Author: Kharatian Ani

BISNIS Outreach in Pittsburgh, PA on July 22, 2004

BISNIS
June 21, 2004

Please Note: You are receiving this message as a BISNIS client located
in or close to PPittsburgh, PA as you may have an interest in meeting
with our representatives from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Ukraine
and Washington, DC. To modify your profile, please see instructions
at the end of this email.

Center for Russian and East European Studies,University of Pittsburgh
and the U.S. Department of Commerce – BISNIS

With the support of

U.S. Commercial Service, Pittsburgh Office
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

Invite you to a seminar

Exploring Eurasia: A Fresh Look at Armenia, the Kyrgyz Republic,
Moldova, and Ukraine – Export and Investment Opportunities

WHEN: Thursday, July 22, 2004
8:45 a.m. Registration
9:00-10:30 a.m. Presentations
10:30-12:30 p.m. One-on-One Meetings

WHERE: University of Pittsburgh
4D 56 Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

MARKET TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED:
· Industries Sectors to be Covered: IT, Telecommunications, Construction, Agribusiness, Pharmaceuticals/Medical, Consumer Goods, and Banking/Finance.
· Countries Covered: Armenia, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Ukraine
· Presentations: Speakers will provide executive briefings on the business climate in their countries, and present trade and investment leads, as well as information on promising projects. A Q&A session will follow the presentations, and then an opportunity for one-on-one meetings with individual BISNIS representatives.
· Introductory remarks: Dr. Bob Donnorummo, Associate Director, Center for Russian and East European Studies,University of Pittsburgh, Lyn Doverspike, Director, U.S. Commercial Service, Pittsburgh Office.

For more information and to register, contact:
Desi Jordanoff, BISNIS
tel: 202-482-2709
email: [email protected]

Check Requested One-on-One Appointments: £ Armenia; £ Kyrgyzstan; £ Moldova; £ Ukraine
(Appointments shall be subject to availability.)

REGISTER DEADLINE: July 19, 2004!

Number of people attending Names of attendees

Company
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Phone: _____________________ Fax: __________________ E-mail: __________________________

WHAT IS BISNIS?
BISNIS (), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, was founded in 1992 to assist in the economic development and transition of the countries of the former Soviet Union by helping U.S. companies to export to and invest in the region. BISNIS has 20 representatives posted throughout Eurasia, including 11 in Russia. In addition, BISNIS has 10 trade specialists in Washington, DC. BISNIS mainly assists U.S. and Eurasia companies by identifying and disseminating trade and partner leads, preparation of regional overviews, commercial news updates, and industry reports, counseling U.S. companies interested in entering Eurasian markets, and referrals to U.S. government programs as well as sources of financing and other resources. Since 1992, BISNIS has helped U.S. companies generate over $3.2 billion of export and investment transactions. In FY03 alone, BISNIS facilitated transactions exceeding $204 million. In 2002, 2003, and 2004, BISNIS was recognized by Forbes Magazine as
“One of the Best of the Web” for information on Eurasia. The BISNIS website gets over 1 million hits per month.

PROGRAM SPEAKER PROFILES
· Desi Jordanoff has joined BISNIS in Washington, DC as an International Trade Specialist in May 2004. She currently serves as country manager for Ukraine, Russia-Urals, and Turkmenistan, covers the Medical Equipment and Services; Consumer Goods; and Tourism and Hospitality sectors for all of Eurasia. She previously worked as an International Trade Specialist at Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Pittsburgh, PA and provided consulting and export assistance to small and mid-size companies in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Ms. Jordanoff holds a MBA degree from Katz Graduate School of Business and a Master of Public and International Affairs degree from GSPIA, University of Pittsburgh. Her Bachelor of Science is in Economics from the University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria. As a native of Bulgaria she speaks English, Russian and Bulgarian.

· Asel Sulaimanova – BISNIS Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic
Ms. Sulaimanova has worked for BISNIS in the Kyrgyz Republic since late 2002. Before joining BISNIS, she worked both in the private sector and for international donor institutions. Specifically, she was Project Manager for the European Union Program “Small and Medium Business Development” and an international consultant for several Asian Development Bank projects in the Kyrgyz Republic. Her commercial experience has been gained through working for several foreign companies doing different businesses in the Kyrgyz Republic. She graduated from Kazakh State Economic University in Economics and later received an MBA from the Bishkek International School of Management and Business in 1995.

· Andriy Vorobyov – BISNIS Representative in Ukraine
Andriy Vorobyov has worked for BISNIS in Kiev since October 2000. He has a background in agriculture, having graduated from the National Agricultural University of Ukraine. His previous work experience includes agribusiness and food processing, and work for the Department of Foreign Economic Relations at the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture. His recent reports for BISNIS have covered the Ukrainian Construction Sector, Trade and Project Financing in Ukraine, Customs Procedures in Ukraine, and overviews of several Ukrainian regions. Last year, Mr. Vorobyov accompanied a delegation of 25 Ukrainian companies to the International Builders Show in Las Vegas, and he has organized a number of U.S. Product Literature Centers at the largest Ukrainian trade events, including construction, automotive, food processing, pharmaceuticals shows.

· Iulian Bogasieru – BISNIS Representative in Moldova
Iulian Bogasieru joined BISNIS in December 2000. His previous experience includes working with the Moldovan Agency of Enterprise Restructuring ARIA as a consultant for three years on World Bank and European Union projects. His responsibilities were analyzing markets and providing turnaround management consulting for Moldovan businesses. Mr. Bogasieru graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies, Chisinau, Moldova, with bachelor degree in foreign economic relations. He speaks English, Russian, Romanian and Italian. Among his achievements as BISNIS representative, he organized three catalog shows of U.S. products in Moldova, which resulted in U.S. export contracts.

· George Isayan – BISNIS Representative in Armenia
George Isayan has represented BISNIS in Yerevan, Armenia, since January 1998. During 1989-1992, he worked in Armenia’s Chamber of Commerce as the head of business information department. In 1992-1997, Mr. Isayan worked at a private export-import company in Prague, Czech Republic, covering the company’s financial issues. As BISNIS representative, Mr. Isayan accompanied delegations of Armenian companies at Comdex IT show in Las Vegas (2000), BILISIM IT show in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2001, International Builders’ Show in Dallas, Texas, in 1999 and 2000, and SviazExpoComm ICT show in Moscow, Russia, in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Mr. Isayan speaks Russian, Armenian, English, Czech, and Arabic fluently.

FEATURED COUNTRY OVERVIEWS

Armenia

Area: 29,800 sq. km. (11,500 sq. mi.); Population (est.): 3 million; GDP growth rate: 13.9% (2003)
Natural resources: Copper, zinc, gold, and lead; hydroelectric power; small amounts of gas and petroleum.
Agriculture: fruits and vegetables, wines, dairy, some livestock.
Industry: chemicals, electronic products, machinery, processed food, synthetic rubber, and textiles.
2003 Trade: Exports–$678.1 million (81.3% to countries outside CIS): diamonds, scrap metal, machinery and equipment, brandy, copper ore. Export partners–Belgium, Israel, Russia, U.S., Iran. Imports–$1.269 billion (73.6% from countries outside the CIS): natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds. Import partners–Russia, Belgium, Israel, Iran, U.S.

Approximately 70 U.S.-owned firms currently do business in Armenia, including such multinationals as Procter & Gamble, M&M-Mars, Xerox, Dell, and IBM. Recent major U.S. investment projects include the Hotel Armenia; the Hotel Ani; Tufenkian Holdings (carpet and furnishing production, hotels, and construction); several subsidiaries of U.S.-based information technology firms, including Viasphere Technopark, an IT incubator; a Greek-owned Coca-Cola bottling plant; petroleum exploration by the American-Armenian Exploration Company; jewelry and textile production facilities; a large perlite mining and processing plant; and the joint venture Jermuk, which produces one of the more popular brands of mineral water in Armenia.

Recent BISNIS efforts have facilitated U.S. sales to Armenian private firms of medical diagnostic equipment and construction materials equipment, as well as the signing of an exclusive dealer contract between Ford and an Armenia company.

Kyrgyz Republic

Area: 77,181 sq. mi; Population: 5.03 million: GDP Growth Rate: 6.7% (2003)
Natural Resources: coal, oil, natural gas, antimony, gold, tungsten, tin, mercury, uranium, zinc, lead, rare earth metals, copper, iron, bauxite, hydropower, water resources.
Agriculture: Tobacco, cotton, wheat, vegetables and fruits, berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool.
Industry: small machinery (electric motors, transformers); light industry (cotton and wool processing, textiles, food processing), construction materials (cement, glass, slate), shoes, furniture, mining, energy.
Trade (2003): Exports–$548 million: Cotton, wool, meat, precious metals, minerals, textiles, tobacco, hydropower, machinery, footwear. Partners: Switzerland, Russia, United Arab Emirates, China, U.S. 7.9%, Kazakhstan. Imports: $601 million: oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs. Partners: Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, China, US, Germany, Netherlands.

Major foreign investments: Hyatt Regency Bishkek Hotel (renovation), Metromedia International (cable TV venture), Marvel worldwide Ltd. (80 % of VLKSM Garment Factory), WimmBillDann (dairy, juices), Kumtor (gold mining), Coca-Cola (bottling), Philips (light bulb manufacture & equipment), Malaysian Company (semiconductor production plant)

Recent BISNIS efforts have facilitated establishment of an office in Bishkek for a small U.S. firm seeking contracts with the U.S. airbase in the Kyrgyz republic – the company has already won one tender and has additional projects in the pipeline for FY04, sales of restaurant equipment to Kyrgyzstan, assistance to a U.S. company to set up production in the Bishkek free economic zone.

Moldova

Area: 33,843 sq. km. (13,000 sq. mi.); Population: 4.4 million: GDP real growth (Jan.-Sept. 2003): 7.0%
Natural Resources: Lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone.
Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, wine and spirits, grain, sugarbeet, sunflower seeds, meat, milk, tobacco.
Industry: Processed foods and beverages, including wine and refined sugar; processed fruit and vegetable products, including vegetable oil; dairy and meat products; tobacco items; metal processing and production of machinery; textiles and clothing, shoes; furniture.
Trade (2003): Exports $790 million (of which 46% go to countries outside the former Soviet Union): foodstuffs, wine, tobacco, textiles and footwear, machinery, chemicals. Major export markets: Russia, Ukraine, Italy, Romania, Germany, Belarus, Spain. Import: $1,34 billion (of which 61% come from countries outside the former Soviet Union): gas, oil, coal, steel, mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemical products, textiles, foodstuffs, automobiles, and other consumer durables. Major suppliers: Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Germany, Italy.

U.S. companies active in Moldova include McDonalds, FoodPro International, Food Master International, Coca-Cola, Trans Oil Invest, Europharm, MetroMedia International, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, KPMG, Caterpillar, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Proctor & Gamble, John Deere, General Electric, and Apple Computer.

Recent BISNIS efforts have facilitated sales of U.S. telecommunications equipment and medical diagnostic equipment to Moldova, as well as assisted in the development of ties between North Carolina and Moldova and supported efforts of OPIC and TDA to find projects for possible financing.

Ukraine

Area: 603,700 square miles; Population: 48 million: GDP real growth (2003 est.): 5.5-6.0%
Natural resources: Vast fertile lands, coal, ironstone, complex ore, various large mineral deposits, timber
Agriculture: Products–Grain, sugar, sunflower seeds.
Industry: Types–Ferrous metals and products, coke, fertilizer, airplanes, turbines, metallurgical equipment, diesel locomotives, tractors.
Trade (2003): Exports–$18.1 billion: Ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, mineral products, chemicals, machinery, transport equipment, grain, and textiles, food products. Major export partners: Russia, Italy, Turkey, Germany, China. Imports–$23.58 billion: Energy, mineral fuel and oil, machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, and paper. Major importers: Russia, Germany, Turkmenistan, Poland, Italy.

More than 300 U.S. companies are represented in Ukraine. Among the major U.S. companies are: Apple Computer, Avon Cosmetics, Automobile Group (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hummer), Bechtel National, Inc., Citibank, Colgate-Palmolive, General Electric, Kraft foods Motorola, Monsanto, Mary Kay Ltd.

Recent BISNIS efforts have facilitated sales of U.S. machinery and machine tools, as well as medical, printing, and telecommunications equipment to Ukraine, as well as creation of joint projects in the financial services sector.

FOR HIGH LEVEL ELECTIONS

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
June 6 2004

Consultation was held at the government of NKR with the
participation of the government members, government agencies, heads
of municipalities, chairmen of regional and town election committees.
The consultation was conducted by the prime minister of NKR Anoushavan
Danielian. The participants of the consultation listened to the report
of the chairman of the NKR Central Election Committee S. Davtian
on the preparation and holding of elections to municipalities. He
emphasized that the aim of holding a consultation together with
the NKR government is to organize the elections on a high level, in
correspondence with the law currently in force and the international
standards. Stressing the importance of fair and transparent elections,
S. Davtian said that they expect competent and unbiased work of
the persons involved in the organization of elections. According
to S. Davtian, of the 242 communities in 9 elections will not take
place because the term of office of the heads of communities and the
community councils is not over yet. For the same reason elections to
the heads of 42 communities and elections to community council in 10
communities will not take place either. There is one question referring
to the nomination of candidates that requires further clarification:
certain heads of communities and nominees still owe tax debts to the
tax department. It was considered adequate to turn to the National
Assembly for this question. The nomination of candidates will take
place from June 19 to June 24 and the registration of the candidates
by the regional and town election committees will take place from
June 24 to July 19. Touching upon one by one the articles of the law
currently in force the chairman of the Central Election Committee
presented the order of drawing up the votersâ^À^Ù registers and
correcting them at the local election committees. The NKR Police
and the National Security Service were charged with maintenance of
order at all the polling stations, as well as organization of the
participation of prisoners in the election. The Ministry of Education,
Culture and Sport will through the efforts of teachers organize
speeches for the voters emphasizing the importance of the elections
in accomplishment of statehood. A number of problems connected with
finance were clarified. In reference to the election campaign the order
of paid service of the mass media was covered. It was mentioned that
election campaign will be carried out on the means of the foundation
for the candidates maintaining equal conditions for them. S. Davtian
thanked the newspaper “Azat Artsakh” for conscientious coverage of the
meetings of the Central Election Committee. Once again emphasizing
the importance of the elections to the municipalities and summing
up the results of the government consultation NKR prime minister
Anoushavan Danielian drew the attention of the participants to the
political aspect of the elections. He stressed that the elections are
in the center of attention of the NKR president and everything must
be done for the sake of high level of organization. “These elections
are to be different from the previous ones in transparency and high
level of organization. The economic sphere of the country is getting
improved gradually. The legislative sphere is formed. Therefore we
have all the possibilities to hold top-level transparent elections,”
said Anoushavan Danielian.

LAURA GRIGORIAN

An opposition party leader fatally shot in Azerbaijan

AP Online;
Jun 14, 2004

An opposition party leader, who was known for his bold military
exploits in the war over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, was fatally
shot early Monday in Azerbaijan’s capital, police said.

Fatulla Huseynov’s body was found by his neighbors outside his Baku
home, said Yashar Aliyev of the city police. Neighbors reported
hearing between four and six gunshots minutes earlier.

Aliyev said police did not yet have a motive or suspect.

Huseynov, 67, was one of the leaders of Azerbaijan’s opposition
Justice party. He also served as the vice president of Association
of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. He had previously worked in
Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry and headed the nation’s road police.

In 1992-93, Huseynov fought in Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic Armenian
enclave in Azerbaijan, where he earned the nickname the “black colonel”
for his unit’s military feats.

Azerbaijani forces were driven out of Nagorno-Karabakh, and a
cease-fire was signed in May 1994. But Nagorno-Karabakh’s final
status has not been resolved and firing sporadically breaks across the
“line of control” demilitarized zone that separates Azerbaijani and
Armenian forces.

ANOTHER POLITICAL PRISONER RELEASED FROM JAIL

A1 Plus | 18:07:52 | 10-06-2004 | Politics |

Republic party member Ashot Zakaryan charged with hooliganism,
disorderly conduct and defying the police order was freed right from
the courtroom on Thursday.

He was sentenced to one year’s probation. It means he will be under
police supervision for one year.

The court session lasted two hours. The prosecution offered to sentence
the accused to a year in jail while the defense side demanded to find
Zakaryan innocent and release from detention.

MAP BUILDS MODERN BUTCHERY

ArmenPress
June 9 2004

YEGHEGNADZOR, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS: A butchery that will comply with
US and European standards is being built in Yeghegnadzor, in the
vicinity of ARID Goat Breeding and Research Center with the support
of USDA Marketing Assistance Project (MAP).

According to Sos Avetisian, a public affairs officer of the MAP,
the refrigerating room and other auxiliary facilities, also two
shops, one for processing the hide and the other for butchering are
ready. There is also a special window for visitors who can watch the
entire production process of the butchery. A US experts is invited to
teach local specialists European methods of operating a butchery. The
butchery’s capacity will be around 3,000 goats a year. MAP is planning
to build another five such butcheries.

The ARID Center houses imported purebred goats from the United
States. These purebred goats are crossed with native Armenian goats
to obtain a crossbred animal with increased milk production. This
improved milk production increases village farmers’ financial incomes
and provides the milk necessary for goat cheese factories to make
exotic goat cheeses that are exported abroad.

Le Figaro, France
08 juin 2004

Bruxelles est devenue La Mecque du lobbyisme;
Les parlementaires européens sont l’objet des sollicitations de 15
000 professionnels des groupes d’intérêts qui ont pignon sur rue

Bruxelles : de notre correspondant Pierre Avril

Dans son journal de bord, destiné à ses électeurs du Lancashire, le
Britannique Chris Davies s’enthousiasme : «Bruxelles est bourrée de
lobbyistes». A quelques heures d’une délibération capitale relative
à des directives sur les déchets et les cosmétiques, ce membre de
la commission de l’environnement s’amuse à recenser les groupes
d’intérêts qui, en une après-midi, ont défilé dans son bureau : le
fabricant d’électroménagers Electrolux, le constructeur informatique
Hewlett-Packard, le Bureau européen de l’environnement, le département
britannique du Commerce, la Société pour la prévention de la cruauté
faite aux animaux, l’Association des industriels du cosmétique… «Ici,
ce n’est pas comme à Westminster où c’est toujours le gouvernement
qui gagne», écrit-il. Ce parlementaire britannique ne sait pas si
bien dire. Dans cette Mecque du lobbying qu’est devenue Bruxelles,
les rapports de force sont inversés. Environ 15 000 professionnels y
ont pignon sur rue, un petit peu moins qu’à Washington. Quelque 4 647
personnes sont directement accréditées auprès du Parlement européen,
ce qui fait environ 8 lobbyistes par député. Même la puissante
Fédération européenne de l’agroalimentaire (CIAA) en convient :
«Le problème des parlementaires, c’est qu’ils sont submergés»,
explique son directeur général, Raymond Destin. Le Parlement est
devenu la cible privilégiée des groupes d’intérêts. «Depuis dix ans,
son poids dans les institutions s’est accru de manière considérable»,
observe Bruno Dupont, président du cabinet de «conseil» Euralia,
et l’élargissement amplifiera le phénomène.

Les députés et leurs assistants – siégeant dans les commissions
à caractère économique – ne sont plus les seuls à faire l’objet
d’intenses sollicitudes. Rapporteur de la commission des Affaires
étrangères sur la Turquie, le français Alain Lamassoure (UMP) fut
par exemple, en 2001, soumis à une intense pression, à la fois des
Arméniens, soucieux que son rapport fasse de la reconnaissance du
génocide une condition préalable de l’adhésion du pays, ainsi que des
lobbies turcs, très actifs sur Internet. Ces derniers ont finalement
gagné la partie : le rapport du député conservateur fut plutôt
favorable à Ankara. Le vote, en 2002, d’une résolution recommandant
la légalisation de l’avortement fut également l’objet d’une féroce
bataille entre lobbies libéraux et pro life. Parmi ces derniers, Euro
Fam décortique, sur son site Internet, chacun des votes à caractère
«sociétal» effectué par les 626 députés, avant de lui attribuer une
cote, au regard des critères défendus par l’association. Dans le camp
français, le souverainiste Georges Berthu y est ainsi le mieux noté,
tandis que Pervenche Bérès (PS) est classée bonne dernière. Les
Français, qui occupent peu de postes influents, restent moins
courtisés. Ces derniers sont par exemple sous-représentés au sein
du Kangaroo Group, le premier think tank intergroupe, d’inspiration
anglo-saxonne, dans lequel se côtoient parlementaires et industriels.
«Dans les trois quarts des dossiers, on se tourne vers eux en
dernier recours», explique un lobbyste français. A l’inverse,
les Britanniques, les Scandinaves ou les Allemands font l’objet de
toutes les attentions. A force de sollicitations, les parlementaires
donnent parfois l’impression de passer pour des hommes sandwiches,
s’accusant entre eux de «rouler» pour tel ou tel lobby. Spécialiste
des transports, l’eurodéputé de Hambourg Georg Jarzembowsky (PPE), par
exemple, est réputé très proche des milieux portuaires patronaux. Il
fut rapporteur d’un projet de loi remettant en cause le monopole des
dockers. La Française Jannely Fourtou (PPE), épouse à la ville du
président de Vivendi Universal, a également été rapporteur d’un texte
visant notamment à renforcer la lutte contre la contrefaçon des CD.
Les exemples de ce type abondent, faisant parfois apparaître d’évidents
conflits d’intérêts. Exemple, l’Allemand Elmar Brok (PPE) est rémunéré
par le géant des médias Bertelsmann. Ce dernier affirme qu’il ne prend
jamais part à un vote lié aux intérêts de l’entreprise. «Il a mauvaise
réputation», soulignent néanmoins plusieurs professionnels. Ces
pratiques sont parfaitement tolérées par le Parlement dès lors que le
député en question fait «une déclaration personnelle, circonstanciée
et complète de ses intérêts financiers». Ce registre est accessible
au grand public, mais, dans les faits, l’opacité reste la règle.

Bruxelles : de notre correspondant Pierre Avril

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

IN GENEVA AND IN PARIS

ANTELIAS, LEBANON – His Holiness Aram I as Moderator of the WCC will
chair the meeting of the officers at the headquarters of the WCC in
Geneva. After Geneva, His Holiness will travel to Paris to address
an inter-religious international conference. His Holiness Aram I and
His Highness Prince Hassan of Jordan are invited as keynote speakers
at this conference.

*********

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Ecumenical activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

M. Hollande exige la reconnaissance du génocide arménien

Le Monde, France
4 juin 2004

François Hollande, premier secrétaire du PS, et son homologue
arménien, Mourad Papazian, président de la Fra Dachnaktsoutioun,
ont signé, jeudi 3 avril, un texte commun appelant la Turquie à
reconnaître le génocide arménien. Les deux partis “réaffirment leur
profond attachement à une Europe démocratique et sociale, garante des
valeurs éthiques et morales dont les Etats membres se doivent d’être,
individuellement et collectivement, les dépositaires vigilants et
intransigeants”. “Dans cet esprit”, précise le texte, les PS français
et arméniens “considèrent que l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion
avec la Turquie est soumise au respect des critères de Copenhague
et de la résolution du Parlement européen du 18 juin 1987.” Parmi
ces critères, figurent les droits de l’homme et des minorités. Or,
“même si des réformes ont été adoptées par Ankara, elles demeurent
largement insuffisantes”, assurent MM. Hollande et Papazian qui
formulent “l’exigence” de la reconnaissance du génocide arménien.

Armenian president, Russian official discuss economic ties

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
3 Jun 04

Presenter over video of meeting Noticeable growth can be felt in
Armenian-Russian economic relations, the Russian co-chairman of the
Armenian-Russian economic cooperation commission, Nikolay Ryzhkov, said
at a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today. Ryzhkov
said that this growth was the result of cooperation between large
Armenian and Russian enterprises.

Ryzhkov said that the newly-established Armenian-Russian Business
Cooperation Association would be of great importance in deepening
economic relations.

President Kocharyan informed his Russian guests that the agreements
achieved during his recent visit to Moscow were being implemented
consistently.

Political analyst says Russia’s stand in Caucasus will weaken

AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 2 2004

Political analyst Vafa Guluzada was quoted as saying on Monday that
after Azerbaijan and Armenia sign a peace treaty, Russia will have
no influence on the two countries.

AssA-Irada — He underlined that the issue of influence is the key
reason for Moscow’s interest in the protracted Upper Garabagh conflict.
Guluzada said Russia will not bring investments and new technologies
into Azerbaijan and Armenia under pressure from the US and Western
European countries, and added that Armenia is likely to demand
withdrawal of Russian military contingent from its territory soon.

At the same time, the political analyst noted that official Moscow
will make attempts to bring pro-Russian forces to power in Georgia
and Azerbaijan.

“Russia hopes for weakening of the US stand worldwide and will
thus try to strengthen its own position in the Caucasus”, he said.
However, Guluzada said such attempts by Russia will be unsuccessful.
“The history never goes back,” he concluded.