http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2006/10/06/russia-georgia-crisis-continues/

After years of independence official Armenia looks pathetic. By now they could have found ways of opening themselves to the rest of the world. Manipulations about a ‘landlocked country’ are the fruit of rotten brains of those serving to the Kremlin.

“RUSSIA IS ARMENIA’S OUTPOST”

[07:49 pm] 06 October, 2006

Because of the tension in the relations of Russia and Georgia Armenian businessman suffer heavy losses. In particular, according to Hrayr Karapetyan, the head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction, they pay 2500 USD more in order to transport 20 tons of luggages by the Poti port instead of Verin Lars. What does co-chair of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Committee Vahan Hovhannisyan do in order for the Russians not to ignore the interests of Armenia? Asked this question by “A1+” Hrayr Karapetyan agreed that we must work upon that issue.

One of the journalists asked to comment on the announcement of leader of the RF Liberal Democratic party Vladimir Zhirinovsky according to which Armenia is the 9th okrug of Russia and its outpost. Member of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Spartak Seyranyan found it difficult to find a politician in Russia who would have time to comment on Zhirinovsky’s statements and said he is not going to do it either. Nevertheless, he wasn’t able to resist the temptation of saying “I would say that Russia is our outpost in the North; now let them comment on my words”.

As for the information about Hrayr Karapetyan having appropriated 5 million USD, he advised the journalists to turn to the Office of the RA Public Prosecutor and learn whether a criminal case has ever been initiated against him. “It is a fairy tale”, Mr. Karapetyan added.

http://www.a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=41750

Armenia fears Russia’s blockade of Georgia will lead to its own isolation

Russia’s decision to impose a transport and postal blockade on Georgia after a bruising spy scandal may result in the economic isolation of its impoverished ally Armenia, politicians and analysts warned.

Russia is a main trading partner for the small, landlocked Caucasus nation, but most of Armenia’s goods travel to Russia via Georgia, since neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan have closed their borders in protest at the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

With Georgia’s transport links with Russia severed, many Armenian businessmen found themselves unable Saturday to ship the season’s fruit and vegetables, as well as grocery products and other goods, to Russia. Such restrictions may deal a painful blow to Armenia, where the average monthly salary is US$90 (ˆ70) a month.

“A further escalation of Russian-Georgian relations can lead to a complete isolation of Armenia,” Prime Minister Andranik Markarian said earlier this week.

Russia and Georgia have been locked in a bitter dispute following the arrest last week of four Russian military officers deployed in Georgia on spying charges.

Despite their release, Russia slapped its small southern neighbor with a range of sanctions, including suspending all air, sea, road, rail and postal links and thus paralyzing trade with economically dependent Georgia. Moscow also has cracked down on Georgian migrants and businesses in Russia.

Infuriated by Georgia’s actions, several Russian politicians have already raised the prospect of cutting natural gas to Georgia, which would effectively block supplies to Armenia.

The Armenian ambassador to Georgia, Grach Silvanian, has suggested that Armenia might look for other ways of securing energy supplies to the resource-limited nation of 3.3 million people.

“In the future we could solve the problem by supplying gas to Armenia not from Russia via Georgia, but directly from Iran,” Silvanian said.

Some Armenians also worry that the ongoing crackdown against ethnic Georgians living or working illegally in Russia could also spread to the Armenia diaspora.

“In Russia the anti-Georgian campaign could smoothly be turned into the anti-Armenian one,” said Stepan Grigorian, head of the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation think tank. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/31150.html

Echo Mosvky Radio Launches ‘I am Georgian’ Campaign

Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2006-10-07 18:16:28

Moscow-based Echo Mosvky radio station called for expressing a protest against growing anti-Georgian campaign in Russia through pinning a badge saying “I am Georgian.”

“Political standoff between Russia and Georgia has turned into tracking down Georgians living in Russia. They live with us and they should not be blamed if officials, politicians and the Presidents of the two countries hate each other… If you do not want large-scale ethnic cleansing to be launched in Russia… pin this badge before coming out in the street,” a statement posted on the radio station’s web-site reads.

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13820

“Memorial”: Russia Guilty of Racial Discrimination, Georgia of Irresponsible Policies

Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2006-10-06 23:50:38

Russia’s influential human rights group “Memorial” has sharply criticized both Georgian and Russian actions in a recent spy spat, that led to severe crisis in relations of the two countries.

The group criticized Georgian authorities for “losing the sense of reality, balance of power and capabilities” in publicly exposing alleged Russian spies. It demanded from the Georgian authorities to release to the public a proof of spying charges against Russian officers.

However, the group stated, Russia’s responce by “placing collective responsibility on Georgian people for the actions of their government that the Russian authorities tend not to like, once again shows full disdain of the Russian authorities to the principles and norms of law. Bans and limitations against the citizens of specific ethnicity - Georgians in this case - is nothing else but racial discrimination.”

Memorial said the current policies in Russia are not only leading to massive violation of human rights, but “embed animosity into regional international relations for the years to come.”

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13816