Month: June 2005

Armenian speaker, Turkish MP discuss 1915 genocide
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
10 Jun 05
[Presenter] During his meeting with the speaker of the Armenian
National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, the member of the Turkish
parliament, Turan Comez, said that Turkey cannot deny what has already
happened and needs to move forward and look at reality with open eyes.
Comez believes that the recognition of the genocide is the business of
historians. The Turkish deputy conveyed greetings from Turkish Speaker
Bulent Arinc to Armenian Speaker Bagdasaryan.
Calling on Turkey to recognize the genocide, the Armenian speaker said
that it is necessary to move forward in the path of European
integration.
[Video showed the meeting]

Six Armenian pilots who were accused in African coup plot return home
AP Worldstream
Jun 11, 2005
Six Armenian pilots who spent nearly 15 months in an Equatorial
Guinean prison for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government
returned home Saturday.
The six, who were arrested in March 2004, were granted a presidential
pardon and released on Wednesday.
The government said the six were hired to fly gunmen and material in
for the plot, but chief pilot, Ashot Karapetyan, told a news
conference in Yerevan that there was never any evidence they were
involved.
A South African arms dealer who was the alleged leader of the
mercenaries remains in detention.
Amnesty International said that the trial had been rife with human
rights violations.

SwissInfo Deutsch
10 juni 2005
Armenienfrage als Schatten über Türkei-Besuch

swissinfo 10. Juni 2005 21:05

Joseph Deiss mit dem türkischen Premier Recep Tayyip in Davos 2004.
(Keystone)
Türkische Parlamentarier werden am Montag zu einem Schweiz-Besuch
erwartet. Eine neue Kontroverse in der Armenier-Frage überschattet
die Visite.

Türkische Zeitungen berichteten, geplante Ministerbesuche beider
Seiten seien abgesagt worden, weil in der Schweiz gegen einen
türkischen Historiker juristische Ermittlungen laufen.

Zwischen der Türkei und der Schweiz gibt es erneut Verstimmungen.
Nach Berichten der türkischen Tageszeitungen “Radikal” und “Milliyet”
sagte der türkische Handeslminister Kürsad Tüzmen seine Teilnahme am
“Swiss-Turkish-Business-Council” (STBC) ab. Die Veranstaltung hätte
vom 22. bis 24. Juni in Zürich stattfinden sollen.
Das Treffen sei bereits vor einem Monat auf unbestimmte Zeit
verschoben worden, bestätigten die STBC und der Sprecher des
türkischen Handelsministers am Freitag. Tüzmen hätte während seines
Besuchs in der Schweiz auch Bundesrat Deiss treffen sollen.

Türkischer Historiker verharmlost Völkermord

Der türkische Handelsminister Tüzmen begründete seinen Rückzug mit
den Vorermittlungen der Justiz in Winterthur gegen den türkischen
Historiker Yusuf Halacoglu. Halacoglu sei “ein guter Freund” von ihm,
zitierte “Radikal” den Politiker. Die Reise in die Schweiz habe er
aus Solidarität mit dem Historiker abgesagt.
Die Staatsanwaltschaft Winterthur hatte nach einem Vortrag Halacoglus
am 2. Mai 2004 in Winterthur eine Strafuntersuchung eingeleitet. Der
Historiker soll bei seiner Rede den Völkermord an den Armeniern
verharmlost und damit das Anti-Rassismus-Gesetz verletzt haben.
Gemäss “Radikal” und “Milliyet” sagte Deiss im Gegenzug einen für
September geplanten Gegenbesuch in der Türkei ab. Im Eidgenössischen
Volkswirtschafts-Departement (EVD) hiess es dazu lediglich, der
Besuch von Deiss im September sei von der Türkei nicht bestätigt. Die
Türkei habe aber “Terminschwierigkeiten” signalisiert.
Die türkische Botschaft in Bern wusste am Freitag nichts von einer
Absage. Der Besuch von Deiss in der Türkei sei nach wie vor für
diesen Herbst geplant, sagte Presse-Attaché Sibel Gal.

Gegenbesuch einer Parlamentarier-Delegation

Trotz der jüngsten Spannungen wird am Montag eine türkische
Parlamentarier-Delegation für eine Woche die Schweiz besuchen. Es
handelt sich um einen Gegenbesuch, nachdem eine Delegation des
Schweizer Parlaments im letzten Jahr die Türkei besucht hatte.
Gemäss Paolo Janke, Sekretär der Aussenpolitischen Kommission (APK),
wird der Besuch wie vorgesehen stattfinden. Geplant sind unter
anderem Treffen mit den Ratspräsidenten und den Bundesräten Micheline
Calmy-Rey und Deiss.

Kontroversen seit 2003: Als Genozid anerkannt

Die Türkei und die Schweiz liegen sich wegen der Armenier-Frage seit
2003 in den Haaren. Damals entschied das Waadtländer
Kantonsparlament, den Mord an den Armeniern zu Beginn des 20.
Jahrhunderts als Genozid anzuerkennen.
Drei Monate später folgte auf Bundesebene der Nationalrat diesem
Entscheid.
Nach der Abstimmung in der Waadt hatte Ankara eine Einladung an die
Schweizer Aussenministerin Micheline Calmy-Rey zurückgezogen. Der
Besuch in der Türkei fand dann schliesslich im letzten März statt,
nachdem sich die Situation etwas entspannt hatte.
Die offizielle Türkei bestreitet, dass es sich bei den Ereignissen
von 1915 um einen Genozid handelte, und betont, dass es auf beiden
Seiten Opfer gegeben habe. Es sei zu Deportationen gekommen, nicht
aber zu einem Völkermord.

Gemischte Historiker-Kommission als Vorschlag

Vor der jüngsten Kontroverse, noch zu Beginn dieser Woche, hatte der
türkische Botschafter in Bern, Alev Kiliç, erklärt, dass die
Armenier-Frage “einen bitteren Geschmack in den
türkisch-schweizerischen Beziehungen hinterlassen habe”.
“Wir möchten dies ein für allemal klären, indem wir eine gemischte
Historiker-Kommission einsetzen und sämtliche Archive und Dokumente
zugänglich machen.”
Laut Kiliç hatte die Schweiz während Calmy-Reys Besuch in der Türkei
an einer solchen Kommission Interesse gezeigt. Es sei nun an den
Armeniern, ihre Position klarzulegen.
“Sicher ging dieser Vorschlag auch an die Regierung Armeniens”, sagt
Kiliç. “Ohne ihre Zustimmung ist eine solche Kommission nicht
festzulegen.” Noch stehe jedoch eine positive Antwort aus.

SwissInfo Deutsch
10 juni 2005
Neue Irritationen zwischen der Türkei und der Schweiz

ISTANBUL/BERN – Die Verstimmungen zwischen der Türkei und der Schweiz
ziehen weitere Kreise. Wie die türkische Presse berichtete, wurden
geplante Besuche von Bundesrat Deiss in der Türkei und des türkischen
Handelsministers in der Schweiz abgesagt.
Nach Berichten der türkischen Tageszeitungen “Radikal” und “Milliyet”
sagte der türkische Handelsminister Kürsad Tüzmen seine Teilnahme am
“Swiss-Turkish-Business-Council” (STBC) ab. Dieses sollte vom 22. bis
24. Juni in Zürich stattfinden.
Das Treffen sei bereits vor einem Monat auf unbestimmte Zeit
verschoben worden, bestätigten die STBC und der Sprecher des
türkischen Handelsministers gegenüber der Nachrichtenagentur sda.
Nach Angaben von Manuel Sager, Sprecher im Eidg.
Volkswirtschaftsdepartement (EVD), annulierte die türkische Seite
gleichzeitig auch das für dieses Datum geplante Arbeitsessen mit
Wirtschaftsminister Joseph Deiss “wegen Terminproblemen”.
Die türkischen Zeitungen “Radikal” und “Milliyet” berichteten weiter,
Wirtschaftsminister Joseph Deiss habe im Gegenzug einen für September
geplanten Gegenbesuch in der Türkei abgesagt. Im Eidg.
Volkswirtschaftsdepartement (EVD) hiess es dazu lediglich, der Besuch
von Deiss im September sei von türkischer Seite nicht bestätigt.
Die türkische Botschaft in Bern wusste nichts von einer Absage. Der
Besuch von Deiss in der Türkei sei nach wie vor für diesen Herbst
geplant, sagte Presse-Attaché Sibel Gal.
Handelsminister Tüzmen begründete seine Absage mit den
Vorermittlungen der Justiz in Winterthur gegen den türkischen
Historiker Yusuf Halacoglu. Der Historiker soll bei seiner Rede den
Völkermord an den Armeniern verharmlost und damit das
Anti-Rassismus-Gesetz verletzt haben.
Trotz der jüngsten Spannungen soll nun am Montag eine türkische
Parlamentarier-Delegation für eine Woche in die Schweiz reisen.
Gemäss Paolo Janke, Sekretär der Aussenpolitischen Kommission (APK),
wird der Besuch wie vorgesehen stattfinden. Geplant sind unter
anderem Treffen mit den Ratspräsidenten und den Bundesräten Micheline
Calmy-Rey und Deiss.

Azerbaijan News Service
June 11 2005
CROATIA AND AZERBAIJAN BOOST RELATIONS
2005-06-11 12:23
Croatia supports the territorial integrity o Azerbaijan and wants
settlement of Daqliq Qarabaq conflict within the principles of UN. It
is said in the joined communiqué signed by Ilham Aliyev, president of
Azerbaijan and Stipe Mesic his Croatian counterpart. They discussed
opportunities to develop bilateral relation on all spheres. The Two
appeared before the media after having met in head to head and
enlarged meeting. Ilham Aliyev said either Azerbaijan or Croatia
faced the invasion but if situation in Balkans was normal time being
it was not the same in the Caucasus. Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan was
ready to give the highest autonomous status and guarantee the
security of Armenians. Mr.Aliyev said that Armenians occupied the
territories of Azerbaijan with the help of foreign armed forces.
Ilham Aliyev also spoke about economic potential of his country
informed about newly opened Baku -Tbilisi -Jeyhan pipeline. In his
turn Stipe Mesic told his country was open for Azeri goods and it was
good opportunity for Croatian companies to establish business there.
Stipe Mesic said there was a good chances to build cooperation in
energy, tourism and agriculture spheres. It was also decided to open
mutual representatives in Baku and Zagreb. It should be noted that
leaders of ten major companies accompany the President during the
visit and they expect to meet Croatian businessmen on trade exchange.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“I HAVE PAID SEVERAL TIMES LESS FOR 68% OF ARMAVIA THAN THE ANNOUNCED
$50 MLN,” SAYS HEAD OF MIKA ARMENIA TRADING
YEREVAN, JUNE 11. ARMINFO. Head of Mika Armenia Trading Mikhail
Baghdasarov has refuted the assessment of the Russian experts of
aviation market that he managed to get the full package of Armavia’s
shares for $50 mln.
“Rather big sum has been spent for 68% of the shares, but by far not
$50 mln, several times less. It is difficult today to find a company
worth $50 mln in Armenia,” Baghasarov told Novoye Vremya newspaper. He
said the payment was carried out due to the credits from European and
Russian banks. Commenting on the position of “Siberia,” Mikhail
Baghdasarov stated that “Siberia” leadership is satisfied with the
present deal as having large-scale projects both in Russia and outside
it, it started losing the interest in the Armenian market which was
too small for it. That is why, the leadership of “Siberia” made a
decision to sell its shares and invest the proceeds in extension of
its business inside Russia and in the West. It has left the Armenian
market satisfied. The most important is that Armenia has got back the
air carrier developed enough to compete with representatives of a
number of foreign companies, Baghdasarov thinks.
Speaking of the plans of development of Armenia, M. Baghdasarov said
that first of all the level of service, equipment and safety of
flights must be upgraded to world standards. Regular flights to
Frankfurt and Amsterdam will be restored within the nearest future,
and new ones to Tashkent and Rome will be added. Besides, a flight
urgent for our compatriots Yerevan-Los Angeles is to open. As regards
the future, it is not ruled out that part of the shares will be sold
on the exchange. And it is desirable that Armenians from America,
Europe, Russia and Armenia should buy them. “Our final goal is to see
thousands of shareholders of the company, Armenians from various
states, hereby making the company national, Armenian,” the businessman
said.
A high-ranking source at “Siberia” commented on the deal to the
Russian “Kommersant”: “We have built a good company. We were proposed
enough big sum for it, that is why we have accepted the proposal on
the sale.” The market participants assess it at some $50 mln.
It should be noted that the leadership of “Siberia” purchased 50% of
Armavia’s shares from “Chernomoravia” in 2002 in favor of an
especially established LTD “Aviafin.” Later it received 18% from Mika
Armenia Trading. The investment contract between “Siberia” and Armavia
was signed on March 14 2003. 68% of Armavia’s shares belong to
“Aviafin” registered in Armenia, which belongs to the leadership of
“Siberia” as natural persons. The remaining 32% is the share of LTD
Mika Armenia Trading belonging to the Armenian businessman Mikhail
Baghdasarov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN STARTED AFTER HER ANNUAL REPORTING
YEREVAN, JUNE 11. ARMINFO. The problems of Armenia’s ombudsman Larisa
Alaverdyan started after her reporting on her work in 2004, says the
leader of the opposition Justice bloc, MP Stepan Demirtchyan.
The government did not like the report and launched an attack against
Alaverdyan through Justice Ministry, Constitutional Court and finally
National Security Service. Demirtchyan does not agree with his bloc
colleague Arshak sadoyan that the case of Alaverdyan is just an act
aimed to raise her rating. “I don’t think this is an act. She failed
to cater for the government and is now defendless before its machine,”
says Demirtchyan.

Washington Times, DC
June 11 2005
Outlook dims for title deal
By David R. Sands
The theory that the retirement of Garry Kasparov would make unifying
the divided world chess crown easier has been taking a beating
recently.
To its credit, FIDE, the international chess federation, has
organized a strong eight-grandmaster double-round-robin tournament
for this fall in Argentina, to be played at classical time controls.
The format strongly resembles the famous 1948 tournament in which
Russian great Mikhail Botvinnik won the title vacated with the death
of Alexander Alekhine two years earlier.
But Russian Vladimir Kramnik, who beat Kasparov in a title match
in London five years ago, won’t be playing in the FIDE event. The
obvious unification scenario would have the winner of the Argentine
tournament — which includes such legitimate contenders as Bulgaria’s
Veselin Topalov, Viswanathan Anand of India and Hungary’s Peter Leko
— play Kramnik for the undisputed crown, something Kramnik has said
he would consider.
But FIDE Vice President Georgios Makropoulos, in a new interview
with the Russian magazine Sport Express, has ruled out the
common-sense solution, saying the winner in Argentina will be FIDE’s
world champion, period. Makropoulos even said the players were
required to promise not to play a match against Kramnik as a
condition for playing in Argentina.
?Kramnik made a decision not to play in Argentina. We cannot ask
our world champion to play against him,? Makropolous reportedly said.
All of which means that the ruinous division plaguing the game’s
most valuable asset is likely to be with us for a while to come.
Reunification may be on hold, but area players still can square
off against a top grandmaster Thursday night when three-time U.S.
champion Joel Benjamin gives a lecture and simultaneous exhibition at
the Arlington Chess Club. The fun starts at 7 p.m., and the cost to
participate is $20.
Organizer Mike Atkins says more than half the boards are already
claimed. More information on the event can be found at the ACC Web
site,

The eight-game rapid match between Leko and English star Michael
Adams, which ended Sunday in the Hungarian city of Miskolc, featured
some bizarre momentum shifts. Adams burst out of the blocks with
three straight wins only to have Leko tie things up with three points
in the next three games. The players drew the last two games and thus
split the eventful match, 4-4.
Leko finally caught up with a fine display of power chess in Game
6 as Adams fell to a powerful central attack. Woozy from watching his
lead evaporate, Black desperately tries to simplify the position, but
his passive play only leaves him more exposed.
Things develop normally in this Ruy Lopez until 20. Qd2 exd4?!,
when Black voluntarily surrenders his strong point at e5. Adams was
clearly trying to suck the life out of the position with 21. Nxd4
Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8, hoping to trade off the heavy
pieces. But Leko’s psychologically astute 24. Re1! Be6 25. Ne3 keeps
the rook on the board and prepares for White’s central push.
With 26. f4 Bf6 27. Rd1, the weak backward d-pawn is already
proving a headache for Black, and Adams’ attempts to seek
counterpressure against White’s center backfire badly: 27…Qa8?! 28.
Bxf6 Nxf6 29. Qxd6 g6 (a mandatory preparatory move as 29…Nxe4??
30. Bxe4 Qxe4 31. Qd8+ leads to mate) 30. f5!, embarrassing both the
bishop and the loose knight on f6.
Now on 30…Qa7 31. Kf2 Ne8, the bishop is lost after 32. Qb4!
gxf5 33. exf5 Bc4 34. b3 axb3 35. axb3, but Black’s choice proves
even less effective: 30…Nxe4 31. Bxe4 Qxe4 32. Ng4!, when the
bishop is still en prise and White also threatens 33. Nf6+. Removing
the pawn with 32…Qxf5 walks into a second fork on 33. Nh6+; Adams
gave up.

The Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic has long been a
holiday-weekend fixture in Southern California. Armenian IM Andranik
Matikozian was this year’s winner, with a 51/2-1/2 score that
included a win over chief rival IM Enrico Sevillano.
Against California master Reynaldo Del Pilar, Matikozian picked
up a quick point with a classic Sicilian piece sacrifice on d5. The
offer of a bishop with 10. Bd5 exd5 11. exd5+ Be7 12. Nf5
discombobulates Black’s game, and Del Pilar never recovers his
bearings.
A better response to the sacrifice would have been 12…Kf8 13.
Qg4 Bf6 (g6? 14. Nxe7 Nxe7 15. Bg5) 14. Bf4 h5 15. Qf3 Nh6 16. Bxd6+
Kg8 17. Nxh6+ Rxh6 18. Bxc5, though even here White has a strong
pull. On the game’s 12…Bc8 13. Nxg7+ Kf8 14. Nh5 Bf5 15. Qd4,
blocking with 15…Bf6? loses to 16. Bh6+! Nxh6 17. Nxf6 Qc7 18. Ne8
Rxe8 19. Qxh8+ Ng8 20. Rxe8+ Kxe8 21. Qxg8.
Black hangs on with 15…f6 16. Ne2 Nd7 17. Qf4 Bg6 18. Nd4, but
the defensive strain gets to him with 18…Bf7? (see diagram;
20…Qc8! 19. Qh4 [Ne6+ Kf7 20. Ng5+ Kf8 leaves White with no better
than a perpetual] Ne5 20. Nf4 Qg4 gives Black real survival chances)
19. Qg4!, winning in all variations.
The game ended with 19…Qa5 (Ne5 20. Qg7+ Ke8 21. Qxh8 and
19…Bg6 20. Ne6+ both are equally disastrous for Black) 20. Bh6+!,
and Black resigned facing 20…Nxh6 (Ke8 21. Ng7+ Kf8 22. Nde6+ Bxe6
23. Nxe6+ Kf7 24. Qh5 mate) 21. Qg7+ Ke8 22. Qxh8+ Bg8 23. Rxe7+!
Kxe7 24. Nc6+, picking off the queen.

Rapid Match, Game 6, Miskolc, Hungary, June 2005
Leko Adams
1. e4 e5 17. Rc1 Rac8
2. Nf3 Nc6 18. Nf1 Qb8
3. Bb5 a6 19. Bb1 Rc7
4. Ba4 Nf6 20. Qd2 exd4
5. 0-0 Be7 21. Nxd4 Nxd4
6. Re1 b5 22. Bxd4 Rxc1
7. Bb3 d6 23. Rxc1 Rc8
8. c3 0-0 24. Re1 Be6
9. h3 Na5 25. Ne3 Nd7
10. Bc2 c5 26. f4 Bf6
11. d4 Qc7 27. Rd1 Qa8
12. Nbd2 cxd4 28. Bxf6 Nxf6
13. cxd4 Nc6 29. Qxd6 g6
14. Nb3 a5 30. f5 Nxe4
15. Be3 a4 31. Bxe4 Qxe4
16. Nbd2 Bd7 32. Ng4 Black
resigns

Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic, Los Angeles, May 2005
Matikozian Del Pilar
1. e4 c5 11. exd5+ Be7
2. Nc3 a6 12. Nf5 Bc8
3. Nf3 d6 13. Nxg7+ Kf8
4. d4 cxd4 14. Nh5 Bf5
5. Nxd4 e6 15. Qd4 f6
6. Bc4 b5 16. Ne2 Nd7
7. Bb3 Nd7 17. Qf4 Bg6
8. 0-0 Nc5 18. Nd4 Bf7
9. Re1 Bb7 19. Qg4 Qa5
10. Bd5 exd5 20. Bh6+ Black
resigns

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 11 2005
SENATOR FIORELLO PROVERA: `I WILL DO THE BEST TO BRING UP TO THE
WORLD TRUTH ON NAGORNO KARABAKH’
[June 11, 2005, 11:54:54]
As is informed from the press-service of the State Committee on Work
with the Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, at the meeting of chairman of
the Committee Nazim Ibrahimov carried out on June 10, with the
chairman of foreign relations and migration affairs standing
committee of the Senate of Italy Fiorello Provera, it was noted that
the relations between Italy and Azerbaijan have friendly and partner
character. During conversation, it has been underlined, that this
visit of the Italian visitor to Azerbaijan would serve further
strengthening of ties between two countries.
Then, the visitor has been informed on the steady reforms conducted
in the Republic under the guidance of President Ilham Aliyev, and the
achieved successes, economic progress, improvement of social welfare
of people, democratic development of Azerbaijan.
In detail informing about the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, chairman of the State Committee has told that in Azerbaijan
with feeling of gratitude perceive the work done by F. Provera in
PACE.
F. Provera has expressed satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan,
has noted, that the country develops day-by-day. The senator has
stated that the meeting with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
has made on him pleasant impression, and has expressed hope for
intensive development of the country in the future.
The visitor also has emphasized, that does not wait for gratitude
from somebody for protection of the position of Azerbaijan in PACE.
Further he told: `I simply defend the truth. But everything, that I
have made, I did in the name of truth and I think, that Azerbaijan
people deserves it’.
F. Provera has noted that the international public still does not
have full and clear representation about Azerbaijan and the Nagorno
Karabakh problem, and that he aspires to carry out larger work in the
said direction. In his opinion, it is connected with this factor that
the international organizations do not take in many cases a resolute
position in the cause of settlement of the conflict. He told: `It is
a question of aggression against independence, territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan’. The Italian senator said he would do the best to
bring up to the world of the truth about Nagorno Karabakh, that is
ready to cooperate with corresponding state structures of Azerbaijan,
its embassies in foreign countries, delegation at PACE.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 11 2005
MEETING OF HEADS OF THE STATES IN EXPANDED STRUCTURE
[June 10, 2005, 21:05:50]
On June 10, after the private meeting ended, with participation of
delegations the meeting of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
and the President of Croatia Stipe Mesic has taken place in the
expanded structure.
Presidents welcomed activation of efforts of the European Union and
the Council of Europe in the question of peace settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, have emphasized hope
that it renders positive influence on solution of the problem.
The sides have agreed upon encouragement of cooperation between the
diplomatic representatives in the third countries.
The heads of the states have emphasized that both countries would
play important role in strengthening regional safety and stability
within the framework of Council of the Euro-Atlantic cooperation, the
NATO PfP Program and submitted by Azerbaijan the `Operating plan on
individual partnership’.
Having reminded about the threat created by the international
terrorism, the Presidents have stated that support display of global
efforts for elimination of this trouble in conditions of widespread
cooperation from the United Nations.
Having agreed with opinion that connection of Azerbaijan to the
policy of the new neighborhood of Europe will bring in contribution
to restoration of peace and stability to region, the Croatian side
also has emphasized, that at the same time it renders positive
influence on integration of Azerbaijan and other states of region to
Europe. The Croatian side has stated that supports intention of
Azerbaijan to become a member of the World Trade Organization and
welcomes the efforts shown by Azerbaijan in the said direction.
The Azerbaijan side has informed on results of economic reforms
conducted in the country, including about tendencies of intensive
development, about realization of the program on poverty reduction,
deepening of links with the European Union. Also was marked the value
of cooperation for realization of programs TRACECA, INOGATE, the
project of the railway Kars-Tbilisi-Baku. The international value of
investment was especially underlined in build of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Southern – Caucasian gas
main.
Taking into account the importance of support of activity of the
small and medium enterprises, the heads of the states have noted
necessity of creation of favorable conditions for cooperation between
state and private enterprises of both countries, irrespective of
their form of ownership, financial and bank structures.