Hunger a threat to 30 million people in Europe – FAO

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 18 2004

PARIS, May 18 (Itar-Tass) – Some 30 million people are affected
by hunger in Central and Eastern Europe, David Sedic, an expert of
the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), has said in an
interview with the Liberation newspaper.

In his opinion, the situation if the worst in Latvia and Slovakia,
where five to six per cent of the people are nearly starving. The
figure for other Central European countries is about two percent,
Sedic said.

The situation is serious in many Balkan countries, especially in
Croatia, where 12 per cent of the people are affected by hunger.

The figure for Poland is only 1 per cent, but an alarming trend is
observed there: during the past ten years, the government failed
to reduce to below 30,000 the number of people, who are unable to
provide normal food for themselves.

The FAO expert mentioned Armenia and Tajikistan among the Eurasian
countries, where part of the population is suffering from insufficient
nourishment. The problem is also acute in Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are also facing the hunger problem, but to
a smaller degree.

EU asked to help resolve territorial dispute in the Caucasus

EUbusiness, UK
May 18 2004

Azerbaijan asked the European Union on Tuesday to help find a
solution to its territorial dispute with Armenia which has eluded
other international mediators for a decade.

President Ilham Aliyev told reporters that “Azerbaijan is very strongly
interested that other important European organisations, first of all
the EU, take a more active stand” in helping to end the dispute over
the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aliyev had earlier met Romano Prodi, the president of the EU
Commission, who said he was “worried” that there had been no moves
towards peace since the two former Soviet republics signed a ceasefire
to end a bloody war 10 years ago last week.

The five-year war claimed 35,000 lives and forced one million people
to flee their homes, according to independent estimates.

It also left the 4,400-square-kilometre (1,700-sq-mile) enclave —
about five percent of the area of Azerbaijan — in Armenian hands,
together with seven adjoining Azeri districts and a land corridor
to Armenia.

Both Aliyev and Prodi said that any initiative involving the EU
should complement and not replace the efforts of the Minsk Group,
a a 13-nation body set up to mediate and co-chaired by the United
States, Russia and France.

“The Minsk group has a mandate from the OSCE (the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe) and nobody is going to question
that mandate,” Aliyev said.

But, he said, “if we consider ourselves as a part of Europe… the
occupation of the territory of one country must be stopped.”

The newly enlarged EU has adopted what it calls a “neighborhood
policy” towards Azerbaidjan, Armenia and Georgia, the third former
Soviet republic in the Caucasus.

Azerbaijan calls on EU to help settle Karabakh conflict

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 18 2004

BRUSSELS, May 18 (Itar-Tass) – Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev
has called on the European Union to take part in the settlement of
the Karabakh conflict.

“The Minsk group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OCSE) makes an important contribution to the problem’s
solution. We consider it useful to attract the European Union, the
Council of Europe and other European organizations for the conflict’s
settlement efforts to achieve tangible results,” Aliyev said at a news
briefing after the talks with the President of the European Commission,
Romano Prodi.

Prodi expressed the readiness to join the work for a settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. He pointed out that the EU was greatly concerned
about the absence of peace in the region.

The EC leader said the union was ready to invigorate the settlement
process and put forward concrete proposals. The EU is also prepared
to step up economic cooperation with Azerbaijan under what has been
termed the “ring of friends and neighbors” strategy, expanded recently
to encompass Azerbaijan.

Alyiev described the recent meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian
foreign ministers as “very important for pursuing a peaceful dialogue”.

“We do not want talks for the sake of talks, we do not a simulation
of talks,” he said. “We seek a meaningful discussion with Armenia of
new themes and problems that can yield concrete results in settling
the conflict in line with international law and territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan,” Aliyev said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 18 2004

MEETING OF PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV WITH MR. ROMANO PRODI, PRESIDENT OF
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
[May 18, 2004, 19:47:38]

On 18 May, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Mr. Romano
Prodi, President of the European Commission.

Mr. Romano Prodi warmly greeted the President of Azerbaijan and
expressed pleasure meeting with him. They were taken their photos in
memory.

In the course of conversation, the parties exchanged views on the
“European neighborhood policy” program” and involvement of Azerbaijan
to it. Mr. Romano Prodi said that from this day, large cooperation
between Azerbaijan Republic and the European Commission has just
started and we support admission of Azerbaijan to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) and the ongoing economic reforms in the Republic.
Touching the Armenia -Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, he
expressed concern of the European Commission and underlined that the
EC wishes the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts gave their fruits for fair
resolution to the problem.

Noting that integration to Europe is priority in the foreign policy
of Azerbaijan Republic, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev spoke of
the realized expedient works in this direction. The Head of State
noted that the European Union has appointed its representative in the
South Caucasus. The said representative has recommended involvement
of Azerbaijan to the “European neighborhood policy” program and we
highly appraise it. President Ilham Aliyev updated Mr. Prodi on the
socio-economic reforms and their successful results in the country.
Speaking of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Head of Azerbaijan
Republic noted that Azerbaijan is going to restore its territorial
integrity. The Minsk Group should be more active in settlement of the
problem, President Aliyev emphasized. Azerbaijan wishes that the
European Union, the Council of Europe to assist Azerbaijan in this
direction. One should not bear the aggression of Armenia against
Azerbaijan, being a part of Europe, and joining the “European
neighborhood policy” program, he stressed.

Then, was held a briefing for media representatives.

Internal Troops to Remain in Tsalka

Civil Georgia, Georgia
May 18 2004

Georgian Interior Minster Giorgi Baramidze visited on May 18 southern
Georgian district of Tsalka, where 100-strong unit of the Internal
Troops were dispatched last week following the clashes between the
local ethnic Armenian and Georgian population.

Giorgi Baramidze said that the troops in Tsalka will remain. “There
were attempts to trigger disagreements and clashes between the
local populations on ethnic bases, but we will not permit this,”
the Interior Minister added.

Ethnic Armenians comprise 57% of population of Tsalka district in
Kvemo Kartli region with population around 20,000, according to the
Georgian department of statistics.

4,500 ethnic Greeks, 2,500 ethnic Georgians, up to 2,000 Azerbaijanis
also live in the Tsalka district.

Local officials describe clashes between ethnic Georgians and
Armenians, which have been reported sporadically for several years,
as “a communal violence.”

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 18 2004

WORKING VISIT OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV TO THE KINGDOM OF
BELGIUM
RESPONDING MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES
[May 18, 2004, 22:39:17]

Q. Why does not the European Union pay due attention to the existing
conflicts in the South Caucasus? What role can the European Union
play in settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh problem?

Romano Prodi. We have comprehensively discussed this problem from
simple to complex. We regret from existence of such conflict. In
general, our wish to see these three countries in the “neighborhood
policy” means that we do not want conflict among them. We shall do
our best to settle the conflicts. There is a special group engaged in
this question – the Minsk Group. We would not like to interfere with
their business. We do not want to worry them, but we shall make
pressure. It is because that they are engaged in this buy there is no
result. The European Union considers the question as urgent. Should
we be asked, appealed, we are at your disposal – of course, the
appeal related to intensification of settlement of the problem.

Q. Mr. Prodi, who must appeal related to your participation? Before
involvement of Armenia and Azerbaijan to the “neighborhood policy”,
how will you regard the statement of president Ilham Aliyev related
to peace way settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict? Mr.
President Aliyev, What steps are expected to make after the latest
meetings connected with Nagorny Karabakh?

Romano Prodi. We have not touched the details. But I expressed our
wish that we are at disposal of both countries and can assist. We
cannot make any offer in this phase. Merely, we call the sides to
consensus and say that if we are asked we can help and this is a
positive step we make. This is our respect for political independence
of the counties in conflict and in their choice.

Ilham Aliyev. I think, meetings of the foreign ministers of
Azerbaijan and Armenia are necessary to continue peace dialogue.
Continuation of dialogue is a good indication. At the same time, we
always say, the talks can be continued in the case of existence of
subject of talks. If there is no topic on the agenda to be discussed,
we don’t think it is necessary to continue the talks only for talks
or for show. If there is a question to discuss, we shall be in the
negotiation process. I think that the meetings of foreign ministers
enable us to largely discuss the topic. We are of the opinion that
the talks should be continued and are hopeful that they would give
results.

Q. The question is to Mr. Aliyev. Mr. Prodi said that if you ask, the
European Union would be engaged in the problem. When will you ask?

Ilham Aliyev. We have already appealed. We have once again appealed
in today’s meeting. Of course, we all should understand that the
Minsk Group has mandate from OSCE and nobody doubts in this mandate.
The MG is seeking possible way for peaceful settlement of the
conflict. At the same time, the European structures, European
organizations – the European Union, the Council of Europe, as well as
European public opinion can also join the process and have certain
impact for peaceful resolution to the problem. We never mean that any
structure will be alternative to the Minsk Group. We want large
international attention be rendered to this question. Thank you.

PRESS RELEASE

AGBU ARARAT LITERARY QUARTERLY PRESS RELEASE
55 E. 59th Street
New York, New York
CONTACT: [email protected]
May 18, 2004

LEO HAMALIAN MEMORIAL EVENING MAY 20 NYC

The Editorial Board of ARARAT invites the public to be present at
a special evening of appreciation and remembrance of Leo Hamalian,
its editor for over three decades. The gathering will take place on
Thursday, May 20, in the Ceremonial Hall of the New York Society for
Ethical Culture (Two West 64th Street, NYC), and will feature prominent
friends and colleagues of Leo Hamalian. Led by masters of ceremony
Peter Sourian and Nishan Parlakian, respectively a noted writer and
a dramatist, the evening’s program will include Armenian-American
writers Peter Balakian, Lynne Kassabian, and Harry Keyishian, as
well as City College professors emeriti Valerie Krishna and James
Hatch. Pianist and composer Sahan Arzruni will perform. There will
be a reception following the short program.

Leo Hamalian was a distinguished and prolific writer, educator, and
editor. He had a great impact on Armenian-American literature not
only through his own work as an essayist, critic, and anthologist,
but also through his ability to recruit new writers and assist in
their literary development. For Armenians, the literary and cultural
quarterly ARARAT published by the AGBU was perhaps the most important
forum through which Leo Hamalian worked his magic. Hamalian also
helped recognize and promote new Armenian-American writers through his
fourteen-year chairmanship of the Anahid Literary Award Committee of
the Armenian Center at Columbia University. Leo Hamalian served on the
boards of a number of other important journals, including The Literary
Review, Columbia, and Humerus, and as the editor of the American Book
Review. He worked at Harper’s Magazine (1958-64), and was coeditor of
Artists and Influence, the bi-annual publication of the Hatch-Billops
Archive for African-American Art. Dr. Hamalian published a number
of studies and edited numerous volumes and textbooks in many other
fields, ranging from existentialist literature to feminism and even
science fiction. He was a beloved professor of literature who taught
at universities as far away as Damascus and Tehran, but made his home
for many years at the City College in New York.

AGBU and the ARARAT Board are working to honor his memory in a
number of long-term ways. The AGBU-ARARAT Leo Hamalian Memorial
Fund has been established to support the literary work of ARARAT,
to which he was so dedicated, and donations to this fund are still
being accepted. Articles and other submissions are being accepted
until mid-July for a special ARARAT issue dedicated to Leo.

Meanwhile, please join us on May 20 at 7:30 p.m. Though the event
is without charge, reservations are required. To make reservations,
or for further information, contact Hripsime Arissian at the AGBU at
<[email protected]> or (212) 319-6383 ext. 131.

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia
to the United Nations
119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
Fax: 1-212-686-3934
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

May 18, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Ambassador Martirosyan speaks at the UN Security Council open debate on
“United Nations Peacekeeping Operations”

On May 17, 2004, Amb. Armen Martirosyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia
to the UN, made a speech at the UN Security Council open debate under
Pakistani Presidency on the “United Nations Peacekeeping Operations.” In
his speech he noted the recent progress made by Armenia in the field of
peacekeeping. Additionally, he touched upon several important issues that
could be considered as necessary precursors for effective intervention by
the United Nations in different parts of the world.

Please find below the text of the speech in full.

May 17, 2004

SECURITY COUNCIL
4970th Meeting
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations

Statement by H.E. Mr. Armen MARTIROSYAN, Ambassador, Permanent
Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations

Mr. President,

Since this is the first time that my delegation takes the floor this
month, allow me to begin by extending my congratulations to you on
your assumption of the Presidency of the Security Council and assure
you of my delegation’s full support for the Council work.

Mr. President,

The open debate on the UN peacekeeping operations is of paramount
importance as the organization is currently planning for at least four
new peacekeeping missions and is contemplating a possible expansion of
its activities in Iraq. This debate is held at a time when questions
are asked about the efficacy of the current peacekeeping operations in
Africa, Asia and Europe and the means and ways to improve them. It is
conducted when the Organization is making its first steps to address
security and developmental challenges in conflict areas through
integrated peacebuilding approaches.

It is indubitable that peacekeeping operations have made
great headways during the last decade developing from classical
peacekeeping operations into extremely complex ones encompassing
conflict management, confidence-building and post-conflict
peace-building. Sometimes, inadvertently, it has found itself carrying
out peacemaking functions in rather complicated situations raising
doubts about the legitimacy and successfulness of its actions under
such circumstances. Despite the fact, that all those issues have been
duly analyzed by the High-level panel headed by Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi
and subsequently reflected in its report presented to the General
Assembly in March 2000, we still ponder over the same issues when
the question of a new peacekeeping operation comes up.

Mr. President,

Armenia is making its first small steps in this field. In 2003, Armenia
made a decision to participate in NATO-led peacekeeping operation
in Kosovo (KFOR). Since February 2004, a platoon of thirty-four
peacekeepers from Armenian Armed Forces is operating as part of the
Greek forces of the U.S.-led multinational brigade in KFOR.

In 2003 Armenia hosted NATO “Partnership for Peace” (PfP) Exercises
“Cooperative Best effort – 2003”, the main goal of which was the
planning of interaction between PfP nations during the peacekeeping
operations.

As we are becoming part of the international community that strives
to bring peace in different parts of the world, we want to make
sure that the efforts are well spent and rewarded by creation of
self-sustainable peace in those areas.

In this respect, my delegation would like to raise several issues
that it believes could be considered as necessary precursors for
effective intervention.

1. The issue of the regionalization of conflict or regional
dimension of conflict has to be taken into account when planning for
peacekeeping operations. Transborder armed groups, illegal trafficking
and trade, transborder social networks are issues that should not be
overlooked when considering the establishment of security environment,
humanitarian assistance, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
(DDR). Such an approach, despite its extreme complexity, may prove to
be more effective if duly considered in all its aspects for its impact
in such operations as the one that is currently being discussed for
the Sudan.

2. UN peacekeeping operations for the last decade have evolved
into multifaceted and multidimensional ones. Yet, probably, the
time has come to contemplate the idea of the establishment of
multiphased operations as well where a gradual development from
peacekeeping to peacebuilding is planned in advance as part of one
operation. Apart from providing an opportunity for better planning
for the transition from military phase to developmental phase in the
peacekeeping operation, it would also send the right message to the
war-torn communities about the sound commitment of the international
community to help to reconstruct the social fabric of the country in
such a manner that it would be able to sustain the hard-achieved peace
and advance on the path to democracy and rule-of-law on its own. The
identification of the “end state” that the peacekeeping operation aims
to achieve might set the right agenda for the programs and projects
to be implemented on the ground.

In this respect we cannot overstress the need for tangible results
to keep the hope from dwindling and to prevent the resumption of
conflict. “Quick impact projects” could be one way of making real
difference in the lives of people, and consequently in their minds.

3. We do realize that this kind of planning would require proper
analysis of the situation on the ground and the roots and causes
of the conflict. Yet we believe that it should be a priority in the
consideration of peacekeeping operation in the first place. As the
past experience shows, no operation is successful if it does not
address the deep-rooted grievances, the causes of the conflict and
does not take into account its dynamics.

Mr. President,

Holistic understanding of the range of security and developmental
challenges in conflict areas and developing programmes based on
those realities, and sometimes worst-case scenarios, and not the
theoretical models of best assumption might help to address the need
for urgent improvement of the ways the United Nations deals with
conflict situations. Keeping the pledges made, be those political
or financial, would help to transform the United Nations into an
organization that is capable of successfully fulfilling its founding
mandate: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”.

Thank you Mr. President.

END

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 18 2004

WORKING VISIT OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV TO THE KINGDOM OF
BELGIUM
SPEECH OF MR. ROMANO PRODI, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
[May 18, 2004, 22:35:51]

First, I would like to tell that this was the first visit of
President Ilham Aliyev to Brussels, to the European Union and I am
rather pleased with this meeting. I would like with great pleasure to
say that today we discussed common goals and common affairs. We had
frank discussions. It was first connected to the “Neighborhood
policy” program. As you know, after long discussions, the European
Union has included three South Caucasian countries to its
“Neighborhood policy” program. And this means deep, increasing
cooperation strategy. It is evident this is an economic-political
cooperation. These are long distant negotiations to come up to our
institutions, political values, respect for rights and common
political strategy.

Thus, Azerbaijan’s acceptance to the membership of friends is very
pleased. I can say this was only the starting meeting. From now on, a
new phase of these relations begins. This also means that we support
the steps Azerbaijan makes for admission to the World Trade
Organization. Henceforth, working shoulder-by shoulder, we shall
develop of cooperation in the field of foreign trade. WE shall
cooperate in the power field.

In the second half of our meeting, we deeply analyzed and discussed
the Nagorny Karabakh problem. We are concerned that it is for more
than ten years the problems delays and has not been settled in peace
way. There is no peace for over ten years. It is obvious that we do
not want to interfere with the affairs of the Minsk Group. But we
persuadably insist and exert pressure that this Group gained certain
result. Expressing my desire and will, I stated that we are at
disposal of both countries. We stand ready to render any assistance
to the Minsk Group in settlement of the problem. It is because that
if we call friends, then, all the countries in this camp should be
real friends. There should not be problems harming the friendship.
There must be economic and political cooperation. Thank you.

Azeri leader, EU officials meet in Brussels, discuss Karabakh

ANS TV, Baku
18 May 04

[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is on a visit to
Brussels, has started his official meetings. To recap, the visit by
the Azerbaijani leader to this country mainly aims to discuss the
enlargement of bilateral cooperation with the EU leadership. ANS’s
special correspondent in Brussels, Qanira Pasayeva, is on the
line. Hello Qanira. Good afternoon. Here you are.

[Correspondent, on the phone] Good afternoon, Leyla. First,
President Ilham Aliyev met EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunter
Verheugen. Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe and the policy
of Europe’s neighbours, that is Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus
countries are among them, and the Nagornyy Karabakh problem were
discussed during the meeting.

The most interesting meeting was held later with European Commission
President Romano Prodi. The sides gave a joint briefing for the
press after a 45-minute tete-a-tete meeting. Prodi said they focused
on Europe’s neighbourhood policy. He went on to say that they
accepted Azerbaijan as following this policy, that is the policy
of Europe’s neighbours. The South Caucasus countries were invited
[word indistinct]. According to him, that was his first meeting with
Aliyev and they will establish continuous and full cooperation with
Azerbaijan. He said that they supported Azerbaijan’s admission to the
World Trade Organization and other reforms launched in the country. He
said that they had discussed these issues widely with President Aliyev.

Prodi said that the European Union was concerned about the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem, because the conflict has not been resolved for
10 years. Unfortunately, there is no peace and we want the OSCE
Minsk Group to reach some results in the solution to this problem,
Prodi said. According to him, a solution should be found in order to
reach peace between the states and neighbours. Friendship should be
cultivated among the states neighbouring us. However, the international
public should be involved in this issue and resolve the problem. That’s
all Leyla.

[Presenter] Thanks, Qanira.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress