Kommersant, Russia
March 18 2005

The Independent Cling to the Unrecognized

Moscow wants to strengthen ties with the CIS at the expense of the CIS

Georgian State Minister for Conflict Resolution Georgy Khaindrava
expressed alarm on Thursday over the meeting of the leaders of
Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh that took place in
Moscow the day before, saying it `will not bring Russia and Georgia
closer.’ The meeting will have impact beyond Georgia. It indicates
that the Kremlin is implementing its plan to defend its interests in
the former Soviet Union. The main blow will be directed against
GUUAM, an organization that, with Western help, seeks to be an
alternative to the CIS, which is dominated by Russia.

Khaindrava was in Moscow while the meting of the leaders of the
unrecognized republics took place. He was taking part in a meeting of
the cochairmen of the Mixed Control Commission. On Thursday, after
two days of negotiations, Khaindrava was in high spirits and
characterized Russia’s role in settling the conflicts with the
breakaway republics as `constructive.’

Khaindrava even suggested that the long-awaited agreement on
friendship and cooperation between Moscow and Tbilisi might be signed
soon. He also mentions two impediments to the agreement that still
remain: Moscow’s support for North Ossetia and Abkhazia and the
Russian military bases remaining in Georgia. Khaindrava’s optimism is
not misplaced, however. Russia has almost convinced Georgia that its
bases will be gone by 2008. The foundation of a joint antiterrorism
center will allow Russia to retain some military presence in Georgia.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili’s only complaint is that he
wants the Russian withdrawal to be completed by 2007, before the 2008
elections.

Russia and Georgia are far from agreement on the issue of the
breakaway republic, however. Georgia’s cautious reaction to the
meeting of the Abkhazian, South Ossetian and Nagorny Karabakh leaders
suggests that Tbilisi does not yet suspect Moscow’s plans.

Settling the problem of the rebellious autonomies was one of the
Saakashvili’s main pre-election promises. So far, he has succeeded
only in Ajaria, which had never declared its independence. In Moscow,
as well as Tskhinvali and Sukhumi, they are concerned that he may
sanction the use of force there. They say it may happen even this
summer. It seems that Moscow has decided to take preventive measures.
Sources in the breakaway republics their leaders may have a new plan,
to set up a single government with Georgia on the principles of
federalism and equality, such as exists in Serbia and Montenegro.
Tbilisi has no such thing in mind, however. The timing for the plan
is not good either. Montenegro announced it intentions to separate
from Serbia a few weeks ago. Moscow seems to be counting on its
success, however. It is important to it that the settlement process
it is sponsoring be perceived as progressing. The proposal ideally
should soften Tbilisi’s tone in the negotiations.

This is not the end of Kremlin’s foreign policy plans.

There have been ever growing doubts about Moscow’s foreign policy in
recent years. Moscow explains its setbacks in former Soviet countries
as the result of increasing Western influence in an area that had
been considered exclusively Moscow’s sphere of influence and sees the
goal of breaking up the CIS behind it all. The parliamentary
elections in Moldova, where the side supported by Moscow again lost,
showed that the tendency is becoming stronger. Meanwhile, Ukraine and
Georgia have declared a strategic partnership and drawn Moldova into
it as well.

The leaders if the Tbilisi-Chisinau-Kiev axis will try to draw in
still more CIS states. Even though Moscow managed to sow the seeds of
dissent in the GUUAM organization, founded in the late 1990s with
Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova, the idea of a
bright future without Russia remains alive. So Russia is acting more
decisively. The obvious weak spot in GUUAM is Uzbekistan. Its leader,
Islam Karimov, although he plays up to the West, is authoritarian and
not likely to become close to democratic revolutionaries Viktor
Yushchenko and Saakashvili. Karimov will be reminded of that when he
visits Moscow at the end of the month as well.

Russia has ways of influencing the other GUUAM members too. The
presence of Nogorny Karabakh President Arkady Gukasyan at the meeting
of the leaders of the Georgian breakaway leaders is a message to
Azerbaijan (Nagorny Karabakh is claimed by that country), where a
united opposition is preparing for parliamentary elections this fall.
Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov was unable to attend Wednesday’s
meeting, but he will be present at a similar meeting in April.

by Alexander Reutov

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Leader of Russia’s Azeri community survives gun attack on his car

RIA news agency
18 Mar 05

MOSCOW

A car carrying the president of the Azeri Cultural Federation in
Russia, Soyun Sadykov, came under automatic weapons fire outside house
No 15 on Khavskaya Ulitsa [street] in Moscow on Friday morning [18
March]. The press service of the Moscow prosecutor’s office has
informed RIA-Novosti of this.

Sadykov was not hurt, but Mikhail Zuyev, who was with him in the
Volkswagen car, received gunshot wounds in the shoulder and head. He
was taken to hospital.

The prosecutor’s office of Moscow’s southern administrative district
has instituted criminal proceedings under articles 30 (“conspiracy to
commit a crime”) and 105 (“murder”) of the Criminal Code of the
Russian Federation.

An investigation is under way and a search for the criminals has been
launched, the prosecutor’s office said.

For its part, the Azeri Cultural Federation expressed profound
indignation at the attempt to kill Sadykov.

“Sadykov has done his utmost to preserve and develop stable relations
between Russia and Azerbaijan and their peoples. He is well known as a
patron of the arts and a man who does a lot of charity work,” says a
statement from the federation which has been received by RIA-Novosti.

[A report by ITAR-TASS news agency, 1251 gmt 18 Mar 04, said Sadykov
was also chairman of the board of the international charitable
foundation Karabakh which assists Azeri refugees from Nagornyy
Karabakh. In the past he had been champion of the USSR for sambo
wrestling – which may account for the speed with which he took evasive
action when the car came under fire.

The same report identified Mikhail Zuyev as Sadykov’s driver.]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Remarks by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman
US-Turkey Relations: Opportunities for Cooperation in a Changing World
Bilkent University, Ankara
September 29, 2003
“General Babaoglu, General Bir, distinguished guests: I would like to thank
you, General Bir, very much for that introduction, and thank the Turkish
Armed Forces Foundation and CNR for sponsoring this important seminar and
for giving me the opportunity to participate in the International Defense
Industry, Aerospace and Maritime Fair (IDEF).

As many of you know, although I have only recently arrived in Turkey, I am
fortunate to have family roots that date back decades. My grandmother fled
from Russia and troubled times 84 years ago. Turkey sheltered her, made her
feel at home, and it was here that my mother was born a few years later.
Later still, my great uncle taught for 11 years at Ankara University. So I
come to Turkey as someone with close and long-standing ties to this great
nation.

I’d like to address my remarks today to the broad context for opportunities
for U.S.-Turkish cooperation in a changing world. I hope that those
opportunities can build on fifty years of strong cooperation, of strategic
partnership and relations, close military to military relations, and close
industrial cooperation. I’d like to begin my formal comments with a very
direct statement about U.S. interests in Turkey. Among our several strategic
interests here, our most important one is that Turkey be successful – it’s
as simple as that. We want to see a dynamic, prosperous, democratic Turkey,
just as Turks do. Although our countries may not always agree, we are
confident that a strong, vibrant Turkey will be a positive force for freedom
and prosperity in the region and in the world, and will be a country with
which we can work on a wide variety of challenges and opportunities.

The U.S. cannot make Turkey successful – only the people of this nation can
do that. However, I can assure you that my primary focus – and the primary
focus of the U.S. Mission here in Turkey during my tenure – will be to
support Turkey’s efforts to achieve the ambitious economic and political
goals that the Turkish people have set, because in doing so we will also be
advancing America’s interests.

During the Cold War, Turkey was a key bulwark on the southern flank of NATO.
No less today, Turkey’s position in a difficult neighborhood offers the
opportunity to contribute to the major endeavors of U.S. global strategy and
gives it a major interest in the success of our strategy. The United States
of America is committed to promoting freedom and dignity throughout the
world, to working with others to battle the scourge of terrorism and the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to combating poverty and
deadly diseases. Because we believe in peace, we are engaged in many places
in the world to achieve solutions to regional conflicts. We do so not out of
simple benevolence, but because recent history has demonstrated that we
cannot practice our democracy and guarantee our citizens’ security and
prosperity if we have regions of the world where citizens are oppressed or
without hope for a better life. Our domestic foreign policy debate in the
United States is no longer about whether the United States can stay isolated
from the world, but rather how the U.S. should engage with the world.

