Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

Azeri paper plays down “no problem” assessment of ties with Russia

Zerkalo, Baku
3 Feb 05

Excerpt from R. Mirqadirov’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo
on 3 February headlined “No problem”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was received by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev yesterday [2 February].

[Passage omitted: reported details of Lavrov’s meetings with President
Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov]

So, another visit by a high-ranking official from the neighbouring
superpower has finished. Judging by official statements, the journey
has been a success and bilateral relations keep on developing. It
might seem that there is no reason to be displeased.

However, something alarming is noticeable against the backdrop of all
these optimistic statements. And it boils down to the fact that our
relations with close neighbours are often seen through rose-tinted
glasses and every time “no problems” statements are being made. This
assessment has been used when talking about Azerbaijan’s relations
with Georgia, Iran and Russia.

And then after the assessment the railway communication with Georgia
was closed and law enforcers of this country fired on ethnic
Azerbaijanis at point-blank range.

Meanwhile, Russia cut off natural gas supplies in the middle of
winter, leaving 40 Azerbaijani districts without heat and
electricity. At the same time, the chairman of the Russian State Duma
described Armenia as Russia’s outpost in the South Caucasus. If we
were to follow the same logic, it would appear that there were no
“serious problems” also between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which would
mean that we were surrounded only by friends.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 3 2005

Deputy FM denies reports on alleged talks over exchange of lands

BAKU

Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has denied recent reports saying
that the issue on exchange of lands was discussed during the meetings
of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents and foreign ministers.
Certain progress has been achieved in talks on settling the Upper
Garabagh conflict over the recent years, Azimov told journalists on
Wednesday.
The dialogue conducted by the parties to the conflict, mainly
concerns liberation of occupied lands, return of refugees to their
homes and restoration of communication links between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, he said.
Azimov added that it is impossible to exchange views on serious
political affairs until all these issues are resolved.’*

Ambassador Djerejian to Share Recommendations for
Middle East Road Map During Media Briefing at 11 a.m.
ET Thursday at NPC

U.S. Newswire
Wednesday Feb 2, 2005

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: B.J. Almond of Rice University, 713-348-6770

News Advisory:

Edward Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at
Rice University in Houston, will present the recommendations of the
Baker Institute workshop he chaired on “Creating a Road Map
Implementation Process Under U.S. Leadership” during a video
teleconference with the National Press Club in Washington at 11
a.m. (ET) Thursday, Feb. 3.

The recommendations were made by a group of Israeli, Palestinian,
Egyptian, Jordanian, American, European and Canadian governmental and
nongovernmental representatives convened by the Baker Institute to
participate in several sessions over the past eight months. Djerejian,
former ambassador to Israel and Syria, sent the group’s final report
to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prior to her departure for the
Middle East this week. The report, including an executive summary,
will be posted on the Baker Institute Web site,
The teleconference will include a
question-and-answer session. The National Press Club is located at 529
14th St. NW, Washington, D.C., 13th floor.

U.S. Newswire: 202-347-2770

;u=/usnw/20050202/pl_usnw/ambassador_djerejian_to_share_recommendations_for_middle_east_road_map_during_media_briefing_at_11_a_m__et_thursday_at_npc146_x

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 2 2005

PREMIER OF AZERBAIJAN RECEIVES RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
[February 02, 2005, 17:45:00]

On February 2, Artur Rasizade, Prime Minister of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, has received the delegation headed by the Russian foreign
minister Sergey Lavrov.

Noting that the relations between the two countries are high level in
all fields, head of the Azerbaijan Government especially underlined
dynamic development of economic links. He said volume of goods
turnover between the two countries have increased in one and a half,
and the meetings of the inter-governmental commission is regularly
held. After Vladimir Putin has come to power in Russia, after his
talks with the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, the
ties between the two countries have acquired higher level. And
currently, there is no unsolved problem between the two countries.
Recently, the negotiations on questions of delimitation of borders
will commence.

Speaking of the economic achievements, on the ongoing reforms, the
premier stated the major problem is the unsolved Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which impedes more effective development of
the Country.

Sergey Lavrov, highly estimating the development level of partnership
ties of the two countries, gave a positive assessment to the talks
between heads of foreign policy departments of the two countries.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan Republic in Russia Ramiz Rizayev took part
at the reception.

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN: THERE ARE UNPLEASANT, DANGEROUS STATEMENTS IN ATKINSON’S
REPORT

Azg/arm
01 Feb 05

Vahan Hovhannisian, deputy speaker of RA National Assembly, thinks
that there are a number of unpleasant and dangerous statements in the
PACE formula on Karabakh issue. “But the most dangerous thing is that
David Atkinson ascribes the blame on the OSCE Minsk group,”
Hovhannisian said at the National Press Club.

Atkinson stated with concern in the interview to BBC that the
activities of the OSCE Minsk group that lasted for over 10 years
yielded no results. “As the past ten years showed the efforts of the
Minsk group were not enough. And we thought that we can have some
ideas that can be applied in the course of the Minsk process that can
contribute to the settlement of the issue. I have always emphasized
that the suggestions we make on behalf of the CE do not replace those
of the Minsk group and, of course, they never hinder (its
activities). We would only like to enlarge the Minsk process,” he
said.

Vahan Hovhannisian, representative of ARF Dashnaktsiutiun, reminds
that since 1998 there hasn’t been a suggestion that were not accepted
by Armenia. Thus, according to Hovhannisian, the OSCE suggestions were
rejected by Azerbaijan, so the OSCE is not to be blamed. Azerbaijan
understood that if the structures skilled in the settlement of such
issues deal with the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, they (the Azeris)
lose. That is why Baku tries to transfer the issue to other
organizations that aren’t that skilled in the Karabakh issue,besides,
Turkey and a number of other countries support Azerbaijan at the CE.

Hovhannisian is especially concerned with the extract in the interview
to BBC where Atkinson said: “It is obvious that the Azeri authorities
will never agree to meet the demand of Nagorno Karabakh for
independence. That is why the CE can not support the independence of
Nagorno Karabakh.”

“You can never know,” he said in response to Atkinson’s report and
added that by making such a statement the British parliamentarian not
only supports Azerbaijan’s position, but also gives them an
opportunity to make it stricter.

Anyway, Hovhannisian points out that there are positive elements for
the Armenian side as well in the PACE resolution on Karabakh issue,
“but only elements.” In particular, Hovhannisian welcomes the extract
where they callfor the Azeri authorities to establish relations with
NKR authorities in order a dialogue is unfolded. “We would be glad to
contribute to beginning that dialogue here in Strasbourg,” Atkinson
said in the interview to BBC.

Accepting the fact that the PACE resolution is unfavorable for the
Armenians in general, Hovhannisian doesn’t think that the Armenian
parliamentary delegation at PACE lost.

Hovhannisian thinks that Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh should not be
against the activities of the OSCE monitoring mission in the regions
under the control of Karabakh forces. He reminded that the Armenians
that fled from Baku, Sumgait, Dashkesan and other regions of
Azerbaijan settled down there. “What could these people do? If it is a
crime (settling down in those regions), it means nothing changed in
the world since the XX century,” he said.

He said that Nagorno Karabakh’s absence at the negotiation process is
a conditional one, more precisely, “the Karabakh side was left out of
only one stage of the negotiations,” when in Paris and Key West they
were discussing the issue of Karabakh unification with Armenia, and
senior Aliyev broke the promise he gave preliminarily. Naturally, the
Karabakh side should be actively involved in the negotiation process
in the current stage, Hovhannisian said.

By Tatoul Hakobian

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Jan 25 2005

MEETING OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV WITH IRAN’S SUPREME
LEADER AYATOLLAH SEYED ALI KHAMENEI
[January 25, 2005, 15:17:10]

On January 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
met in Tehran with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in the presence of the Iranian President
Seyed Mohammad Khatami.

Warmly greeting Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said
he was pleased to see him, and expressed confidence that this first
visit by the Azerbaijani President to Iran would foster development
of cooperation between the two friendly neighboring countries.

The Supreme Leader of Iran also mentioned and highly valued political
activities and historical services of renowned figure Heydar Aliyev
expressing his profound respect for his memory.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked Ayatollah Khamenei for the hospitality
and kind words, and expressed his deep satisfaction with the meeting
he had had with Iranian leaders. The Head of Azerbaijan State also
expressed confidence that this visit would give a powerful impetus to
development of the Iran-Azerbaijan relationship, and pointed to
availability of huge possibilities for development of cooperation
between the two friendly and neighboring countries in all fields.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s most painful problem – the long running
conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh – President Ilham Aliyev
reminded of the 20% of the country’s lands still under occupation,
and over million refugees and IDPs still living under hard
conditions. He also advised of the talks now being held for peaceful
resolution of the conflict.

Seyed Ali Khamenei noted for his part that the conflict taking place
in the Caucasus pose a real threat to peace and stability in the
region. `Iran has always condemned Armenian aggression against
Azerbaijan, and this conflict must be solved in peace way,’ he said.

The parties also exchanged views on prospects of the Iran-Azerbaijan
cooperation, including implementation of the important transport
projects, regional situation and a number of other issues of mutual
interest.

Moscow trying to get Azerbaijan in military bloc, political analyst says

Yeni Musavat, Baku
24 Jan 05

Text of report by Elsad in Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 24
January headlined “Lavrov comes to ‘pressure’ Azerbaijan” and
subheaded “Moscow wants to get Baku in its military-strategic orbit”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s expected visit to Azerbaijan
[on 2-3 February] has raised some questions. Even, some speculate that
Moscow is trying to take over the initiative in the region in the
run-up to the Iran operations to prevent US plans to use Azerbaijani
territory. Moscow is believed to be sending Lavrov to Baku to get
Azerbaijan aligned with the CIS Collective Security Treaty. The fact
that the Russian president openly spoke about it in his last expanded
news conference was a herald of this intention of the [Soviet]
empire’s successor. Undoubtedly, if Moscow, which is against the Iran
operations, manages to have Baku agree to join this treaty, there will
be problems for the USA in using Azerbaijani territory.

Stressing that a proposal of this kind has been made [on Azerbaijan’s
membership of the Collective Security Treaty], political analyst [and
former head of the Azerbaijani presidential secretariat] Eldar Namazov
has however said that this is not taken quite positively in
Azerbaijan. “It would be ridiculous for Azerbaijan to be in the
military bloc with the occupying country. I do not think anybody can
see Azerbaijan in that bloc before Armenia liberates the Azerbaijani
territories.”

The expert recalled that Lavrov will visit Azerbaijan for the first
time against the background of the recent developments in the CIS,
namely in Georgia and Ukraine. “Therefore, it will be an interesting
visit for all. Namely, does Russia have any corrections over the
recent developments in the CIS? We will find an answer to this
question during Lavrov’s visit.”

“A revolution has turned into an actual threat in Russia. I already
see a lot of young people among protesters. From this viewpoint,
Moscow should end playing with our fate,” another political analyst
[and former presidential advisor on foreign policy issues] Vafa
Quluzada has said. It is “inadmissible” for Azerbaijan to follow
Russia, he believes. “It is possible to maintain relations with Russia
after a normal government is established there.” Quluzada believes
that Lavrov is coming to pressure official Baku to ensure that
Azerbaijan joins the Collective Security Treaty.

“Visits of this kind will not have negative results if Azerbaijan does
not join the treaty. If otherwise, adverse results for our national
interests are inevitable.”

Le Figaro
22 janvier 2005

Gaudin «hostile» à l’adhésion turque; UMP

Le sénateur-maire (UMP) de Marseille, Jean-Claude Gaudin, a affirmé
hier qu’il était «totalement hostile à l’entrée de la Turquie» dans
l’Union européenne. Selon le vice-président de l’UMP, cela lui vaut
des discussions parfois «hard» avec son «ami», Jacques Chirac. «Je
suis dans l’incapacité de mettre dans la balance des intérêts
diplomatiques et économiques et de l’autre un million et demi de gens
massacrés», a-t-il affirmé, évoquant le génocide arménien.

ArmenPress
Jan 21 2005

ARMENIAN OMBUDSWOMAN WARNS AGAINST PLACING HER STAFF UNDER THE
AUTHORITY OF A GOVERNMENT BODY

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian human rights defender
Larisa Alaverdian has warned against pending legislative changes
which would place the staff of her office under the authority of the
Civil Service Council. In a letter to president Robert Kocharian she
argued that the move runs counter both to “the idea of the human
rights defender institution and the Armenian law on Human Rights
Defender.’
She also said the move is inconsistent with the so-called Paris
principles and other relevant international requirements. A statement
disseminated by her office says that the institution of ombudsman is
based on the principle of “full independence from state and local
government bodies and their officials, a principle that would be
violated should the staff of the office be placed under the authority
of the Civil Service Council.”
Mrs. Alaverdian also cites the relevant Armenian law that was
accepted in line with relevant internationally accepted standards and
norms after standing the test of international experts. “The law
clearly sets out the Office of Ombudsman as an independent body,…
and any restrictions on ombudsman’s freedom is unacceptable, ” the
statement says.
The statement says also that no other country, including
post-Soviet republics, has reserved the right to form the staff of
ombudsman to a government body.

ArmenPress
Jan 19 2005

ARMENIA EXPLORES WAYS FOR FREE TRADE REGIME WITH IRAN AND LEBANON

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian trade and economic
ministry is exploring trade relations with Iran and Lebanon in an
effort to prepare soil for signing free trade agreements. Garegin
Melkonian, head of a trade and economic development ministry
department, overseeing foreign economic policy, told Armenpress that
Iran’s system of foreign trade regulation differs from that of
Armenia, the major difference is that unlike Iran Armenia is a member
of World Trade Organization (WTO) and its relevant legislation is in
conformity with international standards.
He said Iran’s legislation is fundamentally different from those
of WTO member-countries. Thus, Armenian companies engaged in imports,
pay customs fees and VAT, while Iranian companies pay a low customs
fee and charge also trade profit, which is very high. Unlike in
Armenia, foreign trade in Iran is supervised by the government, one
of the major obstacles to establishing free trade regime with Tehran.
Concerning Lebanon, he said there are no major difficulties. The
existing ones refer to customs fee tariffs. Armenia so far has free
trade agreements with CIS members only.