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KARABAKH ANDORRA
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 7 2014
7 August 2014 - 11:00am
By Vasily Birkin exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
My trip was going from Spain's Lleida to Andorra la Vella using the
C-14 highway. I was in silence, thinking about the upcoming meeting
with an old friend who had settled in the capital of the microstate
long ago. A typical North Pyrenees landscape was flashing by outside
the window: mountains, valleys, houses of stone. My thoughts were
interrupted by the voice of the car navigator: "Atencion! La frontera
nacional" (Attention! The state frontier) The navigator was a little
ahead of events. Road signs were saying that it was a kilometer left
before the border. In my mind, I was imagining a control post with
a strict officer in a black uniform who would probably check my car
and wish me safe travels. As is known, Andorra is not part of the
European Union, although its borders with the EU are certainly open,
a customs office, though formal, should be there.
The next road sign said that I was on the territory of Andorra. There
was no customs office in its classic manifestation. No one was going
to stop my rented car with Spanish plates and check documents. I do
not know why but I had a little feeling of disappointment, maybe even
displeasure. The mountains, the stone houses reminded me of Caucasus
landscapes. Somewhere on the crossing of Azerbaijan and Armenia. But
it feels more hearty there, more familiar, if you ask.
I have never been to Nagorno-Karabakh. One time, my Armenian friend
Arik offered me to visit it (I was at Lake Sevan at that time). "It
is not hard, but remember that they will put a stamp in your passport
and you will not be allowed to enter Azerbaijan," he assured. This
option was unacceptable. Closing the path to my dear Baku, losing
the opportunity to see so many friends, never to walk along the
Baku coastline, Old Baku... We almost approached the border, as I
asked. A picturesque landscape opened out of the Kalbajar District
of Azerbaijan, one of the seven occupied provinces of Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh was nearby. But the route there was taboo.
... I was driving on road C-14 and suddenly figured what Andorra and
Nagorno-Karabakh had in common. And maybe a recipe for the success
of the Karabakh land was hiding somewhere here, in the Principality
of Andorra.
The placename Andorra is of Basque origin. It means "barrens."
Thinking about the occupied Azerbaijani lands, the hundreds of
thousands of refugees, the term seems suitable for Karabakh.
Andorra is a prosperous principality lost somewhere between France and
Spain. Its population has a high income. Nonetheless, life in Andorra
is relatively cheap. The territory is a huge duty free zone. Duty free
products are concentrated on three big streets. You can buy anything
you want. Prices, for example, for strong spirits or Swiss chocolate
here are almost half those at international airports. There is plenty
of recreation in Andorra, mainly skiing, skating and walking, thermal
baths, shopping. That is probably it. There is space for business,
it is a tax oasis, a banking haven. The country is mostly inhabited
by Andorrans, Spanish and French. Hundreds of thousands of tourists
stay here. I wish the same future for Nagorno-Karabakh.
The history of Andorra proves that a prosperous state does not need to
be proud and independent. It just needs to be proud alone. The police
of Andorra have the right to kick out of the principality anyone who
gravely violates locals laws or shows disrespect to the country.
The independence of Andorra is relative. The principality is
associated with Spain and France, a vassal of two countries. De jure,
the territory is controlled by vicars of the French president and
a Spanish bishop. Since 1278, France and Spain have been securing
Andorra. The currency is the euro. There is no army, only police.
Andorra is a parliamentary democracy. It lives according to own,
partly French, partly Spanish laws.
I think that Andorra could serve as a pattern for Nagorno-Karabakh. It
needs the will of countries that would guarantee peace and
development. Azerbaijan and Armenia are perfect for the role. Imagine
Armenia returning the seven occupied provinces to its neighbour.
Together with Azerbaijan, they could gradually give them "Andorran"
status, fixing it with international agreements. Baku has all the
needed funds to solve many problems: restoration of infrastructure and
production, construction of housing for those willing to return. Less
rich Armenia is rich with human potential, such as specialists
and workers. It is no secret that Armenia has high unemployment,
many people aged 30-35 have never had a stable salary. With growing
investments from both sides, Karabakh could start its path in the
Andorran direction.
Such an innovative decision could rid the planet of a hotbed of
tensions. Reaching an agreement with Azerbaijan, Armenia would free
itself from the long economic blockade that has brought nothing
but losses to the countries affected. Maybe Yerevan could resolve
the problem of population outflow. Azerbaijan and Armenia could
help hundreds of thousands of refugees that became captives of the
Karabakh conflict.
Skeptics would say that those are unrealizable dreams, that the land
of Karabakh is soaked with the blood of Azerbaijanis and Armenians
and that a lot of time should pass before anything is forgotten. I
will respond. Plenty of time has passed. I will refer to Europe
again. The French and Germans are different, in terms of religion,
language, world perception, they have been fighting throughout history,
including in world wars. They are good neighbours now. One of the
symbols of friendship and unity of the European peoples is Strasbourg,
which has been in the hands of France and Germany several times. That
is why many European institutions, for example, the European Human
Rights Court of Strasbourg, are located there.
Azerbaijanis and Armenians were coexisting in Nagorno-Karabakh in
the 19th century when it became part of the Russian Empire and since
the mid-1920s after the establishment of Soviet power. They were
consolidated by trade, Russians and the good-neighbourly relations
sacred to all the peoples of the Caucasus. I believe that it is
possible today. It will not happen without Russia's help.
Russia makes all possible diplomatic efforts within the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group to keep peace in the region. Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will meet in Sochi
soon. The recent events on the border require immediate decisions. I
note that the presidents will meet in Sochi, not Paris or Washington,
although the U.S. and France are part of the Minsk Group just like
Russia. Both sides of the conflict trust our country more.
Russia has the best understanding of the problem, warmer and more
trustful relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Americans would generally benefit from hotbeds of tensions on
the southern borders of Russia, in the context of the conflict in the
south-east of Ukraine. Russia cannot allow a full-scale war to break
out. This is why Russia should enforce a new peace between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.
Russia prevented international intervention in Syria, although the
U.S. and many other countries thought the issue was resolved. Russia
can build an Andorran Karabakh. A special status for the territory,
guaranteed by Russia, could become a pattern for settlement of
territorial disputes and resolution of fates of unrecognized state
formations.
No one has ever resolved the problems of unrecognized republics without
blood in modern history. I believe that Russia can and should do it.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/58520.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Aug 7 2014
7 August 2014 - 11:00am
By Vasily Birkin exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
My trip was going from Spain's Lleida to Andorra la Vella using the
C-14 highway. I was in silence, thinking about the upcoming meeting
with an old friend who had settled in the capital of the microstate
long ago. A typical North Pyrenees landscape was flashing by outside
the window: mountains, valleys, houses of stone. My thoughts were
interrupted by the voice of the car navigator: "Atencion! La frontera
nacional" (Attention! The state frontier) The navigator was a little
ahead of events. Road signs were saying that it was a kilometer left
before the border. In my mind, I was imagining a control post with
a strict officer in a black uniform who would probably check my car
and wish me safe travels. As is known, Andorra is not part of the
European Union, although its borders with the EU are certainly open,
a customs office, though formal, should be there.
The next road sign said that I was on the territory of Andorra. There
was no customs office in its classic manifestation. No one was going
to stop my rented car with Spanish plates and check documents. I do
not know why but I had a little feeling of disappointment, maybe even
displeasure. The mountains, the stone houses reminded me of Caucasus
landscapes. Somewhere on the crossing of Azerbaijan and Armenia. But
it feels more hearty there, more familiar, if you ask.
I have never been to Nagorno-Karabakh. One time, my Armenian friend
Arik offered me to visit it (I was at Lake Sevan at that time). "It
is not hard, but remember that they will put a stamp in your passport
and you will not be allowed to enter Azerbaijan," he assured. This
option was unacceptable. Closing the path to my dear Baku, losing
the opportunity to see so many friends, never to walk along the
Baku coastline, Old Baku... We almost approached the border, as I
asked. A picturesque landscape opened out of the Kalbajar District
of Azerbaijan, one of the seven occupied provinces of Azerbaijan.
Nagorno-Karabakh was nearby. But the route there was taboo.
... I was driving on road C-14 and suddenly figured what Andorra and
Nagorno-Karabakh had in common. And maybe a recipe for the success
of the Karabakh land was hiding somewhere here, in the Principality
of Andorra.
The placename Andorra is of Basque origin. It means "barrens."
Thinking about the occupied Azerbaijani lands, the hundreds of
thousands of refugees, the term seems suitable for Karabakh.
Andorra is a prosperous principality lost somewhere between France and
Spain. Its population has a high income. Nonetheless, life in Andorra
is relatively cheap. The territory is a huge duty free zone. Duty free
products are concentrated on three big streets. You can buy anything
you want. Prices, for example, for strong spirits or Swiss chocolate
here are almost half those at international airports. There is plenty
of recreation in Andorra, mainly skiing, skating and walking, thermal
baths, shopping. That is probably it. There is space for business,
it is a tax oasis, a banking haven. The country is mostly inhabited
by Andorrans, Spanish and French. Hundreds of thousands of tourists
stay here. I wish the same future for Nagorno-Karabakh.
The history of Andorra proves that a prosperous state does not need to
be proud and independent. It just needs to be proud alone. The police
of Andorra have the right to kick out of the principality anyone who
gravely violates locals laws or shows disrespect to the country.
The independence of Andorra is relative. The principality is
associated with Spain and France, a vassal of two countries. De jure,
the territory is controlled by vicars of the French president and
a Spanish bishop. Since 1278, France and Spain have been securing
Andorra. The currency is the euro. There is no army, only police.
Andorra is a parliamentary democracy. It lives according to own,
partly French, partly Spanish laws.
I think that Andorra could serve as a pattern for Nagorno-Karabakh. It
needs the will of countries that would guarantee peace and
development. Azerbaijan and Armenia are perfect for the role. Imagine
Armenia returning the seven occupied provinces to its neighbour.
Together with Azerbaijan, they could gradually give them "Andorran"
status, fixing it with international agreements. Baku has all the
needed funds to solve many problems: restoration of infrastructure and
production, construction of housing for those willing to return. Less
rich Armenia is rich with human potential, such as specialists
and workers. It is no secret that Armenia has high unemployment,
many people aged 30-35 have never had a stable salary. With growing
investments from both sides, Karabakh could start its path in the
Andorran direction.
Such an innovative decision could rid the planet of a hotbed of
tensions. Reaching an agreement with Azerbaijan, Armenia would free
itself from the long economic blockade that has brought nothing
but losses to the countries affected. Maybe Yerevan could resolve
the problem of population outflow. Azerbaijan and Armenia could
help hundreds of thousands of refugees that became captives of the
Karabakh conflict.
Skeptics would say that those are unrealizable dreams, that the land
of Karabakh is soaked with the blood of Azerbaijanis and Armenians
and that a lot of time should pass before anything is forgotten. I
will respond. Plenty of time has passed. I will refer to Europe
again. The French and Germans are different, in terms of religion,
language, world perception, they have been fighting throughout history,
including in world wars. They are good neighbours now. One of the
symbols of friendship and unity of the European peoples is Strasbourg,
which has been in the hands of France and Germany several times. That
is why many European institutions, for example, the European Human
Rights Court of Strasbourg, are located there.
Azerbaijanis and Armenians were coexisting in Nagorno-Karabakh in
the 19th century when it became part of the Russian Empire and since
the mid-1920s after the establishment of Soviet power. They were
consolidated by trade, Russians and the good-neighbourly relations
sacred to all the peoples of the Caucasus. I believe that it is
possible today. It will not happen without Russia's help.
Russia makes all possible diplomatic efforts within the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group to keep peace in the region. Presidents of Armenia
and Azerbaijan Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev will meet in Sochi
soon. The recent events on the border require immediate decisions. I
note that the presidents will meet in Sochi, not Paris or Washington,
although the U.S. and France are part of the Minsk Group just like
Russia. Both sides of the conflict trust our country more.
Russia has the best understanding of the problem, warmer and more
trustful relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Americans would generally benefit from hotbeds of tensions on
the southern borders of Russia, in the context of the conflict in the
south-east of Ukraine. Russia cannot allow a full-scale war to break
out. This is why Russia should enforce a new peace between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.
Russia prevented international intervention in Syria, although the
U.S. and many other countries thought the issue was resolved. Russia
can build an Andorran Karabakh. A special status for the territory,
guaranteed by Russia, could become a pattern for settlement of
territorial disputes and resolution of fates of unrecognized state
formations.
No one has ever resolved the problems of unrecognized republics without
blood in modern history. I believe that Russia can and should do it.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/58520.html