Messenger.com.ge, Georgia
Aug 24 2004
OSCE is waiting for a meeting between Zhvania and Kokoiti
As reported in the newspaper Alia, “the leaders of CIS states will
try to convince Mikheil Saakashvili to sit at the same negotiation
table together with the so called leader of Ossetia,” declared the
President of Russia Vladimer Putin in Sochi at a meeting with
Armenian president.
According to them, neither Russia nor Armenia, is going to watch
indifferently while the current situation in the Caucasus escalates.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Interfax
Aug 24 2004
Armenia wants Equatorial Guinea to release its pilots
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia is working hard to convince the
authorities of Equatorial Guinea to release six Armenian pilots who
were detained earlier this year, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
told journalists on Monday.
“I would not like to offer optimistic forecasts, but Armenia is doing
everything possible in this direction,” Oskanian said.
An Armenian delegation has left for a third visit to Equatorial
Guinea for talks, he said.
The pilots, who arrived in Equatorial Guinea’s capital of Malabo in
January 2004, were engaged in delivering cargoes on an Armenian
carrier’s An-12 aircraft under an agreement with German contractors.
They were arrested on March 7.
The pilots have been charged with organizing a coup, serving as
mercenaries and espionage. The accused men have denied the charges.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 24 2004
FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND DENMARK HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
[August 24, 2004, 15:51:56]
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met with
Danish counterpart Per Stig Moellere behind closed doors on August
23.
After the meeting, the Ministers held a press conference for media
representatives.
Noting that the discussions have been very useful both from political
and economic viewpoint, Minister Mammadyarov especially emphasized
that for the last seven years the Danish government had rendered US$
14 mln humanitarian aid to Azerbaijani refugees and internally
displaced people. He advised that the meeting had also been focused
on such issues as the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, fight against terror and weapon of mass
destruction, as well as international and regional situation.
Mr. Per Stig Moellere pointed out the considerable expanding in the
last years the Azerbaijan’s relations with European countries
including Denmark. The Danish Minister stressed that his country has
a concern in further development of the links, and announced that
tomorrow a honorable consulate and in a few month an Embassy of
Denmark to Azerbaijan would be opened in Baku.
The guest added that Denmark is ready to help Azerbaijan in
environment protection and energy sector development.
Finally, both Ministers responded to the questions from journalists.

ISN, Switzerland
Aug 24 2004
US troop redeployment sparks rumors on Azeri base 24.08.2004

News that the US is planning a massive redeployment of its armed
forces has Azeris wondering whether their country will soon host US
troops.

By Fariz Ismailzade for EurasiaNet
News that the US is planning a massive redeployment of its armed
forces has Azeris wondering whether their country will soon host US
troops. Azeri officials are coy on the base question, prompting some
local political analysts to say Baku is trying to leverage the issue
to achieve a breakthrough on the stalled talks on a Nagorno-Karabakh
peace settlement. Speculation over whether the US would establish a
military base in Azerbaijan began almost immediately after US leaders
announced 16 August that up 70’000 US troops in Europe and East Asia
would be redeployed. Most US soldiers appear headed back to the US,
but some will staff new facilities, in keeping with the Pentagon’s
desire to create a more mobile armed forces. A few days before the
announcement, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited Baku
for hastily arranged talks. The Azeri government provided only a
vague description about the discussions. However, Zerkalo, an
independent daily newspaper, claimed that a tentative base deal had
been reached. “Moreover, the USA is interested in modernizing …
military airfields in Azerbaijan,” Zerkalo reported on 17 August,
without citing a source. Azeri media have also seized on recent
comments attributed to General Charles Wald, the deputy commander for
US forces in Europe, who reportedly indicated that US defense
officials were considering Azerbaijan, Uganda, and the island state
of Sao Tome as potential host sites for US rapid deployment forces.
According to the Azeri reports, the US is seeking a base in
Azerbaijan to ensure the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
and to monitor developments in Iran, which Washington believes is
working hard to develop nuclear weapons.
Fait accompli
While some Azerbaijani media outlets are treating a US base as a fait
accompli, the only public statements on the issue by Azeri officials
have been non-committal. Foreign Minister Eldar Mammadyarov has
acknowledged that talks are on-going, but he stressed on 19 August
that “it is naive to think that military bases can be set up
overnight”. Some analysts say it wasn’t coincidental that Mammadyarov
made the statement in Moscow. Russia is on record as opposing any US
redeployment that would place US troops in the formerly Communist
sphere, and a few observers believe the potential US base is at the
center of a geopolitical game being played by Baku. The objective,
from Baku’s viewpoint, is to secure increased political support for a
Karabakh peace settlement that is to Azerbaijan’s liking. Azerbaijan
has insisted that any settlement leave the region under Baku’s
jurisdiction. Azeri officials have grown restless in recent months
over the lack of progress in the peace talks. Mammadyarov said in a
19 August television interview that the Karabakh question topped his
agenda during talks with Russian leaders in Moscow. Some in Baku
believe Russia, given Moscow’s close strategic relationship with
Armenia, is the key to achieving the desired breakthrough on
Karabakh. A trade-off involving Azerbaijan’s rejection of a US base,
effectively in return for greater Russian support for Baku in the
Karabakh peace process, could possibly pressure Armenia into
softening its Karabakh negotiating position.
A diplomatic bargaining chip
Some pundits say Mammadyarov’s attempt to use the base issue as a
diplomatic bargaining chip has so far failed. They note that both
Russia and the US have given no public indication of shifting their
existing positions on the Karabakh peace process. Given the apparent
failure of what some in Baku describe as Azerbaijan’s base “bluff”,
officials are now left to weigh the potential merits and liabilities
of playing host to US troops. Political analyst Rauf Mirqadirov,
writing in an analysis published 19 August analysis by Zerkalo,
examined the pros and cons of the base issue. On the plus side,
Mirqadirov said the presence of US forces would facilitate rapid
economic development in the region. He also downplayed the
possibility of Russian retaliation, arguing that Moscow “is not ready
for global confrontation with the United States”. Mirqadirov,
however, envisioned several potential negatives arising out of a
possible basing arrangement. A US presence, for example, could make
Azerbaijan a target of Islamic militant action. It could also
potentially limit Azerbaijan’s options in striving to achieve its
Karabakh settlement objectives. In addition, Mirqadirov voiced
concern about the possibility of Azerbaijan becoming embroiled in the
long-running feud between the US and Iran. “The Americans do not rule
out that Iran is their future target,” Mirqadirov said. “If all these
statements are made in order to frighten Tehran – then that’s one
thing. But if the Americans start another mess – moreover, one along
our border – then Azerbaijan, irrespective of its wishes, will be
dragged into this conflict.” Azeris interviewed at random on the
streets of Baku offered a mixed view on the base issue. “We need to
see, first, what is our benefit from these bases. Will they help us
in the war with Armenia?” said Nargiz, a university student. Niyazi,
an employee at a trading house, suggested an American troop presence
would “only bring us trouble with Iran.” Others, however, said US
troops would help defend against potential encroachment by Iran or
Russia against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.
Fariz Ismailzade is a freelance writer on Caucasus politics and
economics. He has obtained his masters degree from the Washington
University in St. Louis and is currently based in Baku.
EurasiaNet ()provides information and analysis
about political, economic, environmental, and social developments in
the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in Russia,
the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. The website presents a variety
of perspectives on contemporary developments, utilizing a network of
correspondents based both in the West and in the region. The aim of
EurasiaNet is to promote informed decision making among policy
makers, as well as broadening interest in the region among the
general public. EurasiaNet is operated by the Central Eurasia Project
of the Open Society Institute.

