Month: June 2005

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
June 9 2005
ITALIAN SENATOR VISITS AZERBAIJAN
[June 09, 2005, 21:24:57]
Staying in Azerbaijan Head of the Italian Senate’s Foreign Affairs
and Migration Commission, member of the Italian parliamentary
delegation to PACE Fiorello Provera has visited today the Alley of
Honors in Baku to commemorate the national leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev, and laid a wreath at the tomb of the great statesman.
He also arrived at the Martyrs Alley, where laid flowers at the
memorial `Eternal Fire’ and the tombs of heroic sons of Azerbaijan
who sacrificed their lives for independence and territorial integrity
of Homeland. The guest was informed about the January 20 tragedy in
Baku and execution of peaceful residents in Hojaly, and bitter
consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
***
Later, the Italian delegation led by Senator Fiorello Provera was
received by Speaker of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan
Murtuz Alasgarov. Dwelling on the enhancing Italy – Azerbaijan
cooperation, the Speaker noted in particular, that legal basis for
development of relationship between the two countries had been
created by signing a number of intergovernmental documents during the
official visit to Italy by former President Heydar Aliyev in 1997.
`The recent visit to Italy by incumbent President Ilham Aliyev has
opened a new stage in development of the bilateral relations,’ he
said. Murtuz Alasgarov also mentioned involvement of Italian
companies in various branches of the Azerbaijan’s economy, including
oil sector, appreciated the developing interparliamentary relations
between the two countries and touched upon the roots and aftermath of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. He thanked
Italian parliamentarians for the support as for the issue during PACE
January session and expressed hope for invariability of the country’s
in the future
For his part, Mr. F. Provera noted his country was interested in
establishment of close cooperation with Azerbaijan in not only oil
but also various other fields including culture and tourism. As for
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Senator stated his stance on the
issues remained unchangeable saying `violation of territorial
integrity of states is unacceptable. He added that Italian Government
continued providing aid to refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan, and the
other day had adopted a new decision on that. `Azerbaijan can be
confident in our support,’ Mr. F. Provera said.
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov and Italian Senator have also exchanged
views on a number of other issues of mutual interest.

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
June 9 2005
Gas exports from Assalouyeh to earn dlrs 5 bn a year
Assalouyeh, Bushehr prov, June 9, IRNA
Iran’s gas exports from Assalouyeh region will earn the country as
much as five billion dollars a year.
Managing Director of National Iranian Gas Company Roknoddin Javadi
told IRNA that his company had finalized talks with foreign companies
for export of 20 million tons of LNG and contract on export of an
additional 7.5 million tons will be signed in the next few days.
Javadi said the contract for transfer of gas to the UAE, Azerbaijan
and Armenia through pipeline is finalized and talks are underway for
conclusion of three more contracts.
Once the contracts are enforced Iran’s annual LNG exports will earn
it as much as dlrs 3.5 to four billion and exports through pipelines
will fetch about one billion dollars a year.

Washington Times, DC
June 9 2005
Analysis: Russia’s friends and foes
By Peter Lavelle
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
Moscow, Russia, Jun. 9 (UPI) — A recent public opinion poll suggests
Russians clearly believe the country has friends and foes in the
world. However, results also suggest Russians are almost evenly split
— for some a foe is a friend and a friend a foe. Is Russia still
looking for its place in the world?

The Levada Center, Russia’s independent and most-respected public
opinion agency, polled 1,600 Russians older than 18 years of age at
the end May to determine how the general population sees the outside
world. Determining which countries in the world are Russia’s friends
and foes produced surprises and even contradictions.
News reports of the Levada Center’s findings did not make clear
whether citizens polled were prompted with names of countries or
asked to number countries on their own. The poll also did not provide
a margin of error.
Belarus came out on top as Russia’s greatest friend in the world with
46 percent. Following Belarus, Germany came in second with 23 percent
and Russia’s other friends include Kazakhstan 20 percent, Ukraine 17
percent, India16 percent, France 13 percent, China 12 percent, the
United States 11 percent, Bulgaria 11 percent and Armenia 9 percent.
On the other side of the ledger, Latvia topped the list as Russia’s
strongest foe according to 49 percent of respondents. Following it,
Lithuania with 42 percent, Georgia at 38 percent, Estonia 32 percent,
the United States 23 percent, France 13 percent, Afghanistan 12
percent, Iraq 10 percent, Japan 6 percent and Iran 6 percent.
Cursory review of the poll’s findings shows many interesting issues
currently in play. Russia’s greatest recent enemy — Germany — is
widely seen to be a friend. Russia’s other important adversary during
the World War II, Japan, is not widely seen to be an enemy by a vast
majority of those polled.
Many of the countries that are considered enemies now are Russia’s
neighbors. The recent heated public demand and diplomatic row that
Russia should apologize to the Baltic republics for a half century of
Soviet occupation should be ascribed to the current antipathy many
Russian have toward those countries. The widely held belief that
Russian nationals living in the Baltic republics are denied some
basic human rights have also influenced public perceptions of these
countries.
The former Soviet republic of Georgia is also viewed in a dim light
among many Russians. The close relationship President Mikhail
Saakashvili has pursued with the United States and the tug-of-war
over the closure of Russian military bases in the country has soured
Russia-Georgian relations in the public mind.
The perception of Ukraine and the United States is the most striking
and contradictory of the poll results — both countries are deemed as
friend and foe by many of the respondents.
Ukraine’s “Orange Revolution” and many of the anti-Russian overtones
that could be heard in media claiming Kremlin “meddling” in Ukraine’s
internal affairs continues to be irksome to many Russians. At the
same time, people-to-people and economic relations continue to tie
the two countries together.
The perception of the United States appears to be almost
schizophrenic. The fact that more respondents see it as a foe than as
a friend could be accounted for as a lingering Cold War phenomenon.
However, what may be more important than the past is many of the
countries considered foes have good relations with Washington. After
all, President Bush sandwiched his recent visit Moscow with stops in
Latvia and Georgia.
Another important result of the public opinion poll is the conclusion
that the majority of Russians asked have no majority consensus of one
international friend or foe and a significant minority who believe it
has more foes than friends.
The poll result also demonstrates how Russia has maintained close
ties with former Soviet friends, India for example. But Russia has
also reached out to former Soviet foes, namely the United States.
Some former constituent parts of the Soviet Union — once considered
“family” — rate high as countries most disliked.
The most compelling reason for the lack of consensus among many
Russians can be explained as a reflection of Russia still trying to
find its place in the world after the Soviet collapse 14 years ago.
Most importantly, Russia appears to find it hardest to come to terms
with many of the countries it has had the closest relations with for
centuries. This should serve as a wake up call for the Kremlin that
Russia’s neighbors are also coping to find their place in the world.
—
Peter Lavelle is United Press International’s Moscow correspondent.

Webindia123, India
June 10 2005
Ambassador’s remarks stir row:-
WASHINGTON | June 10, 2005 12:11:26 AM IST

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans’ remarks criticizing the
Ottoman Empire for genocide in 1915 apparently cost him a prestigious
foreign service award.
Evans was in line for the American Foreign Service Association’s
Christian A. Herter Award for constructive dissent. But his remarks
characterizing the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide
stirred such a diplomatic dust-up, he was forced to retract his
remarks — and then clarify his retraction.
Association President John M. Limbert told the Washington Post he
couldn’t remember an award being withdrawn before.
Evans made his controversial remarks during an appearance before an
Armenian group in California. Armenians hailed the remarks while
Turkey condemned them.

Italian senator, Azeri leader discuss Karabakh, ties
Space TV, Baku
9 Jun 05
Italy will continue to support Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia
over Nagornyy Karabakh, the chairman of the foreign affairs and
migration commission of the Italian Senate and a member of the Italian
Senate delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe [PACE], Fiorello Provera, said at a meeting with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev.
Having said that the conflict has brought a lot of suffering to the
Azerbaijani people, the guest expressed his hope that the conflict
would be resolved peacefully.
In turn, President Aliyev expressed his hope that cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Italy within international organizations, including
PACE, would become even more fruitful.
During the Italian senator’s meeting with Azerbaijani Parliament
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov, the sides mainly discussed the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. Alasgarov said the issue would be discussed at the
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session soon.
The speaker thanked Italian MPs for their support for Azerbaijan’s
position during PACE discussions on the recognizing Armenia as an
aggressor. At the same time, the speaker said that delays in solving
the problem had caused concern in Azerbaijan.

Belarus to introduce visas for citizens of Georgia
Belapan news agency
9 Jun 05
Minsk, 9 June: Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has adopted
a decision to introduce a visa regime for Georgia.
The Belarusian leader’s press service reported that the decision by
the head of state “was prompted by the necessity to continue efforts
aimed at stepping up the fight against organized and transnational
crime and the defence of interests of third countries – Belarus’s
neighbours in this area – in accordance with existing agreements”.
In particular, the press service notes that attempts by Georgian
criminals to use the territory of Belarus for entering Russia without
appropriate visas are increasing. The press service said that Russian
law-enforcement bodies has drawn up a list of foreigners who committed
crimes in Russia and who are banned from entering the Russian
territory. Georgian nationals account for almost 25 per cent of the
names on the list.
The chairman of the Belarusian State Border Troops Committee, Lt-Gen
Alyaksandr Pawlowski, said at a news conference on 26 May that
citizens of Georgia and Armenia who cannot enter Russia legally have
been trying to do so via Belarus by flying to Minsk from Tbilisi and
Yerevan recently. He said he referred to individuals banned from
entering the Russian Federation for various reasons. Belarusian
border guards also have such lists. Therefore, Pawlowski said, border
guards have to send six to eight Georgians and Armenians back to
Tbilisi and Yerevan every week.
[Passage omitted: Turkmenistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
withdrew from the CIS agreement on visa-free travel of CIS citizens.]

