Armenian deputy speaker says room remains for dialogue with opposition
Mediamax news agency
13 Apr 04
YEREVAN
Armenian Deputy Speaker Vahan Ovanesyan said today that there is still
room for dialogue with opposition leaders.
According to Mediamax news agency, Ovanesyan told journalists today
that yesterday’s events, particularly the dispersal of the opposition
rally in central Yerevan, were the consequence of the fact that “the
opposition has overestimated its own capabilities and made maximalist
demands”.
Ovanesyan recalled that representatives of the ruling coalition,
particularly the [Armenian Revolutionary Federation] Dashnaktsutyun,
had recently kept suggesting to the opposition that they begin
dialogue.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran’s intelligence minister conferred with Armenian foreign minister
IRNA news agency
13 Apr 04

TEHRAN
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan here Tuesday [13 April]
conferred with Minister of Information Hojjat ol-Eslam Ali Yunesi.
At the meeting, Oskanyan and Yunesi discussed issues of regional and
mutual interest, the public relations department of the ministry said.
[Passage omitted: About Oskanyan’s itinerary in Tehran]

Armenian opposition plans another rally on 16 April
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian opposition is going to stage another rally on Freedom
Square in Yerevan on 16 April, a representative of the Justice bloc,
MP Shavarsh Kocharyan, has said.
Addressing a briefing in Yerevan today, Shavarsh Kocharyan said that
this decision had been made at a meeting of the Justice and National
Unity opposition factions in the National Assembly today, Mediamax
reports.
In turn, the chairman of the political council of the Republic Party,
Albert Bazeyan, called on the party’s members and supporters to come
tomorrow to the party’s office, which had been sealed by the police,
and demand that it be opened. The Republic’s office was shut down on
the night of 13 April after the police dispersed an opposition rally
and arrested its several leaders.
“Despite the steps that can be taken against us, we will use our civil
and political rights,” Albert Bazeyan said.
Heads of the Armenian Police said on 13 April that they would not
allow the holding of unauthorized rallies in Yerevan.

Armenian president calls on opposition to return to “normal activity”
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 04

YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan spoke about the necessity of a
political dialogue in Yerevan today, at the same time, highlighting
that he considered it unacceptable if readiness for such a dialogue
was of an ultimatum nature.
Robert Kocharyan said this at a meeting with heads of the United
Communist Party of Armenia today, Mediamax has learnt from the
presidential press service.
Commenting on the events of the recent days, the Armenian president
said that “forces advocating political extremism” were responsible for
them in the first place. Kocharyan believes that “the measures taken
were appropriate, and the police used means exclusively permitted by
the law”.
“Today the opposition has every opportunity to return to normal
activity. If this is not done, then the authorities have enough
potential to defend the people and prevent any manifestation of
lawlessness,” Armenian president said.

Defence minister says USA wants “strong and battle-worthy” Armenian army
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 04
YEREVAN
“We would like the level of battle-worthiness of the Armenian armed
forces to rise through military cooperation with the United States,”
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said today.
Mediamax news agency quoted the Armenian defence minister as saying
that “the USA is interested in having a strong and battle-worthy army
in Armenia for it to act as a guarantor of stability in the region and
to perform peacekeeping functions if need be”.

Armenian opposition to continue fight “by constitutional means”- party leader
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 04

YEREVAN
National Unity Party leader Artashes Gegamyan said in Yerevan today
that the opposition will keep on struggling for changing the Armenian
authorities “by constitutional means”. Artashes Gegamyan, whom the
police think to be one of the organizers of the disorders that took
place in Yerevan on the night of 12-13 April said this at a briefing
at the Armenian National Assembly today.
He said that the opposition is now discussing the tactics of its
further actions. Artashes Gegamyan said that the dispersal of the
rally by the police “has again demonstrated that the Armenian
leadership leads us to the loss of statehood, and the change of power
is the only way out of this situation”.
The leader of the National Unity party said that after the dispersal
of the rally representatives of the law-enforcement bodies broke the
doors of the party’s headquarters and seized all documents.
“If Robert Kocharyan had read all those analytical articles which were
among the documents he would have immediately resigned,” Artashes
Gegamyan stated.

US envoy urges dialogue between Armenian authorities, opposition
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The United States is interested in reducing tension in domestic
political life in Armenia, US ambassador John Ordway said today.
The US diplomat said he was in favour of dialogue between the Armenian
authorities and opposition, “which will make it possible for the
government to concentrate on conducting political and economic reforms
and achieving stability in the region”, Mediamax reports.
“We think that the release of the detained opposition activists will
ease the tension. Therefore, we call on all interested sides to use
only political means and to prevent any use of violence,” John Ordway
said.

Armenian defence chief, envoy inaugurate US-funded hospital
Mediamax news agency
14 Apr 04

YEREVAN
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan and US ambassador John
Ordway attended the opening ceremony of a hospital in the town of
Talin today. The hospital was refurbished at the expense of the
European command of the US armed forces.
“This programme has become yet another symbol of the successful
US-Armenian cooperation,” the US ambassador said.
Serzh Sarkisyan said the refurbishment of the hospital in Talin was a
“result of military cooperation with the USA which allows us to
address not only military but also social issues”.
The defence minister expressed his confidence that “military
cooperation between the USA and Armenia will successfully develop in
the future”.
The refurbishment of the Talin hospital cost 236,900 dollars. It will
be the only hospital in Aragatsotn Region and will also serve the
rural communities of Shirak and Armavir regions.

Azeri president thanks Turkey for support on Karabakh
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
13 Apr 04
[Passage omitted: Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev gave a joint news conference after talks in
Ankara]
Sezer said that he and Aliyev discussed all dimensions of bilateral
relations in their meeting. Sezer noted that he and Aliyev searched
opportunities to further improve political and economic relations and
cooperation. He and Aliyev discussed regional issues closely
concerning two countries, Sezer stated. [Passage omitted]
Aliyev, in turn, said that the support extended by Ankara to Baku was
once more confirmed in their today’s meetings. Bilateral relations
with Turkey were improving in every field, Aliyev noted. Aliyev
recalled that Turkey was the first country which recognized Azerbaijan
and said that relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey had further
improved throughout years. Positive relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan were important for not only two countries but also regional
peace and stability, Aliyev stated. Aliyev said that Turkey had always
been beside Azerbaijan in its dispute with Armenia. A gradual solution
to Nagorno-Karabakh dispute was adopted, Aliyev noted.
Stressing the importance of improvement of economic relations, Aliyev
said that economic cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan would
increase once Azerbaijan’s trade potential increased. Aliyev
emphasized importance of implementation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas pipeline projects for
regional stability.
The Turkish and Azerbaijani officials signed a cooperation protocol on
civil aviation, cultural cooperation protocol, agreement on protection
of industrial ownership, agreement on cooperation in customs,
agreement on long-term economic cooperation.

Putin confident in continuing stability in Armenia
Apr 14 2004 10:11PM
MOSCOW. April 14 (Interfax) – President Vladimir Putin and Armenian
President Robert Kocharian discussed pressing issues in bilateral
relations during a Wednesday telephone conversation, the Kremlin press
service reported.
At Putin?s request Kocharian shared his opinion of the recent
developments in Yerevan that caused in an upsurge in domestic tension.
Putin expressed confidence that the leadership of friendly Armenia
would use the existing potential of democratic reforms to maintain
stability, law and order.
The two presidents also discussed further Russian-American contacts at
various levels, including the very highest.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress