Author: Talalian Arpi

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 27 2005

Yerevan terms PACE resolution as Azerbaijan’s ultimatum

The resolution on Upper Garabagh adopted by the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Tuesday has drawn
different feedbacks from the Armenian parliamentarians represented at
the Assembly.
Chairman of the Armenian parliament commission on foreign relations
Armian Rustamian said the PACE resolution includes all the
`dangerous’ provisions that Azerbaijanis can take advantage of in the
future. He expressed confidence that Azerbaijan has imposed an
ultimatum on Armenia and the international community. `Either the
Upper Garabagh conflict will be settled on Azerbaijan’s scenario or
official Baku will launch military action to liberate the occupied
lands,’ Rustamian said.
Head of the Armenian delegation at PACE Tigran Tarasian stated that
Armenia is satisfied with the PACE resolution. He highly assessed the
fact that certain parliament members bring up the issue of
self-determination of Upper Garabagh.
The resolution terms Armenia as an invader, while the leadership of
Upper Garabagh as separatist.*

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 26, 2005, Wednesday

LOOKING FOR A SECURITY MODEL

SOURCE: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer, No. 2, January 19-25, 2005, pp.
1, 10

by Alexander Orlov

(…) The former Soviet republics have been trying to create their
armies for over 14 years.

(…)

The shield of the states, which was created on the fragments of the
former Soviet Army, bears the mark of the Soviet system. The military
infrastructure of the former USSR and material resources stored in
ammunition depots let the post-Soviet states ensure their fragile
military security. However, the armies of the post-Soviet republics
have not been rearmed, they continue using Soviet weapons. At the
same time, the post-Soviet republics receive weapons from NATO and
China, which testifies to the importance of competing for this market
and influence in this region. Military analysts state that the CIS
market of weapons amounts to around $30 billion. The airspace council
of the Duma committee for industry, construction and science
intensive technologies reports that this includes the market of
warplanes and combat helicopters, it amounts to $5-$7 billion or 70%
of the Russian military budget.

What are the peculiarities of military construction in the
post-Soviet armies in 2004? What are the differences between the
reforms carried out in the CIS armies? What is the possibility of
interior and exterior conflicts in the former USSR?

Let’s try to answer these and some other questions linked with the
military factor in the post-Soviet republics.

(…)

Military construction in the CIS

Despite military-economic differences, the armies of the CIS nations
have a range of similar traits. For instance, several trends are
common for practically all armies of the CIS.

Military spending increased along with optimization of the armies.

(…) It would not be a mistake to state that practically all CIS
nations reorganized their control structures in 2004. This
reorganization will continue in 2005. The main changes took place in
the Russian Army within the framework of the administrative reform in
2004. At present Russia has the Defense Ministry, the General Staff,
three new federal services (for military-technical co-operation, the
state defense order and the technological and export control) and one
federal agency (the Special construction department). Russia
established a three-branch structure of military control: ground –
air – sea.

Similar reforms began in Ukraine. For instance, military-technical
co-operation bodies work independently in Ukraine. Ukraine does not
have building units. At the same time, the Russian and Ukrainian
armies have much in common. For instance, Russia created a
three-branch structure of its army in 1998, Ukraine initiated such
changes not long ago. At present it merges anti-aircraft and air
units.

Practically all CIS nations, except for Russia and Kazakhstan, use
the territorial principle of recruitment. However, draftees must
serve at least 50 kilometers from their native towns in Armenia. The
republics, which have superfluous call-up resources (Uzbekistan,
Belarus) established military service in reserve. Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan call-up young people to an alternative civilian service
(so-called labor armies). These people work in cotton fields and at
plants. Uzbekistan was the first country in the CIS to legalize
evasion of military service. Draftees pay $150 for the right to avoid
military service.

In the meantime, people who have not served in the Army cannot work
in public structures in Uzbekistan, which is why military service is
popular in the republic.

Practically all countries have professional units. Armenia and
Karabakh have the most skilled units. The share of such units is 18%,
and it is intended to use them during first minutes of armed
conflicts in order to be able to deploy territorial defense units in
Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh. The share of professional servicemen in
Kazakhstan is 65%. It should be noted that Russia plans to increase
the share of contract service to 50% by 2008.

Practically all CIS nations plan to cut the strength of their armies.
Ukraine plans to dismiss 50,000 servicemen in 2005, Uzbekistan will
dismiss 15,000 people, Tajikistan will dismiss 3,000 servicemen.

(…)

The legislative foundation of the military construction process
improved too. Practically all countries have passed military
doctrines and national security conceptions. In addition, all
republics have laws, which regulate military service.

(…)

The place of armies in the political system

One of the peculiarities of the development of the Armed Forces of
the post-Soviet republics is linked with the fact that the military
does influence the interior and foreign policy. The armies have not
managed to restore territorial integrity to the countries where the
separatist feelings are strong (the Trans-Dniester territory in
Moldavia, Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia in Georgia, Nagorny Karabakh
in Azerbaijan). At the same time, the armies have not managed to
become an independent political force, and the threat of coups
organized by the military is insubstantial in the CIS.

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma replaced pro-Western Defense
Minister Yevgeny Marchuk with neutral and tolerant General Alexander
Kuzmuk on the eve of the first round of the presidential election in
September 2004. Kuzmuk ensured the Army’s neutrality during the
election. Military experts did not hide the fact that the majority of
officers and ensigns voted for Yanukovich because they remembered
that Yushchenko had cancelled all benefits when he was prime
minister. Yanukovich increased servicemen’s money allowances
substantially.

Staff reshuffles of the security ministers in Georgia in December
2004, and the appointment of the new defense minister in Moldavia had
political reasons. As is known, Tbilisi and Kishinev established the
GUAM bloc (it also included Azerbaijan and Ukraine), which was an
alternative to the pro-Russian Organization of the collective
security treaty. Uzbekistan joined GUAM in 1999. To all appearances,
Georgia and Moldavia decided to ensure NATO’s and the OSCE’s support
in order to reform their security ministries because they are tired
of the separatism.

(…)

“Muslim” armies of the Central Asian republic and Azerbaijan deserve
special attention. The military help the authoritarian regimes of
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan retain power. The attempted assault on
President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan in 2002, and permanent
terrorist acts in Tashkent, Bukhara and other Uzbek towns testify to
the presence of terrorist organizations and irreconcilable opposition
in these republics.

It is hard to say who supports this opposition. It is not Russia
because the replacement of the leaders of these countries would mean
economic and political disadvantages. It should be noted that Niyazov
and Karimov banned Western remedial organizations, including the
Soros foundation, after “the revolution of roses” in Georgia. In
addition, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan increased servicemen’s money
allowances in 2004, despite serious economic problems. (…)

The armies play a stabilizing role in so-called “semi-democratic”
countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.
Nazarbayev’s clan is creating elite units in Kazakhstan, fearing
coups in the republic. The leadership of the Kazakh Army and the
Interior Ministry consists of people originally from Kazakhstan. As
is known, almost 50% of the population of this republic are
representatives of Slavonic nations, Tatars, Uzbeks and more. In the
meantime, Kazakhstan’s economic successes minimize the possibility of
political activity of this group of the population.

The situation in Tajikistan is somewhat different. Fearing mutinies,
President Imomali Rakhmonov abolished elite units of the National
Guard and dismissed former field commanders, who helped him come to
power, in early 2004. A bit earlier, he dismissed representatives of
the Uzbek lobby from the security ministries. Tajikistan has managed
to stabilize the situation in the republic thanks to Russia’s
support. The presence of Russian military advisors, Russian-Tajik
border guards and representatives of the religious opposition in the
Army increased servicemen’s indifference towards politics. Meanwhile,
economic problems and weakening of Russia’s control over the
Tajik-Afghan border may encourage some military units to
unconstitutional activities. However, such revolts would have social
reasons, not political. At the same time, it is very likely that the
Tajik Army (the republic spends around 3% of GDP on its maintenance)
and the 201st motorized infantry division will be able to support
Rakhmonov’s course aimed at the revival of the economy for a long
time.

(…)

In other words, the armies of the post-Soviet republics present an
important tool of their interior and foreign policy. At the same
time, it is an alarming fact that the Trans-Caucasian nations, which
have uncontrolled territories, have increased their military budgets.
(…)

PanArmenian News
Jan 26 2005

“WE CANNOT SOLVE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF PARTIES TO CONFLICT”, OSCE MINSK
GROUP RUSSIAN CO-CHAIR STATED

26.01.2005 17:36

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the discussion in PACE of the report on
Nagorno Karabakh the parliamentarians called to OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs to activate steps for the Karabakh problem settlement. MG
Russian Co-Chair Y. Merzlyakiov stated in the interview with RFE/RL,
“sometimes we are more active than the conflicting parties but we
cannon solve problems in their place”. He expressed opinion that
considerable progress in the negotiation process will be observed
this year. “NKR is party to conflict as the Defense Minister of
Karabakh of that time put his signature to the agreement on armistice
next to the signatures of the representatives of Armenia and
Azerbaijan”, the Russian diplomat said.

Voice of America
Jan 26 2005

Armenians, Life Insurance Company Settle on 1915 Policies

By Barbara Schoetzau
New York

Five New York area Armenian charities are splitting $3 million with
four Armenian groups in Los Angeles as a result of a $20 million
settlement between the New York Life Insurance Company and
descendants of Armenians killed in the Turkish Ottoman Empire 90
years ago.

Each of the charities received $333.333. The rest of the money will
be split among potential heirs and beneficiaries of the 2,300 life
insurance policies New York Life sold to Armenians living in the
Ottoman Empire prior to 1915.

Armenians say more than 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the
waning days of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 until 1919. They call it
a genocide, but Turkey rejects the claim saying the numbers have been
exaggerated.

Three lawyers of Armenian background filed the class action lawsuit
in 1999, contending that New York Life never compensated the families
of those who bought policies. New York Life researched the issue and
found 2,300 unpaid policies. Lawyer Brian Kabateck, says the
particular charities were chosen because of their efforts to help
Armenians who fled to the United States from the Ottoman Empire in
1915.

“The reason $3 million is being distributed immediately to charities
is that a number of organizations that involve helping Armenians were
selected because a number of families completely perished in the
genocide and left no survivors,” he said. “As a result of that, the
money that is being distributed today is symbolic of money for
charities and for charitable organizations.”

The charities must use the money for educational and cultural
purposes or to help needy Armenians in the United States and abroad.
Descendants of survivors have until March 16 to file claims. They can
find information on the website armenian insurance settlement.com.
Mr.Kabateck says many of the beneficiaries do not live in the United
States.

“We have taken a substantial effort to publicize in other centers of
the world where Armenians have large populations: Russia, of course,
Armenia. We have had people in Armenia giving press conferences and
talking to people over there and making lists available in rural
parts of Armenia. [In] Argentina, there is a very large Armenian
population. France, in Marseilles there is a large population,” he
added.

Mr. Kabateck says the lawyers are now trying to reach a settlement
with two other insurance companies, but he would not divulge their
names.

Armenian ex-minister critical of Council of Europe’s Karabakh resolution

Arminfo
26 Jan 05

YEREVAN

The resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
[PACE] on Nagornyy Karabakh is distinguished by its special
subjectivity, and drawing up such documents is unbecoming of
authoritative international organizations such as PACE, the head of
the faction of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun
[ARFD] and Armenian ex-foreign minister, Levon Lazarian, said in an
interview with our Arminfo correspondent while commenting on the PACE
resolution on Nagornyy Karabakh adopted yesterday.

He stressed that the PACE resolution contains provisions that were not
earlier included in other international documents. The subjectivity of
the document is proved by the fact that the opinion of Nagornyy
Karabakh representatives was not taken into account when this document
was drawn up and discussed, the MP said. Meanwhile, he pointed out,
when the Chechen and Abkhaz issues were discussed, the opinion of
representatives of these peoples was heard by PACE. “Although such
documents cannot have a real impact on the process of settling the
Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, there
is a danger that they can form the wrong public opinion, which will
reflect on the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group in the end. The OSCE
Minsk Group is composed of members of international organizations,”
Levon Lazarian said.

Commenting on the current situation, I can say that thanks to
Azerbaijan’s efforts to transfer the Karabakh issue from the format of
the OSCE Minsk Group to the format of international organizations, a
new stage has started in the process of settling the Karabakh
conflict, he stressed.

Having realized that propaganda is of great importance in the Karabakh
issue, Azerbaijan changed its strategy, raising this issue with
international organizations. “We have to say that it will be
impossible to avoid discussing the Karabakh issue in international
organizations. In this connection, Armenia should place emphasis on
increasing the level of parliamentary diplomacy and speeding up
lobbying activities,” the MP stated.

The Gazette (Montreal)
January 25, 2005 Tuesday
Final Edition

‘I was counting on that’: Witness shocked his account was blocked

by PAUL DELEAN, The Gazette

His years are numbered since a diagnosis of terminal cancer three
years ago, but clothing importer Ara Markarian, 58, cannot access
most of his savings at CIBC Wood Gundy.

The brokerage has blocked him from touching about $380,000 in his
investment account, claiming it covers a guarantee made on the
trading account of his business partner and cousin, Harry Markarian.

Ara Markarian said he had no knowledge of the guarantee until he
called the brokerage in February 2002, hoping to take out $250,000
for a business opportunity that had come up.

The adviser who replaced his previous CIBC broker, Harry Migirdic,
told him she could still manage the portfolio for him, but couldn’t
withdraw the money.

“For the years I have left, I can’t do much with my money blocked. I
was counting on that money for my retirement,” Ara Markarian
testified yesterday in Superior Court.

He was a witness in the lawsuit of his brother and sister-in-law,
retirees Haroutioun and Alice Markarian, two other former Migirdic
clients who are seeking from CIBC World Markets (parent company of
CIBC Wood Gundy) $1.4 million they claim was taken from them by the
CIBC under fraudulent guarantees, as well as $10 million in punitive
damages.

Ara Markarian said he became a Migirdic client in the late 1980s,
when both were members of the Canadian Armenian Business Council.

His instructions to the broker, he said, were to put money in the
safest, most secure investments.

At first, Migirdic complied, but later he recommended more
speculative titles such as Intergold and Bre-X, Markarian said.

In the early 1990s, he recalled receiving a phone call one morning
from Migirdic who said his bosses wanted to update the files and
needed him to sign a guarantee covering the investment account of his
wife, Janet.

When Migirdic arrived at his home that night with the form, Markarian
said, “I noticed there was no name of who I was guaranteeing,”

Markarian said he planned to write Janet’s name in the blank space,
but Migirdic told him it had be typed in and he’d take care of it at
the office. Markarian signed, but said he asked Migirdic to send him
a copy, and was assured that would be done.

He never did get a copy, and forgot about it, Markarian said.

Asked why he signed, Markarian replied: “I had invested $500,000 with
him. …To invest half a million, you have to believe it’s in good
hands. It’s a reputable firm, supposedly.”

Evidence introduced at the trial indicated the name on the guarantee
was Harry Markarian, Ara Markarian’s cousin and business partner.

But Ara Markarian said he always assumed the guarantee was for his
wife and never had cause to doubt it, since there was never a
follow-up communication from CIBC.

Even a phone call from his brother, Haroutioun, in the summer of
2001, advising him to look closely at his CIBC statement, did not
spark any concerns. Though the actual name of the person he was
guaranteeing did not appear on the statement, there was an account
number, and since it was only one digit higher than his own
eight-digit number, Ara Markarian said he felt reassured it was
indeed his wife.

He found out otherwise in 2002. On the copy of the guarantee document
in CIBC’s files, the witness was someone he said he didn’t know.

Surprised and “very mad,” Markarian confronted his partner. But Harry
Markarian – also a Migirdic client – denied knowing about or asking
for any guarantee.

“He was very upset by the situation,” Ara Markarian said.

Throughout a partnership that dated from 1970, the two had always
kept their personal and business interests separate, Ara Markarian
testified. “I didn’t know his investments; he didn’t know mine. We
never did anything together in our private accounts.”

When they called Migirdic, Markarian said the broker told them: ”
‘I’m sorry. I regret what happened. I talked to my bosses. They
know.’ ”

The trial resumes next week.

“BERNS SUPPER” TO BE ORGANIZED IN ARMENIA FOR SEVENTH TIME ON JANUARY
22

YEREVAN, January 21 (Noyan Tapan). The annual “Berns Supper” will be
organized at the “Armenia-Marriott” hotel on January 22. According to
the press service of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland in Armenia, this arrangement is held in Armenia for
the seventh time in succession. “Berns Supper” is held on January 25,
the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Berns, or one of these days. The
national Scottish dances, the dawdler’s performance, the drawing of
the benevolent lottery will be held within the framework of the
arrangement held in “Armenia-Marriott”. The purpose of the arrangement
is to collect 20,000 dollars with the purpose of the purchase of
incubators for the Ijevan Maternity Home. The USDA MAP, HSBC Bank, the
Yerevan Brandy Company, “British Airways”, the “Pharmatech” company,
the “Coca Cola” company and others provided prizes for the drawing.

Armenian Foreign Ministry confirms MP arrested in Dubai

Arminfo
21 Jan 05

YEREVAN

The Armenian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that MP Akop Akopyan has
been detained in the United Arab Emirates.

The Armenian ambassador to the UAE, Arman Poladyan, is currently
trying to find out the reasons for and circumstances of the incident,
the Foreign Ministry has told Arminfo. However, according to
unverified reports, Akop Akopyan, his son and friend were detained in
Dubai for stealing clothes from the Wafi shopping mall. The said
people took 24,000 dollars’ worth of clothes, but paid only 16,000
dollars even though there were more than 100,000 dollars on their
credit card.

Several hours after the theft, Akop Akopyan and the people
accompanying him were detained at a hotel by the UAE police.

Akop Akopyan’s friend is currently held in a remand facility, while
the MP and his son are held at a police station. An investigation is
under way.

The source said that Akop Akopyan’s friends and relatives are trying
to have the deputy and the others freed with the help of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry.

$15.7 MLN TO BE INVESTED IN RESTORATION OF WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM OUTSIDE
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 20. ARMINFO. $15.7 mln will be invested in the next
four years under the WB credit program to restore the water supply
system outside Yerevan, says Patrick Lorin, General DIrector of
Armenian Water and Sewerage CJSC (AWSC)

He says that the right to use this money has been given to Saur France
group through a tender. The total cost of the WB credit is $23
mln. The remaining money will be spent on maintaining and managing
Saur and the project office. Aug 19 Saur and the Armenian Government
signed a management contract for 4 years with a 2 year prolongation
right.

The work under the contract was launched Oct 19 2004. First of all the
company is planning to restore the water supply systems of Sevan and
Dilijan, Armenia’s touristically most attractive resorts. Partly
repaired will be water economies in the country’s 30 towns and 300
villages.

Lorin says that presently AWSC is in a bad technical state. The
company’s water losses amount to 80% this due mostly to poor pipes and
illegal connections to water mains. He notes that the overhaul of
Armenia’s water system will take decades and cost $300 mln against
only $15.7 mln earmarked under the abovementioned project.

AWSC has 260,156 potential water users of them 176,846 being active
(timely paying for used water). The water supply schedule ranges from
2 hours to 24 hours from district to district with very few
subscribers receiving water round-the-clock. Subscribers having water
meters consume an average of 7 c m of water a month.

Lorin says that Saur is the third biggest water supply company in the
world. Each year it supplies 1.72 bln c m of drinking water to 52 mln
people making fertilizers from almost 3 mln tons of sewerage
waste. Saur’s annual turnover is 2.5 bln EUR. It employs 14,000 people
with 6,500 of them in France.

The Scotsman, UK
Jan 16 2005

The Russian evolution at Hearts

DAN BRENNAN

SINCE Anatoly Byshovets’ name was first mooted in relation to Hearts
last autumn, references to the former Russia coach have often been
laced with negativism and suspicion. Much of this has been down to a
lack of understanding over his future role and the perceived threat
to home-grown hero John Robertson.

In his first full interview in Scotland, Byshovets was keen to stress
his growing admiration for Robbo and hinted that he will only assume
a permanent role as Hearts director of football if it is clear that
there’s a real job for him to do and it is with the full blessing of
the manager.

“There’s been much talk that I will come in as sporting director but
this has yet to be finalised,” said Byshovets. “For the moment I’m
just continuing to help out on an informal basis. I believe I have a
good relationship with John and the players. To my mind John has
behaved with a lot of dignity and professionalism through what has
been a difficult time for everyone associated with the club, I have a
great deal of respect for him.”

The fact that he has largely kept his counsel until now may have
fuelled the conspiracy theories. But, like Vladimir Romanov and
Robertson, he has until recently been in limbo and thus limited in
what he could say or do. Now that last Monday’s agm clears the way
for Romanov to push forward with his plans, Byshovets hopes the
position regarding his own future will soon become clearer.

“The situation at the club needs to be fully stabilised and any
remaining tensions need to be resolved before I would want to commit
my future more permanently. At this stage I don’t have a contract
with Hearts and I don’t have a contract with Mr Romanov.”

Having enjoyed a long and fruitful coaching career both at club and
national team level including stints in Russia, Ukraine, South Korea,
Portugal and Cyprus, Byshovets has previously stated that he is
already financially secure enough to make a job description of more
import than the salary.

“From a personal point of view the main thing is to be involved in a
project that interests me, and the challenge of helping Hearts
compete with Celtic and Rangers is certainly an interesting one.”

In Byshovets’ case there is good reason to assume that this is not
just cheap talk. A few years ago he surprised many back home by
refusing more lucrative offers from abroad to take up a post at
Khimki in the Russian second flight. In Russia he also has a
reputation as a coach who knows his own mind and is not afraid to
speak it, something which has not always pleased his club presidents.
The president of one of his old clubs Zenith St Petersburg once said
of him: “Byshovets is the best coach in Russia but as a person he’s
impossible.”

Byshovets responded as follows: “If the club driver or the cleaner,
the fans or the players had said that about me I would have been
upset. But if it was my bosses it doesn’t bother me.”

Events after the Basel game where he reportedly chastised the Hearts
players for over-celebrating their UEFA Cup win saw him branded an
interfering killjoy. He feels he has been wrongly portrayed and,
though he is too seasoned a campaigner to worry too much about what
the boys in the press room are saying, he is keen to ensure that
neither Robertson nor the Hearts fans view him as anything other than
a benevolent force.

“The uncertainty that has affected the club until recently affected
everyone involved with the team, including me. The latest
developments have gladdened me a lot as it means we can talk already
about the new players that John Robertson wants to bring in.”

With Mark de Vries and Alan Maybury having already left, the issue of
squad replenishments requires even greater urgency. When it was
announced that some 20 players from Lithuania were coming over to
Edinburgh the knee-jerk conclusion in many quarters was that this was
a mass trial and that Robbo, like it or not, was due to be besieged
by Balts. The truth was somewhat less radical.

“It was part winter training camp and part trial,” explained
Byshovets. “The players were preparing for their new season but also
John wanted to see them in action and see if there were any players
that interested him.”

In the former Soviet Union winter training camps are the norm. Clubs
often head for the sunnier climes of Cyprus, Turkey or perhaps Spain
but with Romanov keen to cross-fertilise his football interests, the
notion of bringing them over to the less clement surrounds of
Edinburgh made sense and for the Kaunas squad it was a timely warm-up
for this month’s Commonwealth Cup in Moscow competed between the
champions of the 15 former Soviet republics.

“We had three control matches so there was plenty of opportunity for
John to see what was on offer,” continued Byshovets. “I have to
stress that the idea of bringing them over was agreed with John
before hand and had his complete backing.”

The players – 25 of them in all – hailed primarily from the Kaunas
squad but there were also a handful of players from MTZ RIPO, the
Belarussian club that also comes under the umbrella of Romanov’s
international football development fund.

Aside from the Kaunas men were three young Belarusian players:
goalkeeper Pavel Chesnovsky and midfielders Mikhail Asanasyev and
Yuri Prokopchik, and also 31-year-old Armenian international Hamlet
Mkhitarian whose CV sounds as exotic as his name including stints in
Lebanon and Kazakhstan. While for the Belarussians and for Hamlet it
was perhaps a case of not so close and no cigar four of the
Lithuanians will be heading back to Scotland. “John was impressed
enough by four of the players to bring them to Hearts,” confirmed
Byshovets. “Again, I emphasise that the decision was John’s.”

The pick of the Hearts new boys who have all signed on until the end
of the season is Andrius Gedgaudas, Lithuania’s current player of the
year. The others are Saulius Mikoliunas and under-21 internationals
Marius Kysis and Gediminus Vicius.

The Baltic quartet are all midfielders. The issue of signing another
striker remains the top priority. Like Robertson, Byshovets was a
hitman of some standing in his day (playing for the USSR he was one
of the top strikers at the 1970 World Cup). He knows what to look for
but that doesn’t make the task any easier.

“The problem is finding players who are match fit and ready to go
straight into the team which rules out a lot of European players who
are on their winter break,” Byshovets said. “And we also obviously
need a player who fits the British style. And then getting strikers
of star calibre is never easy.

“I think working in Britain has to be a big attraction for anyone.
Everyone talks about the quality of the English Premiership and the
atmosphere in the stadiums there. But I see so much potential in
Scotland too if only they can build up a couple more clubs to compete
with the big two.”

While restating his desire to assume a meaningful role at Tynecastle
longer term, Byshovets also confirmed he was not short of other
offers with a varied international menu to choose from. “I can say
that I’ve been asked back to South Korea to manage a club team and I
also have proposals from Russia and Portugal. But none of the other
offers I’ve received interest me nearly as much as the prospect of
working in Britain.” The message is clear enough: Tynecastle is where
his heart is but unless he is certain that a Byshovets-shaped vacancy
exists he won’t be signing on.

“This is an important season for Hearts. Hopefully they will finish
high up the league and I think there’s a good chance they can do well
in the Cup. Whether I am part of that remains to be seen.”