Trip to Fuzuli; meeting with the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association

The trip to Fuzuli was embarked on because of the need for the chairman of International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), Mr. Umud Mirzoyev to make personal assessments of the achieved successes with the Azerbaijan Mine victims Association (AMVA) members particularly in the Fuzuli region. Prior to the Fuzuli visit, Mr. Umud was at Agstafa with a team of press men to join the AMVA in commemorating the international Mine Awareness day -4th of April; During the ceremony at Agstafa that had the local authorities, civil society representatives, government officials and various other NGOs in attendance, prominence was accorded to the AMVA activities and certificate was presented to outstanding members particularly members who were part of the initiative group in the project implementation.

In the Fuzuli meting, the AMVA members took turns to elaborate their stories. They shared their faced problems as well as highlighting new challenges. Unlike in the past, prior to the establishment of the AMVA, members are now having an opportunity to make their cases heard. Most of the cases were on the extent of achievements with the legal matters of the working group on the project “establishing of the Azerbaijan Mine victims association in Fuzuli and directing its activities”.

The mine victims are also having a new lease of life. During the project implementation, through the spirited efforts of the working staff, the mine victims were taught various business skills, mine victims also acquired knowledge on mine risk education. The outcome of the project implementation is that most mine victim families are present proud owners of small business in specific directions as crop farming, animal breeding, etc.

The Association members expressed believe in the sustainability of the achievements. Several mine victims who were awarded certificates assured to continue the successful achievement of the working staff members of the project.

A particular case was brought up at the meeting with the mine victims; it was on one, Mammadov Namiq, an English language teacher in Karimbeyli village, one of the Fuzuli districts. He, Mammadov Namiq together with his mother was a recent victim of mine accident. Narrating his story, he said the incident occurred on the 28th of February, 2008 in the family compound. They had intended to set up a fire to a bundle of firewood that was heaped in the yard. Unknown to them and as a usual case of most landmines accident, the unidentified mine buried in the earth exploded on them. Namiq sustained fatal injuries to his both hands while his mother had the most injuries to her entire body.

His story further points to the risky life these inhabitants have chosen to live. Not like they have any option. However, the government of Azerbaijan through the works of Azerbaijan National Agency on Mine Action (ANAMA) and its partners are putting in much effort to ensure that these territories are liberated from all landmines. To the credit of the ANAMA and partners, it should be added that the incidence of Mammadov Namiq and his mother, Abbasova Xadija is not a regular occurrence but nevertheless it will be good if no such incidence is recorded.

The Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association was established in the year 2006 by the IEPF in the project “Establishing and functioning of the Azerbaijan Mine victims Association (AMVA) in Tartar District of Azerbaijan” with the financial support of the US Department of State Bureau of Political and Military Affairs, office of Weapon Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA). The purpose for the establishment of the AMVA was to give the mine victims a platform from wherein they can organize themselves in order to overcome their challenges.

After the occupation of the Azerbaijan territories by the Armenia’s military forces, the mine victims were greatly disadvantaged; most of them lived as internally displaced persons of Azerbaijan, some lost the family bread winner, others lost their source of livelihood as well as houses. All most all have suffered both social and emotional pains. This was why an initiative such as the AMVA that has helped brings mine victims together in order to discus, share and learn Experiences is a rightful program.

Although most landmines explosions were recorded short whiles immediately after the end of the war and majority of such instances happened because of ignorance on the part of the habitants who despite aware of the danger but were left with no alternative but to return to their home lands. However, some instances were as a result of no distant occurrences. The government of Azerbaijan has made it a priority to free these territories of all buried landmines and UXO and ANAMA, the governmental agencies and its partners are effectively fulfilling this objective.

Russia and the politics of the South Caucasus with emphasis on the Armenia and Azerbaijan Conflict

Russia is always steadfast as to where its support lies as regards the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute. Whereas other super power Nations concerned in the matter have always emphasized in pure stands about the sovereignty of Azerbaijan over its territory, Russia has always remained dumb to this regards. Could it be that the silence of Russia is a deliberate act to pervert the truth on the issue?

Russia has never hidden its position particularly towards the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh regions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As a key role player in the OSCE MINSK group, Russia has always opposed every policy that had supported Azerbaijan claims to the territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh areas. Russia has always stalled all international efforts to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh and its environs.

During the just concluded NATO meeting in Bucharest, Romania, Vladimir Putin was very outright in his insistence that nations like Georgia should not be allowed as members of the NATO. The reason for his strong opposition is that simple; Russia will go to any length on anything in order to prevent any foreign policy that will consequentially increase the strength of its neighboring republics such as Georgia, Azerbaijan which Moscow will identify as a threat to Russia Republic.

Just recently, in a resolution over the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict, the United Nations in a general Assembly ordered Armenia to withdraw its forces from all occupied territory of Azerbaijan although this resolution was non-bidding, none the less Azerbaijan has always remained faithful to the outcomes of resolutions of international bodies such as UN, OSCE and EC. Notwithstanding the stands of the co-chair of the OSCE MINSK group in not recognizing the UN resolution, Azerbaijan has assured to continue to remain on the path of the peace talk; however if pushed, Azerbaijan has also not ruled out using force to reclaim its territory from Armenia.

In a recent development President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan is saying his country will recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and sign agreements with it. Armenia knows where its strength lies; had it not been for Russia backing, Armenia would have considered how destructive such statement can be particularly as peace talks is still on.

Just recently the new elected Armenia president Serzh Sarksyan paid a visit to his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow, Russia republic. During the meeting the Armenia president said he was in Moscow to extend a “big thank you” to Putin and Russia over the roles Russia plays in Armenia; though these roles were not stated but it’s fair to say that Russia and Armenia are very good friends. In his own words Serzh Sarksyan says "We (Armenia) have always highly appreciated your (Russia) help, we have never before enjoyed such an unequivocal position”. Position in this context embraces even Russia roles in stalemating the resolving of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Russia keeps challenging all odds; the new rise in Russia strength is equally connected in the new turns of events in the south Caucasus region where Russia still wants to play out its strong hold. The oil of the Caspian Sea is very important in the new upsurge of the regional economy especially for Azerbaijan. However countries like Armenia and Georgia who do not benefit from the Caspian oil deposit has to deal with it neighbors if it is to benefit from the regional wealth. Already Georgia is greatly benefiting from Azerbaijan because of the Baku- Tbilisi pipe line to the European market.

The struggle for the Caspian supremacy has not helped Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan financial capacity is becoming more robust with the sales of its oil and gas but Russia wouldn’t have fancied such achievements because it can’t imagine Azerbaijan which was once its occupied territory to be able to flex muscles. Hence Russia strategy is to indirectly or even directly ensure that Azerbaijan remains frustrated with its territorial issue.

Moscow has always compensated Yerevan loyalty to Russia with substantial gas supply at a preferential price and to an extension, security.

Armenia hopes that it will continue to enjoy same support from Moscow with Medvedev as the president just as they had with Putin. Putin will still be wielding much power as the prime minister of Russia therefore Armenia’s relationship can not be the contrary with Medvedev. Moreover Russia does not envisage pulling out its military base from Armenia in the near future. Furthermore Russia sees Armenia as a route in transporting its Caspian gas to the world market; however Azerbaijan is perceived as an antagonist to the Russia venture.

The conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh is not envisaged to end any time soon. Azerbaijan has always stated its commitment to a peaceful path to the resolution. Despite the good work of the MINSK group in resolving the issue, the role Russia had played in the past and will still be playing will not allow the conflict to be resolved amicable and in a fair way.

The war over the Nagorno-Karabakh regions of the Azerbaijan territory started in the late 1980’s but escalated to climax on the 25th into 26th of February, 1992 by way of the Khojaly massacre. Khojaly is a settlement in the Nagorno-Karabakh region with the Azerbaijanis and Armenia co-habiting. Armenia military with the help of Russia forces invaded the Khojaly region of Azerbaijan with other surrounding regions and committed different war atrocities killing men, women and children. The consequences of the Khojaly massacre includes the many displaced Azerbaijanis, the shattered homes, mines victims, and the large waste of land that use to be a source of lively hood to communities.

Pending Azerbaijan reclaiming its occupied territory, the republic will remain in records as one of the nations with the highest number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) –UNHCR statistics-. Despite the Azerbaijani Government effort and International community to assist the IDPs, yet more still remains to be done. Not until the IDPs are returned to their homeland every effort in the way of assistance will only be a case of soothing effect while the root cause of the problem remains. Resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is a key factor to solving so many adverse problems that face not just the Republic of Azerbaijan but to a larger extent the south Caucasus as a whole.

Mine Awareness Day in Azerbaijan, April 4th.

The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and its partners is joining numerous other international organizations to mark the “Mine Awareness Day” fixed for every 4th of April. The ceremony will be held at the country’s capital city, Baku and selected regions of Azerbaijan where the ANAMA is continuing its activities with mine clearance.

It’s always been stated time and again of the negative effects mines is having to various community globally. Although compared to no distant years back, the campaign on mines was apparently in the low key but thanks to a new awareness created by the signing into effect on the outright ban on landmines during the Ottawa convention in 1997; now there is a compassionate approach in the directions of mines related complications. Recently, according to a report published by the UN Mine Action Service, the Acting Director John Flanagan stated that a lot of progress has been made towards eliminating landmines and explosive remnants of war but of course more contribution is still expected from the public and donor for sustainable successes. The mine awareness day was identified as a day to revitalize international support for mine action.

In the event to mark the mine awareness day, ANAMA and its partners lined up a series of activities that includes meeting of the Director of ANAMA Mr. Nazim Ismaylov with the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Anne Elizabeth Derse and with the national media in attendance; commissioning of new billboards and mine-warning signs in mine affected regions; press conferences conducted by ANAMA and UNDP in the various regional offices of ANAMA; and meeting with the mine victims.

During the meeting between Nazim Ismaylov and the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan A.E Derse, the ANAMA Director addressed on ANAMA activities thus far; he said presently, ANAMA is undergoing a long-term project on mine clearance of 7 currently occupied regions around Nagorno Karabakh. The action is been conducted by about 500 ANAMA de-mining specialists and specially trained dogs; special techniques and facilities are used in this activities. He also added that ANAMA with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education has formulated a system of teaching mine defense to pupils.

The Ambassador of the US in her address re-emphasized the US commitment towards Mine clearance in Azerbaijan and promised a continuous support to this action.
At the regional meetings, the partners of ANAMA within the various projects were involved. International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) as a partner with ANAMA was represented by its chairman, Mr. Umud Mirzoyev. IEPF has been partnering ANAMA in mine clearance in the Tertar region of Azerbaijan since 2004 and IEPF has been able to assist the mine victims in the regions of Tertar, Agstafa, and Fizuli to create an umbrella body of mine victims, Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association (AMVA).

One of the highpoint of the press conferences in the region of Agstafa was the presentation of certificates to 10 members of the AMVA who became certified instructors in the fields of Mine Risk Education, Legal matters, Business Management, and First Aid Assistance. These persons were among the initiating group in the projects establishing of the Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association in Tertar, Agstafa, and Fizuli and directing its activities. The recipients who themselves are mine victims were trained by the experts involved in the projects implementation.

AMVA was established by IEPF through a private Partnership initiative of the US Department Bureau on Political, Military Affairs office of Weapon Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA). Until the establishment of the AMVA, the mine victims depended largely on the kindness of relatives because they have not been aware on the right procedure to assist self but today the story is different because the mine victims through skills and knowledge acquired from the project activities are able to affect their fates positively.

The ANAMA through its spirited works and dedicated approach to mine clearance is accomplishing much in Azerbaijan. The ANAMA began its mine clearance in Azerbaijan in the year 1999 based on a joint program cooperation between the government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The main goal of the cooperation was to create a national mine action capacity capable of planning, coordinating and managing all mines and mines related devices in the liberated areas of the Azerbaijan territory and of course preparing for the yet to be liberated areas. From the time of its establishment up to date, the ANAMA has achieved great successes with its activities in Azerbaijan. These achievements have been made possible through the cooperation and commitments of various bodies and countries such as the UN, the United States of America, the Republic of Japan, etc and various other public donors.

Official visit of the EANA Bureau members to the IEPF Headquarter office

Representatives members of the Bureau of the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), Mr. Vince Matyas who is also the president of the Hungarian Information Agency (MTI) and Erik Nylen the secretary of the Bureau came on an official call at the headquarter office of International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) on the 17th of March, 2008.

The meeting was scheduled as a national media assessment prompted because of the interest of the state Information Agency (AzerTac), one of the Azerbaijan leading news agencies in Azerbaijan, in joining the EANA.

Mr. Umud Mirzoyev, the chairman of IEPF reminded Mr. Vince Matyas of their past meetings at one of the world congress of the International Press Institute (IPI). The highpoint of their first meeting was subject on the need to seek assistance and advice from the Hungarian media perspective in the high profile case of Ramil Safarov who is serving terms in Hungary.

The Chairman of IEPF also took the opportunity to throw more lights on the media situations; the role of media organizations and NGOs in promoting good journalism practice in Azerbaijan. He also elaborated more on AzerTac activities and the possibilities of AzerTac expanding the EANA to give it a south Caucasus representation. Finally, Mr Umud Mirzoyev also envisages an upward growth in media activities because according to him, with the series of line-up events on media coupled with government new approach to the media, practicing professional journalism is attainable in Azerbaijan.

IEPF has proposed to host the 2009 world congress of the IPI, therefore the Chairman of IEPF also seized the opportunity to inform the EANA boards of this intention and the progress made so far. He hinted them of government full support of the initiative and how the event will add positively to the growth of media in Azerbaijan.

Mr vince Matyas highly welcomed the idea of Azerbaijan hosting the next IPI world congress. He even extended a likely possibility of hosting the EANA congress immediately after the IPI world congress although he didn’t fail to state the fact that most of the EANA meetings has always been held in Switzerland, the EANA headquarter location.

The visiting EANA Bureau members were equally interested in various roles of other prominent media organizations. There were commendable responses from the chairman of IEPF and the Director General of the AzerTac, Mr. Aslan Aslanov.

EANA is a European media body comprising of agencies with common platform on key issues such as copyright, tariff policy, technology and access to source of information. The major objectives of EANA are: to secure a business environment where news agencies can fulfil the task of independent and unbiased news reporting; to promote co-operation and information exchange between member agencies; to offer member agencies a Pan-European professional forum for discussions and exchange of experiences and know-how by organizing seminars, workshops, etc.