Not quite duck and cover

A few weeks ago, Azerbaijan celebrated "Civil Defense Day," and I sat in on one school's events. Although hardly surprising, it was worth seeing.

In the afternoon, students gathered in the school's courtyard, and five students came forward wearing leather bags over the shoulders. Looking serious, they stood in a row while one of the younger teachers harangued the assembly with tales of Armenian perfidy, warning that an Armenian terrorist gas attack could strike this sleepy village at any time. The students seemed more inclined to gossip amongst each other or stare at the goofy foreigner snapping pictures.

A second teacher got up, an older history teacher who I happened to know was a member of one of the ethnic minorities in the area. His speech was much more restrained, talking about the general advantages of knowing first aid -- in case of natural disaster, for example. He seemed to studiously avoid tales of foreign devilry, preferring to focus on the non-divisive praticalities of the situation.

His speech over, the five students in front produced gas masks from their shoulder bags, and demonstrated how to put them on. Then they trooped out to take photos with the director of the school, and then more photos inside the school, four of them carrying a fifth one through the hallways.

It should be noted that the five gas mask-clad youngsters were boys. A bit later, the young teacher entered one of the classrooms, and showed the girls how to tie bandanas of cheesecloth over their mouths and noses.

This is diplomacy

Amidst sporadic firefights on the border, an interesting UN resolution on Karabagh has Azerbaijan up in arms:

The UN General Assembly on March 14 adopted a nonbinding resolution demanding the "immediate, complete, and unconditional" withdrawal of all Armenian forces from Azerbaijan's territory.

Thirty nine countries voted in favor. But more than 100 countries abstained. Seven countries, however, including Russia, the United States, and France, voted against.

The three countries are co-chairs of the Minsk Group, which is trying to facilitate a negotiated settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. They argued that, as mediators, they had to remain neutral.

The "no" vote by the Minsk Group members has raised the hackles of most people here, from the government to the press to the fractious opposition.

Of course, no one is happy with the outcome of the vote.

Meanwhile, food prices continue to rise in the face of Dutch Disease.

When violence works for everyone

Amid continuing violence in the aftermath of Armenian presidential elections, there's been a flareup in the Garabagh border standoff.

Azerbaijan claims that the violence is an attempt to divert attention from the protests, and that isn't entirely unbelievable. According to the Defence Ministry:

You see, Armenians are trying to divert the attention of their citizens and the world community from the internal and domestic unrest and bloody actions. That is the reason why Armenia resorted to this. Azerbaijani armed forces courageously and bravely repelled the enemy, prevented their attacks and gave deserving retaliation.

However, that's not the only issue at play here -- the actual violence comes in the direct aftermath of a salvo launched by Azeri president Ilham Aliyev:

"Official Baku will never make concessions to the separatist regime of Nagorno Karabakh and will never give up its principles. We are for the peaceful resolution of the problem in the framework of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity with observance of norms and principles of international law. But we should also be ready to the problem settlement by other ways," Aliyev noted.

He said in this issue country's leadership attach special attention to army strengthening. "For this purpose we use all capacities. Strengthening of the army will influence the negotiation process and settlement of the problem", the president said.

These broadsides, however, are a matter of course in Azeri politics, and one more or less could hardly rock the boat of Azer-Armenia diplomacy.

The Armenians, of course, responded; given the tensions between the two, it's impossible to guage the level of sincerity, but with Armenia effectively in control of Karabagh, there doesn't seem to be much need for the Armenians to escalate violence:

"Azerbaijan has made announcements on purchase of arms and the forced resolution of the Karabakh conflict, however, talks on the peaceful resolution of the conflict are being held", [Prime Minister Serj Sarkisian] told reporters in Yerevan.

Sarkisyan said he is optimistic on the case and considers that normal civilized logics will win and Garabakh problem will be settled peacefully.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Karabagh, there's precious little "normal civilized logics" on either side. Indeed, even the numbers are a purely political game. At the moment, the Azeris are claiming to have lost three soldiers dead and one wounded to an Armenian loss of 15 dead; Sarkisian claims, meanwhile:

But I would like to inform that this position is currently under our control and the enemy has given up with numerous casualties.