Author: admin

Messenger.ge, Georgia
July 7 2004

Russia’s policy regarding South Ossetia remains unknown

Recent events show that Georgia is going to continue putting pressure
upon Tskhinvali separatists with the aim of restoring its territorial
integrity in the region. It is still not known, however, how Russia
will conduct itself in this respect. President Mikheil Saakashvili
claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin promised him that Russia
would not interfere in Georgia’s internal affairs. However, Russia’s
true intentions regarding South Ossetia remain to be seen – too often
during Shevardnadze’s administration Russia said one thing but did
the other.

Just two days ago President Saakashvili signed a document determining
the status of the Adjaran Autonomous Republic. According to the
president this is a historical document and the issue of the status
of Adjara has now been decided once and for all. Georgia in reality
faced losing Adjara, but this was prevented by the support of
friendly countries and the efforts of the Georgian people.

The Batumi velvet revolution was the first successful step toward
Georgia’s reintegration. Saakashvili has stated that he will not
tolerate separatist enclaves within his country’s territory, and sees
South Ossetia as his prime target.

To protect himself from the humanitarian-aid “attack” of the Georgian
authorities, the leader of the separatist regime Eduard Kokoiti has
begun digging trenches and putting all the region’s armed-forces on
high-alert. Kokoiti’s combativeness very much depends upon the
Russian position. But this position remains unknown. While the
Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its “deep respect” for Georgian
territorial integrity over the weekend, a high ranking Moscow
official Mayorov would not answer a simple question put by the
Georgian State Minister Goga Khaindrava – which two countries are
connected by the Roki Tunnel?

The Roki tunnel connects Russia with Georgia in South Ossetia, and
Mayorov’s refusal to openly answer this question could thus be
understood as Russia not considering South Ossetia as part of
Georgia, unless this was an initiative of Mayarov himself. Russia may
have “deep respect” for Georgia’s territorial integrity, but
diplomats still wonder if that includes South Ossetia?

Many thought that the relationship between Georgia and Russia would
have been clarified during the resent Putin-Saakashvili meeting.
Despite the announcement of a simplified visa regime, the meeting
left many more issues unanswered. October is now named as the date to
finalize a Georgian-Russian agreement. Saakashvili announced that
President Putin will visit Tbilisi in October, when the signing of a
framework agreement between the two countries is also planned.

The Russian media has speculated that Putin’s meeting with
Saakashvili on Saturday was rather reserved. This was mainly
explained by the NATO Istanbul summit communiqué again calling for
Russia to remove its military bases from Georgia and by Saakashvili’s
categorical tone during the same summit.

Whatever the speculation, it seems certain that Russia is not
entirely happy with Georgia’s expressed desire to integrate with NATO
and the European Union. Also, Moscow does not want to withdraw its
military bases from Georgia. Russia would rather have Georgia taking
a more pro-Russia stance, rather than pro-Western, like Armenia, in
which case Russia’s interests in the South Caucasus would be
protected and secured.

For instance, Georgia asks Russia to jointly control the Roki Tunnel
so as to stop the smuggling of goods from Russia to Georgia, whereas
Moscow demands that Georgia join CIS-wide customs system which will
completely change the status of smuggled goods. So the positions of
the countries differ radically.

It may be that Saakashvili really received a promise from Putin of
non-interference in Georgia’s internal affairs, but that could be a
mousetrap for Georgia. It could encourage
Georgia to become involved in a local conflict, which could be very
damaging for a poor country such as Georgia and would hinder Georgia
from its movement towards the West. This possible conflict, moreover,
would give grounds to Moscow to refuse fulfilling its commitments on
withdrawing its troops from Georgia.

“Positional ballots” around South Ossetia are underway, and most
probably one should not expect a third “Rose Revolution” in this
region in the near future. However, time is not currently against
Georgia. As President Saakashvili said, in one year Georgia will be
stronger. Maybe only after the October Putin visit will it become
clearer to Georgia how to conduct its relations with Russia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian journalists on fact-finding visit to border area

Noyan Tapan news agency
6 Jul 04

Yerevan, 6 July: About 70 representatives of the Armenian media have
paid a one-day visit to the border region where the 3rd army corps of
the Armenian armed forces is deployed.

The press service of the Armenian Defence Ministry told a Noyan Tapan
correspondent that the reason for visiting the border section in
Tavush District was a truce violation by the Azerbaijani side. Two
cases of that have also been registered in the area of a pump station
close to the village of Berkaber of Idzhevan Region [northeast
Armenia], where two Armenian servicemen were killed in the enemy fire.

After these incidents there were rumours about the growth of tension
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces along the contact
line. To refute that, the administration of the Defence Ministry
organized this visit.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 7 2004

MEETING AT MILLI MAJLIS
[July 07, 2004, 21:26:31]

On the same day, Chairman of the Milli Majlis Murtuz Alasgarov
received at the Parliament’s Heydar Aliyev Hall European Union
Commissioner for Enlargement Janez Potocnik.

During the warm conversation, the Speaker noted that since
independence, Azerbaijan has been closely cooperating with all the
international structures including the European Union, which also
keeps the successful implementation of the reforms initiated by
nationwide leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev in the
limelight.

He further pointed out that the Agreement on partnership and
cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan had played a
key role in follow-up development of the relations. The Milli Majlis
is also closely cooperating with the European Parliament, Mr.
Alasgarov said.

The Speaker has touched upon the conflicts in the Southern Caucasus,
and informed the guest in detail on the roots and hard consequences
of the Armenia-Armenia conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, fair stance of
Azerbaijan with respect to the conflict’s resolution and documents
adopted in this regard by the UN Security Council, the Council of
Europe and other international organizations.

Commissioner for Enlargement Janez Potocnik announced that after the
EU’s recent enlargement, it had prepared a number of new projects
covering Turkey and Southern Caucasus including Azerbaijan. He noted
that the European Union highly appreciates the official Baku’s
support for the new neighborhood policy. According to him, the
relevant documents reflect development of market economy and
democracy in Azerbaijan, communications, border problems and the
issues related to reconstruction and improvement of infrastructure.

Mr. Potocnik stressed that the European Union stands for peaceful
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and added that as soon
as its fair solution is found, the organization would be very
actively evolved in restoration of the territories released from the
occupation.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Milli Majlis Chairman Ziyafat
Asgarov, Chief of the Milli Majlis Administration Safa Mirzayev,
other parliamentarians and the EU Special Envoy for Southern Caucasus
Heike Talvitie.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armen Press
July 7 2004

MAYOR PROMISES TO REMOVE STREET TRADERS BY MID OCTOBER

YEREVAN, JULY 7, ARMENPRESS: Yerevan mayor Yerevan Zakarian, who
had promised to remove traders from the capital’s streets by last
April 15, but failed to do it, took another stroll today across
several Yerevan streets to see the pace of construction of
mini-markets, which are supposed to house the street traders.
Speaking to accompanying journalists, the mayor argued that not
only the municipality or community offices, but also the residents of
Yerevan should fight against open-air trade. “People should
understand that street traders violate all health requirements and
their goods pose threat to public health,” the mayor said.
Zakarian said the municipality will work to eliminate street trade
for good, adding that mini-markets will be ready in a couple of
months to house street traders in Arabkir, Kentron, Kanaker-Zeytun
and Erebuni communities. According to him, by mid-October street
trade will be removed from 80 percent of central streets.
Zakarian also said that 1.4 billion drams were released for the
current repair of central and other streets in the capital. The
repair will be finished in September.

ARKA News Agency
July 6 2004

Stepanakert (Nagorno Karabakh) to be fully provided with gas by the
end of July

ISC-Star expresses its regret as ArmenTel’s license extended by 3
months in RA

Robert Kocharian and Mikhail Sahakashvili discuss perspectives of
more active mutual cooperation

*********************************************************************

STEPANAKERT (NAGORNO KARABAKH) TO BE FULLY PROVIDED WITH GAS BY THE
END OF JULY

STEPANAKERT, July 6. /ARKA/. Stepanakert will be fully provided with
gas by the end of July, Director of SCJSC Artsakhgas Maxim Mirzoyan
stated today. He also said that works in the regions are also
continued, namely Askeran provided with gas by 100%, Martouni is
gasified by a half. He noted that in 2004 works totaling 4.5 million
AMD are envisaged in Shushi City. Preliminary works on gasification
completed in Hadrut region.
Note as Mirzoyan stated earlier, SCJSC Artsakhgas plans to increase
the number of its subscribers by 4 thousand in 2004, at this in 2003
the company increased this number by 800. Totally at the moment about
700 subscribers of Stepanakert do not have gas yet. He said that only
in Stepanakert total works totaled 10 million AMD. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

ISC-STAR EXPRESSES ITS REGRET AS ARMENTEL’S LICENSE EXTENDED BY 3
MONTHS IN RA

YEREVAN, July 6. /ARKA/. ISC-Star expressed its regret as ArmenTel’s
license was extended by 3 months in RA . As the Information Service
of this Armenian- Russian-US JV told ARKA, the company confirms its
readiness to participate as operator on the telecommunication market
of RA. `We are long since ready to unfolding of full-scale high
quality and available mobile communication network in RA’, Eduard
Hakobyan, CEo fo the company said.
At the same time, the company’s delegation plans visiting Tbilisi for
submitting of application of interest for participation in tender for
receiving of mobile communication operator license in Georgia and
receiving of radio frequencies in the frames of 1800 MHz. The company
confirms its readiness to invest the resources as it would be
necessary for the construction of the mobile communication network on
the Georgian territory.
ISC Armenian-Russian-American joint venture was registered in Armenia
on Sept 24, 2001. The founders of the ISC-Star, JV are both legal and
physical entities of several foreign countries, including Russia and
residents of the Republic of Armenia. ISC-Star currently unites over
100 IP-communication and paging units all over the world.

*********************************************************************

ROBERT KOCHARIAN AND MIKHAIL SAHAKASHVILI DISCUSS PERSPECTIVES OF
MORE ACTIVE MUTUAL COOPERATION

YEREVAN, July 6. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian met the
Georgian President Mikhail Sahakashvili during his working visit to
Moscow on 2-4 July as well as the Igor Ivanov, Secretary of Russian
Security Council. As RA President Press Service told ARKA, during his
visit with Sahakashvili, the heads of two states discussed the issues
of development of mutual relationships, particularly more active
economic partnership as well as they touched upon the regional
issues. Ra President discussed with Ivanov the Armenian-Russian
bilateral relationships, regional problems and the issues related to
the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
During his visit, Kocharian received the heads of the CIS countries
in unofficial situation during which the heads were discussing the
issues of deepening of integration in the CIS, economic issues as
well actual problems of the international policy.
Ra President among the other CIS heads was present on Russian
President horse races on Moscow hippodrome. T.M. -0–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
July 7 2004

EU Commissar Janosh Potoshnik to arrive in Armenia today

RA President Robert Kocharian studies the condition of Armenian
Diaspora in Komi

*********************************************************************

EU COMMISSAR JANOSH POTOSHNIK TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA TODAY

YEREVAN, July 7. /ARKA/. Janosh Potoshnik, the EU Commissar will
arrive today in Armenia with a two-day official visit in frames of
visiting the South Caucasus countries, according to the Yerevan
office of European Commission Delegation in Armenia and Georgia. In
the frames of the official visit, Potoshnik will have a number of
meetings with official persons, in particular with RA President and
Prime-Minister, representatives of opposition, society and business
circles, journalists and students. The presentation of EU financed
program `European Neighborhood Initiative’ will be presented, where
the EU Commissar will explain the importance of this initiative. `The
inclusion of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in this program is the
evidence of EU readiness to assist the countries of South Caucasus on
their way to the establishment of a stable society based on
democratic values’, he said. Potoshnik visited Georgia on July 5-6
and Azerbaijan on July 6-7.
It should be mentioned that the foreign ministers of 25 EU member
states made a decision to include Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan in
the European Neighborhood Initiative at the session in Luxemburg on
June 14. L.V –0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN STUDIES THE CONDITION OF ARMENIAN
DIASPORA IN KOMI

YEREVAN, July 7. /ARKA/. The RA President Robert Kocharian
familiarized himself with the condition of Armenians living in Komi
during his non-official visit to this Northern republic. As
Komiinform agency informs, referring to the Press Service Department
of Komi Government, during his meeting with Diaspora representative
in Syktivkar, Kocharian expressed interest concerning the condition
of Armenians in Komi, who are going to form a structural organization
soon.
According to Sargis Manasaryants, the Head of Trade and Industrial
Chamber of the republic, today the representatives of Armenian
Diaspora are involved in almost any sphere in Komi – educational,
medical, business, tourism. Vladimir Torlopov, the Head of the region
also took part in the meeting. L.V. –0 –

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

525ci.com
7 July, 2004
Nagorno Karabakh problem not to be settled by any third party, Solomon Passi

Zabil Mugabiloghlu

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s summer session is hold in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The yesterday’s speech of Mr. Linkoln from Kanada followed by discussions on
“Security and cooperation.” Eldar Ibrahimov. Member of the Azerbaijan
delegation to OSCE PA told 525 that he made a speech during the discussions
and informed the parliamentarians about the Armenian aggression. According
to him, he informed the PA members about 20 per cent of the Azerbaijani
lands remain under Armenian occupation and the occupied territories are out
of the control. “I informed the PA members that Armenians are using the
occupied Azerbaijan territories for drug trafficking. I called them to
pressure on Armenia’s aggressive policy.”

Sattar Safarov, another member of the Azerbaijani delegation has asked Mr.
Solomon Passi, acting chairman of the OSCE to report what kind of works he
has done for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem since his 6 months
activity at the current position. Mr. Passi said that he has visited the
region and got familiarized with the current status of the settlement of the
conflict. “I think that the Nagorno Karabakh problem may not be settled by
any other third party. You yourselves have to solve your problem. Both of
the countries have to find political will to solve this problem.”

The OSCE rapporteur on NK conflict had to report about the problem
settlement yesterday. However, according to Ibrahimov he hadn’t submit the
report yet.
Solomon Passi

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US envoy urges democratic institutions in Azeri exclave

Turan news agency, Baku
7 Jul 04

Naxcivan, 7 July: The US ambassador to Azerbaijan, Reno Harnish, who
is now visiting Naxcivan [Autonomous Republic], has held a press
conference. “It is high time” to open democratic institutions in
Naxcivan, Turan news agency quotes Harnish as saying. This question
was discussed during his meeting with the chairman of Naxcivan’s
Supreme Council, Vasif Talibov.

Harnish also said that he is aware of the opposition’s hunger strike
in Naxcivan and has discussed this issue with Talibov.

He confirmed that he had said in an interview with the Guardian
newspaper that the Azerbaijani law-enforcement bodies obtain 80 per
cent of confessions through torture. He said that the US State
Department’s annual reports also discuss this issue in detail.

Journalists asked him about the decision of the US Congress to
allocate 5m dollars to Nagornyy Karabakh. Harnish said that this
humanitarian assistance will be spent on refugees. He said that
Azerbaijan will be given 13m dollars for refugees living in camps.

Harnish also spoke about the security of the Caspian basin. He said
that the USA is drafting a new programme to ensure that the Caspian is
secure from weapons of mass destruction.

He also spoke of his meeting with Azerbaijani Minister of Youth,
Sports and Tourism Abulfaz Qarayev. The USA will allocate a grant of
1.5m dollars to develop tourism.

A hospital for the disabled will open in Naxcivan, Harnish said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
July 6 2004

KOCHARIAN VISITS MOSCOW JULY 2-4

YEREVAN, JULY 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
was in the Russian capital of Moscow from July 2 to July 4 for an
unofficial meeting of the CIS presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Uzbekistan, Moldova, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Belarus and
Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The presidents discussed integration processes among CIS members,
preparations for a CIS summit in Astana in September, issues of
mutual interest and joint celebrations of the 60th anniversary of
victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45. On the sidelines of
the meeting Robert Kocharian had a meeting with Georgian president
Mikhail Saakashvili to discuss further development of bilateral
relations, particularly, a range of issues pertaining to stepping up
economic ties and regional problems.
On July 4 Kocharian met with the secretary of the Russian security
council Igor Ivanov to discuss Russian-Armenian ties, regional
problems and the Karabagh conflict. Kocharian was present at horse
races together with other CIS leaders at a Moscow race track.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri pundit slams USA for aiding Karabakh

Zerkalo, Baku
6 Jul 04

An Azeri political scientist has criticized the decision of a US
Congress subcommittee to allocate aid to the disputed territory of
Nagornyy Karabakh. Vafa Quluzada told Azerbaijani daily Zerkalo: “The
allocation of 5m dollars to terrorists in Nagornyy Karabakh is the
equivalent of the Azerbaijani parliament collecting a similar sum to
be sent to Usamah Bin-Ladin as aid to ‘religious brothers’.” Quluzada
said that Azerbaijan should keep to its pro-Western policy, but take a
“principled stance” towards its friends. He said that in the media and
at international summits Azerbaijan should tirelessly criticize Russia
for “being the author of the Armenian aggression and America for not
condemning this aggression”. The following is the text of
M. Yasaroglu’s report in Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 6 July
headlined “You should sometimes slap friends” and subheaded “Political
scientist Vafa Quluzada sees the USA and Russia among our friends”;
subheadings inserted editorially:

The allocation of 5m dollars to the separatist regime in Nagornyy
Karabakh by the US Congress has not surprised ordinary Azerbaijanis,
as we have long ago got used to the fact that “friends of Azerbaijan”
regard this friendship as a one-way street.

USA is no good friend of Azerbaijan

Despite the considerable distance between Azerbaijan and Iraq, we
support the anti-terrorist coalition for the friendship with the USA;
we implement the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, giving out our
interest rates to other friends of the USA, Georgia; we mourn with the
Americans, condemning the terrorist attacks in New York and so on. And
in exchange, we receive humanitarian aid, lots of statements about
support for democracy, which is often sacrificed to oil interests, the
rousing of “expectations” that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will
be settled peacefully and that’s it. In addition, financial aid
systematically goes to our territories which remain under occupation
without serious objections from the USA, and this aid increases every
year.

USA disregards Azerbaijan’s sovereignty

It is interesting that when Azerbaijani officials make rare attempts
to oppose it and express their negative attitude to this, the USA
replies with terse phrases, the essence of which means the following:
“we do what we want to do”.

The recent statement by US ambassador Reno Harnish is one of the
answers of this sort. Commenting on the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s
statement on the draft law adopted by a house subcommittee on
allocating 5m dollars to Nagornyy Karabakh, Harnish said that specific
figures had not been endorsed yet. This is a “preliminary” figure, he
said. This proposal can be endorsed only after joint discussion at the
Senate and House of Representatives.

It seems that the ambassador acted against his conscience here. As an
experienced diplomat, he certainly understands that the question is
not about the sum of the aid, but about the allocation of this aid
that shows vividly the mite that the White House contributes, OK then,
intends to contribute, to the flourishing of the separatist regime in
Nagornyy Karabakh.

According to Harnish, the USA renders assistance to the victims of
conflicts, irrespective of where they are. He said it is planned to
allocate 13m dollars in aid to the Azerbaijani victims of the
conflict. He said he had a conversation with the foreign minister and
is aware of official Baku’s position.

It turns out from the aforementioned statement, in which Harnish
unsuccessfully tried to justify “the world’s policeman”, that this
“tender-heartedness” gives them the right to render assistance to the
terrorists in Nagornyy Karabakh, who by the way are an integral part
of international terrorism, only because they allegedly suffered. We
wonder what would be the United States’ reaction if the state of Texas
had revolted and Azerbaijan had backed the revolt on various pretexts,
calling its deeds “restoration of communications” or something else?
We think there would be a negative reaction, as such a policy actually
proves disrespect for the country’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity.

US aid to Karabakh is like Azerbaijan helping Bin-Ladin

The former state adviser, political expert Vafa Quluzada, who is noted
for his pro-Western stance, has commented for the Zerkalo newspaper on
this step by the White House. In our view, his opinion can be regarded
as the position of most of the Azerbaijani public on the rendering of
aid to the Karabakh separatists.

“The US Congress is preparing to give 5m dollars to terrorists, who
are to blame for the Xocali tragedy, mass killings, numerous blasts on
public transport, the list is endless. The separatists of Nagornyy
Karabakh are citizens of Azerbaijan who rose against their own
state. Showing no remorse, the USA breaks international law and the UN
Charter for the only reason that they are a great power which does
what it wants to do. I do not know what causes this policy – Christian
sympathies or the fact that the Armenian lobby is among other lobbies
governing the USA. I think that the allocation of 5m dollars to
terrorists in Nagornyy Karabakh is the equivalent of the Azerbaijani
parliament collecting a similar sum to be sent to Usamah Bin-Ladin as
aid to ‘religious brothers’. A similar sum can be allocated to anyone
who is fighting against the USA today,” Quluzada said.

However, he said, it should be taken into account that Arab terrorists
caused less damage to the USA than Armenians did to us. “Bin-Ladin
blew up the World Trade Centre and a couple of US embassies in
different countries, whereas Armenia together with Nagornyy Karabakh,
having Russia behind it, razed to the ground 20 per cent of our
territories – 1,500 towns and villages. As a result, there are one
million Azeri refugees who were subjected to ethnic cleansing. The
USA turns a blind eye to this. How can one call it a super power, the
stronghold of freedom, and a guarantor of independence and human
rights?” Quluzada said.

Azerbaijan should show principled stance

The pro-Western way is the only way to prosperity and development for
Azerbaijan, he said. But on the other hand, one should show a
principled position to one’s friends: “If a friend insults you, you
should give him a slap.”

“No-one wants to give anyone a slap” in our country, he said. Not even
to slap Moscow, whose soldiers and officers were taken captive by our
troops during the war in Nagornyy Karabakh. Quluzada said that for the
sake of friendship with Moscow we should not turn a blind eye to the
fact that Moscow was the main player in the occupation of our
territories: “Armenia would have not dared to do it on its own.”

Quluzada said that while we keep to this model of friendship, we will
be treated the way we are being treated now.

And how can we slap Moscow or Washington? Quluzada said that the
Azerbaijani leadership should tirelessly publicly criticize the
leadership of countries which pursue this policy towards us. This
should be covered by all TV channels and media, including foreign
ones. The president should voice his position regarding this at all
international summits and all meetings he takes part in. “We should
criticize Russia for being the author of the Armenian aggression and
America for not condemning this aggression,” Quluzada said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress