Welcomed Change: Upheaval in Ajaria may ease trade concerns in Armenia

By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow.com reporter
May 7, 2004

The departure of Aslan Abashidze from the Georgia autonomous region of
Ajaria on Wednesday, may mean relations between Armenia and its neighbor can
proceed more smoothly than recent conflict in Ajaria has allowed.
“Ajarian Lion” left.

Abashidze fled for Moscow, under threats from Georgian president Mikhail
Saakasvili that military force would be used if necessary to achieve a
settlement between Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, and the troubled region.

Saakashvili went to the Ajaria port city of Batumi late Wednesday night
where he proclaimed that “Ajaria is free” and that “its dictator left”.

Tensions between the region and Georgia proper have been strained since
Saakashvili was elected to office in January, following the overthrow of the
government of Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze.

Following a weekend meeting with President Robert Kocharyan in Yerevan in
early March, a Saakashvili motorcade was fired upon as the Georgian
president attempted to enter Ajaria.

In retaliation, the Georgian president imposed an embargo on Ajaria. The
sanction lasted only two days, but, because its main city, Batumi, is a
Black Sea port, the threat to restricted trade was felt severely in Armenia.
About 90 percent of Armenia’s imports and exports are dependent on Georgia’s
ports, the nearest of which is Batumi. More than 1,000 freight cars of food
and fuel per month enter Armenia, having originated in Batumi.

(Due to closed borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan, Armenia’s only waterway
outlet, except via distant Iran, is through Georgia.)

Abashidze, 66, has been the strong arm of Ajaria since 1991 and, in 1995,
his Georgian Revival Union became the second largest political party in
Georgia’s National Assembly.

The recent clashes with Saakashvili reached the boiling point last month,
when two bridges connecting Georgia and Ajaria over the Choloki River were
blown up on Abashidze’s orders.

Some 300,000 residents make up Ajaria, including about 11,000 Armenians,
most of whom live in Batumi. Earlier this week masses took to the streets to
demand Abashidze’s removal, a condition that was achieved with help from his
friend, National Security Council of Russia’s Igor Ivanov, who gave the
leader sanctuary in Moscow.

Abashidze’s departure was welcomed by official Yerevan, which repeatedly had
been calling sides for a dialog.

“Armenia welcomes the consistent and decisive policy of the Georgian
authorities that has helped to overcome that serious obstacle,” said Hamlet
Gasparyan, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. “The
denouement of this problem is another important step on the way of
establishing stability and peace in Georgia and thus on the entire South
Caucasus.”

Stepan Safaryan, an analyst at the Armenian Center for National and
International studies said that the outcome of the Georgia-Ajaria
confrontation was predictable.

Saakashvili after his third victory.
“Some people expected Saakashvili to start ‘ Georgia’s unification’ with its
hottest spot, Abkhazia,” the analyst said. “However he began with Ajaria and
will apparently use the ‘Ajaria model’ for bridging relations with Abkhazia
and South Osetia. Besides, the leadership of those regions might realize now
that in case of their confrontation they probably will follow Abashidze’s
fate.”

In Ajaria, the Armenian community has been divided over the region’s
political conflict – some siding with Abashidze and some with Saakashvili.

“I accept as very normal what happened, because time goes on and the new and
young generation come to change the old,” 73-year old Batumi resident Gevorg
Khachatryan told ArmeniaNow. “I can not say anything negative concerning
Abashidze’s regime. Besides, the situation in Ajaria was more calm than in
other Georigian regions.”

Georgian Armenian Arthur Ohanisyan, a reporter for Ajaria TV, left his
position to join demonstrators who opposed Abashidze.

“We are tired of seeing how Ajaria TV only praises Abashidze,” he said.
“That was the reason why we couldn’t continue working there. Our other
colleagues followed our example and are leaving the company one after
another.”

In Tbilisi yesterday (May 6), the Georgian Parliament adopted a decree
according to which the President of Georgia was authorized to cancel the
current Ajaria Parliament. A special governmental commission was set up
chaired by Saakashvili to prepare new elections of the Ajaria Parliament
which would be held within five to six weeks.

The Armenian and foreign analysts are calling the end of the standoff
between Tbilisi and Batumi “the third bloodless victory of Saakashvili” – a
reference to the resignation of Shevardnadze, and to Saakashvilis’s
election.

(ArmeniaNow reporter Suren Deheryan contributed to this report from
Tbilisi.)

Welcome Back “Aghun”: Honored actress comes home to revive most popular role

May 7, 2004
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow arts reporter

After a 15-year absence from Yerevan stage, People’ s Artist of
Armenia Violet Gevorgyan returned last week to her signature role as
Aghun in Hrant Matevosyan’s “Our Corner of the Big World”. Fifteen
years later the actress on her own stage, in her own country.

Since the play was first staged in 1980, Gevorgyan has played the role some
700 times. Fifteen years from her last performance here, she says she hasn’t
forgotten a word or a gesture.

Theater critic and arts professor Henric Hovhannisyan once said Gevorgyan’s
performance “brought such a star down from the sky that this astounded
critic hasn’t and will never see.”

On the stage of the Theater of Young Audience she again brought down that
star this time even brighter and more colorful, welcomed by rousing
applause.

“I am extremely touched; I’m so touched that it’s difficult to play. It’s a
cruel challenge to be away for so many years from your own stage, your own
country, your own audience,” Gevorgyan said.

Gevorgyan gave three nights of performance before returning to her home in
the United States. She moved there in 1990, amid various speculations over
why she left Armenia.

Actor Levon Tukhikyan said the honored actress “simply escaped from here
because she was terribly insulted, they wouldn’t give her any roles because
of human envy.”

The 60-year old actress neither clarified that bitter page of her life then
nor now.

“I left to return, and understand how much I love this soil and water,” she
said.

After starting her career at age 24, Gevorgyan played more than 20 roles in
the Hrachya Ghaplanyan Drama Theater. Her first starring spot was the lead
in “The Diary of Anne Frank”. But it was her bittersweet character Aghun
with whom Gevorgyan would become most identified.

“Violet appeared like a bright star and kept on amazing,” said People’s
Artist Sos Sargsyan. The actor says he’s seen many of Gevorgyan’s
performances as Aghun “and I can say sincerely that intonations of Violet’s
voice are still in my head.”

Violet Gevorgyan and the brother of Hrant Matevosyan, Hrachya Matevosyan.
The actress was invited by the Tekeyan Cultural Union and the performance
was staged in Tekeyan Company headed by State Prize Winner of Republic of
Armenia Artashes Hovhannisyan. After Violet Gevorgyan leaves her role will
be taken over by actress Hasmik Aslanyan.

Aslanyan says it’s hard to play a role in which the audience has already
identified Gevorgyan as her hero Aghun.

“I know that when watching me play I shall always be compared with the
perfect performances of Violet,” says Aslanyan.

Director Artashes Hovhannisyan recalls the 1980s with nostalgia, when
everyone was speaking about the “Autumn Sun” (as the performance is known)
and today he confesses that he was very concerned about the rebirth of the
performance.

“I’m not exaggerating but I’ve spent several sleepless nights thinking how
it will be accepted today after the stunning success it had once,” says
Hovhannisyan.

According to theatre critic Varsik Grigoryan the returning of “Autumn Sun”
and Violet Gevorgyan proves that high art has a mysterious power of rebirth.

“I have seen many actors but I haven’t seen such performing,” Grigoryan
says. “My words are not enough to express how skilled she is.”

Life on the Outskirts: Margara village would be first to enjoy open border
May 7, 2004

By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter

Along a 15-kilometer stretch of the Armavir region, a barbed wire fence and
the Araks river separates Armenia from Turkey, with the village of Margara
the last spot on the Armenian side.
Villagers think the village will profit if the border with Tukey is opened.

“See, that is the bridge and that is a Turkish soldier,” says Deputy Head of
Margara village Gharib Tadevosyan, pointing to a frontier guard post.

He explains that the village Alijan, which can be seen over there, was once
Armenian.

People of Margara grow up accustomed to military-guarded borders. Villagers
have friendly relations with soldiers. The 15 th station of frontier troops
of the Russian Federation is based in Margara.

Until 1994 non-residents of Margara, could enter the village only with
special permits and passes.

“Our girls couldn’t get married, because people who were not residents of
the village couldn’t come to see them,” villager Samvel Mirzoyan says. “For
that reason almost everyone in the village are in-law relatives to each
other.”

There are 400 households and 1100 residents in Margara. This year 24 births
have been registered.

“We love our village very much but the life is very passive here. It’s true,
we are people who keep the border but there is nothing interesting here,”
says Tadevosyan.

There is a cultural center in the village, but the roof is almost gone.
There is no kindergarten. There is a school for 240 students, but it has no
gym. Employees of the village government offices have not received salaries
for three years.

Gharib says when lands were distributed, families got 800 square meters
each. He complains that it isn’t enough, compared to what neighboring
villages got. Besides, the land itself is not so rich.

Villager Vachagan Asatryan moved to Margara from Spitak after the earthquake
of 1988.

He says Margara soil is too salty.

“People hardly work the land as the soil isn’t fertile,” Asatryan says.
“During Soviet times people used to add acid to the soil for increasing its
fertility. But now, who cares?”

Mirzoyan says the land has never been fertile, but that the village was
settled because of the river.

“Our grandfathers decided to go along the Araks and settle there. Fishery
was their primary occupation. They were living at the expense of fishing.
But now who will allow us to fish in the Araks?”

Villagers’ privatized lands are located behind the barbed wires within the
border. They can enter their own lands only with special permits.

“They open the fence in the morning at 9 o’clock and in the evening at 7 o’
clock they drive us out. We can’t fully use our day. We can’t work at
nights. But in summer our turn to get water often comes at night,” says
Mirzoyan, who argues that the river should be more accessible.

The village itself is in a depression created by a flood that in 1968
changed the center of the village.

May is always a dangerous month for Margara, when spring floods threaten.

Near the border bridge is a half-built construction. Tadevosyan says it was
supposed to have been a tourist camp.

“They say when Breznev was in power they wanted to open the bridge but
probably they didn’t come to agreement and left the works incomplete,” he
says.

Over the past year there have been official speculation on opening the
border with Turkey. Margara would be the first Armenian territory affected
by such a situation. Villagers are in favor of seeing it happen.

“We will be the first to make use of it,” Tadevosyan says. “If they open the
border the village will gain. One of the reasons is that there will be a lot
of new things to do. The trade will be developed, prices for the lands here
will increase and roads will be at last be reconstructed.”

Deputy head of Margara village Gharib Tadevosyan.
But he is interrupted by Mirzoyan who says villagers aren’t prepared for the
traffic of a border town. They don’t know how to manage business, run
restaurants, hotels, he argues.

And he tells of the history of other traffic through Margara.

“People used to pass the border and join Kurdish troops in the struggle
against the Turks. We heard it from our grandfathers,” he says. “Those who
were going to escape, told those who stayed in the village, that as soon as
they successfully reach the place they will light fire on the slopes of
Masis and smoke of the fire would mean they have reached the place without
problems. And it happened the way they told.”

Samvel says a prosperous life in the village would prove to the outer world
that Armenia is in good conditions.

“The sound of our school bell can be heard in Turkey. If our lights are
switched off at night our neighbors can clearly see. If the village lives
good it will be good for everyone. After all Margara, in some measure, is a
lock for the country. ”

In Margara storks live in concord with villagers and soldiers. As villagers
say, these birds in these latter days don’t leave the village even in
winters. They are like frontier guards, who are simple dressed in white.

Hometown Dispute: Family faces displacement over residency status
May 7, 2004

By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

Levon Galstyan’s family are not refugees of war, but of natural
disaster. They are Armenians who escaped Gyumri on December 9, 1988,
two days after earthquake ruined their home. The “Corncob”.

They came to Yerevan, where they moved into a landmark of the capital, the
“Corncob” building, officially known as Yerevan Youth Palace.

As aggressions intensified between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Karabakh,
hundreds of Armenians from Azerbaijan also moved into the hostel.

These 15 years later, the building, home for all the time to the Galystans
as well as the refugees, has been privatized. Twenty-nine refugee families
were paid between $5,000 and $10,000 to move out.

The Galstyans have gotten nothing. The three-member family says it faces
being homeless, unless an arbitration court finds them qualified to be paid
a displacement allotment relevant to real estate prices in Yerevan.

Authorities say the Galstyans must move back to Gyumri and apply for housing
there.

“We lived in Yerevan for 15 years and we have jobs here,” Levon Galstyan
says. “We will have no job and no home in Gyumri. All that we want is
compensation. It is not human to compensate all residents except us. If we
don’t have the refugee status it does not mean that we have to end up in the
street.”

The director of insolvency issues for the Youth Palace, Levon Hovanisyan,
says the Galstyans needn’t worry about being homeless, but should move back
to Gyumri, where they would be eligible for housing under earthquake relief
assistance programs.

“No one is going to move them out to the street. It is not that they have no
place to go. The problem is that they do not want to leave Yerevan,”
Hovanisyan says. “Other families from Gyumri agreed to take certificates and
leave. There is no law saying that if a person has lived in some city for
several years and has a job in that city he has the rights to have residency
pretensions.”

Levon, 43, his sister Susanna, 50, and their 83-year old mother lived in No.
310 of the Youth Palace. On weekends Levon, a musician by education, sells
the paintings of his brother who lives in Gyumri. Susanna works in a
library.

“My job in Yerevan feeds my family and the family of my brother,” Levon
says. “How am I am supposed to maintain them if I lose this work?”

The Galstyans are again facing the problem of moving out.
Levon and his mother have residency permits form Gyumri. Susanna, however,
has a stamp in her passport showing that her residence is the 20-square
meter flat in the Youth Palace. Hovanisyan questions how she got the stamp
for the property, which had belonged to the Ministry of Youth and Culture.

The Galstyans argue that their registration in Gyumri would provide only
$3,000 for housing.

“We can not buy a house for $3000 neither in Yerevan nor in Gyumri,” Levon
says. (In Yerevan one room apartments sell for an average of $7,000).
“Besides I have already checked that there are more than 2,000 families in
Gyumri, having acquired a housing certificate, cannot find an appropriate
house, . My brother, too, got the certificate after the earthquake but he
could not find a house and lives now in domik (temporary housing) in
Gyumri.”

The Galstyans’ appeal is currently being heard in court. Levon says the
family is not optimistic of a settlement in its favor.

“The family was suggested to take an apartment for four months free of
charge until they find the house by their certificate, but they refuse” says
Karine Petrosyan, the arbitration judge.

The family’s property is stored in the corridor of the hotel while they try
to maintain living in their unit.

The building, which includes a 500-bed hotel, a 1,200-seat concert hall,
gymnasiums and recording studios, was sold in January for about $740,000 to
Avantgarde Motor Company, distributors for Daimler Chrysler. The company
says it intends to spend $5 million on renovation, but will maintain the
building’s unique design.

Arts Digest : A capsule review and preview of art and entertainment in
Armenia

May 7, 2004
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow arts reporter

THE PASSIONS O F SECTARIANS: A n agreement was reached on May 5 with
the leadership of Moscow and Nairi cinemas in Yerevan and the Ararat
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) that audiences
attending the film “The Passion of Christ” may be warned against
proselytizing by sectarian religious groups outside the cinema.

$1000 TO THE BEST: Tekeyan Cultural Union of Armenia will award “Vahan
Tekeyan” prize, a diploma, a medal and AMD equivalent to $1000 to the best
pieces of art, literature and science. The union restored its annual award,
adding three other branches, namely, architecture, TV-Radio journalism and
humanities, to its five basic nominations (literature, music, fine arts,
theatre, cinema). The works should be created during 2003.

According to Sergey Galstyan, vice-chairman of Tekeyan union, all works
should uncover Armenian mentality, reflect Armenian nature and artistic
views of Armenian life. They should support the development and expansion of
Armenian culture, literature and humanities.

COMPOSER’S ANNYVERSARY: The Union of Armenian Composers will hold a festival
in autumn dedicated to the 75 th anniversary of Armenian composer Avet
Terterian.

The chairman of the Union, Robert Amirkhanian told Armenpress the festival
will bring to Yerevan prominent performers, critics and composers from many
countries.

Terterian is one of the most progressive and original composers of the end
of the 20th century who introduced new and revolutionary ways in the
development of modern symphony. Terterian is the author of eight symphonies
(the ninth was left incomplete), two operas “Ring of Fire” and “The
Earthquake”, ballet “Richard the 3rd”, vocal-symphonic cycle, and many
chamber works.

WAR AND ART: An exhibition of works of modern Artsakh artists dedicated to
the 12th anniversary of liberation of Shushi and formation of the NKR
Defense Army will be opened in Yerevan on May 7. About 100 works of 20
Artsakh artists will be presented at the exhibition, which will last 10
days.

TWO ARMENIAN FILMS IN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL: Two Armenian films will be
presented at the “Arsenal” international film-festival held in Riga in
September 2004: “Zhano, or in Search of Paradise” (film-maker Suren Babayan)
and “Documentalist” (film-maker Harutiun Khachatrian). It is these two films
that were selected by President of “Arsenal” August Sukut and artist
Alexander Buuse, who visited Armenia in connection with the youth
film-festival “It’s Me”. About 200 films will be shown at the “Arsenal”
festival. A jury will select 14 winners.

THREE JUBILEES DURING ONE FESTIVAL . Applications for 130 films from 25
countries were submitted for participation in the “Golden Apricot” first
international film-festival to be held in Yerevan from June 3 to July 4,
reported Noyan Tapan. Applications will be accepted until May 10. Susanna
Harutiunian, Chairwoman of the Association of Film Critics and Film
Journalists of Armenia, said that besides the contest programs it is
expected that three jubilee programs dedicated to the 80th anniversaries of
the establishment of the Armenian movie, Sergey Parajanov and Charles
Aznavour will be held within the framework of the “Golden Apricot”
film-festival.

FIRST PERFORMANCE IN ARMENIA: Karen Shahgeldyan, an Armenian violinist from
Moscow and winner of international competitions, will perform in Armenia for
the first time in a solo benefit concert. The 27-year old violinist will
play the unique instrument made by Antonio Stradivarius, belonging to the
State Fund of the Musical Instruments of the Russian Federation. Concerts
will be held in Yerevan, Gyumri, Spitak and Vanadzor. The violinist will
perform violin concertos by Bach, Vivaldi, Mendelson, Richard Straus. No
fees are charged for the concerts.

ON YEREVAN STAGES .

Russian Dramatic Theatre named after Stansilavsky Premier “Paris Twins”,
directed by Alexander Grigoryan. Ticket cost 500-2000

May 9 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall , Concert of the new pop
star Mister X. Ticket cost 1500-6000

May 10 Chamber Music Hall Concert of National Chamber Orchestra “Music, Love
and Poetry”, conducted by Aram Gharabekyan, soloists Nune Badalyan
(soprano), Lilit Grigoryan (Mezzo soprano), Ruben Nurijanyan (Tenor) and
Garegin Hovsepyan from Germany (bariton). Ticket cost 500-2000.

May 12 Aram Khachaturyan Philharmonic Concert Hall Lyric and Music Evening
devoted to 80 anniversary of Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak. Ticket cost
1000-3000.

May 15, 16 National Opera and Ballet Theatre Rebirth of the opera “Anush”,
Anush – Anahit Mkhitaryan, Nune Badalyan .. , Sosi – Tamazov, Saro – Ruben
Nurijanyan. artistic director Gegham Grigoryan. Ticket cost 2000-5000 AMD.

Armenian opposition ready for dialogue with authorities

Arminfo
5 May 04

YEREVAN

The opposition Justice bloc and the National Unity Party are ready to
start dialogue with the Armenian authorities, in particular, with
President Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, the
Justice bloc and the National Unity Party said in a statement
forwarded to Arminfo news agency today.

The statement said the opposition took this decision because of the
deepening political crisis in the country after the presidential
elections in 2003 and because it realizes its responsibility for
leading the country towards democracy without any excesses. The
resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) about the political situation in Armenia was instrumental in
making the opposition take this decision.

The statement also noted that the opposition intends to accept the
speaker of parliament, Artur Bagdasaryan’s proposal to continue the
political consultations which will be resumed on 6 May. The Justice
bloc and the National Unity Party promised to abstain from organizing
rallies in the Armenian capital during the next 10 days. But, the
opposition will resume its protest actions in the country unless an
agreement is reached with the authorities, the statement said.

Armenian opposition upbeat on talks with authorities

Arminfo
6 May 04

YEREVAN

During today’s political consultations between the ruling coalition
and the Armenian opposition, a mutually acceptable formula was drawn
up on conducting a referendum of confidence in the president. The
sides agreed that the referendum will be on the agenda of the talks
between the opposition and the coalition, Viktor Dallakyan, secretary
of the opposition’s Justice bloc, told journalists today after a
five-hour meeting between the coalition and opposition leaders.

Today’s meeting, initiated by Armenian National Assembly Speaker Artur
Bagdasaryan, was the beginning of a new political situation in
Armenia, Dallakyan said. “If the sides display political will, then
these consultations will become a basis for forming a new domestic
political situation in Armenia,” he said.

The consultations today mainly concerned the issues that may be
included in the agenda of the forthcoming talks between the sides,
Shavarsh Kocharyan, an MP from the Justice bloc, said. The agenda will
include 30 items, including 10 proposals put forward by the opposition
some time ago, as well as the discussion of certain points of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe resolution on the
domestic political situation in Armenia.

Among the 10 proposals, the key one concerns the conduct of a
referendum of confidence in the president. The opposition is also
demanding that the authorities stop political persecution and
repression, free opposition activists from prison, refrain from
violence against demonstrators and rally-goers, allow the free
movement of citizens within Armenia and ensure unbiased coverage of
the situation by public television. The opposition also wants live
airtime to deliver speeches.

The opposition is demanding the prosecution of those who organized the
mass falsifications during the presidential and parliamentary
elections held in 2003 and those who organized and perpetrated the
“punitive action” [breaking up an opposition rally in Yerevan] on the
night of 12-13 April.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 7 2004

SALOME ZURABISHVILI: `LOCAL CONFLICTS IN REGION IMPEDE ITS
DEVELOPMENT’
[May 07, 2004, 11:20:23]

As correspondent of AzerTAj reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Georgia Salome Zuarabishvili is paying an official visit to Moscow.
On May 6, head of foreign policy department of this country had a
meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Sergey Lavrov during which have been discussed situation in Georgia
after resignation of the head of Ajaria Aslan Abashidze and the
further prospects of development of the Russian – Georgian relations.

On results of negotiations, the head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Russia and Georgia have held press conference on which the
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov
has stated that the position of Russia on Abkhazia has not changed
and based on recognition of territorial integrity of Georgia. `Russia
proceeds from the principle of respect of territorial integrity of
Georgia – this position is consecutive and constant’, the head the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has told. He
has emphasized, that Russia is satisfied with the peace settlement of
situation in Ajaria, it always considered this conflict as internal
work of Georgia.

In turn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili,
answering questions of journalists, has declared that: `Georgia
highly estimates the political support rendered to authorities of
Georgia on the part of Russia, considers, that `arrival of the
Secretary of Security Council of the Russian Federation Igor Ivanov
to Batumi was very important. Russia during last moment has offered
help, and it creates that ground of trust which is necessary for
development of relations in a right way ‘.

The head of foreign policy department of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili
also has declared, that the delayed local conflicts brake development
of the Caucasian states, and these conflicts into which also enters
also Nagorny Karabakh – actually, freeze our development. As she
said, on the solution of similar conflicts depend all the Caucasian
peoples. S. Zurabishvili has emphasized, that the CIS countries take
the important place in the policy of Georgia, and Georgia would
continue further active interaction with the states of Commonwealth.
She has noted also that her country attaches great importance to
cooperation with the Organization of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation.

Alongside with it, Salome Zurabishvili has declared, that Georgia
wants to combine partnership with the NATO and cooperation with
Russia.

It is necessary to note that during the meeting of the head of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the head of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation also have been discussed
questions on situation in Abkhazia, about the status and terms of
stay of the Russian military bases on territories of Georgia,
questions of visa regime between the two states, combat against the
international terrorism.

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
May 7 2004

PLANNED MONITORING

On May 6 the OSCE Mission held planned monitoring of the border
between the armed forces of Nagorni Karabakh and Azerbaijan to the
northwest of the settlement Seysulan. On the side of the NKR Defence
Army the monitoring group was headed by the personal representative of
the OSCE Chairman- in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. The group involved also
field assistants of the personal representative Jurgen Schmidt
(Germany) and Miroslav Vitemal (Czech). During the monitoring no
violations of the cease-fire were reported. The mission was
accompanied by the representatives of the NKR ministries of defence
and foreign affairs. On the eve, on May 5 Andrzej Kasprzyk met with
the NKR foreign minister Ashot Ghulian and minister of defence Seyran
Ohanian. During the meeting they discussed the situation at the border
and questions referring the prospects of settlement of the Karabakh
conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
May 7 2004

FM gives statement on Cyprus issue

BAKU – The position of members of the Azerbaijani parliament on the
Cyprus issue does not reflect that of the government and neither can
it be interpreted as a change in the relationship between Baku and
Ankara, a statement issued Wednesday by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs read.

The statement printed in the state-run Azerbaijan daily newspaper on
Thursday said nothing can besmirch the relationship between the two
countries who are bound by centuries-old historical, cultural,
language and other ties.

Members of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe stated on Tuesday that they intentionally
did not show up at PACE’s 29 April meeting, which denied Turkish
Cypriots a right to be represented at the Parliamentary Assembly.
Head of the delegation, Samad Seyidov said they did not attend the
meeting in order to protect Azerbaijan’s interests.

Voting against the PACE resolution that urged Turkish Cypriots to
attend the Parliamentary Assembly meetings as `integrated’ with the
Greeks Cypriots, would set up a new precedent under which all
unrecognized republics, including Nagorno (Daghlig)-Karabakh, could
demand representation at PACE, Seyidov said.

The foreign ministry statement said Azerbaijan has always been for a
fair solution of the Cyprus problem, and supports the activities of
the United Nations, European Union and the Council of Europe to help
settle the problem.