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The Daily Observer, Sultanate of Oman
May 11 2014
Hollande in bid to boost Caucasus relations amid Ukraine crisis
Sunday 11th, May 2014 / 21:49 Written by Oman Observer
BAKU -- French President Francois Hollande began a three-day visit to
the South Caucasus yesterday as he seeks to bolster European ties on
Russia's southern doorstep amid the crisis in Ukraine.
Hollande arrived in the Azerbaijani capital Baku around 6:00 pm (1300
GMT) yesterday, on the same day separatists in eastern Ukraine held
referendums on breaking away from the country.
His visit was unlikely to be welcomed in Moscow, which has long
considered the ex-Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
to be in its sphere of influence.
French officials have insisted on playing down the visit, saying it is
aimed only at boosting the European Union's relations in the region.
"This is not a combative visit," a source in Hollande's office said.
Hollande was to meet Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev before
heading to Armenia today and Georgia tomorrow.
Like Ukraine, all three countries have sought closer ties with Europe,
with Georgia going so far as to seek to join the Nato military
alliance.
Hollande's visit to the Georgian capital Tbilisi is especially
sensitive in the wake of the 2008 war over the separatist regions of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The EU is keen to sign "Eastern Partnership" political and trade
agreements with ex-Soviet countries, including those in the South
Caucasus.
Such a deal with Ukraine was at the origin of the country's crisis
when then president Viktor Yanukovych unexpectedly refused to sign up
under Russian pressure. His move triggered pro-EU protests in Kiev
which evolved into broader demonstrations that eventually led to
Yanukovych's ouster.
The ensuing chaos saw Russia annex Crimea from Ukraine and parts of
Ukraine's Russian-speaking east threatening to break away.
Much of the focus of Hollande's visit will be on economic ties, in
particular in Azerbaijan, where European companies are heavily
involved in the country's energy industry.
But in a statement ahead of the visit, Human Rights Watch also urged
Hollande "to raise urgent human rights concerns" with Aliyev during
their talks. Accusing Baku of jailing dozens of government critics and
restricting basic rights, HRW said the visit was a "crucial" chance to
raise concerns with Aliyev.
"Hollande should not lose this opportunity to urge the Azerbaijani
leadership, in private and in public, to free people who have been
wrongfully imprisoned," the rights watchdog said. In Armenia Hollande
will focus as well on cultural ties, attending a concert today by
Charles Aznavour, the French crooner of Armenian origin, and
dedicating a square to Missak Manouchian, a French-Armenian poet and
resistance fighter who was executed by the Nazis.
Some half a million ethnic Armenians make up an important political
constituency in France.
Hollande will also discuss the Nagorny Karabakh dispute with the
Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, after years of fruitless
negotiations on resolving the frozen conflict. -- AFP
http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=80174
May 11 2014
Hollande in bid to boost Caucasus relations amid Ukraine crisis
Sunday 11th, May 2014 / 21:49 Written by Oman Observer
BAKU -- French President Francois Hollande began a three-day visit to
the South Caucasus yesterday as he seeks to bolster European ties on
Russia's southern doorstep amid the crisis in Ukraine.
Hollande arrived in the Azerbaijani capital Baku around 6:00 pm (1300
GMT) yesterday, on the same day separatists in eastern Ukraine held
referendums on breaking away from the country.
His visit was unlikely to be welcomed in Moscow, which has long
considered the ex-Soviet republics of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
to be in its sphere of influence.
French officials have insisted on playing down the visit, saying it is
aimed only at boosting the European Union's relations in the region.
"This is not a combative visit," a source in Hollande's office said.
Hollande was to meet Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev before
heading to Armenia today and Georgia tomorrow.
Like Ukraine, all three countries have sought closer ties with Europe,
with Georgia going so far as to seek to join the Nato military
alliance.
Hollande's visit to the Georgian capital Tbilisi is especially
sensitive in the wake of the 2008 war over the separatist regions of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The EU is keen to sign "Eastern Partnership" political and trade
agreements with ex-Soviet countries, including those in the South
Caucasus.
Such a deal with Ukraine was at the origin of the country's crisis
when then president Viktor Yanukovych unexpectedly refused to sign up
under Russian pressure. His move triggered pro-EU protests in Kiev
which evolved into broader demonstrations that eventually led to
Yanukovych's ouster.
The ensuing chaos saw Russia annex Crimea from Ukraine and parts of
Ukraine's Russian-speaking east threatening to break away.
Much of the focus of Hollande's visit will be on economic ties, in
particular in Azerbaijan, where European companies are heavily
involved in the country's energy industry.
But in a statement ahead of the visit, Human Rights Watch also urged
Hollande "to raise urgent human rights concerns" with Aliyev during
their talks. Accusing Baku of jailing dozens of government critics and
restricting basic rights, HRW said the visit was a "crucial" chance to
raise concerns with Aliyev.
"Hollande should not lose this opportunity to urge the Azerbaijani
leadership, in private and in public, to free people who have been
wrongfully imprisoned," the rights watchdog said. In Armenia Hollande
will focus as well on cultural ties, attending a concert today by
Charles Aznavour, the French crooner of Armenian origin, and
dedicating a square to Missak Manouchian, a French-Armenian poet and
resistance fighter who was executed by the Nazis.
Some half a million ethnic Armenians make up an important political
constituency in France.
Hollande will also discuss the Nagorny Karabakh dispute with the
Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, after years of fruitless
negotiations on resolving the frozen conflict. -- AFP
http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=80174