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PRESS REVIEW
Nagorno-Karabakh - a grain of sand in the geopolitical machinery
Currently, Nagorno-Karabakh, hostilities recommence. Political
scientists believe that the Ukrainian conflict in a larger scale,
draws attention to itself, Azerbaijan tries again to redraw the map of
the world ...
Persecuted, driven from their homes, parties around the world,
Armenians know very well what it means not to have her home. And that
is the title of an Armenian song "Homeless" performed by Hayrik
Mouradian.
To discuss issues of Nagorno-Karabakh, we invited the Director of
French Studies Centre of the Institute of Europe of the Academy of
Sciences of the Russian Federation Yuri Roubinski.
The Voice of Russia. Do you really think we will now be faced with the
resumption of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh think? Is this really
serious?Are we going again plunge into military confrontation? And is
there a possibility of peaceful from?
Yuri Rubinsky. I hope not, with all my heart. That is to say, what
happens in Nagorno-Karabakh is an ancient conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, which lasts since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in
1991 after a short war but violence and bloodshed there was a
cease-fire, in which the factual situation is that the
Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh in Armenian, remains a region - historically
and ethnically - in the overwhelming majority Armenian.But who
belonged for a long time, since the creation of the Soviet Union, to
the neighboring republic of Azerbaijan.
There were Azeri, not so much in Nagorno-Karabakh, but around. Because
the Nagorno-Karabakh was divided, split by a corridor of Armenia
itself.During the war that followed the breakup of the Soviet Union,
this corridor has virtually disappeared, and the Nagorno-Karabakh
declared itself an independent republic. It was not recognized by any
state, as was also the case in the region of Northern Cyprus with the
Turkish authorities. Under these conditions, there is a populated part
of Azeris historically adjacent, which Azerbaijan lost control.
Finally, at the heart of the confrontation, three countries were
designated for historical, geopolitical and cultural.They were
designated by the United Nations to ensure the talks between Armenians
and Azerbaijanis over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
What were Russia, the United States and France. Who are the Minsk
Group (capital of Belarus, where the group is formed). Since then, the
group continues its good offices to find a friendly solution, decide
the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh, and especially the relations between the
two neighbors. Because this problem has been greatly complicated by
the plight of Armenians in Azerbaijan were almost all banished, and
sometimes in atrocious conditions, and vice versa. To bridge this gulf
of misunderstanding and hostility, it is for friendly countries and
leaders to find a friendly solution to act now, because from time to
time, most recently as it there have been exchanges of shot.
The situation can ignite. For two reasons: besides, the Middle East
earth flames everywhere, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Israel and Gaza. On
the other hand, Turkey is directly involved, both in dealing with the
Middle East and in relations between Syria, who speaks the same
language as Turkey and are of the same religion (Islamic), and
Armenians.
It is obvious that the Minsk Group, including Russia and France, have
special responsibilities to prevent unpredictable turn of events.
LVdlR. Is Russia a say, flexibility with respect to what's going on?
Russia does not border through its territory to the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh.How can it intervene on behalf of the Armenians, who
are persecuted in one way or another by the Azerbaijani policy? Can we
do something for them?
Yuri Roubinsky. Russia is in a difficult position. First it was the
successor to both the old Russian Empire and the Soviet Union which
both contesting states have formed Federated Republics State. For
Russia it is a particularly difficult problem.
On the one hand, Armenia is part of the customs with Russia, Belarus
and Kazakhstan Union, and it is a country that belongs to the
Commonwealth of Independent States, which took the place of the Soviet
Union but in a very formal setting. And especially Armenia houses the
only permanent military base of Russia in Transcaucasia. In the region
with three republics: Georgia, with which Russia recently had bad
relations, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The fact of the Russian military
presence matters a lot. Second, economically, Armenia is a landlocked
country that has been embargoed, not only towards its eastern
neighbors but also Azeri Turkish.
For Russia recess solidarity with the Armenian people, who have
suffered so much in its history, it is a moral duty.
On the other hand, the Azeri and Azerbaijan are very important
partners for Russia economically. But not only economic. Russia is a
country of Orthodox Christian culture, but at least 20% Muslim.
Azerbaijan is a secular state and Islamic tradition. So Russian
Muslims, that is to say, citizens of Russia can not but feel towards
their neighbors Azeris some solidarity. At the same time, at least
30-40% of Armenians from historic Armenia live in Russia.There are
quite a few in France, the USA and elsewhere. This is the tragedy of
the Armenian people and must be taken into account.
Russia is in a difficult situation, difficult but requires a balanced
policy of Moscow, who can uphold the interests of each other, and find
a middle way, which in my opinion is shared by other members of the
Group Minsk, including France. France also has a very large Armenian
community.
LVdlR. You know Sergei Lavrov went on an official visit to Kazakhstan,
and again the issues of Nagorno-Karabakh will inevitably arise.
Because the creation of the Eurasian Economic Zone implies that there
are countries that will be included. So, Armenia and Azerbaijan are
forced to decide on the issue. Russia finally reach guaranteeing the
participation of Armenia and Kazakhstan - the participation of
Azerbaijan. Does the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh can be a stumbling block
in the political decisions that go in the direction of development of
the Eurasian Union?
Yuri Roubinsky. Very good question, because the Eurasian Union, which
will be launched formally next year includes traditionally Christian
countries: Russia, Belarus and Armenia, which is a candidate. And a
country like Kazakhstan where there is still a sizeable Islamic part.
Under these conditions, you can imagine that the understanding of each
other for the protagonists in the conflict could have shades. But in
fact, it is absolutely certain that there will be no serious conflict
between members of the Customs Union and the future Eurasian Union on
this subject, because everyone, both Moscow and Astana (capital
Kazakhstan) or Minsk which gave its name to the group of
interlocutors, will find ways sufficiently flexible solutions to
satisfy both parties and avoid the worst.
Anyway, the Soviet Union at the time of its dissolution avoided the
worst, unlike many other European empires, including the French
empire, not to mention the British Empire Belgian, Portuguese, and
Dutch etc. She still avoided the sad plight of the former Yugoslavia
descended into a war of "all against all" with catastrophic results
that are felt to this day. But there was damage, here and there,
including Nagorno-Karabakh. There were others, the Russian-speaking
Transnistria towards Moldova, also the problem of internal conflicts
in Tajikistan ... and so on.
Russia has still managed to make the "post imperial" transition in a
way more comfortable in my opinion, if we can say, cheaper than
others. I am obviously not talking about sensitive topics such as the
wars in Indochina and Algeria, there were others. Russia has avoided
it so far, and is deeply interested in doing so in the future.
Read more: http://french.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/5646129/275659955/
Sunday, August 17, 2014,
Stéphane © armenews.com
http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=102281
Nagorno-Karabakh - a grain of sand in the geopolitical machinery
Currently, Nagorno-Karabakh, hostilities recommence. Political
scientists believe that the Ukrainian conflict in a larger scale,
draws attention to itself, Azerbaijan tries again to redraw the map of
the world ...
Persecuted, driven from their homes, parties around the world,
Armenians know very well what it means not to have her home. And that
is the title of an Armenian song "Homeless" performed by Hayrik
Mouradian.
To discuss issues of Nagorno-Karabakh, we invited the Director of
French Studies Centre of the Institute of Europe of the Academy of
Sciences of the Russian Federation Yuri Roubinski.
The Voice of Russia. Do you really think we will now be faced with the
resumption of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh think? Is this really
serious?Are we going again plunge into military confrontation? And is
there a possibility of peaceful from?
Yuri Rubinsky. I hope not, with all my heart. That is to say, what
happens in Nagorno-Karabakh is an ancient conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, which lasts since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in
1991 after a short war but violence and bloodshed there was a
cease-fire, in which the factual situation is that the
Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh in Armenian, remains a region - historically
and ethnically - in the overwhelming majority Armenian.But who
belonged for a long time, since the creation of the Soviet Union, to
the neighboring republic of Azerbaijan.
There were Azeri, not so much in Nagorno-Karabakh, but around. Because
the Nagorno-Karabakh was divided, split by a corridor of Armenia
itself.During the war that followed the breakup of the Soviet Union,
this corridor has virtually disappeared, and the Nagorno-Karabakh
declared itself an independent republic. It was not recognized by any
state, as was also the case in the region of Northern Cyprus with the
Turkish authorities. Under these conditions, there is a populated part
of Azeris historically adjacent, which Azerbaijan lost control.
Finally, at the heart of the confrontation, three countries were
designated for historical, geopolitical and cultural.They were
designated by the United Nations to ensure the talks between Armenians
and Azerbaijanis over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
What were Russia, the United States and France. Who are the Minsk
Group (capital of Belarus, where the group is formed). Since then, the
group continues its good offices to find a friendly solution, decide
the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh, and especially the relations between the
two neighbors. Because this problem has been greatly complicated by
the plight of Armenians in Azerbaijan were almost all banished, and
sometimes in atrocious conditions, and vice versa. To bridge this gulf
of misunderstanding and hostility, it is for friendly countries and
leaders to find a friendly solution to act now, because from time to
time, most recently as it there have been exchanges of shot.
The situation can ignite. For two reasons: besides, the Middle East
earth flames everywhere, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Israel and Gaza. On
the other hand, Turkey is directly involved, both in dealing with the
Middle East and in relations between Syria, who speaks the same
language as Turkey and are of the same religion (Islamic), and
Armenians.
It is obvious that the Minsk Group, including Russia and France, have
special responsibilities to prevent unpredictable turn of events.
LVdlR. Is Russia a say, flexibility with respect to what's going on?
Russia does not border through its territory to the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh.How can it intervene on behalf of the Armenians, who
are persecuted in one way or another by the Azerbaijani policy? Can we
do something for them?
Yuri Roubinsky. Russia is in a difficult position. First it was the
successor to both the old Russian Empire and the Soviet Union which
both contesting states have formed Federated Republics State. For
Russia it is a particularly difficult problem.
On the one hand, Armenia is part of the customs with Russia, Belarus
and Kazakhstan Union, and it is a country that belongs to the
Commonwealth of Independent States, which took the place of the Soviet
Union but in a very formal setting. And especially Armenia houses the
only permanent military base of Russia in Transcaucasia. In the region
with three republics: Georgia, with which Russia recently had bad
relations, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The fact of the Russian military
presence matters a lot. Second, economically, Armenia is a landlocked
country that has been embargoed, not only towards its eastern
neighbors but also Azeri Turkish.
For Russia recess solidarity with the Armenian people, who have
suffered so much in its history, it is a moral duty.
On the other hand, the Azeri and Azerbaijan are very important
partners for Russia economically. But not only economic. Russia is a
country of Orthodox Christian culture, but at least 20% Muslim.
Azerbaijan is a secular state and Islamic tradition. So Russian
Muslims, that is to say, citizens of Russia can not but feel towards
their neighbors Azeris some solidarity. At the same time, at least
30-40% of Armenians from historic Armenia live in Russia.There are
quite a few in France, the USA and elsewhere. This is the tragedy of
the Armenian people and must be taken into account.
Russia is in a difficult situation, difficult but requires a balanced
policy of Moscow, who can uphold the interests of each other, and find
a middle way, which in my opinion is shared by other members of the
Group Minsk, including France. France also has a very large Armenian
community.
LVdlR. You know Sergei Lavrov went on an official visit to Kazakhstan,
and again the issues of Nagorno-Karabakh will inevitably arise.
Because the creation of the Eurasian Economic Zone implies that there
are countries that will be included. So, Armenia and Azerbaijan are
forced to decide on the issue. Russia finally reach guaranteeing the
participation of Armenia and Kazakhstan - the participation of
Azerbaijan. Does the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh can be a stumbling block
in the political decisions that go in the direction of development of
the Eurasian Union?
Yuri Roubinsky. Very good question, because the Eurasian Union, which
will be launched formally next year includes traditionally Christian
countries: Russia, Belarus and Armenia, which is a candidate. And a
country like Kazakhstan where there is still a sizeable Islamic part.
Under these conditions, you can imagine that the understanding of each
other for the protagonists in the conflict could have shades. But in
fact, it is absolutely certain that there will be no serious conflict
between members of the Customs Union and the future Eurasian Union on
this subject, because everyone, both Moscow and Astana (capital
Kazakhstan) or Minsk which gave its name to the group of
interlocutors, will find ways sufficiently flexible solutions to
satisfy both parties and avoid the worst.
Anyway, the Soviet Union at the time of its dissolution avoided the
worst, unlike many other European empires, including the French
empire, not to mention the British Empire Belgian, Portuguese, and
Dutch etc. She still avoided the sad plight of the former Yugoslavia
descended into a war of "all against all" with catastrophic results
that are felt to this day. But there was damage, here and there,
including Nagorno-Karabakh. There were others, the Russian-speaking
Transnistria towards Moldova, also the problem of internal conflicts
in Tajikistan ... and so on.
Russia has still managed to make the "post imperial" transition in a
way more comfortable in my opinion, if we can say, cheaper than
others. I am obviously not talking about sensitive topics such as the
wars in Indochina and Algeria, there were others. Russia has avoided
it so far, and is deeply interested in doing so in the future.
Read more: http://french.ruvr.ru/radio_broadcast/5646129/275659955/
Sunday, August 17, 2014,
Stéphane © armenews.com
http://www.armenews.com/article.php3?id_article=102281