Author: Tumanian Talar

Dual Loyalties
by Juan Cole

ProgressiveTrail.org, OR
Sept 10 2004

Many readers have written me to express concern about my safety
and/or reputation since I have spoken out frankly on the horrible
Likud policies of stealing Palestinian lands and brutalizing them
with occupation. I’m not a babe in the woods, and I know very well
that saying these things is taboo in American political culture. In
fact, whenever anyone comes on a cable television news show and is
anything but hostile to the Palestinians, he or she is made by the
interviewer to denounce terrorism. It is an outrageous implication,
and not the job of a news interviewer. But pro-Israeli speakers are
never made to denounce land theft or state terror.

I received a very weird phone call from a prominent Jewish-American
investigative journalist the other night. He kept muttering about
bias against Sharon and how the Israeli security wall is no different
from the wall near the Rio Grande (which isn’t true: did the US annex
Mexican land to build that?) He kept hinting around that he thought
I must have some link to some hate group, or to the Ford Foundation,
which he coded as linked to “hate groups,” which in turn seemed to
signify for him Palestinians. It was all very conspiracy theorist
oriented. I tried to have a straightforward conversation with him,
but it was probably a mistake, since it seems fairly obvious he
intends to do some sort of hatchet job. I finally had to end it when
his paraphrases of what I said became more and more outrageous and
inaccurate.

Another journalist named Eli Lake has now begun coming after me, as
many readers predicted, using innuendo to suggest that I am to the
right of Pat Buchanan and that it is irresponsible of American media
outlets to have me on television and radio. One of his charges is that
I am accusing the Neoconservatives in the Pentagon of “dual loyalties.”

That is true, but not in the way Lake imagines. I believe that Doug
Feith, for instance, has dual loyalties to the Israeli Likud Party
and to the U.S. Republican Party. He thinks that their interests are
completely congruent. And I also think that if he has to choose,
he will put the interests of the Likud above the interests of the
Republican Party.

I don’t think there is anything a priori wrong with Feith being
so devoted to the Likud Party. That is his prerogative. But as an
American, I don’t want a person with those sentiments to serve as
the number 3 man in the Pentagon. I frankly don’t trust him to put
America first.

Political dual loyalties have nothing to do with any particular
ethnicity. It is natural for Armenian Americans to have a special
tie to Armenia, for Greek Americans to have a special tie to Greece,
for Iraqi Americans to feel strongly about Iraq. For them to take
pride in the achievements of their homeland is right an natural,
and unexceptionable. There is no reason on the face of it to even
bring up their ethnicity with regard to public service.

But if a Syrian American is a strong devotee of the Baath Party,
would you appoint him Undersecretary of Defense?

The Likud Coalition in Israel does contest elections. But it isn’t
morally superior in most respects to the Syrian Baath. The Likud
brutally occupies 3 million Palestinians (who don’t get to vote for
their occupier) and is aggressively taking over their land. That
is, it treats at least 3 million people no better than and possibly
worse than the Syrian Baath treats its 17 million. The Likud invaded
Lebanon in 1982 and killed 18,000 or so people, 9,000 of them innocent
civilians. This is, contrary to what Bernard Lewis keeps implying,
just about equivalent morally to the Syrian Baath’s crushing of
the Islamists in Hama the same year, which killed an estimated
10,000. Many in the Likud coalition are commited to “transfer,”
or the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. At the least they want
to keep Palestinians stateless and without basic human rights and
dignity. The vast majority of Palestinians has never commited an act
of violence, but Likud propaganda justifies their expropriation on the
innuendo that they are all terrorists. Likud aggression is invisible
in American media, and the way in which it provokes violence is off
limits for discussion.

So I don’t see a big difference between having a fanatical Syrian
American Baathist as the number three man in the Pentagon and having
a fanatical Jewish American Likudnik.

Lake wants to suggest that I am a racist, and that the implication of
my argument is that there should be an ethnic litmus test for public
office. There is no point in replying to such slurs. Anyone who tries
to defend himself from charges of being a racist just looks silly. I
simply think that we deserve to have American public servants who are
centrally commited to the interests of the United States, rather than
to the interests of a foreign political party. So my position implies
a political litmus test for high public office. And, of course there
is such a litmus test. Why bother to have Congress confirm or reject
appointees otherwise?

Of course, Lake’s salvo is only the first of what will be a campaign to
vilify me and misrepresent my views, and to ensure as far as possible
that I am silenced. So, why do I do it?

It is September 11. It is obvious to me that what September 11 really
represented was a dragooning of the United States into internal Middle
East political conflicts. Israel’s aggressive policies in the West
Bank and Gaza have poisoned the political atmosphere in the Middle
East (and increasingly in the Muslim world) for the United States. It
is ridiculous to suggest that radical Islamists don’t care about the
Palestine issue.

Now, if it were a matter of Israel’s simple existence causing trouble
for the U.S., then I would say, “Too bad! We stand with our friends,
and won’t allow you to harm Israel.” But if it is Israeli expansionism
and aggression that is causing trouble for the United States, then
my response would be to put pressure on Israel to get used to its
1949 borders, which are its only legal ones.

Unless the Israeli Palestinian issue is resolved, there will be more
September 11s on US soil. So they should resolve it already. And,
it is resolvable. If there were a Palestinian state with leaders who
would certify that they are happy with Israel, then 99% of Muslims
would accept that.

It can’t be resolved as long as the Likud Party has an aggressive
colonialist agenda. It cannot be resolved as long as the United States
government is afraid to say “boo” to Ariel Sharon. The taboo erected
against saying what I have been saying is a way of ensuring that the
Likud gets its way without American interference, even if it means
America suffers from the fall-out of Likud aggression.

In addition, what the Likud government is doing is ethically wrong.
It has put hundreds of thousands of colonists into the West Bank,
stealing land, water and resources from the Palestinians there. It
has made the Palestinians’ lives miserable with a dense network of
checkpoints, highways, and other barriers to ordinary commerce and
movement. And what possible claim could the Likud have on the West
Bank of the Jordan? The original Zionist colonizers put almost no
settlers there. It was not the part of Palestine that the United
Nations awarded Israel in the partition plan. The United Nations
Charter, to which Israel is a signatory, forbids the acquisition
of territory by warfare, so the mere fact that the West Bank was
conquered in 1967 gives Israel no rights in it.

Sharon and other Likudniks keep demanding that the Arabs “recognize”
Israel’s “birthright” to the Holy Land. This language is bizarre.
First of all, “peoples” don’t have “birthrights” to “land.” There are
no peoples in the 19th century racist sense, and there is no link
between Land und Volk the way the Likud imagines. Israel should be
recognized because its people deserve to live like everyone else,
not because of any superstitious and frankly racist “birthright.”
(Population geneticists have shown that the entire human population
becomes related over 50 generations, so Isaac and the other Patriarchs
are by now the common ancestors of us all. If the birthright is
genetic, then it is in everyone by now. If it is based on halakhah or
Jewish law, well that didn’t exist in Isaac’s time. Abraham probably
wasn’t even really a monotheist in the contemporary sense of the term.)

You can’t break down taboos unless you challenge them. Of course,
there is the danger that if you challenge them, you will be attacked,
and destroyed politically or marginalized. Perhaps it is even likely.

But our country is in dire danger from the conflicts in the Middle
East. If I had been a younger man (I am 51) I would have gone to
fight al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. The very least I can do is to speak
out about the dangers, and urge solutions of the problems generating
the terrorism. What good is freedom of speech if we don’t use it?

Religious leaders condemn terrorism in North Caucasus

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 9, 2004 Thursday

MOSCOW, September 9 — Religious leaders of all the traditional
confessions in Russia condemn terrorism and call for safeguarding
peace in the North Caucasus.

The leaders of the traditional confessions practiced in the North
Caucasus called on the believers to prevent the outbreaks of hostility
and confrontation among the peoples of the South of Russia. This is
said in the joint statement adopted on Thursday after the meeting in
Yessentuki with the Russian president’s envoy in the Southern Federal
District, Vladimir Yakovlev.

“Truly religious people will never take the road of terror; those who
deliberately became terrorists betrayed their faith”, the statement
says. Representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, of Islamic
organizations, of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of Buddhists and
Judaists condemned “the horrible crime of the capture and killing of
hostages in Beslan, as well as the terrorist acts staged in Moscow
and on board two passenger planes”.

The religious leaders expressed condolences to the families and
relatives of the victims, Tass reports. The leaders of confessions
made assurances that they will exert every effort to safeguard peace
and security of Russia”.

Liturgies in memory of the killed hostages were conducted in all the
Orthodox churches of the Altai territory, Tass reports. Bishop Maxim
of Barnaul and the Altai said, specifically, that all the statements
by terrorists about their being motivated by religious ideals are not
just lies but also a provocation aimed to split the Russian society
by a bloody feud.

The Caucasus mountains, a turbulent crossroads

Agence France Presse — English
September 3, 2004 Friday 3:54 PM GMT

MOSCOW Sept 3 — The Caucasus, scene of a dramatic hostage crisis
that ended Friday with more than 100 dead, is the turbulent home to
scores of ethnic and religious groupings prone to regular outbreaks
of violence.

The mountainous region, roughly the size of California, forms a
natural crossroads between east and west, north and south and currently
comprises three newly independent states — Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia — along with part of the regional superpower, Russia.

The seven Russian republics in the region are themselves highly
diverse, including strife-torn Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, North
Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia, Adygeya and Kabardino-Balkaria.

Dagestan alone, wedged between the Caspian Sea and Chechnya, is
inhabited by 30 nationalities, each with its own language and customs.

Many of the region’s languages are of Indo-European or Turkic origin,
others are indigenous.

Islam is well-established in the Caucasus, notably in Azerbaijan and
several of the Russian republics, but Orthodox Christianity in its
Russian, Georgian and Armenian variants is also widespread.

Its key position made the Caucasus a target for regional empires
including those of the Ottomans and Persia.

More recently the Russians have dominated the region, and many of the
conflicts of the past decade have been exacerbated by administrative
demarcations decided during the Soviet era and the wholesale
deportations ordered by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin during World
War II.

Nationalist sentiment among the rugged, fiercely independent mountain
peoples was never entirely extinguished, and aspirations to self-rule
contributed significantly to the break-up of the Soviet Union.

The first out-and-out conflict erupted in the late 1980s between
Armenians and Azeris scrapping over the remote enclave of Nagorno
Karabakh, administratively part of Azerbaijan but inhabited mainly
by Armenians.

That conflict, like others that have broken out subsequently, has
still not been resolved.

In 1992, in the months following the dissolution of the Soviet Union,
South Ossetia, part of Georgia, fought a brief war with government
forces to claim independence from Tbilisi, while Christian North
Ossetia, part of Russia, battled with Muslim Ingushetia over a
territorial claim.

The same year, Georgia’s western Abkhazia region — with suspected
Russian support — fought a year-long separatist war that won de
facto independence at a cost of thousands of dead and a ruined economy.

In December 1994 Russian president Boris Yeltsin poured troops into
Chechnya to put down a separatist insurgency headed by Dzhokhar
Dudayev. Less than two years later he was forced to withdraw the
troops, leaving rebel leaders in control.

Chechnya’s de facto independence, marked by chaos and warlordism,
lasted less than three years as an incursion by rebels from Chechnya
into Dagestan triggered a further invasion by Russian troops, ordered
this time by Yeltsin’s prime minister and heir apparent Vladimir Putin.

Putin has made frequent claims since then to have stabilised the
situation in Chechnya, usually finding them belied by events.

The Caucasus region, particularly its Russian republics, are also
dogged by lawlessness despite — some say because of — the presence of
Russian troops, with oil-trafficking, clan warfare and hostage-taking
rampant.

ArmenPress
Aug 27 2004

ARMENIAN PM RECEIVED DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Andranik
Margarian received today foreign minister of Denmark Per Stig
Moellere. According to government press services, at the beginning of
the meeting the prime minister congratulated the foreign minister on
his birthday and wished him personal and business success. Referring
to the issues of mutual interest, particularly the current pace of
Armenian-Danish relations, the sides mentioned the necessity to give
a new impetus to political cooperation as well as economic ties.
According to Andranik Margarian, mutual high rank exchange visits can
considerably contribute to that.
During the visit the prime minister Andranik Margarian and foreign
minister Per Stig Moellere referred to relations between Armenia and
European Union (EU). Saying that Denmark is going to become a
security council member at EU, Mr. Moellere asked the prime minister
to present his views on the pace of integration of Armenia into
European structures as well as regional developments. The Armenian
prime minister noted that the assignment of special representative of
EU in South Caucasus indicates rise of interest of EU towards the
region. Similar high interest is also marked by the decision of EU
June summit to include South Caucasus in Broader Europe: New
Neighborhood Project. Underscoring the necessity of reaching long
lasting peace, stability and security in the region, Andranik
Margarian presented the dispositions of Armenia on the current state
and prospects of relations with the neighboring countries. Speaking
on cooperation with EU on Karabakh conflict resolution, the prime
minister once against assured the stance of the Armenian government
that the conflict should be solved only by peaceful ways which is
also backed by EU in support for OSCE Minsk Group efforts. According
to him, the Broader Europe: New Neighborhood Project will be a new
stimulus for peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh and other
regional conflicts. Prime minister Andranik Margarian mentioned that
cooperation with EU will contribute to relations with Denmark,
including in the economic sphere which he said will be mutually
beneficial for both sides.
In terms of economic cooperation, the prime minister considered
prospective the energy field. He attached importance to sharing of
Danish experience on alternative sources of energy.
At the end of the meeting, prime minister Andranik Margarian and
foreign minister Per Stig Moellere conveyed the readiness of their
governments to continue and develop cooperation between the two
countries.

ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED FOR CREDIT REPAYMENTS OF COMPANIES
EXPLOITING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

YEREVAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). The decision on the attraction of
additional funds with the purpose of the offsetting of the debts of
companies exploiting irrigation systems was made during the August
26sitting of the RA government. The RA government’s press service
reported Noyan Tapan News Agency about it. As the management
functions of the “ArmWaterCanal” CJSC are transferred to the asset
management and the works foreseen by the “Purchase and Distribution of
Water-Gauges for Tenement Houses” program will be carried out by the
latter, it was decided to direct the sums expected for this purpose at
the credit repayments (including prepayments) of the companies
exploiting the irrigation systems.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 26 2004

JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AND CHANCELLOR
GERHARD SCHROEDER
[August 26, 2004, 13:06:29]

On the end of ceremony of signing of the documents, President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Federal Chancellor of Germany Gerhard
Schroeder have held a news conference. Head of the government of
Germany and the President of Azerbaijan have made statements.

STATEMENT OF THE FEDERAL CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY GERHARD SCHROEDER

– Dear ladies and gentlemen!

I want to note that I am very glad to welcome here the President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. It is pleased because Mr. Aliyev after
election as the President has arrived here with the first official
visit. Political relations between Azerbaijan and Germany are at a
fine high level. I think, that Mr. President is very much interested
in creation in Azerbaijan of a lawful state, makes huge efforts for
this purpose and has achieved successes. Therefore, I regard him with
the deep respect. Due to the reforms, which are carried out in the
country by Mr. Ilham Aliyev, surprising results have been achieved,
in good sense. And it gives a strong pulse to development of economy,
and all this will go to the blessing of the Azerbaijan society.

As of political question, I can tell, that Germany, as before, and
today is the partner of Azerbaijan, has recognized and will recognize
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We concern to this with huge
respect. Mr. President, and I count, that the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorny Karabakh conflict should be settled only by peace way.
Germany will make its contribution and make efforts within the
framework of activity of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Today, all of us became witnesses of signing of the contract
concerning purchase of four airbuses that serves as display of our
economic relations. Azerbaijan also counts the given contract
extremely serious. Certainly, the purpose consists in integration
into Europe. At the same time, the question is realization of the EU
New Neighborhood Policy. It follows great purposes.

I want to note also activity of the German companies in Azerbaijan.
At our meeting Mr. President has noted, that there are fine
conditions for cooperation and interactions with the German companies
in power and infrastructure spheres, and he welcomes them in
Azerbaijan!’ For example, such companies, as “Siemens”, is interested
in realization there of some projects.

Within the framework of negotiations we came to an agreement that in
the coming autumn or in the beginning of the next year to carry out
in Berlin a conference with participation of representatives of the
German economy in connection with investments in Azerbaijan. In the
conference, discussed were real opportunities existing in Azerbaijan,
particularly, concrete projects so that we have started close
economic cooperation. I am absolutely confident, that visit of Mr.
president to Germany is useful to both sides and will do well for
both sides.

STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV

– Dear ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, I want to note, that it is my first official visit to
Federal Republic of Germany, and I am very glad, that it passes at
very high level. Within the framework of visit today in the morning I
have met the President of Germany. Besides my meeting with Mr.
Federal Chancellor today has taken place. I want to note, that the
wide exchange of opinions has been carried out. The German-Azerbaijan
mutual relations were discussed.

Relations of Azerbaijan with the European Union promptly develop. It
satisfies both the European Union and us. Germany is one of the
leading countries of Europe and the world and possesses very powerful
economic potential.

Due to the carried out in the last years in Azerbaijan economic
reforms, our country, too, has got stronger, our economic potential
every year grows. The authority of Azerbaijan on our region both with
economic, and from the political point of view grows and its
positions become stronger. Certainly, taking into account it, we
hope, that after present visit cooperation existing between the two
countries in all areas becomes even wider. We very much hope, that
connections between Germany and Azerbaijan in political, economic and
in all other spheres became even wider, more strong, and that two
countries became closer each other.

We also had exchange of views on concrete projects. Today, the
contract about purchase of airbuses has been signed. Mr. Chancellor
has noted, that this contract is extremely important both for
Azerbaijan, and for the European countries. It is confident, that
henceforth our cooperation with Europe will develop even more
promptly and in other branches.

We are very pleased with the position of the government of Germany in
the question of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
Today, Mr. Chancellor has noted that Germany always has faithfully
concerned and nowadays concerns the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. I hope, that being guided by the mentioned principle, it
will be shortly possible to achieve peace settlement of the conflict
between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

There is a fine ground for the even greater development of mutual
relations, and the present visit has defined new directions of the
future cooperation. I want to express confidence, that we and
henceforth shall cooperate successfully in all areas.

***

Then, the Presidents answered questions of media representatives.

Q: Mr. Chancellor, you have noted that economic relations between
Azerbaijan and Germany are at a high level. And what situation in the
field of culture? If it is necessary to develop connections and in
this area, what you for this purpose would undertake?

GERHARD SCHROEDER: I always considered, that it is impossible to
differentiate the relations between the countries. Irrespective of,
whether there is a speech about policy or economy, it is necessary to
concern with respect to each sphere as it makes a basis of fruitful
cooperation and friendship. Also cultural cooperation with
Azerbaijan, therefore, is extremely important. Unfortunately, in this
case I cannot tell, what particularly it means in this area. But if
in this sphere this or that initiative will be put forward, I am
ready to support it. I think, that we can approach with optimism to
the mentioned question as your possession of German language at so
high level testifies to how far we have promoted in the field of
culture.

Q: Mr. President, you have noted, that the Nagorny Karabakh conflict
can be settled in the political way. What means are necessary for
this purpose?

ILHAM ALIYEV: The first means consists that international legal norms
should be observed. Armenia has occupied the Nagorny Karabakh region
and adjacent to it our seven regions of Azerbaijan, and occupation
continue already long years. Until the armed forces of Armenia will
not be pulled back from the occupied lands, the conflict cannot find
its settlement. Therefore, first of all, international legal norms
should be observed. National minorities worldwide live, however, it
does not mean at all, that they should follow the road of separatism.
The various nations live in Azerbaijan, and the Armenians, too, can
live in Nagorny Karabakh. If international legal norms will find
realization and if the Azerbaijan lands will be released from
occupation, Azerbaijan and Armenia can come nearer to the peace
agreement. The thesis, which is put forward by the Armenian side,
consists that the Armenians living in Nagorny Karabakh should gain
independence. I want to state that the Armenian people has already
gained independence, there is a state of Armenia. Their policy has no
future; it contradicts processes proceeding in the world. I hope,
that the management of Armenia shortly will understand it and will
remove the armed forces from the lands not belonging to them.

Q: Southern Caucasus integrates into the European family, it is
already counted a part of Europe, and however the European Union has
not stated concrete position in connection with conflicts on Southern
Caucasus, including the Nagorny Karabakh conflict. Germany is one of
the leading states of the world, with a notable weight in the
European Union, the European parliament. What role in this sense
Germany can play?

GERHARD SCHROEDER: If the European Parliament will directly interfere
with the given question it can regard as intervention in the policy
of the said states. I during conversation with Mr. President have
noted, that we always recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
and our position remains unchanged. I think, that such position is
held not only by us, but also by the European parliament.

Q: Did You have exchange of views on combat against the international
terrorism? What can you tell in connection with last air crashes in
Russia?

GERHARD SCHROEDER: Unfortunately, I have no exact information on the
air crashes, and investigations, probably, are conducted, therefore,
I would not like to suppose discrepancies. The reasons of accidents
will be known after investigations.

***

On August 25, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received in
his residence members of the Bundestag of Germany.

This very day in the evening, the Company “Siemens” arranged a
banquet in honor of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. During
the banquet, there were heads of the leading German companies and
concerns.

Official visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Germany continues.

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
August 24, 2004, Tuesday

GEORGIANS CALL FOR EUROPEANS AS MEDIATORS TO DRIVE OUT RUSSIA

SOURCE: Vremya Novostei, August 24, 2004, p. 5
by Vladimir Kazimirov

Why would the Georgian government insist on international involvement
in resolving the Georgian-Ossetian conflict? The Revolution of Roses
doesn’t stand a chance in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Knowing this,
the president of Georgia intersperses peace-loving rhetoric with
aggressive threats.

Georgia wants the OSCE involved in resolving the South Ossetia
conflictGeorgia is striving to internationalize the Georgian-Ossetian
conflict settlement by involving the OSCE. Among other arguments used
by official Tbilisi, there are hints that the OSCE gained the
necessary experience in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh.

The latest propaganda move of Georgian diplomacy is not surprising.
President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia is euphoric over his success
in Adzharia. His recent statements to the effect that South Ossetia
and Abkhazia are about to be reclaimed by Georgia only aggravated
tension in the region. The Revolution of Roses doesn’t stand a chance
in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Knowing this, the president of Georgia
intersperses peace-loving rhetoric with aggressive threats. In fact,
he is actually making a threat to settle the conflict by force and
concentrates units of the regular army in the conflict area. All this
regardless of decisions of the Joint Control Commission and despite
old and new accords reached with Russia’s assistance.

Since the pressure fails to solve the problem for Saakashvili, he
questions efficiency of the existing mechanisms of the truce (the
mechanisms that have maintained peace in the conflict area for over a
decade), urges new peacekeepers to enter the conflict area and plays
on the international community’s reluctance to see a new war break
out in the region. Forget Saakashvili’s previous flowery speeches
full of friendship with Russia. This is not Tbilisi’s last move.
There will be others.State Minister Georgy Khaindrava said in an
interview once that Georgia doesn’t have to get anyone’s permission
for actions on its own territory. But this is a conflict zone we are
talking about! These is where special procedures are needed, the
procedures of consultations with the other side within the framework
of peacekeeping structures. If preventing another war is the true
goal, that is.In a similar manner, replacement of the settlement
mechanism requires the consent of the other side, even when that
other side is an unrecognized state formation. Has Tbilisi discussed
everything with Tskhinvali yet?

Neither shall we harbor any illusions with regard to the OSCE
peacekeeping potential or its successes in Karabakh. The organization
cannot boast of any outstanding successes in this sphere. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict it has handled for over 12 years is far
from being solved yet. The OSCE peacekeeping operation there exists
only on paper. Its contribution is restricted to monitoring of the
cease-fire regime established a decade ago with Russia’s help, not
the OSCE’s. Minsk Conference for Nagorno-Karabakh has never been
convened. The issue was addressed by the so-called OSCE Minsk Group,
with an unclear status, then by its chairmen, and eventually by the
warring sides themselves. (The group was formed in 1992, its chairmen
currently are Russia, the United States, and France – Vremya
Novostei.) What the OSCE Minsk Group is remembered for is the
obstacles it put in front of Russia bent on settlement of the
conflict. Restriction of Russia’s influence with the region seems to
be its only aim.For reasons too clear to dwell on, no one in the OSCE
needs the conflict between Georgians and Ossetian settled more than
Russia does.

These days, Tbilisi is trying to scuttle the existing mechanism of
settlement in South Ossetia, even though the chances of building
anything more effective are negligible. Why? In order make an attempt
to solve the problem by force all the easier?Vladimir Kazimirov:
Ambassador of the Russian Federation, head of the Russian negotiating
team from 1992 to 1996, presidential envoy for Nagorno-Karabakh,
member and chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Translated by A. Ignatkin

ADOPTION OF PACKAGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS IN ARMENIA WILL NOT
ALLOW INCUMBENT PRESIDENT TO TAKE PART IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR
THE THIRD TIME

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19. ARMINFO. The package of the constitutional reforms
in Armenia will not allow the incumbent President Robert Kocharian to
take part in the presidential election for the third time. Minister of
Justice of Armenia David Haroutiunian told journalists today.

Answering the question whether the incumbent president will get after
the adoption of the package of the constitutional reforms the right to
run for presidency for the third time, the minister shortly said:
“No”. We shall remind that immediately after the presidential election
last year during the press conference Robert Kocharian had said that
even in the case of the adoption of the package of constitutional
reforms by the referendum, he does not intend to take part in the
struggle for the post of the president for the third time.

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617-926-8733
[email protected]
www.armeniat ree.org

Contact: Jeffrey Masarjian

August 18, 2004

ATP to Participate in Upcoming UN DPI/NGO Conference in New York City

WATERTOWN, MA – Armenia Tree Project (ATP) has been invited to attend the 57th
Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental
Organization Conference (DPI/NGO) to be held at the UN headquarters in New
York City. The conference will be held from September 8-10 and is titled
`Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action.’

The conference will focus on the roles of NGOs as well as civil society and
governments for implementing the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
adopted by the UN assembly during its high-level millennium session in 2000.

ATP was invited to participate in the conference by the Armenian General
Benevolent Union (AGBU) in association with Rotary International and Human
Rights Committee-Peace Action.

The MDG target areas that ATP specifically focuses on in Armenia through its
multi-faceted environmental restoration efforts include poverty alleviation,
hunger reduction, sustainable development, and reversing the loss of
environmental resources through reforestation programs.

ATP has already begun implementing ambitious programs in the villages of
Aygut and Dzoravank located in the Getik River Valley aimed at restoring the
environmental integrity of the surrounding areas while jumpstarting the
local economic development of rural communities. Village residents are
provided economic incentives for fostering the growth of tree seedlings to
be transplanted in nearby decimated forests, thereby helping to reduce
poverty. ATP also provides resources to local schools for teaching
fundamentals about environmental protection and is also strengthening
communities by helping to create fruit and nut orchards, which will provide
greater food security and economic development. Mr. Masarjian will outline
these and other ways that ATP is contributing to the development of civil
society in Armenia during a panel discussion with representatives of two
other NGOs.

Conference delegates will attend five plenary sessions with UN agency, NGO,
civil society, and governmental leaders to assess the challenges associated
with meeting each of the goals by the target date, set for 2015. That same
date marks ATP’s goal to have planted 15 million trees throughout Armenia.

Since 1994, Armenia Tree Project has been dedicated to restoring,
revitalizing, and protecting Armenia’s environment, while simultaneously
alleviating the socioeconomic burdens facing its people. Thus far, over
531,000 trees have been planted and restored under ATP’s guidance throughout
Armenia. By 2006, ATP programs will have the capacity to produce and plant
over 1 million trees per year.

For more information about ATP, please visit

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NKR AUTHORITIES EXPRESS READINESS TO SURRENDER AZERI CAPTIVE IF
OFFICIAL BAKU DISPLAYS SUCH WILLINGNESS

YEREVAN, August 9 (Noyan Tapan). On August 6, 21-year-old Anad
Mamedov, an Azeri serviceman, a resident of Baku, was taken prisoner
by the NKR Armed Forces in connection with transgressing of the
Karabakh-Azeri border. According to the Press Service of NKR Foreign
Ministry, the NKR authorities informed the Stepanakert office of the
International Committee of Red Cross, as well as OSCE about this
fact. At present the judicial bodies of the republic undertake the
corresponding measures for the purpose of finding out the reasons and
purpose of trespassing of the border by the captive. According to the
same source, the NKR authorities gave a representative of the ICRC
Stepanakert office an opportunity to visit the Azeri captive at the
same time expressing readiness to surrender him if the official Baku
displays such willingness.