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Trend Daily News (Azerbaijan)
June 20, 2014 Friday 10:33 AM GMT +4
Nagorno-Karabakh: It's not what you know, it's who you know
By Claude Salhani - Trend:
The story told is that when God asked St. Patrick to travel to Ireland
in order to convert the inhabitants to Christianity, St. Patrick
initially refused, saying that the island was inhabited by snakes.
''If you don't go I will give you bad neighbors," God is reported to have said.
This can also be said of Azerbaijan when it comes to Armenia.
Recent history between the two south Caucasus nations is rather
negative to say the least. Putting aside the bad blood that has
developed after Armenia acted aggressively at the break up of the
Soviet Union and occupied the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, raided
villages and towns slaughtering civilians, the ongoing state of no
conflict but no peace either is in fact quite provocative and the risk
remains of the conflict erupting into a renewed round of violence.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense reports say Armenian troops are
attacking Azerbaijani positions almost every day; and on some days,
more than once killing soldiers guarding the front lines.
But right up there next to the importance of having good neighbors
comes the importance of having good friends, of which Azerbaijan has
quite a few. Not only are they good friends, but they are good
influential friends. As is the case with Kazakhstan.
For example, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has clearly
emphasized his country's position regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. President Nazarbayev asked his Armenian counterpart to
comply with the UN principles concerning the officially recognized
borders before joining the Customs Union. President Nazarbayev
reiterated support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Indeed, as Azerbaijan has been struggling to remind the international
community of its ongoing efforts to reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh, today
still occupied by Armenia, the Azerbaijani president has been actively
working behind the scenes garnishing among friends, seeking support
for his country's cause.
A story that appeared in the Azerbaijani media on Wednesday citing
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who while a visit to
Azerbaijan was quoted as saying that Armenia is to be accepted into
the Eurasian Economic Unit, however it would be the Armenia recognized
by the UN. Meaning that the occupied territories would not be included
as part of Armenia.
"Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union should come as
no surprise," said Martin Sieff, senior analyst with The Globalist in
Washington, DC and an expert on Russia and the former Soviet space.
"Economically, Armenia is almost totally dependent on Russia," Mr.
Sieff told Trend.
Indeed, politically and strategically Armenia has consistently looked
to Russia for protection. Since the collapse of communism Yerevan has
been a loyal member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO).
Russia is still very present in the region more so in some countries
than in others.
It would have been perhaps a tad advantageous if the United States
maintained better relations with Moscow. But Washington and Western
European allies continue to treat Russia as an outcast.
"It is extraordinary that U.S. policymakers continue to ignore their
need to restore a constructive dialogue with Russia," said Sieff.
The position of U.S. ambassador to Moscow remains vacant several
months now since Michael MacFaul's sudden departure.
"That is a condition that never happened once during the entire Cold
War," pointed out the Washington analyst.
Lavrov made the remarks at a briefing in Baku after a meeting with his
Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov.
"Integration processes are taking place in the territories of the
countries included in the Customs Union. Nagorno-Karabakh is not one
of them, but it is a subject of negotiations, which are conducted on
the basis of agreed principles," the minister said.
Lavrov also said Armenia has previously stated that it is taking part
in these integration processes within the UN-recognized borders.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.
In other words - or rather in political parlance -- this is Russia
telling Armenia that Moscow does not recognize Armenia's occupation of
the territories in question and that it backs Baku's claim.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
It would appear that Azerbaijan not only has bad neighbors but that
those neighbors live in a rough part of town.
--
Claude Salhani is senior editor at Trend Agency in Baku and a
political analyst specializing in the Middle East, Central Asia and
terrorism. You can follow him on Twitter @claudesalhani
June 20, 2014 Friday 10:33 AM GMT +4
Nagorno-Karabakh: It's not what you know, it's who you know
By Claude Salhani - Trend:
The story told is that when God asked St. Patrick to travel to Ireland
in order to convert the inhabitants to Christianity, St. Patrick
initially refused, saying that the island was inhabited by snakes.
''If you don't go I will give you bad neighbors," God is reported to have said.
This can also be said of Azerbaijan when it comes to Armenia.
Recent history between the two south Caucasus nations is rather
negative to say the least. Putting aside the bad blood that has
developed after Armenia acted aggressively at the break up of the
Soviet Union and occupied the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, raided
villages and towns slaughtering civilians, the ongoing state of no
conflict but no peace either is in fact quite provocative and the risk
remains of the conflict erupting into a renewed round of violence.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense reports say Armenian troops are
attacking Azerbaijani positions almost every day; and on some days,
more than once killing soldiers guarding the front lines.
But right up there next to the importance of having good neighbors
comes the importance of having good friends, of which Azerbaijan has
quite a few. Not only are they good friends, but they are good
influential friends. As is the case with Kazakhstan.
For example, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has clearly
emphasized his country's position regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. President Nazarbayev asked his Armenian counterpart to
comply with the UN principles concerning the officially recognized
borders before joining the Customs Union. President Nazarbayev
reiterated support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Indeed, as Azerbaijan has been struggling to remind the international
community of its ongoing efforts to reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh, today
still occupied by Armenia, the Azerbaijani president has been actively
working behind the scenes garnishing among friends, seeking support
for his country's cause.
A story that appeared in the Azerbaijani media on Wednesday citing
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who while a visit to
Azerbaijan was quoted as saying that Armenia is to be accepted into
the Eurasian Economic Unit, however it would be the Armenia recognized
by the UN. Meaning that the occupied territories would not be included
as part of Armenia.
"Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union should come as
no surprise," said Martin Sieff, senior analyst with The Globalist in
Washington, DC and an expert on Russia and the former Soviet space.
"Economically, Armenia is almost totally dependent on Russia," Mr.
Sieff told Trend.
Indeed, politically and strategically Armenia has consistently looked
to Russia for protection. Since the collapse of communism Yerevan has
been a loyal member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO).
Russia is still very present in the region more so in some countries
than in others.
It would have been perhaps a tad advantageous if the United States
maintained better relations with Moscow. But Washington and Western
European allies continue to treat Russia as an outcast.
"It is extraordinary that U.S. policymakers continue to ignore their
need to restore a constructive dialogue with Russia," said Sieff.
The position of U.S. ambassador to Moscow remains vacant several
months now since Michael MacFaul's sudden departure.
"That is a condition that never happened once during the entire Cold
War," pointed out the Washington analyst.
Lavrov made the remarks at a briefing in Baku after a meeting with his
Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov.
"Integration processes are taking place in the territories of the
countries included in the Customs Union. Nagorno-Karabakh is not one
of them, but it is a subject of negotiations, which are conducted on
the basis of agreed principles," the minister said.
Lavrov also said Armenia has previously stated that it is taking part
in these integration processes within the UN-recognized borders.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied
20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and
seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently
holding peace negotiations.
In other words - or rather in political parlance -- this is Russia
telling Armenia that Moscow does not recognize Armenia's occupation of
the territories in question and that it backs Baku's claim.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
It would appear that Azerbaijan not only has bad neighbors but that
those neighbors live in a rough part of town.
--
Claude Salhani is senior editor at Trend Agency in Baku and a
political analyst specializing in the Middle East, Central Asia and
terrorism. You can follow him on Twitter @claudesalhani