Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Turkish Daily News
Feb 22 2005

Gündüz Aktan: The KKTC in the wake of the elections

In the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), the first victor
of the recent elections was the Republican Turks’ Party (CTP) and the
second victor the government; that is, the ruling CTP-Democratic
Party (DP) coalition. Therefore, it may be assumed that the
government is to stay on. The Turkish Cypriot people have shown that
they support the `peace approach’ of the Mehmet Ali Talat-Serdar
Denktas duo.

The statements they have made indicate that both Talat and Denktas
will give priority to the task of finding a solution to the Cyprus
problem by Oct. 3, focusing for this purpose on the issue of
negotiating the proposed changes the Greek Cypriots seek in the Annan
plan for reunification of Cyprus. To be able to analyze the potential
results of this approach one should first look at the Greek Cypriot
attitude.

The original Annan plan did not favor the Turkish Cypriots. In
fact, after the Greek Cypriots rejected his plan in the April 24
referendum, Kofi Annan issued a statement in which he explained
item-by-item exactly how the Annan plan favored the Greek Cypriots.
For Papadopoulos these had not been enough. He aimed to gain
advantages beyond what the Annan plan would provide – by exploiting
the fact that the Greek side would have the right to veto a European
Union decision to start accession talks with Turkey. In this context
he demanded that Turkey recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as
the `Republic of Cyprus’ and withdraw its troops from the island.
Obviously he hoped that this way the Turkish Cypriots could be
reduced to the level of a minority group and that the de-facto
situation created on the island as a fait accompli in the aftermath
of 1963 would be legitimized via Turkey’s `acceptance’ of it.

There is no reason to expect that, if the plan were now to be
presented anew for reconsideration, the concessions the Greek Cypriot
side would seek would be anything less than the concessions they had
expected to gain as a result of a potential Turkish recognition of
the Greek Cypriot administration as the ‘Republic of Cyprus.’

Furthermore, seeing Annan’s `good offices’ mission as a kind of
`arbitration’ and rejecting it, Papadopoulos insisted that there
should be no timetable for the negotiations.

Also, he insists on negotiating with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan
and not with KKTC Prime Minister Talat. His aim is to pave the way
for a Cyprus negotiating process that would run parallel to the
EU-Turkey accession talks. This would be an effort to shift the
Cyprus negotiations away from the United Nations and into the EU
framework. Meanwhile, he maintains his efforts to gain recognition
from Turkey via certain articles inserted into the text of the annex
protocol of the Ankara Agreement at his instigation.

Under the circumstances, it is not even clear whether the new KKTC
government would opt for a resumption of the `inter-communal
negotiations.’ In a situation where Rauf Denktas is withdrawing from
the position of KKTC president, Papadopoulos would continue imposing
his own conditions on the KKTC government, which he considers to be
eager to find an urgent solution to the Cyprus issue.

Assuming that the Cyprus negotiations would begin, the Turkish side
would have to fulfill Papadopoulos’s extreme demands to be able to
bring the negotiations to a conclusion by Oct. 3. Otherwise the Greek
Cypriots would postpone the `resolution of the Cyprus problem’ to a
date later than Oct. 3. Then, after the start of the EU-Turkey
accession talks, they could test the effectiveness of their veto.

Let us assume the Cyprus negotiations begin, and the Greek Cypriots
surprise everybody by seeking only modest changes in the Annan plan,
and the problem is resolved by Oct. 3. The Turkish Cypriots would,
via reunification with the Greek Cypriots, take their place in the
EU. However, that would happen at a time when Turkey’s EU membership
drive would be in a much more indefinite stage compared to the past
occasions when the initial five versions of the Annan plan had been
drafted. If Turkey cannot become a member of the EU, then not only
would a situation contrary to the (Cyprus) Guarantee Agreement be
created in Cyprus, but Turkey would also have lost virtually all its
guarantor rights and powers.

If the Cyprus case were to be lost in this way, a sharp
polarization would take place in the Turkish section, a polarization
that would carry the seeds of a potential clash. Also, such a
development would set a highly unfortunate precedent on other issues
such as the Aegean problems, the “Armenian genocide’ claims and
`ethnic minority’ issues.

This grave situation has come into being partly because of the fact
that the EU and the United States have failed to lift the embargo on
the KKTC despite the fact that the Turkish Cypriots voted `yes’ on
the Annan plan in the referendum.

