Author: Nalchajian Markos

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE
6 December 2004

Meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian left for Sofia on December
5th to take part at the 12th OSCE Ministerial Council.

The same day Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers took part
at the joint meeting with the participation of the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen.

At the meeting the parties discussed issues relating to current
stage of the negotiations over Nagorno Karabagh conflict, as well as
exchanged views on its perspectives of its peaceful settlement.

On December 6-7 Minister Oskanian will take part at the OSCE 12th
Ministerial in Sofia. At this forum the report of Bulgarian presidency
to be presented, the OSCE annual activity will be discussed and the
main directions of the ongoing programs will be outlined.

The speech of the Armenian Foreign Minister in the frame of the forum
will be delivered on December 7th.

On December 9 Minister Oskanian will arrive in Brussels to participate
in the EAPC Ministerial Council.

Karabakh ex-defence chief urges higher military preparedness

Arminfo
3 Dec 04

YEREVAN

The defence ministry of Nagornyy Karabakh should be working flat out
in order to carry out a worthy counter-strike if necessary, the former
commander of the defence army of [Azerbaijan’s breakaway] Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic, Lt-Gen Samvel Babayan, has told Iravunk newspaper.

The defence ministry of Nagornyy Karabakh should do its utmost to make
the enemy behave reservedly and give up its attempts to speak from the
position of force, he said. If the defence ministry of Nagornyy
Karabakh is able to ensure that, everything will move to the area of
politics. In separate cases, it is necessary to show society the real
capabilities of the defence ministry, not to wait for a war and
thousands of casualties and only then, to prove its ability to carry
out counter-strikes.

“We managed to end the war without the intervention of a third force
and should therefore manage to prevent it from resuming without a
third force,” Babayan stressed.

The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 3 2004

UDC increases imports from Armenia

The United Energy Distribution Company (UDC) has announced it has
increased the import of the electric power from Armenia with the
purpose of improving the power supply and changing the configuration
of electricity transfers to Georgia’s regions.
According to Prime News, the volume of the electric power imported
from Armenia would increase in peak hours from 51 megawatts up to
63,5 megawatts and will be distributed to Kvemo Kartli and
Samtskhe-Javakheti regions.

ArmenPress
Dec 2 2004

GEORGIA’S FIRST LADY VISITS CANCER CARE CENTER

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS: Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra
Roulof, who is visiting Armenia at the invitation of Mrs. Bella
Kocharian, Armenia’s First Lady, visited today the National Cancer
Care Center to learn if it could be replicated in Georgia.
Georgia’s First Lady spoke there also with a Georgian citizen, who
was operated at the center. Sandra Roulof said Georgian medical
authorities will seek the cooperation with Armenian counterparts in
order to create such a center in Georgia.
This is the second her visit to Armenia. She first came to Yerevan in
2001 when worked for the Dutch consulate. “Armenians and Georgians
live in the same region sharing a great deal of similarities and are
apt to build strong cooperation in all areas,” said the Dutch wife of
Georgia’s president.
Mrs. Bella Kocharian said she was greatly impressed by Roulof’s
loveliness and her sociability. She said Armenian doctors will gladly
share their experience with Georgian colleagues in early detection
and treatment of cancer.

ARCHEOLOGISTS COME ACROSS RICH FINDINGS IN CHURCH OF HANDABERD, NAGORNO
KARABAKH

Azg/arm
3 Dec 04

A group of archeologists from the Institute of Archeology within the
National Academy Sciences together with professors from Yerevan
Polytechnic Institute and Nagorno Karabakh state university carried
out excavations in the area of Handaberd monastery in Karabakh in
August of the current year. The undertaking was financed by the
Harutyunians from New Jersey, USA.

The major aim of the excavation was to prepare way for multifold
researches as well as to partially reconstruct the
monument. Historical documents inform that most of the buildings of
the monastery were built in 1276 AD by father Davit. Architectural
investigation indicates that the monastery was built around a
chapel. The monument differs from other classic Armenian churches with
construction methods and materials and allows the observers to
understand the architecture of 13-14th centuries.

As a result of the excavations there were found khachkars
(cross-stones), tombstones and documents dating back to 12-14
centuries. The found numerous pieces of inscriptions evidence that
literacy was widespread in Armenia. A khachkar with an engraved
horseman holding a spear in one hand and a goblet in the other is a
unique find. The examination of khachkars found in Artsakh show that
people of Artsakh always revered defenders of the motherland.

Stiffened pieces of stone found during the excavation were stated to
be flints after examinations carried out at the Archeological
Institute. The flint can be worked out only artificially and in high
temperatures. All the findings will be resting at the Archeological
till the end of the excavations and the construction of Karabakh’s
would-be museum.

Prepared by Ruzan Poghosian

T. TOROSSIAN: `FOREIGNERS JUDGE BY THE SITUATION’

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
02 Dec 04

The head of the Armenian delegation in the PACE, the vice speaker of
the National Assembly of Armenia Tigran Torossian expresses his
viewpoint on the draft report of David Atkinson, the new reporter on
Karabakh in the Political Committee of the PACE. Mr. Torossian, how
would you comment on the fact that Atkinson presented his draft report
without a single visit to the region. You had personally suggested him
visiting Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan and Mr. Atkinson accepted
your suggestion. However, he did not have any visits. Why? – I met
Mr. Atkinson in London on November 15 and told him we were
dissatisfiedas after his appointment as a reporter he has never had
any meetings in Karabakh, Yerevan, Baku. Moreover, he has not met with
the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group, as well as the delegates of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Whereas, he was offered to carry out
continuous work on the project. Besides, still at the September
meeting of the committee I proposed him to take into consideration my
suggestion made earlier in March, that is organize a round-table
meeting onthe issue with the participation of the representatives of
Nagorni Karabakh. By the way, Atkinson accepted my suggestion, whereas
Davis noticed with doubt that it would hardly be effective especially
that a similar attempt had been made already which, according to him,
failed. Although I tried to relieve their doubts saying that I would
guarantee correctness and willingness on the part of the participants
from Nagorni Karabakh and Armenia, and the rest was up to Azerbaijan,
of course, the meeting was not organized. Why was not this suggestion
accepted? Both during the meeting of the committee and the meeting
with Atkinson before that it became clear for me that there is,
nevertheless, a great wish to present the question at the January
session and there are no possibilities for changing anything. – The
Armenian delegation in the PACE managed tomake 7 changes in the draft
document. Nevertheless, during a press conference you mentioned that
there are still several points which are not favourable for Armenians.
I would like you to comment on these. – The wording to be argued
against are the following. In the first point there is a statement
that `separatist forces’ continue to control the territory of Nagorni
Karabakh. In fact, from the legal aspect this will not have any
consequences, however, it has a psychological aspect as well. Because,
as I have mentioned at the committee, this is an insult to the
Armenian nation, and especially the people of Nagorni Karabakh for
separatist forces may be at any place but they are usually few in
number. Whereas, the entire population of Nagorni Karabakh is
standing for the defence of its fair claim. This was proved by polls
of public opinion and the referendum, as well as the decisions made by
all the international organizations. Therefore, if this statement is
not changed, people will identify the Council of Europe with the
Soviet Union, which is not, of course, desirable. Another point states
that the Assembly reasserts that the independence and separation from
a state may be achieved only through a legal and peaceful process
based on the democratic assistance of the inhabitants of the given
territory and not through the wave of armed confrontation which
results in ethnic cleansing and de facto annexation of this area by
another state. The first part of this statement is obviously
favourable for us because the Karabakh movement began in exactly this
way, through democratic processes when the population of the area
expressed its opinion. At that time it was the decision of the
parliament of the region, the public opinion poll, many protest
meetings, and later the referendum for independence. That is to say,
the first part of the sentence is very important because if it is
maintained, we will later acquire basis for detailed presentation of
the matter and making our viewpoint fully comprehensible. In the last
part it is said, not through the wave of armed confrontation. Of
course, none of us wished an armed conflict. The settlement of the
problem through an armed conflict was attempted by Azerbaijan, and
everybody knows this. But there is a disagreeable mentioning of ethnic
cleansing and de facto annexation ofan area by another country. I
think, similar statements are disagreeable. My suggestion was putting
a full stop after the words `and not throughthe wave of armed
confrontation.’ Naturally, all the possible ways of omitting or
changing all the formulations that are not agreeable and favourable
for Armenia and improving the resolution should be put to use. But I
must also say that it will not be a tragedy if the resolution is
passed in its present form. -May we say that the report with all its
unfavourable points for Armenia will not have a practical effect upon
the settlement of the NK issue. – This document does not impose
anything. It may have a certain influence on the public opinion and
not more. After all, the practical in this resolution is the appeals
to Armenia and Azerbaijan to put an end to hostility, find ways of
cooperation, etc. That is to say, from the practical viewpoint there
is nothing dangerous there. On the contrary, I think, it may have only
positive results. For example, the document says that the
Parliamentary Assembly appeals to the Minsk Group co-chairmen to take
steps for conducting the free talks rapidly. Or, it is mentioned in
the resolution that efforts will be made to organize meetings in
Strasbourg where Nagorni Karabakh will also be represented. And I
think it will be more favourable for us. – Despite all the favourable
points enumerated by you the document is on the whole unfavourable for
Armenia. Whereas, in 1992 Atkinson presented a document of a
completely different character where it is statedthat the Armenians of
Karabakh cannot live within Azerbaijan taking into accountthe policy
of that country. What is, in your opinion, the reason for the changeof
standpoint 12 years later? – An important question, indeed. On
November 15 I, of course, presented that document to him and made
references to the document at the political committee. However, we
must take into account that the situation in 2004 is different from
the situation in 1992. That is to say, when Nagorni Karabakh was
bombed in 1992, almost everybody was beside Nagorni Karabakh because
what happened was really inhuman. And in your mentioned document it is
stated as well that Azerbaijan undertook a military aggression. And
there is even a question whether after all this it is correct to speak
about Nagorni Karabakh being within Azerbaijan. However important and
painful it is for us, we must recognize that foreigners judge by the
situation. And presently the so-called victim for them is neither
Karabakh, nor Armenia but Azerbaijan.- Actually, Azerbaijan has
completely changed its tactics replacing the role of aggressor by that
of a victim, the results of which are favourable for it.- What does
the Armenian side do? – Azerbaijan has adopted a new tactics. They try
to take certain steps in all directions, be active, get hold of
certain documents. However, no practical steps can be made in
reference to the problem. We must not forget that neither the PACE,
nor the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the UN are to solve the
problem. Everybody knows that the settlement will be sought for in the
framework of the Minsk Group. And I am sure that they tryto get to
these documents first of all for internal use. Because Ilham Aliev is
the son of Heidar Aliev but he is not Heidar Aliev. Of course, he
wants to have influence on his country in the way and to the extent
his father had and the best question to manipulate for this purpose is
the problem of Karabakh. After all, it is obvious that a lot of
falsifications are made to have certain influence on their people
inside Azerbaijan. Here are two small examples. The Azerbaijani side
had made only one change in the draft project, whereas the Azerbaijani
press wrote about 15 changes, which is utterly false. In October when
a resolution was adopted on the implementation of obligations by
Armenia and Azerbaijan, they wrote that the PACE had given strict
evaluation of the both countries whereas it referred to Azerbaijan
only. This is, I think, anotherwave from Azerbaijan. It is another
thing if Azerbaijan changes its tactics; we will also reconsider our
steps. I must say that Azerbaijan uses all its potential in this
direction and I do not think it is not possible to find good solutions
in this situation. It is not so absolutely. Life shows that when we
concentrate our possibilities and work efficiently the results do not
wait long. In this respect our delegation in the PACE needs wide
assistance. We already have an arrangement with the foreign minister
of Armenia Vardan Oskanian about assistance. And I hope that
everything will be done and we shall not have any obstacles for the
fair settlement of the problem of Nagorni Karabakh. â=80` The
oppositionist press in Armenia recently has been circulating the
viewpoint that under foreign pressure Armenia will make unilateral
concession of territories. What is your opinion? – There will never be
unilateral concessions because there is a principal question – how the
question will be solved, stage by stage or the package solution will
be chosen? The answer was given long ago. No one can concede anything
without seeing the aim. And in the case of Armenia I am sure that it
will not happen. And those who speak about pressure should rather do
real work displaying at home and abroad that in reference to the
problem of Karabakh among all the political forces in Armenia,
oppositionist or no, and generally among the Armenian nation, there is
unity.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
02-12-2004

RIA OREANDA
Economic News
December 1, 2004 Wednesday

Azerbaijan Let Cargo Trains Pass to Georgia

Moscow. Azerbaijan has opened border for cargo trains, was informed
at the customs department of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia.

For the time being, from 890 cars stopped on the border, Azerbaijan
party has let in only cars with gasoline. The issue on admission of
cars with diesel fuel should be solved soon.

We shall remind, in the end of last week, Azerbaijan has sharply
reduced transit of diesel fuel, flour, grain, liquefied gas and other
goods to Georgia in connection with fears that part of them gets to
Armenia.

ArmenPress
Nov 30 2004

HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: From 1988 to December 1, 2004,
304 HIV carriers were registered in the Republic of Armenia, 288 of
them are citizens of the Republic of Armenia. The trend towards
increasing the number of HIV infection cases has been observed in the
country.
The number of HIV infection cases registered here in the last 4
years in the Republic of Armenia constitutes 50% of all the cases
registered in the previous years. It is worth mentioning that already
53 cases of HIV infection have been registered this year, which
exceeds the number of HIV infection cases registered in any of the
previous years. Men constitute a prevailing part in the total number
of HIV carriers 224 cases (77.8%), women represent 64 cases (22.2%).
288 reported cases include 4 cases of HIV infection among children
(1.4%). Like the entire world, Armenia also has the tendency in the
growth of number of infected women. In 2004, 13 cases of HIV-infected
women were registered, which is unprecedented for the statistics of
the country. The majority of the HIV carriers (77.4%) belongs to the
age group of 20-39.
The main modes of transmission driving the epidemic in the
Republic of Armenia are transmission through injecting drug usage
(53.2%) and transmission through heterosexual practices (38.5%).
Besides, cases of mother-to-child HIV transmission as well as HIV
transmission through blood and homosexual contacts have also been
registered in our country.
Sixty HIV-infected individuals are diagnosed with AIDS (whereof 7
are women and 1 is a child), whereof 30 diagnoses have been made
during the last two years. From the beginning of the epidemic 45
cases of death (the cases include 7 women and 1 child), from HIV/AIDS
have been registered. More than one third of these cases have been
registered during the last two years. The number of cases of HIV
infection (53), AIDS (17) and death from AIDS-related illnesses (11)
registered in 2004 is the highest in comparison with the number of
the cases registered in any of the previous years.
The maximum number of HIV carriers was reported in Yerevan: 143
cases, which constitute 49.7% of all the registered cases. Lori Marz
is at second place – 23 cases, which constitute 8% of all the
registered cases. However, HIV/AIDS situation assessment has shown
that the estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the
Republic is about 2800-3000.

Agence France Presse
26 novembre 2004 vendredi 7:23 AM GMT

Les Arméniens de Marseille mobilisés contre l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’UE (PAPIER D’ANGLE)

Par Catherine RAMA

MARSEILLE 26 nov 2004

Les Arméniens de Marseille se mobilisent contre un éventuel feu vert
du Conseil européen à l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion de la
Turquie à l’UE, la plupart réclamant au préalable la reconnaissance
par Ankara du génocide arménien de 1915.

A l’approche du 17 décembre, jour du Conseil européen à Bruxelles,
colloques et réunions publiques se multiplient à Marseille. Le Comité
de défense de la cause arménienne (CDCA) a aussi affrété un train
spécial de 600 places Marseille-Bruxelles qu’il espère remplir le 16
décembre au soir, avec un message aux chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement
européens : “On ne peut pas accepter une Turquie négationniste pour
le moment”.

“Nous ne sommes pas contre une adhésion de la Turquie, mais contre le
principe d’ouverture de négociations avec une Turquie qui n’a pas
fait son devoir de mémoire”, explique Vartan Arzoumanian, président
du CDCA Marseille-Provence, une association proche du Parti
socialiste arménien.

Demandant le report de ces négociations tant qu’Ankara n’aura pas
reconnu le génocide, le CDCA a organisé cette semaine une réunion
publique avec le soutien du Conseil de coordination des organisations
arméniennes de France (CCAF), en présence d’élus de droite et de
gauche (UMP, UDF, PS et PCF).

“Nous ne comprenons pas pourquoi le président Chirac s’obstine dans
sa position. En acceptant la Turquie dans l’Union européenne, nos
chefs d’Etat vont faire une gaffe monumentale”, déclare Michel
Guéviguian, président du CCAF qui fédère une vingtaine d’associations
culturelles et cultuelles.

“On va à l’attaque pour être entendus”, souligne M. Guéviguian qui
rappelle qu’avec 80.000 âmes, la communauté arménienne de Marseille
est la deuxième de France.

Recours en Conseil d’Etat

A Marseille, le président de la République a récemment déclaré que
l’adhésion éventuelle de la Turquie représentait “une chance
extraordinaire pour l’Europe de se renforcer, (…) si la Turquie
adhère à l’ensemble des valeurs qui sont les nôtres”.

Le CCAF et l’association Euro-Arménie ont déposé le 12 novembre un
recours devant le Conseil d’Etat pour “dénoncer la violation par le
gouvernement français des termes de la résolution du Parlement
européen de juin 1987 et de la loi française de janvier 2001”
reconnaissant le génocide arménien.

Porte-parole d’Euro-Arménie, Jean-Pierre Berbérian, conseiller
municipal UMP de Marseille, lui, ne transige pas : “Nous, Arméniens,
victimes du génocide, nous demandons à Jacques Chirac de s’opposer à
l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE. S’il est complice de ce processus,
il n’y a plus d’Europe. Pour nous, c’est un non ferme et définitif”.

Pour sa part, le recteur de la Cathédrale apostolique arménienne de
Marseille, le père Zadik Avédikian, chef religieux de la communauté
orthodoxe, soit quelque 80% des Arméniens de la ville, appelle aussi
ses fidèles à aller faire entendre leurs voix à Bruxelles : “Tant
qu’elle n’a pas reconnu sa faute, la Turquie n’a pas sa place dans le
concert des nations civilisées”, déclare-t-il.

Dans ce concert de “non”, la position de Jean Kéhayan, journaliste et
intellectuel marseillais, paraît bien isolée. “Pour moi, la
reconnaissance du génocide arménien, c’est un aboutissement et pas un
préalable. Commencer la discussion (sur l’adhésion), c’est amorcer un
combat”, dit-il.

–Boundary_(ID_GBQFr2sfvxg4Z2ob37+0uA)–

Azeri deputy foreign minister urges NATO’s involvement in Karabakh settlement

Trend news agency
26 Nov 04

Baku, 26 November, Trend correspondent S. Logmanoglu: “Azerbaijan
considers as expedient NATO’s involvement in the peaceful settlement of
the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov told the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s 58th Rose-Roth
seminar in Baku on 26 November.

Despite the fact that the UN Security Council adopted several
resolutions on the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed
groups from Azerbaijan’s occupied territories, this issue has not
yet been resolved, Azimov said. That is why, NATO’s involvement in
the settlement of this conflict is considered to be expedient. The
position of “Azerbaijan’s northern neighbour” should also be taken
into account, he added.

Azimov drew the seminar participants’ attention to the fact that
10 years have passed since the adoption of the UN Security Council
resolutions on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. He dismissed statements
that these resolutions were adopted long ago and have lost their
legal force. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 1950, but it has not lost its legal
force until now, Azimov said. Saying that the [OSCE] Minsk Group is
not very active, Azimov spoke in favour of Turkey’s co-chairmanship
in the OSCE Minsk Group.

[Azerbaijan will opt for a military solution to the Karabakh conflict
if peace talks fail, Space TV quoted Azimov as saying in its 1300
gmt news bulletin on 26 November 2004.]