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BAKU: Russia set to foil "velvet revolutions" in post-Soviet states

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  • BAKU: Russia set to foil "velvet revolutions" in post-Soviet states

    Russia set to foil "velvet revolutions" in post-Soviet states - Azeri expert

    Ekspress, Baku
    11 Mar 05


    Text of Alakbar Raufoglu report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on
    11 March entitled "CIS-US summit might be held in Moscow" and
    subheaded "Independent pundit Mubariz Ahmadoglu thinks Russia is
    carrying out anti-revolutionary measures in post-Soviet countries"

    "The recent frequent cease-fire violations on the contact line of the
    Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces are linked with Armenia's plan
    to have international peacekeepers deployed in the region," Mubariz
    Ahmadoglu, an independent pundit and the chairman of the Centre for
    Political Innovation and Technology [CPIT], told yesterday's [10
    March] monthly press conference devoted to public and political events
    in the South Caucasus.

    He described the recent pace of the Karabakh talks as "successful for
    Azerbaijan". "Armenians are unhappy about the current state of the
    settlement of the problem. Therefore, they intend to alter the
    situation on the contact line of the armed forces and distract
    attention from reaching real peace," Ahmadoglu said. He thinks that
    Yerevan wants Russian peacekeepers to be deployed on the front-line.

    At the same time, the political analyst thinks that more people are
    now backing a quick resolution to the Karabakh problem. This is
    stemming from the fact that Armenia "has lost its positions" in the
    peace process. "Now the majority of people in Armenia are looking for
    ways to come out of the settlement process with minimum losses."

    Commenting on the [US President George] Bush - [Russian President
    Vladimir] Putin meeting [in Bratislava on 24 February], the head of
    the CPIT said that contrary to expectations, the reason for Bush not
    to have cornered the Russian president was that the US leader agreed
    to visit Moscow on 9 May to attend the festivities to mark the 60th
    anniversary of the victory over fascism.

    "According to reports from official and unofficial sources, a US-CIS
    meeting might take place in Moscow in May to discuss issues in detail
    there," the political expert said.

    He underlined the recent "positive tendencies" in the US policy
    towards the CIS. Thus, Washington already "understands its rivals in
    the regions where its specific interest lies".

    In turn, Russia is aspiring to cooperation with opposition forces to
    prevent "velvet revolutions" in post-Soviet areas. "Moscow has already
    kicked off specific measures in this regard." Ahmadoglu believes that
    Russia is implementing "secret plans" in CIS countries through its
    NGOs. "The Movement for Azerbaijan [led by the leader of the Movement
    for Azerbaijan and the Solidarity and Trust election alliance, Ilqar
    Qasimov] is precisely the NGO that is carrying out this mission in
    Azerbaijan.

    The pundit believes that Moscow intends to establish contacts with
    Azerbaijani political forces through this organization, and in turn,
    opposition parties understand this and are cautious.
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