Also, the fact that the National Unity Party (UBP) has failed to
renew itself further weakens the hand of a Turkish side that was
negotiating with the Greek Cypriots from a not-too-strong position in
the first place. The political parties in the KKTC suffer from the
same malaise as their counterparts in Turkey: they have a leadership
problem. Unless the required changes take place in that party by the
next presidential election, then the UBP will continue to go downhill
and will stop playing a meaningful role from the standpoint of
defending Turkish Cypriots.

That will leave Mr. Talat as the only source of hope. In
psychology, the defeat of an old leader by a young challenger is
referred to as the ritual of `slaying the father.’ The `son’ who once
held exactly the opposite of the `father’s’ views, reverts back to
the views of the `father’ once he gains power. We witnessed that
phenomenon in the Ismet Pasha-Bulent Ecevit race.

Let us wait and see whether Talat’s behavior will reaffirm this
rule.

WCC calls for recognition of Armenian Genocide

21.02.2005 17:19

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Meeting in Geneva, the Central Committee of the
World Council of Churches called for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.

The Public Issues committee of the WCC central committee recommended
to the organization’s general secretary “to propose to all member
churches to make Sunday April 24 a day of memory of the Armenian
Genocide and to consider further appropriate actions”. That day is the
90th anniversary of the tragic massacre of one-and-a-half-million
Armenians in Turkey and the deportation of another million from their
homeland.

“From the Christian perspective, the path towards justice and
reconciliation requires the recognition of the crime committed as a
sine qua non condition for the healing of memories and the possibility
of forgiveness”, stated the Public Issues committee.

ARKA News Agency
Feb 18 2005

Karen Nazaryan appointed to post of Armenian Ambassador to Iran

Ashot Kocharyan appointed to post of Armenian Ambassador to India

Inecobank starts issuing co-brand cards

Regular session of the Armenia-EU Committee on cooperation to be held
in Yerevan in June 2005

Armenian delegation to leave for Greece to participate in the meeting
of ministers of pabsec states-members

A criminal falsifying payment cards is arrested in Yerevan

Two thirds of bank deposits of Armenia account for deposits in USD

A Board of Trustees of Deposits Insurance Fund is formed in Armenia

Armenia planning to complete negotiations over its membership in
International Exhibition Organization

In 2004, the volume of international private monetary transfers
through Ardshininvestbank (Armenia) make $160 mln

Presentation of Tavush and Gegharkunik Marzes development programs to
be held in Yerevan on February 21

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KAREN NAZARYAN APPOINTED TO POST OF ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRAN

YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. President Kocharyan signed a decree on
Friday appointing Karen Nazaryan to the post of Armenian Ambassador
to Iran. According to Presidential Press Service, Nazaryan was born
in 1966, graduated from Yerevan State University as orientalist in
1990 and Diplomatic Academy of Russian Foreign Ministry in 1992.
Since 1991 he has worked at various positions in the RA Foreign
Ministry and since 2002 worked as Adviser to Armenian Foreign
Minister and simultaneously fulfilled duty of Armenian-American
intergovernmental commission’s member. M.V. -0–

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ASHOT KOCHARYAN APPOINTED TO POST OF ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO INDIA

YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. President Kocharyan signed a decree on
Friday relieving Presidential Press Secretary Ashot Kocharyan from
his post and appointing him to the post of Armenian Ambassador to
India. He will succeed Armen Bayburdyan, who fulfilled his diplomatic
mission in India from March 2000 to November 2004. M.V. -0–

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INECOBANK STARTS ISSUING CO-BRAND CARDS

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. The Armenian “Inecobank” is the
country’s first bank to start the issue of co-brand international
Master Cards, in cooperation with “Austrian Airlines”. At today’s
presentation, Executive Director of the “Inecobank” Yervand
Barseghyan reported that a holder of this cards will enjoy the right
to a 3% discount on a ticket of “Austrian Airlines”, as well as to
the transportation of 10kg. of luggage free of charge. Besides, the
co-brand cards allow their holders to accumulate bonuses, which, if
the client wants, can be converted into additional discounts on the
“Inecobank”‘s services. Card holders will also enjoy the right to
discounts on purchase made at the “Vesta” and “Zodiak” electronics
shops, as well as at the “Bever” and “Khartya” computer shops.
Another advantage of the card is that it can be served by both the
MasterCard international system and the local ArCa system.
President of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said that
“the offer of such novelties on the market is evidence that
competition between local banks is getting keener, which is to
client’s advantage.”
The “Inecobank” was incorporated on February 7, 1996. The founders of
the bank are individuals, over 70% of them being residents. In
December 1997, the bank was the first to start serving trade in
consumer goods on credit. According to a survey conducted by the
prestigious journal “Banker”, the Armenian “Inecobank” was among 20
most rapidly developing banks in transitional economies. In 2004, the
“Inecobank” was recognized Armenia’s “Best dealer serving the
internal debt.” ($1=AMD473.45). P.T. -0–

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REGULAR SESSION OF THE ARMENIA-EU COMMITTEE ON COOPERATION TO BE HELD
IN YEREVAN IN JUNE 2005

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. The regular session of the Armenia-EU
Committee on cooperation will be held in Yerevan in June 2005, as
stated the Chief of the Department for Foreign Economic Policy of RA
Ministry of Trade and Economic Development Garegin Melkonyan.
According to him, the committee stably works, and specific program
are developed and being implemented currently.
To note, the previous session of the Committee was held in 2004 in
Brussels. The co-Chairman of the Committee representing the Armenia
side is the Karen Chshmarityan, the RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development. A.H. –0–

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ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO LEAVE FOR GREECE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING
OF MINISTERS OF PABSEC STATES-MEMBERS

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. Minister – Head of the RA Government’s
apparatus Manuk Topuzyan and the Head of the Department for Foreign
Affairs adjunct to the RA Government Arthur Manaseryan left for
Greece, where they will participate in the meeting of the Ministers
of the states-members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea
Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) to discuss “Improvement of State
Administration and Structure Reforms”. According to RA Government’s
Press Service, the discussions will be held on February 20-21. It’s
planned that by the results of the meeting Ministers of Justice and
Ministers responsible for state administration of the states -members
of PABSEC will make a joint statement on “Structure Reforms and
Quality Administration”. A.H. –0–

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A CRIMINAL FALSIFYING PAYMENT CARDS IS ARRESTED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. A criminal falsifying payment cards is
arrested in Yerevan. According to the Press Service Department of RA
National Security Service (NSS), as a result of operative
investigation, on February 17 Artak Sedrakyan, a resident of Yerevan
born in 1981, was arrested when using a false plastic card. His
accomplice Gevorg Lazarian (born in 1982) came to RA NSS and
confessed his guilt. A criminal proceeding is instituted.
“This type of crime is something new for our society. However, we
warn that we have enough power and capacity to detect and neutralize
criminals”, according to the press-release.
>>From banks and centers for servicing payment cards signals about
getting money from ATMs of Yerevan by means of using false plastic
cards. About $ 15-20 thsd is defalcated, according to the ArCa system
specialists. A.H. -0–

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TWO THIRDS OF BANK DEPOSITS OF ARMENIA ACCOUNT FOR DEPOSITS IN USD

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. Two thirds of bank deposits of Armenia
account for deposits in USD, as stated CBA Chairman Tigran Sargsyan
at a press-conference. According to him, that is why the law on
Guaranteed Compensation of Bank Deposits of Individuals provides for
difference in guarantying deposits in USD and AMD. “Our primary goal
is to stimulate the growth of deposits in AMD in the banking system,
that’s why they are guaranteed in terms up to AMD 2 mln., and those
in USD- up to AMD 1 mln.”, he said. Besides, according to him, the
same goal, that is stimulation of AMD circulation in the republic and
prevention further dollarization, is pursued by the law on Currency
Regulation adopted in 2004.
On November 24, 2004, the RA Parliament adopted in the third reading
the Law On Guaranteed Compensation of Bank Deposits of Individuals.
The Law stipulated the formation of a Deposit Insurance Fund at
commercial banks’ expense. Banks are to effect quarterly payments to
the Fund. The Fund guarantees foreign currency deposits up to AMD
1mln., and deposits in AMD up to AMD 2mln.
According to CBA, there are as many as 3 mln. 817 thsd. 860 deposits
totaling AMD 110 206 mln in Armenia. A.H. –0–

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A BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF DEPOSITS INSURANCE FUND IS FORMED IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. A Board of Trustees of Deposits
Insurance Fund is formed in Armenia. According to CBA Chairman Tigran
Sargsyan, the Council of Trustees includes Tigran Khachatryan (Deputy
Minister) and Arshaluys Margaryan (Chief of the Department for State
Debt Management) from RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, and Samuel
Chzmachyan (Chairman) from the Union of Banks of Armenia and the
President of ACBA Stephan Gishyan. Besides, CBA in the Board is
represented by CBA Chairman Tigran Sargsyan, who was elected a
Chairman of the Board, and the Chairman of CBA’ Board Karine
Minasyan. The seventh member of the Board is elected the Chairman of
RA NA Standing Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary and Economic
Affairs Gagik Minasyan.
CBA Chairman noted that the Board of Trustees will monitor the
activity of the Executive Director of the Fund, utilization of the
accumulated finances in the Fund, will set the criteria for
management. According to Sargsyan, quite high status of members of
the Board of Trustees will ensure “transparent and safe” work of the
Fund. He noted that the finances attracted by the Fund will not be
invested into high-risk assets.
On November 24, 2004, the RA Parliament adopted in the third reading
the Law “On guaranteed compensation of bank deposits of physical
persons”. The Law stipulated the formation of a Deposit Insurance
Fund at commercial banks’ expense. Banks are to effect quarterly
payments to the Fund. The Fund guarantees foreign currency deposits
up to AMD 1mln., and deposits in AMD up to AMD 2mln.
The Law will apply to the banks that will legally operate from July
2005, but not to the subsidiaries of foreign banks that, according to
the RA Law, have no right to attract deposits of individuals in
Armenia. As regards foreign banks’ branches, their deposits will be
guaranteed by the Fund as well. Currently, $2 mln is accumulated in
the Deposits Insurance Fund ($1 -AMD 473,45). A.H.–0–

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ARMENIA PLANNING TO COMPLETE NEGOTIATIONS OVER ITS MEMBERSHIP IN
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION ORGANIZATION

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18. /ARKA/. Armenia is planning to complete
negotiations on its membership in International Exhibition
Organization, as stated Garegin Melkonyan, the Head of RA Trade and
Economic Development Ministry Department for Foreign Economic Policy,
at today’s press-conference. In his words, work for joining to the
organization’s appropriate convention is under way now and all
procedural matters are planned to be settled by the end of the year.
He noted that the Organization is reckoned among quite impressive
structure, which controls all large-scale registered exhibitions all
over the world.
According to Melconyan, as many as 30 exhibitions are expected to be
opened in Armenia in 2005, the majority of which – under the auspices
of the Ministry. M.V. -0–

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IN 2004, THE VOLUME OF INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE MONETARY TRANSFERS
THROUGH ARDSHININVESTBANK (ARMENIA) MAKE $160 MLN

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. In 2004, the volume of international
private monetary transfers through Ardshininvestbank (Armenia) made
$160 mln. According to the Chairman of the bank’s Board Aram
Andreasyan, the bank is the exclusive agent of Money Gram
international payment system in Armenia. “The private monetary
transfers service occupies a significant place in the field of
“retail” banking activity in servicing individuals”, according to the
press-release.
The “Arshininvestbank” CJSC was issued a banking license (#83) by the
Central Bank of Armenia on February 27, 2003. The bank was founded by
the Russian “International Business Center” financial-industrial
group. The bank’s shares are held by two enterprises forming the
group. By December 31, 2004, the bank’s total capital had been AMD
5.bln, its authorized capital being about AMD 3bln. The bank’s assets
totaled AMD 38.3bln., its net profit in 2004 totaled AMD 1,788.4mln.,
and balance profit AMD 2,418.9mln. According to the information at
ARKA’s disposal, the “Ardshininvestbank” is among the leaders of
Armenia’s banking system as to the key activity indices, as well as
asset and capital profit-earning capacity.
According to the CBA, the aggregate volume of monetary transfers in
the RA banking system of Armenia via international payments system
amounted to AMD 219,1 bln. (about $412 mln) in 2004. As of As of
December 31, 2004, transfers via the following international payment
systems were made: Western Union, Money Gram, Anelik, Unistream,
Express, Interexpress, Contact. ($1 – AMD 473,45). A.H. –0-

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PRESENTATION OF TAVUSH AND GEGHARKUNIK MARZES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS TO
BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON FEBRUARY 21

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. Presentation of Tavush and Gegharkunik
Marzes development programs will be held in Yerevan on February 21.
According to the Public Relations and Press Department of RA
Government, the main objective of the programs is the assistance to
administrations of the regions and implementation of RA Government
strategic poverty reduction program. This event will be a final
opportunity to discuss the Regional Development Plans before they are
submitted to the Cabinet for approval. This should take place next
month.
The meeting will mark the completion of the first phase of the
Armenia Regional Development Programme, funded by the Department for
International Development (DFID) and implemented by the British
consultants Oxford Policy Management.
Hovik Abrahamyan, the Minister for Territorial Administration, and
Thorda Abbott-Watt, the British Ambassador, as well as RA NA
Deputies, representatives of RA President’s staff and central and
regional government agencies, the donor community, embassies, NGOs,
contractors and other potential development partners will take part.
DFID provided the funding to draw up the Regional Development Plans
and has also set aside ?2 million for their implementation in Tavush
and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia (?1 million for each). The main
goal of the program is to render assistance to the administrations of
the regions, development and implementation of the strategic program
of the RA government on poverty reduction. The program will last for
54 months, 18 of which will be spent on the development of the
program.
DFID has been operating in Armenia since 1996. The main goal of DFID
is to contribute to the government of the republic in the issue of
poverty reduction. L.V. –0

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Russian minister, Armenian premier discuss regional transport projects

Mediamax news agency
17 Feb 05

Yerevan, 17 February: Russia will take into account to the maximum the
interests of Armenia in the implementation of regional transport projects and will
not take steps detrimental to it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said
at a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan in Yerevan today.

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said this commenting on the concern
expressed by Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan over plans to construct the
Qazvin – Rasht [Iran] – Astara [Azerbaijan] railway link bypassing Armenian
territory within the framework of the North-South international transport corridor
project.

[Passage omitted: background]

The Russian foreign minister said today that he would inform Russian
Transport Minister Igor Levitin and the president of the Russian Railways company,
Gennadiy Fadeyev, about the Armenian prime minister’s concern.

The meeting also discussed the launch of the Kavkaz-Poti ferry link. Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan said that Armenia attaches great importance
to this transport link since it will help Armenia considerably expand trade
with Russia.

Markaryan and Lavrov also discussed prospects for the reopening of the Abkhaz
section of the Georgian railways.

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

February 17, 2005
___________________

DIOCESE PLAYS ROLE IN VOICING CONCERNS OF MID-EAST CHRISTIANS

At the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches, a delegation
from the National Council of Churches (NCC) toured the Middle East from
January 21 to February 4, 2005. The delegates visited Christian,
Muslim, and Jewish leaders during stops in Beirut, Cairo, Tel Aviv, and
Bethlehem.

“Our message was one of solidarity with the Christians,” said Bishop
Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical officer, who traveled
with the 11-member delegation from January 21 to February 4, 2005. “And
the message we received was they longed for solidarity with western
Christian communities.”

“Now they know they have partners in the Western world who are concerned
about their disappearance and the larger problems in the Middle East and
in the Holy Land,” the legate added.

PROMOTING PEACE

While showing solidarity with local Christians, the group also brought a
message of peace and hope for the future to the area.

“We have hope that there will be peace and that peace will continue.
With the death of Arafat and the new efforts at dialogue, this is the
best opportunity for peace,” Bishop Aykazian said.

When speaking with Palestinian leaders, Bishop Aykazian said the group
asked what they could do to promote peace. They told him the best thing
for the Christian community to do is support Christians in the Middle
East financially and morally, by visiting and sending support.

URGING VISITS

Taking up that call, Bishop Aykazian is urging all Armenians to remember
and support the Armenians in the Holy Land.

During the NCC journey, the delegates spent five hours meeting with
Archbishop
Torkom Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. They met with
members of the Brotherhood of St. James and toured the patriarchate and
the library of ancient Armenian manuscripts. They also visited the
Church of the Holy Archangels and the Cathedral of St. James.

“The visit gave all of them a chance to see that Armenians could play a
very important role in the future of Jerusalem,” Bishop Aykazian said.

He urges Armenians in the diaspora to learn about the patriarchate, to
get involved in supporting its work, and to make a special effort to
visit.

“They receive no financial help, not even moral help. So I invite the
Armenians in the diaspora to go and visit and bring their financial
contributions to the Armenians in Jerusalem. It is a must, especially
today more than any other time. So I hope that that Armenians will do
something to encourage our brothers and sisters in Jerusalem.”

— 2/17/05

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical
officer of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern),
meets with Saed Erekat, chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority,
during a recent visit to the Middle East.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Bishop Aykazian meets with His Holiness Pope
Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and Guirgis Saleh, general
secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): An 11-member delegation from the National Council of
Churches (NCC), including Bishop Aykazian of the Eastern Diocese, meets
with His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, of the Coptic Orthodox Church,
during a tour of the Middle East.

# # #

OFFICIAL REP. OF RF FOREIGN MINISTRY: RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA HAVE
RECENTLY OBTAINED A NATURE OF STRATEGIC AND ALLY PARTNERSHIP

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16. ARMINFO. Relations with Armenia have recently
obtained a nature of strategic and ally partnership, peculiar with
their positive dynamics of development. Official Representative of
Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko made this statement in
connection with the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
to Yerevan starting Wednesday.

He called symbolic that the visit of Sergey Lavrov to Armenia taked
place in 2005, the Year of Russian Federation in the Republic
of Armenia. In his words, the visit is within the framework of
bilateral agreements at the highest level on organization of an active
dialogue. It is directed at further deepening of Russian-Armenian
relations based on strong legal base – the Agreement of Friendship,
Cooperation and Mutual Assistance dated Aug 29 1997, Declaration of
Ally Partnership between RF and RA orientated at the 21st century
dated Sept 26 2000, as well as on 160 interstate and intergovernmental
agreements. The visit of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to Moscow
on 12-13 May in 2004 as well as the meetings of Russian and Armenian
leaders in the August of 2004 in Sochi in the September of 2004 in
Astana, Yakovenko said.-m-

Armenian minister concerned about possible US action against Iran

Arminfo
8 Feb 05

Yerevan, 8 February: The possible US preventive action against
Iran will have very undesirable consequences for the South Caucasus
region, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told students of
the department of international relations at Yerevan State University
today.

He recalled US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent statement
that the issue of starting hostilities against Iran is not on the
agenda of the USA’s foreign policy course. The US secretary of state’s
statement removes some of the worries, but some of her remarks are
still rather alarming as any military action against Iran will impact
negatively on the region, the Armenian foreign minister stressed.

Speaking about the possibility of Armenia being sidelined from regional
projects, such as the construction of Kars (Turkey) – Akhalkalaki
(Georgia) link and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Armenian
minister noted that steps should be taken to involve the country in the
regional projects. However, that should not damage national interests.

Vardan Oskanyan said that we should first take into account the price
the country pays for the participation in such projects and if the
price is too high, we should not get involved,

[Passage omitted: the minister comments on relations with Turkey,
covered by agency reports yesterday]

Patience running out over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute: Azeri president

Agence France Presse — English
February 14, 2005 Monday

MOSCOW Feb 14 — The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, criticized
Monday mediators seeking to resolve a dispute between his country
and Armenia over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, and threatened to
use force.

“We are unhappy with the work of the Minsk group which has failed to
produce any results,” Aliyev said in an interview with the Russian
daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

The Minsk Group, comprised of France, Russia and the United States
and operating under a mandate from the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been mediating peace talks between
the two countries for the past decade.

An ethnic Armenian enclave that had a 25 percent Azeri population
before the war, Nagorno-Karabakh was the object of a war between
Armenia and Azerbaijan until 1994 when the active phase of the conflict
ended with Armenia in control of the territory inside Azerbaijan.

Aliyev threatened again on Monday that Azerbaijan would resort to
force to get the territory back.

“The patience of the Azeri people has its limits. We can’t continue to
negotiate for another 10 years. We will strengthen our army,” he said.

He also said he believed other international organisations could help
resolve the conflict.

“That’s why we’ve raised this question in the United Nations and the
Council of Europe despite protests from the Armenians,” he said.

The conflict has cost an estimated 35,000 lives and forced about one
million people on both sides to flee their homes.

ReliefWeb (press release), Switzerland
Feb 10 2005

White House Proposes Maintaining Armenia-Azerbaijan Military
Assistance Parity

ANCA welcomes recognition of the role that military aid parity plays
in regional stability

WASHINGTON, DC–In a move welcomed as a contribution to regional
stability and the search for peace, the Bush Administration’s Fiscal
Year (FY) 2006 budget proposal, released February 7, called for
maintaining parity in military assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). This
decision represents a break from the last year’s widely criticized FY
2005 budget request, which, although later reversed by Congress,
initially proposed providing four times more military aid to
Azerbaijan than to Armenia.

“We are gratified that the President’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget calls
for parity in military aid appropriations to Armenia and Azerbaijan,”
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We welcome this request
as a contribution toward regional peace, and want to extend our
appreciation to Congressman Knollenberg, Senator McConnell and the
other key legislators who impressed upon the Administration the
wisdom of this course of action.”

The budget request includes $5 million in Foreign Military Finance
(FMF) assistance and $750,000 in International Military Education and
Training (IMET) for both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The FY 2006 White
House proposal also includes a $55 million earmark for Armenia, $7
million less than the figure proposed by the Administration last
year, and $20 million less than the actual assistance appropriated by
Congress for 2005. Azerbaijan and Georgia have been budgeted $35
million and $67 million, respectively. The overall foreign aid budget
for the former Soviet Union is $482 million, a $74 million reduction
from last year.

For the first time, the budget document also makes specific reference
to ‘Nagorno Karabagh,’ citing that a portion of a $48.5 million
allocation for Eurasia would include funding for humanitarian
assistance to Mountainous Karabagh Republic.

“We were pleased that the Administration’s request, for the first
time, specifically cited humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabagh,”
continued Hamparian. “We were, however, troubled by the White House’s
proposed reduction in aid to Armenia. We will, in the coming weeks
and months, work with Congressional appropriators in support of an
increased allocation for Armenia.”

The Foreign Operations Subcommittees of the Senate and House
Appropriation Committees will now review the budget and each draft
their own versions of the FY 2006 foreign assistance bill.

The agreement to maintain parity in US military aid to Armenia and
Azerbaijan was struck between the White House and Congress in 2001,
in the wake of Congressional action granting the President the
authority to waive the Section 907 restrictions on aid to Azerbaijan.
The ANCA has vigorously defended this principle, stressing in
correspondence, at senior level meetings, and through grassroots
activism, that a tilt in military spending toward Azerbaijan would
destabilize the region, emboldening Azerbaijan’s leadership to
continue their threats to impose a military solution to the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict. More broadly, the ANCA has underscored that
breaching the parity agreement would reward the leadership of
Azerbaijan for walking away from the OSCE’s Key West peace talks, the
most promising opportunity to resolve the Nagorno Karabagh conflict
in nearly a decade. Finally, failing to respect the parity agreement
would, the ANCA has stressed, undermine the role of the US as an
impartial mediator of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict.

Russia’s GAZ 2004 vehicle sales up 6.8% on year

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
February 8, 2005

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Feb 8 (Prime-Tass) — The vehicle and vehicle assembly
kit sales of Russia’s second-largest car and truck maker GAZ rose 6.8%
on the year in 2004 to 230,664 vehicles, the plant’s press service
told Prime-Tass Tuesday citing preliminary data.

Of the total, GAZ sold 69,976 cars and 160,688 trucks, minibuses and
special-purpose vehicles.

In 2004 GAZ sold 186,143 vehicles in Russia and exported 44,521
vehicles and vehicle assembly kits, up 14% on the year. The company
exported 34,523 vehicles to CIS countries, up 20.6% on the year,
and 9,998 vehicles to non-CIS countries, up from about 1,400 vehicles
in 2003.

GAZ exports its vehicles to Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Cuba and other countries.

GAZ exported 19.2% of its production in 2004.

In 2004 the company’s output rose 8.4% on the year to 231,336 vehicles
and vehicle assembly kits.

Of the total, GAZ produced 214,251 vehicles, up 6.4% on the year,
including 65,686 cars, up 15.7% on the year, and 148,565 trucks and
minibuses, up 2.7% on the year.

GAZ is part of Russia’s major RusPromAvto automobile holding. End