Month: June 2005

President Receives Credentials from 9 Ambassadors
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 28 2005
President Ilham Aliyev received credentials from ambassadors of
South Korea, North Korea, Ireland, Zambia, Sudan, Moldova, Australia,
Guinea and Kuwait on Monday.
Aliyev stated that the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh
must be settled within international legal norms and Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. He expressed a hope that the newly appointed
diplomats’ countries will further back Azerbaijan’s fair position and
make every effort within international organizations to achieve peace.
President Aliyev called on the ambassadors to assist in strengthening
economic relations between their countries and Azerbaijan.

New EU document to call on Turkey to ‘normalise’ relations with Cyprus
By Myria Antoniadou in Brussels
Cyprus Mail, Cyprus
June 28 2005
ANKARA is being called upon to “normalise” its relations with all EU
member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, in the framework
of negotiations’ with Turkey to be discussed by the Commissioners
tomorrow.
Sources believe this reference is of particular importance to
Nicosia, as it could use it in future discussions within the Council.
For example, Nicosia can refuse to open the transport chapter during
the negotiations with Ankara, scheduled to start on October 3, unless
Turkey opens its ports and airports to Cypriot interests.
The framework also calls on Turkey to support the continued efforts
for a settlement in Cyprus and to make further steps in creating a
favourable climate.
At the same time, it asks Turkey to fulfil its obligations regarding
the Association Council (customs union) and in particular to extend
the additional protocol to all member states.
The protocol has been approved by the EU and but it still remains to
be signed by the Turkish government.
However, sources told the Mail they did not believe Ankara would sign
the protocol till mid or end of September, just before negotiations
begin, as it is viewed as de facto recognition of Cyprus and therefore
a very contentious issue in Turkey.
The negotiations framework also calls upon Turkey to respect human
rights as well as relevant European case law. The latter is considered
important to Cyprus because of decisions such as the Titina Loizidou
case by the European Court of Human Rights.
Some parties in Brussels view these references as a change from the
position held towards Cyprus by the previous enlargement Commissioner
Gunter Verheugen. His successor Olli Rehn appears to be more open
to discussion and less inclined towards a blame game, while at the
same time maintaining a good relationship with Cypriot Commissioner
Markos Kyprianou.
The document will be sent to the Council for approval, and therefore
nobody knows its final references.
The government is expected to try adding more elements, like the need
for the withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers or an end to the
illegal construction in the north, but this is difficult to achieve
in such a brief document. It may feel it has more chance to have them
included in the ‘revised accession partnership’ to be finalised after
the start of talks. The framework of the negotiations with Turkey also
refers to the need for good neighbourly relations, which is of interest
to Greece, Armenia and the Kurds. Reflecting the discussion going
on within the EU over the past weeks, there is a clear reference to
the fact that the negotiations are “open ended” the Mail has learned.

Azeri Army Gets Stronger
Journal of Turkish Weekly
June 28 2005
Azerbaijan will spend 300 million dollars (248 million euros) on
its armed forces in 2005, a 70 percent increase over last year,
the Azeri leader said at a ceremony in a military academy, AFP news
agency reported.
“The adversary must know that the Azerbaijani army can mobilize at any
moment and liberate the occupied territories,” Azerbaijani President
Ýlham Aliyev said.
“Spending on the country’s defense force will grow continuously”
added Aliyev.
In May, Azerbaijan inaugurated a US-backed pipeline, which will deliver
oil from Caspian Sea oil fields to the Mediterranean and is expected
to generate as much as 160 billion dollars for the country over the
next 30 years.
20 percent of Azerbaijan has been under Armenian occupation for more
than a decade. Armenian forces with the Russian assistance occupied
Karabakh and many Azeri towns and rejected to withdraw. The EU and the
US named Armenia ‘occupier’ in Karabakh. Turkey says its relations with
Armenia cannot be restored as long as occupation continues. Azerbaijan
is the only European country whose large territories under occupation
of another European country. Nilgun Gulcan from ISRO says Armenia
prefers more territories instead of peace, stability and co-operation:
“Armenia, Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan can establish a regional
economic integration. Regional co-operation will increase integration
with the West. The Yerevan must understand that occupation cannot
be a solution to its economic and political problems. There are more
than 100 million Turkish around Armenia, and Armenia cannot survive
without restoring its relations with the neighboring countries.”
June 28 2005
New EU document to call on Turkey to ‘normalise’ relations with Cyprus
By Myria Antoniadou in Brussels
ANKARA is being called upon to “normalise” its relations with all EU
member states, including the Republic of Cyprus, in the framework
of negotiations’ with Turkey to be discussed by the Commissioners
tomorrow.
Sources believe this reference is of particular importance to
Nicosia, as it could use it in future discussions within the Council.
For example, Nicosia can refuse to open the transport chapter during
the negotiations with Ankara, scheduled to start on October 3, unless
Turkey opens its ports and airports to Cypriot interests.
The framework also calls on Turkey to support the continued efforts
for a settlement in Cyprus and to make further steps in creating a
favourable climate.
At the same time, it asks Turkey to fulfil its obligations regarding
the Association Council (customs union) and in particular to extend
the additional protocol to all member states.
The protocol has been approved by the EU and but it still remains to
be signed by the Turkish government.
However, sources told the Mail they did not believe Ankara would sign
the protocol till mid or end of September, just before negotiations
begin, as it is viewed as de facto recognition of Cyprus and therefore
a very contentious issue in Turkey.
The negotiations framework also calls upon Turkey to respect human
rights as well as relevant European case law. The latter is considered
important to Cyprus because of decisions such as the Titina Loizidou
case by the European Court of Human Rights.
Some parties in Brussels view these references as a change from the
position held towards Cyprus by the previous enlargement Commissioner
Gunter Verheugen. His successor Olli Rehn appears to be more open
to discussion and less inclined towards a blame game, while at the
same time maintaining a good relationship with Cypriot Commissioner
Markos Kyprianou.
The document will be sent to the Council for approval, and therefore
nobody knows its final references.
The government is expected to try adding more elements, like the need
for the withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers or an end to the
illegal construction in the north, but this is difficult to achieve
in such a brief document. It may feel it has more chance to have them
included in the ‘revised accession partnership’ to be finalised after
the start of talks. The framework of the negotiations with Turkey also
refers to the need for good neighbourly relations, which is of interest
to Greece, Armenia and the Kurds. Reflecting the discussion going
on within the EU over the past weeks, there is a clear reference to
the fact that the negotiations are “open ended” the Mail has learned.
–Boundary_(ID_H35AQmXyoMSOpYQdXstd2A)–

Four New Gold Deposits Discovered
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 28 2005
Thirty new fields of precious metals, including four gold deposits,
were discovered in Azerbaijan during the geological research
conducted over the past three years.
The largest gold deposit, Chovdar, was found in Dashkasan District
and talks on its development are underway with foreign companies,
Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyn Baghirov said.
Baghirov said that the evaluation of the Chovdar deposit carried out
in 2004 indicated that its reserves are approximately the same as
those of the other fields. Foreign companies are also interested in
the Bashkand deposit in Nakhchivan containing an estimated 300-350
tons.
Baghirov continued that the Azerbaijani government is considering
foreign countries~R proposals on the development of the two gold
fields. Exploration and development will commence after the sides
reach a relevant agreement.
The 25-year agreement, signed earlier by Azergyzyl state company,
abolished in 1997, and RV Investment Group (with Azerbaijan holding
51% stake and the US company 49%), envisions developing 9 fields
containing 400 tons of gold, 2,500 tons of silver and 1.5 million
tons of copper. These fields are mainly located in the Kalbajar,
Zangilan, Dashkasan and Ordubad regions.
However, the US company launched the development only this year, as
the price on gold in world markets was not very high over the past 7
years.
Three of the deposits are located in Azerbaijani territories
currently occupied by Armenian armed forces and are reportedly
operated by Indian companies. The Azeri government earlier sent a
note of protest to relevant international organizations over the matter.

UN Discussions on Karabakh
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
June 28 2005
Azerbaijan is still to ascertain whether or not the a draft resolution
on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh will be put
on discussion at the UN General Assembly in August, Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov has said.
Mammadyarov said the discussions will depend on the process of
peace talks.
“If we achieve progress in talks, the situation will certainly
change. In this case, we will re-work the document,” he said.
Azerbaijan achieved putting the issue of illegal settlement of
Armenians in the occupied regions of Azerbaijan on the UN General
Assembly agenda in 2004. The discussions were followed by a visit of
the OSCE fact-finding mission to Nagorno Karabakh.

ARTSAKH AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 June  05
By the decision No. 256 of the NKR government adopted on May 24,
2005 the Foundation for Development of Small and Medium-Size
Business was reorganized into Artsakh Agency for Development, a
state non-commercial organization. By the June 1 decree of NKR Prime
Minister Armen Avagian was appointed director of the agency. Azat
Artsakh talked to the newly appointed director on the existing and
future plans, the main activities of the agency and other related
issues. AA: “What are the objectives and activities of the Artsakh
Agency for Development?” A. Avagian: “Serious goals of economic
development are set before the Artsakh Agency for Development. The
goals of the agency are bolstering up economic development and
sustaining high rates of economic growth. To achieve this the agency
will implement a series of projects and activities, particularly,
business support, including financial, consultancy, information,
legal and other services, promotion of export of goods and research of
foreign markets, post-investment support, detection and elimination
of hindrances to business activities, training of specialists,
etc. Other important problems are fostering of economic relations,
business support services, enlargement of information capacities,
working out national investment programmes, improvement of the
legislation for economic development, creation of legislation for
mortgage loan, etc.” AA: “Recently it has been often stated that loans
do not reach many businesses (especially in rural areas) because of
the conditions of collateral. Whereas it is the inhabitants of rural
areas that loans should reach. What is the real picture?” A. Avagian:
“First of all, I must say that the loan programme is implemented
together with Artsakhbank; a contract has been signed by which our
agent bank assumes the loan risk, therefore the latter is eligible to
decide the questions related to loan security (including specifying
the collateral). The step was correct and effective for thus full
repayment of loan resources is ensured to re-direct these sums at
continuation of the programme. As to the low involvement of the rural
businesses in the loan programme, I would say the contrary. Since
the establishment of the foundation about 900 million drams has been
lent from the state budget to small and medium-size businesses (127
business plans), of which 500 million drams went to rural businesses
(90 business plans). This was achieved due to the application of more
effective mechanisms of implementation of the loan programme. At the
same time, in order to sustain the level of loan resources directed at
the rural areas, the agency will work out and implement a programme
of loan securities in the near future, which will enable funding
the applicants who do not have anything to supply as collateral. AA:
“What programmes on mortgage loan do you have?” A. Avagian: “One of
the upcoming activities of the agency will be the introduction of the
mortgage loan which is of great social importance. This programme is
important both from the point of view of improvement of quality of life
but also economic development. In the near future the legislation on
mortgage lending will be worked out.” AA: “How is the state programme
of small and medium-size business support implemented and what outcome
has there been so far?” A. Avagian: “The state programmes of small and
medium-size business support have been implemented since 2003. The
NKR government has had serious achievements in this sphere. These
programmes are mainly loan programmes, the implementation of which will
enable creating new industries and jobs. It should be mentioned that
an effective mechanism of implementation of the state loan programme
was developed in a short period of time, a series of problems related
to specifying the spheres of economy, loan size, as well as reduction
of risk were solved, which enable to better organize the procedure
of loaning. In the framework of loan programmes, as I have already
mentioned, 127 business plans have been funded, and as a result 500
jobs were created. The agency carries on the state programme for small
and medium-size business support for 2005. It is larger in scope than
the programme for 2003-2004. The 2005 programme provides for a total
of 785 million drams of loan resources, which is a considerable sum
for the NKR economy. By sustaining this rate of lending, in the near
future the government may gain strong leverages on the NKR financial
market, balancing the supply and demand for loan resources, spurring
the reduction of interests on loans by loan companies. In the current
year more rational and effective mechanisms of allocation of loan
resources have been introduced. The programme is also important as
it is specifies the spheres to which the loans will be directed.
Assuming the development of agriculture as a priority, about 80
per cent of the loan resources, totaling about 600 million drams,
were directed at the development of winegrowing, cattle breeding
and purchase of agricultural machinery. This kind of approach can
be also characterized as a social programme, because in this case it
enables to render the results of the loan programme more tangible for
many businesses, particularly farmers. This is an unprecedented step
of purchase of agricultural machines. The mentioned programme will
provide high-level agricultural machinery services in rural areas
at lower prices. It should be mentioned that modern harvesters to be
acquired will enable harvest of arable crops with minimum losses, as
well as increase crop yield and profitability of farming. In the end
I want to say that through the accurate determination of priorities
among the programmes for economic development and social programmes
the agency will be able to sustain high rates of economic growth,
as well as to solve a number of social problems..
AA.
28-06-2005
–Boundary_(ID_U2aRZuALzVldoZ2f9vIP3g)–

CEC PUBLISHED THE RESULTS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 June  05
In the June 24 meeting the NKR Central Election Committee and the
chairmen of the divisional election committees officially presented the
results of the June 19 parliamentary election in Nagorno Karabakh. The
chairman of the Central Election Committee Sergey Nassibian informed
that the turnout of voters was 75.1 per cent. Then he read the names of
the 11 members of parliament elected under the majority system and the
22 members of parliament elected under the proportional representation
system. The chairmen of the district election committees stated the
fact that the past parliamentary election was democratic and better
organized than the previous elections held in Nagorno Karabakh. The
numerous foreign monitoring delegations and mass media in Karabakh
state the same. The chairmen of the divisional election committees
pointed out that despite being highly organized, the poll had
shortcomings as well There were errors on the electoral rolls in
a number of polling stations. It was stated that the use of moving
ballot boxes would facilitate the polls. The member of the CEC Sergey
Shahverdian.s opinion on the final document of the Central Election
Committee was negative. The chairman of the CEC S. Nassibian said
15 complaints had been lodged with the CEC, of which 11 have been
discussed, and four were sent to the Public Prosecutor.s Office. He
also informed that local elections were held in 9 communities; 9
mayors of villages were elected. In one of the communities election
to the village council was held as well. The results of the election
to the mayor of the village of Maghavus in the polling station 13
were denounced. In the end S. Nassibian thanked all the organizations
which had assisted to the conduct of the election, particularly the
administration of the NKR government, Karabakh Telecom, the Police,
as well as the mass media for covering duly the poll.
NVARD OHANJANIAN.
28-06-2005
–Boundary_(ID_7jmsrl7f5cIMZXXiJ1ESUg)–

OSKANIAN MAMEDYAROV MEETING
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 June  05
The meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan V.
Oskanian and E. Mamedyarov took place; however, according to the
representative of the Armenian party, they did not come to a conclusion
over the issue under consideration. Nevertheless, they found a common
approach to certain issues. The minister of foreign affairs of Armenia
Vardan Oskanian summed up the results of his official visits lasting
from June 8 to 17. The meetings related to the Nagorno Karabakh
issue in the framework of the official visits of the minister were
in the centre of attention. According to the minister, two important
meetings on this issue took place. On June 8 Minister Vardan Oskanian
met with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in Vienna. They discussed a
series of issues related to the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, which emanate from the approaches of the Warsaw meeting
of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as certain
details on the upcoming meeting in Paris were clarified. However,
the second meeting of Oskanian and Mamedyarov in Paris was of more
public importance. In this reference V. Oskanian only said that during
the talks they dwelled upon the findings of the Warsaw meeting of the
presidents. Evaluating the talks as effective, the minister mentioned
that this time no definite arrangements were achieved either, but
they agreed to continue the negotiations. .There are the directives
of the presidents, the principles are clear-cut, but when one goes
into details, each wants to make these more acceptable and favourable
for themselves. Therefore we continue to argue; we did not come to a
final conclusion in Paris but we were able to find a common approach
to certain issues. If they make a small concession and we make a small
concession, it will be possible to come to a conclusion,. said the
minister. However, according to the diplomats, this will happen only
in the future negotiations. Avoiding comments on the details of the
meeting, the minister mentioned once again that they had managed to
come to a common approach to if not all at least some issues but he
did not want to say which issues exactly. He only said that all the
elements of the portfolio, such as the status of NK and the refugees,
security issues, are discussed in the talks. However, for Armenia
the priority is the political status of Nagorno Karabakh. .Unless
we get a clear answer to this question, I consider it pointless to
speak about or discuss any other issue,. said the minister of foreign
affairs of Armenia.
AA.
28-06-2005
–Boundary_(ID_77ojsuMsPbL1CbV9uLd81w)–

ARMENIA APPLIES TO INTERPOL FOR HUNTING AZERI NATIONAL SECURITY AGENT
FAIK SHAMILOV
YEREVAN, JUNE 28. ARMINFO. Armenia has decided to apply to Interpol
for hunting Azeri national security agent Faik Shamilov, says Armenia’s
Prosecutor General Agvan Hovsepyan.
The decision was made in the framework of the espionage case of
Andrey Maziev. “National security services should ensure the security
of their own country but to use them for plotting a terror act or
official murder in another country is a crime,” says Hovsepyan.
He reminds that in the last few years there have been three espionage
trials in Armenia – Murad Bojolyan spying for Turkey, Nina Shilina
for Azerbaijan and Maziev also or Azerbaijan. “This proves that our
national security service is efficient,” says Hovsepyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOVIET METHODS OF TEACHING IN ARMENIA HINDER INTRODUCTION OF NEW ONES:
FOREIGN EXPERT THINKS
YEREVAN, JUNE 28. ARMINFO. Intermediate results of TACIS program
“Contribution to establishment of a united system of development of
professional education and learning in Armenia” were summed up in
Yerevan today.
Head of the program team Tomas Black informs journalists that both
officials and teachers are quite interested in development of education
in the country. He says that there are tasks which were not overcome
at once. Adjustment of Armenian teachers to the methods of teaching of
the Soviet system complicates application of new methods, Black thinks.
Armenian Minister for Education and Science Sergo Yeritsyan says that
training courses for teachers, business trips and permanent contacts
with foreign colleagues helped considerably progress the initiative.
However, he says, that it is impossible to use the experience of
foreign specialists in Armenia at once. To achieve a good result, it is
necessary to adjust the foreign experience to the national environment,
which was done by the program coordinators, Yeritsyan says.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for Science, Education and
Culture Hranuysh Hakobyan says that development of educational system
in Armenia needs such factors as laws, finances, quality and contact
with the market. She says that during the last several years the
quality if education in Armenia has sharply decreased. If a qualified
specialist has its place in the country, a dilettante will think of
upgrading his qualification, Hakobyan thinks.
The program “Contribution to establishment of a united system of
development of professional education and learning in Armenia”
has been operating since 2004. The program’s goal is to elaborate a
national strategy of primary and secondary specialized education. The
pilot regime of the program is implemented in two regions – Lori and
Tavush. In particular, at 17 colleges. 30,000 studetns are involved
into the program.
It should be noted that of 104 professional technical colleges in
Soviet period of time in Armenia, only 26 were operating in early
2005, teaching only 2,200 students on 22 specialties. According
to data of the Ministry of Education and Science, Armenia lacks
qualified employees in the sphere of light industry, agriculture,
service as well as specialists in ore-mining sphere, diamond cutters,
builders and others.