Author: Kharatian Ani

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
June 6, 2005 Monday 6:49 AM Eastern Time

When bases pulled out, two brigades to be formed on Georgia border

By Yuliya Andreyeva, Alexander Konovalov

ST. PETERSBURG

After the withdrawal of the two Russian military bases from Georgia
two light mountain infantry brigades will be formed on the
Russian-Georgian border in support of the border guards to enhance
protection from terrorist penetrations, Defense Minister Sergei
Ivanov has told a news conference.

“The decision has been made already at all levels and billions of
rubles have been allocated for the creation of the two brigades,”
Ivanov said. “The military hardware will be different and all
personnel will be serving on contract.”

About the recent talks on the withdrawal of Russian bases Ivanov said
that “we must pull out the facilities within four years, by 2008.”

“It was not Russia, who created the bases there, and from the
military standpoint they have long lost their importance,” he said.

Over four years to come Russia will withdraw 2,500 personnel, 2,500
pieces of heavy military equipment, 80,000 tonnes of ammunition,
military assets and various cargoes.

Most military hardware will be removed by sea from the port of
Batumi, but some, redeployed to the Russian military base in Armenia
(in the town of Gyumri).

“There are clear flank restrictions (under the CFE treaty) and we
shall stick to them,” Ivanov said.

The Russian defense minister said the military equipment to be
relocated to Armenia will not be handed over to the Armenian side,
but deployed at the Russian military base.

“Georgia will take over all fixed assets vacated by the Russian
military,” Ivanov said.

7-9 ISSUES INCLUDED IN ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMs MEETING AGENDA

Pan Armenian News
04.06.2005 05:25

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the course of a meeting scheduled in mid-June
Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers Vartan Oskanian and Elmar
Mamedyarov intend to discuss 7-9 issues, the Azeri FM stated. In his
words, it is not known yet which of the European capitals the meeting
will be held in. When answering a question whether issues of stations
of part of the Russian military bases being withdrawn from Georgia
will be discussed at the meeting of the ministers, Mamedyarov noted,
“We have more serious questions to discuss.” Speaking of the coming
talks the Azeri FM said, “We have always said that the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan should be restored and the troops withdrawn
from the 7 regions. 7-9 issues are included in the agenda of the
negotiations. We know we will come to accord over some of these,
however others will remain open. We work for making positions over each
of the negotiated elements closer.” It should be noted that yesterday
the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that the Oskanian-Mamedyarov
meeting will be held in Paris June 18.

‘COOPERATION WITH USA AND NATO IS COMPONENT OF ARMENIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY’

AZG Armenian Daily #101, 03/06/2005

Cooperation

Serge Sargsian, RA defense minister, said during the meeting with
senator Norm Coleman that “though we don’t put the issue of membership
to NATO on the agenda of our foreign policy, the cooperation with
the US and NATO is a component of our national security.” Serge
Sargsian said that Armenia develops relations with both European NATO
member countries and the countries that are not the members of this
organization. Armenia cooperates in the military sphere with Russia
and other members of CSTO.

“The cooperation with NATO has increased for several times,”
Mr. Sargsian said. “I know that the efficiency of the Armenian armed
forces is quite high. I have talked with the defense-evaluating
specialists that have quite a positive opinion about the Armenian
armed forces. I come to realize what we need to do to develop the
Armenian-American relations,” Senator Coleman said.

New Turkish penal code prompts controversy
By Elitsa Vucheva

European Observer
02.06.2005

The new Turkish penal code, one of the reforms requested by the EU to
start membership talks with Turkey, entered into force on Wednesday
(1 June), but is already being criticised by opposition and media in
the country.

Journalists, in particular, believe that the new code is a menace
for them, as they feel it imposes rules threatening press freedom
and leaves the door open to arbitrary decisions, international
media report.

For example, if a journalist publishes a story on an on-going police
investigation, he or she can face imprisonment, according to the code.

Furthermore, criticism of a political figure can also lead to
imprisonment of journalists, as it may be interpreted as a personal
insult, AKI agency writes.

The minimum sentence for committing a crime “against a state official
because of his or her post” is one year of imprisonment.

And one of the articles of the code states that those who use the
media to spread propaganda against “fundamental national interests”
in exchange of material benefits from foreigners, risk up to 15 years
in prison.

According to Forbes agency, explanatory notes in the draft make it
clear that the article particularly threatens those who would raise
their voices in favour of the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus,
or those who would support the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

The penal code is part of key reforms Turkey has to undertake in order
to improve democratic and human rights in the country – a key demand
to start EU accession talks as planned, on 3 October.

In the beginning, the law was welcomed for introducing a more liberal
criminal justice system and improving the rights of women and children.

But some parts, such as those concerning the media, had forced
Ankara to delay the entry into force of the code, which was initially
planned for 1 April, in order to allow the parliament to make several
amendments.

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had then to approve the amendments
by midnight on Tuesday (31 May), which he did not do.

However, the code still took effect in its original form, despite
the president’s veto.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul argued that the code could enter into
force even without the president’s approval, as the main reforms
demanded by the EU were part of the code’s original version anyway.

“The issues of concern to the EU – in other words, provisions related
to the [EU] political criteria – have already been amended”, Mr Gul
was quoted as saying by Forbes agency.

Abdullah Gul argues that the code can enter into force despite the
president’s veto, as the main reforms demanded by the EU were part
of the code’s original version anyway.

RETURN OF TERRITORIES AGAINST STATUS

AZG Armenian Daily #099, 01/06/2005

Karabakh issue

Negotiation Process Develops in Two Directions: Withdrawal of Armed
Forces from Neighboring Regions of NKR and Future Status of NKR

After the meeting in Warsaw, new opportunities can be observed
in Nagorno Karabakh settlement issue. Vartan Oskanian, RA foreign
minister, said that there is an agenda in the current stage comprising
several issues that may well “turn into a package if progress if there
is progress in resolution process”. Vartan Oskanian stated that the
issues of NKR status and the return of the neighboring territories of
NKR, the rerun of the refugees, the security guarantees are mutually
connected.

RA foreign minister believes that the public discussion of certain
elements of the negotiation process may cause misunderstanding and
make harm to positive developments in negotiations, that were fixed
after the last meeting of RA and Azeri presidents. RA foreign minister
told this to a press conference.

After Kocharian-Aliyev meeting in Warsaw official Yerevan and Baku
made optimistic statements. The Armenian side states that certain
progress is fixed in the issue of NKR status, while the Azeri side
emphasizes the issue of 7 neighboring regions, stating that Yerevan
is ready to return them. It’s worth mentioning that Bernard Fassie,
OSCE French co-chair, stated that the negotiation process develops
in two directions, i.e. the withdrawal of the armed forces from 7
neighboring regions of NKR and the future status of NKR.

On May 26-27, the OSCE Minsk group met with Safar Abiyev and Elmar
Mamediarov, Azeri defense and foreign ministers, as well as with
Ilham Aliyev. Yuri Merzliakov, OSCE Russian co-chair, dwelt on the
positive impressions from the negotiations. Mediamax agency informed
that Merzliakov considered the meeting with Ilham Aliyev a very
important one.

“Our last visit to Baku was not an ordinary visit to the region,
we had the aim to meet with Azeri foreign minister. We are thankful
to Ilham Aliyev that he found time to receive the co-chairs. We had a
very interesting and important discussion that allows us to hope that
the process will undergo constructive development,” Merzliakov said.

If Yerevan and Baku, as well as the mediators express certain optimism
for the current stage of the settlement, Stepanakert differs in
its opinion. Touching upon the negotiations in Warsaw, NKR foreign
minister said that the process aroused great interest but the results,
“not a single visible progress was made.”

“The co-chairs state that there is a progress. The foreign ministers
believe that they may speak of a progress, but it isn’t clear yet
what progress they mean. Not a single preliminary agreement connected
with NKR issue can never be carried out without the content and the
participation of NKR people and its authorities. In this respect, we
should be calm and wait for the obvious results of the process. There
are no results yet. There are mutual optimistic statements that are
grounded, which is not bad,” Arman Melikian, NKR foreign minister said.

These statements can be commented in two ways. Yerevan sends signals
to the mediators through Stepanakert, according to which the position
of NKR people and authorities is a primary one in the settlement
process, or there are some contradictions in the positions of Yerevan
and Stepanakert in the methodology issue. At least, one thing is
clear that Karabakh has become an object in the settlement process,
i.e. an object for dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

By Tatoul Hakobian

2006 World Cup Qualifying Standings

.c The Associated Press

By The Associated Press

All Times EDT

NORTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA

AND CARIBBEAN

FINALS

Top three teams qualify

Fourth-place team advances to playoff vs. Asia fifth-place team

W L T GF GA Pts

Mexico 2 0 1 5 3 7

United States 2 1 0 5 3 6

Guatemala 1 1 1 5 3 4

Costa Rica 1 1 1 3 3 4

Panama 0 1 2 2 3 2

Trinidad 0 2 1 2 7 1

Saturday’s Games

At Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Panama at Trinidad and Tobago, 6:30 p.m.

At Salt Lake City

Costa Rica at United States, 7:30 p.m.

At Guatemala City, Guatemala

Mexico at Guatemala, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Monterrey, Mexico

Trinidad and Tobago at Mexico, 8 p.m.

At Panama City, Panama

United States at Panama, 9:30 p.m.

At San Jose, Costa Rica

Guatemala at Costa Rica, 10 p.m.

EUROPE

Group winners and top two second-place teams qualify

Other six second-place teams advance to European playoffs

GROUP ONE

W L T GF GA Pts

Netherlands 5 0 1 14 3 16

Czech Republic 5 1 0 14 5 15

Romania 4 2 1 12 8 13

Finland 3 3 0 13 10 9

Macedonia 1 4 2 7 9 5

Armenia 1 5 1 4 15 4

Andorra 1 5 1 3 17 4

Saturday’s Games

At Yerevan, Armenia

Macedonia at Armenia, 11 a.m.

At Liberec, Czech Republic

Andorra at Czech Republic, 11 a.m.

At Rotterdam, Netherlands

Romania at Netherlands, 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Teplice, Czech Republic

Macedonia at Czech Republic, 11 a.m.

At Constanta, Romania

Armenia at Romania, 1:30 p.m.

At Helsinki, Finland

Netherlands at Finland, 2 p.m.

GROUP TWO

W L T GF GA Pts

Ukraine 5 0 2 12 3 17

Greece 4 1 2 12 6 14

Turkey 3 1 3 13 7 12

Denmark 2 2 3 10 7 9

Albania 2 5 0 3 11 6

Georgia 1 3 2 8 13 5

Kazakhstan 0 5 0 2 13 0

Saturday’s Games

At Kiev, Ukraine

Kazakhstan at Ukraine, 12:15 p.m.

At Istanbul, Turkey

Greece at Turkey, 2 p.m.

At Tirana, Albania

Georgia at Albania, 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Almaty, Kazakhstan

Turkey at Kazakhstan, 11 a.m.

At Copenhagen, Denmark

Albania at Denmark, 2 p.m.

At Piraeus, Greece

Ukraine at Greece, 2:30 p.m.

GROUP THREE

W L T GF GA Pts

Portugal 4 0 2 21 4 14

Slovakia 4 0 2 18 5 14

Russia 3 1 2 13 10 11

Latvia 3 2 1 14 12 10

Estonia 2 3 2 10 14 8

Liechteinstein 1 4 1 9 16 4

Luxembourg 0 7 0 4 28 0

Saturday’s Games

At St. Petersburg, Russia

Latvia at Russia, 10 a.m.

At Tallinn, Estonia

Liechtenstein at Estonia, 11 a.m.

At Lisbon, Portugal

Slovakia at Portugal, 2:45 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Riga, Latvia

Liechtenstein at Latvia, 11:30 a.m.

At Tallinn, Estonia

Portugal at Estonia, 1:15 p.m.

At Luxembourg

Slovakia at Luxembourg, 2 p.m.

GROUP FOUR

W L T GF GA Pts

France 2 0 4 5 1 10

Israel 2 0 4 8 6 10

Switzerland 2 0 3 10 3 9

Ireland 2 0 3 7 2 9

Cyprus 0 5 1 4 12 1

Faeroe Islands 0 3 1 2 12 1

Saturday’s Games

At Toftir, Faeroe Islands

Switzerland at Faeroe Islands, 11:30 a.m.

At Dublin, Ireland

Israel at Ireland, 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Torshavn, Faeroe Islands

Ireland at Faeroe Islands, 2:30 p.m.

GROUP FIVE

W L T GF GA Pts

Italy 4 1 0 9 5 12

Norway 2 1 2 6 3 8

Slovenia 2 1 2 5 4 8

Belarus 1 1 2 9 6 5

Scotland 0 2 2 1 4 2

Moldova 0 3 2 1 9 2

Saturday’s Games

Glasgow, Scotland

Moldova at Scotland, 10 a.m.

At Minsk, Belarus

Slovenia at Belarus, 1 p.m.

At Oslo, Norway

Italy at Norway, 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

Scotland at Belarus, 1 p.m.

GROUP SIX

W L T GF GA Pts

England 5 0 1 13 3 16

Poland 5 1 0 19 5 15

Austria 3 1 2 11 8 11

Northern Ireland 0 3 3 5 13 3

Wales 0 4 2 5 11 2

Azerbaijan 0 4 2 1 14 2

Saturday’s Game

At Baku, Azerbaijan

Poland at Azerbaijan, 11 a.m.

GROUP SEVEN

W L T GF GA Pts

Serbia-Montenegro 3 0 2 10 0 11

Spain 2 0 3 8 1 9

Lithuania 2 0 3 7 2 9

Belgium 2 2 1 7 7 7

Bosnia-Herz. 0 1 3 3 6 3

San Marino 0 6 0 1 20 0

Saturday’s Games

At Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro

Belgium at Serbia-Montengro, 2:15 p.m.

At Serravalle, San Marino

Bosnia-Herzegovina at San Marino, 2:30 p.m.

At Valencia, Spain

Lithuania at Spain, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Valencia, Spain

Bosnia-Herzegovina at Spain, 4 p.m.

GROUP EIGHT

W L T GF GA Pts

Croatia 4 0 1 13 2 13

Sweden 4 1 0 17 2 12

Bulgaria 2 1 2 10 8 8

Hungary 2 2 1 6 9 7

Iceland 0 4 1 4 14 1

Malta 0 4 1 1 16 1

Saturday’s Games

At Sofia, Bulgaria

Croatia at Bulgaria, 11 a.m.

At Goteborg, Sweden

Malta at Sweden, 11:15 a.m.

At Reykjavik, Iceland

Hungary at Iceland, 2:05 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Reykjavik, Iceland

Malta at Iceland, 2:05 p.m.

SOUTH AMERICA

Top four teams qualify

Fifth-place team advances to playoff

W L T GF GA Pts

Argentina 8 1 4 24 12 28

Brazil 6 1 6 21 12 24

Ecuador 6 5 2 19 15 20

Paraguay 5 4 4 16 17 19

Uruguay 4 5 4 18 25 16

Colombia 3 5 5 12 12 14

Chile 3 5 5 12 14 14

Venezuela 4 7 2 14 20 14

Peru 3 5 5 15 16 14

Bolivia 4 8 1 15 23 13

Saturday’s Games

At Barranquilla, Colombia

Peru at Colombia, 4 p.m.

At Quito, Ecuador

Argentina at Ecuador, 5 p.m.

At Maracaibo, Venezuela

Uruguay at Venezuela, 8:10 p.m.

At Santiago, Chile

Bolivia at Chile, 9 p.m.

Sunday’s Game

At Porto Alegre, Brazil

Paraguay at Brazil, 3 p.m.

Tuesday’s Game

At Lima, Peru

Uruguay at Peru, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Barranquilla, Colombia

Ecuador at Colombia, 4 p.m.

At Asuncion, Paraguay

Bolivia at Paraguay, 7:15 p.m.

At Santiago, Chile

Venezuela at Chile, 8 p.m.

At Buenos Aires, Argentina

Brazil at Argentina, 8:45 p.m.

ASIA

FINALS

Top two teams in each group qualify

Third-place teams in each group advance to playoff

GROUP A

W L T GF GA Pts

South Korea 2 1 0 4 3 6

Saudi Arabia 1 0 2 3 1 5

Kuwait 1 1 1 2 3 4

Uzbekistan 0 2 1 3 5 1

Friday’s Games

At Tashkent, Uzbekistan

South Korea at Uzbekistan, 9 a.m.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Kuwait at Saudi Arabia, 2:05 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Kuwait City, Kuwait

South Korea at Kuwait, 1:45 p.m.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Uzbekistan at Saudi Arabia, 2:05 p.m.

GROUP B

W L T GF GA Pts

Iran 2 0 1 4 1 7

Japan 2 1 0 4 3 6

Bahrain 1 1 1 2 2 4

North Korea 0 3 0 2 6 0

Friday’s Games

At Tehran, Iran

North Korea at Iran, 10:35 a.m.

At Manama, Bahrain

Japan at Bahrain, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 8

At Bangkok, Thailand

North Korea vs. Japan, 6:35 a.m.

At Tehran, Iran

Bahrain at Iran, 10:35 a.m.

AFRICA

SECOND ROUND

Winners qualify

GROUP ONE

W L T GF GA Pts

Senegal 4 1 1 15 6 13

Togo 4 1 1 8 3 13

Zambia 4 1 1 8 4 13

Rep. of Congo 2 4 0 6 9 6

Liberia 1 4 1 2 13 4

Mali 0 4 2 4 8 2

Sunday’s Games

At Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Senegal at Republic of Congo, 10:30 a.m.

At Lome, Togo

Zambia at Togo, 11:30 a.m.

At Segou, Mali

Liberia at Mali, 1 p.m.

GROUP TWO

W L T GF GA Pts

South Africa 4 2 0 7 6 12

Cape Verde Islds 3 2 1 6 6 10

Ghana 2 1 3 7 3 9

Congo 2 1 3 6 5 9

Burkina Faso 2 4 0 6 8 6

Uganda 1 4 1 3 7 4

Friday’s Game

At Kumasi, Ghana

Burkina Faso at Ghana, 11 a.m.

Saturday’s Games

At Praia, Cape Verde Islands

South Africa at Cape Verde Islands, 1 p.m.

Sunday’s Game

At Kinshasa, Congo

Uganda at Congo, 10:30 a.m.

GROUP THREE

W L T GF GA Pts

Ivory Coast 5 1 0 13 3 15

Cameroon 3 1 2 9 6 11

Egypt 3 2 1 15 10 10

Libya 3 2 1 8 8 10

Benin 0 4 2 6 14 2

Sudan 0 4 2 3 13 2

Friday’s Game

At Tripoli, Libya

Ivory Coast at Libya, 1 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

At Cotonou, Benin

Cameroon at Benin, 11 a.m.

Sunday’s Game

At Cairo, Eqypt

Sudan at Egypt, 2 p.m.

GROUP FOUR

W L T GF GA Pts

Nigeria 4 1 1 9 2 13

Angola 3 1 2 5 4 11

Zimbabwe 2 2 2 6 6 8

Rwanda 2 3 1 5 7 7

Gabon 1 2 3 8 9 6

Algeria 0 3 3 2 7 3

Sunday’s Games

At Harare, Zimbabwe

Gabon at Zimbabwe, 9 a.m.

At Kigali, Rwanda

Nigeria at Rwanda, 10 a.m.

At Luanda, Angola

Algeria at Angola, 10:30 a.m.

GROUP FIVE

W L T GF GA Pts

Morocco 3 0 3 10 4 12

Kenya 3 2 0 8 10 9

Guinea 2 2 2 9 6 8

Tunisia 2 1 2 15 6 8

Botswana 2 4 0 5 11 6

Malawi 0 3 3 6 16 3

Saturday’s Games

At Gaborone, Botswana

Tunisia at Botswana, 9 a.m.

At Rabat, Morocco

Malawi at Morocco, 4 p.m.

Sunday’s Game

At Conakry, Guinea

Kenya at Guinea, 12:30 p.m.

05/30/05 13:49 EDT

VICTOR DALLAKIAN COMMNETS UPON US PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. US President George Bush’s statements
concerning assisting democratic movements with the help of the fast
response corpus do not relate to military structures. Viktor
Dallakian, the NA “Ardarutiun” (“Justice”) faction’s Secretary stated
this at the May 25 press-conference interpreting the statement made
the previous day in the Parliament. He mentioned that refusing the
fulfillment of power in Armenia with the help of powers from outside,
at the same time the “Ardarutiun” faction thinks that foreign
political developments can support the fulfillment of power. “If there
are countries which can assist democratic processes by information,
morally, etc., then I see no problem,” Dallakian stated. According to
the MP, by saying “the fast response corpus” President Bush means
missions of corresponding specialists, diplomats, journalists to this
or that country. As for the agreement about placing a fast response
corpus in Azerbaijan which was reached during the US Defence
Minister’s April visit to Baku, according to Dalliakian, this already
concerns the military structure which can not participate with
assistance to democratic processes in any country.

MAY 26 MORNING PREVIEW

Announcements

RIA Novosti (Moscow)
27/05/2005

MONTE CARLO — The World Entrepreneur of the Year final ceremony will
open in Monte Carlo (May 26-28). Winners of national entrepreneur
contests from 33 countries will participate in the finals. Among them
will be Ruben Vardanyan, the Troika Dialog president and winner of the
Russian Entrepreneur-2004 contest.

Pan Armenian News

BAKU NEGOTIATING WITH GEORGIA ON PREVENTING TRANSPORTATION OF RUSSIAN
MILITARY BASES TO ARMENIA

28.05.2005 03:03

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azerbaijani leadership is negotiating with official
Tbilisi on prevention of transportation of a part of Russian military
equipment to Armenia, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Georgia Ramiz Gasanov
stated, Trend Azeri news agency reported. In his words, the Azeri party
understands Georgia’s interest in the soonest withdrawal of the Russian
troops but their further destination is very important for Baku. `They
should not be quartered in Armenia. That is why we are negotiating with
Tbilisi on this issue’, the Ambassador said adding that presently the
movement of ammunition is under way. To note, the other day Chief of the
Russian General Staff Alexander Baluyevsky stated that the Russian military
bases will be moved to the territory of Russia while a part of weapons and
equipment – to Armenia. Over this fact the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has
sent a note to Russia.

AZG Armenian Daily #096, 27/05/2005

Diaspora

CHIRAC’S LETTER TO FRENCH ARMENIANS ON THRESHOLD OF REFERENDUM

In a letter to the boar coordinating the work of Armenian organizations of
France President Jacques Chirac confirmed that France will hold a referendum
to find out whether Turkey should enter EU or not even if the latter
discharges all obligations.

Chirac noted, according to Associated Press, that he knows about Armenian
community’s will to put Armenian Genocide acknowledgement as precondition
for Turkey’s accession.

President Chirac’s letter should not be considered accidental against a
background of RA foreign minister arguing that “the “No” vote would result
in the decreased role and influence of France in Europe, which would in turn
damage Armenia’s interests, as France is a defender and a proponent of
further strengthening of ties with Armenia”.

Views of Yerevan and Paris coincide in issues of Turkey’s integration to EU
and Armenian Genocide. President Kocharian and Chirac laid a wreath to the
monument of Komitas on April 23 during Robert Kocharian’s Paris visit.

By Tatoul Hakobian