Author: Nahapetian Lilit

Messenger.ge, Georgia
Tuesday, April 5, 2005, #061 (0835)

Saakashvili snubs Putin, welcomes Kocharian

Georgian president turns down offer to meet with Putin, Bagapsh, Kokoiti in
Sochi, says he has not decided on May 9 Moscow visit
By Anna Arzanova

President Mikheil Saakashvili

Mikheil Saakashvili said on Sunday that while no-one should be
surprised at his unexpected meeting with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian as neighbors can always hold talks without any prior
preparation, there was “no reason” for having spontaneous meetings
with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Appearing on Rustavi-2 late on April 3, Saakashvili said he had turned
down a proposal from Putin that the two meet along with the leaders
of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia Sergei Bagapsh
and Eduard Kokoiti in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, adding
that it was necessary to hold meetings with Baghapsh and Kokoiti,
but only in Tbilisi.

Saakashvili did not say when the meeting had been proposed. On March
16 the president stated he would be willing to hold similar talks in
either Batumi or Tbilisi.

On Sunday, the president added that he has yet to decide whether or
not to go to Moscow for the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe
in World War II. He said he was waiting for a final answer of Putin
regarding the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia.

“There really was an offer to hold a meeting in Sochi. As for
bilateral meetings, we want to hold such meetings, but our opinion
was that this meeting would only make sense if both sides negotiate
and discuss several concrete issues in advance,” the president stated.

He said that the country has moved on from the “old system” to a “new
system” where all state decisions are prepared scrupulously in advance,
envisaging the interests of the both sides, when there are no surprises
and excesses. Saakashvili thinks that all meetings should have results.

“Georgia is already a country and we will continue relations with
Russia and undoubtedly on a high level. But as for unexpected and
hasty meetings, we both understand that there is no reason for having
a meeting just for the sake of having a meeting,” Saakashvili said.

His comments were in stark contrast to those following his unexpected
April 1 meeting in Gudauri with Kocharian, a meeting which even his
own press service first heard about from journalists.

Following the meeting, Saakashvili explained that state formalities
were not always necessary. “We do not need ceremonies and political
limitations with our neighbors … Without any prior preparations we
can always visit and hold talks with each other.”

The president reiterated on Sunday that no-one should be surprised
by Kocharian’s visit. “It is not necessary to call each other two
weeks before if a neighbor wants to come for tea and to meet so as
to discuss any issues if there are any,” he said, adding that they
can visit each other unexpectedly.

Saakashvili stressed that they will always have something to discuss
with neighbors, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. Because, as he
explained, the countries are inter-connected and inter-dependent
and their lives interwoven. Furthermore, they face lots of common
problems, so that “it would be really foolish not to take advantage
of such links.”

Saakashvili refuted rumors that Vladimir Putin asked Kocharian to
come to Tbilisi. “Armenia is an independent state which has its
own interests. Armenia is our neighbor and its president as well as
political elite is well-disposed toward Georgia,” Saakashvili said.

Elaborating on this issue, the Georgian president stated that Georgia
is also very well disposed towards its neighbors as well. “If we
do not help each other, it will be very difficult for us to achieve
anything either at home or abroad. That is natural,” he added.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS GAREGIN II CONDOLED ON POPE’S DEATH

04.04.2005 07:16

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 3 Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II on
behalf of the Armenian Apostolic Church and its congregation sent
his condolences to the clergy and flock of the Catholic Church on
the death of PopeJohn Paul II. “During 26 years of reign His Holiness
John Paul II spoke out for protection of life and justice. His appeals
to establishment of peace and consent between nations were based on
his moral principles and love towards the humanity”, the message
says. John Paul II was the first Pope to have visited Armenia and
acknowledged the Armenian Genocide of 1915. A liturgy for the peace
of the soul of John Paul II was served in Holy Echmiadzin last Sunday.

Daily Star – Lebanon, Lebanon

Lebanese leaders to attend funeral of Pope John Paul II

Condolences to Christians pour in from across the Middle East
By Therese Sfeir
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, April 05, 2005

BEIRUT: President Emile Lahoud will attend the funeral of Pope
John Paul II in Rome as the head of a delegation to include Prime
Minister-designate Omar Karami, Speaker Nabih Berri and Deputy Speaker
Issam Fares, according to news reports Monday. Maronite Patriarch
Nasrallah Butros Sfeir is also to leave within the coming days to
attend the ceremony. Despite his participation in the last conclave
to elect a pope, Sfeir will not be taking part in the secret selection
process this time due to an age restriction for participation.

Meanwhile, condolences continue to pour in from across the Middle
East as prominent figures from all religions and walks of life pay
their respects to the late Pontiff.

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia issued a statement Monday saying:
“His Holiness Pope John Paul II will remain an outstanding figure in
the modern history of Christianity.”

It added: “His openness to other religions and his continuous advocacy
for justice, human rights and freedom made him an exceptional figure
of great achievements.”

The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas also conveyed its condolences to
the Christians in Palestine and the entire Arab world on the passing
of the Pope. In a statement issued Sunday, Hamas said it hoped that
the Vatican would follow in the late Pope’s path and continue to
champion the Palestinian cause.

It said: “We hope that the Catholic Church would always support our
people and our cause and would seek to defend Palestinian rights.”

Locally, Lebanon’s Economic Forum conveyed its condolences to the
Christians in the country and the Arab world on the death of the
pontiff.

Forum member Zouheir Khatib said Monday: “The pope had always called
for unity, supported weak countries and stood against the American
invasion of Iraq.”

Beirut MP Mohammed Qabbani echoed the words of many on Monday,
saying that John Paul II played a major role in opening dialogue and
promoting peace. Qabbani added that the Pontiff had “loved Lebanon
and considered it as an example of unity in the region.”

Zahrani MP Michel Moussa described the late Catholic leader as a
“white revolution in the Church, who promoted dialogue between the
different religions.”

The Lebanese Greek Orthodox League also conveyed its condolences to
the world’s Catholics, particularly to the Lebanese Catholic Church
on the death of Pope John Paul II.

In a Monday statement, it said: “The Pope was the advocate of truth
and the messenger of love and peace.”

In yet another statement issued Monday, outgoing Labor Minister
Assem Qanso said: “The death of the pope is a big loss to the world,
particularly to Lebanon and the East.”

He added that John Paul II had always stood against racism and launched
productive dialogue between the world’s three largest religions.

Baalbek-Hermel MP Hussein Husseini expressed his deep sorrow and said
the Lebanese will never forget the words of the pope when he said:
“Lebanon is more than a country, it is a message.”

FIRST LOAD FOR ARMENIA TO ARRIVE FROM KAVKAZ PORT TO POTI ON NIGHT OF APRIL 3

02.04.2005 04:03

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The train-ferry with 18 cars of grain destined for
Armenia will arrive from Kavkaz port (Russia, Krasnodar Territory) to
Poti port (George), Regnum news agency reported. In the words of the
chief of the Department of Railways of Armenia Ararat Khrimian, the
delivery of the load to Armenia via train-ferry is organized for the
first time within the latest 14 years. At present 11 out of the 29
cars of the Armenian load are in Kavkaz port ` it was possible to
transport only 18 cars at a time. It should be reminded that the
Agreement on opening the train-ferry passage between Kavkaz and Poti
ports was signed by Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin and
Georgian Minister of Economic Development Alexy Aleksishvili in
Tbilisi January 10, 2005. The parties also signed agreements on the
transportation rules and temporary rules of exploitation of the
passage. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries can use the
Poti-Kavkaz passage besides Russia and Georgia.

KOMITAS IS A DISCOVERY FOR US, MEMBERS OF SCOTLAND “RENAISSANCE” CHOIR SAY

YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Joint concert of “Renaissance” choir of
the Edinburth University and “Hover” (Cools) chamber choir will be
held in Yerevan Komitas Chamber Music House on April 3. Works of
Komitas, Marentsio, Ligetti and other composers, as well as Armenian
chamber music will be performed at the concert. “Renaissance” chor
arrived in Armenia on March 27, has already managed to have concerts
in Sisian and Nork Rest House of Yerevan. The choir is envisaged to
have concerts in Lori marz and Vayots Dzor. As Noel O’ Rigan, the
Artistic Director of “Renaissance” choir of Edinburth University
informed at the March 31 press-conference, they performed Komitas’
works for the first time in Armenia, but they are sure, the music of
Komitas will have great success in Scotland as well. “Komitas was a
discovery for us, and Armenian chamber music differs from one of other
nations,” N.O’ Rigan mentioned. “Renaissance” choir of the Edinburth
University participated in a number of international festivals. The
Artistic Director of the choir studies chamber music. In 1995 Noel O’
Rigan was awarded authoritative prize after Palstrina for studying
chamber music.

Russia’s Zhirinovskiy sees Azeri oil as barrier to Karabakh settlement

Ekho, Baku
30 Mar 05

Russian Deputy Speaker Vladimir Zhirinovskiy has said that Azerbaijani
oil is the major barrier to the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement. The
overall responsibility for the conflict rests with the former Soviet
leadership, he told Azerbaijani Ekho newspaper. Zhirinovskiy added
that Russia should be closely involved in the settlement. The
following is an excerpt from H. Hamidov’s report by Azerbaijani
newspaper Ekho on 30 March headlined ” There is the most stable
situation and strong authorities led by Ilham Aliyev in your country
among all other former Soviet Union countries” and subheaded “In an
exclusive interview with Ekho, the deputy speaker of the Russian State
Duma and LDPR leader supported a speedy solution to the Karabakh
conflict”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:

Over a month has elapsed since the deputy speaker of the Russian State
Duma and chairman of the Liberal Democrat Party of Russia (LDPR),
Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, came up with a sensational statement about
making Nagornyy Karabakh an equal member of the CIS. This kind of
statement naturally caused some resentment. Meanwhile, our public
failed to clarify reasons prompting Zhirinovskiy to make such a
statement. An Ekho correspondent has asked Zhirinovskiy to personally
comment on the statement which caused the uproar. However,
Zhirinovskiy avoided this question agreeing to answer others.

Karabakh

[Correspondent] I wonder what is your personal opinion (as a deputy
speaker of the Russian State Duma and a citizen of a neighbouring
state which has never entered a single union) on the Nagornyy Karabakh
settlement?

[Zhirinovskiy] I can say just one thing. It will play a positive role
for Azerbaijan irrespective of the decision to be adopted. This is
unambiguous. In my opinion, your main problem is oil. Had you had no
oil, you would not have had this problem. Direct and intensive talks
are needed at all levels.

[Correspondent] Might Russia play a substantial role in the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement? If yes, then how?

[Zhirinovskiy] The problem is close and familiar to Russia. We were
all together when the problem arose. The responsibility for such
problems rests with the former Soviet leadership and the former local
leaders. We support today a speedy solution to the problem, a stable
Caucasus and region as a whole. I see a resolution through intensive
direct talks and with the participation of Russia.

[Correspondent] To speak openly, the majority of your statements about
the South Caucasus region are pro-Armenian. What is the reason for
this? It seems particularly strange in view of the fact that you are
an Orientalist and Turkologist and you are well-informed about the
roots of many regional conflicts and problems.

[Zhirinovskiy] I disagree with this opinion in the first place because
I have friends in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Armenia openly supports
Russia in the South Caucasus. Armenia is also our partner in the
region. But we would like, of course, to have other partners in the
person of Azerbaijan and Georgia. Especially as the Caspian Sea
connects us.

Azeri-Russian ties

[Correspondent] Are there ethnic Azerbaijanis in your party? Could you
please tell us their number and the form of their activities?

[Zhirinovskiy] Yes, there are. It is difficult to give the exact
number. But I know that they are represented in regional organizations
and the LDPR top administration.

[Correspondent] What is your opinion about Azerbaijanis living in
Russia?

[Zhirinovskiy] I treat normally everybody who comes to Russia, who
invests in Russia’s economy and creates jobs. I have always been and
will be against those who are doing illegal business, are involved in
illegal trade in arms and drugs.

[Passage omitted: Zhirinovskiy has no plans to visit Azerbaijan soon]

[Correspondent] You are perhaps familiar with the internal political
situation in the republic. It has been often said recently that the
outcome of parliamentary polls in Azerbaijan this autumn will lead to
the next revolution in the post-Soviet area. Do you agree with this
opinion?

[Zhirinovskiy] I am not confident that the next revolution will take
place in your country after the parliamentary elections. There is the
most stable situation and strong authorities led by Ilham Aliyev in
your country among all other [former] Soviet Union countries.

[Correspondent] It is no secret that Azerbaijani-Russian relations
have been developing successfully recently. How do you see prospects
for these relations and what would you personally wish to see in these
ties?

[Zhirinovskiy] I support closer and more active cooperation. I am for
an inflow of Russian businesses in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani
businesses in Russia. I support double citizenship, recognition of
university certificates, etc. There are many fields where we could
expand our cooperation.

[Correspondent] What are your wishes to our people on Novruz?

[Zhirinovskiy] As far as I know, Novruz is a spring holiday. I wish
the Azerbaijani people the spirit of the spring, and clear and blue
skies. Nature and love wake up in spring and therefore, I wish you
more love and joy.

RUSSIA, AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY TO FORM ECONOMIC UNION

30.03.2005 05:02

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 29 President of the Azeri-Turkish Union of
Entrepreneurs Ahmed Erentok told journalists that the Confederation of
Businessmen of Eurasia will be founded in Baku in June, Yerkir daily
reports. The agreement was achieved during the sitting of the Council on
Foreign Affairs, which unites the business organizations in Turkey,
Russia and Azerbaijan as well as the Central Asian states. The sitting
participants also agreed on formation of the Eurasian Economic Union
(EEU). `It is time to proceed from bilateral relations to multilateral.
For Turkey it is an alternative before joining the EU, for Azerbaijan –
the possibility to use communication potential in the cooperation with
other states’, Mr. Erentok said.

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Armenian parliament holds hearings on Karabakh conflict settlement

Arminfo
29 Mar 05

Yerevan, 29 March: The two-day open hearings on ways of solving the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict organized by the permanent foreign
relations commission of the Armenian National Assembly are continuing
in the Armenian parliament today.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Armenian Defence Minister
Serzh Sarkisyan, representatives of the Armenian presidential
administration, representatives of Armenia’s parliamentary and
non-parliamentary forces, the foreign minister of the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic [NKR], Arman Melikyan, deputies of the Karabakh
parliament, heads of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in
Yerevan, scientists, as well as Armenian and Russian experts are
taking part in the hearings.

All those who spoke at today’s hearings stressed the importance of
conducting open and large-scale hearings in such an expanded format,
noting that such an event has been organized by a state agency for the
first time in 13 years. “We must be ambitious and seek to join the
European Union, however, on entry into the European family, we should
have no unsettled conflicts,” the speaker of the Armenian National
Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, said.

He said the role of parliamentary diplomacy is increasing day by day,
since three international interparliamentary structures – the OSCE,
NATO and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] –
are already discussing the Karabakh problem. He called on the
country’s political forces to disregard narrow party interests and
close ranks around the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

The head of the foreign relations commission of the Armenian National
Assembly, Armen Rustamyan, said that the hearings will make it
possible to clarify mechanisms of parliamentary diplomacy in order to
solve the conflict as soon as possible, generalize Armenia’s position
on this issue and clarify the place and position of Nagornyy Karabakh
in the negotiating process. Rustamyan also said that organizational
issues of the hearings had been discussed with Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan, who thought it expedient for the Armenian foreign
minister and the National Security Council secretary to present
Yerevan’s official position.

Dissatisfied with Rustamyan’s answer, representatives of the Armenian
opposition demanded that the head of state participate in the
hearings. The representative of the opposition Justice bloc, Shavarsh
Kocharyan, pointed out that it is necessary to draw up a national
concept for solving the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict based on the
self-determination of the NKR. As for the issue of returning the
Armenian-controlled territories, this issue should be solved only by
Nagornyy Karabakh while the democratization of Armenia and Nagornyy
Karabakh will guarantee a fair solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

The head of the commission on defence, national security and interior
issues, MP Mger Shakhgeldyan, spoke about the issue of determining the
NKR’s status and involving it in the negotiating process. The French
ambassador to Armenia, Henry Cuny, also spoke at the hearings and
noted the importance of such discussions, saying that the settlement
of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is only the prerogative of its
participants.

The French diplomat stressed the importance of a swift solution to the
conflict in order to ensure Armenia’s economic development and
integration into the international process.

Financial Times, UK
March 29 2005

Defections stir turmoil in Turkish parliament
By Vincent Boland in Ankara

Six Turkish MPs changed their party allegiance yesterday,
highlighting a brittle political atmosphere that has paralysed the
government and the opposition just as Turkey faces renewed European
pressure to prove that reforms are working.

One deputy resigned from the ruling Justice and Development party
(AKP), bringing to seven the number of the party’s MPs, including a
government minister, who have defected this year.

Five MPs quit the main opposition Republican People’s party (CHP),
which has been beset by a leadership challenge and by its failure to
offer an alternative to the listless government.

The shifting allegiances coincide with a period of unpredictable and
shifting public and political opinion in Turkey.

The chief manifestation of this mood is a rise in nationalist
sentiment. An opinion poll in the Islamist-oriented newspaper Zaman
on Sunday suggested that, while support for Turkey’s bid to join the
European Union was unchanged at 75 per cent, at least half of Turks
believed their country was “surrounded by enemies”.

Respondents had negative feelings for Israel, Armenia, the US and
Greece, and positive feelings for Germany and Azerbaijan.

The poll, conducted in mid-February, provides a reason behind the
fierce patriotic reaction last week to an attempt by three children
to burn the Turkish flag at a demonstration attended by many Kurds.
Yesterday in Ankara fewer flags were on show following an outburst of
flag-waving.

Critics say the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister,
has failed to capitalise on the goodwill it earned for getting the EU
to open accession talks next October. Instead it is struggling to
demonstrate to the EU that it has not lost the reforming credentials
that convinced Brussels to invite it to talks in the first place.

The defections have had only a slight impact on the balance of power
in the 550-seat parliament, where the AKP has 360 seats and the CHP
163. But commentators said there was evidence of a realignment of
political allegiance in Turkey that could influence the outcome of
the next general election, scheduled for 2007.

Mirac Akdogan, who quit the AKP for the centre-right Motherland
party, said the ruling party was “losing the legitimacy it gained by
winning the [2002] election.”

Analysts said the AKP was riven by infighting among reformists,
modernisers, Islamists and nationalists. But it is well ahead in
opinion polls, thanks to its good record on the economy.

The five MPs who left the CHP for a small centre-left party are
supporters of Mustafa Sarigul, a district mayor in Istanbul who
failed last month to oust Deniz Baykal, the party leader. Mr Sarigul
was expelled from the party on Friday.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan

Turkey to disclose Ottoman Empire archives

AssA-Irada 28/03/2005 12:43

Turkey will uncover archive documents of the Ottoman Empire on March 28,
head of the Turkish Senior Department on State Archives Yusuf Sarinay has
said.

The archive materials include official documents of the `Yildiz Sarayi’ (the
assembly of Ottoman sultans), as well as those of State Council, Interior
and Foreign Ministries.

The opening of over a million archive documents will clarify many historical
events, including the claims on the false `Armenian genocide’. The materials
will be available for employees of history institutes, analytical centers
and scientists. Appeals from foreign citizens willing to use the archive
materials will be answered within a day.