A1 Plus | 19:50:59 | 03-11-2004 | Politics |
ONE DAY DASHNAKS WILL REVEAL SECRETS…
The situation in Armenia, especially slow progress in social and
economic issues solution as well as in struggle against corruption,
was strongly criticized at Dashnaktsutyun party caucus held October 28
to 31.
Despite clear evidence of corruption in the government, the party
declined to give corrupted ministers’ names. Dashnak Armen Rustamyan
says when time come they will be named publicly.

A1 Plus | 20:17:52 | 03-11-2004 | Politics |
DASHNAKTSUTYUN OPPOSED
On Wednesday, Dashnaktsutyun party representative Armen Rustamyan told
journalists the party remained opposed to idea of opening
Armenian-Turkish border. The party is also opposed to Armenian
government decision to send soldiers to Iraq.
The party is critical about Armenia’s state policy on the Armenians
living in Georgian Javakhk province, Rustamyan said.
The party is also unhappy about the constitutional amendments
discussion course as well as about their coalition fellow members’
stance on electoral code. More then that, if consensus is not reached
on amendments proposed by the Dashnaktsutyun, the party can quit the
coalition.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 19:33:09 | 03-11-2004 | Politics |
DASHNAK RUSTAMYAN SPEAKING
On Wednesday, Dashnaktsutyun party board member Armen Rustamyan,
speaking at a news conference, said the party stated at its recent
caucus that the ruling coalition had failed to put into reality a
considerable part of its memorandum.
Dashnaktsutyun is one of Armenian ruling coalition parties.
At the same time, he noted with satisfaction political situation in
Armenia had been brought to normal and the country’s position in the
world strengthened.
It is very important, as there are many challenges coming from the
outside, Tustamyan said. In his words, these challenges can grow more
serious and dangerous. That is why Armenia’s political forces should
reach consolidation, he concluded.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT BUSH
— Urges Administration to Pursue a More Constructive
Approach to Armenian American Issues in Second Term
“If Armenian history has taught us anything,
it is that we may not win every battle, but
the surest way to lose every one is to sit on
the sidelines.” – ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee Of America (ANCA)
today congratulated President Bush on his election victory, thanked
Senator Kerry for a hard fought election campaign, and praised the
Armenian American community for an unprecedented level of activism
in this season’s electoral contests.
“Throughout the course of this highly competitive election season,
George W. Bush fought to advance his ideals, John Kerry fought for
what he believes in, and so did we – out there are the front lines
of American politics, fighting hard for the values and interests of
the Armenian American community,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.
“As a result of our unprecedented electoral involvement, we have
emerged from this contest having earned the respect of both
parties, and of political insiders across the spectrum, as a
vibrant, extremely well organized, and highly motivated electoral
constituency at the presidential election level.”
Commenting on the outcome of the election, Hachikian noted that,
“While, of course, having endorsed Senator Kerry, we would have
liked to see a different outcome, we understand that for our
community the fundamental truth for Armenian Americans remains that
the key to this election – like all elections – is to understand
that our future rests in our hands. Sometimes the candidates we
support will win, other times they won’t. But we – the ANCA – will
always be out there – on the front lines, working with all sides to
advance our issues across the American political landscape.” He
closed by noting that, “If Armenian history has taught us anything,
it is that – we may not win every battle, but the sure way to lose
every one is to sit on the sidelines.”

Armenian minister says ties with USA not to depend on presidential poll
outcome
Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
3 Nov 04
[Presenter] The US embassy in Armenia is watching the US presidential
elections since early this morning. The embassy has also invited
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan and members of various
political organizations.
What is the significance of the US presidential elections to Armenia?
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said that it is not all that
important to our county.
[Serzh Sarkisyan] The USA is not a country the outcome of the
presidential election in which can influence the country’s policies. I
think that our relations will develop and deepen, especially in the
military sphere. Once again I would like to reiterate that the
relations between the USA and Armenia in the military sphere will not
depend on the outcome of the US presidential elections.

Conflicting reports on Armenia’s chemical giant
Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
2 Nov 04
One can hardly think of a plant’s obituary being announced.
This is precisely what the director-general of the Armenian power
network, Yevgeniy Gladunchik, did yesterday [1 November].
“We are very much worried about what is taking place with [Armenia’s
chemical giant] Nairit today. I am afraid I won’t even be able to name
the owner of Nairit. It’s last owner [Russian] Volgaburmash has
abandoned Nairit. In other words, today Nairit has no owner. It is
being provided with power, we have to supply the power to protect the
environment. The plant has not been operating since August. The
promise made by the previous owner was a bluff. We did everything we
could for Nairit to function. All in vain. Nairit is not
working. Today an order was given to disconnect Nairit. The plant is
dead, unfortunately. This is a great loss to us,” Mr Gladunchik told
a press conference yesterday.
[Passage omitted: Nairit is the major power consumer and its closure
is a big financial loss]
But did Nairit really die? It is clear that the report was a little
bit exaggerated. “The statement that Volgaburmash rejected the Nairit
shares does not correspond to reality,” the leader of the
“Haykapbank”, Arutyun Mesropyan, said. This bank is connected with
Nairit in so many ways that both have became the property of
Volgaburmush. According to Mesropyan, they did not receive any
official statements from Volgaburmush that it is no longer interested
in Nairit . “Moreover, talks are under way,” Mesropyan said, but he
did not divulge any details of the talks or named the parties
involved. As to the statement that Nairit has not been functioning
since August, Mesropyan said the plant can resume work any moment now,
but he did not explain why it does not do so.
Yesterday Gladunchik said that Nairit is now the biggest debtor to the
Armenian energy network. It owes about 800m Armenian drams or more
than 1.5m US dollars. That is why the director of the Armenian energy
network read out the obituary about Nairit.
[Passage omitted: Mesropyan vows Nairit will pay off the debts given a
chance]

Azeri leader says UN debates on Karabakh won’t replace OSCE mediation
Turan news agency
3 Nov 04
BAKU
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has confirmed that Baku adheres to
the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict within the
framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Discussions of the situation on the occupied territories at the UN
General Assembly will not inflict “damage” on the Minsk process, he
said, commenting on Azerbaijan’s initiative to include the issue on
the agenda of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly.
Ilham Aliyev is confident that this would have a positive impact on
the negotiations. “Everyone should realize that Armenia has occupied
Azerbaijani territories and this injustice and violation of
international legal norms should be eliminated,” Aliyev stressed.
Discussions on the Karabakh settlement should be as extensive as
possible and should be held at different international organizations –
in the UN, the European Union, the Council of Europe etc., he
said. Aliyev noted that the UN is “the most influential” and the
largest international organization which had already adopted four
resolutions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
“Although Armenia ignores the UN resolutions, the discussions of the
problem in the UN is a positive fact. I do not think that this
initiative is aimed at replacing the OSCE Minsk Group with another
body,” Aliyev said.

Karabakh rules out US troops’ deployment at Armenian-controlled Azeri lands
Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, Yerevan
3 Nov 04

Hanrapetutyun headlined “We will defend every inch of land”
Speaking to journalists about his thoughts on current military and
political developments in the region, the defence minister of the
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR], Seyran Oganyan, has said that given
the existing military and political realities, the negotiations on the
Karabakh issue suggest a simple option: always to have a strong and
combat-capable army. “This is a very significant state process, and
not only the military, but entire society should be interested in
implementing it,” the defence minister stressed.
At the same time, Oganyan expressed his concern about frequent
bellicose statements by Azerbaijani officials. The cease-fire has been
in force since May 1994 and the enemy that cannot agree with its
defeat has been making a stir, he added. Oganyan described statements
of this kind as “a result of short-sightedness or at best poor
knowledge of details of the Karabakh issue”. We have the strong army
and the people at its rear, he said.
“I think it is necessary to note that 99 per cent of the personnel
during the last exercises were conscripts. This testifies to the fact
that people are ready to fulfil their obligations relevantly not only
during military exercises, but in case of any danger too…[ellipsis
as published].”
“We are ready to confront any attempt…[ellipsis as published],” the
minister added.
Asked whether a report by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, which
allegedly said that “talks are being conducted on the deployment of
the US troops at the liberated territories [Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories] bordering Karabakh”, was true, the minister said: “I
realize that they, particularly, mean Cabrayil, Zangilan, Qubadli and
other districts. I should say that Baku’s claim is absolutely
groundless. We are in full control of the aforesaid territories.
Incidentally, quite a strong defence system has been established in
this sector. We have military units with relevant combat readiness
and we will stay there to the bitter end”.
“I would even say that we will defend every inch of the land, where we
have shed blood, to the bitter end,” the NKR defence minister added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US envoy says strategic partnership with Azerbaijan to continue after polls
MPA news agency
3 Nov 04
BAKU
“Strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the USA will continue
irrespective of who will become the new US president,” the head of the
US diplomatic mission, Reno Harnish, told a news conference today. He
said that Bush and Kerry had stated their recognition of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and their intention to continue cooperation in
the delivery of Azerbaijan’s energy resources to world markets. The
interests of Washington and Baku coincide in many aspects, in
particular in the implementation of energy projects and antiterror
fight, Harnish noted.
Mr Harnish stressed that even if George Bush was re-elected for a
second term, some changes would be made to the US foreign
policy. However, both candidates state that they will continue to
fight terrorism persistently. Azerbaijan plays a significant role in
this process and therefore, it remains an important partner of the
USA.
Commenting on the possibility of the repeal of Section 907 [of the
Freedom Support Act banning direct US aid to the Azerbaijani
government], the US ambassador said that its suspension in 2001 had
played a fundamental role in the development of US-Azerbaijani
relations. But it is up to the Congress to repeal the section.
Speaking about the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the ambassador said
that the USA wanted the peace talks to continue and to succeed and
promised that the USA would join the process in a new format.

Armenia sets up public organization against terror
Arminfo
2 Nov 04

YEREVAN
The Armenians against terror antiterrorist public organization has
been set up in Armenia.
The deputy chairman of the Armenians against terror public
organization, Eduard Polatov, told an Arminfo correspondent today that
the Armenians are a nation that has repeatedly and largely suffered
from terrorism, which is proved by history. There are enough facts
from the 19th century, as well as from the beginning and end of the
20th century. For this reason, historical memory compels the Armenians
to actively participate in the fight against terror, Eduard Polatov
said.
He also said that the Armenians against terror public organization
wished to cooperate with anyone “who is not indifferent to the future
of mankind”. According to a statement adopted at the founding
congress of the organization, mankind will confine itself to
indignation and compassion until the world community counters the
well-organized terrorist system with its consolidated efforts.
The organization unconditionally condemns criminal acts that have
killed dozens of thousands of people, as well as the practice of
terrorism, and expresses its determination to cooperate with all
organizations and people who are not indifferent to their own security
and to the security of their loved ones.
“Our many-sided and coordinated cooperation will inevitably compel us
to seek and find together effective ways of preventing possible
terrorist acts both in Armenia and abroad. The totality of the
challenge dictates the totality of the answer,” the Armenians against
terror organization says in the statement.