Mehr News Agency, Iran
Jan 25 2005

Iran, Armenia sign MOU on exchange of technical, vocational training

TEHRAN, Jan. 25 (MNA) – Iran and Armenia signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) on the exchange of information, technical and
vocational expertise, social supports and handicaps’ rehabilitation,
a news report said here on Tuesday.

`Iranian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Naser Khaleqi and the
Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Aghvan Vartanian who is visiting Iran on an official invitation,
signed an 11-para MOU regarding issues such as providing grounds for
the development of small and medium-sized manufacturing plants’,
Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported.

According to the report, the two sides also, agreed on concluding
agreements on the exchange of expertise in the social support system
with the aim of removing obstacles in the way of productive
employment as well as sharing their achievements in the field of
manufacturing rehabilitation equipments used by handicaps.

Also, exchange of information regarding the modern industrial
relations including the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH),
prevention and reduction in the work related accidents, upgrading the
work inspection and management, personal equipments and tools,
unemployment compensations and insurance system as well as the role
played by the workers and employers’ unions are among the most
important items of the agreement between the two countries, the
report further explained.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

European Figure Skating Championships results

.c The Associated Press

TURIN, Italy (AP) – Results Tuesday at the European Figure Skating
Championships at the Palavela ice arena:

Ice Dance Compulsory Dance

Golden Waltz

1. Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov, Russia, 44.19 points

2. Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov, Ukraine, 40.39

3. Albena Denkova and Maxim Staviski, Bulgaria, 40.08

4. Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder, France, 38.49

5. Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski, Israel, 38.32

6. Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali, Italy, 36.10

7. Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, Russia, 35.15

8. Sinead Kerr and John Kerr, Britain, 32.97

9. Kristin Fraser and Igor Lukanin, Azerbaijan, 32.75

10. Svetlana Kulikova and Vitali Novikov, Russia, 32.53

11. Nora Hoffmann and Attila Elek, Hungary, 30.72

12. Natalia Gudina and Alexei Beletski, Israel, 29.88

13. Anastasia Grebenkina and Vazgen Azrojan, Armenia, 29.31

14. Nathalie Pechalat and Fabien Bourzat, France, 29.24

15. Alexandra Kauc and Michael Zych, Poland, 27.39

16. Pamela O’Connor and Jonathon O’Doughterty, Britain, 27.33

17. Christina Beier and William Beier, Germany, 26.64

18. Julia Golovina and Oleg Voiko, Ukraine, 26.13

19. Alessia Aurelli and Andrea Vaturi, Italy, 25.83

20. Daniela Keller and Fabian Keller, Switzerland, 21.08

21. Diana Janostakova and Jiri Prochazka, Czech Republic, 19.97

22. Anna Galcheniuk and Oleg Krupen, Belarus, 12.36

01/25/05 11:39 EST

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Jan 25 2005

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV MEETS WITH CHAIRMAN OF IRANIAN
STATE EXPEDIENCY COUNCIL ALI AKBAR HASHEMI RAFSANJANI
[January 25, 2005, 15:17:17]

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev staying on an
official visit in Tehran has met here today with Chairman of the
State Expediency Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani, AzerTAj correspondent report.

During the meeting, which was held in the atmosphere of sincerity,
Mr. Rafsanjani first expressed his pleasure to see President Ilham
Aliyev in Tehran. He also recalled his friendly relations with
national leader of Azerbaijan, renowned political figure, late
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev saying `what he did for his
country and the whole region was of historical significance’.
Chairman of the Iranian State Expediency Council also expressed
satisfaction that President Ilham Aliyev is successfully following
his path.

Having thanked Mr. Rafsanjani for the kind words, President Ilham
Aliyev introduced members of the Azerbaijani delegation to him. He
described his visit to Iran as very successful, and noted that after
the visit by President Mohammad Khatami to Azerbaijan, relations
between the two countries had been strengthened. `I’ve brought a
large delegation with me, and a number of documents are planned to be
signed during this visit,’ he said.

Speaking of the processes taken place in Azerbaijan over the past
year, President Ilham Aliyev dwelt on economic growth in the country,
healthy economic environment created here and its promising future.
`Azerbaijan will be developed even more in the next five years,’ he
said.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
President Ilham Aliyev especially emphasized that `our greatest
problem is occupation of Azerbaijani land by Armenia and, as a
result, over million of refugees and internally displaced persons in
the country.’ Having described this conflict as a source of a great
danger to the region, he said: `Iran has always taken a fair stance
with this respect, we have always felt its support and are grateful
for that.’

President Ilham Aliyev and Chairman of the State Expediency Council
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani also exchanged views on a number of
other issues of mutual interest.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Jan 25 2005

MEETING OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV WITH IRAN’S SUPREME
LEADER AYATOLLAH SEYED ALI KHAMENEI
[January 25, 2005, 15:17:10]

On January 25, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
met in Tehran with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in the presence of the Iranian President
Seyed Mohammad Khatami.

Warmly greeting Mr. Ilham Aliyev, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said
he was pleased to see him, and expressed confidence that this first
visit by the Azerbaijani President to Iran would foster development
of cooperation between the two friendly neighboring countries.

The Supreme Leader of Iran also mentioned and highly valued political
activities and historical services of renowned figure Heydar Aliyev
expressing his profound respect for his memory.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked Ayatollah Khamenei for the hospitality
and kind words, and expressed his deep satisfaction with the meeting
he had had with Iranian leaders. The Head of Azerbaijan State also
expressed confidence that this visit would give a powerful impetus to
development of the Iran-Azerbaijan relationship, and pointed to
availability of huge possibilities for development of cooperation
between the two friendly and neighboring countries in all fields.

Touching upon Azerbaijan’s most painful problem – the long running
conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh – President Ilham Aliyev
reminded of the 20% of the country’s lands still under occupation,
and over million refugees and IDPs still living under hard
conditions. He also advised of the talks now being held for peaceful
resolution of the conflict.

Seyed Ali Khamenei noted for his part that the conflict taking place
in the Caucasus pose a real threat to peace and stability in the
region. `Iran has always condemned Armenian aggression against
Azerbaijan, and this conflict must be solved in peace way,’ he said.

The parties also exchanged views on prospects of the Iran-Azerbaijan
cooperation, including implementation of the important transport
projects, regional situation and a number of other issues of mutual
interest.

Tehran Times, Iran
Jan 25 2005

Iran garners four taekwondo golds at Women’s Games

TEHRAN (IRNA) — Iran collected four gold medals at taekwondo
competitions in the first Islamic and Muslim Capitals’ Women’s Games
here Monday.

Neda Zare’, Farzaneh Kalhor, Shokoufeh Karimi, and Shohreh
Khalajzadeh stood top in the first, third, fifth, and seventh weights
categories respectively.

In the first weight class, Zare’ handed Tehran the gold medal while
Nazila Nezami from Tehran Municipality won the silver and the bronze
went to Leila Hosseini from Afghanistan.

In the third weight, Kalhor from Municipality stole the show and
Hakimeh Khashei from Afghanistan snatched the bronze medal. Zeinab
Heidari from Tehran and Iraqi player Ra’na Abbassi tied at No. 3,
jointly bagging bronze.

In the fifth weight, Tehran’s Karimi took the gold medal, Kenarik
Gregorian from Armenia won the silver, and Nasrin Shazdeh-Ahmadi from
Tehran and Fatemeh Hamidi from Afghanistan jointly received the
bronze medal.

In the seventh weight, Khalajzadeh from Tehran stood on the highest
podium and Municipality’s Mahrouz Saei finished runner-up.

Just the duo competed in this weight category. Zare’ was named as
“Technical Player of the Games.”

The event was officially inaugurated in the presence of sports
officials and Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel in the
12,000-seater hall of Azadi Sports Complex in western Tehran Sunday.

Haddad-Adel vowed that Parliament will use all its power to boost
women’s sports.

The speaker added the Islamic Republic is determined to promote
sports associated with Islamic values among women. “We want to show
to the world that Muslim women can be active in sporting fields while
observing morals. We want to prove that the Islamic Republic can
develop women’s sports without making a copy of other nations’
programs since it has the capacity to promote sports among women and
observe the Islamic dress code at the same time.”

The ranking official noted that loyalty to the values is not
tantamount to struggle against other cultures but the Islamic
Republic is moving toward strengthening the Islamic entity.

He said the sporting event will help Muslim women befriend as the
message of sports is peace and friendship in the world.

Sports is a must for a healthy society, said the Majlis speaker
underlining that sports is very important to women, who are would-be
mothers.

Women’s Games is a major stride toward helping Muslim women gain
their status, said Haddad-Adel. The 2005 event is held in 2005, the
Year of Sports and Health, recalled the speaker and added, “The
Islamic Republic prides itself on holding the first edition of
Women’s Games.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Defence minister says Armenia aims to join European family

Noyan Tapan news agency
25 Jan 05

YEREVAN

“We see ourselves as Europeans and our objective is to become a
fully-fledged member of this family,” the secretary of the Armenian
Security Council and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, told a
visiting delegation led by the EU special representative for the South
Caucasus, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie.

Talvitie said one of his functions is to lay the foundation for
Armenian-EU cooperation in conflict settlement. He said that as a
result of the forthcoming signing of the agreement on individual
partnership, which is part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, all
the South Caucasus states will be assessed in accordance with their
real opportunities.

As regards the Nagornyy Karabakh problem, Serzh Sarkisyan said: “I
have always been in favour of a negotiated solution to the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem and I am sure that the issue must be resolved only
peacefully.”

Welcoming the Armenian defence minister’s position, Heikki Talvitie
expressed the hope that progress would be made in resolving the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem peacefully.

[Passage omitted: list of people included in the visiting EU
delegation]

EU envoy says Karabakh solution cannot be imposed from outside

Arminfo
25 Jan 05

YEREVAN

A solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict cannot be imposed by the
international community. It has to be reached by Armenia and
Azerbaijan themselves, the visiting EU special representative for the
South Caucasus, Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, has told Arminfo.

Talvitie said the international community can contribute to a
negotiated settlement of the conflict.

“The process through which the [OSCE] Minsk Group co-chairmen are
trying to find a solution is the only one there is, and there is no
need to raise the problem with other international institutions. We
have to concentrate on it, otherwise we won’t achieve any results,” he
said.

Think-tank predicts boost in Azeri-Iranian economic relations

Zerkalo, Baku
25 Jan 05

Excerpt from CGR analytical group report by Azerbaijani newspaper
Zerkalo on 25 January entitled “Next stage of dialogue between Baku
and Tehran”, subheaded “Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran plays
pivotal role in maintaining balance of forces in the region”

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev started his official visit to the
Islamic Republic of Iran yesterday [24 January]. This visit should be
considered primarily as the next stage in the dynamic development that
has been observed in recent months in the Azerbaijani-Iranian
dialogue.

As the authors of this article have written in one of their previous
reports, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran plays a leading role
in maintaining the balance of forces between the power centres of the
South Caucasus, and is consequently of great significance for the
security of Azerbaijan and the whole region.

We would like to concentrate on another important component of
bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran – namely, the
possibilities for transit alternatives and transport security for
Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly come under pressure from neighbouring states
on the issue of importing oil and its transport via our territory and
access to world markets.

Problems triggered by Russia in the exploitation of the northern
[Baku-Novorossiysk] oil pipeline were a real headache for Azerbaijan
before the commissioning of the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline. [Passage
omitted]

Nevertheless, we should also bear in mind that we are in a region
where the interests of various force centres clash. Our country’s very
position at the point of contact of the interests of power centres
restricts its movements and compels us to take heed of the interests
of the opposing side in the course of cooperation with neighbouring
states. First of all there is the US factor, which has had an
influence on Azerbaijan’s relations with Iran. However, if we pay heed
to the fact that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is nearing
completion, that Azerbaijan is successfully continuing integration
into the west and is a partner in the antiterror coalition, led by the
USA along with Russia and the European Union, and that a strengthening
of our southern neighbour is being observed, then it is easy to
imagine that a favourable situation for this highly important
cooperation with Iran in transport has been established.

Activities in this direction are being carried out in principle. As
Zerkalo newspaper reported, the sixth session of the
Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovernmental commission on cooperation in
economic, trade and humanitarian fields was held in Tehran on 8-9
January 2005. A memorandum, signed at the end of the session of the
commission, envisaged the development of a feasibility study of a
draft project for the construction of an Alat-Astara road. The
document also stipulated the drafting of projects for the construction
of a Qazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway. If these
projects are successfully implemented, then the reconstruction of the
Alat-Astara road, the implementation of the Qazvin-Rasht-Astara
(Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway, and the establishment of a single
railway junction between Azerbaijan and Iran will be conducive to the
realization of the North-South transport corridor by boosting railway
transportation between Europe and South Asia. [Passage omitted]

However, all this does not mean that the important Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
project will be put back. On the contrary, it will remain the main
export channel for Azerbaijani oil, and the Iranian route will play a
supporting role in force majeure circumstances. Such a position will
take into consideration both geopolitical factors, in particular, the
level and essence of US-Iranian relations. Thus, a marked
rapprochement and a striving for the implementation of fully-fledged
cooperation by both the Iranian and Azerbaijani sides is of
significance not only for political and economic relations between the
two countries but also for the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict, securing energy and transit security for Azerbaijan, and
finally, for a strategy of maintaining a balance of forces in the
South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan should not be used against Iran – analyst

Ekspress, Baku
25 Jan 05

An Azerbaijani political analyst has said that Azerbaijan should not
be used as an instrument against Iran. In remarks to Ekspress
newspaper, Baku State University history professor Musa Qasimli said
that Azerbaijan could play a role in improving relations between Iran
and the USA. The following is an excerpt from Jala Sabirqizi and Abbas
Ali report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 25 January headlined
“New war in the region is a threat” and subheaded “Musa Qasimli:
‘Azerbaijan may play a role in easing the tension in US-Iranian
relations'”. Subheadings inserted editorially

“President [Ilham] Aliyev’s visit to Iran is undoubtedly very
important from the viewpoint of bilateral and regional relations.
First of all, the visit lays the foundation for a new stage in the
development of Azerbaijani-Iranian relations,” said PhD in history
Musa Qasimli, professor of the department for new and modern history
of European and American countries of Baku State University, in
comments to Ekspress on the president’s official visit to the
neighbouring country.

“Bound together”

[Qasimli] Iran and Azerbaijan are bound together by religion, history,
literature, geography and a common fate for many centuries. No matter
which regime rules in that country, it needs good relations with
Azerbaijan. Our country should maintain good relations with all
countries, including Iran, at a time when a fifth of our territories
have been occupied following Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan.

[Interviewer] But there have been quite chilly relations between Iran
and Azerbaijan until recently. Can we expect any changes after this
visit?

[Qasimli] I think there have been both objective and subjective
reasons for these cold relations from time to time. Both sides have
created conditions for it. Nevertheless, I believe that it is
necessary to have much better relations. This visit will help resolve
some problems in bilateral relations and gradually eliminate the
chill. Opening a consulate in Tabriz [in northern Iran predominantly
populated by ethnic Azeris] was a foreign policy success after the
2003 presidential elections. Railway construction between the two
countries is also in the interests of both countries. We should not
view Iran as our enemy, and neither should Iran view us as a threat.

[Passage omitted: possible impact of visit on resolving problems of
ethnic Azeris in Iran]

Iranian-Armenian ties

[Interviewer] Can Iran’s broad economic and political relations with
Armenia be identified as an obstacle to the development of
Iranian-Azerbaijani relations?

[Qasimli] Some issues should be openly declared. One million
Azerbaijani Muslims have become refugees after Armenia occupied a
fifth of Azerbaijani territories. It is not good for Iran, which has
undertaken to defend the rights of world Muslims in its foreign policy
and declared itself to be an Islamic republic, to cooperate with
occupying Armenia. It deals a blow to our bilateral relations. If Iran
were faithful to the principles it has declared, it would never
establish relations with and help Armenia. Iran is like a small window
for Armenia today. If they did not have close cooperation and Iran did
not help Armenia economically, Armenia would probably not reach its
current level and continue the occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

Security issues

[Interviewer] Iran and Azerbaijan have recently signed a security
treaty. What do you think motivated it? Was it because of the
appearance of new nuances in bilateral relations or the threat of US
attacks on Iran?

[Qasimli] To begin with, if Azerbaijan and Iran border on each other,
they should have common security issues. Therefore, security treaties
are important. As for US-Iranian relations, Azerbaijan’s foreign
policy priority is to integrate into the Euroatlantic space. The USA
is our strategic partner, while Iran should be our kind neighbour. I
think Azerbaijan may play a role in easing the tension in US-Iranian
relations. The president’s visit to Iran may lead to a thaw in
US-Iranian relations.

I believe that a new war in the region is a threat, especially one
with such a big country as Iran. Most of those who will suffer in
Iran, where 30 million ethnic Azerbaijanis live, may be Azerbaijanis.
I do not believe that the press reports about the possibility of the
USA’s hitting Iran will come true under the current circumstances,
because this is against US interests. Washington is competing with the
EU, while Europe’s economic centres are closely cooperating with
Iran. I think they will also have some influence in the improvement of
US-Iranian relations. Iran, for its part, should firmly reject
supporting terrorism and stop its nuclear programmes.

[Interviewer] If this threat against Iran is realized, what position
should Azerbaijan take?

[Qasimli] As an independent state Azerbaijan should not become an
instrument for any country or group of countries in relation to
Iran. Our foreign policy should be balanced and each country should
have its place there. At the same time, Azerbaijan should continue to
be in the antiterrorism coalition as a country that has suffered from
terrorism and aggression. It would not be reasonable to predict how
developments will unfold in the future. I think the USA and Iran will
try to resolve these issue by peaceful means. If the USA is our
strategic partner, Iran is our neighbour. In any case, peoples should
live in a kind neighbourhood and should not use their territory
against each other.

ARMENIA THIS WEEK

Monday, January 24, 2005

In this issue:

Armenian government posts economic scorecard for 2004

Governing coalition, opposition in talks over constitution reform

ARMENIA POSTS STRONG ECONOMIC GAINS FOR 2004

Armenia’s main economic index, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
increased by over 10 percent last year, the preliminary data of the
National Statistics Service showed, a fourth consecutive year of
double-digit growth. Armenia registered overall economic progress
despite a shortfall in diamond-cutting, a major industry, and conclusion
of the multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects funded by the
U.S.-based Lincy Foundation. The overall GDP now totals over $3.5
billion, which is roughly where it stood prior to the economic collapse
of the early 1990s.

Construction, agriculture and electricity generation posted the
strongest figures of all economic sectors, growing by 17, 15 and 10
percent year-on-year, respectively. Overall industrial output increased
by two percent, reflecting decline in diamond-cutting and stoppages at
major industrial enterprises. Exports increased by four percent to $715
million. Twenty-five European Union countries accounted for 36.5 percent
of Armenia’s external trade, with Russia’s share decreasing to 12.5
percent. Armenia’s trade with Georgia grew by 50 percent, the highest
such increase with any one country, following the anti-corruption
crackdown by the new administration of President Mikhail Saakashvili.

The Statistics Service also reported a 23 percent increase in average
incomes, now standing at just over $100 in the private sector and about
half that in the smaller public sector, and registered unemployment
falling from 9.7 to 9.3 percent of the labor force. The unemployment
figures have been disputed by a recent poll held by the
Armenian-European Policy and Legal Advice Center (AEPLAC) which found
that more than 20 percent of respondents “could not find a job.” At the
same time, Armenia’s Labor Minister Aghvan Vartanian recently suggested
that at least 130,000 Armenians were employed unofficially, with their
employers seeking to avoid tax and social security payments. President
Robert Kocharian has recently pledged to crack down on this practice.
(Sources: Armenia This Week 11-8; Arminfo 1-20; RFE/RL Armenia Report
1-20, 21)

COALITION MAJORITY, OPPOSITION TO DISCUSS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Armenia’s main opposition groups last week submitted a set of proposals
for reforming the Armenian Constitution, which the coalition majority
leaders said would be seriously considered. Proposals submitted on
behalf of the opposition Justice Bloc and National Unity Party mark a
turnaround in their refusal to cooperate with the governing coalition
following the end of opposition-led street protests last June. Armenia’s
President Robert Kocharian has long pledged to reform the 1995 Armenian
Constitution, seen as giving too many powers to the President, but a
government-backed referendum held in May 2003 failed to garner
sufficient votes.

According to media reports, the opposition reform package would
strengthen parliamentary oversight of the government, limit the
president’s authority to appoint and dismiss judges and make the Yerevan
mayor an elected official. The joint opposition proposal is the fourth
such reform package. Last year, the coalition majority comprising the
Republican and Country of Law Parties and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (Dashnaktsutiun), the United Labor Party led by businessman
Gurgen Arsenian and a member of the Justice Bloc Arshak Sadoyan had
submitted their respective proposals.

The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, which has long worked with
Armenia on constitutional reform, last month published an “interim
opinion” concluding that the coalition and Arsenian proposals represent
an overall improvement over the Constitution in force, but would need
further work to fully correspond to European standards of power-sharing
and human rights. Sadoyan’s proposal was criticized as containing
“provisions that cannot be realistically implemented in practice.” The
Parliament is now expected to work out a compromise constitutional
reform draft to be voted on a popular referendum, possibly later this
year.

Also in recent weeks, Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukasian
reshuffled his cabinet, dismissing the education minister, a senior
member of the local branch of Dashnaktsutiun. The move led to a falling
out with the party, which backed Ghoukasian’s re-election bid in 2002.
Last August, a Dashnak-backed parliamentarian defeated a pro-government
candidate in elections for Stepanakert mayor. Local observers see these
developments as setting the stage for a tough contest during Karabakh
parliamentary elections due later this year. Pro-Ghoukasian Democratic
Artsakh Union currently has a majority in the 33-seat Karabakh
legislature, with Dashanks forming the second largest faction. (Sources:
Armenia This Week 6-18, 8-23; ; RFE/RL Armenia
Report 12-29, 1-7, 1-17, 21; Hayakakan Zhamanak 1-18, 19; Arminfo 1-20,
21; Noyan Tapan 1-18, 20)

A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 393-3434 FAX
(202) 638-4904

E-Mail [email protected] WEB

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress