August 2, 2011 - 14:09 AMT
ARTICLE
South Sudan as an example for Aliyev clan
All the self-proclaimed republics, even recognized by some states, are in such different conditions that to speak of a precedent in the resolution of conflicts is improper.
Kosovo, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and earlier East Timor and Eritrea – all are recognized as independent states. Last week this list was complemented by South Sudan, which by the decision of the UN General Assembly became the 193rd member of the Organization. But the Republic of Artsakh is not on this list and, apparently, membership in the UN is still over the hills and far away for NKR. Perhaps, indeed, “all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”.

Trying to understand why the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has existed for 20 years now, remained unrecognized by the international community led by the UN, we come to a sad conclusion. The root of all evil was laid in 1994, when the co-chair countries could have recognized the conquered independence of Nagorno Karabakh. Let us recall that at the beginning of the national liberation war of Karabakh, Azerbaijan was a weak, demoralized post-Soviet republic losing the war against Karabakh Armenians, who were much less in number and poorly-armed. We are reiterating the old truth, as it is necessary in order to understand how it so happened that all of these breakaway “colonies” became independent, while Karabakh remained with an obscure status. On the other hand, the status of Karabakh is obscure only to the world community, which, by and large, has no legal power to recognize or not recognize the independence of a new state. Moreover, its recognizing can change nothing. It is important that the new state itself feel independent. On December 10, 1991 Nagorno-Karabakh held a referendum on independence. Kosovo’s independence was proclaimed on February 17, 2008, East Timor’s independence – on May 20, 2002, Abkhazia and South Ossetia became independent as a result of the war in 2008, and South Sudan conducted a referendum in January of the current year. As one can see, all the listed states became independent after the referendum in Nagorno Karabakh.

Strictly speaking, there are no negotiation processes on the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, like there is no conflict itself. There is only the thirst for revenge on the part of Azerbaijan, which, intentionally delaying the talks, is trying to gain time to arm even better. Baku, apparently, ignored the famous saying “war is not a number, but a skill”.

So, what’s the reason? It wouldn’t be correct to say that the presence of oil and gas in Azerbaijan decides everything, although it plays a role, too. Perhaps the thing is that the Caucasus region is far more important to the world community, especially to the United States, France and Russia, than distant Sudan or East Timor. All other self-proclaimed republics, even recognized by some states, are in such different conditions that to speak of a precedent in the resolution of conflicts is improper. Not without reason did the political scientists and politicians of co-chair countries note that resolution of one conflict cannot be projected on another, despite some similarities. However, in this case we are dealing with biased international community, which is doing its best to gain time in recognizing the independence of Nagorno Karabakh. This, at least, is strange when you consider that the international Libya Contact Group recognized the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the sole legitimate government authority in Libya. Most likely, oil, double standards and Russian and US interests in the Caucasus joined against the Karabakh conflict, which led to the current situation.

Independent South Sudan became further proof of the fact that the principle of self-determination always stands higher than the principle of territorial integrity. One could even say that these two principles have nothing to do with each other and are only used as an excuse for delaying the process of recognition, never leading to settlement of a conflict.

Karine Ter-Sahakyan