Author: Zakarian Garnik

Opposition Accused Of ‘Tempting’ Armenia’s Foes
By Hrach Melkumian 19/12/2004 08:54

Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
Dec 19 2004

Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian accused the opposition on Friday
of risking a military aggression against Armenia by portraying its
government as weak and illegitimate.

Sarkisian said “unfriendly states,” presumably Azerbaijan in the
first instance, are unaware of the political situation in Armenia
and therefore take seriously regular opposition predictions about
President Robert Kocharian’s imminent downfall.

“We pay a lot of attention to all those people who are trying to
blacken everything. Why am I saying this? Because this is a very
significant circumstance,” he told a round-table discussion of national
security issues in Yerevan.

“The temptation [among Armenia’s foes] is growing so much that they
think they can solve issues tomorrow with the force of weapons. You
see, a temptation is a very bad thing,” he added, apparently referring
to Azerbaijani threats to win back Nagorno-Karabakh by force.

The Armenian opposition, which does not accept the legitimacy of
Kocharian’s disputed reelection last year, tried unsuccessfully to
force him into resignation as recently as last spring. Some opposition
leaders now appear buoyed by the success of anti-government street
protests in Ukraine that are expected to lead to regime change. They
are reportedly regrouping for a fresh push for power.

A leading Azerbaijani newspaper claimed in a front-page article this
week that Armenia will likely become the next former Soviet republic
to have regime change as a result of a Western-backed “revolution.”

Sarkisian, who is widely regarded as the country’s second most powerful
man after Kocharian, also brushed aside the opposition’s pro-democracy
rhetoric, saying that the Armenian authorities are committed to free
elections and human rights. Democracy is vital for national security,
he added.

“We must definitely hold the best elections. We must definitely have
the most sophisticated society. We must be the most democratic and
humane country because the armies of such countries enjoy popular
love and respect. Such countries also have other powerful security
guarantees.”

Opposition leaders have repeatedly accused Sarkisian of being one of
the chief architects of serious fraud reported during last year’s
presidential and parliamentary elections. The defense chief was
Kocharian’s campaign manager at the time, a role which one Western
diplomat described as “at best questionable.”

Kyrgyz president warns radical groups might forcibly seize power in election year
By KADYR TOKTOGULOV

The Associated Press
12/18/04 03:45 EST

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) – Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has warned
that some radical groups might try to forcibly seize power next
year when the nation holds parliamentary and presidential elections,
his office said Saturday.

“Social and political tensions in 2005 will escalate dramatically and
radical forces might use armed methods in their struggle,” Akayev told
a Defense Council meeting Friday, according to the president’s office.

Akayev did not say what forces he meant. But he in the past criticized
opposition groups as radical and irreconcilable.

The country’s parliamentary elections slated for Feb. 27 are expected
to be hotly contested as they will set the stage for the October
presidential race.

Having completed two consecutive terms, Akayev is not eligible to
run again, but the opposition fears his loyalists might be scheming
to extend his rule or put in his place a candidate favored by the
establishment.

Akayev Friday urged law enforcement agencies to make all necessary
efforts to ensure public security and protection of human rights and
civil liberties in the election year.

However, Edil Baisalov, head of the coalition of civic groups “For
Democracy and Civil Society”, said Saturday Akayev’s remarks targeted
the political opposition and signaled that authorities might move
to restrict political freedoms ahead of the elections.

Akayev Friday also expressed concern about the spread of terrorism
and extremism in Central Asia. He said extremist groups were joining
radical groups linked to the international terror network as the
number of attempted terror attacks grows across the region.

Akayev also said he was concerned about the activities of the radical
Islamic Hizb-ut-Tahrir party and criticized local authorities for
lack of ideological work against the group, accused in neighboring
Uzbekistan of inspiring two waves of deadly attacks this year.

Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which originated in the Middle East and claims to
disavow violence, denied responsibility for the attacks. The group
that strives to create a worldwide Islamic state is persecuted across
the region.

Kyrgyzstan saw two bombings in 2002 and 2003 that killed eight people.
Authorities claimed they prevented three terrorist attacks against
a U.S.-led coalition base in Kyrgyzstan over the past two years.

Radical Islamic groups emerged in predominantly Muslim Central Asia
after the 1991 Soviet collapse, filling a post-communist ideological
void.

Corruption takes place everywhere

The Messenger, Georgia
Dec 17 2004

The Armenian newspaper Aravot writes that corruption takes place in
all the countries of the world, but in the West it is a bit different,
a little more subtle, than the corruption in Armenia. The paper writes
that the corruption in Armenia is simple and unpretentious: “even
the Armenian authorities feel shy to call it corruption.” Minister
of Defense Serzh Sarkisyan in a recent interview stated that there
is no corruption in his ministry. “He stressed that there is no
corruption in the ministry and no bribery, because as he thinks,
many people mix these two words,” the paper notes.

The UN thinks that corruption is the abuse of state power for the
promotion of self-interested benefits. However, an interdisciplinary
group from the Council of Europe considers that corruption is bribery
and any other conduct of an official or private person that causes a
violation of their obligations and that aims to receive any illegal
benefits for themselves and others.

“So, proceeding from this, our state figures appease themselves in
vain with the idea that primitive bribery is not corruption,” the paper
ironically states, “Maybe some think that there is no need to conceal
themselves because their activity is not considered corruption. We
have no corruption in our country at all: this is just legal bribery.”

EU Observer, Belgium
Dec 14 2004

France calls on Turkey to recognise Armenia killings

14.12.2004 – 07:20 CET | By Honor Mahony EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – In
the latest twist to the debate surrounding Turkey’s eventual
membership of the EU, France has demanded that Ankara recognise the
mass killing of Armenians from 1915

Speaking after a meeting in Brussels on Monday (13 December), French
foreign minister Michel Barnier said “France will pose this question.
I think Turkey as a big country has a duty to remember”.

Mr Barnier made it clear that France’s demand is not a condition for
opening membership negotiations with Turkey but said it would be
raised once talks are opened.

This is a highly contentious issue for Turkey which has refused to
recognise the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians as genocide.

Ankara insists that between 250,000 and 500,000 Armenians as well as
thousands of Turks were killed when they clashed during World War 1.

Armenians say that their people died or were deported under Turkish
Ottoman rule.

“I believe that when the time comes, Turkey should come to terms with
its past, be reconciled with its own history and recognise this
tragedy”, said Mr Barnier.

France officially recognised the Armenian genocide in 2001 and is now
coming under pressure from Armenians living in France to raise the
issue with Turkey.

Mr Barnier’s words come just three days ahead of a crucial summit of
EU leaders – where Ankara is expected to be given the go ahead to
open negotiations.

However, member states remain divided about the conditions
surrounding its entry – particularly on a propsoal which would
permanently allow member states to impose restrictions on Turkish
workers’ movement in the EU.

Countries such as Belgium, Greece, Finland and Sweden oppose the
measures, which they feel would see Turkey become a second tier
member state.

At the summit, which begins on Thursday and Friday, leaders must also
decide when exactly negotiations will be opened.

It is expected that it will be in the second half of 2005. This would
allow France, where a large section of the population is against
Turkish EU membership, to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution
early in the year – keeping the two issues separate in the public’s
mind.

It is also expected to emphasize that negotiations are open and do
not guarantee EU membership at the end.

“THE RUSSIANS TO PUT PRESSURE UPON YEREVAN FOR IMPROVEMENT OF
RELATIONS WITH TURKEY,” “HYURIETT” WRITES

ISTANBUL, December 13 (Noyan Tapan). “The Russians reported that they
would put more essential pressure upon Yerevan for the settlement of
Yerevan’s problems with Turkey,” the Turkish “Hyuriett” newspaper
wrote in its December 7 issue.

According to the newspaper, which was re-published by the “Marmara”
newspaper, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Abdullah Gul said
during the official dinner given in honor of Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov that Turkey wants to undertake some
steps in the direction of the improvement of its relations with
Armenia but waits for Armenia to take the first step. “We will not be
able to do anything until Armenia undertakes steps, but Armenia
suffers a lot from the current state of affairs,” said Gul. S. Lavrov
said that it is quite a positive position, and his country will do its
best to explain Armenia what steps it should undertake for the
improvement of the relations with Turkey.

ARMROSGAZPROM REGISTERS GAS CONSUMPTION GROWTH THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11. ARMINFO. The ArmRosgazprom company has
registered a gas consumption growth this year despite small gas
purchases by Armenia’s energy sector, says the company’s director
general Karen Karapetyan.

This year the company is planning to buy 1.350 bln c m of gas which is
100 mln c m more than in 2003 this is due to the continuing process of
gas consumption in the population. This year the company will get
80,000 real and 120,000-150,000 potential gas subscribers to have by
the end of the year 266,000 and 320,000-350,000 subscribers
respectively.

In 2003-2004 the real subscriber growth made up 100%. “You won’t find
such an index anywhere in the world,” says Karapetyan. He says that
this year the number of potential gas subscribers exceeded the
Soviet-time figure this is considering that Armenia was one of the
most gas sufficient republic of the former USSR – some 485,000 gas
consumers.

True, illegal facilities constitute a serious obstacle to further gas
installation activities. Yerevan’s Municipality allows such
constructions over operating gas main areas and if they break down the
company is not let into private territories, says Karapetyan.

As for the plans for 2005 they will be announced in Jan 2005.

Armenian foreign minister meets NATO, EU reps in Brussels

Mediamax news agency
10 Dec 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and the special
representative of the NATO secretary-general for the Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simmons, have discussed the elaboration of the
Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) between Armenia and NATO in
Brussels.

On 9 December, Oskanyan also met the EU special representative in the
South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, in Brussels. The parties discussed
the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and Armenia’s
involvement in the EU’s New Neighbourhood Policy.

ARARAT ZURABIAN: ARMENIA IS AN INDEPENDENT STATE AND WE DON’T ACCEPT
VASSAL RELATIONS

YEREVAN, December 9 (Noyan Tapan). “We will consistently work against
any violation of constitutional system and are ready to cooperate in
this issue with any political force,” Ararat Zurabian, Chairman of
Board of Armenian National Movement, declared during the 14 congress
of the party. In his speech he strictly criticized the ruling
administration. According to him, Robert Kocharian and the “political
forces serving him” for many times made victorious statements,
according to which they will achieve Nagorno Karabakh’s independence,
but these statements weren’t fulfilled. Ararat Zurabian declared that
signing the Istanbul charter, Robert Kocharian de facto recognized
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. In the opinion of the Chairman of
ANM Board, another serious mistake of the president is forcing Nagorno
Karabakh out of the negotiation process, as a result of which the
problem transformed into a territorial argument between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Ararat Zurabian called on to arrange cooperation with all
neighbours in the region. According to him, normalization of relations
with Turkey will play a very positive role in the economic development
of Armenia. As for the current level of Armenian-Russian relations,
Ararat Zurabian declared that at present these are interrelations
between “a servant and a master.” “When ANM held the power we tried to
equalize these relations but today again any Russian official of
medium rank may solve all issues necessary for him in Armenia.” To
recap, ANM isn’t against Russia, Zurabian emphasized that “Armenia is
an independent state and we don’t accept vassal relations.”

Marketing
December 8, 2004

CAROLYN.K

It’s cute, it’s feminine, but above all, it’s pink. Alexandra Jardine
reports on an accessories brand with celebrity fans.

If you can’t stand pink, Carolyn.K is definitely not the brand for
you. ‘Though I’m asked who the brand is aimed at, the idea is that
there is no age range or particular type of person – but it’s
definitely someone who loves pink,’ says Carolyn Nola, founder of the
cosmetics accessories brand

Welcome to girly, pampering heaven. From its packaging to its
polka-dot satin sleep masks, the brand is pink, cute and feminine.
It’s a theme continued in Nola’s West London office, whose white
carpet and walls are offset by a dazzling display of colour. Swatches
of bright, patterned fabric nestle among the well-thumbed copies of
glossy magazines.

