Author: Nalbandian Eduard

‘I am not an oligarch’, says customs chief

Azer News
19 May 05

Customs chief Kamaladdin Heydarov has dismissed a recent controversial
report published by Hesabat (Report) journal owned by ANS group of
companies that rated him as the wealthiest person among 30 other
well-to-do people in Azerbaijan. Heydarov said that a practice of
determining wealthiest people exists around the world, but it is
based on the declaration of income.

“No one has asked to provide such a declaration, therefore, calling
me an oligarch is nothing but a provocation.”

The customs committee chairman also refuted reports suggesting that
he is at odds with Economic Development Minister Farhad Aliyev.

“I am not in a confrontation with Farhad Aliyev. Such reports are
falsehoods made up by opposition newspapers.”

Heydarov told a press conference on Friday that media opposed to the
authorities deliberately publish ‘vile lies about his arch-foe rivalry’
with the Minister. “Me and the Minister do not take such publications
seriously and simply laugh at them.”

Touching upon some reports that he had allegedly beat up Health
Minister Ali Insanov in his own office, Heydarov said ironically:
“Just compare the physical shape of mine and that of Insanov.”

Heydarov continued that publication of such reports is not accidental
on the eve of the parliamentary elections.

“Always behind the scenes, these newspapers become more active only
on the eve of elections.”

The customs committee chairman expressed his confidence that such
publications are sponsored from abroad. The latter are trying to
split in the ruling elite and sully its public image, said Heydarov,
calling on those publishing such reports to give up slander and adhere
to a common national position.

Commenting on the recent survey by an international public research
center that attributed Azerbaijan to countries with under-developed
economy due to monopoly on certain imported products, the committee
chairman said: “We do not know who conducts these polls. No goods are
banned in Azerbaijan based on selection. These reports are nothing
but intrigues by pro-Armenian people who claim that we pose obstacles
to drawing businesspeople and investments to the country.”

Armenia, Azerbaijan should make major concessions to resolve Karabakh – US envoy

Arminfo
18 May 05

Yerevan, 18 May: All countries recognize territorial integrity as a
principle of international law. The USA is working with Armenia and
Azerbaijan to find a fair solution to the Karabakh conflict based
on this and other similar principles, the US ambassador to Armenia,
John Evans, has said in an interview with Yerkir newspaper.

He said that the sides would have to make significant compromises
to resolve the issue. At the same time, he pointed out that the
international community is not inclined to enforce solutions but is
ready to facilitate any fair and reasonable solution that is acceptable
to the two sides.

The US government welcomes the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group aimed
at finding a solution that is acceptable to both sides. A solution
to this issue will help step up security and promote the economic
development of all involved sides, the US diplomat said.

Evans said that the USA also calls for the establishment of
Armenian-Turkish relations and opening of borders.

RA NA SPEAKER AND ITALIAN TERRITORIAL MINISTER ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO FOUNDATION OF “ITALIAN HOUSE” IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Problems of cooperation between
Armenian and Italian regions were discussed at RA NA Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian’s May 18 meeting with the delegation headed by Mr. Enrico
La Loggia, Italian Territorial Minister. It was mentioned that besides
the provinces of Venetto, Toscana, Friuli Venice Julia, there is an
opportunity and potential for economic, scientific-cultural contacts
between other Italian provinces and Armenian regions, which isn’t used
yet. According to RA NA Press Service, the importance of foundation of
the “Italian House” in Armenia was mentioned. The agreement concerning
its foundation was achieved during RA NA Speaker’s official visit
to Italy. The geographical similarity of the 2 countries enables to
implement joint programs, especially in mountainous regions, and during
the meeting the sides made an agreement, according to which, Italian
Territorial Ministry’s experts will arrive in Armenia for the purpose
of exchanging legislative experience and working out certain programs.

Source: International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC)

Date: 18 May 2005

Armenia: Annual Appeal No. 01.76/2004 Annual Report

In Brief

Appeal No. 01.76/2004; Period covered: January – December 2004

Appeal target: CHF 780,182 (USD 656,167 or EUR 503,830)

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals:

Armenia Annual Appeal 2004. For details, please see the website at

Armenia Annual Appeal 2004 – Programme Update no.1. For details,
please see the website at

Armenia Annual Appeal 2004 – Programme Update no.2. For details,
please see the website at

Overall analysis

To help the Armenian Red Cross achieve its objectives, as laid down
in the appeal 2004, the Federation raised CHF 1,226,269. The main
donors were the Norwegian Government, the Norwegian Red Cross,
Japanese Red Cross and the Federation’s Capacity Building Fund. The
big advantage was that there were funds available – 631 per cent of
the appeal budget – from the beginning of the year to start most of
the planned activities. Additional funds – CHF 70,000 – arrived from
the Federation’s Capacity Building Fund in April 2004. The Norwegian
Red Cross allocated another CHF 376,000 in June 2004. In December
2004, a further contribution of CHF 93,500 arrived2 increasing the
appeal coverage to 157 per cent.

This was more than the Federation appealed for 2004. The income
exceeded the total appeal budget. There are two issues, however, that
should be considered: firstly, the funding was not evenly distributed
among all the projects; while some received over 100 per cent of what
was required, others – the integrated management of childhood
illnesses, first aid and population movement, for instance – did not
have any income. These projects have not received support from
partners. As a result some of the important activities were not
implemented. The Armenian Red Cross has been trying to fill the gap
through bilateral partnerships, establishing contacts with in-country
organisations, national agencies and businesses, but the funds raised
locally have not been sufficient to cover the needs.

Secondly, the excessive contribution has been accepted with the
provision that the balance, CHF 412,983, will be carried forward to
2005 to cover the continuation of activities until the end of May
2005. Hence, the percentage of the expenditure, if calculated against
the income, is low (66 per cent) although the implementation and
consequently, spending, in general, followed the plan of action as
designed from the outset. If we look at the expenditure vis-à-vis the
budget, it stands at 104 per cent.

Table 1. Appeal budget, income and expenditure per each project

Programmes/Projects Appeal budget (CHF)
Total income (CHF)
Appeal coverage (%)
Expenditure (CHF)
Expenditure (% of the income)
Expenditure (% of the budget)
Balance (CHF)

Health and Care programme 186,793
236,055
126.3
171,790
72.8
92
64,263

Prevention of HIV/AIDS 40,549
55,276
136
30,486
55
75
24,790

Prevention of TB 14,465
30,080
207
12,986
43
85
17,0933

Social services for vulnerable people 131,779
150,699
114
128,318
85
97
22,380

Disaster Management programme 207,668
168,345
81
119,063
71
57
49,281

Disaster preparedness and response 142,361
168,345
118
119,063
71
84
49,281

First Aid 30,265
0
0
0
0
0
0

Population Movement 35,042
0
0
0
0
0
0

Humanitarian values programme 20,001
51,352
257
32,314
63
162
19,0374

Humanitarian Values 20,001
51,352
256
32,314
63
162
19,037

Organisati onal development programme 365,716
686,400
188
411,949
61
113
274,449

Branch development 194,478
356,265
183
215,973
61
111
140,291

Financ ial management and development 39,020
69,948
179
44,278
63
113
25,670

Youth development 132,218
260,187
197
151,698
58
115
108,488

Field Management –
84,114
–
78,165
93
–
5,948

Total 780,182
1,226,269
157
813,286
66
104
412,983

Despite funding gaps, the Armenia n Red Cross had remarkable
achievements in 2004: about 30,000 children (10,000 more than in
2003) were reached with messages on HIV/AIDS. Another 60,000 children
and their teachers were educated on disaster preparedness. Over
31,000 lone pensioners, refugees and orphans were provided with
social and health care.

Progress has been made in strengthening the National Society
capacities too. The Red Cross is better prepared now for disasters.
Its response teams have demonstrated that they can be quick and
effective. The teams responded to a number of alarm calls, many of
which were about car accidents and fire. National Society regional
branches work better as well. They have stronger links with the local
population and have implemented responsive and relevant programmes.
Measures have been taken to improve volunteer management too. The Red
Cross has a viable plan on how to reorganise its structure so that it
can recruit more volunteers, better manage and retain them. Financial
management has also improved because procedures are now clearer and
more transparent.

Challenges, however, remain. The most acute one is how to ensure
sustainability in the environment of dwindling international support.
The national society has to continue to provide better services and
explore more local funding sources to break with the recent tradition
of external support that is set to decrease. It needs to priorit ise
its work according to pressing needs and the capacity of the Red
Cross, strengthen links with the communities, and improve planning
and marketing. These are the issues that emerged in a recent
self-assessment. The National Society has started addressing them,
but more needs to be done. The Federation is committed to support the
Armenian Red Cross in achieving its objectives. Its support strategy
for 2005 has been designed to help the member national society
confront the remaining challenges in a consistent way (for more
details , see the Federation’s Appeal 2005 at

Footnotes:

1 CHF 490,115, the balance from the 2003 operation, was carried over
to support the continuation of projects in 2004.

2 According to the internal procedures in the Federation, CHF 93,500,
a donation from the Norwegian Red Cross, was channelled through the
2004 accounts, although the amount was earmarked to support the
projects in 2005. Hence, the amount was registered as an income of
the 2004 appeal increasing the appeal coverage. If we deduct the
December income from the equation, the appeal coverage would stand at
145 per cent.

3 The amount will be reallocated to PAM 537, prevention of HIV/TB
project.

4 The amount will be reallocated to PAM 540, the population movement
and PAM016, branch development projects to support the publication of
a brochure on the Red Cross work and public awareness campaign on
human-trafficking.

For further information please contact:

Anna Eghiazaryan, secretary general of the Armenian Red Cross, email:
[email protected], phone: +374 1 538367, fax: + 374 1 583630.

Gun Raikkonen, Federation representative in Armenia, email:
[email protected], phone: + 374 1 539443; + 374 1 539217; fax: + 374
1 539217.

Sylvie Chevalley, regional officer, Europe department, Federation
Secretariat, Geneva email: [email protected] phone: 41 22 730
4276; fax: 41 22 733 03 95.

The International Federation’s mission is to improve the lives of
vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. The Federation
is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of
volunteers are active in over 181 countries. All international
assistance to support vulnerable communities seeks to adhere to the
Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in
Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE Project. Please access the
Federation’s website at

Full report (pdf* format – 530 KB)
(*)Get Adobe Acrobat Viewer (free) 

–Boundary_(ID_mgPDhtRgAVpar+uh+fdE7g)–

MAMEDYAROV HAS LIED

A1plus

| 16:26:55 | 18-05-2005 | Politics |

“How do you evaluate the latest meeting of the Armenian and Azeri
Presidents within the framework of the Warsaw Summit? And what
would you say about the announcement of the Azeri Foreign Minister
Elmar Mamedyarov that “Armenia is ready to return the occupied 7
territories, the only problem is time?”, these questions were asked
by the journalist of “ArmenPress” to the RA Foreign Ministry Press
Secretary Hamlet Gasparyan.

-The Armenian side evaluates the meeting of the two Presidents in
Warsaw positively. It was another step towards the settlement of
the Karabakh conflict. The meeting of the Presidents gives us the
possibility to continue the discussion on the level of Ministers
within the framework of the Prague process.

The Warsaw meeting has also been positively evaluated by the
international community, in particular, by the countries of the Minsk
group co-chairs. They are already working on the organization of a
further round of negotiations.

As for the announcements of the Azeri side about the return of the
territories, they absolutely do not correspond to the reality.

Int’l attention to Nagorno-Karabakh problem may help solve it

16.05.2005, 20.54

WARSAW, May 16 (Itar-Tass) – International attention to the problem
of Nagorno-Karabakh may help solve it, Azerbaijan’s President Ilkham
Aliyev said on Monday, addressing the meeting of the Council of Europe
in Warsaw.

He said Azerbaijan “is ready for a compromise, for granting a high
level of autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring security of the
citizens of the region.” Baku and Yerevan, Aliyev believes, “may
achieve progress regarding the territorial integrity of our country.”

“We demand the restoration of the territorial integrity,” Aliyev
said. “In the 21st century it is impossible to remain in the
situation when one member-country of the Council of Europe occupies
the territory of another country.” Meanwhile the Azeri president noted
that Baku “is heartened by the approach of the Council of Europe to
the matter.” He believes it is possible to achieve a peaceful solution
by the implementation of the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe that was passed in January of this year.

Aliyev noted, “The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh led to large loss of
life, to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, to
the violation of one of the principles of the Council of Europe – human
rights.” “The European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe should give more attention to
the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh that destabilizes the situation in the
Caucasus and is an obstacle to Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe,”
Aliyev said. “We are for a peaceful settlement of the conflict and we
fulfil all the obligations we assumed entering the Council of Europe,”
he said.

Zaman, Turkey
May 14 2005

Ocalan Should be Retried, but…

ERHAN BASYURT
05.14.2005 Saturday – ISTANBUL 16:37

Turkey’s sentence has been finalized by the European Court of Human
Rights (ECHR) one more time. It has been confirmed that the head of
the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization, Abdullah
Ocalan, did not receive a fair trial and that he was denied his right
to defense.

Turkey being sentenced in such an important case, in which the eyes
of the whole world were on us and the ECHR path was open for us, is
“dishonorable” for our legal system. It has been witnessed once again
that the basis of property justice was not maintained at the
appropriate level, according to the criteria of the European
Convention on Human Rights.

For sure, the political dimensions of the decision taken can be
discussed. Among members of the Grand Chamber, which has 17 judges,
there is one Armenian, one Greek and one Greek Cypriot. But in the
voting on the violation of the right to defense, it is reported that
Turkish judge Riza Turkmen also voted against Turkey. That is to say,
besides politics, there were also issues of negligence, limitations
that are not legal.

The ECHR is an interesting point in which globalization has dragged
Turkey into. It can be considered as a period of protecting the
independence the judiciary and its supervision over above
nation-states. Among judges who heard the Ocalan appeal, were a
member each from East bloc countries such Georgia, Poland and Ukraine
and from countries like Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Britain,
Germany, France, Spain and Ireland. The decisions they made bind
Turkey. To be more precise, if Turkey does not carry out a fair
trial, most probably, it will come face to face with double pressure
from the European Council and European Union (EU). As in the [Titina]
Louzidou case, sooner or later, Turkey will be left with no choice
but to implement this decision.

It would be more appropriate for Turkey, with self-confidence, to
take appropriate steps and ensure the perfect realization of justice
rather than act under pressure from Western countries and the EU.
Even if the person to be retried is a blood-stained terrorist, he
must be able to exercise his right to defense as stipulated by the
law. The ECHR decision makes no comments on the punishment given to
Ocalan anyway. It also admits that there was no negligence in the
detention conditions. Therefore, the best thing to is take over this
new trump card Ocalan has in hand and then sentence him to the
punishment he deserves with a fair trial.

Hence, the PKK can be stopped from using the ECHR decision as a
verdict of “innocence” and exploiting it for terrorist activities.
There are claims that the terrorist organization has imported
something like 750 kg. of C-3 and C-4 explosives, into the country
recently. The terrorist group using these explosives as blackmail,
for “its leader to be granted a fair trial,” can also be blocked.

It wouldn’t be the right method, as the opposition claims, to try
hinder retrial attempts by the Ministerial Committee of the European
Council. Since the negligence in defense determined by the ECHR about
the procedure cannot change the decision relating to the case itself,
ways of escaping should not be sought but rather ways of making
amends. It is possible for the retrial of Ocalan to be exploited by
some circles but it makes no sense for the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) to act so defensively over a period that has nothing to
do with the party itself.

Finally, the Ocalan verdict is only one of the thousands of decisions
the ECHR has made on Turkey. Ankara has experienced shocks because of
flawed trial decisions in many verdicts so far. Furthermore, huge
sums have been paid as compensation to those wronged. Instead of
constantly giving political messages and triggering a crisis, those
at the top of the Turkish judiciary should try to introduce methods
that would clear up this bad image on the Turkish legal system. Then
neither the citizens nor the big guns in the judiciary would need to
take refuge in the ECHR as a last resort.

It should not be forgotten that what harms Turkey is not the retrial
of Ocalan, but our legal infrastructure which lays the foundation for
this.

A1plus

| 20:07:30 | 11-05-2005 | Politics |

RA NA PRESIDENT – SUPPORTER OF CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACHES AND CONSENSUS

RA NA President Arthur Baghdasaryan received PACE Monitoring Committee
speakers Eji Jaskernia and George Kolumbie.

During the meeting issues about the course of meeting the commitments taken
upon by Armenian before the PACE were discussed. By the request of Mr.
Jaskernia Arthur Baghdasaryan referred to the Constitutional amendments and
the referendum mentioning that the National Assembly adopted the coalition
draft constitution by the first hearing, where numerous offers of the Venice
Committee were taken into account. He also said that before the second
hearing everything will be done to correspond the draft to the demands of
the time. It was also mentioned that before the second hearing in June in
Yerevan the draft will be discussed with the COE experts once more.

As for the referendum date, it was mentioned that the beginning of fall is
the best date, so that people can get acquainted with the draft during
July-August and form their opinion about it. The adoption of the Electoral
Code was also found important.

As for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict RA NA President Arthur
Baghdasaryan said that Armenia has a constructive approach, accepts the
necessity of compromise and is ready to continue peaceful negotiations.

AZG Armenian Daily #085, 12/05/2005

Karabakh diary

ARTYSAKH CELEBRATES 3 ANNIVERSARIES

The 9 of May is celebrated in Artsakh as a day of 3 anniversaries. This is
the day of victory in Great Patriotic War, day of Shushi liberation and day
of creation of Nagorno Karabakh defense army. To put it pathetically, those
who liberated Shushi were led by the same spirit that led their grandfathers
to seize Berlin. That is perhaps true as Shushi’s liberation was a legendary
heroism. It’s not accidental that that very day is marked as the day of
creation of Artsakh defense army: only a regular army could organize and
perform such an operation that the Armenian forces did. Shushi marked the
beginning of further military success in Nagorno Karabakh war with the
finally ceasefire in May 12 1994.

On the occasion of these anniversaries, the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh
organized a number of arrangements. At a meeting in Stepanakert on May 8,
the NKR President gave state awards to WW II veterans as well as
participants of Shushi liberation. People laid flowers to the monument of
the first tank that entered Shushi, to the monuments of Nelson Stepanian and
Vazgen Sargsian. Holy liturgy was served at Surp Amenaprkich church of the
town.

A concert organized by local groups and groups from Armenia and a firework
in the Square of Revival followed in the evening of May 9.

By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

Armenian general, Karabakh leader discuss army building

Arminfo
11 May 05

YEREVAN

The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR], Arkadiy
Gukasyan, and the chief military inspector of Armenia, Col-Gen Gurgen
Dalibaltayan, today discussed prospects for developing cooperation
between the Armenian and NKR armies.

The meeting, which was also attended by the NKR defence minister,
Lt-Gen Seyran Oganyan, discussed army building in Armenia and Nagornyy
Karabakh, the main informational department under the NKR president
told Arminfo new agency.