The American Turkish Council-US Association helps create new world order

PRAVDA
02/16/2005 15:14

Operating tax-free and out of the media or watchdog spotlight is
the most powerful “non-profit” association in the United States,
the American Turkish Council (ATC- americanturkishcouncil.org).

Like the thousands of Associations operating inside the Washington,
DC Beltway, the ATC is chartered to provide “legal and ethical”
venues for American-Turkish government and business interests to meet
face-to-face to improve business, security and cultural relations
between the two countries. The ATC, and other Associations, has a
dues structure and committee structure that includes a government
relations or “educational” committee that lobbies the public and US
government representatives on behalf of its members. But that’s where
the similarity ends.

While the ATC is an Association in name and in charter, the reality is
that it and other affiliated Associations are the US government. Theirs
is the voice that matters and is the one that is heard on television
and radio networks through the mouths of news-readers, senators,
congressmen, presidents and military leaders. It is in and through such
Associations that US political, economic and military policy is made
and the American public subsequently “educated” to support policies
that are not, and could not, be debated in public because of their
illegality, audacity, complexity and, arguably, necessity. Instead,
the creation of policy and action–or even reaction to events-is
hammered out in corporate board rooms, foreign governments, research
institutes, and think tanks. It all comes together in Associations
like the ATC. If you want to know what’s really going on or about to
come down, take a visit via the Net to the world of Associations.

Six Degrees of ATC Leaders/Members

The game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is based on the premise that the
famed actor Kevin Bacon is the center of the entertainment universe
and that any actor or actress can be linked back to him within six
degrees. Replace Kevin Bacon with ATC leaders and/or members, and you
are sure to find that any corporation, military leader, government
official, former politician, and even actor can be linked back to the
ATC within six degrees. The ATC is an extraordinary group of elite and
interconnected group of Republicans, Democrats and corporate/military
heavyweights who are spearheading one of the most ambitious strategic
gambits in US history.

In 2004 the ATC was led by Bush family insider LTG Brent Scowcroft,
USAF (Ret.) who served as Chairman of the Board. George Perlman of
Lockheed Martin was the Executive Vice President and Marise Stewart of
Textron the Vice President. Executives from every major US and Turkish
corporation are members. Among them are Mars (candy), Coca Cola,
Atlantic Records, Shell Oil, ExxonMobil, Pfizer, General Dynamics,
Northrop Grumman, Hyatt and Phillip Morris. Dozens of retired US Flag
officers, ex-ambassadors and representatives sit on the ATC Board
of Directors.

Counted amongst ATC”s hundreds of members are think tanks like the
Eisenhower Institute, CSIS, Brookings, and AEI. Georgetown University,
the University of Washington and the University of Chicago are
also members of note. If the grand brains with their studies,
executive reports, and statistics were not enough to overwhelm
the uninitiated, there are members like the Livingston Group (Bob
Livingston, ex-Congressman), the Cohen Group (William Cohen ex-SECDEF)
and ex-Congressman Stephen Solarz. All three are paid big-bucks by
the Turkish interests to work on their behalf in the halls of the US
Congress and the Pentagon.

America Gives Birth to New EuroAsia

Now, before you yell Conspiracy! you might want to think Necessity
and Stability, particularly in light of the opening to Central Asia,
the Caucasus and the new Europe provided by 9-11. Pull up Net maps
of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. Once you’ve done that,
consider what political, economic and military activities (defined
as US national interests) the United States has underway in those
regions. It is no less than the development of a US-dominated New
EuroAsia that includes the “Stans”, Ukraine, Chechnya, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech, Croatia, and Poland.
Crazy? Hardly, it is a brilliant gamble. There are many compelling
reasons to create a New EuroAsia with the US with a controlling
interest.

First, there’s the little matter of energy resources. The fact is
that the both regions possess an abundance of resources and those
countries there that don”t are key transit points for the movement of
energy. With the US becoming more reliant on a stable world market for
energy it”s imperative to stabilize and exploit available resources.

Second, Americans have all the candy and weapons systems they
need. New markets for American products are critical for American
economic survival.

Third, with WWII having ended a mere 60 years ago, US foreign policy
is still very much in the hands of America”s anti-Soviet/Chinese
Cold Warriors. Hence, Russia-China encirclement remains part and
parcel of US policy. US military outposts close to the Russia and
China”s borders dot the landscape in the New EuroAsia. As Space Daily
reported, US mobile missile defense batteries are likely to appear
at these bases since CONUS based systems are doomed to failure. US
military outposts will also allow quick jump off points for covert
operations into Russia and China, interdiction of black market WMD
and their components, and drug interdiction.

Fourth, to compete against the combined economic forces of
the European Union (EU), it is necessary to have a leveraging
position in the New EuroAsia. For example, the EU”s Inogate Program
(inogate.org/html/maps/mapsoil.htm) is a source of concern for the
US as Europe has been busy for years laying the groundwork for new
energy sources and transit points. The US was late to that game and
is still playing catch-up.

Fifth, isolating and destabilization Iran remains paramount. Such has
been the policy since the 1980″s. As recently reported, US Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles have been launched from bases in Iraq to spy on Iran”s
military infrastructure and nuclear reactor sites. In all likelihood
such activity has been underway at least since the beginning of the
21st Century”s US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Guiding Light

ATC’s is joined in the creation of the New EuroAsia by the American
Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (AACC). AACC’s Honorary Council of
Advisors just happens to have Scowcroft and the following persons of
significance: Henry Kissinger, Zibigniew Brezinski, Lloyd Benston,
John Sununu and James Baker III. Former Council members include Dick
Cheney and Richard Armitage, former Undersecretary of State. Board of
Trustee members include media-overkill subject Richard Perle of AEI,
Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, and Frank Verrastro of CSIS.

The US Kazakhstan Business Association (UKBA) features, among others,
benefactors and members ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips, Lockheed
Martin, and Halliburton. Richard Armitage was honored last year
by the UKBA and indicated in his remarks that stable economies and
representative government were essential for the future of Central
Asia. No argument there. He opined that “many of the nations in the
region still have a long way to go toward that destination [democracy],
and Kazakhstan can and should, in my view, serve as a guiding light
in that journey.” Yet according to Human Rights Watch, the US State
Department, Armitage”s former employer, indicated in February 2004
that “The [Kazak] Government”s human rights record remained poor,
and it continued to commit numerous abuses.” In its annual report
on the Kazakh government’s rights record, the State Department noted
that the government of Kazakhstan “severely limited citizens” right to
change their government and democratic institutions remained weak.[and
that it] .restricted freedom of assembly and association and limited
democratic expression by imposing restrictions on the registration of
political parties.” It further stated that, “Corruption was evident
at every stage and level of the judicial process.”

Friends in Odd and High Places

“It is a place of total lawlessness, where men with guns rule and human
life carries little value. There are no human rights, one resident told
me. “We don’t know if we’ll be alive tomorrow or even five minutes
from now.” It is inconceivable that a fair election can take place
in this climate of fear, where shooting and forced disappearances
happen on a daily basis. Civilians continue to be the main victims
of this conflict. It is possible that as many as 200,000 people have
been killed in the two wars combined. Many I speak with say they see
the election as little more than window dressing for the West. All
the while, military operations continue. “Not a single night goes
by without someone disappearing. Masked men come into homes and take
people away.” A handful of buildings associated with oil companies
are undergoing renovation. The only building in good shape is the
presidential palace.

There is no running water for residents. People must buy water
daily. They depend on generator power for electricity. I walked
around the market, which was full of shoppers buying fruits and
vegetables. This same market was attacked by missiles at the beginning
of the current war, killing more than 100 people. For the first
time in my life I felt what it is like to be utterly without rights,
at the mercy of men with guns.”

Baghdad Burning (riverbendblog.blogspot.com) writing from Iraq,
you say? Nope, it’s a former American Committee for Peace in
Chechnya Committee (ACPC) staffer writing about her trip to
Chechnya. Chechnya? But not to worry, our men and women of the ACPC,
separated by only six degrees from their cohorts at ATC and AACC
have things under control. ACPC was founded in 1999 and is chaired by
former National Security Advisor Zibigniew Brezinski, former Secretary
of State Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and former Congressman Stephen
J. Solarz. ACPC, according to its website, is composed of more than
one hundred distinguished Americans representing both major political
parties and nearly every walk of life. And who are those 100 Americans?

Well, to name a few, there”s Geraldine Ferraro, former Democratic
candidate for vice president; Frank Gaffney, CEO of the Center
for Security Policy whose Board members include Doug Feith, Gordon
Sullivan, CEO of the Army Association of the USA and Bob Livingston of
the Livingston Group; Elliot Abrams and Mike Leeden; and, who would
have guessed that Richard Gere and PJ O”Rourke would be members of
the ACPC.

And the story gets routine and boring as it moves on. The Honorary
Chair of the American Georgia Business Council (AGBC) is James Baker
III. Its members include ExxonMobil, Northrop Grumman and Ernst and
Young. President of the AGBC is S. Enders Wimbush, a Senior Fellow
at the Hudson Institute and former SAIC and Booz Allen Hamilton
employee. A trustee of note on the Hudson Institute is Al Haig. The
same connections, whether through individuals or organizations, can
be found for Ukraine and Belarus, as well as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan.

