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Turkish Daily News
September 15, 2006 Friday
THE FIRES OF OPPORTUNITY?
The long-lasting Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is easily one of the
most protracted in Eurasia. Years of various intense mediations, most
prominently by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), have so far produced a flurry of shuttle diplomacy
with very little real impact on the ground. Most recently, however,
there have been some signs that things may change. These are due to
an unlikely reason and come through an unlikely agency. On Sept. 8,
the United Nations passed a resolution "On the Situation in the
Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan" to address the environmental
damage caused by fires raging throughout the Azerbaijani territories
under Armenian military control. Thus after repeated appeals by the
Azerbaijani authorities the United Nations formally recognized the
gravity of the situation and emphasized the "urgent need to suppress
the fires."
To pass this resolution, Azerbaijan negotiated with Armenia; the
document notes the "readiness of the sides to cooperate." Even if
brought about by the unfortunate case of an environmental disaster,
this is an opportunity for the two sides to work together in
addressing an urgent real issue at hand. This might prove a useful
experience in the future. Armenia's military control over large
portions of the internationally-recognized territory of Azerbaijan is
clearly not sustainable, in the first place for Armenia itself.
Therefore, should some progress on peace talks be achieved, military
withdrawal and repatriation of Azerbaijan's numerous displaced
communities, currently exiled as a result of the occupation, would
require some form of cooperation between the parties. Finding a way
to put out the fires together may be a good start.
Moreover, if Armenia is serious about its professed desire to join
regional cooperation projects, overwhelmingly centered around
Azerbaijan, it needs to practice some practical cooperative
techniques with its neighbors -- an opportunity so far overshadowed
by Armenia's predominantly confrontational view of the neighborhood.
As for the Armenian separatists based on the occupied territories,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region, taking a more responsible
approach towards preserving the environment, which they control
jointly with Armenia proper, can make the offer of "highest degree of
self-rule" stipulated by Azerbaijan a more feasible possibility.
Furthermore, successful cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
can lay a basis for addressing the formidable future challenge of
post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction.
These are of course just opportunities. After all, the United Nations
had already passed a number of resolutions in 1993 and 1994 calling
for withdrawal of Armenian troops and return of refugees, only to be
completely ignored for over a decade. This too, incidentally, can
change if the sides actually take the first cooperative step.
It is often said that, emerging in 1980s, the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict had been a contributing factor in shaking the foundations of
the former Soviet Union. In its current unresolved state the conflict
remains a major threat to peace and stability, precluding the people
of the South Caucasus from fully realizing the potential of their
region. Perhaps in jointly implementing the provisions of the latest
U.N. resolution, both Armenia and Azerbaijan can demonstrate a
leadership model much needed in the area.
Most importantly and urgently, though, the fires must be suppressed
-- this is the most pressing issue on the ground. The rest comes
after and hopefully as a result of that.
*Elin Suleymanov is Azerbaijan's consul general in Los Angeles
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
September 15, 2006 Friday
THE FIRES OF OPPORTUNITY?
The long-lasting Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is easily one of the
most protracted in Eurasia. Years of various intense mediations, most
prominently by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), have so far produced a flurry of shuttle diplomacy
with very little real impact on the ground. Most recently, however,
there have been some signs that things may change. These are due to
an unlikely reason and come through an unlikely agency. On Sept. 8,
the United Nations passed a resolution "On the Situation in the
Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan" to address the environmental
damage caused by fires raging throughout the Azerbaijani territories
under Armenian military control. Thus after repeated appeals by the
Azerbaijani authorities the United Nations formally recognized the
gravity of the situation and emphasized the "urgent need to suppress
the fires."
To pass this resolution, Azerbaijan negotiated with Armenia; the
document notes the "readiness of the sides to cooperate." Even if
brought about by the unfortunate case of an environmental disaster,
this is an opportunity for the two sides to work together in
addressing an urgent real issue at hand. This might prove a useful
experience in the future. Armenia's military control over large
portions of the internationally-recognized territory of Azerbaijan is
clearly not sustainable, in the first place for Armenia itself.
Therefore, should some progress on peace talks be achieved, military
withdrawal and repatriation of Azerbaijan's numerous displaced
communities, currently exiled as a result of the occupation, would
require some form of cooperation between the parties. Finding a way
to put out the fires together may be a good start.
Moreover, if Armenia is serious about its professed desire to join
regional cooperation projects, overwhelmingly centered around
Azerbaijan, it needs to practice some practical cooperative
techniques with its neighbors -- an opportunity so far overshadowed
by Armenia's predominantly confrontational view of the neighborhood.
As for the Armenian separatists based on the occupied territories,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region, taking a more responsible
approach towards preserving the environment, which they control
jointly with Armenia proper, can make the offer of "highest degree of
self-rule" stipulated by Azerbaijan a more feasible possibility.
Furthermore, successful cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan
can lay a basis for addressing the formidable future challenge of
post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction.
These are of course just opportunities. After all, the United Nations
had already passed a number of resolutions in 1993 and 1994 calling
for withdrawal of Armenian troops and return of refugees, only to be
completely ignored for over a decade. This too, incidentally, can
change if the sides actually take the first cooperative step.
It is often said that, emerging in 1980s, the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict had been a contributing factor in shaking the foundations of
the former Soviet Union. In its current unresolved state the conflict
remains a major threat to peace and stability, precluding the people
of the South Caucasus from fully realizing the potential of their
region. Perhaps in jointly implementing the provisions of the latest
U.N. resolution, both Armenia and Azerbaijan can demonstrate a
leadership model much needed in the area.
Most importantly and urgently, though, the fires must be suppressed
-- this is the most pressing issue on the ground. The rest comes
after and hopefully as a result of that.
*Elin Suleymanov is Azerbaijan's consul general in Los Angeles
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress