“Monitor the Caucasus and put pressure on Russia”
The International Crisis Group (ICG) published a report in early September entitled The North Caucasus: The Challenges of Integration (III), Governance, Elections, Rule of Law. This document is the third part of the project, which is both research and advisory in nature. The first part, which was published in October 2012, was devoted to ethnic conflicts, and the second to the Islamic factor, militants and counter-terrorism activities in the region. It is worth noting that previous reports played a certain role in shaping public opinion about political processes, in particular among organizations and communities in the region that are in opposition to the authorities (we are talking not only about Russia, but also neighboring countries that are, one way or another, connected with North Caucasus either through ethnopolitics, or in the context of religion, or on issues of geopolitics and regional security).
First of all, the conclusions presented in this report are intended for Russia - both the federal and North Caucasus authorities, but also for various European institutions - PACE, Council of Europe, etc. At the same time, the recommendation for the EU consists of one sentence - to continue monitor the North Caucasus region and put pressure on Russia to fully implement all decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
And the conclusions of the report and the opinion that the ICG wants to convey are quite predictable.
It is stated that "authentic improvement in the quality of governance in the North Caucasus is only possible if democratic institutions such as elections, an independent judiciary and the rule of law are established. Fair elections, preceding a competitive political process, are a necessary condition for government officials to be responsible."
This thesis is clearly aimed at asserting that there are no democratic institutions in the North Caucasus, but instead there is corruption, violence, clan wars, unemployment, terrorism and extremism under the guise of Islamism, as has been repeatedly stated in the pages of the report. It is noted that “the fight against the criminal activities of clan networks must be energetic and consistent, but strictly within the framework of the law. The first steps in Dagestan give grounds for optimism and must be continued.”
But it immediately says that “deficiencies in democratic legitimacy and accountability, gross violations of human rights and official impunity have contributed greatly to the spread of the conflict.”
In addition, the authors insist on further decentralization: “the functioning of a federal system with a degree of decentralization and appropriate regional representation in the Duma in Moscow will contribute to the integration of the North Caucasus with the rest of Russia. Such integration is necessary for the security of the country, healthy interethnic relations and stability. While the conflict in the North Caucasus is expressed through violent rebellion and tense inter-ethnic relations, the lack of democratic institutions, the rule of law and people's trust in the state fuels instability...” Again we see an indication of the lack of democracy. Although it is not entirely clear how the authors intend to implement decentralization simultaneously with integration. At least the EU experience suggests the opposite. Cultural autonomy and community rights are curtailed in the face of the bureaucratic machine of the European Commission and the Council of Europe, which impose their “values” and rules on all EU members. The importance of strengthening tolerance and multiculturalism was also pointed out. Although this project turned out to be a failure in leading European countries, as the heads of Great Britain, France and Germany admitted, it is not entirely clear why they want to impose it on Russia. Maybe, on the contrary, to worsen the situation in the North Caucasus, so that the federal authorities can be blamed for this?
Against the background of supporting the Albanians in Kosovo to the detriment of Serbian interests, the recommendation to the governments of the North Caucasus to solve the problems of territorial disputes more succinctly and comprehensively seems rather strange.
Of course, we in no way deny the need to improve the general climate in the republics. More active interaction with local communities, the fight against terrorism and religious extremism, and the launch of various social, political and economic programs are needed, but this must be done not through the prism of Eurocentric geopolitics, but taking into account the traditional way of life, all-Russian identity and national interests of our country in the region , which may contradict the interests of other actors, for example, Turkey or Azerbaijan.
It should be noted that the report is presented without authorship. Although the material provides links to sources, it is not entirely clear who collected the data, because in the North Caucasus it is necessary to have your own people. Although there are clearly ICG emissaries in this region, this approach is not entirely clear. It is possible that the ICG is trying in advance to disclaim responsibility either for the unreliability of the facts presented in the work, or for the possible consequences that the pretentious conclusions of the report may lead to.
At the same time, you need to pay attention not only to the text itself, but also to the structure of the organization itself. By identifying who is part of it, it will be possible to trace the connection with the region and the interests of the participants. And the list of ICG members is quite “star-studded”, even rather “stars and stripes” - the participation of US citizens in this structure is so great.
Among the organization's advisers are Zbigniew Brzezinski, one of the oldest Israeli politicians, Shimon Peres, the liquidator of the consequences of the war in Iraq in 1991 and the conductor of Western interests in negotiations with Yugoslavia in 1999. Marti Ahtisaari, Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal, the nineteenth prime minister Canadian Minister Kim Campbell and many other people in power. Domestic liberal Grigory Yavlinsky was also spotted there. The executive committee includes the former head of NATO High Command Wesley Clark, the good old US tool man at the UN Kofi Annan, philanthropist speculator George Soros, former NATO Secretary General Javier Solana. You can also find former Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Considering the clearly pro-Western orientation of the structure he heads, the Russian Council on International Affairs (in the very name one can see an unsuccessful clone of the American Council on Foreign Relations), it is likely that his role is not only as a wedding general, but, perhaps, in providing the necessary information to Western partners through the same INF Treaty.
Meanwhile, one of the founders of the ICG is Morton Abramovich, former US Assistant Secretary of State and former US Ambassador to Turkey. A number of analysts noted that he lobbies the interests of Turkey, including the Turkish presence in Cyprus. Another Ankara supporter is another founder, Stefan Solarz, who is also a member of the American-Turkish Committee. Also, members of the ICG executive committee include two Turkish politicians and a number of European figures involved in engaging Turkey in the EU, which indicates the obvious pro-Turkish interests of the organization. Moreover, some researchers drew attention to its anti-Armenian character.
By the way, Brzezinski and Solarz are co-chairs of the “American Committee for Peace in Chechnya” - a structure responsible at one time for open support and transfer of funds to Chechen militants. Another ICG advisor, Kenneth Adelman, is also on this committee.
Corporate interests are also clearly represented in the ICG. Carla Hills is a former head of the US Chamber of Commerce, a former director of the Chevron oil company, and currently the chief executive of Hills & Company, a consulting firm. Chevron-Texaco is listed as one of the sponsors of the ICG. By a strange coincidence, Chevron has interests in the South Caucasus, especially in Azerbaijan.
Also represented corporately are Dow Chemical, Silk Road Finance Ltd, BP, Anglo American PLC, Talisman Energy and many others.
Interestingly, the presidential council includes three anonymous actors. It can be assumed that among them is the CIA, which is actively and invisibly present in many such projects that claim international significance.
After reading the report, there is a desire to prepare your own recommendations for both Russia and the EU. We need to implement comprehensive measures to improve security, especially in the run-up to the Olympics in Sochi. Intensify interaction between the authorities and local communities, conduct consultations with analytical centers dealing with issues of the North Caucasus. At the same time, it is desirable to limit the admission of agents of organizations like the ICG into the region so that they do not create their own destructive networks there, which can later be used to disintegrate the region and undermine territorial integrity.
And the EU must deal with its internal problems, including human rights, which are violated on many points and in many countries of this community.
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