Author: VK
The year 2011 has come to an end, a year rich with global political and economic shocks. Summing it up is tricky for Russia as well, especially in one of the most important spheres of socio-political life of the state, the interethnic relations, and the Caucasus as a whole. At the final session of the editorial board of Vestnik Kavkaza, the VK expert council rounded up 2011 and made forecasts for 2012. The round-table conference was attended by Leonid Gusev, senior science member of the Institute for International Studies of the MGIMO, Yevgeny Minchenko, Director of the International Institute for Political Expertise, Vladimir Yevseyev, Director of the Center for Socio-Political Studies, Ismail Agakishiyev, head of the Center for Caucasus Studies of the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH). Alexey Vlasov, Editor-in-Chief of Vestnik Kavkaza, was the moderator of discussions.
A lot has been said about repercussions of the outgoing year. In his speech, Ismail Agakishiyev, head of the Center for Caucasus Studies of the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH), pointed out positive aspects, Firstly, with lack of progress in negotiating of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, many forget that it is a frozen conflict which had not entered the hot phase, thanks to diplomats and politicians. The visit of Ilham Aliyev and his wife to the bordering region and participation in opening of new hospitals and houses for refugees is an important step in this aspect. One of the main problems of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is great volumes of disinformation, published by media. Two weeks ago, Washington held a round-table conference on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and one of its attendants blamed Azerbaijan that refugees still live in tents when, in fact, the tents had been removed back in 2007.
Concerning relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, Ismail Agakishiyev noted the Intelligence Forum in Baku, attended by many Russian cultural figures. As an example of progress, he noted an agreement on Russian membership in the WTO signed with Geoergia. The expert believes that Russia’s joining the WTO has more positive than negative points: membership in the international organization forces Russia to develop economy with account of international standards, at the same time, giving a mass of opportunities for such development.
In his speech, Ismail Agakishiyev touched upon French recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkish authorities in 1915. He agreed with Andrey Areshev, Deputy Director General of the Fund for Strategic Culture, that such step is more economic than political. Moreover, the only real result from the recognition would be complications of settling the Nagorno-Karabakh problem for Armenia. But the more the process is dragged, the harder it is to restore the infrastructure on the occupied territories. Agakishiyev also underlined that the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, most of all, affects peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan, that is why it should be settled through dialogue between the publicity of the peoples, without inappropriate interference of third sides. And as long as dislikes between the two peoples remain at an emotional and personal level, peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is impossible. In this regard, Ismail Agakishiyev urged journalists to pay big attention to adequate description of the situation and positive progress, instead of overblowing scandals and supporting dislikes between Azerbaijani and Armenian peoples. “Most importantly, we should start communicating normally, this is the start for resolving any problem”, the expert underlined.
Despite multivectoral policy of Caucasus states, Russia has always been the closest partner, in terms of history. Peoples of the states themselves want preservation and development of friendly ties, but Russian partnership in South Caucasus cannot develop through historic passivity alone, the government or society (including mass media) must put maximum efforts to preserve our common space.
