BAKU: Georgian politicians blame Armenians for falsehood

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 29 2005

GEORGIAN POLITICIANS BLAME ARMENIANS FOR FALSEHOOD
[March 29, 2005, 14:08:41]

Suggestions of members of the Georgian president’s council of
advisers, renowned politicians Georgi Gachechiladze and Igor
Kveselava on the so-called `Armenian genocide’ in Turkey and the
current situation in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia mostly
settled by the Armenians have deeply enraged the Armenians in
Dashnaksutun Party.

To this end, Georgi Gachechiladze and Igor Kveselava have briefed for
media representatives, whereby Georgi Gachechiladze says: `One cannot
believe in this `genocide’. Russia has been also involved in this
tragedy. If the Dashnaksutun members don’t understand that they
mislead the world community, this is their problem. And the ancient
land of Georgia is called `Javahketi’ but not `Javakhk’.

Igor Kveselava: `I am convinced that another country is also involved
in this tragedy. It is not connected only to Turkey. There is no
difference between the anti-Georgian ideas of a group of dashnaks and
Migranian. They should understand that there is no such notion as
`Javakhk”, it is Javakheti and I do not understand the Armenian
claims against Georgia’.

BAKU: Ornek: Turkey will not open borders with agressor Armenia

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 29 2005

OZDEN ORNEK: `TURKEY WILL NOT OPEN BOARDERS WITH AGRESSOR ARMENIA’
[March 29, 2005, 17:55:35]

Commander of Turkish Naval Forces, Fleet’s Admiral Ozden Ornek was
cordially welcomed in the Defense Ministry where was lined up a Guard
of Honor.

In the meeting, the Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev stated
that the relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are high level in
all spheres. Turkey was the first state to recognize sovereignty of
Azerbaijan that regained it. It cannot be otherwise. We are `one
nation, two states’ and have common history, language and religion.
Versatile relations of the fraternal countries cannot be compared
with relations to other countries.

Noting that Turkey supports Azerbaijan in all fields, including in
the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, integration of the
country to the European structures and in the activity in the frame
of NATO PfP program, Mr. Abiyev said the relations between Azerbaijan
and NATO are developing. Last year, President Ilham Aliyev has
presented the Plan of Activity on Individual Partnership in the frame
of NATO’s PfP program to the Secretary General of NATO. Annually,
representatives of the Armed Forces of the Azerbaijan Republic attend
over 300 actions of this structure.

Noting that the military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is
at high level, Safar Abiyev said that representatives of the armed
forces of the brotherly countries cooperate in Kosovo and Afghanistan
implementing their international humanitarian mission. Cooperation
between the naval Forces develop day by day, and the Turkish side
renders assistance and in this direction. The defense minister of
Azerbaijan thanked to the government of Turkey and management of the
Armed Forces of Turkey.

Commander of Turkish Naval Forces, Fleet’s Admiral Ozden Ornek
expressed pleasure to visit Baku, stating that the goal of the visit
is to expand ties between the Turkish Naval Forces and Azerbaijan
Navy. Because, the beginning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan MEP is in
Azerbaijan while the end is in Turkey. And we should secure this
pipeline of friendship and fraternity.

Colonel-General Safar Abiyev said that the Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations base on a firm ground, the BTC MEP would be commissioned
this year, and that the works for construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline would be launched in 2006. The
Defense Minister especially stressed that the two states should
guarantee safety of the pipelines and platforms. Turkey is one of the
powerful and strongest members of NATO. Therefore, Azerbaijan’s
enemies try to impede this grandiose project. And subsequently, they
render assistance appropriate forces to delay settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. We reiterate that Azerbaijan will not
cede a sod of its lands to Armenia.

The Minister spoke of the current military-political situation in the
South Caucasus, underlining that in realization of the projects, in
fair resolution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Turkey will
always be with Azerbaijan, support it and not open the borders with
Armenia.

Fleet’s Admiral Ozden Ornek, in particular, noted that despite of
pressures on Turkey, we have not opened the borders with Armenia.
Despite continuous attempts of the Armenians, we shall not open our
borders. Turkey and Azerbaijan should always back each other.

Then, the sides had comprehensive exchange of vies on
Azerbaijan-Turkey military ties, including expansion of naval Forces
of both countries.

In the meeting, also was participating Ambassador of Turkey to
Azerbaijan Turan Morali.

ANKARA: Next Target is Armenia?

Journal of Turkish Weekly
March 29 2005

Next Target is Armenia?

Davut SAHINER (JTW) After Georgia and Ukraine, `velvet revolution’
hit Kyrgyzstan. President Askar Akayev has fled the country, and
opposition MP Ishenbai Kadyrbekov was named acting president, hours
after demonstrators overran the presidential palace in the capital,
Bishkek.

Gangs of looters roamed through the city overnight, ransacking shops
and setting fire to buildings. At least three people are reported to
have died during the unrest. However it is understood that Kyrgyzstan
has faced a popular movement.

The US named the `revolution’ democratic, while Russia and the
neighboring Central Asia states are worried.

For many IR experts Kyrgyzstan is the latest stage of `the
democratization process’ triggered by the United States in the
`greater Middle East and Eastern Europe, from Ukraine to China
borders. Nese Mesudoglu from Sabah, Turkish daily paper, argues that
the US uses George Soros and his foundations-societies in order to
undermine the existing `un-democratic’ governments. `Velvet
revolutions follow Soros. When Soros goes a country, a revolution or
unrest visit that country’ Sabah says. Not surprisingly the Bishkek
Soros Foundation was there before the `revolution’ and it is a
well-known fact that the foundation was making great assistance to
the opposition groups under the name of `education and
democratization’. The budget of the Bishkek Soros Foundation is about
4 million dollars. Soros had made financial assistance to the
Serbian, Ukrainian and Georgian oppositions.

Soros has foundations and societies in 30 countries. It is claimed
that he supported opposition in Malaysia and Venezuela as well.

Withdrawal of the Russian Empire

It can be argued that the US continues to implement the `Greater
Middle East Initiative’. The Initiative has two columns: Military
Operations and Democratization Operations. In the second column, the
US encourages the opposing groups and minorities to overturn the
existing `dictatorial administrations’ or `anti-American powers’. In
almost all countries experienced velvet revolutions the power was
belong to the anti-American groups, and all these governments had
good relations with Russia. Kyrgyzstan is a peculiar case, because
the Kyrgyzstan case can be considered as message not only to the
Russians but also to the Chinese. The country is at the crossroads of
Russia, China, India-Pakistan and the Turkic-Islamic World. Possibly,
it is the greatest gain for the US `Greater Middle Eastern Project’.
Kyrgyzstan is a perfect `base’ to control Russian and Chinese
politics in the region and to watch drug trafficking.

Next Target: Belarus or Armenia?

Kyrgyzstan is the latest example for the silk revolutions but not the
last one. Many expects that the revolution wave will continue.
Belarus is one of the possible candidates, but Armenia is the easiest
one. President Robert Kocherian, Karabakh veteran, dominates the
Armenian politics. He has very close relations with Russia and keeps
the opposition under pressure.

As Emil Danielyan pointed out `the ruling regime has heavily relied
on the oligarchs to manipulate elections and bully its political
opponents, making it doubtful that any serious action will be taken
to rein them in. They are able to bribe and intimidate local voters
and resort to other election falsification techniques. Ballot box
stuffing was commonplace during the 2003 presidential election, which
Western observers described as undemocratic.’ (Jamestown). The
overwhelming majority of the Armenian population thinks that Armenian
political system is not democratic and there is no hope for the
future. The opposition started a huge campaign last year but
Kocherian with his armed supporters from Karabakh severely suppressed
the civil movement. Many were prisoned and tortured including very
young and women. There are Russian military bases in Armenia and
Kocherian Government is seen as the `only Russian ally’ in the
Caucasus. Armenia also has good relations with Iran. The FBI
investigates Armenian-Iranian connections in weapon trade and
terrorism. There are a pro-Western governments in Azerbaijan and
Georgia.

Armenian PM: Revolution in Armenia is Impossible

Prime Minister Andranik Markarian said on 28 March 2005 Monday that
his government is striving to keep Armenia unaffected by the wave of
successful anti-government uprisings across the former Soviet and is
confident that it can weather the storm. `We are trying to make sure
that the revolutionary wave doesn’t reach us,’ Markarian told RFE/RL,
reacting to last week’s dramatic ouster of Kyrgyzstan’s longtime
autocratic president, Askar Akayev.

`In my view, democracy is developing in our country. Of course, not
everything is all right. But the difference is huge. We have no
problems with the economy… So I don’t see grounds for the people to
get out, change government and then go on a rampage,’ Markarian
added.

However Dr. Sedat Laciner from International Strategic Research
Organization thinks different: `Armenia could be the next target. As
a matter of fact that many revolution attempts in Armenian were
suppressed by the existing Government.’

Revised edition
29 March 2005

ANKARA: ‘Ottoman Provided Secure Road for Immigrating Armenians’

Zaman, Turkey
March 29 2005

‘Ottoman Provided Secure Road for Immigrating Armenians’
By Elif Tunca
Published: Tuesday 29, 2005
zaman.com

While answers to the question of, “What happened in 1915?” varies
from day to day; the Turkish Prime Ministry State Archive has also
participated in the debates by including Ottoman documents from the
archives.

The State Archives Director General Professor Yusuf Sarinay has
released for public debate some of the documents from the Ottoman
achieves relating to the Armenian issue.

Information from the Ottoman’s regarding the Armenians who cooperated
with the Russians, those inside the boarders who were sent to Musul
(Mosul), Halep (Halab) and Damascus, and the dispatching and the
establishment of settlements were confirmed in detail, as too were
ways of overcoming food and settlement problems for those who return,
are all contained in the file comprising of 17 documents.

One article also declared that, “Those employees who violated and
neglected individuals during the dispatch were sent to Divan-i Harb
(Marshall Court)” is included in the documents.

The documents of pre (May 1915) and post emigration presented for
public debate, are not new; however, according to Sarinay, because
foreign researchers in particular do not want to research documents
about Armenians. These documents and this information do not reach
the public arena for debate.

Noting that the Prime Ministry State Archives have already revealed
over 1 million documents relating to the Armenians directly and 2-3
million indirectly from a total 12.5 million documents to researchers,
Sarinay has also demanded that the archives of the Armenian Diaspora
in the US and Yerevan are opened.

Indicating that the General Staff’s archive is also open scientists
who will undertake research, Sarinay noted that the General Staff
will also publish a book comprising the current documents before
April 24.

Among those who are most interested in the archives are the Americans
and the Japanese. The British, Germans, and the French follow them.

Scandal, which is not spread the State Chancellery

Scandal, which is not spread the State Chancellery.

Newspaper `Akhali Taoba’
March 29, 2005

Why did the President Saakashvili’s Press officer apologize to
`Dashnakcutiun’?

Scandal, in the Press centre of President of Georgia, Michael
Saakashvili, is expected.The process is growing against the background
of confrontation between the Press Centre and the Advisor of
President.

This case was led to the present stage, as the advisors of President
Michael Saakashvili, political scientists Gogi Gachechiladze and Igor
Kveselava gave their views concerning the Armenian Genocide on the
territory of Turkey and the present situation in Javakheti region,
after what the offended Armenian Party `Dashnakcutiun’ made a
statement, accusing the adviser of president in awareness. That’s
strange that after that the Press Office of President apologizes to
`Dashnakcutiun’.To make the reason of scandal clear first of all we
introduce to you the comments made by the advisors of President.

Gogi Gachechiladze, political scientist, advisor of President:

-and what concerning this tragedy fact, as the Armenian genocide is, I
want to say, that there is truth in everybody’s life in which a man
doesn’t want to believe, because it’s unpleasant. In this tragedy the
hand of Russian Empire got involved and if the Armenian party
`Dashnakcutiun”s representatives don’t know that the peripetea of the
tragedy is too big and the negative role of Russian in provocation of
genocide, that’s their problem. And what about the statement made by
`Dashnakcutiun’, that they will always try defense the rights of
Armenian population in `Javakhk’ I remind that one of the oldest parts
of Georgia is called Javakheti and not `Javakhk’.

Igor Kveselava, political scientist, advisor of President:

I’m sure that in Armenian’s misfortune was involved another interested
government. It can’t be that this tragedy is related only with Turkey.
There is no difference in anti-georgian ideas between Migranyan and
`Dashnaks’. They should once and for all understand that there is no
`Javakhk’ in nature `that’s Javakheti and what claims can stake
Armenians to Georgia, that’s unclear to me’

Because of such opinion expressed by the advisor of President
concerning the Armenian tragedy, the Press Centre of `Dashnakcutiun’
by means of internet spreads such information, where it is said that:

Adviser’s lack of education doesn’t give us right to ignore the real
problems in Javakhk. ‘ Dashnakcutiun’ is ready to help the Georgian
government in defense the political and social rights of Armenian
population in Javakhk, and also in solving their social-economic
problems in case Georgian government intends to take such steps.

