Author: Nahapetian Boris

Zaman, Turkey
Aug 22 2004

Russia’s ‘Ambiguous’ Caucasus Policy Worries Georgia

Georgia continues to try and find a common language with Russia after
relations between the two countries became strained because of the
crises in Georgia’s Abkhazia, Adzharia, and South Ossetia; however,
Tbilisi is concerned that Moscow does not have a clear policy for the
Southern Caucasus.

International Abkhazia Initiative Group President David Cabaridze
spoke to Zaman about the situation. “Russia does not have a clear
policy in the Southern Caucasus. Is stability or instability needed
there? On one side, they say they support the territorial integrity
of Georgia. On the other side they support the separatist movements
against Georgia.”

Cabaridze, who is also a Russian citizen, claims that there is no
clear attitude among the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Defense
Ministry and intelligence institutions. “We never know with whom we
will sit and speak. The Russian President calls it a ‘usual’ thing;
however, the others act differently. It is impossible to reach a
consensus.”

Cabaridze indicated that even though Russia’s ambiguous policies
pushed Georgia closer to the West, a stable Georgia is one of
Russia’s objectives. According to Cabaridze, a stable Georgia would
allow Russia to establish a railway link to its ally Armenia. A
stable Georgia would also serve as an example for the rest of the
Caucasus.

Cabaridze pointed out that the international community has come to
Georgia’s aid. “For example, the boots of our soldiers are from
Turkey, and their uniforms, worth 9 million euros, are from Italy.
The UK, Romania, Bulgaria, Israel and the US also help. We do not
conceal this.” Russian sources report that the Georgian army will be
equipped with Israeli made Tavors instead of the classic Kalashnikov
(AK-47).

Cabaridze explains that the problems in the region could be solved
through a determined attitude of Russia. On the other side, Russian
President Vladimir Putin maintains that the problems of the Caucasus
could be solved through mutual concessions.

08.22.2004
Mirza Cetinkaya

Putinru.com, Russia
Aug 20 2004

PUTIN, KOCHARYAN TO DISCUSS SITUATION IN NORTH CAUCASUS

President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Armenia Robert
Kocharyan will hold talks in Sochi today. They plan to spotlight the
co-ordination of their countries’ efforts to improve the situation in
the North Caucasus.
Russia and Armenia are consistently advocating the peaceful
settlement of the regional problems and are seriously concerned over
the threats of destabilisation in the Transcaucasus, above all owing
to a dramatic deterioration of the situation in South Ossetia (a
self-proclaimed republic in the territory of Georgia).

Putin and Kocharyan will exchange opinions on ways to use the
capabilities of multilateral co-operation and available regional
mechanisms, as well as the peacekeeping potential of the CIS, towards
this end.

They are also to discuss the development of co-operation within the
framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and the
Eurasian Economic Community, where Armenia has the status of
observer.

Russia and Armenia proclaim readiness to fight against all aspects of
terrorism at the bilateral and multilateral level. Their political
interaction in this sphere is complemented with effective practical
co-operation of their law enforcement and security services.

The two presidents will also spotlight the implementation of
bilateral economic and other agreements.

Armenian leader, new German envoy discuss economic cooperation

Arminfo
18 Aug 04

YEREVAN

The newly-appointed German ambassador to Armenia, Heike-Renate
Peitsch, today submitted her credentials to Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan.

Arminfo news agency has learnt from the Armenian presidential press
service that the sides expressed their satisfaction with the level of
Armenian-German relations and spoke about quite dynamic development of
ties recently. The German diplomat expressed confidence that bilateral
relations will deepen further. She conveyed German President Horst
Koehler’s friendly greetings to Kocharyan.

In turn, Kocharyan congratulated the newly-appointed ambassador and
said that Armenia paid special attention to cooperation with
Germany. He spoke highly about the German government’s assistance to
reforms in Armenia. Kocharyan put a special emphasis on the economic
component of bilateral relations. He spoke about efficiency of
programmes in the power engineering and financial-technical
spheres. The sides discussed importance of developing cooperation
between regions of Armenia and Germany.

Telegraph.co.uk, UK
Aug 18 2004

Singapore’s dead make way for the living
By Sebastien Berger in Singapore
(Filed: 18/08/2004)

One of Singapore’s biggest graveyards, the final resting place of
much of the island’s Christian population for most of the 20th
century, is in the final stages of being emptied.

Every day about 60 graves in the Bidadari Christian Cemetery, a green
lung popular with joggers a couple of miles north of the island’s
thriving city centre, are emptied.

Out of more than 50,000 burials, from 1907 to 1972, the relatives of
fewer than 10,000 came forward to claim their remains. They were
dealt with first, and the rest were left to the care of the Singapore
authorities.

About 3,000 are left. One of them is Lt Col T L Fox OBE, whose simple
headstone records that he died in Singapore on Aug 2, 1954, aged 60,
without mentioning relatives or regiment. A glance at the grave told
the exhumation workers that it had yet to be emptied, which meant the
remains were unclaimed.

With the work due to finish by the end of the year, one morning in
the next four months they will break open the thin concrete cover of
the tomb, dig down to the coffin, and bring it out.

Col Fox’s headstone will be destroyed. As with all the unclaimed
remains, his will be cremated later the same day and his ashes put
into storage.

If no one comes forward to ask for them in three years from the end
of the work they, along with those of tens of thousands of other
people, will be scattered at sea.

The cemetery is being emptied of the dead to make room for the
living.

Land is in huge demand in Singapore. It has an area of 263 square
miles, less than half the size of Greater London but, because of
reclamation projects, is 40 square miles bigger than it was at
independence in 1965, making it, in physical percentage terms, one of
the fastest-growing countries in the world.

The Bidadari cemetery complex, which also includes an already-exhumed
Muslim site and Hindu and Sinhalese Buddhist graveyards where work is
due to start next year, will provide 140 acres of land for flats.

Singapore’s Housing and Development Board, which is in charge of the
project, was unable to say how many people would benefit. The work,
however, comes at a historical cost.

In addition to thousands of Chinese Christians, the cemetery was the
final resting place of many of the traders, administrators, priests,
doctors and others, of all denominations, who made up Singapore’s
colonial community.

Among them was Augustus Podmore Williams, (May 22, 1852-April 17,
1916), who is believed to be the model for the title character in
Conrad’s Lord Jim.

Born in Porthleven, Cornwall, in July 1880 he was first mate on a
pilgrim ship, the Jeddah, when the boilers began to leak and the
captain and officers abandoned the vessel, leaving the Muslim
travellers on board to their fate.

The group was picked up and taken to Aden, where they reported that
their ship had sunk, only for it to be towed into port the following
day. Williams was severely censured by a court of inquiry, but later
established himself in the shipping business in Singapore. His
remains have been claimed by his descendants.

Members of the Armenian Sarkies family, who founded the Raffles
Hotel, were buried at Bidadari, as were several of those who died at
the Changi internment camp during the Second World War Japanese
occupation of Singapore.

Sue Williams (no relation to Augustine), a Briton who has written a
chapter on Bidadari for a forthcoming book on the cemeteries of
Singapore, said: “It was such a beautiful place. But it was obvious
that it would have to go because it is a vast stretch of land.”

AZERBAIJAN SHIFTS FOREIGN POLICY TO SETTLE KARABAKH PROBLEM – TV

ANS TV, Baku
15 Aug 04

Azerbaijan has recently found itself in the focus of a “fierce clash”
of US, Russian and Iranian interests and it is steering between them
to settle the long-standing Nagornyy Karabakh conflict with
neighbouring Armenia. The following is an excerpt from report by
Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 15 August:

(Presenter) The Nagornyy Karabakh problem will be a subject of
discussions during Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s
first official visit to Moscow next week. Diplomatic and political
activities in the South Caucasus region have considerably intensified
with Azerbaijan being in the centre of them.

Representatives of totally different and even contradictory interests,
on the one hand, the Iranian president, on the other hand, the US
defence minister, have visited Baku. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov is due in Moscow after visits to Washington and
Tehran. Obviously, at the crossroads of fierce clashes of varied
interests, Azerbaijan is carrying out diplomatic manoeuvres to gain
dividends to settle the Karabakh problem. Ibrahim Mammadov comments:

(Mammadov over footage of Washington) The US president will soon
announce plans to pull 100,000 troops out of Europe and Asia. Part of
the troops to be pulled out of Germany, Japan and South Korea will be
sent home. The remaining part is expected to be redeployed in new NATO
member countries.

Unlike last year, Azerbaijan is not being mentioned amongst these
countries. On the other hand, the law on national security of the
Azerbaijani Republic, which came into effect two weeks ago, bans
deployment of foreign countries’ military bases on the territory of
the country. Incidentally, the approval of this law meets the
interests of Russia and Iran, which want to keep the South Caucasus
clear of foreign military bases.

A communique adopted during the Azerbaijani president’s Moscow visit
contains provisions on not taking military steps running against the
other country’s interests. Azerbaijan has honoured them all the way
through. At NATO’s Istanbul Summit, Azerbaijan did not file an
official application for membership. Later, a law banning deployment
of foreign military bases in Azerbaijan was adopted. Finally,
Azerbaijan has not given a positive answer to the US address to
dispatch extra forces to Iraq.

(Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, shown speaking to journalist) We
have not put forward our stance yet. We agreed in talks with (US
Secretary of Defence Donald) Rumsfeld here to continue the
negotiations and see what the outcome will be.

(Correspondent over video of Rumsfeld and Safar Abiyev at the airport)
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev drew attention to the fact
that sending troops to Iraq was a political issue.

True, although the minister did not shed light on what was the
political matter, his replies to other questions highlighted that
Azerbaijan’s only wish was that the USA helped Baku in the resolution
of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

Apparently, although Azerbaijan wanted a hand with the resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem in exchange for committing extra troops
to Iraq and military cooperation, the USA deems it necessary to keep
the status quo referring to the OSCE Minsk Group.

Azerbaijan requested a hand with the Karabakh issue in exchange for
supporting the USA and said that otherwise, the conflict would remain
unresolved for a long time. A reaction came immediately.

US State Department spokesman Edgar Vasquez reacted to the replacement
of the imam at (Baku’s) Cuma mosque two months ago only now and
condemned the incident calling on the Azerbaijani government to
respect religious freedom.

(Passage omitted: quotes from The New York Times)

The Russian stage in Azerbaijani diplomacy is starting now. Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will pay a visit to Moscow on 17-18
August. In the run-up to Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit, he commented
positively on (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s favourite Single
Economic Space, which shows that Azerbaijan is ready to do a serious
economic favour for Russia.

Most likely, the USA will not treat this step positively
either. Because Ukrainian President Vladimir Kuchma’s decision to
create a single economic space with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan was
opposed by Ukraine’s pro-American opposition forces which called for
Kuchma’s resignation. The formation of a single economic space with
Russia was even interpreted by the Ukrainian pro-Western opposition
forces as a loss of sovereignty. However, Kuchma managed to do this.
The Ukrainian president agreed to it purely because of economic
interests.

Together with economic benefits, Azerbaijan puts an emphasis on the
resolution of the Karabakh conflict. In other words, it is supposed
that Azerbaijan might review its position on the Single Economic Space
if Russia changes its position on the Karabakh problem. On the other
side, this is neither pro-Russian nor anti-American policy. The
government of Azerbaijan is trying to change regional countries’
position on the Karabakh issue in Azerbaijan’s favour as much as
possible.

After Iranian President Khatami’s Baku visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry
spokesman Hamid Reza Asafi explained the president’s Karabakh policy
this way. Iran wants Azerbaijan to restore its control over this
enclave. Up to now, Tehran has not issued an unambiguous statement
like this and simply limited itself to stating that it recognizes our
territorial integrity.

The US defence secretary did not say anything unambiguous or different
from what had been said so far and mentioned (US Co-Chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group) Steven Mann’s name, pointing at the fact that the
State Department is dealing with the issue, not the Pentagon. However,
the Pentagon has more influence in the South Caucasus than the State
Department. The outcome of Elmar Mammadyarov’s visit will show whether
Russia will make any changes or not.

Ibrahim Mammadov for ANS.

SEMI-FINAL OF FIFTH INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF YOUNG DESIGNERS TAKES
PLACE IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, August 16 (Noyan Tapan). The regional semi-final of the fifth
International Competition of Young Designers set fup by the “Russian
Silhouette” Charity Fund was for the third time held on August 13 in
the Yerevan National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Tatiana
Mikhalkova, the Chairwoman of the judges of the competition, the
President of the Fund, an honorary member of the Russsian Academy of
Arts, said at the press conference held the same day that the
competition was held with the support of Yerevan Mayor’s Office and RF
Embassy in RA. The “ATEX Fashion Center” CJSC is the representative of
the fund and the organizer of the competition in Armenia. The goal of
the competition is to form the culture of design of clothes, to define
the main ethics principles of this profession, to form the very
Armenian professional school of fashion, to unite the disigners and
clothes producers and to revive the fashion industry in Armenia. As it
was mentioned at the press conference, 70 bides for participation in
the competition were received from students and graduates of 8
educational institutions of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh training
modellers.

Passing 3 selection tours, collections of 30 young Armenian designers
will participate in the semi-final of the competition. The
prize-winners of the semi-final of the competition will represent
Armenia in the final, which will take place on September 3 2004 in
Moscow.

COOPERATION OF ARMENIA AND OSCE TO STRENGHTEN

YEREVAN, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian received Ambassador Steven M. Minikes, Head of the US
delegation to the OSCE, on August 12. During the meeting the sides
discussed the activities of the OSCE structures and departments, its
Yerevan Office, as well as the wide circle of problems regarding
regional security. The sides also discussed the Karabakh problem, the
processes and prospects of the settlement of the confrontation.

According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the sides expressed hope that Armenia-OSCE cooperation will continue
and strenghten in a constructive spirit.

GEORGIAN PROSECUTOR TO BE APPOINTED IN GEORGIAN TERRITORY POPULATED
MAINLY WITH ARMENIANS

AKHALKALAKI, August 13 (Noyan Tapan). The Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda and
Aspindza regions will have one Prosecutor’s Office as a result of the
reforms carried out in the justice sphere of Georgia. According to the
“A-Info” Agency, Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda were displeased both by
the fact of the unification of the regional Prosecutor’s Offices and
by the fact that the Georgian Prosecutor will be appointed in the
Georgian territory populated mainly with the Armenians. The name of
the Prosecutor is still unknown, the population is just unaware of
it. At the same time, it is expected that the actions of protest will
be organized against the Georgian Prosecutor in Akhalkalaki and
Ninotsminda.

Concern over Azeri foreign policy behind US defence chief’s unexpected visit

Zerkalo, Baku
11 Aug 04

Concern over Azerbaijan’s ties with Iran and Russia is the reason for
Donald Rumsfeld’s unscheduled visit to Baku, major Azerbaijani daily
Zerkalo has reported. Azerbaijan wants more support in resolution of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and therefore seeks closer relations
not only with the USA and NATO, but also with Russia, Iran, Pakistan
and China, the paper said. The following is the text of A. Rasidoglu’s
report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 11 August headlined “The
USA is concerned over Azerbaijan’s foreign policy” and subheaded
“Today’s visit of the Pentagon head could be viewed in this context”;
subheadings inserted editorially:

US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld will pay a one-day visit to
Baku today. The objectives and the schedule of the meeting has not
been reported yet. However, it is known that he will have talks with
Azerbaijan’s leaders – President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and Defence Minister Safar Abiyev. The sides will discuss
Azerbaijan’s participation in the counterterrorism coalition in Iraq,
as well as bilateral military cooperation.

An informed diplomatic source has told Turan news agency that the
visit was not scheduled and was caused by Washington’s concern over
the latest trends in Baku’s foreign policy. The White House does have
some causes for concern. It is enough to mention the visit of Iranian
President Mohammad Khatami to Azerbaijan and the visit’s possible
consequences. In particular, the USA is concerned about the prospects
of Baku and Tehran getting even closer.

Chinese general to visit Baku

Maj-Gen Qian Lihua, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office at
China’s National Defence Ministry, will visit Baku on 20-21 August,
Chinese ambassador to Azerbaijan Zhang Xiyun has reported. He said
that the delegation plans to meet Abiyev and will conduct talks on
various directions in bilateral military cooperation. The guests will
also visit military colleges in Baku and learn about the education
there. Dozens of officers from the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are
trained in China’s military academies every year.

Alarming prospects for Americans

It is also noteworthy that the chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of
Staff Committee, Gen Muhammad Aziz Khan, is currently visiting
Azerbaijan. He has said that Islamabad will support Azerbaijan in the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. Moreover, there is talk now of a possible
coalition between Tehran, Baku, Islamabad, Beijing and Moscow.

It goes without saying that such a prospect alarms the Americans. The
strengthening of military ties between Baku and Moscow is another
factor causing irritation. Stronger Russian and Iranian clout in Baku
can cast doubt over the US military presence in Azerbaijan. This is an
extremely unfavorable prospect for the USA in the light of a possible
destabilization of the situation in Iran. Therefore, Rumsfeld will
try to obtain clear answers from the Azerbaijani leadership on these
issues.

No other choice for Azerbaijan

Former presidential aide on foreign policy Vafa Quluzada has said in
this regard that Azerbaijan simply has no other choice. Baku is forced
to move closer to Moscow and Tehran in the hope of resolving the
Karabakh problem. “If the USA continues to turn a blind eye to the
existing situation, it can lose Azerbaijan as a strategic partner,”
Quluzada said.

Lately, the Kremlin has been trying to influence the Baku government
with a view to changing its foreign policy course. In particular,
Russian politicians openly state that the pro-Western and pro-American
course chosen by Baku does not quite suit Moscow.

However, one should not forget that Azerbaijan has reached a new level
in its relations with NATO by agreeing on a programme of individual
cooperation with NATO. Azerbaijan has become a member of the European
Union’s Wider Europe – New Neighbourhood initiative. These aspects can
all but concern Moscow. In tandem with Iran, Russia would like to halt
the military, political and economic expansion of Western Europe and
the USA in Central Asia. The Kremlin still regards the incumbent
authorities in Georgia and Azerbaijan as anti-Russian. While Aliyev is
taking certain steps towards Russia, Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili’s actions are only causing further complications in
Moscow-Tbilisi relations.

Not enough support from America and NATO

However, the American policy of double standards vis-a-vis Azerbaijan
has shown that Washington’s main goal is not to help the Azerbaijani
nation to prosper, but to oust Russia from the Caucasus and build a
strategically important corridor between Central Asia, the Caucasus
and Europe.

Azerbaijan and Georgia hoped that by becoming NATO members they could
favourably resolve the problems in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and
Karabakh. However, it transpired in the wake of Kosovo that NATO
servicemen do not intend to fight in Abkhazia or Karabakh instead of
Georgians and Azerbaijanis, and that the White House will not put
pressure on Armenia regarding the Karabakh issue. Moreover, the USA
has proposed a plan to settle the conflict on terms which are
unacceptable to Baku.

Azerbaijan is tired of America’s statements that resumption of
military operations would be “pointless” (in private conversations
they are more specific and say that they will simply not allow us to
do that). However, when the Azerbaijani authorities take some steps
towards Russia and Iran, Washington gets irritated. One wants to ask
the question: “Did you not want this?”

Opposition as leverage

That the Azerbaijani leadership pays more attention to relations with
Russia and Iran, in the opinion of the Russian media, has to do with
the fact that Azerbaijani opposition politicians who are not
pro-Western feel comfortable in those countries. Therefore, Aliyev is
concerned that with support from Russia or Iran this opposition could
destabilize the situation in Azerbaijan. Still, Washington too, could
use the “opposition card” and wield it to put pressure on the Baku
government.

RA MINISTER OF NATURE PROTECTION CALLS ON ECOLOGICAL NGOs TO COOPERATE

YEREVAN, August 6 (Noyan Tapan). RA Minister of Nature Protection
Vardan Aivazian during his August 6 meeting with representatives of
the leading ecological NGOs suggested that the Public Council should
be established with the purpose of cooperation of the Ministry and
NGOs. It was mentioned that the Ministry should be notified about the
activities carried out by the NGOs, in particular, on grants given by
the international foundations. According to the RA Minister, NGOs,
dealing with the allocated funds, often replace the state structures
though they don’t have sufficient information and specialists. In
their turn representatives of NGOs agree that the Ministry should be
notified about their activities, but at the same time they mentioned
that the Ministry isn’t always interested in cooperation with
NGOs. They reminded the RA Minister that the issue of the restoration
of the Public Relations Department in the structure of the Ministry
was arisen many times, and the Ministry should provide ecological
information in accordance with the demands of the Orhusk convention,
and wide public should participate in the processes of making
decisions. Vardan Aivazian suggested that participants of the meeting
should assume the discussion as a basis and prepare the draft
Memorandum on cooperation. Gennady Kojoyan is appointed Coordinator of
the draft.