US report on human rights abuses biased – Azeri pro-government MP

Ekspress, Baku
20 May 04

Text of Aqil Camal report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 20 May
headlined “Is America breaking the rules intentionally?” and subheaded
“Gular Ahmadova: ‘Why have the actions of US soldiers in Iraq not
been included in that document?'”

As has been reported, the US State Department has circulated another
report on support for democracy and human rights in the world.

The section of the report on Azerbaijan notes the violation of
people’s voting rights, restrictions on freedom of assembly and
violence against those who demand their rights.

The member of the political council of the [ruling] New Azerbaijan
Party, MP Gular Ahmadova, thinks that looking through the document,
one can see that it is not objective.

“People who describe the USA as a cradle of democracy think that
all reports disseminated by the USA are objective. I doubt this
statement. If the point is about human rights violations, then they’d
better write at least a word about human rights violations by the
USA. US soldiers have trampled on human rights in Iraq. The US
president apologized to them for this,” she said.

The MP thinks that the events in Iraq and Azerbaijan are quite
different and the gravest crimes are being committed there. “If these
facts were reflected in the statement, then it could be assessed as
democratic,” she said.

The MP thinks that the statement was either prepared by unprofessional
people or was drawn up under pressure from the Armenian diaspora.

“For this reason, I do not regard the report as serious,” Ahmadova
said.

Institute of War & Peace Reporting (IWPR)
May 20 2004

Nakhichevan: Disappointment and Secrecy

Although the ‘Nakhichevan clan’ continues to run Azerbaijan, their
home region sees no benefits.

By Adalet Bargarar in Nakhichevan (CRS No. 234, 19-May-04)

Last week’s celebrations of the 80th birthday of Azerbaijan’s
autonomous republic of Nakhichevan were not much of an occasion for
joy for the people who live there. For most, the past decade has
been a story of poverty, emigration and authoritarian rule by local
strongman Vasif Talibov.

“We call him our own Turkmenbashi,” Abbasali, an unemployed man told
IWPR, referring to the dictatorial leader of Turkmenistan. “He is a
real despot in Nakhichevan. He is able to do whatever he wants, arrest
whoever he wants, seize any private property he takes a liking to.”

Talibov, who is related by marriage to Azerbaijan’s ruling family,
the Alievs, has been speaker of the local parliament and unchallenged
leader of the republic for the past seven years.

Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliev led the festivities on May 12-14
to mark the anniversary of the creation of Nakhichevan, an exclave
separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by the territory of Armenia and
Iran. It was Aliev’s first visit to his family homeland since he was
elected president last October.

If locals had been hoping that the 42-year-old president would bring
a breath of reform to the region, they were disappointed.

“We’re all fed up, it’s hard to live like this,” said Abbasali. “We
were hoping that President Ilham Aliev, as a young reformer, would
get rid of Talibov for us despite his family ties with him. But he
not only left him in his post but even gave him his support.”

None of the large group of journalists Aliev took with him from Baku
was able to interview any Nakhichevani officials. Local reporters
explained to their colleagues that any official who talks to the
independent media risks being sacked from his job.

Cut off from the rest of the country and with the border of its former
Soviet neighbour Armenia closed, Nakhichevan has suffered economic
collapse. A tiny border to Turkey provides a trade lifeline, while
the main access to Baku is by plane or else by a long and expensive
land route through Iran.

The region’s population is officially given as 364,000 people,
but independent experts say at least a third of that number have
emigrated in search of work, mainly to Turkey. “The scale of emigration
from Nakhichevan has increased markedly over the last few years,”
an independent analyst who wished to remain anonymous told IWPR. He
said that many trading outlets had closed over the past three years
and unemployment had rocketed.

“Emigration rates to Turkey are so high that most of the residents of
the Besler district in Istanbul are Nakhichevanis,” said the analyst.

With the republic forced to import most of its energy, the provision of
heat and light remains its biggest problem. “Last year the temperature
fell to 40 degrees below freezing and there were no natural gas
supplies,” said Elmar, a local teacher. “They put us on a ration of
three to four hours of electricity a day and confiscated our electric
heaters. In one village in the Sharur district, a five-year-old girl
froze to death.”

Almaz, a retired teacher, had tears in her eyes as she recalled how
she scraped the money together to buy just enough Iranian gas to cook
by. “Last year I sold the ring which my mother bequeathed to me and
which was a family heirloom. For more than nine generations my family
wore this ring and kept it for their children, and I sold it to buy
gas,” she said.

President Aliev promised that his government was working on a deal
where Iran would supply gas to the region on a regular basis. The plan
is to repay the debt in the future with gas or electricity produced
in the main part of Azerbaijan. “But Iran has other proposals,”
said Aliev.

Ilham Aliev’s father, the long-serving president Heidar Aliev, was
born in Nakhichevan and as a result, people from the republic have
dominated Azerbaijani political life since the Sixties. But the elite,
especially the younger generation, now spend little time back in
Nakhichevan, and they are a disappointment to those still living there.

“We are the real Nakhichevanis, not the people who live in Baku, who
have too much money to spend and are a disgrace to us,” said Almaz.
At the age of 70, she is selling potatoes in the market to make
ends meet.

Local Nakhichevanis said they were astonished at the amount of money
lavished on a new school that was opened during Aliev’s visit. The
Heidar Aliev School cost an astonishing 2.2 million US dollars to
build, is equipped with the latest technology and has 1,200 pupils.
The project was financed by Azerbaijan’s national oil company SOCAR.

Not far from the school, 15-year-old Allahverdi was selling fruit at
the market rather than attending classes. He said he worked a 12-hour
day, earning between two and four dollars.

“I have to do this, otherwise we wouldn’t have anything to eat in the
evening,” Allahverdi explained. “There’s no time for school. Every
day I go past the school and I feel envious looking at this lovely
building. I would like to go there too, but it’s only for the kids
of rich people.”

Allahverdi’s father is disabled and cannot support his family. In
theory he should be able to benefit from another new project opened
during Aliev’s visit to Nakhichevan, a treatment centre for the
disabled. Azerbaijan’s social welfare minister Ali Nagiev said that
the centre, which had received more than 300,000 dollars in government
funding, would offer free care to 17,000 invalids.

Imangulu, a disabled veteran of the Karabakh war, who gets a monthly
pension of 24 dollars, does not believe it. “It’s all lies,”
he complained. “It will all be for money, like in all the other
clinics in Nakhichevan. They ask for money even for the use of basic
equipment. An appendectomy costs 200 dollars. And I wouldn’t wish a
stay in hospital here on my worst enemy.”

News of what is going on in Nakhichevan barely gets out to the outside
world. The one independent newspaper, funded by the United States
media support organisation Internews, has a small print-run.

Most people watch Turkish television for their news, ignoring
Nakhichevan television, which broadcasts nine hours a day. “It’s
a propaganda vehicle for Talibov and the Alievs,” said a local
journalist. Like all other independent voices in this fearful part
of Azerbaijan, he asked for his name not to be used.

Adalet Bargarar is the pseudonym of an Azerbaijani journalist.

BBC says its reports from Karabakh “translated incorrectly” – Azeri TV

ANS TV, Baku
19 May 04

[Presenter in studio] The Azerbaijani embassy in Great Britain
has asked the administration of the BBC for an explanation over its
correspondent Steven Eke’s visit to the territory of Nagornyy Karabakh
without the official permission of the Azerbaijani government and
over the prejudiced reports prepared from there. In response, the BBC
administration claims that Eke’s reports were not translated correctly.

[Correspondent over video of Bush House, people sitting in front of
computers, views of Karabakh] The administration of the BBC World
Service is going to provide an explanation to the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry over a visit by the BBC radio correspondent, Steven Eke,
to the occupied Azerbaijani territory, Nagornyy Karabakh, without the
permission of the official Baku. This has been said to us by the head
of the Foreign Ministry’s press service, Matin Mirza.

On the ministry’s instruction the Azerbaijani ambassador to Great
Britain, Rafael Ibrahimov, is also trying to deal with the issue.

[Spokeswoman for the Azerbaijani embassy in Great Britain S. Dadasova,
captioned, over phone] The Azerbaijani ambassador to Great Britain,
Rafael Ibrahimov, contacted the administration of the Eurasia service
of the BBC over this visit by a BBC correspondent, both in writing
and by phone, to express the discontent of the Azerbaijani side.

[Correspondent] The head of the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission in
London has also voiced the Azerbaijani side’s concern about the
pro-Armenian position of the BBC correspondent. The head of the
BBC’s Eurasia section, Behrouz Afagh, said that the visit at issue
was paid to Nagornyy Karabakh through the territory of Armenia
only for pragmatic reasons and did not bear any anti-Azerbaijani
undertone. Behrouz Afagh also expressed interest in Azerbaijan’s
entry regulations. It was stated to the senior BBC representative
that it is possible to enter the territory of Azerbaijan only with
the official permission of the Azerbaijani authorities and in line
with the established regulations. Behrouz Afagh said that the reports
prepared from Nagornyy Karabakh must have been translated incorrectly,
which, in its turn, led to this misunderstanding. According to the
BBC official, a letter will be sent to relevant Azerbaijani bodies
to clarify the issue.

Let me say again that this was said by the head of the BBC’s Eurasia
section, Behrouz Afagh.

Sevda Hasanova, ANS.

[Presenter] A short while ago the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
received a letter from the BBC administration. According to the
ministry’s spokesman, Matin Mirza, in the letter the head of the
Eurasia section of the BBC, Behrouz Afagh, is justifying the fact that
a BBC correspondent went to Nagornyy Karabakh through the territory of
Armenia. The letter says that everyone is using this route. Asking
the Azerbaijani side not to introduce a political touch to the
issue, the BBC official said that all the necessary chronological and
statistical information is always obtained from Baku. It says further
that the Russian-language reports only represented an exchange of
opinion between people of different social categories. What is rather
illogical, however, is that the BBC administration says in its letter
to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry that it accepts all the complaints
and is ready to discuss the issue directly with representatives of
the Azerbaijani embassy in Great Britain.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 20 2004

TO IDENTIFY AGGRESSOR AND VICTIM OF AGGRESSION IMPOSSIBLE
EXECUTIVE EDITOR OLEXIY SOLOHUBENKO STATES THAT BBC IS TRUE
IMPARTIALITY
[May 20, 2004, 23:30:13]

The materials distributed recently on the BBC radio in connection
with the 10th anniversary of the announcement of cease-fire in the
aggressive war which Armenia conducts against Azerbaijan, have caused
sharp protest in the public of our Republic. The executive editor
of the program of the world service of radio Oleksiy Solohubenko has
sent to the embassy of Azerbaijan in the Great Britain a letter with
the answer to the criticism addressed in this connection to the BBC.

In the said reciprocal letter, which was received by AzerTAj from
the embassy, deep concern is expressed in connection with accusation
of the BBC that it takes the pro-Armenian position in the reporting
concerning the Nagorny Karabakh question. O. Solohubenko states:
“Sounding in the numerous letters of students and readers from Baku
accusations for BBC that it takes the pro-Armenian and anti-Azerbaijan
position, puts under doubt the principle of “fidelity to impartiality”
of our radio that has caused in us serious concern”.

The executive editor writes: “We understand painful perception by
Azerbaijan undergone occupation where one million people live in
the position of refugees and IDPs, and by the Azerbaijanis, both
the press and radio-television materials concerning Nagorny Karabakh
conflict, therefore, in the reporting on the conflict we, too, try to
be sensitive. We have closely listened and have analyzed the reporting
caused serious protest at our Azerbaijan auditory. Sounded in lips
of the author of the reporting the statement – “We are in the main
city of the so-called “republic”, which has not been recognized by
any country of the world, even Armenia” serves as the weighty proof
of our position. As if to arrival of our correspondent in Khankendi
on the Yerevan route, here, there was no political ground, it is only
technical question and as it seems to me while it is unique way of
travel to the occupied region.

Further, in the letter it is stated: “In the Azerbaijan language,
we alongside with other questions have included the protest action
carried out in Moscow in the reporting in connection with occupation
of Shusha, articles from textbooks of history and the statement
of teachers about events in Baku and Yerevan, have carried out
conversations with various politicians, including representatives
of the Karabakh Liberation Organization, have interviewed also such
known Azerbaijan writers, as Anar, Samadoglu and Aylisly, and the
representative of the Council of Europe.

In the reporting in English, we have received the information directed
on attraction of attention of our correspondent in Baku to inflow of
refugees to Azerbaijan. In the first sentence of the said material it
is stated: “As a result of the conflict, 30 thousand people were lost
and about 1 million – have been ousted from their homelands. Karabakh
and the seven adjacent regions once included in the Soviet Azerbaijan,
now are under the control of Armenia, therefore, Azerbaijan appeared
on the first place in the world with the largest refugee population
per capita of any country in the world.

It is necessary to note also, that unlike Baku, in Yerevan there is
no English-speaking correspondent of the BBC, therefore, we have
not received from Yerevan any material in English. We recognize,
that some Azerbaijanis whom we have interviewed in our reporting,
could be more frank and are wider represented in our program. We
shall hold this question in sight.

It is the BBC’s job to provide coverage of events on the Southern
Caucasus, as well as in other regions of the world, impartially,
accurate, fairly and balanced, openly to reflect the position of all
layers of society. We are trusted just for this reason. And we during
the present, extremely important time do not want to lose this trust”.

The executive editor ends the letter with the following ideas:
“The BBC thinks much of its presence in Azerbaijan and numerous
listeners in this country. We also think much of the atmosphere of
tolerance and openness concerning mass media created in Azerbaijan
as against other countries, hoping, that adherence to this tradition
will be kept even in case of explosion of emotions. The BBC remains
your reliable partner”.

Ð.S. Not calling any doubt in sincerity of statements in the letter
of the executive editor of the BBC, we want to remind one more
moment: to observe balance when the question is about still unsolved
problem between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as a matter of fact results
in injustice as despite of the sensation lifted by the Armenians,
the validity consists that the Azerbaijan lands were occupied, as
a result of military aggression in the country appeared one million
refugees and IDPs. Armenia is a state-aggressor.

Therefore, in the said question, first of all it is necessary to be
objective from the historical-political point of view, and also from
the point of view of only human attitude, and to put an equal sign
between the aggressor and its victim is unfair.

GOVERNMENTS OF US AND ARMENIA SIGN SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOA ON
NARCOTICS CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

ArmenPress
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: U.S. Ambassador John Ordway and Prosecutor
General of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan signed on May 19 Amendment Two to
the existing Letter of Agreement (LOA) between the U.S. and Armenia
on Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement. The LOA is the framework for
the provision of INL (the Department of State’s Bureau of International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs) assistance to Armenia. Amendment
Two covers the provision of an additional $2,158,000 in INL assistance,
which includes technical assistance and training contracted through
U.S. government agencies, and equipment procured by the Department
of State. Immediate funding for programs under Amendment Two totals
$1,466,000, with future funding for the programs contingent upon
congressional authorization and approval by the Assistant Secretary
of State for INL. Specifically, the programs to be implanted under
this amendment are:

-Curriculum Development at Law Enforcement Training Academies:
to continue the modernization of the training academies and the
incorporation of new curricula and training methodologies in law
enforcement training programs.

-Regional Computer Network Project: to improve the capacity of Armenian
law enforcement agencies for investigations, sharing information
and accessing international data by providing computer hardware and
software, with related equipment, as well as payment of one year of
connection to the Internet, for law enforcement offices throughout
Armenia, including 52 regional police precincts.

-Trafficking in Persons Project: to prevent and suppress trafficking
in persons through activities focused on prevention of incidents,
prosecution of perpetrators and the protection of victims.

-Forensic Lab Development Project: to continue the development of a
modern forensic laboratory in Armenia.

Under Amendment One to the LOA, INL assistance supported several
programs to build the capacity of Armenia’s law enforcement agencies
to combat trafficking in persons, and procured computer equipment for
three law enforcement training facilities. Amendment One was signed
in April 2003.

MONUMENT TO POWS MAY BE ERECTED IN YEREVAN

ArmenPress
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: A monument, dedicated to POWs from nations
that allied with the fascist Germany during World War II and who were
brought to Armenia to work here after the war, may soon be erected
in Yerevan.

The monument that may be set up at the end of central Abovyan street,
has been initiated by Alexan Avanesian, who is the chairman of the
Union of Armenians in Hungary. He told Armenpress that the idea was
supported by Hungary’s defense and foreign affairs ministries and
Hay Azg (Armenian Nation) Union, which promised to provide funds to
that end.

Avanesian said a monument to Armenian soldiers killed in the liberation
of Hungary from fascism was built in 2000 in Budapest. “I think that
Armenians whose beloved are buried in Hungary will come and put flowers
at this monument, as they cannot afford traveling to Hungary often,”
he said, adding that around 500 Hungarian POWs were brought to Armenia
after WW II, who worked in Armenian Spitak and Sevan.

If nothing prevents the idea from materialization the monument may
be erected in several months.

5,000 DRAMS BANKNOTES ISSUED IN 1995 REMAIN LEGAL TENDER

ArmenPress
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: In response to numerous complaints
of citizens that trade and service outlets refuse to accept 5,000
Drams bank notes, issued in 1995 on grounds that they are no longer
deemed legal tender, the Central bank announced today that all
such banknotes are legal tender across Armenia and are subject to
obligatory acceptance by all trading and other outlets in return for
goods and services.

The Bank said outlets refusing to take these banknotes will be subject
to penalties, envisaged by the law.

PRESIDENT ESTABLISHES THREE CHALLENGE PRIZES FOR PROMOTING SPORTS

ArmenPress
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, MAY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
has established three challenge prizes, which will be awarded to the
best athletic community, the best athletic neighborhood and the best
athletic family. Kocharian’s press office said the goal of prizes
is to promote development of sports and physical training by central
and local administrations and creation of favorable conditions for it.

The winners will be decided by a government-affiliated committee on
sports and physical culture.

Gul In Moscow

There Have Been Worrying Developments In Palestine

Anadolu Agency
5/20/2004

MOSCOW – Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah
Gul has said there had recently been worrying developments in
Palestine, adding, “incidents there have been developing in a way
that worries whole world.”

Following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in
Moscow where he had arrived under his meetings with the Middle East
Quartet (formed by European Union, United Nations, Russia and United
States) on the issue of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
Ministers Delegation’s Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Gul answered
Turkish reporters’ questions.

Noting that OIC’s meeting with Russia was occurring during an important
period, Gul said that important incidents had happened in Palestine
especially in last few weeks and in last few days.

“These are really worrying incidents and they have been developing in
a way that worries the whole region and the world. The latest policy
of Israel was condemned by the UN Security Council yesterday,” he said.

Stating that OIC wanted the problem to end peacefully, Gul said,
“as the Middle East Quartet said in its statements the day before,
both sides should act under framework of the road map. Israel should
stop use of force against civilians and innocent people, besides it the
policy of destroying homes should end. Any attempt that would split the
sides by building wall should be prevented and it should withdraw from
the territories it occupied under the UN Security Council resolutions.”

Noting that also Israel’s security and safety in the region should
be provided, Gul said, “these are important issues. I am here to talk
about these issues. With this respect I want to say that there will be
a session on Iraq issue in the Turkish parliament on next Tuesday. I
am thinking of directly bringing also the issues related to Palestine
and Middle East problem.”

Gul said that he had expressed his opinions about Cyprus to UN
Security Council permanent representative Russia and they had discussed
bilateral economic and political issues under his meetings in Moscow.

Stating that he had asked Lavrov to immediately lift economic embargo
on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), immediately start
direct flights to the TRNC and remove obstacles that prevent vessels
carrying tourists and cargo from stopping by the TRNC, Gul said that
there would be concrete developments in line with the report that UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan would present to the UN Security Council.

Stating that Russia requested observer status in the OIC but there was
not such a status, Gul said that OIC’s regulations would be reviewed
at meeting in Istanbul and studies would start on granting Russia
such a status.

Replying to a question about Russia’s stance towards the Cyprus issue,
Gul said, “it is real that relations between Turkey and Russia have
been improving. Mr. President Putin proved it with multi-dimensional
partnership. Everything should enhance properly and appropriately to
this, of course.”

“While all relations are enhancing and getting deeper, common
opinions should emerge on regional issues and other problems and
Russia should review its policies, of course. Undoubtedly, these are
our expectations. However, we have to hold close consultations to
make these happen. We have to explain our issues in detail. We have
to clearly put forward our reasons. And it is what I am doing today,”
he said.

Stating that Lavrov had clearly told him that they supported lifting of
embargoes, establishment of commercial relations and lifting economic
isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side, which was the right thing,
Gul said, “they say that efforts could be exerted for a solution
in the future and everything should happen under the UN framework
and Annan’s plan should be taken as the basis. However, they say it
would be right to lift economic isolation. They clearly said that
they would not create any obstacle in front of Russian companies’
relations with the Turkish Cypriot side.”

Replying to a question, Gul said that opening of Turkish-Armenian
border could be possible only after Armenia withdrew from the
territories it occupied.

Asked about the Armenian President’s decision on not participating in
the NATO summit in Istanbul, Gul said, “it is a NATO meeting. Armenia
has a representation in Istanbul under the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization. Should Armenia close it, too? I suppose
that it was a statement that targeted domestic politics.”

Asked whether Turkey had “plan B” in case the EU would not set a date
for opening of accession talks at its summit in December, Gul said,
“we don’t have such a plan. We all think of opening of negotiations
in December.”

“Besides, decision on opening of negotiations with Turkey was made
in 2002. At that summit, the decision was made and it was said that
negotiations with Turkey would immediately start in December of 2004
if it fulfilled political criteria,” Gul added.

Russian, Armenian defence ministers to discuss mil cooperation
By Tigran Liloyan

Itar-Tass, Russia
May 20 2004

YEREVAN, May 20 — Russian Acting Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov’s
two-day working visit to Armenia that will begin on Thursday will
focus on Russian-Armenian military cooperation issues.

Ivanov will have talks with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sarkisyan,
and they are expected to sign joint documents.

The two ministers will discuss developing Russian-Armenian relations in
the area of military and technical military cooperation and exchange
views on military issues, including ensuring regional security,
the Armenian Defence Ministry’s press secretary Seiran Shakhsuvaryan
told Itar-Tass.

Russian-Armenian military cooperation is considered the most advanced
area in bilateral relations.

The Russian military base in Armenia is believed to be one of the
most important constituent parts of Armenia’s national security.

The Russian Defence Minister on Friday will chair a meeting of the
CIS defence minister council.

Among the main issues on the agenda are development and supporting
of combat readiness of the CIS united air-defence system.

The meeting will discuss a draft programme for ensuring comprehensive
resistance of CIS countries to air attack forces and means.