ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Friday, April 9, 2004

U.S. SELECTS NEW KARABAKH ENVOY
Ambassador Steven Mann will shortly replace Ambassador Rudolf Perina as the
American mediator for the Karabakh conflict, U.S. officials said this week.
Perina has been in the post since 2001. Mann will become the seventh U.S.
diplomat to serve as the State Department’s Special Negotiator for Nagorno
Karabakh and co-chair of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which also includes French and
Russian envoys.

The group is expected to meet with Foreign Ministers from Armenia and
Azerbaijan in Prague next Friday. The meeting was earlier postponed by
Azerbaijan, whose officials claimed that the agenda was not “precise
enough.” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has since sacked his
tough-talking Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev, appointing a cadre diplomat
Elmar Mamedyarov in his place. Mamedyarov was Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to
Italy since last December, and had previously served as Deputy Chief of
Mission with the Embassy in Washington.

The new U.S. envoy is a 28-year veteran of the foreign service, who was
charged with opening the U.S. embassy in Armenia in 1992. Mann later served
as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan (1998-2001), and for the past three
years as the Secretary of State’s Senior Adviser for Caspian Basin Energy
Diplomacy. In the latter capacity, Mann helped facilitate international
funding for the “Heydar Aliyev” oil pipeline, which is expected to bring
Caspian oil to the Turkish port of Ceyhan via Georgia starting next year.

Mann’s appointment was first announced by the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Reno Harnish during his meeting with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar
Abiyev. Harnish observed that the appointment will serve as an impetus for
progress in negotiations and questioned Abiyev on his recent statement that
“war in Karabakh could resume at any moment.” Abiyev has been one of the
chief war-mongers in the Azerbaijani government, making threats to that
effect in nearly every public venue for the past several years.

One of the leading Azeri columnists, Rauf Mirkadyrov, noting the timing and
circumstances of the announcement, argued that the appointment of a diplomat
who has worked closely with Azerbaijan on oil projects, is designed to
placate Azerbaijan which has long been dissatisfied with prior mediators’
allegedly “pro-Armenian” proposals. He also asserted that the mediators may
even push for a “step-by-step” proposal requiring some Armenian withdrawal
prior to status talks, as favored by Azerbaijan. But Mirkadyrov believes
that actual implementation of such a proposal is impossible as long as
President Robert Kocharian remains in power in Armenia, and that Mann’s
priority mission is to prevent the resumption of fighting.

Finally, according to Mirkadyrov, the U.S. is genuinely worried that
President Aliyev may lose control over the army, leading to resumption of
fighting in Karabakh. An Azeri opposition daily reported last month on
disarray within the Azeri military. According to its sources, shortly after
the brutal murder of an Armenian officer in Budapest, an Azeri army post
close to the Line of Contact was raided by Armenian forces and destroyed.
The fallout from the incident resulted in a conflict between commanding
generals and the Defense Minister, with an Army Corps commander Gabil
Mamedov at one point drawing a gun on Abiyev. The conflict was defused
temporarily, with Mamedov arrested, and another senior General, chief of
military intelligence Talyb Mamedov dismissed. (Sources: U.S. State
Department; Azadlyg 3-15, 30; Azertag 4-6; Zerkalo 4-7; Arminfo 4-9)

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION RALLIES SUPPORTERS
Leaders of the parliamentary opposition began a series of public protests
this week calling for the resignation of President Robert Kocharian. The
protests are led by last year’s presidential candidates Stepan Demirchian
and Artashes Geghamian, as well as former Prime Minister Aram Sargsian, and
involve nearly all of Armenia’s opposition parties. The opposition continues
to refuse to recognize Kocharian’s victory in elections a year ago.

News agencies estimated that between ten and twenty-five thousand people
attended the opposition rally in Yerevan’s Opera Square this Friday, the
largest opposition-organized protest since the elections. Following the
rally, about one hundred hardcore opposition supporters began a sit-in at
the square. The opposition leaders promised to continue protests until
Kocharian resigns or faces a “referendum of confidence.”

Following last year’s elections, the Demirchian campaign, citing electoral
irregularities, sought the annulment of the vote by the Constitutional
Court. While the Court ruled that the extent of irregularities did not
affect the election outcome, it suggested holding a “referendum of
confidence” as a way to diffuse political tension in the country, but did
not make the suggestion binding. Kocharian and his allies dismissed the
suggestion as contrary to the Constitution and amounting to new elections.
But the opposition seized on the ruling to continue to put pressure on
Kocharian.

In February, the National Assembly, dominated by the three-party coalition
allied with Kocharian, turned down the opposition proposal to amend the
Referendum Law to allow for holding a presidential referendum. The
opposition has since been planning street protests, holding meetings in the
provinces and threatening to topple Kocharian in a “popular revolution.”

Kocharian has firmly rejected resignation, dismissing the opposition as an
“aggressive minority.” In a television interview this week, Kocharian said
the opposition was trying to copy last November’s events in Georgia that led
to the resignation of the long-time President Eduard Shevardnadze. But
Kocharian stressed that the situation was qualitatively different in
Armenia, and that his government would resist what it considers to be an
attempt at sedition.

In the past two weeks, the law-enforcement agencies launched an
investigation against opposition leaders on charges that they have publicly
called for the overthrow of the government, violence against officials and
several dozen opposition activists have been detained for alleged
“hooliganism.” Meanwhile, individuals whom the opposition media identified
as security guards for big businessmen loyal to the government, have
attempted to disrupt opposition rallies by throwing eggs at speakers and
intimidating protestors. During a protest earlier this week they attacked
journalists covering the event, smashing several cameras. That incident was
denounced by the entire political establishment, including the ruling
coalition, and Kocharian called on his supporters to exercise restraint.
(Sources: Armenia This Week 3-12; Arminfo 2-3/9; Noyan Tapan 2-3/9; Public
TV 2-8)

A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED BY THE ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
122 C Street, N.W., Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 393-3434 FAX
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Russia, Saint-Petersburg
Date: 2004.04.09 11:02

39% in Armenia Favor Change at Top, Poll Finds
EREVAN, April 9. Only 39% of Armenians favor a change in government, Gevork
Pogosian, head of the Armenian Sociology Association, has told the newspaper
New Time. Surveys conducted by his group in all regions of Armenia found
43.4% of respondents opposed to the idea and 17% uncertain.

‘The two main opposition leaders have the support of no more than 30% of
voters, with Artashes Gegamian (who heads the opposition National Unity
party) holding 20%, double the 10% rating of Stepan Demirchian” (leader of
the opposition bloc Justice), Pogosian said.

He further said: ‘The idea of restaging here a revolution of the Georgian
type, in the interests of which outside forces are freely encouraging,
abetting and pushing for a change in government, is just not taking in
Armenia.’ He added: ‘You have to realize that Armenia traditionally looks to
Russia and that this approach is supported by 67% of the respondents.’

One thousand persons representing all regions of Armenia were interviewed
for the survey.

————————————————————————
©2001-2002 Rosbalt News Agency

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Published in Bakusun.az:8101
Azeri reporters march in Turkey
Zulfugar Agayev

A group of 18 Azerbaijani journalists marched from the Eastern Turkish
district of Igdir to the capital Ankara on 6-9 April, demanding the
U.S. and European Union to stop pressing Ankara to open its borders
with Armenia. (Photo courtesy of ANS)

BAKU – A group of Azerbaijani journalists began marching from an eastern
Turkish district on Tuesday towards the capital Ankara in protest against
what they called a possibility that the Turkish authorities might decide to
open their borders with Armenia.

The group of 18, organized and financed by ANS, a leading private
Azerbaijani TV company, started walking from Igdir, a district bordering
both Armenia and Azerbaijan, on their way to Ankara. The group is due to
arrive in the Turkish capital on Friday.

