SOUTH-CAUCASUS INSTITUTE OF REGIONAL SECURITY
ACTIVITY REPORT This book was published with the financial assistance of the Freidrich Ebert Stiftung and the Interchurch Peace Council IKV.
Present edition is an annual report which gives the whole information about the activities carried out by the South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security for 2004. This book includes materials from conferences, round tables, meetings and also some documents elaborated by the South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security.
For more detailed information on SCIRS and its activities and publications, please visit the following website: www.scirs.org
People working on the edition:
Alexander Russetsky Mamuka Gachechiladze Olga Dorokhina Helene Thibault Siegfried Woeber Narine Berikashvili Tamuna Kikava Tsiala Kotuashvili Megy Saralidze
Design: Alyona Eltisheva
Photos: from SCIRS and HCA GNC archives and personal archives of Siegfried Woeber, Petr Hlebowicz, Igor Studennikov
South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security 31, Tsinamdzgvrishvili Str., Tbilisi, 0102, Georgia Tel./Fax (995 32) 961514/969905 E-mail: [email protected] www.scirs.org Content
About us ...... 6
Prevention and resolution of conflicts ...... 10
General approaches to conflict settlements and the community of experts ...... 10
Document • Basic principles for an effective transformation of the peace-building process for the regulation of the Abkhazian and South-Ossetian conflicts. “Project 7D” ...... 12
Abkhazian conflict ...... 16
Document • Democracy for all. The information about the Project on the concept for the settlement of the Abkhazian conflict ...... 18
Georgian-Ossetian conflict ...... 20
Documents • Kazbegi Declaration ...... 25
• The Project of the structure of “Evaluative document of the political conflict on the territory of the former Soviet South-Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast)” ...... 29
Development of a peace-making movement in the Caucasus ...... 31
Documents • Package of Recommendations For International Conference “The Role of Civil Society in the Prevention of Armed Conflict”...... 34
• The Role of an NGO in conflict prevention and resolution ...... 38
International relations ...... 59 European integration ...... 59 3 Content
Documents • Materials of the International conference “European Union: a priority of foreign policy of the South Caucasus countries” ...... 61
• Some materials of discussions of the working meetings in Baku ...... 61
• Some materials of discussions of the working meetings in Yerevan ...... 70
• Some speeches presented at the international conference ...... 79
• Salome Zourabishvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia ...... 79
• Tamar Beruchashvili, State Minister of Georgia on European Integration ...... 82
• Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan ...... 85
• Vytautas Landsbergis, Member of the European Parliament, Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, Vice Chairman ...... 90
• Torben Holtze, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Georgia and Armenia...... 93
• David Shahnazaryan, Head of the Center for Political and Legal Studies, Armenia ...... 98
• Oksana Antonenko, International Institute for Strategic Studies - Senior Fellow Programme Director (Russia and Eurasia)...... 99
• Iouseb Nanobashvili, Counselor of the Mission of Georgia to the EU...... 104
• David Bakradze, Chairman of the Committee on European integration of the Georgian Parliament ...... 107
• Konstantin Zhgenti, Ambassador to the Republic of Georgia in Austria and Republic of Hungary, expert of SCIRS: “Conference on security and cooperation in the South Caucasus” ...... 112
• Franz Werner, Ret. GenMaj, German Member ISAB for Georgia: The European Security and Defense Policy (ESVP) and the Military and Civilian Capabilities for Crisis Management Operations: “European policy of security and defense – military and civil resources at crisis resolution” ...... 113 4 Activity Report 2004
• Jurgen Schmidt, Political Officer of OSCE Mission to Georgia: “Role of OSCE in the South Caucasus” ...... 116
Bilateral relations ...... 119
Transborder cooperation ...... 127
Human security ...... 131
Document • Report on land mines and explosives ...... 135
New generation of experts ...... 152
About donors and partners ...... 154
5 About us
HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT on the territory of Georgia. In 1989, the first international library, which still exists today, The predecessor of SCIRS was the was created at ANC. The library contains a Association of National Consent (ÀNÑ), unique collection of books and publications. which arose in the heat of a movement for The Association of National Consent issued the independence of Georgia in 1989. ANC an independent newspaper “Resonance”. took part in the first democratic elections in This symbolic appellation merges the words Georgia and joined the pre-election block Reason and ANC (Reason of the “Svoboda” (Freedom), thereby registered as Association of National Consent). Until the first NGO. The Association of National August 1991, 28,000 copies published in Consent gave itself two major objectives – Russian were in circulation in Georgia, as to support the national democratic well as in the whole Caucasus, it was also movement and to prevent the development distributed in Ukraine, in the Baltic States of aggressive nationalism and chauvinism and even in the USA. After the putsch in
6 Activity Report 2004
In 1992, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly National Committee of Georgia (HCA Georgia) was established on the basis of the Association of National Consent of Georgia. This was preceded by a conference held in Moscow in 1991, involving the representatives of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly International Organization and of the ANC. As a result of this meeting and the last international congress carried out on the 26th of March 1992 in Bratislava, ÀNÑ received the status of HCA National Committee of Georgia. Simultaneously, similar structures were founded in Azerbaijan and Armenia.
For 11 years the organization has supported the development of democracy and the building of the civil society in Georgia, the integration of public institutions in international structures and has ensured stability and civil security in the South Caucasus region. HCA First page of the newspaper “Resonance” Georgia maintained peaceful civil initiatives, encouraged self-organizing and self- management of civil groups by organizing August in Moscow, the publication of the trainings, seminars, conferences, issuing and Russian version was stopped and the distributing publications. newspaper became commercial. It is now only issued in Georgian. The program “Transcaucasian Dialogue”, initiated by the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly It must be noted that ANC has opened the in 1992 with the support of TACIS, can be way to many subsequently well-known and portrayed as a unique initiative in the history active non-governmental organizations, of the peace-building movement in the which were created initially as part of the South Caucasus. Measures devoted to the given movement and transformed development of regional cooperation in the afterwards into separate independent South Caucasus were regularly carried out. NGOs. In the early Nineties, the ANC established the United Nations Associations In 1999-2000, the organization of a series of round tables permitted to design new in Georgia, which is still very active today. 7 About us
ways to further regional development and to SCIRS MISSION discuss topics of common interests. These actions permitted to concentrate public attention on the Council of Europe regarding the establishment of a South- Caucasus Parliamentary Assembly and the development of multilateral regional cooperation.
During the South Caucasus round table: “From Dialogue to Strategic Alliance”, held SCIRS – is a non-governmental, non-profit in December, 2000, Mrs. Gulshan organization, consolidating experts, Pashaeva, director of the Azerbaijan Center analysts, public figures and journalists for Conflict Research, expressed her idea working on problems of security and conflict about the creation of a “think tank” - management in scientific, state, public research group of experts in the region – organizations and mass-media. analysts and consultants for the formulation SCIRS devotes its efforts to the of essential principles for the doctrine of development of peace and security in regional security in the South Caucasus. Georgia, the South Caucasus, surrounding This idea was further developed during geopolitical regions, as well as in other another conference held in Istanbul the year conflict zones of the world. after. The event was organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung together with other SCIRS represents itself as an institute of German funds and was supported by the public policy encouraging the creation and Ambassador on special missions of the development of “think tanks” carrying out Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Georgia by Mr. interdisciplinary researches. Konstantin Zhgenti. It resulted into the development of the project of the South Within the framework of the institute, SCIRS Caucasus Institute for Regional Security experts are engaged in scientific and (SCIRS). For the first time the project was educational activities, develop techniques presented in Berlin at the conference “New and recommendations for the prevention Caucasian Initiative”, also organized by the and resolution of conflicts, support the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in November 2002. implementation of results of the work and control the process of promoting the recommendations or concepts at the state and international levels.
8 Activity Report 2004
PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL The partnership network of SCIRS consists MOVEMENTS AND NETWORKS of experts, volunteers, students and post- In Georgia, SCIRS executes the function of graduate students who use the SCIRS data a “think thank” for the Helsinki Citizens’ base and devote their efforts to the practical Assembly National Committee of Georgia embedment of SCIRS scientific (HCA Georgia). SCIRS is a collective developments. member of the international peace-building movement of the Helsinki Citizens’ SCIRS main activity is carried out in the following three strategic directions: Assembly. Prevention and resolution of conflicts; SCIRS is member of: Development of international relations; the Geneva conference working group Human security. on resolution of conflicts on issues of refugees, internally displaced persons, SCIRS supports the improvement of other forms of migrants and people professional skills of the partnership involuntary returning back to the network’s activists by carrying out special countries of CIS and to the educational programs. corresponding neighbouring countries; the Caucasian network of NGOs, To fulfill its mission SCIRS conducts its working on questions of refugees, activities along three dimensions: internally displaced persons and other categories of CRINGO migrants; Information-analytical - oriented on the network of IKV partner organizations. collecting, processing and analyzing information to formulate recommendations for the resolution of SCIRS AND ITS PARTNER NETWORK AT social, economic, political and other A NATIONAL LEVEL problems. SCIRS cooperates with partnership Educational – holding training of networks of non-governmental professionals and experts in the fields of: organizations working in adjacent areas and Public policy - rendition of public actively participates in the execution of the discussion about recommendations programs of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly developed by SCIRS on various issues, - National Committee of Georgia. dealt with by SCIRS and its partner organizations, as well as on the The partnership network of NGOs and protection and advancement of these SCIRS has a common information space issues. This involves the development of disposing information interchange, planning contacts with decision-makers working of collection and processing of information. on significant social issues.
9 Prevention and resolution of conflicts General approaches to conflict settlements and the community of experts
The main motivation for the establishment communication between analysts, of the South-Caucasus Institute of Regional representatives of the state structures and Security was the motivation to use the other decision-makers. Unfortunately, today intellectual resources of the region to it is possible to constitute that there are no analyze current problems and prevent the needs for intellectual resources formulated emergence of new ones in the future. and official bodies are reluctant to use Events that occurred in the region in 2004 intellectual production. testify the critical status of the negotiation The intellectual environment is processes on the settlement of conflicts in characterized by conformism, nihilism, the region. It results from the fact that nationalism and ethnocentrism and in neither scientific evaluations nor diagnosis general, scientists do not express enough of any conflict have been done during the social responsibility. These and other 12 past years. There is almost no questions were raised by the executive
Tsakhkadzor: participants of the conference “ The South Caucasus: Resolution of Conflicts in the Trends of the European Integration” 10 Activity Report 2004 director of SCIRS, Mr. Alexander Russetsky, Shugarov, Vakhtang Kolbaia and Alexander during the seminar “Experts’ Community in Russetsky - were invited on behalf of the the Political Process”, organized in April Institute to participate in the conference. 2004 with the support of the «Caucasus Research Resource Center» of the Eurasia The prospects and possibilities of conflict Foundation. On the basis of the presented resolution in the South Caucasus in the speech, a new analytical article for the context of the program “Wider Europe, New effective use of regional intellectual Neighbourhood” were discussed during the resources was prepared. conference. Experts of the South-Caucasus Institute of Regional Security emphasized in The conference “ The South Caucasus: their statements the necessity of developing Resolution of Conflicts in the Trends of the “think tanks” at the national level and of European Integration” was carried out with building regional networks. Such an the support of the Friedrich Nauman approach will allow an adequate and realistic Stiftung under the initiative of “Concord” - representation of separate subjects and Center of Political and Legal Studies - in the actors whereas the negligence of their beginning of September 2004 in interests in the actual works makes them Tsakhkadzor (Armenia). Diplomats, experts tendentious and tainted of ethno-nationalism. and journalists from Azerbaijan, Germany, At the moment, conflict resolution efforts are Georgia and Armenia, as well as embassies undertaken at the level of an intellectual elite representatives accredited in Armenia that is not fully interested to solve the participated in the conference. SCIRS conflicts, taking into account the strategic experts – Konstantin Zhgenti, Givi interests of the competitive groups.
Participants of the conference ”The South Caucasus: Resolution of Conflicts in the Trends of the European Integration” – SCIRS experts Givi Shugarov, Alexander Russetsky and representative of International Crisis Group Filip Noubel 11 Document Basic principles for an effective transformation of the peace-building process for the regulation of the Abkhazian and South-Ossetian conflicts
“Project 7D”
Prepared by the South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security (SCIRS) as annex to the Concept for the regulation of the conflicts in Abkhazia and the former Soviet South-Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast)
1. Diagnostics, analysis and general Based on the joint effort of the evaluation of the conflicts analysts, the newly elaborated concepts that outline the interests of The creation of two appropriate conflicting (or independent) sides international groups composed of could lead to the creation of experts and analysts can ensure an documents that have a greater adequate evaluation of the given practical application and form the conflicts and the identification of basis of a real peace-making process. their diagnosis: components as well as the position and interests of 2. De-escalation and dismantling of the conflicting sides. The group of conflicts analysts should include representatives from the pool of For the de-escalation of the conflicts it experts from each side, having a is first of all necessary to meet the direct or indirect relation to the wishes of all sides through concrete conflict. At the same time, nonviolent methods with the the number of participants of the objective to achieve a stable, long- working group should be reasonably term cooperation of stakeholders limited. The group should be made rather than aiming at the opponent’s up by independent, experienced complete defeat. facilitators from countries whose interests are minimal in the given Another condition for the de- 12 conflicts. escalation of the conflicts is their de- Activity Report 2004
internationalization and subsequent Especially the sides should localization. The protagonists on both understand the importance of the sides have to direct their actions on existence of a plenty of mixed detecting common threats and on families, which are also found among establishing a strategic the categories of victims of the partnership. conflict. Their use as a natural «biological instrument» during the The process of internationalization regulation process should be taken the conflicts itself should be replaced more seriously and not be limited to by the process of internationalization some initiatives at the level of civil of the peacemaking resources, which diplomacy. is necessary for raising the efficiency of the peacemaking process as a It is necessary to fully step back from whole. political speculation with the data on the victims of violent confrontation, One of the principles of the de- and it is also important to collect escalation should be to “dismantle” information about the worst cases of the conflicts, which assumes a human rights violations available on partition of the conflicts into its basic both conflicts’ sides as well as to components as well as conducting create a common database about the work on degeneracy (degeneration) victims of each concrete conflict. All of each of them. stakeholders should recognize that the conflicts have created victims on 3. De-ethnisation of the conflict’s both sides, so acknowledgement and perception common grief should exist. The acceptance of this conclusion could Participants of the given conflicts be expressed through symbols. For should admit that the ethnic example, by constructing common component does not represent the memorials and monuments. only component in these conflicts and it is not the equivalent of the political 4. Democratization component. They should furthermore reject the Participants of the given conflicts and idea of constructing ethnocratic the international community should regimes in Abkhazia and on the admit the fact that public organs of territory of the former Soviet South- Abkhazia and South Ossetia represent Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast). typical divided societies. Members of Representatives of all ethno-national divided societies envisage differently groups or subgroups living in the the destiny of their regions. Some territory of the disputed zones should want to separate and others wish to take part in the management of the strengthen relations with Georgia. peacemaking process and the However, the borders of this division decision-making connected to the do not coincide with ethnic borders as future of these former autonomies. it is the case, for example, in Nagorno- Karabakh. 13 Document
The primary objective of the principles of implementing peacemaking process should become peacemaking processes and in the process of reintegrating the particular, negotiation formats. divided societies. For this purpose, all It is necessary to diversify the participants of the conflicts and negotiation formats. Negotiations representatives of the international should not be reduced to one format, community should direct their efforts for example, the “Geneva format” or at launching the negotiating process the “Sochi format”, as it is the case in between representatives of the the Abkhazian conflict. They should divided societies. proceed in all sides of the conflict as Each side in the divided society proposed. Hence, there should be as should realize that it should not make many mediators as the number of sides strategic political decisions without in the conflict, and as many negotiation participation of other side. formats as it will be required for its settlement. In this respect, it is This leads to a concrete political task - necessary to identify new mediators. to build political regimes with a high level of legitimacy in Abkhazia and in the territory of former Soviet 6. Decriminalization South-Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast). In other words, establishing Participants of the conflicts should civil democracies instead of create all conditions for the ethnocratic regimes. maximum decrease of criminality in Donor-organizations should cease the disputed zones, as every criminal their negative approach of unilateral action bearing a profit motivation funding and instead promote the contributes to the formation of an uniform, balanced development of enemy image and is considered to be civil society institutes in all parts of a political act. the societies divided by the conflicts. It is necessary, first of all, to take Special focus should thereby be given measures to suppress the practice of to joint projects assisting trafficking people (both alive and reintegration. dead). Actions of criminal groups, directed at taking hostages should 5. Deformatisation of the negotiation fall in the category of terrorist acts. These kinds of groups should be process eliminated through joint efforts. Participants of the given conflicts Special programs on prohibiting and should admit that the negotiation stopping smuggling should be processes inadequately reflect the developed. This concerns mainly real essence of an opposition. For weapons and narcotics. Measures to example, the sides of the conflict have fight smuggling should not weaken to accept Russia acting as a mediator the already difficult economic in the negotiation process, which is situation of inhabitants in the incompatible with the basic disputed zones. 14 Activity Report 2004
Greater attention should be given to societies (first of all from the preparation of joint police forces representatives of mixed families). which if combined with operative These contingents could pass special actions would allow for joint preparation in various conflict zones planning of strategies and tactics. around the world and become the Active but reasonable integration of future basis for one of the major representatives of mixed families into mechanisms of a general (supra- this process should be welcomed. ethnic) security system. • Furthermore the creation and 7. Demilitarization preparation of a special joint division on humanitarian mine clearing • The participants of the conflicts should be considered, in order to should significantly limit the policy of prevent human casualties (local militarization. Under non-fulfillment population and the international of this condition the peacemaking community) as a result of mine process would not be effective, since it explosions. indicates a lack of trust at its basis. • It is crucially important to establish in • It should be accepted that there are the future mechanisms prohibiting more contemporary, alternative the deployment of, even for technologies for conflict regulation, peacemaking efforts, neighboring based on the scientific analysis and countries’ military contingents on the their accessibility. territory of Abkhazia and the former Soviet South-Ossetian Autonomous • Full demilitarization of the disputed Area (Oblast), since they historically zones and giving them international have strategic interests there. status of peace zones would be • necessary steps. First of all, this An alternative to their presence can denomination should be attributed to only be an orientation toward a the Gali district (Abkhazia). common civil security system in Abkhazia and in the former Soviet • The conflicting sides should begin to South-Ossetian Autonomous Area create local peacemaking contingents (Oblast), and the international status from representatives of the divided of these disputed zones.
15 Prevention and resolution of conflicts
Abkhazian conflict
The round table “Human rights Aspects for Refugees and Resettlement , Mrs. Eteri the settlement of the Abkhazian Conflict” Astemirova and the Chairman of the was organized on the 13th of April 2004 in Supreme Council of the Abkhazian the hCa - Georgia conference - hall under Autonomous Republic, Mr. Temur Mzhavia. the initiative of the Georgian National Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’ SCIRS’s approach regarding the Assembly and the South-Caucasus Institute improvement of the efficiency of human of Regional Security. The purpose of the rights policies and concrete mechanisms for event was to consolidate the efforts of the the protection of human rights in disputed state and international structures in the field zones was presented at a round table. of democratization of the negotiation During the international conference “New process for the resolution of the Abkhazian Abkhazia - Sight from the Future” initiated conflict and the formation of efficient human by SCIRS, participants were also briefed rights policies in the conflict area. about other activities of SCIRS. High ranked politicians took part in the round table: the State Minister of Georgia In 2004 the South-Caucasus Institute of on Conflict resolution, Mr. Georgi Regional Security continued to inform the Khaindrava, the Minister of Georgia for public and especially scientific circles from
Political scientists Giorgi Goksadze and Zurab Davitashvili are participating in the discussion on human rights Aspects for the settlement of the Abkhazian Conflict 16 Activity Report 2004 various countries with the concept developed by SCIRS experts on the resolution of the Abkhazian conflict. The concept is based on the analysis of the conflict through civil, fully democratic criteria; it considers the rights and interests of each element of the complex multi- compound Abkhazian society as well as the interests of external figures.
The concept was presented to academics from the Tbilisi State University, Georgian Institute of Psychology. The concept was also presented in Turkey at the office of Caucasian diaspora (“Kafkas Dernekleri Federasyonu”). As a result of the negotiations, representatives of SCIRS and the representatives of the Federation came to an agreement for joint cooperation. Results of discussions are in progression and the 5th edition of the concept will be prepared in 2005. Mr. Giorgi Khaindrava, the State Minister of Georgia on Conflict resolution
In the discussion on the project of the conception for the settlement of the Abkhazian conflict are taking part Temur Mzhavia, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian Autonomous Republic, Eteri Astemirova, Minister of Georgia for Refugees and Resettlement and Nato Asatiani, expert in Abkhazian issue 17 Document Democracy for all The information about the Project on the concept for the settlement of the Abkhazian conflict
Full text of the fourth edition of Concept of Regulation of the Abkhazian Conflict is available at www.scirs.org.
Developed by SCIRS/HCA
“The attempts for solving the armed conflicts should be as multilateral as conflicts; they should be developed so that any of the numerous reasons of their escalation would not be omitted. This implies, that the package of actions should consider the political, economic, social and other aspects too.” Den Smith (the director of the world problems studying international research institute. Oslo, Norway, June 1994)
The settlement of the Abkhazian conflict is peace-building process and a preparatory one of the key issues in the development of phase of the negotiating process as well. the post Soviet Georgia suffering from the Above all, the given project provides the bursts of aggressive nationalism and transition from the ethnocentric to the civil separatism, political extremism and mass and all-democratic directions while corruption although the state is officially analyzing the conflict. This condition is of focused on building of the civil democracy vital importance for the observation of and a jural state on the whole territory of rights and interests of each element of the the country. complex multicompound Abkhazian society, and also the interests of external Just for this reason the approach presented figures. The similar approach may by the research authors relies on the accelerate the peaceful settlement of the modern humanitarian values and offers to conflict. Though some authors and the consider the Abkhazian conflict through a supporters of the Eurasian theories cast prism of the civil and the democratic doubt on the necessity of existence of the approach, instead of the narrow democracy in Abkhazia. ethnocentric and nationalist one construing the given opposition as a struggle between One of the basic motivations for working the so-called elites of the ethnic Abkhazians out of the given project is the disagreement and ethnic Georgians. existing in the society in regards to the vision, estimation and methods of the conflict It is especially important in what system of settlement. In particular, the authors cannot values is the conflict perceived and agree with the active attempts of bringing considered. The choice of the general the conflict to the binary pattern bearing an system of values for the conflict participants obvious ethnocentric shade and they find 18 is an original guarantee of success in the the given conflict as multisubjective, instead Activity Report 2004 of double-subjective. An absolute ignorance multicompound Abkhazian conflict. of well-known scientific truths when Strengthening of the mechanisms for the describing the conflict result in its perverted long-term sustainability of the balance of perception, an invariable behavior and a interests of all parties and components of retardation of the settlement process. And the conflict at all levels. all this happens with the participation of the international organizations and, first of Tactical objectives all, the United Nations, the resolutions of Creation of the concept. Integration of which have not produced the kind of professional experts from various results, which might be achieved. The scientific fields in the process of number of the conflict victims grows every studying the problems of settlement for day and nobody bears the responsibility for the professional diagnostics and the it. The similar attitude to the matter results evaluation of the given conflict, and the in growth of the revanchist moods and the existing methods of settlement as well, attempts of force involving methods for the and especially of the negotiation process. conflict’s settlement that may entail new The description of the components of the thousands of human victims and may be Abkhazian conflict for defining all the ended up as one more serious armed subjects and objects of the conflict. conflict, i.e. the civil war on the territory of Creation of the concept for the Abkhazia, and outside its borders. settlement of the given conflict, as the document maximally focused on the The goal of this project is to inform all interests of all subjects and having a international community about those highest possible level of legitimacy. untapped possibilities, which can prevent new threats and prove thereby, that the Working out of programs of actions and their settlement of the conflict is feasible by using implementation. Formation of the system of the civil humane methods, by taking into of actions, the international program of account the struggle for the vital resources actions for the settlement of the given and the interests of the population of conflict (at an official and civil levels). In Abkhazia, Georgia and the region as a whole. particular, definition of the system of the negotiation formats corresponding to the Strategic goal conflict. Recognition of the programs of The strategic goal of the project is the actions at the international level and the achievement of the welfare of all the beginning of the process of its people of Abkhazia, the stable implementation. Creation of special development of Georgia, the South- mechanisms for this purpose. Attraction Caucasus and the Caucasus regions as a of the resources, which are essential for whole, with the orientation toward the an effective management of the maximum responsiveness to the settlement process. Creation of the interests of each political and system of constant tracking and geopolitical figure. amendments of the settlement process.
Strategic objective Institutional objectives The strategic objective is the peaceful Creation of the special research center settlement of the whole system of the with the international status. 19 Prevention and resolution of conflicts
Georgian-Ossetian conflict
In May 2004, the South-Caucasus Institute of Regional Security and the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly started the realization of two projects:
Minority rights protection - victims of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict” – the project was supported by the European Commission’s Delegation to Georgia and Armenia (May 2004 - May 2005). Development of the intercommunity dialogues, as a basis of peacemaking for the regulation of Georgian–Ossetian conflict - the project was supported by the Danish Refugees Council (May 2004 – February 2005). Gergeti holly trinity church in Kazbegi
«Kazbegi Process»
Mission «Kazbegi process» – a process supporting the re-establishment of an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding, traditional mutual relations between divided societies as a result of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.
Representatives of analytical centers, non-governmental organizations, independent experts, journalists, leaders of the communities connected to Georgian-Ossetian relations are involved in the Kazbegi Process. Depending on their professional interests and priorities, the participants join one of the following working groups: on the negotiating process; on national diplomacy and civil society; on human rights; on military conflict and human security; on environmental protection; Kazbegi Mass-Media group; on culture, science, education and sports. 20 Activity Report 2004
Both projects were developed in 2003 as a Russian border. This meeting actually result of meetings of the experts working on initiated the so-called Kazbegi process. Georgian-Ossetian relations at SCIRS. The organization of a meeting in Kazbegi The projects were realized in partnership was not by chance. The Georgian-Ossetian with the organizations representing IDPs conflict should not be considered a local from South Ossetia and organizations one. In conducting the peace-building working in Tskhinvali and Vladikavkaz. process the region of Shida-Kartli, such as Premises for the opening of the Research Mtskheta-Mtianeti, both part of the Kazbegi center on development of Georgian- area, play a decisive role. All problems and Ossetian relations were prepared by SCIRS oppositions arising in a conflict area affect in Tskhinvali. However, at the given stage, the social and economic situations of the the realization of this project does not seem surrounding regions. This meeting was to be feasible since the sharp aggravation quite symbolic since the Kazbegi area is the of the situation in the conflict area in spring sister region of the Republic of Northern – summer of 2004 led to adaptations in the Ossetia - Alania. Moreover, in 2000 the project. “Program of cooperation between Mtskheta- Mtianeti frontier of Georgia and the While searching for alternative solutions Republic of Ossetia, Alania,” was signed regarding the creation of a workplace in between the two regions. The program is Tskhinvali, active work started in November 2004 in Tamarasheni, which is in fact representing a kind of continuation of the natural political center of the former Soviet South-Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast), Tskhinvali. In January 2005, a group of activists from Tamarasheni will carry out a special training at hCa-Georgia.
The completion of some activities, i.e. field visits and peace-building seminars in the conflict area turned out to be rather problematic. But despite of these difficulties, a lot of meetings and researches were conducted. The outcomes of these activities were concentrated in SCIRS special issue “Problems and Perspectives of Georgian-Ossetian Relations”. The English version of the updated issue will be published in 2005.
In July 27-28, 2004, a working meeting between NGO representatives and experts working on existing problems of Georgian- HCA GNC/SCIRS publication “Problems and Ossetian mutual relations was held in Perspectives of Georgian-Ossetian Kazbegi, a city located at the Georgian- Relations” 21 Prevention and resolution of conflicts
not implemented in an appropriate way as of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict were an SCIRS investigation showed. presented during these meetings. On the 4th of July 2004 in Gori, Mr. The organizers paid a special attention to Alexander Russetsky, met with Mikheil the interests of the various social groups Kareli, head of the Shida-Kartli involved in the conflict, in addition to administration. The development of involving the regions to the peace-building Georgian-Ossetian relations and the role of process. Shida-Kartli region in this process were the topics during the meeting. The participants The participants, being concerned about the emphasized the necessity for the Shida- difficult conditions existing in the conflict Kartli administration to participate in the area, signed the joint document “Kazbegi negotiation process for the settlement of the Declaration”, which is an appeal to the state Georgian-Ossetian conflict. and international organizations participating in the conflict settlement process, to NGOs On the 30th of August a meeting with working in this sphere and to the general analysts of the International Crisis Group public to assist the stabilization of the (ICG) was held in the SCIRS office. ICG situation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict representatives George Gogia (analyst) and area. Representatives of 21 organizations Sabine Freizer (project director - Caucasus) signed the Declaration. were briefed about the Institute’s approaches for the settlement of the The participants of the Kazbegi Process Georgian-Ossetian conflict. According to together with SCIRS experts conducted SCIRS experts, the security of citizens in several focus-groups and assisted in the the disputed zones should be a priority elaboration of a number of documents such issue. The process of settlement in many as the project of the structure of “Evaluative respects depends on the approach to the document of the political conflict on the problem - democratic or ethnocentric – and territory of the former Soviet South-Ossetian thereby on the concept based on the Autonomous Area (Oblast)”, and “7D chosen doctrine. Project: Basic principles for an effective transformation of the peace-building The Georgian-Ossetian conflict is rather process for the regulation of the Abkhazian complex and multi-compound. Nowadays a and South-Ossetian conflicts”. process of simplifying all its constituents into one – ethnic – can be noticed. In other Meetings with representatives of state words, a dichotomization of the conflict is structures, international and non- taking place (the complex set is reduced to governmental organizations were one subset). conducted within the framework of the Kazbegi process. Particularly, SCIRS It is of great importance to conduct an experts met representatives of the international scientific-practical conference. American, French and Ukrainian It may contribute to change the conflict’s embassies, the State Minister of Georgia on paradigm. The conflict must be appraised at conflict resolution, Mr. Giorgi Khaindrava, the international level and a diagnosis, the representative of the Minister of Foreign answering the following questions, should Affairs of Georgia, Mr. Georgi Lortkipanidze. be made: What kind of conflict is this? What 22 The elaborated approaches on settlement are its real constituents? Activity Report 2004
First of all, the conflict is political. The first Imereti, Shida-Kartli and Mskheta-Mtianeti. level of conflict concerns autonomy, and Each of them has its own interests and more precisely the communities living in the problems, which do not always coincide autonomous territory. The depth of the with the interests of the central authorities, divided society is important. The idea of and the existing conflict differently affects territorial integrity should not prevail for the the regions’ situation. For example, Racha- settlement of the conflict; it is necessary to Lechkhumi has no relations with the center concentrate efforts on the creation of a and there is no direct road that links it with legitimate political regime, i.e. a model that Tskhinvali. As a consequence, the will adequately address the interests of all development of the region is outraged, members of the divided society. For this characterized by high migration and social purpose, it is necessary to create a political and economic backwardness. Shida-Kartli infrastructure or institutes that can express can be considered a direct part of conflict the interests of the various concerned zone. This region occupies a special groups, as well as can enable the geopolitical location since it hosts a development of the civil society and the strategic road to Armenia, which is in fact promotion of new leaders. the shortest way from Russia to Armenia.
Secondly, this is a conflict between regions. Mskheta-Mtianeti is a mountainous region The former Soviet South-Ossetian which gains importance because of the gas Autonomous Area (Oblast) borders include pipelines running through it. If a conflict four other regions: Racha-Lechkhumi, occurs, it will have repercussions on the
The participants of the conference are working on the acceptance of “Kazbegi Declaration” 23 Prevention and resolution of conflicts
gas supply from Russia to the region as well aggravation. It was necessary to give more as on the development of tourism (the attention to measures regarding the building Gudauri high-mountainous resort is located of trust, problems of IDPs, restitution and here). Agreements signed between the war crimes. Here, the carte blanche, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and the Republic imparted by the international community, i.e. of Northem Ossetia - Alania in 2000 could the USA and the EU, for a “speedy” be a basis to encourage the establishment regulation of the conflict has played a of the “Kazbegi Peacemaking Center” as negative role too. well, and idea developed during the meeting in Kazbegi. In November 2004, the ICG issued the document “Georgia: Avoiding War in South Interstate relations represent the third level Ossetia”, which does not fully match the of the conflict that should be considered. views of SCIRS experts. At the same time, it Russia is not the only party involved in the is hoped that the next year cooperation with conflict. The closing of the road that goes the ICG will be intensified. through the Shida-Kartli region could have a negative impact on Armenia’s economy. A significant place was given to the training Azerbaijan, on the contrary, could positively of leaders representing various groups see this setting, since the main freight traffic connected to Georgian-Ossetian relations. from Russia to Georgia would then have to New young leaders who took part in the go through Azerbaijan. Turkey, Iran and training were identified after the other states also have their own interests. It organization of field visits and peace- is essential to examine and take into building seminars in the Borjomi canyon account all these questions while and the Akhalgori area, which are located conducting negotiation processes. at the frontier of the conflict zone close to the Disevi settlement. The special program ICG experts (International Crisis Group) in “Development of civil society in South their turn also presented their view on the Ossetia as a condition of the development current intricate situation of the Georgian- of Georgian-Ossetian intercommunity Ossetian conflict. According to them, dialogue” was established in order to actions undertook by the Georgian develop the capacities of these leaders. It authorities were initially wrong since they is supported by the “Open Society – considered only the political aspect of the Georgia” Foundation within the framework problem and ignored the economical and of the “Integration Program” and will start others aspects, which resulted in their in 2005.
24 Documents
Kazbegi Declaration
On July 28th, 2004, experts working on the issue of Georgian-Ossetian relations, and who were troubled by the complicated situation in this conflict zone, met in Kazbegi, Georgia. There, they elaborated this document for submission to international organizations partaking in the resolution process, to NGOs also working in the field, and to all levels of the populace in order to assist the stabilization process in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone.
Overall Evaluation of the Situation
1. Problems in Georgian-Ossetian relations 3. Reducing the complex nature of the are part of the conflict system existent in conflict to one root cause – ethnicity, the South Caucasus as well as being the encourages further ethnicization of the result of current global-level conflict and promotes both inadequate confrontations between major political responses and conflict escalation. This actors struggling for a new causes civil unrest in a society so redistribution of spheres of influence in recently united, and the many losses different regions of the world. incurred are not perceived as a joint tragedy. 2. The mentioned conflict has a history which has not been scrutinized well 4. Absence of an adequate diagnosis and enough and which has been distorted by corresponding legal base caused the the ethnocentric views of academic collapse of several meetings during the researchers. Absence of a general negotiation process as well as the neglect document giving a unified version of the of previously made decisions. The main substance and history of the conflict, problem is that for many years there particularly of the events at the hasn’t been a common analytical beginning and end of the 20th century, document. This leads to the lack of a causes a lack of self-awareness and common vision and understanding of understanding of the mistakes made by the conflict, a common concept of each party in the conflict, thus resolution, and a concrete action plan for promoting the recurrence of these conflict resolution. mistakes. 25 Documents
5. One of the fundamental problems 8. Unprofessional and inhuman actions of defining the reanimation of the armed both official power authorities and aspect of the conflict is nonparticipation unofficial militias on both sides of the in the process of preparing and making conflict have brought about a number of political decisions by Georgian and gross human rights violations never Ossetian communities involved in the addressed by international human rights conflict. These communities have been organizations. Appropriate legislative the principal direct victims of the consideration was never given to these conflict, i.e., ethnic Georgians, living in violations and violators were not the territory of the former Soviet South- punished. This lack of punishment Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast) or combined with legislative uncertainty displaced to different regions of has promoted the creation of conditions Georgia, and ethnic Ossetians living in conducive to the perpetration of new the territory of Georgia (outside the crimes. As a result, there are likely to be former Soviet South-Ossetian increased numbers of hostages or Autonomous Area (Oblast) or displaced prisoners of war in the near future. to the republic of Northem Ossetia – Alania. 9. International organizations have not controlled the massive deliveries of fire- 6. A key issue is the fate of families of arms and ammunition into the conflict mixed ethnicity. During the past fifteen zone which, in the event of renewed years, Georgio-Ossetian families have armed conflict, might raise the numbers lived under permanent psychological of immediate victims as well as raise the pressure, a result of the aggressive quantity of unexploded ordnance (UXO) egoism of different political groups, and mines, presenting a real danger for causing many of the families to break the civilian population of the conflict up. An entire generation of children has zone. been traumatized. Members of mixed- ethnicity families often have to change 10.Future escalation of violence in the their surnames accentuating the problem conflict zone may entail serious socio- of national and ethnic identification, and economic problems in neighboring causing many of them to suffer from an regions of Georgia and Russia. Then, inferiority complex regarding their once the situation has been ethnicity. normalized, an accurately organized negotiation format might make it 7. In the case of conflict escalation, it is possible to expect a large flow of likely that new segments of the investment and development, population of the former Soviet South- particularly cross-border cooperation Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast) will using modern socio-economic join the millions of already displaced techniques and the creation of diverse persons in the Caucasus. Many of them forms of economic cooperation. will be integrated individually or as families into the European Union or 11. Insufficient democratization of our Russia, most significantly into the societies has lead to a low level of republic of North Ossetia – Alania, and legitimacy of their political structures. 26 different regions of Georgia. This forces both the international Activity Report 2004
community and us to direct more serious stubbornly insisting on having our own attention to acknowledging this problem truth while not listening to the truth of as a fact, bringing about the formation of others, for not striving after a common truth a common political goal – striving to and thereby falling into the depths of increase the level of legitimacy of local apathy? We should all take part in the political structures. The right conditions definition of our common future. We hope for increasing political legitimacy, that YOU will try to do everything possible resolving conflicts, and ensuring stable and give feedback to this appeal. development will emerge only with the participation by all segments of our Participants at the Kazbegi meeting divided society in political processes, elaborated an action plan as well as a and, above all, with the delineation of number of recommendations for the the role of conflict victims in these promotion of the development of Georgio- processes. Ossetian relations.
12.Heightened anxiety gives rise to The working meeting in Kazbegi was insufficient levels of competence and carried out with the initiative of the coordination of nongovernmental, following nongovernmental governmental and international organizations: organizations, as well as to peacemaking forces that don’t notice Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly the problems mentioned above and don’t pay attention to the New Education. Educators for Peace and recommendations of independent Nonviolence. experts representing analytical centers. These organizations don’t have Research Center for Georgio-Ossetian relations under the South Caucasus trustworthy information, very often Institute of Regional Security. don’t have their own analytical centers, and don’t rely on serious analytical Organizers of the meeting express their research, causing their activity to be gratitude for support to: extremely ineffective. Danish Refugee Council The above-mentioned is far from being a complete list of the problems to which we European Commission delegation to would like to draw your attention. We Georgia and Armenia appeal to everybody of good will to concentrate their efforts on resolution of Authorized representative of the these and other problems. The solution of President of Georgia in Mtskheta- even one of these problems through Mtianeti Region communal effort would create a real basis for the development of trust and Representative of Kazbegi region constructive cooperation. administration
We are responsible to future generations Administration of the hotel and to the memory of our ancestors. Who “Stepantsminda” in Kazbegi can say what price we have paid for 27 Documents
Participants 11. Dulaev Igor - North Ossetian Institute of Humanitarian and Social Research 1. Areshidze Mamuka – expert on Caucasus issues 12. Pliev Alan – Coordinator of MHG RNO- Alania 2. Chorgolashvili Gela – Human Rights Institute 13. Beloev Marat – project coordinator, Moscow Bureau on Human Rights, 3. Maisuradze Manana – co-deputy of Vladikavkaz NGO “Georgian and Ossetian women” 14. Pitskhelauri Eteri – director of School 4. Gagloev Tengiz – chairman of the #19 in Vladikavkaz Assosiation of Ossetians of Georgia 15. Gudushauri Tsitsino– head of cultural 5. Bendianishvili Zurab – Chairman of the department in Kazbegi region information center “INFO Peace”. 16. Chokhonelidze Mamuka – Institute of 6. Gvimradze Tamaz – Advisor to the National Security Shida-Kartli governor in conflict zone. 17. Popiashvili Nino – Caucasus House, 7. Vashadze George – youth group on Youth Center on Scrutinizing Caucasus, Georgian-Ossetian relations TV Channel 1
8. Shugarov Givi – SCIRS expert 18. Baramashvili Tea – Journalist
9. Dzadziev Alexander – North Ossetian 19. Russetsky Alexander – SCIRS Institute of Humanitarian and Social Research 20. Dorokhina Olga – Caucasus Center of Transborder Cooperation 10. Chuprunova Natalya – co-chair of NGO “New Education. Educators for Peace 21. Gachechiladze Mamuka – ICBL and Nonviolence.” Georgian Committee
28 Activity Report 2004
The Project of the structure of “Evaluative document of the political conflict on the territory of the former Soviet South-Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast)”
1. Necessity to combine the data on mass 6. Necessity to show the historical affinity victims, to list the categories of those of peoples, mixed families, generality of victims (the data existing at an official cultures, spiritual, religious and level); valuable reference points in this preamble. Language origin. 2. To emphasize the fact of reoccurrence of Heterogeneous organism. Geographical these conflicts in the 20th-21st centuries; aspects; 3. To recognize the absence of the general 7. General system of security for the concept and the general approach to the Georgian and Ossetian peoples in the settlement issue; Caucasus. The problem of Christian 4. To recognize the fact of discrimination religious minority. The major role of the of the following groups: Ossetian ethnos in the Georgian- Refugees from the South Ossetia; Russian relations; Ethnic Ossetians from the various 8. Necessity of maintaining the traditional regions of Georgia, outside the relations of the Christian peoples in borders of the South Ossetia; respect of the Orthodox Church; Ethnic Georgians living in the 9. General danger from the part of the South Ossetia; aggressive religious sects and the extremist groups; Ethnic Georgians living in the Northern Ossetia; 10. General threat from the part of a non- conventional, fundamentalist and Ethnic Ossetians living in Moscow aggressive Islam. and other cities of Russia. 11. Legal inconsistency of the state, which 5. Inadequacy of the monitoring of the turns out to be incapable to defend the human rights infringements in this Georgians and Ossetians who have conflict, and also the insufficiency of become the victims of the conflict; coordination of the state, public and 12. Danger of revanchism and the international organizations on this provincial fascism, expressing the question (creation of general human interests of the criminal structures; rights groups at JCC); 29 Documents
13. Role of the Georgian-Ossetian relations of unstable, authoritative, ethno- in the paradigm of the Russian-Euro- democratic modes that make the clan Atlantic mutual relations; groupings capable to come to power; 14. Intensification of the legitimating 17. Necessity of strengthening the process of the geopolitical interests traditional system of values; reflected on the Georgian-Ossetian 18. The Future mission of the Georgian- mutual relations; Ossetian relations as one of the most 15. Uncertainty of the future of the country important parameters of the and its political arrangement is the core international security; of political inhuman movements; 19. Political parties in the SO - democratic 16. The major problem of the whole world measurement, presentation of interests is a low level of legitimacy of the of all the political groups. political structures, resulting in creation
Focus – Group elaborating the project of the structure of “Evaluative document of the political conflict on the territory of the former Soviet South-Ossetian Autonomous Area (Oblast)”
30 Activity Report 2004
Development of a peace-making movement in the Caucasus
The strengthening of peace-making processes and the creation of a peace- making movement in the Caucasus is an essential condition for the prevention and the settlement of existing conflicts. In this process, the main role is played by civil society organizations. This theme was discussed at the Caucasian regional meeting within the framework of the global program “Role of Civil society in the Prevention of Armed Conflicts”.
The history of the creation of the program starts in 2001, when the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, proposed to move the United Nations’ priority from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention, and for this purpose to develop efforts within the United Nations Organization system to expand the cooperation and intensify the involvement of the state-participants. - I appeal to NGOs interested in conflict In 2002, in reply to the given recommendations, the European Center for prevention to organize an international Conflicts Prevention (ECCP, the conference where local, national and Netherlands) proposed the integration of a global program containing researches, international NGOs would discuss about advisories and discussions. their role in the prevention of conflicts The program is carried on in the Caucasus and the future role of the United Nations region by the European Center on Conflicts Prevention in cooperation with the in this field. (From the report International Center on Conflict and “Recommendations of the UN Secretary Negotiation (Georgia) and Nonviolence International (Russian Federation). General on the Prevention of Armed Conflicts”, June 27, 2001) On the 27th of February, the Caucasian regional meeting took place in Likani 31 Prevention and resolution of conflicts
(Georgia), representing the first step towards The most successful achievement was the a regional process planning in the Caucasus establishment of cooperative links between region. The main directions for 2004 and the SCIRS experts and the South Caucasus structure of the regional process were drawn Regional Coalition “Women for Peace”. A up at this occasion. Representatives of many special project regarding the integration of Caucasian NGOs, NGO networks and the coalition in the preparation of experts took part in the meeting which led to recommendations intended to the UN the creation of five working groups: International conference “Role of the Civil Society in Conflicts Prevention” in 2005, 1. Cooperation at all levels; supported by UNIFEM, was elaborated. 2. Education; Following this, three working meetings were held in Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi in which 3. Prevention, transformation and the regional coalition representatives from management of conflicts; the three countries participated. The 4. Human rights; purpose of these meetings was to determine the position of women’s 5. Information. organizations regarding their participation in peacemaking processes, as well as in the Each working group generated a program of prevention and regulation of conflicts. actions and defined responsibilities for its execution. SCIRS representatives took part in The outcome of the meetings was the the group “prevention, transformations and elaboration of a package of th management of conflicts”, named “The 5 recommendations to raise the efficiency of barrack”. Within the framework of the working the preparation process for the UN group, SCIRS undertook the integration of the international conference. recommendations prepared by NGO networks, which for various reasons had not Recommendations were developed in the been taken into account in the first stage. following directions:
th A website, “The 5 barrack”, was put online Optimization of the United Nations’ under SCIRS initiative in order to coordinate action regarding the prevention and the work, provide information and support resolution of conflicts (adoption and the regional working group. SCIRS realization of UN decisions; representatives conducted a number of recommendations for the definition of UN meetings with the representatives of various structures’ strategy in the region and the networks. On their behalf letters requesting elaboration of priority directions their inclusion in the process of working out according to the needs of the local the recommendations were directed to the population); organizers of the regional process. Cooperation of the United Nations with In particular, negotiations were conducted civil society institutions; with the representatives of the International Optimization of the peace-building Campaign to Ban Landmines and of the process: Expansion of possibilities of the “Yellow Tulip” project, which deals with the civil society with the support of the issues of prisoners of war, hostages and United Nations’ structures. 32 involuntary disappearances. Activity Report 2004
Another important achievement was the New York and it will be the culmination of inclusion of the sixth working group the three-year work in this field. “Women’s participation in peacemaking” in the regional process. Following the demand of the European Center for Conflict P.S. It is necessary to mention the deficiency Prevention, SCIRS experts prepared the in the organization for the preparation of the article “Role of NGOs in prevention and UN International Conference in 2005. settlement of conflicts”. This document, as Irresponsibility was felt at all stages both at well as the package of recommendations, the international and regional levels. The can be found in this report. organization of such an important and large- scale event should be taken seriously, but These and other documents were unfortunately huge NGO resources were presented at regional conference, held on inadequately used for the preparation of 24-25 March, 2005 in Tbilisi. Their recommendations. We shall not further put presentation is also planned at the our attention to this issue, however it is conference «From Reaction to Prevention: necessary to note, that the image of the Civil Society Forging Partnerships to United Nations and of the non-governmental Prevent Violent Conflict and Build Peace». organizations working in the field of The Global Partnership Conference will take prevention, settlement of conflicts and place on 19-21 2005 at UN Headquarters in peace-making process suffered from it.
Organizers of the working meeting in Baku within the framework of the project UNIFEM – Gulshan Pashaeva(national coordinator in Azerbaijan of the regional project UNIFEM “Women for the prevention of the conflicts and creation of peace in the South Caucasus” and Alexander Russetsky, the executive director of SCIRS. 33 Documents Package of Recommendations For International Conference “The Role of Civil Society in the Prevention of Armed Conflict”
The package of recommendations was prepared by the Southern Caucasus Regional Coalition “Women for Peace” and was presented at the Caucasus Regional Conference on the Role of Civil Society in the Prevention of Armed Conflict
March 2005, Tbilisi
Through the support of the UNIFEM Regional Project “Women for Conflict Prevention and Peace-building in the Southern Caucasus” Funded by the Government of Sweden and the Government of Finland
Introduction • Collaboration • Human rights Under the framework of the UN Secretary • Education General’s initiative to increase the role of • Information civil society in conflict prevention, the • Conflict prevention, transformation and European Centre on Conflict Prevention resolution. (ECCP) launched a global initiative entitled “ The Role of Civil Society in the Prevention In March 2004, the Southern Caucasus of Armed Conflict”. As part of this global Regional Coalition “ Women for Peace” process, and through the facilitation of the linked up to this Caucasus-wide process. International Centre for Conflict Over a twelve month period, the Regional Negotiation (ICCN), civil society in the Coalition held four regional meetings to Caucasus have come together to develop discuss and to develop concrete concrete recommendations on how to recommendations aimed at outlining the improve the participation of non- specific role which the women of Caucasus governmental actors in conflict prevention are playing in regional and global peace- and peace-building processes. building process, as well as providing suggestions on how to improve In the Caucasus, this process was launched coordination among civil society, in February 2004 at a regional conference in government and UN. Through the support Likani, Georgia at which 5 working groups of UNIFEM, the ICCN and the Helsinki 34 were established: Citizen’s Assembly – Georgian Committee, Activity Report 2004 the Regional Coalition advocated for the UN/Government post-conflict establishment of a 6th Working Group on programmes; ii) would monitor for “Women, Civil Society and Peace- early warning signs, so as to inform Building”. political actors when situations deteriorate; iii) facilitate information As a result, during the Caucasus Regional exchange between civil society, Conference on the Role of Civil Society in government and UN on key issues, the Prevention of Armed Conflict, this capacities, resources, etc. It is working group convened a panel to discuss imperative that these centres have a the recommendations below, and to strong focus on human rights, and incorporate these into the larger regional in particular, on the impact of “Action Agenda for the Caucasus”. Based armed conflict on girls and women, on feedback from the Conference, the and the role which they play in following recommendations have been peace-building and conflict revised slightly to reflect discussions held. prevention; d. To increase the role of Track Two or People –to-People diplomacy in the Recommendations conflict prevention/peace-building processes through: I) Recommendations on mechanisms to improve collaboration between the Support exchanging of UN, Governments and civil society in information among civil society the area of peace-building and conflict to avoid overlapping activities; prevention: Building mutual trust and a. To support the capacity building of confidence among conflicting experts on conflict prevention, parties through the process of resolution and peace-building, who developing and implementing a can partner with UN and locally-owned regional program government programmes working of action and regionally on this topic. produced knowledge resources on peace building, culture of b. To ensure participation of civil peace and conflict prevention; society in the UNCT/International donor process of developing joint Educate and active women’s reconstruction and rehabilitation groups’ towards involvement in programmes immediately after the negotiation process. conflict; Involving women who have been c. To establish (through government seriously impacted by hostilities and UN support) an independent into the peace building process, centre of expertise on conflict and defending their interests; prevention and monitoring which Preparing society for a dialogue would be responsible for: i) and peaceful settlement of conducting research at the regional conflict, using community level and national level to inform the leaders such as teachers, local development and implementation of administrators, local artists, etc. 35 Documents
Developing the dialogue e. To allocate funds within between people working in reconstruction/rehabilitation similar professions from programmes for the development/ conflicting parties (i.e. lawyers, capacity building of local teachers, etc.). organsiations involved in conflict prevention and peace-building; To develop contacts between cultural and artistic groups from f. To involve the representatives of conflicting parties; civil society, particularly experts and representatives of independent II) Recommendations regarding the research centers, into the process of development of UN policies and elaboration of recommendations on programmes; conflict settlement; a. To introduce the principles of III) Recommendations regarding the gender balance into the personnel development of Govenrments’ policies of UN and the diplomatic policies/programmes; corps in compliance with provisions of CEDAW (article 8), the Beijing a. To introduce the principles of Platform for Action and UN Security gender balance into the personnel Council Resolution 1325 on Women, policies of government and the Peace and Security. In this regards, diplomatic corps; specifically to increase the number b. To establish mechanisms and of female special representatives capacities at the government level and envoys of the UN Secretary which monitor and support General tasked with facilitating implementation of UN SC prevention and resolution to armed Resolution 1325 on women, peace conflicts. and security. b. To ensure active collaboration c. To allocate government funds for among UN agencies at the national development of local organizations and regional level in developing/ involved in conflict prevention and implementing peace-building/ peace-building activities. conflict prevention programs. d. To increase prevalence of Conflict c. To develop programmes that target and Peace-Building as academic the most vulnerable social groups courses of study in the region. impacted by the conflict, ensuring that issues of gender are integrated. e. To facilitate the authorities’ awareness about women’s NGOs d. To mandate the participation of and issues pertaining to women, women’s NGOs in the development conflict prevention and conflict of reconstruction/peace-building resolution, through: programmes of International organizations and the UNCT, so as i. Actively involving women who to ensure that these are reflective of have been impacted by conflict, the needs and priorities of women including refugees and IDPs, into in conflict and post-conflict the conflict prevention and peace 36 countries. building processes. Activity Report 2004
ii. Facilitating the more active democracy in the region, especially involvement of women’s NGO in conflict zones. and women –leaders at the local c. To establish special centers or and national level into peace community unions/organizations in building process via both Track bordering conflict areas with the One and Track Two diplomacy. aim of fostering ties between iii. Facilitating the active communities (including economic involvement of youth into peace ties) and to promote negotiation building process through a processes both at the official and “culture of peace and tolerance” unofficial levels. and human rights education, ensuring the inclusion of a d. To build capacity to support/ gender perspective. implement educational programmes for youth on peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution; IV) Recommendations for improved e. To strengthen the linkages between development of civil society: theoretical experts and practitioners a. To increase collaboration at the in the area of conflict prevention region level of women’s NGOs with and peace-building; relevant experience on peace- f. To support contacts between civil building/conflict prevention. socity and media to ensure regular b. To support initiatives which and informed coverage of women’s increase capacity of civil society to issues and the work of civil society advocate and monitor the protection in the context of national and promotion of human rights and reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Representatives of the regional coalition “Women for Peace” in Azerbaijan are talking over issues on the activation of the participation of women in peace processes, conflict prevention and regulation 37 Documents
The Role of an NGO in conflict prevention and resolution
by Alexander Russetsky and Olga Dorokhina
(Article prepared at the request of the European Centre for Conflict Prevention)
Preamble This would involve the creation of natural mechanisms of self-organization and self- management while avoiding orientation Problem description towards today’s hotbed conditions created by the international community through The Caucasus countries represent examples humanitarian investments and grants; how of unstable democracies. Evidence of this is much the peacemaking charge presents in it found in the unceasing civil wars, ethnic and how much they are infected by and political conflicts, armed coups, acts of conflicts. terrorism, economic instability and a low level of political culture on the whole. Events in the Caucasus force everybody to think about what must be done to prevent The democratization of a post-totalitarian further violence in the populace and new society is a very complex task. Over the bloodshed in the region. Frozen conflicts do course of the last few years the depth of the not merely fade away; they have a tendency democratic changes in the Caucasus has to fester. The responsibility for possible been negligible. Authoritarian regimes victims lies with each of us, to a certain remain entrenched in several regions and extent. military regimes control the situation in conflict zones. There are uncontrolled There is a commonly held opinion that territories where drug trafficking and other politicians are responsible for one conflict or kinds of criminal activity dominate. another. More precisely, however, they hold the instruments of power in their hands, The illusory nature of these democracies enabling them to make decisions on which means that they may regress as of the fates of millions of people depend. The tomorrow to become antidemocratic mistakes they make lead to mass tragedies. regimes. Many people also accuse representatives of We therefore worry about the following mass media of kindling conflicts, with question: how to build viable democratic reason. Journalists, either intentionally or institutions, in particular nongovernmental unintentionally, may spread information in organizations, as well as what the best such a way that it promotes aggressiveness, 38 means to strengthen and develop them is. creates negative stereotypes of the other Activity Report 2004
(“the enemy”), and increases xenophobia in the Caucasus. This is a necessary and chauvinism creating the preconditions condition for strengthening the process of for open or latent violence. Some mass resolving the present conflicts. Integrating media simply serve for this. politicians, analysts, mass media etc. in the peacemaking movement may achieve Unfortunately, few people today meaningful success. understand that scientists, analysts, and experts play no lesser of a role in conflict escalation. Having made professional mistakes in their analysis of a situation, Some notions and they create the informational and ideological basis for conflict development. definitions
Each of these professional groups assumes no practical responsibility. They support Strategic purpose one or another side of a conflict expanding it, and hence influencing the scale of Building stable peace; ensuring well- possible catastrophes. being and bright future of population in the region. The activity of international organizations working on conflict resolution is also fairly Basic objective as a necessary condition to ineffective. These organizations often fail to achieve purpose realize the true nature of a conflict and so perceive it inadequately. They may also Assistance in the development of the have concrete interests coinciding with the peacemaking process by strengthening a interests of one or another side of a conflict, purposeful regional peacemaking limiting their peacemaking abilities. movement; defining the role of civil institutions in this process. NGOs are infected by the same problem. Even though a certain level of development Definition of “peacemaking of civil institutions in Caucasus countries organizations” has been achieved, we can establish the fact that serious efforts to develop a just Traditional civil institutions and peacemaking regional movement have not nongovernmental organizations acting been made. for prevention and resolution of conflict
As a result of the above, there is a lack of Definition of “peacemaking movement” peacemaking movements, a crisis in the peacemaking process as a whole, and a Purposeful united activity of discrediting of it as well. NGO leaders take peacemaking organizations; the complex insufficient responsibility for their role in system representing the totality of this process. nongovernmental peacemaking organizations and individuals working Proceeding from above-mentioned, the in this field. Does not refer to the purpose of this article is to promote the automatic or artificial union of development of a peacemaking movement organizations. 39 Documents
Definition of “peacemaking process” of officially fixing their activity than promoting a really well-considered activity The totality of governmental, interstate directed at positive results. There were no and civil or individual initiatives real antiwar antimilitaristic statements directed at conflict resolution and made. Moreover, some former human achievement of long-term peace. rights defenders actively served as reservists, going around military bases and supporting the martial spirit of soldiers and officers. Some representatives of Is the peacemaking “peacemaking forums” were even seen running around with guns defending their movement necessary? interests. One month later, they were meeting each other at international conferences discussing strategies for Unfortunately, there is a perception that it financing new projects. is not necessary. On psychological level, the population of the region in more It is necessary to note here that such inclined toward a state of permanent conferences must be held outside the region tension than to striving for conflict as most of the representatives of civil resolution and stable living conditions. society, especially in conflict zones, are National goals directed at building a forbidden by Secret Services to take part in narrowly defined, nationalistic, these meetings and negotiations. These ethnocentric peace, promote this mindset. activists, who all decided on Numerous victims even plead this communication and cooperation, are ideology.In other words, amidst the declared “enemies of nation”. What are the region’s populace there is a quantitative representatives of Special Services afraid of? lack of human resources ready to actively What frightens them? Possibly they are advocate the non-violent, peaceful more interested in the escalation of these resolution of one or another conflict. Often conflicts and the maintenance of the current during informal talks, even representatives state of affairs? of peacemaking organizations reveal their desire for a strong army that would solve The position of OSCE is interesting. these problems once and for all. International observers are aware of these facts and refrain from including them in This became especially apparent during the their reports or undertaking any actions to events of this summer (2004) in the territory fix the problems. of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region. At that time, the majority of active NGOs in It is thus possible to draw a sad conclusion. Georgia were operational in the region The position of most organizations, whether while the others were making themselves or not they so desire, is determined by the scarce. So-called civil society institutions actors in political conflict, i.e. there is no were unable to back away from a new wave independent civil society. Even that of violence in the region. They didn’t segment of society which is able to hold an discharge their mission, didn’t resist the alternative opinion is so weak that it has no war’s evil. Separate declarations in “salon” influence on the situation. 40 and small speeches had more of a character Activity Report 2004
Over the last few years, more than 15 • What are the problems in peace- million US dollars were spent on informal building? diplomacy in the Caucasus. Most of these • Are these problems legalized? projects had no serious results and stopped short of playing a role in providing a • Have the need and readiness to solve foundation for the building of a them been formed in society? peacemaking movement. However, they • How much is society able to react were able to create the possibility of adequately and effectively create maintaining relations between activists of mechanisms of self-defense? (For various sectors of societies divided by example, since the appearance of conflict. Chechen refugees, is it necessary to establish a special group to work on this It is very important to develop criticism in issue or would it be better to wait for this field since criticism is one of the tools of refugees to take action themselves?) peace-building. Peace-building without criticism involves making serious mistakes • Is anybody responsible for the passivity because there is no accountability. or activity of actions? Everybody must have social responsibility. • What kind of process should there be – In a number of cases such peacemaking spontaneous or guided? activity may become dangerous and harmful for society. • On what levels is it possible to influence this process? The existence of a scientific analysis and • What kind of patterns and features approach is also very important; criticism should there be in the development of a must be objective, correct, lean on expert peacemaking movement? analysis and opinion and promote the • development and improvement of the Does there need to be a general strategy peacemaking movement. Having a variety and tactic? of directions for criticism, especially self- • If so, who should develop it and how? criticism, is a component in developing a system of self-management, itself is a major These are only some of the questions to component of organizational potential. which, unfortunately, we still have no Criticism is a corrector of the social answers. processes of civil institutions and especially of peacemaking movement. What kind of peacemaking Unfortunately, research in this direction has movement should there be? a spontaneous and disorganized character that doesn’t permit the permanent • Qualitatively new. observation of this complex process and the answering of important questions. Some of • Strong, independent, non-politicized and these questions are: respected by society. • Many-sided, heterogeneous, • What is the paradigm of development professional and competent. for peacemaking movements in the Caucasus? • Purposeful. 41 Documents
• Self-determined rather than externally Definition of the role of various dictated. NGOs • Stable, enduring and reproducible. Analytical organizations • Addressing adequately the needs and requirements of society. Taking into account that the peacemaking • Socially responsible. process is directed at conflict resolution, It is necessary that it have an independent, analytical organizations’ basic role must be nongovernmental peacemaking based on analysis of various factors infrastructure, i.e. a strong, self-organizing promoting or creating additional threats to system consisting of various peacemaking security and stability. Analytical organizations. organizations (so-called “think-tanks”) also develop strategic directions and recommendations for international, governmental and non-governmental Roles of institutions of civil organizations.
society (NGO) At present, analytical organizations have a short history of existence. They started to be Unfortunately, civil society institutions established five or six years ago and are were not at first considered to have only now starting to develop. This can be peacemaking potential. Many politicians explained partly by the fact that analytical supposed that it would be possible to build outputs in the Caucasus have not been civil society after the resolution of one or presented sufficiently and direct relations another conflict. Some politicians between analytical groups are weak. considered that the process of building civil Consulting institutes to develop relations society institutions would promote the between analytical groups and resolution of armed conflicts. The latter governmental structures, decision makers, opinion would be correct in the situation and nongovernmental organizations have where these institutions developed not been developed in the region. relatively uniformly across all parts of a Diversification of the activities of analytical society divided by war. groups occurs gradually, together with research and analysis of general aspects of One of the main components of civil society security, and an emphasis on different is NGOs. This section will explain our directions (among which the most opinions about their roles. Maybe this important is that of conflict). article will be the base for creating future strategy adjustments and programs Conflictology centers should carry out necessary for activities, the implementation diagnoses of existing conflicts and conflict of which will influence the rapid increase of generating situations. In turn, diagnosis of the capability of peacemaking movement conflicts implies research into all and process as a whole. components of conflict, correct definition of direct and indirect actors and objects of each component, revealing the positions 42 and motivations of each actor etc. Possible Activity Report 2004 negotiation formats are determined on the field. Courses in Caucasian languages are basis of diagnoses, bringing about a search offered at “Caucasus House” and they for an algorithm for transition to new levels regularly organize meetings of scientific of relations. In addition to researching and artistic intellectuals and young people. present conflicts and elaborating They also celebrate the jubilees of famous approaches to conflict resolution, the most writers and poets and edit the collected important role of analytical conflictology centers consists of predicting conflict works of such writers and poets. This is far emergence and elaborating measures and from a complete list of the activities of recommendation packages for preventative “Caucasian House”. activity. (Not only people but also monuments of Analytical support is very important for the history and culture have suffered from wars peacemaking process as is revealed by the and conflicts. The state of the Kosta negative experience of peacemaking Khetagurov monument, the greatest initiatives carried out without expert Ossetian poet, located in the yard of evaluation, doing more harm than good for secondary school in the village of negotiations and trust-building. Arishperani (eastern Georgia), serves as It is important to note that analytical evidence of this barbarian attitude. The organizations can be established as monument was blown up 12 years ago networks rather than static, localized during the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. Only institutions. One such organization is the a few fragments were left intact on the South Caucasus Institute of Regional pedestal. The fate of this monument has Security (SCIRS) which is a network-type been determined: it will be restored using “think-tank”. The Institute carries out the resources of “Open Society - Georgia” interdisciplinary research into various fund. However, how many similar conflict issues of security and the development of victims also exist?) relations between neighboring states, as well as training young experts. SCIRS promotes the process of developing a Cultural awareness organizations, also culture of regional self-management and referred to as educational organizations, building of regional security system in the should also play a role in solving a series South Caucasus in the name of the safe co- of problems in training peace-building and existence of the population of the South tolerance in order to educate people in the Caucasus. spirit of peace.
Cultural awareness organizations The ability to manage problems and process decisions is important for solving problems. Cultural awareness organizations play the Unfortunately, the weakness of the socio- important role of popularizing a culture of economic infrastructure precludes peace and non-violence. The activity of the management of the type required by NGO “Caucasian House” in uniting present conditions. Therefore, one necessary representatives of various ethnic groups educational element is management training. living in the Caucasus is important in this 43 Documents
It is necessary to note that the other types of resolution. However, the term “conflict organizations mentioned below can meet internationalization” means the the education function for various target involvement of international forces in the groups. Educational organizations must conflict such that one of its components is focus on training peacemakers. intensified and developed. In the former case, it would be more precise to use the It is crucial to elaborate an informational- term “internationalization of peacemaking methodological basis as well as to develop process”. cooperation on the academic level in order to develop a scientific approach to peace Trade unions and groups building and conflictology. It is necessary to note that several faculties teaching The importance of uniting by professional conflictology have been established in some principle was partly touched when institutes of higher education. This subject analytical and educational organizations has even been made obligatory in the were examined. Trade unions established curricula of some specialties. However, it is by representatives of divided societies necessary to enlarge the target audience and possess significant peacemaking resources to implement this subject on other levels, during conflict resolution. Teacher, e.g. on medium level. It is important that journalist, and writer trade unions have peace be not only around us, but also in already been established and are working every family, in every human being; actively. These organizations work out joint educating the spirit of peace is vital. approaches, implement joint programs and One of the most important functions of activities and develop an atmosphere of educational organizations is to prepare trust and mutual understanding. However, society for the necessity of dialoging or it is necessary to include other professional negotiating. Sometimes we realize that the groups in this process, for example, achievements of individual peacemaking physicians, businesspeople and others. Such organizations come to nothing because unions and groups can solve the problems society as a whole is inert and not ready for of a concrete professional group by possible transformations. Special efforts defending their rights and interests and also must be made in this regard by settle the relations of certain professional representatives of governmental structures groups with society, thus reducing tensions and decision-makers as the formation and and origins of conflict situations. success of the negotiation process depends a great deal on their level of training in Sports organizations these issues. The old slogan “Sport for Peace” is still Sometimes inappropriate statements relevant. To date, sports and sports provoke some conflicts. An example of this organizations are another definite exists in the frequent usage of the term peacemaking resource. The most popular “conflict internationalization” by state sport in this respect is soccer. An example officials and parliamentarians with respect of this was the “Consent” soccer to the Georgio-Ossetian conflict. In their tournament held in November 2002 in opinion, this term expresses the Telavi. For the first time since the beginning involvement of the international of the Karabakh conflict, teams from 44 community in the process of conflict Armenia (“Lori” – Vanadzor) and Activity Report 2004
Azerbaijan (“Kyapaz” - Ganja) were form their basis. Mixed families are the best brought together. The “Kakheti” team examples of tolerance. Despite the different (Telavi) and the “Dinamo” team of veterans natures and specific features of the conflicts, and IDPs from Abkhazia (Sukhumi) also the problems of these families have a lot in participated. Other than the tournament, it common. Therefore, the consolidation of is impossible not to mention the mixed the efforts of these organizations at regional professional soccer team “Liakhvi” in which and international levels is important. Such Georgians and Ossetians play together; and organizations should be established all over the Georgian soccer player Gela Ketashvili, the Caucasus, and it would be good idea to in playing for the soccer team “Alania” organize a regional conference on the (Vladikavkaz, North-Ossetia), did more for problem of mixed-ethnicity families and the the peacemaking process than any other. actuation of their role in peacemaking processes. Organizations of families of mixed- ethnicity Women’s organizations
In each conflict the fate of mixed-ethnicity Women’s organizations are in the families represents a special problem. They vanguard of peace-building. For more than are under constant pressure and most of ten years, the involvement of women in the them have broken up. The problem of process of conflict prevention and peace- national and ethnic identity is greatly building has been the topic of discussion aggravated for them and many suffer from on various levels. Putting this question to an inferiority complex regarding their discussion has achieved results and today, ethnicity. At the same time, these families women’s organizations are more involved are a united power, a potential and participate more actively in peacemaking resource which is underused peacemaking activities. Women’s in conflict resolution. organizations play a significant role in educating younger generations in the spirit Prior to 2002 there was no organization in of peace; they work to change the vision of the Caucasus engaged in the protection of people who think that only war can solve the rights of mixed-ethnicity families their problems. divided by war. People were forced to find their relatives by themselves in roundabout The activity of the South Caucasus regional ways, meeting in whatever way possible in coalition “Women for Peace” is one positive order to maintain some form of contact. In example. Women’s organizations from 2002, with the assistance of HCA GNC, the Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia formed “Association of Mixed Families Divided by the coalition in March 2003 with the the Abkhazian Conflict” was established support of UNIFEM. At present, the and headed by Rezo Bendeliani, an IDP coalition is still in its creation and from Abkhazia. A similar organization, development stage. Despite the fact that headed by Marina Beppieva, was coalition was established only last year, the established to help work on the Georgian- member organizations of the coalition have Ossetian conflict. More than others, these already made an important contribution to organizations promote the removal of the processes of prevention and resolution “enemy stereotyping” and develop of conflicts and the popularization of a dialogue because blood and relational ties culture of peace and non-violence. Now, the 45 Documents
coalition is developing a recommendation Of course, when ethnocentrism and package for the UN: “The role of women in particularism dominate the human rights the peacemaking process, the prevention of infrastructure, it is early to talk about new or further conflict situations, and the building a perfect civil society. This resolution of existing conflicts“. The problem requires more serious analysis and women’s organization “The Committee of is the corner stone of developing Soldiers’ Mothers” (Russia) played a big cooperation between organizations and role in the release of prisoners of war and human rights defenders on all levels. hostages taken as a result of the Chechen Cooperation along narrow, targeted lines is conflict. potentially the best direction for relations between human rights defenders. Therefore Youth organizations programs and national and regional projects are important which bring together One of the roles of youth organizations in these interest groups. peace building is bringing together the views and interests of youth who represent If a regional congress of human rights societies divided by war. Youth defenders is organized, the action program organizations permit the integration of of this congress will consist of separate young leaders, victims of conflicts, purposeful programs in various activity students, young teachers and young directions. Reality requires this and the representatives of governmental future of human rights infrastructure and organizations into active peacemaking the situation of human rights defense in the activities. Winter and summer schools play Caucasus region depend on this. an important role in the actuation of the youth role; young leaders acquire Veterans’ organizations knowledge and develop contacts. It is necessary that young leaders from conflict Veterans’ organizations unite people who zones participate in these schools. participated directly in armed actions and experienced the full weight of armed Human rights organizations conflict. They represent one of the crisis groups; therefore the self-organization of One of the most important problems in this category fits into a series of positive human rights activism is ethnocentrism. moments for peace-building. It promotes reducing tension in this group and solving Ethnocentric views impede the entire socio-legal and economic problems. human rights process. Documents Nongovernmental organizations of ex- developed separately in Sukhumi and combatants have been established and Tbilisi unmasked violations of human function in the Caucasus organizing joint rights committed by one side or another of meetings. the conflict, including genocide and ethnic cleansing. This kind of defense of human Business associations rights is inferior. Despite the importance of collected materials, they have a biased Business associations play an important role character and are directed at carrying out in peace-building. Businesspeople and political games rather than defending entrepreneurs can invest resources in 46 victims. Activity Report 2004 peacemaking activities. An example of the examples of NGO supported media include establishment of joint Georgian-Ossetian the “Abkhazski Meridian” newspaper, also enterprises can be found in the “Lomisi” published with the support of the Friedrich beer factory, in which joint capital was Ebert Foundation. In addition, the invested and operations were engaged in Foundation of Civil Programs, an by representatives of the two ethnic organization of IDPs from Abkhazia, groups. One of the agents, representing the publishes “Chveni Gazeti” (“Our Ossetian diaspora in Russia, invested in Newspaper”). The NGO “Help Yourself” the building of the Georgian church in publishes the informational bulletin Saint-Petersburg. Business associations can “Mostiki” (“Little Bridges”) and there is promote the creation of new work places radio broadcasting for IDPs from Abkhazia. or special programs on providing Despite this, there is an evident lack of print employment to victims of war and media available for all sides of divided violence. The development of relations societies. between businesses from divided societies is also important. There are many ideas Submission of information to the Internet about developing this kind of cooperation, unfortunately has a one-sided character. for example, between representatives of The interests of victims of war and the divided society of Abkhazia. The violence are not realistically presented on Sukhumi joint-stock company, the Internet, all the more so as there are no “Sukhumpribor” (“Sukhumi collaborative internet resources. Therefore, Instruments”), has a program for it is necessary to promote more effective rehabilitating the production industry of use of internet resources and the balls for fountain-pens as well as a development of collaborative electronic program for the creation of a joint media. enterprise to process bay leaves.
NGO supported media Networking organizations
The role of NGO supported media is to A new stage in the development of civil overcome the vacuum of information and society in the Caucasus is the develop an atmosphere of trust in the transformation of individual activities by region. The “Obshaya Gazeta” newspaper, separate organizations to the creation of edited by IDPs from South Ossetia, aims to networking organizations. Principles for restore the trust and relations between their establishment, structure and Georgian and Ossetian people through joint methodology, as well as management efforts. The newspaper is published with issues will be the subject of other the support of the Friedrich Ebert investigations; therefore, this article will Foundation and focuses on coverage of focus on another aspect: the importance of Georgian-Ossetian relations. Until now, uniting the efforts of peacemaking mass media has played a negative role and organizations in order to build networking even, to a certain extent, promoted organizations. These organizations can be unleashing conflicts. “Obshaya Gazeta” divided into several types: those aims to correct these mistakes, involving established for regional purposes, for journalists from societies divided as a result common goals, and those that incorporate of the South Ossetian conflict. Other both of these elements. 47 Documents
One of the oldest networking organizations in order to promote stabilization of the in the South Caucasus is the “Helsinki situation in the Georgio-Ossetian conflict Citizens’ Assembly (HCA) - Georgian zone. The declaration is a statement to National Committee”. It has been one of the governmental and international leaders in the field of peacemaking policy in organizations participating in conflict the South Caucasus since 1992. Amidst the resolution, to NGOs working in this field difficult conditions of war and post-conflict- and to various groups of the population. peace, the National Committees of HCA in The structure of the “Kazbegi Process” Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia out a includes the work of network organizations planned policy of bringing people together in the following: and reducing enemy stereotyping. In the Caucasus, the strategic task of HCA has Measures to increase the effectiveness of been to develop a culture of peace in the negotiation processes; region. Promoting the development of civil Citizens’ diplomacy and civil society; society institutions has also been a top priority. To further this latter goal, HCA Human rights defense; initiated the establishment of offices and Armed conflict and civil security; independent NGOs in various regions of the South Caucasus, including conflict Environmental protection; zones. Special projects and programs of Informational policy; regional cooperation were also developed with this in mind. Culture, education, and humanitarian issues; The activity of the Caucasus NGO forum, “Caucasian Refugee and IDP NGO Network (CRINGO Network)”, is another example of a networking organization. So A culture of peace activities in there exist precedents for “networks of the Caucasus networks”, like the above mentioned “South Caucasus Institute of Regional Caucasus has long served as the Security (SCIRS)” and the South Caucasus intersection of the strategic interests of regional coalition, “Women for Peace”. different states. The entire region is a battleground. Internal contradictions and At present, a new and interesting conflicts are also endemic to the region. A networking organization is forming named Caucasian peace-building tradition based the “Kazbegi Group”; it is also a network of on a Caucasian value system and codes of networks. This group initiated the “Kazbegi behavior during conflict conditions has Process” promoting the restoration of formed simultaneously as a response to Georgio-Ossetian relations. The start of the these challenges. Unfortunately, this culture “Kazbegi Process” was a working meeting has not been sufficiently explored and is not held in August, 2004 in Kazbegi, Georgia, used actively in peace activities. Foreign featuring representatives of various methods of conflict resolution used in the communities: victims of the Georgio- Caucasus are often not adapted to local Ossetian conflict, experts and scientists. The culture. As a result, their impact is “Kazbegi Declaration” was developed and negligible. A more effective formula would 48 adopted at this meeting by the above group Activity Report 2004 combine traditional and contemporary puppet governments gain power, experience and knowledge in the field of voicing the interests of one or another peace activities. external power center, rather than the interests of the nation; young people die in so-called “anti- Peace building and conformism corruption” operations and then it becomes clear that these actions are One of the most serious ills in post-soviet merely semi-criminal redistributions of countries is the problem of general property and spheres of influence; conformism. Adaptation to existing unspoken rules of the game allows some for months, the entranceways to homes citizens to resolve their urgent problems, go uncleaned and people simply get but leads society as a whole into the depths used to the insanitation; of criminal morality. The degradation and collapse of traditional Caucasian value All of us are able to create our own such systems leads to society’s decay and its lack list. of self-organization and self-regulation. This society then becomes extremely Society is at the edge of social and dependent on the outer world, bursting the psychological disaster. It’s necessary to ideal of an independent state like a soap- shout from the rooftops, “Who is in bubble. charge?”
Regression to earlier stages of development Protest and its forms using barbarous methods of administration leads to the corruption and degradation of Caucasians use different types of protest: traditional Caucasian communities, and to • the mechanization of human beings. some of them write poems, criticizing decision makers; Conformism means lack of protest. • some try to shoot the president or to commit other kinds of terrorist acts; Conformism is when: • some lay mines and perpetrate society doesn’t protest when salaries and subversive activities because the social payments are withheld for months government doesn’t return their homes and even years; to them; • society agrees with the situation when a some go on hunger strikes; group of political “adventurers”, or so- • some of them arrange protest meetings; called “patriots”, is able to rob the state • budget for years; some don’t take part in elections, demonstrating a kind of civil existing bank deposits vanish, human disobedience; being could possibly be imprisoned for • political views and then released in the some of them create NGO’s in order to framework of the program for national unite the efforts of like-minded people consent; trying to address challenges facing society; 49 Documents
• some of them burn effigies of politicians It is important to note politically motivated and whistle loudly to draw the attention suicides because they are the ultimate of the public to urgent social needs; expression of human despair. It is the way of those who have lost all faith, even in • some film documentaries or create TV God. broadcasts; • some write articles and some – topical Regarding belief in God: a tragedy took satires or lampoons; place on April 9, 1989 on Rustaveli Avenue. • some of them leave the secular Armed with shovels, representatives of community for monasteries (the Soviet military forces attacked Georgian incidence of this is extremely high in National Liberation activists who had Georgia), etc. gathered for a demonstration. This is a well known fact, and even if they didn’t see the These diverse forms of protest can be horror with their own eyes, most people divided into two groups: violent and will remember it from the television and nonviolent. Amid violent forms, it is print media coverage at the time. However, important to note the politically motivated reporting of this encounter overlooked one suicides which have recently increased in important detail which few remember. frequency. A special form of these is the Namely, the Catholicos of the Georgian suicidal protest, an act of violence directed Patriarchy, Iliya the Second, urged all the against oneself or potential enemy. This demonstrators to move to the courtyard of kind of action stems from the “no object – Kashveti Church, situated 20 meters from no problem” principle and envisages where the protest was taking place. The breaking down the subject/object Patriarch warned people of the impending relationship through annihilation of the danger but the crowd ignored the words of object. For example: the spiritual leader. The crowd, which was in the vanguard of the national movement, • self-immolation in order to end chose its fate at 4.05 a.m. on April 9, 1989. fratricidal conflict (ex. the case of Dr. Participants of the demonstration perished Giorgi Abesadze’s self-immolation on in a kind of deliberate sacrifice. The crowd Rustaveli Avenue in 1991 during the and its leaders wanted to make this “Tbilisi War”); sacrifice. The Lamb was slain; blood was shed. The image of the enemy was created. • self-immolation of a woman (in 2000) in This demonstration would not have ended front of the Georgian Parliament thus, as was supposed by the Patriarch, building as a protest against the without the ambitions of some of the government’s continued refusal to movement leaders. It is interesting to look release political prisoners; at how the history of the national • some shot themselves, blaming the movement and country as a whole ruling elite and, in particular, former developed as a result of this event. Georgian President Shevarnadze for the current social situation (ex. the case of Protest can take both individual and group the young film director Iliya forms. It is not its quantitative characteristic Chachanidze); that determines the end pursued by protest. Protest is efficient only if it succeeds in 50 • mass suicides of terrorists in Chechnya. changing the situation without violence and Activity Report 2004 victims; the Rose Revolution is a good Recently, a mine exploded near one of the example. However, in this case, while there military facilities of the region and killed a were no victims during the actual protests, dog. When campaigners from ICBL they appeared soon afterwards: mine proposed organizing a specific activity in victims in Adjara this summer, political support of all four-legged friends, other prisoners and other more indirect victims. activists considered this event to be not Barring these facts, this form of protest serious enough for their consideration and appeared more civilized than other coup refused to take part. People must use d’etat attempts in Georgia and Azerbaijan different methods in order to achieve their or the slaughter of Armenian National goals, but human rights activists and other Assembly deputies. kinds of humanitarian workers need great amounts of selflessness and creativity. With regards to forms of non-violent Unfortunately, the Caucasus is often protest, prayer is one of the forms often lacking in this respect. forgotten about. In the Christian tradition, even at breaking point, a pious person Regarding the issue of the arts: the voices of should never curse at a politician, praying poets, musicians, artists and writers aren’t instead for the decision-maker’s mental heard in post-totalitarian society. Culture health. This derives from the belief of the ceases to play a vanguard role in the faithful that the worse a leader feels, the process of change. Young people don’t visit worse the decisions that will be made. This theatres like they did in the late 1980’s should not be seen as conformism, as when an actor was able to inflame whole zealous atheists might claim, but a form of audiences with the slightest ambiguous protest functioning within the framework of phrase, providing spectators with the a certain value system, and in which people pleasure of exchanging secretive gazes, exist and turn to their own internal security winking at something forbidden and then systems. applauding. Tengiz Abuladze’s movie “Repentance” finally brought about a The well known Polish human rights reckoning of soviet counter-culture, one of activist, Marek Nowicki, considered to be the best protest cultures in the history of one of the top specialists in the field of civilization. non-violent protest, provides some fine examples of alternative forms of protest. Nonviolent forms of protest dominate in One lovely evening, residents of Warsaw healthy societies. turned their television sets to face the street in protest at official broadcasts. On Peace-building organizations also belong to another occasion, the people of Warsaw this culture of protest. Peace activism is a started to switch their lights on and off, protest against violence which prevails in which caused certain psychological society. It is a kind of alternative protection pressure on authorities and appeared to for individuals and communities. This is demonstrate the high level of civil especially true when speaking of post- disobedience. totalitarian societies where governmental institutions do not perform their main It is unlikely that one would hear about this function of protecting the rights and legal kind of social conduct happening in the interests of citizens, but rather present cities and towns of the South Caucasus. significant danger to society. 51 Documents
Conflict and post-conflict from that of official structures. This mostly depends on the political situation. regions/sub-regions of the Caucasus It is to be hoped that the support of truly independent civil structures and initiatives will seriously contribute to peaceful, non- The problem of divided societies violent, political resolution of the conflicts in South Caucasus. There is a clear awareness of the particular harms caused to Caucasian countries by International donors play a special role in various types of conflict; metastases of these this process. Unfortunately, international conflicts are everywhere. Most of the organizations providing financial aid and Caucasian territory has a heightened level support are influenced by central of potential conflict. The depths of the governmental authorities in capital cities. democratic reforms in such regions are These authorities, who propose official extremely shallow. Civil conflicts and wars economic blockades (for example, in the have caused the appearance of various situation of Abkhazia), are not prepared to dividing lines within societies. let even small amounts of money fall into “enemy hands”. The amount of Almost all conflict areas represent “divided humanitarian investments to these regions societies” – some of their citizens support has recently increased; however, unlike the the independence of autonomous regions of current situation, investments should be the former Soviet Union or dense distributed equally within the divided settlements of ethnic minorities, while society. others are against. The activities of the UNOHCHR in The division of society as a result of war Sokhumi provide an example. Reports from has, for some, brought about autonomous the organization clearly show that their existence. However, violent division has activities do not apply to those parts of caused thousands of human tragedies. Abkhazian society which were violently displaced or forced to leave the territory of Abkhazia. Due to pressure from the Problem of the development of civil secessionist government, even after a long period of activity, the UNOHCHR is still society institutions in conflict zones unable to open a joint office with the OSCE in order to deal with human rights The NGO sector develops poorly in conflict protection in the Gali district (a territory of zones due to the difficulties of the social dense Mingreli settlement controlled by the and political environment. In these zones, government of Abkhazia). independent public activity not considered sufficiently loyal to the government can cost In the territory of South Ossetia, the fact one’s life. This is the main reason why that ethnic Georgian communities were not NGO’s existing in these regions are able to partake in the building of civil dependent on governmental bodies. It is society only recently garnered the attention also why it can be very difficult to of international aid agencies. This also has a 52 distinguish the “independent” position certain background. Activity Report 2004
In Georgia, civil institutions develop In any case, based on the principal that the irregularly and mainly in big cities. In the development of democratic institutions is Ossetian conflict area, such institutions one of the principal conditions of conflict were first established in Tskhinvali. As a resolution, it is necessary to proceed with result of the military conflict in the former activities directed at developing civil South Ossetian Autonomous Region, the society in Georgian and mixed Georgio- population was divided along ethnic lines. Ossetian villages. However, this policy in This meant that only the townspeople of no way implies that less attention should be Tskhinvali (ethnic Ossetians) had the paid to ethnic Ossetians. opportunity to participate in the process of building a civil society, something, with For many years, the Helsinki Citizen’s rare exceptions, lacking in the countryside. Assembly has spoken out in support of On the level of peace-building initiatives programs leading to the development of and public diplomacy, all projects and democratic institutions in conflict areas of agreements have been maintained by the South Caucasus. It should be noted that “Tskhinvalian” and “Tbilisian” NGO’s, lately international organizations and causing a negative attitude in ethnic foreign governments have been paying Georgians from the conflict area and more attention to this problem. Due to this appearing to contribute to the strengthening trend, the activity of civil society of the antagonistic state of public opinion. institutions has noticeably increased in Mostly, this group of ethnic Georgians Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and South wasn’t provided with information about the Ossetia. International grants have provided possibilities of participating in NGO an opportunity to create, small activities pertaining to conflict resolution organizations relatively independent of and harm reduction. Hence, the wrong local authorities. At the same time, these approach to the distribution of investments efforts have had an unsustainable character and erroneous policy of donors caused the and have had no noticeable effect on the irregular development of civil society in the process of changing the post-totalitarian conflict area. It is extremely important that climate and creating an atmosphere of investments in civil institutions prioritize democracy. the resolution of social and economic ills in order to create fertile conditions for the intensification of the peace process. Problems with development outside of conflict zones (amid refugees and Acceleration of the process of third sector IDPs) development in ethnic Georgian and Ossetian communities of the former SOAR It is well known, the situation of IDPs is is necessary for effective development of extremely difficult. It is especially difficult cooperation and relations between these for IDPs to manifest any civil activity; two communities. Unfortunately, due to however, there are several IDP- created recent complications in the conflict zone, organizations working on protection of work with Ossetian settlements, as well as their rights. Hardly any of these any possibility for defending the rights and organizations have offices, let alone interests of “Tskhinvalian” NGO’s facing technical equipment or permanent direct pressure from the secret service is standing. Other kinds of organizations deal currently not possible. 53 Documents
with the rights of refugees, applying for legislative acts. For the most part, IDPs grants and participating in international have been excluded from the process forums. Of course, everyone can and should determining the political nature of their get involved in these issues, but the major fate. Thus, IDPs are unable to participate in role must belong to those most directly the negotiation process to resolve the affected by them. It must be particularly conflict in Abkhazia. The same situation noted that, for a long time, not one of the exists in other conflict areas. The Abkhazian refugee organizations were international community, however, has accredited at the Geneva Conference on ignored these fundamental problems. Migration Issues. The rights and interests of Erroneous central government and refugees are infringed upon when international organization policies have international programs dealing with lead to a situation where conflict resolution refugee issues are created without the and human rights protection in conflict participation of the people they claim to zones are controlled not by the appropriate protect. governmental or nongovernmental agencies, but by criminals, religious In Georgia, few refugee organizations act extremists or simply people forced to take separately, while in Armenia, the efforts of up arms in order to protect their basic the Armenian Sociological Association in rights. Such errors lead to the development coordinating Geneva initiatives lead to the of partisan militias, terrorism and different creation of a Coordination Council of types of extremism, as well as causing gross organizations that represent the interests of human rights violations all over the refugees. The Caucasus currently has an Caucasus. effective action channel in the CRINGO network, formed by organizations It is also necessary to point out the poor participating in the Geneva process. This development of human rights organizations network was created with the support of among IDPs living in the Caucasus. Their the Danish Refugee Council. In spite of low level of their civic activity is tied to serious obstacles, the network has become their painful psychological and socio- sustainable and today the “Caucasian economic situation. Many IDPs have rallied Refugee and IDP NGO Network” includes behind the politics of revanchist more than 60 independent, nonprofit, associations, while others have been were noncommercial, nonpartisan, volunteer able to create humanitarian or charitable organizations working in the Caucasus on organizations. However, despite the large refugee, IDP and similar issues. CRINGO number of existing problems, refugees do has already been active for three years and not have enough energy to create their own has recently recruited new members – human rights protection agencies which organizations of refugees/IDPs. would enable them to regulate their problems among themselves. There are no organizations working in the midst of IDPs for the protection of their At the same time, there has been increased political rights. During the Georgian activity by organizations based in the parliamentary elections in 1999, European capital. Some of these organizations have Council experts established the fact that focused on refugee/IDP protection because IDPs were entirely unable to take part in the of either professional duty or moral 54 electoral process due to deficiencies in the imperative, while others have used the Activity Report 2004 current “organizational deficit” for their situations are often exploited by different own ends. After all, there are many grants extremist groups. In particular, in the available for this category of organization. villages of Pankisi Gorge mistakes made by It is here that the donors’ serious local authorities during distribution of miscalculation becomes most apparent. It humanitarian aid, and absence of real would have been much more worthwhile to control by central authorities, permitted encourage mechanisms of self-organization wahhabis, members of a radical religious and self-administration among refugees group, to take over control of distribution. themselves, rather than outside their They thus appeared to protect the rights of community. Compound types of miserable people who had been cheated by organizations, of course, would also be local authorities. acceptable. The domination of capital-based The absence of democratic institutions organizations in the NGO sphere has protecting human rights, both on complicated the situation by pushing aside governmental and nongovernmental levels, refugee/IDP-based organizations. This in combination with the weakening situation has also been aggravated by both influence of traditional means of problem the inability of refugee/IDP-based solving, has meant that human rights have organizations to establish a concrete place been relegated to the background, making for themselves in obtaining grants, and the way for problems of security and lack of international programs supporting prevention of mass violence. Most the development of such organizations. unfortunately, neither governmental organizations nor international observers This is why there has been no development have paid enough attention to these kinds of a civil infrastructure within refugee/IDP of problematic issues. There are no practical communities, for example, that of Chechen means of preventing the escalation of these refugees in the Pankisi Gorge. Such conflicts.
Some recommendations for decision makers • Societies of Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia should be perceived as divided societies and this characteristic should determine policy-making in all spheres while taking into account the interests of all parts of society • It’s essential for the international community to have clear policies supporting the development of democracy in South Caucasus conflict zones, especially within divided societies, while using the same care to assist all sectors of society with this process. • The development of institutions for the protection of human rights today, prior to political conflict regulation, will bring about the resolution of these conflicts and create and atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding • Human rights protection in conflict zones is often complicated by the mass - and disorderly nature of violations. It is therefore imperative to develop preventive measures which will begin by preventing violations but will also contribute to the development of civil security mechanisms, in other words peace-building. 55 Documents
Map of problems for South Problem of relations with the Caucasus peace-building government organizations Difficult to be independent from the government Inter-organization relational Different positions on the question of problems economic cooperation with governmental organizations: Division of organizations along pro- governmental, oppositional and 1. No cooperation, total economic nonpolitical lines: different political independence from state. sympathies. 2. Unification around the problem, Projection of existing conflicts onto the unification of economic resources. peace-building sector promotes civil 3. Active cooperation, initiation of dissension; particularly ethnicization of tenders and usage of state resources. peace-building. Pressure on the part of pro-government Different visions of the strategic future press, discrediting of peacekeepers. of the whole region and/or conflict resolution. Pressure from different state secret services. Problem of terminology; different understanding of the same terms. o Corruption in military structures. Absence of a code of ethics for peace- o Attempt to create a police regime in builders. Georgia. Language problem on a provincial and o Journalists beaten by policemen. regional level. o Interrogation of human rights Unhealthy competition – plagiarism, defenders and peacemakers by the developing concurrent programs. Armenian KGB. Incompetence. (Poor relations between o Impossibility of freely registering an analysts, public figures, and peace-builders) organization (Azerbaijan, North Caucasus republics). Lack of organization. Low level of transparency. o Arbitrariness of state officials. No existing infrastructure for o Burglary and arson at the offices of complementary organizations. peace-building organizations. Poor public policy in organizations. o Inplanting of secret agents in Undeveloped press-centers and PR organizations, internal and external services. supervision, listening to phone calls. There are no collaborative projects which o Existence of closed state systems. might support the development of o “Non-transparency” of state further cooperation. structures; their isolated development 56 from society. Activity Report 2004
o Lack of understanding and of serious Problem of relations with media attention given to the role and significance of peace-building Abnormal dissemination of press in the organizations by government Caucasus. structures, especially military. Lack of peace-building periodicals. o State officials often consider activities of peace-builders dangerous to the Absence of websites. Insufficient usage state. of internet resources. o They ignore the recommendations of Lack of a culture of journalistic ethics. international organizations, Low level of professionalism establishing and support “their” organizations – GONGO. Negative role of several independent newspapers; superfluous sensationalism. o Money laundering. Lack of information-oriented Low level of legitimacy. publications and literature for regions. Authoritarianism of many regimes. Non- confidence in the state from the Lack of peace-building, informational population. Problem of “soviet” and methodological literature mentality among state officials. Lack of Problem of access to information. partners in state structures. Weak Lack of independent media in provinces. contact with local authorities. Lack of awareness of journalists about Special problems in the conflict regions laws and their rights of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh, as well as the frontier zones Vulnerability of journalists of Djavakheti, Pankisi Gorge… Weak journalistic investigation Complicated nature of the resolution Lack of constructive criticism. procedure of disputed issues and conflicts. Corruption among judges. Old generation of lawyers-bribes, unreliability of this institute. Problem of relations with private nonobjective legal procedure. Inferiority sector of the judicial reform. Lack of the jury institute. Lack of mechanisms of Prevalence of “shady” business. organizational control of legal structures Commercialization of economics. from the society. Absence of the policy of “reviving” laws – most of them are Absence of strong manufacturing sector not active. Discredit of laws – on the and accordingly low levels of charity. sample of the “Law on alternative Practical absence of charitable service” (Georgia). companies to support peace-building. In state budgets finances for supporting activities on conflict prevention and peace-building are not allotted. 57 Documents
Problem of relations with analysts Problem of cooperation with funds
Fallacious conclusions of experts while Absence of doctrines and strategies to analyzing conflicts creating additional manage the investment process. bases for conflict development. Weakness of the diversification process. Inadequateness in financing significant Non-coordination of analytical fields in peace-building, first of all – organizations between themselves. analysts. Weak contacts and relations between Subjectivity of donors, impact on experts/analysts with representatives of decision-making of personal sympathies. peace-building organizations. Problem of favoritism. Corruptibility of Peace organizations don’t consider the local officials working in funds. recommendations elaborated by Lack of grant programs in peace- experts/analysts. building field. No access to information Lack of consultative, informational- about grants. methodological support of peace- Problem of image of funds – many building organizations by analysts. people consider that funds have a high level of corruption and there are no mechanisms for regulation or control, as Problem of relations with they are closed and practically international organizations inaccessible.
Passivity of UN office in Azerbaijan. They are only in big cities. Lack of financing projects in province. There is Incapability of UNOHCHR to open the no information about donors in office on human rights in the Gali region provinces. of Abkhazia. Carelessness of international donors to Non-compliance with the UN specific local problems. resolutions. Societies divided by conflict are financed Weak cooperation in conflict zones. unequally. Unfair distribution of Negative image of international finances. observers in elections. Dependence on state organizations. Declining reputation due to contacts with political parties. Discrepancy of action mandates.
58 International relations
European integration
In April 2004, SCIRS experts developed the as a foreign policy priority, the organization project “The European Union: Foreign of a conference was then seen as Policy Priority of the South Caucasus required. In 2004, the South Caucasian Countries”, supported by the Friedrich Ebert countries were included in the New Stiftung. The project was developed to Neighbourhood – initiative of the assist the steady and peaceful development European Union. of regional cooperation in the South Caucasus and to contribute to the region’s Within the framework of the project, a rapprochement with the European Union. number of working meetings were held in Baku and Yerevan with the participation of Taking into account that the countries of state representatives, non-governmental the South Caucasus have identified their organizations and scholars. In order to integration into the European community analyze the problems related to the
Information about the International Conference The European Union: Foreign Policy Priority of the South Caucasus Countries
Organizers: • Friedrich Ebert Foundation • South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security (SCIRS)
Partners: • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia • Committee on Foreign Relations of Parliament of Georgia • State Minister of Georgia on European Integration • South Caucasus Cooperation Program
Goals and objectives of the conference: • Promotion of sustainable and peaceful development of the regional cooperation in the South Caucasus and its rapprochement with the European Union. • Research of international experience of European integration processes. • Research of problems and perspectives of integration of the South Caucasus countries to the European and transatlantic structures.
Key topics of the conference: • EU integration – as a general priority of foreign policy of the South Caucasus states in the light of EU “New Neighborhood Initiative”. • Use of the positive experience of European and Euro-atlantic cooperation for the countries of the South Caucasus with the purpose of sustainable development in the united system of security • New initiatives in the South Caucasus promoting the integration to the European Union 59 International relations
Plenary session of the conference “The European Union: Foreign Policy Priority of the South Caucasus Countries”
integration of the South Caucasian Vytautas Landsbergis, as well as the State countries in the European and transatlantic Minister on European integration, Mrs. structures, the investigation of the European Tamara Beruchashvili. integration process, the development of relations between analytical groups and the Representatives of ministries and state exchange of experience of the European structures from Azerbaijan, Georgia, integration are necessary steps to be Armenia and other countries, donors, non- achieved. governmental organizations, scientific, educational and research institutes, The international conference “The embassies of various countries of the world European Union: Foreign Policy Priority of and other interested persons took part in the South Caucasus Countries” was the meeting. conducted on the 30th and 31st of October in Tbilisi. The conference great attention Materials received from the working and was joined by high-level persons like meetings held in Baku and Yerevan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, which give a general representation of the Mrs. Salome Zourabishvili, the vice- current opinion in the South Caucasus president of European parliament about the European integration and other delegation on questions related to reports presented at the conference are 60 Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, Mr. available below. Documents Materials of the International conference “European Union: a priority of foreign policy of the South Caucasus countries”
Some materials of discussions of the working meetings in Baku
July, 6-9, 2004
Alexander Russetsky - the Executive international structures should render their Director of the South-Caucasus assistance to the analysts in this respect. In Institute of Regional Security: other words, not only the experts from Belgium, USA and other states should be “An important point is that presently not working on the problems of conflicts in the only politicians and officials, MASS-MEDIA South Caucasus but the experts from our and international organizations but also the countries as well. The Integration into the analytical centers participate in the European Union is not an end in itself for elaboration of various ideas in regards to us. Our basic goal is the achievement of the the general development of the region, its citizens’ welfare. integration into international structures and particularly in the European Community. Those terms, which the European Union This Baku meeting played an important role sets before its future members may become in filling up the existing vacuum. for us the program in a sense of the “road- map” to the European Union, aiming at the Certainly, we adequately perceive the whole regional development. This very realities and understand that meanwhile principle is of great importance for us. In there will be no serious progress in the this connection we can cite the words of matter of conflicts settlement and all the Hans Sele the great psychologist, who says attempts for smooth integration into that in our aspiration for an ideal we should international organizations, likewise EC, not go directly to it, but move in a rather will be restrained. We also understand that relative way to the ideal. All these meetings the sanguineous contacts between of the analysts’ working groups in their Armenian and Azerbaijan representatives essence result in the development of the have become the matter of concern. very “road-map”. This document should Although, the analytical work on the consist of two components: EC well-known feasible regional projects in all spheres, and clear demands to new members, and already should be passing. The state and our own vision of the given process. 61 Documents
Certainly, it is impossible to achieve identical vision of all the South Caucasus countries in the process of integration in the European Community, but the topic is itself unique and it consolidates the interests of all the South Caucasus states. The corresponding infrastructure focused on promoting the integration in the European Community will be founded further in the region. For example, in Georgia there already exists the Ministry of Integration in the European Union, and we hope, that the appropriate infrastructure will be soon founded also in Azerbaijan. It will enable us to maintain contacts and exchange our experience at a state level”.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia in Poland - Zaza Kandelaki: Zaza Kandelaki, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia “Returning to Europe is a reality. The to Poland countries of the South Caucasus were historically linked with Europe through the Mediterranean countries have their own Byzantine Empire. The way to Europe for plan of Marshall entailing the contacts of our region was barred only after the the countries of Europe and Maghrib. collapse of Constantinople and the capture Another direction is to the northwest, of the territory of the Byzantine Empire by through the countries of the Central Europe. Osman Empire. And before it, the South We are historically consolidated with them Caucasus was the part of Europe in cultural through never to be the common Soviet area aspects as well as in philosophy. We were of existence. Those countries, which have left the only one way to have contacts with passed a long way through and already Europe, which was through Russia”. have become the members of NATO and the European Union, are able to help us. The factor of a fast integration of Turkey in the European Union is an important point For returning to Europe it is more for our region too, as the Caspian and Black expedient to take advantage of both Seas pertain to one Mediterranean Basin - directions simultaneously – says Mr. continued his speech Mr. Kandelaki. Kandelaki. The Ambassador Extraordinary Historically it was one civilization in every and Plenipotentiary of Georgia in Austria respect. We may integrate into Europe in and Hungary Konstantin Zhgenti spoke two ways. One-way is through Turkey and against the use of the term “returning” as the South region of Europe: Italy, France the symbol of our integration in Europe: and Spain. Especially as the Mediterranean “It will be to no avail, except the endless 62 possesses all the necessary structures. The disputes. Some people consider themselves Activity Report 2004
Round Table in Baku on the research of the problems of the integration of The South Caucasus countries to the European and the Transatlantic structures to be Europeans, but I consider myself to Community through NATO. Today we be equally both the European and the should pay a special attention to the Asian as I was born at the border of settlement of conflicts by a peaceful policy Europe and Asia. It’s especially because engaging policemen of multinational forces the Europe has different borders and not of only one state. Our direction will proceeding from the political and seemingly decide the given problem at two geographical points of view”. levels: the CIS and NATO “.
Head of Faculty of Criminalistics and When speaking about the economic revival Forensic Enquiry of BSU, of the conflict zones, we with our unified the professor, Doctor of Jurisprudence positions should draw up the status of - Kyamil Salimov: political formations consisting of the sovereign states for the given areas. The basic emphasis at the conference of the Azerbaijan frequently speaks about its regional countries that will be devoted to intention to grant Karabakh with the their integration in the European Union highest status of autonomy in the should be made on the joint collaboration of membership of the sovereign state. Where all the South Caucasus countries in working is this status? When I am told, that on conflicts settlement issues. Armenians will not accept it in either case, I’m tell them in turn: “Write it all down In the second place, the conference and send it to different international documents point the way to the European structures for the review, and only 63 Documents
The Head of the Public Forum “ In the name of Azerbaijan “ Eldar Namazov and the Independent Political expert Zardusht Alizadze – participants of the Round Table
afterwards send it to Armenians. There are structures, public consciousness and 96 administrative and territorial divisions political culture. If we don’t change in France, but for 25 years they still cannot ourselves, the integration will more likely solve the problems of Corsica, Brittany and remind us how ignorant is our child who is New Caledonia. Nevertheless, French admitted to the prestigious university. “He” people did not lose their time in vain, and knows nothing, but they will pay a bribe for for this period they have developed the him and the European diploma is for sure status of those areas in France, by giving in one’s hand. them a broad autonomy and ensuring the economical revival and safety secured by However, it will certainly fail to function NATO. Peacemaking way is actually the with Europe, irrespective of national and very military way for conflicts settlement. confessional belongings. But we all have to speak together with common points of view. We have to change ourselves. A good example in it is the republic of Turkey, The Independent Political Scientist – which also aspires to become a member of Zardusht Alizadze: the European Union. For the latest 5-6 years Turkey has passed an important democratic Integration in the European Union is an reforms in this direction: the imposed essential point for all the South Caucasus settlement of the Joint Staff is limited, countries. But what are the obstacles in the national and cultural rights of Kurds are 64 way? - First of all we ourselves - our already observed, military tribunal is Activity Report 2004 cancelled and etc. Will we also go in such a Chairman of NGO “Center of Regional way? The internal consent is vitally essential Development “ Chingiz Izmailov: in this process. The authorities in Europe do not beat their people after elections, and the Development of economic relations opposition does not go outside in the street between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not with the purpose to assault the official feasible as long as Armenians still live in bodies. Unfortunately In our country this is Karabakh. Those contacts do actually exist, normal as the power here is the source of although not at an official level. They used richness, which cannot be said about Europe. to say, that there was no sex in the USSR. Although, the number of the country’s “Who are we - the Europeans or the population grew obviously. neighbors of Europe?” and the answer is that we are the Caucasians and not the In Europe, for example, they cannot Europeans. Let us restrain ourselves from understand - why does Azerbaijan reject the indulging in self-deception. May be some economy, such a powerful lever of influence Georgian in the heat of national glory will on ones own opponent – Armenia? In this stand up and say “We are the ancient way we would considerably increase a Europeans” and will recollect his ancestors segment of Armenian population interested - Iberians. But actually, we are not in the development of economic relations Europeans and moreover strongly differ with Azerbaijan. from them. Presently in Europe the serious discussions are led about whether the South It is necessary to train the army and at the Slavs are Europeans. Europeans happen to same time to work with the population of face the mentality of Serbs, Albanians and Karabakh. In this respect the president of are horrified from an absolutely another Georgia Mr. M. Saakashvili made a approach to problems”. remarkable statement: “We shall not use force for the resolution of conflicts in the “We do not return to Europe but just go South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We can do it there. The South Caucasus has never been by economic levers”. This is a real European the Europe, - brings out convincingly Mr. Z. approach. That is why Mr. Bush, Mr. Alizade - it would be interesting to know Shrewder and others have developed how the Europe refers to the integration of contacts with Mr. Saakashvili. The the South Caucasus? As the title of the President of Georgia acts as a bride who is program “New neighborhood”, may appear ready to get married. The integration of the to be a bureaucratic one for indication of the South Caucasus countries into Europe looks all-European approach to this problem. And very attractive and tempting, although it is I am sure, that the more Europeans study us very far from prospects until our problems the lesser is their enthusiasm to accept us in are solved and we are changed. From this their lines. It is necessary to educate the point of view, the integration of Georgia people of our country about the grounds becomes more probable in case the that are essential for turning the process of Abkhazian conflict is settled by some integration into reality. While many of us miracle. In this case Europe is unlikely wait believe that we are so beautiful and clever, for the whole South Caucasus to be let the Europe still send matchmakers to us. matured for the integration, and will open No, it is not like that. Europe does not need its doors only to Georgia. Admission of us as they are all-sufficient”. Turkey to the European Union will also 65 Documents
promote a direct bordering of the South The Head of a Public Forum “ In the Caucasus countries to the European Union. name of Azerbaijan “ Eldar Namazov: Therefore all of us should be the supporters of the integration of Turkey in the European There are three problems for us on the way Community. This can be a real prospect for to the European integration. The first one is the countries of EU. Theoretically under an internal problem. That is, how present conditions we stand quite good successfully do our countries conduct the chances for the development even without economic and political reforms that were getting integrated into Europe. officially declared? Unfortunately, we don’t practice it all and still continue dreaming about that we shall Expansion of the European Union is one begin to develop quickly only within process, which passes quickly enough, and Europe. The fact that for nowadays the the EU is already knocking at our door. living standard of the South Caucasus There is a counter process: how well do our peoples is very low is not the matter of countries conduct those economic and whether we are the EU members or not but political reforms, which make us closer to simply the matter of we are who we are. the European standards. Unfortunately this process goes with delay. This is an internal To create the economic development problem. The second problem - is the program for conflict zones outside of all regional, including various conflicts system of economic development of the existing on the territory of the South country - is an absurd. “In our country we Caucasus. All of them create serious even have no program for ensuring the obstacles for our integration in the European economic development of Azerbaijan. Union. The third aspect is the geopolitical Development of such kind of program one. The matter is that not all world leading requires having of Executive Authorities in players having the interests in our region are all areas of the country. We should not interested in the integration of the South expect the existence of the joined program Caucasus into the Europe. I would like to any more If one part of the country’s underline the fact that Armenia adheres to territory is found outside of the economic the geopolitical orientation that is different program area of the Authority. from other countries of the South Caucasus. One should take a geopolitical factor into When speaking about European integration, account seriously but not only speak about it is necessary to ask ourselves the EU and the South Caucasus. Unfortunately following question - what will it give us? as a result it turns out that we soar in a No matter how hard we try to change our vacuum. laws, we have our own mentality and traditions. No matter how hard we strive I do not think, that Azerbaijan may for becoming the cosmopolitans, we all collaborate with Armenia when the conflict have our own vision in all aspects. It is is still in process. It seems for me quite possible, that as a result of integration inexpedient to extrapolate this correct we shall lose our self-identification. Just position of Azerbaijan about the idea of remember that European integration should discussion and conducting of research not be an end in itself”. works on integration of the whole region into European Union. Actually three 66 countries - Azerbaijan, Armenia and Activity Report 2004
Georgia will participate in the process on in one region, and there is nothing we could the most sensitive issue for us: territorial change therein. Existence without Armenia integrity and security of borders on the will be like playing a football with one gate. basis of international law. Positions of We have to admit that the joining of Georgia and Azerbaijan are absolutely Armenia and Azerbaijan to the Council of identical. Therefore Azerbaijan should act Europe has not resulted in the resolution of braver at the initial stages and take an the conflict. It will be the same even if we active participation in the research projects. are invited for the integration in the At the same time it is necessary to have in European Union. view that finally, It all will result in that two parties: Azerbaijan and Georgia will be Peace building never considers the use of ready to create joint structures on all military force, which is used only at principle questions of integration, coercion to peace. Obviously such kind of applying the pattern of EU in mutual peace will be rather shaky and fragile, and relations and, in addition, preparation of most likely harmful for both parties. When the countries for smooth integration in the searching for the ready pattern for resolving European Union. There is nothing horrible the conflict in Karabakh we should to the point, because the pattern of extrapolate neither “the middle East Georgian-Azerbaijan integration from the pattern” - the resolution of Israel- point of view of geographical location, Palestinian conflict nor “the Cyprian communications and existing regional pattern” in our realities. The great countries projects and our common positions on were powerless to settle those conflicts. foreign policy questions are all-sufficient. And the Europe faces lots of problems too. We hope that Armenia may join us when it So, in Germany for the last years Turks no reaches up to our level and finally feels longer integrate in the German community oneself as Caucasian but not pre-Asian. because of natural fear of Germans And yet it is too early mechanically to alongside with the French representatives, extrapolate the circuit of the Georgian- who are the supporters of conservation of Azerbaijan integration on the Armenian- the European Christian values. It is Azerbaijan relations. The first thing we necessary for us to search for the mutually have to do is the settlement of conflicts. acceptable formula, which could completely Neither EU, nor NATO will accept us with exclude the use of military force. For this our unsettled conflicts. purpose, in the first place we should to consider as geopolitical as geo-economical interests of the South Caucasus countries in The Head of the Research-Analytical the region of the Big Caucasus as well as Center “Peace, Democracy and beyond its borders. For some reason we Culture”, the expert “Observer” Rauf frequently speak about geopolitical Rajabov: aspirations of the mandatory powers that are surrounding us, at the same time We have no problems with Georgia. BTD forgetting about our own geopolitical Pipeline has tightly connected us to each interests. Millions of Azerbaijanians, other for a long time. But it is necessary for Armenians and Georgians live in Russia. It Azerbaijan to conduct the negotiations with will for sure infringe the interests of our Armenia within the framework of this countries in Russia and other countries of organization but not to avoid it all. We live the post Soviet space. 67 Documents
Secondly, it is necessary to define the Victory of rights at recent elections in the common and identical approaches to Euro parliament shows, that Europeans settlement of the South Caucasus conflicts realize threats for the culture and history. so that further to develop the universal And we may not call ourselves Europeans pattern for settlement of conflicts in the in either way. We are rather Eurasians, the South Caucasus. Since the required people bearing the European and Asian scientific and human potential exists in the culture in them. region. The consultant of Foreign Policy Besides when speaking about peace Planning Management of the Ministry building by NATO, it is impossible to forget of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan - about organized armed forces of the Elchin Guseinli: European Union. For example, the transfer of peacemaking functions from NATO to The ideas about necessity of the regional the European structure already takes place collaboration were discussed even before in Macedonia and Bosnia. Hence, the origin of the project “New Neighbours participation of military divisions of the of EC”. We agreed to, but demanded in the three South Caucasus countries in the beginning to decide the problems caused by Europe would be expedient. It is impossible the conflict. It is an official attitude of to start with NATO at once, as Armenia will authorities of Azerbaijan. As for EC, in the not participate in it simply for the reason beginning this organization was focused on that it joins to ÎÄÊÁ. But all these actions economic issues, further began to cover should pass only with the mandate of the political aspects too. The project “New United Nations. Neighbours of EC” - is the same, as the Big Middle East project of Washington for the Here comes the question: what is more Middle East. That is to say that Europeans important for us - peacemaking or the know it well, that we never shall achieve a security? In my opinion, security is more level that would be sufficient for the important. Especially since in the global integration into EC. Let us take Turkey for system of security all countries and peoples example. Since 1960 it attempts to join the of the Big Caucasus also may and should European Union, and it is unlikely that this find their own place. Alternative to this is year it will turn into reality. On the other the ruin and self-destruction. hand, the South Caucasus is very important for Europe - they do not want to lose it. The European Union will extend and farther, down to the Central Asia. But how far do we want to live peacefully in the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of region of the Big Caucasus? We speak about International Relations of BSU, integration to Europe, and the European values. But at the same time we should not the doctor of political sciences, forget about the South Caucasus regional professor Ijran Guseinova: values, which might be complementary to each other. There was much spoken about what was the question of priority: the resolution of Presently, the reassessment of values and conflicts or the collaboration. I think that 68 self-identification take place in Europe. The these processes do not exclude each other. If Activity Report 2004 we aim at being integrated into Europe then Azerbaijan should prove to the Armenian the goal for resolution of conflicts existing population of Karabakh, that living in in the region will be accordingly set Azerbaijan is much more attractive, that we forward. On the other hand, we have to shall not create the ghetto, surrounded with admit that the situation when conflicts will a barbed wire for them. be settled not by our participation but under the influence of the great powers For example, in France they constantly may arise at any moment. transmit about ethnic minorities. Authorities want their people to knew what Big plus for joining of Azerbaijan and Georgia do the Muslim communities residing in into EC is the polyethnicity of these states. their country represent themselves. Armenia, as distinct from our countries, is the monoethnic state. If we cannot come to an Now we have to decide, what is more agreement within the framework of the ethnic important for us: to be integrated in more community, we may not claim to be admitted progressive for today structure or to go in the membership of Europe. slowly in an unknown direction.
SCIRS experts – Gulshan Pashaeva (national coordinator in Azerbaijan of the regional project UNIFEM “Women for the prevention of the conflicts and creation of peace in the South Caucasus”) and Ijran Guseinova (deputy Dean of the Faculty of International Relations of BSU, the doctor of political sciences, professor) 69 Documents
Some materials of discussions of the working meetings in Yerevan
July, 14-16, 2004
Meeting with the Deputy Minister of whole. At the same time the structure of the Foreign Affairs - Ruben Shugaryan New Neighborhood Initiatives intends to and the Head of Department of draw up the separate plans for each neighboring country. The experience of the Political Planning Management of the Baltic and Scandinavian States is very Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RA – important for the South Caucasus countries. Ashot Voskanyan. During the conference it is necessary to pay a special attention to the economic When discussing the question of integration mechanisms. It is important to develop the of the region together or separately it was regional approach and bilateral relations as noted, that the European Union is interested well. Perhaps it would be expedient to in the South Caucasus region as a single invite the Deputy Minister of Foreign
Ruben Shugaryan, The Deputy Minister of Ashot Voskanyan, The Head of the Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Department of Political Planning Affairs of RA Management of the Ministry of Foreign 70 Affairs of RA Activity Report 2004
Affairs of Turkey, and the experts like separately - the only way to is together. Michael Li, Heikki Talvitie, Bruce Jackson Joining into EC membership of only one (Marshal fund) and NATO representatives. country seems unfeasible. It is necessary to It is also desirable to expand the format of analyze what are the problems within the the conference participants by means of framework of collaboration inside the region. inviting other Neighbours as well. The date Unfortunately, our delegacies do not work that was chosen for holding the conference together in different forums and sometimes is the most suitable. they even act against each other. It all happens in the sight of representatives of the Mr. Voskonyan holds the opinion that the European structures and all perfectly see the conference should be utterly practical and existing contraventions. We have to speak maximally focused on concrete issues. The honestly and sincerely to each other. The conference should be conducted at a level of South Caucasus inter-parliamentary participation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs conference on the questions of the European from the three countries of the South integration is planned to be held in Armenia. Caucasus. The conference should produce the strategy, and three countries have to Mr. Torosyan has expressed his concern provide their ideas of what they should and about that in Armenia in the meantime they are able to do. It is necessary to invite EC know very little about the South Caucasus representatives for participation in the Institute of Regional Security. In his conference. The practical and specific proposals should raise the status of our countries as well as raise the level that is necessary for our countries to participate in EC programs.
Meeting with Vice-President of ÍÑ Armenia, the Co-Chairman of Inter- Parliamentary Initiatives of the South Caucasus – Tigran Torosyan
National assembly of Armenia
Mr. Torosyan has expressed his bewilderment in regards to the fact that the Pact of Stability is developed somewhere in Europe, without participation of the South Caucasus countries. What is the use of talking about the integration since we are unable even to draw up a general deed? We shall be treated in respect to the way we behave inside the region. The aspiration to Tigran Torosyan, Vice-President of the become the EC member is very important National Assembly of Armenia, the Co- Chairman of Inter-Parliamentary Initiatives of and it’s not the question of jointly or the South Caucasus 71 Documents
opinion, the people that may do a lot of Europe as soon as possible. As all of you good in this direction - professionals of already know, the situation in the South different branches should be very much Caucasus depends on external forces and involved in the work of the Institute. He the economies of the countries are also considers, that it is necessary to come dependent and integrated. Today political into agreement in those fields, which do not factors dominate over economic forces. relate to conflicts, and prepare the grounds Interdependence and integration of for their resolving. economies is one of the factors of stability.
At the meeting there were discussed the Economic components of Europriority questions in regards to development of direction are planned to be reviewed on the more effective collaboration between SCIRS Tbilisi conference to be held in autumn. and the Inter-parliamentary Initiative of the South Caucasus, by the way Armenia is the The world changes quicker than people can President country for now. imagine. It changes much more dangerously, than expected. We live in one When speaking about the questions of geopolitical space where the coexistence standardization of the appropriate and economic integration are simply structures, Mr. Torosyan has noted that there essential. Naturally, the economic, cultural is a number of objective difficulties, for and political relations between the states example, in the Constitution of Armenia it is may vary, but to change its geographical stipulated, that Public Assembly of Armenia position is impossible. We live together and is entitled to generate only six commissions. should consequently find the ways for The Provisional commission on the questions integration. In view of that all three countries of integration in the European structures is of the South Caucasus were connected to the already functional for today. new neighbor’s initiative, we should act jointly and for the welfare of the region. Mr. Torosyan has given his principal Time of blockade and braking factors has agreement to participate in the work of the already become a matter of the past. conference. Economic integration is not so easy to carry out. It is necessary to take an objective look The Deputy Director of Department on over the time when all of us (not regional policy of the Ministry for simultaneously) joined in the Council of Foreign Affairs of Georgia – Givi Europe, under the situation of adopting Shugarov criteria in Eurostructures - Eurointegration will not pass so easily. First of all, we will I am glad that something useful is being be demanded to carry out those obligations, done in regards to the European which we have promised to the Council of integration. As Mr. Russetsky has noted, Europe, and they are very difficult. We can subjective and objective causes of aspiration say that Georgia has executed only 3 from to Europe is the development of the South those 13 obligations. We are excited very Caucasus countries. There are original much with other obligations; the special visions about security, but the most among them is the obligation about important from them is that the countries of repatriation of Moslem-Meskhs, what can 72 the South Caucasus aspire to join the change the demographic situation Activity Report 2004 fundamentally in the region. It would be neighbor, and in the second place, it is desirable to note, that the Council of Europe connected not only to economic factors, but regards the existing situation in Georgia also with some structures of security and with understanding. Georgia might likely play an important role in this process. It is necessary also to note, that the question on repatriation of Moslem-Meskhs is also Speaking about economic relations and delayed and secondly - Muslim-Meskhs about economic integration, it is necessary will be settled on the territory of Georgia to understand, that Georgia, Armenia and incompactly, and in different areas. I want Azerbaijan appear in different situations. to emphasize on this question because I For example, Georgia and Armenia are ÂÒÎ know, that this process is watched up here. members; Azerbaijan is absolutely free from We understand that we should protect our obligations in this direction. interests by not loosing others. Georgia always expressed one’s will to be The second problem, which I would like to integrated in Euro-Atlantic Structures. I discuss, is the question of integration of the think that to get there is much easier, than region together or separately. It was noted, in EC, because the criteria of EC that the European Union is interested in the membership are much more rigid. The way South Caucasus region as a single whole. I to EC is long and complex. If we shall not know that individual programs are act quickly and adequately we shall stay prepared both in Georgia and Armenia. only friends, and the second chance may never apply any more. “The Triple” integration is theoretically feasible, even though - the objective If we the conference turned out to be useful complexities still exist. It would be especially we should pay a special attention on useful for us to make an inclination on the economic mechanisms of integration in the development of mutual relations. In this case European Community. We should change the question is Armenia and Georgia. mentality of leaders of our countries who Certainly, economic relations are intensively politicize the situation needlessly (political developed, but there are reserves which are factors somehow put the economical factors not used yet and which especially relate to the on the background). economic issues. If during some processes Georgia and Armenia will initiate the joint When speaking about economic integration, projects, it could find understanding in EC the significant achievements can be made and we would receive additional remedies for only when the level of development of these further development of our countries. three countries will be identical. The isolation of some of them can bring in I think, that those relations existing between further development of new conflict. Azerbaijan and Georgia can be used for strengthening the Georgian-Azerbaijan Alongside with the public sector (the positions. parliament, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the government), it is necessary to prepare There is one more question that is of great people for that what we are directed to. The importance - how fast will Turkey join the state changes only when the mentality of its European Community. Turkey is our people changes too. 73 Documents
I want to draw your attention to the SCIRS Caucasus have undertaken in regards to the Research Center for the Development of Council of Europe, are not yet executed. Georgian-Armenian Relations, which will This question should be surely discussed on work in this direction and have influence on the conference. The most important point is the decision-making process on this that we have to start talks about. question. Both NGO and the governmental I am sure, that together it will be much organizations agree, that this conference easier to pass the way, which is more needs to be conducted, as making of real difficult to pass alone. estimations is possible during carrying out of the conference.
Ambassador to the Republic of Georgia in Austria and Republic of Yerevan State Linguistic University, Hungary, expert of SCIRS - Konstantin the Rector - Suren Zolyan Zhgenti Several days ago I have attended the I want to inform you that the similar round conference, which was held in Hamburg, table was organized in Baku, and the meeting the subjects was almost the same. The was also conducted in the Ministry of Foreign conference was divided into two parts: the Affairs of Azerbaijan. Representatives of the first - the possibility of resolution of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan conflicts, and the second - the possibility of have put forward the question, that any cooperation. The round table was organized conference conducted with participation of in the end of the conference. the South Caucasus representatives will not bypass without discussions on conflicts. New initiatives show, that the situation has reached the point and that these roll calls It was suggested to consider the conflicts in are not casual. view of the settlement of conflicts in Europe. It meant the conflicts in Balkans, My vision is as follows: the Cyprian problem etc. Our program was When talking about the integration into the also maintained in the Ministry of Foreign European Community together or Affairs of Armenia. separately, we have to unite two issues:
I think, that the integration into Europe is a 1. Integration of the South Caucasus very significant question especially because 2. Joining in the European Community. recently that there ware no talks about it at all. The countries of Northern Africa have Whether or not we are getting ready for joined the initiative of the new joining in the European Union – it is still the neighborhood, and the South Caucasus was question of necessity, we proceed from our not mentioned there at all. I am sure, that needs and not just from the fancy of joining after some years the Europe will open us its the European Union. But it is still necessary door. to note, that during the parliamentary elections the countries of EC have got tired It is necessary to note, that those of reception of new members because of 74 obligations, which countries of the South new problems, which they did not suspect Activity Report 2004 earlier. There was a defined weariness, no serious political problems between which was sharply reflected on the election Azerbaijan and Georgia, but for the returns. The level of skepticism in Europe is exception of the pipeline project, there is no very high and there is no talk about any real economic collaboration. The statistics expansion of EU it refers not only us, but show that the Georgian-Armenian also Turkey - anyway, today - it seems economic relations are more intensive. But unfeasible. May be, the situation will we see, that the absence of serious political change in five years. problems is accompanied by absence of appropriate level of economic cooperation. Therefore the above-mentioned two questions - integration of the South It seems to me that the very round table, Caucasus and the joining in the European which was held in Hamburg has shown, Community are different from each other. that there is a common consensus and We should think well how is it possible to desire to solve these problems. Instead of use the potential of this new neighborhood. arguing about the probably essential issues This is a very interesting program, which has so many resources that for today our countries are not capable to understand and use them normally...
It is necessary to pay an attention to what format the Hamburg conference worked in. Certainly, there were also weak parties, although the idea of establishing the structure like European OSCE was brought in during the round table, i.e. The Organization of Security and Cooperation of the South Caucasus. It is necessary to discuss it, as some intermediate stage, which is more realistic.
I have unofficially offered the Commission on the question of regions and the Council of Europe to overlook the question on formation of the forum of local governing, regional management in the Caucasus, as additional and closer to everyone, as the South Caucasus conference will be confined by the main executive authority. Co-organizer of the Round Table in Yerevan on the research of the problems of the integration of the South Caucasus countries In regards to the economic mechanisms, I to the European and Tranatlantic structures – completely agree to that the priority is Khachatur Bezirjian, (Advisor of the given to the politics, and the economy is not chairman of the council of the civil service of involved. In this case we exaggerate the role RA) and participant of the meeting Suren of political factors - this is sooner the Zolyan (Rector Yerevan State Linguistic reservation for authorities because there are University) 75 Documents
there were discussions about development Our purpose in this direction is to do our of existing potential which will result in best in order to make our firms transparent. change of the general map of the world and general vision of the regions. Therefore I would like this meeting to be held in the Chairman of NGO “European South Caucasus, and the place of its Integration” – Karen Bekaryan conducting can be divided rotationally. I have some proposals for the conference. What is your idea about creating the certain The Analytical Center “Armat” Ex- block, which would permit NGOs and Minister of statistics of RA, Economist analytical centers to review the projects of - Edward Agadzhanov the program by the end of the program?
The powerful globalization processes pass Projects of programs, which will be in Europe today. The calculations prepared at two levels: conducted by me on the three countries of the South Caucasus make us to tell, that the 1. For each taken country, with several population and the territories of all three associates who are matched with countries of the South Caucasus taken associates of other two countries; together is much lesser than the average 2. Projects, which even have the possibility European country, for example - Romania of collaboration with the state structures. of 22 million people and the area of 230 000 square kilometers. It is possible to tell, that Formation of such block reviewing the the three countries of the South Caucasus - projects of programs, which considers the do not show the interest in globalization respect. That is why the integration is very participation of representatives of the important for us. appropriate funds and the organizations, which basically may become donors, will But there comes such question: If we permit these projects not only to motivate overlook the conducted economic reforms but also create certain real grounds for of the three countries of South Caucasus, we work after the conference. shall clearly see an asynchrony in them. Observation of synchronism is an essential point in times of economic reforms. The Representative of Yerevan Press Club – Ashot Melikyan But in my point of view the most important point is that during the integration in the Separate integration is possible if each of European Union there is one danger for the South Caucasus countries tries to adoptions of rules for this game, which are integrate in the EC separately. But as this common for the countries of the South process is long, there still exist the chance of Caucasus. There is no firm or organization joint integration. in either republic of the South Caucasus, which would have the international rating. I would like to put the following question If the country has no transparent forward: whether they in EC await us with organization, it means, that the country does the conditions we happen to be now? I 76 not have an international economic rating. think - they don’t. Just the initiative of good Activity Report 2004 neighborhood is a good lure to intensify the The idea of the new neighborhood is not a process of integration in the region and as novelty. In 2001 in Romania, when the though to speed up the development of these French people have organized the countries in all fields. It is important, that the conference, which was devoted to European integration of the region should proceed at a integration, the South Caucasus positive channel and without overcoming representatives were told that Europeans do conflicts and search for the ways of not want to have a precipice after the coexistence in case of unsettled conflicts. Europe. Transition should pass in a smooth way. From this point of view, certainly, it is important to emphasize on economic cooperation, but not without creation of an The Yerevan State University, the atmosphere of trust. Therefore I think it is senior lecturer of Arabian faculty - necessary to discuss the question of how to David Hovanesyan transform that informational war gradually to an atmosphere of trust. I want to go back to words of the professor Mr. Zolyan, that we should use our best capabilities, given to us by the program Advisor of the chairman of the council “New Neighborhood” to develop the South of the civil service of RA - Khachatur Caucasus collaboration, which can be called Bezirjyan the union, the confederated states.
I have such remarks: We can consider two examples of the pattern for resolution of conflicts: Israel- “Jointly or together”. I think, that each Arabian and Franco-German. Israel- country of the South Caucasus should Arabian conflict will not be solved, because separately try to join in the European relations therein are primitive-territorial. As Union, as we happen to face different for the Franco-German conflict it will be conditions. solved, because the conflict is transformed exactly through creation of the European They often say that political factors are Union of Coal and Steel and so farther - and above economical ones, but I think, that it is the rate of EC was developed so. because of economic reasons. When speaking about the project of the All these three countries of the South conference program I would like to offer Caucasus are the members of ÂÒÎ. you the following: Everyone criticizes the inclusion into the membership of this organization. They I think, that it is possible to change the term speak about integration, because it is and to give the conference the following favorable. But there is nothing really done title: “Using of the Initiative Neighborhood perhaps for the reason that many clans may for Development of the South Caucasus lose their influence as a result of European Regional Cooperation and Collaboration. integration. The general priority of foreign policy of the That is why the political factors are above South-Caucasus countries - produces economical ones. nothing new. But I aspire for true. At the 77 Documents
David Hovanesyan, the Yerevan State Grachja Galstjan, “Concord” - Center of University, the senior lecturer of Arabian Political and Legal Studies, expert faculty
first session I would offer to conduct the “Concord” - Center of Political and block of valuable categories, axiology, Legal Studies, expert - Grachia “European Values” and “Regional Values”, Galstyan rapprochement and conservation. There are no special claims about the I would like to offer to change the term conference. The format of the conference is “Road-map” with another because it causes interesting - who will participate in the negative reactions. There is no use of giving conference. It is possible to make the negative titles to good projects. representatives of the civil society, politicians and businessmen interested in it. I think, that the question about “Road-map” should be debated not on the plenary It is necessary to make monitoring about session but in the working group before the what it was spoken on this meeting. conference. Certainly, everyone separately is engaged in these things, but it is necessary to direct all this to a line of benefit.
Experts of institute do very important lifelengths and with their help it is possible to draw up the important document and 78 some other documents as well. Activity Report 2004
Some speeches presented at the international conference
Salome Zourabishvili,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
I think it is very significant that this different times. Now we have to develop a conference is taking place here in Georgia at plan for our future construction. this very moment. We are in this region at an important turning point. Finally we got There have also been ideas about the region included in the neighborhood constructing a federal system, as well as policy of the European Union and the EU different types and different kinds of itself has expanded. We are at a point integrations. This quest for integration is where democracy in this region is at a not new. We have integration as an developmental stage. Next year we will see objective because we realize that at the the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline begin same time we are a small region, a very strategically located region, and one whose operation and then the start of construction development can only come about through on the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum gas pipeline. transit and openness to the rest of the All of this has to make us think what we world. It is very difficult to be open to the want to do with our region. We all are rest of the world if you are not open among living in a global world, where all the yourselves, and if you have inner borders threats are more and more global and can that make all procedures and other only be responded to and dealt with in a constraints that complicate the flow of cooperative manner between states and first trade, human beings and communication of all, between neighboring states sharing a throughout the region. And that is a reason common reality. So, for us and for the why our primary economic objective is to foreign policy of Georgia, there are no real develop our transit capacities. These transit alternatives. We have no choice but capacities are linked to the acceleration of integration, but it is also our objective, not the integration processes in the region. only a necessity. It is a very fundamental There is no doubt that integration is very objective, first of all because it is something important, as we have seen recently that is inscribed in our history: ours is a through the Beslan tragedy. region where there were no inner conflicts. We witnessed many conflicts from outside This region is one, which for the outside and invaders of different kinds coming at world at least, is closely linked to 79 Documents
international terrorism. Most people in the information, they have training programs. world do not observe much difference We all can benefit very much from this. between the Northern Caucasus and Southern Caucasus. The further away you That is true not only for our northern go, the more they equate the Caucasus and border; it is also true for our southern terrorism. We have to get rid of this notion border. We have quite an open border with if we want to progress and if we want to Turkey and it is much easier to go through attract foreign investment and cooperation that border and much faster, but this does and in order to get rid of it, we have to start not mean that we do not have to manage it. working together on this very major threat. We need certain relevant information as to We have to cooperate with outside powers what goes through that border; we all need on this issue, but we also have to cooperate that. with forces at home and we need to find Integration is not only a necessity, it is a fact ways to carry out the reciprocal of life. I have already mentioned how we management of our borders and the are affected if one of our borders does not efficient exchange of information, because function normally, but we are also very this threat is one that can be dealt with only much integrated already in terms of energy. through cooperation and through exchange We are going to get more electricity from of information. Closing one’s territory, by Armenia and we continue to receive contrast, is not effective to this end – this electricity and gas from Russia. That is very never works. In today’s world you can not clear, but we also will get gas from close off your territory – this time has Azerbaijan through the gas pipeline that is passed. All of us lived in a world where being restored. As I have already this was the practice and we were isolated mentioned, the oil pipeline and gas pipeline from the rest of the world. But that time is will be going through both Azerbaijan and truly over. Now we have borders, but we Georgia. We all know that the railroad have to manage them and we saw very issue is very problematic in the region and clearly last month when Russia closed its an important issue, one that is linked to all borders with Georgia, not the whole of our conflicts and our future perimeter, but main legal crossing points, as development. The railroad links our ports, well as with Azerbaijan, all three countries those on the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. All were affected, not only Georgia and of this makes our region a region – a single Azerbaijan, but Armenia too. This is organism that cannot be divided. It must natural, as we share a common fate; we are operate together and if its operation in one already interdependent and very much part is affected, the whole region is affected. linked together, even if we do not fully This is a fact of life. realize it and are not yet as integrated politically as we could be. We see another big obstacle to this integration - conflicts, first of all the conflict This question of the border made it clear as between our two neighbors, which is clearly to how much we have to work on this issue a constraint and barrier to the future not only among ourselves, but - and this is integration for the whole region. On the my deep conviction – we have to have the other hand there are the conflicts in European Union work with us on this issue Georgia, the frozen conflicts. While as they have instruments, means by which working on building a democracy since the we can establish the exchange of 80 November Rose Revolution, we have Activity Report 2004 discovered that you cannot just forget about relations with Central Asia, which has most these frozen conflicts, because there are promising potential today, depend on our very bad tendencies that may freeze the capacity to build the road to better regional development of the whole country, both integration. I also would say that our economic and political. These tendencies relationship with Russia, which is very affect you directly. They have a very important to the whole of the region and negative impact on anything you try to do which we need for the stability of the on the controlled part of the territory, region, will be stable only if there is a because of corruption and other criminal relationship between a more hopefully activities that find fertile soil in the regions confident Russia and a more integrated without control. There is no control at the region that can establish with Russia borders and that of course affects the whole normal and equal partnership relations, economy and affects our capacity to move which we try to do individually as well. At towards regional integration. Therefore, we the same time we have to be viewed by have no other alternative in this issue either. Russia as an important region, as a self- standing region that can be friendly as long We have to deal with our democratic as it is treated in a friendly manner. That is development and economic development why we have to build long-term stability in simultaneously with the frozen conflicts. the region, which will attract foreign We cannot just wait for a bright future, investments and foreign cooperation; where we will be economically strong and because it will be a stable region and at the developed enough to start worrying about same time remain a very strategic region. that. Everything has to be done at the same time and this is the problem for this region. We are here between East and West, North and South, and we cannot close ourselves to Despite the fact that all of us in the region the outside world. Lenin once said have had a very difficult recent history, we “Communism is socialism + electrification,” have been moving forward, we have been I would say “our future is democracy + realizing parts of integration, sometimes railroad + integration and we have no other without knowing it, sometimes without future.” That is my absolute conviction and talking about it, but it is in progress. We we have to continue trying everything to have no other alternative but to go ahead in progress more quickly on that road, because that direction. We know that rapprochement it is a road that will bring to our people with the European Union depends on our prosperity, peace and stability, which we all capacity. We know that our economic want to achieve.
81 Documents
Tamar Beruchashvili,
State Minister of Georgia on European Integration
It is a distinct honor and pleasure for me to democratic society and the creation of a be here today. I am grateful, indeed, to the viable market economy. It should be organizers of this event, the Friedrich Ebert mentioned that fundamental political, Foundation and the South Caucasus economic and legal reforms are currently Institute of Regional Security, for the taking place in Georgia as well as in opportunity to share with you our vision of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Georgia’s future. Since the beginning of 2004, a number of First of all, I would like to underline that important and necessary political reforms full-fledged integration into the European were carried out to ensure the proper Union is a key foreign policy priority for development and implementation of Georgia. The recent enlargement of the policies defined by the Government of European Union in May 2004 further Georgia. Despite the relatively short period augmented this ambition as it brought of time since undertaking the reforms Georgia and the South Caucasus region within the spirit of Georgia’s declared closer to the EU and signified an historic European vocation, we have achieved opportunity for European integration. significant initial results. The basic principles underpinning our reform The EU’s active role in the region has an program include the protection of human immense importance for the South rights, equality before the law, the Caucasian countries. European integration elimination of corruption and bribery, the will considerably speed up the conflict enhancement of transparency on all levels, resolution process thereby contributing to public oversight and citizen participation, regional stability as a whole. The EU’s clear accountability, reduction of state significance is further strengthened by its interference and increased professionalism role as a facilitator of regional cooperation of the civil service. through different projects and regional initiatives. European integration denotes One of the most important political steps stability, peace and prosperity not only for reflecting Georgia’s foreign policy goal is Georgia, but for the entire South Caucasus. the establishment of a Governmental Commission for Georgia’s integration into European integration became the the EU chaired by the Prime Minister of unanimous aspiration for Georgia after the Georgia, the first session of which has peaceful “Rose Revolution” of last recently been held. In addition, European November. We clearly understand that the integration departments or divisions were set option for integration is directly linked to up in every sectoral ministry with deputy 82 reform processes, to the development of a ministers assigned activities related to Activity Report 2004
European integration. Ongoing active work in policy elite in the South Caucasus. We the field of legislative harmonization further consider the ENP to be a solid opportunity demonstrates Georgia’s strong commitment for further integration into the EU and a to the implementation of the PCA. Individual new driving force behind regional Action Plans for legislative harmonization integration. were developed by sectoral ministries. Interministerial groups of experts working on In this regard, we believe that the ENP harmonization issues are currently being opens up new opportunities to develop formed. In this respect it is important to regional policy initiatives in various areas, emphasize that the political will of the new especially security, energy, transport and Georgian government represents a communications. Regional cooperation in fundamentally new departure and provides a these fields is of particular importance to good impetus for the undertaking of further increase the competitiveness of the South reforms. We indeed hope that the EU will Caucasus transport corridor. In this context, support the reform efforts of the South effective implementation of regional Caucasus states, especially given that it also projects, such as TRACECA and INOGATE, has its own stakes in the region. is essential. We think that given the importance of multilateral cooperation in The conflict zones in Georgia and in the this field, the EU should increase its support South Caucasus as a whole represent a safe for the implementation of the transport and haven for terrorism and all forms of illegal energy interconnection network projects in activities, which jeopardize European the region. We expect the ENP Action Plans security as well. to fully reflect the new perspectives of regional cooperation. As a contributor—and not only a consumer of European security—the South Caucasus, In order to utilize the huge potential of and Georgia in particular, is a front-line regional cooperation in the framework of partner in the fight against terrorism and all the ENP, development of consultations and forms of illegal trafficking, such as drug discussions with Armenia and Azerbaijan smuggling and illegal migration. in order to elaborate our common stand is necessary. The establishment of a so-called Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia South Caucasus Taskforce on the ENP and linking the oil-rich Caspian region to the would help to define a politically specified outside world, the South Caucasus represents vision of the ENP and allow the EU and the a transit corridor for the EU which faces new South Caucasus to develop technically energy needs and is trying to diversify its workable and politically acceptable energy supplies and serve as a direct trade approaches to security issues such as channel between Asia and Europe. transnational crime, trafficking and conflict By including the South Caucasus states into resolution that, in turn, will contribute to the new European Neighborhood Policy in stability and cooperation in the region. June of this year, the EU sent an important We are looking forward to obtaining message that it is committed to supporting additional assistance instruments, which will the South Caucasus countries on their way complement existing programs. We are towards building stable societies based on particularly interested in new tools such as democratic values and provided for a Twinning, cross-boarder and transnational powerful paradigm shift for the foreign cooperation, TAIEX and others. The 83 Documents
increased assistance and better Black Sea as a European Sea and that the understanding of the problems that the countries concerned should exploit the South Caucasus countries face are necessary potential benefits of cooperation within the if these countries are to best take advantage framework of this wider region, particularly of what the ENP has to offer. The South in the field of infrastructure development, Caucasus countries, in turn, should take a trade and investments. pragmatic approach and fully exploit the ENP opportunities in every field. We As far as the ENP envisages cooperation endorse fully the continuation of the against trafficking, smuggling and in other experience-sharing and telling of lessons related issues, the development of the learned by the accession and candidate concept of Integrated Border Management countries of Central and Southeastern in the framework of the European Europe as in the Fourteenth Economic Neighborhood Policy would help to Forum which took place in Krynica, Poland, facilitate cross-border cooperation with the last month, and encourage and support EU, the Black Sea and the South Caucasus further such initiatives which can only countries as well. benefit and continue to enhance Georgia on European integration is the only answer for its European path. a strong, democratic, empowered, fully In parallel with the South Caucasus independent and self-confident Georgia. regional cooperation and bearing in mind We have declared our European vocation as that Georgia is also a Black Sea Country — the aspiration of our new leadership and much as EU candidate and accession our population in order to fix Georgia’s countries (Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey) rightful place within Europe. Our foreign — it is of utmost importance to foster a policy priority therein could not be clearer Black Sea cooperation within the ENP that or more focused and it has been my will give Georgia an additional opportunity pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to for rapprochement with the EU. We believe you today and share with you our vision of that the ENP should promote further the Georgia’s future.
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Mahmud Mammad-Guliyev,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Following my opening notes, I would like promoting European values and interests to to elaborate on the position of my country the Greater Middle East and Asia. in regard to the process of integration of Azerbaijan into the EU. Being a part of Europe and a state, that follows European culture and its The accession of ten new European member intellectual legacy and shares the values of states into the European Union family is a democracy, Azerbaijan views integration vivid sign that Europe is united under the into European family as a strategic objective umbrella of peace, security, mutual and sees itself as an inalienable and confidence and common values that marks inexorable part of Euro-Atlantic security the beginning of a new stage in European structures. history, burying the legacy of Cold-War divisions in the memories of everyone. Our strategic goal of integration to Euro- Atlantic political, security and economic As the EU is expanding towards East, it is structures has come as a logic development high time to elaborate a more cohesive, of our historic aspirations and political and substantial and mutually beneficial strategy economic processes inherent to our society. of the Union regarding partnership with We strongly believe that the modern countries of the South Caucasus - countries civilized state can only build on the sound which attach significant importance to basis of true values of democracy, human multi-faced cooperation with the EU. This rights, political and economic freedoms, will serve both the interests of those and the rule of law. countries and the EU, since first of all, Europe can not be secure without stability Today, confirming our dedication to on its borders and secondly, countries of the European values, we can proudly state that region have historic links with Europe and Azerbaijan has gained its deserved place corresponding political, economic and among the European states. Its experience cultural affiliation. Despite the fact that this and potential enables Azerbaijan not only relationship was temporarily frozen during to be satisfied with the role of recipient of the Cold War period, our communality has the achievements of European civilization, acquired specific features, and Western and but also, taking into consideration the Eastern Europe can enrich each other from peculiarities of its geopolitical position, political, economic and cultural viewpoints. geo-economy, history and culture, to make its unique contribution to the Pan- Moreover, the region of South Caucasus - European cooperation, development of all here I speak only on the readiness of areas of social life, consolidation of a Azerbaijan - can serve as a springboard for dialogue and links between Europe, Asia, 85 Documents
and countries of the Near and (2002-2005), on the social-economic Middle East. development of the regions (2004-2008) as well as a national strategy for the The Republic of Azerbaijan has gone development of information- through hardships and difficult tests on the communication technologies (2003-2012). road to independence facing aggression, These programmes are directed at the external influence and internal pressure growth of the non-oil sector of the economy coming from the socio-economic and foresee the development of all regions consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijani of Azerbaijan. Moreover, a number of conflict, a struggle for power, transition programs have been adopted which are problems and other factors. In spite of these aimed at the encouragement of certain difficulties Azerbaijan managed to stand sectors of the economy and small and firm, restore and maintain the stability, and medium enterprises. Several institutions carry out democratic and economic reforms. have been established such as the Oil Fund and the Agency for the encouragement and As a result of the reforms implemented in attraction of investments, which facilitate us recent years - improvement of the in our goal to achieve transparency in the legislation and adoption of effective distribution of resources and ensure social measures of macroeconomic regulation - and economic stability. substantial success was achieved in Azerbaijan in the dynamics of economic As for the democratization process, I would growth, stabilization of prices and exchange like to note that the Government of the rate as well as in the creation of favorable Republic of Azerbaijan is strongly conditions for the attraction of domestic committed to the course of democratic state and foreign direct investments (FDI). It building. To this end, we closely cooperate should be noted that a big portion of FDI with international organizations, such as flows from Europe. the UN, the Council of Europe, EU, OSCE/ ODIHR etc. It is important to point out the growth of domestic investments, which demonstrates As a result of democratic reforms a list of the trust of our citizens in the state, the alleged political prisoners is already closed, credibility of legal guaranties, and the the Law on the combat against corruption confidence in stable economic growth. The was adopted, and the relevant State favorable investment climate led to the Programme was approved by the President, increase of the private sector share of the the Parliament adopted the Law on State GDP, Registration and State Register of Legal which now constitutes over 75%, and this Persons as well. Moreover, the Law on State tendency continues to this day. The private Secrets passed the second reading in the sector began to play an important role in Milli Majlis (Parliament), the Law on Public the economic development of the country. Broadcasting is expected to be adopted soon, the draft Law on alternative service Touching on the recent measures taken by was elaborated and submitted to the the Government of Azerbaijan, I would like Council of Europe for expertise and the to point out the State programs on Poverty relevant working group was charged with Reduction and Economic Development the elaboration of the draft Law on 86 (2003-2005), on the development of tourism Defamation etc. Activity Report 2004
In addition, I would like to mention that elaboration and implementation of a municipal elections will be held on 17 follow-up program for Azerbaijan in December in Azerbaijan. The Central cooperation with the Council of Europe. Election Commission is now carrying out preparatory works in order to conduct the Setting the goal of European integration as forthcoming elections in full conformity a priority of its foreign policy, Azerbaijan with the international standards and in pays special attention to the strengthening compliance with the relevant legislation of its relations with the European Union. elaborated and adopted in close Our Partnership and Cooperation coordination with the Council of Europe Agreement (PCA) with the EU has visibly Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR. enhanced our bilateral cooperation aimed at transforming our institutions and economic Using this opportunity, I would like to structure to conform to European express my high appreciation for “The Joint standards. Program between the Council of Europe and the European Commission to Promote Our successful partnership with EU is and Strengthen Democratic Stability and manifested for example, in the Prevent conflicts in the South implementation of TRACECA, INOGATE and TACIS programs. We appreciate the EU Caucasus” which recently came to an end. assistance to my country within the This Programme serves as a good example framework of these programs and hope for of close collaboration between different further cooperation. At the same time, being international structures, in particular the an active economic partner of the EU, Council of Europe and the European Azerbaijan stands ready to search for new Commission sharing the same values and forms of cooperation with the EU alongside pursuing common aims with regard to the the implementation of the PCA. This protection of democracy, respect for cooperation could be extended to create a human rights and fundamental freedoms, common economic area, a common trade and the rule of law. The Joint Program’s area, and a common security area between target-oriented projects covering the EU and Azerbaijan, which would important fields such as the protection of include the cooperation in the areas such as human rights, legal reforms, social border security, police, combating cohesion, education for democracy and corruption, terrorism, illegal drug development of state-society relations, trafficking, money laundering, illegal added significant value to the process of migration, and etc. democratic reforms and thus achieved its overall objectives. Nevertheless, there are We would also welcome the establishment still some fields that should be duly of close cooperation with the EU on security tackled in order to improve the situation issues. The newly united Europe with its and the joint efforts by the Council of enormous economic power and great Europe and the European Commission political weight is capable of decisively would be of great importance to this end. changing the overall situation in our region In this regard, I would like to use this for the better. Thus, we are ready to take opportunity to ask the EU through its part in the operations leading under representatives participating at this auspices of Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU. meeting to consider the possibility of 87 Documents
It is worth considering the possibility of itself falling victim of the aggression by the establishing consultation between the EU neighboring Armenia. Continuing and GUUAM - an organization engaged in Armenian occupation of 20% of our addressing such issues as economic territory constitutes the major impediment cooperation, trade, and fight against to our national security and regional organized crime, illegal drug and human stability. The consequences of the trafficking. occupation including massive ethnic cleansing, heavily burden our economy and An important area of cooperation for social sphere, distracting a great amount of Azerbaijan with the EU is energy. With the national resources. increased EU demand for the alternative sources of energy, the access to the oil The negotiations between the conflicting resources of the Caspian Sea has acquired parties to seek out the ways for the solution its relevant place and significance for of the conflict are being continued for more Europe. Azerbaijan is also interested in the than ten years; however, do not bring any transportation of its oil resources to the results, because of the unconstructiveness of European markets. At the moment, 34 Armenian position, which is negotiating transnational corporations from 16 from the position of force demanding the countries, many of them European ones, secession of the part of Azerbaijani make investments in the energy sector of territory. the Azerbaijan’s economy. The construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi- Azerbaijan will not yield a single inch of its Erzurum gas pipelines will create necessary territory to Armenia, and the Armenian side conditions for the transportation of energy should remember that any solution to the resources to the European and world Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must rely on the markets. respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. In view of the above-mentioned factors, the recently established sub-committee on By renouncing the territorial claims towards energy and transport should facilitate Azerbaijan and withdrawing armed forces dialogue between Azerbaijan and the EU from the occupied territories Armenia could regarding energy and transport issues, open the way for the establishment of good which will be mutually beneficial for both neighborly relations with Azerbaijan. That sides. We believe that the involvement of will give impetus to an economic boost of the European Investment Bank and other entire South Caucasus and would accelerate financial institutions will be conducive to the integration of the region into the EU. the promotion of this dialogue. In conclusion, I would like to add some We also welcome the appointment of the words to what I have said in my opening special envoy of the European Commission remarks about the EU initiative on “Wider in Azerbaijan and hope that the EC Mission Europe: New Neighborhood Policy”, which will soon be opened in Baku. is designed to shape the future relations of the EU with its neighbors. We firmly Being faithful to European values, believe that in expanding the scopes of this Azerbaijan has maintained its image as a initiative into broader geographic areas, it is peace loving country, which does not claim very important to differentiate individual 88 for the territory of any other state, while countries and assess them according to their Activity Report 2004 own merits. The ENP would have value for by all means without taking into account the South Caucasus if it would provide the realities of the region, is not a viable country-specific programming based on solution. The cornerstone for all-inclusive mutually agreed-upon priorities and regional cooperation in the South Caucasus flexible assistance schemes. region should be the settlement of the protracted conflicts. Azerbaijan’s major concern with regard this initiative is the concept of “regionalism”, In this regard, I would also like to express which the “Wider Europe: New my belief that if it more deeply understands Neighborhood” initiative focuses on. In the problems of Azerbaijan, the EU’s view of very well known factors, this political role will be much more enhanced approach based on the promotion of the towards the solution of the lasting problems regional cooperation, creates some of Azerbaijan, including first and foremost complications for Azerbaijan. the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict based on the norms and principles In our view, the EU’s attempts to promote of international law and the respect for the regional cooperation in the South Caucasus territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
89 Documents
Vytautas Landsbergis,
Member of the European Parliament, Delegation to the EU- Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, Vice Chairman
Georgia is playing and will play a key role grounds, efforts to compromise us in the determination of all South Caucasus internationally, a psychological and countries about the region’s Eastern or propaganda war, even the use of an Western links and orientation. intervening imperialist military force and bloodshed. Territorial partitioning and Because of that political importance, seizures was also provided in the Kremlin’s Georgia’s westward path will be difficult, menu. very possibly burdened by a variety of splits, accidents, clashes and instability Lithuania succeeded in withstanding it all, brought from outside. thanks to the strongly determined way of political, explicitly non-violent struggle for Your beautiful country experienced it once essential human and national rights, as well already in the early nineties, when a lack of as the greater consolidation of the people on national consolidation blocked reforms and the issue of independence, which prevailed stopped the building of truly independent over conspiracies and personal ambitions Western-type democracy, which now among the politicians. strives again to be part of unified Europe. Soviets counted mainly on the latter and Georgia was and is facing the same choice such hopes of the Kremlin failed. The between European independence and consolidation of our people prevailed. Of Eurasian quasi-independence still today. course, the imperial trend of the USSR was Your friends in the Baltic States look upon then weakened, being well balanced by the the crossroads before you now with hope struggle for democracy in Russia itself on for your success. Having in mind our own the part of Boris Yeltsin. But the Georgia of Lithuanian experiences, as well as the President Z. Gamsakhurdia failed, because situation of some Southeastern European of splits among the ambitious politicians countries on their way towards the EU, I and the skillfully exploited ethnic diversity will dare to make here some remarks, of people – and, as I see, some challenges possibly suggestions. and provocations were met then in an inappropriate way. When Lithuania proclaimed her restored independence on 11 March, 1990, giving Because of all of that, I wish to remind you, thus an example for other then-Soviet as a basic principle on the way to republics, including Georgia, we have been independence and democracy, first threatened by the same means to turn us consolidation, then consolidation and 90 back: internal splits on social and national consolidation once more. Activity Report 2004
Now my remarks about the two main will become more and more evident. I have obstacles and tasks, as I see them. in mind the above-mentioned lawless areas temporarily seized from Georgia, where First is the building of democracy as a state nobody is accountable for human rights. of law. While Russia fails as a democracy, Therefore human rights in Georgia of favoring autocracy and lawlessness, President M. Saakashvili must be upheld Georgia may become more advanced in that with utmost priority. sense – a post-communist, but European- type state of law. That is a political chance Let me look about 10 years into the future. and possible advantage to get consistent If Russia is not struck yet by the third support from your own people and collapse of empire, loosing its Far East, recognition of Georgia’s progress from the Georgia, with its neighbor Turkey already West. That success may open the doors of in the EU, will bring the local problem of the EU as well – beginning, but not ending, two force majeure areas at the table of your with programs of Union’s New negotiations about full accession with the Neighborhood Policy. EU. Nota bene, if not sooner, then with the accession of Turkey at least, the similar The next problem, rather solution of a problem of Cyprus will be fully resolved. problem, is related to the first. I would not All nations and nationalities appear in one advise Georgia to push on and solve European entity without any shooting at the rapidly that painful problem of disunity of borders between themselves. That would be your forcibly partitioned land, before the a possible peaceful future for Azerbaijan first task - building of democracy and a and Armenia also, but at first for all state of law – is well advanced. There are Georgia. There is no more Cyprus of two wounds that need to be healed by therapy, pieces (one state and one quasi-state), but a not surgery. single Cyprus as one entity, which acceded the EU. European assistance will not be When building democracy in the good deprived of the Turkish part of it. The rest spirit of the “Rose Revolution” goes ahead, of reunification will come in a natural way. already praised by the EU officially, when The umbrella of the EU is better, indeed. poverty and lawlessness reduces, then your Therefore I advise Georgians to have much “mainland,” governed by Tbilisi, will differ patience and to keep up a consistent more and more from those parts of country political struggle in the Euro-Atlantic, where Tbilisi is not able to execute keeping cold reason upon all possible Georgia’s sovereignty and Georgian law provocations intended to show that Georgia because the force majeure is authority there, is the one who takes up arms first. and no law, as it seems, is respected, the people in Abkhazia and South Ossetia may Recently the European Parliament passed desire the changes for better. and adopted new documents on the South In addition, the positive differences Caucasus, especially Georgia. Some between your “mainland” and those parts wordings there are of significant of Georgia taken under the Russian importance in a sense of policy based on umbrella would increase and channels of international law. smuggling would be largely blocked, the Recommendations of the EP to the Council: preferences for Georgian democracy, “increased EU engagement in the region together with chances of joining the EU, should be based on a willingness to act as 91 Documents
mediator”; “to urge the Russian of the host country by force majeure again? Federation… to take note that the free The Georgian ambassador in Brussels consent of the host country is mandatory for confirmed such an opinion. the presence of foreign military bases on its territory”; “to give high priority to the In our Lithuanian case, in 1991 – 1992, we creation of the necessary conditions for the never agreed even during friendly safe and dignified return of IDPs to the Gali negotiations with Boris Yeltsin, to treat district.” In its last resolution, EP “rejects Soviet-Russian military bases and troops as the ‘presidential elections’ in Abkhazia as existing and deployed there legally, on a illegitimate”; “calls on the government of lawful basis. No legalization. They were the Russian Federation to refrain from any officially called Russian troops in a stage of action which might endanger this process” withdrawal. And we achieved in a Helsinki [of securing stability]; “urges the Russian Summit in July 1992 the formula, agreed in Federation to respect its commitments… consensus with Russia, about its troops’ [agreed to in from 1999] on the reduction withdrawal: quick, orderly, and complete. and withdrawal of Russian military forces And troops went out in one year despite from Georgia.” To add, as early as in June many diplomatic tears shed and requests 2001, the EU-Georgia Parliamentary for ten years, then four years and millions Cooperation Committee stated that games of dollars. They took Lithuania in three of Russia with the visa regimes for days, - was my response for journalists. – Abkhazia and South Ossetia “could be Why they can’t leave in three months? considered as de facto annexation of these Finally, in one year the post-Soviet Russian regions.” What do you say then about the troops left Lithuania, earlier than Germany recent arbitrary delivery of Russian and Poland. citizenship and passports to those Therapy, not surgery. inhabitants of Abkhazia not expelled from the region? One more suggestion for Russian generals could be – how long do they need to leave Meanwhile, protesting that proceeding Chechnya after the peace treaty was signed? annexation, Georgia could ask about legal You see, everything depends on good will, terminology for its territories where and sometimes, Russian authorities do have Russian military bases, in violation of good will. international obligations, are stationed. Could they be called “occupied” pieces of I wish all success for Georgia, free and Georgian land – occupied with no consent whole.
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Torben Holtze,
Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Georgia and Armenia
It is an honour for me to be here today and “common values” imply specific steps such speak about the European Neighbourhood as the holding of free and fair elections, Policy, a complex issue very much the focus facilitating the activities of non- in these days. I will try to give you an governmental organisations, and allowing overview. What is the European greater media freedom. The core foreign Neighbourhood Policy and how did it policy objectives include the fight against begin? terrorism and prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as The concept came out of the latest dialogue and cooperation to resolve existing enlargement. As a result of the enlargement to conflicts. 25 member States, the EU acquired borders with Belarus and Ukraine, and extended its For its part, the EU will invite partner frontier with Russia. The EU’s land border countries to participate in several important with these three countries now extends for aspects of its own activities: the internal more than 5.000 km. With the accession of market and “justice and home affairs”. The Romania, scheduled for 2007, the EU will share latter includes police and judicial a border with Moldova. The accession of two cooperation, border management, efforts to island states, Cyprus and Malta, has brought a stem organised crime, corruption, money number of Mediterranean countries closer to laundering and trafficking. Other areas are EU territory. the development of energy and transport networks, exchange programmes and other These geopolitical changes led to the design initiatives in education, science and of a policy, initially known as “wider research. Europe” now the European Neighbourhood Policy or for short ENP. Thus there will be two baskets, one containing commitments by partner The overall aim of ENP is to increase countries and one containing commitments stability, security and prosperity both for by the EU. the EU and its neighbours. With enlargement, the EU has recognized the The contents of the two baskets would need for a significant greater degree of differ from country to country, according to engagement with its new neighbours to countries particular needs and capacities. avoid new dividing lines, to tackle As a result of consultations, an action plan asymmetries in wealth and to meet common would be established with each partner challenges based upon common values. The country and implemented in the framework 93 Documents
of the EU’s cooperation or association Russia made it clear from the outset that it agreement with the respective country. If preferred to develop a separate partnership sufficient progress has been made after an with the EU. Russian pointed out that the initial three year period, EU would be ready country is not, in any event, a new to consider a new and more ambitious neighbour, already sharing a border of well bilateral agreement as the framework for over a thousand kilometres with the EU. future relations. Russia’s vision is of a “twenty-five plus one” approach, in which Russia is For efficient implementation of the ENP, the recognised as a political equal. European Commission proposed a new “European Neighbourhood and Partnership As for Belarus, there is very little hope of Financial Instrument”. developing a relationship based on common values under the present regime. This above outlined approach is inspired by But Poland and Lithuania, in particular, the EU’s enlargement experience. The attach great importance to the message that commitments to shared values contain an the ENP also applies potentially to Belarus. echo of the 1993 Copenhagen accession The EU indicated that as soon as Belarus criteria. The action plans draw on the has a government based on the will of the experience from the “accession people expressed through free and fair partnerships” with the candidate countries, elections, it would be ready to develop and the “European partnerships” with the normal relations with the country and to western Balkan countries. The main bring it fully into the scope of the ENP. difference with the enlargement process comes in the second basket, the “EU’s This meant that, in practice, the EU’s initial offer”, as it does not include, the coverage in Eastern Europe is limited to perspective of accession. Ukraine and Moldova. Consultations on Action Plans with these two countries took Bearing this in mind, would the partner place in the first half of 2004. These talks countries embark on the process of closer revealed clearly the two countries’ main integration into the EU structures without wishes. being a member? At this stage, it can be said that most countries, to which the offer was Ukraine’s principal objective is to obtain made, have responded positively. from the EU a commitment to negotiating a new bilateral agreement, to replace the 1998 Which are the countries subject to ENP? Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Let’s start with Eastern Europe. The new agreement, in Ukraine’s view, The ENP’s initial focus was on Eastern should be similar to the agreements, which Europe in respect of the countries beyond paved the way for accession by countries in the enlarged EU’s eastern border. The main central and Eastern Europe. A commitment challenge for the new EU member states in on accession is not on the EU’s agenda and Eastern Europe is to preserve and develop Kiev brushed aside the European cross-border links, while strengthening Commission’s alternative proposal for a their external border controls with a view to possible future “European Neighbourhood permit their future full participation in the Agreement”. To allow completion of the Schengen system. Action Plan, the issue is set aside for review after three years. 94 Activity Report 2004
Moldova’s principal objective in embarking this meant encouraging governments to live on ENP talks is to obtain a fast-track with up to commitments made through the the destination of EU membership. As a Barcelona Process and in various member of the Stability Pact, Moldova international conventions. aspired to the negotiation of Stability and Association Agreement, like the EU has Action Plans would be drawn up and with Macedonia, Croatia and other western implemented through existing instrument, Balkan countries, which include the goal of namely the Barcelona Process. EU membership. However, the EU is not Implementation would be monitored ready to extend to Moldova the closely by both sides and the Commission membership perspective given to the would issue periodic progress reports. On Balkan countries. the basis of these reports, a decision would be taken as to whether progress is sufficient As to common values and foreign policy to warrant the moving towards a new and goals, Moldova largely agreed to more intense relationship between the EU implementation of the commitments to and the individual countries concerned. human rights and fundamental freedoms, This could take the form of a “European for which shortcomings have been the Neighbourhood Agreement”. The approach subject of EU diplomatic demarches. was more positively received by partners in the Mediterranean region, who did not Overall, the EU Action Plan with Moldova, aspire to EU membership, than from the first to be concluded with a partner partners in Eastern Europe. country, demonstrated the extent of common interests in closer links between The ENP would be extended to all the EU and Moldova. Mediterranean countries participating in the Barcelona process. Action Plans would How do the Mediterranean countries fit into be concluded with partners having EU the ENP? association agreements in force. This meant While the initial impetus for the ENP came that a first round of Action Plans would be from the situation along the enlarged EU’s concluded with Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the eastern border, the Commission also Palestinian Authority and Tunisia, followed proposed from the outset that the policy by Egypt and Syria. covers the entire Mediterranean region. The What about the three countries in the objective is “to promote a ring of well Caucasus? governed countries to the East of the European Union and on the borders of the Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia were not Mediterranean Sea. In addition, the EU included in the scope of the ENP when it would like to address issues, which was announced in 2003. The argument was concerned the EU as a whole and in that these three countries in the southern particular it’s southern Member States, such Caucasus would not be neighbours of the as terrorism, prevention of proliferation of EU of twenty-five. Furthermore, although weapons of mass destruction and prevention members of the OSCE and to the Council of of illegal migration into the EU. Europe, all three countries fell below the Furthermore, the ENP is seen as a means to standards set by these bodies in terms of promote better governance and respect of free and fair elections and respect of human rights. In the Mediterranean region, human rights. 95 Documents
All three countries expressed dissatisfaction enable the EU to engage more fully in the at their exclusion from the ENP and the Caucasus region. EU’s Council of Ministers subsequently promised to return to the question, on the What does the ENP represent for the three basis of a recommendation to be drawn up countries concerned? It represents an by the Commission. In May 2004, the opportunity to diversify their foreign Commission recommended the three policy, to provide a modest counterweight countries inclusion in the ENP. The EU to Russia, and to obtain new forms of Council endorsed this recommendation in support. Georgia and Armenia, in June 2004. particular, insist on their European identity and proclaimed EU membership as their What had happened to reverse the EU’s long term goal. Azerbaijan shares this position in the intervening period? EU objective and seeks to remain in step with enlargement had contributed to a growing its neighbours. All three countries seek to awareness of the Caucasus region’s strategic move closer to the mainstream of political significance for the EU in terms of energy and economic life in Europe. Armenia supply, transport links with central Asia and hopes that through closer links with the EU the prevention of trafficking in drugs and it could increase pressure on Turkey to re- human beings. Several new EU Member opening of the border, which has been States attached particular importance to closed since the war with Azerbaijan over energy and transport links between the EU Nagorno-Karabakh. and the southern Caucasus. These links would become more significant with the Overall, both the EU and its partners in the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline coming into southern Caucasus view the ENP as a tool operation in 2005, subsequently to be for drawing attention of the region to the followed by a parallel gas pipeline. outside world, and for resolving its political and economic problems. This was reflected The “Rose Revolution” in Georgia in in a series of high level EU visits to the November 2003 brought to power a three capitals during 2004. government bent on reforms, which recognised the need to fight corruption and What next? to maintain good relations with all the The ENP is still in the initial stages of its countries of the region. development. It is too early to make any Elections in Azerbaijan in 2004, while still conclusions, if it will be successful or not. below international standards, represented The main question is if the process of a certain improvement on past practice. It European integration can also be effective was felt desirable to engage more directly in EU neighbour countries in the absence of with Baku to push for greater efforts on a perspective for EU membership. political and economic reforms. Neighbouring countries, which are not on a Turkey’s progress during 2003-2004 path to membership, do not have the same towards meeting the conditions for incentive to subordinate all their political accession negotiations meant that the and economic processes. They have many southern Caucasus had become, potentially, priorities in their internal and external a region neighbouring the EU. Overall, the policies, of which closer links with the EU 96 ENP provides the best available tool to are just one. Activity Report 2004
The EU does not seek, through the ENP, to commitments, the EU and its partners will bring about a fundamental shift in the need to consider further steps, including neighbouring countries’ domestic political new and more comprehensive bilateral and external policy options. The EU does, agreements. however, seek to create incentives for political and economic reforms. The closer The process will take place in a neighbouring countries come to EU differentiated manner. It will reflect the standards, the more scope there will be to needs, capacities and will of each country, involve the neighbouring countries in EU who wants a closer partnership with the policies and programmes. EU. The ENP creates the basis for a more effective cooperation between the enlarged Modalities for supporting reforms as EU and the neighbouring states. The developed with candidate countries include resulting gains in stability and security, as legislative approximation, support for well as political and economic administrative and judicial reform, technical development, will bring benefits not only assistance, twinning, and monitoring and for the EU and its neighbours but for the regular reporting. These will be adapted to international community as a whole. the needs of neighbouring countries and backed up in the future by a new financial As a final note, the ENP is not about instrument and increased level of support membership or non-membership of the EU. (14. 000 million EURO over a 7 year period This possibility, open for any European 2007-13 or an annual doubling in country, has to be addressed in a different comparison to the present level). framework of relations. Also the ENP does not replace the existing contractual The Action Plans already agreed in 2004 are framework established by the PCAs in the a first step in this process. They represent a CIS countries or association agreements in significant step forward, with far-reaching the Mediterranean countries. These will commitments made in the two “baskets” remain the cornerstone of the EU relations described earlier. In the light of real with countries subject to the ENP for some progress with the implementation of these time to come.
97 Documents
David Shahnazaryan,
Head of the Center for Political and Legal Studies, Armenia
First of all I would like to thank the violations of human rights within Azerbaijan organizers of this wonderful conference– itself (there are political prisoners in the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Azerbaijan). And if Azerbaijan is unable to South Caucasus Institute for National guarantee the security and the rights of Security for offering me this opportunity to Azeris living in Azerbaijan how can it meet with such bright people and old guarantee the security and the rights of the friends. I think this conference will be very Armenian population of Nagorno Karabakh? useful for all of us. That’s why I am saying that both positions I would also like to express my gratitude to all must be changed and the regulation of the speakers and I’m sure it’s a very promising Karabakh conflict is very necessary and start for our conference. I would like to important for our region. The Karabakh underline the participation of Mr. Landsbergis. conflict is a key conflict for our region and I would like to see a realistic position from In my view, it was a program-presentation both the Armenian and Azerbaijani with program-points and recommendations presidents. The solution must be based on for our region, for the region of the South mutual compromises. Caucasus. I would like also to say some remarks on the presentation of Mr. Unfortunately I don’t see good will from Mammad-Quliyev, the deputy minister of either side. We need conflict resolution as Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. Mr. soon as possible – that is my point of view. Mammad-Quliev spoke about the Karabakh And another small remark on Mr. conflict, which is a key conflict in the South Christopher Wratslav’s presentation; it was Caucasus. I want to say that my position is very interesting for me, but I still would like not close to the official position of the to make a little comment. I’m sorry, but I’m Armenian government. There is a lot of not sure that Russia can play a key role in criticism of the foreign policy of Armenia securing stability in the South Caucasus. I and particularly of its position in regard to doubt that Russia genuinely wishes to see a the Karabakh conflict. Before we start real democratic stability in the South discussing the issue on the withdrawal of Caucasus, a democratic stability based on Karabakh troops from those territories, we regional cooperation. I’m afraid that the need to speak about guarantees for the Russian government wants to maintain this Karabakh population, security guarantees – situation as it is and keep these conflicts What I mean is the physical security of the frozen. I would be glad if I proved to be people of Nagorno-Karabakh - and there can wrong, but I’m not sure that the Russian be only international guarantees. policy in the South Caucasus is a positive Unfortunately Azerbaijan cannot present force for achieving a real democratic such guarantees to the population of stability in the region. 98 Nagorno Karabagh, as there are a lot of Activity Report 2004
Oksana Antonenko,
International Institute for Strategic Studies - Senior Fellow Programme Director (Russia and Eurasia)
I have argued very strongly that South Caucasus states will be an important Caucasus should be very much at the center neighbor of European Union. of the European Union policy because for Europe, South Caucasus is a strategically Secondly, the enlargement of European important region and it is increasingly a Union, which has just taken place in May region where the European values are this year, had brought a number of very starting to take roots and therefore it is only important new members in EU, not who are right and justified to see now all three South not only aware about South Caucasus Caucasus countries to be part of the region but also are willing now to support European Neighborhood policy. greater engagement of EU in South Caucasus and this is something very new I understand that now a lot has been said for EU, because just a year ago it was very about the details of ENP and cooperation hard to find within EU countries a group of between Europe and the South Caucasus, so countries which was so committed to see I will try in my presentation maybe to great engagement with Georgia, with highlight a number of challenges that South Armenia, with Azerbaijan but we now have Caucasus countries are going to meet now a group of very important countries, the in next few years as they are trying to Baltic states and other new members, which develop their strategies, the action plans in are very committed to seeing that relationship with European Union. First of cooperation developing. Secondly, of course all, it is important to say that inclusion of EU has a very important economic interest South Caucasus countries in European in South Caucasus and that is not only Neighborhood Policy has not been just a energy resources and transport corridors, it symbolic act. Many people argued that ENP is also potentially very important space and is simply a declaration, it is something just common economic programs that should to give a signal, it is not a substantive not include only transit and transport but program. I would say that in comparative also includes joint economic programs with just one year ago ENP is really an developing areas of economic excellence, important strategic program and it is first of developing transborder, economic all a self-interested program for European cooperation programs and important trade Union, because south Caucasus is an roots as well. It is also a very important important region and first of all South factor that there was a substantial political Caucasus is important for EU, because it is change in South Caucasus and the a new neighboring region and of course it is revolution that took place in Georgia in not yet neighboring EU, but in 2007 when November last year that the whole Bulgaria, Romania will be joining EU and international community was watching on Turkey now is hopefully in the month time CNN 24 hours a day is really something opening negotiations with EU, South which provided a substantial imputes for 99 Documents
greater interest in South Caucasus and the Armenia, but also a wider we see now expectations now in the EU and I would say Georgian troops participating in coalition throughout the whole western community operations in Iraq, we also see increasing is that the political process which is now trade with a number of neighbors, taking place following revolution in including Turkey in particular, which is Georgia but also following the important now one of the major trading partners for changes in Armenia and Azerbaijan are all of the three south Caucasus states. going to continue leading to greater democratization and more developed civil So finally it is quite clear that South societies. Caucasus states are also part of Eurasian region and they are part of the process of And finally of course security concerns post-soviet transition and as such this remain incredibly important and they are identity remains to be also very important for the EU, because of what was prominently developed in the region. So it mentioned here before, soft security issues, is of course the major challenge now, how the issues of migration, trafficking, to build this new process developing terrorism, crime, which concerns not only European identity, cooperation with Europe EU and South Caucasus, but the whole and how to at the same time also fit it international community. But even all those within other regional identity and I think priorities there are of course a number of this question is not very often asked but it is important challenges which the South an important question, because often times Caucasus states and EU have to consider as of course the south Caucasus states will be they develop action plan. And I would see facing choices, it is not easy to combine so six main challenges and I want briefly many identities, in fact I will argue that outline them. First of all it is of course clear South Caucasus is a unique which has so that the South Caucasus region has many many identities, so either we talk about identities and although it is declared security issues and the alliances we know priority for Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan to that there is a very strong military develop its European identity and to cooperation between Russia and Armenia, develop more strategic integration with there are also very strong trading ties for euro-Atlantic structures it is also cleared example between Turkey and Azerbaijan or that South Caucasus is a region which with Iran as well and clearly any programs belongs to many identities, it is of course a which will be developing within the part of Caspian region and that was European neighborhood policy should have mentioned here before, it is the region to bring about all the important streams which is seen very much within the context within other identities, while at the same of development of energy project and links time prioritize for south Caucasus states between Central Asia and south Caucasus, development values, system of government, it is also the region which borders the democratic societies, which will be greater Middle East and such it is course primarily within the broader European very important for European union, but it is identity. This is going to be an important also important for South Caucasus states to issue. continue developing links with a sudden neighbors and there number of interesting The second challenge is that the South projects now being now discussed in the Caucasus region is not really yet a region. 100 energy field for example between Iran and We quite often talk about South Caucasus, Activity Report 2004 but it is very hard to see how South The third challenge I want to mention is Caucasus beyond what just we see on the the issue of security. Of course we know map is a region. There is a not regional that South Caucasus region is not the institution; there are still unfortunately most secure region in the great European unresolved conflicts, particularly the area, and unfortunately there is a conflict in Nagorny Karabakh, which disconnect at the moment between the remains one of the major obstacles for priorities of the South Caucasus states in development of closer links between all terms of their security, which are still very three South Caucasus states. There is very much linked to traditional security little trade turn-over, if we look at all three concerns. Concerns about the territorial South Caucasus states – they do not really integrity, concerns about potential trade with each other. The percentage of regional conflicts, and concerns about the inter-state trade is still minor to trade interstate conflicts even, while for EU it is with the third countries. And of course the soft security issues that are of prime there are different political systems, importance. And therefore it will be very crispingly different. There is almost important to find balance in which in one compatibility of legislation at the moment hand South Caucasus states themselves and a lot of barriers in terms of trade will start to develop real practical barriers, in terms of even travel barriers programs in the soft security area, be it in and the infrastructure is not developed. the area of fighting corruption, fighting And of course development of the region transborder crime, fighting trafficking, should not be a goal in itself, but it is an dealing with proliferation issues, important goal for this particular region, terrorism, etc. And in the same time to because of its strategic importance, find for EU the role to play in addressing because of where it is, because the extent to the fundamental hot security concerns. which security, political development and And that is primarily of course linked to economical prospects of each of the South the unresolved regional conflicts and the Caucasus states are linked to each other. EU of course is already playing a very And I would say that on the one hand important role, particularly in the conflict European neighborhood policy can in Abkhazia where the EU has just encourage region building and in fact the appropriated a substantial amount of previous speaker also mentioned that funds for economic rehabilitation of three European Union would like to see South regions in Abkhazia, Gali, Tkvarcheli, Caucasus states to develop closer regional Ochamchira region and also in South cooperation, but at the same time Ossetia, where there is quite an extensive European neighborhood policy provides program of economic rehabilitation, but for bilateral individual programs for each this is just the first step. And the of the South Caucasus states and it is really appointment of EU special representative up to the South Caucasus states themselves in the South Caucasus, ambassador to prioritize within their action-plans Taliavity, who has been very active in programs that actually are going to visiting all three regional conflict areas, it encourage and strengthen the regional ties is very encouraging to see that the EU rather than lead to further disintegration of now is trying to elaborate more prominent the region, which I think will be very role alongside of course in support of the detrimental for the long-term prospects of existing mechanisms to deal with regional regional development. conflicts. 101 Documents
The fourth challenge that I want to identify model for European regions initiative for is the challenge of sub-regionalism. Of the South Caucasus. I think it is really for course EU is the area, where there is not the prime importance because until we only developed state institutions on the have real local governance and the real federal level or the central level, but it is engagement of authorities in local level in also an institution which encourages very cooperation with the EU no programs can much and it is one of their core task local succeed in this region. The fifth challenge governance cooperation between individual that I want to identify is the issue of course regions, cooperation in sub-regional level, of the rule of law and legal reforms and the there is the whole amount of programs on reforms of the law-enforcement. This is sub-regional cooperation with structural something which is incredibly important funds etc. EU regions that I actually build for the European Union. The previous around empowering individual sub-regions speaker mentioned a number of initiatives and for the South Caucasus unfortunately within justice and home affairs, basket of still very difficult issue and we know that in the European Union. This is the area for Georgia now they are trying to develop a the three South Caucasus States, within the new law where there will be elections or action plan there should be a particular greater empowerment of the regional importance given to that area. So far, a lot authorities and there will be more of international assistance programs have devolution of power, there will be serious been focused on helping the South improvement in local governance, and we Caucasus States with reforming of their hope very much that these processes will army, reforming of their national security continue and similarly within Armenia and doctrines etc. But reform of law- Azerbaijan there is also a lot has to be done enforcement, reform of police, real rule of just as in Georgia in developing local law programs, improvement of justice governance. And here EU offers a lot of system, improvement of court system, this interesting models. is something which is of prime importance for the South Caucasus States. So that is I am very glad to see on the agenda of this the area which of course, has to be conference discussions about EU regions. I prioritized. can see the EU regions as one of the most important instrument potentially, which And finally I would like to say that the the South Caucasus states should be capacity issue is a real problem. We really utilizing within their action plans. Not hope that all three South Caucasus States in only that EU region idea is going to this Conference is really an indication that develop and help to develop cooperation they are taking this very seriously, but it is between regions in all three South really difficult to develop a comprehensive Caucasus states, it is also going to develop program and it is encouraging what the the cooperation between regions in South Minister was saying during the first session Caucasus and in Europe. Of course we that in Georgia special officials have been have a challenge here, because in the past appointed now in every of the ministries to all European region models actually have be in charge of cooperation with the been implemented in the regions that in European Union and the European fact had a land border with the EU. So the institutions. But I think we need to really European regions were developed at the work hard to create a community of experts 102 border regions. We need to find the new both within the government structures and Activity Report 2004 on the level of think-tanks and NGOs who to give the tools to then draft future would be able to learn very quickly, learn a programs, future action plans. lot about how European Union works. I have to say even for anyone who lives So to summarize, I would say that the within the European Union it’s not easy to European Union’s initiative of ENP is understand European institutions, not easy strategic, its important, its not symbolic. It to understand European decision-making is offering the South Caucasus region not process and of course we are all hoping that only the real incentives, but the real the European Constitution can help to solve prospects of developing practical and very some of the complexities. However, it is meaningful cooperation with the European very difficult and I know the experience of Union. However, it is not guaranteed by the new members of the European Union any means that this cooperation is who had to go through a very serious crash- inevitable. Admission of three South course on learning the European Union and Caucasus States in the ENP is just the how it works. I think for the South beginning, not the end and until we address Caucasus, this is very important and I’m some of the challenges I tried to enumerate afraid that this process has not even yet today we can find ourselves three years started. It has started on a very sort of small from now running similar conferences, level but we need a real substantial talking about other challenges and what program and we cannot really wait until should we do about cooperation and I think 2007 when ENP financial instrument will be we need to have another conference in three there. We need to start today and I think for years, which will assess the achievements the European Union it is very important and the practical results of cooperation now to organize a very extensive training which will help us to identify a real path, a program for the representatives of real strategy for South Caucasus region governments, for the think-tankers to really eventually to join the European Union, and understand European Union, to help them, generally European institutions.
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Ioseb Nanobashvili,
Counselor of the Mission of Georgia to the EU
Madam Chairperson, distinguished guests, accession of three others European states Ladies and Gentlemen, thanks for giving are on the way. This offer of its new me this floor, however it will be quite neighbors is to continue strengthening difficult to develop these topics after such political, cultural, economic ties among the comprehensive presentations of previous European states, to cooperate further in speakers. The main priority of the Georgian various fields and without waiting for the foreign policy is the integration to the EU. next EU enlargement wave, to achieve a That means eventual membership of the visible progress. It’s a good chance for EU, although it is early to speak about the South Caucasian states to create more Georgia’s preparation for the EU accession, advanced relationships with other still I think we need to use any opportunity European states and the EU itself. The ENP to deepen our political and economic ties could serve if I may refer to the Commissar with other European States. Although the for enlargement Mr. Verheugen, to make all ENP has no direct connection to the Europe peaceful and prosperous, not only enlargement, it’s still can lead to the part of it. Within the ENP Georgia could European integration processes together fully exploit its geographical location, as with the enlargement itself and the you are aware, Georgia has a sea border stabilization and association processing with EU accessing countries of Romania Balkans. ENP has a great potential, it can and Bulgaria and a large land border with have an enormous political and economic Turkey, another EU candidate and a implication for South Caucasian countries. member of the EU custom Union. Georgia It also demonstrates that the South occupies an important geo-political position Caucasus is one of the region in which the from both East-West and North-South EU should and is taking a stronger and perspectives. Oil and gas pipelines deliver more active interest as indicates the substantial amount of energy resources European security strategy adopted by the from Central Asia and Caspian Sea Basin European Council in December 2003. The through Georgia to the Western countries. It ENP was created to avoid drawing new is needless to mention the importance of dividing lines in Europe and the Georgia’s Black Sea ports of Poti and conclusions of the common European Batumi it process cargoes destined not only Council states. I think the integration into for Georgia and the South Caucasian region the EU has a prior importance not only but also for Central Asian countries. because of the EU membership perspective Regional cooperation is one of the key- it is indisputably the way of progress and issues of the ENP. In this respect, the policy improvement for any European state. At could significantly contribute to this stage when the recent enlargement strengthening the cooperation between 104 expanded the EU to 25 members, and still Bisek and the EU. The recent enlargement Activity Report 2004 draws the EU even closer to the Black Sea Declaration on combating terrorism. The region and plays Bisek as a key part of the document underlines that the EU should EU in this area. In fact, almost every Bisek pursue dialogue with third countries on this members has close relations with the EU. crucial issue. Another reason for a special Greece as the EU member, Bulgaria and cooperation in anti-terrorist activities Romania as newly accessing countries and among the ENP participants and in Turkey as a candidate, country like Russia particular the EU and South-Caucasian and Ukraine as ENP participants. In the states could be two multinational and large- perspective of Bulgaria and Romania scale EU interstate programs, which need to accession, the EU is set to become directly have effective protection mechanisms. major oblic sector. ENP fathers created basis Further, the preparation access to the for strengthening of the EU-GUAAM ties as European market offered by the ENP could well it is notable that the areas is tackled become a very important mechanism to within the GUAAM framework program improve national economies of the ENP such as trade and transportation or the participating states. It is needless to management and customs fight against mention that the future economic prosperity terrorism, organized crime and drug of the so-called newly independent states trafficking are reactively dealt by the new depends on how well those countries relevant regional programs. integrate their national economies into wider Europe and effectively diversify their Georgia’s security is also going to benefit export opportunities beyond their from participation within the ENP, this traditional markets. In this regard, it is initiative particularly underlined the important that participants in this initiative necessity of resolving existing conflicts in grant European states advantages, market Europe. As for stability and security of the access mechanisms in terms of freedom of European countries, I think that the South four movements: persons, capital, goods Caucasus region has a considerable and services. importance. The existing conflicts have severely retarded the development of the Following the recent new enlargement of whole South Caucasian region. And it the EU, a new important challenge so-called seems that the EU as a clear interest to pay the Lisbon strategy was initiated. It aims to appropriate attention to this problem within make the EU most competitive and the ENP. Closer geographical proximity knowledge-based economic-by in 2010. I means that the enlarged Europe and the believe the strengthening of political and new neighborhood will have uncial stake in economic ties within the ENP participating working together to tackle transborder States and of course among them South threats such as terrorism. The ENP places Caucasus countries, taking into account the special emphasis on handling the fight trading capabilities and regional resources against terrorism. This aspect is very with significantly facilitate the important for Georgia as a member of the implementation of the Lisbon strategy. It anti-terrorist coalition. It should be also should be underlined that the ENP mentioned that main framework within the considers the security of the European EU-Georgian relationships, the PCA does energy system among its top priorities. It is not cover fighting of terrorism. It’s also remarkable that the safety and security important that on the 25-26th of March 2004, of the European energy system represents the European Council adopted the one of the main issues of the EU energy 105 Documents
policy. The communication of the European education and culture. Within the ENP it is Commission to the Council and the also planned to increase exchange programs European Parliament of 13th 2003 on the between the youth and the universities, development of the energy policy for the create European studies curses and open a enlarged EU, its neighbors and its partner Euro information centers. This I believe countries outlines that in order to meet its could significantly deepen knowledge extended demands for energy resources the about the EU and in general and in EU needs to diversify its own energy particular those ENP participants countries markets and in this context attribute a great whose foreign policy goal is the EU importance to transportation of energy membership. Finally, I would like to resources from the Caspian Sea Basin congratulate all Europeans and non- through the Georgian territory to the EU Europeans, and of course among them all of market. In order to ensure constant energy you Ladies and Gentlemen, for the historic supply of the EU energy market, the EU events which took place yesterday in Rome energy policy which I believed can be the signature of the EU Constitutional considered as the energy dimension on the Treaty where all the EU 25 members states, ENP underline the great importance of the Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. Yesterday energy routes connecting Caspian and in fact, they indisputably strengthened the Black Seas, among them Baku-Suksa EU call for a security policy pillar. I hope pipelines, and of course Black Sea and all the Treaty will also be ratified among them terminals among them. It’s extremely mostly. Stronger EU is for the benefit of not important as well that the ENP aims only EU member states, but the EU expression of the EU programs in research, neighbors as well. Thank you.
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David Bakradze,
Chairman of the Committee on European integration of the Parliament of Georgia
Thank you very much Madam Chairman, Georgia. I don’t want to elaborate more on Ladies and Gentlemen, dear guests. I am this but the fact from the very beginning really pleased and honored to address such from the first days of the Georgian a distinguished audience here and just let independence, it was very closely me say from the very beginning that unlike associated with being a part of Europe. many of you, I am not an expert, I am a politician and that gives me number of Here today I represent a new government advantages and one out of those advantages which cam in power exactly one year ago. is that I can avoid, skillfully avoid number And when we came to power the next day of difficult technicalities and present you of course we had the question what are we more broader political vision and another going to do? What are we going to propose advantage is that as a politician I can to our people? What sort of country do we confidently speak about issues which I want to build? And you know that there is know nothing about. So with this beginning only answer to that question and there was let me focus more specifically on the issue no choice for us, Georgia should be a which is on our agenda today. Let me start European country and what do we mean a little talk about the Georgian vision before under this? We mean that Georgia should I go to ENP and before I turn to South be democratic country, based on democratic Caucasus because presenting very briefly institutions, based on free-market economy, our vision will let you understand better and based on a free an open society. This is what I’ll say later. So what do we want a as what we called European country and it is a country is a question and has a very simple top priority for us and there is no answer: We want EU membership. It’s very alternative, there is no choice for the current easy. Why do we want it? We want it government in order to what sort of country because that we feel that we have the same we are going to built. This is the country values and we have the same aspirations. which we want and we believe such a Starting from early nineties when Soviet country should be part of Europe and Union was still in the process of dissolution European Union. So with this of course we being independent State for Georgia was don’t want to look naïve and say that we closely associated with being a European insist on our membership today or State and being connected with Europe. tomorrow or in the next few years because Maybe that’s partly because that you might we understand that this is a two-way street know that the first Georgian government and to consider our application seriously, from the first Georgian Republic when European Union should be ready but Georgia was annexed by Bolshevik Russia, Georgia should be ready as well. For the escaped, immigrated to France so the idea moment EU is very busy, EU still has to of Europe was closely associated for us with digest its ten new members, EU still has to the idea of freedom and the idea of free go through a very painful process with 107 Documents
Turkey, EU still has to do a lot with this regard, what Ambassador Holtze said Romania and Bulgaria, EU still has to deal at this moment it’s an EU policy which is of with the Balkans. So EU is very busy at the course understandable for us that at this moment and one can hardly imagine the moment, EU is not ready to take any worst possible moment to speak about commitments on further enlargement. Of further EU enlargement rather than this one course we understand from a political and and we understand it of course. One the diplomatic viewpoint but on the other other hand, if we look at Georgia we are not hand, I would urge the EU to be more active ready at the moment, and that’ s again not and to take more aggressive stance because an issue for us as well because we have to we have two approaches here. The first do a lot of things before we become suitable approach is that country has to develop and EU applicants. So when we speak about when it meets Copenhagen criteria then it Georgia becoming a new EU member it’s applies to EU, but another approach and I our strategic priority and this is our vision think more correct approach is that if there where should we go and where in which is no incentive for a country to develop in a way the country should develop. This rapid and dramatic way it will never meet prospect of the new EU membership gives those criteria. EU should take a more active us a glue what should we do and how do stance with this regard because if the EU we act as a government, as a country, as gives us not a promise, I don’t want to use people and in this sense, it’s very important this word, but if the doors remain open and for us. So what are we going to do? We are if we have the prospect of eventual EU going to fulfill all our commitments which membership that this is the biggest single we have at the moment with the EU and incentive that a country might have on its first of all here I refer to PCA. way to development. This incentive helps us to mobilize our government and to You probably heard from Madam Minister mobilize our society because now on our on State integration this morning that we way to reform the country we have to go are not doing a really huge job, which may through very important and painful not be that visible at the moment because decisions. I can bring you an example, you it’s the underwater part of the iceberg and might have noticed those of you who have we are just creating the State structures been here before that there is no longer devoted to European integration but believe famous road-police, traffic police on the me it’s a very difficult and absolutely roads in Tbilisi and in Georgia and this important job. We are in the middle of that traffic police let me be very frank, was a job. We will finish it as quickly as possible, bastion of corruption, not only in Georgia we will exhaust PCA agreements in next but in all ex-Soviet states. After numerous few years so after that we will be able to go attempts to transform this road-police we to EU officials and say that more loudly: ok simply dissolved it, we simply destroyed at this stage we need more cooperation, we the structure and created an absolutely new need more integration, we need something institution and that was a very painful new, fresh ideas and this is what we want. I decision, because this decision left thirty advise to EU people in Brussels not to thousands people without jobs but this expect a quiet life even after 2007 because decision was very important and we need there will be definitely some ambitious an incentive to make such painful decisions Georgian guys walking in the EU corridors and if the EU takes a more active stance 108 seeking for eventual EU membership. In regarding possibilities of our future Activity Report 2004 integration and cooperation it will help us cooperation with the EU. On the other hand to mobilize our resources and I speak about there are countries that do not keep it secret Georgia today and I think it is absolutely that neighborhood is just an intermediate the same situation in Armenia and status of their relations with the EU and in Azerbaijan we all have to go through very the future they want to become EU painful reforms and if we as a government members and here I refer first of all to South explain to our people that these are reforms Caucasian countries, to Ukraine, to that have to be done for a better life, for a Moldova. These countries never made a better tomorrow, then it’s much more secret on their intentions to become EU understandable from the side of our members in the future. So for us, ENP looks population and less painful for our like a parallel process to the possible future population. accession to the EU, this helps us to increase our cooperation to the EU, and this helps This reminds me the decision that was the EU to understand that we are important mentioned here several times that is not to to the EU as well. This is a very helpful include South Caucasus within the ENP at initiative in this term. the initial point. Let me be very blunt and open that the EU decision to exclude South This reminds me the situation when Caucasus was absolutely a short-sided partnership for peace was introduced decision without any strategic vision, almost 10 years ago and at that time almost without any vision to future. This happens every Eastern and Central European when the decision is only made based on countries had a concern: what sort of diplomatic hesitations or different animal the ENP was, what is a tool to enter technicalities so from my side, I urge EU to NATO easier or a tool to keep them in be more active, to be more aggressive, more neighboring NATO, not allowing them to future-based, more future-oriented and join, that was the question and a concern more politically-motivated. So I think its but in the end, it appeared that if it became enough from my side talking about the EU the biggest instrument to enter NATO I and let me know speak about the ENP: how hope that in case of ENP something similar do we this policy, what is it and how the will happen and this is our common regions can benefit out of this policy. So objective. ENP is very closely linked to the immediately when this initiative was put on European Union’s foreign and common the table, everybody was asking himself security policy and again it was mentioned what is it? What sort of initiative is it? Is it here today several times. Today it’s not a a wardrobe which allows country to redress secret that EU wants to be more active themselves, to make countries more globally, EU wants to have independent attractive and then enter the Bal or is it a foreign policy, EU wants to act as a single closet where the countries have to spend the powerful actor in the world but before EU rest of their existence? At this point, I’m can do it in the world, it should do it in its glad I can say that it looks like it is not a backyard, in it’s direct neighboring parts so closet and we all come to a common ENP and the countries that are members of understanding with that. Of course there this neighborhood policy should be of are countries which are perfectly happy primary concern from the side of the EU. If with the neighborhood initiative because there is no progress on this area from the they never had and don’t have the objective EU one can hardly imagine any progress to become a EU member and to seek more outside this neighborhood area made based 109 Documents
on the EU contribution. I believe that within regards to ENP policy. If we take the the context of foreign common security Eastern part of ENP, of course I don not policy this neighborhood area should be the mean here the Maghrebian or primary focus of EU’s attention. Here we Mediterranean part, but if you take move to a number of problems which we countries like, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, face regarding the South Caucasus. What Azerbaijan and Armenia here EU-Russian do we need in the South Caucasus? And the relations are decisive in shaping our future. general answer is very easy, we need to What will be our relation with the EU strengthen democracy, to built prosperity because we know what the Russian and we need to secure the area. Of course, if approach is Russia refuses to be part in the we think of these issues separately, its an ENP initiative and insists to maintain the enormously difficult task and again I come 25+1 format partners and junior brothers. to the issue that the EU should take a more Does it mean that Russia hesitates to be in active stance because the South Caucasus is one company, in one club where are the a region is very important its important to ENP countries? The question why Russia have a very active involvement. Ms. refuses to be a part of ENP is quite Antonenko mentioned very correctly she worrying sign for and I would not take it so rose the question: is the South Caucasus a easy, so automatically as some of my region at all? Because there are a number of European colleges do because this means issues on which South Caucasian countries that Russia see this initiative as something do not meet common criteria but there is at secondary. This is an issue, and again we least one criteria where we can say that ask themselves what is our role, what to do South Caucasus is a region and that its as a country located between Russia and the aspiration to Europe, that’s the biggest European Union. What are we? Are we a single unifying sector for all South buffer zone between the EU and Russia? A Caucasian states and I think this is the topic competition zone? Or a cooperation zone where we should build on. The EU should and what will be our future? I think this is be very active in building on this common an issue where we need to focus more and I aspiration to Europe for all the three states. think both from the side of the EU and from I do not want to mention all the issues the side of the countries themselves which are connected to democracy and specifically within the context of prosperity, security and this area and of neighborhood initiative and neighborhood course we can talk about of freedom of policy because this will largely affect our media and expression, strengthening status as a future possible candidate with democratic institutions, free elections, this the EU. energy pipelines project, conflicts, terrorism, traffic proliferation. These are all Well, let me say a couple of words about details which have been discussed by regional approach its not a secret that previous speakers very well. They took all Georgia was always strongly in favor of a butter from by bread in that sense and I am regional approach we were the first country not going to return back to those issues. Let which became member of the Council of me mention one additional issue which was Europe and it was our firm position from not mentioned here, or was mentioned only the very beginning that South Caucasus as a marginally and that’s the role of Russia and region should become member of the the role of the EU-Russian relations in Council of Europe. We had number of talks 110 regards to neighboring countries and in and permanent dialogue with our European Activity Report 2004 colleges on that. The same regarding the One other point that was mentioned here, of ENP, those of you who remember our course we are strongly in favor of Turkey’s position on the neighborhood policy: South accession to EU and we believe it’s a topic Caucasus as a region should be part of the of strategic importance not only for us but neighborhood policy in favor of also for Europe as well. First of all, based on regionalism. On the other hand, of course security considerations, because closing the since now we all take part in this initiative door to Turkey means refusing any now its time to speak about concrete and dialogue with the Muslim world which specific action plans. Here I believe, maybe might be very dangerous. Of course we this is my personal opinion, we should understand well all the sensitivities and all applied the married-based approach. If we the problems which Turkey’s membership try to create one single standard for every to EU can cause to different European country in action plans this a counter- countries but on the other hand, the productive approach and every country prospect of the EU membership serves as a should be married on the basis of big incentive for Turkey to develop as a individual achievement. We have one democratic, secular country and if this example of this in the Balkans with Croatia incentive is removed I am afraid that we and some other areas and this approach may have some very difficult processes generally works because it creates healthy within this country which may have a very competition within the region. The country dangerous results for the rest of Europe as which is a little bit ahead compared to the well. If somebody asks our opinion we others serves a good model to others and believe of course that Turkey should be on serves as a good incentive to others to catch board and Turkey should be part of EU and up so it creates a healthy competition and I it is not only in our interest as a neighboring believe all three of us we are in this region but first of all it’s in the interest of initiative I think this treatment should be Europe itself. So, this was very briefly what separate based on concrete achievements of I wanted to present today, maybe it was not each country separately. that briefly but anyway thank you for your attention.
111 Documents
Konstantin Zhgenti,
Ambassador to the Republic of Georgia in Austria and Republic of Hungary, expert of SCIRS: “Conference on security and cooperation in the South Caucasus”
I want to thank the organizers you for understanding. I mean ecological, social, inviting me here and I must say that I am economic, energetic security. The main speaking here not as an ambassador. While problem of course is military-political David Bakradze says is he speaking as a security that is connected directly to the policy-maker, I am speaking as an expert conflict resolution. I think this is the main from the South Caucasus Institute on obstacle and my colleges would agree Regional Security my own ideas. For me it’s with me on that. Since when we began to better in the manner to share with you ideas talk conferences a couple of years ago, a about the security in the South Caucasus lot of things happened which change the and about the possibility of organizing a approaches to security, not only all over Conference on Security and Cooperation in the world but in our region too. Of course, the South Caucasus. It’s not the first time I events like the 11th of September that put am speaking about this, my colleges who terrorism on the top of the list of threats are the members of our Institute from in the world. Such an event has a new Armenia and Azerbaijan remember that we neighborhood initiative. These are the discussed this topic during several meetings events that change the situation not only the possibility to organize such as in the world and in our region as well. conference. Until now, the idea of the What are the old approaches and old Conference it’s on the way because we understanding of threats and security don’t simply want to organize a conference measures in our region? What has for the sake of organizing a conference, but changed during this period? The main we expect some results from it. We began to problem when talking about the European talk about this immediately after the Union integration is to find if whether or founding of our Institute a couple of years not the threats are the same for us than for ago and we began discussing the Stability the Europe? If we don’t solve our Pact for the Caucasus and then our common problems and conflicts with the help of approach is to the security problems and the world community, do these frozen the threats that we have in our region. A lot conflicts will represent threat for of people today talk about the security European countries or not? I want to ask measures and they underline there are some my colleges to discuss it and share their differences between the three countries. I ideas. Next year our Institute is going to now refer to the threats in our region. That organize a Conference with the help of the means we are working for four years on Erbert Foundation and other establishing our common approaches to our organizations like NATO to discus this common threats and security. The topic and I ask you to think of this as well. ingredients for security reach the common Thank you very much. 112 Activity Report 2004
Franz Werner,
Ret. GenMaj, German Member ISAB for Georgia: The European Security and Defense Policy (ESVP) and the Military and Civilian Capabilities for Crisis Management Operations: “European policy of security and defense – military and civil resources at crisis resolution”
Thank you Mr. Chairman. We have talked mechanism within the framework of ESDP today about the European Union and if we to provide the Union with the necessary talk about the European Union we also tools for autonomous action backed-up by have to talk about the European Security credible military and civilian capabilities, and Defense policy, short ESDP. As you the readiness to act if the situation requires, know the ESDP is an integral part of the action-based on a UN mandate without common foreign common security policy of competing or copying NATO, based on the the EU. It is important to understand that common understanding that the EU will act this policy is not only purely military- only militarely if NATO as a whole is not driven, to the contrary. ESDP covers a wide engaged. It is important to understand that range of means including political, ESDP until now and for the foreseen future diplomatic, civil and military elements does not cover common defense. There is a following the concept of comprehensive consensus between the EU member-states security. The aim is to develop the stating that the defense remains a national necessary tools to allow EU participation in task or for those countries who are at the international civil and military crisis same time members of NATO, common management and to contribute in a EU defense remains a task for NATO. This is framework to international peace and the so-called European head-line goal stability. Thus, the EU also needs necessary agreed by the European Council in Helsinki capabilities to act under the auspices of the in 1999, the European countries have UN charter and on UN Security Council’ committed themselves to develop readily mandate. I will try to draw a rough picture deployed, the military and civil capabilities of where the ESDP stands now and what is through coordinated national and possible to make to raise the ESDP as a part, international efforts in order to cover the as a core part of the EU. You might recall full spectrum of the so-called Petersburg that the Franco-British accord in the late 98 task which means: use of force from and then the Cologne European Council humanitarian and rescue operations peace- meeting in 99 gave the political impetus keeping up to the operations of conflict and the practical guidelines required for parties by force. As of military capabilities, strengthening of the common European the member-states agreed to be able by end security and defense policy. The head of of 2003, to deploy rapidly, within 60 days States of the European Union decided to and then sustain for at a least one year, develop a political decision-making military forces capable of the following of 113 Documents
the Petersburg task including those which staff which supplies military expertise. would require considerable forces up to Furthermore a Committee for civil aspect of 60,000 persons. At the same time, the crisis management was created which member States would be able to deploy advises the PSC. small and rapid response forces with a high degree of readiness. And for this reason, Let me briefly touch on the issue of you may know that is what decided to build cooperation between NATO and the EU. by 2007 up to seven rapid deployable so- The development of the ESPD requires a called battle groups size forces. real strong strategic partnership between the EU and NATO in the management of Ladies and gentlemen it is important to crisis. The fact that both NATO and EU are underline that the European headline goal partners and not rivals is within a kind of addresses capabilities rather than standing self-evident logic because most nations are armed forces integration of a European members of both organizations. By army. The EU does not create separate new developing military capabilities the EU formations or forces. Instead, due to the fact intends also to strengthen the European that every nation as we know, has only one pillar of NATO. The EU knows that the single set of forces existing multinational success of ESDP as a vital part of the capabilities steps and formations will be common foreign and security policy will to first developed forming a pool out of which a large extent depend on the support of the forces required for a particular NATO as such and the US. This implies as operation will be draw. As far as quantity is defined in the so-called Berlin-plus concerned, the headline goal was fulfilled arrangement that NATO resources, at least by the end of 2003. So far as quality is some, can also be used by the EU while the concerned, considerable progresses have new capabilities required by the ESDP will been made to overcome a lot of identified also be available to NATO. This is short-folds, like the amount of control, important and unnecessary duplications transportation by air and by sea and so on. have to be avoided. In the meanwhile the Progress in the field of capabilities has been ESDP has proved its readiness to operate. accompanied by institutional measures, the The EU has taken over the end of March first was appointment of the High 2003, the responsibility for the military representative for the common and foreign operations in FYROM, named Concordia security policy Mr. Solana as it was with about 3,500 people. It did successfully mentioned this morning. Furthermore in contribute to stable environment and accord with the European Council prevented a looming civil from breaking conclusions, structures have been out. Another important aspect was the specifically created for decision-making on resources to NATO assets and capabilities a monetary off-crisis management action. which demonstrated that the concept as First, the so-called political and security such is manageable. As a kind of success Committee the main role of which is to the EU police-mission in FYROM similar to exercise political control and strategic the one in Bosnia was established in 2003. management in time of crisis, second, By the way, the police-mission in Bosnia- similar to NATO, the military committee Herzegovina was around 800 people will which provides military advices and last until the end of 2005. And another EU- exercises, military commands over all led operation was the operation 114 military activities and finally the military “Arthemys” was about 1500 people in the Activity Report 2004
Democratic Republic of Congo without the New impetus for the development of the NATO resources but with France as a ESDP was given by EU convent developing framework nation. The rapid deployment of the Constitution treaty signed 2 days ago in the EU multinational force held a danger Rome. This Constitutional Treaty down and helped relaunch the peace encompasses among others. First updating process in the Democratic Republic of the Petersburg task that means that tasks Congo. It was already mentioned this are to be expanded to include specific morning that EU is preparing a security- references to other tasks involving use of mission following the NATO-led operation military resources like post-conflict as for in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Third states stabilization, conflict-prevention, military of course not belonging either to NATO or advises and assistance, joint disarmament EU are invited to contribute to EU military operations like weapon-destruction and or police operations in the future as they arms control programs. Secondly, the have done it in the past. responses to the new threats. It’s now necessary to cope with the threat of Now let me make some brief remarks about terrorism and the possible use of weapons the civilian instruments of the EU for crisis- of mass-destruction by terrorists groups. management and their state of readiness. This threat demands a response which Civil-crisis management often in public is requires the combined use of the whole not much recognized. Lessons learned from range of instruments: military resources, the Balkans and Afghanistan show that civil intelligent police to assure cooperation and instruments are indispensable parts of civil protection. Let me conclude my crisis-management in our days. In this remarks. The European security and regards, cooperation with NGOs is of high defense policy ESDP seeks a comprehensive importance too. The civil instruments of the approach to security by developing civil EU are mainly police, rule of law, civil and military capabilities for conflict administration and civil protection. As for prevention and crisis-management. The the police, member-state have committed ESDP was formulated in such a way that themselves up to 5,000 police officers for those aspects, civilian and military international crisis-management operations. mutually reinforce each other. The EU is on As to the rule of law, member-states have its way to become an effective fully global committed up to 282 officials including 72 actor not in competition with NATO but in judges, 48 prosecutors and 72 penitentiary close cooperation with the Northern personnel. As to civilian administration, Alliance. It has the potential to make a member-states have committed themselves major contribution both with dealing with to provide a pool of experts to take on the treats and to helping realize the assignments of civil registration, local opportunities. An active and capable administration and custom services. As to European Union would make an impact on civil protection, member-state have a global scale. In doing so, it would committed themselves to provide an contribute to an effective, multilateral assessment teams and civil protection- system leading to and hopefully to a more intervention teams up to 2000 persons on stable and more secure world. Thank you short notice. All in all, I think it shows that for your attention. the EU has recognized the significance of the civilian instruments in crisis- management. 115 Documents
Jurgen Schmidt,
Political Officer of OSCE Mission to Georgia: “Role of OSCE in the South Caucasus”
Good evening. Before reflecting about new ground, while the mission to Georgia saw and old roles of the OSCE, let me to explain the extension of its mandate in 1994, you within a minute what is the OSCE. The basically clarifying the leading role as the OSCE is the largest regional security main international negotiation framework organization in the world with 55 of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict as well as participating States from Europe, Central the supportive role in the UN-led Georgian- Asia and North America. It is active in early Abkhaz settlement efforts. Additionally, in warning, conflict prevention, crisis reference to Georgia as a whole the management and post-conflict mission’s mandate was amended to include rehabilitation. The OSCE approach to the promotion of respect for human rights security is comprehensive and cooperative. and fundamental freedom and to assist in Comprehensive in dealing with a wide the development of legal and democratic range of security related issues including institutions and processes. A new phase of arms control, preventive diplomacy, the OSCE engagement in Caucasus started confidence and security building measures, in 1999 with the mandating of OSCE offices human rights, democratization, election in Baku and Erevan. The mandates of these monitoring and economic and new offices were not comparable to those of environmental security. Cooperative in the the old missions, you had the mandate sense that all OSCE members have equal centered around the promotion and status and decisions are based on implementation of OSCE principles and consensus. commitments as well as the cooperation of Armenia and Azerbaijan within the OSCE In a nutshell, the OSCE... All the missions as framework and in all OSCE dimensions well as mandates (Part missing, the tape including the human political, economic was changed). and environmental aspects of security and stability. The mission to Georgia dates back to 1992 deals with the activities of the Minsk For the mission to Georgia, 1999 brought process on the Karabakh conflict. Both news as well. At the December Plenary activities were originally mandated on meeting of the Permanent Council in promoting negotiations between the parties Vienna an extension of the mission’s to armed conflicts in the region, aiming at mandate was decided in order to: “observe reaching peaceful political settlements. The and report on movements across the border Minsk process was complemented by the between Georgia and the Chechen Republic appointment of a special representative to of the Russian Federation, both by vehicle the Chairman in office in 1995, leading to a and on foot”. The mandate of the border- 116 permanent OSCE field presence on the monitoring operation was expanded Activity Report 2004 geographically in December 2001 to cover monitoring the impact of anti-terrorism the Ingush-segment of the Georgian border measures on human rights. Since this year, and once more in December 2002 to include the mission to Georgia and the Erevan the Daghestan part. office have anti-terrorism advisors and are actively engaged in assisting the respective Leaning a little back and having a broader host country governments. To prevent view, there are four relatively new and trafficking in human beings the members of quite dynamically implemented OSCE the OSCE Ministerial Council in Porto 2002 issues as strategic police matters and the recognized in a declaration on trafficking actions against terrorism, the joint action- and human beings the need to address root plan in combating trafficking in human causes of trafficking and to reduce the beings and border management. All of these economic and social inequalities and four issues are well-established and find the disadvantages that also provoke illegal implementation in the South Caucasus. On migrations, which might be exploited by strategic police matters, there is criminal networks for their profit. Taking overwhelming evidence to show that good- into consideration the OSCE commitments policing has a vital role to play in the in the field of trafficking in human beings, a prevention of conflicts, preservation of joint action plan was setup and this social stability during political crisis and the represent a set of recommendations for post-conflict rehabilitation of societies. participants and the OSCE. It promotes Without effective law-enforcement, respect basically two principles which are for the rule of law and the operations of recognized to be at the core of any anti- institutions responsible for upholding it, trafficking activities. It is one the there can be little likelihood of social, humanitarian and compassionate approach political, or economic development in any to the victims of trafficking and the state. In December 2001, the OSCE inevitability of prosecution for those Permanent Council established the post of responsible for trafficking in human beings. the Senior Police adviser and in 2002 a new The action plan reflects a multi-dimensional established strategic police matters unit approach to combating measures to be started its work. Looking at the strategic undertaken by governmental and non- policing today all three countries of the governmental institutions of participating South Caucasus are actively using these States and the OSCE structures in new tools and the expertise offered by the coordinated efforts to address this serious respective missions and offices. challenge to civilized humanity.
th Following the events of September 11 Finally please allow me a short look into 2001, the OSCE recognized the need for a regional cooperation. For well-known focal point to coordinate and facilitate all reasons, regional cooperation in the South OSCE actions against terrorism. In Caucasus is a quite difficult task. While the December 2001, the action against terrorism non-governmental sector is already actively unit was created with the task to coordinate engaged in coming together and working assistance to participating states in on common projects, cooperation on an implementing the twelve international official or governmental level is more conventions and protocols related to the challenging. A new role or approach in this fight against terrorism. It also helps states regard are initiatives to bring the three with drafting legislation and with South Caucasus states together in projects 117 Documents
with a combined group of international quality of the Kura-Aragvi river basin over governmental organizations as partners. In three-year period to identify the best this regard the OSCE is a key player in at methods for improving and access to clean least two initiatives one is the environment water resources for their respective and security initiative jointly run by the populations. Please allow me to conclude OSCE, the United Nations Development this reflexion on old and new roles and Program and the UN environmental mandates of the OSCE with a quotation of program. This initiative and the reason the former OSCE Chairman in office and Caucasus report discussed by the current NATO Secretary General, Jaap de environment ministers of all three Caucasus Hoop Schaeffer, delivered in Maastricht in countries in Tbilisi this month can be 2003: “We are faced with a complex mentioned as a response by the OSCE to a international agenda that combines variety of non-traditional threats to security emerging threats such as terrorism, the caused by socio-economic and proliferation of weapons of mass- environmental issues to the participating destruction, regional conflicts and countries. Within the same context, the trafficking in human beings with traditional OSCE mission to Georgia and the NATO challenges such as poverty, discrimination fund for peace are supporting the Caucasus and environmental degradation. While we regional surveys water-monitoring projects. should be resolute in our response to This is maybe the only government threats and challenges old and new, we endorsed project of a joint character must never forget that the overarching between the three South Caucasus states. objective of our struggle is to defend our The three countries Academies of Science common human values and dignity”. End along with the OSCE and the NATO for of quote and end of my contribution. Peace program are sharing data on water Thanks.
118 Activity Report 2004
Bilateral relations
GEORGIAN-CANADIAN RELATIONS organizations, information technologies and exchange of trainees. In 2004, two Since 2003 SCIRS/hCa actively cooperated Canadian volunteers, Nicola Kuchta and with “Alternatives” (www.alternatives.ca), a Helene Thibault, worked at SCIRS/hCa Canadian NGO based in Montreal. A respectively for a period of three months number of meetings were held with Adam each. Nicola Kuchta assisted in the Novak and Csilla Kiss, representatives of elaboration of the concept of the institute’s the organization. website, while Helene Thibault prepared a number of materials regarding Georgian- The priority directions for cooperation Canadian relations and is now responsible focused on youth policy, peacemaking for managing and updating the Georgia- issues, development of non-profit Canada section on the SCIRS website.
Representatives of the Canadian Partner organization “Alternatives”- Adam Novak (responsible for Alternatives projects in Europe), Pierre Beaudet (General-Director of “Alternatives”) 119 International relations
Web-page dedicated to the Georgian – Canadian relations on the website www.scirs.org
Another important collaboration between Working seminars on peacemaking SCIRS and “Alternatives” lies in the questions”. The conference was organized in development of relations and cooperation Kaunas University by “Alternatives” together between the South Caucasus and Baltic with Lithuanian organizations within the States. Field visits of NGO representatives framework of the ODACE program. from the Baltic States were organized two times in Georgia with the support of At the conference Mr. A. Russetsky “Alternatives”, through the Official presented a report which underlined the Development Assistance in Central Europe role of Lithuania in the settlement of (ODACE). conflicts, in the integration South Caucasus countries in the European Union, as well as GEORGIAN-LITHUANIAN COOPERATION the special role projects can play in the development of Euroregions and frontier From June 21-23, SCIRS executive director cooperation. In his report, Mr. Russetsky Mr. Alexander Russetsky was invited to proposed to the Lithuanian colleagues Kaunas to participate in the conference (analytical groups) to first create a joint “Expansion of Europe - The Role of cooperation program involving independent 120 Lithuania in a Policy of Developing the EU/ experts, considering that this document may Activity Report 2004 play a significant role in these processes development of relations between Georgia and in the development of interstate and and Lithuania, and in general between the inter-regional initiatives. Black Sea countries and the Baltics are considered very actual. In October 2004 in Georgia and Lithuania share some Tbilisi, the pursuit of the development of the geopolitical features as both countries are Georgian-Lithuanian relations led to the bordered by States with a low level of invitation of Mr. Liudas Mazilis, professor at democracy, a situation which may represent the Institute of Political Sciences and a threat to their security. SCIRS, having Diplomacy at Kaunas University. Mr. Mazilis wide experience of work in conflict areas, expressed his readiness in giving advice on offered Lithuanian to cooperate in the the questions of transborder cooperation. development and support of projects in The possibility to jointly organize Afghanistan and Iraq. The necessity of the educational processes and educational creation of a research center at SCIRS management was also evoked during the devoted to the development of Georgian- meeting. These and other ideas were Lithuanian relations was also underlined. advanced during the visit of Dr. Jovita Tirviene from Kaunas University. The conference furthermore promoted the Negotiations resulted in the preparation of expansion of relations with scholars from a memorandum for cooperation between Kaunas University. Questions of the two institutes.
Dr.Jovita Tirviene from Kaunas University is presenting report at the conference “Problems and Perspectives of Transborder Cooperation Development in the Caucasus” 121 International relations
GEORGIAN-UKRAINIAN COOPERATION
In 2004, Georgian-Ukrainian cooperation maintained a successful development. In February 2004, in Chernigov, SCIRS representative Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze took part in the conference “Way to NATO - General EuroAtlantic prospect of Ukraine and other post communistic states”. The “Institute for the Transformation of Society” organized the conference with the support of the Center of Information and Documentation of NATO in Ukraine. Experts from Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Georgia, Belorussia, Moldova and the Ukraine, government representatives and scholars from Chernigov took part in the event. Participants of International Expert Meeting “Democratic values and the At the conference, Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze role of civil society in contributing to stressed that the close cooperation and the efficiency of negotiations integration with NATO was a priority of processes” Alexandra Delemenchuk Georgia’s foreign policy and the only and Head of OSCE Mission to guarantee of security. Georgia openly Georgia, H.E. Ambassador Roy Reeve supports NATO’s expansion to the East. In his report, Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze noted that Georgia’s foreign policy is based on a principle of acquisition of new friends, ALEXANDRA DELEMENCHUK, instead of substituting one with another. Georgia is now conducting military reforms the Research Center for the in order to reach required standards in Development of Georgian- regards to its future integration into NATO. Ukrainian Relations: Besides this, Georgia shows interest in the integration of Russia in the European Linkage between Georgia and Ukraine structures and in NATO. An agreement on gained lately unprecedented the development of cooperation between significance, our countries become more the “Institute for the Transformation of and more integrated and after all Society” and SCIRS was signed during the interdependent. Cooperation should be meeting. The director of the Ukrainian presented in different spheres of public institution, Mr. Oleg Igorevich Soskin, and political life and first of all on the arrived to Georgia in December to way of European integration and participate in the conference “Problems and development of existing and potential perspectives of transborder cooperation cooperation frameworks, including development in the Caucasus”. He also Black Sea perimeter. delivered a lecture to young experts in 122 Tbilisi. Activity Report 2004
In 2004, the Research Center for the mentioned in the chapter on human security Development of Georgian-Ukrainian and human rights. A research center that Relations was created at SCIRS. The head deals with this issue was created in SCIRS of the Research Center is Ms. Alexandra for enhancing the development of Georgian- Delemenchuk. Turkish relations. Known experts and public figures are involved in the Center’s work and activities. GEORGIAN-TURKISH COOPERATION The director of the Center is Mr. Vakhtang Georgian-Turkish relations are of high Kolbaia, former vice-president of the importance in the formation and Parliament of Georgia and former Chairman development of SCIRS. The idea of its of the South-Caucasus inter-parliamentary creation was developed at a conference in group. Mr. David Tavadze, former main Istanbul, organized with the support of the analyst of the Analytics Administration of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and other German Ministry of Defence of Georgia, supervises funds. Important financial contributions were the information-analytical section of the also made by the Embassy of Turkey in center. Georgia. The development of relations was promoted through the visit that SCIRS In November 2004, SCIRS was invited by experts paid to Turkey in autumn 2004, as the Center of Strategic Researches of the
A number of meetings held in Ankara contributed to the development of Georgian – Turkish relations 123 International relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey (SAM) to establish cooperation. “AGAT” On the 17th of February 2005, during a meeting with SCIRS experts, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Georgia H.E. Mr. Ertan Tezgor, further encouraged the foundation of the research center for Georgian-Turkish relations. The ambassador expressed his interest to assist to the creation of a joint analytical commission of experts on the issue of Georgian-Turkish relations. A plan for the “AGAT” (Azerbaijan, Georgia, development of relations was also Armenia, Turkey) – is a new proposed. At the first stage meetings of experts on Georgian-Turkish relations will quadrilateral format, contributing to be conducted in Tbilisi and the project of the the elaboration of common program program on cooperation developed. for the integration of the South Afterwards, meetings between a delegation Caucasus to the European Union. of experts from Georgia, analysts and leading political scientists from Turkey will The main goal of the project is be carried out in Ankara. working out of joint, effective forms Discussions with the Turkish experts about of regional cooperation to accelerate the prepared program should lead to its the EU integration process. amendment and correction. At the third stage it will be possible to organize The project will also promote the meetings in Baku and Yerevan. It is now creation of trust and cooperation possible to say that the programs should atmosphere among the peoples of the include such issues as the development of regional cooperation in regards to European South Caucasus, negation of negative integration, transborder cooperation, historic stereotypes and arrangement conflicts settlements and Black Sea of conditions for the development of cooperation. good-neighbor intergovernmental relations. The idea of the development of cooperation between Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and It is presumed, within the framework Azerbaijan is another very interesting of the project to determine common aspect. It is important to note that Turkey as strategies and mechanisms for the well as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, effective use of EU resources in the should also be considered a Caucasian region and to develop the ideas on country. In the bordering areas of Turkey, practical arrangements conducting to the Caucasian identification is often invoked overcome main obstacles on the way and served as a motive to work out the project “AGAT” (Azerbaijan, Georgia, to the European Union. Armenia and Turkey), which title comes 124 from the Greek “AGATES” - happy, agate, a Activity Report 2004 stone identified with health, prosperity and The embassy of the Republic of Turkey may longevity. Analysts from Azerbaijan, Armenia also render technical support assistance to and Turkey have supported the initiative. the Institute for the development of its The project’s purpose is to promote the library collection. acknowledgement of Turkey as a country of the South Caucasus together with GEORGIAN-BULGARIAN RELATIONS Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. It may have a positive effect on the process of In February 1, 2005 on the initiative of the European integration as well as on many South Caucasus Institute of Regional Security other issues. All four countries of the South jointly with the experts of the Institute of Caucasus express the firm desire to join the Regional and International Researches of European Union. Starting from this point Sofia a round table – Problems and they should cooperate in this direction too, Perspectives of Georgian-Bulgarian relations opening new possibilities for the negotiating was held. The aim of the meeting was process. contribution to the creation of positive background for the effective development of Lectures given by Turkish experts in Georgian- Bulgarian relations. Georgian universities and vice-versa also represent an important point for the It was emphasized that Georgian-Bulgarian development of Georgian-Turkish relations. relations have a centuries-old history. The
The round table on the development of Georgian – Bulgarian relations 125 International relations
fact that Bochkov monastery in Bulgaria It is important to develop economic was founded by Georgians as far back as relations. SCIRS expert Alexander six centuries ago, points out ancient Tvalchrelidze highlighted several problems cultural, spiritual and historical relations and issues, within the framework of which between our people. Georgia and Bulgaria intensified work should be conducted. The situated on the both sides of the Black first challenge is the problem of the Black Sea, could not manage to develop their Sea and effective use of its resources. relations in full, because during the last To develop the economic cooperation centuries the sea served not for through the Black Sea basin it is necessary unification but for separation, as after 18th to carry out comparative analysis, study and century the Black Sea was the sea of assist the harmonization of the economic rivalry between two super powers. During legislation of the Black Sea countries. Of the Cold War it disjointed the West from exceptional importance here is the role of the East and our countries, within such NGOs, as they are able to contribute to the historical conditions, could not use fully elaboration of the respective the opportunity of being neighbors by the recommendations for proper governmental Black sea. structures.
In contemporary conditions links and One more problem existing both in Georgia contacts between Georgia and Bulgaria and Bulgaria is total disruption of metal gain new significance, especially in the manufacture due to which a huge number context of Euro-Atlantic integration and of the fields remains unclaimed. On the cooperation on security issues. It is whole we may determine the problem as prospective to develop relations between an ineffective use of reserves of natural Georgia and Bulgaria in the following fields: resources: according to the latest transregional relations (the Caucasus- economic data in Bulgaria effectiveness of Balkans), transborder cooperation, use of resources increased 2, 3 %, in eurointegration, conflict resolution and Georgia even smaller- 1%. Mr. development of cultural and historical Tvalchrelidze reckons that economy relations. should be developed resting upon own resource of the country. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Georgia, Director of the Institute of Regional and H.E. Ivaylo Brazitzov has emphasized in International Researches Mr. Ognyan his speech that cooperation between Minchev suggested to SCIRS experts to Bulgaria and Georgia is going on elaborate the project aimed at carrying out successfully at international level, comparative research of the Caucasus and especially in the sphere of European and Balkan conflicts. During the last fifteen Euro-Atlantic integration. According to the years conflicts existed both in the Caucasus Ambassador it is necessary to intensify and Balkans, most of them are frozen now the contacts at the level of analytical and it is necessary to look for the ways of centers and non-governmental their peaceful resolution. At present the organizations. project preparation is underway.
126 Activity Report 2004
Transborder cooperation
SCIRS identified the development of The Center’s objectives include the analysis transborder (also referred to as transfrontier) of potential of the Caucasus countries in the cooperation as one of its priorities, as part of sphere of transborder cooperation its strategy on international relations. The development, assistance to development of “Caucasus Center for Transborder effective communications and coordination Cooperation” was founded in 2003 within of the activities of state structures, SCIRS. The purpose of the Center is to institutions of local government, non- render assistance to the creation of an governmental and international atmosphere of trust and mutual organizations into areas of transborder understanding on the external and internal cooperation, research of the culture of Euro borders of the Caucasus by developing regions and experience of transboundary cooperation of border regions and promoting cooperation in countries of Western, Central the European experience in this sphere. and Eastern Europe.
Gudauri, mountain resort of Georgia – place where the conference “Problems and Perspectives of Transborder Cooperation Development in the Caucasus” was held 127 International relations
Transborder Cooperation Development in the Caucasus”.
Public figures and experts from the region, representatives of institutions of local government from all three countries, from higher educational institutions, public authorities of Georgia (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Border Department, the Ministry of Education and Sciences, Parliamentary Committee on External Relations), from the press (International TV/ Radio company “MIR”, Diplomatic Body (Ukraine Embassy in Georgia), participated in the event.
It is especially important to note the participation of the following international experts:
Lejla Haverik (Institute “East-West”, Mr. Sinan Gokcen public figure and journalist Brussels); is relating the experience of transborder cooperation in Turkey Oleg Soskin (Institute of Transformation of Society, Kiev); In 2004 the Center in partnership with other Sinan Gokcen (hCa Turkey, Istanbul); organizations of the South Caucasus, Raiko Bojich (Citizens’ Pact for conducted the project “Red Bridge – Trust Southeastern Europe, Novi Sad); Zone“, a project on transborder cooperation development with the support of the Dutch Igor Studennikov (Odessa Branch Office organizations – “Interchurch Peace Council of National Institute of Strategic (IKV)” and “Interchurch Organization for Researches at the President of Ukraine, Development Cooperation” (ICCO). Odessa); Petr Hlebowicz (Information Center, Within the framework of the project, Krakow); researches on the bordering territories of Georgia-Armenia, Georgia-Azerbaijan, Jovita Tirviene (Kaunas State University, Armenia-Azerbaijan and two parts of the Kaunas); Georgian-Russian borders were conducted. The investigations resulted in the While preparing the conference, preparation of research reports. A number agreements regarding the support for of meetings were held in the bordering cities initiatives as proposed by the organizers Dmanisi (Georgia), Kazakh (Azerbaijan) were concluded between the Romanian, and also in Vanadzor (Armenia). In 2004, Italian and Bulgarian Embassies and the the conclusive event was the international Information Office of the Council 128 conference “Problems and Perspectives of of Europe. Activity Report 2004
The first two days of the conference were devoted to the presentation of experiences of the European countries in the sphere of transborder cooperation.
In his report, Oleg Igorevich Soskin mentioned the importance of integrating the concept of transborder cooperation at the state level. For any country an appropriate concept and methodological basis for transborder zones is of substantial significance. The countries involved should share a similar conceptual and methodological level of work regarding transboundary cooperation. If a similar pattern is not developed, it becomes very difficult to deal with private and practical questions, relations betweens regions and cities or topics related to economic or public life.
Sinan Gokcen, journalist and public figure in Turkey pointed out the issue of mutual RAIKO BOJICH, relations between Turkey and the South Citizens’ Pact for Southeastern Europe, Caucasus countries in regards to the fact that relations between these countries have Novi Sad, Serbia: a long history. Also the question of the geographical and geopolitical position of - I want to note that it is not only useful, Turkey to the South Caucasus was pointed out by him. In his report Mr. Gokcen noted: but also necessary for regions similar to “People are pleased to be together. They want to be together as far as it is possible, in ours, where political institutions are order to share their cultural values.” This weakened by conflicts and transformation statement may become the original slogan of transborder cooperation development in the processes, to further transborder South Caucasus. Finally, the report cooperation. Apart from weak political underlined the exclusive importance of development of interstate and institutions, we also face the problem of intercommunityl relations between Georgia the weakness of local communities and the and Turkey, and in the region as a whole. dependences of non-governmental Mr. Raiko Bojich covered a new aspect of transborder cooperation during the organizations but when we work together, conference since his report was devoted to this dependence becomes less and less this issue with a focus on the role of non- governmental organizations in the important. development of relations between local 129 International relations
governmental institutions and local of Russia, and established the Euro region communities in the Balkans. Raiko Bojich, Nis-Sofia-Skopje among many things. represented a NGOs Coalition that facilitated three transregional drafts for The activity program of transborder Serbian, Croatian, Albanian and cooperation by the CCTC was also presented Macedonian municipalities through which at the conference. Its main lines are: the program of rehabilitation and reintegration of refugees and IDPs were Research and analysis of problems asserted. Among other achievements of the faced by bordering regions and their Coalition’s work was the signing of pacts perspectives in the sphere of about interethnic tolerance between cities of transborder cooperation on internal and the region, the creation of documentaries external borders of the Caucasus; and manuals and the shares devoted to the Development of a prevention system in abolition and liberalization of the visa conflict zones that deals with external regime between the countries of the region. and domestic borders; Mrs. Jovita Tirviene talked about the Development of a legal space for the participation of Lithuania in Euro regions, conduct of an efficient frontier cooperation; how they were established, what difficulties Initiation of the participation of they encountered and how they were representative bodies of local self- successful in the end. Experience about the governing and local authorities in the development of transborder cooperation on development of frontier cooperation; maritime borders was also a topic of interest. As it is known, the second protocol Development of the civil society in of the European Convention on bordering regions. Transfrontier Cooperation of Territorial Authorities and Communities (also known One of the Center’s projects is the “Madrid as the Madrid convention), has reinforced Process for South Caucasian countries” the region’s cooperation capabilities not which main purpose is to provide assistance only for countries directly bordering to the development of a legal field dedicated overland, but also having common water to transborder cooperation development in borders. In the future it will be possible to the South Caucasus region. make use of this experience for the development of transborder cooperation in This process involves the research and the Black sea region. analysis of the legal field of the South Caucasus countries (domestic legislation, The East - West Institute (EWI) has been bilateral agreements, concepts related to working on transborder cooperation issues the development of frontier cooperation) for more than 10 years in the countries of and the elaboration of recommendations to Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, improve them with the purpose of as well as in Russia. Their experience in this conducting efficient frontier cooperation. field is therefore of importance for the South The “Madrid Process” also implies the Caucasian countries. EWI experts realize advocating to make Georgia sign the projects related to the development of European Convention, and also the transboundary cooperation in the Southern monitoring about the application of this 130 Adriatic, the Kaliningrad and Pskov regions convention in the neighboring countries. Human security
The problem of the security of individuals under conditions of unsettled conflicts, emerging constant threats and also other threats which have no connection with the use of military forces, represent the major area of research and study of the South-Caucasus Institute of Regional Security. International experts include these concepts in their researches into one single conception of human security, in reference to the new term that has been actively used since the end of the nineties until now.
Within this framework, SCIRS experts investigate the problem of mines and explosives, environmental safety and general questions of terrorism and political violence. In 2004, special attention was given to issues related to missing people, hostages and other categories of involuntarily disappeared people.
NATIONAL SECURITY Caucasus”, which was devoted to problems The necessity of the existence of a of environmental security. The overall aim of conception of national security in Georgia, the conference was the acquaintance of the as a basic tool for the citizens’ security was convoked participants from the Caucasus promoted during one of the first working with the extremely tense situation created in meetings carried out in SCIRS office in the region, with a focus on environmental January 2004. According to SCIRS experts, security in which the governments, the principle of national consent should lay parliaments, NGOs, scientific, and also in the basis of national security, in a form international organizations in Azerbaijan, that would be acceptable for organizing the Armenia and Georgia are involved. The diverse population of the state. Experts report “Environmental Security: Wars, stated the idea of the creation of an institute Conflicts, Weapons - Direct and Implicit “Research Center of National Security” to Consequences”, presented by Mrs. facilitate and develop contacts between Berikashvili at the occasion of a competition experts working in neighboring countries for of the REC - Caucasus, was recognized as the development of a unified system of one of the best contributions. Under the regional security for the South Caucasus, initiative of SCIRS experts, not contradicting national conceptions recommendations about the necessity of reinforcing the monitoring system of available radioactive sources and export- ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY import supervision of nuclear materials (the SCIRS experts – Narine Berikashvili and portal and import equipment), were included Nikolay Kozlovsky took part in IV into the general package of International conference of “Regional recommendations, developed at the Environmental Centre of Central and conference. They pay special attention to Eastern Europe (REC)” of the Caucasus – the ecological consequences of conflicts “Environmental Security of the South and wars during which various types of 131 Human security
political and religious extremism in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia will contribute to the realization of significant independent investigations.
PROBLEM OF INVOLUNTARY DISAPPEARANCES In 2004, a great amount of work was also done regarding the problem of involuntary disappearances. The conference “Problem of Involuntary Disappearances in The South Caucasus” was held in March, 24- 26, 2004, in Tbilisi. The main organizers were the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and IKV (with the support of ICCO). Representatives of non-governmental, arms, such as mines, non-explosive, out-of- international and public organizations date shells were used, and at the ecological working on problems of involuntary situation on former military areas. disappearances in the South Caucasus and the relatives of missings as a result of The South-Caucasus Institute of Regional conflicts in the region also took part in the Security has also suggested to the conference. The conference resulted into ecological organizations to create a an arrangement with representatives of the research center of environmental security. International Red Cross about the The idea was maintained by Mrs. Nato necessity of specification and joining Kirvalidze, the executive director of REC - together of lists of missing and Caucasus. disappeared persons.
One of the major decisions taken at the TERRORISM AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE conference was to the create “Ozhidanie” In 2004 with the assistance of one expert, (Expecation) - Caucasian Federation Mamuka Areshidze, SCIRS prepared a against Involuntary Disappearances. number of proposals on the development However, experts working in this sphere of cooperation with French experts on the and organizations of relatives of question of terrorism and political violence. disappeared people are not ready to work SCIRS proposed to examine the together at the given stage. researches of the French experts on the problems of political violence and The necessity to develop cooperation with extremism in the Caucasus. The institute the United Nations missions in the South also showed readiness to conduct Caucasus about the changing situation in expertise researches about terrorist threats the Gali region was furthermore on the whole territory of the Caucasus. underlined during the event. A special Solid experience in the area, consultative meeting with UN and OSCE communications and contacts with leading representatives was initiated to discuss 132 experts of the questions of terrorism, the definition of policy in the sphere of Activity Report 2004 human rights protection in the Gali region and in particular, to execute the appropriate resolutions of the United Nations especially concerning the opening of OSCE and UN united office on protection of human rights in Gali. A special research was carried out in the conflict area, forming the basis for the special report “Human Rights and Zone of Security”. The document features information about the situation in the field of human rights in the Gali region, the situation around the taking of hostages and the unlawful imprisoning of people. The research furthermore documents the humanitarian needs of former hostages, their relatives and of missing persons, which became victims of torture and psychological shock. In the report JUDY WILLIAMS, also the role of international ambassador of the International organizations in the system of defending Campaign to Ban Landmines and Nobel human rights in the Gali region of Abkhazia Prize winner: is outlined.
“NEW TACTICS ON HUMAN RIGHTS” - The work on the questions of mines is characterized by the concept of human security; The main action taken by SCIRS regarding the idea is that real security is based on human questions of human security and human security. Listening to the reasoning on various rights was the participation of experts in the aspects of human rights - civil and political international symposium “New Tactics on rights, social and economic rights, ecological Human Rights”, carried out from the 29th of rights, it seems that all of us talk about a September 29 to the 2nd of October 2004 in complex set of rights which define the pattern Ankara. of civil security. Maybe, it is necessary for all The project “New Tactics on Human of us to think of various strategies and tactics Rights” was conducted by a group which we use when working on individual composed of international organizations questions of human rights as parts of something and professionals. It contributed to tactical bigger, directed on human security, and thus innovations and strategic thinking within on global security. Violence is a choice. And the framework of international human we should realize and explain the given reality rights communities, to raise the efficiency to the society. We should find strategies and of professionals and organizations from all tactics to better understand the questions of over the world by developing resources human rights and human safety in order to help and networks for the elaboration of people to change the usual concept of global creative ideas and stimulation of tactical security. innovations. 133 Human security
International symposium “New Tactics on Human Rights”, carried out in Ankara contributed to enhancement of efficiency of the professionals and the organizations, working in the field of human rights.
The main organizers of the symposium Mrs. Judy Williams, ambassador of the were the Center of Victims of Tortures as International Campaign to Ban Landmines well as the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – and Nobel Prize winner and other ICBL Turkey and the Institute of Civil Authorities representatives took part in the of Turkey and Middle East. symposium. Mrs. Judy Williams addressed the review of tactics and the Human rights protection, tactics of prevention, strategy used by ICBL during the plenary intervention and rehabilitation were among session. the issues covered during the training.
134 Document Report on land mines and explosives
Current paper was prepared as a part of “Landmine Monitor Report 2004: Toward a Mine- Free World”.
PROJECTS
In 2004 Georgian Committee of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines Georgian Committee conducted two projects:
“Mine Risk Education in Northern- East Georgia” supported at the support of the Ploughshares Foundation.
The purpose of the project was to raise public education in the Northern-East Georgia on menace of landmines and other explosives and conduct advocacy campaign. The project duration was from March 2003 to March 2004. The project activities included:
There were published exercise-books, stickers, posters, pocket calendars with the mine awareness messages on the cover. There were produced 5000 exercise-books, 500 stickers, 1000 posters, 1200 poster calendars. These materials were Cover of “Landmine Monitor Report 2004: disseminated among the military Toward a Mine-Free World” (International schoolteachers, school pupils and on Campaign to Ban Landmines) military sites in the region. manuals. The materials were translated into There was prepared the brochure of Mine Georgian language and adopted to the Awareness Program for military country specificity. The brochure also schoolteachers prepared according to the included the photos of mines and grenades International standard of UNICEF and the technical information on them, the International Guidelines for Landmine and places where they can be set, how to Unexploded Ordnance Awareness prevent the injury and etc. The brochure Education, ICRC MRE Curriculum of was disseminated among the military Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, MRE Guideline schoolteachers of 5 rayons of Kakheti region of Handicap International and other were MA Team has conducted the trainings: 135 Document
Sagaredjo, Akhmeta, Dedoplistskaro, are the most effected by mines and where Telavi, Lagodekhi – and in 3 other rayons of are allocated the military bases or are near Kakheti region - Gurjani, Kvareli, Signaki. the border. By the help of Kakheti gubernator and the representative of the There were prepared the visual aids department of education on Kakheti region, describing different types of mines, the all the military teachers of 5 rayons entering possible places where they can be set. They Kakheti region: Sagaredjo, Akhmeta, are important as the visual seeing of mines Dedoplistskaro, Telavi, Lagodekhi, were make easier the recognition of mines. People informed about the training and been should see the mine, but see it in details for collected in there rayons, where they were the complete understanding of the danger it trained on how to conduct MRE lessons for can cause. They are useful to give children schoolpupils. Pupils of high classes also and teachers an idea of what mines and participated in the training. There were four UXOs look like, also to show how they are trainers; they taught military teachers how placed in the ground. There were prepared to conduct the Mine Awareness lessons the visual aids - posters describing the according to the international standards. following types of mines: MON-50, OZM-72, Military schoolteachers received all the TM-57, TM-62M, TS-50, POMZ-2M, PROM- necessary materials – brochures, stickers, 2, PMN-2, PFM-1 (butterfly) and grenades: posters, exercise-books, calendars, leaflets RG-42, F-1. The visual aids were used during etc. These material-kits became more the training for military teachers. effective when they became familiar with the materials inside and have discussed Kakheti region consists of eight rayons. them with mine awareness personnel before Among theme there were selected five that using them in class.
136 Mine survivor exploded in Sagarejo military base, Kakheti region, 2004 Activity Report 2004
The exercise-books, posters, calendars and crisis (e.g. suicides, violence, alcohol and leaflets materials were also disseminated in drug abuse, mental disorders, etc.) village Duisi, Pankisi gorge in the school of Chechen refugees, where are 268 pupils. At Also there were visited two military bases total the training was conducted to 119 allocated in Kakheti region: Sagaredjo and military schoolteachers that represent 173 Dedoplistskaro. There were made very schools of 5 rayons of Kakheti region. The interesting photos and video film that were total number of schools in Kakheti region is used during the press conference in Tbilisi, 253. The number of pupils of five rayons: Georgia at the end of the project, where 32,054. The total number of pupils in were presented the results of the project’s Kakheti region: 60,915. activities in Kakheti region. The press conference was enlightened in mass media. Alongside with the training of schoolteachers in five rayons: Sagaredjo, Using the collage of photo materials made Akhmeta, Dedoplistskaro, Telavi, in Kakheti region was prepared three Lagodekhi - of Kakheti region were variants of “light boxes” – the street conducted the meetings with the local advertising boards, but allocated were two government, police, security service, main variants. In total - 24 boards with the physicians of the rayon hospitals, mass duration of 1 month. They were allocated in media. All these meetings were also front of parliament of Georgia, city enlightened on local TV and newspapers. administration office, Tbilisi State There were discussed the mine problem in University and other the main streets of the rayon and the ways for its solution. Tbilisi, Georgia, where during the last several months were the most crowded at There was conducted the monitoring of the enlightened by TV companies of the whole rayon hospitals, meetings with the world as the result of the last events physicians of the hospitals and were happened in Georgia. The boards were revealed new cases of mine victims in each aimed to attract attention of government, rayon. Only in January 2004 only in international organization representatives Sagaredjo rayon of Kakheti region were and wide sections of the population to the registered 6 new landmine victims. There actuality of the landmine/UXO problem in were conducted the meetings with several Georgia and the necessity to speed its mine survivors leaving in the region. In solution. The board consisted of statistical Sagaredjo (the first place of training) were data on landmine victims in Georgia and conducted the psychological rehabilitation the slogan “Mine Danger for everyone”. for landmine victims. For this there were invited a psychologist and psychiatrist from During the project implementation the “NDOBA” (Trust), the first in Georgia military teachers as well as the local social-psychological aid (suicide government representatives showed there prevention) service - a 24 hour phone- great interest in the project, took active system and out-patient service for social participation during MA trainings and and psychological aid. The main aim of the expressed their wish to continue Centre is the assistance to the people participation in such kind of projects, as the suffering from psychological crisis for the problem, by their consideration, is very adaptation in difficult conditions and to actual, and the most potential victims are prevent the negative consequences of the children. 137 Document
“Mine Ban and Advocacy Campaign in disputed situations on borders, terrorist acts, Georgia” supported by Department of Foreign black business, corruption, and absence of Affairs and International Trade of Canada institutes of civil society, ecological problems and mined territory. During the last events The purpose of the project was to raise on the South Caucasus, the conflict between public awareness in Georgia on menace of Armenia and Azerbaijan was mined 15 km landmines/other explosives and conduct line among the Georgian State border. The advocacy campaign. demarcation line in this border piece does not exist, and as a result, neither of three In frame of the project was purchased the countries does not take responsibility to office equipment that was used during the conduct mine clearance operations on this project implementation. The project territory. And the explosions continue: the duration was three months: January, shepherd cohering its cattle, or children February and March 2004. wondering in the forests and near the rivers, even the border guards. The Red Bridge is In frames of the projects the monitoring allocated in Marneuli district, Kvemo Kartli group of ICBL Georgian Committee region. In its turn, the Marneuli district conductde field visits to the Kvemo Kartli consists of 4 other sub-districts. There were region of Georgia, that consists of 6 conducted the meetings with the police districts: Marneuli, Bolnisi, Dmanisi, department of the Marneuli district. Due to Tetritckaro, Tcalka, Gardabani, which in the research made in Marneuli district there theirs turn consist of: city 7, town 7, was revealed 9 new casualties that took place sakrebulo (smallest administrative unit) 73 during the last years and which have not and village 342. Area of the Kvemo Kartli is been included in the database of ICBL GC. 6400 sq.m (8.8% of Georgia). Centre: Rustavi. Quantity of population: 586,700. The problem of stocking up the metal scrap in Soviet times was attended by The monitoring group visited the territories governmental meaning, and even the big of Kvemo Kartli region where in previous brass of central authority was linked to the years were registered explosion cases, stocking up plan implementation. Today, military bases located in the regions. They the scrap of black and color metals is the meet and took the interview from the most profitable item of trade export in representatives of local authorities, police, Georgia. Per se, great money today is made prosecutors’ office, educational department, thanks to the strongest socialistic storages physicians of the hospitals, representatives of amortized tractors, combines, railway of local mass media, local inhabitants etc. carriages, machines, not illegally, but alternate route-roads. First “business men” There was conducted the field visit to “Red paid their attention on cemetery fences, Bridge” - the conditional point of border which are destroyed and damaged aiming: crossing of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia. It to get the popular aluminum and hand it is mini-model of all region of Southern over to the points of metal scrap receipt, Caucasus. The region of Red Bridge is a zone receiving one lari of net profit per kilogram. of intensity; the possible new center of Now “business men” visit military bases destabilization as here is concentrated set of and nearby territories and collect the metal problems: the problem of the multinational scrap. The most popular places in Kvemo 138 population, problems of political borders, Kartli are: Activity Report 2004
Rustavi metallurgical factory – one of Military Forces. As the result of the biggest factories in the country, is ammunition utilization in Vaziani, this currently stopped. Today it is engaged in territory is visited by the population of the metal scrap business and its export abroad. Vaziani settlement that collects the metal Several years ago during the acceptance of scrap (some peaces remained after the secondary raw materials, suddenly there utilization of ammunition, unexploded was found that one of the carriages was full ordnance, mines etc) and make money on it. of military shells in spite of metal scrap. During the last years took place many During the monitoring was revealed several explosions of people and sometimes the cases, when people working at the factory whole buildings, where people try to open found shells, mines and other ammunition the found unexploded shells. in metal scrap brought by people engaged in metal scrap collection. After the next new explosion of metal scrap collection “business men” the monitoring Vaziani Military base – is one of the group visited Vaziani Military polygon, the biggest military bases in Georgia. The place of explosion. The monitoring group military base Vaziani was transferred to met with the head of police, neighbors and Georgian side at 1 July 2001 within the witnesses of the explosion. The police office frames OSCE Istanbul Summit’s (1999) representatives passed the information on decisions and negotiations, obtained in the the legal cases opened on explosions and sixth round of Russian-Georgian military the cases on metal scrap business. They negotiations on March 2001, in Moscow. In asked for support of ICBL Georgia to stop 2002 NAMSA and Georgia signed a the increasing number of people injuring/ memorandum of understanding (MOU), dying as the result of explosions. There was which opens the way for the taken the documentary video film on demilitarization and disposal of missile Vaziani base and metal scrap collectors. stockpiles and the remediation of Georgian military sites. Under the agreement, NATO During the field visits and advocacy has to provide material assistance and activities there was made the photos of training to carry out the safe disposal of mine polluted territories, people exploded missile stockpiles and the clean up of a on mines and found explosives, deserted former military site Vaziani close to the military bases etc. The entire gathered Georgian capital, Tbilisi. This site of 10,000 photo database would be used for hectares has to be cleared of unexploded preparation of the exhibition of photo ordnance by a group of former military materials, in newsletter, on the website etc. engineers of the Georgian Army. The area will be handed back to the local population There were taken the video film on for agricultural use. The cost of the project “Vaziani base and metal scrap collectors”. is estimated to be in excess of EUR The film was used during the press 1,250,000. But due to some mistakes of conference, was shown on the governmental structures the project failed Independent TV Channel “Rustavi 2” and to be conducted. Vaziani is also used for during the interview with “Interniews utilization of the ammunition from Georgia” reporter, which will use it in her Sagaredjo ammunition stockpile, which degree work in Great Britain University should be transferred by Russian Military on journalism and show it in Great Forces in the nearest future to Georgian Britain. 139 Document
On the example of the International victim questionnaires there was made the questionnaire that was adopted to Georgia and translated on Georgian language. The questionnaire includes all the necessary questions for collection of full and exact information. It includes the following items: gender, age, place of birth and living, contact info, place of explosion, detailed medical diagnosis, former and current employment, education, marital status etc. There was created the computer program on data collection, which computerizes all the gathered information on mine victims. It helps and makes it easier to classify the information by regions, by age, be gender and group of invalidity etc.
There was conducted the monitoring of the district hospitals, meetings with the physicians of the hospitals and were revealed new cases of mine victims in each Mamuka Gachechiladze, district. There were conducted the meetings executive director of ICBL Georgia with several mine survivors leaving in the districts. There was also conducted the International Guidelines for Landmine and monitoring of Tbilisi hospitals. As the result Unexploded Ordnance Awareness there were revealed 80 new cases of Education, ICRC MRE Curriculum of landmine/UXO victims that happened Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, MRE Guideline during the last 5 years. Some hospitals in of Handicap International and other Tbilisi still have to submit the database on manuals. The materials were translated into patients treated by them. Georgian language and adopted to the country specificity. The brochure also There were published exercise-books, included the photos of mines and grenades stickers, posters, pocket calendars with the and the technical information on them, the mine awareness messages on the cover. places where they can be set, how to There were produced 5000 exercise-books, prevent the injury and etc. The brochure 500 stickers, 1000 posters, and poster was disseminated among the military calendars. These materials were schoolteachers of 5 rayons of Kakheti region disseminated among the military were MA Team has conducted the trainings: schoolteachers, school pupils and on Sagaredjo, Akhmeta, Dedoplistskaro, military sites in the region. Telavi, Lagodekhi – and in 3 other rayons of Kakheti region - Gurjani, Kvareli, Signaki. There was prepared the brochure of Mine Awareness Program for military There were conducted the meetings with the schoolteachers prepared according to the deputy of Educational Department of Rustavi 140 International standard of UNICEF rayon, head of Educational Department of Activity Report 2004
Gardabani district, and the deputy of protection and Education ministries etc – Educational Department of the whole Kvemo and NGOs engaged in mine problem Kartli region. There were revealed the regulation. There were discussed the main quantity of schools, pupils, teachers and issues of landmine problem and the results military teachers in each district, their needs they cause. and comments. The printed materials were passed to the representatives of the Education There also were sent letters to the new Department, which will disseminate them government: to the first lady, minister of among the military schoolteachers and pupils. defense, minister of health protection, deputy minister of education, minister of foreign There was made the design of the website of affairs, asking them to change the politics of the ICBL Georgian Committee. It is allocated governmental structures to the mine ban on http://georgia.icbl.org. It covers the process. There were already conducted information on organizations of Georgia several meeting with the ministries’ engaged in landmine/UXO problem representatives with the purpose of informing settlement in Georgia. It covers the them about mine problem in the country and information on main Mine Action programs: ways of its regulation. Advocacy (including all the conventions, UN, ICRC, OSCE and other international There were organized several press organizations reports, Military agreements of conferences with distribution of printed Georgian government with other countries materials elaborated during the project, and the laws of Georgia concerning mine information lists, etc with the participation problem), Mine Awareness (including goals of mass media representatives to enlighten and tasks of MA programs, and all the MA press conferences on TV, radio and messages), Victims Assistance (including newspapers. During the press conferences goals and tasks of VA programs, and all the there were used the photo/video materials VA rehabilitation programs), Mine Clearance gained during the project implementation. (the history of mines, their impact, types of Each pres conference was enlightened on mines including the technical glossary etc). TV channels and newspapers. The information on projects and activities, the publications, photos, posters. The website The video film on “Vaziani base and metal language is English and planned to make it in scrap collectors” was used during the press future in Russian too. conference, was shown on the Independent TV Channel “Rustavi 2” and during the There was prepared the video reel that is the interview with “Internews Georgia” best way of advocacy Ottawa Convention reporter, which will use it in her degree and raise attention of Georgian population work in Great Britain University on and governmental structures to the landmine journalism and show it in Great Britain. problem existing in the country. “Youth Leadership, Education and There was conducted the two working Action Program” meetings with the participation of governmental structures: Defense ministry, YMAAP and Mines Action Canada (MAC) Internal and Foreign Affairs ministries, launched of the Youth Leadership, military and civic prosecutor offices, Education and Action Program (Youth department of border protectors, Health 141 Document
Regional youth capacity-building symposia for FSU/CIS countries’ youth, Moscow, Russia, 2005
LEAP)! The program aims to build the with one another, and link up with more capacity of young women and men to work established members of the mine action in mine action and to strengthen the capacity community. Youth delegates participated in of mine action and pro-ban organizations. valuable capacity-building workshops and Youth LEAP addresses the needs of both observed the proceedings of the Nairobi established and less-established partners in Summit. They participated in formal ICBL the ICBL both by building the capacity of events, as well as informal interactions with youth to work in mine action, and by representatives of civil society and strengthening the capacity of partner governments attending the Summit-thereby organizations to work with young people. networking not only with one another, but Youth LEAP has six core components, which also with more experienced activists and are complementary yet can stand-alone. campaigners. Michael Chokhonelidze, 14 Georgian ICBL participated in LEAP years old youth campaigner have program’s following activities: represented ICBL Georgian Committee during the work of 2004 International Youth International youth symposia in conjunction Symposium on Landmines in Kenya. with annual Meetings of States Parties Regional capacity-building workshops for International Youth Symposium on overseas campaigns on how to involve youth in Landmines was attended by youth their mine action work between the ages of 14 and 30 from around the world. This unique mine action event Youth LEAP brought together campaigners held in Nairobi, Kenya, from November in CIS/FSU regions for one-week 25th to December 3rd.International Youth interactive seminar on building capacity to Symposium enabled young leaders to build involve young people in anti-landmine 142 their mine action campaign skills, network campaign and advocacy work. YMAAP, Activity Report 2004
MAC and ICBL staff shared their support the development of their youth experiences working with youth in mine programs by increasing the technological action through participatory train-the- and financial resources available. trainer techniques. The seminar took place in Georgia, in November 2004. Development of a Working With Youth in Campaigners from Georgia, Tajikistan, Mine Action Resource Manual Belorus learned from one another and gain The Working with Youth in Mine Action new skills to more effectively integrate Resource Manual focused on how to young people in their work. mobilize and engage young women and men as contributors to rather than Regional youth capacity-building symposia recipients of mine action. YMAAP On 14-18 February 2005 in Moscow document its own experience and include (Russia) conducted the regional youth template resources and documents. capacity-building symposia for FSU/CIS Importantly, YMAAP is the focal point for countries’ youth. A workshop was collecting and disseminating case studies, facilitated by regional campaigners, along resources and templates from ICBL partners with YMAAP and MAC staff. During one- around the world. The manual is an week participatory workshops youth of important resource for organizations FSU/CIS countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, around the world looking for tools and Byelorussia, Georgia, Tajikistan, ideas of involving young people in their Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, campaign work. ICBL GC translated the Russia and Ukraine) gained skills in areas manual in Russian and published it. such as facilitation, volunteer management, advocacy, lobbying, event Young Professionals International Mine coordination, fundraising, and network Action Program (YPIMAP): an international building. Following the training, youth internship program for young Canadians Leaders returned home to support the YPIMAP is YMAAP’s international work of their local partners by mobilizing internship program. YMAAP sponsors and training other youth in addition to international internship placements with its supporting local mine ban campaign partner organizations in the international initiatives. From Georgia the workshop movement to ban landmines. The Mine was attended by Micheil Chokhonelidze, Action Young Professionals work in diverse George Maisuradze, Vera Glonti and and multicultural environments to add Zurab Asaev. capacity to international partners and gain valuable career-related work experience. Small grants program for overseas ICBL GC will be host organization for campaigns participating in regional capacity- Young Professional Intern in 2004-2005 building workshops years. ICBL GC receives small grants from Youth LEAP. These grants contribute to the capacity of under-resourced organizations MONITORING by providing funds for the purchase of much-needed capital equipment such as In frames of the projects ICBL GC has computers, desks and telephone. The small conducted monitoring mission in the grants will make it possible to further following regions: 143 Document
Batumi port, mines found in metal scrap, 2004
Kakheti (see information on “Mine Ban Monitoring group visited Gardabani and Advocacy Campaign in Georgia” hospital, and checked the information project) about landmine accidents happened in previous years. There was revealed one Kvemo Kartli new case not registered in ICBL GC victim database. On April 2004 ICBL GC monitoring group made a field visit to Kvemo Kartli region. In Also there was made a visit to Gardabani the building of Rustavi municipality they police office, where the monitoring met with deputy head of Education group met with the head of police. He department of Rustavi rayon. Due to her advised to contact I-st sub-unit in Lilo, information there are 358 schools in Kvemo which is responsible for Vaziani. In 2004 Kartli. The monitoring group passed her ICBL GC monitoring group several times brochures and posters to be disseminated in visited Vaziani territory. As the result schools. During the conversation there were found two antipersonnel monitoring group revealed the problem – mines OZM-72 (result of Russian language problem in Armenian- and ammunition utilization activity) and five Azerbaijanian-speaking rayons. The pupils antitank unexploded shells (result of of those schools do not know Georgian USA-Georgian military training). With language and cannot use the materials the help of the sappers from Guards published in Georgian language. these ammunition was exploded. Also there were found a lot of unexploded There was conducted with the deputy head shells and ammunition in the metal scrap of Kvemo Kartli School district and with piled up by shepherds. (see also head of Gardabani Education department information on “Mine Risk Education in and passed him posters, stickers, pocket Northern-East Georgia” project) 144 calendars and brochures. Activity Report 2004
Adjara weapon for destruction were checked by Georgians and found RG-40 and RG-5. Only During the monitoring there was conducted stock places are mined. There were the meeting with Head of Adjara Security registered several cases of animal explosion. Department of Georgian Ministry of Security. According to his information at as Also was raised the issue of Georgian- the result of the demining operation there Turkey border, which was mined during were found 147 ATM. The mining was made at Chakvi and Choloki banks at the order of Soviet times. In 2001 Georgia and Turkey former head of Adjara administration Aslan signed an agreement to demine the border. Abashidze to prevent the landing of decant Three years ago Turkey asked for maps of forces. As a result of carelessness of mine border places. The answer was authorities there were missed several mines. negative, as Georgian side says there have On 21 August 2004 on Chakvi bank (hotel never been done mining of the border. But “Oazis”) exploded the car on ATM. As the in 2004 representatives of International result there were wounded 6 persons. Two Campaign to Ban Landmines being in of them were heavily wounded (lost both Turkey on the meeting with the Turkish low limbs and eyesight). government found out that Turkish parliament ratified the above mentioned On 26 August 2004 the ICBL GC monitoring agreement and Georgian counterpart – group visited Batumi port, on previous day failed. in the metal scrap there were found 28 antipersonnel mines OZM-72 and 10 Monitoring Group visited “Fort D” in antitank mines TM-62M. The mines were Angisi (Helvachauri rayon). The ditch of investigated by head of Demining Unit of water from one side crossed by bridge. Georgian Ministry of Security arrived from From the side of main road the small place Tbilisi. According to his information all of ground with wooden pegs and wire on mines were educational. them. After the ground begins the swamp. Around the military site there are the There was conducted the meeting with the preventive signs with the inscription (Stop! head of Adjara Border Protection Troops Prohibited Area! Attention mined!). Regional department. According to his information there are several former Monitoring group visited village Erge. military sites of Russian which are not now Along the road and the river could be seen in use. They are totally damaged (example – the damaged buildings. Metal scrap in Ureki and village Chakva). Also are sites collection points. As local population say it in use – “Fort D” in Angisi. It is defended was the car garage of military forces. A bit by Russian soldiers and the around territory far is the territory there was placed the is mined. In the site there is a stock of military site. Now it is the place with some landmines. The old weapon (grenades) is remaining of the buildings. Children play destroyed at Batumi training polygon. football there. ICBL GC monitoring group Russians have signed the agreement with found two detonators at the territory of Aslan Abashidze (former head of Adjara former military unit, where children at that administration) that without his knowledge time where playing football, were also they could not destroy mines and other found the gas-masks and bottles with weapon/explosives. Several cars with liquid. 6 years ago in village Erge – the pensioner threw into the fire the artillery 145 Document
shell. The local population says that before enlightened materials and interview of he was sapper. The members of regional ICBL GC monitoring group representative. Security Ministry office say that last year the territory was cleaned. But permanently Samerelo - Kvemo Svaneti from time to time they find mines and ICBL GC monitoring group conducted UXOs, sometimes educational and meeting with the head of partner sometimes live. In the garage of the organization “”, Madona Kharebava, Helvachauri Security Ministry office were during the meeting were discussed the stocked UXOs and mines. The head of projects and activities conducted by this demining unit of Georgian Ministry of organization on the issue of disables and Security, who came at Adjara because mine problem. Organization is active in mines found at Batumi port, together with Mine Ban Policy and Disabled Rights the Adjarian colleagues, took those protection activities. explosives to destroy on polygon. The monitoring group visited Multi-profile During the field visits to Adjara ICBL GC Clinic Hospital “Republic” in Zugdidi, representatives visited children sanatorium which each year provides ICBL GC with “Okros Napiri”, Kobuleti hotel “Kolkheti”, information mine victims treated in the Kobuleti technical institution, Kobuleti hospital and Zugdidi city hospital, director saprenosno school, Chakvi Tourist base, of which during the conversation said that Batumi hotel “Bakuri”. In these places there they have not any case in the 2001-2004 were allocated the children and women from periods. the villages of Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. They were given the brochures on Imereti Mine Risk Education to learn how to behave ICBL GC monitoring group conducted visit being in mine danger, also the exercise- to Imereti regional clinical hospital in Kutaisi books, with the mine awareness messages on and Zestafoni hospital, where met with the cover and pocket calendars. physicians and left mine victims questionnaire to be filled in. In a month ICBL The ICBL GC monitoring group also visited GC representative visited the hospital again the prosecutor office in Batumi to find to receive the data, but was told that there about the explosion of two bridges in was not any landmine/UXO victim treated Adjara. But head of press-service, said that in the hospital. This is very surprising, they do not have the case on bridges taking into account materials/information of explosion and explosion of car on antitank ICBL GC on mine victims in this region. mine on Chakvi seaside on 21 August 2004, as the result of which were heavily Shida Kartli wounded two young men and other four received light wounds. Monitoring group In September 2004 ICBL GC and hCa GNC visited Batumi hospital and republic made a field visit to Shida Kartli region. hospital, where they met the physicians. Monitoring group visited Khashuri, where they met the deputy of staff board of Monitoring group also met TV channel Khashuri rayon, visited school in Khcisi “Mzera” journalist and operator and passed village, met with deputy gamgebeli of them the video materials made in Adjara Khashuri rayon, who was engaged in 146 region. On some reasons they had not organizational works of reservist camp Activity Report 2004 allocated near Osiauri military base. OSCE Monitoring group also visited the city On October 2004 there was conducted the hospital. Physicians did not remember any meeting with OSCE military unit mine accident and could not give any representative. During the conversation information about this. Also was visited there was discussed the landmine/UXO Osiauri military base, where the problem in the zone of Georgian-Ossetian monitoring group in interview with conflict. Most recently, in September 2004, it militaries received the detailed was reported that representatives of the information about mine situation and mine Organization for Security and Cooperation clearance activities conducted in previous in Europe (OSCE) expressed concern “about years. Some mined territories still exist in the fact that Georgia and South Ossetia are Osiauri military base to protect the mining the conflict area.” A news account weapon storage. As military said that, according to the OSCE’s representatives stated, they consider this information, the conflicting parties are territory should be more mined. reinforcing their defense facilities, including Monitoring group also visited Kareli rayon mining the areas. Roy Reeve, the head of the and Gori city, where met with the local OSCE mission to Georgia, said the mine- administration, visited hospitals. laying is absolutely unacceptable and will be discussed with the defense ministries of Georgia and South Ossetia. OSCE believes MEETINGS all major mined areas in South Ossetia have been identified. OSCE patrols continue to Canadian Embassy gather information on possible mined areas and any mine incidents. On March 2004 ICBL GC, HCA GNC and some other NGOs engaged in mine problem ICRC regulation had a meeting with In October 2004 ICBL GC representative representatives of Canadian embassy in was invited on 10th anniversary of ICRC Ankara, who made a visit in Georgia. The prosthetic center in Tbilisi. Head of ICRC in conversation was devoted to the landmine/ Tbilisi, minister of Health protection of UXO problem in Georgia, military bases Georgia, Head of Physical Rehabilitation impact, problem of metal scrap collecting Programmes of Health Unit Assistance and mine accidents caused by this Division (Geneva) and others made “business”. There was presented the report statements on ICRC activities, landmine about activities of ICBL GC, projects problem and Ottawa convention. ICRC implemented, was shown the exhibition of made a presentation on landmine problem posters and photo materials. in the World showed the invited guests the methodology of prosthetic center. In autumn 2004 there was conducted the meeting with the First Secretary of UNICEF Canadian embassy in Ankara, which became very interested in landmine On February and March 2004 ICBL GC problem and the role of Canada, which representative conducted the meeting with have been supporting ICBL GC during the new representatives of UNICEF office in previous years. Tbilisi. UNICEF was interested in activities 147 Document
of ICBL GC on mine risk education and their landmine problem in Georgia and the new evaluation of landmine problem in Georgia. strategy of European Commission on Unfortunately, UNICEF decided not to work landmine problem regulation. on mine problem regulation in other regions of Georgia except Abkhazian region, where Survey Action Center they cooperate with the HALO Trust, In July 2004, the Survey Action Center British-American demining organization. (SAC) conducted an Advance Survey Mission to Georgia to assess the need for a NATO national Landmine Impact Survey. ICBL GC In March 2004 there were conducted several together with SAC representative visited meetings with NATO representatives in Red Bridge mined territory, Sagarejo Georgia. During the meetings there was military base and Mtskheta former military discussed Partnership for Peace Trust Fund base. Project to demilitarize and dispose of over 300 missiles at former military bases, as well as to Advocacy meetings clear UXO at military sites. ICBL GC together In 2004 ICBL GC conducted several with NATO representatives conducted the meetings with chairman of parliament visit to Vaziani ranging ground – where the committees on Foreign Relations, Human project of NATO should have started. Right Protection, representatives of ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense and European Commission Security on the issue of Ottawa ICBL GC has conducted a meeting with the Convention signing. The issue is still representative of European Commission on open.
148 Mine Risk Education trainings for children from Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone, 2004 Activity Report 2004
EVENTS the 2004 report, and field visits to mine action and victim assistance projects in and 5th annual Canadian Landmine around Sarajevo. The participants also met Awareness Week twice in regional groups to discuss their activities leading up to the Nairobi Review CLAW is an annual week-long celebration Conference of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty/ of the week of March 1st anniversary—the Summit on a Mine Free World. day the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines became binding, International The participants attended a series of Humanitarian Law. During the week of workshops on a range of topics including March 1st-7th, 2004, Canadians across the campaigning on mine action and victim country organized and participated in assistance, media and advocacy activities in public awareness events commemorating the lead-up to the Nairobi Summit, the 5th anniversary of the Ottawa domestic legislation, research experiences, Convention banning anti-personnel and computer/Internet training, and landmines becoming binding, international presentation skills. Landmine Monitor humanitarian law. As part of the week’s researchers met individually to discuss their activities, Mines Action Canada (MAC) has 2004 research, as well as publication brought activists and survivors from mine- strategies for the 2004 report and ICBL affected countries to Canada from Burundi, involvement in the period following the Nepal, Georgia (ICBL GC), Sri Lanka and 2004 Review Conference. Cambodia. The guests traveled across Canada speaking to schools, churches and A number of observers participated in the politicians about the challenge living in conference from the Canadian Department mine-affected communities presents to of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Geneva civilians and how significant Canada’s International Center for Humanitarian leadership role continues to be in the push Demining (GICHD), the International towards eliminating the impact of anti- Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the personnel landmines on civilians. Mine Ban Treaty’s Implementation Support Unit (ISU), and the United Nations Mine ICBL Researchers annual global meeting Action Service (UNMAS). Over 70 researchers and 40 campaigners and friends of the ICBL from 70 Building the Road Beyond Nairobi countries met in Sarajevo from 3-5 May symposium 2004 for their annual global meeting. As part of the preparation for the Nairobi The Sarajevo meeting concluded a series Summit for a Mine-Free World and beyond, of regional workshops held between Mines Action Canada (MAC) invited key November 2003 and April 2004 in players from governments (mine-affected Afghanistan, Burundi, Colombia, and donor countries), campaigns, landmine Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, and survivors, youth, experts in development, the United Arab Emirates. humanitarian mine clearance, mine risk education, and victim assistance to Building There were three major components in the the Road Beyond Nairobi which took place agenda of the Sarajevo meeting: workshops in Ottawa, Canada from September 15–17, on advocacy and research topics, Landmine 2004. Among the invited participants also Monitor discussions on country updates for was ICBL GC representative. 149 Document
The main objective of this uniquely The Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World structured 2.5-day symposium was to was more than just another review of an provide an opportunity for the international legal instrument. While the development, policy and mine action States Parties reviewed progress made to communities to come together and discuss date, they equally identified challenges that strategies for concretely, proactively paving remain, which led to the adoption of a the future towards the full implementation powerful action plan to overcome these of the Ottawa Convention in Nairobi and challenges. beyond. Georgia has not attended Nairobi summit The symposium also aimed to provide an on governmental level, but was presented opportunity for focused, thorough in International Youth Symposium on discussion by important stakeholders to try Landmines, Survivor Summit and Nairobi and turn these important ideas into plans Summit work by ICBL GC researcher, ICBL for the future. GC Youth Movement representative and two disabled from ICBL GC partner- Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World organizations. Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World is the name given to the First Review Survivor Summit. Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Survivor Summit held during Nairobi Production and Transfer of Summit for a Mine Free World from 29 Antipersonnel Mines and on Their November - 3 December 2004. Destruction. More than fourty survivors representing all mine-affected regions of the world Article 12 of the Convention states that a participated in the Survivor Summit - a Review Conference shall be convened by lead-off event for the Nairobi Summit for a the Secretary-General of the United Mine Free World. Survivors at the Summit Nations five years after the entry into force presented a Survivor Declaration to Kenyan of the Convention. The purpose of the President Mwai Kibaki, calling on Review Conference was to: review the governments to increase assistance to operation and status of the Convention; survivors. consider the need for and the interval between further Meetings of the States Twenty-three survivors from the Raising Parties; take decisions on submissions of the Voice group participated in the Nairobi States Parties as provided for in Article 5; Summit Race, either by walking, biking or and, adopt, if necessary, conclusions wheelchair racing. Edgar Moreno Moreno, a related to the implementation of the Raising the Voices’ participant from Convention. Colombia won the bicycle portion of the race, competing against non-disabled The Convention’s First Review Conference participants. held at United Nations facilities in Nairobi from 29 November - 3 December 2004. Two disabled from Georgia, from ICBL GC Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch of Austria partner-organizatins, Madona Kharebava was designated as President of the First and Sergo Grdzelishvili attended Survivor 150 Review Conference. Summit in Nairobi. They are actively Activity Report 2004
Action of protest in front of Bangladesh Embassy caused by Rafique al Islam arrest, the ICBL’s Bangladesh campaign representative involved in landmine survivors and University in 2001. The aim of the course is disabled programs in Georgia. “.. To provide students with the knowledge and the skills required of a middle manager Mine Action Middle Managers Training in a national mine action program.. in order course to improve over time the efficiency and effectiveness of effort in mine action”. Cranfield University, Georgian Technical Participants of three countries of South University, Centre for Management Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Development and Training at the Faculty of represent organizations – Azerbaijanian Economics in Ljubljana and International National Agency of Mine Action (ANAMA), Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Armenian Center for Humanitarian Assistance organized a middle managers Demining, ICBL Georgian Committee etc. training course for the mine action programmes in the Caucasus that took All participants gained new and needed place in Tbilisi, Georgia. The course total duration was six weeks: 6–24 December knowledge on management in mine action, 2004, and 31 January – 18 February 2005. but also established good relations among each other, which will contribute to A course for middle managers was improvement of their performance in the developed for UNDP by Cranfield field of mine action. 151 New generation of experts
SCIRS focuses its attention on the issues “New Possible Threats for Mutual of education and training of new Relation of Georgia and Azarbaijan” - generation of experts. The majority of Anna Kunelauri SCIRS experts are teachers on various disciplines in leading higher educational Regulating of the Abkhazian-Ossetian institutions of the region. The students of conflict on an example of Southern Tyrol” humanitarian faculty of the Georgian – Ninio Ioramashvili Political University pass training and work “The Role of International Organizations above the degree works in the SCIRS in Settlement of Georgian-Ossetian office. Relations” – Nino Rukhadze
In 2004 in the SCIRS base the following Young experts became the participants of degree works were successfully defended: “School of Intercultural Dialogue and “Structure of the Abkhazian conflict, Understanding – SIDU” which was held in examination of one of the subjects of August, in 2004, in Telavi. SIDU is the Abkhazian Conflict” – Nino Vadakaria traditional annual action conducted under the initiative of the Helsinki Citizens’ “Computer Pattern of the Abkhazian Assembly. The basic purpose of the school Conflict” – Galaktion Chavleshvili in Telavi was the review of conflicts in the
Participants of “School of Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding – SIDU”, August, 2004, 152 Telavi Activity Report 2004
Giorgi Vashadze is talking with SIDU-2004 participants about the arrangement of the student camp “Notkora-2002” world and in particular in the Caucasus discussed. The anxiety in regards to region. Active peace workers have possible assimilation of centuries-old exchanged their practical experience in the traditions and culture after integration with sphere of conflicts settlement and peace Europe was expressed during the implementation. discussion. The question that will give Europe annexation of the next states (a During work there were discussed the stable situation and controllable borders, questions of unity of problems of the three reliable Neighbours) and what guarantees states of the South Caucasus: unsettled does Europe offer to the future associates conflicts, unsolved problems of refugees/ (security, economic stability, secured safety IDPs, ignorance of democratic processes etc.) were also discussed. by the government, set of the facts of human rights violations and social One of the summer school results is the problems. Participants have also reviewed initiative of the South-Caucasian Institute of the process of settlement of conflicts in the Regional Security on creation of the North Caucasus, on an example of the regional youth network from young leaders Chechen conflict, Macedonia and Kosovo of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The and the conflict in Prednestrovie. idea to strengthen relationship with youth of Ukraine and other countries of Black sea The subject “What is Europe, the role of the was also expressed. It is pleasant to note, European community in the resolution of that the regional administration of Kahetii conflicts, the European integration and its and the city administration have become role in civil society building?” was also interested in the work of school. 153 About donors and partners
protect refugees against persecutions, to pursuit and assist the steady resolution of problems of refugees, IDPs and people returning back. The Danish Council, together with the member-organizations, FRIEDERICH EBERT STIFTUNG sensitize the Danish society about refugees http://fes.ge/ issues and organize the coordination between the national and international The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is a political objectives undertaken by the organization. non-profit making, public interest organization based in Germany with its headquarters in Bonn and offices around the world. It is committed to the principles and basic values of social democracy in its educational and policy-orientated work and provides platforms for debate on political as NETHERLANDS EMBASSY IN THE well as socio - economic issues. RUSSIAN FEDERATION www.netherlands-embassy.ru
Since 1945, the Netherlands’ the foreign policy can be characterized as an active peace-oriented policy with the main accent on DANISH REFUGEES COUNCIL maintaining peace around the world. The government of the Netherlands believes that www.drc.dk peace can be guaranteed only if all steps regarding the satisfaction of growing The Danish Refugees Council (DRC) is a aspirations to a fairer distribution of power, humanitarian non-governmental wealth and safe social conditions in the world organization (NGO) regrouping 26 are undertaken. Since the beginning of the organizations. Its head office is located in Nineties the government of the Netherlands Copenhagen. DRC was founded in 1956 provides assistance to Central and Eastern and works in accordance to humanitarian Europe and supports these countries during principles and the human rights Convention. their transition to a pluralistic constitutional The purpose of the organization is to state and market economy. 154 Activity Report 2004
BRITISH EMBASSY DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN DELEGATION TO GEORGIA AND GEORGIA ARMENIA www.britishembassy.gov.uk www.delgeo.cec.eu.int
The Department of International The European Commission’s delegation is a Development is the section of the British diplomatic mission. It is the executive body of government which provides assistance for the European Union – the European the development and eradication of Commission is responsible for representing poverty in countries in transition. The the organization, for conducting analysis and Department of International Development implementing the policies of the European aims at working in partnership with Union in Georgia and Armenia, and also for governments, which orientate at carrying out political analysis of the current international aims and also with events in Georgia and Armenia. The agency businessmen, the civil society and supervises the negotiations with the researchers, to maintain progress in the governments of Georgia and Armenia, fight against poverty. ensuring that both parties execute the terms agreed between the European Union and the two countries of the Caucasus, Georgia and Armenia, the agreements about partnership and cooperation which have come into force INTERCHURCH PEACE COUNCIL (IKV) in July 1999. www.ikv.nl
The “Interchurch Peace Council (IKV)” works under the assignment of the Dutch churches with the aim of promoting political solutions for crisis and war situations. To “OPEN SOCIETY – GEORGIA” achieve this aim, it organises projects and FOUNDATION promotes and encourages participation of society in general and churches in www.osgf.ge particular. IKV focuses on conflict areas bordering Europe, such as the Balkans, the The purpose of the Open-Society Georgia Caucasus, Northern Africa and the Middle Foundation, likewise the organizations of the network of SOROS Funds functioning in East, as well as on the Moluccas islands different countries, is the creation of an and Kashmir. In addition, it works to open society in countries where there was promote the civil integration of Europe. earlier a closed society. 155