Category: News

BPI Entertainment News Wire
March 22, 2004, Monday 01:18 PM Eastern Time

Classical Score ;
In Armenia, discovering the past and the present

By ANASTASIA TSIOULCAS, Billboard

Armenian composer Tigran Mansurian is a man of passion and intensity.

Whether discussing his friendship with Dmitri Shostakovich,
describing his childhood in Beirut, Lebanon, or recounting the
influence of William Faulkner’s writings on his work, Mansurian
punctuates his reflections with sweeping hand motions and piercing
glances.

Yet the 65-year-old’s own music exemplifies the power and pungency of
the small and subtle gesture. Renowned violist Kim Kashkashian —
herself Armenian-American — explains the appeal of Mansurian’s music
this way: “His writing is very distilled, very concentrated. The
intensity is extreme.”

Mansurian says his music is steeped not just in Armenian music and
history but is also influenced by a Japanese artist he observed some
30 years ago.

“I saw an ikebana artist creating a composition from flowers,” he
says, “and the theory behind this art is to reveal beauty through
simplicity. When they cut off leaves, you can see the childhood of
the plant. From that emptiness, you imagine and create life
yourself.”

Despite his renown at home and his friendships with such colleagues
as Arvo Part, Alfred Schnittke, Sofia Gubaidulina, Valentin
Silvestrov and others, Mansurian is not well-known internationally.
However, that is rapidly changing.

Since their first meeting several years ago, Kashkashian has become a
champion of Mansurian’s work, and the composer has written several
works for her. Kashkashian’s advocacy has blossomed into a long-term
commitment to Mansurian from producer/ECM label head Manfred Eicher.

The first fruit of that relationship arrived last July, when the
Munich-based ECM released “Hayren,” a disc that included Mansurian’s
piece “Havik” as well as songs by the revered Armenian
composer/ethnomusicologist Komitas (1869-1935), arranged by
Mansurian.

On March 30, ECM continues to explore Mansurian’s exceptional work
with a two-CD set titled “Monodia.” Two compositions on the new disc
were written expressly for Kashkashian: the 1995 viola concerto “And
Then I Was in Time Again …” and “Confessing With Faith” for viola
and voices (in which Kashkashian is joined by the Hilliard Ensemble).

“Lachrymae,” a piece for viola and saxophone, is played here by its
dedicatees, Kashkashian and Jan Garbarek (who makes his instrument
sound remarkably like the traditional Armenian duduk). Rounding out
the collection is 1981’s Violin Concerto, played by Leonidas Kavakos.

WHO’S FIT TO BE ARIADNE? The brouhaha stemming from Covent Garden’s
decision to drop Deborah Voigt from this June’s production of
Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” because of her weight shows no signs of
abating, despite the outpouring of support for Voigt.

You know the opera-sized wars have hit the big time when the fury
elicits outraged comment from The New York Times’ editorial board, as
it did March 10.

Asuggestion for the beleaguered Voigt: Perhaps a suitable venue in
London would be pleased to present you in a solo recital on the same
night that “Ariadne” opens?

United Press International
March 22, 2004 Monday 13:11 PM Eastern Time

UPI Hears …

WASHINGTON, March 22 (UPI)

Insider notes from United Press International for March 22,

2004

An increasing issue for the Pentagon as it extends its global
military presence is its “Status of Forces Agreement” (SOFA) with the
host country. SOFA agreements are frequently seen as shielding U.S.
servicemen committing criminal acts from local justice, as the
agreements provide for trial by the U.S. military rather than local
jurisdictions. Japan, host to U.S. forces since 1945, is particularly
concerned about modifying its SOFA agreement with Washington. SOFA
currently does not require the United States to hand over military
suspects alleged to have committed crimes until Japanese prosecutors
indict them. The two countries are expected shortly to agree to a
compromise allowing U.S. officials to attend interrogations of U.S.
military personnel suspected of such serious crimes as murder or
rape. Washington and Tokyo are expected to resume official
negotiations later this month and formally agree on changes in
implementing SOFA.

As Turkey holds its breath over its possible accession to European
Union membership, the EU is casting its eyes even further afield. The
EU’s special envoy on South Caucasus, Heike Talvitie, told a meeting
of Azerbaijan’s permanent parliamentary commission on human rights in
Baku that a special project was being developed to admit Georgia,
Azerbaijan and Armenia to the EU and that the dates and condition for
admission of the three countries will be made public after the
project is developed. In broadening the EU’s contacts with the
country’s political opposition, Talvitie met with MP Ali Karimli,
chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Musavat Party
leader Isa Gambar and Etibar Mammadov, chairman of the Party for
National Independence of Azerbaijan. Before flying to Yerevan,
Talvitie stressed that he would make every effort to settle the Upper
Karabakh conflict and take advantage of all opportunities to reach
peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

One of the few certainties in the wake of Israel’s “targeted
assassination” of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin is that
in the short-term the Middle East is likely to become an even more
dangerous place as Hamas militants seek to avenge their fallen
leader. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s counter-terrorism adviser Avi
Arditi has underlined that the Israeli government’s recent travel
advisory warning citizens against visiting Sinai is based on hard
intelligence and not just general information. Among other areas
Israeli travel advisories warn Israelis to avoid visiting are
Istanbul, Bangkok, northern India, and Philippine islands that have
been the site of Muslim insurgent activity. Insurance companies use
travel advisory lists to determine whether to issue life insurance
policies to travelers putting themselves in harm’s way. All the
countries covered by the Israeli advisory — Egypt, Turkey, Thailand,
India and the Philippines — are heavily dependent on tourism
revenues, and inclusion in advisories frequently has a devastating
economic impact.

Qatar’s feisty satellite television channel al-Jazeera has annoyed
governments from Washington to Baghdad, with Riyadh recently claiming
that their broadcasts incite terrorism. Now Saudi Arabian Imam
Al-Hushan has taken the Western route, suing the channel in the
courts over a documentary that a film crew shot in his mosque in
Asir. The Western reporters in the broadcast version of the film
described the mosque as a base for terrorism, adding that four of the
9/11 suspects regularly attended prayer services there. Al-Hushan
claims that the broadcast ruined the mosque’s reputation, and is
seeking unspecified damages. Perhaps the filmmakers were onto
something; Asir province abuts Yemen, ancestral homeland of Osama bin
Laden, while nearly one-third of the Guantanamo detainees are Saudi
or Yemeni.

It might just be coincidence, but as U.S. troops prepare for
Operation Mountain Storm in Afghanistan, Russian and Tajik troops
across the border today began three days of joint command and staff
exercises in southern Tajikistan. The exercises are designed to
improve the country’s ability to interdict the flow of terrorists the
border. Motor-rifle regiments of the Russian 201st division and the
Tajik Armed Forces will be practicing joint maneuvers with armored
vehicles and attack aircraft. Chief of the army staff of the Volga
region-Urals Military District Col. Gen. Nikolai Tkachev and Maj.
Gen. Abdulnazar Abulasanov, commander of Tajikistan’s land forces are
overseeing the exercises. In case any Taliban or al-Qaida fighters
still in Afghanistan miss the point, joint artillery exercises will
be held at the Mumirak range along the southern Tajik-Afghan border
on March 24.

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
March 19 2004

ROUND TABLE ON PROBLEMS OF RADIO AND TV

Within the framework of the program `Maintenance of Democracy in the
South Caucasus through Freedom of Speech’ Stepanakert Press Club and
the international organization `Article 19′ organized a round table
on March 16 on the topic `Public Radio and Television: Problems and
Prospects’. To the round table were invited the member of the board
of directors of the association of journalists of Poland, freelance
reporter of the newspaper `Recpospolita’ Agneska Romashevska (Poland)
and the coordinator of the European program of the international
organization `Article 19′ Irina Smolina (Great Britain). At the round
table were also present representatives of the Karabakh mass media
and students. The aim was one – to find out what changes have taken
place in the Artsakh radio and television after giving it a public
status. The executive director of Artsakh radio and television Garik
Grigorian informed that recently the public television has been
provided with new equipment. Investments of 25 thousand dollars have
been made. However, the new equipment, according to TV reporter
Narine Aghabalian, is neither due to the council, nor the fact of
changing the status of the television to public. According to her,
soon or late those changes were to be made in the television, which
was dictated by the time. Garik Grigorian mentioned about the
drawbacks in the legislative sphere. `The reason is the RA law `About
the Mass Media’ adopted under the obligation of the Council of
Europe, which was introduced in NKR without any changes. Today there
is a necessity to make changes into this law.’ G.Grigorian also
touched upon the activity of the council of radio and television. `In
the Republic of Armenia the members of the council are paid, whereas
here it is not so unfortunately. The members of the council, except
the chairman of the council, work according to public principles and
their activity is brought to a level of formality. In Armenia the
council directs the public television, radio and the studio of
documentary films `Yerevan’ and carries out gigantic work. Here the
council meets once a month.’ According to G. Grigorian, we are at
martial law therefore we should realize the value of word. `The
notion of full freedom or independence is unintelligible for me,’
mentioned the executive director. In her greeting Irina Smolina
mentioned that in all the post-Soviet countries the problem of truly
independent mass media persists. In many countries, according to her,
only the signs are changed, whereas the activity remains the same.
She said that everything should be done to found a truly public
television for which it is absolutely necessary to be independent of
the government, first of all, financially. According to her, it is
the viewers and the listeners that should implement financing. In the
name of the council Naira Hayrumian summed up the results of the work
done in the past year. According to her, much cannot be done within
an hour of broadcasting, especially that the television of Artsakh
does not have its own broadcasting frequency but is transmitted by
others’ channels. And the solution of this problem, according to
Naira Hayrumian, requires about 100-150 thousand dollars. She also
mentioned the question of increasing the salaries in the radio and TV
for which 17 million AM drams were provided from the state budget.
Besides, according to her, two new programs have been broadcast, the
transmission of the parliamentary hour has been resumed, as well as
the projects of two new talk shows are with the chairman of the
council Maxim Hovhannissian which are still to be discussed. Naira
Hayrumian mentioned that there is need for entertainment shows.
According to her, it is also very important to decide the rating of
this or that program and to have the web site of the television. The
editor-in-chief of the public radio Vilen Bakhshiyan commented on the
idea of Gegham Baghdassarian, the head of the press club that in the
recent 30 years no changes took place in the radio. According to him,
changes were made in the 70’s and 80’s. `Only in these recent years
they were not significant.’ Vilen Bakhshiyan sees their solution in
acquirement of new equipment. Although there were also suggestions to
make changes in the staff. The head of the permanent committee of the
National assembly for foreign relationships and information Vahram
Atanessian touched upon the changes provided in the legislation about
the council of radio and television. According to him, the
legislative field has drawbacks. Besides, the attitude of the
authorities towards the radio and television when transforming from
state to public was not always positive. `It is wrong to unite the
radio and television. One of the serious steps would be separating
them. Moreover, they both must be funded equally.’ According to V.
Atanessian, it is necessary to constitute a special commission which
will deal with providing broadcasting frequencies and licensing. He
also emphasized the importance of overcoming the inertness of the
society, journalists and the political sphere. `Is there demand for
information? It seems that the society is satisfied with the
information it receives (the sources of which are not always
official) whereas the mass media are for educating taste and not for
providing mere information,’ he said. According to the head of the
main department of information under the NKR president Alexander
Grigorian, a public television does not mean a multi-party television
and radio. And in answer to the opinions about becoming financially
independent of the state, A. Grigorian said, `Who in that case will
finance it if not the state? Is our society ready to finance the
public radio and television?’ Agneska Romashevska spoke on the topics
of standards of public TV broadcasting, difficulties in transforming
from state to public radio and television, the tactics of the public
radio and television in the absence of an alternative television. She
presented in detail how this process took place in her home country,
Poland. She mentioned that the journalists are the eyes and ears of
the society and therefore have an important role in building society.
The participants of the round table unanimously characterized the
activity of the public radio as `not excellent’. As to the reasons,
the opinions were different. Some think that technical supply will
help to raise the quality of programs, others think that technical
support is not enough and changes in the staff are also necessary.
Radio reporter Seyran Karapetian supported the first idea. A.
Romashevska added that it will not be possible to attract young
audience unless the time of radio broadcasting is not prolonged.
According to her, the best hours for radio programs are morning
hours, and this gap should also be filled. Member of the Stepanakert
Press Club Karine Ohanian presented the results of the public opinion
poll held among 50 journalists, aiming to find out their opinion what
changes took place in the public radio and television after changing
it into public. Thirty of the questioned fifty were workers of the
radio and television. Thus, in reference to radio 28 answered that no
changes were made (of them 17 working in the radio or television).
Nine people think that certain changes were made. In reference to the
television 19 people think that the appearance changed, but the
contents remained the same. 16 think that certain changes took place.
29 said they prefer the news and analytical programs of the public
television, 10 watch mainly social and political programs, 9 people
watch all the programs, 5 people do not watch any programs, 3 found
it difficult to answer and 5 gave different answers. In reference to
the public radio 19 said they prefer information and analytical
programs, 20 people do not listen to any programs (of them 12 work in
the radio or television), 5 prefer social-political, 4 cultural,
sport and entertainment programs, 4 listen to all the programs, 2
people prefer popular scientific programs and 2 people Russian
programs. 4 of the questioned found it difficult to answer. `Does the
staff of the public television correspond to the present standards?’
This was the next question to which 18 people said that mainly yes
(15 working in the television or the radio), and 15 said mainly no. 7
people gave a negative answer. 2 people gave a positive answer, 4
people found it difficult to answer and 4 gave other variants. In
answer to the same question referring to the public radio 15 people
said that mainly yes, 13 gave a negative answer. 9 think that mainly
yes, 1 gave a positive answer, 11 people found it difficult to answer
and 1 gave a different variant of answer. The question `What changes
would you like to see in the public television and radio?’ was
interesting in the sense that there were no fixed variants of answer
and the questioned had to give their opinions. Thus, 46 people think
that the public television needs new programs, freedom, actuality,
independence from the authorities. 15 people think that there is need
for greater responsibility and professionalism. 12 are for staff and
structural changes. 12 (all of them working in the radio and
television) think there is need for improvement of technical
conditions, 6 mentioned the need of increasing the hours of
broadcasting. As to the radio, the picture is the following: 26 think
there is a need for new programs, freedom, actuality, independence
from the authorities, 16 (all of them working in the radio r the
television) mention the need for improvement of technical conditions,
13 are for staff and structural changes, 8 are for increasing the
hours of broadcasting, and 5 would like to see fundamental changes in
the radio.

CHRISTINE KHANUMIAN

Moscow Times, Russia
March 23 2004

Adzharia: All Quiet for Now

By Pavel Felgenhauer

After six days of high tension, the confrontation between the
authorities in Tbilisi and the autonomous republic of Adzharia ended
after face-to-face talks in Batumi between Georgian President Mikheil
Saakashvili and Adzharian leader Aslan Abashidze.

The settlement involved an apparent climb down by Abashidze, who
pledged to allow opposition political activity in his strictly
controlled fiefdom, as well as a possible sharing of control of
Batumi port and its customs revenues with Tbilisi. In return,
Saakashvili announced the lifting of an economic blockade imposed on
Adzharia last week.

As Georgia’s biggest seaport, Batumi is also used by landlocked
Armenia, whose borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey have been closed to
any traffic since 1991, as one of its main outlets to the outside
world. During his years as the sole, absolute ruler of Adzharia,
Abashidze has privatized the Batumi port and its customs service.

The income from the Batumi port and customs has allowed Abashidze to
equip a large private army — and to wine, dine and pay bribes to
various Russian military and civilian officials.

During the rule of Saakashvili’s predecessor, Eduard Shevardnadze,
Abashidze formed a political party called “Vozrozhdenie,” and clearly
harbored ambitions to eventually take over in Tbilisi. But the fall
of Shevardnadze in November’s “Rose Revolution” catapulted
Saakashvili to power in Tbilisi and dashed Abashidze’s hopes. Since
then, the Adzharian leader has openly opposed Saakashvili, obviously
worried that he might lose control of his fiefdom.

Russia has maintained a military garrison in Batumi since Soviet
times and the port has been used to supply other Russian bases in
Georgia and Armenia. In 1999, during an OSCE summit in Istanbul,
Russia promised to close its bases in Georgia by January 2004. This
deadline has passed and now Russia says it needs 11 more years and
some half a billion dollars to complete withdrawal.

Courtesy of Abashidze, Russia for the past decade could move men and
military equipment through Batumi without asking Tbilisi. The
Adzharian tangle involves the military, political and economic
interests of Russia, Turkey and the West (as a major oil pipeline is
being built in the region to bring Caspian oil to the world market).

Last week, Abashidze’s gunmen prevented Saakashvili from entering
Adzharian territory. Later Abashidze announced that Georgian
government forces were planning the imminent invasion of Adzharia and
demanded the Russian military’s help.

It soon transpired that Tbilisi was not actually planning an
immediate invasion and that there were in fact no forces amassed on
the Adzharian border. Apparently Abashidze hoped to provoke
Saakashvili into military action by personally insulting him. But
Saakashvili, after some tough talk, under diplomatic pressure from
Washington and Moscow, decided to use economic pressure instead. The
Georgian navy began stopping foreign ships from reaching Batumi. A
blockade of Adzharia, if strictly imposed, could cause economic
disaster in the entire region.

Last week, the crisis in Adzharia also caused a commotion in and
around the Kremlin. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov went to Batumi to
“defend his brother” Abashidze. A foreign policy official close to
Vladimir Putin told me that Luzhkov’s move was not viewed favorably
in the Kremlin, though it was decided not to publicly disavow him.

I was told that Abashidze was influenced by a group of aggressive
generals, led by a former Russian defense minister. But by last
Friday a decision was taken in the Kremlin to put serious pressure on
Abashidze to stop causing trouble. I was also told that during the
crisis Saakashvili had behaved well, in line with his promises to
Putin during their recent meeting in the Kremlin.

It all ended well: Saakashvili finally visited Adzharia and displayed
personal valor in facing crowds of Abashidze gunmen. It was proven
that a large part of the Adzharian population in fact support
Saakashvili. But if Saakashvili, in the future, actually tries to
oust the Abashidze clan, an armed conflict may still unfold.

What is even more troubling is the incoherence of our policy in the
Caucasus (and in many other places). Putin, receiving advice from
different factions, constantly changes his opinion. Strange groups of
corrupt adventurers often succeed in hijacking foreign, defense and
national security decision-making to meet their specific needs, while
Russia’s true national interests are ignored.

Pavel Felgenhauer is an independent defense analyst.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON)
March 22, 2004, Monday

Clash of titans to come

By Malcolm Pein

A FINAL between former world champion Garry Kasparov and former title
challenger Nigel Short is a possibility as both got through to the
semi-finals of the Reykjavik Rapid. Short is in the top half of the
draw and faces Russian international Alexey Dreev, while Kasparov is
in the bottom half and plays Peter Heine Nielsen of Denmark, the
winner at Hastings in 2002-03.

Short overcame the Icelandic IM Stefan Kristjansson in the first
round but then faced stiffer opposition in former world junior
champion Levon Aronian of Armenia, who defeated Kasparov in the blitz
contest held to determine the seedings.

Short drew with white but in the return Aronian played a Trompovsky,
a rather cheeky notion against an Englishman. By improving on a game
played by Luke McShane, in which McShane was white against Israeli GM
Emil Sutovsky, Short secured good chances with a pawn sacrifice.
Aronian then sacrificed a piece but misplayed it and overlooked a
tactical trick.

Kasparov had an interesting match against Jan Timman: it must have
been a relief to be playing a relative veteran after suffering
against 13-year-old Magnus Carlsen in round one. After an easy draw
with black, the world number one then won the return with white when
he found a deep combination that won a piece.

Round two results: Nigel Short draw 1-0 Levon Aronian; Anatoly Karpov
0-1 draw Alexey Dreev; Garry Kasparov draw 1-0 Jan Timman; Emil
Sutovsky 0-1 draw Peter Heine Nielsen.

Semi finals: Short v Dreev, Kasparov v Nielsen.

McShane – Sutovsky from Pamplona late last year continued 10Ne4?!
11.f3 Nxc3 12.Nxc3 axb4 13.Na4 and White consolidated. Short’s move
10Ba6 is much better. 14.h4 created another weakness, if 14.h3 Qb8
intending 15.Rb1 Bd3. 18.Nxe5! Nxe5 19.Nd4 Qf6 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Nxc6
Qe6 22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Qxh5 was a very interesting possibility. Note
that Short prevented it on the next move with 18Rfc8. Even the
sacrifice played was dangerous in practice, 32.Rc7 would have given
White serious compensation.

L Aronian – N Short

Reykjavik Rapid (2.2)

Trompovsky Attack

1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4 3 Bf4 d5 4 e3 c5 5 Bd3 Nf6 6 dxc5 Nc6 7 Bb5 e6 8
b4 a5 9 Bxc6+ bxc6 10 c3 Ba6! 11 Ne2 Nd7! 12 Nd2 e5 13 Bg3 h5 14 Nf3
Qf6 15 h4 Be7 16 0-0 Qf5 17 Re1 0-0 18 a4 Rfc8 19 b5 Bb7 20 Ned4!?
exd4 21 exd4 Bf6 22 Qd2 Nf8 23 Be5 Ng6 24 Bxf6 Qxf6 25 Re3 Re8 26
Rae1 Rxe3 27 Rxe3 Nxh4 28 Nxh4 Qxh4 29 Re5 Rf8 30 Qe2 g6 31 Re7 Bc8
32 bxc6 Qf6 33 Rc7 Bf5 34 Qb5 Qg5 35 Rb7 h4 36 Rb8 Qc1+ 0-1

Short

6 p 7 ) p p p p c p
p b p p c p o Z n c p – p b p n p o p n p p
p p n b p p g p d

Aronian

Position after 36Qc1+ the queen comes back to f4 with check and picks
up the rook on b8.

ARKA News Agency
March 22 2004

RA President Robert Kocharian released prosecutors of several Yerevan
communities from taking positions

Conversebank (Armenia) expands branches’ network

Command-staff exercises of RA Armed Forces to take place at all
territory of Armenia on March 23-27

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN RELEASED PROSECUTORS OF SEVERAL YEREVAN
COMMUNITIES FROM TAKING POSITIONS

YEREVAN, March 22. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian released
prosecutors of several Yerevan communities from taking positions.
According to President’s Press Office, Prosecutor of Erebuni and
Nubarashen communities Mikael Badirian, Presecutor of Shengavit
community Alexander Garbian, Presecutor of Avana and Nor-Nork
communities Armen Sardarian and Prosecutor of Achapniak and
Davidashen communities Ovanes Stepanian were released from the
positions. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

CONVERSEBANK (ARMENIA) EXPANDS BRANCHES’ NETWORK

YEREVAN, March 22. /ARKA/. Conversebank (Armenia) expands its
branches’ network, marketing department of the bank told ARKA. By
June it is planned to open branches in several cities of the
republic, namely in Charentsavan, Sevan, Oktemberian, Metsamor,
Hrazdan. According to preliminary decision, new branches will deal
with such banking operations as opening and servicing of accounts,
transfer of assets, currency operation, servicing of plastic cards,
provision of credits in gage of gold and others. The goal of
expanding in regions is to make bank’s services more comfortable and
accessible for the clients living in the regions.
Conversebank was registered on Dec 20, 1993. The bank was renamed
into Conversebank CJSC on Apr 26 1997. The bank got its license #87
on Oct 31 1996. Total capital of the bank as of Dec. 31, 2003
amounted to AMD – 3 375,4m. The bank’s assets totalled 25 254,1 m,
balance profit to AMD 1861.2 mln. In 2003 the bank generated a profit
in the sum of AMD 488.1 mln. (1 USD -1AMD 562.38). L.D. -0 –

*********************************************************************

COMMAND-STAFF EXERCISES OF RA ARMED FORCES TO TAKE PLACE AT ALL
TERRITORY OF ARMENIA ON MARCH 23-27

YEREVAN, March 22. /ARKA/. Command-staff exercises of RA Armed Forces
will take place at all territory of Armenia on March 23-27. The
information was placed at the official site of RA Ministry of
Defense. The exercises will include technical, rear and medical
units. L.D. –0–

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Office in Yerevan
22 March 2004

OSCE Office assists Armenia to attract foreign investment at London event
YEREVAN, 22 March 2004 – Perspectives of the Armenian Mining Industry were
the focus of discussions at the International Investment Forum held last
week in London. The Forum was organized jointly by the OSCE Office in
Yerevan, the Armenian Ministry of Trade and Economic Development and the
Association of Mining Analysts of London.

The event, held on 17 March, gathered more than 40 representatives of
international mining and financial institutions, international
organizations, Armenian Government officials and the management of Armenian
mining enterprises.

Karen Chshmarityan, Armenian Minister of Trade and Economic Development,
introduced the participants to the Armenian investment climate, legislation
and the policies of his government to create an investment- friendly
environment.

“Private investment, as a priority for Armenia’s industrial and economic
development, enjoys an open-door policy and equal legal standards for
domestic and foreign businesses,” he said.

He elaborated on the intention of the Government to privatize the Zangezur
copper molybdenum mining enterprise located in the Syunik province of
Armenia.

Foreign investors who already do business in Armenia and representatives of
international organizations shared their experiences and underlined the
positive attitude of the Government towards foreign investors.

The potential privatization of Zangezur is estimated to be worth several
million dollars in new investments and will have a tremendous impact on the
entire Armenian economy, as well as on the Syunik province in particular,
where the OSCE Office has already launched a project promoting
socio-economic development.

The Forum was a practical result of the OSCE New Strategy Document for the
Economic and Environmental Dimension (Maastricht, 2003) and recommendations
of the 2nd Preparatory Seminar for the Economic Forum (Dublin, 2004), where
the OSCE recognized that “foreign and domestic investments, including in
industry, is a necessary condition for sustainable and environmentally sound
economic growth, general well-being and stability.”

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03/22/2004
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1) Aliyev, Oskanian Exchange Jabs on Karabagh
2) Command Staff Exercises in Armenia
3) EU’s Talvitie Visit to Armenia
4) Kocharian Removes Additional Senior Prosecutors
5) Mekhitarian School Celebrates 25th, Honors Father Augustine’s Contributions

1) Aliyev, Oskanian Exchange Jabs on Karabagh

YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)–In a speech to a conference on European
integration held in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava late last week, Azeri
president Ilham Aliyev spoke extensively about the Mountainous Karabagh
conflict, and announced that the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be
restored. “The Armenian party tries to justify its aggression and occupation,
and speaks about the right to self-determination,” Aliyev charged, saying that
Armenians have already gained independence, and have a country and state. He
called for a demilitarization of the region, comparing the presence of foreign
military troops in Armenia, and none in Azerbaijan. “When there is no foreign
military presence in the region, all conflicts will be regulated.”
Representing Armenia at the conference, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, in
an interview to RFE/RL, said it is absurd to draw such parallels. “It is
obvious that the presence of Armenian population in Karabagh is much older
than
the Azerbaijani Republic, and drawing parallels between the presence of
Armenians in other countries is ridiculous,” Oskanian said, pointing to
Aliyev’s statement as strengthening the Armenian position. “The people of
Mountainous Karabagh indeed have the right to self-determination because this
self-determination is different than others. This is the case when the people
want to gain independence on the territory which has no legal or historical
connection to Azerbaijan.”
Oskanian dismissed links between Aliyev’s call for the demilitarization of
Caucasus and the conflict in Mountainous Karabagh, adding that there is, in
fact, a Russian military presence at the Gabala radar station–a more
strategic
positioning than the physical presence of Russian forces in Armenia or
Georgia.
“Aliyev said this just to please some circles,” stated Oskanian.
Also attending the Bratislavia conference was Oskanian’s Azeri counterpart
Vilayat Guliyev, who alleged he challenged Oskanian to substantiate Armenian
claims that Kocharian and Aliyev’s late father and predecessor Heydar had
agreed on a framework peace deal during talks in Paris and on the Florida
island of Key West three years ago. “I reminded him of his statement and told
him to show me the papers,” Guliyev said, according to the ATV report
monitored
by the BBC. “He said that he will send them by fax on his return to Yerevan.”
“I asked whether the papers had been signed. He said he did not have signed
papers. I said–if there are no signed papers, then what kind of agreement
could we talk about?”
Reacting to the remarks on Monday, the Foreign Ministry in Yerevan said they
only prove the existence of the Key West agreements. “We are glad that Mr.
Guliyev has at last admitted that there is a written document certifying
agreements reached in Paris and Key West even though it has not been signed
yet,” ministry spokesman Hamlet Gasparian said. “Had it been signed, the
Karabagh conflict would have already been resolved.”
Armenia maintains that Aliyev senior scrapped the agreements shortly after
returning home from Key West. Baku denies this, saying that no specific deals
were cut. But according to the chief US negotiator on Karabagh, Rudolf Perina,
the parties were “incredibly close” to a peaceful settlement at the time.
Guliyev and Oskanian are scheduled to hold another meeting in Prague next
week. The talks will be mediated by Perina and the French and Russian
co-chairs
of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Oskanian has said he hopes they will finally clarify whether or not Baku will
ever revive the Key West deal.

2) Command Staff Exercises in Armenia

YEREVAN (PanARMENIAN.Net)–Technical, rear, and medical units of Armenia’s
Armed Forces will conduct command staff exercises in Armenia, March 23-27.
The defense ministry reported the exercise will be held within the framework
of the program “Plan of Readiness for 2004,” and conducted under the
command of
Armenia’s colonel-general Mikael Harutyunian, who heads the general staff of
the Armed Forces.
During the initial stage of the exercises, reservists will be called to
service in order to integrate with the troops.

3) EU’s Talvitie Visit to Armenia

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–European Union’s special representative for the South
Caucasus Heikki Talvitie will arrive in Armenia on Tuesday to meet with
President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Foreign
Minister
Vartan Oskanian, speaker of Armenia’s parliament Arthur Baghdasarian, human
rights ombudsman Larisa Alaverdian, as well as other parliament members and
court officials.

4) Kocharian Removes Additional Senior Prosecutors

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–President Robert Kocharian continued a reshuffle of his
security cabinet on Monday, dismissing four district prosecutors in Yerevan.
The presidential decree followed last week’s unexpected removal of
Prosecutor-General Aram Tamazian and over a dozen high-level staff changes in
the Armenian police. Kocharian met with the leadership of the national Police
Service on Friday. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, he said the role
and prestige of the Prosecutor’s Office having decreased under Tamazian, needs
to be restored in order to strengthen the rule of law.
“It must be restored with the help of people who have the skills to do that,”
he said, promising more replacements in the law-enforcement agency.

5) Mekhitarian School Celebrates 25th, Honors Father Augustine’s Contributions

LOS ANGELES–The Mkhitarian Armenian School celebrated the 25th anniversary of
its opening, as well as Father Augustine Sezekoula’s 60 years of literary and
cultural activities. Spiritual leaders, dignitaries, representatives of area
organizations and institutions, as well as school officials and benefactors
were all on hand to mark the two great milestones.
Co-emceeing the event were 1995 graduates Veronica Kouyoumjian and Vicken
Naljian, who smoothly conducted the program in Armenian and English.
Among the many honors extended to Father Augustine for his numerous
contributions were certificates of recognition from US Congressman Adam Schiff
and LA Supervisor Michael Antonovich, and an honorary professorship in
Armenian
Studies from Mashdots College.

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Paper says US influence seen in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan Caspian cooperation

Karavan web site, Almaty
5 Mar 04

Text of article by Dosym Satpayev, director of the Risk Assessment
Group, entitled “Will there be a Caspian duet?” published by Kazakh
newspaper Karavan web site on 5 March; subheadings inserted
editorially

While Aliyev Sr late President Heydar Aliyev was pinned to his
hospital bed, relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan appeared
temporarily frozen. Kazakhstan’s participation in the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline was in doubt, for example. Everyone
understood that a presence in this project, an alternative to the
Russian direction, could hit at relations with Moscow.

But the meeting in Astana, at which the leaders spoke about everything
openly and without constraint, dotted the “i’s”. Kazakhstan will
supply oil by the new pipeline. But another question has arisen
concerning security in the Caspian.

Political scientists and economists will, following the Azerbaijani
president’s visit, set about tallying the political and economic
benefits from the meeting. But let us, for a start, cite several
reasons why President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev’s visit attracted
such interest.

Reasons for interest in Azerbaijani president’s visit

First, this was his first visit to our republic as head of state.

Second, Ilham Aliyev is a new player on the political field of Central
Asia, and there is undoubtedly heightened interest in his person.

Third, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as Caspian neighbours, have
practically no contentious issues and are cooperating closely in
various spheres.

Fourth, this visit was indirectly linked with Caspian topics in
various areas, be it the process of demilitarization of the Caspian or
Kazakhstan’s affiliation to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil line. This was
the main and most symbolic subject, in any event.

Ilham Aliyev came to Kazakhstan not only as president but also as a
lobbyist for the abovementioned oil project. He came for a specific
answer to a specific question: when does Kazakhstan intend to become
part of the oil pipe? This is for Azerbaijan by no means an idle
question, since all the participants in this project long since
arrived at the thought that without Kazakhstan the oil line will be
simply populist.

As the Azerbaijani expert F. Fatulla observes, “it is increasingly
often coming to be a question of the oil in the Azerbaijani sector
being insufficient for filling the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. But the
problem is not only that of filling this pipeline but also of finding
oil for the Baku-Supsa and Baku-Novorossiysk oil lines that are
already operating and for two major oil refineries.”

It is not known whether Ilham Aliyev was satisfied with the response
of the president of Kazakhstan, who in oriental fashion subtly spoke
about Astana’s interest in the successful implementation of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project, from the viewpoint of the multi-vector
nature of oil and gas exports included. But, on the other hand,
questions pertaining to the tariffs proposed by Kazakhstan for the
transfer of oil, which did not satisfy Astana, remain.

Will there be enough Kazakh oil?

In addition, Azerbaijan, the United States, Turkey, and other
lobbyists for the oil line could not have failed to have been alerted
by the fact that on the threshold of Ilham Aliyev’s visit the
management of the KazMunayGaz national oil company announced its
decision to begin implementation of the plan for the construction of a
West Kazakhstan-Western China oil line. The legitimate question
arises: where will Kazakh oil flow to the west or the east and will
its quantities be sufficient for filling the two new oil lines plus
the pipe of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which is already
operating, simultaneously?

Also important for Kazakhstan is the level of political risk in the
countries through which the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil line will run. The
reference is primarily to Georgia, where the change of power has not
reduced the political tension, between Tbilisi and the separatist
regions included. In addition, the Chechen hotbed of instability is
still smouldering, which is reflected in the level of security of the
entire Caucasus region.

Threat of terrorist attacks

It is not surprising that during Ilham Aliyev’s visit Kazakhstan
offered to discuss an initiative for the formation of a regional
anti-terrorist centre of Caspian states. This indicates that
Kazakhstan takes seriously the threat of terrorist acts in the
Caspian, which would strike primarily at the oil and gas
infrastructure.

>From the viewpoint of any terrorist organization, sabotage in the
area of the Caspian could have serious consequences: incite interstate
clashes, particularly if they are carried out in disputed oil and gas
fields, and strike at the economic security of certain states whose
budget depends on exports of Caspian oil. This would, naturally, cause
a deterioration in the investment climate, which also would strike
primarily at the economy of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

In addition, acts of terrorism like, for example, the bombing of
operating oil lines or tankers could give rise to serious
environmental problems, which also could result in interstate strife.

Distrust between Caspian states

Another problem into which both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have been
pulled is the militarization of the Caspian. Given the geopolitical
and geo-economic significance of the Caspian, the appearance of the
military factor is perfectly natural. The militarization of the
Caspian region is an objective process, which is only just beginning
to gather speed and is more a restraining factor than an instrument of
aggression.

A principal reason for the militarization of the Caspian is the mutual
distrust of the Caspian states, primarily Iran and Turkmenistan of
Azerbaijan over disputed fields. Nor should we forget the
participation in the process of militarization of the Caspian of third
countries the United States and Turkey which is doing little to
promote a lessening of the mistrust in this region.

China’s increased assertiveness noted

A possible change in the balance of military-political forces in the
Caspian having to do with the increased assertiveness of China, which
also could provoke new interstate strife, is also giving rise to
certain fears in the pessimists. The competition of the oil lines is
making its contribution to the militarization also. We can agree here
with Vardan Oskanyan, minister of foreign affairs of Armenia, who
believes that the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil line
could result in a foreign military presence in the region.

The fruitlessness of the negotiations on the Caspian’s legal status
against the background of the start of the active development of the
oil and gas fields in the Caspian on the part of Russia, Kazakhstan
and Azerbaijan, and now Turkmenistan also may also be highlighted as
being among the reasons for its militarization. The military
reinforcement of these states is aimed at securing the efforts of
their own and foreign oil and gas companies under the conditions of
the current friction between Caspian states. And it is ultimately not
a question of militarization itself but of the fact that this process
is still moving ahead under the conditions of the uncertain legal
status of the Caspian.

As a result, Azerbaijan is now, not without the assistance of the
United States and Turkey, the second military flotilla in strength
level in the Caspian after Russia. This has given rise to a
retaliatory response on the part of Iran and even Turkmenistan. A
Caspian arms race has begun. And Kazakhstan has decided to join it,
forming its own navy and military infrastructure in the Caspian,
despite Russia protests.

It is interesting to note that Donald Rumsfeld, who spoke in
militarily direct fashion of the United States’s interest in helping
Kazakhstan, building up its military arsenal in this region, visited
Kazakhstan shortly before Ilham Aliyev’s visit. It is noticeable also
that one of the agreements signed between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan
was one on cooperation in the military sphere.

One solution is the synchronization of the military interests of the
five Caspian states. It makes no sense to separate the security of its
states from the security of the region as a whole.

But this is merely a pious wish. Reality is pointing to an interesting
situation arising. Whereas in the sphere of division of the Caspian
along a median modified line a stable trio in the shape of Kazakhstan,
Russia and Azerbaijan has evolved, in the military plane in the
Caspian a Kazakh-Azerbaijani duet could emerge, specially since the
two states are being given active assistance by Uncle Sam here.

An anti-Semitic left hook

By Patrick Chisholm | csmonitor.com
March 23, 2004

WASHINGTON – Anti-Semitism traditionally has been associated with the
extreme right. Now, it is becoming more common among the extreme
left. Leftist president Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe huffed that “Jews in
South Africa, working in cahoots with their colleagues here, want our
textile and clothing factoriesto close down.” Former Malaysian Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is no right-winger, lashed out against
Jews who “rule the world by proxy.” One finds pockets of anti-Semitism
at anti-globalization rallies, and plenty of it at pro-Palestinian
rallies. And in recent years anti-capitalist campaigners have been
networking with radical Islamists and neo-Nazi groups via their
websites, according to a draft report by the Technical University of
Berlin’s Center for Research on Anti-Semitism. (This was the same
report commissioned by the European Union, which decided for
who-knows-what-reason not to officially release it.)

Contrary to what one would think, left- and right-wing extremists are,
in major respects, ideological soul mates. Don’t be fooled by labels;
applyingthe simplistic terms of “right” and “left” to complex
political realities naturally begets confusion.

While ultra-rightists are generally thought of as racist and
ultra-leftists as nonracist, the latter are by no means immune to such
decrepitude.

And both camps share these core attitudes: a readiness to buy into
conspiracy theories, hatred of the rich, contempt for speculators and
financiers, a deep suspicion of large corporate enterprises, and a
conviction that the privileged few oppress the masses.

These notions manifest themselves in the party platforms of radical
groups. Here are excerpts from one such platform (courtesy of
Australian writer John J. Ray):

– We demand that all unearned income, and all income that does
not arise from work, be abolished.

– We demand the nationalization of businesses which have been
organized into cartels.

– We demand the creation and maintenance of a healthy
middle-class,the immediate communalization of department stores which
will be rented cheaplyto small businessmen….

– We demand a land reform in accordance with our national
requirements, and the enactment of a law to confiscate from the owners
without compensation any land needed for the common purpose. The
abolition of ground rents, and the prohibition of all speculation in
land.

And here is a quote from one such leader:

“We are socialists, we are enemies of today’s capitalistic economic
system for the exploitation of the economically weak, with its unfair
salaries, with its unseemly evaluation of a human being according to
wealth and property instead of responsibility and performance, and we
are all determined to destroy this system under all conditions.”

Karl Marx? No. Vladimir Lenin? No. Ho Chi Min? No.

Adolf Hitler. And the above platform positions were those of his
National Socialist party. Note the formal name of that party: the
National Socialist German Workers Party.

The far left scapegoats rich people for causing the world’s ills. But
what if you live in a society where most rich people happen to be
members of a different religion or skin color? That makes them
particularly easy to recognize and identify. In the popular psyche,
the wealthy class becomes synonymous with members of that minority
group. So if you’re an envy-laden, paranoid conspiracy theorist,
there’s hardly a distinction between scapegoating the rich and
scapegoating the minority group.

That’s how the Nazis viewed the Jews. It’s how Stalinist Russia viewed
the Jews. It’s how Islamic militants view the Jews. And it’s how many
among today’s far left view the Jews.

Jews are by no means the only (relatively) affluent minority group
that has suffered mass slaughter. The same has been true of Armenians
in the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey), Tutsis in Rwanda, Tamils
in Sri Lanka, ethnic Chinese in Indonesia, and many others.

Palestinian hatred of Israelis, I suspect, is based on more than just
land disputes and the policies of the state of Israel. Much of it
likely derivesfrom envy. Jews as a whole are among the most able,
hard-working, and intelligent people ever to inhabit the
earth. Wherever they go they succeed. They turned Israel into an
economic powerhouse for its size, and “made the desert bloom.”
Success breeds envy. Envy breeds hatred.

Terrorism is the end result. So is an envy-driven economic philosophy
best described as hard-left or socialist: Islamic radicals generally
advocate government ownership of most sectors of the economy. They
detest “middlemen” and the rich. They loathe “foreign exploiters.”
They’re disgusted with materialism and consumerism. And they desire
complete economic equality among all citizens (which, in practice,
translates into everyone being equally poor).

Obviously, a mutual dislike for Israel’s policies is not the only
thing that binds Islamic radicals and ultra-leftists together.

Leftism is generally tolerant of different races and religions. But
not always. Extremists are not going to let Jews off the hook just
because theyhappen to be a different religion. When it comes to envy
versus tolerance, envy very often wins out.