The journalists from Azerbaijan’s ANS, Space and ATV TV companies,
Russian-language daily newspapers Echo and Zerkalo and also Azeri-language
dailies – Yeni Musavat, Azadliq, Sharq and 525th newspaper wore red vests
with the slogan “Turk’s support for Turk” written on their backs.

“We have come here to let the people know about our position on opening the
borders,” Ganira Pashayeva, Deputy ANS Editor, told Baku Sun in a telephone
interview from Igdir.

Pashayeva said that the protestors, joined also by their Turkish
counterparts and local residents, closed off a road near the
Turkish-Armenian border Tuesday afternoon, chanting the slogans “no to
opening of the Turkish-Armenian borders,” and “A Turk must Support his
brethren Turk.”

Ankara has established diplomatic relations with all the former Soviet
republics, but Armenia, and has been keeping its borders with the small
South Caucasus country closed since it gained independence in 1991.

The Turkish government demands Armenia stop propagating the alleged genocide
of Armenians under the Ottoman Turkey in the early 20th century, give up
territorial claims against Turkey and withdraw from Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories in return for establishing a diplomatic relationship and opening
the borders.

Although there is no clear sign of Turkey’s backing down from the
stipulations, the border issue has been high on the agenda of several local
media outlets in Baku, especially that of ANS over the recent days.

The topic was even debated in Milli Majlis (parliament) on Tuesday. Although
the legislators turned down a suggestion to invite the Turkish ambassador to
Baku, Ahmet Unal Chevikoz, to the parliament and hear directly from him,
they voiced harsh words against the idea of opening Turkey’s gates to
Armenia.

“Only the doors of hell can be opened to the faces of Armenians,” said Mais
Safarli, an MP and head of the opposition Compatriot Pary.

Murtuz Aleskerov, the speaker of the parliament, said if Turkey were to
decide to open its doors to Armenia, “it would be a heavy blow to the whole
Turkish World.”

The Turkish ambassador Chevikoz responded to the speculations on Monday.
Speaking to ANS, Chevikoz promised that his country would stick to all of
its three stipulations, including the one that demands Armenia withdraw from
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

The ANS Deputy Editor Pashayeva related the concern of the Azerbaijani
public to Turkey’s coming under heavy pressure from the United States and
the European Union (EU) to open the borders.

Pashayeva also pointed to a statement Erdogan made while he was visiting the
United States late January of this year. According to

Turkish news reports, the premier said during his U.S. visit that his
government might decide to open borders “if the friendly initiatives of
Turkey were reciprocated.”

Erdogan said that the Turkish citizens living in regions neighboring Armenia
want to see the borders opened so that they could more easily trade with the
former Soviet republic.

Pashayeva stressed that the Azerbaijani public is “particularly troubled
that high-ranking Turkish officials have not responded to our increasing
concern lately.”

The President, Ilham Aliyev also stated late March that the brethren country
was being pressed to open its borders.

Aliyev called on the EU and the “influential nations” not to pressure
Ankara, warning that the opened Turkish-Armenian borders would make it
impossible to find a peaceful solution to the 16-year-long Nagorno
(Daghlig)-Karabakh conflict. The president said should the borders be
opened, Azerbaijan would lose an important lever to regain its occupied
territories peacefully. ANS’s Pashayeva noted that the local authorities in
Igdir also joined the rally they staged in the district center. The
authorities reportedly said they hadn’t heard of any designs of their
government to open the borders.

Pashayeva added that the Azeri journalists also met with representatives of
the Turkish business people in the bordering district. The business people
also expressed dissatisfaction over the establishment of any relations with
Armenia as long as the latter keeps occupying Azerbaijan’s territories,
Pashayeva added.

Azeri analyst hails appointment of new US mediator for Karabakh

Azadliq, Baku
8 Apr 04

Text of Aqil’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 8 April
headlined “The optimal choice” and headlined “Xaladdin Ibrahimli:
Steven Mann is more knowledgeable about the Caucasus”

The USA is replacing its co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Rudolf
Perina, by US Secretary of State for Caspian issues Steven
Mann. Observers point that Mann used to oversee energy-related issues
in the Caspian region. They are looking for special reasons behind
this appointment.

Political analyst Xaladdin Ibrahimli commented on those theories. He
said that first of all he took the new appointment of the US
administration as an ordinary replacement policy. However, he reckons
that giving this post to Mann is a more successful and better choice
for the USA. “Because Mann knows well the Caucasus region and the
Caspian basin, in general. He is quite knowledgeable about the
problems of this region.”

Albeit new in the job, Mann will not need too much time to study the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. “For he is acquainted with the origins of
the conflict and its further development.”

On the other hand, “this successful appointment shows that the USA
will soon invest more efforts to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict,” Ibrahimli said.

Le Monde, France
9 Avril 2004

La droite française remet en question un engagement historique de
l’Europe vis-à-vis de la Turquie

L’UMP entre en opposition avec le président de la République sur
la candidature d’Ankara à l’Union. La “vocation européenne” de
la Turquie avait été reconnue par de Gaulle en 1963 Le ministre
des affaires étrangères français, Michel Barnier, a dû
faire une mise au point, jeudi 8 avril, à propos des relations de
la Turquie avec l’Union européenne : “La ligne de la France reste
la même”, a-t-il dit, après qu’Alain Juppé eut pris, la
veille, le contre-pied de la politique officielle française en
contestant, au nom de l’UMP, la vocation européenne de ce pays. A
l’Elysée, on appuyait, jeudi, les déclarations de M. Barnier, en
confirmant que la position de la France n’avait pas changé, et
restait “celle que le président n’a cessé de répéter ces
dernières années”.

Le parti de la majorité est donc entré en opposition avec le
président de la République et le gouvernement, sur une question qui
promet de devenir l’un des sujets sensibles du débat préélectoral.
Même si l’on fait valoir, à l’Elysée, que “chacun est dans son rôle”
et qu’il ne s’agit là que du “jeu démocratique” normal, il est peu
probable que les électeurs s’y retrouvent.

On sentait à vrai dire depuis quelque temps que la question turque
posait quelques problèmes à la droite française. La perspective d’une
adhésion, même lointaine, de la Turquie à l’ensemble européen est en
effet contestée dans son principe sur deux fronts : par les droites
extrémistes et souverainistes, décidées à en faire un de leurs thèmes
de mobilisation pour les élections européennes, mais aussi par des
milieux proeuropéens, notamment à l’UDF. Des hommes comme Valéry
Giscard d’Estaing ou Jean-Louis Bourlanges se sont affichés comme
farouchement opposés à l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union.

En estimant, mercredi, qu’il faut fixer des limites à l’Union sous
peine de la “dénaturer” et que la Turquie ne doit pas être dedans,
Alain Juppé reprend les arguments de ces derniers. Il a reconnu qu’il
avait “évolué” sur le sujet, et c’est peu dire.

M. Juppé, lorsqu’il était minis- tre des affaires étrangères, avait
en effet activement défendu une vision stratégique des relations avec
la Turquie : sa démocratisation, le rapprochement de ce grand pays
musulman avec l’Europe pouvaient avoir un effet stabilisateur dans la
région, et l’Europe avait tout à y gagner. Alain Juppé a été
l’artisan de l’accord d’union douanière de 1995, qui faisait de la
Turquie le pays non membre le plus étroitement associé à l’Europe. Il
eut à le défendre contre la Grèce, contre une partie des députés
européens, contre les socialistes français qui s’enflammaient soudain
de compassion pour les Kurdes maltraités.

Ce n’était certes qu’un accord d’union douanière. Mais dès lors, et
depuis l’arrivée de Jacques Chirac à l’Elysée, la France est
considérée par les Turcs tournés vers l’Europe comme leur meilleur
soutien dans l’Union. Cette idylle n’a connu que quelques incidents
de parcours sans lendemain, quand les parlementaires français
s’emparaient de la question du génocide arménien.

