The Washington Times
March 23, 2004, Tuesday, Final Edition

An emerging wider Europe;
Democracy and free markets make their impact

By Tod Lindberg, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia

This “New Europe” capital on the banks of the Danube is rapidly
emerging as a crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe. I first
started to get the point as I was getting on a plane a week ago bound
for Frankfurt, Germany, en route to a conference in Bratislava of
prime ministers and NGOs, mainly from countries about to join the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union, on the
subject of “Towards a Wider Europe.”

At the gate, I ran into a former colleague of mine, an expert on
taxation and budget matters. He asked me where I was going from
Frankfurt, and I told him. So was he, he said. Baffled, I asked,
you’re going to the NATO conference? Not exactly his field. No, he
said, he was going to a meeting on international tax policy with a
bunch of EU finance ministers, at which he was speaking. And he
added, who would have thought there would be one major international
conference going on in Bratislava, let alone two?

Bratislava has a number of things going for it: Its old city is
charming in its own right. It’s close to a major international
airport, Vienna, about 45 minutes away, and soon will be
psychologically closer still, when Slovakia becomes an EU member on
May 1, and the passport checks at the border disappear. The
government has made a healthy measure of enlightened public-policy
choices, including a low and flat tax that is likely to generate huge
investment. And diplomatically, it punches above its weight, as
witness the conference I was attending.

We are entering on a couple of watershed months for European and
trans-Atlantic institutions. Next week, seven government chiefs will
be in Washington for the purpose of depositing their ratification
documents for accession to NATO. And the European Union will welcome
10 new members a month later. It is certainly worth worrying about an
emerging rift between the United States and Europe. But one should
not lose sight of the really quite amazing exercise in
institution-building that has been going on over the past 10 years.

This process is not, however – or should not be – at an end. The
simple reason is that while the strides have been tremendous, the job
is not yet finished. Too much of Europe is still out in the cold:
riven by conflict, beset by governments that range from inefficient
and corrupt to much worse [in the case of Belarus’ Alexander
Lukashenko, Europe’s last dictator, a tyrant of the first rank], or
simply not far enough along on the path of reform to have won a place
in the European Union or NATO.

One of the most encouraging signs is that, overwhelmingly, those
countries newly joining the institutions of the West have been
committed to serving as advocates for those aspiring to do so. This
was readily apparent after the 1999 round of NATO enlargement, when
new members Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic worked to advance
the case of the so-called V-10, the 10 countries hoping to join in
the next round [seven of which became members]. Now, successful V-10
members such as Slovakia are taking a lead role on behalf of the
three left out and others possibly still to come.

The work that needs to be done is considerable. Democracy in the
Balkans is still very much a work in progress, especially with the
alarming flare-up of ethnic violence in Kosovo last week. Slovenia,
the lone V-10 country not participating in the Bratislava conference,
last week welcomed the odious Mr. Lukashenko on a visit, defying an
EU ban [Slovenia not yet technically being a member]. Cynicism of
that order, though rare, is certainly unhelpful, especially when
courageous Belarus dissidents, such as Irina Krasovskaya, are trying
to mobilize to bring to their country the freedoms Slovenia seems to
take for granted.

The Black Sea region features both the lingering dispute between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the more hopeful case of Georgia.
Georgia’s new president, Mikhail Saakashvili, did a star turn at the
podium, discarding his prepared remarks and instead describing the
remarkable few days he had just been through at home. A local
strongman sought to prevent the president’s entry into “his”
territory. After a tense standoff and some tough talk and action from
Mr. Saakashvili, the strongman backed down. Mr. Saakashvili went in –
and was greeted by thousands of supporters cheering and waving roses,
the symbol of Georgia’s “Rose Revolution.” “Within two days the whole
population was mobilized,” he said. “Shoot at us if you want, we
won’t stop … Freedom can always defeat violence.”

How wide is “wider Europe”? That’s hard to say. But the message out
of Slovakia is that we will all be better off if we keep probing to
find out, rather than draw new lines marking an “in” group and an
“out” group. Though it may take some getting used to, Bratislava is
actually at the very heart of Europe. The map doesn’t lie, and
neither do the political realities.

* Tod Lindberg is the editor of Policy Review magazine and a research
fellow at the Hoover Institution. His column appears on Tuesdays.
E-mail: [email protected].

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 23, 2004 Tuesday 7:25 AM Eastern Time

Command staff exercise of Armenia army begins

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN, March 23

The command staff exercise of the Armenian Armed Forces began on the
whole territory of this Caucasian country on Tuesday.

The war games will last till Saturday, spokesman for the Defence
Minister Seiran Shakhsuvaryan told Itar-Tass. They are held as part
of the army combat training programme for 2004. Technical, rear and
medical units are involved in the drill. Armed Forces Chief of staff
and First Deputy Defence Minister Colonel-General Mikhail Arutyunyan
is in the head of the exercise.

The call-up of mobilization resources is held under the plan of the
drill in order to reinforce troops on Tuesday. This is one of issues
worked out at the first stage of the drill, the spokesman emphasized.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
March 23, 2004 Tuesday

EU Representative for South Caucasus comes to Armenia

By Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN

EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie will
discuss Armenia’s European integration and political dialog with the
European Union during a three-day working visit to Yerevan, which
began on Tuesday.

Talvitie has met with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan to
discuss prospects for the South Caucasian affiliation to the EU
program “Enlarging Europe: New Neighbors.” The minister thinks that
the European context will be useful in settling regional conflicts.

The Karabakh settlement was a separate item on the agenda.

Talvitie will also meet with the Armenian president and other
officials.

M2 PRESSWIRE
March 23, 2004

US DEPT OF STATE
Deputy Secretary Richard L. Armitage to travel to Caucasus and
Ukraine – Press Statement – Richard Boucher

Deputy Secretary Richard L. Armitage will travel to Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Ukraine this week. He will depart Washington March 24
and return March 27.

Deputy Secretary Armitage will travel first to Kiev, Ukraine and then
continue on to Yerevan, Armenia and Baku, Azerbaijan.

During this trip, he will meet with senior host government officials,
as well as with other political leaders and groups that promote
democracy and civil society.

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information
provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties.
Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at
on the world wide web. Inquiries to
[email protected])).

Associated Press Worldstream
March 22, 2004 Monday

U.S. State Department official to visit Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON

The top deputy for Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit
Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan this week, the State Department
announced Monday.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage will depart Wednesday
for Kiev, Ukraine, and then will travel on to Yerevan, Armenia and
Baku, Azerbaijan, returning to the United States on Saturday, State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

Armitage will meet with senior government officials in all three
countries, as well as political leaders and pro-democracy groups,
Boucher said.

While Ukraine opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq, it now has the
third-largest non-American contingent there, with 1,650 Ukrainian
troops serving in the Polish-led force patrolling southern Iraq.
Azerbaijan is a key U.S. partner in the Caucasus as the starting
point of an oil pipeline through Georgia to Turkey that is under
construction and has drawn strong Washington support.

The United States last week announced plans to hold joint
U.S.-Azerbaijan military exercises with land and navy forces as part
of two country’s strategic partnership. Officials did not specify
when the exercises would be held.

In Armenia, the United States said earlier this month that it will
provide US$1 million to increase security at the former Soviet
republic’s only nuclear power plant.

Musheg Shaginian, deputy general director of the power plant, said
that the money would be provided as part of a U.S. Department of
Energy program aimed at increasing the safety of nuclear stations in
the former Soviet Union.

Armenia plans to use the funding to help pay for the scheduled
modernization of the plant’s physical defenses aimed at preventing
any terrorist attacks. The work is scheduled to take place between
2004-2005.

ARKA News Agency
March 23 2004

Italian Parliament creates group of friendship Italia-Armenia

Monitoring of contact line of NKR and Azeri Armed Forces takes place
without violation of cease fire regime

Seminar «Processes of Public Policy and Their Analysis» to take place
in Yerevan on April 2-3

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

ITALIAN PARLIAMENT CREATES GROUP OF FRIENDSHIP ITALIA-ARMENIA

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. RA NA Chairman Arthur Baghdasarian and
Italian Ambassador to RA Marco Clementi discussed issues of oncoming
visit of the Speaker in Italy, RA NA told ARKA. Clementi noted that
Italy is very interested in oncoming visit. Particularly, on the
initiative of the Chairman of Chamber of Deputies of Italian
Parliament Peir Ferdinando Casini, group of friendship Italy-Armenia
is being created in Italian Parliament. In the frames of the visit
Armenian delegation will visit Toskana and Venice. L.D. -0 –

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

MONITORING OF CONTACT LINE OF NKR AND AZERI ARMED FORCES TAKES PLACE
WITHOUT VIOLATION OF CEASE FIRE REGIME

STEPANAKERT, March 23. /ARKA/. Regular monitoring of contact line of
NKR and Azeri Armed Forces took place without violation of cease-fire
regime, NKR MFA told ARKA. Monitoring from the position of NKR
Defence Army was conducted by field assistance of OSCE acting
chairman Kennet Pickels (GB) and Gennadi Korj (Ukraine). L.D. -0 –

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

SEMINAR «PROCESSES OF PUBLIC POLICY AND THEIR ANALYSIS» TO TAKE PLACE
IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 2-3

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. Seminar «Processes of Public Policy and
Their Analysis» will take place in Yerevan on April 2-3. The seminar
is organized by Caucasus Research Resource Centers-Armenia. The
seminar envisages discussion of the following issues – joining of
experts and process of development of public policy, organization and
management of independent analysis of public policy, freedom of
information, transparency and role of mass media in public policy.
Public organizations, research and educational institutions and
representatives of administration and legislation bodies will take
part in the work of the seminar. L.D. -0 –

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/23/2004
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1) EU Envoy Discusses Pending Reforms, Karabagh Regulation
2) New Coalition in Armenia Examines Armenian Case
3) Turkey Allows Certain Foreigners to Purchase Land
4) Armenians in Venice to Highlight Save Venice 2004
5) Students walk out as AGBU Announces Melkonian Closure

1) EU Envoy Discusses Pending Reforms, Karabagh Regulation

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–The European Union’s (EU) chief representative to the South
Caucasus Heikki Talvitie, who is in Yerevan on a regular fact-finding tour of
the region, met with Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and the two deputy
speakers of the Armenian parliament. The anticipated inclusion of the three
Caucasian states in the EU’s Wider European program of privileged ties with
new
neighbors was again high on the agenda of the talks.
Talvitie said that he discussed with vice-speakers Tigran Torosian and Vahan
Hovannisian efforts to amend Armenia’s constitution and a controversial
government bill on public gatherings pending debate in the National Assembly.
Torosian said that the draft legislation will fully correspond to European
principles and standards before presented to parliament for consideration. He
said it is currently being examined by the Venice Commission of the Council of
Europe which monitors legislative reforms in Armenia.
Unlike the Council of Europe, the EU until recently avoided close involvement
in the promotion of Armenia’s democratization, but indicated last January its
readiness to extend the Wider Europe initiative to Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia. Membership in the scheme would require commitments on both economic
and political reform from the three ex-Soviet states.
A senior member of the Armenian parliament, ARF’s Armen Rustamian, announced
last week that Yerevan is ready to assume them. Torosian echoed the pledge.
“It
is obvious that we don’t pass this stage successfully, talk of a future
membership of the European Union will remain a wishful thinking,” he said.
Oskanian, for his part, told the EU envoy that the Wider Europe strategy will
facilitate a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Mountainous Karabagh and
elsewhere in the region. A Foreign Ministry statement said he and Talvitie had
a “detailed” discussion on Karabagh. Talvitie also held a separate meeting
with
Deputy Foreign Minister Tatul Markarian, who represents Armenia in the
Karabagh
peace talks; the two mainly discussed regulation of the conflict.

2) New Coalition in Armenia Examines Armenian Case

TURKEY MUST PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND MORAL RESTITUTION, SAYS ARF’S MANOYAN

A new coalition of Eastern Studies Experts, who have united to examine the
Armenian Case, met on Tuesday at Yerevan State University to discuss the
Armenian Case in a contemporary light, and priorities of Armenian National
Committee (ANC) offices. Armenian Revolutionay Federation (ARF) Bureau
Political and Hai Tahd Office Director Giro Manoyan, presented the activities
of the Washington, DC, Moscow, and Brussels ANC offices that primarily advance
Armenian Genocide recognition issues, and strive to protect the rights of
Armenians in Mountainous Karabagh Republic and Javakhk.
Various countries have already passed legislation recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, informed Manoyan, but the ANC strives to gain the support of an
increasing number of countries.
Speaking about the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission (TARC), Manoyan
said that it counters the work of the ANC–not because the ARF opposes
reconciliation, but objects to TARC’s approach. “Nowhere in the purpose of
that
commission is the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.”
Addressing the recent denial of the Armenian Genocide by the UK Ambassador to
Armenia, Manoyan found her actions not only unacceptable but also offensive to
all Armenians. “It is nothing but failed diplomacy,” he said. The ambassador’s
statement that the 1915 massacre of more than one million Armenians in Ottoman
Turkey was not a genocide, has cause worldwide fury among Armenians.
“The Armenian National Committee’s priority is to convince the international
community that Turkey is responsible for the Armenian Genocide–and is
obligated to provide both moral and financial restitution,” concluded Manoyan.

3) Turkey Allows Certain Foreigners to Purchase Land

TURKEY–The Turkish “Radikal” newspaper reported on Tuesday that foreigners
will be allowed to purchase land in Turkey, but that the government will
strictly monitor those who apply to acquire land. In fact, a commission was
created on December 24, 2003, to monitor those foreigners who seek to purchase
land.
Forming the commission are representatives from the ministries of defense,
interior, foreign affairs, and justice, Turkey’s national Security Council,
secret service (MIT), military heads, as well as representatives of offices
dealing with property issues.
The commission will scrutinize the possible intent and future plans of those
non-Turkish citizens who wish to purchase property, and has formed a list of
important and strategic locations that can not be sold to outsiders.
While some processes will be simplified for foreigners, limitations will also
be enforced. For example, having recently reviewed the purchase of land in the
village of Alanya by 13,000 Germans, as well as the purchase of
Government-owned farms by Israelis and Armenians, the commission recently
decided that citizens of 35 countries–including Armenia–will be not be
allowed to purchase property in Turkey. Others include citizens of Iran, Iraq,
Afghanistan, Algeria, India, Cuba, Greece, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia. Citizens
from countries welcomed to purchase land include Germany, United States,
United
Kingdom, France, Italy, Panama, Uruguay, Belize, Benin, and the Central
African
Republic.

4) Armenians in Venice to Highlight Save Venice 2004

NEW YORK–Save Venice, a 35-year-old organization dedicated to supporting
conservation projects in Venice, will present a five day celebration of the
magnificent city’s history and treasures, August 29 through September 2, 2004.
The Gala week will feature an extraordinary Armenian dimension, in recognition
of Laurel and Walter Karabian’s major participation.
“We are very grateful to the Karabians for introducing us to the rich legacy
of the Armenians of Venice. Our membership is always eager to discover more
about the diverse cultures that make this city so fascinating,” expressed
Randolph H. Guthrie, Chairman of Save Venice, Inc. “The presence of Armenians
in Venice for nearly 1500 years can be seen in some of this exquisite city’s
most interesting locations.
More than 1,000 years before the Abbot Mekhitar founded his monastery on the
Island of San Lazzaro, Armenians were already leaving important footprints in
Venice. Armenian contributions began in 551 AD when the Byzantine Emperor
Justinian appointed his trusted aide Nerses the Armenian as Viceroy. Among
Nerses’s great contributions was the foundation of the first church ever built
on the site of St. Mark’s square. In Nerses’s footprint came the architect
Sahag, who built the Church of Santa Maria dell’Assunta on the Island of
Torcello, the oldest surviving building in the Venetian lagoon. This basilica
was consecrated in 639 AD by Isaac, the Armenian Exarch of Ravenna.
From Armenia’s strategic position on the Silk Road, Armenian traders and
translators frequently interacted with Venetians including the great explorer
Marco Polo. The Armenians established their own quarters near San Marco, which
soon included an Apostolic Church, Holy Cross of the Armenians, on a street
appropriately named Calle degli Armeni.
The Mekhitarian Monastery on the Island of San Lazzaro is today the most
prominent remnant from what was by the end of the 17th century a community of
10,000 Venetian-Armenians. From 1816 to 1818, Lord Byron studied at San
Lazzaro, learning the Armenian language and assisting the monks with the
publication of an English-Armenian dictionary. The great seascape painter Ivan
Aivazovsky (Hovhannes Aivazian), while visiting his brother Archbishop Gabriel
Aivazovsky, immortalized the Island and the Venetian lagoon in numerous
magnificent paintings. A number of Aivazovsky’s most famous paintings can be
found in the monastery of San Lazzaro, along with the artifacts sent by
Armenians from around the globe for safekeeping in this amazing repository of
Armenian culture. The San Lazzaro Library, art collections and printing press
are legendary in the Armenian Diaspora for what they have preserved and
perpetuated.
The 2004 Save Venice Gala will include a luncheon in the gardens of the
Mekhitarian Monastery on the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni hosted by the
Karabians, followed by a special tour of the island’s many treasures and a
walking tour highlighted by the historical importance of Armenians in Venive.
In addition, there will be a visit to the beautigul town of Udine with its
frescoes by Tiepolo, followed by a luncheon at the charming Villa Gallici,
visits to Venetian palaces, a private concert by the outstanding Venice
Barouque Orchestra, a dinner at Palazzo Ducale, luncheon at the Hotel Cipriani
and the final night’s festivities at the incomparable candlelit Palazzo Pisani
Moretta.
Tickets cost $3,250, of which $1500 is tax deductible, and cover
participation
in all the activities of the five day Gala. Children under 17 can attend all
events except the Gala for a $500 ticket, and young adults age 17 to 39, can
purchase tickets for all events including that Gala for $1500 per person.
Travel and hotel arrangements are the guest’s own responsibility. To
receive an
invitation package, please send a request by email to Karen Marshall at
[email protected]. For more information regarding travel or group
arrangements, please call Garbis Titizian at Levon Travel (800) 445-3866.

5) Students walk out as AGBU Announces Melkonian Closure

NICOSIA (Gibrahayer)–Over 200 students of the Melkonian Institute walked out
of their classes Tuesday after news emerged that a US-based foundation that
runs the 78-year-old school in Nicosia has decided to shut it down in June
2005, and will sell the prime assets, whisking up to $80 million out of
Cyprus.
Holding placards condemning the sale, students stood at the main gate and in
front of the founder’s mausoleum, chanting “Melkonian Not for Sale.”
Headquartered in New York, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) which
has managed the Melkonian Institute since 1928, has decided to close the
historic school in 16 months time, without providing sufficient justification
for its move.
In an official announcement, the AGBU-NY said that after “extensive
deliberations and thorough assessment, the Central Board has resolved
unanimously to discontinue MEI in June 2005. This decision is based largely on
the Board’s conclusion that MEI no longer meets the challenges of its mission
in the present context of the Armenian world.”
The decision is hotly challenged by the worldwide Melkonian Alumni and
Armenian Diaspora organizations, with the Cyprus Alumni employing all means to
overturn the decision.
The Cyprus government, all political parties, and leading Greek Cypriot
personalities support the efforts of the Armenian community to keep Melkonian
open, considering the school a part of their national heritage and culture of
the island.
Last month, a government cabinet, headed by President Tassos Papadopoulos,
allocated an additional aid package to keep Melkonian in Cyprus.
Alumni representatives say the core issue is the prime land on which the
school is located and the intention of the AGBU to sell the land and whisk up
to $80 million out of Cyprus, to use for unspecified purposes. They said that
the move also violates the provisions of the will of the Melkonian brothers,
who established the school in 1926, initially as an orphanage for children
surviving the Genocide.
The Alumni intends to bring in international experts to strengthen its
defense, as it moves to contest the decision and block sale plans in courts,
and has already sought legal advice from law firms in Cyprus and abroad.
“It is not just a matter of the sale of the land and the flight of some 80
million dollars to the US, in violation of a 1926 will by the founders, but
also abuse of the rights of Armenian children who are being deprived of their
human right to a fair education based on their cultural heritage,” says the
Alumni.
The local Armenian community plans a mass demonstration on March 24 in front
of Melkonian to show its disdain at the decision, and to raise awareness among
the Cypriot population to ignore a press marketing campaign employed by the
US-based organization.
Melkonian students are facing the risk of being expelled, according to Masis
Der Parthogh, the vice president of the school’s Alumni Association.
He argued that officials of the AGBU based in New York have sent warning
messages that they would expel any school children who take part in any
activities or demonstrations opposed to the Melkonian’s closure.
The same students, however, seem fearless of any repercussions as they stayed
away from classes yesterday and the day before.
Furthermore, they are getting ready to take part in the large
demonstration on
Wednesday. The vice president of the Alumni, whose daughter is also a student
at the school, said that the children have lost their will to attend classes,
as they know that in fifteen months’ time, their school will be shut down. He
added, however, that the Armenian community of Cyprus will not give up so
easily and will use every legal means possible to overturn the decision.
Meanwhile, the Alumni Association recently sent a letter to the Presidential
Palace, protesting that the agency handling public relations for AGBU has
strong ties to a leading political state official.
Local TV and radio stations, as well as Cypriot press have given widespread
coverage to the sale of Melkonian.

