ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE

might play a role in mediating between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The prime minister, a Karabakh native and hard-liner, broke with the president, as did the ministers of defense and security, and Ter-Petrosian’s bloc in parliament unraveled.

The acting president promises the March elections will be free and fair. He is expected to run.

Russia’s role is ambiguous. While urging Ter-Petrosian toward the flexibility that cost him his job, Russia also organized massive, clandestine arms transfers that strengthened the will as well as the capabilities of Armenia’s armed forces. Following Ter-Petrosian’s resignation, Boris Yeltsin in Moscow said Armenia is "a part of Russia’s strategic field of interest. It is an Orthodox country. Under no circumstances can we afford to lose Armenia, and we won’t lose it." Neither Muslim Azerbaijan nor independent Armenia will take comfort in that remark.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The Weekly Monitor is a publication of the Jamestown Foundation. It is researched and written under the direction of Senior Analysts Elizabeth Teague, Vladimir Socor, Stephen Foye, and Analysts Igor Rotar, Douglas Clarke, Ben Slay, Peter Rutland, and Sally Cummings.

If you would like information on subscribing to the Weekly Monitor, or have any comments, suggestions or questions, please contact us by e-mail at <host@jamestown.org>, by fax at 202-483-8337, or by postal mail at The Jamestown Foundation, 1528 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of the Weekly Monitor is strictly prohibited by law.

“Russia’s Week” is a publication of the Jamestown Foundation. It is written and edited by Harry Kopp (email: kopp@jamestown.org). If you would like information on subscribing to “Russia’s Week”, or have any comments, suggestions or questions, please contact us by e-mail at pubs@jamestown.org, by fax at 301-562-8021, or by postal mail at The Jamestown Foundation, 4516 43rd Street NW, Washington DC 20016. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of “Russia’s Week” is strictly prohibited by law. Copyright (c) 1983-2002 The Jamestown Foundation