Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers meet in Berlin

Lider TV, Baku
19 Nov 04

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has met his Armenian
counterpart, Vardan Oskanyan. At their meeting in Berlin, the
ministers continued discussing the issues which topped the agenda of
their Prague meeting [30 August 2004], the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry press service reported.

Mammadyarov will leave for New York tomorrow to attend discussions of
the situation on Azerbaijan’s occupied territories at the UN General
Assembly on 23 November.

MP says US military presence could facilitate solution to Azerbaijan’s
problems

Zerkalo, Baku
11 Nov 04

An Azerbaijani MP has blamed Russia for instability in the South
Caucasus and said it was time to ask other countries for help
in bringing back peace to the region. In his comments to Zerkalo
newspaper, Alimammad Nuriyev said he was “genuinely” interested in the
stationing of US military bases in Azerbaijan which, he said, could
facilitate a solution to some of Azerbaijan’s domestic problems. The
following is an excerpt from report by C. Sumarinli and C. Bayramova
in the Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 11 November headlined
“NATO forces could be stationed in Fuzuli District” and sub-headed
“Russian media claim that the USA pushes Azerbaijan into an abysm of
chaos”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially.

Russia’s concerns

In an effort to thwart Russia’s initiative of building the strategic
Moscow-Yerevan-Tehran vector, the USA and Turkey are cherishing some
kind of a plan. Namely, as [Russian] Gazeta SNG reports, the two
countries, without the unnecessary hue and cry, intend to launch a
programme of assistance to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces similar to
the Train and Equip programme apparently finishing in Georgia.

“Back in July 2002, the information came in that soon after the arrival
of several hundred US commandos in Georgia, about 40 US servicemen
came to Azerbaijan, apparently for training purposes as well. It is
hard to say how many US servicemen there are in Azerbaijan now,” says
the author of the article and adds that these countries have chosen
the zone of the Karabakh conflict (Fuzuli District) to implement
their training programmes.

The author says that it is not at all necessary to be in an immediate
vicinity of the contact line to provide training – there are also
firing ranges in the rear which have been generously scattered on the
entire territory of Azerbaijan ever since the Soviet times. However,
the article contains a pointed hint that the USA is interested in
destabilizing the situation in the region. “The lessons the US military
taught to Georgian servicemen are manifesting themselves. The central
role in instability in Abkhazia and South Ossetia is played by the
very Georgian commandos trained by the Americans. If the USA manages
to break the `Russian chain’ in the Caucasus and, following Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, destabilize the zone of the Karabakh conflict, a
`US-controlled chaos’ will be in store for the region.”

“Azerbaijan’s priority – integration into Euro-Atlantic area”

The head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry,
Ramiz Malikov, says he has no information about the training of our
servicemen by that of the USA. He described the reports as being wide
of the mark.

Contrary to this, a member of the standing parliamentary commission
on defence and security, Alimammad Nuriyev, says: “It sounds quite
realistic that US servicemen may train ours. And I can’t rule out
that this may be so in the near future. The concern of the Russian
side over the possible stationing of the US forces in Azerbaijan is
understandable. However, we shouldn’t forget that cooperation between
the USA and Azerbaijan, which are allies, may develop in different
spheres. While up until now this cooperation mainly centred on the
political and economic fields, now these relations may expand in the
military sphere as well,” Nuriyev said.

In principle, Azerbaijan should treat quite normally the possible
stationing of US mobile forces and the establishment of training
centres on its territory, at least because our country is part of the
antiterror coalition. At the same time, the MP said that Azerbaijan’s
priority is integration into the Euro-Atlantic security system. This
implies that the process of army building in Azerbaijan must be in
line with the NATO standards. And this necessitates the opening of
such training centres.

The MP added that “it wasn’t by chance that during his recent visit
to Baku NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer assigned the
`homework’ of ensuring the involvement of US top brass in the training
of Azerbaijani servicemen”.

Time to ask for help in restoring stability in South Caucasus

At the same time, Nuriyev said that the opening of the US training
centres on the territory of Azerbaijan can to some degree facilitate
the solution to the country’s problems. “This first of all holds true
for the Karabakh problem. Our commandos trained by the US servicemen
may play a major role in liberating our occupied territories,”
he said. The MP welcomed the idea of a US military presence in
Azerbaijan. “While I do not have credible information about the
presence of US military bases here, I would genuinely like that to
happen. Why don’t we use the NATO security systems for our integration
into the Euro-Atlantic area when the Qabala radar station being used
by Russia can easily operate in our country?”

At the same time, the MP does not believe that the American presence
in the region can destabilize the situation. “Instability has been
an inherent part of this region since 1990 and this is `thanks’ to
an active involvement of the Russian armed forces and their support
for the Armenian side. It is common knowledge that Russia could have
turned the South Caucasus into a stable region. But it chose not
to. Therefore, to stabilize the situation it is necessary to resort
to the assistance of other countries,” the MP said.

[Passage omitted: opinion of an independent expert]

PM SAYS DOUBTS ABOUT OCTOBER 27 ATTACK NOT FULLY DIFFUSED

ArmenPress
Nov 11 2004

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Andranik
Margarian admitted on November 10 that despite the chief prosecutor’s
council’s decision to drop the so-called “separated case” that
was supposed to find out whether the 1999 October 27 attack on
the parliament had been designed by other people except the five
terrorists, there still remain some doubts.

The chief prosecutor’s council made the decision two days ago
saying that all investigative measures had failed to track down
other masterminds of the assault.. Margarian called on all people
who claimed that they have information that may shed new light to
the attack, to present it to prosecutors.

Margarian, who was among parliament hostages, said when he was giving
testimony he mentioned that his impression was that the attackers
were waiting for someone else, for an assistance beyond the parliament
walls. He said he still has the same impression.

“I hope that some evidence will be brought about to diffuse these
doubts, if not now, maybe in future,” he said.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
11/09/2004
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1) No Shift in Armenia’s Genocide Recognition Policy
2) Caucus Co-Chairs Oppose Azeri Effort to Disrupt Karabagh Peace Process
3) Aliyev Boast of Settlement Alternative, Major Military Spending Boost
4) Ball in Baku’s Court Says Armenian Foreign Minister
5) Slovak Parliament to Discuss a Genocide Resolution
6) Zhvania, Kokoity Meeting in Sochi

1) No Shift in Armenia’s Genocide Recognition Policy

YEREVAN (Armenpress/Noyan Tapan)Armenia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamlet
Gasparian said Armenia’s policy for international recognition of the 1915
genocide has not changed, and remains a foreign policy priority.
His comment came in response to Azeri and Turkish media reports that Yerevan
may be considering a shift in its policy to help normalization of ties with
Turkey. The reports claimed the shift may be indicated by the lack of regular
reference to the genocide in next year’s draft budget sent to parliament for
approval.
Gasparian said the draft budget has no relation to Armenia’s consistency and
decisiveness to continue the campaign for international recognition of the
genocide, adding that no previous budget has ever had a special clause
earmarking such expenditures.
“The international recognition of the Armenian genocide does not refer to
Armenia or Armenians alone; it refers to humanity and cannot be placed
within a
budget or other financial calculations,” Gasparian said.
The lack of reference to the genocide in the budget appears to have aroused
enthusiasm in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Azeri press reported that a
historical
coup is taking place in Armenia. “Yeni Musavat” states that the government of
Armenia is making a historical decision while trying to improve its relations
with Turkey. The “Aina” newspaper writes that the Armenian authorities are
taking a wiser stance on the issue of the genocide. Turkish mass media does
not
reveal, however, if the genocide issue has ever been included in Armenia’s
budget.
According to the Istanbul-based Marmara Armenian newspaper, political
observers stress that the absence of the indicated point in the budget does
not
indicate a change of Armenia’s policies.

2) Caucus Co-Chairs Oppose Azeri Effort to Disrupt Karabagh Peace Process

–Urge Secretary Powell to “renounce” and “secure retraction” of
proposed UN initiative

WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)–Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone
(D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) have urged Secretary of State Colin Powell
to take decisive action against a UN resolution, introduced by Azerbaijan,
which could seriously undermine the Karabagh peace process.
In a November 7 letter to the Secretary of State, the Caucus Co-Chairs
expressed concern about the “ill-advised” resolution on the “situation in the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan,” stating, “This intentionally disruptive
resolution threatens the principles and procedures of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the Minsk group
mediation
effort, co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia to resolve the
Karabagh conflict.”
The letter from the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs continues, “Efforts to
reinforce
stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the best interests of the US
and the South Caucasus region. To this end, we urge that the United States
forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its retraction, and impress upon the
Azeri government that it should drop such counter-productive tactics in favor
of a serious and lasting commitment to the OSCE Minsk Group process.”
“We want to thank the Co-Chairmen of the Armenian Issues Caucus–Frank
Pallone
and Joe Knollenberg–from drawing Secretary Powell’s urgent attention to the
threat that Azerbaijan’s efforts at the United Nations to manipulate the
Karabagh issue pose to US interests in the stability of the Caucasus region,”
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We share the concerns they
raised
in their letter and are also urging the State Department to take decisive
action against destructive measures, such as this, that only foster greater
divisiveness and set back the cause of peace in this important part of the
world.”
On October 14, the Azeri Ambassador to the UN Yashar Aliyev, submitted a
letter requesting that a resolution, which would restrict the repatriation of
Armenians to their homes in Karabagh, be included on the UN General Assembly
agenda. Prior to its consideration by the international panel, Rep. Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) urged US Ambassador to the UN, John Danforth, to oppose the
measure, citing the negative ramifications on the Karabagh peace process.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs issued a statement on October 27, noting that
“introducing this issue to the United Nations General Assembly may have two
negative consequences. In light of the situation we have outlined, this
will be
detrimental to the efforts to find a just and lasting settlement of the issue,
particularly at this time. Secondly, it will fail to achieve consensus, a
situation that will not be helpful. We advise avoiding this situation.”
Despite these efforts, on October 29, the UN General Assembly voted in
support
of the request during their regular session.
The complete text of the Knollenberg/Pallone letter to Secretary Powell is
provided below:

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are writing to share with you our alarm over the prospect that
Azerbaijan’s
continued efforts at the United Nations to manipulate the Nagorno Karabagh
conflict will, if unchecked, undermine our clearly articulated national
interest in the stability of the Caucasus.
We refer, of course, to Azerbaijan’s recent introduction of an ill-advised
resolution on the “situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. This
intentionally disruptive resolution threatens the principles and procedures of
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the
Minsk group mediation effort, co-chaired by the United States, France and
Russia, to resolve the Karabagh conflict.
Azerbaijan’s proposal represents a hostile declaration against the entire
peace process, aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness. Its
consideration can only set back the cause of peace.
We are deeply concerned that the OSCE Minsk process cannot survive
Azerbaijan’s destabilizing tactics. Continued tampering with this process will
inevitably produce a chain reaction resulting in its demise. We cannot afford
to allow Azerbaijan to continue to disrupt the work of the OSCE, which, as you
know, has been recognized by the UN itself as the lead arbiter in this
conflict.
We value the vital role the United States plays as an honest broker in the
Nagorno Karabagh peace process. In this capacity, given our commitment to keep
the parties talking and moving forward, it is necessary for the United States
to act forcefully against destabilizing steps that will unravel the peace
process. Our interests are best served by the continuation of dialogue on the
outstanding issues related to Nagorno Karabagh within the OSCE framework, not
by the fragmentation of this orderly process.
Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the
best
interests of the US and the South Caucasus region. To this end, we urge that
the United States forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its retraction,
and
impress upon the Azerbaijani government that it should drop such
counter-productive tactics in favor of a serious and lasting commitment to the
OSCE Minsk Group process.
Thank you for your consideration of our views. We stand ready, of course, to
assist you in addressing this matter in the interest of the American people.

Sincerely,
Joe Knollenberg
Frank Pallone, Jr.
Member of Congress

3) Aliyev Boast of Settlement Alternative, Major Military Spending Boost

ASTARA, Azerbaijan (AFP/Armepress)–Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said Tuesday
that a peace agreement on regulating the Mountainous Karabagh conflict could
not be signed unless Azeri territories are first liberated. “The conflict
cannot be resolved unless Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity is restored in
full,” he said.
He also announced defense spending in Azerbaijan would grow by nearly one
third in 2005, after Armenia unveiled plans to significantly boost its own
military budget.
Aliyev was visiting the southern regions of Azerbaijan.
“Our parliament is discussing next year’s budget, where spending will grow by
25 to 30 percent, and this includes military spending,” Aliyev told reporters
in Astara.
Aliyev’s comments followed a proposal made Monday by Armenia’s parliament to
raise defense spending by 20 percent to 99 million dollars in 2005.
During his visit to the small seaside city Lenkoran located near the Southern
border with Iran, Aliyev boasted, “If we see that that negotiations and
international efforts are unproductive, then we can resort to ways to resolve
the conflict.”
According to a finance ministry source, Azerbaijan’s military spending in
2004
amounted to just under 150 million dollars.

4) Ball in Baku’s Court Says Armenian Foreign Minister

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Talking about the prospects for resolving the Mountainous
Karabagh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said that
“serious
progress” was achieved during his four meetings with his Azerbaijani
counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Prague and Strasbourg over the past six
months.
“We can now enter the second stage of the Prague meetings and deepen the
achievements of the first stage,” Oskanian said. “Azerbaijan has announced
that
it would wait for Armenia’s response to begin the second stage of the
negotiations. I can announce through your Radio that Armenia has already given
its positive answer and is ready to resume the negotiations as early as
tomorrow.”
The Armenian Foreign Minister characterized as “a diplomatic mistake”
Azerbaijan’s initiative to include in the agenda of UN General Assembly the
issue of the resettlement of Armenian families on Armenian-controlled
Azerbaijani territories around Mountainous Karabagh.
“Azerbaijan should not hope to continue the negotiations within OSCE Minsk
Group and at the same time expect other solutions for separate issues picked
from the whole package in other instances. It never happens,” Oskanian said.
“Either we continue the negotiations within the Minsk Group, trying to reach a
solution of the whole problem, or Azerbaijan can take the issue to other
instances, seeking separate solutions; in that case, Baku will have to deal
with the authorities of Karabagh. The ball today is in their court.”

5) Slovak Parliament to Discuss a Genocide Resolution

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–During its November session, the Slovak parliament will
discuss a resolution condemning the 1915 Armenian genocide. The resolution is
supported by five factions of the Slovak legislature making up the absolute
majority. The lawmakers will also be watching a documentary on the
genocide, to
be aired later on Slovak TV. The Armenian community of Slovakia and the
political and diplomatic forces of Armenia are in full support of the
resolution.

6) Zhvania, Kokoity Meeting in Sochi

MOSCOW (Interfax)–Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and the leader of the
self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, are currently
meeting in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
According to a source with the South Ossetian Information and Press
Department, the meeting is also being attended by Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Valery Loshchinin and co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission
representing North Ossetia, Taimuraz Kusov.
Kusov told journalists that, even though they may hold differing opinions
concerning the circumstances of the settlement, those responsible for driving
forth the negotiations have completely ruled out the use of force as a viable
solution.
According to Kusov, they also agreed to contribute to an atmosphere of trust
that will help the parties reach a comprehensive settlement.
“The sides agreed to open transportation routes and are willing to do this,”
Kusov said.
“Everything is going fine–the conversations concern joint cooperation, and I
am very glad about the dialog that has been created,” Loshchinin told
journalists.
One agreement signed during the meeting called for the withdrawal of all
illegal armed units from the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone by November
20.
“Serious work and constructive positions of the participants in the meeting
have resulted in the signing an important document. It imposes a cease-fire in
the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone and bans any military actions. This
is backed by the parties’ demilitarization obligations. Only peacekeepers will
stay there. All illegal armed units have to be withdrawn. The deadline is
November 20,” read a Russian Foreign Ministry statement drafted after the
agreement was signed on Friday.
“All essential conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive
political settlement of the conflict have been set up,” it said.
“The document also stipulates the need to carry out joint economic projects.
Fundamentally important is also the fact that the statement has been signed by
the Georgian prime minister and the president of South Ossetia, which means
the
top level. The leaders of the two sides, displaying wisdom and great
responsibility, have undertaken practical commitments to reach a settlement
only by peaceful means. Russia is confident that these commitments will be
honored,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
South Ossetia is legally a province of Georgia, but an armed conflict
following a USSR collapse in the early 1990s led to its de facto independence.
Tensions between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali have escalated in recent months,
involving skirmishes, as Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has stepped up
efforts to restore control over the breakaway republic.

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Iranian envoy says Azeri oil project “political” not commercial – Armenian paper

Iravunk, Yerevan
29 Oct 04

Not only the interests of the world’s super powers clash in the South
Caucasus but also those of the regional countries. In this sense
relations between Iran and Armenia stand out as they have always
been friendly and warm. The Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza
Haqiqian, answers some of the questions regarding Armenian-Iranian
relations.

[Iravunk correspondent] Mr Ambassador, what do you think of the
current level of Armenian-Iranian relations?

[Ali Reza Haqiqian] Today Iran-Armenian relations are at a good level.

[Passage omitted: the ambassador says that Kocharyan’s visit to Iran
In 2001 and Khatami’s visit to Armenia this year played an important
role in deepening relations and strengthening a long-lasting peace
in the Caucasus and calls for multilateral links]

[Correspondent] Although Nagornyy Karabakh is an unrecognized country,
it is Iran’s neighbour, and the latter has to have a certain position
on the Karabakh settlement. Which principles should be taken into
account in settling the Karabakh issue?

[Haqiqian] Iran’s position on regional developments is precise
and is based on the principles of cooperation, balance and mutual
understanding. We stress the need for a peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh issue and the continuation of Armenian-Azerbaijani
negotiations. And Iran has always expressed its readiness to help
settle the problem.

[Correspondent] After 15 years of neutrality Iran finally said that
it recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. It is quite normal
for a country to sympathize with its neighbour’s problems, but why
does your country put an emphasis on this? Does this statement mean
a radical change in Iran’s position?

[Haqiqian] Iran has not changed its principled position on the regional
developments and neighbouring countries.

[Correspondent] It is known that the USA and Azerbaijan have very
close relations. In this case why is Iran siding with these two?

[Haqiqian] Iran builds its bilateral relations with all the countries
and especially with its neighbours on the basis of the principle of
mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs. It is
noteworthy that relations with our neighbours develop in different
spheres on the basis of the will, desire, ability and potential of
the parties involved.

[Correspondent] They say that the Moscow-Baku-Tehran railway will
become an alternative to the Baku-Tbilisi Ceyhan [oil pipeline, BTC,
as received]. What is your view?

[Haqiqian] Iran has an important role and place in the regional
communication and transit system. For this reason it is natural for
the regional countries to be interested in developing cooperation with
Iran. Moreover the situation in the region and regional developments
have once again shown the significance of the Iranian direction. We
hope that this will also create conditions for the development of
regional cooperation. As for the BTC project, many specialists think
it is not a commercial but a political project.

[Correspondent] What can you say about a gas pipeline to link Iran
and Armenia? Will it become a transit one?

[Haqiqian] The Iranian-Armenian gas pipeline is one of the most
important elements of our relations. The construction of the gas
pipeline will have a positive economic impact on the region. As for
the transit problem, I must say that on the whole the development of
cooperation among different countries, in particular, in the energy
sphere will contribute to greater mutual understanding. At the
same time in case of the gas transit we must look at the economic,
technical and other sides of the issue.

Author Balakian to give Holocaust Lecture
By Barbara Rea

Washington University Record, Washington
29 Oct. 2004

Peter Balakian, Ph.D., will give the Holocaust Lecture for the Assembly
Series at 4 p.m. Nov. 4 in Graham Chapel. His talk is titled “The
Armenian Genocide and America’s First International Human Rights
Movement.”

Peter Balakian

Balakian is the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the
Humanities and professor of English at Colgate University, and a
human-rights activist who has been involved in the national and
international movement for Armenian genocide recognition.

In his 2004 book, The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and
America’s Response, he describes the systematic deportation and
murder of as many as 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks
during World War I. The book was a New York Times Notable Book and
a New York Times best seller.

The Burning Tigris followed a 1997 memoir, Black Dog of Fate, which
won the 1998 PEN/Martha Albrand Prize for the Art of the Memoir and
appeared on the “best books of the year lists” for The New York Times,
Los Angeles Times and Publisher’s Weekly.

In addition, Balakian has written a book of poetry, June-tree: New
and Selected Poems, 1974-2000, published in 2001, and a book on the
American poet Theodore Roethke. He has also co-translated Armenian
poet Siamanto’s Bloody News From My Friend. Between 1976-1996, he
and Bruce Smith edited the poetry journal Graham House Review.

Most notable among Balakian’s many awards, prizes and civic citations
are a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts
Fellowship, an Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Ahanhit Literary
Prize.

He earned an undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and a
doctorate from Brown University.

Assembly Series lectures are free and open to the public. For more
information, go online to assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call 935-4620.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 28, 2004

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT BAKU
[October 28, 2004, 19:19:40]

Secretary General of NATO Mr. Yaap de Hoop Scheffer is expected to
pay a familiarizing visit to Azerbaijan on 4 November, AzerTAj said.

Mr. Y.H. Scheffer will negotiate with political and defense leadership
of the Republic, discuss participation of the Republic in the PfP
program of the Alliance, realization of individual partnership plan,
and development of cooperation in the frame of international coalition
on combat against terrorism.

In the frame of visit, also will be focused issues of preparation
of the seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on situation in
the South Caucasus due late November in Baku, settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh.

ARKA News Agency
28 Oct. 2004

A.GRIGORIAN: STEPANAKERT TO CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION OF DEMOCRATIC STATE
WITH CONSIDERATION OF THREAT OF RECOMMENCEMENT OF MILITARY ACTIONS

Exclusive interview of Alexander GRIGORIAN, the Head of Chief
Information Department at NKR President, to ARKA News Agency.

ARKA- Mr. Grigorian, recently administration of Azerbaijan more often
uses militarist rhetoric in the issue of Karabakh settlement. How can
you comment these statements, and how do they contribute to search of
necessary compromises in conflict settlement?

A.Grigorian- Azeri party does not want any compromises. Official Baku
hopes that Western community and Russia sooner or later put pressure
upon Yerevan and Stepanakert and help Azerbaijan to return Nagorno
Karabakh in constitutional field of Azerbaijan. This is the explanation
of militarist rhetoric of Baku authorities. This rhetoric has a
character of blackmail and basically addressed to Western community,
which is interested in stable South Caucasus: it means, if you don’t
help to return Karabakh, we will ruin all your plans in the region. The
problem cannot be solved like that. The one can only aggravate the
situation. If Azerbaijan wants this, it is hopeless policy. I don’t
think that even allies of Azerbaijan are happy with this policy.

ARKA- After coming to power, Aliev Junior stated on the necessity to
start negotiations on Karabakh settlement from “zero level”. How strong
is administration of Azerbaijan attached to this principle?

A.Grigorian- If by word of mouth there are some small changes, in
practice everything testifies to unwillingness of Azeri powers to deal
with Karabakh problem themselves. Logic of their behavior is something
as following: if international community recognizes territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, then why bother looking for some compromises,
which more or less disturb the situation de jure. What about de-facto,
i.e. Nagorno Karabakh as independent, though unrecognized state, then
Baku thinks that similar situation is temporary. It is necessary, Baku
thinks, just to continue the policy on military-political and economic
isolation of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and wait for creation of
totally new, more favorable for Azerbaijan situation in the region. In
other words, “zero level” is nothing but the unwillingness of Baku to
deal itself with Karabakh problem and its attempt to put it on the
shoulders of mediators.

ARKA- Therefore, negotiations on Karabakh conflict settlement are in
dead end? If yes, then does the situation suit Karabakh party? And
generally speaking: would it be possible in the future the joining of
Karabakh party to Yerevan-Baku dialogue?

A.Grigorian- I will agree with you considering dead-end situation of
negotiating process. Does this situation suit Karabakh? Certainly not.
It is necessary to struggle for juridical distinctness, not only
factual. And we cannot wait for ever, until Azerbaijan decides to talk
to Karabakh. Talk on the base of constructivism. We will continue
construction of our state in correspondence to basic principles of
democracy, but with consideration of threat of recommencement of
military actions. Besides, Nagorno Karabakh already passed ahead of
Azerbaijan in the sphere of democratization of public-political life.
And it is not only my opinion. I suppose that this fact is even
realized in Azerbaijan. It is for this reason they always state against
conduction of elections in NKR and visit of Nagorno Karabakh by
representatives of Western structures.

ARKA- Armenian parties have more than once stated that Karabakh
conflict can be settled only be means of negotiations, on the base of
compromises. What compromises are possible from Karabakh party?

A.Grigorian- Karabakh party is ready to discuss with Azerbaijan all
issues considering thief future relations. Only in the process of
similar dialogue some acceptable compromises can appear.

ARKA- After amnesty of Samvel Babayan, there were no any official
comments considering given fact. Could you mention political motives of
the amnesty and how was this decision to NKR president, considering
organization of murderous assault?

A.Grigorian- The President showed mercy. All other interpretations of
this fact are groundless.

ARKA- Recently the visits of NKR administration abroad became more
often. How can you explain similar activation of Nagorno Karabakh
authorities?

A.Grigorian – Nagorno Karabakh is developing, NKR contacts with the
world are expanding. I want to specially note that the factor of NKR
unacknowledgement for many countries is not a negative irritant in the
view of establishment of cooperation with it. In many respects it is
explained with our achievements in state construction, reforms’ level,
conducted almost in all spheres of life of our republic. We created
favorable tax base for investment in NKR economy. External investors
every day become more confident that they deal with reliable partner.
First of all it considers our compatriots from abroad. Along with that
we expect their more active cooperation with Nagorno Karabakh. We
understand, that many are alarmed with the factor of unsettled conflict
and that investments in the economy of NKR have to deal with risk.
However, the one should not forget that nothing can happen without
certain risk in our region. L.D. –0–

Armenia president hails unsealing of Russia-Georgia border

Interfax
25 Oct. 2004

Tbilisi. (Interfax) – The president of Armenia on Friday hailed the
unsealing by Russia of its border with Georgia while his Georgian
counterpart said the border’s closure several weeks ago “has reminded
us once again that sales markets should be looked for not only
in Russia.”

The reopening of the Upper Lars checkpoint “is evidence that tension
in North Ossetia is subsiding after the Beslan events,” Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, currently on a visit to Georgia, told
a joint news conference with Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili in
reference to the school siege in September.

“It was exactly the tension that arose in North Ossetia that explained
that measure [the border closure],” Kocharian said.

Saakashvili said: “The sealing of the border has reminded us once
again that sales markets should be looked for not only in Russia but
also in other countries.”

“While we should keep the Russian market, we should also find other
markets,” he said.

Interfax
Oct 21 2004

Armenia discusses commitments to Council of Europe

Yerevan. (Interfax) – A Wednesday conference with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian discussed the fulfillment of promises Armenia made
when it joined the Council of Europe in 2001, the presidential press
service told Interfax.

“Once again we have to find out at what stage of fulfilling our
obligations we are and to adopt a new timetable helping us fully
carry out these obligations,” the press service said.

Parliamentary deputy speaker and head of the Armenian delegation to
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Tigran
Torosyan gave a report on the issue. He said parliament is working on
a new electoral code taking due account of the opinion of the Venice
Commission.

A major commitment that has not been fulfilled is a constitutional
referendum, which is expected in 2005.

The conference also discussed plans for reforming the judicial system
and the system of provincial government and approved a schedule for
fulfilling them, the press service said.

In May 2003, Armenia held a constitutional referendum, but the
proposed reforms were rejected by the public.