Nothing new in Karabakh talks with Azerbaijan – Armenian leader

Mediamax news agency
20 Apr 04

YEREVAN

“There are no news regarding a settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict,” Armenian President Robert Kocharyan told a briefing in
Yerevan today.

The meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers
which took place in Prague on 16 April was mainly for familiarization
purposes, Kocharyan said.

Speaking about his meeting on 19 April with the new US co-chairman of
the OSCE Minsk Group, Kocharyan said that Steven Mann “is well aware
of the situation and developments in the region”.

Armenian head vows not to sack government under opposition pressure

Mediamax news agency
20 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today that he will
not dismiss the prime minister or dissolve parliament.

Speaking at a briefing in Yerevan today, Kocharyan said that “such
rumours are being spread on purpose in order to create the atmosphere
of distrust towards the president, prime minister and within the ranks
of the ruling coalition”, Mediamax news agency reports.

“I can unequivocally say that I do not intend to dismiss the
government. It would be absurd to take this step against the
government which works efficiently and ensures the 100 per cent
implementation of the budget and economic growth,” Kocharyan said.

“In spite of attempts by certain circles to create obstacles, the
Armenian authorities are working in a normal fashion,” he said.

“There is not a single country in the world where the opposition would
not aspire to change the government,” Kocharyan said. Yet, “there is
not a single country where the authorities do not take measures to
ensure stability”.

Minister warns of Azerbaijan’s “wrong perception” of Armenian events

Arminfo
19 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The domestic situation in Armenia has no influence over its foreign
policy, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said at a press
conference today.

The international community perceives realistically and understands
well the situation in Armenia, Oskanyan said. There is no pressure
from the international community. Oskanyan expressed concern about the
possibility of Azerbaijan’s wrong perception of the domestic situation
in Armenia.

The goals set forth by the opposition are wrong and run counter to
both the constitution and the Armenian legislation, he said. The
opposition must formulate its objectives in keeping with the
law. No-one has the right to call for a change of government by force.

Oskanyan expressed the hope that the opposition rally scheduled for 21
April will be peaceful and the demonstrators will not take any
anti-constitutional steps.

Armenian president says Iran pipeline to end energy dependency

Mediamax news agency
20 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today that a gas
pipeline to link Iran and Armenia will only be used to meet Armenia’s
energy needs. “We do not discuss any other options with the Iranian
side,” Robert Kocharyan said in reply to a question about the possible
use of the pipeline for shipping gas to Europe.

Mediamax quoted Kocharyan as telling a news conference in Yerevan
today that “the construction of the gas pipeline is very important as
this will make Armenia independent in terms of energy supplies”.

Russian mediator upbeat about Azeri-Armenian Prague meeting

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
19 Apr 04

Yuriy Merzlyakov, Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group,
mediating between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Nagornyy Karabakh, has
welcomed new proposals and ideas voiced at the Prague meeting between
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian
counterpart, Vardan Oskanyan.

In remarks to Azerbaijani commercial TV station Azad Azarbaycan over
the phone, Merzlyakov said: “We held consultations to discuss specific
proposals. Both sides and the co-chairmen made their proposals public
as the agenda was announced. In a word it was not just a protocol
meeting, but a working one”.

According to a TV reporter, Merzlyakov spoke highly about the outcome
of the meeting and said that the co-chairmen were optimistic. He
quoted Merzlyakov as saying that this was not only the opinion of the
co-chairmen, but of the ministers as well.

The latter will issue a statement on this in the near future.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: info@aaainc.org
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
April 20, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org

ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR KEY U.S.-ARMENIA TRADE BILL
State Department Official Delivers News at Pan-Armenian, Non-Partisan
Conference

Washington, DC – The drive to extend trade benefits to Armenia gained a
major boost yesterday as the Bush Administration publicly announced its
strong support for a pending bill that would deepen the U.S.-Armenia trade
relationship during a national Armenian-American conference organized by the
Armenian Assembly of America.

Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of European
and Eurasian Affairs addressed her remarks to Armenian-American activists
participating in a three-day conference sponsored by the Armenian Assembly,
the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Eastern and Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church.

“We want Armenia to benefit from WTO membership and to do that we are
working toward permanent normal trade relations [PNTR] with Armenia, which
we will try to push through Congress,” Ambassador Jones said.

The keynote luncheon speaker that same day, Senate Majority Whip Mitch
McConnell (R-KY), and ardent supporter of closer U.S.-Armenia relations
said, “I hope we are able to move this legislation in the near future.”

Senator McConnell, together with Senator Sarbanes (D-MD) and Senator Barbara
Boxer (D-CA), last summer introduced S.1557, which would authorize the
extension of PNTR to Armenia.

Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) who gave the keynote address at the National
Conference that evening said: “This is of course good news for all of us,
but now we must continue to press the Administration and the relevant
committees in Congress to expedite action on this important issue. We need
to carry through on this proposal.”

