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TRYING TO ELBOW RUSSIA OUT OF KARABAKH PROCESS
by: Yuri Roks
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
Nov 14 2011
Russia
THE UNITED STATES IS OF THE MIND TO REPLACE RUSSIA AS THE
PRINCIPAL BROKER IN THE AZERBAIJANI-ARMENIAN TALKS; Self-proclaimed
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is prepared to accept Azerbaijani refugees
but on its own terms.
European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Catherine Ashton begins her tour of the countries in the
southern part of the Caucasus, tomorrow. Ashton's tour will take her
first to Azerbaijan, then to Georgia, and finally to Armenia. Meeting
with the leaders of these counties, Ashton will promote a more active
role of the EU in settlement of conflicts, and particularly the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. It is also rumored that the United
States is of the mind to replace Russia as the principal intermediary
in the Azerbaijani-Armenian talks.
Kristian Vigenin of the European Parliament confirmed Europe's
dissatisfaction with stagnation of the Karabakh peace process the
other day. Vigenin said after a meeting with Armenian President Serj
Sargsjan, "We believe that the EU ought to be playing a more active
part in the process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution... The
OSCE Minsk Group has failed to bring about the desired results.
Something has to be done about it." In fact, the European Parliament
already discussed replacement of the French co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group with someone representing the European Parliament, with
Ashton herself perhaps. "We think that we need new players involved,"
said Vigenin.
Azerbaijani media outlets in the meantime quoted local political
scientist Rasim Agayev as saying that the United States was of the
mind to engineer withdrawal of the countries of the Caucasus from
the Russian orbit. Washington therefore initiated Larger Caucasus,
a project charted in George W. Bush's days meant to enable the
United States to get a foothold in this region and start promoting
American interests in it. Considering that Georgia actually hates
Russia and that the Azerbaijani ruling elite is pro-Western rather
than pro-Russian, Washington has only one obstacle to overcome in
the region, and this obstacle is Armenia, Russia's strategic partner.
"Orchestrating Armenia's withdrawal from the zone of Russia influence
is a difficult goal but not impossible at all," said Agayev.
Political scientist Ashot Manucharjan living in Berlin, Germany, said
that elbowing Russia out of the Karabakh peace process and out of the
Caucasus as such was impossible. Among other things, he explained, it
required the consent from all involved parties which some participants
in the talks would never give. "Trust Russia to refuse to let the
United States or European Union become the principal international
intermediary in the [Azerbaijani-Armenian talks. This indication of
Russia's helplessness in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will give the
Western community an excuse to ignore Moscow and its opinion on other
conflicts and international problems... say, its opinion on North
Korea, Iran, or Afghanistan. Russia will never go for it, particularly
with Vladimir Putin soon to be the president," said Manucharjan. On
the other hand, Manucharjan allowed for the possibility of some changes
in the talks, something like the return of the Karabakh delegation.
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov meanwhile said in
an interview with the Austrian Standart that "peaceful co-existence
of both communities" could become a trigger of progress in the
solution to the problem sadly lacking so far. The diplomat said,
"The compromise Azerbaijan might accept in conflict resolution stands
for the transfer of no territories to Armenian jurisdiction."
Stepanakert, the capital of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, immediately responded to Azimov's statement. Commenting
on the interview, David Babajan of the presidential secretariat,
said that some fragments of the interview instilled optimism. "For
example, we accept the premise that no territories ought to be turned
over to Armenia. The Karabakh conflict is not a territorial conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is a conflict between Karabakh and
Azerbaijan, a conflict whose resolution requires a direct dialogue."
As for the return of Azerbaijani refugees to Karabakh Azimov had
mentioned, Babajan said that it was fine by Stepanakert. "No problems
at all," he said. "As long as the refugees are prepared to become
citizens of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic properly and adequately
integrated into Karabakh society."
by: Yuri Roks
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
Nov 14 2011
Russia
THE UNITED STATES IS OF THE MIND TO REPLACE RUSSIA AS THE
PRINCIPAL BROKER IN THE AZERBAIJANI-ARMENIAN TALKS; Self-proclaimed
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is prepared to accept Azerbaijani refugees
but on its own terms.
European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Catherine Ashton begins her tour of the countries in the
southern part of the Caucasus, tomorrow. Ashton's tour will take her
first to Azerbaijan, then to Georgia, and finally to Armenia. Meeting
with the leaders of these counties, Ashton will promote a more active
role of the EU in settlement of conflicts, and particularly the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. It is also rumored that the United
States is of the mind to replace Russia as the principal intermediary
in the Azerbaijani-Armenian talks.
Kristian Vigenin of the European Parliament confirmed Europe's
dissatisfaction with stagnation of the Karabakh peace process the
other day. Vigenin said after a meeting with Armenian President Serj
Sargsjan, "We believe that the EU ought to be playing a more active
part in the process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution... The
OSCE Minsk Group has failed to bring about the desired results.
Something has to be done about it." In fact, the European Parliament
already discussed replacement of the French co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group with someone representing the European Parliament, with
Ashton herself perhaps. "We think that we need new players involved,"
said Vigenin.
Azerbaijani media outlets in the meantime quoted local political
scientist Rasim Agayev as saying that the United States was of the
mind to engineer withdrawal of the countries of the Caucasus from
the Russian orbit. Washington therefore initiated Larger Caucasus,
a project charted in George W. Bush's days meant to enable the
United States to get a foothold in this region and start promoting
American interests in it. Considering that Georgia actually hates
Russia and that the Azerbaijani ruling elite is pro-Western rather
than pro-Russian, Washington has only one obstacle to overcome in
the region, and this obstacle is Armenia, Russia's strategic partner.
"Orchestrating Armenia's withdrawal from the zone of Russia influence
is a difficult goal but not impossible at all," said Agayev.
Political scientist Ashot Manucharjan living in Berlin, Germany, said
that elbowing Russia out of the Karabakh peace process and out of the
Caucasus as such was impossible. Among other things, he explained, it
required the consent from all involved parties which some participants
in the talks would never give. "Trust Russia to refuse to let the
United States or European Union become the principal international
intermediary in the [Azerbaijani-Armenian talks. This indication of
Russia's helplessness in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will give the
Western community an excuse to ignore Moscow and its opinion on other
conflicts and international problems... say, its opinion on North
Korea, Iran, or Afghanistan. Russia will never go for it, particularly
with Vladimir Putin soon to be the president," said Manucharjan. On
the other hand, Manucharjan allowed for the possibility of some changes
in the talks, something like the return of the Karabakh delegation.
Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov meanwhile said in
an interview with the Austrian Standart that "peaceful co-existence
of both communities" could become a trigger of progress in the
solution to the problem sadly lacking so far. The diplomat said,
"The compromise Azerbaijan might accept in conflict resolution stands
for the transfer of no territories to Armenian jurisdiction."
Stepanakert, the capital of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic, immediately responded to Azimov's statement. Commenting
on the interview, David Babajan of the presidential secretariat,
said that some fragments of the interview instilled optimism. "For
example, we accept the premise that no territories ought to be turned
over to Armenia. The Karabakh conflict is not a territorial conflict
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is a conflict between Karabakh and
Azerbaijan, a conflict whose resolution requires a direct dialogue."
As for the return of Azerbaijani refugees to Karabakh Azimov had
mentioned, Babajan said that it was fine by Stepanakert. "No problems
at all," he said. "As long as the refugees are prepared to become
citizens of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic properly and adequately
integrated into Karabakh society."