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Topic: South Caucasus

	South Caucasus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
		South Caucasus, also referred to as Transcaucasia or Transcaucasus, is the southern portion of the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia, extending from the Greater Caucasus to the Turkish and Iranian borders, between the Black and Caspian Seas.
		In Western languages, the terms Transcaucasus and Transcaucasia are translations of the Russian zakavkazje meaning "the area beyond the Caucasus Mountains", i.e., as seen from the Russian capital (analogous to the Roman terms Transalpine and Transpadania).
		The region was unified as a single political entity twice – during the Russian Civil War (Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic) from 9 April 1918 to 26 May 1918, and under the Soviet rule (Transcaucasian SFSR) from 12 March 1922 to 5 December 1936.
	en.wikipedia.org /wiki/South_Caucasus (300 words)

	Eco-Agrotourism in South Caucasus
		The Southern Caucasus are totally mountainous and its lowlands (not to speak of meadows and plains) are connected to surrounding mountains both by geological origin and through the character of contemporary natural processes.
		The Greater Caucasus on the north is an obstacle for cold northern air masses to meet the western and central areas of the Southern Caucasus (the Kolchidan lowlands and the Kura bowl), thus raising its average temperatures.
		The climate in the Lesser Caucasus is definitely milder, especially at the slopes descending to the Kolchidean and Kura lowlands.
	www.eatsc.com /for_all/tcg.html (964 words)

	The South Caucasus: A Regional Overview and Conflict Assessment
		Even in the South Caucasus, however, ethnic diversity is remarkable and has challenged the attempts in the past century to draw political borders in the region.
		Since the independence of the South Caucasus, Moscow has reluctantly seen its influence in the region gradually declining, a process that it has sought to block by the use of various diplomatic, economic, and military means.
		Moscow has tried to keep the South Caucasus within the Russian sphere of influence, and has to that end tried to prevent the local states from pursuing independent foreign policies, and hinder the United States and Turkey from increasing their presence and influence in the region.
	www.cornellcaspian.com /sida/sida-cfl-2.html (9244 words)

	International Alert in the Caucasus
		The geographic boundaries in the South Caucasus are contested.
		Four large-scale violent conflicts occurred in the Caucasus during and following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, resulting in a situation of neither peace nor war, leaving populations throughout the region with an uncertain future and undermining political reform and economic development.
		Elsewhere in the South Caucasus, there is growing hostile rhetoric but little political development in the frozen conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis over the territory of Nagorny Karabakh and economic insecurity is widespread.
	www.international-alert.org /our_work/regional/caucasus_asia/caucasus.php (383 words)

	South Caucasus: Region Growing As Hub For International Drug Trafficking
		"If one takes into account, on the one hand, the fact that the three South Caucasus countries are geographically located between Asia and Europe and, on the other hand, the fact that the CIS states represent a major market for heroin, it is natural that this route should suit the drug mafias," he said.
		He says the industrial South Caucasus area -- which lies at the crossroads of the so-called Balkan Route and its sister "Silk Road Route" linking Afghanistan to Europe through Central Asia -- is important not only as a transit point for drugs, but also as a potential provider of chemicals for Afghan-based heroin producers.
		Widespread corruption and the various armed conflicts that have plagued the South Caucasus since the late 1980s both contribute to making the region a haven for illicit trafficking.
	www.payvand.com /news/04/mar/1068.html (1559 words)

	Press Releases: Caucasus (Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia), InterAction Member Activity Report: The South Caucasus
		The three countries of the South Caucasus - Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia - were union republics of the Soviet Union before gaining their independence in 1991.
		The two groups are concentrated mostly in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, respectively, regions of Georgia that had inherited semi-autonomous status from the Soviet administrative structure.
		A cease- fire was agreed upon in 1992 for the South Ossetian conflict and Russian intervention forced a cease- fire in 1993 in the Abkhaz conflict.
	www.reliefweb.int /w/rwb.nsf/0/10478b69a5865a8b85256ca7007c7816?OpenDocument (1232 words)

	South Caucasus: EU Special Representative 'Hopeful' On Karabakh - RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
		The so-called "frozen conflicts" of Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia are key issues for the South Caucasus -- and for officials like Swedish diplomat Peter Semneby, the new EU Special Representative for the region.
		Semneby: When the Caucasus is discussed with Russia, the three "frozen conflicts" that we have in the area are obviously high on the agenda.
		Some observers say the South Caucasus leaders are engaging with the West in order to stay in power, but aren't truly committed to democratic reforms.
	www.rferl.org /featuresarticle/2006/06/31D3ED69-B29C-4352-A885-5823D9661DF0.html (1488 words)

	ISP - Publication - Security in the South Caucasus
		To the south of the region, lie states that aspire to gain capacities in nonconventional weapons as well as networks, as was run in Pakistan, that have already engaged in wholesale proliferation activity. Azerbaijan has already played a very positive role in obstructing potential proliferation via its territory, and the entire region can make such contributions.
		It seems that in the South Caucasus region, however, this idea of conducting serious regional security cooperation while conflicts are still raging between states at war is perceived as ineffective and nonsensical.
		For successful conflict resolution in the South Caucasus, security arrangements must be constructed in which Russia plays an active and legitimate role and feels that these arrangements, while maybe not fulfilling Moscow’s grand goals in the region, minimally satisfy Russia’s interests. Moscow would be thus likely to support these security arrangements and contribute to their success.
	bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu /publication.cfm?program=ISP&ctype=presentation&item_id=84 (1358 words)

	Developing Turkish-Russian cooperation in South Caucasus - Turkish Daily News Nov 17, 2005
		Turkey and Russia are the two countries with a constructive approach to the South Caucasus region that could play a vital role in changing the “fate” of the impoverished area.
		The century-old efforts of the Russian Empire to penetrate the Caucasus and the nearly 200 years of Russian involvement in the region, together with its search for control of the Black Sea, were justified in an offensive strategy against Turkey.
		Turkey and Russia have the uppermost stake in the stability of the South Caucasus.
	www.turkishdailynews.com.tr /article.php?enewsid=28321 (1269 words)

	PINR - Current Geostrategy in the South Caucasus
		Stability in the Caucasus is a vital requirement for the uninterrupted transport of Caspian oil and gas.
		The geostrategic importance of the South Caucasus and the Caspian region as a corridor from Europe to Central Asia, as a bridgehead to control and pressure Iran, and also because of the energy resources and the war on terrorism, are the main reasons for the U.S. presence in the region.
		Russia regards the South Caucasus as its traditional backyard of influence and counters increasing involvement in the area by the West.
	www.pinr.com /report.php?ac=view_printable&report_id=595&language_id=1 (2691 words)

	Caucasus Media Institute » Welcome
		On November 10, 2006 the CMI held a discussion on the South Caucasus countries' economic development during the last 15 years, with special focus on the comparative aspect: the similarities and differences of economic and social trends, major achievements and failures of the economies of our countries in the post-Soviet era.
		The Caucasus Studies course, the first of its kind in Armenia, gave students an insight into the Caucasus from a number of aspects: political, ethnic, religious, economic etc. The students learned regional languages (Georgian or Turkish) and wrote essays on Caucasus Studies in the language of their choice (Armenian, Russian or English).
		In Yerevan, the exhibition is brought with the support of World Press Photo and Caucasus Media Institute On the occasion of the opening of World Press Photo 2005 exhibition in Yerevan, Claudia Hinterseer from gave a press conference on October 21, 2005 on the second floor of Moskva Cinema.
	www.caucasusmedia.org (2158 words)

	news - EU: Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to visit South Caucasus 16/17 February (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
		On the eve of her visit, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: “By including the countries of the South Caucasus in the ENP we have opened a new chapter in our relations with these countries.
		Her visit will be followed by further consultations between the EU and the South Caucasus countries with a view to finalise those Action Plans as soon as possible.
		The EC is one of the main donors of assistance to the South Caucasus.
	www.noticias.info /asp/PrintingVersionNot.asp?NOT=146353 (593 words)

	Asia Times: Where is the security guarantee for S Caucasus?
		The call for permanent peace in the South Caucasus has never been so urgent and loud as it is now, despite the fact that six years have passed since formal ceasefire agreements ended the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh and Abkhazia.
		The issue of a security system for the South Caucasus was first raised by the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan during the OSCE Istanbul summit last November.
		The CEPS Caucasus group is currently engaged in acquainting the international community and international organizations with the details of its proposed South Caucasus plan.
	www.atimes.com /c-asia/BF13Ag01.html (705 words)

	PanARMENIAN.Net: Georgian Speaker Urges South Caucasus States to Dialogue in “One Political Language” (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
		The conference within the framework of 3+3 initiative is organized by Marshall Center and is called to encourage exchange of experience between Baltic and South Caucasus states.
		South Caucasus is a more complicated region that the Baltic one, thus there are more obstacles to joint development, Burjanadze remarked.
		“The South Caucasus has inherited a hard legacy, our countries faced the threat of civil wars and armed conflicts,” she stated.
	www.panarmenian.net /news/eng/mail/?nid=16312 (192 words)

	Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections - Gulf countries urged to forge security alliances with South Caucasus
		Both the South Caucasus and the Gulf are said to have similar histories having been shaped by conflict, ethnic diversity, border disputes and the influence of the US, while they are both located close to large expanses of water.
		A suggestion put forward in his paper is to extend oil pipelines from South Caucasus and Caspian Sea into the Gulf, through Iran.
		Any alliance between the Gulf and South Caucasus nations is expected to open up a number of trade opportunities between the two regions.
	www.gasandoil.com /goc/news/ntm40813.htm (499 words)

	Legal and Juridical Reforms in the South Caucasus
		On 7-8 October 2002 a conference titled "Prospects of Federalism and Regionalism in the South Caucasian Countries" was held in Tbilisi at the initiative of the Institute of State and Law of the Georgian Academy of Science, and the GTZ.
		The conference marked the beginning of a series of regional conferences within the framework of the Caucasus Initiative, which was initiated in April 2001 during a state visit to all three South Caucasian countries by Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Federal German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development.
		Experts from the entire South Caucasus region as well as representatives of partner organisations were invited.
	gtz-law-caucasus.net /eng/konferenzen/index.php?id=54 (233 words)

	South Caucasus
		CIDA continues to provide assistance to countries in the South Caucasus, and is working to help strengthen both public- and private-sector governance.
		With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the countries in the South Caucasus gained their independence and embarked on a challenging path of reform to rebuild their economies and address widespread poverty.
		Countries in the South Caucasus continue to implement reforms and are striving to meet the many challenges that they face.
	www.acdi-cida.gc.ca /southcaucasus (567 words)

	EU troika to visit South Caucasus - Irna
		The aim of the visit is to boost relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and to underline the importance the EU attaches to the south Caucasus region.
		This visit underpins the growing importance that the EU attaches to the South Caucasus region," said Ferrero-Waldner in a statement Friday.
		The European Commission is one of the main donors of assistance to the South Caucasus.
	www.irna.ir /en/news/view/line-20/0609298930184728.htm (454 words)

	Caucasian Rugs from the Caucasus Mountains (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-12)
		South Caucasus, Kazak?, Gendje?, late 19thC, good pile, minor guard boarder missing on one end, diagonal rows of diamond shaped boteh on a sky blue field, larger photo
		South Caucasus long rug, hand knotted wool, looks like a Kazak, but with tan wool wefts, probably late 19thC, low even pile, ends rewoven, pleasant color, larger photo
		South Caucasus, hand knotted wool, dated 1888, near mint condition, larger photo
	www.cyberrug.com /caucasusmain.htm (790 words)

	The Atlantic Council of the United States - Senior Fellows
		Grgic began the discussion by outlining the European Union’s strategic interests in the South Caucasus, citing energy and the Caucasus’ geographical proximity to the Middle East and Central Asia as the primary rationale for strengthening EU engagement with the region.
		However, relations between the EU and the countries of the South Caucasus (Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia) have failed to reach their full potential, due to factors both internal and external to the region.
		Grgic recommended that the EU reinvigorated its political commitment to the South Caucasus by engaging Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in terms of an ascension agenda, which he argued should replace the flawed New Neighborhood Policy.
	www.acus.org /programs-fellows-featured%20_event.asp (470 words)

	Russian Caucasus, Caucasus of Russia, Caucasus mountains, South Caucasus, Caucasus map on RussiansAbroad.com
		The oil-rich region around Chechnya, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, forms a southwestern corridor of Russian territory bounded on the west by Ukraine and the Black Sea, on the south by Georgia and Azerbaijan, and on the east by the Caspian Sea and Kazakstan.
		The region north of the Caucasus includes seven ethnic republics and four "Russian" jurisdictions: the territories of Krasnodar and Stavropol' and the oblasts of Rostov and Astrakhan'.
		On the opposite slope of the Caucasus, the former Soviet republic of Georgia likewise includes a number of ethnic groups, two of which--the Abkhaz and the South Ossetians--declared outright independence in the early 1990s.
	www.russiansabroad.com /russian_history_128.html (328 words)

	Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program
		Three regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia and Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan, have been separated from the control sphere of the Georgian and Azerbaijani governments and continuing occurrences of ethnic clashes, especially in Georgia, prove that tensions between ethnic groups remain a threat to the overall stability of the region.
		The Joint Center’s project on Conflict Management in the South Caucasus aims at bringing about understanding of the roots of ethnic controversies, with a view to build capacity internationally as well as among state institutions in the region, ultimately to reduce conflict potentials.
		Johanna Popjanevski, Minorities and the State in the South Caucasus: Assessing the Protection of National Minorities in Georgia and Azerbaijan, Washington and Uppsala: CACIandSRSP Silk Road Paper, September 2006, 88 pp.
	www.silkroadstudies.org /new/inside/research/southcaucasus.html (574 words)

	debalie: cultureel politiek debat centrum : South Caucasus - between frozen conflicts and frozen peace
		A program about the condition of the civil society in the emerging democracies in the South Caucasus.
		Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia; aswell as the disputed areas of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh are home to a true patchwork of ethnic and religious groups.
		The evening is mainly organised around two themes: the freedom of press and expression in the South Caucasus, and the relation Caucasian Countries have with Russia.
	www.debalie.nl /werk/artikel.jsp?podiumid=overig&articleid=50089 (324 words)

	GMF – Looking for a Stability Pact for the Southern Caucusus
		Currently, policy planners in Berlin are debating a concept for regional cooperation for the Caucasus that bears strong resemblance to the Balkan Stability Pact.
		There are considerations to extend the Balkan Stability Pact to the South Caucasus with the declared goal of strengthening regional cooperation in the economy, traffic, infrastructure, and environmental protection.
		In the end, it would give the states of the South Caucasus and the Black Sea a perspective that could be more than the noncommittal neighbourhood policy of the EU without forcing Brussels to make binding proposals toward EU membership.
	www.gmfus.org /publications/article.cfm?id=172&parent_type=P (1183 words)

	SPECTRUM
		Among the participants of the Conference were invited experts from three South Caucasian states and representatives of the leading analytical centers of the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Turkey and USA (List of speakers).
		The plenary sessions were dedicated to presentation of the views on the situation in the South Caucasus; the outlined problems were then discussed at the round table.
		Conference papers «The South Caucasus: Regional Security and Stability» are published by the Center.
	www.spectrum.am /eng/conference1.html (192 words)

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