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The
Decree of President Haidar Aliyev has come into force last week in Azerbaijan,
according to which the country again has returned to Latin after 62 years. To
tell the truth, process of removal of Cyrillic, in other words, Russian alphabet,
began still at Elchibe since 1992. Change signboards of shops, posters,
publicity boards, and tablets. But most of all bustle about news dealers and
printing houses, who mention the President with bad words.
Russian-speaking public of "city of winds" at this occasion has
rustled and is indignant for a long time, as is clear - Russian spirit at the
same time disappears, illusions of Moscow concerning friends from solar
Azerbaijan are lost.
But
new letters have caused most unexpected and sharp response in Teheran. In heat
of summer, relations between Azerbaijan and Iran have sharply worsened, and
Latin alphabet only aggravates the problem. As is known, Iran recently has
compelled Azerbaijan research vessel "Geophysic-3 " to stop working in
the sea, accusing Baku in violation of sea border. Then already Iranian aircraft
has made flight above Azerbaijani waters.
In
press of both countries, rival tone prevails, some in Teheran suddenly have
recollected, that before "uniting" with Russia in 20th
years of Х1Х
century, "Northern Azerbaijan" was an ordinary Iranian province.
We shall note, that in Iran, including Southern Azerbaijan with center in
Tabriz, there are twice more Azerbaijanians than in independent Azerbaijan.
They actually are founders of modern Iran, who began a democratic revolution in
1906 – 1911, which have sunk in blood of Cossack armies of Russian tsar, who
hastened to the aid of Iranian Shah. During the Second World War, according
to Anglo-Soviet treaty from 1941 in order to prevent German intrusion into Iran,
Soviet and English armies came there.
In
Iranian Azerbaijan controlled by Soviet soldiery, Stalin thought to create a
puppet communist regime and there was an Azerbaijan Democratic Republic with
capital in Tabriz in 1945. Further Stalin simply wanted to attach her (it) to
Azerbaijan ССР.
However, western allies were against division of Iran and wedging in of Soviet
empire aside of warm seas. Stalin had to concede and withdraw its armies from
Iran, though it has buried idea of uniform Azerbaijan in long-term plan.
Independent uniform Azerbaijan with capital in Tabriz - old dream of all
Azerbaijani patriots including that of late president Abulfaz Elchibei. But the
fiasco in the Karabakh war has superseded this dream in a shadow and idealists
have understood, that borders do not vary without feat and victims.
What
is related with last incident, certainly, all has arisen because of Caspian
petroleum, which has not been divided and which, most likely, became apple of
discord for many years. “Indestructible Union of free republics", which
"rallied forever with great Russia "has sunk into history". Now
together with great Russia and Iran, ancient Caspian Sea unites Azerbaijan,
Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. This largest lake, however, at the same time
separates them, as contains huge stocks of carbons, that is petroleum and
natural gas. While the working group in structure of assistants to
heads of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Caspian countries and has not
come to a common opinion. And it is favorable Russia and to Iran, on which time
is working.
Basically
Caspian Sea - not the sea, but lake, and positions of the international marine
law here have no direct force. But you see, there are norms for similar
international lakes. The question on division of Caspian sea on five water
areas according to nationality - to the state attribute comes around in dock,
first of all because of position of Russia, which "catches fishes in muddy
water". Russia skillfully uses contradictions between new pri-Caspian
owners, who completely depend on foreign investors. Externally she for
elimination of disagreements between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, and does not
object to the stage-by-stage division, however here are a lot of "undercurrents".
Baku
offers demarcation of bottom of Caspian Sea between the adjacent opposite states
on sectors on the basis of method of the median line conducted with the account
of equal remoteness of points. The question is about coordination of a median
line, which is defined by principle of equal remoteness of points from the
nearest initial lines on the sea. The given conventional approach to
delimitation of the given water object, in opinion of Azerbaijanians, will allow
to solve further safety issues, ecologies, fisheries and navigation. The cares
of Azerbaijan connected to ecology of Caspian Sea, really are actual and vital,
you see two-million city of Baku is under direct threat in view of pollution of
oil products.
In
comparison with other Caspian countries, environmental problems of this sea
for Baku are much more important, for other Caspian countries at coast do not
have such concentration of population. But when Baku is open, adheres to
pro-Western line and shows independence, it is not forgive to it.
Problems and troubles are showering in abundance. The Karabakh conflict is not
solved, "project of century" on oil pipeline of Baku - Tbilisi -
Jeihan does not promote in any way. Turkmenistan, pretending on a number of
oil-and-gas deposits in the sea, insists, that equal distant points were
determined on breadths. it is not so necessary for Russia and Iran, that
historical Great silk way revived as the Great oil-and-gas way, any
disputes and disagreements, both on the sea, and on land - in Caucasus and in
Central Asia are favorable for them.
This
year according to treaty with Russia in Astrakhan, Consulate of Iran, who is
dissatisfied with that, that new republics without taking into account
opinions of neighbors regularly conclude treaties and contracts is open,
encouraging the western investment projects though "legal status and regime
of sea are not determined". Teheran and Moscow openly declare of discontent
with project of installing of the Caspian pipelines at bottom of sea,
emphasizing "active geodynamics". Clearly, those obedient and poor
neighbors without connections with the West, without foreign currency reserves
and fleet are necessary for them. They need of direct sea message without
Azerbaijan borders and customs houses. Having seen on a map, any one can be
convinced, that waters of Caspian sea wash the Iranian coast in wide
direction and to North 36th parallels at Iran few territorial waters.
But
it has got international authority, finance, army, and it has got multimillion
Azerbaijani populations, which silently supports Teheran in given incident.
Causes, at least, bewilderment of position of Iran in Armiano-Azerbaijan
conflict and sympathy to coreligionists of shia sense are not observed.
Such impression also is created as if Azerbaijani population of Iran wants
independent Northern Azerbaijan to be united with Iran. Apparently, it is
better and more prestigious for them to be called Iranians, than
Azerbaijanians.
It
is recalled, that social democrats in Baku in 90ies supported Arabian
alphabet that there should be a uniform alphabet with relatives in Iran. However
radical steps of Baku authorities in issue of alphabets, in opinion of Baku
nationalists, irritate Teheran because Latin script is accessible for
Iranian, who learn it together with foreign languages. Moreover, eradication of
Cyrillic means rapprochement and cultural unification with Turkey and West,
which is a direct hit to Iran and Russia. As they say, search for a hand of
Moscow, which operates sometimes with a whip and sometimes with honey cake. In
the incident of sea, and here in Dagomis near Sochi, leaders of CIS in
swimming trunks nod to Putin. Children, old men and women perish in Chechen
Republic, and they talk profusely about Euroasian affairsо
under auspices of Russia.
Admire
lines written by Elizavet Maetnoi in "Moscow komsomolets": "Here
they speak Russian. Here our Rubles are paid. Here Russian tourists are adored
and for what reason, our peacemakers are not let off in the world. Here Russian
spirit does not disappear … "
She
writes these lines about Abkhazia and warns readers, drawing a gloomy picture in
future, presence of Turk and forces of NATO in Abkhazia instead of Russian
peacemakers. But she overlooks, that unfading Russian spirit here has appeared
only from time of construction strong lines of Black Sea at time of Tsars in
first half of Х1Х
of century. And who has come as conqueror, destruction is awaiting them in
Chechen Republic.
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08.08.2001