BBC News
Aug 24 2004
Zou wins medal for China

Boxing results in full
Zou Shiming claimed China’s first Olympic boxing medal by beating
Armenia’s Aleksan Nalbandyan 20-12 in the light flyweight
quarter-finals.
Zou now faces Yan Bhartelemy Varela in Friday’s semi-finals, the
Cuban having outscored South Korea’s Hong Moo Won.
Russia’s Sergey Kazakov beat Namibia’s Joseph Jermi 18-11 and fights
Turkey’s Atagun Yalcinkaya in the last four.
Zou defeated Bhartelemy Varela at last year’s world championships in
Bangkok and went on to win a silver medal.
Yalcinkaya outpointed Italy’s Alfonso Pinto 33-24.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 24 2004
ALL-ARMENIAN FESTIVAL TO BE HELD BIANNUALLY
YEREVAN, August 24 (RIA Novosti’s Gamlet Matevosyan) – The
all-Armenian One Nation – One Culture festival will be held
biannually, said Lilit Asatryan, Armenian deputy minister of culture
and youth.
According to her, the festival that had concluded yesterday, has
fulfilled its mission – to foster cultural ties between Armenia and
the diaspora, to create the mechanisms for productive co-operation,
and it will become traditional.
“The continuity of national values and the transfer of knowledge from
the older generation to youth is crucial for preserving the cultural
traditions,” Ms. Asatryan said.
The first all-Armenian One Nation – One Culture festival was held on
August 15-22 in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (a region in Azerbaijan
with Armenian population).
The festival featured masters of such arts as dance, theatre, vocal,
arts-and-crafts, painting and recital.
Over 1,500 people representing Armenian art in 22 countries took part
in the festival. Apart from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, they come
from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, France, Austria, UK, U.S., Syria,
Lebanon and Iran.
The festival has been organised by the Armenian Culture and Youth
Ministry, the Armenia foundation and the specially established One
Nation – One Culture foundation under the patronage of Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 24 2004
TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OUTLINES PLANS TO DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE IN
RUSSIA’S SOUTH
SOCHI, August 24 (RIA Novosti) – Transportation Minister Igor Levitin
outlined plans to develop the infrastructure in southern Russia and
told about some of the newly-commissioned large infrastructure
projects as he met with President Vladimir Putin in the Black sea
port of Sochi Tuesday. Mr. Putin is now in Sochi on vacation.
According to Mr. Levitin, his ministry has worked out a concept for
the development of rail, aviation, and motor infrastructures in
Russia’s south, as well as of sea ports. He said that in 2005, as
much as $8 billion in allocations (the U.S. dollar currently buys
29.22 rubles) would be distributed among seven port construction
projects. “Within three years’ time, we will be able to mount all the
bridges that have been under construction for over a decade now,” he
assured.
As Mr. Levitin pointed out, 30% of the nation’s passenger traffic
falls on southern provinces, but the infrastructure network here is
not adequately developed throughout. His ministry’s new concept is
aimed at bringing uniformity to the transportation infrastructure of
Russia’s south so that people will have no difficulty getting to
southern resorts from any part of the country, he said.
Speaking of motorways, Mr. Levitin said the network was developed
well enough for freight traffic, but not for passenger traffic. Many
of the routes run through highland areas and may therefore be unsafe
for passengers, hence the need for tunnels.
“We have reoriented funds to the construction of tunnels at [the
Black Sea resorts] of Krasnaya Polyana and Dzhubga, and this will
raise safety,” he told President Putin.
Within one year’s time, the Transportation Ministry will renovate the
sea terminal in Sochi and restore sea travel between Russia, Ukraine,
Armenia, and Georgia, Mr. Levitin said. There is high demand for sea
lines that would link those countries together, he stressed. “We
intend to develop an infrastructure for passengers in ports,” said
the minister.
Mr. Levitin also pointed out that Russian rail transportation was
becoming increasingly efficient. He said that his ministry would be
developing the rail infrastructure in parallel with motorways.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 24 2004
ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN MILITARY EXERCISES BEGIN
YEREVAN, August 24 (RIA Novosti’s Gamlet Matevosyan) – Joint
Armenian-Russian military exercises have started at the Marshal
Bagramyan training ground near Armavir on Tuesday.
The Armenian enhanced motorized rifle regiment and servicemen from
the 102nd Russian military base stationed in Gyumri (Armenia) are
taking part in the exercises, Colonel Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, the press
secretary of the Armenian Defense Ministry, told RIA Novosti.
Different branches of the armed forces including fighting and assault
aircraft and artillery will be involved in the exercises, which will
last until August 27.
The purpose of the exercises is to practice defensive interaction.
The 102nd Russian military base of the North Caucasian military
district in Gyumri (deployed in 1995) is on combat alert as part of
the CIS air defense system. There are 5,000 people stationed at the
base, which is equipped with a C-300 surface-to-air missile system
and MiG-29 fighters.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 24 2004
PLANNED EXERCISE OF RUSSIAN ARMY WORRIES TBILISI
MOSCOW, August 24 (RIA Novosti) — Yesterday, Russia’s 58th Army
began an exercise in North Ossetia. “It is the largest exercise held
here this year,” a source in the army told a Kommersant correspondent.
Simultaneously the Russian peacekeepers launched an exercise in
western Georgia and Abkhazia.
The 58th Army’s exercise has no connection to the events around
Tskhinvali, as it was planned last year, says Colonel Vyacheslav
Sedov, head of the Defence Ministry’s press service.
Tbilisi, which is now in a ring of military exercises, rushed to
express its concern. Givi Targamadze, chairman of the Georgian
parliament’s defence and security committee, announced that if
Russian troops move towards Georgia, Tbilisi “will take appropriate
measures to protect its state border”. Defence Minister Georgy
Baramidze described the exercise at the Georgian border as display of
Russia’s non-constructive attitude.
The Russian army’s manoeuvres are not limited to the
Georgian-Ossetian region. Today, the North-Caucasian military
district will launch command and staff exercises featuring 5,500
reservists. Simultaneously, Armenia will host a joint
Russian-Armenian exercise using MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 attack
planes.

ArmenPress
Aug 24 2004
OBSERVERS SAYS ELECTIONS IN NKR ON A HIGH LEVEL, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT
STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS: Elections ended in Nagorno
Karabakh (NKR) with the second round of municipality elections in a
number of communities of the republic on Aug 22. Observers say they
passed on a high level, were fair and transparent, with almost no
violations reported at electoral committees. This testifies effective
work at local electoral committees and high activity of the
constituency.
The results of the first stage of elections on Aug 8 indicated
that in 22 communities, including Stepanakert, no candidate has won
more than half of votes. According to NKR law on Elections of Local
Self Government Bodies, Central Electoral Committee decided to hold
the second stage of elections on Aug 22. Particularly bitter fight
was staged among 5 candidates for the mayor of Stepanakert in the
first stage. After announcing the results of the first stage, it was
clear that two candidates, Pavel Najarian and Eduard Aghabekian
passed into the second round.
Interestingly enough, higher voter activity was observed in the
second stage of elections in the capital. According to Central
Electoral Committee, votes were divided in the following way in
Stepanakert elections: among 17,039 voters 9427 or 55.3 percent voted
for Eduard Aghabekian and 6619 votes went for Pavel Najarian.
According to the acting law, Eduard Aghabekian has become the mayor
of Stepanakert with three years term.