Estonia painting itself into corner in foreign policy – newspaper

Postimees web site, Tallinn
3 Dec 04

Estonia has painted itself into a corner by joining the Russian
initiative at the UN to mark 8 and 9 May as days of remembrance and
reconciliation. Ruutel will have no option but to go to Moscow, as
invited by his Russian counterpart, on 9 May and, with a bit of luck,
he and the other Baltic presidents will issue a statement to clarify
the significance of World War II for the Baltic states before they
leave for Moscow. The following is the text of the article entitled
“Ruutel cornered” by Erkki Bahovski published by the Estonian
newspaper Postimees web site on 3 December.

In the light of the question as to whether President Arnold Ruutel
should go to Moscow on 9 May or not, Estonia has done quite a lot to
paint itself into a corner in terms of foreign policy. The deadlock
seems quite so serious that there are only weak recipes for a way
out. Evidently the visit is on.

During his visit to Armenia, our president issued an appeal, in itself
a correct one, that Turkey should recognize the 1915 genocide against
the Armenians. There is, however, a “but”. If Estonia is fighting
against genocide and crimes against humanity in front of the world
public at large, then why should the Estonian president go to Moscow
to mark an event that continued the genocide and crimes against
humanity on Estonian territory?

On the other hand, Armenia is among the CIS countries that supported
the Russian initiative to declare 8 and 9 May as so-called UN days for
remembrance and reconciliation. The way these days were created is
quite interesting: on 10 November a letter was sent by the Russian UN
mission to the Netherlands, the holder of the EU presidency,
containing a Russian request for EU support for a resolution to this
end to be adopted at the UN General Assembly on a consensus basis.

This is how things indeed went: the EU supported the idea of a
consensus and only Lithuania abstained at the General Assembly, as its
representative recalled that those days in May commemorated the start
of a peacetime Soviet occupation in the Baltic states.

The simple question is: what did Estonia do? The decision was taken on
the basis of a consensus and Estonia, consequently, voted in favour. A
resolution to this end discusses 8 and 9 May additionally not only as
days for remembrance and reconciliation but also in terms of an appeal
to all UN member states to remember these days, or one of them, “in an
approved manner” every year so as to commemorate all the World War II
dead. Is the [Soviet-style] Victory Day returning to Estonia?

Since Estonia at the UN General Assembly supported the Russian
initiative to mark the end of World War II in Europe it would be quite
strange to explain to the world that well, you see, we are not going
to Moscow.

Meanwhile Estonia, which has always been seeking an EU common policy
on Russia, has not simplified its position through Prime Minister
Juhan Parts’s visit to Israel. When Parts said that the EU should be
softer towards Israel, he cast doubt on the EU policy hitherto on the
Middle East.

It would now be quite strange to go and seek, say, from France a more
unified policy on Russia. Perhaps, having painted itself into a
corner, a weak way out of the corner for Estonia would be for the
Baltic states’ presidents to issue a joint statement to the world
ahead of their travel to Moscow to explain what happened during World
War II in the Baltic states and what the Baltic states’ position is on
the war. This, however, would still not be a final solution.

Azeris blast British peer for organizing sporting events in separatist
Karabakh

Ekho, Baku
3 Dec 04

Excerpt from T. Tushiyev’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 3
December headlined “Karabakh separatists ‘mark’ the International Day
for Disabled Persons in their own way”

The Karabakh separatists, who are noted for being “active”, have
failed to mark peacefully 3 December, the International Day for
Disabled Persons. This time they organized a competition-festival for
the disabled below 18. The separatists intend to conduct competitions
in table tennis, chess and other sports. It is not known yet whether
disabled sportsmen from other countries have been invited. The
activities are organized by “the ministry of social security of the
Nagornyy Karabakh republic” (quotation marks have been inserted by us
here and throughout – author) and the Xankandi-based rehabilitation
centre named after the deputy speaker of the British House of Lords,
Caroline Cox.

This is not the first time that the representative of the British
parliament is providing support for Nagornyy Karabakh’s separatist
regime. This is confirmed by the spokesman for the Ministry of Youth,
Sports and Tourism, Raqif Abbasov, who criticizes Baroness Caroline
Cox for her organizational support.

“We will express our indignation to the British embassy in Baku. Such
activities held on the territory of Azerbaijan by the unrecognized
separatist regime and supported by a representative of the British
parliament are outrageous. We are going to find out whether disabled
sportsmen from other countries have been invited to this festival and
if this is confirmed, we will take urgent measures to ensure that the
international community condemns and does not recognize such
actions. Let me assure you that any attempt to ‘push’ such events to
the international level is doomed to failure. The same happened to
Armenia’s attempts to secure international status for a chess
tournament organized in March this year in memory of former world
champion Tigran Petrosyan. The same outcome is in store for other
attempts by the separatists,” Raqif Abbasov told Ekho.

[Passage omitted: background information]

The reaction of the head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s press
service, Matin Mirza, was a little more reserved.

“Before we start taking any measures, it is first of all necessary to
find out whether representatives of other countries are taking part in
this event. If they are, we will certainly take decisive measures to
condemn this as yet another provocation on the part of the
Armenians. Otherwise, as long as these lands are controlled by the
Nagornyy Karabakh separatists, we can’t prevent this from
happening. As for the participation of Baroness Caroline Cox, this is
not the first time that she has organized such activities for the
Armenian side. This is her private initiative and the British
government is not taking part in this,” Matin Mirza said.

NATO’s involvement in Karabakh settlement “undesirable” – Russian official

Ekspress, Baku
3 Dec 04

The press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Aleksandr
Yakovenko, has said that NATO’s involvement in the Karabakh conflict
settlement is “undesirable”. In his exclusive interview with the
Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress, Yakovenko said that Russia is not
concerned about NATO’s intervention in the issue as it will “have no
impact” on the settlement of the problem. It is naive to think that
the occupied lands of Azerbaijan will be liberated with the support of
NATO, he said. At the same time, he pointed out that the Russian
government recognizes that the Azerbaijani lands are under occupation
and supports Baku’s position on the issue. The following is the text
of Alakbar Raufoglu’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 3
December headlined “Russia recognizes that Karabakh is under
occupation” and subheaded “The press secretary of the Russian Foreign
Ministry, Aleksandr Yakovenko: ‘It is naive to think that the lands
will be returned with the support of NATO'”. Subheadings as published:

Russia is not concerned about NATO’s intervention in the Karabakh
settlement, but at the same time, it considers that this “will have no
impact on the settlement”, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official
spokesman, Aleksandr Yakovenko, told Ekspress in an exclusive
interview yesterday.

“It would be naive to think that any state will secure its right as a
winner or return its lands with the support of NATO,” Yakovenko said,
commenting on statements by Azerbaijani officials that NATO’s
intervention in the settlement process is necessary.

Moscow thinks that the current peace process “needs no changes that
would prevent the dialogue”. NATO’s involvement in the issue is simply
“undesirable”.

To recap, Azerbaijan called on the alliance to intervene in the
settlement during NATO’s Rose-Roth seminar in Baku last week.

“Russia has repeatedly stated that NATO’s intervention might divert
attention from the settlement of the problem,” Yakovenko said. He
called on Baku “to assess the situation correctly”.

Moscow evaluates Azerbaijan’s cooperation with NATO as “the country’s
internal affair”. At the same time, Russia cannot be indifferent to
the coming of a third power to the region.

“It is necessary to take only conscious, purposeful and well
thought-out steps and make decisions that will prevent tension.”

Moscow is impartial and upbeat

Yakovenko said that Moscow had always taken an active part in the
Karabakh settlement. “We are impartial and upbeat. The Russian people
and government admit that Azerbaijani lands are under occupation and
support Baku’s position on the settlement of the
problem. Unfortunately, Moscow’s steps have been fruitless so
far. Despite this, we are continuing our efforts,” he said.

Russia is currently “closely investigating” the peace talks and
keeping the discussions between the [Armenian and Azerbaijani] foreign
ministers in focus. The activity of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
is coordinated with the Russian Foreign Ministry as well. Yakovenko
said that an agreement to increase Russia’s efforts was reached during
the Astana meeting of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents
this September. Therefore, Russia intends to take steps “at the
highest level” in connection with the issue.

“The point is about preserving and supporting the dialogue between the
countries,” the diplomat stressed.

There is no “Putin formula”

However, the reports that Russia has put forward some proposals on the
resolution of the conflict have not justified themselves. Yakovenko
said that at present, this is simply a version and is not based on any
official source.

To recap, after the Astana meeting, the Russian media circulated
reports that Putin has come up with a specific package of proposals on
the Karabakh problem – the Putin formula.

“There is no such formula. If this was the case, then it would have
been announced long ago,” the diplomat said.

The opinions about Russia’s intention to deploy a foreign [as
published] base on the occupied territories are also rumours.

“This was not discussed at all,” he said. At the same time, Moscow
might think about it if the issue of deploying bases arises during the
peace talks.

The Russian diplomat also commented on reports about the coming of US
and NATO troops to Azerbaijan.

“We know official Baku’s position on this. Azerbaijan has repeatedly
stated that there is no need to deploy any foreign military bases in
the country. That is, there is absolute stability and peace in
Azerbaijan and the state has enough possibilities to ensure internal
security. We think that this policy has brought Azerbaijan success for
years. Moscow approves of this policy, and we think that the
consequences of any step to be taken should be calculated beforehand,”
he said.

Russian bases in Armenia will not increase

Does the stationing and military reinforcement of the Russian bases in
Armenia have an impact on the talks?

Yakovenko said that “it is a completely different issue and has no
impact on the settlement”. That’s to say the Russian bases have
existed in Armenia since Soviet times and are not expected to
increase.

At the same time, the military factor in Russia’s policy on the
Caucasus is at the minimum.

“We are interested in Azerbaijan’s independence and sovereignty, the
resolution of its economic and social problems. We are ready to do our
best in this sphere,” Yakovenko said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian MP upbeat on future cooperation with NATO

Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
3 Dec 04

Armenian MP Mger Shakhgeldyan has said that the Armenian MPs’ failure
to attend a NATO-sponsored seminar in Baku will not affect the
country’s relations with the North Atlantic alliance. In his interview
with the Hayots Ashkharh newspaper, Shakhgeldyan said that Armenia
wants to develop even more the potential of its participation in this
organization. Touching on Azerbaijan’s statements that NATO should be
involved in the Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian MP said
such a development of events is impossible since the NATO
secretary-general recently said that the organization is not going to
engage in the settlement of the problem. The following is the text of
Vaan Vardanyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh on 3
December headlined “NATO will not intervene”. Subheadings have been
inserted editorially:

Armenia wants to develop cooperation with NATO

It is known that the Armenian parliamentary delegation did not have
the opportunity to take part in the event initiated by the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly that took place in Baku. The chairman of the
defence, national security and interior affairs commission of the
National Assembly, Mger Shakhgeldyan, comments on the further
prospects of our delegation’s activity in NATO.

[Hayots Ashkharh correspondent] Will the fact that the Armenian
delegation did not take part in the Baku NATO seminar not create
problems in the sense of our future work in the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly?

[Mger Shakhgeldyan] I do not think there will be a problem, as we did
not take part because of the known situation. It was too late when we
received a reply on behalf of the secretary-general of the
Parliamentary Assembly connected with our worry. Technically, our
departure was already impossible and the seminar was coming to an
end. That was also the position of political forces.

Incidentally, it should be emphasized that we received no reply from
the Azerbaijani party. Moreover, during a meeting with the mass media,
the chairman of the Azerbaijani parliament said making no secret that
they were not interested in the Armenian delegation’s participation
and it is very good that the Armenian party did not come. In such a
situation, our departure was simply senseless.

Certainly, in the future we shall continue acting in the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly and we want to use more effectively and develop
even more the potential of our participation in that structure.

Azerbaijan has no privileged right of membership

[Correspondent] But the Azerbaijani party is spreading rumours that
their positions in the Assembly have become so strong that they want
to become a permanent member from an associated one. Is that possible?

[Shakhgeldyan] Anyway, there was no such problem connected with the
autumn session. I do not think that Azerbaijan will be given a
privilege in this matter in comparison with other countries of the
region. The abovementioned problem is connected with how much
Azerbaijan will develop on its way of integration into NATO. They
declare this from time to time, in this sense, there is a difference
between our and their positions in the Parliamentary Assembly. But
today we can preserve the balance.

[Correspondent] Does it mean that Azerbaijan may gain the status of a
permanent member only after becoming a competent member of the NATO
military and political structures?

[Shakhgeldyan] It is possible in an unofficial sense. Because from the
official point of view, the Parliamentary Assembly and NATO are
independent from each other. Stemming from a number of approaches, if
Azerbaijan declares that it is joining other structures of NATO, I do
not rule out that such an issue may arise in the Assembly.

[Correspondent] May Turkey’s support play a decisive role in this
matter?

[Shakhgeldyan] Certainly, Turkey greatly supports Azerbaijan. It is
also clear that Turkey is an old and one of the most important members
of NATO. But I would not say that its support can have a decisive
role. Discussions in the Assembly are free and on the whole, a
viewpoint is being formed regarding any country not only taking
account of its desires, but also many other problems. We are acting
towards the establishment of friendly relations, but Turkey’s support
for Azerbaijan is very big.

NATO’s involvement in Karabakh settlement impossible

[Correspondent] The Azerbaijani party has announced once again that
they think that the involvement of a NATO force in the process of the
regional and especially the Karabakh issue settlement is
expedient. May such initiatives be important in the sense of
strengthening Azerbaijan’s positions?

[Shakhgeldyan] NATO itself should make a decision to take part in this
process. I think at present, irrespective of Azerbaijan’s desires and
readiness, such a development of events is impossible. The NATO
secretary-general recently announced in Armenia that NATO is not going
to be involved in the settlement of the Karabakh issue.

Certainly, NATO is extending its presence in the South Caucasus, but
as they say, they are watching the Karabakh issue only within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Let us not forget that the role of
the USA in NATO is significant, and if the American co-chairman of the
Minsk Group says that they consider the continuation of the Minsk
Group’s activity to be important, so… [ellipsis as given]

Moscow mayor visits Armenian capital to sign cooperation memo

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
2 Dec 04

[Presenter] Moscow mayor Yuriy Luzhkov arrived in Yerevan a few hours
ago. He will sign with his Yerevan counterpart a three-year programme
of cooperation between the Russian and Armenian capitals.

[Correspondent over video of welcome ceremony at airport] The mayor of
Yerevan, Yervand Zakaryan, met his Moscow counterpart at the
airport. Yervand Zakaryan said that Yerevan is cooperating in various
spheres with Moscow companies. The latest example of this is the
construction of the new building of the Yerevan mayor’s office.

[Yervand Zakaryan, captioned] We have old, friendly and economic
relations. This is the result of active cooperation, especially in
the economic sphere, between Moscow and Yerevan.

[Yuriy Luzhkov, captioned in Russian with Armenian voice-over] The
purpose of my visit is of economic and cultural importance. I shall
meet the leadership of the country. We shall discuss serious
cooperation between Moscow and Armenia. After my last visit to your
country the turnover between Moscow and Armenia doubled.

[Correspondent] The two mayors will sign a memorandum of cooperation
between the two capitals for 2005-07 in various spheres, within the
framework of this year’s discussions and agreements.

Ayk Ovanesyan, Vagram Stepanyan, “Aylur”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian upper house heads CIS interparliamentary assembly for third time

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
3 Dec 04

Russian Federation Council Speaker Sergey Mironov has been re-elected
chairman of the Interparliamentary Assembly (IPA) Council of the CIS
member states for the third time, ITAR-TASS reported on 3 December.

It said the decision was made at an IPA Council meeting in St
Petersburg the same day.

The IPA comprises 10 CIS states, namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and
Ukraine.

Armenian leader favours business cooperation with Georgia, Azerbaijan

Mediamax news agency
3 Dec 04

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met representatives of the
Association of Armenian-Georgian Business Cooperation in Yerevan
today.

Kocharyan said that the establishment of the association has created a
favourable atmosphere for the development of bilateral cooperation and
wished the activity of the structure to yield practical results,
Mediamax new agency reports. The president said that the Armenian side
is doing everything possible to strengthen the association.

In turn, the Georgian side said that they are intending to create a
similar format of cooperation with Azerbaijani entrepreneurs,
attempting to create a basis for regional cooperation. Kocharyan rated
this initiative positively, recalling that Armenia has always
supported the settlement of relations by means of cooperation.

During the meeting, the sides also discussed prospects for
Armenian-Georgian cooperation in the sphere of transport, tourism,
etc.

Armenians destroying historical monuments – Azeris report to Council of
Europe

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
3 Dec 04

BAKU

The destruction and seizure of over 100,000 pieces of cultural
heritage of national and international importance on the occupied
Azerbaijani territories, including some 500 historical and more than
100 archaeological monuments, are reflected in the report “On the
destruction and seizure of cultural monuments on the Armenian-occupied
Azerbaijani territories” submitted to the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe [PACE] committee on science, education and
culture by a member of the Azerbaijani delegation, Rafael Huseynov.

The report also says Armenia has fully or partly destroyed 22 museums,
looted over 1,000 schools, 927 libraries and five music school on
Azerbaijani territory, a source at the international relations
department of the Milli Maclis [parliament] has told Bilik
Dunyasi. Azerbaijan has been trying to table this issue at a PACE
session for two years.

The Azerbaijani delegation has submitted two other documents to the
PACE secretariat, revealing more facts of the destruction of
Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage on the occupied territories – “On the
urgent prevention of the destruction of cultural monuments in the
Azerbaijani town of Susa [Shusha]” and “On the desecration of ancient
cemeteries and historical monuments on the occupied Azerbaijani
territories”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian coalition party reminds US envoy about diaspora security in Iraq

Yerkir web site, Yerevan
30 Nov 04

The US ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, met the representatives of
the supreme body of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD], Armen Rustamyan, Levon Lazarian and Bagrat
Sarkisyan, at the Simon Vratsyan Centre on Tuesday [30 November].

The political situation in Armenia, regional issues, the current stage
of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish
relations were discussed during the meeting.

Noting the importance of the fight against terrorism, the ARFD
representatives pointed out particular circumstances connected with
the possible sending of an Armenian humanitarian group to Iraq. In
this context they also stressed the importance of ensuring the
security of the Armenian communities in Iraq and in other Arab
countries.

CIS security body blacklists 22 terrorist and extremist organizations

RIA news agency, Moscow
3 Dec 04

St Petersburg, 3 December: There are currently 22 organizations on the
list of terrorist and extremist groups which pose a threat to the
states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization [CSTO members
are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan],
CSTO Secretary-General Nikolay Bordyuzha told journalists in St
Petersburg on Friday [3 December]. [Passage omitted]

Bordyuzha said “the list includes organizations of a non-Muslim and
non-religious nature which are also recognized as extremist”.

He said Russia has “13 such organizations beginning with Muslim
Brothers and ending with Al-Qa’idah”.