FROM WAR ECONOMY TO PEACE ECONOMY
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
15 Dec 04
At the end of the previous week the Karabakh-based non-governmental
organization `Avanduyt’ presented the book `From War Economy to Peace
Economy’ the publication of which was funded by the organization
`International Alert’. The book was published within the framework of
the program `Business and Conflicts’ . The book includes researches
carried out by representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Nagorni
Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossia, which make attempts at studying
the tendencies of economic development and regional cooperation in
these countries. The presentation was turned into a round-table
meeting. The chairman of the organization `Avanduyt’ Valery Balayan
informed that in the recent working meeting in Istanbul several
Turkish businessmen stated that they had worked out about 30 projects
of Turkish-Karabakh economic cooperation. Representatives of public
organizations, journalists and businessmen participating in the
meeting attempted to discuss whether the society is ready for the
investment of the Turkish capital in Karabakh. The Artsakh authorities
have stated for a number of times that they are ready for economic
cooperation. However the society would feel confused if they learned
that a Turkish-Karabakh joint committee would be opened. According to
the participants of the meeting, the people of Karabakh have long been
trading with Turkey, directly or indirectly. We eat food, wear clothes
produced in Turkey. That is to say, in reference to trade hardly
anything will change. As to other forms of business, which suppose
owning Karabakh infrastructures by Turkish businessmen, the
participants of the meeting think the authorities would not take such
a step. Otherwise why did we fight in the war, especially that we know
well the eastern policies? No, the people of Karabakh decided, they
would rather not come. On the other hand, how is it possible to live
in isolation? Even the international organizations do everything for a
close integration of the South Caucasian region without borders and
conflicts. They are even going to open joint business offices in the
three recognized and three non-recognized countries of the South
Caucasian region, as well as Turkey. We cannot avoid these
developments therefore we would better get prepared for them. How did
Turkey appear in the formula of the South Caucasian countries `3+3′?
According to the vice foreign minister of NKR Masis Mayilian, the
reason is the aspiration of Turkey to enter the EU. Besides, in
Brussels our region is viewed in the format `Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia + Turkey’. Apparently, we are coming closer to the point when
we have to choose either self-isolation or integration risking our
ethnic identity. Yes, the international organizations are
active. However, besides the positive it also contains risks. The
processes that normally take a long time may be artificially
expedited.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
15-12-2004