There is a picture of a pink lily above her desk, and she has even
covered her diaries and notebooks in pink fabric.

Nola, however, is dressed smartly in black, with only a studded
wristband betraying her favourite colour. She may love pink, but
there is nothing frivolous about this focused, businesslike
33-year-old, who, inspired by her Armenian businessman father, has
always wanted to run her own company.

After working as a freelance make-up artist for 10 years, Nola
spotted a gap in the market for beautifully packaged make-up
accessories, and Carolyn.K was born. ‘Lots of make-up artists were
launching their own cosmetics ranges, but there wasn’t much available
to go with the make-up,’ she explains. ‘I would use these kinds of
accessories as a make-up artist, but I bought most of them abroad.
You couldn’t get them over here.’

Just under two years later, Carolyn.K is stocked in 80 stores, from
London to Loch Lomond, and has secured its first international
listing in Ireland.

It has also attained in a relatively short time what some
long-established beauty brands can only dream of – celebrity
endorsement from Britney Spears, Kelly Brook and Charlotte Church.
Brook has even called to say how much she likes the brand, and when
the Carolyn.K eye mask featured in OK! magazine as one of her
favourite products, the range sold out almost immediately.

Carolyn.K positions itself as a one-stop shop for beauty accessories,
offering more than 40 products that include brightly coloured PVC
make-up bags, make-up sponges and brushes, mini pink emery boards and
moisturising socks. All are priced between £2 and £20.

While the range was designed with travel in mind – most items are
small, practical and portable – its target customer isn’t necessarily
a jetsetting businesswoman. Not only is the brand sold in department
stores and beauty emporia such as Pout, it has also had great success
in Top Shop, where it is displayed near teen fashion. Nola agrees it
has a ‘cute’ appeal for the younger market.

>From being ‘very make-up artist-led’ in the beginning, Nola has found
the brand is evolving into a gift option. Compact and cutely
packaged, the products have turned out to be ideal stocking fillers,
and Carolyn.K has done its best business at Christmas. ‘People might
go to the counter to buy some sponges for themselves, but go away
with an eye mask for a friend,’ says Nola.

A distinctive feature of the brand is that it donates 5p from each
item sold to the Breast Cancer Campaign. It is an issue Nola feels
strongly about, and she claims not to be looking for PR from the link
– though she admits the charity’s pink ribbons fit with her colour
scheme.

Marketing has otherwise been confined to securing editorial coverage
in the beauty pages of women’s glossies, and with mentions in Red,
Glamour, New Woman and OK!, its strike rate has been impressive.

Nola employs a PR assistant on a contract basis and two people to
pack boxes at the small warehouse she rents in Greenford, West
London. By keeping overheads low, Carolyn.K has managed to achieve a
profit in its first full year.

Over the next five years, Nola’s plan is to secure further investment
and expand internationally. She hopes to launch in France, Italy and
Germany next, and the US by the end of next year. Her ultimate dream,
however, is to open her own chain of Carolyn.K-branded stores. Retail
designers take note – and get the pink paint ready.

TIMELINE

Apr 2002: Carolyn Nola, known in the make-up industry as Carolyn K
after her maiden name Karapetian, registers her company and brand
name. She begins sourcing products from the US, Japan and Far East,
and works with a designer on packaging and a logo.

Sep 2002: With the help of a £10,000 loan, which she pays back within
six months, Nola gives up her work as a freelance make-up artist. She
rents a warehouse for stock as products arrive.

Nov 2002: Carolyn.K secures its first retail listing at 10 House of
Fraser stores.

Jul 2003: Nola takes on a public relations executive to send products
to magazines and launches a website,

Jan 2004: Having originally sourced products from abroad, Nola moves
the majority of production to the UK, deciding that local quality and
convenience are superior.

Aug 2004: Carolyn.K secures its first international listing at six
McCabe’s Pharmacy stores in Ireland.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Dec 9 2004

AMBASSADOR JAMES COLLINS: `TODAY’S AZERBAIJAN IS A FRUIT OF
FARSIGHTEDNESS AND IDEAS OF HEYDAR ALIYEV’
[December 09, 2004, 15:43:57]

The ex-U.S. Aide to the Secretary of State on newly independent
states, former US ambassador to Russia James Collins, speaking to
Washington-based AzerTAj correspondent shared his views and
recollections on his meeting with the architect and founder of the
independent Azerbaijan state, world-scale politician Heydar Aliyev.

The diplomat, in particular, said:

`I have been working with President Heydar Aliyev for about four
years. My first meeting with him was in spring 1994. During my visit
to the region, I also visited Azerbaijan where President Heydar
Aliyev and his government received the delegation headed by myself.
Along the evening we had comprehensive discussions on opportunities
of cooperation between America and Azerbaijan.

I would like to remember that at that time the relations between our
countries were at the beginning stage. Heydar Aliyev used to think
over establishment of the links with the Western energy companies and
investors that would benefit his country. We also talk on the hard
and crucial problem over Nagorny Karabakh.

During the first meeting, I was deeply impressed how he farsightedly
thought about his country and nation. He used to seek ways for the
Country’s economic development to expand its opportunities. We had
significant talk on this. Then, later we witnessed how the
negotiations with the Western companies intensified, the links with
the United States expanded and Azerbaijan economy was opened to the
world. After that meeting, I often used to go to Baku. President
Heydar Aliyev received me in every visit. I took close participation
in organizing his meetings with President Bill Clinton and other
high-rank officials of US Administration both in Washington and in
other cities.

I remember that in these meetings, essentially, there were discussed
two questions. The first was how the economic ties established in
1994 to make a dialogue. It is because this cooperation did not cover
only the economic questions, but also the political issues. For
example, development of the Caspian basin hydrocarbons was an
international question. We talked on involving of the Western
companies to Azerbaijan, on the support the US government could
render in this process. As result, now our economic links are at such
high level.

The second question was connected to Nagorny Karabakh. During our
joint work, were grateful to huge efforts President Heydar Aliyev
made to find a formula of settlement of the hard and crucial
situation. During one of my visits, I had been in a refugee camp in a
south region of country. The situation was indeed hard and sorrowful.
President Heydar Aliyev tried very much to find solution to the
Nagorny Karabakh problem. We carried out negotiations in a number of
ways – directly with President and his aides, with the mediation of
Minsk Group. Sometimes, we looked like to find the way out. But when
it comes to adopt difficult decisions, we omitted the moment. In such
cases, President Heydar Aliyev regretted much. I am confident he
wanted very much to settle the problem. But there were limits in what
he could do. The national interests and justice stipulated these
limits. In addition, as a wise leader, President Heydar Aliyev
understood that his Armenian colleagues, too, have similar limits. I
would say the most regretful for President Heydar Aliyev was
uncertainty in the Nagorny Karabakh problem. I am confident that some
day the conflict will be solved. But I know also well that Heydar
Aliyev wished much to see that day.

I have also respect for Heydar Aliyev for other reason – when, in the
first years of independence, there was uncertainty in connection to
future of Azerbaijan, President Heydar Aliyev became the voice of his
Country and solved his destiny. Today’s Azerbaijan is the fruit of
farsightedness and ideas of Heydar Aliyev.

Sometimes, the Clinton Administration expected excessive democratic
reforms, open and pluralistic approach from Heydar Aliyev. But we had
deep respect for him, as President Heydar Aliyev well understood his
role as Head of State.

Heydar Aliyev has done significant deeds for Azerbaijan. He opened
Azerbaijan to the world, set important links with partners in the
West and other countries over the world, could balance the former
relations with the old friends in Moscow and other Soviet area.

Now, Azerbaijan is an independent and serious state of the region
playing important role in the international arena.