Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

Astana talks major stage in Karabakh settlement – Azeri foreign minister

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
16 Sep 04

[Presenter] The Baku government put forward the principle of
territorial integrity as the main precondition in the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement at the Astana meeting of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
has said in an interview with “Son Xabar”. The minister said that
liberation of seven districts around Nagornyy Karabakh had also been
touched upon during the talks and added that Armenia’s reaction to
the issue was still not known.

[Correspondent, over video of Azerbaijani, Armenian presidents] Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov described the Astana talks between the
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents as a major stage in the Nagornyy
Karabakh settlement. He said that at the talks the presidents had
outlined the future direction of the process and the main issues to
be discussed.

[Mammadyarov, speaking to microphone at airport] There is an opinion
that the two sides should analyse results of the talks and decide
which path they should take.

[Correspondent] The minister said that the process would take some
time. The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents were satisfied with
the results of the Prague consultations between the foreign ministers
of the two countries. Mr Mammadyarov stressed that during the talks
the Baku government had set its territorial integrity as the main
precondition.

[Mammadyarov] Of course, there can be no talk about violating
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity irrespective of the negotiations
and their results.

[Correspondent] Mammadyarov said that liberation of the districts
around Nagornyy Karabakh had been discussed during the talks, but he
noted that Yerevan’s reaction to the issue was still not known. The
minister also touched upon the importance of the meeting between the
Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian presidents [in Astana].

[Mammadyarov] I think Russia wants to render its assistance since it
regards itself to be a major neighbouring country.

[Correspondent] The foreign minister said that the date for the
presidents’ next meeting had not been set during the talks. He also
said that Baku hoped that results of the Astana talks would have a
positive impact on the Nagornyy Karabakh settlement.

Etibar Mammadov, Mirtofiq Miralioglu, “Son Xabar”.

Georgia urges EU to boost Caucasus security role
By Sebastian Alison

Reuters
Sept 14 2004

BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Georgia urged the European Union on
Tuesday to engage Russia on border security in the volatile South
Caucasus to bring peace to a region that both Moscow and Brussels
regard as part of their “backyard”.

Chronic instability of the Caucasus was dramatised by the school
siege in Beslan, in the Russian region of North Ossetia, when more
than 300 people, half of them children, died in a chaotic end to
a hostage-taking by Chechen gunmen. Now that the South Caucasus
states of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have joined the EU’s
“new neighbourhood” programme to boost ties with countries around
the expanding bloc, the EU should hold direct talks with Moscow on
border security, Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili said.

“I’ve been pleading here for the EU to raise this question with
Russia,” she told reporters.

“We think that with the South Caucasus being now in the new
neighbourhood initiative and being also in the “near abroad” of
Russia, there is an item for cooperation between the EU and Russia
to deal with terrorism through more exchange of information, through
border management.”

Russia has traditionally regarded the South Caucasus as part of
its sphere of influence and spurned outside help, but the region is
increasingly seeking closer ties with Brussels. Georgia has moved
furthest in aligning itself with the EU.

It elected pro-western President Mikhail Saakashvili in January after
veteran leader Eduard Shevardnadze was overthrown.

Saakashvili, 36, a Western-educated lawyer, emphasised his European
credentials by appointing Zurabishvili, a French national then serving
as French ambassador to Tbilisi, as his foreign minister in March.

GEORGIA NOW IN EU BACKYARD

The EU has stepped up its own interest in Georgia since Saakashvili’s
election, but stresses the need to continue engagement with Moscow.

“It’s an important part of our backyard, where we can only achieve
our own objectives if we’re working closely with Russia,” said Emma
Udwin, spokeswoman for EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten.

“It is clear that there’s been a sea-change in the attention given
to this region,” she added.

Zurabishvili said the security situation had not worsened since the
Beslan siege, “but it only confirms what we had been saying before,
that it’s very dangerous in this region to generate instability”.

She added she was extremely concerned by the lack of control on the
border between the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, and
Russia’s North Ossetia, and she wanted the EU to press Russia for
closer coperation on that area.

Zurabishvili cautioned against attempts by Moscow to bring stability
to the region unilaterally, citing violations of Georgian airspace
by Russia on Tuesday as unacceptable.

She also rejected threats by Russia’s top general, Yuri Baluyevsky,
to attack “terrorist bases” anywhere in the world — remarks widely
interpreted as referring especially to Georgia.

“We don’t think this is the proper approach to deal with this question,
especially as we have shown our readiness to cooperate,” she said of
Baluyevsky’s remarks.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, in Brussels for
separate talks with the EU, agreed that the bloc had a role in
fighting terrorism and bringing stability to the South Caucasus,
saying his talks had stressed the benefits of closer economic and
political cooperation.

AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE HENRY CUNY CLOSES EXHIBITION OF PAINTER ASILVA (PARIS)

ArmenPress
Sept 13 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Dozens of art lovers and reporters
flocked in the Painter’s House of Armenia on Sept 10 to participate
in the closing ceremony of the exhibition of a French Armenian painter
Asilva which ran since September 1.

The ceremonial closing was spearheaded by France’s Ambassador Henry
Cuny. Greeting the reporters, the ambassador said, “I am always
delighted to receive French artists here be them of Armenian descent
or other. I myself am a man of pen and therefore am trying to look
for and understand the roots of artists in their works.”

The ambassador started with comments on Asilva’s Ararat painting.
He said that embodied in the frame of Khor Virap Church, the painting
is recognizable in its abstract lines and has a deep wound which
lays down the underground layout of the painting. A wound, which
symbolizes the colors of Armenia. Let “Ararat” be a strong symbol
today and tomorrow for all those who reside under it.

According to the ambassador, history and geography merge in Asilva’s
painting. There are reflections of Armenia being a land-locked country
and there is a dream to step out of its boundaries. Aren’t the titles
of the painting elements of political speech?

“Despite of all difficulties, Armenia could revive from the times of
“darkness” when it existed only as a nation,” Mr. ambassador said.

Painter Asilva thanked Henry Cuny. The chairman of Armenian Painter’s
House, Karen Adamian, also said a word about the painter’s exhibition.

Several thousands attend Beslan remembrance ceremony in Yerevan
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 10, 2004 Friday

YEREVAN, September 10 – Several thousands of people attended a
remembrance ceremony for victims of the Beslan terrorist act in the
St. Grigory the Educator Cathedral in Yerevan on Friday.

Public organizations and the Russian-Armenian (Slavic) State University
organized the ceremony with the assistance of the Armenian Apostolic
Church and the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

Head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Garegin II prayed
for the Beslan dead. He presented condolences to Russian President
Vladimir Putin, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II and the
whole people of Russia on behalf of the people of Armenia.

“The Armenian people, whole Armenia are shaken by the monstrous crime,”
Parliament Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan said. “International terrorism
is acquiring a new, even more intricate face, and we must unite to
combat this evil,” he said.

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov thanked every citizen
of Armenia for compassion and support. “Sorrow and ordeals have united
us again,” he said.

After the ceremony, people marched to the Russian embassy building
to light candles in the memory of Beslan victims.

Iranian president for settling Karabakh problem
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 9, 2004 Thursday

YEREVAN, September 9 — Iranian President Mohammad Khatami came out
for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem “on the basis of
respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty”.

The Iranian president concluding his official visit to Yerevan made
this statement on Thursday during his meeting with students and the
teaching staff of Yerevan State University.

Khatami pointed to the need of easing any tension in the Caucasus
hampering peaceful development of countries of the region. Teheran
will exert efforts “for resolving the Karabakh conflict and for
peaceful co-existence of the countries involved”, he said.

ARKA News Agency
Sept 10 2004

Vice President of Argentina receives invitation to pay official visit
in Armenia

Presentation of national program on realization of agreement on
partnership and cooperation between RA and European Communities to
take place in Yerevan on Sep 13

French physician of Armenian origin Roger Balian receives diploma of
foreign member of Armenian Academy of Sciences

Joint delegation of two Committees of NATO Parliamentary Assembly to
arrive in Yerevan on September 13-15

Newly appointed Ambassador of Finland to Armenia presents her
credentials to the RA President

Armenia Expo 2004 4th commercial and industrial exposition forum
opens today in Yerevan

Vigen Chitechyan relieved of his post of a Coordinator of the mission
of Armenia in NATO

RA President has a working meeting with the leaders of the parties of
the political coalition

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VICE PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA RECEIVES INVITATION TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT
IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Vice President of Argentina Daniel
Sioli received invitation to pay official visit in Armenia, RA MFA
told ARKA. During the meeting with RA Ambassador to Argentina Ara
Ayvazian, the parties discussed present level of Armenian-Argentinean
relations and development perspectives. The parties agreed to take
business steps towards establishment of interparliament links. The
parties discussed human rights protection and prevention of crimes
against humanity. The Ambassador highly estimated the principal
position of Argentina in mentioned spheres. L.D. –0—

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PRESENTATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAM ON REALIZATION OF AGREEMENT ON
PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN RA AND EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES TO
TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN ON SEP 13

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Presentation of national program on
realization of agreement on partnership and cooperation between RA
and European Communities will take place in Yerevan on Sep 13, RA
Ministry of Finance and Economy told ARKA. The Presentation will
demonstrate guide-books “Administration and Legislation: EU and
Armenia”, “Terminological Directory of EU” and ADAMS computer
program.
Presentation is organized by RA Ministry of Finance and Economy and
AEPLAC (Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Centre). L.D. –0—

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FRENCH PHYSICIAN OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN ROGER BALIAN RECEIVES DIPLOMA OF
FOREIGN MEMBER OF ARMENIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. French physician of Armenian origin
Roger Balian received diploma of foreign member of Armenian Academy
of Sciences, AAS press office told ARKA. According to the AAS
President Fadey Sargsian, “election of Roger Balian as a foreign
member is a big honor for us and in the future it will allow
strengthening of friendship between Armenian and French scientists”.
Balian is an author of several fundamental works, namely his
monographs on statistic physics “From microphysics to macrophysics.
Methods and Application” is well known among scientists. Balian is
elected the member of several European academies and scientific
centers. L.D. –0—

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JOINT DELEGATION OF TWO COMMITTEES OF NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY TO
ARRIVE IN YEREVAN ON SEPTEMBER 13-15

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Joint delegation of two Committees of
NATO Parliamentary Assembly – Committee on the Civil Dimension of
Security and Sub-Committee of Political Committee to arrive in
Yerevan on September 13-15. As Armenian Parliament’s Public Relations
Department told ARKA, on September 13 the Delegation members plan
meeting Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Arthur Baghdasaryan and
the Head of Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and
Internal Affairs, Head of Associative Delegation of Armenia to
Parliamentary Assembly of NATO Mher Shahgeldyan. The same day there
will be held a “round table” attended by members of the mentioned
Committee of the Armenian Parliament, during which issues related to
issues of local reforms, international security and NATO’s role,
foreign policy and security priorities as well as Armenia’s
contribution into regional security. Also in building of Greek
Embassy in Yerevan, the Delegation members will meet with NATO
nations Ambassadors accredited in Armenia.
As it is mentioned in the press release, on September 14 the NATO
Delegation members will hold a “round table” with NGO representatives
as well as will meet Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Armenian
Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, Deputy Armenian Foreign Minister
Tatul Margaryan and Armenian Internal Affairs Minister Hayk
Harutyunyan. T.M. –0-

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NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF FINLAND TO ARMENIA PRESENTS HER
CREDENTIALS TO THE RA PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. The newly appointed Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Finland to Armenia Teri Hakkala
(residence in Helsinki), presented her credentials to Robert
Kocharian, the RA President today. According to the Press Service
Department of RA President, during the meeting, Robert Kocharian
stated that Armenia attaches importance to relations with Finland. In
her turn Teri Hakkala mentioned the interest of her country in
development of cooperation with countries of South Caucasus and
Armenia in particular. The Ambassador noted that Finland “closely
watches the processes taking place in the region”. She attached great
importance to inclusion of Armenia in Wider Europe/New Neighbors
European Union initiative which will open real opportunities for
cooperation. She also mentioned that Finnish businessmen are very
interested in Armenia. According to the press release, the sides
emphasized the significance of establishment of a corresponding
agreement-legal base and conduct of joint business-forums for the
development of business relations between the two countries. L.V.—0–

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ARMENIA EXPO 2004 4TH COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION FORUM
OPENS TODAY IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, September, 10. /ARKA/. Armenia Expo 2004 universal regional
commercial and industrial exposition forum opened today in Yerevan.
As Arsen Kazaryan, the Head of the Union for Manufacturers and
Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia, the exposition has become a
traditional arrangement of regular character where the enterprises
present their achievements in industry, trade and services. He
mentioned that the expositions are useful from the point of view of
both internal cooperation and external economic partnerships. He also
said that the current exposition is larger in number of participating
countries and companies, in particular, this year 170 companies
participate in the exposition, against 125 in 2003, at that the
number of participating countries has grown by 25% and makes 15. “We
can also mention the growth of interest on the part of foreign
investors towards Armenia, also the expositions are the main way to
present Armenia’s production”, said Kazaryan.
6 branch expositions are presented at the expo-forum – Industrial
Armenia EXPO, Construct EXPO, Trans EXPO, Polygraphy Publishing
Advertising EXPO, EXPO Food&Drinks and “Comp-EXPO”. The overall
exhibition area makes 1,1 thou sq. m. , which is by 22% larger than
the territory provided in 2003. Besides Armenia and NKR, the
expo-forum included representatives of the USA, Russia, Belarus,
Japan, Czech Republic, Germany, Syria and Iran.
The forum is organized by LOGOS Expo Center with the assistance of
the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RA Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development, the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia
and Armenian Development Agency. The forum will last till September
13.
Armenia Expo 2003 3rd regional universal commercial and industrial
expo-forum was held in Yerevan on September 12-15. L.V.–0–

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VIGEN CHITECHYAN RELIEVED OF HIS POST OF A COORDINATOR OF THE MISSION
OF ARMENIA IN NATO

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. Vigen Chitechyan was relieved of his
post of a Coordinator of the mission of Armenia in North-Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO). According to the RA President’s Press
Service Department, the decree was signed by the President of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan. By another decree Samuel Lazarian is appointed to
the same position. A.H.—0–

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RA PRESIDENT HAS A WORKING MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF THE PARTIES OF
THE POLITICAL COALITION

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan had a
working meeting with the leaders of the parties of the political
coalition. According to the RA President’s Press Service Department,
issues connected with the constitutional reforms and the forthcoming
session of the RA NA were discussed during the meeting. A.H.–0–

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Azeri TV says Armenian officers’ visit undermines state sovereignty

ANS TV, Baku
5 Sep 04

The Azerbaijani commercial TV station ANS has lashed out at
the government for not putting up “serious resistance” to NATO’s
pressure to host Armenian officers at the upcoming exercises on 13-26
September. In its weekly analytical programme, ANS editor in chief
Mirsahin said that “thousands of Azeris will probably meet them, not to
welcome, but to prevent this visit”. Speaking about the West’s stance
on this issue, he said that “Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia do not
exist for NATO as independent states, there is the South Caucasus
state”. Describing TV’s position as a call to nearly wage a war,
Mirsahin spoke about the possibility of a wider action of protest
by media outlets which could suspend “their activity on a long-term
basis”. The following is an excerpt from report by Azerbaijani TV
station ANS on 5 September:

[Presenter Mirsahin] There are no people in Azerbaijan who demand
Armenians’ withdrawal from the occupied lands in exchange for hostages’
lives. That is good. Azerbaijan has [leader of the Karabakh Liberation
Organization] Akif Nagi, but he and his team are already in jail.

A new political season has started. The authorities began this season
with the old team with the exception of a few replacements. National
Security Minister Namiq Abbasov has been ousted from the team, while
the well-forgotten member of the old team [ex-Foreign Minister] Hasan
Hasanov and relatively-forgotten [former ambassador to China] Tamerlan
Qarayev have been returned to the old team [appointed ambassadors to
Hungary and India, respectively]. Describing this as a move towards
national reconciliation, the president has called for an end to enmity
and malice. Here we should emphasize that Mr Aliyev’s proposal is
not new. The head of state has made three initiatives of this kind to
society since last September. We hope that the president’s proposal
will make an interesting turn in the political season.

As far as the opposition is concerned, it is quite weak in the
beginning of the new academic year. One could also describe the
situation in this camp after the presidential elections [15 October
2003] as a loss of balance. From this viewpoint, the summer was
favourable for the authorities’ opponents: a few round tables, a few
interviews and a few statements of local importance. This is a result
of the traditional opposition’s activity in summer that could not be
described as a danger for the incumbent authorities.

There is another interesting point here. Given the weakening of
the traditional opposition, the establishment of a new opposition
movement is gaining momentum. An idea that unites the new opposition
has to do with Azerbaijan’s vital problem, that is the restoration of
its territorial integrity. That is why, the entire nation and every
citizen fully and unanimously accept it. For this reason, this new
movement could be more dangerous for the authorities. This movement
is not without prospects although at first glance its leaders look
unpopular and the movement itself seems to be not serious.

The recent processes around the Karabakh Liberation Organization
have proved that any Azerbaijani political organization can gain
political dividends from this problem and take a place in the nation’s
heart. Let us analyse. What has happened in reality? [Passage omitted:
Reported details of protest against Armenian officers’ attendance at
Baku-hosted NATO seminar in June; court ruling against the protesters
was too harsh.]

This court ruling was not accidental. There were factors which made
this verdict necessary. First of all, mass indifference. In other
words, the authorities have received carte blanche to do what they
liked. Then came Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov’s
extremely cold-blooded statement.

[Azimov speaking to journalists] The arrival of two or three men is
not our defeat at all. But if we do not let them in, this is not our
victory either.

[Presenter] Then came Baku mayor Hacibala Abutalibov’s refusal
to authorize [anti-Armenian protests]. Then came [deputy chief of
Baku’s Yasamal district police department who was active dispersing
anti-Armenian protesters] Cingiz Mammadov’s club. [Video shows Cingiz
Mammadov brutally beating up a protester.]

Finally, Cingiz Mammadov’s protection at the ministerial level.

[Ramil Usubov, Azerbaijani Interior Minister, speaking to journalists]
I believe that Cingiz Mammadov is too harsh on himself. At the same
time, when he is on duty, he always tries to fulfil his duties. What
people say about him is defamation.

[Presenter] It is interesting, how many years in prison [judge]
Famil Nasibov, [prosecutors] Basir Haciyev and Tofiq Humbatov,
who have sentenced an Azerbaijani to three-five years in prison for
breaking a window of Avropa Hotel [NATO seminar venue], could give
to [Azerbaijani officer] Ramil Safarov who has been arrested and
charged with killing an Armenian officer in Hungary? Perhaps, capital
punishment or life sentence. This court ruling openly demonstrated
that the Azerbaijani court system is not independent and it even can
pass verdicts which are against Azerbaijan’s national interests. But
this already goes beyond all bounds, this oversteps the limits of a
crisis in the court system or this is a logical end of the situation
when the court system is based on telephone calls and orders.

All this should be probably and mostly about the fact that these
tendencies pose an extremely serious threat to Azerbaijan’s
independence. It is possible that one day NATO or the OSCE could
do anything in Azerbaijan against its people’s will. Not one, but
100,000 Armenians could come to Azerbaijan under the aegis of these
organizations. But we, the owners of this land, have to continue
grazing calmly. Sorry, this country is not a pasture. It used to
be a land of fire. When making the following statement, the head of
Azerbaijan, where interests of the USA, Russia and Iran are present,
perhaps wants to explain this.

[Ilham Aliyev, speaking to journalists] If you look at other
former Soviet republics, you can see that most of them have limited
opportunities to conduct an independent policy. There are different
factors here: political, geographical, economic and others. But
Azerbaijan lives as a fully independent state. This independence is
our priority.

[Presenter] True, what Azerbaijan has done for the West exceeds
what the West has done for Azerbaijan because when Azerbaijan does
something for the West, it does this precisely for the West. But when
the West does something for Azerbaijan, it does this precisely for the
West. Azerbaijan has sent its soldiers and officers to Afghanistan
and Iraq probably because it wants them to enter Nagornyy Karabakh
some time. But this is not happening yet. In the meantime, Nagornyy
Karabakh has been establishing its orchestra. Russia again plays
the first fiddle in this orchestra. The Armenian prime minister
congratulates the leadership of the separatist regime in Nagornyy
Karabakh on the occasion of another anniversary of this rebellious
entity’s independence, to be more precise, another year of the talks
[as heard].

The West is already inviting the Armenians not only to Baku hotels,
but to military grounds to conduct joint exercises. This is because
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia do not exist for NATO as independent
states, there is the South Caucasus state. From NATO’s viewpoint,
there is a conflict between ethnic Azeris and ethnic Armenians. It
is beneficial to settle it without a headache. That is why, they
have been preparing to send another group of the Armenian military to
Azerbaijan. Thus, if nothing extraordinary occurs in the nation’s gene
within one week, representatives of the Armenian Defence Ministry
will come to Baku on 12 September to take part in the exercises
in Azerbaijan.

On the eve of this visit, which damages our state independence,
Azerbaijani media outlets have signed a joint statement of protest. The
ANS Media & Broadcasting Corporation suspended its broadcasts for
three hours. The overwhelming majority of the country’s newspapers
and news agencies joined this protest and published blank front pages
on Saturday [4 September]. But this is only the beginning. If the
Armenian military are allowed to visit Baku, the media protest will
expand depending on the course of events and this will result in
suspension of their activities on a long-term basis. In any case,
this is a serious warning to the authorities which do not put up
serious resistance to NATO’s pressure and, in doing so, damage state
sovereignty. But if there is no another way out, you should hang
yourself. [Passage omitted: ANS was not always against peace talks.]

We tell you this because we have realized that talking to the Armenians
is idle talk before our president and foreign minister realize
this. That is why, now ANS is nearly openly calling on the nation
to wage a war. We recall all this also because we want that those
who paint ANS as almost racists, understand our current position as
a conclusion. It is not a coincidence that Armenian fugitives Artur
Apresyan and Roman Teryan have come to ANS. Probably because we are
not racists.

But now we are talking about the state’s influence and national
pride. After shame in Xocali and Susa, Kalbacar and Fuzuli, Agdam and
Zangilan, Qubadli and Lacin [occupied districts] we have repeatedly
said that time of revenge for this blood will come. This blood has
been spilt. But if the Armenians come to Baku now, thousands of
Azeris will probably meet them, not to welcome, but to prevent this
visit. For the time being, the Armenians are on one side and Baku on
the other. If anyone does not agree with this, let them send their
sisters to welcome the Armenian military with salt and bread.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SEES NORTH CAUCASUS CONFLICT AS THREAT TO SOUTH CAUCASUS

Baltic News Service
September 8, 2004

VILNIUS, Sep 08 — Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian, currently
on a visit in Lithuania, says that the situation in the South Caucasus
region may aggravate due to conflicts in North Caucasus.

“There are a lot of conflicts in South Caucasus as well. Maybe, at
first sight, there is stability, but people living there see that
there are threats to security,” Sargsian said after a meeting with
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus on Wednesday.

There is only a fragile truce between Armenian and Azerbaijani armies
at the front line in Mountain Karabach, the situation at Gerogia’s
border with Abkhasia and South Ossetia.

“Other conflicts might make them detonate. Of course there is a
threat,” the Armenian minister said in Vilnius.

At least 340 hostages including many children were killed in the
terrorist hostage drama in the North Ossetian town of Beslan last
week, which left hundreds injured. About 1,180 adults and children
were held hostage for more than two days in the school.

Sargsian stressed that terrorism had no borders and terrorists did
not choose means any longer.

The Armenian defense minister told journalists that Lithuania-proposed
experience in stabilization of situation in the region was very useful
to his country, though, in the minister’s words, “South Caucasus and
the Baltic region are beyond comparison.”

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry has taken the initiative to transfer
the Baltic military cooperation experience to countries of the South
Caucasus region.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sargsian met with his Lithuanian counterpart,
Linas Linkevicius, and discussed opportunities for bilateral regional
cooperation, NATO enlargement processes and the course of armed
forces reform.

After the meeting, the two officials signed a cooperation treaty on
studies of Armenian officers at the Lithuanian War Academy. Analogous
documents have already been signed with Georgian and Azerbaijani
ministries of defense.

Lithuania assists in the training of Armenian officers by offering
a possibility to study at Lithuanian military training institutions
and paying for studies of one Armenian officer at the Baltic Defense
College in the Estonian city Tartu.

Sargsian’s agenda for Wednesday also include meetings with Foreign
Minister Antanas Valionis, members of the parliament’s National
Security and Defense Committee and chairman Alvydas Sadeckas, as well
as Land Forces Commander Brigadier General Arvydas Pocius.

The Armenian minister, who is to wrap up his visit in Lithuania on
Thursday, will also visit the country’s First Air Base in Zokniai
and meet with troops of the international contingent performing the
air-policing mission in the three Baltic states.

NATO forces have been patrolling the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian
air space since the three Balts joined the alliance in the end of March
this year. A Danish contingent is currently stationed in Zokniai with
its five fighters F-16.

Sargsian was appointed as Armenia’s defense minister in 2000. He also
worked in the position in the 1993-1995 period and later worked as
minister of interior affairs and national security, as well as in
other top-ranking posts in the country’s security structures.

Lithuania and Armenia signed the defense cooperation agreement in 2002.

Armenia has been participating in the Partnership for Peace program
since 1994.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 6, 2004, Monday

NOT AN INCIDENTAL CHOICE

SOURCE: Izvestia (Moscow issue), September 03, 2004, p. 5

by Natalia Ratiani

ONE OF THE GOALS FOR TAKING OF THE SCHOOL IN BESLAN IS CREATION OF
IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO ARRANGEMENT OF INTER-ETHNIC PEACE BETWEEN
OSSETIANS, INGUSHS AND CHECHENS

(…)

The militant struck very harshly in the most vulnerable place in the
Russian Caucasus. This is North Ossetia, which has been stuck in
solving of the problems of its South Ossetia neighbor in the last few
months. Until September 1, it seemed that uniting of the two Ossetias
would contribute to stabilization of the situation in the region.
That is why one of the goals for taking of the school in Beslan is
creation of irreparable consequences for arrangement of inter-ethnic
peace between the Ossetians, Ingushs and Chechens. Another goal is
undermining of Russia’s authority on international arena and
isolation of South Ossetia from Russia’s help. There is no doubt that
now Russia will pay more attention to North Ossetia. Meanwhile,
Georgia can restart the operation under the speaking name of
“humanitarian aid.” Along with this, the price of the issue is so
high now that organizers of this cruel action did not even care about
the final destruction of the remaining positive pro-Chechen attitude
in the West.

Now Russia actually faces the multi-vector threats in the most
diverse directions of the Caucasus. The question is not how quickly
Russia manages to formulate its new main goals in the Caucasus. The
question is if it will be able to accumulate the force and human
resource and to take into account the interests of all players in the
Caucasus without exception connecting them in one knot. There is a
certain positive motion in this direction. The events in Beslan
already triggered mass meetings of protest against taking of hostages
in Chechnya and Ingushetia. President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity
arrived in North Ossetia. Influential Armenian politicians (there are
Armenian children among the hostages) offered their mediation
services. All these events show that internally the region is
prepared to take the last try and to stop on the brink of the gorge
of a new Caucasian war or, according to Dmitry Rogozin, balkanization
of the region. Active position of Russia as a Caucasian power in
solving of this problem looks much more natural and expected than
efforts of the US aimed at reconciliation of the people of former
Yugoslavia.

* * *

President of the Institute of National Strategy Stanislav Belklovsky:

– The events in Beslan cannot taken separately from the long-standing
Ossetian-Ingush conflict. There is a serious inter-ethnic conflict
between the Ossetians on the one side and Chechens and Ingushs on the
other side. If it is restarted (Ossetians will definitely take
revenge), this will be a factor of long-term destabilization of the
region, especially if it will be necessary to release the militants
under pressure of terrorists. The militants who participated in the
attack at Ingushetia on June 22 are now kept in prison in
Vladikavkaz.

General Director of the Center for Political Studies Konstantin
Simonov:

– The choice of North Ossetia is not incidental. Relations betweens
the Ossetians and Chechens-Ingushs have always been tense due to
their different religious and ethnic belonging. That is why it is
very simple to provoke a Christian-Moslem conflict there. It seems
that this time the main goal of the terrorists is not restarting of
full-scale forceful actions in Chechnya, like this was in case of
attack at Dagestan in 2000 but also broadening of geography of the
conflict up to an international scale. We can recall the recent
statement of Saakashvili in which he said that Russia threatened
Georgia with war and called on Chechens and Ingushs to help him. The
matter was actually about formation of a kind of front against the
Ossetians. If this goal is achieved the conflict will spread beyond
the borders of Russia and new players will be involved into it. This
is the worst-case scenario but it is possible to prevent yet so far.
First, on the part of the federal authorities there should not be an
excessively harsh response towards Chechnya in general because
introduction of additional troops will only play up to the
terrorists. Second, it is necessary to prevent transition of the
conflict to the everyday level, to hinder the hatred of the Ossetians
to the neighbors, to prevent pogroms and organization of armed
self-defense detachments that may start retaliatory raids.

Five Armenians hostage in Russian school siege

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
1 Sep 04

[Presenter] Terrorists continue to hold 354 hostages in a school in
[the North Ossetian town of] Beslan. There are 123 children among the
hostages. By 0600 Yerevan time [0100 gmt], gunshots had been heard
around the school. There are four Armenian children and one parent
among the hostages. The surname of one of the children is Kalashyan. It
is also known that one of the children is in the first form. The
“Aylur” news programme maintains permanent contact with the Armenian
diplomatic missions in Moscow and southern Russia. The head of the
general consulate of the Armenian embassy in southern Russia, Ararat
Gomtsyan, has offered the Russian Foreign Ministry his diplomatic
mission’s services to take part in the negotiations with the terrorist.

[Ararat Gomtstyan, by telephone] For two days now, the terrorists have
been holding 354 hostages in a school in the North Ossetian town of
Beslan in the Russian Federation and putting forward their demands.

There are about 32,000 residents in Beslan. The Armenian community
here is small – about 350-400 people. There is also an Armenian
community in Vladikavkaz. We have direct telephone contacts with their
representatives in order to get all information that comes from there
and also, we are working to do everything possible to resolve this
problem peacefully and to achieve final results.

We, the general consulate in North Ossetia [as heard] and the Armenian
embassy in Moscow led by our ambassador Mr Smbatyan, are working with
the law-enforcement agencies and the republic’s authorities, who are in
the town of Beslan, in order to learn and clarify the children’s and
their parents’ condition. There are four Armenian schoolchildren,
and one of them is in the first form. This is the preliminary
situation. We can say that the condition of the schoolchildren,
including the Armenian ones, is satisfactory. The negotiations are
under way. I would like to add that our republic’s president and our
policy strongly condemn any manifestation of terrorism everywhere. We
addressed the Russian Foreign Ministry and offered our support and
assistance in setting up a delegation of representatives from all the
diplomatic missions in North Ossetia and in holding negotiations and
resolving this problem peacefully. Our representative is in Beslan
at the moment and we maintain permanent telephone contact.