Hijran Aliyeva

 How far is South Caucasus from Europe?

The Soviet Union collapse in 1990 and the disintegration of common political area have generated a set of critical problems in ethno political, social, economic and information spheres in each of the post Soviet states. However, South Caucasian region has become the most dangerous center of international tension which exceeds others “hot spots” of the late Union by its conflict potential. It has changed the power system, ideology, public relations, character and direction of economic development, the priority in regional and international cooperation.

In that context, the relevant situation in the countries of South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) requires working over such joint projects in order to avoid conflicts among people of the region in future. The “Caucasus House” idea is not new. It provides for joining all people and states of South Caucasus to a common equitable family. In April 1918 the Parliament of Transcaucasia declared Transcaucasia as Independent Federative Republic. The Transcaucasia Federation existed from 1922 to 1936 and included Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. But all these undertakings turned out to be unsuccessful.

To offer different concepts for building the “Caucasus House” some researchers put forward economic unity as the basis of the project. According to others opinions, the way to large-scale integration begins with intensive regional cooperation and similarity of social and economic problems of people of Caucasus demands to unite their national markets into the "Caucasian Common market".

According to an Azerbaijani Pr. Rafiq Aliyev: “The central component of the Houses philosophy at this stage has to be the acceptance of international reconciliation concept, because the “Caucasus House” idea has to come from, first of all, the acknowledgement and true request of all Caucasus people to be free and independent”. From all the above ideas and opinions it is possible to draw a common conclusion that the idea of the “Caucasian House" may contribute to the achievement of political stability on Caucasus. Thus, the democratic character of "the Caucasian House" would provide equal rights to all its independent structures.

However, how to come to the reconciliation if neighboring people permanently are in the informational isolation about one another or they are under external informational influence from neighboring big power sides, for example Russia? It is not a secret that after the Soviet Union collapse each country of the region had no time to create new traditions in their own informational policies but they only continue the “soviet experience” in this sphere. In consequence, conducting and ruling by this info policy (external and internal) aren’t fit with criteria of the modern time, norms and principles of civilized societies.

Another important issue is the absence of common cultural and political orientation of the region. Although when citizens of each of the three countries find themselves in the West or the East, in Asia or Europe, they identify themselves as the natives of the Caucasus. In Western European countries there are many specialists who are not assured how to call exactly and correctly the Southern Caucasus region. Is it Eastern Europe or Western Asia? One can say - “Caucasus, as the South of Eurasia”. However, as a result they designate this region as Caucasus. In such perception of the European and Asiatic people the Caucasus region gets monolith, it is perceptible as united organism, which is like the bridge between the two Continents. The good geopolitical location of Caucasus gives it importance in cooperation with Europe and Asia. If “all ways lead to Rome”, the most important of them, - silk and oil, - pass through Caucasus. The “TRASECA” program – transport corridor “Europe – Caucasus – Asia, which develops relation between the East and the West into Black and Caspian Seas, could be good example for it.

Speaking about the external orientation of the region, it would be desirable to hope that in the near future all three countries will strengthen their cooperation with the European Union. Sceptics assert that the process of integration into the EU can last many years. It is possible! However, if South Caucasus’s countries do not want to remain at the periphery of globalization they have to take active part in this process. It is important to remember that the main point is not a membership in this organization, but an embodiment of the fundamental principles of the EU - tolerance under the attitude to all people, respect of their right on self-determination, market economy and democratic system of the state control.

It has to be the basic motive in the realization of the “Concept of United information policy” for the “Caucasus House”. At the heart of this policy there must be the creation of information space (net, matrix), which could be expatiated on all the territory of the region. It could be a radio, a TV channel, and printed or electronic information sources. This concept could be cultivated at the basis of the EU Information policy, taking into account the Caucasian traditions of receiving and transferring of the information.

The estimated prognosis:

1. STAGE – theoretical activity

- The elaboration and creation of the concept by representatives: journalists, scientists and representatives of state and non-governmental organizations of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

- To suggest this concept to the Government of the South Caucasus countries.

·  During meetings of Ministry for Foreign Affairs representatives.

·  At the time of peace conferences and peace negotiations between the three countries.

·  In the context of Minsk Group OSCE activity in the Caucasus region.

2. STAGE – practical activity

- The first phase of practical activity could be called the phase of “ethical clashes”. In fact, at realization of this concept and creation of the basic information area, representatives of all three countries will have equal right to use the time and space within the framework of the project. The process of "studying" and "recalling" each other is inevitable. Probably, it is the most critical moment in realization of the concept.

- The dialogue and discussion. This phase could be called the “phase of simple truth”, when the recipients will be ready to listen to opinions of the opposite side and show up interest to conduct discussion.

- The “Caucasus pathos” phases. This phase fluently develops into a dialogue. On one hand it is most a calm phase of rest, on the other hand – it needs to rapt attention from creators of this concept, because it is very important to stop Information Spam and to start with the next stage of the concept. Otherwise the excessive stretch of this phase could threaten with a new conflict as a result of “the debates for no reason”.

3. STAGE – Phase of the Enlightenment. At this stage it is necessary to increase information on the external world inside the Southern Caucasus region, about European countries and functions of the European organizations. It is possible to use methods of an educational program by means of which provide the important information in a simple form, to educate the population of the region, in what sphere and how the states of Southern Caucasus may cooperate with the EU.

- To cooperate and strengthen the relations between the EU and the “Caucasus House” in the sphere of the informational policy, to inform the European society about the situation in the neighbor region.

In cooperation with the EU, all countries of South Caucasus will be involuntary to keep democratic principles and norms of this organization. And concerning the full membership of the region in the EU - this question will be solved by the people occupying Southern Caucasus when they feel ready. By example of the European Union the countries of Southern Caucasus can create "The Caucasian House". There should be a big purpose for the Caucasian populations - maintenance of the right of an individual choice of each citizen of the region in a question of membership in the European family. In fact, the main point is not the unity but the free consent of everyone to unify. But to understand this, it is necessary to satisfy informational famine of the population in the region. Consequently, at this moment, the EU does not seem to the countries of South Caucasus to be “manna from heaven”, but only a “thorny path”, which leads the people of the region to strong and peaceful Caucasus.