.
1943 respondents were asked a question how the Armenian aggression’s
consequences could be eliminated – by military or peaceful way. 39%
of those asked said they were for the military way of the conflict
settlement, 40% were the negotiations’ supporters, while 21% found it
difficult to answer the question. That was the adult people’s answer.
Young people gave the following answer: 40% were for the military
way, 35% were the supporters of the conflict’s peaceful solution.
To note, 49% of women were for the conflict’s military settlement,
while 37% were the negotiations’ supporters.

MILITARY COOPERATION
A1+
| 12:43:08 | 05-09-2005 | Official |
On September 5 the Delegation of the Secretary of the Security Council
under the RA President, the Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan will
leave for the Republic of Latvia on an official visit.
Within the framework of the visit the delegation will sign
memorandumabout Military cooperation between Armenia and Latvia.

SLOVENE FOREIGN MINISTER PLEASED WITH PROGRESS IN NAGORNYY KARABAKH TALKS
STA news agency, Ljubljana
5 Sep 05
Baku, 5 September: Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, the OSCE
chairman-in-office, said he was satisfied with the progress in the
talks on a resolution on Nagornyy Karabakh as he visited Azerbaijan
on Monday [5 September].
Speaking to the press after meeting Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov
in Baku – the first stop of his two-day tour of Azerbaijan and Armenia
– Rupel called on Azerbaijan to keep striving for a solution to the
conflict with Armenia in spite of the current election campaign.
Because of the 6 November parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan,
it is difficult to assess how the talks will progress, he said.
The Slovene foreign minister expects the two countries to continue
their dialogue on the matter, although he admitted that “it is clear
that serious open issues remain”.
The two sides agree on matters in principle, but a lot is open in
terms of the technical nature of the solution, he said.
Rupel also held talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, who briefed
him of the talks he held with Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan
on 27 August in Russia. Moreover, he met Azeri PM Artur Rasizada.
The Nagornyy Karabakh “is a long story with many components”, Rupel
stressed, adding that he doubted a solution could be reached during
Slovenia’s stint as OSCE president.
There is concern in the international community that the forthcoming
elections might derail the progress in the Nagornyy Karabakh talks,
as the conflict could become a tool for internal political purposes.
However, Mammadyarov downplayed the possibility of the conflict
becoming hostage to political campaigning in Azerbaijan. The
negotiations are continuing, however, the issue is so complex that
a solution cannot be reached in just a few days, he told the press.
[Passage omitted – background]
Meanwhile, the upcoming parliamentary elections figured highly in
Rupel’s talks with Azeri opposition officials and representatives of
NGOs, who presented their concerns regarding the elections.
According to Leila Yunus from the NGO Institute for Peace and
Democracy, non-governmental organizations have been barred from
overseeing the elections, which she believes is a sign that the
government does not want the poll to be free and fair.
Rupel said it was not the OSCE’s task to criticise but to offer
advice on elections to participating states. He added that he hoped
that certain problems regarding election teams and electoral rolls
would be resolved ahead of the poll.
Meanwhile, Mammadyarov said he was convinced the elections would
be free and fair. Admitting that Azerbaijan could not achieve
Western-styled democracy overnight, he pointed out that the elections
would be monitored by observers from the OSCE and the Council of
Europe.