Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

Russia, Iran set collision course
By Sergei Blagov

Asia Times Online, Hong Kong
May 26 2004

MOSCOW – Despite differences between Russia and the United States over
Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, Moscow is still moving toward forging a
“partnership” with Iran, which has been labeled by US President George
W Bush as part of an “axis of evil”.

This month Russian President Vladimir Putin met with visiting Iranian
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi in Moscow and accepted an invitation
to visit Tehran this year. Putin assured the Iranian chief diplomat
that Iran remained Russia’s “old and stable partner”.

When US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton traveled
to Moscow shortly afterward, he urged Russia not to supply nuclear
fuel to Iran’s Bushehr reactor until Tehran addressed international
concerns that Iran might develop a nuclear-weapons program. Bolton
told journalists in Moscow that “tactical” differences between the
US and Russia remained over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

In response, after a meeting with Bolton, the head of Russia’s Nuclear
Power Agency, Alexander Rumyantsev, reiterated that Russia abided
by international agreements banning the proliferation of nuclear
technology.

Russia has long been under fire for its help in building the Bushehr
nuclear plant on Iran’s Persian Gulf coast. The US has insisted that
the Russian technology could be used to develop nuclear weapons,
but Moscow and Tehran argue that the plant will only be used for
civilian purposes. Moscow has brushed off repeated US demands that
it cancel Bushehr’s 1,000-megawatt light-water nuclear-reactor project.

Russia has said it would freeze construction on the US$1 billion
Bushehr plant and would not begin delivering fuel for the reactor
until Iran signed an agreement that would oblige it to return all of
the spent fuel to Russia for reprocessing and storage. This agreement
was reported as close to being signed last September, but so far an
agreement has failed to materialize fully.

This month Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced in Moscow
that the issue of the return of the spent fuel to Russia had been
solved. However, he conceded that “commercial” differences with Iran
over the issue remained.

Last October, Russia announced a delay for the launch of the Bushehr
nuclear reactor until 2005 and urged Tehran to improve disclosure of
its nuclear plans. However, there has been no talk in Moscow about
dropping the Bushehr project. Last week, Russia’s Nuclear Power
Agency reportedly indicated it would finish a nuclear reactor in
Iran regardless.

For years, the Kremlin has resisted US pressure and declined to limit
ties with Iran. In March 2001, Putin and Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami signed a cooperation treaty. Subsequently, in October of
that year, Moscow and Tehran signed framework agreements for $300
million to $400 million a year of Russian military supplies to Iran,
including spare parts for Russian-made weapons, new fighter jets and
possibly air-defense, ground-to-ground and anti-ship systems.

Apart from attempts to discourage Russia from fueling Iran’s nuclear
ambitions, the US has pursued its efforts to persuade Russia to
join the US-backed non-proliferation initiative. The hawkish Bolton
regularly visits Russia for non-proliferation talks. However, last
week Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak announced after
a meeting with Bolton that no agreement had been reached on Russia
joining the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).

Moscow has so far refrained from a clear commitment to join the PSI.
Russia is the only Group of Eight member that is yet to join the PSI,
which was announced by Bush last May.

Apart from the Bushehr project, Russia has other interests in
Iran. Last Thursday, top railway executives of Russia, Iran and
Azerbaijan met in Moscow and agreed to build a Kazvin-Resht-Astara
rail link connecting the three nations. Gennady Fadeyev, head of the
state-run Russian Railways Co (RZD), pledged to build a $100 million,
340-kilometer link connecting Russia to the Persian Gulf via Azerbaijan
and Iran. Fadeyev claimed that the link could funnel up to 20 million
tons of freight to India and Pakistan.

Russia and Iran have long discussed the restoration of a rail link
between the two countries as a viable alternative to Red Sea routes.
This alternative transport link from Asia to Europe – from Mumbai to
the Caspian port of Olya in the Astrakhan region via Bandar Abbas in
Iran – is expected to bring Russia billions of dollars in revenues.

Russia, India and Iran signed an agreement on the development of this
so-called North-South Corridor in September 2000. Russia estimates that
the link could become a rival of the Suez Canal. Russia estimates that
annual trade turnover through the corridor could reach $10 billion
per year, with Russia and Iran becoming the main beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, Moscow’s “partnership” with Tehran could prove double-edged,
notably after Iran clinched a controversial gas deal with Russia’s sole
ally in the volatile Trans-Caucasus region, Armenia. In mid-May, Iran’s
minister of oil, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, traveled to Armenia and signed
an agreement on the construction of a 114km Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
that would cost $120 million. Iran reportedly agreed to supply 1.27
trillion cubic feet (36 billion cubic meters) to Armenia from 2007-27.

The Iran-Armenia pipeline could also be extended through
Georgia to Ukraine and on to the European Union. The
Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Ukraine-Europe gas pipeline, with a 550km
underwater section from the Georgian port of Supsa to the Crimean
town of Feodosia, has been estimated to cost $5 billion. The planned
gas supply would amount to 2.12 trillion cubic feet (60 billion cubic
meters) per annum, including 353 billion cubic feet (10 billion cubic
meters) for Ukraine.

Russia has been wary that the extended pipeline could be used to funnel
Iranian gas to European markets. It could also allow Turkmenistan to
circumvent Russia’s gas-pipeline network. However, Armenia is yet to
make a decision on the extended pipeline.

Armenia is traditionally Russia’s closest partner in the Caucasus.
Sandwiched among hostile Azerbaijan and Turkey and volatile Georgia,
Armenia has little option but to remain a supporter of Russia’s
geopolitical moves in the Caucasus. However, some divergent interests
have emerged recently, notably Armenia’s aspirations to limit its
dependence on Russian energy supplies by building a gas pipeline from
Iran to Europe. Therefore, Russia’s “partnership” with Iran could
have its limits after all, and not because of the United States.

Authority as objective in itself or ensured changes

Q&A with ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian

Yerkir/am
21 May 04

Q: Mr. Rustamian, what conclusions can be made of the political
developments of the passed year?

A: Indeed, it is time to take a break and look back at the developments
of the passed several months and give a proper assessment.

The first wave of tensions has passed and has left its consequences. It
is obvious that the opposition plans to raise another wave of
tensions. What was the logic and reasons of the first wave? They should
be divided into two parts: subjective which includes the strategy
of the opposition and objective which is displeasure with certain
unsolved problems in the country. Let us touch upon them separately.

For one year on, the opposition, not recognizing the results of
the elections, was trying to spread this view in the society and
raise a wave of protest to artificially sharpen tensions so that
revolutionary moods are shaped and the end the opposition appears to
be the party that can relieve the society of the authorities. They
made an impression that they resist the revolutionary passion of the
people and fist try to solve the issue in the constitutional court.

And due to it they come to the parliament. And since the authorities
did not carry out the decision of the court, once more proving their
illegal nature, all the legal ways are closed and the only solution
is revolution. And the events that took place in our country were
the results of that revolutionary behavior. At the same time, the
authorities were accused of forcing them to pursue that way.

This logic is destructive for the country. It also means that the
opposition wants to create a new situation in Armenia and change the
logics of development of the country.

This was challenge to the authorities and the latter had to
respond. Thus, there was a need for an alternative matching the
situation, separating the objective and subjective layers. It was
necessary to point out a solution which would keep the country safe
from shocks and would bring it back to normal life, fostering reforms
and making the solution of current issues effective.

And as a result of this analysis, the Dashnaktsutiun made its
well-known announcement which pointed out an alternative and said
that otherwise there may be a conflict and nobody will benefit from
it. The alternative is not the way of conflict but a way of passing the
conflict to political field. This is what a dialogue implies. After
that, a new situation would be created in Armenia. We suggested the
mechanisms of reaching a political agreement. From that moment on,
two processes started developing in the country.

The first was the continuation of the opposition strategy which was not
rejected by the opposition, and the second was the need to fix the need
of a dialogue within the society mentality. There was a competition
of two approaches and it ended in the victory of the second and more
civilized one which is the dialogue. This is proved by the public
feedback and the discussions with the intelligentsia organized by ARF.

An important milestone in these developments was the European Council
(EC) resolution which had certain remarks and suggestions in which the
dialogue was underlined as a priority for breaking the deadlock. Thus,
this idea definitely proves its vitality.

The result of overcoming the first wave of tensions is that today
we have a situation with a better articulated public demand and
steps to be taken. These positive tendencies should be considered,
as well as the negative sides. The objective is now to create a new
political situation in the country which is also approved by the
opposition. There is a positive tendency in the latest tendency which
is that the political forces prioritize creation of such a situation.

Q: What does the new political situation imply?

A: We should admit that a great part of the society had an active
participation in this process. The society certainly demands the
following: there is no need for an abrupt regime change, but there
is a need for ensured, radical changes and a political agreement
over it. This is what we should fix as a formed public demand. Note
that even if many people find regime change as a possible option also
realize that it should be prepared.

Suppose the president resigns and elections take place in 40 days,
anyway if the elections would took place in this situation, there
would be winners and losers. Our today’s electoral resources are
not such as to enable the losers to congratulate the winners. Again
we will have a situation where the elections will be doubted. Thus,
by trying to change the situation we will appear in a worse plight.

Q: Why do you think the dialogue between the authorities and the
opposition does not take place?

A: One of the most important questions is who really wants the
dialogue and who does not and why. It seems the suggestion of the
coalition gave a real chance to the opposition have the authorities
make serious changes in most important issues.

This was not just a right to participate in discussions but an
influential participation, with the right of veto. And in these terms
the dialogue is rejected. I believe this makes clear that there are
forces within the opposition who have the objective to provoke shocks
in the country. This is explained by the simple logics that clashes
are followed by negative consequences. Eventually, the opposition
is to be accounted which will be then criticized by international
organizations and weakened.

The opposition will avoid the charges against it without implementing
any goals of realizing projects or ideas. It will assume the shape
of a force persecuted for political aspirations. In this way, the
consequences of tensions will be more and more discussed than the
reasons of all this. However, this is the way that should be rejected,
since otherwise others will suffer. The impacts will fall on the
country. One should not create artificial problems and then try to
solve them on national level.

Q: What steps do you see for emerging from the situation?

A: Since there is a public demand for an agreement, the
authorities-opposition relations should gain a new quality. Today’s
relations are antagonistic and lead to self-destruction.

The authorities-opposition clash should have a creative nature. What
we call the fight of opponents is quite right, but it should take
place through joint efforts which is demanded by the simplest, classic
dialectic principle. Fight without uniting goals is really destructive
and unity without fight is inert. We should avoid these two extremes.

Thus, preserving contradictions should not make them destructive. The
country stability should be raised to a new level so that it really
serves strengthening of our foreign positions for securing better
development of the country. Thus, we should continue the process of
political agreement and we should name the issues we have. First of
all, we should prevent a second destructive wave.

Both the authorities and the opposition should clarify their future
steps. Let us start from the authorities. It must take care of
solving actual issues including those already pointed out by the
coalition. Regardless of whether the opposition joined or not, these
issues must be focused on. Better mechanism for their salvation should
be developed.

MONUMENT TO POWS MAY BE ERECTED IN YEREVAN

ArmenPress
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: A monument, dedicated to POWs from nations
that allied with the fascist Germany during World War II and who were
brought to Armenia to work here after the war, may soon be erected
in Yerevan.

The monument that may be set up at the end of central Abovyan street,
has been initiated by Alexan Avanesian, who is the chairman of the
Union of Armenians in Hungary. He told Armenpress that the idea was
supported by Hungary’s defense and foreign affairs ministries and
Hay Azg (Armenian Nation) Union, which promised to provide funds to
that end.

Avanesian said a monument to Armenian soldiers killed in the liberation
of Hungary from fascism was built in 2000 in Budapest. “I think that
Armenians whose beloved are buried in Hungary will come and put flowers
at this monument, as they cannot afford traveling to Hungary often,”
he said, adding that around 500 Hungarian POWs were brought to Armenia
after WW II, who worked in Armenian Spitak and Sevan.

If nothing prevents the idea from materialization the monument may
be erected in several months.

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1) Putin, Kocharian Discuss Economic Ties
2) Some 1,000 Georgians Eager to Move to Tsalka
3) Pennsylvania House Passes Armenian Genocide Resolution
4) Ferrahian Celebrates 40th Anniversary

1) Putin, Kocharian Discuss Economic Ties

(AP/Itar-Tass)–Boosting trade between the two former Soviet republics topped
the agenda at Friday’s meeting between Armenian President Robert Kocharian and
his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Putin noted that trade has increased 34 percent in recent years. “This is a
record indicator that we are moving in the right direction.”
Kocharian recalled last year’s major agreement that gave Russia financial
control over Armenia’s sole nuclear power plant, in exchange for the
cancellation of $40 million dollar debts to Russian nuclear fuel suppliers.
The start of true economic cooperation came with that “major equity-for-debt
agreement,” Kocharian said. “I would like to say with utmost confidence
that we
started and are moving together on all issues.”
The meeting took place on the second day of Kocharian’s working visit to
Moscow that included meetings with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and
the chief executive of the Gazprom natural gas giant, Aleksei Miller.
Kocharian welcomed the increased bilateral commercial ties of recent years,
saying, “Until recently, we only talked about military cooperation while
mentioning that economic interaction is lagging. Now I can state with full
confidence that we began to move in all directions at a very even pace; it
serves as a very serious impetus to effective cooperation and
diversification.”

2) Some 1,000 Georgians Eager to Move to Tsalka

TBILISI (Armenpress/Civil.GE)–The Georgian ministry of refugees and
resettlement reported that approximately 1000 applications have been submitted
by Georgian families wishing to relocate to Georgia’s Tsalka district.
150-strong unit of Interior Troops were dispatched to the southern
multi-ethnic district of Tsalka on May 11, following clashes between local
ethnic Armenians and Georgians on May 9. Several people were reportedly
injured.
Ethnic Armenians comprise 57% of population of Tsalka district in the Kvemo
Kartli region, which has a population of around 20,000, according to the
Georgian department of statistics; 4,500 ethnic Greeks, 2,500 ethnic
Georgians,
and up to 2,000 Azeris live in the Tsalka district.
Local officials had described the clashes between ethnic Georgians and
Armenians sporadic “communal violence,” which has flared-up in the past
several
years.

3) Pennsylvania House Passes Armenian Genocide Resolution

PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL COMMEMORATES FIRST GENOCIDE OF 20TH CENTURY

HARRISBURG (ANC-PA)–The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously
passed a resolution designating April 24, 2004 “Pennsylvania’s Day of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.”
Representative Daylin Leach (D) and 56 co-sponsors introduced Pennsylvania
House Resolution No. 593 (HR593).
“The Armenian National Committee of Pennsylvania thanks Rep. Leach for his
leadership in introducing this resolution. We also commend the House of
Representatives for their unwavering commitment to recognize the Armenian
Genocide and to honor the memories of the victims whose descendants are
citizens of the Commonwealth,” said ANC Pennsylvania co-chairman Dr. Ara
Chalian. “The ANC of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania General Assembly
have an
enduring relationship that spans nearly twenty years. We look forward to
continue working closely with Rep. Leach and others who take an active role in
supporting the issues of the Armenian American community.”
The resolution identifies the Ottoman Empire as the perpetrators of a
genocide
that claimed the lives of one and a half million Armenian men, women, and
children from 1915 to 1923. It also acknowledges that modern Turkey continues
to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian Genocide. Through this
resolution, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reaffirms its commitment to
condemn atrocities, such as the Armenian Genocide, and to prevent similar
crimes against humanity from occurring again.
This is the second consecutive year that the first-term legislator has
introduced an Armenian Genocide resolution. Rep. Leach, whose wife is of
Armenian descent, represents a district which includes a large Armenian
American constituency, two Armenian churches, and the Armenian Sisters
Academy.
“It is important that we never forget the atrocities visited upon the Armenian
People in the last century,” stated Rep. Leach. “It is only by remembering the
past that we can recognize the gathering warning signs of new oppression. As
long as I am in the legislature, I can assure you that no one will forget the
struggle of the Armenian People,” concluded Rep. Leach.
In addition to the Pennsylvania House Resolution, the Pittsburgh City Council
passed a proclamation declaring April 24, 2004 “A Day of Remembrance” for the
victims of the Armenian Genocide. The City Proclamation was introduced and
spearheaded by Councilman Douglas Shields, and was co-sponsored by Council
President Gene Ricciardi and Council members Luke Ravenstahl, Jim Motznik,
William Peduto, Len Bodack, Alan Hertzberg, Twanda Carlisle, and Sala Udin.
“On behalf of the Pittsburgh area Armenian-American community, I would
like to
thank Councilman Doug Shields and the City Council for observing the Armenian
Genocide,” stated ANC activist Rostom Sarkissian, who resides in Pittsburgh.
“This proclamation and others like it not only honor the victims and survivors
of the Armenian Genocide, but they also send a strong message to the Turkish
government that continued denial of this Genocide can no longer be a
state-sponsored policy. Time has come for Turkey to join the international
community in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide for what it wasgenocide,”
concluded Sarkissian.
The ANC-PA urges all Pennsylvania Armenians to contact their State
Representative to thank them for passing HR593 and the Pittsburgh City Council
for their “A Day of Remembrance” Proclamation.

4) Ferrahian Celebrates 40th Anniversary

ENCINO– Over 700 people–alumni, past and present students, parents, and
faculty and staff–gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first
Armenian School in the United States–Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary and
Ferrahian High School.
The May 2 event served to honor faculty members and teachers who have
dedicated over 15 years to the school for their exceptional contributions.
Former students praised the school not only for the level of education it
provides, but also for preserving and passing on Armenian language, history,
and culture to successive generations. The school’s founder Gabriel Injejikian
delivered a heartfelt address, praising the school’s achievements and
encouraging a continued path toward similar success.

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Armenian National Committee of Pennsylvania
360 Highview Drive
Radnor, PA 19087

[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
May 13, 2004
For Immediate Release

Contact: Karine A. Shamlian
[email protected]

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
UNANIMOUSLY PASSES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

— Pittsburgh City Council also Commemorates First Genocide of 20th Century

Harrisburg, PA–The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passed
a resolution designating April 24, 2004 as “Pennsylvania’s Day of
Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,” reported the Armenian
National Committee (ANC) of Pennsylvania. Representative Daylin Leach (D)
and 56 co-sponsors introduced Pennsylvania House Resolution No. 593 (HR593).

“The Armenian National Committee of Pennsylvania thanks Rep. Leach for his
leadership in introducing this resolution. We also commend the House of
Representatives for their unwavering commitment to recognize the Armenian
Genocide and to honor the memories of the victims whose descendents are
citizens of the Commonwealth,” stated Dr. Ara Chalian, co-chairman of the
ANC of Pennsylvania. “The ANC of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania General
Assembly have an enduring relationship that spans nearly twenty years. We
look forward to continue working closely with Rep. Leach and others who take
an active role in supporting the issues of the Armenian American community,”
concluded Dr. Chalian.

The resolution identifies the Ottoman Empire as the perpetrators of a
genocide that claimed the lives of one and a half million Armenian men,
women, and children from 1915 to 1923. It also acknowledges that modern
Turkey continues to deny and distort the facts of the Armenian Genocide.
Through this resolution, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reaffirms its
commitment to condemn atrocities, such as the Armenian Genocide, and to
prevent similar crimes against humanity from occurring again.

This is the second consecutive year that the first-term legislator has
introduced an Armenian Genocide resolution. Rep. Leach, whose wife is of
Armenian descent, represents a district which includes a large Armenian
American constituency, two Armenian churches, and the Armenian Sisters
Academy.

“It is important that we never forget the atrocities visited upon the
Armenian People in the last century,” stated Rep. Leach. “It is only by
remembering the past that we can recognize the gathering warning signs of
new oppression. As long as I am in the legislature, I can assure you that
no one will forget the struggle of the Armenian People,” concluded Rep.
Leach.

In addition to the Pennsylvania House Resolution, the Pittsburgh City
Council passed a proclamation declaring April 24, 2004 “A Day of
Remembrance” for the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The City
Proclamation was introduced and spearheaded by Councilman Douglas Shields,
and it was co-sponsored by Council President Gene Ricciardi and Council
members Luke Ravenstahl, Jim Motznik, William Peduto, Len Bodack, Alan
Hertzberg, Twanda Carlisle, and Sala Udin.

“On behalf of the Pittsburgh area Armenian-American community, I would like
to thank Councilman Doug Shields and the City Council for observing the
Armenian Genocide,” stated ANC activist Rostom Sarkissian, who resides in
Pittsburgh. “This proclamation and others like it not only honor the victims
and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, but they also send a strong message
to the Turkish government that continued denial of this Genocide can no
longer be a state-sponsored policy. Time has come for Turkey to join the
international community in acknowledging the Armenian Genocide for what it
was–genocide,” concluded Sarkissian.

The ANC PA urges all Pennsylvania Armenians to contact their State
Representative to thank them for passing HR593 and the Pittsburgh City
Council for their “A Day of Remembrance” Proclamation. A copy of the
resolution can be found online at:
The
full text of the City Council statement can be found below.

The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian American grassroots
political organization in Pennsylvania and the United States. The ANC
actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community. For more information about the ANC of Pennsylvania or
assistance in contacting your elected officials, email:
[email protected].

####

—————————-
TEXT OF PROCLAMATION
—————————-

Pittsbu rgh City Council

Proclamation

WHEREAS, During the period leading to the breakup of the Ottoman empire,
Ottoman leaders promulgated Anti-Armenia policies, including mass
deportation of Armenians; and,

WHEREAS, these policies resulted in the systematic annihilation, through
massacres, disease, and starvation of a large segment of the Armenian
population; and,

WHEREAS, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian ancestry were
victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 through
1923; and,

WHEREAS, Armenians have historical roots and a national identity dating back
three thousand years in what is now Eastern Turkey, Northwestern Iran, and
South-Central Soviet Union; and,

WHEREAS, Armenians have distinctive linguistic and religious heritage within
the Christian tradition,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh
does hereby remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does
hereby declare Saturday April 24, 2004 as “A Day of Remembrance” here in the
City of Pittsburgh.

Passed in Council on Tuesday April 20, 2004

Gene Ricciardi
President of Council

Attest: Linda Johnson-Wasler
City Clerk

Sponsored by Councilman Douglas Shields
Cosponsored by
Council President Gene Ricciardi
And members of Council
Luke Ravenstahl, Jim Motznik, William Peduto, Len Bodack, Alan Hertzberg,
Twanda Carlisle, Sala Udin

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 13 2004

CONDOLEEZZA RICE TO DISCUSS IN MOSCOW THE ISSUES OF SETTLEMENT OF
NAGORNY KARABAKH CONFLICT
[May 13, 2004, 18:11:09]

As correspondent of AzerTAj informs, in the weekend, Ms. Condoleezza
Rice, the US President Aide for National Security will make a visit
to Russia and Germany. At the briefing which has been carried out
before the trip, Ms. Rice informed, that the question of settlement
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict also would be
in the focus during dialogue between the USA and Russia. Answering
question of the correspondent of AzerTAj, she has emphasized, that
this delayed conflict renders negative influence on political and
economic development of both countries – Azerbaijan and Armenia,
as a whole, creates obstacles to progress of region. C. Rice has
told: “All of us regretted concerning uncertainly of the Nagorny
Karabakh conflict. Some time back we believed, that we are on a way
of settlement. We worked above it much. The meeting has taken place
in Florida. It was visible, that work is carried out in a correct
direction. On negotiations with the Russian side we would like to
carry out discussions how us again to return to the given direction.”

The USA is going to continue serious dialogue with Russia, Ms. Rice
has stated. The summons of negotiations will consist not only of
the questions interesting both sides. Also exchange of opinions
on development of process of peace talks on the Near East, joint
efforts in antiterrorist struggle, construction of democratic Iraq
will be carried out. Despite of presence in the past of disagreements
between us in the question of Iraq, now the basic purpose consists
in achievement of success in this area. Stable and democratic Iraq
is equitable to interests of all.

The most part of dialogue with Russia will be devoted to power
questions. By words of Condoleezza Rice, in the name of the future
of economic it is necessary to think of reliable sources of energy.

Russia, Armenia and South Africa to Set up Diamond Venture

RusData Dialine – BizEkon News
May 12, 2004 Wednesday

SOURCE: NOVYE IZVESTIA

Russia, Armenia and South Africa are negotiating to set up a
jointventure to mine and polish diamonds.

Russia, Armenia and South Africa are negotiating to set up a joint
venture to mine and cut diamonds.

The venture will offer the full range of services – from mining
proper through to the marketing of finished jewelry articles. Armenia
is sixth in the world in terms of diamond polishing. In 2003, its
cutting factories turned out about USD 250 million worth of polished
stones. Experts have recently been forecasting increased demand for
and rising prices of diamonds. In Russia, the first auction this
year to sell diamonds weighing from 10.8 carats up on the domestic
market, to be held May 18, has already received bids from 50 Russian
processing plants. Novye Izvestia recalls that Botswana tops the
world’s diamond production league – 32% of all diamonds valued at
USD 2.3 billion. It is followed by Russia, with 22% of world output
worth USD 1.6 billion. Third is Canada, followed by South Africa and
Angola. Russia and South Africa are the main suppliers of gem-quality
diamonds.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Armenian Tourism Development Agency /ATDA/
3 Nalbandian St., Yerevan 3675010, RA
Tel.: (+3741) 54 23 03, 54 23 06
Fax: (+3741) 54 47 92
Email: [email protected]

Date: 12/05/2004

Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) Launches New, State-of-the-Art Website

The Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) cordially invites you
to a press-conference to be held on 14 May, 2004 at 15:00 p.m. at
the ARMENIA Information Visitor Information Center with the aim
to launch an impressive new website showcasing
Armenia’s tourist attractions, cultural treasures, national parks,
art galleries and all the resources necessary to make any trip to
Armenia a comfortable, pleasant and memorable time for all.

ATDA’s and TIB’s /Technology into Business/ staff of professionals
– with indispensable funding from the United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) and unparalleled technical support
from the International Executive Service Corps (IESC) – has created a
site that has merged “high tech” interface with “high art” aesthetics,
utilizing both ancient and modern Armenian motifs.

>>From interactive maps of cultural landmarks to a comprehensive
and easily accessible database of tour agents, hotels, restaurants,
travel agencies and so much more, the ATDA site has become the web’s
one- stop, on-line, Armenian tourism venue.

Much like ATDA’s now famous ARMENIAInformation Visitor Information
Center, at 3 Nalbandyan Street in the heart of Yerevan, the new ATDA
website is a virtual, full service concierge facility and an expansive
compendium of useful information and resources – whether that be for
travelers and tourists or history lovers and the arts literati.

Sections are thoughtfully organized with easy access navigation bars;
graphics and photos are vibrant and compelling; maps are easy to
read and truly interactive, providing details on any given point in
Armenia with the click of the mouse.

Background information and helpful travel hints are available at
every turn; shopping and recreation sites are explored side by side
with cultural centers, museums, concert halls and art galleries;
Armenia’s vast array of architectural monuments and sacred sites are
finally presented in such a way that travel planning is almost as
fun as the actual visit.

The site is also exceptional in that it provides a constantly updated
calendar of weekly events, which is available online and can be
e-mailed to you every week once you subscribe.

The ATDA has really provided interested travelers and tourism industry
professionals – no matter their point of origin – a place on the web
to fulfill, as well as provide for every type of Armenian tourism
and travel need.

Do not hesitate, go to now.

For more information on ATDA and its activities, please visit us at
3 Nalbandyan Street or contact at (+3741) 542303/6.

Make a Bitter Tale Better in the Caucasus
By THOMAS DE WAAL

Wall Street Journal
May 11, 2004

Ten years ago tomorrow a cease-fire halted a conflict that most of
the world has now forgotten. But the decade of quiet emanating from
the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline around Nagorno-Karabakh should
not deceive us that there is lasting peace there. Rather the reverse:
Over the last year the truce has been under strain and the threat of
a new war in the South Caucasus cannot be ignored.

It was right back in 1988 that the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh,
an Armenian-majority province inside Soviet Azerbaijan, became the
first slithering stone in the avalanche of nationalist quarrels that
ended up destroying the USSR. Both Armenians and Azerbaijanis claimed
the fertile, mountainous territory as their own, entirely rejecting
the other side’s attachment to it. In 1992, with nothing resolved,
two well-armed independent states of Armenia and Azerbaijan emerged
out of the two Soviet republics and pitched into full-scale war with
one another.

When exhaustion caused both sides to sign a cease-fire on May 12,
1994, the Armenians had won a costly victory. More than a million
people had been displaced, most of them Azerbaijanis. Both countries
had thoroughly cleansed themselves of the nationals of the other. The
Armenians were left in occupation of a vast swath of land, including
Karabakh itself, that comprises around 14% of the internationally
recognized territory of Azerbaijan. Perhaps 20,000 people were dead.

The unresolved conflict still exerts a dread influence over a wide
area between the Black and Caspian Seas. Armenia is economically
stunted by the decade-long closure of its two longest borders, with
Azerbaijan and Turkey. Azerbaijan is a wounded nation, still living
with the cost of hundreds of thousands of refugees. More insidiously,
the political culture of both countries has been poisoned by the
nationalist myths the war created.

The international negotiators from the U.S., France and Russia
cannot be faulted for creativity and have come up with a series of
different peace-plans that try to bridge the conflict. The one that
went the furthest was also the most daring: In Key West, Florida,
in the spring of 2001 a framework document was discussed by the
two presidents that envisaged Armenia allowing the return of 95%
of all Azerbaijani refugees to their homes and having a road built
across Armenian territory to the isolated Azerbaijani exclave
of Nakhichevan. In return, however, Azerbaijan would have had to
surrender Nagorno-Karabakh itself, with the exception of the town
of Shusha. Under Article Two of that document, Nagorno-Karabakh was
“transferred to the sovereignty of Armenia.” The human benefits of
that agreement would have been immense — but so were the political
risks for Azerbaijan.

The rest of the world still has reason to be concerned about
what happens in these mountains. Next door is the fragile state
of Georgia. A few dozen kilometers north of the cease-fire line,
construction has begun on the $3 billion Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline, the first big conduit for Caspian oil to pass to Europe. A
new conflict would blight the region and its prospects for another
generation — and unfortunately this cannot be entirely ruled out. In
the last six months, Azerbaijan has been gripped by an outbreak
of bellicose rhetoric toward the Armenians and calls to “liberate”
the lost territories.

What is to be done? In Azerbaijan, the new president Ilham Aliev,
a cultivated man, faces the difficult challenge of rejecting the
rhetoric of war in favor of compromise. The human cost of a new
war would be devastating: in even a limited conflict, Azerbaijan
would lose thousands of young men just in the thick minefields along
the front line; while the small beautiful province in the middle,
Nagorno-Karabakh, badly scarred by the relatively low-tech war of the
early ’90s, would likely be annihilated. On a purely practical level
Aliev will know — but needs reminding – that the $20 billion or so
Azerbaijan may yet earn from oil revenues in the next decade are far
better spent on social programs and business growth than on armaments.

The task facing the Armenians is less easily defined but just as
historic. It is to break out of a dangerously introspective predicament
and reach out to their neighbor in the Caucasus. To do this, they must
show far greater flexibility toward plans to repatriate hundreds of
thousands of displaced Azerbajanis to their former homes.

This sad conflict is actually soluble, if only the two sides can be
rescued from their isolation. Armenians and Azerbaijanis have far
more in common than, say, Israelis and Palestinians. Intermarriage
between the two communities used to be very high. The problem is
that for more than a decade now the two sides have barely engaged in
dialogue. Most astonishing to an outsider is that in all this time
Azerbaijan has not sat down and talked to the Karabakh Armenians —
whom after all it claims to be its own citizens.

This puts the international negotiators in a funny position. Of course
they must continue to work to maintain the cease-fire regime and work
on peace proposals. But their main job is somehow to be storytellers,
contradicting the bellicose and rejectionist language that issues from
the two ex-combatants, walled up in their prison-fortresses, with a
patiently told tale of how things could be different and Armenia and
Azerbaijan can still jointly come back to the community of nations.

Mr. de Waal, author of “Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through
Peace and War” (NYU Press, 2003), is Caucasus editor with the Institute
for War and Peace Reporting, IWPR.

Zaman, Turkey
May 8 2004

PMs Sow Seeds of Strategic Partnership

“Let’s not jeopardize our future with the petty calculations,” said
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his Greek counterpart
Kostas Karamanlis. Erdogan’s is currently paying an official visit to
Athens, the first such visit for a Turkish Prime Minister in 16
years.

Erdogan and Karamanlis talked about a ‘united will’ for the solution
of various issues. Their joint message was, ‘a secure future’. Many
feel that Erdogan’s visit marks the beginning of a new page in
Turkish-Greek relations.

The two leaders came together for an inter-delegation talk. “Let’s
not jeopardize our future with petty calculations,” Erdogan said,
implying about the contentious Aegean continental shelf issue.

“Our future gains will be more than what we have lost in the past,”
replied Karamanlis.

Karamanlis discussed Turkey’s E.U. membership with Erdogan. “We
regard Turkey’s accession to the E.U. as strategically important. We
praise the steps you have taken in that direction. Implementation is
crucially important; however, after knowing your personality, I
believe this issue will be overcome as well.”

The Turkish Prime Minister offered help to Greece for the 2004 Athens
Olympic games if it is requested. He emphasized that it was a pity
not to have direct flights between Athens and Ankara. Erdogan also
voiced his discomfort for a local Greek minister ‘s participation in
a meeting concerning claims of the so-called Armenian genocide.
“Let’s leave history to historians and not make this a tool for
politics,” said Erdogan.

After the talks, both leaders held a press briefing. Erdogan replied
to a question about the Heybeliada Seminary by saying that the
studies are in progress, as are studies about the continental shelf
issue.

Meanwhile, the Greek press covered the visit on the front pages of
the newspapers and emphasized the start of a ‘new era’. Erdogan is
expected to visit Western Thrace today and make statements to bring
ease to both the Turkish people living in the region and Athens.

05.08.2004
Edip Ali Yavuz
Athens