A de multiples reprises ces dernières années, Jacques Chirac a
rappelé sa position invariable, la dernière fois avec peut-être un
peu plus de prudence, lors du Conseil européen du 26 mars : “Les
efforts de la Turquie en vue d’intégrer toutes les règles de la
démocratie et de l’économie de marché sont indiscutables, a dit le
président. C’est le rapport de la Commission -attendu pour octobre-
qui nous permettra de décider s’il y a lieu ou non d’engager des
négociations, qui seront longues, pour son adhésion.”

La question qui est posée est donc de savoir si les changements
introduits par la Turquie dans sa législation sont suffisants pour
satisfaire aux normes européennes, et s’ils sont effectivement mis en
œuvre dans la pratique. Pour les autorités françaises, c’est une
question “technique”. Aucune question de principe ne se pose en
revanche sur la “vocation européenne” de la Turquie, sur sa
légitimité à intégrer à terme, même si c’est dans longtemps,
l’ensemble européen.

C’est sur ce point qu’Alain Juppé a rompu, mercredi, avec la position
officielle.

Le débat sur la Turquie n’est pas propre à la France. Le chancelier
Kohl avait en son temps mis les pieds dans le plat en faisant
référence à l’héritage chrétien de l’Europe ; l’Union
chrétienne-démocrate (CDU) lui emboîte le pas aujourd’hui, de même
que d’autres démocrates-chrétiens et diverses extrêmes droites
européennes, notamment au Danemark. Mais la position officielle de la
France ne lui est pas propre non plus : c’est la position officielle
de l’Union.

Ce qui fait la particularité de la Turquie dans le débat sur “les
limites de l’Europe” c’est, plus que sa petite partie de territoire
située en Europe continentale, l’engagement historique qu’avaient
pris envers elle de Gaulle et Adenauer en 1963, impulsant un accord
d’association qui proclamait la “vocation européenne” de ce pays.
Pendant de longues années, l’évolution politique tourmentée de la
Turquie a épargné aux Européens d’avoir à se préoccuper de cette
promesse ; la Turquie n’était pas même reconnue comme pays candidat.

C’est en 1999, au sommet d’Helsinki qui trace les grandes lignes de
l’élargissement jusqu’en 2005, qu’Ankara se voit reconnaître le
statut de candidat. Le texte d’Helsinki est sans ambiguïté sur le
fond : “La Turquie, dit ce texte, est un pays candidat, qui a
vocation à rejoindre l’Union” quand il aura rempli les critères de
conformité définis en 1993 à Copenhague. En 2002, lors d’un autre
sommet à Copenhague, les Quinze font un grand pas de plus vers
Ankara. Si la Turquie répond aux critères fin 2004 (ce sera l’objet
du rapport de la Commission en octobre), “l’Union ouvrira avec elle
des négociations d’adhésion”, déclare le sommet dans ses conclusions.

Claire Tréan

A1 Plus | 22:18:51 | 09-04-2004 | Politics |

RALLY PARTICIPANTS TAKEN IN POLICE STATIONS

On Friday night, Republic party issued a statement saying the rally
participants, especially those carrying banners during the rally, had
been taken in police stations after the event.

“Our efforts to obtain explanation or information produced little
effect. All our questions to the law enforcement remained
unanswered”, the statement says.

39% OF POPULATION OF ARMENIA WANT CHANGE OF AUTHORITY

08.04.2004 17:56

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Only 39% of population of Armenia support the ideas of
change of authorities, head of the Armenian Sociological Association Gevorg
Poghosian said in an interview with Novoye Vremya Armenian newspaper.
According to the returns of the survey, held by the Association in all
regions of the republic, 43.4% of the respondents do not support the idea
and 17% found it difficult to answer. “The rating of the two opposition
leaders does not exceed 30% – Artashes Geghamian (leader of National
Unification Party) has 20%, which is about twice as much as Stepan
Demirchian’s rating (Justice Bloc leader) – 10%,” G. Poghosian said. In
his words, the model of the Georgian rose revolution, when external forces
organize and sponsor authority change without hindrance, will not work out
in Armenia. “One should realize that Armenia is traditionally oriented
towards Russia, and 67% of those questioned state this,” Gevorg Poghosian
said. 1 thousand citizens of Armenia were interrogated by the Association.

Sportinglife, UK
April 8 2004

HARRISON GETS ABELYAN DATE

WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison insists mandatory opponent
William Abelyan will pose the minimum possible risk when the two
fighters eventually meet in Glasgow on May 29.

Harrison will face the United States-based Armenian at Braehead more
than two months after the first scheduled fight was cancelled due to
Abelyan’s injured shoulder.

Abelyan will have been out of the ring for almost a year by the time
he arrives in Glasgow and Harrison insists Abelyan’s record indicates
he will be a less than troublesome opponent.

He said: “Boxing is a risky game and you can get floored with one
punch but I don’t think this will be that tough a fight, I see
Abelyan being stopped later in the fight.

“He’s been mouthing off a lot saying that I fight like a robot but
robots are programmed to win. But I couldn’t care less about him to
be honest.

“Who has he fought anyway? I’ve fought a lot of world champions in
the past but I don’t see anyone on his record.

“He’s not fought anyone that I’ve heard of apart from Guty Espadas
and he’s boxed nearly 30 fights. He got knocked out in one round by
Victor Polo so he doesn’t bother me.

“He hasn’t taken any warm-up fights before meeting me – I think
that’s in case he gets beat.

“I just see him running all night. He says he’s going to stand and
fight and he’ll have to if he wants to win the world title.

“But I think he’s just taking the money, he doesn’t really want to
fight.”

There will be familiarity surrounding Harrison’s latest title defence
as the Scotsman is fighting for the ninth time in row in Glasgow and
the champion admits he wants to continue boxing in front of his home
fans as long as possible.

He said: “I don’t want to fight anywhere else, fighting in Scotland
is fantastic for me and you can’t beat the crowd, they are so
patriotic and it’s packed at Braehead every time I fight there.

“It all depends on the money of course but I wouldn’t want to fight
in America.”

In keeping with Harrison’s attitude, the Scotsman is keeping to his
tried-and-tested training regime which involves packing himself away
to a Fort William training camp to get into top shape.

He said: “It will be the usual preparation. I’ve done about four days
training and now I’m off to Fort William for a month.

“It gets me away from the city and I can concentrate on my training.
There’s mountains to run on every morning and night and it gives me
peace and quiet to train and concentrate on my job. It’s worked in
the past and I’ll stick with it.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 8 2004

CSTO secretary general to discuss regional problems in Armenia

YEREVAN, April 8 (Itar-Tass) – Secretary General of the Collective
Security Treaty Organisation Nikolai Bordyuzha will arrive in the
Armenian capital on a three-day working visit on Thursday evening.

He plans to discuss key regional issues with President Robert
Kocharyan of Armenia, a source at the Armenian Foreign Ministry told
Tass.

In the course of his visit he plans to meet with the speaker of the
country’s parliament, defence minister and secretary of the Security
Council at Armenia’s president.

Bordyuzha also plans to hold talks with the foreign minister,
director of the National Security Service and the chief of the
country’s police.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO BRIDLE
LAW AND ORDER DISTURBERS

08.04.2004 18:38

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian authorities have resources necessary to bridle
law and order disturbers, Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated today
in an interview with the Public TV Company. In the state leader’s words,
over one million of citizens of the country, who have elected him, already
address the authorities, asking to sanction their meetings in response to
opposition actions. “However, I always refuse to such initiatives, as I do
not consider it advisable to stir up Armenian citizens against one another,”
the President said. In R. Kocharian’s words, at present the opposition
struggles not so much against the President, as among each other for the
title of “the greatest pan-Armenian oppositionist.” “By criticizing me, the
opposition fulfills its tasks and via its excessive aggressiveness tries to
gain the support of the constituency,” the President noted. In his words,
when opposition, or rather “the aggressive political minority” at last
elects a leader, everything will calm down.