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PRESS RELEASE
ASSEMBLYMAN STEVE SAMUELIAN’S OFFICE
State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814
Contact: Tony Lee
Tel: (559) 240-1903

March 10, 2004

Samuelian Comments on New York Life Insurance Company’s Settlement

Armenian Policyholders who perished during the Armenian Genocide One Step
Closer to Justice

Fresno – California State Assemblymember Steve Samuelian (R-Clovis) released
a statement recently regarding the State’s Insurance Commissioner, John
Garamendi’s announcement that a $20 million dollar settlement on behalf of
survivors of victims of the Armenian Genocide was reached. In his statement,
Samuelian expressed his satisfaction with the long-awaited outcome of the
litigation between the descendants of the victims of the Armenian Genocide
and the New York Life Insurance Company and went on to commended all
involved who worked relentlessly to insure that New York Life be held
accountable to it’s former policyholders.

In particular, Samuelian commended the lead plaintiff Mr. Martin Marootian,
who in 1999 along with his friend and attorney Vartges Yeghiayan, initiated
widely-publicized lawsuit against the insurance company on behalf of his
uncle, a victim of the Armenian Genocide.

Marootian’s uncle’s case is one of thousands that spans clear back to
shortly before the beginning of World War I. It was then, that the New York
Life Insurance Company began selling thousands of life insurance policies to
Armenians living in the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The War, sparked
international chaos, and allowed the Turkish government the opportunity to
initiate the systematic genocide campaign of more than a million Armenians
in 1915. Thousands of those that perished happened to be policyholders with
New York Life, but the Company disavowed any obligation to the victims and
more than 2,200 policies went “unresolved” till 1999, when Marootian began
his pursuit of justice.

Marootian’s seemingly simple case became increasingly complicated. Had it
not been for the intervention of many prominent attorneys, elected officials
who enacted new legislation, and the backing of an increasingly powerful
Armenian community and its grassroots organizations, Marootian’s endeavor
would not have ended so successfully.

In his statement, Assemblymember Samuelian said, “I commend Mr. Marootian,
along with all of the attorneys, the families of those involved, and the
fine grassroots organizations such as the Armenian National Committee of
America and the Armenian Assembly who led the public charge to raise
awareness of this issue.” Samuelian also said, “I am glad that the New York
Life Insurance Company made a principled decision to properly honor the
memory of it’s former policyholders through this $20 million restitution
settlement. Those 1.5 million innocent lives that perished at the hands of
the Ottoman Turk Government during the Armenian Genocide of 1915 were
indeed, as New York Life’s then Vice-President put it – “prematurely
terminated” at the hands of the Turks” and thus entitled to full payment of
their life insurance policies. This settlement does not vanquish the pain of
the descendents of those who were massacred but it does restore one’s faith,
that in the end, justice prevails.”

# # #

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
March 23 2004

Talvitie meets with Azeri officials

Baku Today 23/03/2004 11:08

Integrating into the European Union is Azerbaijan’s strategic choice,
have said Azerbaijani president when receiving European Union’s
special representative for South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie yesterday,
according to ANS.
Earlier today Talvitie has met with Azeri foreign minister Vilayayt
Guliyev. Talvittie said, at a press conference following the meeting
that the sides have talked about Karabakh conflict.
Talvitie has been visiting Azerbaijan since March 18, 2004.
He met with leader of Karabakh’s Azeri community Nizami Bahmanov on
March 19,2004.

The Georgian Messenger
23 March 2004

British Airways throws in the towel

By Allison Ekberg
Despite an announcement in February that after a one-year break in service,
British Mediterranean would restore air traffic between Tbilisi
and London in March, senior managers from the carrier were unable to
finalize the resumption of services during a visit to Tbilisi last week
and have announced that the company will not return to Georgia. “In spite of
the ongoing and resolute efforts of the British Embassy in Georgia, the
British government, the new Georgian government and British Mediterranean
Airways to resolve this situation, the Georgian Civil Aviation Authorities
[CAA] remained determined to obstruct the resumption of air services between
Georgia and the United Kingdom by British Mediterranean Airways,” reads the
statement issued on Monday. British Mediterranean Airways (BMed), which
operates under a
franchise agreement with British Airways argues that the reasons given by
the CAA over the past year for denying their permit have constantly
changed and that most recently they demanded “an exceptionally high number
of documents including some that are not permitted under the Air Service
Agreement (ASA).” The ASA is the International Treaty that governs air
services between countries. The British carrier also objects to requests for
a commercial agreement with Airzena arguing that under the recently
negotiated Air Service Agreement “there is no
requirement for us to enter into commercial cooperation in any form.”

While British Airways states that it would be willing to discuss mutually
beneficial cooperation with Airzena after flights are resumed, they
“will not however cooperate in a manner that financially and commercially
disadvantages our company.” “These facts have been communicated to the
Georgian government at the highest levels,” says British Airways. Despite
the fact that a decree was signed by the
current Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze when she was interim
president, the return of the airline remained the subject of controversy.
Opponents maintain that local companies are short-changed by this agreement,
though others note that the issue is of political and economic importance to
Georgia and that resolving it in this way is in the strategic interests of
the country and its future economic development, including attractiveness to
investors. The new government has repeatedly stated its interest in
re-establishing relationships with foreign companies. “I am not afraid of
lobbying for British Airways and Turkish Airlines because I believe that
settling this issue is crucial for our integration into Europe,” Parliament
Speaker Nino Burjanadze told journalists in February. The speaker told The
Messenger that while she already signed the decree, she would fully legalize
it by passing it through Parliament as well. The outgoing Parliament failed
to approve the decree this year due to the lack of a quorum. In March 2003,
British Airways and Turkish Airlines (Turkish later re-turned) were forced
to discontinue flights to and from Tbilisi when the Parliament voted not to
extend their flight permits. The reason for this was complicated but
included disagreements over the
nature of Commercial Agreements and observation of the “parity principle”
between foreign and domestic companies. According to this principle, if
Georgian Airlines did not carry out as many flights as a foreign carrier,
the latter was obliged to pay financial compensation.
Some Georgian authorities also alleged that the British and Turkish
companies received extra privileges and as a result Georgia did not
collect the tax revenues it should according to international practices.

It was also reported at the time that BMed had problems with the Georgian
Tax Department. On Monday the companysaid that the taxation is-sue raised by
the previous government “never had any substance.” The company adds that
through meetings with the Ministry of Finance and Tax Department “we have
agreed to a satisfactory resolution of this issue.” Reached at the time for
comment, Temur Tetradze, Head of the Transportation Department of the CAA
told The Messenger, “we are following the decision of the
Parliament.Parliament issued the order to restrict the flights.” Just last
week the former head of the Civil Aviation Administration Zurab Chankotadze
was sentenced to three months pre-trial detention in connection with
charges that he exceeded his official duties, is guilty of mismanagement and
stole over GEL 750,000 from
the state budget. British Airways claims that due to many years of
continuous difficulties with the Georgian Civil Aviation Administration it
has been unable to increaseits investment in Georgia where it previously
operated three flights a week compared to seven flights a week to Baku.
While it would consider resumption of services if there are “positive
changes in the Civil Aviation Administration,” it adds that “if the business
environment does not significantly change, it is unlikely that we will
resume flights between Tbilisi and London.

British Airway’s Tbilisi office will remain open through March 31, 2004
after which passengers should contact the British Airway’s office in
Yerevan.