Author: Zargarian Hambik

Anadolu Agency, Turkey
July 8 2004

Pepe Says They Don’t Ignore Problems In Caucasus

BAKU – Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said
Caucasus is a very important for Turkey and they closely monitor
developments in this region.

”We won’t ignore the problems in Caucasus as we are aware how
important this region is,” he said.

Pepe who is actually in Baku was received by Azerbaijani Parliament
Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov today. Speaking at the meeting, Pepe said
Turkey has always supported Azerbaijan, stressing that they always
brought to the attention of the participants, the question of Upper
Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory under Armenian occupation, in
international fora. ”Turkey always stood by Azerbaijan on this
matter and she would support the decision that Azerbaijani people
will take” he said.

Noting that mutual investments and relations between businessmen were
important to promote friendship between two sister countries, Pepe
said that increase in the volume of investments and commerce will
boost friendship and brotherhood between the two countries.

Aleskerov said, in his part, that relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan are at a high level, a number of agreements have been
signed in many areas, and the two countries have been cooperating
under the umbrella of international institutions and organizations.

The most serious problem of Azerbaijan is the occupation of Upper
Karabakh by Armenia, Aleskerov said and stated that Azerbaijan has
always gotten support of Turkey on this matter.

Aleskerov said that ”they are in favor of resolving the Upper
Karabakh dispute peacefully and through dialogue, though they have
not get any positive result yet.”

Aleskerov added that he invited Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent
Arinc to visit Baku.

EU envoys, Azeri Speaker discuss development of cooperation

Turan news agency
7 Jul 04

BAKU

Milli Maclis (parliament) Chairman Murtuz Alasgarov today received
Janez Potocnik, commissioner in charge of the EU’s European
Neighbourhood Policy, and Heikki Talvitie, special representative of
the EU in the South Caucasus.

During the meeting, Alasgarov said that as a country which respects
European values, Azerbaijan had joined many European conventions and
brought its legal system into line with European standards.

Speaking about the Karabakh issue, Alasgarov condemned the fact that
representatives of international organizations, including Talvitie,
have visited Nagornyy Karabakh without the Azerbaijani authorities’
permission. He objected to Talvitie’s view that Karabakh is
“developing”. He asked: how can we talk about development when
Karabakh has turned into a hotbed of terrorists and illegal drug
smugglers?

For his part, Potocnik praised Azerbaijan’s adherence to a peaceful
settlement to the conflict. Speaking about Talvitie’s mission, he said
that one of his tasks is assistance to the OSCE Minsk Group.

Also, touching upon the prospects for Azerbaijan’s cooperation with
the European Union, Potocnik said that the EU had allocated 400m euros
to Azerbaijan and plans to grant another 30m. He also explained that
the development of cooperation does not mean the country’s admission
to the EU. Azerbaijan should resolve many problems to achieve this,
above all, it should eradicate poverty and curb corruption. Also, the
EU can help the country resolve these problems.

Hellenic resources Network

European Commission Spokesman’s Briefing for 04-07-05

Janez PotoÄnik to visit Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia (05-08/07)

European Commissioner Janez PotoÄnik will visit Georgia on 5-6 July,
Azerbaijan on 6-7 July and Armenia on 7-8 July. The visits follow the
decision by the Council on 14 June to include the three Southern
Caucasian countries in the European Neighbourhood Policy. Mr PotoÄnik
will welcome the countries into the European Neighbourhood Policy and
explain the significance of the initiative to his counterparts.

AsiaNews.it, Italy
July 2, 2004

ARMENIA
Government plan against poverty

Everan (AsiaNews) – President Robert Kocharian has announced a
12-year-plan to tackle poverty in his country. The decision arrives
after the World Bank voiced its decision to loan 210 million euros by
November 1st, for the construction of schools, roadways and irrigation
systems in Armenia.

The World Bank is the greatest creditor of Armenia, a country of 3.2
million, which is also expecting funds from the US Millennium Challenge
Account to accomplish similar projects. Kocharian depends on such
financial assistance for the continuation of his government. Securing
these funds will allow him to enhance the life of the country’s
residents. More than half of Armenia’s citizens live below the poverty
line; the annual per capita income is just above 500 euros.

The situation is very serious in suburban regions, but also in Everan,
where only half the population enjoys running water 24 hours a day,
and electricity is constantly interrupted.

The scourge of corruption torments the economy, once one of the most
flourishing republics of the Soviet Union.

In this year’s international report on political transparency, Armenia
came in 78th (from 133 countries). The main areas of the economy are
monopolized by groups connected with the political leadership.
Protests of the people in last months seem to have done brought about a
change in the government’s tactics.

Vartan Khachatrian, the Finance and Economy Minister, affirmed that
structural reforms, necessary to transition to a free market, were
`almost complete’.

According to analysts, the hurry of the government to show reforms and
its fight against poverty is an attempt to cool social tensions.
(F.C.)

Azer News, Azerbaijan
July 1 2004

Istanbul talks – breakthrough or not

President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who arrived
in Istanbul, Turkey to attend the June 28-29 NATO summit, held
discussions on the settlement of a number of interstate and regional
problems. President Aliyev also held closed-door meetings with
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet

Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan on Monday. No
statements were issued upon conclusion of the talks. “Along with
Upper Garabagh conflict, the parties discussed issues pertaining to
Turkish-Azerbaijani cooperation and the Cyprus conflict”, Turkish
President’s spokesman told journalists.

Armenia backs Turkish efforts
On Monday, the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers,
Elmar Mammadyarov, Abdullah Gul and Vardan Oskanian held a private
trilateral meeting in Istanbul, Turkey at the NATO summit. The three
foreign ministers held a news conference following the meeting.
According to Dursun Ozden, Azernews correspondent in Turkey, the
ministers stated that their countries were interested in maintaining
peace and stability in the region. They underlined that the peaceful
settlement of the conflict over Upper Garabagh as well as ways and
means of cooperation in achieving stability were discussed during the
meeting. It was stressed that Turkey, which is a member of NATO and
has great influence in the region, could play an active role in the
resolution of the conflict. The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers stressed that they supported Turkey’s increasing efforts to
solve the conflict. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that
peace and stability in the Caucasus are attracting growing attention
internationally. “NATO is promoting a new strategic shift towards
South Caucasus states. The European Union in its newly introduced
“Neighborhood Policy” has decided to implement a new strategy for the
South Caucasus. Therefore, a new strategic vision should be shaped by
the countries of the region,” he stressed. Gul also noted that the
South Caucasus countries had not yet been able to overcome the
problems which are threatening stability and discouraging economic
prosperity in the region. Underlining the need to hold further
trilateral meetings, the three ministers stated that such meetings
would promote mutual understanding. Armenian Foreign Minister
Oskanian said that the parties also touched upon the issue of opening
the Turkish-Armenian border. He added that it will take “some time”
to resolve the problem. The Armenian side was offered a new formula
for the settlement similar to the one used in resolving the Cyprus
conflict, Turkish diplomatic sources said. Prior to the trilateral
meeting, Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers Abdullah Gul and
Vardan Oskanian met in private. Along with the Garabagh conflict, the
two discussed the relations between Turkey and Armenia, Turkish media
reported. The friendly nature of the statements by both the Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers is amazing. Particularly surprising
is Mammadyarov’s statement that Armenia and Azerbaijan were
interested in Turkey’s stepping up its role in the settlement of the
conflict.

Baku ready to “soften” its position – Turkish sources
Yerevan has previously unequivocally opposed Ankara’s involvement in
the process, saying that Turkey could not be an impartial mediator.
Mammadyarov also said that the details of Turkey’s participation in
the conflict resolution would be outlined in the next 2-3 months.
Opposition sources in Ankara said a break through in the
Turkish-Armenian relations may take place soon. The parties have
allegedly agreed to open the Turkish-Armenian frontier, and it is
necessary to prepare the public in both Azerbaijan and Turkey for
this. Azerbaijan will play a special role in the public awareness
campaign. Turkey will try to convince Baku that in the changing
conditions such a step would not contradict Azerbaijan’s interests.
According to the same source, it is for this reason that Armenian
Foreign Minister Oskanian said it would take “some time” to resolve
the problem. His statement implies that in general, the problem can
be resolved, but it will take a while to work out some controversial
issues, including Baku’s disapproval of the opening of the
Turkish-Armenian frontier. It appears that Baku is ready to “soften”
its position in order to avoid damaging relations with Turkey.
However, such a step would most likely be interpreted by the
Azerbaijani public as another diplomatic defeat. Azerbaijan and
Armenia were close to a breakthrough in resolving the conflict in the
past. Former President Ter-Petrosian was close to resolving the
controversial issues between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia when he
was overthrown. In 1999, when the international community urged
Kocharian to attend the Istanbul talks, the Armenian parliament
speaker and the Prime Minister were shot to death in the country’s
parliament. Armenia is therefore an unpredictable country and hopes
for the settlement of the conflict remain uncertain.

PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2004
CONTACT: MFA PRESS
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Foreign Minister Oskanian Addresses NATO – EAPC Summit in Istanbul

Armenia’s Foreign Minister led Armenia’s delegation to the NATO-EAPC Summit
in Istanbul, on June 28-29. This year’s annual meeting was attended by
nearly 50 heads of state. The agenda focused on Afghanistan, the Balkans,
and included a discussion of a strategic shift by the North Atlantic
Alliance to focus on the Caucasus and Central Asia.

In the margins of the meeting, the Minister held a bilateral meeting with
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. This was the fourth meeting between
the two over two years. They discussed the steps necessary to move towards
normalizing relations. In addition, Armenia’s, Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s
foreign ministers met to discuss various regional issues.

Following the meeting, Minister Oskanian reiterated his position on such
trilateral meetings. He explained that they are useful because are held
among equals, among neighbors who have many matters to discuss or resolve.
The three ministers agreed to consider meeting again in the margins of an
international organization meeting.

Below is the transcript of the Minister’s spoken remarks.

Statement by H. E. Mr. Vartan Oskanian
Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Armenia
at the EAPC Summit
29 June 2004, Istanbul

Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

History is moving so quickly that nearly each one of these summits can,
without great exaggeration, be said to be a meeting which will appear in the
annals of history as a most important one for the development of the
Euro-Atlantic Partnership. This summit marks the 10th anniversary of the
Partnership for Peace program. We can, in hindsight, congratulate ourselves
on a well-designed, well-thought out, useful, successful program.

Within this program, and in response to the Alliance’s policy shift towards
our region, Armenia has undertaken a number of steps aimed at enhancing and
deepening our relations. Today we can surely state that Armenia is actively
engaged with NATO in all spheres of cooperation considered by the Allies as
main priorities and objectives of the Partnership.

First, let’s speak of the future. Armenia has officially presented its
intention to continue and deepen relations within the framework of the
Individual Partnership Action Plan. Armenia has also offered to host NATO
PfP Exercise Cooperative Associate 05.

As for what we have accomplished: First, political consultations with the
NATO leadership are held on a regular basis, and are considered by both
sides as important components of Armenia-NATO relations. Second, Armenia
actively participates in the PfP programmes on developing interoperability
and undertakes appropriate steps aimed at the reforming of its defense
system. Third, Armenia is a member of NATO-led peacekeeping operations. The
positive experience that we have gained from this encourages us today to
examine new ways and possibilities of increasing the overall volume of our
engagement in international peacekeeping. Fourth, Armenia successfully
hosted the `Cooperative Best Effort 2003′ NATO/PfP exercise, and also
greatly benefited from improved peacekeeping capabilities. This Cooperation
also made it possible for Turkish troops to participate in that exercise.
Ten years ago who would have thought such a thing possible? That Turkish
troops would take part in NATO exercises on Armenian soil, and the Turkish
flag would fly in Armenia.

Mr. Secretary-General,
The benefits of our participation in the EAPC, which is really a unique
forum unifying all states of the Euro-Atlantic region, continue. That we are
here, today, with a large delegation, is evidence. That we are here, today,
at all, in Istanbul, is evidence of our further belief that Turkey has a
role to play in that integration path, not just for Armenia, but for the
entire South Caucasus.

Turkey’s choice of a logo for the NATO Istanbul summit is a bridge, probably
signifying the link between East and West. This bridge could and should also
signify the link that Turkey can be between the Caucasus and Europe. Turkey,
by geography, is the bridge between the Caucasus and Europe. Turkey is the
only NATO member with which the three countries of the Caucasus share a
border. Further, now that the Caucasus is part of the European Union’s New
Neighborhood initiative, our links with Europe go through Turkey. With
Turkey itself on a path toward Europe, ahead of the Caucasus, this whole
area is truly on its way to becoming neighbors of Europe, and eventually a
European neighborhood. Armenians believe that just as Turkey has normal
relations with Azerbaijan and Georgia, it must have ties with Armenia as
well, in order to draw the whole region together into a real neighborhood.

Such a move would have an immeasurable impact on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict as well. Nothing can compensate for our people’s deep feelings of
insecurity so long as neighbors are not a source of comfort, but a reminder
of recent and old grievances. In this new era, with new challenges, and new
alliances, Turkey’s even-handed regional policies would go a long way to
convincing the Armenian public that a Nagorno Karabakh resolution – which we
all want – must be fashioned for a region at peace, and not for neighbors at
war. Turkey is a neighbor whose words, actions, relations – or absence of
relations – influence the environment in which security concerns must be
addressed.

It goes without saying that Nagorno Karabakh is a serious security problem.
The President of Azerbaijan, however, addressed this issue from a purely
narrow, ethnocentric perspective. The conflict is deeper, broader than the
simple terms in which it was presented here. The allegation of terrorism in
Nagorno Karabakh is so absurd that I won’t even bother to try to respond.
But, I will speak about the other issues he raised: territories, refugees
and the status of Nagorno Karabakh. These are serious problems that we do
need to confront. The fact of the matter is that territories and refugees
are the consequences of a serious core issue: the status, the future status,
of Nagorno Karabakh.

This conflict started peacefully when the people of Nagorno Karabakh opted
for self-determination. Azerbaijan rejected that decision, and resorted to
military operations to suppress that right to self-determination. So, what
we have today are the consequences of Azerbaijani aggression against the
people of Nagorno Karabakh. In addition, and as my president said recently,
Nagorno Karabakh has never ever been part of independent Azerbaijan. These
realities need to be factored into our future negotiations. As President
Aliyev made his perspective known, let me say, too, that we have long been
ready and willing to make the necessary compromises to reach a peaceful
solution to achieve long-lasting peace and stability.

Thank you.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 28 2004

Erdogan Blames Yerevan for Worsening of Turkish-Armenian relations

Baku Today 28/06/2004 15:44

Armenia can hope for a betterment of its relationship with Turkey
only in the event the country normalizes its relations with
Azerbaijan and gives up genocide claims, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, ANS reported.

`The Armenian Diaspora is still sticking to its so-called genocide
claims. Turkey and Turks will never accept this. It is impossible to
forge relationship under these conditions,’ Erdogan said in a meeting
that was also attended by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and
British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Erdogan also said Armenia is the occupier of Azerbaijan’s territories
and that Yerevan’s aggressive policy toward its neighbors is the only
reason leading to the current deterioration of the Turkish-Armenian
relations.

`Turkey and Azerbaijan are for peace and Armenia is against it,’ ANS
quoted Erdogan as saying. However, the Turkish premier noted that his
government is not against a betterment of the Turkish-Armenian
relationship, which Armenia needs more.

`We know quite well in what conditions the Armenian people live,’
Erdogan said.

He also voiced dissatisfaction to the Armenian President Robert
Kocharian’s absence in the NATO’s summit that opened in Istanbul on
Monday. `There is no justification for this [behavior],’ Erdogan
added.

Turkish-Armenian borders are officially closed off and there is no
diplomatic relationship between the two countries. For establishing
of diplomatic relationship and opening of the borders, Turkey demands
that Armenia withdraw Azerbaijan’s occupied territories, give up
territorial claims against Ankara and stop propagating the so-called
genocide of Armenians by Turks in early 20th century.

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 28 2004

Azeri MPs Urge General Prosecutor’s Office to Release Imprisoned KLO
Activists

Baku Today 28/06/2004 19:10

Five members of the Azerbaijani parliament urged the General
Prosecutor’s Office on Monday to release the five imprisoned members
of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) – who have been
sentenced to two month in jail for their unsanctioned anti-Armenian
protest early last week – on bail, ANS reported.

The MPs, Sabir Rustamkhanli, Zalimkhan Yagub, Gudrat Hasanguliyev,
Mammad Nuriyev and Mais Safarli, said in an appeal to the General
Prosecutor’s Office that taking into account the sentenced KLO
activists’ emotional state – their anger by the occupation of their
territories by Armenians – they have to be freed.

The Sheik of the Caucasus Muslims, Allahshukur Pashazade, also
supported the initiative, saying that Armenian atrocities during the
Karabakh war are to blame for the protests staged by several dozen
KLO activists against the Armenian participation of a Baku-hosted
conference for NATO’s Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises on
Tuesday.

Baku’s Nasimi District court on Thursday found the KLO chairman Akif
Naghi, along with four other activists of this organization, Mursal
Hasanov, Ilkin Qurbanov, Rovshan Fatiyev and Manaf Kerimov, culpable
of resisting police, violating public order and hooliganism.

The KLO members clashed with police on Tuesday near Baku’s Grand
Hotel Europe, where the NATO conference was taking place. Although
police stopped most of the protestors from nearing the hotel, a group
of young KLO members managed to push through police cordons and broke
into the conference hall. There was no report of serious injuries on
either side in the incident.

armenianow.com
25 June 2004

Abuse of Power?: Regional head maintains post despite criminal involvement

By Zhanna Alexanyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

A state official suspected of complicity or execution of five crimes,
including one that involved a murder, has continued his government post
despite personal and professional connections that could influence criminal
investigations.

Ara Poghosyan, head of the Armavir Region Real Estate Cadastre Department
was charged nine months ago with hooliganism, embezzlement, official
falsification, exceeding authority and concealment. He could face up to five
years in prison if found guilty.

Prosecutor Arshakyan says there are no obstacles to the investigation.
Paragraph 152 of the Criminal Justice Code stipulates that a state official
charged in a crime is liable to suspension during investigation ” if there
are satisfactory basis to assume that he can become an obstacle for the
investigation while staying in the position”.

In Poghosyan’s case, key witnesses in the charges against him are his
employees, and his daughter is a secretary in the office conducting the
investigation.

Poghosyan, however, has continued in his position, in which he is
responsible for assigning various licenses regarding use and sales of
property.

Numerous complaints sent by attorneys representing Gevorg Kurghinyan to the
Chief Prosecutor’s Office and administration of President Robert Kocharyan
haven’t yielded any results.

“This problem will be solved before the preliminary investigation is over.
There is a possibility we will relieve him of his post,” says prosecutor of
Armavir Region Ivan Arshakyan, “we haven’t arrested him as there is a
question of presumption of innocence. He doesn’t create obstacles for
carrying out objective investigation of the case.”

On September 2 last year, an argument between Poghosyan and Gevorg
Kurghinyan, to whom Poghosyan had granted a privatization license, turned
into a scuffle during which Poghosyan’s nephew pulled a knife on Kurghinyan.

An hour later Poghosyan summoned another meeting with Kurghinyan at a petrol
station in the village of Norapat. Poghosyan and a gang of supporters met
Kurghinyan and three of his relatives.

A fight broke out during which Poghosyan’s nephew, Artak Hakobyan, fired two
times with at submachine gun, killing Kurghinyan’s 18 year old son, and
wounding his nephew.

The murder investigation recently completed and Hakobyan’s trial has begun
in the Court Of First Instance in Armavir.

The investigation into Poghosyan’s part in the crime was expected to
conclude today.

Inessa Petrosyan, attorney for Kurghinyan, made a motion to include
Poghosyan as an accessory to the murder.

“Is a person who commits an act of hooliganism compatible with being a state
official,” asked Petrosyan, a member of the Armenian International Union of
Lawyers.

Petrosyan has argued that Poghosyan should be tried along with his nephew.

Kurghinyan (standing) speaks for his dead son.
“Poghosyan’s illegal activities became a motive and cause of the serious
crime, the murder,” Petrosyan says. “There is a question of attaching
documents on Poghosyan’s case to the main case, however the state official
continues to hold his position.”

After complaints made by Kurghinyan’s side, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office
combined the charges into one case. Several months later, when Chief
Prosecutor Aram Tamazyan was replaced, the case was again divided.
Kurghinyan’s side complains that dividing the case is an attempt by the
Chief Prosecutor’s Office to avoid bringing more serious charges against
Poghosyan.

ArmeniaNow made several attempts to reach Poghosyan, but was repeatedly told
he was not in. Vladimir Yavrumyan, attorney for Poghosyan and Hakobyan,
would not comment on his clients’ case.

The law concerning suspension of an official charged in a crime is
apparently intended to eliminate the possibility of influence or hindering
an investigation.

Kurghinyan is convinced his son’s murder investigation cannot be objectively
investigated as long as Poghosyan maintains his position.

“Ara Poghosyan’s daughter works in the same Prosecutor’s Office as a
secretary and office manager and with her help the principle of secrecy of
preliminary investigation cannot be applied,” says Kurghinyan.

The General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Anna Poghosyan is in fact a
secretary in the office carrying out the investigation against her father.

“I warned beforehand that nobody show her or let her see documents of the
case,” says prosecutor Arshakyan. “So she cannot have any influence on the
investigation process.”

Ara Poghosyan is also a cousin of Minister of Trade and Economic Development
Karen Chshmarityan.

No breakthrough in Karabakh talks soon – Russian mediator

Arminfo
25 Jun 04

YEREVAN

At some stage, the presence of Nagornyy Karabakh representatives in
the talks will become a necessity, the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group for the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
Yuriy Merzlyakov, has said in an interview with Regnum news agency,
commenting on the possible involvement of Nagornyy Karabakh
representatives in the talks.

“I believe that Nagornyy Karabakh is a party to the conflict. A
Karabakh representative signed the cease-fire agreement,” the Russian
co-chairman said. Asked whether Armenia could play a secondary role
at some point, Yuriy Merzlyakov said: “Let’s be frank – Karabakh
cannot settle all problems on its own.” He said that Armenia’s
participation in the talks was important since the conflict had turned
from an internal ethnic problem into a conflict between two
countries. In brief, the participation of all sides is vital, the
Russian co-chairman added.

Commenting on the Prague meeting [on 21 June] of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Yuriy Merzlyakov noted that “in
principle, all the participants in the Prague meeting, including the
two countries’ foreign ministers, gave quite positive assessments”. He
said that the discussions had a very competent and constructive
nature.

“As for my assessment, it is too early to air it yet. I would only
note that no breakthrough should be expected at the current stage. The
agenda of the future talks on the settlement is being drafted. This is
a selection of issues that will be discussed by the sides with mutual
consent. This is a time-consuming job that cannot lead to a
significant breakthrough yet,” Merzlyakov said, adding that no
documents were being discussed at the current stage.

The Russian co-chairman said that “there are new thoughts and ideas,
of course, since the meetings have an open agenda”. “Both sides and
the co-chairmen put forward proposals. The questions that will be
discussed in detail in the future are selected in this way,” the
Russian co-chairman said, adding that there was an agreement on the
confidentiality of the discussions.