Ossetian President pinned down
Pravda, Russia
Sept 9 2004
Last weekend the streets of Beslan were full of military and the
police.
The authorities are making precautions not to allow bloody vendetta
in the North Caucasus region. The situation is serious indeed.
The relatives of the dead request the names of all the terrorists.
The special services say that they know the names of the terrorists,
but are not in a hurry to make the names public. The cause is obvious
– the memories of the clashes between Ossetians and Ingush in the
beginning of the 1990s are still alive.
The people of Ossetia are angry that their official leader, President
Alexander Dzasokhov was not very noticeable during the hostage
crisis. From the very beginning, the terrorists requested Dzasokhov
for negotiations, but the head of the republic restrained from coming
to Beslan and preferred to communicate with the outer world through
his press department.
Later, on September 4, Mr. Dzasokhov issued an address to the
citizens of Ossetia republic. “I want to apologize to all whose
home has been struck by grief. I am telling about this as failed
to safeguard our children, our teachers and our parents”, said the
official and added. “Our grief is immense, but we cannot be divided
in this hour. The opponents of mutual consent and those willing to
see our country and the peoples of Caucasus divided, should not be
given the gift of our conflicts”.
However, the citizens of North Ossetia seemed stopped to believe the
words of their president. Many thousands of people participated in
the demonstrations in Ossetian capital Vladikavkaz, demanding the
republic”s leaders resignation. The organizers of the demonstrations
say this is just a beginning. Their demonstrations are peaceful now,
but what if.
They say, however, that the entire Ossetian people does not want
Dzasokhov to resign, some “forces” are pushing forward the idea of
resignation. According to North Ossetia Interior Ministry, an elderly
man and a middle-aged woman have been seen at the meetings of people
and officials in Beslan. These two pronounce accusations to the
authorities, such as, “You killed our children!”, and then disappear
in the crowd. Many people saw them, but none caught them. Probably,
they are just phantoms of people”s imagination.
Kommersant reporter who was at the demonstration in Vladikavkaz,
heard as a young Ossetian called for driving all the Ingush out of
the republic. “Those who will refuse to leave, should be destroyed.
Then we should deal with Jews. Then with Armenians. Then with
Chechens. And separate ourselves from Russia. There is no other way”.
However, even considering that somebody is influencing the North
Ossetian people on purpose, the threat of chaos and massacre is very
serious. Last Sunday thousands of Ossetian people tried to attack the
Ingush in the households of Prigorodny neighborhood of Vladikavkaz.
The authorities hardly prevented massacre, the police persuaded the
men to go home.
P.S. The clashes between Ossetians and Ingush became the first hot spot
in North Caucasus region. The conflict was caused by the dispute over
the territory of Prigorodny district of Vladikavkaz which had always
been considered as Ingush”s. In 1944 the charges of collaboration with
fascist Germany were brought against Chechen-Ingush republic. Local
people were deported, and Prigorodny district was given to North
Ossetia. In 1957, the repressed peoples were rehabilitated. However,
the authorities did not return Prigorodny district to Ingush, the
Ingush were given a part of Stavropol region instead. After the
break-up of the USSR, Chechnya and Ingushetia separated themselves,
and Chechnya took over the former part of Stavropol region.
Until December 1992, no presence of Russian authorities was seen in
the Caucasus republics. Ingush leaders were quick to take advantage
of this, provided that the first elections of local authorities
were scheduled in the republic for October 1992. Simultaneously, in
North Ossetia paramilitary units started being formed – so called
“republican guard” and “people”s militia”. On October 31, 1992
Ingush military units started advancing to Prigorodny district. As
a response, North Ossetian people”s militia backed by the units from
South Ossetia, conducted bigger massacre of the Ingush. The clashes
lasted for several days until Russian military interfered. Today both
the Ossetians and Ingush try to prove that the disputable territory
is theirs, organize demonstrations and so on.
Today, the key issues of the conflict are: the Ingush people return
to their previous places of residence in North Ossetia and the
status of Prigorodny district. For North Ossetian authorities,
the pressing issues are the status of migrants, their return in
Prigorodny district and Vladikavkaz, and arranging negotiations on
the status of Prigorodny district. The federal authorities pursue the
policy of finding compromise between Ossetia and Ingushetia, which
is difficult to do because of different interpretations of the law
“On Repressed Peoples”, and the legislations of both the republics
which limit possible compromises. After electing Murat Zyazikov the
President of Ingushetia, the trend for compromise between the two
republics has been clearly seen.
Yegor Belous

Oil rivalry, strife afflict the Caucasus
People Before Profits
People’s Weekly World Newspaper
09/09/04
By David Eisenhower
Breakaway autonomous regions in the former Soviet republics of Georgia
and Azerbaijan are creating a headache for the Bush administration’s
geopolitical planners. The instability of this region – the Southern
Caucasus – was thrown into bold relief last week by the hostage-taking
of schoolchildren in the nearby North Ossetia town of Beslan, where
Russian troops stormed the school and where at least 338 people were
killed, more than half of them children.
Should the smoldering ethnic conflicts in the Caucasus be handled with
similar imperial, strong-arm tactics, the whole region could be engulfed
in a violent cataclysm.
Azerbaijan is rich in oil and natural gas, particularly around its
capital, Baku, on the Caspian Sea. The country’s estimated oil reserves
range from 3.7 billion to 40 billion barrels. Western oil companies, led
by British Petroleum, have launched an ambitious pipeline project to
transport this oil westward, through Azerbaijan and Georgia, to the
Turkish town of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean Sea. Its ultimate
destination is Europe. A parallel natural gas pipeline will send Caspian
gas through Turkey to the “new” and old Europe, breaking what Western
energy interests refer to as Europe’s “strategic dependence on Russian gas.”
But ethnic strife may jeopardize the pipeline’s security. In Georgia,
the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia seek affiliation
with Russia. In Azerbaijan, the Armenian enclave of Nogorno-Karabakh
seeks to affiliate with nearby Armenia. Ethnic tensions are acute.
Russia has military bases in both South Ossetia and Armenia.
The Toronto Star, under the headline “Russia, Georgia face war over
separatist provinces,” reports that the new Georgian leader,
U.S.-trained Mikheil Saakashvili, wants to “reunite” the two separatist
territories with Georgia. Vitaly Naumkin, director of the Center for
Strategic and International Studies in Moscow, warns of a drift toward
“full scale war” between Georgia and the two autonomous provinces.
The Aug. 8 Moscow News quotes Saakashvili: “If war begins it will be a
war between Georgia and Russia, not between the Georgians and Ossetians.
“We are very close to a war [with Russia], the population must be
prepared.” Such a large-scale conflict would be catastrophic. Recent
skirmishes between Georgian and South Ossetian troops have already taken
the lives of 17 people.
A similar military conflict hovers over Azerbaijan, as authorities there
try to regain control over the autonomous territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
This enclave, composed of ethnic Armenians and surrounded by Azerbaijani
territory, gained independence in 1994 and developed strong ties with
Armenia. Coping with the strong Armenian nationalism of the territory
has proved to be no easy task for the Azerbaijani government, which has
looked to the U.S. for help. A hastily arranged visit to Azerbaijan by
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld apparently resulted in the U.S.
gaining a military presence there. But it is doubtful that U.S. troops
will contribute to peace in the region, as their mission will likely
include anti-Iran actions as well as suppressing Armenian nationalism.
The oil pipeline, dubbed the Baku-Tiblisi (Georgia’s capital)-Ceyhan
(BTC) project, is a key part of a broader U.S. strategy. In a recent
article at Asia Times Online, John Helmer refers to it as an effort “to
redraw the geography of the Caucasus on an anti-Russian map,”
undercutting Russia’s clout in Europe and elsewhere.
Despite “sincere assurances” to Russia that the U.S. means no harm –
neither in the form of the planned realignment of Washington’s NATO and
South Korean-based forces to positions around Russia, nor the new U.S.
bases in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Central Asia on Russia’s southern flank,
nor this “anti-Russian map” in the Caucasus – Russia is unlikely to buy
it. Instead, Russia will seek to strengthen its own position in the
Caucasus and in Central Asia, chiefly by strengthening the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) and the Collective Treaty Organization,
which recently conducted military exercises involving five Central Asian
nations, including Russia.
Russia is also expected to push for its own interests by teaming up with
Iran, and opening what Helmer calls “the shortest, cheapest and most
lucrative oil route of all, southward out of the Caspian to Iran.”
The stage is set for more strife and bloodshed as the U.S. and Russia
jockey for strategic advantage. In an echo of the “Great Game” between
Victorian England and czarist Russia over control of Central Asia in the
19th century, the pursuit of oil may once again create havoc and misery
for the peoples of the region.
The author can be reached at [email protected]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 9 2004
MINISTER OF DEFENCE RECEIVED DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE US EUROPEAN
COMMAND
[September 09, 2004, 22:16:33]
On September 9, Minister of Defense of the Azerbaijan Republic
colonel-general Safar Abiyev has received Deputy Commander of the
United States European Command Charles Wald and delegation headed
by him.
As was informed into AzerTAj from the press-service of the Ministry of
Defense, the visitor has familiarized with the course of preparation
for field exercises “Cooperative Best Effort-04 ” which will be
carried out in the near future in Baku within the framework of the
program of the NATO “Partnership For Peace”.
General C. Wald has expressed confidence that these exercises would
pass successfully.
Colonel-general Safar Abiyev and general Charles Wald had exchange
of opinions on the present military-political situation in region of
the Southern Caucasus and events occurring here recently.
Having mentioned the relations between Azerbaijan and the USA,
the Minister of Defense has noted, that our country relies upon the
United States of America as strategic ally, and continues cooperation
with them in all fields, including in military sphere. The Minister
has expressed concern of our people in connection with the conflicts
proceeding in region, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan, still have not
found its settlement. Having emphasized, that the said conflict renders
negative influence on realization of the project of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
and other economic projects, he has told: “It is necessary to solve
this problem shortly. Everyone should realize, that Azerbaijan would
not concede to anybody and a span of the native land”.
General C. Wald has told: “You have truly noted. On the Southern
Caucasus still there are more many non-resolved problems. The
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict concerns to them also. The given
conflict should find its settlement internationally. The USA, Russia
and Turkey should accept active participation in solution of the
said question. It is necessary to conduct joint struggle against
terrorism. We should take part together in the settlement of the
mentioned question. Problems of your country should be settled shortly,
and economic prosperity start in the region”.
Expressing his attitude to development of military links of
our country, Charles Wald has noted, that the USA attaches great
importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan in military area, and the
said cooperation will extend.
The sides have had comprehensive exchange of views on prospects
of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US, and have
emphasized necessity of strengthening of combat against the
international terrorism.
Ambassador of the USA in Azerbaijan Republic Rino Harnish took part
in the meeting.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 9 2004
WAY ON WHICH GOES ARMENIA, REPRESENTS THREAT TO THE POLICY OF THE
NATO ON SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
[September 09, 2004, 22:51:51]
Political scientist Rovshan Mustafayev thinks, that the Alliance will
correctly regard concern of the Azerbaijan public connected with it.
Director of Research Institute on Human Rights of ANAS, PhD Rovshan
Mustafayev has told to correspondent of AzerTAj: “Threat of terror in
our region proceeds not only from the Chechen Republic, but also from
uncontrolled territories, first of all, the Azerbaijan lands occupied
by Armenia, including the Nagorny Karabakh. Nagorny Karabakh is not
having any jurisdiction space where a number of the centers of the
international terrorism functions. From here terrorist attacks on
adjoining territories – Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Chechen Republic,
Beslan are on a regular basis organized. Nagorny Karabakh is
knowingly mentioned in Address of the President of Russia to people
in connection with Beslan tragedy as “endless whirlpool of bloody
conflicts”.
Last years, the NATO has declared uncompromising struggle with the
international terrorism. Azerbaijan suffering from the policy of
terror, pursued by Armenia at the state level, the first has
supported this struggle. Azerbaijan together with other countries of
Southern Caucasus takes part in the PfP program of the NATO.
Strangely enough, the Armenia-aggressor also is involved in this
program. While the policy pursued by this state contradicts
philosophy of Trans-Atlantic of the NATO, represents threat to its
policy on Southern Caucasus. The president of Armenia openly
declares, that took direct participation in fights for Karabakh, in
occupation of other areas of Azerbaijan. I think, that the NATO will
correctly regard the protest of the Azerbaijan public in connection
with participation of the Armenian officers whose hands are soiled
with blood of Azerbaijanis, in the forthcoming exercises of the
Alliance in Baku.
Annually the NATO carries out in various regions of 500-600 actions.
The Armenian officers are not invited to the majority of these
actions, or do not participate in them as it does not interest
Armenia. As a matter of fact, this state dictates its will to this
Organization. On the one hand, it convinces the Alliance of
participation in its program “Partnership for Peace”, on another, is
a member of the military block opposite to NATO. In short, as if the
politicians, experts of the NATO suffer with the “illness” of
Gorbachev and Vezirov. It seems to them, that they will achieve all,
if can set for a table of representatives of peoples of the Southern
Caucasus. We support cooperation with the North Atlantic block, make
all efforts in struggle against the international terrorism. At the
same time, we cannot shut eyes to the error of the NATO politicians,
connected to Southern Caucasus. This policy should be harmonized with
realities.

KLO Protests in Sheki
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2004
09/09/2004 23:44
Members of the Karabagh Liberation Organization’s (KLO) branch
in Shaki, a city in the West of Azerbaijan have held a picket in
protest against the planned participation of Armenian officers in
NATO exercises to be held in Baku in September.
AssA-Irada — The KLO deputy chairman Shamil Mehdi told AssA-Irada
that during the picket arranged close the city’s Cemetery of Martyrs
the protesters showed placards “Shame on those who invite Armenians
to Azerbaijan!”, “Freedom to Garabagh!” and “Release KLO members!”.
A statement condemning Armenian officers’ planned visit to Azerbaijan
was issued at the end of the protest action.

ARMENIA IRAN FOR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN KARABAKH
RIA Novosti, Russia
Sept 9 2004
YEREVAN, September 9 (RIA Novosti) – The presidents of Armenia and
Iran, Robert Kocharyan and Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, came out
for peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, the hot stage of
which ended 10 years ago.
The sides highly assessed direct contacts between the Armenian and
Azeri presidents and expressed hope that they helped rapidly and
finally solve the issue which would take into account the present-day
realities and ensure the lasting and worthy peace in the region.
The presidents of Armenia and Iran pointed out that the deepening and
bringing closer together the interests of the region’s countries
would make it possible to create a favorable atmosphere for solving
all the conflicts in the Caucasus.
The situation in the zone of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian enclave
on the territory of Azerbaijan, and around it can be described as no
peace, no war situation. When Ilkham Aliyev came to power in
Azerbaijan he intensified bellicose rhetoric and declared that the
republic’s army could return the Azeri territories, occupied by the
Armenian side, by using force. At the same time, Azerbaijan
demonstrates its readiness to give a large-scale status to the
self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic but within a single Azeri
state. But both Yerevan and Stepanakert (the capital of
Nagorno-Karabakh) agree to consider any other issues of settlement
(the return of refugees to the places of their permanent residence,
the liquidation of the Lachinsky corridor which connects
Nagorno-Karabakh with the territory of Armenia, the restoration of
interrupted economic ties, the lifting of blockade from Karabakh and
so on) but not changes in its present status. The Minsk group did not
bring the sides’ stands closer to each other either.
The Armenian and Iranian presidents signed a treaty on the
foundations and principles of cooperation.
The press service of the head of Armenia reported that the
delegations of the two countries also signed a memorandum on mutual
relations on the results of the fifth joint session of
intergovernmental commissions on the Armenian-Iranian ties; the
treaty of cultural cooperation between the two countries in 2004-2007
and a memorandum on mutual understanding between the customs
committee under the Armenian government and the customs service of
Iran on the administrative cooperation in customs issues.
President Mohammad Khatami arrived in Yerevan in reply to Robert
Kocharyan’s visit to Iran in December 2001. The Iranian president
pointed out that when Armenia became an independent state a new stage
in its cooperation with Iran began. Khatami expressed hope that his
visit to Yerevan will help deepen the Armenian-Iranian relations in
all spheres.
The foreign trade between Armenia and Iran in January-July, 2004
amounted to $52.713 million against $45.746 million year-on-year.
Last May a treaty was signed in Yerevan on the deliveries of the
Iranian gas to Armenia and construction of an Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline. Now the construction of the Kadzharan tunnel and the
hydroelectric power station on the Araks river dividing the two sides
is being actively discussed.

THE EU/UNDP-FUNDED ANTI-DRUG PROGRAM ASSISTS JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS OF ARMENIA
ArmenPress
Sept 9 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: On 9 September 2004 in the building
of the Court of Cassation of Armenia, the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) held an official ceremony
to hand-over drug prevention equipment procured within the framework
of the South Caucasus Anti-Drug (SCAD) Program to judiciary in the
Republic of Armenia.
Nearly USD 35,000 worth of equipment was delivered to courts in each
of the country’s eleven regions. Equipment was also transferred to the
Court of Appeal, Court of Cassation and the Office of the Prosecutor
General. The new equipment will enhance the efficiency of the judges
and prosecutors dealing with drug control issues.
The overall objective of the SCAD Programme is to reduce drug
trafficking from and through the three South Caucasian countries
– Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia – to EU member states. For this
purpose, the SCAD Programme has provided technical assistance to the
Police, Ministry of Justice, State Customs Committee, Ministry of
Health of Armenia and many local non-governmental organisations (NGO).
Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident
Representative, said: “Cooperation between UNDP, the EU and the
Armenian judicial system to prevent drug trafficking and abuse in
the country dates back to 2001, when the first phase of the SCAD
Programme was launched. Since then, important progress has been made.
The transfer of equipment today is aimed at building on the success
of the Programme by helping to further improve the efficiency of
anti-trafficking activities. The SCAD Programme is particularly
important because it promotes regional cooperation between the three
countries of the South Caucasus.”
Since 2001, the EU and UNDP have provided EUR 608,000 to the SCAD
Programme in Armenia. The Programme covers seven concrete objectives:
reinforcement and harmonisation of national drug control legislation;
drug control at the airport; strengthening of police intelligence
system; strengthening of land border interdiction capacities;
reinforcement of drug abuse monitoring systems; development of an
NGO network to deal with drug issues; prevention of drug abuse at
early stages.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FINANCE MINISTRY RECEIVES 209 PROPOSALS SEEKING FUNDS FROM
MILLENNIUM CHALLENGES ACCOUNT
ArmenPress
Sept 9 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian finance and economy
ministry has received some 209 proposals for presentation to the
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a new US government assistance
scheme representing a fresh approach to helping low-income countries
overcome economic backwardness. According to Armen Hayrapetian,
chief of the ministry’s macroeconomic department, the overall cost
of all presented proposals amount to $2 billion.
Thirteen of these proposals, costing $430.3 million seek assistance
for reconstruction of water reservoirs, another 36, worth $372.4
million refer to road-building and other infrastructures, 11 proposals
worth $367.4 million seek funds for restoration of irrigation systems
and another 11, worth $209.9 million seek assistance for industry
development.
Proposals seeking funds for agriculture are worth $184 million and
proposals for improvement of water supplies and modernization of
sewage systems cost $87.1 million. Also $86.8 million are asked for
health system improvement, $50.6 million for education and $41.4
million for social security sector. Some other proposals refer to
housing problems, nature protection, high technology and other areas.
Department chief said a meeting of the Board of Trustees, to be
called soon, is expected to discuss the priority directions, which
then will be sent to the Millennium Challenges Account before the
end of September.
According to Paul Applegarth, a veteran of the World Bank and
Wall Street, who runs the government agency that administers the
Millennium Challenge Account, the successful reform in poor countries
will attract not only the fund’s money but also foreign investors,
which he describes as the key to long-term prosperity.
Of 70 countries that meet administration eligibility requirements
based on need, 16 made the cut for receiving aid: Armenia, Benin,
Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar,
Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and the
Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu. They will get to share in the $1
billion Congress has appropriated for the first year, assuming that
Washington approves the projects they design. If Congress goes along,
Millennium Challenge Account funding will rise from the current
$1 billion for this year to $2.5 billion in 2005 and then go to $5
billion annually by 2006.
The overall cost of Armenian proposals for three years will make some
$700-800 million. Other problems, faced by the government of Armenia,
will be resolved, as prime minister Andranik Margarian said, within
the frameworks of other programs. The MCA assistance is supplemented
to the traditional assistance vehicle, the US Agency for International
Development (USAID) that has released $94 million aide to Armenia
for 2004.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARVEST.AM PORTAL TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION ON CULTURE
ArmenPress
Sept 9 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: Presentation of arvest.am
cultural portal was held at the National Gallery of Armenia
yesterday. Susanna Harutunian, the chairwoman of the Armenian
Association of Cinematographs and Cinema Critics, said that the main
goal of the initiative is to create a virtual environment for which
Arvest.am journal, issued in 2002-2004, served as a foundation.
According to her, the updated portal will create new opportunities
for art lovers. Created with the efforts of the Association, the page
has six sections all dealing with art.
The first section is on Arvest.am virtual journal which is continuously
updated with new information. The second section contains information
on cultural events of the day. In the Storehouse section, some 110
state, private and public organizations are registered. The Forum
section provides the opportunity to the visitors of the portal to
communicate with each other on cultural themes. Materials section
encompasses information on laws on culture, sub-legislative acts,
government decision. In the next to last and final sections,
information is provided about partners and Armenian Association of
Cinematographs and Cinema Critics.

Verheugen Meet Religious Representatives Of Minorities In Istanbul
Anadolu agency, Turkey
Sept 9 2004
ISTANBUL – Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner
for enlargement, met on Thursday religious representatives of the
minorities in Istanbul.
Before the meeting held at the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate,
Verheugen visited the patriarchate and the Hagia Georgi Church.
Patriarchate First Secretary Filadepfias, Chief Rabbi of Jews in
Turkey Ishak Haleva , Vatican’s representative in Turkey George
Marovich , Latin Catholic community’s representative Louis Pelatre,
Syriac Catholic community’s representative Yusuf Sag, and Armenian
Orthodox community’s representative Kirkor Damatyan joined the meeting.
Early in the morning, Verheugen met representatives of employers and
workers in Istanbul.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress