The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

According to Georgians, the recent tension between Russia and Georgia may have an Armenian dimension as well.

Armenia distanced itself Thursday from the latest upsurge in Russian-Georgian tensions that has been triggered by the arrest of a group of Russian military officers for alleged spying which Georgia says was coordinated by Russian intelligence agents in Yerevan.

Georgian authorities said on Wednesday that they detained four GRU (Russian military intelligence) officers as well as 11 Georgian citizens suspected of involvement in an alleged Russian plot against the pro-Western government in Tbilisi. Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said they “acted under the leadership from Yerevan” of a top GRU officer whom he identified as Anatoly Sinitsyn. Moscow angrily rejected the accusations, demanding an immediate release of its citizens. Reuters reported that Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov denounced as a "complete outrage" Georgia's action which he said had also included the beating of a Russian officer and six soldiers in a separate incident in the Black Sea port of Batumi.

Officials in Yerevan insisted that Armenia, Russia’s main regional ally, bears no responsibility for the acrimonious scandal. “We have nothing to do with that,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Vladimir Karapetian, told RFE/RL. Colonel-General Mikael, the Armenian chief of staff, echoed the statement, urging journalists not to “jump into conclusions.” He also dismissed as irrelevant the fact that four of the arrested Georgian nationals are reportedly ethnic Armenians.

“They are citizens of Georgia, and I think authorities in Georgia will clear things up,” said Harutiunian. “I think we will be able to say something concrete about this issue after finally understanding what the matter is. It is too premature to comment now.” Asked about the Georgian claims that the alleged Russian espionage was guided from Armenian territory, Harutiunian replied: “They can say anything. What they say is their business. But there has to be evidence.”

Other Armenian officials argued that Yerevan has no control over the happenings inside Russia’s diplomatic missions and military base in Armenia. None of the diplomats at Russian embassy in Yerevan that bears the name Anatoly Sinitsyn, an embassy spokeswoman told RFE/RL. Merabishvili would not say if Tbilisi will raise the issue with Yerevan, and the Georgian embassy in Armenia declined a comment. According to Karapetian, the Armenian government has received no diplomatic notes or other messages from the Georgian side in connection with the affair.

Link: http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeni...3005DE4FC7.ASP

Russia warns Georgia over arrests

TBILISI, Georgia — Russia recalled its ambassador to Georgia on Thursday and warned that it would use "all means available to us" to secure the release of Russian military-intelligence officers arrested here Wednesday on charges of espionage. In New York, Russian diplomats called for emergency consultations by the U.N. Security Council. Georgian police continued to surround Russian military headquarters in central Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, demanding that the Russians turn over another officer who they say is also implicated in spying and is in hiding in the complex. Russia has maintained a military presence in Georgia, its southern neighbor, since the fall of the Soviet Union, although all its troops are scheduled to be withdrawn by 2008.

Relations between the two countries have been marked by mutual loathing since President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power here in January 2004 and declared his intention to take Georgia, a former Soviet republic, out of Russia's orbit and into the NATO alliance. Georgia also accuses Russia of supporting two breakaway regions that are inside the country's internationally recognized borders but have been effectively independent since short wars in the early 1990s.

On Wednesday, Georgian officials announced that they had arrested four Russian officers, three lieutenant colonels and a major, accusing them of attempting to gather classified information on Georgia's cooperation with NATO and on some of its military deployments. The Interior Ministry here said Thursday that it had detained another two Russian servicemen on suspicion of espionage.

"The charges that have been brought against them are moronic and absolutely far-fetched," said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, visibly angry as he spoke on Russian television Thursday.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov said his government would achieve the men's release "with all the means available to us," according to RIA Novosti news agency. The Interfax agency said he called the arrests "the latest example of an anti-Russian policy."

Georgian officials continued to insist that they had audio and video evidence of the Russians' involvement in espionage. Georgian officials also said they had arrested 12 Georgian citizens who were recruited by the Russians. Georgia's interior minister, Vano Merabishvili, said, "The files reliably show officers of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate personally conducting intelligence activities, personally recruiting Georgian nationals, and carrying out unlawful activities."

Merabishvili said the spy ring was led by a Russian who was involved in a car bombing that killed three police officers in the provincial town of Gori in February last year. Russian defense officials said the arrested officers had not been posted to the region until the summer. Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi...&date=20060929

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Armenia in Russia's Embrace

By Kim Iskyan, The Moscow Times

Armenia is one of a small and dwindling number of former Soviet republics that assuages, rather than aggravates, Russia's hurt ego in what used to be its geopolitical backyard. While the special relationship between Russia and Armenia is hardly new, its increasing intensity holds important implications for the smaller country's future, as well as for the balance of power in the Caucasus and throughout what remains of Russia's old sphere of influence.

Goodwill between Armenia and Russia has deep historical roots and is sustained by Russia's recent role as Armenia's protector. Russia is the ace up Armenia's sleeve against feared aggression by Turkey, Armenia's historical enemy, and as a deterrent to a renewal of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed enclave of Nagorny Karabakh (during which Russia supplied critical military assistance to Armenia). As a consequence of the war, both Turkey and Azerbaijan blockade their borders with Armenia.

Armenia plays eager host to a few Russian bases and a few thousand Russian troops, who patrol Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran. During the Georgian political crisis in November 2003, the Russian and Armenian defense ministers signed agreements deepening their military cooperation, and, a few days later, then Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov called Armenia "Russia's only ally in the south."

Indeed, Georgia appears increasingly determined to remove itself from the Russian orbit, particularly after the recent crisis in Adzharia. And Russian relations with Azerbaijan, never particularly warm, remain dominated by oil concerns. Armenia is one of the relatively few former Soviet republics where Russian troops are welcomed and where they don't have to rub shoulders with the U.S. military, such as in Georgia or Kyrgyzstan.

On another front, Russia has staged what appears to be a benign takeover of a number of Armenia's economic arteries.

Virtually the entire Armenian energy sector is under Russian control, following the transfer last year of the management of Armenia's critical nuclear power plant, and six hydroelectric plants, to UES as part of a broad equity-for-debt deal. Armenia receives its natural gas from Russia via Armrusgazprom, which is 45 percent owned by Gazprom. Rostelecom is a possible buyer of Armenia's telephone monopoly. Russian financial institutions, often under ethnic Armenian management, are slowly moving into Armenia's banking and insurance sectors. And with Russia one of Armenia's largest trade partners, the health of the Armenian economy is closely linked to that of Russia's, as the slowdown following the 1998 financial crisis demonstrated.

Russia is the gray cardinal of the Armenian political scene, in contrast to the meager influence it exerts on domestic politics in most other CIS countries, with the exception of Georgia, Moldova and Belarus. Prior to Armenia's February 2003 presidential election, President Robert Kocharyan made a pilgrimage to Moscow to receive the blessing of President Vladimir Putin; some analysts viewed the transfer of Armenia's energy assets to Russia as a quid pro quo for Putin's continued support.

Indeed, the Armenian government is highly vulnerable to any disruption -- inadvertent or otherwise -- of the flow of energy resources from Russia, and works hard to stay in the good graces of the Kremlin.

The close links between powerful members of the Armenian diaspora in Russia and Putin spurred rumors recently that Putin, now freed from the distraction of getting re-elected, might become more involved in Armenia's domestic political scene to solidify Russia's position in Armenia. In the meantime, Kocharyan seems to be taking a page out of Putin's handbook on authoritarianism, tightening the state's grip on the media, stifling dissent and otherwise trying to limit the scope for the evolution of a credible opposition.

Armenia's official foreign policy is to foster amicable relations without picking favorites -- a rational policy for a small, isolated nation flanked by unfriendly neighbors in an unstable region. Armenia leverages the political clout of the Armenian diaspora in the United States and, to a lesser degree, the European Union, to win governmental aid and assistance. It also hedges its military bets by participating in NATO Partnership for Peace exercises and lending quiet support to the American war on terror.

U.S. and EU concerns in the region are focused on the politics of oil and pipelines in Azerbaijan and the Caspian area more generally -- with changes in Georgia now also jockeying for the limited attention that the West allots to the Caucasus. Meanwhile, efforts to deepen relations with southern neighbor Iran (such as through the construction of a natural gas pipeline) receive frosty glares from the West and a mixed reception from Russia.

Russia is home to roughly 1.8 million Armenians -- compared with the official, and inflated, figure of 3.2 million inhabitants of Armenia proper -- who send home remittances of roughly $110 million every year (equivalent to 4 percent of GDP), according to the Armenian Foreign Ministry. Not surprisingly, there is no stigma attached to speaking Russian in Armenia, unlike elsewhere in the former Soviet bloc.

Armenian dependence on Russia is steadily deepening, binding Armenia's future -- for better or for worse -- all the more tightly to Russia. And as Russian influence in the CIS continues to erode, its role in Armenia serves as a pleasant, if Lilliputian, reminder of what it once had.


- Kim Iskyan, a freelance journalist and consultant based in Yerevan, Armenia, contributed this comment to The Moscow Times.

Source: http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/47-885.aspx

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russian-Armenian days will be held in Krasnoyarsk every year

Russian-Armenian days may be held in Krasnoyarsk every year, as Sarkis Muradyan, director of International Exhibition Business Center "Siberia", stated. 'Russia and Armenia have always had warm relations, and we hope that goods of high quality only made in Armenia will be sold in Krasnoyarsk thanks to such exhibitions in Krasnoyarsk Territory. We plan to hold Russian-Armenian exhibitions at least once a year,' he said. It is worth reminding that Armenian businessmen are going to have meetings with the regional businessmen, participate in a panel discussion with members of Central Siberian Commerce and Industrial Chamber, The Union of Industrialists and Businessmen of Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Union of Commodity Manufacturers and Consumers. Apart from that, Krasnoyarsk audience will enjoy a cultural program prepared by the guests from Armenia. Famous Armenian singers and musicians will give two concerts, one in IEBS Siberia, the second one – in the Big Concert Hall of the philharmonic society.

"Days of Armenia in Siberia" opened in Krasnoyarsk in International Exhibition Business Center "Siberia" today. Vyacheslav Rychkov, a deputy-mayor, the head of the department of food policy, commerce and services, Valery Sergienko, a State Duma deputy, Sarkis Muradyan, the chairman of the Board of Directors of CJSC Sibagropromstroy, participated in the exhibition opening. Armenian delegation was headed by Arsen Grigoryan, the governor of Gegarkunik Region of the Republic of Armenia. On behalf of Armenian government Arsen Grigoryan thanked the exhibition organizers and residents of Krasnoyarsk Territory for an opportunity of holding the presentation. 'Krasnoyarsk Territory governor Alexander Khloponin expressed his confidence in his letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharyan that the exhibition would help to enlarge commercial and economic cooperation between Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Republic of Armenia. Our countries take special places in the world society, and fact prove that Armenia and Russia are interested in cooperation: trade turnover between Armenia and Russia constituted $107 million in 2000, and it increased up to $353 million by the end of 2005,' Grigoryan said.

After the opening visitors were able to see an exhibition of Armenian food and industrial goods. The expositions showed decorative goods, national souvenirs made of stone and ceramics, shoes, textile, equipment, a wide range of beverages, including alcohol. It is worth reminding that Armenian businessmen are going to have meetings with the regional businessmen, participate in a panel discussion with members of Central Siberian Commerce and Industrial Chamber, The Union of Industrialists and Businessmen of Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Union of Commodity Manufacturers and Consumers. Apart from that, Krasnoyarsk audience will enjoy a cultural program prepared by the guests from Armenia. Famous Armenian singers and musicians will give two concerts, one in IEBS Siberia, the second one – in the Big Concert Hall of the philharmonic society.

Source: http://english.newslab.ru/news/203155

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Peking-Tehran-Yerevan-Moscow "quartet"

The total cost of Iran's military agreement including 2000-2005 is $7 billion. One of the items of these agreements, article 8 consists of Moscow's nuclear assistance to Tehran. (for religous purposes). Moscow renders this assistance easily through the third territory. According to our investigations, this territory is Karabakh, its border areas with Iran. The Armenians called the occupied Azerbaijan, territories a transit zone or base for Russians. In this zone Armenians in Karabakh have fulfilled easily the tasks of the Russians.

We can't understand for what purposes Armenia has allocated 280 tons of preparations paralysing nerve system, viruses prohibited and not ending … also computers controlling missiles.

According to our investigations, Peking has given to Tehran a protection system from most modern missiles. This system "Cey-UAY-14" was constructed for Armenia's FG in July (2001). This protection system (in Turkey direction) was constructed by Tehran specialists themselves (?).

The USA diplomat Lenn Devis reminds: "…It's a danger. We must feel the danger covering oil companies in the Caspian region and separate diplomatic corps"… According to our investigations, China's relations with Armenia extended after "Taiwan affair" and this stage was called a new stage.

Russian Federation, CPR and Iran's role in changing Armenia's military potential is a strategical step. And Yerevan's military assistance to Beirut "patriots" (against Israel) is interesting. Thus it became clear that Yerevan is not only a good base for nuclear technology carried from the Russian Federation to Iran, and also main bridge of ammunition assistance rendered from Tehran to Beirut.

Armenia regarding China defended "United and Great China" principle, called Taiwvan being a part of it "historical right".

According to our investigations, in the former times, i.e. in 1990-94 there were a lot of men of Armenian nationality in microbiology, physics, semi-conductor,Quantum physics and oil-chemical processes centres, scientific-research laboratories of Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. For instance, Robert Aslanovich (?) Ovanesyan occupied with electrophysics and electrophysical problems of energy in the Institute of Physics carried out scientific researches in Dubna nuclear centre till 1996, in Bushir APS since 1997. I'd like to direct qour attention to another fact. In 1992 Babayan Sarvar (probably) Server Bagramovich, the collaborator of Mathematics and Mechanics Institute solemnly defended a thesis (in technology) field … went to Yerevan after he got academic degree and now carries out his researches on nuclear technology there. While at that time those whose scientific work or defense of thesis were unfinished or who were prevented to carry out scientific researches left or were removed from Oil Chemical Processes Institute, Physiology Institute, Molecular and Biology Institute, Cybernetics Institute … on various pretexts. Generally 28 specialists (directly occupied with nuclear technology), who were occupied with Quantum physics, mathematics and mechanics, cybernetics … i.e. directly nuclear researches, gained scientific achievements in this field left Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, according to the information, 2 of them work with doctor S.Ter-Avestesyan's group in "Ashtarak-2" (Institute of Physical Researches) (?).

On June 4, 1999 at the meeting of the heads of Yerevan and Tehran security forces (this meeting is shortly called "Khudaferin meeting") Iran's "ETTELAAT" leaders (a special service organ) demanded from their colleagues the list of those of Armenian nationality working in former times in Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, its institutes (especially, in physics, chemistry, math field). They discussed there Azerbaijan's project bureaus occupied with nuclear physics, cybernetics, special mathematical calculations, the last achievements of "Crystal" metal bureau on corrosion, researches on Genetics and selection, scientific work on chemistry and microbiology. At the result they decided that Yerevan Security Service would work out "special program" in order to extend the relations in this field by the half of 2002.

36 men of Armenian nationality work in Iran special service organs (only in Ardabil, Tabriz, Astara, Parsabag) (2 of them work in military-counter intelligence agencies, 9 in "Ettelaat", 8 in military intelligence, 8 in "confidential information and news bureaus" of Islamic propaganda centres).

Iran began to carry out scientific researches on a new nuclear engine "The World". (After Ayatulla Khamineyi's address to security forces) on June 16, 2001. It was planned to carry out these researches on this engine about 45 km away from the capital (northern direction) in SRC in Karaj territory. Scientists carrying out scientific nuclear researches on nuclear prospecting in Byelorussia were invited. At the result an agreement of 48 million cost was signed between Minsk - Tehran in this direction (August II, 2001) Also it was determined that a new nuclear engine would work with uranium- 235. This project was investigated for military purposes and its power was 40 Mg Vt. It was possible to get or produce plutonium by scientific - research laboratory during test period of this engine, i.e. in its working hours.

On August 19 of that year the members of "Special Researches group" formed on Sep. 28, 2000 in Armenia's AF submitted their plans, exactly "military-strategical programs" for discussion in security council.

The program suggested that Yerevan (according to our investigations) (the first nuclear weapon will be applied against Israel in Near East zone. Tel-Aviv would be aware that this attack will be carried on by Palestine Arabian groupings, "Jerusalem's power" radical proislamists. Besides this Tehran would better to review its "strategical, national security concept" for Tel-Aviv remaining as capital at least. Because on March 4, 2001 "International United Islamic Security System" against Israel was worked out) had to sign new agreements on scientific researches in military and also military-industrial field with Moscow, China, Tehran, Northern Korea, Lebanon, Syria, Irak, Brazil (?).

If it is possible Yerevan will do a lot supported by these regions that have nuclear potential and war arsenal, comprehensive terror schools. This is its result that today there're shippers "Barret M81-A1" and "Barret M 82 A1" with nuclear warhead and calibre of 50 mm, mines against tanks with chemical - toxic components (these mines were tested in Khojali), and round bullets with the compound of bacteriological weapons" … artillery shells with nuclear warheads in Armenia's AF. Moreover, Construction of a new oil refining plant in Yerevan is put forward since August, 2002 (?).

According to the information we got, already 60 men known with their nuclear researches scientific researches in atom bomb field were "recruited" with high salary from Kazakhystan, Azerbaijan, Russian Federation, Byelorussia, Ukraine, Armenia…by India, Pakistan, Irak, Iran and Brazil, Northern Korea, China.

On February, 2000 an agreement was signed among Armenia's "Razdanmash" Iran's "scientific-technical researches Centre" and Switzerland's "Alshneks-Asada" in Guge city dealing in technological equipments and here. Tehran signed an agreement of $210 million cost with Yerevan, Switzerland - an agreement of $347 million with Tehran. It means "serious and dangerous" weapons, nuclear materials. It includes "electromagnet" installations and mechanisms in splitting isotopes.

It realizes its plan on construction of "electromagnet separators" in Ahvaz and Isphahan with assistance of Russian Federation and Byelorussia. At the result program "Nuclear program and strategic researches of Iran Islamic Republic for 2001-2005" was worked out in Iran. In Armenia this program is called so: "Special projects in nuclear researches field" (for 2002-2005)…

Source: http://www.karabakh-terror.info/wmview.php?ArtID=122

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

The Struggle for Caucasia

WE CONDEMN IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS the horrible acts perpetuated against the children of Beslan by the Chechen terrorists, who have been shamelessly supported by Turkey, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the Western press, especially Le Soir [here in Brussels]. The blood of Beslan's children, their teachers, their parents, the soldiers and paramedics who tried to rescue them -- their blood has been spilt and Western journalists, like those of Le Soir, must bear responsibility for it because they have provided the terrorists the media support, without which they would never have committed their abominable deed. These [hired pens, who incessantly attack Russia for resisting the Islamic insurgence in Chechnya,] have at last revealed their true colors, for all their fine words and moralistic posturing [on behalf of the Chechens] turns out to be nothing but a smoke screen for sadistic assassins.

With no less force, we denounce the cowardice of the present Georgian government, which continues to repress the Ossetians [within its borders] and which is allowing the United States to build a military base in the South Caucasus -- a base which will contribute to Russia's encirclement and lend support to Turkish territorial claims in the region. Ankara, though, has no historical right to these Caucasian lands, which formerly belonged to the [White Christian] peoples of Armenia and Byzantium, just as they have no right to the Balkans, the northern shore of the Black Sea, or the Hellenic Aegean, which they also covet.

The unspeakable crimes committed by the Chechen vermin in Beslan, we believe, was part of a Turko-American plan [to secure control of the Caucases] by striking at one of Russia's most loyal supporters, the indomitable Ossetians, descendents of the ancient Scythians. The installation of American troops and Turkish military personnel in Georgia is obviously linked to the terrorist activities in Ossetia, in Ingushetia, and in Chechnya. [Virtually unreported by the Western press, the terrorists at Beslan were outfitted in Western military gear]. Like the British before them, the Americans hope to push the Russians out of Caucasia [so as to tighten their anaconda grip on Russia's southern flank].

Synergies Européenes declares its solidarity with the Indo-European peoples of Caucasia, specifically the Ossetians and Armenians. We do so in the hope that Russia's presence in the region will be strengthened, that the ominous American installation in Georgia will be contained, and that a bloc against a Turkish or Iraqi Kurdistan will be formed, so that access to Mesopotamia, whose economic and geopolitical significance is of the utmost importance, will not be lost. For since the American occupation, France, Germany, Russia, and Belgium have been excluded from Iraq. We cannot afford to lose access to this strategically crucial region. It does not seem coincidental that the terrible tragedy in Beslan took place immediately following joint Russian-Armenian military maneuvers in the Armavir region along the Turkish border. These maneuvers were observed by the Greek military command, which ought to be congratulated, for, although a member of NATO, Greece has not hesitated to demonstrate its solidarity with the embattled Armenians.

The Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian has also announced that these maneuvers will be even more extensive next year. Armenia's army is presently expanding, having had its budget recently augmented by 10 per cent. Its active forces now number about 60,000, with a reserve of 320,00 (out of a population of 3.2 million!) and a "reserve of the reserve" of 350,000 -- for Armenia [which is one of the oldest Indo-European nations] is prepared to mobilize every able-bodied man between the ages of 15 and 59 [if ever its genocidal Islamic neighbors, who have a long history of murdering White Christian peoples, should threaten it]. In addition to these forces there are 20,000 soldiers defending Nagorno-Karabagh [an Armenian enclave in what was formerly Azerbaijani territory], along with 60,000 reservists prepared to take up arms if the Azeris, allies of the Americans and Turks, should attempt to retake these Armenian land. Fortunately, the Armenian Army is [one of the most competent and powerful in the region], equipped with the most advanced missiles and planes. Russia also maintains 30 Mig-29 fighters in Karabagh and several batteries of S-300 missiles, capable of reaching Ankara or Baghdad. The Armenians also stand out as being one of the few White peoples to have maintained their ancient warrior heritage. Long ago, our Crusaders came to appreciate their military prowess, as they joined them in repulsing the Seljuk Turks from the "Holy Lands."

[Having always been surrounded by powerful and murderous enemies], the fiercely-nationalist Armenians have had to learn to fight the superior forces arrayed against them. Encircled by Turkic and Muslim peoples [who now occupy lands formerly belonging to the White Christian peoples of Byzantium], the Armenians are not likely to retreat before these forces, willing, as they are, to transform their mountainous land into an eagle's nest, if need be. In fact, it was just this determination, combined with the close solidarity between Armenians, Russians, and Ossetians, that forced their Islamic-Turko-Chechen enemies to carry out a murderous attack on their children, [as if by breaking the hearts of these Caucasian peoples that they would be able to conquer them].

In the clearest and most unambiguous terms, the Armenian president Robert Kotcharian has declared his total solidarity with Russia and Ossetia -- a declaration which we Europeans support without reservation. At the same time, Serge Sarkisian announced on 5 September that Armenia remains committed to defending Karabagh, [now liberated from the Muslim yoke], as well as the land corridor linking it to Armenia [won in the 1992-1993 war with Azerbaijan]. American and Turkish support for Azerbaijan in this dispute has failed to weaken the Armenian resolve, which shows that a people's determined commitment to their heritage can make them almost invincible. Indeed, it was for just this reason that the American-Saudi-Azeri-Chechen forces resorted to terror [on 3 September] to break the Russian-Ossetian Armenian alliance -- somewhat like the way the US Air Force firebombed the schools and civilians of Hamburg 60 years ago to force the Germans to capitulate. Armenia, though, has a much different geography than the North German plains or the Mesopotamian river valley. It will not be invaded [without the most horrendous of struggles].

The children massacred at Beslan's Middle School One were Ossetians, an Indo-European people speaking a language related to ancient Persian. The 300,000 Ossetians of today are the descendants of those Indo-European horsemen known as the Scythians, the Sarmatians, or Alans, who frequently appear in ancient Roman sources. These people [who once occupied the south Russian plains] were driven by Turko-Mongolian hordes [in the period of the late Roman empire] into the mountain regions of the Caucasus, now known as North Ossetia. One branch of these Scythians was, however, swept up into the wanderings of the Germanic peoples of the period. As a consequence, Scythians were scattered throughout Western Europe, the Rhineland, and the British Isles (where they had a part in fostering the Arthurian legend). Others followed the Vandals into Spain and North Africa.

Of the Scythians who took refuge in the Caucasus, many of their descendents made up the most important military forces of the Byzantine Greeks. In 1767, [after centuries living under the oppressive heel of the Ottoman Turks, who conquered Byzantium and Caucasia in the 11th and 12th centuries] these people were finally liberated by the Russians. Their language was given its literary form by the great poet Kosta Xetagurov (1859-1906) and the French academician George Dumézil was the first major scholar to examine their epic literature. (See Georges Dumézil, Romans de Scythie et d'alentour [Paris: Payot, 1978]) Much of Dumézil's scholarly work [perhaps the most important ever to have been produced on "Indo-European civilization"] begins, in fact, with the Ossetians, for they retained some of the most primordial Indo-European characteristics. Not coincidentally, their folklore possesses an astonishing beauty and charm.

It was, then, against the children, the rising generation, of this small, ancient, and very proud people that the Chechen vermin, with the complicity of the Turks, the Americans, Islamists, and journalists like those of Le Soir, carried out their genocidal attack, for no other term than "genocide" does justice to the character of this sort of barbarism -- and indeed follows the logic of the Turks' earlier attempt to exterminate the Armenian people [in the period 1915-1922, when close to two million Armenians were shot, butchered, or starved]. We call on all European peoples, from Dublin to Vladivostock, to condemn this assault on the existence of the Indo-European peoples of the Caucasus. Against the murderous enterprise of these Islamic forces supported by the globalists, it is necessary to affirm that Caucasia is Indo-European. All non-Indo-European populations and religious confessions have no legitimacy there. This does not mean that we deny the right of other religions or peoples to exist in this region. But with the utmost clarity we proclaim that they have absolutely no authority to dictate the politics or the way of life of those established by the Ossetians, Armenians, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, and the Russian Tsars.

The region's geopolitical axis has historically extended from the [White] North to the [non-White South] -- not from the South to the North or the East to the West. This axis, moreover, is vital to the very existence of European peoples. Those among us who say otherwise are either traitors or fools. For the triumph of Turkish-American geopolitics in the Caucasus will have the effect of driving the Russians northward into their tundra region and Europeans to the westernmost reaches of their peninsula. Any European defending such a geopolitics condemns his people to a slow death. Our history calls on us to continue this struggle for Caucasia -- which implies our unconditional support for Vladimir Putin, the courageous, martyred Ossetians, and the Armenia of President Kotcharian. Against the traitorous lowlifes who would weaken our support with false scruples and hairsplitting sophistries, we declare that the struggle between Euro-Russia and Islam is one without the slightest nuance. For it is a struggle for our survival and one that must be followed by an aggressive counter-attack -- a counter attack which will force the Americans out of Eurasia, curb Turkish ambitions, satisfy Greek, Armenian, Ossetian, and Kurdish grievances against the Turks, liberate Cyprus, contain Morocco below Gibraltar, chase the Pakistanis from Kashmir, and liberate the Philippines of the Moro terrorists.

Source: http://www.nationalvanguard.org/story.php?id=3788

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO PAY WORKING VISIT TO RUSSIA OCTOBER 30-31

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2006 13:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian will pay a
working visit to Russia October 30-31, reports the Press Office of
the Russian Embassy to Armenia. The recurrent visit of the Armenian
leader is to enhance Russian-Armenian relations of complex partnership.

2005 was marked by the Year of Russia in Armenia, while 2006 is the
Year of Armenia in Russia. The Embassy noted that implementation
of large-scale events and actions promoted activation of relations
and cooperation. Urgent matters of bilateral cooperation will be
discussed during the visit of the Armenian leader. The implementation
of agreements at the highest levels for further building of the
Russian-Armenian interaction, specifically in energy, fuel and
transport will also be under consideration.

Exchange of views is planned to strengthen cooperation within the
CSTO. The meeting will also focus on CIS issues, specifically matters
of coordination of efforts to make situation in the Caucasus healthier,
build confidence to arrange cooperation in the region and conflict
settlement.

The solution of the Karabakh issue will be specially accentuated during
the talks in Moscow. "Welcoming the Armenian-Azeri dialogue at various
levels, first of all between the Presidents, Russia proceeds from
the conflict parties themselves should find a mutually acceptable
solution to the conflict. Russia is ready to actively assist it -
both bilaterally and as an OSCE MG co-chair," the release says.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russia Owns New Unbeatable Missile Systems — Putin

“Russia last year tested missile systems that no one in the world has and won’t have for a long time,” he was quoted by the ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies as telling a news conference.

“These missile systems don’t represent a response to a missile defense system, but they are immune to that. They are hypersonic and capable of changing their flight path.”

Putin said he had shown the working principles of the missile systems to French President Jacques Chirac during a visit to a Russian military facility, AP added.

“He knows what I’m talking about,” RIA-Novosti quoted Putin as telling reporters after state-run news channels cut their live broadcast of the news conference.

The U.S. defense system against long-range missiles is limited mainly to an installation in Alaska, where at least six missile interceptors are in underground silos, linked to a command and control system. It is designed mainly to shoot down missiles fired at U.S. territory from North Korea, with future expansion planned.

Link: http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=15989

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

ARMENIA GAINS SHORT REPRIEVE FROM 100% PRICE HIKE ON RUSSIAN GAS

At a December 16, 2005 meeting in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Gazprom's top management informed Armenian President Robert Kocharian that the price of gas supplies to Armenia would rise from the existing level of $54 to $56 per 1,000 cubic meters to $110, effective on January 1, 2006. Russian-oriented Armenia was thus hit with the same price hike as Western-oriented Georgia.

On January 13-14, however, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markarian announced that Moscow ha consented to postpone the price hike until April 1, so as to avoid hitting Armenia hard during winter. Yerevan now hopes that Russia might consent to some form of payment mechanism that would cushion the impact on Armenia, once the doubling of the price takes effect.

In his televised statements announcing the three-month reprieve, Markarian ruled out various payment options that Gazprom and the Russian government are now proposing: either ceding Armenia's remaining industrial and infrastructure assets (most of which were ceded already in 2002-2003) to Russian state-controlled companies; or giving up Armenia's 45 percent stake in the country's gas transport and distribution system; or taking out a Russian loan and guaranteeing it, again, with those remaining assets. Any of these options, Markarian observed, would only constitute a short-term palliative, and loans are in any case available on more favorable terms from Western creditors.

Politically, Markarian noted that Russia seems to treat its ally Armenia in the same way it treats Ukraine or Georgia regarding gas prices, despite those two countries' NATO-membership aspirations and Georgia's insistence on closing Russian military bases on its territory. Therefore, Armenia should re-examine the notion of "strategic partnership" with Russia, diversify its security options, and advance its cooperation with NATO and the European Union, which in any case is not directed against Russia. Indeed, "Russia does not have a moral right to forbid Armenia going this way" (Arminfo, January 14).

Markarian seems to be, thus far, the only major Armenian political figure to call for linking the gas issue with political issues in the overall relationship with Russia. This can indeed become an effective response to Moscow's pretense of "de-politicizing" the gas trade. Since the Russian price hikes are not dictated by the market, but rather by Russia's monopolistic position (itself achieved through political and even military muscle in the region), countries targeted for arbitrary Russian price increases may have various forms of political or security counter-leverage available.

Armenian Parliament Chairman Artur Bagdasarian reacted to the Sochi meeting by calling publicly for billing the Russian military base at Gyumri for rent and utility costs. Bagdasarian also noted that such a step would meet with popular approval. After several statements by Bagdasarian to this effect, the Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Col.-General Mikael Harutiunian, intervened to claim that the base is "essential to Armenia's security and that of Russia's southern borders." Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov is happy with the free ride: according to him, maintaining the 5,000-strong Russian military base in Armenia is cheaper than maintaining a comparable force on Russian territory, because Armenia pays the utility costs for the Russian base (Vremya Novostei, December 26).

For his part, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanian acknowledges the political implications of Russia's pricing decisions, even conceding that Moscow's insistence on separating economics from politics is "not entirely correct." Oskanian, however, calls for protecting Armenia's alliance with Russia from the adverse political impact of the gas price hikes. In this context, Oskanian's remark that the alliance with Russia "ensures our security and physical defense" (Mediamax, January 16) highlights Yerevan's self-imposed limitations on strategic flexibility.

Gazprom and its affiliate Itera delivered 1.3 billion cubic meters of gas in 2004 and 1.7 billion cubic meters in 2005, and envisage deliveries of 2 billion cubic meters in 2006. The two Russian companies hold stakes of 45 percent and 10 percent, respectively, in the ArmRosGaz transport and distribution network; Armenia's Energy Ministry holds the remaining 45 percent.

The gas delivered comes from Turkmenistan, reaching Armenia via Kazakhstan, Russia, and Georgia. Thus far, Gazprom and Itera bought Turkmen gas at $44 per 1,000 cubic meters and resold it to Armenia at some profit to themselves for $54 to $56. In 2006, Turkmenistan will be selling its gas to Gazprom at $60 per 1,000 cubic meters. The Russian-proposed price hike to Armenia far exceeds Turkmenistan's price hike to Gazprom. Apparently, Moscow takes Armenia political fealty for granted.

(Mediamax, Noyan-Tapan, Arminfo, PanArmenian Net, January 3-16)

LinK: http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2370670

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russia: Asserting Moscow’s weight on the world scene

The news conference, Putin’s fifth since he took office in 2000, was broadcast live on state television, radio and on the Kremlin website (www.kremlin.ru). It covered a wide range of foreign and domestic policy issues. The Russian president is shown daily on television news broadcasts giving set-piece remarks on specific issues, but news conferences like that last week give journalists and the public a rare opportunity to hear Putin express his views in a relatively spontaneous manner.

Russia’s growing power as a supplier to global markets of oil, natural gas, electricity and nuclear energy technology -- specifically how the Kremlin intends to exercise that power -- was among the issues dealt with in the press conference. The state-run energy giant Gazprom has come under fire over the past month over a gas pricing dispute with Ukraine that was followed by gas supply disruptions to several former Soviet republics and knock-on supply shortfalls registered by customers in at least half a dozen European countries.

With oil prices again pushing towards record highs, Russia’s plans in that sector -- ranging from production and supply levels to tolerance levels for foreign investment -- are under close scrutiny. Putin has sought to portray Russia as a reliable energy supplier with vast reserves and has made the issue of global “energy security” the top item on the agenda for the Group of Eight (G8), which Russia is chairing this year for the first time. The Kremlin is also a key actor in the Iran nuclear problem. The West suspects Iran may be trying to acquire nuclear weapons under cover of a nuclear energy program, while Russia is not convinced.

The United States and the European Union are pushing for the Iran nuclear issue to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible imposition of sanctions, while Russia and China have so far been more hesitant about that course of action. At the conference Putin warned against the prospect of a revolution in Uzbekistan, saying it could turn the Central Asian state into “another Afghanistan”. “We don’t need another Afghanistan in Central Asia.... We don’t need a revolution there; we need evolution”.

The Russian leader said Moscow would act “carefully” in its relations with Uzbekistan, in response to a reporter’s question about his government’s strengthened relations with Tashkent following the Uzbeks’ crackdown on a May 2005 uprising. “We know better than you where and how the people who ignited the situation in Andijan were prepared”. Russia has accused Muslim extremists trained in camps outside Uzbekistan of seeking to bring about a revolution in the predominantly Muslim ex-Soviet state. Uzbek authorities have said that 187 people died in the Andijan violence on May 13, all due to the actions of Muslim insurgents, while human rights activists say troops opened fire on and killed hundreds of civilians taking part in a demonstration.
The Uzbek government has refused calls from the European Union, the United States and the United Nations for an independent international enquiry and relations between Uzbekistan and the West have soured in the aftermath of the Andijan unrest.

The Russian president also stressed that the international community must continue to provide aid to the Palestinians despite the election victory of Hamas. “Refusal of aid to the Palestinian people would be a mistake in any event”. He described the election win of Hamas as a “serious blow” to efforts to bring about a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Putin said it was common “in any country in the world” for opposition parties and movements to stake out “radical” positions when not in office, but stressed that Hamas now needed to recognize Israel’s right to exist and accept the responsibilities that come with governing.

“Hamas must leave its radical statements, must recognize Israel’s right to exist and normalize contact with the international community,” the Russian leader said. Putin however stressed that Russia’s position on Hamas differed from that taken by the United States and the European Union.
“Our Foreign Ministry has never described Hamas as a terrorist organization,” he said. This difference however did not mean that Hamas could expect Russia’s unqualified support. And addressing critics who question whether Moscow’s membership of the Group of Eight, Putin replied that leaders of all the G8 countries agreed unanimously that Russia belonged in the grouping despite its relative poverty.

“I know the mood of the leaders of the G8”, he said. “No one is against, all are in favor of Russia’s presence in the G8”. Putin also regretted that the US was the only obstacle to Russia’s membership of the World Trade Organization. Washington has insisted that Russia improve protection of intellectual property rights and lower taxes on airplane imports.
Russia and the United States have also failed to reach an agreement on changing Russian legislation for the banking sector, which forces foreign banks to establish branches as Russian legal entities.

Link: http://www.mmorning.com/ArticleC.asp...4&CategoryID=7

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Energy crisis as Georgia freezes

Georgia's president has cut short a visit to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland and headed home to deal with a growing energy crisis.

Mikhail Saakashvili said his country had used up its gas reserves and electricity blackouts were widespread. Bad weather has damaged power lines and explosions on the main pipeline from Russia last weekend hit gas supplies.

Schools are shut and power is restricted to hospitals, bakeries and water pumping stations. Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli said Georgia had been under a virtual energy blockade for the past five days while enduring record freezing temperatures.

He accused Russian gas supplier Gazprom of failing to boost gas supplies via Azerbaijan to compensate for the damaged pipeline which, he said, had still not been fully repaired.

"Either they should stop saying Gazprom is giving Azerbaijan additional gas for Georgia or, if they can, they should actually supply this gas to Azerbaijan so that we can receive it," Mr Noghaideli told a Georgian TV station.

Gas cylinders have been at a premium in the capital, Tbilisi, correspondents report.

"There are old people queuing up who don't have their own cars to carry these heavy canisters," housewife Keti Rurua told AFP news agency after queuing two hours herself.

"The trolley-buses aren't running even in the town centre."

One angry pensioner, Irakli Gogokhidze, attacked the government's handling of the crisis.

"The electricity went off at one in the morning and since then we've been freezing," he said.

"It's awful that the authorities can't solve this problem. What are they there for if the whole country is freezing?"

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4650876.stm