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04/20/2004
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1) Opposition Moves Strengthen Coalition Says Kocharian
2) Russian Mediator Says Prague Meeting Raises Optimism
3) Ghulian Tells Mann Karabagh Must Be Active Participant
4) US Envoy Meets Armenian Opposition Leaders
5) Holy Mass and Requiem Service in Memory of the Victims of the Armenian
Genocide

1) Opposition Moves Strengthen Coalition Says Kocharian

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Meeting with reporters at the National Picture
Gallery on Tuesday, President Robert Kocharian dismissed allegations that he
plans to disband parliament and appoint a new cabinet.
“I can say for certain that I do not have such intentions,” Kocharian told
reporters. “We are able to work effectively with this political team. We are
going to work together at least until the next parliamentary elections, which
is for three more years.”
He pointed to the absurdity of such assertions especially when considering
Armenia’s economic growth and smooth implementation of the national budget.
“Dissolution of a government that provides economic growth is nonsense,” he
said.
Rumors of internal dissentions emerged last week when coalition government
members, in a joint statement, announced they would not be attending
parliament
sessions, so as to avoid possible clashes between their supporters and the
opposition crowd.
Referring to those rumors, Kocharian insisted that the governing coalition
partners have not boycotted parliament sessions, and plan to resume work next
week. “The previous session did not take place because of the demonstration
and
threats specifically addressed to the parliament.”
He suggested that the coalition has even strengthened and begun to work more
effectively, in having to face the opposition. “The concept of having to work
within a coalition has not yet developed in our country; this [was perhaps]
the
incentive necessary for the political forces in the coalition to work more
closely and in a coordinated manner.”
Asked about the opposition’s pledge to continue to seek his resignation, he
said that as long as the opposition organizes its meetings and demonstrations
without closing the streets and without unlawful actions, they are allowed to
do so. He cautioned that though it is natural for the opposition to seek to
replace those in power, it is also natural for the leadership of any country,
to take steps to provide stability. “We are doing our job; we have done it,
and
will continue doing it, while the opposition shirks its duties in parliament,
and gathers meetings in the streets.”

2) Russian Mediator Says Prague Meeting Raises Optimism

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–The Russian co-chairman of the Minsk Group Yuri
Merzlyakov, told Azeri ATV that new ideas on resolving the Mountainous
Karabagh
conflict were put forth during the meeting between Armenian foreign minister
Vartan Oskanian and his new Azeri counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov. The meeting
which took place in Prague was mediated by the US, Russian, and French
co-chairs of the Minsk Group, which spearheads the Organization for Security
and Co-Operation in Europe’s (OSCE) efforts to find a political solution to
this conflict.
Merzlyakov called the meeting “useful,” and disclosed that the co-chairmen
presented fresh ideas and suggestions on how to end the conflict.
Merzlyakov also said that the Prague meeting has roused certain optimism
about
future prospects fore a settlement–a sentiment shared by the foreign
ministers
of the countries, who conferred they were satisfied with the meeting.
The group’s co-chairman, along with Oskanian and Mamedyarov, will be drafting
a joint statement on the results of their latest meeting to present to the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. “The new venue of the meeting can be
decided only after the presidents of the two countries are fully informed
about
the Prague meeting,” Merzlyakov said.
According to the Baku-based 525 Gazet, Mamedyarov said that the Prague
meeting’s end result was to set a tentative agreement to meet again next
month,
and that the meeting did not discuss the new proposals put forth by the
mediators.

3) Ghulian Tells Mann Karabagh Must Be Active Participant

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–Mountainous Karabagh Republic’s (MKR) Foreign Minister
Ashot Ghulian and the new American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group Steven
Mann met on April 19 at the MKR permanent representation in Yerevan.
In presenting MKR’s official position on regulating the conflict, Ghulian
stressed that Karabagh, as a side to the conflict, must directly
participate in
peace talks. Ghulian also summarized the economic and political situation of
the country.
Mann confirmed the determination of the US to continue the regulation
process,
working within the framework of OSCE Minsk group.
Mann’s next visit will include meetings in Stepanakert with MKR authorities.

4) US Envoy Meets Armenian Opposition Leaders

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–US Ambassador John Ordway met on Tuesday with the two most
senior leaders of Armenia’s opposition, but did not comment on his separate
meetings with Stepan Demirchian of the Artarutyun alliance and Artashes
Geghamian of the National Unity Party (AMK). Demirchian and Geghamian did not
provide details either. Geghamian said only that both the United States and
the
European Union would like to see a peaceful end to the Armenian political
crisis.
“The ambassadors of both the United States and the European Union are calling
for all contentious issues to be resolved through negotiations,” he said.
The US State Department urged both sides last week to embark on a “dialogue.”
Anther opposition rally is planed for Wednesday in Yerevan.

5) Holy Mass and Requiem Service in Memory of the Victims of the Armenian
Genocide

On the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Armenians all over the world
will commemorate the tragic events, and will attend church services to exalt
the sacred memory of our martyrs.
On this occasion, a special requiem service will be held on Saturday, April
24, at St. Mary’s Apostolic Church in Glendale with the participation of the
spiritual leadership of the three Armenian religious denominations in the
Western United States.
The ceremony will be held under the auspices of the Prelate His Eminence
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian. Very Rev. Vrouyr Demirjian, the Pastor of
Forty Martyrs Church will conduct the Holy Mass. Very Rev. Rafael Minassian,
the spiritual leader of the Armenian Catholic Community in California, and
Rev.
Apraham Chaparian of the Armenian Evangelical Church will participate in the
ceremony. Also present will be the spiritual leaders of sister Churches who
will deliver their word of blessing.
After the 9:30 AM Holy Mass, a requiem service will be held in the
churchyard,
in front of the monument dedicated to the 1.5 million victims of the Genocide.
His Eminence the Prelate will deliver his message during the ceremony.

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Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
April 20 2004

MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA ADOPTED
STATEMENT
[April 20, 2004, 11:03:35]

A meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Vartan
Oskanian took place in Prague, Czech Republic, on April 16.

According to the Foreign Ministry’s press-center, the Ministers
approved a statement for media. The statement says:

`Foreign Minister of Armenia and newly appointed Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan met April 16, 2004 for the first time in Prague. This
meeting organized by Minsk Group co-chairs allowed the parties to
exchange views on possible ways facilitating the progress. Armenia
and Azerbaijan reaffirmed the interest in settling Nagorno-Garabakh
conflict and expressed consent to continue this dialogue. Foreign
Ministries highly assessed the support of government of Czech
Republic and OSCE’.

Armenia not planning to join NATO – foreign minister

Mediamax news agency
16 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in Yerevan today that
“as long as we have not raised the issue of our membership of NATO,
our cooperation with the alliance does not run counter to Armenia’s
strategic relations with Russia and our membership of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization”.

“Contradictions may appear only if Armenia raises the issue of its
membership of NATO, however, we have no plans on that score today. We
are ready to expand relations with NATO, but this does not mean that
Armenia plans to start talks on joining the alliance,” Oskanyan said.

“If Georgia and Azerbaijan become members of NATO, and Armenia does
not, then this will obviously create new dividing lines in the
Caucasus,” Oskanyan said. According to him, “these issues concern not
only us, but also NATO, the USA and Russia, which is why they will be
very cautious and will try to avoid this scenario”.

A1 Plus | 21:06:54 | 14-04-2004 | Politics |

PROSECUTOR CONDEMNING BUT NOT PROMISING

Armenian General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan met Natalia Vutova, Special
Representative of Council of Europe Secretary General in Armenia.

A criminal case was instituted over the incidents in Baghramyan Avenue on
April 12-13. About 100 people who partook in the events, including MPs
Shavarsh Kocharyan, Alexan Karapetyan, Arshak Sadoyan and Vardan Lazarian
were taken in detention and examined as witnesses. All of them were released
after the examination.

Condemning the violence towards the journalists who performed their duty
during the rally, General Prosecutor said that the preliminary inquest body
of the criminal case will refer to the matter and illegal actions will be
disclosed.

Mrs. Vutova in her turn said that Council of Europe closely watches the
events in Armenia and is sure that political extremism will be overcome by
laws in force and political dialogues.

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

ARMENIA: Journalists beaten at an opposition rally

New York, April 13, 2004 – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
condemns today’s early-morning attack on several Armenian journalists who
were covering an opposition rally in the country’s capital, Yerevan.

According to local and international reports, four journalists were
seriously beaten. Ayk Gevorgian and Avetis Babajanian, reporters with the
opposition daily Aykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times); Levon Grigorian, a
cameraman with the Russian TV channel ORT; and Mher Ghalechian, a journalist
with the opposition weekly Chorrord Ishkhanutyun, were all hurt after being
beaten by police, according to the U.S. government-funded Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

Elina Poghosbekian, editor of the newsletter of the Yerevan Press Club, told
CPJ that Gevorgian was treated for serious injuries but that he is now in
stable condition. CPJ does not currently have information on the status of
the other journalists. Police destroyed the cameras of both Gevorgian and
Grigorian.

The rally, organized by several opposition parties, began yesterday evening
at around 6 p.m. with about 15,000 demonstrators marching toward the
residence of President Robert Kocharian and calling for a referendum on his
rule, RFE/RL reported.

Violence erupted at about 2 a.m., when the lights went out in the area.
Police then beat protestors and the journalists with batons, using stun
grenades and water jets to disperse the remaining demonstrators.

Another opposition rally had been held on April 5. Several hundred police
stood by while about two dozen unidentified men smashed the video cameras of
three Armenian television stations and the still cameras of two opposition
dailies. See CPJ’s alert of April 6, 2004.

“CPJ calls on Armenian authorities to investigate these attacks against our
colleagues and bring those responsible to justice,” said CPJ Executive
Director Ann Cooper. “We also urge officials to ensure that journalists in
Armenia are able to do their jobs freely and safely.”

Azeri foreign minister calls for Russia’s “more active role” on Karabakh

ITAR-TASS news agency
Moscow
11 Apr 04

Baku, 11 April: Baku hopes for a more active role of Russia as one of
the three co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group in settling the
Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict around Karabakh, Azerbaijan Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Sunday [11 April] in an exclusive
interview with TASS.

“Our eyes are turned to Russia as one of the most important partners
in efforts for settling the Karabakh problem,” he emphasized. The
minister regards the establishment of peace as “the main factor of
stability in the South Caucasus”.

“It is very important that something should be done in this
direction,” Elmar Mammadyarov added, stressing that Azerbaijan is
dissatisfied with the approach of the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group
who suggest that the sides should come to agreement on their own,
promising to support any of their decisions.

“The conflict should be settled, since the situation of ‘neither war,
nor peace’ cannot go on under the precarious cease-fire regime,” he
said. Elmar Mammadyarov claimed that the unsettled nature of the
conflict is one of serious threats to stability in the region.

“The quicker it is settled, the more all profit from this: peoples,
politicians and the region as a whole,” the minister
underlined. According to Mammadyarov, the “achievement of peace will
give a natural impetus to the development of the entire South
Caucasus”. He said a solution to the conflict is a priority in the
activities of the country’s Foreign Ministry. “This is quite
understandable, since the Karabakh problem is the main headache for
Azerbaijan,” he continued.

Elmar Mammadyarov reported that he would meet the Russian, French and
American co-chairmen of the Minsk Group as well as Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan in Prague on 16 April. “This will be a forum
of acquaintance and free discussion,” the minister added.

“Our stand is clear enough: Azerbaijan will never agree to
independence of Nagornyy Karabakh as well as to its accession to
Armenia,” the minister went on to say. He contended that all new
initiatives on a settlement should be within these principles.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 1) 517 163
Fax: (374 1) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]

April 11, 2004

The Message of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians
on the Occasion of the Feast of the Glorious Resurrection
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, 11 April 2004

“Take heart, it is I; Have no fear” (Mark 6:50)

Dearly Beloved People,

Christ thus addressed His disciples, who in a boat on the open sea were
distressed and frightened by the strong winds and rough waters. And they
saw Jesus, Who was walking upon the waves, and He approached and entered the
boat. ‘It is I’, He said, ‘take heart and have no fear’. At that moment,
the winds ceased. The deadly elements turned to peace, and life shone in
their troubled souls.

On the boat, in the person of the Lord, Life itself was present amongst
them, though His disciples yet did not recognize it. They would still walk
much with their teacher, they would see countless healings and would listen
to Him, hearing as well that He would eventually be tortured and betrayed to
death. Afraid and hopeless, they were to see the tomb where their crucified
Teacher was placed. They would yet see Him, Resurrected, standing amongst
them and to hear the Divine message once again: “It is I; Have no fear”. At
that time their minds would be opened, and they would recognize that He was
the Savior of the World, and they would believe that death had been forever
destroyed, and that we have Resurrection and Life. We have the hope of
renewal, of becoming and possessing the same image as the Resurrected, of
being called the children of God and becoming the co-inheritors of the
Kingdom of Heaven.

On this sacred morning of Easter, the mystery of the Resurrection within our
renewed hope and faith, calls to us again, “Take heart, it is I.” Today,
that message of the Lord, like the life-giving and joyous heavenly dew,
descends upon our human souls, when we are troubled by the disturbing events
in the world, when often we are found to be weak before the imperatives of
the present day, feeble by our fears, anxious and uncertain by questions
which concern us. The world has changed much since the days of Christ, and
changed are the possibilities of man. Mankind has completed and continues to
make complete the numerous inadequacies of life, yet the most important
thing continues to be lacking – the response of the human soul to the divine
call to peace and good will amongst men. In the present era of science and
technology, mankind has split the atom, is conquering the universe, and has
the power to make the desert arable. Nevertheless, humanity has not
succeeded in silencing the sounds of war, nor has it eliminated need and
poverty. Every day, thousands of newspapers, periodicals, books, and radio
and television programming speak and witness ‘that man is the crowning glory
of creation’. However, universal and timeless moral values, especially the
love of mankind, still feel the need to be defended. Indeed, what can we
hope for, if moral standards, holiness and philanthropy are absent from the
hearts of men? If men do not have the fear of God? God Himself has given
us the unsurpassed example of the true love of man, by sending His Only
Begotten Son to the world to save us. With Him, we came to know love;
because for us, He took up the Cross, so that we might be raised from the
dead. From our God-loving souls, the love of mankind will pour forth, as
the greatest achievement of all times and of every society.

Once again, we see today Heaven opened by grace, and the face of God who
loves mankind gazing towards us. Today our Risen Lord comes to shoulder our
burdens, to comfort our sorrows, to dispel our doubts, to rescue us from
deadly shipwrecks, and to open the peaceful skies overhead. He has
appointed us as His coworkers in the service of men. Thus, every task which
we embark upon, let us do it in a manner as if we were doing it for God
(Col. 3:23); and Christ with His blessing, will complete the rest – that
which exceeds our human capabilities.

Dearly beloved Armenian people, with His blessed presence and with His
saving power, the Lord has been at our side, wherever the ship of our life
has been driven during the journeying courses of difficult, as well as
trouble-free periods of our history. God has been at our side and has not
abandoned us in deadly fateful times, when having lost our hope in men, we
have been left alone. The light of the Resurrection soars above all of our
Avarayrs and Sardarapats; the paths of Golgotha for the Armenians, which
dispersed us throughout the world, are crowned with the radiance of the
Resurrection. Today, our statehood is also reborn, and at every stage of
life, the Lord awaits us, to spread His light and His peace over us, to
bless our efforts and labor and to make them fruitful. However, we should
not mix the good with the bad, nor confuse truth with falsehood. The truth
is Armenia independent and Artsakh free, and our patriotism, our solidarity
and unanimity. Let it not be that we remain indebted before these cherished
truths, let it not be that we remain beholden to our history, to our
martyred sons resting at Yerablur, and before our generations. Let us keep
our pan-national unity spotless, for through it, the light of our lives and
our God-seeing faith remains radiant. Indeed, there is no greater
expression of faith than unity, and there is no greater encouragement than
the belief that God with his saving power, is with us.

In our changed and changing reality of today, we have much to do. We still
have journeys to complete, which we will traverse together, with the sacred
oath of unity we have inherited from our forebears, so that the homeland of
Armenia and Artsakh, will develop and be strengthened, and so that Armenian
life blossoms and flourishes in all Armenian communities. Wherever we live,
we will live through the Homeland and Holy Etchmiadzin, with our national
values and patriotic inheritance, so that our children will keep away from
useless and false ideas, and from alien values, which are penetrating our
lives and being imposed upon us from within and without. Clergyman, parent,
official, intellectual, and teacher – all of us shall contribute heart and
soul, so that the Armenian spirit is renewed with faith and will shine with
the sanctities of our forefathers, and in the Homeland and in the Dispersion
we will always see in the eyes of our children, the gaze of the father of
our faith and our Illuminator – St. Gregory, and see the faces of our great
teachers graced by God – Saints Sahak and Mashtots, and see the fearless and
joyful spirit of Saint Vartan and Vartanank.

Dear Armenians dispersed throughout the world, you who can look to Ararat
from near or far, can see under the gaze of the mount that hosts the Ark,
the outstretched ark of Armenian salvation: Armenia and Artsakh. You, who
see the radiating and inexhaustible light of the lantern of the Illuminator
above the heights of Aragats, have faith, that the God of our fathers will
continue His work upon our land through our faith. He will continue His
work throughout our national life, upon which today the hope of Resurrection
is taking flight.

With the great tidings of the wondrous Holy Resurrection of Christ, and from
the Only-Begotten established Mother See of All Armenians, we greet the
incumbents of the hierarchical sees of our Apostolic Holy Church, His
Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia; His Beatitude
Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; His Beatitude
Archbishop Mesrob Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople; as well as
heads of our sister Christian Churches. We bring our blessings to the
entire rank of our oath-keeping clergy, and members of our diocesan and
parochial administrative boards.

We greet and bless the state leaders of the Armenians, headed by President
of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian, President of the Republic of
Nagorno Karabagh Arkady Ghukasian, and representatives of the diplomatic
missions registered in Armenia, and all of our people in Armenia, Artsakh
and the Diaspora.

On this good morning of light, hope and encouragement, let us pray and ask
together in one voice: With your peace, O Christ our Savior, keep safe and
unspoiled the entire world, and spread your blessings on all nations. Keep
and protect under Your grace the Armenian people, and illuminate the new
paths and new hopes of our homeland. Grace us O Lord, with the spirit of
wisdom and reconciliation, and as well, in accord with your words “Take
heart, it is I”, grant us a fortified heart by Your resurrected presence, so
that we may live the life entrusted to us, and become worthy of eternal
life, and with our holy forefathers, to forever praise You the Only-Begotten
Son, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Christ is Risen from the dead!
Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ.

KAREKIN II
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

##

Agency WPS
The Russian Oil and Gas Report (Russia)
March 31, 2004, Wednesday

ARMENIA DOES NOT NEGOTIATE ON CONTINUATION OF IRAN-ARMENIA GAS
PIPELINE TOWARDS EUROPE

Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan reports that nobody has
conducted any negotiations on continuation of the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline through Georgia and further through Ukraine to Europe with
Armenia. According to Movsisyan, Armenia does not set such task and
has not held any official negotiations. He adds that the relevant
negotiations on construction of the gas pipeline were held with Iran.
With regard to other countries Movsisyan stated that “Armenia is an
independent state and decides independently what and with whom it
needs to build and not a single country has tried to create obstacles
in this area.”

According to the minister, many countries including Russia
demonstrated their interest in construction of the pipeline. Russia
is currently considering possible options and will make a decision
corresponding to its interests. A number of private companies
including the companies from China and Italy also demonstrate their
interest in the project.

Speaking about a possibility to extend the pipeline to Western
Europe, the minister remarks that he “could not have made such
irresponsible statements.” He said that “Armenia is an honest partner
and tries to maintain mutually beneficial relations with everyone.”
Movsisyan emphasizes that European Union has not allocated a single
kopeck for construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and the
government of Armenia will find the money independently.

Defenselink.mil
March 31 2004

Change Only Constant in European Command, General Says
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2004 – Change is the only constant in U.S.
European Command — that’s the not-so-subtle message of the
organization’s commander in prepared testimony for the House Armed
Services Committee March 24.

Marine Gen. James L. Jones said that the command has been involved in
the overall war on terrorism. It also is positioning itself to
provide support in the future and help allies counter the growing
terror threat.

“EUCOM’s greatest contribution to security and stability lies as much
in preventing conflict as it does in prevailing on the battlefield,”
Jones said in written testimony. “This is accomplished through
influence and engaged leadership, and is sustained only through our
enduring and visible presence and commitment.”

Change is the constant. The general said many of the issues that now
drive events in the region were impossible to predict. “Expanding
theater security- cooperation requirements, an expanding NATO,
instability in Africa and Eastern Europe and the global war on
terrorism largely define ongoing changes and require a comprehensive
review of EUCOM’s theater strategy,” he said. “Today’s security
environment has been fundamentally changed by enemies without
territory, without borders and without fixed bases.”

At the same time, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is changing
also. Not only is the alliance expanding, but it is also seeking new
capabilities – many tied to U.S. capabilities. “A transformed NATO,
with greater agility, capability, and a new vision for engagement
outside its traditional area, will be an essential and more capable
partner for the United States,” he said. “We should welcome and fully
support this historic change in the alliance.”

Jones said the command must become more agile, lethal and responsive
to face the threats of the 21st century. “(European Command) is
ideally positioned to engage, disrupt, dismantle and prevent
terrorists from using their lines of communication and methods of
resourcing which are critical to their ability to both operate and
sustain themselves,” he said.

European Command’s Strategic Theater Transformation Plan – part of
DoD’s Global Posture Review – will permit the command “to transform
itself in such a way as to be better able to meet the diverse
challenges of this new century,” Jones said.

At its base, the plan calls for a fundamental realignment of basing
concepts, access and force capabilities. The changes in both NATO and
the command are needed and are mutually supporting, Jones said. “By
its leadership and example, (European Command) supports both the
alliance in its transformation as well as NATO member nations
undergoing their own internal transformation.”

In his testimony, Jones said the command will continue studies to
reduce and realign “legacy” infrastructure in Europe. Many bases are
leftovers of the Cold War, well suited for defending Western Europe,
but for little else. Jones said the command also reassessed “the
manner in which our forces are deployed and assigned to this theater
from the United States.”

This last included reorienting U.S. forces toward the southeast and
south to more suitably reflect the command’s expanding strategic
responsibilities. “In addition to being joint, agile, sustainable and
highly mobile, future forces operating in our region will be a
combination of both permanently based and rotational units,” he said.

The command is also looking at concepts that capitalize on innovation
to maintain old capabilities and create new ones. “Simply put, the
traditional military principle of ‘mass’ no longer equates to
commitment or capability,” the general said. “We will continue to
re-tailor our forces based on an expeditionary model much better
suited to meet the demands of the 21st century.”

An expeditionary approach means new manning models. At its heart, the
general foresees a series of smaller forward operating bases and
forward operating locations strategically located throughout the
region. “Such bases will be anchored to several existing joint main
operating bases, which are of enduring strategic value and remain
essential to theater force projection, throughput and sustainment,”
he said.

Prepositioning equipment and supplies will be a part of this effort.
“This will augment this basing plan by allowing units to ‘fall in’ on
essential equipment that will capitalize on the strategic advantage
of being an ‘ocean closer’ to engagement, influence and conflict,” he
said. “This new basing plan … will help effectively posture our
forces, in order to counter current and future threats.”

Of concern to the command are not only ongoing operations in Iraq,
but the so- called “arc of instability” in its area of operations.
Efforts may prevent terrorists from using the nations of that area as
a safe haven. These include the Caucasus states, such as Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Armenia. Another such area is the Levant region: Cyprus,
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian territories and Syria. The third
is “ungoverned” regions of North and West Africa. –

Jones said due to successful operations in Afghanistan and Iraq,
terrorists “are moving into regions where nations already struggle
with explosive population growth, resource scarcity, weak national
institutions and ineffective militaries.”

CHECHEN WEB SITE SAYS ARMENIAN ARMY “ABSORBED INTO” RUSSIAN ARMY BASE

Chechenpress web site, Tbilisi
30 Mar 04

Chechenpress correspondent Muslim Mamedov: The Armenian armed forces
have now been fully absorbed into a strong military group “codenamed”
the 102nd military base of Russia in Armenia. I have discovered
another confirmation of this in a Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye
(No 10, 2004) report entitled “Two sides of the 102nd military base”.

But, in fact, there are no two sides, but there is a close merger. I
quote the aforesaid report: “There are several hundred metres between
the two military units on Yerevan’s outskirts. The Russian regiment is
nearer to the town, the communications regiment of the Armenian armed
forces is away from it. The two units are part of Russia’s 102nd
military base on Armenian territory, i.e. somewhat this is one
Armenian structure”. Second, when asked by a Nezavisimoye Voyennoye
Obozreniye correspondent: “What about the division of duties from the
viewpoint of solving military tasks?”, the commander of the
communications regiment of the Armenian armed forces, Lt-Col
Stepanyan, said: “There is no precise division. Both our and Russian
signallers fulfil any tasks set by the command”.

The command is naturally Russian.

Is it possible to speak about Armenia’s independence, if its army is
completely subordinate to Russian generals?

It is known that the 426th aircraft group, which is part of Russia’s
102nd military base, is involved in attacks in Chechnya. One can
naturally assume that Armenia is involved in these attacks as well.

The second important point: the 772nd separate reconnaissance
battalion of the Russian base in Armenia has been actively involved in
acts of sabotage throughout the South Caucasus. It means the
involvement of the Armenian armed forces’ reconnaissance in these
sabotage activities as it is part of the 772nd separate battalion of
the Russian base.

(Passage omitted: Armenians face problems in Russia’s Krasnodar
Territory and other regions)

I would like to ask Russia’s 2m Armenians: do they approve of
Armenia’s decision to allow the Russian colonisers to establish full
control over the Armenian army?