The bill, which has a counterpart in the House already passed as an
amendment to a larger tax bill, calls for the termination of the
Jackson-Vanik Amendment with respect to Armenia. If enacted, it would
remove the nearly 30-year-old provision requiring Armenia to periodically
obtain presidential approval for continued access to low tariffs.

“The argument we make is that the purpose of Jackson-Vanik was to encourage
religious freedom and free immigration,” Ambassador Jones said. “Obviously
there is no issue with Armenian compliance with that.”

The bill’s passage would also herald other benefits, such as strengthening
bilateral relations and allowing Armenia to fully avail itself of its
membership in the WTO. Increased U.S.-Armenia trade and investment will
also help offset the damaging impact of Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s decade-old
blockade.

“One of the Assembly’s highest legislative priorities this year was to ask
Congress to extend PNTR to Armenia and we thank Ambassador Jones and the
Bush Administration for this long sought for news,” said Executive Director
Ross Vartian. He added that “the Administration’s choice of venue for this
announcement underscores the significant impact the National Conference has
had on U.S. policymakers.”

“Given the overwhelming bi-partisan and bi-cameral support of this bill, and
now the public call from the Administration for passage, we look forward to
Congress acting expeditiously and send this bill to the President,”
continued Vartian.

The three-day Conference was an opportunity for the Assembly, AGBU and
Eastern and Western Diocese of the Armenian Church and their respective
constituencies to speak for the first time with a collective, non-partisan
voice on issues of concern before the Administration and Congress.

The AGBU is the world’s largest non-profit, philanthropic organization
devoted to education, cultural and humanitarian programs. Headquartered in
New York, the organization has a budget of $28 million and serves some
400,000 Armenians annually.

The Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern) is the spiritual and
administrative head of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Eastern U.S.
Together with the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, it exists under
the authority of the ancient Mother See of the worldwide Armenian Church,
Holy Etchmiadzin, in Armenia.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2004-041

Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:

Caption: Ambassador Elizabeth Jones speaking at the Armenian Assembly’s
National Conference and Banquet in Washington DC on April 19.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan foreign minister calls for dialogue over war on Karabakh

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
19 Apr 04

[Presenter Namiq Aliyev] Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov has said that the Prague meeting [with Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan] was of a fact-finding character. In an
exclusive interview with Azad Azarbaycan TV, Mr Mammadyarov spoke
about the importance of meetings of this kind for a peaceful
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

[Correspondent, over archive footage of Prague] The main result of the
Prague meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers
is that the sides have agreed to continue the talks, Mammadyarov
said. The minister said that at the meeting the US president’s Caspian
envoy, Steven Mann, received a mandate [as OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairman] from his predecessor, Rudolf Perina. Mammadyarov said
that Mr Mann made a good impression. No specific proposals were
discussed at the meeting, he added.

[Mammadyarov] No, there are no new proposals for the time being. We
finished our fact-finding meeting.

[Correspondent] We should note that Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan said before the talks that Nagornyy Karabakh will never be
part of Azerbaijan and that its security will be guaranteed only in
two cases, either through Nagornyy Karabakh’s operation as an
independent state or its annexation to Armenia. But Mammadyarov said
that the Azerbaijani government stood firm on the issue.

[Mammadyarov] Every meeting certainly brings more hope. You are aware
of Azerbaijan’s position. We stand firm on this.

[Correspondent] Mammadyarov commented on bellicose statements from
both sides. The Azerbaijani government is going to solve the problem
peacefully and is confident that this is the most suitable way,
Mammadyarov said. He said priority will be given not to the military
option but dialogue.

[Mammadyarov] It is too early to speak about peace or war. For the
time being 20 per cent of the Azerbaijani lands are under
occupation. The point is what option should be used to liberate these
lands.

[Correspondent] Mammadyarov also said that the date of the foreign
ministers’ next meeting had not been specified in Prague. He said the
sides will decide on the issue depending on the situation.

Rasad Huseynov, Emil Aliyarli, “Son Xabar”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Daily warns of attempts to incite ethnic discord in Azerbaijan

Zerkalo, Baku
20 Apr 04

Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo has reported that some forces might
attempt to incite ethnic discord in the country. The Russian special
services are planning to use the ethnic minorities in the north of
Azerbaijan as a destabilizing factor, the newspaper
reported. Conflicts on religious grounds cannot be ruled out either,
Zerkalo said. It warned of a possible attack by Wahabbi militants from
Dagestan and said that Iran’s policy was to blame for the upsurge in
Islamic organizations in Azerbaijan. The following is an excerpt from
A. Rasidoglu report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 20 April
headlined “Are Iran and Russia sowing ethnic discord in Azerbaijan?”
and subheaded “Certain forces benefit from drawing parallels between
‘Armenian separatism’ and ‘ethnic minorities'”; subheadings inserted
editorially:

The movement For Azerbaijan (it’s noteworthy that two groups claim to
have this name) has held a round table attended by the so-called
representatives of ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan. An obscure
criterion was used, for instance, to define that the editor of Axsam
newspaper, Valid Qardasli, was a “representative of the Talis people”,
this was how he was introduced at the round table. As is known,
neither he nor other “representatives” of ethnic minorities were
entitled to speak on behalf of these people. Well, there are other
more interesting issues.

Russian intelligence to inflame ethnic discord in Azerbaijan

For instance, what prompted Russia’s justice Gen Ilqar Qasimov to
(suddenly) hold a round table on the subject “Ethnic minorities in
Azerbaijan and the Nagornyy Karabakh problem”? Is someone, as
previously, “cannot afford to relax” or is trying to play the ethnic
card purposefully drawing parallels between “Armenian separatism” and
the so-called “problem” of ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan? We know
how easy it is to incite an ethnic conflict.

There is another interesting coincidence. Round tables of this kind
coincided with information circulated in a few mass media that the
Russian special services have started to actively operate to fan the
flames of ethnic discord in our country. Are these coincidences
incidental or planned? Are there not too many of them?

According to sources, the Russian special services are currently
looking into the implementation of “work” among Kurds, Talises,
Lezgins and Avars.

[Passage omitted: more details of Russian plans]

As we have learnt, new cultural centres of ethnic minorities will be
set up and these bodies will publish their own newspapers in the near
future. As a result of these centres’ “activities”, problems might
gradually arise among the ethnic minorities living in Azerbaijan,
which will give them a cue that they have a common enemy – an
Azerbaijani Turk.

According to the sources, at the first stage they will count on a
social basis of Russian ideologists in Quba-Qusar Districts [northern
Azerbaijan] with a mainly Lezgin population, as the Russian special
services report. Moreover, there are reports that the Kurdish Workers’
Party, which also seems to have major claims to the Azerbaijani state,
has intensified its work in a northern [Azerbaijani] district.

It goes without saying that what is going on is far from being
children’s war games.

Conflicts on religious grounds not ruled out

There is another aspect of the issue. Conflicts on religious grounds
are not ruled out either. According to some reports, a militant
Wahhabi group is currently in Dagestan, in a district bordering on
Azerbaijan, and is waiting for the right time.

The Azerbaijani coast of the Caspian Sea is rather a large area
populated also by non-Turks. It is early to make conclusions about the
role of Islam in the movement of these ethnic groups. However, one
should not disregard this, especially as the Russian special services
have long been viewing them as the “fifth column”, or to put it
simply, a destabilizing factor.

Iran’s policy to blame

Finally, here is the last remark. The main factor responsible for the
development of the leading Islamic organizations in Azerbaijan is
precisely the policy pursued by Iran. Our biggest neighbour opposes
the western oil export route and Azerbaijan’s entrance into the sphere
of the West’s interests.

One should bear in mind that Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic
country. This fact has always been in the focus of the foreign and
internal forces interested in the escalation of tension in our
country.

Armenian president denies plan to dismiss parliament or prime minister

AP Online
Apr 20, 2004

President Robert Kocharian on Tuesday denied he had plans to dismiss
either his prime minister or his fractionalized parliament.

Kocharian told a briefing that “such rumors are spread deliberately to
create an atmosphere of distrust in the relations between the
president and the premiere and also within the ranks of the ruling
coalition.”

In a clear reference to the opposition, which has held a series of
large rallies in recent weeks demanding his resignation, Kocharian
said “despite the attempts of certain circles to disrupt us” the
authorities are working normally.

Kocharian won a second term in presidential elections a year ago that
sparked mass protests, including nearly daily demonstrations between
the first round and the runoff.

Opposition groups alleged widespread violations in both rounds of the
election, which was followed by a parliamentary ballot in which the
pro-government party won the most votes.

Renegade Georgian general accuses defence minister of “smear campaign”

Imedi TV, Tbilisi
20 Apr 04

[Presenter] Defence Minister Gela Bezhuashvili has made another
comment about the statement of the former commander of the 25th
Brigade [Roman Dumbadze who said that he took orders only from the
Ajarian leader].

Bezhuashvili has described Dumbadze as a traitor of Georgia. Dumbadze
has not confirmed the reports about a defence ministry being
established in Ajaria. He has blamed Gela Bezhuashvili for organizing
a campaign against him.

[Bezhuashvili, speaking to journalists] We should punish traitors of
Motherland with the full severity of the law.

Now, what is this about? As I said today, how can a man betray this
aspiration for the sake of selfish interest? How can he betray these
young boys, 17-18-year-old children who today spoke about the
country’s strength, the country’ future, the country’s present? This
is what it is all about. These are the values upon which our society
rests. I think that society should condemn all incidents of this kind.

[Dumbadze, interviewed] This is a total lie. Absolutely. I have not
heard such a thing in 14 years. Gela Bezhuashvili is the seventh
minister, but I have not heard such a thing from anyone, even from the
former president I have not heard such a thing. Absolutely.

I will never be a traitor. A traitor is someone who betrays his
origin, his nation. The defence minister himself is such a man. He
changed his surname and betrayed his nation. He was an ethnic
Armenian.

[Journalist] Are you speaking about Bezhuashvili?

[Dumbadze] Yes, I am speaking about Bezhuashvili.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress