Author: Tadevosian Garnik

RFE/RL Georgia: Zhvania’s Death Likely To Affect Balance Of Forces In
Government
Friday, 04 February 2005

By Jean-Christophe Peuch

Zurab Zhvania, the Georgian prime minister who died yesterday in an
apparent gas poisoning accident, was generally viewed as a stabilizing
element in the youthful team that took the reins of power 15 months ago.
Some analysts believe his sudden death is likely to alter the balance of
forces in the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili in favor of
its more radical elements. But would that also affect Georgia’s policy
toward its separatist republics?

Prague, 4 February 2005 (RFE/RL) — In the hours that followed the news
of Zhvania’s death, Georgian officials worked hard to dismiss concerns
the sudden loss of the government head would affect the work of the
country’s leadership.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a second emergency government
meeting yesterday, Interior Minister Ivane Merabishvili attempted to
project an air of calm.

“The Interior Ministry is continuing work at its usual pace,” he said.
“The situation in the country is under our control, and I would not
advise criminal groups to grow bolder. Just today, 14 criminals were
arrested in Tbilisi alone.”

Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili, State Minister for Economic
Affairs Kakha Bendukidze, and Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili
conveyed a similar message: Everything is business as usual.

But at an earlier emergency cabinet meeting, Saakashvili hinted at
potential discord, as he solemnly called upon his ministers to remain
united and “support each other.”

Later in the day, at a memorial ceremony in Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity
Cathedral, Saakashvili said he would temporarily assume the leadership
of the government and sent his team a strongly worded warning.

“It is very important that we stick to the normal pace of life and
normal working practices, that we do not allow any breaches of
discipline to occur,” he said. “I want to state categorically that
everyone who will be found in breach of discipline will be held
accountable in accordance with the existing regulations.”

Georgian and foreign experts generally agree that Zhvania’s death is
likely to create a void in the Georgian leadership and that the absence
of the prime minister may have far-reaching consequences for the
cohesiveness of the ruling team.

Both Zhvania and Saakashvili had repeatedly said their team remained as
closely knit as it had been at the time of President Eduard
Shevardnadze’s ouster 15 months ago.

But tensions arose last month (4 January), when Okruashvili publicly
accused several Defense Ministry officials of embezzlement and demanded
their immediate arrest.

The controversy was swiftly glossed over. But some of the officials
targeted by Okruashvili had been appointed by Gela Bezhuashvili and
Giorgi Baramidze, his two predecessors at the head of the Defense
Ministry — who were also proteges of Zhvania. This sparked speculation
that there was infighting between so-called “radical” and “moderate”
elements in the government.

Okruashvili — an established hard-liner who belongs to Saakashvili’s
inner circle of friends — took over the Defense Ministry from Baramidze
as a result of last December’s security shakeup that saw Merabishvili —
another close ally of the president — obtain the Interior Ministry post.

A number of analysts suggest Okruashvili has set his sights on the
premiership. Georgia’s “Rezonansi” newspaper today included the defense
minister in its list of potential successors to Zhvania.

Saakashvili’s choice for Georgia’s new head of government will be known
within a week. “Rezonansi” suggested the president may nominate a person
close to the late prime minister — a choice that would reassure
Georgia’s neighbors and foreign partners that political continuity will
be maintained. The daily added, however, that Zhvania’s successor could
prove little more than a transitional figure and that he — or she —
could be replaced after a few months.

Ghia Nodia chairs the Tbilisi-based Caucasian Institute for Peace,
Democracy and Development. In an interview with RFE/RL’s Tbilisi bureau
chief Tamar Chikovani, Nodia yesterday said Zhvania’s death could upset
the current, healthy balance between the government’s two main groups.

“It is true that this is what is generally expected,” Nodia says. “And
maybe this is what will happen. In any case, for those people that were
considered close to Zhvania, their influence is likely to decrease.
However, that does not mean that Zhvania’s cadres will be purged. Those
two teams used to be a single team before, and the fact that they
eventually became two distinct groups is due to the fact that Zhvania
was acting as a center of attraction. Now that this center of attraction
is gone, members of this group will exist as mere individuals because I
don’t think there is among them a single figure capable of maintaining
the unity of the team.’

Zhvania’s death has sparked concerns among South Ossetian and Abkhaz
leaders, who suspect Saakashvili may resort to military force in order
to restore Georgia’s territorial integrity.

There are particular worries in South Ossetia about Okruashvili, whom
separatists blame for triggering a series of armed clashes last summer
while he was interior minister.

Concerns about the consequences of Zhvania’s death have also been heard
in Russia, which supports both secessionist governments.

The chairman of the Russian Duma’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Konstantin
Kosachev, yesterday said he feared a possible resumption of the Abkhaz
and South Ossetian separatist wars of the early 1990s.

“I met with President Saakashvili last week in Strasbourg, and in the
course of the private meeting we had together, he once again assured me
he was determined to solve these conflicts through political, and not
military, means,” Kosachev said. “But how autonomous he is in his
intentions, or to what extent he is under the influence of the hawks
that we know for sure exist in his entourage — we know them all —
remains to be seen.’

But Nodia says Zhvania’s death is unlikely to substantially affect
Georgia’s approach in solving its separatist conflicts — especially
that with South Ossetia.

“I don’t think there will be any particular problems on this issue
because both sides have always been aware of this kind of traditional
game between the ‘good cop’ and the ‘bad cop’ in which Saakashvili would
issue radical statements and Zhvania follow up with some conciliatory
steps,” Nodia says. “This is how it worked with [Ajar leader] Aslan
Abashidze, and this is the way it’s working now with [South Ossetian
leader Eduard] Kokoity.”

Nodia says in this way, too, Zhvania’s death is likely to create a void
that will be difficult to fill.

“It will be relatively hard for Saakashvili to find a political figure
with whom he can have the same distribution of tasks as he had with
Zhvania,” Nodia concludes.

zawya

Redistricting of Beirut threatens divisions

04 February 2005

Interview

BEIRUT: Tripoli MP and Democratic Renewal Movement member Mosbah Ahdab, an
outspoken member of the opposition, said that the loyalists’ attempt to
correct Christian representation in the government by dividing Beirut’s
districts in such a way to hurt Sunni representation goes against national
unity and coexistence principles.

“I think it is a good thing we went back to the 1960 (electoral) law, but
the trick with this gerrymandering in Beirut concerning the first and third
district was very absurd,” Ahdab said in an interview last Monday.

Beirut’s first district, a Sunni enclave and a stronghold for former Premier
Rafik Hariri, consists of some 210,000 voters but will be represented by
only six MPs, while Beirut’s second district, comprising mostly of Shiites
and Armenians and numbering some 150,000 voters, will be home to nine MPs.

Ahdab said that Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh’s threats raised the
demographic issue from a sectarian point of view.

“This type of gerrymandering was not only meant to give loyalists four extra
MPs, but also to create disagreements between different factions in Lebanon,
including Sunnis, Shiites, Maronites and Orthodox,” he added.

Ahdab said that, as a Muslim, he always thought that Christians were
misrepresented in Lebanon, citing the alienation of former army General
Michel Aoun and the undermining of the Lebanese Forces in the North, a
reference to when Bsharri and Akkar were joined for electoral purposes
although the two areas are not geographically connected.

“However, I do not think the proper way to fix Christian misrepresentation
is by creating a problem in Beirut,” Ahdab said. “Although it is true they
are targeting Hariri’s leadership, they are in fact hurting an entire sect,
and that’s repeating the mistakes of the past.”

Ahdab further said that the loyalists’ attempts to create a gap between
Hariri and the opposition are bringing the two sides closer together.

“Hariri should, however, declare a clear position on this, which as of yet
he hasn’t,” he added.

Ahdab questioned Franjieh’s position saying that his comments were not
compatible with his ambitions of becoming president because they tend to
disregard the country’s institutions.

“Franjieh cannot threaten to change the law depending on how the opposition
acts on its alliances with Hariri,” he said. “We have a Cabinet and
Parliament that decide on these issues, and while some believe that Lebanon
has not been able to build institutions until now, why don’t they move and
let others try?”

Ahdab was responding to comments made last week by Information Minister Elie
Ferzli in agreement with Syrian President Bashar Assad’s recent claims that
Lebanon needs Syrian help to establish proper institutions.

Ahdab went on to say that the last minute meetings on electoral reforms at
Parliament House follow a long-standing tradition by loyalists to deprive
the opposition of an equal opportunity for representation.

“Parliamentary elections will take place between April and May, so if you
now want to start a process of discussing the perfect electoral law, when
will it finish?” Ahdab asked.

He agreed that talks on a new law are long overdue, but questioned the
timing. Ahdab believes that the qada draft electoral law will be passed in
Parliament “unless loyalists change their mind.”

As for lowering the voting age and introducing a quota for female
representatives, Ahdab said these proposals were but another “smokescreen.”

“Eighteen year olds should vote and it would not create an imbalance in
favor of Muslims, because someone who is 18 now, will be 21 and of the same
religion three years later,” Ahdab argued.

He added that as 18 is the age of responsibility in the eyes of the law,
they should have the right to decide whom they should be ruled by.

Ahdab denied claims that Christians are the ones opposed to the voting age
constitutional amendment.

“I think the real opposition is amongst loyalists. They have been managing
the elections for a long time by controlling the different groups, by mixing
and matching lists with known numbers of followings,” Ahdab said. “Sure
people are free to vote for whomever, but when you start to have more than
30 percent participation, loyalists start to lose the advantage.”

He said the 18-21 age bracket cannot be controlled and when asked to vote
they would be instantly interested and would start to read and watch the
news, and decide which candidates have the best solutions.

As for quotas, Ahdab supported the practise, “However, I have heard comments
that putting a quota is against democracy, and in a way it is discrimination
again male candidates, and there is some truth in that.”

Ahdab also said that Lebanon wants excellent terms with Syria, with whom it
shares a history, culture and heritage.

“But the existing situation is not ideal,” Ahdab said. He said many
agreements need to be implemented, and day to day interferences in domestic
affairs is no longer acceptable.

“It is a small country and there are no secrets to hide.”

Article originally published by The Daily Star 04-Feb-05

Georgia PM dies in apparent gas leak

Zhvania helped topple corruption-tainted regime in 2003

The Associated Press
Feb. 3, 2005

TBILISI, Georgia – Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who helped
lead the revolution that toppled the corruption-tainted regime of
Eduard Shevardnadze, was killed early Thursday by an apparent natural
gas leak, the ex-Soviet republic’s interior minister said.

Zhvania, 41, was at a friend’s apartment when the leak occurred,
Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said in a live broadcast on
Rustavi-2 television.

`It is an accident,’ Merabishvili said. `We can say that poisoning by
gas took place.’

‘It all happened suddenly’ Security guards broke through a window
early Thursday when they heard no signs of life inside several hours
after the prime minister arrived, Merabishvili said. Zhvania had
entered the apartment at about midnight and the guards broke in
between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.

His host, Raul Usupov, deputy governor of Georgia’s Kvemo-Kartli
region, also died.

An Iranian-made gas-powered heating stove was in the main room of the
mezzanine-floor apartment, where a table was set up with a backgammon
set lying open. Zhvania was in a chair; Usupov’s body was found in
the kitchen.

`It all happened suddenly,’ Merabishvili said.

Central heating is scarce in Georgia and many people use gas or wood
stoves in their homes.

Lead role in opposing Shevardnadze A longtime politician, Zhvania was
part of the opposition to former Georgian President Eduard
Shevardnadze and played a prominent role in protests that led to
Shevardnadze’s ouster after allegedly fraudulent elections in November
2003.

President Mikhail Saakashvili, who led the protests, named Zhvania
prime minister following his landslide election in January
2004. Zhvania was considered a moderate to counterbalance to the more
impetuous president, and he was one of the key government figures
trying to negotiate settlements with Georgia’s separatist regions.

Zhvania was born in the capital Tbilisi on Dec. 9, 1963. A graduate of
the biology department at Tbilisi State University, he led the Green
of Georgia party in 1988-93 and served in the parliament beginning in
1992.

He became parliamentary speaker in 1995 and led the moderate United
Democrats opposition party, and for several years he and Saakashvili
were rivals for leadership of the opposition.

Like Saakashvili, Zhvania was a one-time ally of Shevardnadze. After
breaking with Shevardnadze, however, Zhvania followed a more
conciliatory path than Saakashvili, and he was considered a more
moderate politician who sought consensus rather than conflict.

Zhvania is survived by his wife and three children.

PRESS RELEASE
Wales-Armenia Solidarity
Contact: E. Williams
Cardiff, Wales
Tel: 07870267447
Email: [email protected]

Wales-Armenia Solidarity

Uk government recognises the Armenian Genocide by the “back-door”

For the first time ever, an UK government web-site has referred to the
“Armenian Genocide” and “Armenian Holocaust”

This was in the official Holocaust Memorial Day web-site, with
reference to the Commemmoration in Cardiff, Wales of the
Commemmoration of the Armenian and Jewish Holocausts at the Temple of
Peace, Cardiff on 26th January. Taking part was the First Minister if
the National Assembly of Wales, Rhodri Morgan.

This might be the way of testing the water by the British government,
who are fearful of debating the matter in full view of the media, but
are hoping for a gradual softening by the Turks on the issue. It seems
that they are happily allowing Wales to take the moral lead, seeing
what the Turkish response will be.

During the meeting,Jenny Randerson, a senior figure in the Welsh
Liberal Democrats and a former minister in the Assembly government
conveyed that she was astonished at the sustained pressure to which
she was subjected since speaking out on the Genocide issue in 2001.We
are proud that she has not wavered once in her support.

We can assume that those in the pay of Turkish authorities are
putting similar pressure on our prime minister Rhodri Morgan. We call
on Armenians world-wide to send messages of support for the
Recognition of the Genocide by the National Assembly for Wales to
[email protected] and [email protected] to
counter this menace.

AZERI PRESIDENT HOPES THAT OSCE FACT FINDING VISIT TO REGION WILL BE FRUITFUL

YEREVAN, JANUARY 29. ARMINFO. Azeri President Ilham Aliev hopes that
the OSCE fact finding visit to the region will be fruitful.

Day.az reports that during his Friday meeting with the OSCE MG mission
for inquiring into “the facts of the occupied territories settlement”
Aliev stressed the importance of the current foreign ministerial level
stage of the talks for the Karabakh conflict settlement. He reiterated
that Azerbaijan’s position is based on the international principles of
territorial integrity and border inviolability. Pointing out that “the
illegal settlement of Armenians over the occupied Azeri territories”
is the most serious obstacle to long-term peace in the region Aliev
expressed conviction that the OSCE mission will put an end to this
illegal practice.

The Russian co-Chair of the OSCE MG Yuri Merzlyakov said that Aliev’s
ideas are very important. He thanked Aliev for the documents the Azeri
authorities professionally prepared for the mission. “All this is
essential for our work.” Noting that the MG will intensify its
efforts Merzlyakov expressed hope that the conflicting parties will
pool efforts for achieving results in the peace process.

Azeri Deputy FM Araz Azimov says that “the settlement of the occupied
Azeri territories is carried out with Armenia’s direct participation.”
He says that the Azeri side has provided the mission with video and
audio proofs of “the occupied territories settlement” and geographical
maps of the areas. Azimov says that some 23,000 people have illegally
been settled there. This is not good for the talks, he says.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Jan 28 2005

RUSSIA SUPPORTS PERFORMANCE OF ALL RESOLUTIONS OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL

[January 28, 2005, 20:59:48]

On January 28, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Russia Alexander Yakovenko held a press conference for the
foreign journalists in Moscow. During press conference he also has
answered questions of the Azerbaijan journalists.

In particular, making comments on the question of correspondent of
AzerTAj how Russia estimates the hearings on the report on Nagorny
Karabakh at the winter session of Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe and whether joins recommendations of the Council of
Europe that resolutions the UN Security Council were performed out,
Alexander Yakovenko has declared that Russia as permanent member of
UN SC, supports performance of all resolutions of Security Council of
the United Nations, this is our general rule, irrespective of what
the resolution represents. He also has emphasized, that Russia in its
position on the Nagorny Karabakh settlement proceeds from necessity
of active political dialogue between the sides. Russia welcomes that
level of dialogue, which was established between presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, and having noted, that the sides should agree
among themselves to solve existing problems. `Russia is, from its
part, ready to cooperate actively in this question, however, finally,
the decision of this problem lays in the two capitals’, he has told.

Making comments on the question of correspondent of AzerTAj on how
Russia concerns to that adapted `Contract on Restriction of
Conventional Armaments in Europe’ is not distributed to the Nagorny
Karabakh territory and this region remains to this day outside of
zone of the control over the arms which have collected there, A.
Yakovenko has told that Russia is the state ratifying this contract.
`All these questions are discussed within the framework of a special
joint Commission – there is such a special body – and this question
together with others, is discussed. He has emphasized that it is not
a unique question, which is at the stage of discussion. `Russia would
like that all states which have signed the said agreement, would
ratify the adapted contract about restriction of conventional
armaments in Europe and that it is very important that the Baltic
states would join it’, the official representative the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Yakovenko said.

TURKEY IN VIEW OF ITS BILIOUSNESS CAN’T BE A MEDIATOR IN KARABAKH ISSUE

YEREVAN, January 28 (Noyan Tapan). “Nagorno Karabakh was always the
Armenian territory. Other regions remain the problems of Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan,” said RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan
Oskanian in his interview to the Turkish “Zaman” newspaper of January
25, whose translation was published in the “Azg” (“Nation”)
newspaper. According to the RA Foreign Minister, in the USSR times
Karabakh was included into the territory of Azerbaijan, but when the
war between Karabakh and Azerbaijan started, Armenian, naturally,
supported Karabakh. The issue of other regions, according to Oskanian,
is discussed between Armenia and Azerbaijan by the simple reason that
the Azeris avoid negotiations with Karabakh. Minister Oskanian
stressed that the statement of Prime Minister of Turkey Erdogan that
Armenia doesn’t recognize the Kars agreement was a surprise for
him. According to the Minister, none of the leaders of Armenia has
made statements on the occasion of this agreement up to day. “We are
among the countries-legal successors of the USSR. All the agreements
signed between the USSR and third countries remain valid until new
agreements are signed and the statement on the recognition of the
previous agreements as invalid is made,” he said. Presenting the
approach of the Armenian side to the condition on going out from the
“occupied territories” of Azerbaijan suggested by Turkey, Oskanian
mentioned that Turkey can’t reduce the Nagorno Karabakh problem
exclusively to the territorial argument, as the essence of the problem
is in status. “There were no Azeri territories controlled by the
Armenians before the Karabakh conflict. Control was set after the
raising of the Karabakh problem. The Turkish side is mistaken in the
issue of the cause-effect relation. It should be separated from the
reason for the elimination of consequence.” Hence, Turkey can’t raise
the issue of territories as a condition. “We want the problem to be
resolved, but we also want the universal approach to be shown.” Turkey
can’t be a mediator in the Karabakh problem because of its
biliousness, stressed the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs. For example,
Russia, according to Oskanian, doesn’t lay down conditions from the
viewpoint of the settlement of the problem and shows neutrality:
“Turkey constantly makes a suggestion on mediation, and we hold
bilateral meetings. From the viewpoint of these meetings we have no
problems, but mediation is another thing.” As for the recognition of
the Genocide, Minister Oskanian mentioned that there are no
territorial pretensions or the issue on compensation in the foreign
political agenda of Armenia: “We only long for the Genocide to be
recognized by the international community and Turkey. The 1915 events
are the evident Genocide. In spite of it Armenia has never demanded
that Turkey should recognize the Genocide with the purpose of the
regulation of relations. The issue may be resolved through a dialog,
but how to do it, if the diplomatic relations are absent?” Answering
the question: “Will Turkey recognize this statement (Genocide) for
joining the European Union?” Minister Oskanian mentioned: “We and
Turkey have two important problems: the Genocide and the opening of
the borders. The recognition of the Genocide is not a condition, but
the opening of the borders is a condition for the regulation of our
relations. Nobody can speak about the normal relations, when the
borders are closed. An on the contrary, without the recognition of the
Genocide it is possible to adjust the relations. We put the issue of
the borders to the EU agenda. It has already become an issue of the
agenda for the EU, and the Genocide is a common and moral issue. The
EU demands that Turkey should resign itself with this issue someway,”
said Oskanian. He also expressed hope hat these issues will be put
before Turkey at the end of this year, when the negotiations with the
European Union start. Nevertheless, according to him, “we can’t expect
progress during 10-15 years till Turkey joins the EU. We hope that
Turkey will open the border with Armenia soon.” According to Oskanian,
there is nothing more to be said on the issue of the Genocide. This
theme is studies, the great work is carried out, the real essence of
the 1915 events is shown. “Even if the scientists sit down at the one
table, the approved opinion will not change in any case. The
scientists have already done their part and completed it. At this
moment it is demanded that the Turkish government should get down to
business. Why are you afraid to discuss the issue of the Genocide?”

ArmenPress
Jan 26 2005

ARMEN AVETISIAN’S FELLOWS SEEK HIS RELEASE

YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS; A senior member of the
ultra-nationalist Armenian Aryan Union told a news conference today
that party members will appeal against a local court decision that
sanctioned the arrest of their leader, Armen Avetisian, on charges of
inciting ethnic intolerance late Monday.
Armen Avetisian was placed in custody pending a criminal
investigation into his anti-Jewish statements. He is prosecuted under
an article of the Armenian Criminal Code that envisaged between three
and six years’ imprisonment for persons who incite `ethnic, racial
and religious hatred.’
His party fellows have established a committee in defense of
Avetisian together with Hayots Toon (Armenian Home) non-governmental
organization. A lawyer Melania Arustamian will defend his interests
during the trial.
In a series of newspaper interviews and TV appearances Avetisian
used to put the blame for Armenia’s political and socioeconomic woes
on Jews. He has also won a notorious fame in recent months claiming
that some government and parliament members are homosexuals.

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
26 January 2005

Israeli chief rabbi’s visit to Patriarchate seen as bid to
improve relations

Jerusalem (ENI). Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi has paid an
unprecedented official visit to the headquarters of the Armenian
Patriarch in Jerusalem in what is seen as a drive by Israeli
officials to improve Jewish-Christian relations in the Holy Land.
Rabbi Yona Metzger, one of two chief rabbis, made the visit as
part of a series of meetings with Christian leaders to mend
relations after a Jewish seminary student attacked an Armenian
archbishop last year. “The rabbi condemned attacks against
religious clerics and called for mutual respect between all
faiths to be upheld in Israel and across the world,” Metzger’s
office said. [400 words, ENI-05-0050]

ENI News Highlights contain summaries of ENI articles published
today.

ENI Online –

Ecumenical News International
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Bulgarian MP assures Azeri Speaker of support in Karabakh issue

ANS TV, Baku
25 Jan 05

[Presenter] Bulgaria, which supports Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity, will not back down on its position on the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem, members of a Bulgarian-Azerbaijani interparliamentary
delegation have told a meeting with Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov.

[Correspondent, over video of the meeting] Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov
told the meeting with the Bulgarian-Azerbaijani interparliamentary
delegation led by Remzi Osman that 20 per cent of our lands had been
occupied as a result of Armenia’s aggression and over 1m people had
become refugees.

He complained that four UN resolutions [on Nagornyy Karabakh] have not
yet been implemented and that some states and international
organizations employ double standards in their position on the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem.

[Alasgarov, speaking in Russian with Azeri voice-over] The talks are
still continuing. We hope the talks will yield results in the near
future and change the situation. The OSCE Minsk Group which has
undertaken the mediation mission should speed up its efforts.

[Correspondent] Alasgarov said once again that the OSCE Minsk Group
should exert pressure on the aggressor state and demand that Armenia
adhere to international legal norms.

The speaker also welcomed Bulgaria’s position on the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem.

The head of the Bulgarian-Azerbaijani interparliamentary delegation,
Remzi Osman, said that the state he represents will not back down on
its position on the Nagornyy Karabakh issue.

[Osman, in Bulgarian, with Azeri voice-over] Bulgaria recognizes
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. It supports a peaceful solution to
the Nagornyy Karabakh problem provided that Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity is observed. Bulgaria will not change its policy.

[Correspondent] Osman also said that Bulgaria hopes for a speedy
solution to the problem through talks.