At that time the Press Centre of President unexpectedly states its
position in this way:

Giorgi Gachechiladze is not President’s advisor in the International
issues.

The Administration of the President of Georgia doesn’t share G.
Gachechiladze’s opinion concerning this issue. The friendly relations
between Georgia and Armenia are very important for us. We are sure
that no provocative statement or act will ever strain the
centuries-old relation with the brotherly Armenian population.

The apologies presented from the side of the Press Office of the
president to the separatist Dashnaks are not defensible. As a result
what do we have – in the person of G. Gachechiladze, the President has
taken on a provocateur?

G. Gachechiladze didn’t come across with the President
accidentally. He was one of those intelligents, who beforehand from
the Opera House declared that Michael Saakashvili deserves to be a
President. So, what does the Press Office of the President have to
apologize for? It is well known that one of the advisors of President
of Russia Vladimir Putin in the economic issues sharply criticizes his
president, but the President’s Press Office doesn’t spread the
information that the advisor President is a provocateur.

And what about the Council of Advisers of Saakashvili (consisting of
four person) ` they defense the President’s political course, and
naturally, there is no time for criticism. And it would be out of
place to speak about their provocative acts. While the external
enemies of M. Saakashvili accuse him in alliance with Armenian Lobby,
at the same time the Press office of President, encouraging Armenian
`Dashnaks’ declares that the President in the persons of Advisers in
Foreign Issues has provocateurs, how do we call it: a mistake, a
misunderstanding, indifference, improvidence or¦?That’s also unclear
why do the President’s Press office pays attention to protest made by
one of Armenian parties?

Their position is not the position of President Kocharyan and the
whole Armenia, isn’t it?So, what do we deal with? Information
concerning the text of the statement made by the president’s Press
Office which wasn’t have been approved by the president itself already
leaked out in the State Chancellery. And in the end, we contacted Soso
Tsintsadze, the Chairman of the Council of Advisers of Saakashvili,
who didn’t wish to answer the questions concerning the mentioned above
issue; he only said that we should be more careful in such issues.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://www.armenia.ge/eng/g_n_2.html
http://www.armenia.ge/rus/g_n_2.html

ANKARA: Ottoman Archives Open to All, Including Armenian Researchers

Journal of Turkish Weekly
March 29 2005

Ottoman Archives Open to All, Including Armenian Researchers
Ottoman archives promoted

Prime Ministry State Archives Director General Yusuf Sarinay said
that there were tens of thousands of documents in Turkish State
Archives refuting the Armenian allegations.

Holding a news conference, Sarinay said, ”Armenians have been making
propaganda against Turkey for a long time. There are more than 1
million documents related with Armenians directly and indirectly in
our archives from 1870s to 1922. These documents are waiting for a
scientific examination.”

”When we read those documents, we see that the Ottoman Empire
decided to relocate Armenians to suppress a de facto uprising and put
an end to Armenian’s collaboration of Russian army, not toprevent a
likely rebellion,” he said.

Noting that the allegations of so-called Armenian genocide were based
on subjective works and evaluations like memories instead of
scientific documents, Sarinay said, ”there are tens of thousands of
documents in our archives refuting these allegations. Our basic
target is that the history should be written objectively. Therefore,
we have opened our archives to all scientists.”

Recalling that April 24th was declared as ”day of genocide” by
Armenians, Sarinay told reporters, ”in fact, leading names of
Armenian committees were arrested on that date. For instance, 235
Armenian people were arrested in Istanbul. None of them was sentenced
to death penalty or sent to exile. Some circles claim that Armenian
artist Comidas was killed in the genocide. In fact, he was a member
of the Armenian committees. He was arrested in Istanbul and served 14
days in Cankaya Prison. He later left for Paris and died there.”

”Armenians created an imaginary history. The Republic of Turkey
remained silent against their allegations till 1990s in order to
prevent revival of past hatred, however, its silence did not resolve
the issue. On the contrary, this silence was wrongly perceived as a
sign of its being guilty,” he said.

Sarinay kept on saying, ”when we examine these documents as a whole,
it is evident that the decision of the Ottoman Empire to relocate
Armenians was totally legal. The Ottoman Empire had also made some
arrangements about properties of Armenians, and adopted a law about
return of these properties to Armenian people when they returned. The
Ottoman Empire had never targeted a genocide. It had made such an
temporary decision on political and military grounds.

Western historians and Armenian diaspora ignore these documents to
preserve their imaginary history.”

”There were many high-level Armenian officials in Istanbul in those
days. If the Ottoman Empire had intended a genocide, it would have
killed those officials first. The Ottoman Empire had sent notes to
Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland in 1919, which had not been
involved in the World War I, to send jurists. If they had sent
jurists to Turkey, all those allegations would have been buried in
the history,” he stressed.

”Once again, we call on Directorate General of Armenian State
Archives to pave the way for scientific studies. Also, archives of
the American diaspora in the United States should be opened,” he
said.

Upon a question, Sarinay told reporters, ”according to the latest
population census in the Ottoman Empire, Armenians had a population
of 1 million 161 thousand. Sources say that nearly 400 thousand
Armenians had left for Russia, and 450-750 thousand Armenians had
been subject of the relocation. However, warfare and epidemics made
it impossible to clarify all these figures.”

Turkish Prime Minister tayyip Erdogan and Turkish opposition leader
Deniz Baykal had called the Armenian side to open their archives.
Erdogan said Turkish archives were open to all, and Turkey expected
the same from the Armenians and all related states. The Armenian
Tashnak Archives are closed to researchers. The Armenian politicians
argue that there is nothing to be discussed or researched because all
of the reality is clear. Armenian Foreign Minister Vaskan Oskanyan
said “the problem is not a matter of science but politics. Historians
has nothing to discuss.”

JTW News desk. Compiled from Anatolian news agency and other nes
sources.
29 March 2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Expert: Kyrgyz Revolution Tastes Like Opium

RIA Novosti, Russia

2005-03-29 14:17

EXPERT: KYRGYZ REVOLUTION TASTES LIKE OPIUM

MOSCOW, March 29 (RIA-Novosti) – According to Nikolai Bordyuzha, the
secretary general of the Collective Security Council Organization (CSTO)
including Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan),
CSTO leaders had the necessary levers to influence the situation in
Kyrgyzstan ahead of the revolution, Izvestia reported.

Bordyuzha personally offered ousted President Askar Akayev consultations
with CSTO representatives to prevent pillage and lawlessness in the country.
The CSTO had no plans to keep Akayev in power to push a revolution. However,
Akayev said that the situation was still within the norm and thought it
premature to engage the CSTO.

“We can see the result – a revolution that, among other things, tastes like
opium,” Bordyuzha said.

The local administration office was already burning in Osh in southern
Kyrgyzstan. Yet, Akayev believed he could solve the problem. He might have
thought that if he had agreed to use the CSTO, it would have meant
acknowledging his own weakness. However, he did consult the EU and the U.S.
ambassadors.

“Perhaps, some of them were against assisting us,” he said.

The masses were the driving force behind the democratic opposition’s coup.
The opposition included two forces, one of them participated in the
presidential race last autumn, and the other, from Osh and from outside
Bishkek, went to destroy the offices of the government agencies and loot
local businesses.

But most alarming, Bordyuzha said, is what is happening in Osh where the
presence of “the drug mafia is very strong”. He believes that the Islamic
terrorist organization, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, “is working hard” in the region.

Bordyuzha said coordinated efforts are needed to prevent the drug cartel’s
spread to CSTO countries, noting that Article 2 of the Collective Security
Treaty provides for immediate consultations in case of escalation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian head of ex-Soviet Mil. pact warns of radical Islamic threat

Pravda.RU:World

Russian head of ex-Soviet military pact warns of radical Islamic threat

12:29 2005-03-29

The Russian head of an ex-Soviet military pact that includes three Central
Asian nations warned Tuesday that the organization’s members must act
urgently to combat the threat of radical Islamic groups.

In the wake of the ousting of Kyrgyz leader Askar Akayev, observers have
said that such groups could step up activity as Krygyzstan’s new leaders try
to restore order, and suggest that religious militants in Central Asia could
find inspiration in the swift and almost effortless overthrow.

Nikolai Bordyuzha, secretary general of the six-nation Collective Security
Treaty – a pact that links Russia with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan – said in an interview with the Izvestia daily
that coordinated action was essential to stop the threat from spreading
further.

“We should take coordinated steps to counter the attempt of Islamic
extremists in all member states of the organization. I stress that the
efforts should be coordinated because these networks are like mercury that
flows from one country to another,” he said.

The radical group Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which advocates the creation of an Islamic
state in the Central Asian region, is a particular worry, he said.

“Hizb-ut-Tahrir is very active throughout Central Asia, damaging the
consciousness especially of young people, importing religious dogmas in a
bid to form a social base.

“We have to prevent this trend. Otherwise we will face a lot of problems,”
he said, warning of a “struggle based on religion that has no peaceful
resolution.”

Authorities in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan – which is not a member
of the Moscow-led security pact – blame Hizb-ut-Tahrir for attacks there
last year that killed more than 50 people. The group, which is banned in
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and in Russia, claims to reject violence.

Radical Islamic groups emerged in predominantly Muslim Central Asia after
the 1991 Soviet collapse. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have both seen bombings
and incursions blamed on extremist groups.

Associated Press

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Dutch in winning World Cup form

Expatica, Netherlands
Dutch news in brief, 29 March 2005

Dutch in winning World Cup form

The Netherlands defeated Romania 2-0 in Bucharest on Saturday in a World Cup
qualifying match. Under the watchful eye of coach Marco van Basten, the
Dutch soccer team will now take on Armenia on Wednesday. The 2006 World Cup
will be held in Germany. The Netherlands is sitting on top in qualification
group one, followed by the Czech Republic.

Georgia looks at CIS with ‘practical’ eye

The Messenger

Tuesday, March 29, 2005, #056 (0830)

Georgia looks at CIS with ‘practical’ eye

Alternative unions, including entities for economic cooperation, gain
backing against decline of CIS
By M. Alkhazashvili

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)is gasping after the third
electoral failure-turn-revolution in a member state in the last 18 months,
and analysts are arguing that the organization’s death knell is already
here.

Reverberations from the Kyrgyz revolutions spread from Moscow to Kiev to
Tbilisi as commentators and officials openly questioned the value of the
organization over the past week.

But speaking in Yerevan on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to
downplay what he called “excessive expectations” for the CIS. “While the
European Union members worked to pull closer together, the CIS was created
for a civilized divorce,” Putin said during a press conference after meeting
with Armenian President Robert Kocharian.

Pundits in Russia have argued differently, highlighting that it was Putin’s
policies that doomed the union. Russian analyst Stanislav Belkovski writes
in Nezavisimaya Gazeta that Moscow should do three things: 1) acknowledge
the death of the CIS and refuse attempts to revive it; 2) present an
initiative for the formal dissolution of the CIS, before Ukraine or other
GUUAM countries dot; 3) create a conception for another kind of a
post-Soviet Union organization and invite everyone. “It is important to
recognize that the collapse of the CIS is a direct consequence of the policy
of the Putin administration,” Belkovski writes.

Once intended to maintain the integration of the Soviet Union while member
country establish independent government, the CIS is moving further to the
margins as Moscow places a new accent on the other unions such as a proposed
Europe-Asian Economic Commonwealth or a United Economic Space.

Already post-Soviet space has been covered with several kinds of bilateral
or multi-lateral organizations designed to succeed where the CIS failed.
Most of these involve Russia (the Russian-Belarus Union, the Euro-Asian
Alliance, the Organization for Agreement on Collective Security) but others
attempt to unite counties decidedly without Russia (GUUAM, Traceca).

At the CIS summit in September 2004, Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan
Nazarbaevin presented a general plan for reform but reform is unlikely when
member countries are pursuing alternatives and openly questioning the CIS.

Just as Putin was pushing aside criticism of the CIS on Friday, in Kiev
Presidents Mikheil Saakashvili and Victor Yushchenko agreed to what they
called a “new axis” stretching from the Baltic States to the Black Sea.
Yushchenko admitted, “The activity of the CIS is minimal. Kiev is only for
economic relations within the CIS space.”

Saakashvili was even more blunt. “Regarding the CIS we have to think
pragmatically. If a free trade agreement is fully implemented it will be
beneficial for every entrepreneur. But if border blockades and visa
suspensions carry on and this agreement is not implemented, the organization
makes no sense,” the president said.