Stop NATO news: February 29, 2012
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Attacks On Syria, Iran Would Overwhelm Armenia With Refugees
War On Iran Could Destabilize Caucasus, Caspian Basin: CIS Official
NATO Delegation In Armenia For Discussions
Russian Expert: Azerbaijan’s Territory May Be Used To Strike Iran
Report: Move To Drive Russian Radar Station From Azerbaijan
“Nightmare For Invader”: Georgia Is NATO States’ Window To Caucasus
NATO Summit: Special Declaration On Georgia To Be Issued
Georgian Foreign Minister In Israel To Discuss “Regional Security Issues”
Saakashvili: NATO Afghan Operation Provides Training For Local Conflicts
Labor Party Calls On Opposition To Demand Georgia’s Afghan Withdrawal
EU Pushes Trans-Caspian Pipeline Versus Russia, Iran
Azerbaijan: Pivot Of Western Trans-Eurasian Energy Strategy
Former Soviet Space: EU Develops Trans-Eurasian Transport Corridors
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Attacks On Syria, Iran Would Overwhelm Armenia With Refugees
http://times.am/?l=en&p=5132
Times.am
February 24, 2012
Expert: “Armenia should support stability in Iran”
Armenia will not manage to overcome the flow of the refuges from Iran and Syria if a military struggle is started, Gagik Harutyunyan, head of the scientific-educational foundation Noravanq, announced concerning the issue during a press-conference today.
“Our economy is not ready to accept 50-60 thousand refugees from those countries”, Harutyunyan said during the meeting with journalists.
According to him, Armenians in Iran feel they are treated well and have official protection. Armenian cultural values are protected in Iran and this speaks about the Iranian good attitude towards Armenia.
In this context the politician underlined that Armenia should support stability and be against military actions.
At the same time the expert is sure that the key of the Iranian problem is in Syria. He considers that Iran will lose if the West manages to repeat the Libyan scenario also in Syria.
Harutyunyan underlined that Iran is also able to pursue a flexible policy despite insufficient resources.
Speaking about Azerbaijani actions in case of a war in Iran, Harutyunyan noted that official Baku would first of all think how to save itself and would leave the Karabakh conflict alone.
The expert also underlined that Azerbaijani calls for Iran to mediate in the NK issue are just propaganda as everyone knows the strained relations between Tehran and Baku.
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War On Iran Could Destabilize Caucasus, Caspian Basin: CIS Official
http://news.am/eng/news/95396.html
News.AM
February 29, 2012
CIS official warns about likely consequences, for Caucasus, of war against Iran
MOSCOW: A war in Iran could cause serious instability in the Caucasus and prompt uncontrollable migration processes, CIS Anti-Terrorism Center Director Andrei Novikov told news reporters on Wednesday.
In his words, if an aggression is waged, the likely geopolitical shifts will be difficult to calculate. “Immigration inconveniences are possible,” Novikov stated.
The Anti-Terrorism Center Director also did not rule out that in the case of military operations, a refugee flow could start from Iran toward neighboring CIS countries. He also reminded that a large number of ethnic Azerbaijanis live in Iran.
“Everything possible is being done so that such instability is not created in the Caspian Basin and in the South Caucasus,” Andrei Novikov maintained, RIA Novosti News Agency of Russia informs.
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NATO Delegation In Armenia For Discussions
http://www.armradio.am/eng/news/?part=off&id=22171
Public Radio of Armenia
February 29, 2012
Minister Ohanyan meets NATO’s Deputy Secretary General
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan received the delegation headed by Ambassador Hussein Dirioz, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defense Policy and Planning.
Minister Ohanyan and Ambassador Dirioz discussed the main directions of cooperation between NATO and the Armenian Ministry of Defense, which includes military education, defense planning and budgeting reforms, as well as the participation of Armenian peacekeepers in NATO missions.
The parties stressed the progress in the field of defense reforms and military cooperation and determined the priorities of future cooperation. Ambassador Dirioz expressed NATO’s willingness to provide necessary expert assistance to Armenia regarding future reforms.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the main issues on the agenda of the forthcoming NATO summit in Chicago with the participation of the heads of partner countries.
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Russian Expert: Azerbaijan’s Territory May Be Used To Strike Iran
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/95896/
PanArmenian.net
February 27, 2012
Russian expert: Azerbaijan’s territory may be used for striking Iran
Azerbaijan’s Milli Mejlis held debates on amending the Constitution and renaming the country the Republic of Northern Azerbaijan, a Russian expert says.
“Supporters of this idea insist that today’s Azerbaijan is just a part of the Azerbaijani state that used to exist before and was divided by Russia and Iran in the 19th century; they claim two thirds of this state still remain within Iran’s territory, and this is historic injustice,” said Alexander Krylov, chairman of the Scientific Society of Caucasian studies experts, leading research scientist of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations according to Analitika.at.ua.
“Apparently, Tehran views such statement as a bellicose action and a direct challenge to Iran…”
According to the expert, in case of a military resolution of the Iranian issue U.S. and Israeli politicians are insisting on for many years, Azerbaijan’s territory may be used for striking Iran.
“In this case, the current propaganda against Iran is likely to be a part of preparation for this scenario. The U.S. may attempt to use Azerbaijan as a new version of the Afghan “Northern Alliance”; also, in case of large-scale changes in the borders and establishment of new countries in the regions (i.e. Kurdistan), Azerbaijan may receive vast territories,” the Russian expert stated.
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Report: Move To Drive Russian Radar Station From Azerbaijan
http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=166675
Azeri Press Agency
February 29, 2012
Azerbaijan demands $300-mln a year for Gabala Radar Station rent
-“If Azerbaijan persists, the Defense Ministry will have to leave the radar station. This figure is not justified with anything and is too high, we try to reduce the price”.
Baku: Problems occurred in the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Russia on the lease of Gabala radar station.
APA reports quoting Russian Kommersant newspaper that Baku intends to increase the annual rental from $7 million to $300 million.
Russian Defense Ministry sources told the newspaper that they are not satisfied with this figure and Moscow will try to reduce it. “If Azerbaijan persists, the Defense Ministry will have to leave the radar station. This figure is not justified with anything and is too high, we try to reduce the price”.
The 10-year agreement signed between Azerbaijan and Russia on the lease of the Gabala Radar Station expires this year. Moscow wants to prolong tenancy to 25 years and an agreement was reached on it in the negotiations in Baku. Kommersant says that Azerbaijan increased the rental at first from 7 mln to 15 mln, then to 150 mln and now to 300 mln. Consequently the negotiations are deadlocked.
The Russian defense source told the newspaper that Baku’s persistence is caused by its desire to take revenge on Moscow for its position in the negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.
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“Nightmare For Invader”: Georgia Is NATO States’ Window To Caucasus
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=24497
Civil Georgia
February 29, 2012
Saakashvili: ‘Georgia Window to Europe for Caucasus’
Tbilisi: President Saakashvili said in his annual state of the nation address on February 28, that Georgia was “a locomotive to the future” and “window to Europe” for the Caucasus region.
“Georgia’s historic choice is the West, but the Caucasus is also our region. There is no long-term security for Georgia without security in the Caucasus. So we will continue active efforts for common Caucasian development and we will always be actively engaged with the Caucasian people,” Saakashvili said.
“Georgia firmly supports the principle of inviolability of borders, however we see the Caucasus undoubtedly as a single united region,” Saakashvili said.
“Our enemy is irritated by Georgia because for the first time in hundreds of years Georgia has created an example of modern statehood in the Caucasus, which amounts to a nightmare for the invader, because it could never imagine it happening; that’s why it is choking up with anger,” he said.
“Not only Georgia is a locomotive for the Caucasus into the future, but we are also a window to Europe for the Caucasus, because the modern, non-corrupt, fast-developing state has emerged in the Caucasus, the state which will have free trade with the U.S. and the EU and visa-free travel with the EU,” he said.
He also added that Georgia would be “the example of development” for the Caucasus, which will share all of its achievement with the rest of the region. “That’s something that Georgia’s enemy can’t swallow,” Saakashvili said.
After that he spoke of Tbilisi’s willingness to improve ties with Moscow, offering to unilaterally lift visa rules for the Russian citizens.
In 2010 Georgia introduced 45-day visa free travel rules for those Russian citizens who reside in Russia’s North Caucasus republics.
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NATO Summit: Special Declaration On Georgia To Be Issued
http://en.trend.az/regions/scaucasus/georgia/1998160.html
Trend News Agency
February 29, 2012
Georgia-NATO cooperation to be reflected in Alliance’s summit declaration
N. Kirtzkhalia
Tbilisi: At the NATO summit in Chicago, cooperation between Georgia and NATO will be reflected in a special declaration, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told Georgian Rustavi-2 Television.
Rasmussen was in Washington at an annual seminar where preparation procedures for the NATO summit were discussed.
He said that the summit declaration will reflect Georgia’s participation in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. He noted the question of inviting new countries to the alliance is not on the agenda, but Georgia’s participation in Afghanistan’s peacekeeping operations and reforms will be assessed.
“Naturally, we will again present an open door policy at the summit. As for Georgia, it has achieved significant success. We appreciate the cooperation with Georgia and in particular its large contribution to the operation in Afghanistan. All this will be reflected in the summit declaration,” Rasmussen stated.
At a press conference, the NATO Secretary General praised the work of the coalition forces in Afghanistan, highlighting the victims among military peacekeepers. Following the death of Georgian military, the coalition had lost a few more soldiers. According to Rasmussen, in spite of this, the alliance has to fulfill its mission to the end.
Rasmussen also touched upon relations with Russia, saying that the alliance could not agree on the missile defense system in Europe, and because of this the NATO-Russia Council meeting would not take place in Chicago.
“I think if Russia fails to agree on a missile defense, the NATO-Russia Council meeting within the Chicago summit will not take place,” he said.
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Georgian Foreign Minister In Israel To Discuss “Regional Security Issues”
http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.php?id_news=44771&pg=1&im=main&ct=0&wth=
Rustavi 2
February 28, 2012
Foreign Minister pays official visit to Israel
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia is paying an official visit to Israel. Grigol Vashadze has already been hosted by President of Israel Shimon Peres and discussed bilateral relations, and the political and the economic situation in two partner countries.
The sides also discussed regional security issues.
Within the visit, Georgian Minister will also hold meetings with the speaker of the Knesset and the foreign minister of Israel.
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Saakashvili: NATO Afghan Operation Provides Training For Local Conflicts
http://en.trend.az/news/politics/1997878.html
Trend News Agency
February 28, 2012
Georgian Parliament honor memory of victims of war in Afghanistan
N. Kirtzkhalia
Tbilisi: The annual address of the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili in Parliament began with a minute of silence in honor of 15 Georgian military killed in Afghanistan. Saakashvili suggested that MPs, members of the government, the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia to commemorate the victims by standing.
“The names of the military will be inscribed in golden letters in the history of Georgia,” Saakashvili said.
Saakashvili noted that participation of the military in the operation of NATO in Afghanistan is strengthening Georgia and its armed forces.
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Labor Party Calls On Opposition To Demand Georgia’s Afghan Withdrawal
http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=24493
Civil Georgia
February 28, 2012
Labor Party Calls on Opposition to Demand Georgia’s Afghan Withdrawal
Tbilisi: The opposition Labor Party called on political parties in Georgia to sign a declaration that would demand withdrawal of 935-strong Georgian force from Afghanistan, which the authorities plan to further increase by sending an additional battalion this year.
“The parties, which will not sign this declaration and will be in favor of presence of Georgian troops in Afghanistan, will be worse than Saakashvili is and the blood of Georgian soldiers will be on their hands,” Giorgi Gugava, political secretary of the Labor Party, said on February 28.
The declaration says that President Saakashvili’s administration uses the large contribution to the ISAF for its own political purposes trying to secure the support of the West “to maintain his authoritarian rule” in Georgia, which is “discrediting Western values among the population.”
Georgia has lost fifteen of its soldiers in Afghanistan – all of them in the Helmand province in the south of the country.
The most recent fatalities were reported last week when three Georgian soldiers died as a result of an improvised explosive device attack on February 21.
…
President Saakashvili said on February 25 that those who were against of Georgia’s contribution to the NATO-led operations in Afghanistan “are footmen of Putin and of Russia.”
Asked whether he would downscale or increase Georgia’s ISAF contribution in case of coming into power, Bidzina Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream opposition coalition, responded in his recent interview published on February 27: “We should be proud of being partners of such states like the U.S. and other NATO members. This partnership requires our country to fulfill this mission in dignity.”
“The necessity of whether to decrease or increase our military contingent [in Afghanistan] will be considered, but we will not stop aspiring towards the Euro-Atlantic space. On the contrary, we will intensify and accelerate it,” Ivanishvili said.
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One of the parties, which is likely to join the Labor Party’s declaration, is Free Georgia, led by former Conservative Party co-leader Kakha Kukava, which says that Georgia’s military presence in Afghanistan is “absolutely unjustified”.
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EU Pushes Trans-Caspian Pipeline Versus Russia, Iran
http://en.trend.az/capital/energy/1998109.html
Trend News Agency
February 29, 2012
Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and EU to support Southern Gas Corridor
E. Ismayilov
-A Trans-Caspian gas pipeline running to around 300 kilometres will be laid from the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijani, where it will be linked to the Southern Gas Corridor.
-The Southern Gas Corridor’ is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It is designed to diversify the routes and sources of supply and thereby increase the energy security of the EU. The Southern Gas Corridor project includes Nabucco, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and ITGI.
Baku: Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the EU are preparing two documents that will allow them to take delivery of the Caspian and in particular Turkmen gas to Europe, Azerbaijani Industry and Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev said at a meeting with members of the Caspian-European Integration Business Club (CEIBC) on Wednesday.
He said Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the European Union are preparing a political document to support the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as an inter-governmental agreement on the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline. This should take place before the end of the year.
In September, 2011 the EU Council gave a mandate for negotiations between the EU, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to build the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline.
A Trans-Caspian gas pipeline running to around 300 kilometres will be laid from the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijani, where it will be linked to the Southern Gas Corridor. Negotiations between Turkmenistan and the EU and other countries on the construction of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline have been on-going since the late 90s.
During negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, the EU will discuss agreements outlining the legal obligations of the parties necessary for Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan for the construction and operation of the Trans-Caspian pipeline. Also on the agenda will be the legal framework to be applied to the issue of filling the gas pipeline from Turkmenistan including the recognition of commercial agreements.
The Southern Gas Corridor’ is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It is designed to diversify the routes and sources of supply and thereby increase the energy security of the EU. The Southern Gas Corridor project includes Nabucco, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and ITGI.
The Trans Caspian project involves laying a pipeline (300 km) through the seabed from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan.
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Azerbaijan: Pivot Of Western Trans-Eurasian Energy Strategy
http://en.trend.az/capital/energy/1997976.html
Trend News Agency
February 29, 2012
Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring Europe’s energy security difficult to overestimate
S. Aliyev, E. Tariverdiyeva
-Baguirov said energy security in fact, became an integral part of global security in the world and the development of many countries, particularly countries in the Eurasian region depends on its solution.
-The Nabucco gas pipeline project is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region and Middle East to European countries. The construction of Nabucco pipeline with maximum capacity of 31 billion cubic meters is planned to start in 2013 and its first supplies are scheduled for 2017.
Baku: The role of Azerbaijan and in particular, the Azerbaijani gas in ensuring energy security in Europe is difficult to overestimate, chairman of the Baku Nobel Heritage Fund Togrul Baguirov believes.
“This role has recently increased significantly; Azerbaijan has become a serious player in the European gas market. With its huge gas reserves, Azerbaijan, along with other countries in the Caspian region, is actively involved in ensuring Europe’s energy security,” president of the Moscow International Petroleum Club and the UN expert on energy issues Togrul Baguirov said in an interview with Trend.
In his view, the issues of energy security in recent years have become extremely relevant and are of great public interest.
Baguirov said energy security in fact, became an integral part of global security in the world and the development of many countries, particularly countries in the Eurasian region depends on its solution.
The system of energy security provides for finding a reasonable compromise between the energy producing countries, consuming countries and transit countries, the expert believes.
Baguirov noted this problem is in the focus of the world’s leading powers and is discussed at almost all high forums, including G8, G20, the UN and other organizations.
Today, Azerbaijan considers three proposals for the transportation of gas to Europe – Nabucco, TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline) and SEEP (South-East Europe Pipeline, proposed by BP).
In addition Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the consortium that will build the Trans Anadolu Pipeline (TANAP) for supply of gas from Shah Deniz gas field to Europe through Turkey. Gas produced during the second stage of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas condensate field development is to be the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Under the Shah Deniz – 2 project Azerbaijan plans to supply 10 billion cubic metres of gas to Europe.
Baguirov also said the TANAP in principle, is an alternative to Nabucco, a kind of compromise.
“TANAP is two times shorter than Nabucco. Its implementation will not require excessive investment, long-term agreements and approvals in the EU countries,” the expert said.
He believes reduction in gas consumption in Europe is a temporary phenomenon, the crisis sooner or later will be overcome.
“At the same time Nabucco will remain an exceptionally regional Inter-European gas pipeline,” he said.
Speaking of the European gas market, it should be borne in mind that Europe may witness in the near future the so-called shale revolution, similar to the American, Baguirov said.
The expert said some European countries have huge reserves of this unconventional gas.
“The last severe winter showed that, despite the temporary increase in the price of LNG in Europe, in general, its price advantage over the piped gas is obvious (at different times more than $100 per thousand cubic meters),” the expert noted.
Baguirov said therefore, the conclusion is one – gas-producing countries, particularly Azerbaijan, seeking its place in the European gas market – must hurry.
Shale gas is natural gas produced from shale and consisting mainly of methane. Shale gas deposits are developed in the U.S. and some European countries.
The Nabucco gas pipeline project is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region and Middle East to European countries. The construction of Nabucco pipeline with maximum capacity of 31 billion cubic meters is planned to start in 2013 and its first supplies are scheduled for 2017.
The project’s partners include Bulgarian Energy Holding, Romanian Transgaz, Turkish Botas, Austrian OMV, German RWE and Hungary’s FGSZ.
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Former Soviet Space: EU Develops Trans-Eurasian Transport Corridors
http://en.trend.az/capital/business/1998076.html
Trend News Agency
February 29, 2012
EU assists in attracting investments for transport projects along TRACECA corridor
A. Badalova
-TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) is an international transport cooperation program between the EU and its Partner countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. It has a permanent Secretariat in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Currently, TRACECA member states are Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Iran.
Baku: The investment opportunities for projects in member states of the TRACECA programme were discussed during a conference hosted by the European Commission.
The TRACECA Investment Forum 2012 was held this week with the aim to attract investments into transport infrastructure between the EU and Central Asia, ENPI Info Center reported.
The high-level conference was attended by the representatives from the international donor community and TRACECA countries. The conference participants discussed potential funding opportunities for priority projects in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine among others.
During the forum twelve projects were presented to potential donors and investors interested in logistic centres as well as road, rail, maritime and aviation transport.
European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle said that an efficient transport system is the backbone of effective regional integration.
“Our Eastern neighbours, who link the Black and the Caspian Seas to China and beyond, could benefit from stronger transport infrastructure and services, in order to help them reach their full potential in their economic and trade relations with the EU,” he said.
TRACECA (Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) is an international transport cooperation program between the EU and its Partner countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. It has a permanent Secretariat in Baku, Azerbaijan. The cooperation framework covers the areas of maritime transport, aviation, road and rail, transport security and transport infrastructure.
Currently, TRACECA member states are Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Iran.
Up to now, the EU has supported this programme with technical assistance of almost €170 million for 80 projects.
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