DATE=2/2/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=ARMENIA REACHES OUT
NUMBER=5-45369
BYLINE=ED WARNER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: At the global economic summit in Davos [which
ended 2/1], the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
met and agreed compromise is possible on Nagorno-
Karabakh, the Armenian-populated enclave within
Azerbaijan. Lacking natural resources, land-locked
Armenia would benefit from peace and stability in the
Caucasus. If its borders are opened, it could also
serve as a key trade route for many countries. V-O-A's
Ed Warner in Washington reports some possibilities
ahead for Armenia.
TEXT: Pressure is coming from many quarters. Russian
Acting President Vladimir Putin and U-S Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright have urged Armenia and
Azerbaijan to settle their longstanding dispute over
the Nagorno Karabakh enclave. European countries have
made the same plea.
As a result, some analysts say a compromise is in the
works. Among them is George Bournoutian [boor-noo-tee-
`ahn], professor of Armenian history at Iona College
in New York State. He says Armenians are ready to find
a solution.
With that, new vistas would open up for the small
Christian country squeezed between two hostile Muslim
nations, Turkey and Azerbaijan. In support of
Azerbaijan, Turkey closed its border with Armenia,
stifling trade:
/// FIRST BOURNOUTIAN ACT ///
If the Karabakh problem is settled, Armenia's
main trade partner could become Turkey. The
Turkish government and Turkish businessmen have
expressed a great desire to do trade with
Armenia. Armenia is the corridor between east
and west, and Armenia could serve as a corridor
again for goods coming to Turkey from all the
Central Asian republics.
/// END ACT ///
Professor Bournoutian says Turkish officials have been
visiting Armenia and intimating they might be willing
to discuss the long suppressed Turkish role in the
deportation and slaughter of Armenians during the
First World War. That would be an important step
toward reconciliation.
Paul Henze [`hen-zee], a longtime analyst of the
Caucasus, is skeptical of Armenians making peace with
Azerbaijan:
/// FIRST HENZE ACT ///
Usually, when a particular Armenian group moves
in that direction, another group takes advantage
of the situation and moves against them. The
longstanding President Ter-Petrossian recognized
the necessity of eventually working out a
relationship with Turkey and establishing peace
with Azerbaijan. But Ter-Petrossian was ousted
by people who were opposed to this kind of
settlement.
/// END ACT ///
Nobody knows for sure, but some analysts say Nagorno-
Karabakh could have been a factor in the shooting of
eight top government officials in the Armenian
Parliament in October. So far, the motive of the
gunmen has not been revealed.
Mr. Henze also says the large, powerful Armenian
diaspora, especially in the United States, is likely
to oppose any compromise on Nagorno-Karabakh:
/// SECOND HENZE ACT ///
The Armenian diaspora here has been much more
extreme in general than the Armenians in
Armenia. It does not cost the diaspora anything.
They are not suffering. The people in Armenia
are suffering continually. But this is the way
diaspora politics often work, particularly in
the U-S Congress.
/// END ACT ///
But the diaspora will not exercise a veto over
Nagorno-Karabakh, says Professor Bournoutian. He
believes Armenians have acquired a new realism:
/// SECOND BOURNOUTIAN ACT ///
Armenia for the first time in its history has
not put all its hopes in one country. They are
trying to spread themselves and make different
agreements with different countries. I think
Armenia is keeping its options open with
Azerbaijan and Turkey and Russia and the United
States.
/// END ACT ///
Professor Bournoutian says Armenia has traditional
close relations with Moscow, which supplies arms and
other help. Russian troops are also stationed in
Armenia. How Russia would respond to Armenia's opening
to Turkey depends on the war in Chechnya and the
leadership in Moscow.
Armenia would benefit from knowing more of its own
past, says Paryur Hayrikyan, director of the Armenian
human rights commission who is currently visiting the
United States. He urges opening the K-G-B files of the
Soviet era so the full extent of communist activities
will be exposed as well as any lingering influence
today.
Imprisoned for several years under the communists, Mr.
Hayrikyan says improving human rights is the best way
to assure peace and stability in the Caucasus.
(Signed)
NEB/ew/gm
02-Feb-2000 13:07 PM EDT (02-Feb-2000 1807 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
