NEWS: 03 Apr 09 until 10 Apr 09 | Caucasus Reporting Service 487 und 488 (iwpr.com)

Turkey Keeps Armenia Guessing Over Border Blockade
If Ankara is serious about putting relations with Yerevan onto a new footing, it will reopen the border crossings it closed in 1993. By Tatul Hakobian in Yerevan (CRS No. 488, 10-Apr-09)
Azeri Enclave Puts Lid on Dissenting Voices
Locals in isolated Nakichevan say authorities there have ways of ensuring complaints don’t reach Baku. By Idrak Abbasov in Nakhichevan (CRS No. 488, 10-Apr-09)

Georgia Opposition Brush Aside Call for Dialogue
Confident they can mobilise the masses on April 9, president’s foes dismiss calls for talks as too late in the day. By Tamar Kadagidze in Tbilisi (CRS No. 487, 3-Apr-09)
Armenia: Officials Try to Spin Court Setback
They say it shows they don't go after opposition-supporting businessmen - though claim sounds hollow. By Sara Khojoian in Yerevan (CRS No. 487, 8-Apr-09)
Bridge to Russia Costs Azeris a Fortune
On the so-called Golden Bridge, which crosses the river dividing Azerbaijan and Russia, huge sums change hands daily. By Seymur Kazimov in Yarag Kazmalyar CRS No. 487, 6-Apr-09)

ENKLAVEN: Nagorni-Karabach und Nakhichevan

Im Raum Armenien / Aserbeidschan gibt es zwei große bekannte Gebiete:

* Nagorni-Karabach im Südosten Armeniens Nagorni- = deutsch Berg-) (autonomes Gebiet), das von Armeniern bewohnt wird und von Aserbeidschan umschlossen ist, aber nicht zu Armenien gehört. Wenn und falls Nagorni-Karabach völkerrechtlich anerkannt wird, entstehen in dem Gebiet weitere Enklaven und Exklaven, wie auf nebenstehender Karte zu sehen ist (siehe auch Details).
* Nakhichevan südwestlich von Aserbeidschan (autonome Republik), von Aserbeidschanern bewohnt und von Armenien, Iran und der Türkei umgeben.

Beides sind keine Enklaven im engeren Sinne, denn:
* Nagorni-Karabach ist zwar komplett von Aserbeidschan umgeben, gehört aber verwaltungstechnisch nicht zu Armenien
* Nakhichevan ist nicht von nur einem einzigen anderen Land umgeben, sondern grenzt ausser an Armenien auch an die Türkei und den Iran. Es ist daher lediglich eine Exklave von Aserbeidschan.

Weiterer Text & Karten zur Problematik >>>

NEWS:

2 Aug 07 Caucasus Reporting Service 404

Georgia Angered by UN Abkhaz Report
A report critical of “provocative” Georgian camp upsets Tbilisi - but is welcomed in Abkhazia.

By Mikhail Vignansky in Tbilisi and Inal Khasig in Sukhum (CRS No. 404 02-Aug-07)
Georgian “Patriots” Camp Sparks Controversy
Inside Georgia’s youth camp on the de facto border with Abkhazia.

By Nino Narimanishvili in Ganmukhuri (CRS No. 404 02-Aug-07)
Abductions Inflame Ingush-Ossetian Relations
Disappearance of two Ingush men spawns multiple theories and recriminations. By Madina Sageyeva in Vladikavkaz (CRS No. 404 02-Aug-07)
Nakhichevan – Another Azerbaijan
Life is poor in Azerbaijan’s exclave province, where the authorities keep everything tightly under control.By Sabuhi Mammadli in Nakhichevan (CRS No. 404 02-Aug-07)

Karabakh Stages First “Genuine” Leadership Contest
Unrecognised territory holds election in defiance of international criticism. By Dmitry Avaliani, Karine Ohanian and Akhra Smyr in Nagorny Karabakh (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)
An Ossetian Island in Eastern Georgia
A small Ossetian community belonging to diverse faiths has survived the tribulations of ethnic conflict. By Natia Kuprashvili in Kitaani (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)
North Caucasus Women Ply Secret Trade
Cash-strapped young women reveal how they go abroad to earn money fleecing men at nightclubs. By Marina Marshenkulova in Nalchik (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)

25 Jul 07 Caucasus Reporting Service 403

Karabakh Stages First “Genuine” Leadership Contest
Unrecognised territory holds election in defiance of international criticism.
By Dmitry Avaliani, Karine Ohanian and Akhra Smyr in Nagorny Karabakh (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)
An Ossetian Island in Eastern Georgia
A small Ossetian community belonging to diverse faiths has survived the tribulations of ethnic conflict. By Natia Kuprashvili in Kitaani (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)
North Caucasus Women Ply Secret Trade
Cash-strapped young women reveal how they go abroad to earn money fleecing men at nightclubs. By Marina Marshenkulova in Nalchik (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)

Karabakh Diaries
Two States in One
An Abkhaz journalist on the elusive statehood of Nagorny Karabakh. By Akhra Smyr (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)
In the Ruins of Shusha
A ruined town in Karabakh makes a Georgian reporter reflect on this conflict and his own. By Dmitry Avaliani (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)
I Did Not Vote Twice
A Karabakhi journalist and her look-alike sister cause a stir a Stepanakert polling station.

By Lusine Musaelian (CRS No. 403 25-Jul-07)

Photo Essay

Images of Karabakh July 2007
On July 19, 2007, the unrecognised republic of Nagorny Karabakh held presidential elections. The poll was condemned by the outside world but went ahead with unusual excitement in this small region. Photos by photojournalist Anahit Hairapetian.