September 11, the Global War on Terrorism and Afghanistan

September 11, 2001 fundamentally changed the way Americans view the world.
>From that day forward, we recognized that developments in far corners of the
globe are relevant to our lives. President Bush’s overriding objective has
been to rid the world of terrorists and make it safe for peace-loving people
and nations everywhere. No stranger to terrorism, Turkey was one of the
first countries to publicly condemn the attacks of September 11 and to offer
widespread support, including airspace, bases and troops. Turkey
successfully commanded the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul
and participated in the initial training of the Afghan National Army – two
examples of the leading role Turkey is capable of playing beyond its borders
in contributing to regional peace and stability. Much progress has been made
and much remains to be done in Afghanistan, but let me assure you that
President Bush remains deeply committed. The President’s recent request to
Congress for $11 billion in additional funding for Afghanistan reflects his
long-term commitment to bringing peace and stability there. He seeks a
stability not based on military might but on economic development and
openness based on things like the construction of the Kabul-Kandahar road
that U.S. and Turkish companies are building together. So far Turkish
companies have won an astounding $300 million dollars in contracts for
reconstruction in Afghanistan, showing their competitive advantage in this
kind of reconstruction work.

Middle East

The Middle East is and will remain a central focus of America’s objective of
helping create a peaceful, prosperous world devoid of terrorism. Last
spring, President Bush unveiled a roadmap for peace and stability in the
region. In our view, the roadmap is the only viable and effective way to put
an end to the suffering and violence there. Despite the inherent
difficulties and recent setbacks, we continue to believe that the
implementation of President Bush’s vision of a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict offers the best chance for achieving the goal
of Israeli and Palestinian people living side by side in peace, security,
and freedom.

Both sides must do much more to advance the process and to fulfill their
commitments to implement the roadmap. The Palestinian Authority must
dismantle the terror apparatus in the territories. The US remains committed
to working with a fully empowered Palestinian Prime Minister who has full
control of all security forces and the finances of the Palestinian Authority
to stop terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. As this
happens, we will continue to encourage Israel to make good on its
commitments and work towards conditions that will allow a peaceful
Palestinian state to emerge. While there are certainly no quick fixes or
easy answers to this decades-long problem, let me assure you the President
remains firmly committed to doing everything possible to encourage the
parties to end the violence and take steps to bring about peace. And I would
add that the Turkish-Israeli relationship remains an important underpinning
of the entire process.

Iraq

The U.S. is helping the Iraqi people create a unified, stable, democratic
Iraq. It should become a country where all ethnic and religious groups have
their civil and political rights, and are given the opportunity to
participate and contribute to the political and business life of a new
country. We remain committed to an Iraq whose unity, territorial integrity
and existing borders are preserved, and we will continue to help foster
friendly political, economic and commercial ties between Iraq and its
neighbors.

As President Bush recently made clear during his September 7 address to the
American people, our present objectives in Iraq are three-fold: first, to
rid Iraq of the terrorist threat; second, to expand international
cooperation in the reconstruction and security of Iraq; and third, to
encourage the orderly transfer of sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi
people.

The President’s commitment to ridding Iraq of the terrorist threat includes
the PKK/KADEK. The U.S. has been and will continue to be Turkey’s strongest
partner in its efforts to eradicate terrorism. We welcome the Parliament’s
passage of a re-integration and repentance law and look forward to its full
implementation to encourage maximum surrender. The U.S. will follow through
on the President’s pledge as well. We have sent an inter-agency team to
Ankara earlier this month for detailed exchanges and discussions on how our
two countries can work together to eliminate the PKK/KADEK threat, and the
State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Chief, Ambassador Cofer Black, will be
in Ankara soon to continue those discussions. Make no mistake about it: the
United States and Turkey are on a path together to actively eliminate the
PKK/KADEK threat in northern Iraq.

The U.S. will also continue to stabilize and reconstruct Iraq. Stability in
Iraq is good for Iraq, good for Iraq’s neighbors, and good for the region.
We are working with the United Nations, the Iraqi Governing Council and key
allies to expand participation in the stabilization and reconstruction of
Iraq. This represents an historic opportunity for the larger international
community to support Iraqis in their quest for a peaceful, democratic
country.

The U.S. is also working hard to encourage the orderly and rapid transfer of
sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi people. Iraqis are on their way to
democratic self-rule. Iraq has its own Governing Council that for the first
time in history represents Iraq’s diversity. The Governing Council recently
appointed cabinet ministers to run government departments, and more than 90
percent of towns and cities have functioning municipal governments. The U.S.
is helping to establish a civil defense force to keep order, an Iraqi police
force to enforce the law, a new Iraqi army to defend the country, and Iraqi
border guards to help secure the borders. The Governing Council is turning
its attention to the process of drawing up a democratic constitution for
Iraq.

We have also made significant progress in helping Iraq renew its electric
grid, water treatment facilities, and other infrastructure and social
services that were run down, destroyed and neglected during the years of
Saddam’s misrule and systematic disinvestment. Electrical generation now
averages 75% of pre-war levels, and that figure is rising every day. Last
week there was a ceremony in Silopi celebrating a recent agreement between a
Turkish company and officials in Baghdad to provide electricity from Turkey
to Iraq. Telephone service is being restored to hundreds of customers, and
dilapidated water and sewage treatment facilities are being modernized.

Let me be clear on one point: the U.S. will not abandon Iraq or the Iraqi
people. We will remain engaged and committed for as long as it takes. How
long will we stay? In the words of Secretary Powell: “We will stay as long
as it takes to turn full responsibility for governing Iraq over to a capable
and democratically elected Iraqi administration. Only a government elected
under a democratic constitution can take full responsibility and enjoy full
legitimacy in the eyes of the Iraqi people and the world.” We believe a
democratic Iraq will benefit Turkey too. Research and experience demonstrate
that democratic neighbors make better trading partners, are more likely to
adhere to their commitments, and are less likely to fight one another.

Proliferation: Iran, Syria

Stemming the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a key component
of the President’s objective of creating regional peace and stability. In
Iran, the IAEA has expressed serious concerns about a clandestine program to
develop nuclear weapons and the country’s repeated denial of full,
unfettered access to its nuclear program. Syria continues to cooperate with
terrorist groups, to develop weapons of mass destruction, and to let armed
militants slip into Iraq.

Despite all that Iran, Syria and other countries have done, it is not too
late to halt and reverse their pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. We
must keep the pressure on. Turkey recently joined forces with the United
States and other countries to support an IAEA Board of Governors resolution
calling on Iran to halt its programs and urging Iran to comply with its
nuclear non-proliferation treaty obligations. We will continue to work with
the international community to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction and, at the same time, support efforts by our allies to obtain
the necessary defensive capability to defend their countries and peoples
against possible WMD attacks.

Syria and Iran should heed Foreign Minister Gul’s call in Tehran during the
30th session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to act with “a
refreshed vision – a vision in which good governance, transparency and
accountability will reign, and the fundamental rights and freedoms as well
as gender equality are upheld.” A vision where “there would be no place for
blunting rhetoric and slogans;” one that “addresses the underlying causes of
violence,” and one that “encourages political participation.”

Cyprus

The U.S. is also strongly committed to efforts to bring about a
comprehensive solution to Cyprus. The people of Cyprus on both sides of the
island were denied a historic opportunity earlier this year when their
leaders failed to reach an agreement on a comprehensive settlement. In the
U.S. view, the plan put forth by UN Secretary General Annan provides for the
safety and continuing security of the Turkish Cypriot community and the
security interests of Turkey, and remains the best basis for a satisfactory
solution for all parties. In the wake of last spring’s confidence-building
measures on the island – including the opening of the border and the travel
of hundreds of thousands of Cypriots from the north to the south – the will
of the people on both sides of the island for a comprehensive settlement has
become manifest.

President Denktas should not continue blocking progress. We will continue to
encourage political leaders on both sides of the island to seize this
opportunity and seize it soon, because time is running out. We attach great
importance to making sure that the December election in the northern part of
the island – preferably with the presence of international observers — are
free and fair. May 2004 will bring Cyprus accession to the European Union at
just about the same time the leaders of NATO will be meeting in Istanbul for
a summit. We need a renewal of attention now to search for a comprehensive
settlement. In the end, a comprehensive Cyprus settlement will benefit not
just Cyprus, but its neighbors and the region as a whole.

Caucasus and the Balkans

The U.S. remains committed to working with the governments and peoples in
the Caucasus to ensure peace, stability and prosperity. Together with our
friends in the region, we will continue to work to bring about a peaceful
transition to power in Azerbaijan and help bring an end to conflict over
Nargono-Karabakh. In Armenia, the U.S. will continue to work to improve
relations between Armenia and its neighbors – something we believe is key to
the long-term stability of the region.
It is past time for Turkey to open the border with Armenia, and for Armenia
to confirm its recognition of Turkey’s territory.”

Breakaway region interested in joining Russian Federation – Abkhaz leader

Interfax news agency
18 Mar 05

MOSCOW

The president of Abkhazia [a Georgian republic], Sergey Bagapsh, has
said that the issue of Abkhazia’s possible associated membership in
the Russian Federation remains on the agenda.

“This is a topical issue. It remains on the agenda and we will conduct
a dialogue, including here, in the parliament (of Russia – Interfax),
so that the issue gets a follow-up. It will not be stopped,” Bagapsh
told journalists when answering a question from Interfax.

In the State Duma today Bagapsh met the Duma deputy chairman, Sergey
Baburin, of the Motherland faction.

He said at a news conference after the meeting that the present
leadership of Abkhazia was interested in the issue of association with
Russia raised by the previous leadership of the republic. Bagapsh also
told Interfax that the issue of establishing a body for coordinating
cooperation between self-proclaimed republics and autonomous areas,
including Abkhazia, [Moldova’s] Dniester region, [Georgia’s] South
Ossetia and [Azerbaijan’s] Nagornyy Karabakh, was “being considered
practically”.

Bagapsh said that the recent meeting of the leaders of South Ossetia,
the Dniester region and Abkhazia was “impromptu”. “There will be an
official meeting. We will discuss the state of affairs,” he added.

The present news on South Ossetia and the Dniester region is causing
concern, Bagapsh said. “This is about a possible deterioration of the
conflicts (between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali, and between Chisinau and
Tiraspol – Interfax) in the spring-summer period,” he said.

“If someone is quite keen to unleash another conflict, we will try to
prevent this happening, using diplomatic measures for the time
being. If not, we will provide comprehensive support in this area,”
Bagapsh said.

He said he was primarily referring to “areas” such as South Ossetia
and the Dniester region. But “Abkhazia is also a possibility”, he
added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri leader looking for partners in undemocratic countries – pundit

Yeni Musavat, Baku
18 Mar 05

Text of Kanan report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 18 March
headlined “China does not care whether Azerbaijan is a democratic
country or not” and subheaded “Hacizada believes that Ilham Aliyev is
looking towards despotic countries since he is not invited to
civilized countries”

Criticized by the democratic countries of the world, [Azerbaijani
President] Ilham Aliyev is looking towards despotic and authoritarian
regimes in the East. It is not by chance that Iran, Russia, Saudi
Arabia are among the countries recently visited by the successor. The
only European state, which he recently visited, is Italy – the home
country of the mafia.

It must be remembered that the Washington administration, which was
reproached by the democratic public for supporting Ilham Aliyev when
he came to power, has not yet invited him to the USA. Therefore, the
successor’s visits are confined to the northern and southern routes
and other undemocratic countries.

Political expert Hikmat Hacizada sees two reasons behind the Western
countries’ reluctance to send invitations to Ilham Aliyev. First, the
West and the USA are specifically demonstrating their dislike for
Ilham Aliyev’s dictatorial policy in Azerbaijan. That’s to say the
government has an anti-democratic image.

The second reason, the pundit thinks, is that Azerbaijan is lagging
behind these countries in many aspects: “On the other hand, from an
economic point of view, Azerbaijan has nothing in common with
democratic countries. In other words, the country is in such a
situation that there is no sphere left for cooperation with the West.”

We wonder how undemocratic countries of the East can help Ilham
Aliyev? Some people believe that with these visits, the successor is
compensating for the lack of invitations from the West.

Although the pundit ruled out political support, he admits that such
visits promote economic ties. “Visits to such countries are less
productive from a political point of view. Although they are despotic
regimes, they have no strength. However, it is possible to do some
low-level business with them. It is possible to exchange raw materials
and establish other low-level bilateral relations. For the time being,
things have not reached a point when Ilham Aliyev would be paying
visits for the sake of paying visits. They have certain relations with
despotic countries, but these contacts certainly cannot be compared to
business relations with democratic countries.”

Ilham Aliyev flew to China yesterday. According to official reports,
documents on bilateral cooperation will be signed and a business forum
will be held there. Commenting on the successor’s visit to Beijing,
Hikmat Hacizada said the visit was important to both sides at the
moment. “China is a big country and its influence is on the
increase. Beijing is trying to be more active in its foreign
policy. Azerbaijan is an ordinary country with which China wants to
cooperate. China probably intends to make investment in Azerbaijan and
take part in oil projects. In principle, we also need to establish
ties with China to resolve the Karabakh problem and implement economic
projects. China is also one of the important states in the UN.”

The pundit thinks that since China is not a democratic country, Ilham
Aliyev can set up normal partnership with it: “Beijing does not care
whether Azerbaijan is a democratic country or not, because China
itself is not well-developed either. Therefore, Azerbaijan can be
China’s worthy partner both in the economic and political spheres.”

Europe Environment
March 18, 2005

TWELVE BLACK SEA COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO COOPERATE ON ENERGY.

The twelve member countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organisation (BSEC) have pledged to cooperate on the creation of a
regional energy market following an inter-ministerial meeting in
Greece on March 4. The twelve Energy Ministers or their
representatives signed a joint declaration. The signatories notably
affirm their readiness to diversify energy transport options, adopt
common ground rules, enhance transport safety and take account of
environmental considerations. “Our aim is to expand the range of oil
and gas exports, enhance cooperation in the electricity sector and
create an environment conducive to investment in the region”, said
Greek Minister Dimitris Soufias. “The key word is networking. Black
Sea and Caspian Sea energy sources must reach the European market”,
he added. Greece has held the revolving half-yearly presidency of the
BSEC since November. The other members are Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and
Montenegro, Turkey and Ukraine. Greece alone is both a member of the
EU and NATO.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 18, 2005, Friday

MARCH 9-10, ARMENIAN TROOPS FIRED AT AZERBAIJAN MILITARY POSITIONS
FOUR TIMES

The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense announced the fact that Armenian
forces opened fire from the direction of Seisulan town, Tetersky
region (220 km to the West of Baku) at the Azerbaijani troops located
in Gapanly town, Agdamsky region. Earlier, Seisulan town had been
under fire from the direction of Gapanly. Return fire neutralized the
enemy fire nests. Some people were wounded, according to the
Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. On March 9, Azerbaijani forces in
Gyzyl (Gazakh region, 420 km from Baku) and in Gapanly were attacked
by submachine gun fire from the direction of Berkaber town (Idzhevan
region, Armenia). Azerbaijani troops returned fire. There are no
casualties.

Source: Voenno-Promyshlennyi Kurier, #9, March 16-22, 2005, p.3

Translated by Ann Gorpinyuk

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 18, 2005, Friday

ORGANIZATION OF THE CIS COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY TAKES UP COMMON
STANDARDS

SOURCE: Izvestia (Moscow issue), March 15, 2005, p. 6

by Nikolai Khorunzhy

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Razov told Duma deputies last week
that some “important accords” were to be signed at the Collective
Security Council of the Organization of the CIS Collective Security
Treaty. According to what information this newspaper has compiled,
one of these accords will make Russian made military hardware
available at a discount to all armies of the Organization of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty.

So far, this military hardware has been only available at a discount
to units involved in the system of Fast Response Collective Forces.
The matter concerns 11 battalions at this point, representing
national armies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
Insiders say that the practice is to be applied now to all armies of
the Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty (i.e. the four
mentioned ones plus Armenia and Belarus).

All matters in connection with deliveries of the military hardware
will be tackled by the international military-technical cooperation
commission. This panel is also to be set up at the next meeting. The
analogous commission within the framework of the Commonwealth was
disbanded as inefficient. As a matter of fact, the powers of the
future commission will not be restricted to deliveries alone. It will
also handle cooperation between military-industrial complexes of
countries of the Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty,
organization of joint research, weapons upgrade, and joint
manufacture of military hardware.

The meeting will also contemplate a draft accord on the mechanism of
collective military-technical assistance to countries of the
Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty, in accordance
with Article 4 of the Collective Security Treaty. The article states
that all countries of the Organization of the CIS Collective Security
Treaty provide all and any necessary aid, military assistance
included, to the signatory under attack. In fact, the future accord
will set up a legal basis for supplying the troops with ordnance,
fuel, spare parts, for urgent repairs, and personnel training in
emergencies.

An accord on personnel training at a discount within the framework of
the Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty has been
drafted as well. All six signatories set quotas for mutual personnel
training in 2005, already. After all, deliveries of Russian military
hardware and weapons systems require unification of personal training
systems. Russia set aside $15 million for the purpose in 2005. The
United States spends about $11.5 million on CIS military training.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 18, 2005, Friday

PEACEKEEPER OF THE CAUCASUS

SOURCE: Novye Izvestia, March 15, 2005, p. 4

by Mekhman Gafarly

GEORGIA IS PREPARED TO BECOME A MEDIATOR IN THE ARMENIAN-TURKISH AND
ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI RELATIONS

Foreign Minister of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili said on a visit to
Ankara that her country could become an intermediary in the
Armenian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogues – provided
Ankara, Yerevan, and Baku seconded the initiative.

Tbilisi needs the tension in the Armenian-Turkish relations abated.
First and foremost, their improvement will allay the fears and
irritation Yerevan feels viewing Georgia’s friendship with Turkey.
Second, it will be quick pro quo: Zurabishvili appreciates the
positive role Ankara is playing in the Russian-Georgian political
dialogue. Georgia hopes with Ankara’s help to solve some problems
marring its relations with Moscow. Along with everything else,
Georgia is looking for support from the European Union and the United
States and, also importantly, from Turkey as its neighbor now that
Tbilisi’s own relations with Moscow are at so low a level. The matter
is both political and economic. When Moscow introduced the visa
regime on the border with Georgia, Russian cities became out of reach
for thousands and thousands unemployed Georgians seeking jobs abroad.
In an attempt to compensate for it, Tbilisi hopes to secure a
visa-free regime on the Georgian-Turkish border and intends to
establish a regular Batumi-Istanbul plane run. Success will enable
Georgians to find jobs in Turkey and stabilize the socioeconomic
situation in Georgia itself. Before it can accomplish all of that,
however, Georgia has to score some political points. From this point
of view, the role of an intermediary in the Armenian-Turkish and
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations will come in very handy. What it will
result in is a different matter altogether. Tbilisi already offered
its services to Armenia and Azerbaijan at war over Nagorno-Karabakh
in 1992. The offer was turned down then.

Ramaz Sakvarelidze of the expert council of the Georgian parliament
says in the meantime that the situation is different now and that
Tbilisi’s offer may be accepted. According to Sakvarelidze, the
political and economic situation in the region changes with the
years, and the warring sides know now that integration into Europe is
impossible with the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh remaining
unsettled. Moreover, construction of pipelines and establishment of
the TRASECA transport corridor force Ankara, Yerevan, and Baku to
seek ways of improvement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani and
Armenian-Turkish relations. Along with everything else, upper
echelons of the European Union and Parliamentary Assembly demand an
end to political and territorial disputes from these countries or
they may forget about integration into the European Union. From this
point of view, Zurabishvili’s offer is well-timed and therefore may
be accepted, Sakvarelidze said. A neutral intermediary, Georgia is
prepared to arrange a meeting of leaders of Armenia, Turkey, and
Azerbaijan for negotiations on its territory. Baku’s and Yerevan’s
reaction to the offer is not clear at this point.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
March 18, 2005

RAITRE: IL GENOCIDIO DEGLI ARMENI TRA I TEMI DI ‘LEVANTE’

ROMA

(ANSA) – ROMA, 18 MAR – Nuovo appuntamento con ‘Levante’, la
rubrica settimanale della TGR in onda domani alle 11.30 su
Raitre. In questo numero: ‘Tabu’ Armenia’, di Costantino
Foschini. Svolta storica in Turchia: governo ed opposizione
mettono a disposizione degli studiosi di tutto il mondo gli
archivi sul genocidio degli armeni, finora sempre negato dalle
autorita’ di Ankara. Inoltre ‘Danubio Italia’, di Tito Manlio
Altomare. Dalla fine dell’800 nel delta del Danubio, in Romania,
vivono centinaia di famiglie italiane. ‘Montenegro in corsia’,
di Anna Rosa Macri’. Arrivano dal Montenegro le infermiere che
sono indispensabili per colmare i vuoti di organico negli
ospedali italiani. ‘Carmen gitana’, di Enzo Ragone. Goran
Bregovic racconta la sua Carmen. La prima vera opera zingara,
meta’ film, meta’ festa campestre, dove i dialoghi sono
registrati e la musica e’ dal vivo, come ai tempi del cinema
muto.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress