Author: Talalian Arpi

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 13 2005

Famous British conductor Paul MacAlindin to have only one performance
in Yerevan

RA Government provided 25 million AMD for provision of assistance to
citizens of Sri-Lanka suffered from tsunami

RF Minister of Defense: Armenia is one of the closest allies of
Russia

Restoration of transport communication is the main achievement in
Armenian-Georgian relations in 2004

The third annual international conference on Armenia to be held in
Washington on January 15-16

ARKA Agency presents ten key political events in 2004 in Armenia
according to Agency’s reporters

ARKA Agency presents 10 key economic events of 2004 in Armenia,
according to Agency’s reporters

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FAMOUS BRITISH CONDUCTOR PAUL MACALINDIN TO HAVE ONLY ONE PERFORMANCE
IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. Famous British conductor Paul MacAlindin
will have only one performance in Yerevan with State Philharmonic
Orchestra of Armenia. During the press conference in British Council
office in Yerevan MacAlindin said that he is for the first time in
Armenia and is impressed by the level of professionalism of the
Armenian orchestra. `I am familiar with the Armenian music, but I am
happy to use the chance to get more acquainted with it’, he said.
The concert is sponsored by the British Council. T.M. -0–

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RA GOVERNMENT PROVIDED 25 MILLION AMD FOR PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO
CITIZENS OF SRI-LANKA SUFFERED FROM TSUNAMI

YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. RA Government provided 25 million AMD
for provision of assistance to citizens of Sri-Lanka suffered from
tsunami, RA Government press office told ARKA. 10 million AMD
provided to RA Ministry of Health for purchasing of medicines, 15
million AMD – to Emergency Department for purchasing of warm covers
and mobile generators. 2 million AMD of the assets provided to Chief
Department of RA Civil Aviation for provision of transportation of
humanitarian cargo. ($1 – 501.20 AMD). L.D. –0 –

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RF MINISTER OF DEFENSE: ARMENIA IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST ALLIES OF
RUSSIA

YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. Armenia is one of the closest allies of
Russia, as RF Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov stated during the
press -conference in the Russian Embassy in Washington, answering the
questions of reporters regarding the relations between Russia and
Armenia in the light of contacts with Turkey. `Both countries are the
members of the Organizations for Collective Security Treaty. The
largest Russian military unit is located in Armenia. We have very
close economic and cultural relations’, Ivanov said. In the meantime
he noted that `Russia will not push Armenia to any of the sides’.
`Armenia is a sovereign state and it will decide itself in what
direction to move, and it’s one of our principles’, Ivanov said,
according to RIA-Novosti. A.H. -0–

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RESTORATION OF TRANSPORT COMMUNICATION IS THE MAIN ACHIEVEMENT IN
ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS IN 2004

YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. Restoration of transport communication
is the main achievement in Armenian-Georgian relations in 2004, as
stated RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian during the
press-conference, summing up the results of 2004. According to the
report of RA MFA, in 2004, perspectives came forth for the two
countries to cooperate in the field of economy, energy,
communication, customs, etc. The economic issues discussed by the
sides mainly related to restoring `West-East’ and `North-South’
transport communication, signing three-sided
Armenian-Georgian-Russian agreement on launching Poti-`Caucases’
railway -ferry line, and the issues of energy supply to the region.
Armenian-Georgian relations in 2004 were quite active, according to
the report of RA MFA. Thus, mutual visits of the Presidents and other
officials took place. Also, issues related to the regional security,
processes of the European integration in the region, creation of the
environment for mutual trust in the settlement of the conflicts in
the South Caucasus through the development of the economic relations
between the countries were discussed. A.H. –0–

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THE THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ARMENIA TO BE HELD IN
WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 15-16