RUSSIAN SIBERIA SELLS 68% OF ITS SHARES IN ARMAVIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 9. ARMINFO. The Russian air carrier CJSC Siberia
Aviacomany, the second large air carrier in Russia, which is a
signatory of an investment agreement with Armavia company, expresses
desire to transfer the rights and obligations under this agreement to
LTD Mika Armenia Trading. The Armenian Government press-service
informs ARMINFO.
Taking into account the agreement of the parties, the Armenian
Government has instructed today the Chief Civil Aviation Department of
Armenia to negotiate, prepare and sign an agreement within a month
between the Government of Armenia, OJSC Siberia Aviacompany and LTD
Armavia company and LTD Aviafin on transfer of the rights and
obligations after agreeing them with the Justice, Transport and
Communication and Finance and Economy Ministries. The press-service of
Armavia has not provided information on the forthcoming transaction.
The investment agreement between Siberia and Armavia was signed 14
March 2003. 68% of Armavia’s shares belong to the LTD Aviafin
registered in Armenia and belonging to the leadership of Siberia as
natural person, and 32% to the Armenian company LTD Mika Armenia
Trading belonging to the Armenian businessman Mikhail Baghdasarov.
In 2004 Siberia transported 3.748 mln people by 29,780 flights, which
is 10.3% more than in 2003. In 2004 the national air carrier of
Armenia – Armavia – transported 430.9 thous. passengers carrying out
5.375 flights, which is more than the indicator of 2003 42%.

TRIAL ON ARMENIAN CITIZEN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE IN FAVOR OF
AZERBAIJAN UNDERWAY IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 9. ARMINFO. Trial on Armenian citizen Andrey Maziyev is
underway at the First Instance Court of Yerevan communities
Malatia-Sebatia. He is charged with three articles of the Armenian
Criminal Code (high treason through espionage, contribution to
preparation of a terrorist act, contribution to preparation of the
murder of a state political figure).
Andrey Maziyev was born in 1961. He is Russian by nationality, from
Tuapse, Krasnodar region. he worked as en engineer at Zvartnots
airport, married, has children. He has previous convictions for
hooliganism (1994 and 1999).
According to the conclusion announced today, in October 1999 Maziyev
was in Azerbaijan wherein he was enlisted by Azerbaijani special
services. By Jan 4 2005 he was receiving tasks from the special
services and fulfilling them. On the whole, he met with
representatives of Azerbaijani special services 17times and received
some 2.5 thous. USD. He sent Armenian Russian language newspaper to
the special services of Azerbaijan, collected information of domestic
political situations in Armenia, on military and defense complex and
the situation in army, information of economic nature as well as on
NKR. The special services were interested whether Maziyev had
acquaintances among the relatives of Nairi Hunanyan and Mushegh
Saghatelyan.
In the autumn of 2000, in conformity with regular instructions,
Maziyev took photos of the president on the latter’s arrival from a
tour. He photographed the landing plane, helicopters protecting the
territory of the airport, the president and his escort passing by the
building where Maziyev lives. He also took photos of the president in
hangar and the building of the airport. He handed over the photos to
the special services, informing them of the places of snipers.
At today’s trial, Maziyev pled guilty. The same day 7 witnesses were
interrogated. The trial is chaired by the judge Tigran Petrosyan. The
prosecution is represented by Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan and
Prosecutor Aram Amirzadyan. The trial will continue on June 13.

SILTING OF LAKE SEVAN FRAUGHT WITH DISAPPEARANCE OF FRESHWATER
MOLLUSKS
YEREVAN, JUNE 9. ARMINFO. Silting of Lake Sevan fraught with the
disappearance of some species of freshwater bivalves (Euglesa), Head
of Hydrobiology Department of the Institute of Hydroecology and
Ichthyology of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences Evelina
Ghoukassyan says in an interview to ARMINFO.
She says that the recent investigations of the lake bottom shown that
the bivalves’ population deeply shortened. 8 species of bivalves have
been seen in the lake before, most of them are freshwater. However,
the species adapted to live in muddy water have been seen in small
quantities nowadays.
Changes of the lake’s structure follow to both the degradation of the
whole ecosystem and the modification of various processes taken place
in lake’s area (including biological dissociation, deposition of
sediment and diffusion), Ghoukassyan notes. In her words, various
species of lake’s habitants are on the verge of
disappearance. Ghoukassyan also informed that the Institute workers
will start the large-scale investigations of lake’s bottom with the
“Hydrologist” scientific-and-research vessel given by the Russian
Academy of Sciences. To note, the level of mirror of Lake Sevan has
been risen by 1 meter within the last two years.

Armenian leader, government officials discuss tourism development programme
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
9 Jun 05
[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today held a working
meeting with government members to discuss a programme on the
development of Tsakhkadzor [Armenian resort town].
According to preliminary calculations, 1.67bn drams [3.7m dollars] are
required to turn Tsakhkadzor into an international tourism centre. The
funds are planned to be allocated from the state budget, but it would
be good if businessmen participated in the programme.
The programme envisages several development directions – construction
of hotels, cultural and entertainment centres, as well as the
restoration of water supplies, gas systems and training of personnel
in the sphere of tourism.
The main goal of the programme is to decentralize the tourism
business, which will increase living standards for the residents of
the recreation zone.
[Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Ara Petrosyan] With
the help of Tsakhkadzor, we will secure a 10-per-cent increase in
trips to Armenia in the next two years.
[Video showed the meeting]