Category: Azerbaijan

Turkish-Armenian Talks Not In Deadlock, Says U.S. Envoy

U.S. — Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza, 12Aug2008

28.05.2009

Emil Danielyan

Armenia’s rapprochement with Turkey has not reached an impasse despite Ankara’s renewed linkage between the normalization of bilateral relations and a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza also dismissed mounting domestic criticism of President Serzh Sarkisian’s conciliatory line on Turkey.

In an interview with RFE/RL, Bryza insisted that recent statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip do not preclude the implementation of a U.S.-backed “roadmap” to improving Turkish-Armenian relations that was announced by the two governments in late April. “Stay tuned, keep watching for additional statements by top officials in both Turkey and Armenia which hopefully will show the implementation is moving forward,” he told RFE/RL.

But Bryza acknowledged that there is at least some connection between Karabakh peace and the success of the Turkish-Armenian dialogue. “As we make progress, let’s say, on Nagorno-Karabakh, it’s easier to make progress on Turkey-Armenia,” he said. “As we make progress on Turkey-Armenia, it’s easier to make progress on Nagorno-Karabakh.

“It’s not that there are preconditions. There are no preconditions. There are commitments by the countries to do one or another set of issues.”

The Armenian leadership maintains that it has been discussing with Ankara only an unconditional normalization of relations and that the agreed roadmap makes no references to the unresolved Karabakh conflict. Erdogan has repeatedly stated, however, that Turkey will not establish diplomatic relations and open its border with Armenia unless the latter makes peace with Azerbaijan.

Neither side has publicized the “roadmap” yet. Bryza also declined to divulge its details. “I hope that it will be publicized soon,” he said.

The Turkish-Armenian deal was announced on the eve of the April 24 annual commemoration of more than one million Armenians massacred in the Ottoman Empire during World War One. Many in Armenia and its worldwide Diaspora believe the timing helped for U.S. President Barack Obama backtrack on his pledges to recognize the mass killings as genocide. Sarkisian’s critics also say the year-long rapprochement has earned Armenia no tangible benefits.

“Those people don’t understand what’s happening,” countered Bryza. “That is a mischaracterization of reality.”

“Armenia has neither won nor lost anything, Turkey has neither won nor lost anything, because the Turkey-Armenia agreement has not been implemented yet,” he said. “The sides are in the process of implementing the roadmap. Only then will there be benefits.”

“It’s time for the process to move forward,” he added. “I strongly agree with those critics who say the agreement needs to be implemented.”

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/1741892.html

May 28, 2009
Independence of Azerbaijan People’s Republic

[ 28 May 2009 00:12 ]
Baku – APA. 91 years have passed since the first democratic was established in the East, APA reports.

Azerbaijan People’s Republic was declared on May 28, 1918 in Tbilisi by the Azerbaijan National Council headed by Mahammad Amin Rasulzadeh. The Declaration of Independence adopted by the National Council of Azerbaijan said:

1. Azerbaijani People have a power and Azerbaijan located in the South-Eastern Caucasus is fully legitimate independent country from today;

2. Form of government in independent Azerbaijan is People’s Republic;

3. Azerbaijan People’s Republic intends to establish friendly relations with other nations particularly with neighboring nations and states;

4. Azerbaijan People’s Republic gives equal political and civil rights to its citizens without distinction as to their national identities, faiths, classes and races.

5. Azerbaijan People’s Republic creates wide opportunities for the free development of all nations living in its territory.

6. The National Council elected by the people and the Temporary Government, which is responsible before the National Council, will lead Azerbaijan until the Assembly of Founders is established.

As Rasulzadeh was holding negotiations on Azerbaijan’s independence with the Ottoman Empire in Batumi, deputy chairman of Azerbaijan National Council Hasan bey Agayev chaired the meeting, where the Declaration of Independence was announced. Mustafa Mahmudov was secretary at the meeting. Fatali khan Khoyski, Khalil bey Khasmammadov, Nasib bey Yusifbeyli, Mirhidayet Seyidov, Heybetgulu Mammadbeyov, Nariman bey Narimanbeyli (not Bolshevik Nariman Narimanov – editor), Mehdi bey Hajinski, Alasgar bey Mahmudbeyov, Aslan bey GArdashov, Sultanmajid Ganizadeh, Akbar aga Sheikhulislamov, Mehdi bey Hajibabbabeyov, Mammad Yusif Jafarov, Khudadat bey Melik-Aslanov, Rahim bey Vekilov, Hamid bey Shahtakhtinski, Firudin bey Kocharli, Jemo bey Hajinski, Shefi bey Rustambayov, Khosrov Pasha bey Sultanov, Jefer Akhundov, Mahammad Maharramov, Javad Melik-Yeganov and Haji Molla Salim Akhundzadeh attended the meeting.

Azerbaijan’s territory was 99908.86 sq m when Azerbaijan People’s Republic was announced. 13983.1 sq m area was accepted as a disputable area, it was planned to solve it during the negotiations with Armenia.

The first temporary government of Azerbaijan People’s Republic under the leadership of Fatali khan Khoyski was confirmed at that meeting of Azerbaijan National Council. The composition of the first government was as follows:

Fatali khan Khoyski – chairman of the Council of Ministers and Interior Minister
Khosrov Pasha bey Sultanov – Defense Minister
Mammadhasan Hajinski – Foreign Ministers
Nasib bey Yusifbeyli – Minister of Finance and Enlightenment
Khalil bey Khasmammadov – Justice Minister
Mammad Yusif Jafarov – Minister of Trade and Industry
Akbar aga Sheikhulislamov – Minister of Agriculture and Labor
Khudadat bey Melik-Aslanov – Minister of Roads and Post-Telegraph
Jamo bey Hajinski – State inspector

Azerbaijani government was temporarily based in Gandja, as Baku was under Bolshevik-Dashnak control headed by Stepan Shaumyan.

On September 15, 1918 after the heavy battles Azerbaijani National Army and Caucasian Islamic Army led by Nuru Pasha liberated Baku from Bolshevik, dashnak and English military units and independent Azerbaijani Government moved to Baku.

Azerbaijani Parliament was solemnly inaugurated in Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev’s school for girls (now the building of Manuscripts Institute named after Fuzuli) at 13.00 on December 7, 1918. Chairman of Azerbaijan National Council Rasulzadeh made a speech of congratulation.

On the initiative of Musavat faction, Alimardan bey Topchubashov was elected chairman of the parliament, Hasan bey Agayev first deputy chairman of the parliament. Topchubashov was attending the Paris Peace Conference, therefore Hasan bey agayev chaired the parliament. At the first meeting of the parliament Fatali khan Khoyski’s government resigned and decision was made to form a new government. Fatali khan Khoyski led the government again.

155 meetings of the parliament were held during the period of Azerbaijan People’s Republic. Of ten were held during the period of Azerbaijan National Council (May 27 – November 19, 1918), but 145 were held during the period of Azerbaijani Parliament (December 7, 1918 – April 27, 1920).

More than 270 draft laws were discussed at the Parliament and about 230 of them were ratified. MPs from 11 factions and groups participated in the development, discussion and ratification of the parliamentary laws. There were 11 commissions at the Parliament of Azerbaijan People’s Republic.

Azerbaijan People’s Republic gained considerable achievements in its short life. The Republic, which provided women with electoral rights for the first time and restored man-woman equality, did great works in national army building, national currency, establishment of National Bank, democratization, free elections, international relations, official recognition of Azerbaijan’s independence by the international community, economic reforms and other fields.

Unfortunately, Azerbaijan People’s Republic existed only for 23 months and overthrown by Bolsheviks on April 28, 1920.

Independence of Azerbaijan People’s Republic was first officially recognized by Ottoman Empire on June 4, 1918.

May 28, 2009
Turkey’s ambassador to Azerbaijan reacts to the reports about closing of Turkish mosques

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva –APA. “The Turkish mosques in Azerbaijan were not closed”, said Turkey’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic, APA reports.

Kilic said the embassy’s counselor for religious affairs also denied the reports about the closing of Turkish mosques in Azerbaijan. “The people are going to these mosques for Friday Namaz”, said the ambassador. “The mosques are open. Unfortunately there are such reports, which sadden us. Unfortunately some newspapers also publish such wrong reports”.

The ambassador said the Turkish mosques were opened in Azerbaijan 15 years ago. “If these mosques are open for 15 years and the people were going there to pray, it means that it is the people’s will to open these mosques”.

Source: en.apa.az, 23 May 200

May 24, 2009
Cooperation and Confrontation between the USA and Russia in Caspian Region

New monopolar world system had created new interests which depend on big powers in Caspian region after the collapse of Soviet Union. This situation shared a chaos on governmental system in this area. Big powers created a competition with Caspian Sea status and energy subjects to use their interests. Dominant power of the USA and Russia shared some conflict and cooperation circumstances as interdependent body in their relations. Particularly common threat position establishes cooperational theme. Caspian region which is second big energy sphere is a bridge between Europea and Asia, also it is a main point of the world domination conditions.

Subjects of Confrontation and Hegemony Tools

Big powers need conflict, cooperation and hard-soft balance tools as political subjects to increase their activity in the region. The USA and Russia have enough advantages according to their situation. But confrontation of powers can be transformed to common interest activities so to analyse foreign politics of states can provide to know near future. Today anxieties of the USA’s foreign affairs to Russia are existing as these subjects:

– Monopoly situation of Russia in energy area,

– Against position of Russia to NATO enlargement,

– Russian force to Georgia,

– Possibility of same circumstances to post-Soviet states by Russia,

– Against position to Western initiatives about Iranian nuclear system.

         The USA used soft balance politics to Saudi Arabia and forced in Iraq to control Middle East which is first big oil sphere in the world. The USA supported first energy sharing agreement BTC in 1994 and for saving energy corridor it founded GUAM to be against CIS organisation about the subject of influence to Central Asia. The USA which a country had acted firstly in energy line plans to establish new cooperations to be dominant power in the region. American supported regional organisation GUAM targets new cooperations with West and to solve regional conflicts with Europen initiated projects. Also GUAM organised first military operations which Russia didn’t join. But Russia created a dilemma over the European energy corridor target of this organisation. Russia works to establish alternative energy lines and coordinate near abroad countries to common aims.

         Russia had an advantage to pressure over the post-Soviet states with energy event. Middle Asian countries which have big energy resources provide energy transportation via Russian territory. External projects are American supported issues. Shortly there is a competition that energy is used as a weapon.

         The USA interfered Afghanistan after the 11 September terrorist attack by this way the super power took a strategic point in Middle Asia. The USA shared a dangerous position for Russia because of the USA founded military points in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzistan after the Afghanistan intervene. So Russia organised Shangai Cooperation Organisation to build an alternative body against the USA with other regional states. It shares a bandwagoning system for this region which had been established by Russia as a main actor.[1] By this way Russia that is a main state of CIS shared strong resist against the USA with its initiatives.

         Bilateral agreements in NATO circle with the USA of Caspian states formed a dependent system to West. In this subject Georgia had been a pro-American arena in this region.[2] On the other hand Azerbaijani and American relations increased after annuling 907. article in the USA that has supporting event to South Caucasus states without Azerbaijan. Russia and Iran speeched as against the USA after opened airspace of Azerbaijan to the USA. Additionally security of BTC is important to the USA. New American forces in Romania and Bulgaria can intervene Caucasus area if there is a problem in Baku Ceyhan pipeline. Also American soldiers in Georgia can be used in emergency circumstances.[3]



         Russia said possible intervenes of Collective Security Cooperation of Shangai Cooperation Organisation to NATO’s activities in this region as against the military activation of NATO. Other advantages of Russia are conflict events as without regional cooperations against NATO. Fergana, Osetia, Abkhazia and Karabakh issues give chances to Russian invasion on the region. Because solutions can be producted by Russian mediator situation. Otherwise western initiated organisation GUAM targets that solutions can be existed without Russia. Nobody can guarantee that Russia will not save its interests about regional conflicts in Ukraine-Crimea, Moldova-Transdiester, Azerbaijan-Karabakh as additionally Georgian conflicts. For this moment Russian conflict politics focused on Georgia in South Caucasus area. Abkhazia and Osetia problems are punishments to Georgia by Russia because of Georgian new Western oriented politics.



         Bandwagoning countries rejected American activities after 2004. These countries supported Russian decisions against to the USA after this date. European Union continued its enlargement politics in Caspian as paralel to American issues. Caspian states easily can depend on West with some projects like Nabucco. Specially European Union projects TACIS, INOGATE[4] and TRACECA[5] can create influence over the regional countries like other cooperational acts. New resist of Caspian states’ outlook shares itself as internal cooperation and contr-politics of Russia. Also America can take an advantage in Caspian status problem against to Russia.



            Obligatory Cooperations in the Region

         There is no possible way to fight new movements’ expansion in the region of Russia which is a problem of American foreign affairs. Struggle to terrorism that is in directly Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan is a main aim of the USA political issue in Middle Asia. There is a Russian anxiety about results of possible conflict between the USA and Iran. Additionally Russia doesn’t want cooperations of these countries[6];

– Iran can buy weapons and nuclear technology from the USA,

– The USA can approve oil and gas transportation via Iran as alternative to Russia in Caspian sphere,

– The USA won’t need Russian support in struggle against Iran issue.



         The USA is a main power about struggle to terrorist movements in this region. Also Russia trusts this power in this subject and main result of that is American military foundation by permission of Russia. There is a new progress to decrease American influence in Manas military point’s closing process. But it can be a start line of enlargement terrorist activations which is Russia’s afraid. There is a different situation in East Europea initiative of the USA about military approach. It shares an interdependent relation among great powers. President Bush again gave his assurance that the proposed American missile shield was not aimed at Russia. NATO summit in Bucharest, Russia scored a partial victory on the question of expanding the alliance. NATO did not invite Ukraine and Georgia, both former Soviet states, onto its Membership Action Plan.[7]

         At the present time in which cold war rivalry is waking up, Caspian region is becoming a field of conflict at the same time a collaboration in view of energy resources and military cooperation to activate grand forces’ sovereignty. Cooperation needs occured by common benefits cause means used to reduce another one’s activity. In this backgroung that power balances are occured outside the states of Middle Asia, bandwagoning countries which got free of being unrelated to others may cause new situations. Of course all the same, political declinations, which work directed by Mackinder’s Heartland Theory, have the ability to form new balances in this region. Athority of the region countries which have rich resources will indicate that the world will being run by how many poles.

[1] Walt, Stephen M. (1987). The Origins of Alliances. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press

[2] Klare Michael T., “Transforming the American Military into a Global Oil-Protection Service”

[3] Purtaş Fırat, TÜRKSAM, “Hazar Bölgesinde Rekabetin Yeni Boyutu: Silahlanma Yarışı”

[4] There are at present 21 countries which have acceded to this agreement with the EU (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Kyrgisztan, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and the Republic of Serbia).Thus, all of them have agreed to cooperate towards the establishment of one or several systems of oil and gas pipelines which pass through their territories, while observing the jointly accepted rules embodied in the agreement.

[5] Saraç Naciye, AZSAM “Tarihi İpek Yolu Yeniden Hayata Döndürülüyor”

[6] Prof. Dr. Mark Katz, “The Role of Iran and Afghanistan in US-Russian Relations”

[7] “Bush and Putin’s bittersweet farewell”, 06.04.2008

Mehmet Fatih OZTARSU

Baku Qafqaz University

International Relations

May 23, 2009
Turkey ‘May Yet Mend Ties With Armenia’

Armenia — Presidents Serzh Sarkisian of Armenia (R) and Stjepan Mesic of Croatia hold a news conference in Yerevan on May 22, 2009.

22.05.2009

Hovannes Shoghikian

President Serzh Sarkisian insisted on Friday that Turkey may still agree to unconditionally normalize relations with Armenia soon despite its leaders’ renewed linkage between Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Sarkisian dismissed as too “pessimistic” his critics’ belief that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent public pronouncements on the issue preclude the success of the year-long dialogue between the two neighboring nations.

“Solutions to difficult problems require one to make great efforts and follow a difficult path,” he said. “And as we follow that difficult path, it is obvious that both in Armenia and Turkey and other countries, there will be optimists and pessimists, who, lacking full information, may emotionally express their joy or discontent, optimism or pessimism. So just as I wasn’t very buoyed by optimists’ statements at the beginning [of the dialogue,] I am now not that disaffected or disappointed with pessimists’ statements.”

“I believe that Turkey still retains its great chance to show the international community and citizens of Armenia that it is a modern country, that it is guided by modern standards, principles of international law. And so in my view, it is still too early to draw conclusions,” added Sarkisian.

Erdogan has stated on numerous occasions in recent weeks that Turkey will not establish diplomatic relations and reopen the border with Armenia as long as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unresolved. His statements have been endorsed by Turkey’s powerful military.

“[Armenian] occupation of Karabakh is the cause here and closing of the border is the effect. It is impossible for us to open the border unless that occupation ends,” the Turkish premier said during an official visit to Azerbaijan last week.

Neither Sarkisian, nor other Armenian leaders have so far commented on the implications of Erdogan’s stance for the implementation of a U.S.-brokered “roadmap” to the normalization to Turkish-Armenian relations. The document has still not been publicized by Ankara and Yerevan.

The Armenian president is facing growing domestic criticism over his conciliatory policy toward Turkey. Opposition leaders say he has helped the Turks scuttle an official U.S. recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide while failing to secure the lifting of Turkey’s 16-year economic blockade of Armenia.

Armenia — Presidents Serzh Sarkisian of Armenia (L) and Stjepan Mesic of Croatia meet in Yerevan on May 22, 2009.

Sarkisian was speaking on Friday at a joint news conference with Croatia’s visiting President Stjepan Mesic. His office said the two leaders agreed on the need for the establishment of “normal relations between states without preconditions.”

Mesic, whose country went through a bloody war following the break-up of Yugoslavia, expressed hope that Armenia will eventually make peace with both Turkey and Azerbaijan. “It’s better to negotiate for ten years than to fight for ten days,” he told journalists.

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/1737419.html

May 22, 2009
Armenian-Azerbaijani Public Peace Forum

Baku. Viktoria Dementieva – APA. The 4th Armenian-Azerbaijani Public Peace Forum organized by International Alert will take place in Moscow on July 21-24. International Alert told APA about it. The settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ways to establish mutual confidence between the two nations will be discussed at the forum. Representatives of Azerbaijani and Armenian nongovernmental organizations, experts of various countries will attend the forum. The exact number of the participants will be known later.

International Alert had before held forums in Istanbul, Brussels and Vienna.

May 21, 2009