ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
In this issue:
U.S. Ambassador says Armenia relations in “very good shape”
More talks on Karabakh amid major crackdown in Azeri army
U.S. ENVOY SEES ARMENIA RELATIONS IN “VERY GOOD SHAPE”
The United States Ambassador to Armenia John Evans this week applauded
Armenia’s deployment with the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, adding that
“Armenian-American relations are in very good shape…. In particular,
our security relationship is growing in a very positive way.” Evans
spoke as he joined Armenia’s Defense Minister Serge Sargsian in a
seeing-off ceremony for the Armenian peacekeepers. The 46-person task
force comprising transportation, de-mining and medical personnel flew to
Kuwait on a U.S. C-130 Hercules this Tuesday and will later this month
join the Polish-led multinational division south of Baghdad. The
transportation and de-mining personnel are expected to be based with a
Polish transportation battalion in Al-Hilla and doctors will work at a
coalition hospital in Karbala.
Evans added that the United States appreciated that Armenia’s decision
“was not an easy one.” A large majority of the Armenia’s public are
concerned that the move might lead to more attacks against the Armenian
communities in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. Over the last
year, Armenians and other Christians in Iraq have come under repeated
attacks. Despite these concerns, however, the Armenian government was
able to win strong parliamentary support last month arguing that the
deployment was important for Armenia’s international stature.
This week Sargsian reiterated Armenia’s desire to help the international
community to stabilize Iraq. “We have chosen the most necessary way of
helping the Iraqi people: medical treatment, de-mining and cargo
shipments that pursue the noble task of saving human lives.” Evans
expressed confidence in Armenia’s contingent saying it was well
prepared. The transportation unit’s commander Major Hamlet Hovakimian
said his men will not engage in military operations unless they come
under attack. (Sources: Armenia This Week 1-10; Noyan Tapan 1-18; RFE/RL
Armenia Report 1-18)
KARABAKH TALKS DIFFICULT EVEN AS DIPLOMATS EXPRESS CUSTOMARY OPTIMISM
Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers met again last week to continue
what has since last year become to be known as the “Prague process.”
Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mamedyarov, accompanied by their deputies, met
in Prague together with mediators from Russia and the United States.
Presidents of the two countries may also meet this summer (they last met
four months ago). Armenia’s Mediamax news agency observed that unlike
the past three years since the ultimately unsuccessful Paris and Key
West talks of 2001, there is now more optimistic official rhetoric over
chances for progress.
But, according to the agency, the sides appear to be speaking of
different peace processes. While Azeri officials contend that talks
focus on unilateral Armenian withdrawals from formerly Azeri-populated
districts, the Armenian side insists that the thrust of the negotiations
is where it was in 2001, formalizing Karabakh’s unification with
Armenia. The Mediamax analysis concludes, however, that considering
public attitudes in both countries, a continued status quo will be the
most likely mutually acceptable end result. The Azeri President Ilham
Aliyev for his part has already stated that he “was not in a hurry to
settle.” Aliyev has instead resorted to building a pan-Islamic,
pro-Azerbaijan, coalition at the United Nations and boosting military
spending.
Meanwhile, the Azeri press reported last week on a major crackdown in
the country’s military. Starting last month, dozens of army officers,
including those in command of Azeri military units along the Line of
Contact with Karabakh Armenian forces, have been arrested, dismissed or
demoted. The Azeri Defense Ministry confirmed that arrests have been
made, adding that the officers are charged with corruption. Recently
retired Azeri military officers claim that corrupt practices in the army
are commonplace and the officers were specifically targeted over their
alleged disloyalty to Defense Minister General Safar Abiyev. An
anonymous officer serving in the area indirectly confirmed this, saying
that military investigators were extorting larger bribes than in the
past.
The prosecuted officers are also linked to a senior army General Rovshan
Akperov, who is reportedly Abiyev’s main rival within the ministry. Two
senior generals close to Akperov were dismissed last year and have since
been appointed as defense attaches in Central Asia. (Sources: Armenia
This Week 4-9-04, 1-10; Zerkalo 1-13, 15; Mediamax 1-17)
A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress