Armenian president names new envoy to Egypt
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
11 Oct 04
By a decree of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Armenian ambassador
to Egypt, Sergey Manasaryan, has been recalled.
Under another presidential decree, Ruben Karapetyan has been appointed
the ambassador to Egypt.
ZDNet France News
6 octobre 2004
Responsabilité des hébergeurs: la LCEN mise à l’épreuve judiciaire
Estelle Dumout, ZDNet France
Le consul de Turquie à Paris est assigné le 11 octobre pour
propagande négationniste sur internet par le Comité de défense de la
cause arménienne. L’hébergeur du site, Wanadoo, devra aussi rendre
des comptes pour n’avoir pas coupé l’accès au site.
Le Comité de défense de la cause arménienne (CDCA) fournit un cas
d’école parfait pour éprouver les dispositions de la loi pour dans la
confiance dans l’économie numérique (LCEN), relatives à la
responsabilité des hébergeurs de contenus internet.
Le CDCA a assigné le consul général de Turquie à Paris, Aydin Sezgin,
pour «propagande négationniste» sur le site officiel du consulat. Il
lui reproche d’avoir mis en ligne un document intitulé “Allégations
arméniennes et faits historiques”, accessible depuis la page
d’accueil du site. Il traite du génocide perpétré sur la population
arménienne en Turquie en 1915.
Selon le plaignant, il s’agit «d’un pamphlet à vocation clairement
négationniste, destiné aux internautes à la recherche d’informations
générales sur la Turquie. Il reprend la thèse développée, depuis de
longues années, par l’État turc, (…) avec une série d’arguments à
caractère pseudo-scientifique».
«La loi du 29 janvier 2001 reconnaît la réalité du génocide arménien
de 1915», explique à ZDNet Vartan Arzoumanian, responsable de la
communication du CDCA. «Nous avons donc dans un premier temps mis en
demeure le consul et l’hébergeur du site, Wanadoo, de retirer ce
texte». Le consul n’a pas donné suite à cette requête – et n’a pas pu
être joint par ZDNet.
Wanadoo attend une décision de justice pour couper l’accès au site
De son côté, la filiale de France Télécom a préféré jouer la
prudence: «Ils nous ont expliqué qu’ils s’en tiendraient à une
décision de justice, et qu’ils couperaient l’accès si un juge le leur
ordonnait», poursuit Vartan Arzoumanian. L’hébergeur est donc lui
aussi assigné, tout comme le consul, malgré son statut de diplomate.
«Nous avons estimé que, dans la logique des choses, l’hébergeur était
lui aussi responsable du contenu qu’il hébergeait», soutient le
représentant du CDCA.
La LCEN (adopté en mai dernier) précise que la responsabilité civile
et pénale des hébergeurs ne peut pas être engagée «s’ils n’avaient
pas effectivement connaissance du caractère illicite [des contenus]
(…) ou si, dès le moment où elles en ont eu cette connaissance,
elles ont agi promptement pour retirer ces données ou en rendre
l’accès impossible». Après coup, le Conseil constitutionnel avait
précisé qu’il fallait, pour que cet article s’applique, que le
contenu litigieux soit «manifestement illicite».
Les premières audiences se tiendront le 11 octobre devant le tribunal
de grande instance de Paris. Les juges devront déterminer si Wanadoo
a eu raison ou non d’attendre une notification émanant de l’autorité
judiciaire avant d’agir, un point crucial pour de nombreux tenants de
la liberté d’expression.
NEW BOOK OF PROBLEMS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
06 Oct 04
There is need for specialized literature in the field of physics in
the Armenian language. This time the specialist were presented with
the first volume of the book `Problems in Physics: Types and Methods
of Solutionâ=80=9D, co-authored by Kamo Atayan and his colleagues from
Yerevan. The presentation of the book was held in the framework of the
fourth conference of young physicists and Atayan Readings, and the
four co-authors of the book were present. The bookis of great
importance for the teachers and students of physics. Each type of the
problems is preceded by a theoretical part where examples are observed
as well. The book contains more than 900 problems with keys to their
solution. The book also contains tables. The second volume of the book
will come out next year.
SVETLANA KHACHATRIAN.
06-10-2004
Armenia ready to counter Azerbaijan if need be
01.10.2004
Yerevan. (Interfax-AVN) – Armenia does not want to resume military
operations against Azerbaijan, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh
Sarkisian has told Armenian Public Television.
“Armenia will declare war only if attacked by Azerbaijan. However, if
it is the case, Azerbaijan will be repulsed so as not to even mention
the war again for years to come,” he emphasized.
Azerbaijani authorities have recently repeatedly stated the
possibility of resuming military operations against Armenia to settle
the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, if peaceful negotiations do not yield any
results.
“The aftermath of the war will be heavy for both sides,” the Armenian
defense minister said.
“Given the most favorable outcome of the war for Armenia, we do not
wish to resume military operations, since a war always results in
human casualties. Even if the losses ratio equaled 1:7, as was the
case in 1993-1994, we would not be willing to start a war,” Sarkisian
pointed out.
In addition to that, in wartime the sides will have to spend their
limited resources on solving military problems, he noted.
At the same time he emphasized that the Armenian Armed Forces were the
most combat ready force in Transcaucasia.
Sarkisian also said that NATO’s decision to cancel the military
exercise in Azerbaijan, slated for mid-September, due to the fact that
Armenian officers were not allowed to participate in it, had not been
a surprise to him.
At the same time he said that Armenia was interested in Azerbaijan’s
participation in the NATO-sponsored Partnership for Peace
program. “Azerbaijan’s participation in this program imposes certain
commitments on Baku, and we will be better off dealing with
Azerbaijan, committed to its promises,” he pointed out.
EU a fragile hope for Istanbul’s Christian communities
Agence France Presse
October 3, 2004 Sunday
BY Nicolas Cheviron
ISTANBUL
Andrea is a “Rum”, Tarin is Armenian, Giovanni a Levantine. For
centuries, their communities served as bridges between Europe and the
Ottoman Empire whose successor, Turkey, is now seeking full membership
in the European Union.
All three are Christian and favor the mainly Muslim country’s entry
into the EU and see in it a fragile hope for their disappearing
cultures.
Andrea Rombopoulos single-handedly produces Iho, one of two
Greek-language dailies to still appear in Turkey.
He claims 80 percent of Istanbul’s “Rums” — Romans, as Greeks of
Turkish nationality are called here, in reference to the Eastern Roman
Empire from which they descended — read his paper. That makes about
1,600 people.
Rombopoulos believes Turkey’s membership in the European bloc will end
all the problems his community faces in trying to defend its rights.
“We have about 60 foundations that run our schools and our churches,”
he explained. “But for the past 37 years, the (Turkish) state has
forbidden any elections to renew their management — has sometimes
seized their property — and prevented them from functioning
properly.”
Turkish membership in the EU, he believes, will be the best guarantee
for the future of his dwindling community.
In the editorial offices of his newspaper, in a 19th century townhouse
built by the great Zarifi “Rum” banking dynasty that is witness to the
past grandeur and current decline of Istanbul’s Greeks, Rombopoulos
laments: “We are on the verge of extinction.”
The EU, he explained, can mean salvation. “When Turkey enters the EU,
foreign firms will invest in Turkey and they will need staff who know
how to trade with the Turks,” he said. “The Greeks are in the best
position to do that.
“If new (Greek) families settle in Istanbul, then maybe we can save
our culture.”
Tarin Karakasli, who works for the Armenian daily Agos, agrees.
“Turkey joining the EU means normalizing relations with Armenia,” she
said. “For people like us, who live in the shadow of their ancestors,
this will be like a drop of cool water through a parched throat … we
could even speak of a cultural renaissance.”
She is a fervent supporter of Turkey’s rapid accession to the European
bloc — contrary to most of the Armenian diaspora, which says Turkey
should be kept out of the EU until it admits that the 1915 massacre of
hundreds of thousand of Armenians was an act of genocide.
“My newspaper believes that only a fully democratic country can
question its past,” she said. “As things stand, Turkey can neither
confirm nor deny something it does not really know about — something
that has been kept under wraps like a terrible taboo.”
She believes that the democratization process accompanying membership
talks will free the Turkish mindset — and allow the country’s
45,000-strong Armenian community to finally cast off the yoke of the
past.
The grandson of a Neapolitan cook who emigrated to Istanbul in
mid-19th century on his father’s side, and of an Italian family long
established in the Greek islands on his mother’s, Giovanni
Scognamillo, 75, is a Levantine — a Roman Catholic born on Turkish
soil, although the term can also apply to Protestants.
Scognamillo, a well-know figure in the Istanbul intelligentsia, has
been a bookdealer, a decorator, a bank employee, a filmmaker, a
journalist, an author and a historian.
He believes the extinction of his community — a few hundred souls, he
said, in Istanbul and Izmir, on the Aegean coast — is inevitable.
“Mine is the last generation of Levantines,” he said, without a trace
of nostalgia. “The young now go live abroad.”
He is all for Turkey joining the EU, but he does not have much hope
for the Levantine community.
“That there will be a rush of Turks into EU countries, I do not doubt
for a moment,” he said. “But a rush of Levantines into Turkey — I
don’t think so.
“Anyway,” he joked, “once Turkey is part of the EU, at least I won’t
have to queue for my residence permit every five years.”
Turkey’s president views internal, external issues in keynote speech
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
1 Oct 04
In his keynote speech at the Assembly to mark the beginning of a new
legislative year, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that Turkey was
making steps to become a” powerful country by means of social
consensus”, and emphasized that the “secular and democratic Turkey”
made these reforms possible. Sezer said that Turkey had “reached a
significant point at its EU membership process” but warned that “we
should not give any pretext that would strengthen those who want to
keep Turkey outside of the European Union”. The Turkish president
complained that the USA and its allies had done nothing to stop the
Kurdish rebels in Iraq but insisted that “Turkey’s relations with the
United States should be carried out on the basis of alliance and
friendship”. Sezer also said that “ending unjust isolation of Turkish
Cypriots is a requirement of credibility and consistency of
international society”. Concluding his speech, Sezer said that “Turkey
would continue to support a democratic, prosperous Iraq” with “its
territorial and national integrity preserved”. The following is text
of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia
Ankara, 1 October: Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday
1 October : “In systems where the rule of law prevails, supremacy of
one of the legislative, executive or judiciary organs over the others
cannot be in question.”
In his keynote speech at the parliament to mark the beginning of the
new legislative year, President Sezer said: “Our parliament is
representing the national sovereignty and is the basic institution of
our democratic regime. The parliament speeded up development of the
secular and democratic Republic of Turkey with its decisions.”
“The world and Turkey are going through an important period. In the
light of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s reforms and constitutional
principles, we are making the necessary steps to reach the joint goal
of modern society-modern state-powerful country by means of social
consensus,” he said.
“I want to emphasize once again that the republic which was founded by
our nation with great sacrifices under the leadership of Ataturk, is
our most precious wealth. The secular and democratic Republic of
Turkey led us to make all those reforms which were appreciated by the
world. The republic is the most important warranty of a brilliant
future. We do not have any doubt that our citizens will act with
solidarity and responsibility in order to protect Ataturk’s principles
and reforms as well as our unity. When we fulfil our responsibilities,
we will easily reach a better future,” he said.
President Sezer added: “The most advanced and modern stage in social
structure is the rule of law. The values which have been adopted under
the Constitution are the guarantee of all other characteristics of the
republic. The rule of law also includes prevention of abuse of state’s
power because the rule of law is the essential tool to prevent a
political power turning into a repressive regime. In systems where the
rule of law prevails, supremacy of one of the legislative, executive
or judiciary organs over the others cannot be in question.”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that Turkey reached a
significant point at its EU membership process, adding “yet at the
point we have reached, we should not give any pretext that would
strengthen those who want to keep Turkey outside of European Union.”
He also noted that Turkey should test the sincerity of EU countries.
In his keynote speech at the parliament to mark the beginning of the
new legislative year, President Sezer said, “our EU membership
symbolizes universal values and high living standards and means
concretization of most important social projects to reach the level of
contemporary civilization that was put forward by Ataturk. EU
membership will also be an additional assurance for secular,
multi-party democratic structure of Turkey and will strengthen our
country against every kind of extremism.”
Recalling that Turkey had undertook significant constitutional and
legislative changes to strengthen itself and take under guarantee
basic rights and freedoms, as well as democracy and supremacy of law,
Sezer said, “we have clearly put forward our determination and
capability to take them further.” Sezer said Turkish nation who
carefully noted the statements emanating from Brussels, expected a
just and unbiased evaluation from the EU. “In the Progress Report that
will be issued by the EU Commission we expect a fair evaluation on
comprehensive reforms Turkey has fulfilled and a clear statement on
starting negotiations as soon as possible as it happened with other
candidates,” he said.
Sezer added that contributions that Turkey’s membership would bring to
EU’s global values were obvious. Sezer said EU’s starting membership
talks with Turkey and Turkey’s membership in the end of this process
is the most important message that will be given to Middle Eastern
countries and, in a wider sense, to Islamic world. “This message is
that: values like democracy, human rights and supremacy of law are
universal and the line that separates societies today passes not
between civilizations and religions, but between those who adopt these
values and those who do not. And the West and Islam can embrace each
other by taking these values as basis.”
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that it was unacceptable
to describe Turkey as an Islamic republic or to propose a meaningless
model like “moderate Islam” for Turkey and to show Turkey as a model
country with the pretext of Greater Middle East Initiative. In his
keynote speech at the parliament to mark the beginning of the new
legislative year, President Sezer said, it was impossible to bring
together democracy and a state of religion whether it is “moderate” or
“radical”. Noting that Turkey has chosen its political regime 81 years
ago with proclamation of the republic, Sezer said the regime of
Republic of Turkey is built on the basis of a secular, democratic and
social state of law. He said: “Abuse of religion causes significant
harm both to our constitutional order and democratic progress and to
Islam religion. The reactionary movement continues to pose a major
threat against our democratic and secular state, based on the rule of
law,” adding that fight against fundamentalism should continue with
determination.
Regarding the existence of terrorist organization PKK Kurdistan
Workers’ Party in Iraq, he said that the failure of the United States
and international force in Iraq in starting initiatives against this
terrorist organization in the north of Iraq, contradicted Turkish-US
friendship and international responsibilities in fighting against
terrorism.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that ending unjust
isolation of Turkish Cypriots is a requirement of credibility and
consistency of international society. In his keynote speech at the
parliament to mark the beginning of the new legislative year,
President Sezer said they were pleased to see that Turkey’s efforts to
establish good relations with its neighbours yielded more significant
results every year. “We are taking necessary steps to take further our
relations with Greece, which is an ally and which we target to be a
close partner through the European Union,” Sezer said.
Noting that sincerity and dialogue constituted two essential elements
in relations with Greece, Sezer added: “Turkey thinks the steps it has
taken through this dialogue will not remain unanswered. It should not
be disregarded that sincerity and dialogue are insufficient to
overcome all problems in international relations. It is very obvious
that no just point has been reached in Turkey’s and Turkish Cypriots’
rightful case in Cyprus despite their self-sacrifices and sincere
compromises. Turkish Cypriots have clearly put forward their will to
compromise through democratic processes with the support of
international community, including the UN and the EU. The Greek
Cypriot side had succeeded to make international community believe
just the opposite. Now against insistent attitude of Greek Cypriots in
refraining from peace and unification, ending unjust isolation of
Turkish Cypriots should be a natural result of requirement of
complying with rules of law and justice, political sincerity,
credibility and consistency of international society. We expect some
initiatives that has been started to end this isolation of Turkish
Cypriots to be resulted in a way that meets expectations in a short
period of time.”
Noting that neighbours such as Bulgaria and Romania responded
affirmatively to Turkey’s friendly and constructive attitude, Sezer
said the point reached in relations between Turkey and Russian
Federation was also pleasing. Sezer said reaching permanent stability,
security and prosperity in South Caucasus was of significant
importance for Turkey, which tried to contribute to solutions of
problems through peaceful means. Sezer said the reasons why relations
with Armenia could not be normalized so far were obvious, adding that
“it is Turkey’s sincere wish that this situation created by Armenian
policies should be overcome and the cooperation ring in South Caucasus
should be completed. For this, Armenia should pursue a foreign policy
complying with rules of international law and good neighbourliness
with a will to compromise. It is certain that Turkey will respond in
the same manner to the positive steps that will be taken in this
direction. Every country acting openly, friendly and without
prejudices towards Turkey benefits from this. We expect Armenia to act
with this understanding.”
Sezer said that Turkey’s relations with the United States should be
carried out on the basis of alliance and friendship. He added that the
maturity and mutual benefits of this friendship and alliance have been
proved. “We cannot close our eyes to terrorist organization PKK’s
finding shelter in Iraq and infiltrating from our borders. It is very
obvious that we will not permit restarting of terrorist acts against
Turkey taking advantage of developments in Iraq. We expect our
strategic partner and ally United States to fulfil its
responsibilities on this issue.”
Noting that Turkey would continue to support a democratic, prosperous
Iraq of which its territorial and national integrity are preserved,
Sezer said Turkey’s attributing importance to situation of Turkomans
who were kinsmen to Turkish people should be considered natural. He
added that the uneasiness created by the efforts to possess Kirkuk by
any ethnic group would not be limited to this town, and a turmoil that
would spread to the whole of Iraq would ignite a regional instability
of which its results could not be predicted.
Sezer said that developing relations between Turkey and Syria revealed
benefits of Turkey’s constructive approach. “We think we support
searches for peace and stability in the region as we develop our
relations with Syria. Syria’s establishing normal relations with other
countries, especially Western countries, is to the interest of
Turkey. We will continue to encourage Syria in this direction.” Noting
that normalization in the Middle East was a necessity which should
have been reached much earlier, Sezer said Turkey was ready to make
any contribution that would be asked by the sides for solution of
problems in the region, especially Israel-Palestine dispute. He said:
“We believe that acting together with regional countries and western
friends as well as Israeli and Palestinian authorities will yield a
result in solution of this dispute.”
Sezer added that Turkey would continue to support Afghanistan with
which it has historical and close ties.
PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
September 30, 2004
ST. VARTANANTZ CHURCH HOSTS RECEPTION
FOR “PILLARS OF THE PRELACY”
by Yn. Joanna Baghsarian
PROVIDENCE, RI – On behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan,
the Executive Council of the Eastern Prelacy and the Sts. Vartanantz
Board of Trustees and Delegates, Rev. and Mrs. Gomidas Baghsarian
hosted a reception for the “Pillars of the Prelacy” on Sunday,
September 12, 2004, at their home in Cranston, Rhode Island.
The star-studded sky illuminated the white tent that beckoned the
arriving guests to enter its portals and partake of classical music,
fine wines, and the best of Armenian delicacies prepared by the women
of the community.
The beautiful setting created an ambiance of solidarity and friendship
as guests arrived. Centered on every table was a crystal pillar and
perched delicately on the rim of each slender column, stood a white,
wing-spanned dove. A tapered lit candle was the crowning finishing
touch and strongly reflected the people-the invited “Pillars of the
Prelacy”-who came to give their financial and moral support to the
Prelacy and the many Prelacy programs that contribute to the glory
of the Armenian Church.
The arrival of Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan as the honored guest
allowed everyone to engage in personable and pleasing conversation
with His Eminence.
Rev. Fr. Gomidas, the pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, welcomed
everyone and invited Peter “Doc” Bedrosian, Chairman of the Board,
and Hagop Khachadourian, a member of the Prelacy’s Executive Council,
to address the guests.
Archbishop Oshagan, offered his words of welcome and thanks to the
hosts and explained in detail the importance of the stewardship
fund appropriately entitled, “Pillars of the Prelacy.” His Eminence
elaborated on the significance of the Sunday school, the Armenian
school, the St. Gregory of Datev Institute, the Siamanto Academy, the
Orphan Sponsorship program in Armenia and Artsakh, and the important
task of recruitment and training of clergy candidates. All of these
programs benefit from the annual commitment made by the Pillars.
Because the Armenian Church is the traditional keeper of our Christian
ministry and the guardian of our national culture, these youth-oriented
programs must not only continue but also expand to meet the growing
needs of our community, the Prelate said. The Pillars agreed that the
Prelacy is the heartbeat of the community and needs and deserves the
support of all of the faithful.
The following individuals from the Providence community are proud
to stand tall as a “Pillars of the Prelacy:” Roxanne Arzoomanian,
Peter ‘Doc’ and Oppie Bedrosian, Ray and Gladys Boornazian, Aram Der
Manuelian, Mary Fermanian, The Hon. Aram and Jane Garabedian, Elyse,
Louise and Rosette Garabedian, Azarig and Liz Kooloian, Eddie and Liz
Kopoian, Everett and Rose Marabian, Varkis and Lillian Markarian,
Vark and Lynn Markarian, Charles and Irene Matoian, Anto and Carol
Mesrobian and Children, Souren and Sally Mouradjian, Mark and Nancy
Nahigian-Tavitian, Ara and Maggie Nalbandian, Vahe and Hermine
Oharonian, Raffi and Lucy Rafaelian, Harout and Anoush Taraksian,
Harry and Agnes Toumasian, Joyce Yeremian, Ramon and Sonya Zorabedian.
Current Digest of the Post-Soviet Press
September 29, 2004
SOCHI COMPACT. — Russia Casts Its Vote for President of Abkhazia.
Kommersant, Aug. 31, 2004, p. 9. Condensed text of first and complete
text of second of two items:
(By Alla Barakhova in Sochi and Vladimir Novikov in Tbilisi). —
Moscow has made its choice for the presidential election in Abkhazia,
set for Oct. 3. On Sunday evening [Aug. 29], . . . Russian President
Vladimir Putin, who was vacationing in Sochi, met with Abkhaz Prime
Minister and presidential candidate Raul Khadzhimba. In Tbilisi,
officials saw the meeting as indicating that, for all practical
purposes, Moscow has recognized Abkhazia’s independence.
Mr. Putin’s visit to Sochi’s Dagomys Hotel, which is about a
30-minute drive from Bocharov Ruchei, the president’s Sochi
residence, was portrayed as an impromptu occurrence. The head of
state was accompanied by just a few bodyguards and a small group of
reporters. . . .
Vladimir Putin . . . sequestered himself with Raul Khadzhimba in
the Panorama Cafe, on the Dagomys Hotel’s 22nd floor.
Members of the Kremlin administration have declined to comment on
what the Russian president and Abkhaz premier discussed at the
meeting. According to the official account, the parties discussed
“matters relating to cooperation between Russian and Abkhaz veterans’
organizations.” Unofficially, however, Kremlin spokesmen have
acknowledged that the meeting was directly connected to recent
developments in Georgia. It may be recalled that, one week ago,
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said in an interview in the
French newspaper Liberation that Georgia was “on the brink of war
with Russia.” At the same time, mass protests were being held in
Georgia in front of the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi. The Russian
leadership was particularly outraged by slogans that were projected
onto the building and that read, “Putin is a liar” and “The
double-headed eagle is a two-faced birdie.” In connection with these
actions, the Russian Foreign Ministry sent a protest note to the
Georgian leadership, and the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi was even
forced to suspend its operations for a time. . . .
A source in the Kremlin administration told Kommersant that the
meeting between Putin and the Abkhaz prime minister at the Dagomys
should serve as a “lesson in peaceableness” to the Georgian
president. The source added, “If we wanted to destroy Georgia, all we
would have to do is switch off the gas. End of story.”
Messrs. Putin and Khadzhimba left the Dagomys together around 8
p.m., to the sound of applause from vacationers [who had gathered in
front of the hotel]. . . . Kremlin officials conceded later that that
“lesson” might not find much favor with Mikhail Saakashvili, who has
repeatedly voiced his intention to reassert Georgian control over
Abkhazia. According to the Kremlin, however, technically he has no
grounds for complaint, since no political statements were made at the
meeting.
In Tbilisi, reports of the Sochi meeting between Putin and
Khadzhimba set off shock waves. Members of the Georgian Parliament
whom a Kommersant correspondent asked for comment were bewildered,
and even said initially that the reports were disinformation, “since
Vladimir Putin could not possibly have taken such a step.” Officials
at the Georgian Foreign Ministry told Kommersant they were studying
reports of the meeting between the Russian president and the Abkhaz
prime minister, and that an official response might come later. . . .
In the absence of Georgia’s president [who was away in Athens], the
chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament, Nino Burdzhanadze, commented
on the meeting between Putin and Khadzhimba. After expressing
puzzlement at the very fact the meeting took place, she posed a
question: Does this mean that Russia recognizes Abkhazia’s
independence and the legitimacy of a presidential election that will
be held “in the absence of two-thirds of Abkhazia’s population?”
[Burdzhanadze was alluding to the Georgian refugees who fled during
the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in 1992-1993. — Trans.] She promptly
answered her own question: Russia would find itself the only country
in the world taking the Abkhaz election seriously. “Along, perhaps,
with Belarus,” Ms. Burdzhanadze added, correcting herself.
Our sources in Tbilisi confirm that during the Putin-Khadzhimba
meeting, one of the matters discussed was that of reestablishing rail
links. As long ago as last year, Putin and [former Georgian
President] Eduard Shevardnadze agreed on the need to open a
through-traffic rail line from Russia through Abkhazia and on to
Tbilisi and Armenia, but the Georgian side linked the issue to a
return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia’s Gali District, which was
inhabited almost exclusively by Georgians prior to the war. Tbilisi
and Sukhumi have deep disagreements over this matter. And that is why
no decision on restoring full-scale rail connections has been reached
as yet. Nevertheless, all indications are that a Sukhumi-Moscow route
will start operating at full capacity in the near future, first for
freight trains and later for passenger service.
Overall, the meeting between the Russian president and the Abkhaz
prime minister indicates that the Kremlin has cast its lot with Mr.
Khadzhimba in the upcoming presidential election in the unrecognized
republic. The Abkhaz prime minister is supported not only by the
“party of power,” but also by the republic’s incumbent leader,
Vladislav Ardzinba, who will not be running in the election. Mr.
Ardzinba is seriously ill and is quitting the political arena,
although he remains a very respected figure in Abkhazia, since he
symbolizes Sukhumi’s victory in the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1993
and Abkhazia’s secession from Georgia. The Abkhaz leader’s top aides
believe that Raul Khadzhimba will continue Mr. Ardzinba’s policies.
As does Moscow, apparently.
* * *
What’s at Stake. (By commentator Gennady Sysoyev). — Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with the prime minister of
Abkhazia, a candidate for president of that unrecognized republic,
had nothing to do, of course, with discussion of the social welfare
of Great Patriotic War veterans, as the official protocol reads. The
meeting was immediately taken as a sign of Moscow’s direct support
for Mr. Khadzhimba’s candidacy in the coming election. Abkhazia is a
tiny republic, so the news that its premier had met with the
president of Russia would presumably spread to the whole population
in minutes, and everyone would know which candidate to support on
Oct. 3.
This is all undoubtedly true. But the real import of the meeting at
the Dagomys Hotel lies much deeper. By arranging the meeting, Moscow
clearly indicated that it views Abkhazia as, at the very least, a
zone in which it has special interests. And there are a great many
reasons for this.
Abkhazia is traversed by a road that connects Russia with Armenia,
Moscow’s chief ally in the Transcaucasus. Not far from the Abkhaz
city of Gudauta is a strategically important air base that
specialists describe as unique: Takeoffs of military aircraft from
this base are virtually undetectable by NATO radar installations in
Turkey. In addition, the Russian president’s southern residence,
Krasnaya Polyana, is situated on the Psou River within 10 kilometers
or so of the unrecognized republic’s border, and Abkhaz leaders
regularly remind Moscow that the moment Georgia regains political
power in Sukhumi, a NATO observation and listening post will go up in
that same area along the banks of the Psou. Finally, Moscow has
financial motives for keeping Abkhazia within its zone of influence
as well: Over the past few years, Russia has acquired a considerable
amount of real estate in the unrecognized republic, and the drumbeat
of statements from Georgian politicians about reviewing privatization
outcomes in Abkhazia once Tbilisi reestablishes its rule there is
compelling Moscow to do everything it can to prevent Tbilisi from
doing so.
But that’s still not all. Moscow would like to preserve its
influence with Georgia, since in view of its strategic partnership
with Armenia, this would give it control over the Transcaucasus as a
whole. And retaining its influence in Tbilisi is something Moscow
expects to do primarily through preserving its control over Abkhazia.
Formally, Moscow is unlikely to question the territorial integrity
of Georgia, which officially includes Abkhazia. And so Abkhazia is
unlikely to become part of the Russian Federation. But there is no
need for it to do so. From Moscow’s point of view, it is sufficient
that virtually all the residents of Abkhazia hold Russian
citizenship. This, Moscow considers, gives it the right — at the
very least — to keep Abkhazia under its special care.
Georgia could, of course, take umbrage at this and resume drawing
parallels between Abkhazia and Chechnya. It might ask, as Georgian
Defense Minister Georgy Baramidze did, why it is that when Russia
defends its borders, it’s entirely within its rights, but when
Georgia tries to do the same, it’s engaging in aggression. To all
such objections, it would appear that Moscow has a ready answer:
There are no Georgian citizens in Chechnya, and the Abkhaz aren’t
blowing up Georgian airliners.
Russia electricity holding could enter Afghanistan – Chubais
28.09.2004
MOSCOW, September 28 (Itar-Tass) – The Unified Energy Systems of
Russian (EES Rossii) could enter Afghanistan’s energy system via
Tajikistan, the chief of the national electricity utility, Anatoly
Chubais , said.
He told a news conference on Tuesday that “this will be possible in
case of the implementation of our projects in Tajikistan, to which
three to ten years are given.”
Chubais stressed that “Afghanistan is even now receiving electric
energy from Tajikistan that is in turn connected to Russia”.
“We are seriously analysing grid projects for Afghanistan,” he said.
Chubais did not rule out that the EES Rossii could join China’s energy
system in prospect.
“At present this topic sounds hypothetically, but it could become a
reason for serious talks in a year,” Chubais said at the conference
Russia: Investment in the Economy of Growth.
“China is now present in discussions of our plans, even though Iran
sounds in them far more often, which, one the one and, works in a
synchronous regime with Azerbaijan and, on the other, with Armenia,”
Chubais said.
He added that he could probably hold talks in Iran soon.
As for other operations of EES Rossii abroad, Chubais said “large-
scale projects could appear in the nearest time in Tajikistan and
Kyrgyzstan”.
He admitted that talks on the Russian company’s buying a 50 percent
stake in Kazakhstan’s Ekibastuz hydroelectric station were difficult,
but were nearing completion.
Besides, “we have got positive results in Georgia”.
“Despite the most acute political events, our business in this country
is developing positively, and the Georgian leadership on the whole
has been able to find a sound approach to solving this issues,”
Chubais said.
He expressed hope that the coming winter in Georgia, whose energy
system EES Rossii owns, would go without failures of the energy and
heat supply.
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 27, 2004, Monday
ARMENIA’S DEFENSE MINISTER AND BRITISH AMBASSADOR SIGNED A MEMORANDUM
ON COOPERATION IN THE DEFENSE SPHERE
Armenia’s Defense Minister Serzhik Sarkisyan and UK Ambassador to
Armenia Thorda Abbott-Watt signed a memorandum on mutual
understanding and cooperation in the defense sphere on Friday.
As reported by the press service of the British embassy to Armenia,
the memorandum is aimed at developing the current nice relations
between defense ministries of both states. The document is supposed
to become the foundation for growing cooperation in the defense
sphere between both states. (…)
Last year the UK financed involvement of 16 Armenian servicemen in
various retraining courses abroad. The British Secretary of Defense
is also financing the English courses in the framework of the British
Council’s program on training the peacekeeping forces.
Translated by Andrei Ryabochkin