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Armenian paper says CIA supports Armenian position on Karabakh
Azg, Yerevan,
31 Oct 03
The CIA has acknowledged in its "World Factbook" that Nagornyy
Karabakh is historically a part of Armenia, according to an article
in Armenian newspaper Azg. Harut Sasunyan, captioned as publisher
of the California Courier, selected from the "World Factbook"
entry on Armenia the phrases that Karabakh was "assigned to Soviet
Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow" and "Armenian forces held not only
Nagornyy Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper"
as grounds for his assertion. He criticized other statements in the
"World Factbook" entry, including one that Armenian demands concerning
their former lands in Turkey have "subsided". The following is the text
of the report in Azg on 31 October entitled "CIA confirms Armenian
ownership of Karabakh and lands in Turkey"; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
The Central Intelligence Agency publishes each year a report
called "World Factbook" which contains comprehensive information
on the geography, population, government, economy, communications,
transportation and the military of more than 200 countries and
territories. The Factbook can also be read on the CIA's web site:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/.../geos/am.html. Even
though no secrets are disclosed in this public document, it is still
interesting to see how the CIA presents certain facts and issues
regarding Armenia, Karabakh, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
CIA confirms Armenian position on Karabakh
In the chapter on Armenia, the Factbook provides the following
"background" information: "Armenia prides itself on being the first
nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite
periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the
sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab,
Persian and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and
the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long
conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagornyy Karabakh, a primarily
Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s
by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988;
the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took
hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagornyy Karabakh but also a
significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides
have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward
a peaceful resolution."
It is interesting to note that the CIA devotes more than two-thirds
of the "background" information on Armenia to Karabakh, indicating
the CIA's special attention to that region. By stating that Karabakh
was "assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow", the CIA
is confirming the Armenian position that Karabakh was historically a
part of Armenia. Finally, by referring to the territories surrounding
Karabakh, but not to Karabakh itself, as "Azerbaijan proper", the CIA
reinforces its acknowledgement that Karabakh is not part of Azerbaijan.
Armenian demands over former lands in Turkey have not subsided
Even more interesting is the following paragraph entitled "Disputes":
"Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagornyy Karabakh
and militarily occupies 16 per cent of Azerbaijan - the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate in
the dispute; the border with Turkey remains closed over the Nagornyy
Karabakh dispute; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands
in Turkey have subsided; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region
of Georgia seek greater autonomy, closer ties with Armenia."
The above paragraph contains three false assertions:
1. Armenia does not occupy 16 per cent of Azerbaijan. Karabakh
Armenians (with support from Armenia) liberated themselves from the
tyranny of Azerbaijan;
2. the Armenians of Karabakh are not "secessionists". They seek
self-determination - a right recognized by the United Nations;
3. contrary to the CIA's assertions (which were also made in the
earlier editions of the "World Factbook") Armenian demands for
their historic lands from Turkey have not "subsided". The Treaty
of Sevres recognized the territories occupied by Turkey as Armenian
lands. The borders of a much larger Armenia were drawn by President
Woodrow Wilson. It is comforting that the CIA acknowledges that
these territories did belong to Armenia by referring to them as
"former Armenian lands in Turkey".
Time is on no-one's side on Karabakh conflict
In another CIA document ("Resolving conflicts in the Caucasus
and Moldova: perspectives on next steps), a distinguished panel of
experts contradicted those who say that time is on Azerbaijan's side
in the Karabakh conflict. The panel members made the following very
interesting observations: "Some observers see substantial strengths
in the Armenian position, since the Armenians occupy the territory
and over time their possession may be consolidated in de facto
terms. Although Azerbaijan has the economic advantage, economic
indicators may not be a deciding factor for at least three reasons:
1. Azerbaijan's relative economic strength is also its vulnerability,
since the Armenians understand that another war will interfere with oil
transport, undermine regional investment and compromise Azerbaijan's
economic momentum; 2. Many Armenians have concluded on the basis of
their troubled history that they cannot safely reside in territory
controlled by Azerbaijan and they are consequently resolute; 3.
Armenians are prepared to sustain high levels of suffering. The
rhetoric of Azeri hardliners may therefore accomplish little beyond
reducing Armenia's capacity for compromise. One of the difficulties
in the conflict is that both parties regard time as being on their
side. In each case, this is a fallacy. Yet it is difficult for either
party to see around a long history of mutual grievance and mistrust."
Armenians should make it clear to the whole world that their demands
for their historical lands in Turkey, Karabakh or elsewhere, are as
valid as ever and not "subsiding"!
Azg, Yerevan,
31 Oct 03
The CIA has acknowledged in its "World Factbook" that Nagornyy
Karabakh is historically a part of Armenia, according to an article
in Armenian newspaper Azg. Harut Sasunyan, captioned as publisher
of the California Courier, selected from the "World Factbook"
entry on Armenia the phrases that Karabakh was "assigned to Soviet
Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow" and "Armenian forces held not only
Nagornyy Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper"
as grounds for his assertion. He criticized other statements in the
"World Factbook" entry, including one that Armenian demands concerning
their former lands in Turkey have "subsided". The following is the text
of the report in Azg on 31 October entitled "CIA confirms Armenian
ownership of Karabakh and lands in Turkey"; subheadings have been
inserted editorially:
The Central Intelligence Agency publishes each year a report
called "World Factbook" which contains comprehensive information
on the geography, population, government, economy, communications,
transportation and the military of more than 200 countries and
territories. The Factbook can also be read on the CIA's web site:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/.../geos/am.html. Even
though no secrets are disclosed in this public document, it is still
interesting to see how the CIA presents certain facts and issues
regarding Armenia, Karabakh, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
CIA confirms Armenian position on Karabakh
In the chapter on Armenia, the Factbook provides the following
"background" information: "Armenia prides itself on being the first
nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite
periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the
sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab,
Persian and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and
the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long
conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagornyy Karabakh, a primarily
Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s
by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988;
the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took
hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagornyy Karabakh but also a
significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides
have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward
a peaceful resolution."
It is interesting to note that the CIA devotes more than two-thirds
of the "background" information on Armenia to Karabakh, indicating
the CIA's special attention to that region. By stating that Karabakh
was "assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow", the CIA
is confirming the Armenian position that Karabakh was historically a
part of Armenia. Finally, by referring to the territories surrounding
Karabakh, but not to Karabakh itself, as "Azerbaijan proper", the CIA
reinforces its acknowledgement that Karabakh is not part of Azerbaijan.
Armenian demands over former lands in Turkey have not subsided
Even more interesting is the following paragraph entitled "Disputes":
"Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagornyy Karabakh
and militarily occupies 16 per cent of Azerbaijan - the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate in
the dispute; the border with Turkey remains closed over the Nagornyy
Karabakh dispute; traditional demands regarding former Armenian lands
in Turkey have subsided; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region
of Georgia seek greater autonomy, closer ties with Armenia."
The above paragraph contains three false assertions:
1. Armenia does not occupy 16 per cent of Azerbaijan. Karabakh
Armenians (with support from Armenia) liberated themselves from the
tyranny of Azerbaijan;
2. the Armenians of Karabakh are not "secessionists". They seek
self-determination - a right recognized by the United Nations;
3. contrary to the CIA's assertions (which were also made in the
earlier editions of the "World Factbook") Armenian demands for
their historic lands from Turkey have not "subsided". The Treaty
of Sevres recognized the territories occupied by Turkey as Armenian
lands. The borders of a much larger Armenia were drawn by President
Woodrow Wilson. It is comforting that the CIA acknowledges that
these territories did belong to Armenia by referring to them as
"former Armenian lands in Turkey".
Time is on no-one's side on Karabakh conflict
In another CIA document ("Resolving conflicts in the Caucasus
and Moldova: perspectives on next steps), a distinguished panel of
experts contradicted those who say that time is on Azerbaijan's side
in the Karabakh conflict. The panel members made the following very
interesting observations: "Some observers see substantial strengths
in the Armenian position, since the Armenians occupy the territory
and over time their possession may be consolidated in de facto
terms. Although Azerbaijan has the economic advantage, economic
indicators may not be a deciding factor for at least three reasons:
1. Azerbaijan's relative economic strength is also its vulnerability,
since the Armenians understand that another war will interfere with oil
transport, undermine regional investment and compromise Azerbaijan's
economic momentum; 2. Many Armenians have concluded on the basis of
their troubled history that they cannot safely reside in territory
controlled by Azerbaijan and they are consequently resolute; 3.
Armenians are prepared to sustain high levels of suffering. The
rhetoric of Azeri hardliners may therefore accomplish little beyond
reducing Armenia's capacity for compromise. One of the difficulties
in the conflict is that both parties regard time as being on their
side. In each case, this is a fallacy. Yet it is difficult for either
party to see around a long history of mutual grievance and mistrust."
Armenians should make it clear to the whole world that their demands
for their historical lands in Turkey, Karabakh or elsewhere, are as
valid as ever and not "subsiding"!
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