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11/09/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) No Shift in Armenia's Genocide Recognition Policy 2) Caucus Co-Chairs Oppose Azeri Effort to Disrupt Karabagh Peace Process 3) Aliyev Boast of Settlement Alternative, Major Military Spending Boost 4) Ball in Baku's Court Says Armenian Foreign Minister 5) Slovak Parliament to Discuss a Genocide Resolution 6) Zhvania, Kokoity Meeting in Sochi 1) No Shift in Armenia's Genocide Recognition Policy YEREVAN (Armenpress/Noyan Tapan)Armenia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamlet Gasparian said Armenia's policy for international recognition of the 1915 genocide has not changed, and remains a foreign policy priority. His comment came in response to Azeri and Turkish media reports that Yerevan may be considering a shift in its policy to help normalization of ties with Turkey. The reports claimed the shift may be indicated by the lack of regular reference to the genocide in next year's draft budget sent to parliament for approval. Gasparian said the draft budget has no relation to Armenia's consistency and decisiveness to continue the campaign for international recognition of the genocide, adding that no previous budget has ever had a special clause earmarking such expenditures. "The international recognition of the Armenian genocide does not refer to Armenia or Armenians alone; it refers to humanity and cannot be placed within a budget or other financial calculations," Gasparian said. The lack of reference to the genocide in the budget appears to have aroused enthusiasm in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Azeri press reported that a historical coup is taking place in Armenia. "Yeni Musavat" states that the government of Armenia is making a historical decision while trying to improve its relations with Turkey. The "Aina" newspaper writes that the Armenian authorities are taking a wiser stance on the issue of the genocide. Turkish mass media does not reveal, however, if the genocide issue has ever been included in Armenia's budget. According to the Istanbul-based Marmara Armenian newspaper, political observers stress that the absence of the indicated point in the budget does not indicate a change of Armenia's policies. 2) Caucus Co-Chairs Oppose Azeri Effort to Disrupt Karabagh Peace Process --Urge Secretary Powell to "renounce" and "secure retraction" of proposed UN initiative WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)--Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) have urged Secretary of State Colin Powell to take decisive action against a UN resolution, introduced by Azerbaijan, which could seriously undermine the Karabagh peace process. In a November 7 letter to the Secretary of State, the Caucus Co-Chairs expressed concern about the "ill-advised" resolution on the "situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan," stating, "This intentionally disruptive resolution threatens the principles and procedures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the Minsk group mediation effort, co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia to resolve the Karabagh conflict." The letter from the Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs continues, "Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the best interests of the US and the South Caucasus region. To this end, we urge that the United States forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its retraction, and impress upon the Azeri government that it should drop such counter-productive tactics in favor of a serious and lasting commitment to the OSCE Minsk Group process." "We want to thank the Co-Chairmen of the Armenian Issues Caucus--Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg--from drawing Secretary Powell's urgent attention to the threat that Azerbaijan's efforts at the United Nations to manipulate the Karabagh issue pose to US interests in the stability of the Caucasus region," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We share the concerns they raised in their letter and are also urging the State Department to take decisive action against destructive measures, such as this, that only foster greater divisiveness and set back the cause of peace in this important part of the world." On October 14, the Azeri Ambassador to the UN Yashar Aliyev, submitted a letter requesting that a resolution, which would restrict the repatriation of Armenians to their homes in Karabagh, be included on the UN General Assembly agenda. Prior to its consideration by the international panel, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) urged US Ambassador to the UN, John Danforth, to oppose the measure, citing the negative ramifications on the Karabagh peace process. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs issued a statement on October 27, noting that "introducing this issue to the United Nations General Assembly may have two negative consequences. In light of the situation we have outlined, this will be detrimental to the efforts to find a just and lasting settlement of the issue, particularly at this time. Secondly, it will fail to achieve consensus, a situation that will not be helpful. We advise avoiding this situation." Despite these efforts, on October 29, the UN General Assembly voted in support of the request during their regular session. The complete text of the Knollenberg/Pallone letter to Secretary Powell is provided below: Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to share with you our alarm over the prospect that Azerbaijan's continued efforts at the United Nations to manipulate the Nagorno Karabagh conflict will, if unchecked, undermine our clearly articulated national interest in the stability of the Caucasus. We refer, of course, to Azerbaijan's recent introduction of an ill-advised resolution on the "situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. This intentionally disruptive resolution threatens the principles and procedures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the Minsk group mediation effort, co-chaired by the United States, France and Russia, to resolve the Karabagh conflict. Azerbaijan's proposal represents a hostile declaration against the entire peace process, aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness. Its consideration can only set back the cause of peace. We are deeply concerned that the OSCE Minsk process cannot survive Azerbaijan's destabilizing tactics. Continued tampering with this process will inevitably produce a chain reaction resulting in its demise. We cannot afford to allow Azerbaijan to continue to disrupt the work of the OSCE, which, as you know, has been recognized by the UN itself as the lead arbiter in this conflict. We value the vital role the United States plays as an honest broker in the Nagorno Karabagh peace process. In this capacity, given our commitment to keep the parties talking and moving forward, it is necessary for the United States to act forcefully against destabilizing steps that will unravel the peace process. Our interests are best served by the continuation of dialogue on the outstanding issues related to Nagorno Karabagh within the OSCE framework, not by the fragmentation of this orderly process. Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the best interests of the US and the South Caucasus region. To this end, we urge that the United States forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its retraction, and impress upon the Azerbaijani government that it should drop such counter-productive tactics in favor of a serious and lasting commitment to the OSCE Minsk Group process. Thank you for your consideration of our views. We stand ready, of course, to assist you in addressing this matter in the interest of the American people. Sincerely, Joe Knollenberg Frank Pallone, Jr. Member of Congress 3) Aliyev Boast of Settlement Alternative, Major Military Spending Boost ASTARA, Azerbaijan (AFP/Armepress)--Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said Tuesday that a peace agreement on regulating the Mountainous Karabagh conflict could not be signed unless Azeri territories are first liberated. "The conflict cannot be resolved unless Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is restored in full," he said. He also announced defense spending in Azerbaijan would grow by nearly one third in 2005, after Armenia unveiled plans to significantly boost its own military budget. Aliyev was visiting the southern regions of Azerbaijan. "Our parliament is discussing next year's budget, where spending will grow by 25 to 30 percent, and this includes military spending," Aliyev told reporters in Astara. Aliyev's comments followed a proposal made Monday by Armenia's parliament to raise defense spending by 20 percent to 99 million dollars in 2005. During his visit to the small seaside city Lenkoran located near the Southern border with Iran, Aliyev boasted, "If we see that that negotiations and international efforts are unproductive, then we can resort to ways to resolve the conflict." According to a finance ministry source, Azerbaijan's military spending in 2004 amounted to just under 150 million dollars. 4) Ball in Baku's Court Says Armenian Foreign Minister YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Talking about the prospects for resolving the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said that "serious progress" was achieved during his four meetings with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Prague and Strasbourg over the past six months. "We can now enter the second stage of the Prague meetings and deepen the achievements of the first stage," Oskanian said. "Azerbaijan has announced that it would wait for Armenia's response to begin the second stage of the negotiations. I can announce through your Radio that Armenia has already given its positive answer and is ready to resume the negotiations as early as tomorrow." The Armenian Foreign Minister characterized as "a diplomatic mistake" Azerbaijan's initiative to include in the agenda of UN General Assembly the issue of the resettlement of Armenian families on Armenian-controlled Azerbaijani territories around Mountainous Karabagh. "Azerbaijan should not hope to continue the negotiations within OSCE Minsk Group and at the same time expect other solutions for separate issues picked from the whole package in other instances. It never happens," Oskanian said. "Either we continue the negotiations within the Minsk Group, trying to reach a solution of the whole problem, or Azerbaijan can take the issue to other instances, seeking separate solutions; in that case, Baku will have to deal with the authorities of Karabagh. The ball today is in their court." 5) Slovak Parliament to Discuss a Genocide Resolution YEREVAN (Armenpress)--During its November session, the Slovak parliament will discuss a resolution condemning the 1915 Armenian genocide. The resolution is supported by five factions of the Slovak legislature making up the absolute majority. The lawmakers will also be watching a documentary on the genocide, to be aired later on Slovak TV. The Armenian community of Slovakia and the political and diplomatic forces of Armenia are in full support of the resolution. 6) Zhvania, Kokoity Meeting in Sochi MOSCOW (Interfax)--Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and the leader of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia, Eduard Kokoity, are currently meeting in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. According to a source with the South Ossetian Information and Press Department, the meeting is also being attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loshchinin and co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission representing North Ossetia, Taimuraz Kusov. Kusov told journalists that, even though they may hold differing opinions concerning the circumstances of the settlement, those responsible for driving forth the negotiations have completely ruled out the use of force as a viable solution. According to Kusov, they also agreed to contribute to an atmosphere of trust that will help the parties reach a comprehensive settlement. "The sides agreed to open transportation routes and are willing to do this," Kusov said. "Everything is going fine--the conversations concern joint cooperation, and I am very glad about the dialog that has been created," Loshchinin told journalists. One agreement signed during the meeting called for the withdrawal of all illegal armed units from the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone by November 20. "Serious work and constructive positions of the participants in the meeting have resulted in the signing an important document. It imposes a cease-fire in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone and bans any military actions. This is backed by the parties' demilitarization obligations. Only peacekeepers will stay there. All illegal armed units have to be withdrawn. The deadline is November 20," read a Russian Foreign Ministry statement drafted after the agreement was signed on Friday. "All essential conditions for resuming negotiations on a comprehensive political settlement of the conflict have been set up," it said. "The document also stipulates the need to carry out joint economic projects. Fundamentally important is also the fact that the statement has been signed by the Georgian prime minister and the president of South Ossetia, which means the top level. The leaders of the two sides, displaying wisdom and great responsibility, have undertaken practical commitments to reach a settlement only by peaceful means. Russia is confident that these commitments will be honored," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. South Ossetia is legally a province of Georgia, but an armed conflict following a USSR collapse in the early 1990s led to its de facto independence. Tensions between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali have escalated in recent months, involving skirmishes, as Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has stepped up efforts to restore control over the breakaway republic. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.