News24, South Africa
Sept 22 2004
On this day
Highlights in history on this date:
1992 – Azerbaijani-armed forces mount an offensive against the
disputed enclave Nagorno-Karabakh.
2001 – Pope John Paul II visits Kazakhstan and Armenia and cautions
against allowing September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States
to create divisions between Muslims and Christians.
1499 – Turks ravage Vicenza in Italy.
1550 – Holy Roman Empire fleet captures vessel Port of Africa at
Mehedia in Tunis, naval headquarters of Turkish corsair Dragut.
1609 – The king of Spain orders the deportation of the baptised
former Muslims known as Moriscos.
1711 – Rio de Janeiro is captured by the French.
1792 – French Republic is proclaimed and revolutionary calendar goes
into effect.
1862 – US President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation
Proclamation, declaring all slaves in the Confederate States free as
of January 1, 1863.
1914 – A German submarine sinks three British cruisers in one hour
off the Dutch coast; The German cruiser Emden shells Madras in India.
1927 – Slavery is abolished in Sierra Leone in Africa.
1940 – The Vichy French governor-general concludes an agreement that
makes Indochina the largest Japanese military staging ground in
southeast Asia.
1943 – The German battleship Tirpitz is disabled by British midget
submarines in a Norwegian fjord.
1949 – The Soviet Union explodes its first atomic bomb.
1955 – Hurricane Janet, the most violent Caribbean hurricane of the
season, causes almost 600 deaths around the islands.
1960 – A US Marine Corps DC-6 plane en route from Japan to the
Philippines crashes in the ocean 290km south of Okinawa. All 29
passengers are killed.
1965 – A cease-fire is declared in the war between India and
Pakistan, but both sides subsequently violate it.
1970 – Arab chiefs of state send envoys to meet with King Hussein and
Yasser Arafat to persuade them to find a way to contain the fighting
between the Jordanian Army and Palestinian guerrillas.
1974 – Official death toll in hurricane that swept Honduras is put at
5 000.
1975 – Sara Jane Moore fails in an attempt to shoot US President
Gerald Ford outside a San Francisco hotel.
1980 – Iraqi tanks enter Iran, marking the beginning of the Iran-Iraq
War as a full-scale conflict.
1986 – Two hijackers seize Soviet airliner at Ural Mountains airport
and kill two passengers before security agents recapture plane and
shoot the hijackers.
1988 – The government of Canada apologises for the World War 2
internment of Japanese-Canadians and promises compensation.
1989 – FW De Klerk takes over as president of South Africa.
1990 – Jordan’s King Hussein appeals to United States in televised
message to withdraw its troops from Saudi Arabia to avert “death,
destruction and misery.”
1991 – Armed opponents of Georgia’s president seize the republic’s
broadcasting studios and try to forge an anti-government coalition.
1992 – Azerbaijani-armed forces mount an offensive against the
disputed enclave Nagorno-Karabakh.
1993 – Abkhazian rebels in Georgia shoot down second passenger plane
in two days, killing 80.
1994 – Nato aircraft strike at Serbian targets near Sarajevo after UN
troops patrolling the city came under machine-gun and rocket fire.
1995 – America’s Time Warner Inc and Turner Broadcasting System Inc
announce a merger with Time Warner purchasing TBS in a deal valued at
$7.5 billion, creating the world’s largest media company.
1996 – Typhoon Violet veers into the North Pacific after killing
seven and setting off landslides that paralysed transportation in
Japan.
1997 – US President Bill Clinton, speaking at the United Nations,
announces he will submit to the Senate a treaty banning all nuclear
explosions.
1998 – Troops from South Africa and Botswana cross into Lesotho and
storm the royal palace, touching off a gunbattle with protesters.
2000 – The Court of Appeals in London rules to separate conjoined
twin girls against the wishes of their Roman Catholic parents. The
operation is certain to cause the death of one of the girls, and is
therefore forbidden by their religion.
2001 – Pope John Paul II visits Kazakhstan and Armenia and cautions
against allowing September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States
to create divisions between Muslims and Christians.
2002 – An appeals court in the Hubei province of China overturns
death sentences imposed on five members of a banned Christian sect in
December 2001, and orders a retrial.
2003 – The UN and UNAIDS, its Aids programme, issues a progress
report on how member nations were adhering to commitments made during
a June 2001 UN special session on HIV/Aids. It finds that the goals
set by the UN will not be met in many countries unless there is a
significant increase in global commitment

Interfax
Sept 22 2004
Negotiations give hope to resolving Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Baku. (Interfax) – Negotiations between the Azerbaijani and Armenian
presidents in Astana in the framework of the CIS summit instill hope
that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be resolved in a peaceful
manner, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said during a
meeting with Philip Dimitrov, special OSCE representative on
Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“We believe that the aggressor, Armenia, should be forced to comply
with the four UN Security Council resolutions on the conflict, with
which it has not been complying,” the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s
press service quoted Abiyev as saying.
The defense minister said that the conflict should be resolved while
taking into consideration the territorial unity of Azerbaijan.
“This is necessary also for the security of large economic projects
in Azerbaijan, in which European countries and the U.S. are
participating,” he said.
Abiyev said that in the case of Armenia ignoring these demands,
“Azerbaijan will face the necessity of freeing its territory from an
occupant.”

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Sept 22 2004
EUROPEAN STRUCTURES SHOULD ACTIVLE PARTICIPATE IN SETTLEMENT OF
NAGORNY KARABAKH CONFLICT
[September 22, 2004, 11:20:00]
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov
has met with the vice-president of Assembly of the West-European
Union, the rapporteur of structure on questions of stability and
safety in the Caucasian region, the deputy of parliament of Italy
Marko Zakkera, 21 September.
Mr. Marko Zakkera has arrived in Azerbaijan with the purpose of
gathering the corresponding information and materials for the report
on Azerbaijan, which will be prepared for structure represented by
him, AzerTAj was told from the foreign ministry press service.
Having noted that for this purpose there are all conditions and
opportunities, minister Elmar Mammadyarov has wished the visitor
successes in this work.
Further, minister Elmar Mammadyarov has in detail informed on the
work which is carried out for peace settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, the negotiations held
at the level of country leaders and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and
about a position of our Republic on the said question.
The head of the foreign policy department has especially emphasized,
that the unsolved conflict till this moment renders negative
influence on development not only of Azerbaijan, but also the entire
region, and also on economy of the Armenia. Having noted, that in the
Azerbaijan territories occupied by Armenia, are prepared terrorist
groups and the process is outside of the control of our Republic, the
Minister has stressed the importance of joint efforts in combat
against the international terrorism representing threat for all
mankind.
Having noted, that our country is a member of European family,
minister Elmar Mammadyarov has stated that Azerbaijan has taken the
way of democratic development, has emphasized importance of
activation of participation and activity of the European structures
for settlement of the conflict.
At the meeting, also were discussed other questions representing
mutual interest.

Interfax
Sept 22 2004
Armenia doesn’t intend to join NATO but will deepen relations
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia intends to deepen relations with NATO
but has no plans of joining the alliance, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian told a Wednesday news conference.
“Our stance amounts to the maximum expansion and deepening of
relations with the alliance. I don’t know what NATO thinks of it but
membership in the alliance is not on our agenda today,” he said.
As for Armenia’s plans for sending a group of 50 servicemen to Iraq,
Oskanian said that it would be a humanitarian mission consisting of
doctors, drivers and sappers.
He emphasized that from the very start Armenia was opposed to
military presence in Iraq.

Turkiye
Sept 22 2004
PRODI SPOKESMAN DENIES ARMENIAN BORDER CONDITION FOR TURKEY’S EU BID
The European Union Commission yesterday adamantly denied rumors that
the re-opening of the Turkish-Armenian border would be added as a
precondition to beginning Ankara’s EU membership discussions. Marco
Vignudelli, the spokesman for commission head Romano Prodi, said that
Prodi had said nothing that would lead one to believe that such a
condition would be placed on Turkey, calling such claims
categorically false. Vignudelli further stressed that the border
issue could only be resolved by dialogue between the two countries.
/Turkiye/

Zaman, Turkey
Sept 22 2004
‘EU Membership Process at Risk’
Emre Soncan, Yasin Uygur
Istanbul
Several Turkish academics and experts suggest that the Turkish Penal
Code (TCK) crisis occurring between Ankara and the Europe Union (EU)
could jeopardize Turkey’s membership process.
Some of those experts told Zaman that they wanted the government to
tread more carefully from here on out.
Economic Development Foundation President Davut Okutcu charges that
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statements are a
strategic mismatch in timing. To Okutcu, those statements about the
issue created confusion both within and without. He is adamant that
the TCK must be approved by October 6th because the penal code is the
fundamental text that the legal sphere relies upon when applying
reforms.
Okutcu goes on to say that the latest developments played straight
into the hands of those who have reservations about Turkey’s EU
membership. Okutcu also does not agree with Erdogan’s statement that
the EU should not interfere in Turkey’s internal affairs. The
Foundation president is of the opinion that the EU Commission was not
interfering in Turkey’s internal matters, but rather simply reminding
Turkey of the commitment it had made to reform.
Professor Kemal Kirisci, a faculty member at Bogazici University,
sees the government’s latest ploy as a joke. Just as Turkey was on
the verge of convincing Europeans to say ‘yes’ to Turkey’s
membership, it aroused the suspicion of those who support the
country’s EU membership. Now those supporters are thinking twice,
explains Kirisci. He considers now that even if Turkey tries to fix
its fault, its full membership date will come later than expected.
TESEV Foreign Policy Program Director Sabiha Sanyucel remarks that
the discussion date will be given despite everything that occurred.
According to Sanyucel, if the prime minister continues to rub the EU
the wrong way, a strong “yes, but” will be the decision of the EU at
the December summit.
In addition, EU expert and Referans daily newspaper writer Can
Baydarol comments that Erdogan’s stance is an indicator that Turkey
does not know what to do about the EU issue. Baydarol points out that
the harsh statements Erdogan made were evaluated as an assault on EU
values.
Continues Baydarol, “Of course Turkey has a strategic importance for
the EU. However, Erdogan should be calmer and more open to
compromise. The EU will not burn its bridges after such statements,
but the discussion date may be delayed. Now the Europeans are putting
the Armenian card before us. While saying that we passed the critical
threshold they will put down new criteria. Turkey’s confidence has
been eroding for a long time.”

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Sept 22 2004
Armenia, Azerbaijan foreign ministers attend to Karabakh problem
YEREVAN, September 22 (Itar-Tass) – Foreign ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan have finished the first stage of consultations on
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanyan said.
He told a news conference on Wednesday that the goal of the recent
meeting of the foreign ministers in Prague was to set a stage for
talks of the two countries’ presidents.
Oskanyan did not comment on the content of the first talks of the
Armenian and Azeri presidents, Robert Kocharyan and Ilkham Aliyev, on
the sidelines of a recent CIS summit in Astana on September 15.
Contrary to expectations, the president did not give to foreign
ministries any orders `in order to begin the second stage that is far
more closer to settlement of the problem,’ Oskanyan said.
However, this does not mean that the presidents rejected the
groundwork made by the foreign ministers in Prague, he added.
Karabakh settlement `remains in sight of the two presidents’.
`Nagorno-Karabakh does not have a price: we cannot change it for
either a railroad or any pipelines,’ Oskanyan said.

The Messenger, Georgia
messenger.com.ge
Sept 22 2004
Georgia, Azerbaijan tread “path of victory”
BTC anniversary gives Zhvania opportunity to build relations with
Azerbaijan
By Mary Makharashvili
Government officials, corporate executives and oil workers converged
in Baku on Monday to celebrate the signing of the ‘Contract of the
Century’ – the initial agreement that paved the way for oil exports
to the west and the BTC pipeline.
Georgia’s Prime Minister traveled to Baku on the occasion and was
warmly received by President Ilham Aliev.
“A successful Azerbaijan means a successful Georgia. And the welfare
of Georgia means the welfare of Azerbaijan,” stated President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev in an address to Zhvania.
The contract, signed September 20, 1994, provided for the export of
Azeri oil products via Georgia and Turkey to western markets.
Monday also saw the signing of an agreement on beginning the third
phase of the BTC pipeline, as well as the awarding of medals and
money awards to 106 oil workers as part of Azerbaijan’s Oil Workers
Day celebrations.
“We consider this day as our anniversary as well,” Zhvania said at
the ceremony.
Zhvania and Aliev took the opportunity to reaffirm the friendship
between the two countries. Prime News reports Aliev told Zhvania that
relations between the two countries were developing successfully in
all spheres, including the energy sector. He expressed his confidence
that communications between Azerbaijan and Georgia would henceforth
also develop successfully.
The Azeri president also declared that Baku supports Tbilisi in its
fight against “aggressive separatism” and recognizes the territorial
integrity of Georgia.
Zhvania, for his part, as reported by Prime News, conveyed greetings
to Aliev from the president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili, noting
that the friendship between the presidents of the two countries gives
a special pulse to the further development of Azerbaijan-Georgian
relations.
Zhvania noted that the positions of Azerbaijan and Georgia coincide
with regard to problems in the Caucasus and international relations.
He called the political path chosen by Georgia and Azerbaijan “the
path of victory.”
According to Prime News, Prime Minister Zhvania emphasized the
successful results of the oil strategy, which he said were thanks to
the wisdom and foresight of the former president of Azerbaijan Heydar
Aliev, Ilham’s father.
The ceremony was attended by the heads of the largest oil-producing
companies in the world. The president of Azerbaijan also received
letters of congratulation from numerous heads of state, including
U.S. President George Bush and France’s Jacques Chirac.
During the celebration, media reports announced that it is feared
that the construction of the BTC pipeline will not be finished by
next year.
“Yes, there is this fear,” said Zurab Gumberidze, Georgian Ambassador
to Armenia. “The winter might come earlier and because of this we
will have to stop the construction works. But we are doing our best
to do this work within the terms of the agreement. The violation of
the terms might be a very serious problem.”
Aliev expressed his desire for the BTC pipeline to be finished as
soon as possible, as his country’s economic welfare depends on it.
“We have overcome a lot of difficulties since the signing of the
‘Contract of the Century.’ The development of the oil sector is the
key to the Azeri economy. Azerbaijan is expecting USD 50 billion from
this,” said Ilham Aliev.
This money would be used to benefit the entire Azeri people, Aliev
promised. “The money gained from oil will be spent on the welfare of
the Azeri people. Pensions and social aids will be increased. The new
authority of Azerbaijan is continuing the policy of Heydar Aliev,
that will bring a better life to the Azeri people,” he said on
Monday.
“With the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline started, the revenues will
increase allowing us to solve successfully all social and economic
challenges,” he said in his official speech.
The Azeri authorities may soon be receiving the help of Georgian Gia
Chanturia. Reports in the media on Monday suggested the possible
appointment of the former Chair of the Georgian International Oil
Corporation (GIOC) as advisor to the Azerbaijani president on oil
issues, although, as the media reported, Chanturia did not attend the
anniversary himself.

Noyan Tapan Highlights #37 (539)
20 September, 2004
Breakthrough in Karabakh?
By Haroutiun Khachatrian
Periods of International tension is not the best time to settle
conflicts. Mid September 2004 is the period of increase in tension in
Caucasus, both internal, and among the states. The increasing
uncertainty among Georgia and Russia following the impatient storming
of Georgia in South Ossetia, the shock of Azerbaijan leadership over
the cancellation of the NATO war games have greatly aggravated by the
aftermath of the tragedy in Beslan.
Russia has almost closed its borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan,
hence bringing new problems to these countries, and, of course, to
Armenia as well. On this background, the CIS summit in Astana,
Kazakhstan, brought together the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Formally, the meeting which lasted almost five hours
(including 1.5 hour with Russian President Putin as the third partner,
and some time of talks in the presence to the Minsk Group Co-Chairmen)
has brought no results. However, there are some bases to expect some
progress here.
First, the meeting was to develop the results of the meeting of the
Foreign Ministers of the two countries held in Prague on August 30,
which both ministers characterized as very positive.
Second, the presence of the Putin, who, according to a Russian
newspaper, is eager to become the principal peace-maker in Nagorno
Karabakh, might have a certain positive impact.
Third, the above-mentioned whole atmosphere of uncertainty and the
danger emergence of additional problem every new day could also
stimulate the presidents to additional flexibility.
As “leakage” of information shows, the versions under discussion may
include some moves aimed at return of at least part of the Azeri
displaced persons to the territories around Nagorno Karabakh now
controlled by the Armenian forces. If so, Robert Kocharian has,
probably, given up from his commitment to the “package solution”
implying link between the return of those territories and the
determination of the status of Nagorno Karabakh. This path may result
in decreasing the tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but its
dangers are also evident.
In fact, nothing is clear yet. There is no guarantee that the
breakthrough will take place, even in the form of a preliminary
agreement between the two leaders. Let’s wait another couple of
months.
—

A1 Plus | 19:41:52 | 22-09-2004 | Social |
WEBSITE GIVEN PRIZE
On Wednesday, website was awarded Yerevan Press Club’s annual
prize for providing timely information and creating Internet page as a media
outlet.
A1+ Company got also a special prize from Cooperation in the Sake of Open
Society, the initiative including 30 organizations.
Handing the Yerevan Press Club’s prize, Liberty radio station correspondent
Ruzan Khachatryan said the jury decided to give the award to A1+ not because
the company is stripped of its broadcasting license but after assessing its
staff work. As an example of providing timely and comprehensive information,
Ruzan Khachatryan singled out Apr 12, 13 events covered by the website.
Prize for objective coverage of political problems remained nobody’s. The
jury found no media outlet deserving it.
Photojournalist Hakob Berberyan was given a prize for reflecting social
problems.
Sports commentator of Armenian Public Television Armen Melixetyan won a
prize for commenting Spain Football Premiership and European Cup
objectively.
Photolur agency was handed award for creative progress and commentator of
Armenian service of Liberty radio station Atom Margaryan for the best
coverage of economic problems.
Head of standing parliamentary commission on science, culture, education and
the youth Hranush Hakobyan got a prize for open and transparent work and
effective cooperation with journalists.
Yerevan Press Club intends to submit its proposals on Radio and Television
Law alteration to the commission. “We ought to amend the law if want to
fulfill our CE commitments”, the Club’s chair Boris Navasardyan.