Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit - BRUSSELS / SOUTH CAUCASUS Danger of war in South Caucasus increased [printable version]
BRUSSELS / SOUTH CAUCASUS Danger of war in South Caucasus increased
The smouldering conflicts in Nagorny Karabach, Abchasia and South Ossetia are threatening to destabilize the whole region in South Caucasus if solutions on basis of international law are not immediately found. Participants from Armenia, Aserbaidzhan and Georgia agreed about that and put an emphasis upon it at a three-day seminar of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom from 23 to 25 June in Brussels.
After the round of conversations with Michael Emerson, Sabine Freizer (third from the left) and Peter Semneby (fourth from the left)
The smouldering conflicts in Nagorny Karabach, Abchasia and South Ossetia are threatening to destabilize the whole region in South Caucasus if solutions on basis of international law are not immediately found. Participants from Armenia, Aserbaidzhan and Georgia agreed about that and put an emphasis upon it at a three-day seminar of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom from 23 to 25 June in Brussels. Massive armament in the area and more intensive war rhetoric is causing serious worries. The situation is further sharpened by Russia's attempts to regard current developments in Kosovo as a precedent for the organization of its own politics towards the territory of Abchasia, which is not internationally recognized. Opposition representatives in the three countries of South Caucasus reproach with their governments instrumentalization of their power politics, which would establish lacking progress at the development of democracy and a state of law. In election year 2008 the authoritarian powers are in advance so far.
A critical attitude of international organizations towards South Caucasian governments was demanded by the participants in a round of conversations with the special EU deputy for South Caucasus, Peter Semneby. First of all, a brief and adequate reaction is necessary because of the obvious election counterfeiting and it should be announced in one of the understandable languages for South Caucasus' peoples. Representatives of international organizations often wouldn't concentrate upon really important questions while judging the elections. So it is being worked intensively for example on election law making which is only of limited use because there are no institutions which could really put these laws into action.
Vote counting received too little attraction. A representative report of international election observers, which describes adequately the situation is often presented months after the elections.
Participants from all three countries agreeingly judged that development of the security situation depends at a great extend from progress of democracy and state of law.
Peace could be ensured only if democratic measures manage to bring the interest of the major part of the population and economical development into effect.
Peter Semneby referred to the necessity of constant improvement of the European politics‘ instruments and informed about the previous results of the European neighbourhood politics.
Further development of political culture is of highest importance at the moment, as well as strengthening of the state of law and democratic institutions.
At the discussion took part also Michael Emerson, Associate Senior Research Fellow of the Centre for European Policy Studies, and Sabine Freizer, European Programme Director of the International Crisis Group.
At further meetings the participants had the opportunity to get into conversation with NATO and EU representatives, as well as with representatives of ELDR and the ALDE-group in the European Parliament. The strategic importance of South Caucasus as a turntable between Europe and Asia was emphasized in a discussion with Dr. Jorgo Chatzimarkakis from the ALDE-group. It was agreeingly emphasized that democratic reforms could succeed only if stable state institutions are created in the three countries.
The participants agreed at several work group sessions that they should elaborate together statements to the issues „election observation“, „human, citizen and property rights“, „conflict management“ and „arms drive“. General Secretary of the ELDR Federica Sabbati encouraged the Aserbaidzhanian and Georgian to participate at the next ELDR- congress in Stockholm with a proposal for resolution.
