Karabakh: Necessary to Determine What Is More Important - Independence or Formation of State

The information that reaches Armenia from Javakhk is in a way distorted. The reason is clear, the information comes either from Georgia or from relatives living in Akhalkalaki. The situation there is really complicated and tensed. The problem can be divided into several parts. The first is the socio-economic tension. The region is the poorest in Georgia. It was such in the soviet period as well but at that time it received grants. Georgia is not a state that can subsidy retarded regions. As a matter of fact, the troubles of Javakhk are common for whole Georgia. All what is earned there is seized for the state budget. Second, it's the language policy pursued by the Georgian authorities. A man who doesn't know Georgian cannot find a normal job. The problem always existed but now it has become more pressing. There are no Armenian institutes of higher education there, consequently there is little chance for bringing up intelligentsia. There is only a branch of the Tbilisi University in Akhalkalaki where ethnic Georgia who failed exams in Tbilisi go. I ashould also mention that the Armenian population thinks that the Georgian authorities attempt to change the demographic situation in the region.

Let's just fancy that this happens not accidentally. A remiss official orders to open an orphanage in Javakhk. The population rates this as an attempt to change the demographic situation. The deployment of the Georgian armed forces at the border is rated the same way. They say "peaceful Armenians and armed Georgians. Even if all this happens accidentally the population perceives it as pressure from official Tbilisi. I think the authorities should be cautious with the issue.

I am not apt to consider that conflicts can be settled via normalization of economic cooperation. Nothing can be settled by money only. This doesn't mean that economy should not be taken into account. If funds flow to the conflict region the sides may spend them on weapons. This way has no prospects.

As regards the Nagorno Karabakh problem the society should be interested in other issues as well. In other words, people should decide what is more important: the Bucharest talks or restoration of Shushi. Certainly, the restoration of Shushi is. I would add that juridical settlement of conflicts is counterproductive. Let us take Taiwan for example. They do not shout or press for recognition. They do not demand independence but live and form their state. We should determine what is more important: independence or state building. In my opinion, state building is more important, since it includes political mechanisms, formation of institutes of a civic society, democracy building and many other aspects.

The meetings of the parties to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict at the level of FMs and Presidents are essential. We should demonstrate some conduct. This is the demand of the international community and Armenia and a part of it. It's very important to keep in contacts with the opposite side. The communication channel must not be lost. As for the meeting of the Foreign Ministers, it's clear. There are no diplomatic relations established between Armenia and Azerbaijan

The Azeri media are very embittered against Armenia. They are experiencing a hard age and it would be strange if it weren't so. Remember Armenia after the Sumgait events in 1988. Could our press print anything positive about Azeris. Of course, it could not. Any mood of the society is used by politicians. Those who prepare for was do not behave such a way. All what is published in Baku is published for maintenance of the ruling regime and sharing of the incomes. People of Azerbaijan live in poverty. 3-4 million live in Baku, the rest of the territory is almost not inhabited. The leadership needs an instrument for the consolidation of the nation. What can be better than the image of the enemy.

Since 1990-ies I have reiterated that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is a mere political project with no economic dividends. Now, when it's built and put into operation, it has become an economic project. In the worldwide scope it will yield no effect but Azerbaijan will derive benefit from it.

By the way, all the oil states except Norway are similar: I have a pipe and you should share the income. To keep the "guards" of the pipe becomes the main task. Such states have many internal enemies. As for the BTC future, it can seriously change is Kazakhstan doesn't join it