AZG Armenian Daily #167, 17/09/2005
Russia
ANTI-KARABAKHI STATEMENTS OF MOSCOW CAUSE ANTI-RUSSIAN ATTITUDE IN ARMENIA
AND KARABAKH
Pyotr Burdikin, temporary representative of Russia in Azerbaijan, advised
mass media of Baku not to pay serious attention to the conference held in
Moscow. He said that the delegations of internationally unacknowledged
states participated in the conference.
“Parallel CIS. Abkhazia, Transdniestria, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh
as Post Soviet Reality” conference was held in Moscow, on September 13-16.
It was organized by the state universities of the unrecognized republics and
Konstatin Zatulin, chairman of CIS Affairs Committee at RF State Duma,
Chairman of CIS Affairs Institute.
The Russian diplomat stated in Baku that the conference aimed at informing
the Russian political figures about the current situation in the
unacknowledged territories. “The attention paid to the conference in
Azerbaijan contributes to the PR of the arrangement. The conference has
nothing common with the unacknowledged republics,” Pyotr Burdikin said.
Various Russian officials have been making complex and offensive statements
about Karabakh and Armenia. Very often Yerevan paid no attention to them,
probably, taking into account the size of our country and other factors.
Recently, anti-Armenian statements became frequent in the Kremlin circles.
Few months ago, RF Foreign Ministry condemned the parliamentary elections in
Nagorno Karabakh that were much more independent and fair than the Russian
presidential elections.
The abovementioned anti-Armenian statements create anti-Russian attitude in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and make harm to the Russian-Armenian
relations. As a result, one may suppose that pro-American and Euro-Atlantic
influence will grow both in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Unlikely our
strategic partner Russia, who merely “kills” Armenia for $1 million of debt,
the US renders more and more aid both to Armenia and NKR.
Russia managed to purchase a number of Armenian companies of strategic
importance against the debt amounting to $100 million. Yet, Moscow annulled
$ 4 billion of debt of Syria, which is no strategic partner for Russia.
Yerevan and Stepanakert should respond to the unfriendly actions of Moscow.
Certainly, we don’t mean diplomatic war. For example, Stepanakert refuse
participating in the conference organized by Zatulin, and in many others to
come.
Kremlin keeps stating that they recognize the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, doesn’t accept NKR de facto leadership, but can’t help
supporting Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdniestria and obviously
interfering with the local elections and inner political processes.
The international community stated in many revues that NKR and Nagorno
Karabakh conflict greatly differ from the three others in the post Soviet
area. That’s why, taking into account this very factor, Stepanakert should
avoid participating in arrangements dedicated to these three unrecognized
republics. The international press has very frequently stated that
“secessionist regimes” rule Sukhumi, Tskhinvali and Tiraspole.
We should keep away from Abkhazia and Ossetia, especially for the sake of
Armenian-Georgian relations. Although Georgia isn’t considered our strategic
partner but taking into account the current situation, as well as
geographical position of our country, Tbilisi is of no less importance than
Moscow for us.
It’s worth mentioning that Stepanakert policy of keeping aside from Abkhazia
and South Ossetia is appreciated in Tbilisi. Georgia made no comments on the
latest elections of local self-governing bodies, as well as the
parliamentary elections in Nagorno Karabakh.
By Tatoul Hakobian