Author: Frangulian Shushan

Israel expertise benefits businesswomen, farmers
By Christina Tashkevich

The Messenger/GE
Thursday, July 15, 2004, #131 (0655)

>From July 13-15, a seminar for women in small business and management
is being held in Tbilisi thanks to the initiative of The Golda Meyer
Mount Carmel International Training Center from Israel.

The seminar is supported by the Embassy of Israel and the Center for
International Technical Cooperation (MASHAV).

The Israeli Ambassador to Georgia Rivka Cohen said at the opening of
the seminar on Tuesday, “this seminar is our dream.” According to her,
the strengthening of the role of women in Georgia is an important step
for the country at the moment.

The training, the first in this field, is being conducted by two
Israeli experts from Mount Carmel Training Center in Haifa. Fannette
Modek specializes in gender and development issues while Dr Dalia
Fisman specializes in Economic Cybernetics and Technical Sciences.

The Israeli trainers say that there are many programs for women in
business in Israel. The Georgian Minister of Refugees Eter Astemirova,
who also visited the seminar, hoped that the successful experience of
Israeli women can help Georgian women “to reach a higher level” in
every possible field.

Tbilisi City Hall helped in organizing the seminar. Tbilisi Mayor
Zurab Chiaberashvili expressed his full support in the event. “We have
the example of Israel of how a small country can rise to its feet,”
says Chiaberashvili. He adds that while studying in educational
institutions Georgian women are more successful than men, but once the
enter the professional world this trend is unfortunately reversed.

The main topics of the seminar are marketing of small business,
credits, management and types of support activities for women in
business.

Created in 1958 by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MASHAV
works to share Israel’s social, educational and technological
expertise with other countries. The areas of trainings organized by
the center include agriculture, education and community development,
medicine, and so on.

MASHAV reports that over 400 Georgians have visited Israel with the
help of the center and trained in different fields. According to the
center, this figure is the highest among the post-Soviet countries.

One of the most recent events organized by MASHAV was the visit of
Gadi Moses to Georgia on July 5-9. Moses conducted seminars in Dmanisi
and Tsalka regions as part of a project in Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan to introduce new Israeli potato growing techniques that
guarantee an increase of crops.

The project was started last year in Dmanisi and Tsalka regions by
MASHAV. It was supported by a Eurasia Foundation grant. Whereas before
the introduction of the Israeli techniques the potato crop normally
amounted to 10-15 tons per hectare, in 2003 this rose to 55-60 tons.

OSCE Karabakh mediators arrive in Azeri capital

Lider TV, Baku
15 Jul 04

[Presenter] After meetings in Yerevan and Xankandi [Stepanakert], the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen arrived in Baku this morning. Although
the Russian co-chairman, Yuriy Merzlyakov, described the talks as
fruitful, he said no new proposal had been made during the
discussions. Merzlyakov also commented on the participation of
Nagornyy Karabakh’s Armenian community as a third party in the talks.

[Passage omitted: Merzlyakov about the aim of the visit]

[Correspondent] How realistic is the participation of the Armenian
community of Nagornyy Karabakh in the talks as a third party?

[Merzlyakov] I cannot say. The issue of changing the format of the
talks should be resolved preliminarily by the current parties to the
conflict.

[Presenter] The head of the foreign relations department at the
Azerbaijani presidential administration, Novruz Mammadov, said that
statements about the signing of the cease-fire agreement [in Bishkek
in 1994] by the occupation regime [in Nagornyy Karabakh] were wide of
the mark. Mammadov said that official Baku did not intend to give its
consent to the participation of representatives from the
self-proclaimed republic in the talks as a [third] party.

[Mammadov, speaking to microphone] Russian and other co-chairmen in
the OSCE Minsk Group should act in line with the mandate that the OSCE
granted to the group. This mandate does not envisage the participation
of the Nagornyy Karabakh community in the resolution process. Their
participation in the talks is envisaged only together with the
Azerbaijani community, as parties interested in the solution. We do
not recognize the signing by [the Armenian community of] Nagornyy
Karabakh of the document, later presented by Armenians in the form you
refer to.

Analyst plays down possibility of Armenia vacating Azeri lands

Yeni Musavat, Baku
11 Jul 04

Text of F. Mammadov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 11
July headlined “Unsuccessful propaganda of ‘successful Karabakh
policy'”

In an interview with Zerkalo newspaper former state adviser and
currently political analyst Vafa Quluzada has said that the reports
suggesting that the Armenians are allegedly preparing to vacate some
of the occupied Azerbaijani districts and that negotiations to that
end are allegedly under way is nothing but empty speculation.

Quluzada added that the possibility of Armenia vacating some districts
is discussed only in Azerbaijan, while Armenia is not making any
preparations for leaving the territories. The political analyst said
that this could happen only if Azerbaijan agreed either to the
annexation of Nagornyy Karabakh and Lacin [Lachin] District to Armenia
or to the provision of Nagornyy Karabakh with the status of
independence.

Quluzada is an experienced diplomat who was involved in the Karabakh
talks for many years and is still believed to be one of the most
competent people on the issue. From this standpoint, his statements
reflect the real situation around Nagornyy Karabakh very
accurately. The point is that on seeing a lack of progress in the
negotiations, the government propaganda has started “generating”
speculation that some of Azerbaijan’s occupied districts may be
freed. For instance, there has been a report that the Turkish,
Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers had recently reached a
preliminary agreement that Armenia would vacate seven Azerbaijani
districts. It wasn’t long, however, before this report proved to be
wide of the mark. Or, reports are spread after every meeting between
the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers that the sides have
discussed the liberation of five or six districts.

In reality, however, the liberation of Azerbaijani territories can be
discussed only when and if Azerbaijan agrees to the annexation of
Nagornyy Karabakh together with Susa and Lacin Districts to
Armenia. Only against this backdrop can Armenia agree to negotiate the
issue of leaving the other territories.

However, the government propaganda machine is trying to create the
impression that thanks to the “successful” policy of [Azerbaijani
President] Ilham Aliyev the situation is changing for the better and
that the Armenians are about to agree to vacate a number of
districts. This primitive and futile technology has already been used
and is now designed to convince the public of Ilham Aliyev’s
“successful Karabakh policy”.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 8 2004

MEETING OF PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND PAKISTAN IN ENLARGED STAFF
[July 08, 2004, 18:56:58]

After the private meeting, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and
President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf had a meeting in the enlarged
staff.

President of Azerbaijan greeted the guests once again, thanked for
acceptance of invitation to visit the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The bilateral relations between our countries have a sufficient
speed, President Ilham Aliyev underlined. It pleases us. In 1996,
national leader of Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev have visited
Pakistan. After that visit the links between the two countries have
gained quick development. Pakistan and Azerbaijan always support each
other in the international arena and successfully cooperate.
President thanked for the support Pakistan renders to Azerbaijan
Republic. Today, they are successfully developing both in political
and economic-cultural fields. I am especially grateful for support in
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.

In the economic field, we have nice prospects and we have already
discussed this. The intergovernmental commission work fruitfully and
I am hopeful that they will receive boost after this visit.

Of course, we have strong cooperation in the humanitarian sphere. Our
peoples have mutual respect and considerations. I am convinced that
after this visit, the friendly relations will further deepen and
strengthen, the President said.

Once again I welcome you. I would like to express my confidence that
after this visit the relations between our countries will develop in
all fields.

***

In the enlarged meeting, in his reciprocal speech, expressing his
gratitude to the head of Azerbaijan state, President of Pakistan
Pervez Musharraf said the two countries have the same position
related to many problems. WE are pleased with your hospitality and
warm reception.

In the private meeting with President Ilham Aliyev we have arrived in
common conclusion. We have common interests in political, economic
and others fields.

Basing on the common roots, I consider we must increase the trade
relations as well.

In the field of defense we have also similar and common interests and
we should expand cooperation in this field. There is a great
potential in the oil-gas sector. We shall benefit from experience of
Azerbaijani oilmen. Cooperation in education and data exchange is
another direction of our mutual action and I think we shall
strengthen co-op and in this field, President Pervez Musharraf
underlined.

***

Then were signing the bilateral documents. Prior to signing ceremony,
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Pakistan Pervez
Musharraf signed joint Declaration. The signed documents included
agreement on cooperation on tourism, customs and mutual assistance,
combat against illegal circulation of narcotics and psychotropic
substances, cooperation in combat against international terrorism and
organized crime.

In the singing ceremony presenting were deputy prime minister of
Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov, Pakistani ambassador in Baku Mohammad
Hafiz, ambassador of Azerbaijan in Islamabad Eynulla Madatli.

***

As was stated, the enlarged meeting was followed by a joint news
conference. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of
Pakistan Pervez Musharraf exchanged statements. Then, President Ilham
Aliyev hosted a banquet in honor of President of Pakistan Pervez
Musharraf.

Channel News Asia, Singapore from Agence France Presse
July 8 2004

Pakistan’s Musharraf forges mutual support pact with Azerbaijan

BAKU : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, on the first day of his
state visit to the Muslim former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan, said
that the two countries had agreed to work together on issues
including the Kashmir dispute, Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.

“The unique character of our political relations is that we always
understand each other and support each other,” Musharraf told a press
conference after talks with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

“That finds expression in the Kashmir…problem,” he added. “In
international questions our positions are also close and on issues of
the Islamic world, like the Palestine question, questions of Iraq and
Afghanistan, we have agreed to coordinate our actions in future.”

Musharraf is due to address the Azeri parliament Friday and fly home
the following day.

Security surrounding the visit was tight. An army general who came to
power in a bloodless coup five years ago, Musharraf has been the
target of assassination attempts at home.

A tiny state of eight million people bordering Iran and Russia,
Azerbaijan has in recent years emerged as a steadfast ally to
Pakistan.

The two countries are united by a common fight against their
non-Muslim neighbours: Pakistan in its conflict with India over
Kashmir and Azerbaijan in a 15-year-old dispute with Armenia over the
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

They are also members of the exclusive club of Muslim states which
have sided with the United States in its fight against international
terrorism, offering logistical and military support to US-led
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Musharraf reciprocated Azerbaijan’s backing for Pakistan over Kashmir
by saying that his country backed Baku’s efforts to regain control
over Karabakh, which is under Armenian control.

“The occupation of Azerbaijan’s regions worries Pakistan and in this
question we will constantly support Azerbaijan,” said the 60-year-old
Pakistani leader.

After talks between the Pakistani and Azeri heads of state, the two
men and their officials signed a series of agreements covering the
tourism trade, customs and combatting the drugs trade and
international terrorism.

Musharraf said his country was also interested in tapping into
Azerbaijan’s oil industry expertise — the country is rich in crude
and has been extracting oil for nearly a century — to help Pakistan
exploit its own energy resources.

“Azerbaijan has great experience,” Musharraf told reporters. “We want
to use that experience, create joint ventures and work together with
Azerbaijan.”

Relations between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan were first forged by
Musharraf’s predecessor Nawaz Sharif when he visited the Azeri
capital in 1995.

The late Azeri head of state Heidar Aliyev — the father of the
current president — made a return visit to Islamabad the following
year.

The two sides concluded a military pact last year. Details are
sketchy, though it is known that Azeri officers are training in
military academies in Pakistan. Islamabad has also offered to sell
its military technology to Azerbaijan.

The Pakistani leader’s schedule for Friday includes a walkabout in
the capital and attending a concert in his honour at the State
Philharmonic Hall.

Deputies in Azerbaijan’s parliament, or Milli Majlis, have been
called back from their summer vacation for a special session Friday
morning at which Musharraf will address them.

JULY 2, 2004

NEWS ANALYSIS
By Steve Rosenbush

A Twist in Sony’s Quest for MGM While it lines up financing partners
for the bid, Time Warner has jumped in with an offer that could prove
far more attractive For a while, it appeared that Sony (‘SNE’) was
close to adding the vaunted MGM (‘MGM’) movie studio to its impressive
stable of film properties, which already includes Columbia and TriStar
Pictures. Sony’s U.S. unit, run by former CBS news chief Howard
Stringer, has been deep in negotiations with MGM for about two months,
people close to the talks say. And Sony had lined up several investors
to back up its $5 billion bid (see BW, 7/12/04, _”Imagine Sony on
Steroids”_
() ).

Then came Time Warner (‘TWX’). New disclosures that the media and
entertainment giant submitted a rival bid of about $4.7 billion a week
or so ago (first reported on June 29 by the Wall Street Journal
Online) have suddenly thrown prospects for a MGM-Sony deal into doubt,
people close to the negotiations say.

STOCK DEAL’S APPEAL. It’s too early to say for sure who’ll win the
contest. Negotiations are expected to continue for several more
weeks, and reports are circulating of a possible third suitor, such as
General Electric’s (‘GE’) NBC unit. But the Time Warner bid could be
formidable. Why? The media empire is returning to fighting form after
its painful merger with Internet service AOL. And it has some powerful
advantages as it steps into the ring with Sony.

Time Warner’s biggest strength may be its ability to pay for most of
the deal in stock. The company took a beating after it merged with
AOL. But investor Kirk Kerkorian, who owns 74% of MGM, believes that
Time Warner Chief Executive Richard Parsons is close to pulling off a
turnaround, one person close to MGM says (see BW Online, 7/1/04,
_”America Online Gets Clicking”_
).

That’s why he’s willing to sell his stake in MGM to Time Warner for
$11.50 a share — as long as Time Warner pays that part of the price
in stock. Kerkorian would profit from any appreciation in the stock,
while avoiding big tax liabilities associated with an all-cash
transaction. Time Warner would, however, purchase the remaining 26% of
MGM, which is publicly held, for $13 a share in cash.

BIG OPENING. Sony, which is having a tough time in the
consumer-electronics business, couldn’t afford the deal on its own. It
has arranged backing from investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston
and private-equity players Providence Equity Partners and Texas
Pacific Group. Not only has it found investors willing to share the
expense, but it would structure the deal so MGM’s $1.9 billion in debt
wouldn’t appear on Sony’s balance sheet. Together, they’re offering
$13 a share in cash for MGM.

Help from Sony’s partners complicates the deal, though. As a long-term
strategic investor, Sony’s interests aren’t fully aligned with those
of its partners, who want an exit plan in place before they close the
deal. Even as Sony negotiates with MGM, it’s conducting talks on a
parallel track with its own team. Providence and Texas Pacific want to
make sure that Sony will buy them out in a few years — and at a good
price. But putting a value on the combined film units is difficult and
subject to disagreement, people familiar with the matter say. That’s
the main reason why Sony’s bid for MGM has been dragging on for weeks.

That internal wrangling has given Time Warner a huge opening. And no
question, Parsons & Co. would love to have MGM, which includes the
world’s largest library of color films. If Time Warner’s 4,500 films
and MGM’s 4,500 were combined, they would constitute 45% of the
Hollywood movie-library market. That’s even bigger than a Sony-MGM
combination, which would control 40%.

CURRENCY EDGE. The MGM collection also includes some of the most
popular titles of all time, including James Bond. That could almost
guarantee a steady stream of cash for years to come. MGM has also
mastered the art of producing popular movies, like Barbershop and
DeLovely, on relatively low budgets. They would supplement big-bet
blockbusters like Time Warner’s Harry Potter series.

Even the currency market is working in Time Warner’s favor. While the
value of Time Warner shares are on the rise, the cheap dollar makes
Sony’s hard currency somewhat less enticing.

It’s way too early to count Sony out. Differences with its partners,
however complex, can be overcome. And people familiar with the
negotiations say the parties have been making progress after weeks of
talks. They better resolve those differences quickly, though. The
Sony-MGM deal no longer seems like such a sure thing.

Business Week On-line

Mine Explosion Injures a Villager in Fuzuli

Baku Today 29/06/2004 15:09

A resident of Alkhanli village of the southwestern Fuzulu District was
seriously injured when his combine hit an anti-tank mine on Saturday,
Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) said on Monday.

According to ANAMA, the villager, Qudrat Quliyev, 60, was seriously burned
by the mine explosion and taken to hospital.

Alkhanli is one of several villages of the Fuzuli District that are being
controlled by Azerbaijani troops. Armenian forces have been occupying most
of the villages of Fuzuli, including its district center, since 1993.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 28 2004

Azeri Soldier Killed by Armenian Rifle Shot

A soldier of the Azerbaijani army was killed by an Armenian rifle
shot in the Aghdam District area of the frontline on Monday, ANS
reported.
The Press Office of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense could not be
reached to comment on the incident.

ANS reported that the soldier, Elnur Quliyev, was fatally shot to his
breast during an Armenian assault. It was the late Quliyev’s ninth
month in the military service.

Aghdam is one of Azerbaijan’s administrative districts occupied by
Armenia in 1991-94 war. Along with Aghdam, Armenian troops invaded
and took control of Azerbaijan’s Lachin, Kelbajar, Fuzuli, Jebrail,
Qubadli, Zengilan as well as Nagorno-Karabakh regions during the war.

A cease-fire agreement signed in May 1994 between the two countries
is frequently violated in the line of contact that separates
Azerbaijan from its occupied territories.

Peace negotiations mediated by the Minsk Group of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe since 1994 have failed to
bring a lasting settlement to the conflict.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 28 2004

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV WITH PRESIDENT OF TURKEY AHMET
NECDET SEZER MEET IN PRIVATE
[June 28, 2004, 15:31:31]

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkey Ahmet
Necdet Sezer met in private at the Istanbul `Hayat’ hotel on 28 June.

The Turkish President expressed satisfaction with the participation
of his Azerbaijani counterpart in the NATO summit and especially
stressed the importance of such meetings. Mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer
pointed out that the steadily expanding Turkey-Azerbaijan relations
are developing both in political and economic spheres in line with
the two countries’ interests. He also shared his views on the
Northern Cyprus related problems.

Having expressed his gratitude to the Turkish President for the warm
meeting, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that it was great honor to
him to stay in Istanbul in the framework of the NATO Summit, and
pointed to the high level organization of the event. The Head of
Azerbaijan also State touched upon development of bilateral relations
between the two countries. He noted in particular that construction
of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is going on as scheduled, and
the timely finishing of the project would considerably benefit booth
sides.

The parties also mentioned benefits from implementation of the oil
strategy initiated by nationwide leader of the Azerbaijani people
Heydar Aliyev, and his invaluable merits in bringing
Turkey-Azerbaijan relationship up to the existing level.

In addition, the Presidents exchanged views on international and
regional issues of mutual interest including peaceful settlement of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. In this
connection, President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer reaffirmed his
country’s consistent and constant support for Azerbaijan’s stance in
the matter.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 25 2004

REPORT ON NAGORNY KARABAKH TO BE DISCUSSED ON NEXT SESSION
[June 25, 2004, 20:16:16]

Session of Political Committee of PACE was held on 24 June. The
permanent representative of Azerbaijan at the Council of Europe
ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev who was taking part in session, has given
interview to correspondent of AzerTAj. He has told:

`At the session was heard statement of the Rapporteur on Nagorny
Karabakh Terry Davis.

In my opinion, the English deputy spoke about the recognition of the
conflict, than about the report. His statement had positive
character. Having touched the statement of the President of Armenia
at session of PACE, Mr. T. Davis has expressed his attitude to R.
Kochariana’s opinion `Nagorny Karabakh never was territory of
independent Azerbaijan’, openly having declared, that in the
resolution of the United Nations was repeatedly emphasized that
`Nagorny Karabakh is the integral part of Azerbaijan’.

Speaking about negotiations in Key West, Mr. T. Davis has noted, that
there the sides really in the certain degree were close to solution
of the question, however, any document at this time has not been
signed and any arrangement not achieved.

Terry Davis, especially having emphasized, that during his visit to
Azerbaijan has visited camps of refugees and IDPs, that these people
ousted from their native lands, live in hard conditions, has informed
members of the Committee, that it is extremely serious universal
problem, that people driven from Nagorny Karabakh and adjoining to it
regions, want to return to the native lands, and has stated that the
question shortly should find its solution.

Having put forward in the statement the idea of attraction to
negotiations of the population of Nagorny Karabakh he has emphasized,
that Nagorny Karabakh all is the Azerbaijan territory, and its
inhabitants – citizens of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, therefore, should
not refuse from negotiations with its citizens.

The English deputy has once again reminded, that works above the
report, and informed, that the report will be discussed on
forthcoming October session of pace.

On June 24, the discussions continued.