YEREVAN, January 13. /ARKA/. The third annual international
conference on Armenia will be held in Washington on January 15-16.
According to the Armenian International Policy Research Group
(AIPRG), the third annual conference will bring together over 200
Armenian and non-Armenian experts on social and economic affairs,
including senior officials from the World Bank, International
Monetary Fund, US and the Armenian government, international donor
organizations and academia institutions in Armenia and the US. The
conference will focus on the discussion of issues related to the
distribution of income and the system of social insurance in Armenia,
economic growth and reduction of poverty level, tax-budget policy,
reforms of public institutions, banking and financial sectors. Also,
participants will discuss issues related to the economic growth,
macroeconomic policies, trade and geopolitics, as well as
relationship between Armenia and its Diaspora.
AIPRG is a non-partisan, non-political association that researches
and encourages the discussion of public policy issues in Armenia and
the Diaspora. AIPRG aims to consolidate the existing Armenia-related
expertise by bringing together accomplished researchers and
practitioners who specialize in economics, political science, law,
and government affairs. A.H. -0–

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ARKA AGENCY PRESENTS TEN KEY POLITICAL EVENTS IN 2004 IN ARMENIA
ACCORDING TO AGENCY’S REPORTERS

1. Armenian opposition MPs began boycotting of the Parliament’s
sessions. The main demand of the MPs – holding of vote of confidence
to President, which was not supported by other MPs, particularly
pro-Government Coalition.
2. April meetings of the opposition: On April 9, 12, 16 and 21 the
opposition organized meetings with demand of President’s resignation.
On April 12, the meeting turned to unsanctioned march to the
presidential residence and the building of the Parliament. The
participants of the meeting were stopped by police, while on the
night of April 13 the police lunched a special operation for
dispersing the participants of the meeting, while the law enforcement
authorities recoursed to force after the protesters refused to leave
the roadway of the avenue. Police applied special means. Among the
detained were some journalists.
3. The official Yerevan not intending to start the negotiations on
Nagorno Karabakh from `zero point’. Armenia insists on continuation
of the negotiations with Azerbaijani new President Ilham Aliyev from
the interrupted point with Heydar Aliyev. At the same time the
Azerbaijani side states that it wishes the process to start from
`bland print’.
4. Armenia was included on 16 poorest nations list whish will be
assisted by the Millennium Challenge Foundation for holding economic
and democratic reforms. The list mainly included African, Asian,
Latin American countries as well as two former USSR republics –
Armenia and Georgia. In the frames of the program Armenia expects US
support in the sum around USD 330 mln.
5. Closing of Verkhni Lars checkpoint on Russian-Georgian border for
more than a month caused negative reaction of the Armenian
politicians that considered that Russia while fighting terrorism,
does not take into consideration of its strategic partner.
6. Parliaments of some countries recognized the Armenian Genocide of
1915 in Ottoman Empire. Particularly Canadian House of Commons,
Slovakian and Netherlands Parliaments voted for recognition of the
Genocide. Also the European Parliament re-confirmed its resolution of
1987 on the Armenian Genocide in its new resolution `EU’s policy
toward the South Caucasus States’.
7. The UN General Assembly voted for inclusion of the issue
`Situation on occupied lands of Azerbaijan’ to the agenda of the 59
session. Armenian Foreign Minister states that in case of adoption of
the Azerbaijani resolution by the UN, Armenia will refuse to continue
bilateral negotiations on the Karabakh conflict.
8. On its extraordinary session, PACE passed a resolution on Nagorno
Karabakh on basis of the report on the Karabakh problem prepared by
UK MP David Atkinson. The resolution was including some points
unfavorable formulas for Armenia, because of which the official
Yerevan strongly criticized the report. Atkinson’s report was
included on the agendum of the PACE winter session and will be
discussed on January 25, 2005.
9. Court of Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea charged six Armenian
pilots with attempt of coup d’etait. The crew captain was sentenced
to 24 years of imprisonment, while the others to 14 years of
imprisonment. The official Yerevan said that it would make its best
to release the Armenian pilots.
10. The Armenian Parliament ratified memorandum on deployment of the
Armenian contingent to Iraq as a part of the Polish Delegation. The
contingent consists of 46 people, including doctors, sappers,
drivers. T.M. -0–

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ARKA AGENCY PRESENTS 10 KEY ECONOMIC EVENTS OF 2004 IN ARMENIA,
ACCORDING TO AGENCY’S REPORTERS

1. Russian Vneshtorgbank obtains 70% shares of Armsavingsbank.
Vneshtorgbank plans to service the trade turnover of the two
countries and assist Russian companies, intensively working in
Armenia, such as Gasprom, RAO UES of Russia, Sibir.
2. Agreement is signed on Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction. The
investments of Armenia will make about $90 mln. The deadline for
putting the gas pipeline in commission is January 1, 2007. The issue
of Iran-Armenian gas pipeline construction had been discussed since
1992. In 1995, Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental agreement was
signed, according to which the route of the pipeline was determined:
its length made – 141 km; 41 km to pass through the Armenian
territory and 100 km – through Iran.
3. World Bank approves the new four-year credit program for Armenia
to the amount of up to $220 mln. The previous Armenian support
strategy covered the years 2002-2004 and provided for a credit
program of $150 mln, however, WB allotted credits to the sum of $164
mln, given the successful implementation of WB programs.
4. Armenal foil-rolling factory and Achenbach German Company sign an
agreement on factory modernization to the sum of $70 mln. According
to the estimates of Russian experts, Armenia would get the best
foil-rolling factory in Europe after modernization. According to the
contract, the modernization process will take 18 months to reach the
planned production capacity. The first trial production in volume of
150 tones is planned to be produced already in the end of 2005.
5. The rate of Armenian dram equals the level of 1997 for the first
time in last 6 years. In course of a year, the Armenian dram
strengthened by 14,16% against US dollar. Among the causes for the
strengthening of the national currency, experts mention, in
particular, the economic growth, the tendencies on world currency and
financial markets, large inflow of private transfers into the country
from abroad.
6. For the first time in Armenia, long-term securities are issued for
a term of 7 years. According to the experts, that fact testifies to
the increased trust of the Armenian financial market participants
towards the government commitments. The first 7-year securities were
allocated to the volume of AMD 1,5 bln, given the maximal yield at
9,8%.
7. Synopsys, Inc. first-rate company, which is involved in
intellectual property and development of electronic design automation
solutions for integral schemes, purchases Leda Design and Monterey
Arset Armenian companies. `Synopsys Armenia’ OJSC is established on
the base of these companies.
8. The Armenian Government deprives ArmenTel Company of the exclusive
right for GSM services. According to the amendments made to the
license of the monopolist, ArmenTel is also deprived of monopoly for
mobile satellite communication services, special mobile
radio-services and permit of Internet traffic to Armenia.
9. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development obtains 25%+1
shares of Armeconombank for 887 thou. The participation of EBRD in
the capital of Armeconombank testifies to the increased confidence of
world structures to Armenia.
10. The RA Government makes a decision on privatization of Zangezur
copper-molybdenum combine (Armenia) for $132 mln. According to the
agreement, 60% shares of the combine are passed to Cronimet German
Company’, 15% are owned by Plant of Pure Iron, Armenian molybdenum
production CJSC and Zangezur Mining LLC get 12,5% of shares each.
L.V.-0–

CONCERT CONDUCTED BY BRITISH MAESTRO TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13. ARMINFO. A concert of Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra, headed by British Conductor Paul MacAlindin, will be held
at the concert hall after Aram Khachaturian in Yerevan on Jan 14.

Paul MacAlindin has arrived in Armenia by the invitation of the
British Council in Armenia and Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra. According to MacAlindin, the staff of the Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra is notable for talented musicians.

US U-19 National Team Coach Mark Krikorian Selected To Head Florida
State University Women’s Soccer

Mark Krikorian was named 2002 WUSA Coach of the Year with the
Philadelphia Charge.

*Jan. 12, 2005*

Tallahassee, FL – United States U-19 National Team head coach and 2002
WUSA Coach of the Year Mark Krikorian was announced as the new head
women’s soccer coach at Florida State today by Athletics Director Dave
Hart. Krikorian brings 14 years of head coaching experience to
Tallahassee at all levels of the game including college, pro and with
the US Olympic Development Program. He is just the third coach in the
history of the FSU soccer program.

“Having Mark Krikorian accept our offer to become the head coach of our
women’s soccer program is certainly cause for much excitement and
anticipation,” said Hart. “Mark brings a wealth of experience and
knowledge from his prior positions on the college, professional and
national team levels of competition. He is an accomplished teacher,
coach and recruiter who will build on the success which Patrick Baker
<;
generated during his outstanding tenure at Florida State. This search
produced some truly distinguished candidates, which speaks volumes about
our soccer program. We welcome Mark, Linda and their children into our
Seminole family.”

“I am thrilled to join the Florida State family and am looking forward
to working with such an outstanding group of student-athletes,” said
Krikorian. “I am excited to work with an athletic department that is so
committed to excellence.”

Krikorian comes to Florida State fresh off leading the United States
U-19 National Team to the bronze medal while winning the FIFA Fair Play
Award at the 2004 U-19 Women’s World Cup. Prior to that he spent 2003 as
a scout for the US Women’s National Team preparing reports on opponents
in both the CONCACAF Qualifications and the Women’s World Cup.

As the head coach of the Philadelphia Charge from 2000-2003, Krikorian
had another opportunity to coach the top players in the world and he
once again proved he could take talent and guide it to great heights. He
coached the Charge to two playoff berths in his three seasons and was
named the league’s coach of the year in 2002. Krikorian drafted and
coached 10 WUSA All-Stars and coached an all-star team during his tenure
with the league.

“I feel fortunate that I have had so many opportunities and experiences
in both the WUSA and with the US National Team program,” said Krikorian.
“I feel that those experiences will be a huge benefit to us (FSU) as we
continue to improve upon the outstanding foundation that Patrick (Baker)
and his staff have established.”

Krikorian has achieved an equal measure of success on the college level.
He coached the University of Hartford for five seasons from 1996-2000
leading the squad to an Elite Eight and two Sweet Sixteen appearances
during his four consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. He recruited
five National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)
All-Americans, three academic All-Americans and his squads received the
NSCAA Team Academic Award on four occasions. Overall, Krikorian’s teams
averaged 15 wins per season as he posted a 75-30-3 overall record while
winning three conference championships. Three of his squads finished the
year ranked in the NSCAA’s top 15. He coached two of his players to
conference player of the year awards and three to conference rookie of
the year honors.

Before taking over the Hartford program, Krikorian was the head coach at
Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, NH for six seasons from 1990-1996
where his teams won two National Championships, both during undefeated
seasons, and appeared in two other final fours. His squads had a
remarkable 39-game winning streak and his 1995 National Championship
team was 20-0. Krikorian’s teams compiled a 93-19-2 record in seven
seasons. He recruited three National Players of the Year, eight
All-Americans, five academic All-Americans and four national scoring
champions. His team at Franklin Pierce also garnered the NSCAA Team
Academic Award.

“Academics have always been very important to me wherever I coached and
few schools combine the athletic and academic opportunities that FSU
provides its student-athletes,” said Krikorian. “The average SAT score
of an FSU student is 1200 and when you couple that with what the
athletic department has to offer, FSU becomes a very attractive school
to potential recruits.”

On top of his coach of the year honor from the WUSA, Krikorian was named
the NSCAA’s Northeast Division I Coach of the Year in 1997, the NSCAA
Division II National Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995, the NSCAA
Division II Northeast Region Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1995 and was
a two-time New England Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in 1994
and 1995. In 1990 and 1993 he was named the Division II New England
Coach of the Year as well.

Krikorian was a standout player at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH
from 1981-1983. He was a two-time captain and team MVP. In 1983 he was a
New England Indoor Soccer League (NEISL) All-Star and a first team
All-New England selection.

“This is a very exciting time for our team and this program,” said team
captain Kelly Rowland
<;.
“A lot of the unknowns we were going through are behind us and it is
good to have a coach in place. The administration did a great job and we
are excited to meet coach Krikorian. I watched him coach the Charge
growing up in Philadelphia so it is especially exciting for me. We are
all very happy with the decision and look forward to getting started.”

Krikorian graduated with a degree in history from St. Anselm College and
he earned his master’s degree in education from Keene (NH) State College
in 1994. Krikorian also served as an assistant men’s coach at the
University of Maine at Farmington and was a Social Studies teacher at
Mt. Abram High School in Maine and Raymond High School in New Hampshire.
He is married to the former Linda Mastrogiovanni. They have two children
Alexandra (4) and Michael (2).

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
January 11, 2005, Tuesday

Vladimir Putin, a favor de amistad entre Turquia y Armenia

Moscu

El presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, se mostro hoy en una reunion con
el primer minstro turco, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a favor de normalizar
las relaciones entre Ankara y Armenia.

“El primer ministro turco y yo somos conscientes de que hay que
construir lazos de amistad con sus vecinos”, aseguro Putin, segun
recoge la agencia Interfax.

Entre 1915 y 1923 mas de dos millones de armenios fueron masacrados
durante el Imperio Otomano, el Estado que precedio a la actual
Turquia. Ankara, sin embargo, no ha reconocido el genocidio.

La enemistad entre ambas partes sigue en pie porque en el conflicto
por el enclave armenio del monte Karabaj, Turquia esta del lado de
Azerbaijan.

Putin subrayo que su gobierno favorece una “solucion de las
cuestiones pendientes relacionadas con el tema armenio”.

World Bank allocates over 4m euros for poverty reduction in Armenia

Arminfo
11 Jan 05

YEREVAN

The Armenian government and the World Bank today signed a 4.7m-euro
grant agreement linked to the implementation of the Poverty Reduction
and Growth Facility (PRGF) programme, Arminfo has learnt from the
Armenian Ministry of Finance and Economy. The grant will be allocated
by the government of the Netherlands, the source said.

[Passage omitted: background of the PRGF programme]

Turkish Press/Aksam
Dec 30 2004

A specialist
BYEGM: 12/30/2004
BY BURHAN AYERI

AKSAM- Groups dedicated to making Turkey accept claims of the
so-called Armenian genocide, including those from the European Union,
have always favored Halil Berktay. A professor at Sabanci University,
Berktay is a historian, but he hasn’t done any original research into
the claims. He always says that `something’ happened in 1915 and
gives speeches supporting Yerevan and the claims of the Armenian
diaspora. He even said, `What would happen if Turkey accepts this?
It’s far in the past.’ Even non-specialists can see what would follow
such an acceptance. This is a situation designed to lead Turkey into
a trap. Like those who say, `Give Cyprus away and get rid of the
problem’…

Another professor, Nursen Mazici, explored the events at that time
from many angles, and not from her armchair either. Mazici probed the
allegations using evidence from British and French archives and
proved that the events, which the Ottoman Empire is blamed for, were
a plot of Britain. Mazici explained how Britain promised the land to
both the Kurds and Armenians and so set them against each other. `The
problem is geography and the will to possess the region’s natural
resources,’ added Mazici. `History repeats itself, but only for
fools!’

Similar discussions are taking place over the future of Cyprus.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas is
sticking to his guns. TRNC Foreign Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, on the
other hand is tiring of all this and is slowly accepting his destiny.
If the Turkish Cypriots gain anything, it will be thanks to Denktas.
If it were my choice, I would appoint him our chief negotiator for
the EU accession talks.

Tehran Times
Dec 30 2004

Armenia on Iran-Russia fuel transit

YEREVAN (IRIB News) – Armenia is ready to join fuel transit plan
between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia.

Pointing to the transfer of energy Iran and Russia, an Armenian
official announced that running such joint projects will decrease
electricity production expenses for his country.

The official expressed his country willingness to set up railway and
Qajaran tunnel between Iran and Armenia.

Armenia has allocated 16 million dollars to the railway project.

Scripps Howard News Service
December 29, 2004, Wednesday 12:24 PM Eastern Time

Turkey’s future

SOURCE: The Providence Journal

The European Union crossed a threshold recently that, just a few
years back, would have seemed unimaginable. The members decided that
negotiations could begin on the admission of Turkey to their union.

This is good news for Turkey, which has sought E.U. membership since
1987. But of course, admission is not a matter of mailing an
application to Brussels and awaiting the verdict. Although Turkey has
made substantial progress in the past years toward bringing its
system of governance into alignment with Europe’s, it has a long way
to go.

The Turkish democracy remains strongly influenced by the military,
and the country’s economy is still some distance from basic
free-market principles.

Turkey’s treatment of minorities remains unsatisfactory, its
human-rights record is decidedly mixed, and freedoms of religion and
speech are far from the standards in Europe. Not least, Turkey
continues to deny the history of the Armenian genocide, and the
Turkish army occupies a third of the territory of a member of the
European Union – Cyprus – while refusing to recognize the Cypriot
government. All of these facts are incompatible with E.U. membership.

Talks are expected to last some dozen years, and in that time Turkey
may well transform itself to satisfy the European Union. If so, this
will mark a new day for Turks, and greatly benefit two immediate
neighbors, Armenia and Greece, which suffer from longtime Turkish
hostility and (in Armenia’s case) a devastating economic blockade.
The Turkish government has a sincere desire to move the country
Westward, and the process of E.U. accession should yield innumerable
benefits.

Two questions, however, shadow the process: While the Turkish
government strongly favors E.U. membership, it is not clear that
Turkish citizens do.

The second question is more complex. Turkey sits astride the border
of Europe and Asia, and is a longtime member of NATO, yet whether the
homeland of the onetime Ottoman Empire is “European” is debatable.
Turkey is a very big, poor and overwhelmingly Muslim country: Can it
be integrated into a European economic, political and cultural system
that is now very different from its own? Moreover, Turkey would be
the largest member of the E.U., which is already strained by several
comparatively non-affluent members.

None of these obstacles is insuperable, and while many Europeans have
reservations about Turkey, many others think that Turkish E.U.
membership makes sense. The next years will be a testing time: for
Turkey, for Europe, and for the meaning and future of European
identity and unity.

Study shows Lake Van seriously polluted
Turkish Daily News
12/29/04

Researchers at Van’s YÃ¼zÃ¼ncÃ¼ YÄ±l University have devised a map of
relative pollution levels in Lake Van following an analysis ofÂ water
samples collected from various parts of the lake.

Assistant Professor Orhan Deniz from the university’s department of
geography traversed the 530-kilometer-long coastline of Lake Van on
foot andÂ collectedÂ water samplesÂ over a period of fourÂ months,
according to the Anatolia news agency. The research was conductedÂ in
cooperation with Vice Chancellor Professor Ali Fuat DogË˜u.

Deniz stated that the samples taken from the lake underwent laboratory
analysisÂ to determine theÂ coliform content ofÂ the water. He
saidÂ pollution was heaviestÂ in non-residential areas and the
sectionsÂ of the lake that haveÂ no currents.

`We classified areas according to their suitability for swimming
andÂ have concluded that 40 percent of the lake is unsuitable for this
activity. According to the classification, the clean parts of the lake
have been indicated on the map with the number one, the less polluted
areasÂ by a two, the polluted sectionsÂ by a three, and the most
polluted locationsÂ by a four,Â indicating the lake’s most hazardous
areas,’ said Deniz.

Deniz saidÂ they had been unable to surveyÂ the 90 kilometers
ofÂ coastline stretchingÂ between the village of AltÄ±nsaÃ§ in GevasÂ¸
and ResÂ¸adiye inÂ Tatvan due toÂ the area’s inaccessibility, adding
that they would continue their research in theÂ spring to complete the
map.

Deniz said he would also monitor pollution levels byÂ season and would
collect samples startingÂ in January to create a winter map.

Nagorno-Karabakh gets new foreign minister

The Moscow Times
Interfax. Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, 12:50 PM Moscow Time

STEPANAKERT. Dec 24 (Interfax) – Arkady Gukasian, the leader of the
self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, promoted the republic’s
Permanent Representative in Armenia Arman Melikian to the post of
foreign minister on Friday.

Melikian’s predecessor Ashot Gulian was appointed education and
culture minister.

As he presented Melikian to the foreign ministry’s personnel, Gukasian
said that Melikian’s appointment had been dictated by the need to
step up Nagorno-Karabakh’s foreign policy activities in response to
recent international developments.