ARKA News Agency
May 12 2004

On May 13 Robert Kocharian to leave for Russia with three-day working
visit

The President of Ukraine and RA Prime Minister note dynamical
development of trade-economic cooperation

RA Prime Minister and Ukrainian Foreign Minister discuss bilateral
relations

Delegation of Armenian Parliament to leave for Samara tomorrow

Cease-fire regime in Karabakh conflict area is 10

Military efficiency of NKR Defense Army is a pledge of peace in the
region – Ashot Gulian

Scientific-practical conference started in Stepanakert

Two-day workshop “European integration as peace and sustainable
development guarantee” started in Stepanakert

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

ON MAY 13 ROBERT KOCHARIAN TO LEAVE FOR RUSSIA WITH THREE-DAY WORKING
VISIT

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. On May 13 RA President Robert Kocharian
will leave for Russia with three-day working visit. In the frames of
the visit Kocharian will meet with RF President Vladimir Putin, the
Head of the Governmetn Mihail Fradkov. Armenian President will also
meet the Chairman of Board of OJSC Gasprom Aleksey Miller and the
Chairman of Itera Group of Companies Igor Makarov. L.D. –0–

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

THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE AND RA PRIME MINISTER NOTE DYNAMICAL
DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE-ECONOMIC COOPERATION

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. The President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian noted dynamical development of
trade-economic cooperation. The parties exchange views on internal
political and socio-economic situation in both countries. The parties
stressed the perspective of cooperation of the countries in the
sphere of education. Kuchma thanked the Government of Armenia for
attention to demands of Yerevan branch of Ternopol Academy of
National Economy, the only branch of Ukrainian academy in South
Caucasus. L.D. –0–

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

RA PRIME MINISTER AND UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS BILATERAL
RELATIONS

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grischenko discussed bilateral
relations. The parties also discussed development of
Armenian-Ukrainian cooperation in international organizations. They
noted activation of economic, political and cultural cooperation
based on agreement base. Armenian PM also visited Institute of
Electric Welding after Eugenie Paton, where he met with its director,
the President of National Science Academy of Ukraine Boris Paton.
Armenian delegation also met with representatives of National Bank of
Ukraine. L.D. –0–

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

DELEGATION OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT TO LEAVE FOR SAMARA TOMORROW

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. Delegation of Armenian Parliament, headed
with RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian will leave for Samara
tomorrow, RA NA told ARKA. Armenian parliamentarians will take part
in conference “Interregional Armenian-Russian Cooperation. Situation
and Perspective”. The parties will discuss Armenian-Russian
trade-economic cooperation at regional level and perspectives and
opportunities of development. Russian party will be represented with
the Chairman of Russian Federation Council Sergey Mironov, the
governors and representatives of legislative and executive powers of
Russia.
Armenian Speaker will also meet with the heads of legislative and
executive powers of Samara region, businessmen and representatives of
Armenian community of Samara. L.D. –0–

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

CEASE-FIRE REGIME IN KARABAKH CONFLICT AREA IS 10

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. In May 2004 it will be 10 years since the
establishment of cease-fire regime in Karabakh conflict area.
With Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and the CIS Interparliamentary Council
mediating, at the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on May 5, 1994,
Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia signed the Bishkek Document.
According to that document, parties to the conflict agreed to a
cease-fire, effective from May 12th to date.
In 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group was formed to resolve the Karabagh
conflict. Under its auspices, a negotiating process has been created
to prepare for the OSCE Minsk Conference that has the duty of finding
a final solution to the status of Nagorno Karabagh.
It is noteworthy that all these 10 years peace was observed without
support of international peacemaker’s forces and first of all due to
balance of powers in the region. L.D. –0–

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

MILITARY EFFICIENCY OF NKR DEFENSE ARMY IS A PLEDGE OF PEACE IN THE
REGION – ASHOT GULIAN

YEREVAN, May, 12. /ARKA/. Military efficiency of NKR Defense Army is
a pledge of peace in the region, NKR Foreign Minister Ashot Gulian
stated. He also noted that there are no objective backgrounds for
recommencement of military actions today. He added that in most of
the cases cease-fire regime was violated by Azeri party. “May 1994
and meeting in Bishkek is very important stage in the history of
Karabakh settlement”, Gulian said.
With Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and the CIS Interparliamentary Council
mediating, at the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on May 5, 1994,
Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabagh and Armenia signed the Bishkek Document.
According to that document, parties to the conflict agreed to a
cease-fire, effective from May 12th to date.
In 1992, the OSCE Minsk Group was formed to resolve the Karabagh
conflict. Under its auspices, a negotiating process has been created
to prepare for the OSCE Minsk Conference that has the duty of finding
a final solution to the status of Nagorno Karabagh. L.D. –0–

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

SCIENTIFIC-PRACTICAL CONFERENCE STARTED IN STEPANAKERT

YEREVAN, May 12. /ARKA/. Scientific-practical conference “Priorities
of Science in Artsakh State University started in Stepanakert
participated by professors and lecturers as well as postgraduate
students of the University. The conference will hear 110 papers on
development of physics-mathematic, economy, pedagogy and other
science, rational use of natural resources, environment protection
etc. T.M. –0–

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

TWO-DAY WORKSHOP “EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AS PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GUARANTEE” STARTED IN STEPANAKERT

YEREVAN, May 12. /ARKA/. Two-day workshop “European Integration as
peace and sustainable development guarantee” devoted to the 10th
anniversary of establishing ceasefire in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict zone started in Stepanakert. The workshop is organized with
the assistance of European Integration (Armenia), Karabakh Committee
“Helsinki Initiative-92, holding Antares, Varanda Ltd, NKR Parliament
Foreign Relations Permanent Commission, as well as NKR Foreign
Ministry. In the course of the workshop there will be heard a number
of papers. Along the workshop it is planned holding meeting with NKR
universities students with the discussion topic European Structures,
as well as organizing exhibition that would present modern education
and fiction. T.M. –0–

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

Guardian, UK
May 12 2004

EU sets out how new neighbours can become good friends

Ian Black in Brussels
Thursday May 13, 2004
The Guardian

The expanded EU is offering its new neighbours greater cooperation
and assistance – but also keeping them at arm’s length.
“We want to give them a real stake in the enlarged EU so that they,
too, can develop and prosper,” Günter Verheugen, the commissioner for
enlargement, said yesterday. “A ring of well-governed countries
around the EU offering new perspectives for democracy and economic
growth is in the interests of Europe as a whole.”

However, Mr Verheugen made it clear that EU membership was not on
offer.

This month’s historic “big bang” enlargement, taking in eight east
European countries and Cyprus and Malta into a club of 25, has
extended the EU’s borders to the former Soviet Union and the Middle
East and north Africa.

The EU’s new neighbours range from Ukraine and Moldova to Tunisia and
Israel.

Later this year, the union will make a hugely significant and
controversial decision on whether to go ahead with long-awaited
membership talks with Turkey, whose 70 million people would make it
the largest member state after Germany.

The EU already has a formal “strategic partnership” with Russia, but
the new policy is also intended to apply to Ukraine, Belarus and
Moldova – as long as they meet standards on human rights and
democracy.

Mr Verheugen acknowledged that Belarus, often described as Europe’s
last dictatorship, was especially problematic. Relations between
Brussels and Minsk have been frozen for seven years.

The commission said it also wanted to forge links with Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia in the Caucasus.

In the south, the policy will apply to Algeria, Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and the Palestinian
Authority – all partners in the Barcelona process of
“Euro-Mediterranean dialogue”.

Participants will be offered tailor-made neighbourhood policy “action
plans” promoting good governance, human rights and economic and
social development. But the biggest carrot is likely to be the offer
of a stake in the EU’s internal market if local laws and regulations
are brought into line with Brussels’ requirements, as well as
participation in EU training and research programmes.

There would also be benefits from open borders for trade and free
movement for capital and people.

Migration, crime, terrorism and people-trafficking are other areas
where the EU wants to boost cooperation.

Romano Prodi, the commis sion president, has talked of a “ring of
friends” which could share everything but the EU’s institutions.

The new plan does not include countries that have applied to join the
EU or are already negotiating. Romania and Bulgaria are expected to
enter in 2007, with Croatia not far behind.

Other Balkan countries are expected to follow, raising the prospect
of an EU of 30 or more members and 500 million people by the end of
the decade.

The commission says it expects to make €255m (£172m) available to the
neighbourhood programmes in 2004-06, and will propose a substantial
rise for 2007-13.

Kuchma, Armenian premier call for deeper cooperation in energy sector

Interfax
May 13 2004

Ukraine and Armenia should deepen energy sector cooperation, Ukrainian
President Leonid Kuchma and visiting Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian said on Wednesday.

During a meeting in Kyiv, the two also discussed prospects for further
cooperation between their two countries in the sphere of education,
the presidential press service reported.

Kuchma also thanked the Armenian government for attentively attending
to the needs, and improving conditions at the Yerevan department
of the Ternopil Academy of Agriculture – the only Ukrainian higher
educational institution with a department in the southern Caucasus.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MAY 7-13, 2004

HIGHLIGHTS:

RESEARCH ON KARABAGH PROBLEM AND REGIONAL RELATIONS PRESENTED

TWO OF THE EGG-THROWERS INTERROGATED

BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

“ARAVOT” ON AIR

HCA VANADZOR BRANCH WINS SUIT VERSUS MUNICIPALITY

RESEARCH ON KARABAGH PROBLEM AND REGIONAL RELATIONS PRESENTED

On May 10 at the Journalists Union of Armenia Yerevan Press Club held the
presentation of “The Karabagh Conflict and Prospects for Settling It” book
published under the project “Possible Resolutions to the Karabagh Conflict:
Expert Evaluations and Media Coverage”. The project was implemented by
Yerevan and Baku Press Clubs with the support of OSI Network Media Program.
Stepanakert Press Club was also involved in the project.

The book presents the findings of the sociological surveys and media
monitoring, administered in 2001-2003 in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous
Karabagh. “The surveys of the population and decision-makers in 2001 as well
as focus-group discussions in 2002 allowed to reveal the sentiment and the
major priorities in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Mountainous Karabagh on the
conflict-related issues”, the Armenia project coordinator Ashot Melikyan
said. “The Delphi research of the experts in 2003 showed that despite the
significant discrepancies between the Armenian and Azerbaijani parties,
there is a certain potential for rapprochement which can be used during
political decision-making in the conflict resolution process.”

The media monitoring coordinator in Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh Elina
Poghosbekian pointed out the main distinctions of the coverage of Karabagh
problem by the media. The findings of the monitoring studies of Armenian,
Azerbaijani and Karabagh media, held by unified methodology and in
practically identical timeframes, showed that in 2001-2003 the most actively
discussed issues were those of peaceful or military solutions to the
conflict. At the same time the majority of publications was devoted to the
need for peaceful resolution. Unlike the Karabagh media that for three years
has been displaying generally steady attitude and a greater interest to the
subject in question, its coverage in the media of Armenia and Azerbaijan
significantly reduced in 2003. The “frozen” interest to Karabagh issue is
explained by the stagnation in the negotiations process, but it is primarily
due to the elections last year that kept the media attention focused in the
two countries. Thus, during presidential and parliamentary election
campaigns in Armenia the “Karabagh factor” was either not used or little
used (along with other economic, social and other issues) in the pre- and
post-election political debate. Year 2003 was marked by presidential
elections and the problems of power succession for Azerbaijan and its media
as well.

