Author: Chilingarian Babken

EU, Turkey reach landmark deal to start entry talks
By Shadaba Islam

DAWN
18 December 2004 Saturday 05 Ziqa’ad 1425

BRUSSELS, Dec 17: The European Union and Turkey reached a historic agreement
on Friday on starting talks on admitting the large Muslim nation to the bloc
after overcoming last minute haggling over Ankara’s relationship with EU member
Cyprus.

The entry talks, expected to be long and difficult, will begin on October 3,
2005. The decision is a victory for Ankara’s long battle to confirm its
European credentials by joining the EU. But Europe’ embrace of the Muslim nation —
albeit a secular one — remains a grudging, reluctant affair.

The EU is imposing a range of new conditions that Ankara must meet over the
next 10 to 15 years before it is deemed ready to join the Union. And in what
many view as an inauspicious start, celebrations at the end of two-day summit
were marred by a difficult, eleventh-hour battle over last-minute EU demands
that Turkey give fast-track recognition to Cyprus via the signing of a customs’
union deal.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected this and instead forced
a compromise under which he made a public verbal declaration announcing his
readiness to recognize (Greek) Cyprus through the custums union before October 3
next year. EU leaders, in exchange, welcomed this.

The squabbles at the Brussels summit once again reflected many European
states’ continuing ambivalence about opening the doors of their current exclusive
Christian club to a large Muslim nation. But the fact that EU leaders overcame
such misgivings is a sign of a new maturity in a Union which wants to become a
global power and build bridges with its Islamic neighbours.

The start of negotiations is also a boost to the 15 million Muslims who live
in Europe and have felt increasingly marginalized since the rise of
anti-Islamic sentiments after the Sept 11 attacks on the US landmarks.

However, the summit squabbles also reflect the EU’s complex decision-making
machinery where one member state — in this case tiny Cyprus – can make
nationally driven demands.

Although it had never previously been a condition for starting talks with
Turkey, Cyprus, which only joined the EU last May, swiftly objected to the fact
that Turkey refuses to grant it diplomatic recognition.

Turkey, until now, has only recognized the self-styled state of Turkish
northern Cyprus. This led to hours of shuttle diplomacy at the summit with Turkey
supporters Germany and Britain being called in to mediate.

Mr Erdogan dug in his heels due to fears that voters at home and the
ever-sensitive Turkish parliament would rebel if he was seen to be caving in on the
spot to last-minute EU demands.

Turkey has been knocking at Europe’s door since 1963 and sees moves to EU
membership as a confirmation of its European identity. The goal has spurred
unprecedented reforms under Erdogan which have won wide admiration in the EU.

For Europe, taking in Turkey makes sense for a host of economic and
geo-political reasons. Chancellor Schroeder has pointed often to the huge market
provided by Turkey’s booming economy and population of 70 million as well as the
security advantage of making Turkey a democratic, secular beacon for the Islamic
world.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende – who holds the rotating EU
presidency – said the goal of negotiations beginning next year was full accession of
Turkey but cautioned: “We’re going to negotiate to see if membership is
possible. There’s no guarantee it is possible.”

Should negotiations fail, he said, Turkey must remain firmly anchored in EU
structures. This, however, is not the same thing as the offer second class
membership – dubbed a “privileged partnership” – which was rejected by EU leaders.

Turkey’s trials with the EU are not over, however. Ankara faces a huge task
in meeting the bloc’s standards and while sweeping reforms by Erdogan may have
started getting Turkey into shape for EU membership, Brussels is asking for
much more.

The lengthy EU agenda for Turkey includes major improvements in political and
economic structures. EU leaders say Turkey must make additional effort to
upgrade standards for human rights, minority protection and rule of law.

More challenging for Erodgan are Europe’s calls for what many in Turkey will
see as a social revolution. Women’s rights, religious freedom and difficult
historic questions from Turkey’s past, including the fate of Armenians during
the World War I, still need to be addressed.

GEORGIA SIMPLIFIES CUSTOMS AND ROAD PROCEDURES FOR ARMENIAN CARGO TRANSIT

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17. ARMINFO. In Mar 2005 Georgia will significantly
simplify its customs and road procedures for Armenian cargo transit in
terms of both quoting and taxation, says Levan Jagarkava, the chief
of the customs control and methodology department of the customs
department of Georgia’s Finance Ministry.

Jan 1 2005 Georgia is enforcing its new tax code envisaging only 8
instead of 18 taxes. The code cuts the tax tariff for individuals
crossing the border and is unifies cargo and vehicle clearance
procedures for them. Georgia is not only simplifying its customs
procedures but is also improving its customs infrastructure. The
customs service personnel has been cut from 2,500 to 900 people in
the last year while the customs duty collection has grown from $15-17
mln to $40 mln a year.

The president of the Center for regional Development Transaprency
International Amalia Kostanyan says that Georgia’s reforms will
tangibly boost the trade between Armenia and Georgia.

In Jan-Oct 2004 the Armenian-Georgian trade turnover totalled $59.7
mln which was 3.6% of Armenia’s foreign trade and 38.6% more than
in Jan-Oct 2003. The Armenian exports was $20.49 mln the Georgian
imports $39.2 mln.

Azeri leader holding talks in British Parliament

ANS TV, Baku
13 Dec 04

[Presenter] The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict will be the main subject
of discussion during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s negotiations
in his official visit to Britain.

We should recall that the head of state has already started his
official meetings. The president is now holding talks at the British
Parliament’s foreign relations and defence committees. The president’s
working day will end with a dinner and party at the Anglo-Azeri
Society today.

[Passage omitted: details of the president’s work schedule tomorrow]

Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Dec 10 2004

Calendar features old Armenian photos

For the 18th year, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives is
publishing its calendar, titled Armenian Families in the Ottoman
Empire before 1915. In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the
Genocide, Project SAVE’s calendar is a unique learning experience.

From its vast collections of over 25,000 images, Project SAVE
Archives staff made a special effort to select families from a
variety of professions and types of communities (city, town, village,
sophisticated or not). Included are the faces of 20 Armenian families
living in the late 19th and early 20th centuries throughout the vast
area of the Ottoman Empire including not only places in Historic
Armenia, but also in what is today Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece and
Romania.

Special attention was given to researching what each family was
doing before 1915; during the Genocide, which started in 1915 and
continued through 1923; and what happened to family members who
survived the Genocide.

The public can order calendars by mail or in person in time for
Christmas giving. For more information, check out
; call Arpie at Project SAVE, 617-923-4542; or
e-mail [email protected]. Also inquire about wholesale orders
to benefit your favorite nonprofit organization.

Calendars can also be purchased in person at the Archives,
starting with the Project SAVE Open House on Sunday, Dec. 12, 1-5
p.m., and during the weeks until Christmas, same hours or by
appointment. Project SAVE staff will assist you and give you a “tour”
of the archives.

As in the past, one calendar is $15 plus postage and handling
(plus 5 percent sales tax for Massachusetts residents). Two or more
calendars sent to the same address cost $12.50 each plus postage and
handling (and 5 percent sales tax for residents).

Lloyd’s List
December 9, 2004

‘Big four’favour Euro-expansion

NATIONAL Bank of Greece, the country’s largest bank with total assets
of E58bn at the end of June 2004 and market shares of 19% and 30% in
domestic loans and deposits respectively, has the largest presence in
the Balkan area with exposure in Bulgaria, Romania and the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, writes Philip Pangalos in Athens.

NBG, which aims to become a dominant regional player serving 60m
people in southeast Europe, also has the largest customer base in
Greece with a total of 6.5m clients and a 26% share of the mortgage
market.

NBG chief executive Takis Arapoglou has said that the bank will
continue to concentrate on southeastern Europe, with plans to grow
and expand through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions,
if they make sense.

Alpha, which is the second-largest bank in Greece with an 18% market
share, has made selective acquisitions in the Balkans and Cyprus,
which contribute about 10% to group earnings.

In the Balkans, Alpha has a presence in Albania, Romania, Bulgaria,
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as Serbia and
Montenegro.

EFG, Greece’s number three, despite only being established in 1990,
also has access to European markets through its strategic alliance
with Geneva-based EFG Bank Group. It plans to expand its presence in
the Balkans, where it has an exposure in Romania, Bulgaria and
Serbia.

Piraeus Bank has also expanded its overseas presence, mainly focused
in southeastern Europe, but also in London and New York.

Piraeus Bank has been particularly active in the Balkans and has
built up a presence in Romania with 10 local branches, while it has
another 13 branches in Bulgaria.

A joint venture with Tirana Bank in Albania gave it exposure to this
potentially important regional market through a 20-branch network.

Piraeus Bank’s Tirana Bank subsidiary, formed in 1996, was the first
Albanian bank owned by a private foreign institution and has an
ambitious branch network plan.

Despite its poverty and recent instability, Albania has caught the
interest of numerous Greek banks due to the country’s shared border,
an ethnic Greek minority in the neighbouring country and many
Albanians working in Greece and transferring funds home.

Emporiki Bank has also built up its overseas operations over the past
years and has a presence in the UK, as well as in Albania, Armenia,
Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Romania and Cyprus.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 3 2004

Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers to meet in Sofia

Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and
Vardan Oskanian are scheduled to meet in Sofia, Bulgaria during the
12th meeting of the OSCE member states’ foreign ministers to be held
on December 6-7, a diplomatic source told AssA-Irada.
The bilateral meeting will be attended by the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs Steven Mann, Yuri Merzlyakov and Henry Jacolin as well.
Mammadyarov and Oskanian met last in Berlin on November 19, 2004.
Prior to this, the two ministers held four meetings in Prague.
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are currently determining the next
Prague meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers.*

Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers to meet in Sofia on 6 December

ANS TV, Baku
2 Dec 04

The fifth meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers, Vardan Oskanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov respectively, will be
held within the framework of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the
OSCE member countries due in Sofia on 6 December, Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has told ANS.

The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen, Yuriy Merzlyakov [Russia], Steven
Mann [the USA] and Henry Jacolin [France] are to attend the meeting as
well. To recap, the former four meetings between the foreign ministers
on the Karabakh settlement have been held in Prague.

BP accused of discriminating against Azeri staff – paper

Ekho, Baku
30 Nov 04

Britain’s BP has been accused of discriminating against the local
staff in Azerbaijan at the 58th Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly in Baku. Azerbaijani and Turkish MPs were
irritated by a BP official’s refusal to report on the salary of
locally employed people and that of expatriates, Azerbaijani newspaper
Ekho reported. Also discussed at the seminar was the security of
Caspian energy resources. The head of the Azerbaijani State Oil
Company, Natiq Aliyev, said that Baku, Tbilisi and Ankara had agreed
not to militarize transport communications, while taking measures
against possible acts of sabotage on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline. The following if the text of R. Orucov’s report by
Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 30 November headlined “Rose-Roth seminar
ends in accusations of BP”; subheadings have been inserted
editorially:

The 58th Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which
was held in our country for the first time, finished on 27
November. On the closing day, Azerbaijani Defence Minister Col-Gen
Safar Abiyev addressed the seminar.

Azerbaijan ready to host NATO exercises

In his remarks, the defence minister said that in its military policy
Azerbaijan was adhering to the concept of defence sufficiency – “the
ability to ward off any attacks”. Abiyev added that back in 1997
Azerbaijan set up a peacekeeping company to contribute to
international operations “which then grew into a battalion and now we
are preparing a brigade”. The minister said Azerbaijan was ready to
host any NATO exercises. He noted that the charters of active
participants in NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme contain an
article urging them to refrain from violating the territorial
integrity of neighbouring countries.

There is a total of 76,000 personnel in the Azerbaijani army
today. More than 4,000 civilian specialists work in the system of the
Defence Ministry and the figure is expected to rise, Abiyev said. He
also expressed his astonishment with the fact that certain western
countries are officially allocating millions of dollars in assistance
to Armenia and to the separatist regime in Nagornyy Karabakh every
year.

Caspian energy security discussed

The second half of the day was dedicated to the security of Caspian
energy resources. The president of the State Oil Company of the
Azerbaijani Republic [SOCAR], Natiq Aliyev, made a presentation,
saying that two countries, Iran and Turkmenistan, are still opposed to
dividing the Caspian, the idea supported by Azerbaijan, Russia and
Kazakhstan. Another issue is the delivery of energy resources to world
markets. “We have agreed with Georgia and Turkey to avoid the
militarization of transport communications and to take precautionary
measures. We are mindful of acts of sabotage aimed at undermining
major energy projects like the BTC [Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline].”

Speaking next was the sustainable development director of BP, Martin
Miles, who said the oil reserves of the Caspian are comparable with
those discovered in the North Sea. He said BP is the company that
operates transparently and respects human rights.

BP accused of discriminating against local staff

Then the floor was taken by a member of the Turkish parliament, Emin
Bilgic. “Mr Miles, you have spoken at length about transparency in
your work and respect for human rights. Then could you please say what
the difference is in the wages that BP pays to Azerbaijani and British
citizens for the same work? And what is BP’s revenue from the
production of Azerbaijani oil?”

Miles shied away from the question. “I would not like to discuss the
salary issue here,” he said. A few minutes later, a member of the
Azerbaijani parliament, Alimammad Nuriyev, said: “You haven’t answered
my Turkish colleague’s questions. Do you acknowledge that even though
there are many highly-qualified specialists in Azerbaijan, you prefer
to bring your specialists from abroad? Why? Why do you spend much
less money on environmental activities here than elsewhere?” Miles
said 80 per cent of BP’s 2,000-strong personnel in Azerbaijan are
local citizens.

“As for the difference in their salaries, I don’t think it is right to
disclose figures here,” he repeated.

And then the deputy speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, Ziyafat
Asgarov, asked Miles directly: “But where can the salary question be
discussed then? You are using the resources of our country and the
rights of our citizens have to be taken into account. I constantly
receive complaints about violations of the labour legislation by BP,
people are made to work on holidays and days-off. We have tried to
look into the salary issue in parliament, but BP is not answering even
the legislature.”

The BP representative found nothing better to say than: “I don’t know
the details of the issue,” to which Asgarov replied: “Then you should
have told us from the very beginning that you are not competent enough
in the issue.”

SERGEY BALASANYAN DIED

A1 Plus | 13:52:35 | 24-11-2004 | Social |

Yesterday Sergey Balasanyan, Chair of “Association for Seismology and
Geophysics of Armenia” died in “Armenia” Medical Centre. On November
19 his “BMW” crashed on Ashtarak-Yerevan highway. Sergey Balasanyan
was taken to “Armenia” Medical Centre in a grave condition but doctors
didn’t manage to save his life.

We present our condolences to the relatives and friends of Sergey
Balasanyan with his tragic death.

ARMENIAN MP INSISTS ON BRIBERY OF JUSTICE MINISTER BY ARMENTEL

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The developments around the
telecommunications monopolist in Armenia, Armentel company, is a
complete farce and fraud, Leader of the party Bloc of National
Democrats, MP Arshak Sadoyan said at a press-conference at the
Discussion Club “Azdak,” Saturday.

He said that the statement of Justice Minister David Haroutiunyan that
the resolution of London Arbitration has not been applied in Armenia
as it could cause $300 mln damage is an evident lie. Sadoyan once
more levered harsh criticism at the activity of ArmenTel, pointing
out that in the course of its activity ArmenTel caused $170 mln damage
to the country’s economy. At the same time, the Government singed an
anti-people agreement with the company, hereby confirming that it has
no financial claims to it. Arshak Sadoyan again accused the justice
minister of protecting ArmenTel’s interests, bringing the fact that
the minister prevented the inter-department commission from adopting
the decision on imposition of $150 mln fine on ArmenTel.

Besides, Sadoyan said that David Haroutiunyan signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with ArmenTel in the Athens. If the Memorandum came into
effect, it would cause $150 mln damage to the country. The Memorandum
was not put into effect only due to the efforts of the Communications
Minister of that time, Eduard Madatyan, who was released from his
post after, Sadoyan said. He said that the Government’s statements
that it can appeal to London Arbitration in case of need does not
correspondent to reality. According to data of Arshak Sadoyan, London
Arbitration has recently informed the Armenian Government that it has
no intention to consider the claim against ArmenTel. In his opinion,
the Government will start the process of deprivation of ArmenTel of
its monopoly for the telecommunications in the nearest future.

Sadoyan said that in private conversation with him, ex-head of
ArmenTel, Nicos Georgoulas, and other officials of the company stated
that they were bribing several members of the Armenian Government in
the course of their activity. “I have also information that before
the beginning of one of the trials of the Government against ArmenTel,
an unknown handed over a case full with money to Justice Minister
David Haroutiunyan. The latter left the court and then the court
made a resolution in favor of ArmenTel,” Sadoyan said. He added that
well-informed sources informed him that as a result of the last deal of
the Government and ArmenTel, a plenipotentiary representative of the
Armenian Government snatched a large sum at some $5-$7 mln. Sadoyan
said that he has video records telling about secret deals of the
Armenian Government and the monopolist. However, he refused to make
them public not to endanger his life and the lives of those people.

At the request of ARMINFO, Press-Secretary of the Justice Minister Ara
Saghatelyan commented on the aforementioned statements of the deputy,
calling Sadoyan’s behavior groundless. “I think Arshak Sadoyan needs
assistance of the specialists of definite profile. He needs a qualified
assistance,” Saghatelyan said.