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RusData Dialine - Russian Press Digest
September 30, 2011 Friday
Russia invites West to join it in safeguarding peace in South Caucasus
by Anna Khlyudova
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
Speaking at the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia was ready to act as a
guarantor of peace in South Caucasus. He went on to invite the U.S.
and EU to join Russia in this effort. Georgia appeared sarcastic about
the prospect, Azerbaijan understanding and Armenia moderately
optimistic.
"Russia is determined to do everything possible to avert the use of
force and escalation of violence in Caucasus," Lavrov said.
The diverse reactions from countries across the region are indicative
of Russia's current position in South Caucasus. This is the first time
that Russia has asked the West for help. In the past, Russian leaders
referred to the region as Russia's zone of responsibility.
To some extent, Lavrov's statement sounded like a warning about a
possible rerun of the August 2008 hostilities. Alexei Malashenko from
Carnegie Moscow Center said Lavrov's statement means Russia has
accepted the current realities and does not want to display any hint
of imperial ambition ahead of Vladimir Putin's possible reelection as
president. "If the West fails to stabilize the Georgia-Abkhazia-South
Ossetia triangle, Russia will face less criticism," he said.
Georgia responded by reminding Lavrov of the casualties it suffered at
Russia's hands. Georgia said it was not going to sign any agreements
with "its autonomous regions" but would agree to sign a non-use of
force agreement with Russia if "the international community" - the
West - is involved.
EU spokesperson Maya Kocijancic sounded interested in Lavrov's
proposal but added they still had to study the context of the Georgia
conflict. Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Lavrov
proposed continued negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk
Group, with light pressure put alternately on the conflicting parties.
Armenia could buy this, but not Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, who also addressed the
UN General Assembly in New York, reiterated the old conflict
resolution requirements, including the pullout of Armenian forces and
preservation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. His deputy, Khalaf
Khalafov, was far blunter several days ago when he mentioned Armenia's
" unwillingness to withdraw from the occupied territories."
Armenia responded that a compromise involves concessions on both sides
while Azerbaijan only makes demands and "ephemeral promises," which
sound ridiculous from a country often criticized by PACE for
backtracking on democracy by, for example, sanctioning "presidency for
life", said Naira Zograbyan, head of the Armenian parliament's
standing commission for European integration.
"A joint approach to the Karabakh problem is possible if Russia,
America and Europe develop a package agreement which complies with
current realities, and Turkey demonstrates its non-resistance," said
Konstantin Zatulin, head of the CIS Institute. "However, I do not
believe Russia will be able to reach agreement with the West on all
the South Caucasus issues, because we have very different views on the
developments in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia," he added.
September 30, 2011 Friday
Russia invites West to join it in safeguarding peace in South Caucasus
by Anna Khlyudova
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
Speaking at the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia was ready to act as a
guarantor of peace in South Caucasus. He went on to invite the U.S.
and EU to join Russia in this effort. Georgia appeared sarcastic about
the prospect, Azerbaijan understanding and Armenia moderately
optimistic.
"Russia is determined to do everything possible to avert the use of
force and escalation of violence in Caucasus," Lavrov said.
The diverse reactions from countries across the region are indicative
of Russia's current position in South Caucasus. This is the first time
that Russia has asked the West for help. In the past, Russian leaders
referred to the region as Russia's zone of responsibility.
To some extent, Lavrov's statement sounded like a warning about a
possible rerun of the August 2008 hostilities. Alexei Malashenko from
Carnegie Moscow Center said Lavrov's statement means Russia has
accepted the current realities and does not want to display any hint
of imperial ambition ahead of Vladimir Putin's possible reelection as
president. "If the West fails to stabilize the Georgia-Abkhazia-South
Ossetia triangle, Russia will face less criticism," he said.
Georgia responded by reminding Lavrov of the casualties it suffered at
Russia's hands. Georgia said it was not going to sign any agreements
with "its autonomous regions" but would agree to sign a non-use of
force agreement with Russia if "the international community" - the
West - is involved.
EU spokesperson Maya Kocijancic sounded interested in Lavrov's
proposal but added they still had to study the context of the Georgia
conflict. Speaking about the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Lavrov
proposed continued negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk
Group, with light pressure put alternately on the conflicting parties.
Armenia could buy this, but not Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov, who also addressed the
UN General Assembly in New York, reiterated the old conflict
resolution requirements, including the pullout of Armenian forces and
preservation of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. His deputy, Khalaf
Khalafov, was far blunter several days ago when he mentioned Armenia's
" unwillingness to withdraw from the occupied territories."
Armenia responded that a compromise involves concessions on both sides
while Azerbaijan only makes demands and "ephemeral promises," which
sound ridiculous from a country often criticized by PACE for
backtracking on democracy by, for example, sanctioning "presidency for
life", said Naira Zograbyan, head of the Armenian parliament's
standing commission for European integration.
"A joint approach to the Karabakh problem is possible if Russia,
America and Europe develop a package agreement which complies with
current realities, and Turkey demonstrates its non-resistance," said
Konstantin Zatulin, head of the CIS Institute. "However, I do not
believe Russia will be able to reach agreement with the West on all
the South Caucasus issues, because we have very different views on the
developments in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia," he added.