At the presentation Yerevan Press Club also publicized the monitoring data
on the coverage of the relations of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey by the
media of the three countries. This research has been conducted by Yerevan
Press Club and “Yeni Nesil” Journalists Union of Azerbaijan since 2002. The
“election fever” of 2003 also told on the attention of Armenian and
Azerbaijani media to the relations within Armenia-Azerbaijan-Turkey
triangle. A characteristic feature of the Armenian media coverage in
2002-2003 are the Armenian-Turkish (with an emphasis on the 1915 issue) and
Armenian-Azerbaijani (with an emphasis on the Mountainous Karabagh problem)
relations. The relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey are the least popular
subject. In Azerbaijani media three priorities can be steadily traced:
Azerbaijani-Turkish and Azerbaijani-Armenian relations as well as the
Karabagh problem. The bilateral relations of Armenia and Turkey receive very
little attention. As to Turkish media, they display permanently low interest
to Turkish-Armenian and Turkish-Azerbaijani subjects, focusing on other
foreign policy aspects.

The findings of the researches mentioned can be viewed in detail on YPC web
site:

TWO OF THE EGG-THROWERS INTERROGATED

On May 12 the Public Relations and Information Department of the RA General
Prosecutor’s Office communicated that two of attackers on journalists during
an opposition rally of April 5 have been interrogated. According to the
General Prosecutor’s Office, these are a resident of Yerevan, unemployed
Ashot Avetisian, born in 1965, and a resident of Artashat city, unemployed
Hrair Harutiunian, born in 1957. According to release, these people “made a
complete confession and gave appropriate testimony”.

As it has been reported, on April 5 the media representatives were attacked
by a group of “strong guys” while attempting to record them throwing eggs
at the rally participants (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 2-8,
2004). On May 5, a month after the incident, the General Prosecutor’s Office
informed about the transfer of the criminal case, instituted on April 8 by
the RA Police, to Yerevan Prosecutor’s Office. A week after the public
learned about the first steps of the investigative bodies. In this context
it is important to note that right after April 5 the scene of the assault
on one of the cameramen was shown on air, and the photographs of several
“egg-throwers” were published in the press. Here a question arises: has it
not taken the law enforcement bodies too long to identify only two of the
attackers and interrogate them? Hopefully, having finally set off, the
investigation will proceed at greater speed to find and punish people who
exerted violence against journalists at duty.

BROADCAST LICENSING COMPETITION ANNOUNCED

On May 11 the National Commission on Television and Radio announced a
broadcast licensing competition for 33rd UHF in Nor Hajn town of Kotayk
region. The deadline for the bid submission is August 9, 2004. The
applications will be considered by the National Commission on August 18.

Currently “Nor Hajn” TV company broadcasts on this frequency.

“ARAVOT” ON AIR

On May 10, after the technical break announced due to the change of the
owner and the title, “Aravot” TV company went on air. As it has been
reported, after the sale of “Kentron”, the TV company, renamed to “Aravot”,
was headed by Aram Abrahamian, also the Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily (see
YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 23-29, 2004). Despite the assurances of Aram
Abrahamian that he will continue to assist the return of “A1+” TV company on
air (Abrahamian hosted “PostScript” program on “A1+”), his consent to head
“Aravot” TV encountered very negative response from “A1+” management. (Two
years ago, by the decision of National Commission on Television and Radio
the opposition channel “A1+” lost the competition for its frequency to
“Kentron”, presently “Aravot” TV.)

On its behalf the Board of opposition party Armenian National Movement (ANM)
announced that it refuses to appear on the air of “Aravot” TV. On May 6,
with a reference to anonymous source in the ANM Board, “Haikakan Zhamanak”
daily reported that the governing body of the party does not want to
participate in the imitation of freedom of speech.

In an interview to “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper of May 7 Aram
Abrahamian expressed his perplexion at the fact that “a political force
refuses to state its position on live air out of fear that it will be an
imitation of freedom of speech”. “In any case I regret that this part of the
political spectrum will not be represented on our channel, however, I am
positive that this is temporary”, Aram Abrahamian added.

HCA VANADZOR BRANCH WINS SUIT VERSUS MUNICIPALITY

The Vanadzor branch of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly won a case versus the
administration of Vanadzor city at the court of primary jurisdiction of Lori
region. The reason for the suit was the refusal of Mayor Samvel Darbinian to
provide HCA Vanadzor branch copies of all the resolutions passed by the
municipality and the Senior Council of the community in 2002-2003.

According to the head of HCA Vanadzor branch Artur Sakunts, the Mayor
referred to the provision of the RA Law “On Legal Acts”, by which the legal
acts for internal use and personal purpose are only provided to their
addressees. The remaining documents, as the Vanadzor administration head
said, were published in the periodical books of communal legal acts. The
human rights activists were unable to find them even at the municipality
itself. Thinking that the representatives of the local authorities violated
the RA Law “On Freedom of Information” the HCA Vanadzor branch filed a suit.

During the hearing the respondent did not have objections on the essence of
the case but he noted that out of 2,614 resolutions a part cannot be
provided as it contains information not to be publicized. To get the
remaining documents the plaintiff must pay a local duty of 1,000 drams
(about $2) for each copy.

At the session of April 30 the suit of HCA Vanadzor branch was secured. The
court obliged the municipality to provide the organization with copies of
all the resolutions of city administrations and the Senior Council of the
community for 2002-2003 except those constituting a secret. The total amount
of duty to be paid for the documents was defined to be only 1,000 drams.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375007, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 1) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

Armenian President visiting Russia

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 13 2004

RBC, 13.05.2004, Moscow 09:34:46.Armenian President Robert Kocharian
will be on a working visit in Moscow from May 13 to May 15, 2004 at
the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the press service
of the Russian President reported. It is planned that at a meeting
with Putin and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Kocharian will
discuss the whole range of questions of bilateral cooperation between
Russia and Armenia.

In addition, it is planned that the Armenian President will
meet with Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and Itera head Igor Makarov.
Kocharian will also meet with the association of Russian-Armenian
business cooperation.

Armenia’s ruling coalition says happy to talk to opposition

Interfax
May 13 2004

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia’s ruling three-party coalition announced
in a statement on Wednesday that it was open to conducting a dialogue
with the opposition.

The coalition, which holds the majority of seats in parliament,
expressed readiness to discuss a proposal from the opposition to end
“the situation that has taken shape in Armenia after the presidential
elections in 2003.”

The coalition proposed four more items for the dialogue’s agenda –
changing key points in the Armenian constitution, changing the election
law and bringing it into line with international democratic standards,
and taking action against corruption and measures to meet Armenia’s
commitments to the Council of Europe.

Galust Sahakian, parliamentary leader of one of the ruling parties,
the Republican Party, told reporters the coalition’s main task was
“to bring the Armenian opposition back into the political field.”

He said the coalition and opposition would start discussing the
opposition’s proposals on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the opposition plans for Friday the next in its series of
rallies to demand the removal of President Robert Kocharian.

Two opposition parties represented in parliament, Justice and National
Unification, have formed a provisional alliance to work toward a
change of power.

Azerbaijan determined to get back occupied territory – president

Interfax
May 13 2004

Nakhichevan. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev said Azerbaijan will not put up with the occupation of its
lands and will ensure they are liberated.

“The Azerbaijani army is strong and is capable of solving any problem,”
Aliyev told servicemen while opening a new garrison in Nakhichevan
on Wednesday.

“Our people can restore the country’s territorial integrity at any
moment. International law gives us this right,” he said.

Aliyev said the army must be strengthened, given that part of the
country’s territory is under Armenian occupation.

Azerbaijan’s economic development will make money available for
enhancing the army’s combat readiness, Aliyev said.

He said that as before Azerbaijan believes the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict can be settled peacefully.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
May 13 2004

Parliament News

Speaker meets German MPs

On Monday, Murtuz Alasgarov, Speaker of the Milli Majlis (parliament),
received members of the German-Caucasus parliamentarian group of
the German Bundestag who visited Baku on Sunday. Pointing to the
successful economic cooperation between the two countries, Alasgarov
stressed the necessity to increase the turnover of goods.

The speaker also elaborated on the problems that the country is
currently facing. K. Berger, head of the German delegation, noted
that the close cooperation between the two countries would continue
in the future. During the meeting it was also mentioned that Germany
had rendered Euro 270 million worth of assistance to Azerbaijan so far.

Of the sum, Euro 130 million was allocated as part of bilateral
cooperation and the remainder as part of cooperation with the European
Union. The German delegation left Baku on Tuesday first for Georgia
and then Armenia.

Monument to Heydar Aliyev unveiled A monument to Heydar Aliyev
was unveiled in a ceremony at the building of the Milli Majlis
(parliament) on Friday attended by President Ilham Aliyev. Addressing
the event, Murtuz Alasgarov, Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Ali Ahmadov,
Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, and MPs spoke
about Heydar Aliyev’s activities in the protection of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, its comprehensive development and recognition
by the international community, as well as in the implementation
of huge economic projects. President Aliyev stressed that the
aim of Heydar Aliyev’s policy was to turn Azerbaijan into the most
dynamically developed country of the region. He also underlined that
the country would not encounter serious problems if Heydar Aliyev’s
policy continued. The monument to the late Azerbaijani President was
designed by sculptor Omar Eldarov.

Draft law “On alternative military service” discussed Despite
widespread public disapproval, a draft law “On alternative services”
will be passed shortly in compliance with Council of Europe
recommendations, according to the Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis
and Chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on defense
and security issues Ziyafat Asgarov. The draft law is expected to be
put on the parliament’s agenda shortly. The bill proposes alternative
military service in private institutions instead of regular military
service. The new bill also envisions extending the duration of military
service. The draft law has triggered the disapproval of the public
and many military men in view of the fact that a number of Azerbaijani
provinces remain under Armenian occupation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
May 13 2004

PACE rapporteur welcomes presidential amnesty

President Ilham Aliyev received Malcolm Bruce, the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteur on political
prisoners, on Tuesday.

Expressing his pleasure with the May 10 presidential decree to pardon
363 prisoners, Bruce appreciated President Ilham Aliyev’s meetings in
Strasbourg and his speech at the spring session of PACE on April 29.
Stressing that the democratization process in the country and the
latest amnesty act will help in the settling of the Upper Garabagh
conflict and the gaining of acceptance and support for Azerbaijan’s
standpoint towards the conflict, the PACE rapporteur said that
Azerbaijan was taking constructive steps in this respect.

Appreciating the discussion of different issues, including the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Upper Garabagh at the Council of
Europe (CE) over the past three years, President Aliyev said that the
conflict presented a serious threat to not only to Azerbaijan, but
also to the region. Stressing that his country will continue to
cooperate with the CE in the future, Aliyev said: “The constructive
cooperation testifies to our deserved partnership.” On the first day
of his visit, the PACE rapporteur visited some jails to meet with
those considered as political prisoners. Bruce will wrap up his Baku
visit on Wednesday.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Brussels offers favoured status to boost former Soviet republics
By Stephen Castle in Brussels

The Independent, UK
May 13 2004

The European Union reached out to three former Soviet republics in
the Caucasus yesterday, promising new ties to boost economic growth
and tackle illegal migration and organised crime.

The European Commission said Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia should
be given status as “near neighbours” which could develop into a
free trade pact. But they were also told they had no prospect of EU
membership for the foreseeable future. Belarus was singled out for
arms-length treatment because of its dictatorial government.

In 2007, the EU is due to expand again, admitting Bulgaria and Romania,
while Croatia is expected to start membership negotiations shortly. A
decision on talks with Turkey will be taken in December and a bloc
of Balkan nations is vying to join.

But the EU wants to dampen expectations that it can enlarge
indefinitely. The commissioner for enlargement, Günter Verheugen, said:
“With the exception of the Baltic states [which joined the EU on May
1], the western border of the former Soviet Union will be, for a very
long time, the eastern border of the EU.”Though Poland has invested
much in improving relations with Belarus, Mr Verheugen was scathing
about the leadership in Minsk. “I do not think it is time to discuss
contractual relations with an authoritarian government that does not
respect human rights and is violating European standards,” he said.

The EU already has a programme of co-operation with Russia, Ukraine
and a host of other nations.