Kommersant, Russia
Sept 16 2005
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In Moscow Like in New York
// Mini summit was called for unrecognized republics
The conference `Parallel CIS: Abkhazia, Pridnestrovie, South Osetia,
Nagorny Karabakh’ finished its work yesterday in Moscow. The
representatives from unrecognized states of post-Soviet space
gathered in Russian capital to share the experience of the struggle
fro independence. The separatists were explained that it is not
effective anymore to mention their historical connections with
Russia. They have been offered to arm themselves with human rights
postulates and use them against Moldavia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
The conference was held in hotel Arbat. The Institute of CIS
Countries, which organized the summit, announced that the leaders of
Pridnestrovie, Karabakh, South Osetia and Abkhazia will be present at
the conference. Coincidentally, the mini summit in Moscow was held in
the same time as the UN world summit in New York.
Modest Kolerov, head of the Department of Inter-Regional and Cultural
Liaisons at President’s Administration of RF, gave an opening speech.
He explained why Russia is so worried about former Soviet republics.
According to him, Moscow has a right to protect interests of the
compatriots. The law considers as a compatriot everyone, who was born
in USSR or Russian Empire.
Kolerov also criticized a bit his compatriots gathered in Arbat for
the conference. As a main tactical mistake of unrecognized countries,
the Kremlin official called their endless arguments about the
historical connections with Russia. `Of course, you can continue to
mention historical closeness with Russia, but it is not important
anymore – especially for the West,’ Kolerov said. Instead, he offered
audience to fight their opponents with different weapon – postulates
of the human rights. `They (human rights-Kommersant) cannot be
ignored by either side,’ Kolerov stated.
For some reason, nobody from the announced leaders of unrecognized
republics showed up to hear the Kremlin strategist.
by Vladimir Soloviev