THE RECENT SUMMIT GEORGIAN PRESIDENCY GUAM: A NEW CHANCE FOR REGIONAL PEACE INITIATIVES

Daily Georgian Times
Aug 4 2008
Georgia

The recent Summit of GUAM in Georgia has reiterated the wish of its
Member States – Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova – to deal
with the still unresolved conflicts in the South Cau-casus. Moreover,
this collective diplomacy tool could make Georgia a regional leader,
by means of a pro-active approach to conflict resolution, including
cooperation with non-government ac-tors in international politics.

One of these – Universal Peace Federation, an international
world-wide NGO, which enjoys a consultative status with the UN ECOSOC,
recently launched its new South Caucasus Peace ini-tiative, aimed
at contributing, by using a ‘people’s diplomacy’, to the resolution
of one of the oldest conflicts in Eurasia, i.e. the one involving
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Unfortunately, the region is overburdened with unresolved conflicts,
including the situation be-tween Georgia and Abkhazia, and others. So
why is Nagorny-Karabakh first?

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh is
the most significant obstacle to peace and stability in the South
Caucasus. The conflict began in 1988 due to Arme-nian territorial
claims for Nagorny-Karabakh, a territory populated by ethnic Armenians,
which was arbitrarily given to Azerbaijan by Bolshevik leaders in
Moscow in 1921.

Since 1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding
districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement
that ended active hostilities. 14 years into a ceasefire, the parties
have been unable to sign a single document bringing them closer to
a settlement.

Nagorno-Karabakh has aspirations for independence and argues
that it has a democratically-elected government that is meeting
the preconditions of statehood. However, it is internationally
recognized as part of Azerbaijan and is still highly dependant on
Armenia for its military security and economic survival. Azeris
do not participate in its political, economic, cultural, and social
institutions. Nagorny-Karabakh has mono-ethnic institutions and become
one of the world’s most militarized societies.

Deprived of the basic right to return to their homes, over half a
million Azeris displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
districts have become highly dependent on the Azerbai-jani state,
without a clear sense of their future. Armenian and Azerbaijani public
opinion on how to resolve the conflict is as divided as ever.

For many historical, demographical, geographical, and economic
factors, Azeris and Armenians living in and around the conflict
zone are dependent on each other. Yet they are deeply divided by
mistrust. Demonization of the "other," rising military expenditures,
and increasing ceasefire violations are all ominous signs that time
for a peaceful settlement may be running out.

Oil money has given Azerbaijan new self-confidence and the means
to upgrade its armed forces. It seems to want to postpone any
peace deal until the military balance has shifted decisively
in its favor. Yerevan, which itself has done surprisingly well
economically, has also become more in-transigent and increased its
own military expenditures. It believes that time is on its side,
that Nagorno-Karabakh’s de facto independence will become a reality
increasingly difficult to ig-nore, especially after the independence
of Kosovo was proclaimed and widely recognizedï~@ª.

Unfortunately, political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the
conflict, including those within the framework of CIS, OSCE Minsk
contact group, and PACE Ad hoc Committee on Nagorny Ka-rabakh, fail
to bring positive results. In turn, those representing the Universal
Peace Federation, offer an approach, based on the principle, proposed
by great peacemaker Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.: "We get rid of an
enemy by getting rid of enmity."

South Caucasus Peace Initiative includes a comprehensive plan of
peace building and develop-ment, based on core human values and
universal moral principles. We believe that, by addressing the root
causes of conflict, embedded in people’s heart, we could build the
basis for building peace, harmony, and cooperation between cultures
and religions.

By planning international forums and conferences, humanitarian and
service projects, culture and education programs, etc. activities
within the region and in other countries, we count on joint ef-fort
by government and non-government organizations, various confessions,
and private busi-nesses. In this work we rely on our Peace Ambassadors,
a network of people of goodwill, de-voted to enthusiastic and volunteer
work for peace. The goals and objectives of these activities are
as follows:

â~@¢ To promote the concept of "Peace in Heart- Peace in Family –
Peace in Society – Peace on the Planet"

â~@¢ To concentrate public attention on the urgent need to take steps
towards the peaceful so-lution of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict

â~@¢ To set up sustainable and effective coalition of Ambassadors
for Peace and other people of goodwill, able to deal with the conflict

â~@¢ To facilitate dialogue between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorny
Karabakh Republic, and to involve state bodies in peace efforts,
resulting in efficient mechanisms of commu-nication and negotiation

â~@¢ To establish international contacts with likewise public
associations and movements, in-volved in Nagorny Karabakh peace process

â~@¢ To consolidate isolated peace and service efforts, for the sake
of joint positive develop-ment around the Nagorny Karabakh

â~@¢ To consider the related issue of the blockade of the
Turkish-Armenian border, imposed in 1993

â~@¢ To contribute, by means of service and humanitarian assistance
projects, to human devel-opment and human security of the population
of Armenia and Azerbaijan, especially of those living in the conflict
zone, and of the displaced persons and refugees.

We hope that GUAM could become a major stakeholder of the South
Caucasus Peace Initiative. Others may include the Governments of
Armenia and Azerbaijan, especially offices of Commis-sioners for
Human Rights; Ambassadors for Peace and their related contacts,
representing Rus-sia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, etc. We
also count on AGAT – a forum of Azer-baijan, Georgia, Armenia, and
Turkey, proposed by Turkey to deal with the regional security and
cooperation; the Turkish-Armenian Council of Business Development;
Armenian and Azerbai-jani Diaspora in the US, Russia, France, etc.;
and other public associations and groups.

We believe that the Georgian Presidency of GUAM, which began recently,
is a unique opportu-nity for collective efforts in the region of
South Caucasus. Let us take this chance together to make peace!

Vladimir Petrovsky, President, Russian national peace council
2008.08.04 19:16

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