TIME IS AGAINST YEREVAN

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
June 14 2006

Co-editor of International Export Control Observer and research worker
of the Center on Investigation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction
Problems at Monterey Institute of International Researches, Alexander
Melikishvili, responded the letter of some Ashot Vardanyan recently
published in American "Johnson’s Russia List".

While earnestly denying Vardanyan’s "malicious and provocative
statements", concerning present situation in Georgia and in South
Caucasus, A. Melikishvili proves groundlessness of idle conjectures
concerning dispute on some Armenian churches in Georgia, prohibition
concerning import of Georgian wine to Russia etc.

Following author, Vardanyan’s comparison of economic situation in
Armenia and Georgia is biased. As he stated improvement of economic
showings of Armenia is not so impressive if we take into account the
fact that almost half of population left the country because of the
absence of opportunities for economic activity. Moreover, it is known
that Armenian treasury is filled up owing to US financial support
and generous donation of numerous Armenian diaspora.

Concern of many Armenians about continuing isolation of their country
in the region is reflected in A. Vardanyan’s text, A. Melikishvili
underlined. First this concern was expressed after successful
completion of construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipe line. Today
it is strengthened due to upcoming completion of construction of gas
pipe line Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum and plans concerning construction of
railway Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku; Yerevan holds that triumvirate
of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia ousts it.

To choose Russia as a guarantor of national security for Armenia
is foreordained in many respects and it is of compulsory nature,
especially taking into account anxiety concerning re-start of military
operations against Azerbaijan because of Nagorni Garabagh conflict
and restless memory of genocide that darkens relation between Armenia
and its great neighbor – Turkey.

The fact that Armenia gave basic attributes of its sovereignty
to Russia is evident for everyone who flies to Yerevan: Russian
frontier guards meet guests at Zvartnoz airport. Moreover, Armenians
and Russians guards guard frontiers with Azerbaijan and Turkey. The
sad truth is that it will not be easy for Armenia to get rid of slave
status with respect to Russia. Because of debt amortization in exchange
for assets, today Russia controls many large enterprises and over 70%
of power supplies of Armenia.

A. Melikishvili said that he wouldn’t advice Armenians to kindle
separatist sentiments in Georgian region Javakheti: it would be
non-productive and would ricochet on Yerevan unexpectedly. At the same
time Baku now is impatient because of lack of progress concerning
Nagorni Garabagh negotiations. This enforcement of discontent is
connected with growing oil incomes due to which Azerbaijani government
fails to be patient and avoid temptation to return its territories
occupied by Armenia.

Didactic issues and demographic statements made Vardanyan forget
the most serious problem of Armenia – regulation of Nagorni Garabagh
conflict. Regulation of this conflict would contribute in ensuring
security and stability of the region and prevention of "separation
lines" in Caucasus.

While stressing it A. Melikishvili reminds that "next year Azerbaijani
GDP will surpass Armenian one by a factor of seven. I recommend
Mr. Vardanyan to think of consequences of such economic disparity
for Armenia. Time is against Yerevan. The sooner it is engaged with
regulation of Garabagh problem the better it would be".

–Boundary_(ID_b1XGKAb4oWFRsyirCG8Y2w)- –