On the post-Soviet space, there are four unrecognized countries which different claims (some stronger, some less strong) to statehood. All four are “de facto” independent states.

Three of these four co-operate closely: Transdniestria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. They collaborate directly as well as under the auspices of an international organization they formed, the Community for Democracy and Peoples’ Rights (a/k/a. Club of Breakaway Republics).

But Nagorno-Karabakh, the fourth, is not included. What gives?
It is NKR’s choice, and part of a larger modus operandi which was requested by handlers in the United States.

Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) used to co-operate closely with the other 3.

However, NKR has better ties to the U.S. than any of the other 3.

Some examples -

1. Once a year the NKR President comes to the U.S. for a Los Angeles fundraiser with the Armenian diaspora.

2. Alone among the post-Soviet four, NKR has an Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. It is located in Washington, D.C. and registered with the U.S. Government (Department of Justice) under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

3. They get advice from U.S. lobbyists and “handlers” with close contacts to the U.S. State Department, such as the ‘Williams Group’ (Public International Law & Policy Group) and Paul Williams & Michael Scharf, of Saddam Hussein Tribunal fame (or infamy, your pick).

Circa 2004, NKR was told repeatedly by its U.S. contacts and handlers that it would have a better chance of getting its independence recognized and formalizing diplomatic relations with other states if it would distance itself from the other 3.

Publicly, this has then happened but there are gripes in NKR that the Americans failed to deliver on their promises. NKR is still an unrecognized state with no diplomatic recognition from anyone yet.

Away from the public eye, NKR still maintains close relations to the other three.

Transdniestria sent support (in the form of election observers/boosters) to the recent NKR constitution referendum. NKR also sends similar envoys to Transdniestria whenever there is an election or public vote of any kind. All four foreign ministries are in touch with each other.

Most tellingly, the NKR follows the proceedings of the Community for Democracy and Peoples’ Rights (”Club of Breakaway Republics”) where it is not a member, but participates with observer status.

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2007 at 12:24 am and is filed under Transdniestria musings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.