Waiting in pain
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has left families of missing
soldiers in agonies of uncertainty, reports Nick Paton Walsh
The Guardian
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Gammadin Mamedov has endured nearly twelve years of pain, living with
the belief that his young conscript son, Ikhtiyar, who disappeared in
1993, is still alive.
Clutching a picture of him, he says: “I have seen a Red Cross list of
prisoners who are still alive, and he is on it.”
A decade after a fragile ceasefire was implemented, the uncertainty over
the destiny of people like Ikhtiyar is fuelling tensions in the
long-running conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Daily skirmishes
have haunted the border between the two countries, on the edge of a
disputed territory known as Nagorno-Karabakh.
When the open warfare that claimed 25,000 lives and uprooted 600,000
Azeris was at its peak, Ikhtiyar was 18 and serving in the relative
safety of the Baku unit 126, guarding the capital city’s key sites. Yet
suddenly, on February 13, he was drafted to the frontline. Six days
later, his unit found itself caught up in some of the fiercest fighting
of the war, at Agdara. Ikhtiyar, the unit’s radio operator, got
separated from the other soldiers. “They did what they could to find
him,” says Gammadin, “but they lost 13 men that day. It was messy.”
In the days after their disappearance, the parents of the 13 men
searched the battled-scarred hills for their sons to no avail. “We heard
nothing about him,” Gammadin says under the shady bows of a tree outside
his house in the border village of Shukubayli. “But a year later one of
the thirteen missing troops was released. He showed me photos of
Ikhtiyar, working at a bakery in the town of Shusha [in Nagorno-Karabakh].”
The appearance of Ikhtiyar’s name on the lists of prisoners from the
Azerbaijani state commission for the missing feeds Gammadin’s hopes.
“The Red Cross list was last updated in February,” he says. “I am just a
poor person, not a minister, and do not know if we should make war
again. Our wounds from the last war are still healing. I am just a
father who wants his son back.”
The fate of the so-called “NK missing” has helped keep the two
countries’ knives at each other’s throats. Azerbaijan claims there are
4,959 people “missing” since the war and charges that 783 are still
being held captive by Armenia. Armenia claims 600 are missing.
Azerbaijan says the Armenian claims they have only held 50 or 60
prisoners at a time are nonsense, as they released 1,086 people between
1993 and 2000.
International observers say that most of these people are dead. “It’s
pretty expensive and hard to conceal if an impoverished state keeps 800
people prisoner for twelve years,” says one. They accept there are a few
exceptions, although details are sketchy and often mired in the secrecy
that surrounds this sensitive issue. Arzu Abdullayeva, a human rights
worker from the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly who specialises in the
missing, says the last release was this year in January but does not
provide further details.
Armenia was the de facto victor in the war, Nagorno-Karabakh – a large
slice of former Azerbaijani territory – seized during two years of open
warfare. Armenia, a predominantly Christian state, considers
Nagorno-Karabakh within its ancient borders, first demarcated in 782BC.
Yet Azerbaijan, most of whose people are Shia Muslims, says the
territory was part of the old kingdom of Albania, from whose Alban
people Azerbaijan claims ancestry going back 10,000 years.
Fighting first began under the Soviets in 1988 and 11,000 extra Russian
troops could not stop the fighting from escalating a year after the two
states got independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Over 1.4 million
refugees were created by the conflict.
Azerbaijan labels the Armenian-backed government of Karabakh, whose
territory is not internationally recognised, as “terrorists”. Irascible,
they even threatened to take away the BBC’s right to broadcast their
Azeri language service in the country because of coverage of the
conflict they considered “biased”.
Inter-governmental bickering only sours Gammadin further. “This was not
a real war, but one of special interests: the poor died and the rich got
richer. I am ready to give my house up to buy him back, or my life.
Today would have been his 30th birthday,” he says, his silent rage
turning his wife Roza to tears.
Around the village, there are several families feeling the same sense of
bewilderment and loss as the Mamedovs. Yet, despite such raw wounds, the
new Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliev, said recently that, if
negotiations failed, he would retake the disputed territory “at any cost”.
Playing to those critics who feared he would use the conflict to unite
the impoverished and frustrated Azerbaijani people, he added: “Our army
is capable of freeing occupied territory at any moment. Azerbaijan is in
a condition of war.”
A few hundred metres down the road from Gammadin’s windowless house,
built for him by the Red Cross, this war is very real. A ramshackle
gaggle of conscripts mill around a dishevelled farmhouse that is about
300 metres from the front line, marked by a gaggle of white buildings in
the distance, off limits to reporters.
“You could get shot at any moment,” says the lieutenant in charge of the
unit. As well as the danger of snipers, there are the snakes. The grass
of the hot and dusty plains has been burned away around some key
buildings, the sooty, charred turf less hospitable to snakes whose venom
can only be treated in the central hospital, too often an expensive
drive away. The young men, many wearing only tatty flip-flops, chase the
water truck with their empty tin mugs as it drives up to the base.
A week ago today, the war claimed its last publicised casualty.
Azerbaijan announced that Private Elnur Aliyev, 19, died from a gunshot
wound in his chest at the village of Agdam, on the border. He was the
fourth soldier whose death was admitted by the ministry of defence.
Three civilians have also died from fighting and 11 from the landmines
that pepper the borders.
International monitors say the number of clashes along the border has
this year been at its highest since the ceasefire began. While most
observers say neither side is sufficiently well-equipped to want to
start a proper war, there are fears the clashes may spiral out of
control and a slow, open war of attrition may break out, specifically
over the water and hydroelectric interests in the disputed, dry region.
But to Vugar, a conscript who has moved his metal bed out of the parched
squalor of the barracks to set up a makeshift dormitory with three
friends beneath the endless blue sky on a nearby, arid hill, the clashes
are just something else to survive. “One of our friends was shot in the
head by a sniper last month,” he says. “And then they shot a shepherd
and his two sons as well. All I want to do is live.”

Armenian arrested for “hooliganism” in Azeri capital
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
20 Jul 04

[Presenter Etibar Mammadov] An Armenian has been detained in Baku. It
became known that Igor Bagiyan, who had received years in prison for
misappropriating state property, lived in the capital under the
patronage of [Director of the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan] Eldar
Zeynalov who is famous for protecting the rights of Armenians.
Zeynalov supplied Bagiyan with money and even helped him to obtain his
ID.
[Correspondent over video of beach and streets of Baku] Employees of
the Azizbayov district police department [Baku] have arrested an
Armenian for hooliganism on the Mardakan beach [suburbs of Baku]. The
Baku City Main Police Department reports that ethnic Armenian Igor
Rubenovich Bagiyan had brawled with ethnic Russian Ivan Borisovich
Demin on the beach. A resident of Sabuncu district [Baku], Elcin
Eldarov, intervened in their dispute and was stabbed by Demin.
The investigation found out that Bagiyan had been jailed for
misappropriating state property in the past. After his release, he
lived in a house bought for him at Basir Safaroglu Street in Yasamal
District [Baku]. Another interesting detail was revealed as
well. Eldar Zeynalov created conditions for Bagiyan to live in
Azerbaijan. He protected Bagiyan’s rights when he was in prison.
Eldar Zeynalov helped him to get his ID with an Armenian name and
surname. Zeynalov constantly supplied Bagiyan with money after his
release from prison.
Legal proceedings have been instituted against Bagiyan and Demin at
the moment. The law-enforcement agencies will examine the reasons why
Zeynalov protects Bagiyan.
Fuzuli Hasanli for “Son Xabar”.

Armenian opposition bloc denies rumours of disagreement
Arminfo
20 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The existence of different approaches to one or another issue cannot
be regarded as disagreement in the Armenian opposition camp. There are
no fundamental disagreements on important issues between the National
Unity Party [NUP] and the Justice bloc, Koryun Arakelyan, deputy
chairman of the NUP, told an Arminfo correspondent while commenting on
some media reports.
The political forces within the united Armenian opposition can have
different views on the tactics of their further actions, which is an
absolutely normal phenomenon, he said. “The development of the
situation will bring answers to the questions that have been raised,”
Arakelyan said.
“Constant attempts have lately been made to cause discord in the ranks
of the Armenian opposition. We understand very well who is doing this
and why, however, there is no point in looking for something that does
not exist,” Ruzanna Khachatryan, press secretary of the Justice bloc,
told Arminfo.
The existence of several different approaches to some tactical issues
cannot be a reason for disagreements between the Justice bloc and the
NUP, she said.
[Passage omitted: reiterating the same views]

Armenian foreign minister welcomes CIS leaders’ criticism of OSCE
Arminfo
20 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The statement by the heads of CIS countries regarding the activities
of the OSCE has been issued in time, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan has told Armenian Public Television.
He said although the statement contains criticism, it would be wrong
to describe it as criticism. Analysts who believe that Armenia’s
support for the statement will produce negative consequences are
probably not keeping abreast of the current processes inside the OSCE,
the Armenian foreign minister thinks.
He said that the timeliness of the CIS leaders’ statement is explained
by the fact that serious debates are under way in the OSCE. “The task
is to make this organization transparent, effective and successful.
The aim of the statement is to help reforms,” the minister said.
The minister also expressed discontent with the opinion that the
criticism of the OSCE could reflect on the negotiations on the
Nagornyy Karabakh settlement. “There is no link here,” the Armenian
foreign minister stressed.
In conclusion, the minister said that it was also necessary for
Armenia to contribute to the reformation of the organization. At the
same time, the minister pointed out that the biggest task is to
reconsider the well-established tradition of taking decisions behind
the scenes on some issues which are not put on the agenda of plenary
sessions and for all to hear. The voices of small countries get lost
during this process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian leader, Filipino envoy discuss ways of developing ties
Arminfo
20 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The Filipino ambassador to Armenia, Ernesto V. Llamas, (headquarters
in Moscow) presented his credentials to Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan today.
At the meeting, the president congratulated the Filipino diplomat on
his appointment, the presidential press service told Arminfo news
agency.
Speaking about the future development of bilateral relations, the
sides noted that despite big potential for cooperation, it is still
not being used effectively. The sides expressed their readiness to
make the necessary efforts for the implementation of
mutually-beneficial economic programmes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian foreign minister upbeat about relations with Georgia
Arminfo
20 Jul 04
YEREVAN
Relations between Armenia and Georgia are becoming more interesting
with every passing day and the agenda is deepening, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan has told Armenian Public Television,
commenting on the upcoming visit of Georgian Foreign Minister Salome
Zourabichvili to Armenia.
At the same time, the minister said that serious conceptual tasks were
added to the issues to be discussed. “The expansion of NATO is taking
place around us, and Georgia clearly wants to join this organization,”
the minister said.
He added that they also need to discuss such conceptual issues as the
expansion of the European Union, a gas pipeline and railway
communication. It is necessary to coordinate our work to avoid the
emergence of any dividing lines in the Caucasus, the Armenian foreign
minister said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia favours cooperation with CIS bloc and NATO – minister
Arminfo
20 Jul 04
YEREVAN
For Armenia, activities within the framework of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization and the deepening of ties with NATO do
not contradict, but supplement each other, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan has told Armenian Public Television.
Armenia pursues a policy of complementarity, both organizations and
their members, including the USA and Russia, are aware of this and
this policy applies to security tasks, the minister recalled.
The minister said that NATO’s expansion is inevitable, and the task
here is whether Armenia will voluntarily remain outside these
processes or will be involved in them and defends its interests. “At
present, our decision is to deepen relations with NATO without joining
the alliance,” the minister said.

Armenia wants better ties within CIS – minister
Arminfo
20 Jul 04
YEREVAN
Commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement on the need
for improving cooperation within the CIS, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan has told Armenian Public Television that the CIS
should become a more active and successful organization.
The commonwealth has been in existence for many years now and the need
for improving its activities has always been on the agenda, Vardan
Oskanyan said. According to the minister, a lot here depends on
Russia itself which is obvious from the statement of the Russian
president.
The Armenian minister thinks that in an organization such as the CIS,
one country should always be the leader and should unite the other
countries around itself. In this context, he attached special
importance to the prospects for the creation free trade zones. “If we
manage to succeed in this, then every country will be satisfied with
concrete economic benefits. Given this, the CIS future will be
promising,” Vardan Oskanyan added.

Armenia looks at US Millennium Challenge Account aid spending
Arminfo
19 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian government today held a sitting of the board of trustees
under the Millennium Challenge Account [MCA].
It was said at the sitting that the priority of the programme, planned
to be realized from the MCA fund, was the subject matter of the
discussions with broad sections of society from regions and community
administrations and public organizations, Arminfo news agency learnt
from the governmental press service.
Moreover, some fresh proposals on the programme were initiated and
discussed. The report said that the information on the MCA programme
had been placed at web site of
the Finance and Economy Ministry [of Armenia].
Let us recall that within the framework of the MCA, the USA is
planning to give Armenia about 350m dollars in 2004-07.

Azeri opposition urges government to refuse OSCE’s Karabakh mediation
Interfax news agency, Moscow
20 Jul 04
BAKU
The Democratic Azerbaijan opposition bloc has called on the country’s
authorities to refuse the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group in
settling the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Samir Asadli, a
representative of the Civic Solidarity Party, which is part of the
bloc, told Interfax.
“We think the position of the OSCE Minsk Group is pro-Armenian. At the
same time, it is widely known that it was Armenia that occupied 20 per
cent of Azerbaijan’s territories,” says a statement from Democratic
Azerbaijan.
“The OSCE Minsk Group is supposed to take action, not make
statements. The co-chairmen are not doing anything to settle the
Karabakh conflict. It should be noted that one of the Minsk Group’s
co-chairmen is a representative of France, a country that recognized
the so-called Armenian genocide,” the statement says.
“This is why the Azerbaijani authorities should refuse the OSCE’s
services and attempt to resolve the problem on their own,” the
statement says.
Baku lost control of Nagornyy Karabakh and seven adjoining districts
in a conflict with Armenia in the 1990s. The UN Security Council has
denounced the occupation of Azerbaijani lands and has demanded that
Armenia withdraw its forces. The US, Russian and French co-chairmen of
the OSCE’s Minsk Group are working to settle the conflict.