Six Degrees of Zibigniew Brezinski

No one argued and schemed more forcibly or convincingly for a New
EuroAsia than Zibigniew Brezinski, Jimmy Carter’s National Security
Advisor, and a candidate for the role of Waldo in Where’s Waldo,
The Movie (tough competition coming from James Baker III).

As Wikipedia puts it of Brezinski, “In the 1990’s he formulated the
strategic case for buttressing the independent statehood of Ukraine,
partially as a means to ending a resurgence of the Russian Empire,
and to drive Russia toward integration with the West, promoting
instead “geopolitical pluralism” in the space of the former Soviet
Union. He developed “a plan for Europe” urging the expansion of NATO,
making the case for the expansion of NATO to the Baltic Republics. He
also served as U.S. Presidential emissary to Azerbaijan in order to
promote the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline. Further, he led the effort
to increase the endowment for the U.S.-sponsored Polish-American
Freedom Foundation from the proposed $112 million to an eventual
total of well over $200 million.”

All that accomplished through the power of Associations. Association
ideas rubber stamped by the US Congress and backed by US military
force. It”s no surprise that it was in the decade of the 1990″s,
long out of the US government and working through private sector
Associations, that Brezinski”s and corporate America’s EuroAsia
creation would be formalized and ultimately be realized. It all
happened far sooner than expected thanks to an opportune breakdown in
US security on September 11, 2001. Nonetheless, the center of gravity
for it all has been the ATC and its affiliates in the Association
world.

The individuals and organizations in the ATC, AGBC, ACPC, UKBA, and
similarly populated groups, are in control of the design and action
plans to secure America”s national interests in the New EuroAsia. It’s
the same story for other regions of the world-Africa, Indonesia,
etc.-and even here on America”s domestic front. Does a Congressman or
woman have a bright idea? Does the President have a special agenda? If
they do, you can be sure it came from an Association.

Perhaps this is part of the American Republic’s maturation process:
more intelligent and visionary governance by Association rather
than through the messy process of millions voting by the ballot box
or e-voting. In such a scheme, the US Congress and the Presidency
would be relegated to a symbolic role, sort of like that played by
the King and Queen of England. The US security establishment would
be called into action based on the voting results of a Congress of
Associations. Then again, when you cast your vote, you are in essence
voting the Association platform. Sound bizarre? Such is today”s world.
When Richard Armitage can say with a straight face that Kazakhstan
should be the guiding light of democracy in Central Asia, it”s time
to swallow the bitter pill of reality and recognize that how America
governs itself, and designs and implements policy, is changing. Whether
the US and the world will be better off remains to be seen.

Teddy Roosevelt once said that “Behind the ostensible government sits
enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging
no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,
to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt
politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day.”

That was a smart thing to say in 1906 when business and politics were
still trying to figure each other out. In 2005, he”d be dismissed as
an opponent of America”s national interests as there is no difference
between the two.

John Stanton

John Stanton is a Virginia based writer specializing in political and
security matters. His most recent book is America 2004: A Power But
Not Super. He is working on an article discussing Sibel Edmonds and the
ATC, along with a book on America”s Defense Related Non-Profits. Reach
him at [email protected]

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Guitarist Iakovos Kolanian To Perform March 5

Fresno State News, CA
Feb 16 2005

Critically acclaimed Armenian-Greek classical guitarist Iakovos
Kolanian will make his North American debut with a performance at
California State University, Fresno on Saturday, March 5.
Additional Background

The performance at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Building Concert Hall will
be a program of Armenian folk music arranged for classical guitar. It
will include works by Komitas, A. Barrios, M. C. Tedesco, and various
Armenian folk songs.

Born in Greece, Kolanian studied at the National Conservatory of
Athens and graduated with top honors for exceptional performance. He
has toured Europe, Asia and Latin America, performing in individual
recitals and as soloist with symphonic orchestras and chamber
ensembles. He has been regularly featured on international television
and radio programs such as the BBC and Radio France.

Kolanian has served as the head of the Classical Guitar Department at
the Contemporary Athens Conservatory since 1992 and is an honorary
professor at the Armenian Academy in Yerevan, Armenia. In 2003,
Kolanian released a critically acclaimed recording of “Lute Suites”
by J.S. Bach on the Eros record label.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 students and children 6 and older.
Children under 6 will not be admitted. Tickets are available in
advance by calling (559) 278-2669, or at the door.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Armenian Studies Program
at Fresno State and the Armenian Community School of Fresno.

Armenian GDP up by 10 per cent in 2004

Noyan Tapan news agency
16 Feb 05

Yerevan, 16 February: Armenia’s GDP totalled 1,893.4bn drams (about
3.7bn dollars) in 2004, which is 10.1 per sent more than in the
previous year.

Industrial output increased by 2.1 per cent, agricultural output by
14.5 per cent and capital construction by 17.2 per cent, the head of
the Armenian National Statistics Service, Stepan Mnatsakanyan, said
at a news conference on 16 February. Foreign trade totalled 2,066m
dollars, which is 5.1 per cent more than in 2003. Export amounted to
715m dollars (up by 4.3 per cent), and import 1,351m dollars (up by
5.6 per cent).

[Passage omitted: minor details]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TBILISI WAITS FOR RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER’S VISIT WITH MIXED FEELINGS AND PRACTICAL PROPOSALS

RIA Novosti, Russia
Feb 16 2005

TBILISI, February 16 (RIA Novosti) – In Tbilisi, Russia’s foreign
minister will be offered practical proposals on the normalization of
Russian-Georgian relations. Salome Zurabishvili, Georgia’s foreign
minister, said this addressing the republic’s parliament Wednesday.

In her words, the Georgian side “looks at Sergei Lavrov’s official
visit calmly, openly and positively.” Sergei Lavrov will arrive in
Tbilisi on the evening of February 17.

“I cannot say that we expect positive results from the forthcoming
visit; it is hard to say anything against the present backdrop,”
Salome Zurabishvili noted.

She said that “the Georgian side prepared practical proposals for
Sergei Lavrov and, should they be approved, the results could be
expected within the next three months. She did not rule out that “the
first steps towards normalizing Russian-Georgian relations could be
made in this period.”

Salome Zurabishvili stressed that “if Russia and Georgia fail to take
steps towards normalizing their relations in the near future, it will
be of no use to talk about a framework agreement or anything else.”

According to Zurabishvili , “the Georgian leadership has no intention
to deploy foreign states’ military bases on its territory. She pointed
out that representatives of the US Administration said repeatedly that
the United States had no plans to deploy US military bases in Georgia.

At the same time, Salome Zurabishvili underlined that “the issue of
Georgia’s refusal to deploy foreign military bases on its territory
cannot be a subject of the Russian-Georgian framework agreement
(Moscow still maintains two military bases in Georgia, in Adzharia
and Akhalkalaki near the border with Armenia).”

The Georgian foreign minister pointed out “there is no talk of any
concessions to Russia on the issue of influence in the region.” To
quote her, “such a country as Russia will always have influence in
the region However, it is important [to understand] in what form and
at what level Russia will exercise this influence.”

Salome Zurabishvili expressed the Georgian side’s readiness to discuss
all pressing issues in Russian-Georgian relations. “We have no border
problems, no visa regime problems, or problems related to the agreement
[between our two countries]. Our problem is that we do not know what
Russia really wants,” Georgia’s foreign minister said in conclusion.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kyrgyz FM urges further military cooperation with Russia

Kabar news agency, Bishkek
16 Feb 05

Bishkek, 16 February: The task of further strengthening cooperation
in the military and political and military and technical spheres
under the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO; members
are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia]
is a pressing one, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aytmatov has told
a meeting at the ministry.

He said that cooperation should be stepped up “primarily with Russia
by implementing agreements under the CSTO and strengthening the
contractual and legal base aimed at further strengthening collective
security system in Central Asia”.

The foreign minister said that Kyrgyzstan also attached
great significance to membership of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization [SCO; members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia], which, along with the CSTO, is also
considered to be a key component in ensuring national security of
the countries. Aytmatov said that these organizations also play an
important role in ensuring regional security.

“On the whole Kyrgyzstan’s participation in multilateral agreements
within the CIS, the CSTO, the Eurasian Economic Community [EAEC],
the Central Asian Cooperation Organization [CACO] and the SCO should
be flexible and carried out in close cooperation with partners on a
bilateral basis,” Aytmatov said.

CIS defence system disintegrating, CIS “slowly dying”, says Russian paper

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow
14 Feb 05

The collective defence system of the Commonwealth of Independent States
has begun to rapidly disintegrate, according to a Moscow daily. The
Commonwealth, as a transitional entity between USSR republics and
post-Soviet sovereign countries, is slowly dying, it said, and
collective military relations are no exception. The countries form
their military relations not in accordance with the model established
in the 1990s, but in accordance with their national interests, the
paper said. The following is text of report by Vladimir Mukhin:
“Farewell To Arms! Collective Arms…. Russia’s CIS partners are
rapidly dismantling the common defence space” published by Russian
newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 14 February:

The CIS collective defence system has begun to rapidly
disintegrate. The first evidence of this is the imminent
abolition of the CIS Staff for Coordinating Military Cooperation
[ShKVS]. Nezavisimaya Gazeta has learned from informed sources at the
Russian Defence Ministry that after long and intensive consultations
Moscow finally accepted Astana’s proposal to abolish this supranational
body. The structure, which has tried throughout post-Soviet history
to do at least something to regulate military relations between the
CIS state, is breathing its last.

That this decision may be made at the CIS summit to be held in Kazan
in August 2005 was confirmed for Nezavisimaya Gazeta by Col-Gen Leonid
Ivashov, vice president of the Academy of Geopolitical Issues, who
was behind the creation of the ShKVS and for a long time headed the
CIS Council of Defence Ministers secretariat and the Russian Defence
Ministry main international military cooperation directorate. The
general himself sees this step as “extremely erroneous and damaging;
one that significantly weakens Russia’s positions in the post-Soviet
space”. As you know, Russia has hitherto opposed the abolition of the
ShKVS and even at last November’s Council of Ministers it initiated
support for the body on the part of other CIS republic – first and
foremost, the Central Asian republics and Armenia. Now we have a
U-turn, as they say. Why?

The answer to this question is provided to some extent by the
heads of various CIS structures and post-Soviet republics’ military
ministers. “No single Eurasian security space currently exists,” CIS
General Secretary Nikolay Bordyuzha believes. “It remains fragmentary
and diffuse and to some extent internally contradictory, since some
of its elements not only fail to harmonize, but compete with one
another.” In order to avoid this, in his opinion, “it is necessary
to delimit spheres of influence in matters of safeguarding collective
security between existing integration structures in the region – CIS,
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Eurasian Economic Community,
the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO] and others”. That
is, Bordyuzha diplomatically avoids mentioning the abolition of
military structures within the CIS (ShKVS and Council of Defence
Ministers), but clearly singles out his own structure, the Collective
Security Treaty Organization, which could be the “engine-room for
integration processes in the CIS space”. Kazakh Defence Minister
Mukhtar Altynbayev is even more emphatic. Like President Nursultan
Nazarbayev, he believes that “instead of an ineffective ShKVS and
ineffective Council of Defence Ministers a CIS states’ Security
Council should be set up, operating within the framework of the
CIS”. This idea has already been partially supported by Belarusian
Defence Minister Leanid Maltsaw: His proposal is to disband the ShKVS,
but keep the Council of Defence Ministers secretariat.

But only six of the 12 post-Soviet countries (we can rule the Baltic
countries out right away) are members of the CSTO. They, let us say,
will be “engine-rooms of integration”, but what are the others to
do? The CIS Security Council, if set up, cannot be an “engine-room”
either, since there are still no integration processes in the
post-Soviet space.

It has to be said that the Commonwealth, as a transitional entity
between USSR republics and post-Soviet sovereign countries, is
slowly dying. And collective military relations are no exception. The
countries form their military relations not in accordance with the
model established in the nineties, but in accordance with their
national interests. And this is evidently an objective process. That
the CSTO military staff is more effective than the ShKVS is an
illusion. For instance, within the CSTO there is already a nucleus of
countries united by their own coalition forces in Central Asia. There
is a single grouping of Russian and Belarusian forces in the western
CIS and Russian and Armenian forces in the south. All these groupings
have their own command and control staffs and only at a pinch could
they be united under the CSTO flag. At the same time, the recent
10th anniversary of the formation of the CIS combined air defence
system showed that many post-Soviet countries have common interests
in defending their air borders. Of course, the CSTO states are
the backbone of the countries. But there is rivalry and there are
problems even among them. For instance, Kyrgyzstan, a CSTO member,
is clearly lagging behind integration processes within the framework
of the formation of the combined air defence system. Its air defence
chief, Col Vladimir Valyayev, was not even at the celebratory session
of the combined air defence system countries’ coordinating commission,
which discussed plans for 2005. But Ukraine and Uzbekistan, which, as
you know, are not CSTO members, have shown an interest in these events.

Kazakhstan is active, as ever, having proposed CIS air defence forces
exercises not only at the Russian firing range, as has happened in
the past, but at its sole Sary-Shagan military firing range. Ukraine
has already taken the bait by severing the contracts with Moscow for
firing exercises in Ashuluk (Astrakhan Region) and is now preparing
an intergovernmental agreement on firing exercises at the Kazakhstani
range. So we find military-technical competition between CSTO allies
– Astana and Moscow. And Astana is clearly winning in this case,
since its firing range is both considerably bigger and obviously
more attractive financially. But this demonstrates once again the
fact that military relations are being built not in accordance with
the CSTO and ShKVS organizations’ models, but in accordance with the
interests of the CIS states’ military structures.

Moscow traditionally provides military equipment and services for
CIS combined air defence system states at their own domestic prices,
largely taking it upon itself to provide the military infrastructure
(airfields, test sites, headquarters), train personnel, and so
on. All it gets in return is unhealthy competition between military
firing ranges, “semihostile” blocs (remember GUUAM [Georgia, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova]), and purchase of armaments and
military hardware from and training of CIS armed forces’ officers in
NATO countries (as Ukraine will now be doing and Georgia is already
doing).

“Collective staffs and collective defence bodies have run their course
in their present form also because Russia has not finally decided on
it own principles, and its own ideology in mutual relations with the
CIS countries,” Academician Vladimir Popov of the Academy of Military
Sciences believes.

According to the analyst, the ShKVS has run its course. It had already
been halved in 2004 and the 55 officers that remain are not calling
the shots – they are clearly ineffective. But this does not mean
that the staff should be destroyed. Its staffers might well take
up theoretical work, developing blueprints, identifying threats,
and planning joint measures in Moscow’s interests. Indeed it was the
ShKVS that devised documents defining the content of such concepts
as CIS collective defence and security.

Moreover, the ShKVS is in Moscow. The Russian capital provides a
base for work and tackles the everyday problems of offices from CIS
countries. And it pays extra for communication, for lighting, and so
on. And he who pays the piper should call the tune.

Russian paper predicts imminent CIS demise because of Ukraine

Argumenty i Fakty, Moscow
16 Feb 05

The last reminder of the USSR – the Commonwealth of the Independent
States [CIS] – is falling apart. Russia will be affected by its
flying debris.

“The grave-diggers of the USSR” moulded the CIS from the debris of
the Soviet empire, but the former “fraternal peoples” have failed to
become friends. We asked the head of the Russian institute for CIS
studies and State Duma MP Konstantin Zatulin to tell us about the
undercurrents in the commonwealth.

– Until recently the meaning of the CIS boiled down to just one thing
– all its member states tried to get privileges and concessions from
Russia. But Moscow insisted that the CIS exists in reality and that
it is a unique and special “continent”. However, over the past couple
of years it has become clear that the former Soviet republics are
crawling away from one another at various speeds. Following the Baltic
states, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine are keen on joining European
structures. Not everything is smooth in Russia’s relations even with
its closest partners – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus.

Ukraine has always been the main threat to maintaining the CIS. On
the whole of post-Soviet space, only Ukraine is capable of becoming
a real balancing power against Russia. [Passage omitted]

We have even more global problems. GUUAM’s profile will be raised
very soon. GUUAM is the only organization on CIS territory of which
Russia is not a member. GUUAM’s members – Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan,
Azerbaijan and Moldova – set it up to counterbalance Russia in 1999
at a NATO meeting in Brussels.

This shows very clearly that post-Soviet territory is continuing to
be split into two camps. Proceeding from its advantages, the first
camp is still seeking Russia’s protection, but the camp is growing
smaller and smaller.

The other camp is growing bigger, but it is helping to increase
foreign influence. Russia’s main troubles in relations with its
closest neighbours are yet to come.

The main problem in the foreseeable future is Ukraine and its
ambitions. Some areas in Russia’s south have a soft spot for Ukrainian
canvassing: Voronezh Region, Krasnodar Territory and others. Their
unhappiness about Russia can be a very good breeding ground for
such question as “Why do we need Moscow, which doesn’t give us
anything?” and such slogans as “We are fed up with the problem of
Chechnya”.

[Passage omitted]

Meanwhile, the CIS is becoming more and more a mere token of the
recent “co-habitation”. Two and a half years ago the Russian president
gave up the chairman’s post in the CIS heads of state council and
offered it to Leonid Kuchma [ex-president of Ukraine]. After Kuchma’s
departure, the CIS is going through a real crisis of the “heir to
the throne”. Of course, the CIS as a club for post-Soviet states
will survive this blow. Only one function will remain – it will be a
meeting place for the presidents of the former Soviet republics. Just
in case… [ellipsis as published].

PANIC IN AZERBAIJAN AFTER THE VALUATIONS OF THE FACT-COLLECTORS

A1+
16-02-2005

“It can be noticed in the last few days that the Azerbaijani
party, especially with the lips of Araz Azimov, inventing imaginary
combinations, tries to complicate matters”, Hamlet Gasparyan, Press
Secretary of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an interview
to the agency “Regnum”. “In this case they are apparently worried
by the primary valuations of the fact-collectors which of course do
not satisfy the demands of Azerbaijan, so they try to bring about
problems not connected with the reality”.

It is worth mentioning that Mr. Gasparyan has commented on the
announcement of Araz Azimov, Deputy minister of foreign affairs of
Azerbaijan, that “Azerbaijan government excludes the possibility of
discussing the problem of the opening of a pass between Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh”. By the way, Mr. Gasparyan has also answered the
question whether the negotiating parties discuss the connection of
Azerbaijan with Nakhijevan and that of Armenia with Nagorno Karabakh
on the same level.

“Ignore as we do suchlike announcements on Azerbaijan’s part, in order
for the society not to be confuse, we must say that Nakhijevan does
not have a communication problem and it cannot be on the same level
with Karabakh. Nakhijevan communicates with other countries without
difficulty. The problems concerns Nagorno Karabakh and the results
of the conflict and from this point of view the condition of Lachin
cannot be put on the same level with other problems.”

THE DEATH OF LEBANESE EX-PREMIER MAY HAVE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES FOR BEIRUT ARMENIANS

PanArmenian News Analysis
Feb 16 2005

As a result of the intensification of the conflict between the main
communities of Lebanon, Armenian community may lose the current
political influence in the country.

The President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan presented their condolences to the President of Lebanon
Emil Lahoud on the murder of the country’s ex-Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri. Armenian leaders were on friendly terms with the prominent
Lebanese politician. Friendly relations strengthened especially during
last year’s visit of Hariri to Yerevan. Armenian authorities realize
that the tragic death of the former Prime Minister may a negative
impact on the status of the influential Armenian community of Lebanon.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 60 years old multi-millionaire Hariri whom in late
70s “Forbes” magazine included in the list of the hundred richest
people of the planet, has made a significant contribution to the
recovery of the country’s economy. Twice the head of the government,
the politician last left the post of the Prime Minister in November
2004 due to contradictions with President Emil Lahoud who managed to
stay in power thanks to the amendment in the constitution. Being in
opposition, Hariri took the task of uniting all the forces who insisted
on the immediate withdrawal of Syrian troops from the territory of
Lebanon. Sunnite Hariri was supported by politicians representing
various parties, ethnic and religious groups, the leaders of Druz
community, the former commander of the army of Christians Michelle
Aoun and even representatives of the Maronite Christian community
represented by Lahoud himself. Analysts supposed that thanks to
Rafik Hariri the opposition could win in the upcoming parliamentary
elections. Now, after his death, nobody tries to make any predictions.

Hariri’s victory would change the geopolitical situation because he
would surely achieve the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Supporters of
Hariri as well as some forces in Israel and USA blame Syria for the
incident. It is obvious that the act of terrorism will be used by
Washington against Damask together with other sanctions. This will
increase the possibility of taking military measures against Syria
by the United States. Armenia cannot be indifferent to the situation
that is being formed in Lebanon and Syria since those countries are
inhabited by hundred thousands of Armenians.

Armenian community of Lebanon has always strived to keep neutrality
and normal relations with all the political forces. However Emil Lahoud
has always been more popular for Armenians than Rafik Hariri. This is
not because Lahoud is a Christian and Hariri – a Muslim and even not
because Lahoud’s mother and wife are Armenians. The thing is that being
Prime Minister Hariri broke the 1976 agreement on the principles of
forming power. The Constitution of Lebanon was created on the basis of
the mentioned document that put an end to the civil war. The agreement
stipulated the representation of ethnic and religious communities in
the government. (As it is known, besides Sunnite Arabs, Shiite Arabs,
Maronite Arabs and Armenians there are also Kurds, Assyrians and Jews
living in the country). The representation of the Armenian community
is realized by two ministerial posts and five deputy mandates. However,
in 2002 Hariri decided to reduce the number of ministries and deprived
one ministerial post of the Armenian community. In the government he
kept only Dashnak Sepouh Hovnanyan who occupied the insignificant post
of the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs. This arouse indignation
among Armenian community. After the last year’s visit of Hariri to
Yerevan the contradictions toned down. Nevertheless he did not keep
his word. Lahoud returned the second ministerial post to Armenians
only after Hariri’s resignation.

The situation being formed in Lebanon is extremely dangerous for
Armenian community. The positions of Emil Lahoud have distinctly
weakened. It is hard to say whether we will manage to keep control
over the situation in the country. There is a serious thread of a
new civil war. The confrontation between Sunnites and Maronites can
force the political elite of Lebanon to reject the requirements of the
1976 agreement. In this case it will be very difficult for Armenian
community to preserve its current political influence in the country.

Artyom Yerkanyan

–Boundary_(ID_mn5Q4BHBoWpR6mXVpzE/FA)–

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

February 16, 2005
____________________

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA AND USAID ARMENIA MISSION DIRECTOR SHARE
INSIGHT AT TOWN HALL MEETING HOSTED BY FAR AND THE DIOCESE

Despite difficulties — ranging from the heritage of Soviet misrule to
cultural and economic factors – America’s new Ambassador to Armenia,
John Evans, feels strongly that “Armenia today is on the right track.”

To help stay on track, Armenia receives assistance from America — in
fact, Armenia receives more American assistance per capita than any
other nation, save Israel. That statistic only takes into account
governmental aid, and does not include help provided by private
organizations, such as the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR).

During a town hall meeting on Friday, February 11, 2005, co-hosted by
FAR and the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
Ambassador Evans described the three areas that the U.S. administration
focuses its aid to Armenia: (1) to see stability and security for the
people in the south Caucasus; (2) to work with other international
donors to build up the economy in Armenia, hopefully to a point where it
is self-sustaining; and (3) to foster the development of genuine
democratic institutions, touching the executive, legislative and
judicial branches of government as well as the media, often considered
the fourth branch of democracy.

The U.S. assistance program includes projects by the U.S. Agency for
International Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Peace
Corps, the Treasury Department, the Pentagon and several others. “I
think it is probably the best,” the Ambassador said, referring to the
high quality of work and the existence of checks and balances in
Armenia.

About 40 people attended the intimate gathering at New York City’s
Diocesan Center, which included remarks by Ambassador Evans, and USAID
Country Director for Armenia Robin Phillips.

FAR AND U.S. WORK JOINTLY

USAID’s Phillips indicated that of the $75 million Congress allocates to
Armenia’s assistance, USAID implements $50 million. He noted that FAR
is overseeing $16.55 million for humanitarian assistance granted by
USAID — $15 million for work in Karabagh and $1.55 million for work in
Armenia. This double award demonstrates USAID’s recognition of FAR as a
credible, responsible and effective relief organization.

“We are happy with our long-standing relationship with USAID,” said
Garnik Nanagoulian, Executive Director of FAR, “and look forward to
continuing our partnership for the benefit of the people of Armenia and
Karabagh.”

The four sectors that categorize USAID’s 60 activities in Armenia are
Regional Stability, Economic Development, Democracy, and Social
Transition. To exhibit USAID’s top-down and bottom-up approaches,
Director Phillips described various USAID programs in Armenia.
Additional information about USAID projects was shown through a short
film, Partners for the Future, copies of which were made available to
the public.

WELCOMING AND QUESTIONING THE NEW AMBASSADOR

The gathering was a chance for the Armenian community in New York to get
to know Ambassador Evans, who was confirmed by the Senate on June 25,
2004 and sworn in as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia on August 11, 2004.
Earlier, on October 1, 2004, FAR and Diocesan leaders met with the Mr.
Evans in New York City to reaffirm their partnerships with the State
Department and USAID.

A native of Williamsburg, VA, Ambassador Evans has served at American
embassies in Iran, the former Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Russia.
Most recently he served as the Director of the Office of Russian Affairs
at the U.S. State Department.

Ambassador Evans was heavily involved in the coordination of U.S. relief
efforts to the victims of the Spitak earthquake in December 1988, for
which he earned a medal and statement of appreciation from the Armenian
government of that time.

During the town hall meeting, Ambassador Evans welcomed questions from
those in attendance, who asked several tough questions — touching on
areas such as the U.S. role in fair elections, the efforts to open
Armenia’s two closed borders, the ramifications of Azerbaijan’s use of
Chechen terrorists against Armenians, the effects of Armenia-Iran
relationship given recent U.S. policies, the environmental concerns
surrounding Armenia’s nuclear energy, and the example of the U.S.
Consular representative indicted on bribery charges.

FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 16 years, FAR has
implemented various relief, development, social, educational, and
cultural projects valued at more than $250 million. It is the
preeminent relief and development organization operating there.

For more information on FAR, contact us at 630 Second Avenue, New York,
NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; web
; e-mail [email protected].

— 2/16/05

E-mail photos available upon request.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: FAR and the Diocese co-hosted a town hall meeting in
New York on February 11, 2005: left to right: Aaron H. Sherinian,
Political Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia, Garnik A. Nanagoulian,
FAR Executive Director, Randy Sapah-Gulian, Secretary of the FAR Board
of Directors, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Rev. Fr. Mardiros
Chevian, Dean of the St. Vartan Cathedral, Annette Choolfaian, Treasurer
of the FAR Board of Directors, USAID Armenia Director Robin Phillips,
and Dr. Edgar Housepian, Vice Chairman of the FAR Board of Directors.

PHOTO CAPTION 2: FAR Executive Director Garnik Nanagoulian welcomed the
40 guests attending the reception and introduced the U.S. Ambassador and
USAID Armenia Director.

PHOTO CAPTION 3: Ambassador John M. Evans spoke openly about U.S.
policies and priorities in Armenia.

PHOTO 4: After making presentations and showing a film about USAID
activities in Armenia, U.S. Ambassador John Evans and USAID Armenia
Director Robin Phillips answered questions from community members.

# # #

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress