The Declaration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation

November 2008,
Moscow Region, Castle Mayendorf

The Declaration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation

Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation, met on November 2nd, 2008 in Moscow at the invitation of President of the Russian Federation,

subject and content discussed in an atmosphere of constructive state and prospects of settling the Nagorny Karabakh conflict by political means, through the continuation of direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia through the mediation of Russia, the United States and France as Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group,

1. Declare that will help improve the situation in South Caucasus and the establishment of regional stability and security through a political settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict on the basis of the principles and norms of international law and adopted in the framework of decisions and documents, which will create favorable conditions for economic development and all-round cooperation in the region.

2. Reaffirm the importance of continuing the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group mediation efforts with regard to their meetings with the parties in Madrid on 29 November, 2007 and subsequent discussions with a view to further developing the basic principles of a political settlement.

3. Agree that a peaceful settlement must be accompanied by a legally binding international guarantees all its aspects and stages.

4. Note that the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed to continue the work, including through further contacts on the summit to agree a political settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict and instructed their Ministers of Foreign Affairs to intensify further steps in the negotiation process in conjunction with the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group.

5. I is important to encourage the creation of conditions for the implementation of confidence-building measures in the context of efforts to resolve.

George Friedman on the Russia-Georgia conflict

The Russian invasion of Georgia has not changed the balance of power in Eurasia. It simply announced that the balance of power had already shifted. The United States has been absorbed in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as potential conflict with Iran and a destabilizing situation in Pakistan. It has no strategic ground forces in reserve and is in no position to intervene on the Russian periphery. This, as we have argued, has opened a window of opportunity for the Russians to reassert their influence in the former Soviet sphere. Moscow did not have to concern itself with the potential response of the United States or Europe; hence, the invasion did not shift the balance of power. The balance of power had already shifted, and it was up to the Russians when to make this public. They did that Aug. 8.

An Ossetian who was in South Ossetia during the Georgian assault tells her story.

By Larisa Sotieva in Vladikavkaz (CRS No. 452, 12-Aug-08)

Residents of Tskhinvali in a cellar sheltering from bombardment.

High in the sky I saw five steel-coloured planes. As I was studying them, they formed a line like geese and plunged towards the ground. From their bellies they dropped bombs like eggs. Their insane whistle shook the mountain gorge and the ground shook like an earthquake. Having dropped their eggs, the planes flew on in the direction of Tskhinvali.

Nagorono-Karabakh Republic Foreign Ministry wellcomes independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

The NKR Foreign Minister yesterday made a statement welcoming the recognition of the independence of South Osetia and Abkhazia. The statement runs as follows, “The Nagorno Karabakh Republic welcomes the recognition of the state independence of South Osetia and Abkhazia. It is in full compliance with the fundamental principles of the nations’ right to self-determination and international law, principles that are enshrined in the fundamental documents and legal acts of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations and other international organizations.

USA-RUSSIA:Who Started Cold War II?

The American people should be eternally grateful to Old Europe for having spiked the Bush-McCain plan to bring Georgia into NATO.

Had Georgia been in NATO when Mikheil Saakashvili invaded South Ossetia, we would be eyeball to eyeball with Russia, facing war in the Caucasus, where Moscow’s superiority is as great as U.S. superiority in the Caribbean during the Cuban missile crisis.

Iran-Armenia railway.Time to start.

After the reconstruction of the bridge on Georgia-Armenia railway, the regular load on its way to Armenia was blasted over again, this time 10 km from Gory to Khashury. The blast took place when the train was passing the bridge. The loads were not previewed for Armenia they were Azerbaijani wagons loaded with fuel.