Month: June 2005

PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES ASTRAKHAN GOVERNOR
[May 31, 2005, 22:34:47]
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 31 2005
Visiting delegation of Astrakhan oblast of the Russian Federation
led by Governor Alexander Zhilkin was received by Prime Minister of
Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade, May 31.
The Governor concrete offers on expanding ties with Azerbaijan in
the spheres of ships building and repair, transport, production of
bio-resources in the Caspian, trade of vegetables and fruits. The
North Caucasus Shipping Company is ready to open ferry connection
with Baku, while the Astrakhan side is able to provide delivery of
goods from Azerbaijan to all destinations in Russia, he said.
Prime Minister Artur Rasizade told of the successful economic reforms
implemented in Azerbaijan, yearly growth of the country’s GDP and the
work being done to improve people’s welfare. He also touched upon the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which according to
the Minister seriously impedes economic progress. Problems of almost
million refugees are what the Government must solve first of all,
he said. Mr. Rasizade expressed readiness of Azerbaijan for close
mutually beneficial cooperation with Astrakhan oblast of Russia.
The parties have also discussed a number of other issues of mutual
interest.

First batch of Russian military equipment leaves Georgia
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
31 May 05
[Presenter] The successful negotiation [on the pull-out of Russian
military bases] seems to have produced a practical result – Russian
military hardware is leaving Georgia.
A short time ago the first train loaded with military vehicles left
the Urekhi firing range near Batumi [in Ajaria]. The transit procedure
was agreed with the Georgian authorities. The equipment being withdrawn
from Ajaria will be redeployed to Armenia and Russia.
The train is carrying chemical reconnaissance vehicles of several
types, decontamination kits, special thermal equipment and long-range
missiles [as heard]. The train is accompanied by several Russian
servicemen. It is not yet known when the next batch of military
equipment is scheduled to be withdrawn. Now you can see exclusive
footage provided by our correspondent in Batumi, Merab Tsulukidze.
[Video shows moving train loaded with various military lorries]

SOURCE: Kommersant, May 31, 2005, pp. 1, 10
by Vladimir Novikov, Mikhail Zygar
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
May 31, 2005, Tuesday
EVERYBODY OUT
Russia and Georgia have finally reached a consensus on the Russian
military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki. Foreign ministers Sergei
Lavrov and Salome Zurabishvili say that the bases will be out of
Georgia by 2008. Russia has made considerable concessions to Georgia
on this issue, but its troubles are only starting. Withdrawing the
Akhalkalaki base and moving it to Gyumri in Armenia could sour Russia’s
relations with Azerbaijan.
The foreign ministers of Russia and Georgia were expected to reach a
consensus on the military bases in early May, but no breakthrough was
achieved then. The negotiating parties failed to reach agreement,
and President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia pointedly ignored
an invitation to Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Neither
did diplomats fare any better by May 15. Several months ago, the
parliament of Georgia passed a resolution containing an ultimatum,
with the deadline set for May 15 – threatening to outlaw Russian
military bases unless an agreement could be reached by then.
Eventually, Moscow was forced to make considerable concessions. Back
in 2000, Russia claimed that it needed 15 years for the withdrawal.
Two years later, it insisted on 11-12 years; by 2004, it was
demanding seven to eight years. Tbilisi was only prepared to give
Russia three years. Russia and Georgia found some sort of a compromise
yesterday. Their foreign ministers made a joint statement confirming
that the Akhalkalaki base will be the first out of Georgia, followed
by the base in Batumi. “The withdrawal will be completed in 2008,”
Lavrov said.
Gela Charkviani, spokesman for the president of Georgia, said
yesterday that the Russian bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki are no
longer active bases as such; they are already shifting into withdrawal
mode. Withdrawal of heavy military hardware will begin this year. At
least 40 armored vehicles, including at least 20 tanks, will be pulled
out by the end of this year. In 2006, Russia will turn over to Georgia
all military facilities it doesn’t use. The Akhalkalaki base is to
be vacated by the end of 2006, and shut down permanently by October
1, 2007. As for the Batumi base, it is supposed to be closed by the
end of 2008 along with the headquarters of the Russian Army Group in
Tbilisi. Military hardware from the Batumi base will be moved out by
ship, and hardware from the Akhalkalaki base will be moved by road
to Gyumri.
Russia is not supposed to change or add to the weapons and military
hardware at the bases. Rotation of personnel discharged from the
military is permitted. Saakashvili’s staff is already working on the
appropriate statement.
In accordance with what Moscow has insisted on all along, “some
personnel and military hardware and infrastructure at the Batumi base
will be used for the needs of a Russian-Georgian counter-terrorism
center, to be established.”
Even as it moves to clear up a serious problem in relations with
Georgia, the Kremlin has found itself facing another problem, no less
serious, in relations with Azerbaijan. Official Baku has been unnerved
and annoyed by reports that military hardware from Akhalkalaki will
be relocated to Gyumri, Armenia. The government of Azerbaijan is
particularly resentful about the failure of the Russian authorities
to inform Azerbaijan in advance.
The matter promptly deteriorated to the level of official protest
notes. On May 23, the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan served an
official note to the Russian Embassy in Baku. The sharply-worded
document states that the intended move of the base from Akhalkalaki
to Gyumri would “inflame public opinion in Azerbaijan, run counter to
the interests of regional peace and stability, and generate tension
in the already-problematic conflict resolution process between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.” Baku essentially demanded that Moscow should abandon
its intention to move the base to Armenia.
Clearly, this diplomatic demarche was sanctioned by Azerbaijani
political leadership. According to our sources, the Russian Defense
Ministry is frantically seeking ways of alleviating the friction. For
example, Russia could make some lucrative offers to Azerbaijan – for
example, compensation in the form of cheap Russian military hardware
for the Azerbaijani armed forces. But that could cause problems in
relations with Armenia.
Translated by A. Ignatkin

Georgian foreign minister pleased with talks with Russian counterpart
RIA Novosti
May 31, 2005
MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti) – Salome Zurabishvili and Sergei Lavrov,
the foreign ministers of Georgia and Russia, met yesterday and agreed
to complete the closure of Russia’s military bases in Georgia in 2008.
“I am very pleased with the meeting,” Zurabishvili said in an interview
with today’s issue of Noviye Izvestia, a popular daily. “The day when
it took place can truly be called historic.” The Georgian minister said
it marked the start of new relations and a new stage in cooperation
between the two countries.
Both countries had to make concessions. Georgia had proposed 2007 as
the deadline for the bases’ withdrawal, whereas Russia had insisted
on 2009. “We agreed on 2008, which is a reasonable compromise,”
Zurabishvili said.
The term “phased withdrawal” means a coordinated action plan. All
Russia’s military facilities, except the bases themselves, will be
handed over to Georgia in 2005. In 2006, Russia is expected to pull
out heavy materiel from the base in Akhalkalaki, on the border with
Armenia, while the base itself will be closed the following year. In
2008, Russia will withdraw heavy equipment from the Batumi base,
on the Black Sea, and close it.
Zurabishvili said Russia was free to decide whether Russian troops
should be redeployed in Armenia or Abkhazia, a self-proclaimed republic
on Georgian territory.
Zurabishvili said the Russian forces on Georgian soil were not the
only problem that had strained relations between Russia and Georgia:
“We are facing a whole range of problems, while the smoldering
conflicts are the most acute of them.” “Still, the emotional burden
of deciding what is ‘mine’ and what is not is the most difficult
question,” she said. “It makes other problems worse and complicates
their solution.” Zurabishvili said that eliminating this negative
emotional background would help ensure favorable conditions for
building new, truly friendly relations between Georgia and Russia.

Armenia year in Russia to promote cooperation of two countries
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 31, 2005 Tuesday 3:00 PM Eastern Time
YEREVAN, May 31 — The holding of the Year of Russia in Armenia
this year and of the Year of Armenia in Russia next year will be of
much importance for the development of Russo-Armenian cooperation,
Ovik Abramyan, the Armenian minister for territorial management,
said at the meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, the chief of the Russian
president’s administration, here on Tuesday. They head the organizing
committees of their countries to prepare the functions in the framework
of these events.
It was arranged that the Armenian side would present within a fortnight
its proposals for the holding of the Year of Armenia in Russia. The
functions will be held not only in Moscow and other large cities,
but also in many Russian regions.
Abramyan commended high standards of the recent guest performances
in Armenia of the State Art Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre and of
the Itar-Tass photo exhibition devoted to the 60th anniversary of the
Great Victory. Medvedev, in his turn, thanked the Armenian government
for assistance to functions in the framework of the Year of Russia
in Armenia and the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Victory.

Kremlin adm chief, Armenia president dwell on bilateral relations
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 31, 2005 Tuesday
YEREVAN, May 31 — The Russian-Armenian relations, especially, the
deepening of economic cooperation, were in the focus during a meeting
between Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and Kremlin administration
chief Dmitry Medvedev in Yerevan on Tuesday.
Medvedev also gave Russian President Vladimir Putin’s best regards
to the Armenian president.
The Russian-Armenian relations develop dynamically, Robert Kocharyan
said. Russian investment in Armenia considerably increased recently,
he said.
The chief of the Kremlin administration said the work on implementation
of the agreements reached during the March meeting of the two heads
of state in Yerevan was in progress.
Dmitry Medvedev has also met with his Armenian counterpart Artashes
Tumanyan to discuss the regional economic projects, including the
construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia, a source at the
Armenian president’s press service told Itar-Tass.

NEXT MEETING OF FA MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE
2005-05-30 20:57
Azerbaijan News Service
May 30 2005
The official of FAM valued the meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Robert
Kocharyan taken place in the frame of the Warsaw summit as a positive
and important step: “After that meeting, the presidents offered
the co-chairmen to continue the discussions, to organize meeting
between the foreign affairs minister in a short period, as well as
to plan the meeting of the presidents as in case of possibility. The
co-chairmen have already been to Baku, they are in Yerevan at present,
and the meeting of the leaders of FAM is planned to take place in the
middle of June. The next visit of the co-chairmen to the region will
be realized on July”. Araz Azimov refused to give a new explanation
about the negotiations to media. He only explained the situation of
Azerbaijan in solving the problem. “The problem can be solved only
in the result of releasing the occupied territories, Azerbaijan will
create normal conditions for the Armenians living in Garabagh, normal
relations will be established between the Azerbaijanis to return
there and Armenian population, and the relations of Azerbaijan and
Armenia will be normalized”. According to the words of Araz Azimov,
such approach conformed to the international experience, that
experience had been used when solving the conflicts in Europe. “In
order to achieve this, the present situation must be eliminated, the
territories must be cleared from mines, and the communications must
be restored. This process requires a great effort and initiative. We
are the neighbors and we can not hide away this reality”. Araz Azimov
answering the questions of the journalists said that the problem of
liberating of 7 regions was on the topical subject and that problem
would be able to be solved at the next stage. The deputy-minister
answering the question about establishing the Russian military bases
withdrawn from Georgia in Armenia valued that action as a potential
danger for Azerbaijan. “No one will guarantee that whether the weapons
will be placed in Russian military bases or in the Azerbaijani lands
being under control of Armenia”.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
May 31, 2005, Tuesday
07:57:06 Central European Time
Israel to probe Greek Orthodox East Jerusalem lease deal
Tel Aviv
Israeli Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Tzahi Hanegbi has decided
to probe allegations that Greek Orthodox Patriarch Irineos I leased
church-owned property in East Jerusalem to foreign Jewish investors,
a government statement said Tuesday.
The minister decided “in consultation with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon,
to set up a team to consider the overall circumstances and recommend
what steps should be taken”, the statement said.
Reports of the long-term lease, first published in the Israeli
Ma’ariv daily in March, have caused outrage among Palestinians,
who view the act as collaboration with efforts to “Judaize” Israeli-
occupied East Jerusalem.
Last month, Ma’ariv printed an excerpt of a lease contract,
detailing that in August 2004 finance department director Nicholas
Papadimas, under power of attorney from Irineos I, leased a prominent
Palestinian-run hotel in the Old City of Jerusalem to a third party
for 198 years.
Ma’ariv said the lease takers were Jewish entrepreneurs from abroad.
The Imperial Hotel is one of several properties on Omar Ibn al-
Khattab Square, located between the Christian and Armenian Quarters,
which have been relinquished by the Church under long-term leases.
They are said to include also another hotel, Petra, and several
shops. dpa ok pb

Mastercard in trouble over guidebook to Istanbul
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
May 31, 2005, Tuesday
06:41:03 Central European Time
Ankara
Credit card provider Mastercard could be in trouble in Turkey with
prosecutors probing whether to press charges over alleged insults
to Turkey in an Istanbul guidebook handed out free of charge in the
run-up to last week’s Champions League Final, Hurriyet newspaper
reported on Tuesday.
A history section of the English-language guide reportedly referred
to the massacre of thousands of Armenians living in Istanbul in the
late 1890s and the forced assimilation of Kurds into Turkish society.
“We will look into this and after looking at the law we will see if
prosecutors see if there was crime,” Hurriyet quoted Istanbul Governor
Muammer Guler.
“No one has the right to belittle the Turkish Republic,” he added.
According to Mastercard’s Southeast Europe General Manager, Ozlem
Ercelen Imece, the guidebook had been compiled by the Australian
travel book firm Lonely Planet and that due to work pressures in
the build up to the Champions League final, of which Mastercard was
the main sponsor, the offending sections of the guide had not been
checked. dpa cw pb

NEWS FEATURE: Lebanon’s democracy “still has a long way to go”
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
May 31, 2005, Tuesday
18:37:49 Central European Time
Beirut — Lebanon began the first democratic elections in 30 years
at the weekend without Syrian presence or direct intervention from
former powerbroker Damascus.
But the low turnout in what were being dismissed as the “unpopular
elections” showed that something was lacking in what was expected to
be a democratic event.
“There was no electoral battle, so we cannot really speak of free
and democratic elections,” analyst Habib Malek told Deutsche Presse-
Agentur, dpa.
The elections in Beirut, first round in four-stage polls due to take
place each Sunday until June 19, saw a sweeping victory for the son
of late prime minister Rafik Hariri, Saadeddin.
But the poll was marred by a low turn-out – fewer than one-in-
three voters.
“People were not ready to vote because they knew the results ahead
of time. People were disappointed, because democracy means a real
race and unexpected results,” Malek said. “Lebanons democracy still
needs an overhaul.”
But he stressed that despite the low turnout, the elections gained
praise from world powers such as the United States and France, and
was given legitimacy – which was “good for Lebanon at this time”.
He noted that even European monitors hailed the “open and transparent”
conduct of the first round of voting, and there had been no big
difference in the 33.8 perc ent turnout from the last legislative
polls in 2000.
Observers saw Hariri’s success as a vote of loyalty for his late
father, who was assassinated in February – a murder which triggered
widespread protests that eventually pushed Syria to end its 29-year
military presence on April 26.
Turnout had been expected to be low because of the virtually guaranteed
success of Saadedin Hariri in the 19 seats up for grabs in Beirut. His
slate had already won nine of the seats uncontested before election
day.
But Hariri himself, and other anti-Syrian opposition figures expected
to take the lion’s share of seats in the 128-seat parliament, were
aware of the low turnout and promised to work on a new electoral law
to replace the current one.
“All the new deputies will work towards drafting a new law to replace
this one that was drafted by the Lebanese authorities under Syria’s
tutelage,” said Deputy Mohammed Kabanni, who was on Hariri’s list
and won a seat in parliament.
“The first mission of Saadeddine Hariri and his allies (in the
opposition) will be to start dialogue for a new electoral law,
following a compromise with all parties,” Hani Hamoud, spokesman for
the Hariri family, told dpa.
The so-called 2000 electoral law, tailored by the Syrians, did not
please the Christians because they say it allows Moslems to choose many
of the Christian deputies in the assembly in a power-sharing agreement.
Saadeddin Hariri and his allies in the anti-Syrian opposition have
also criticized the law, but decided it was more important to hold
elections on time than try to draft a new one in haste.
“We should not forget that the vote followed an earthquake in the
country which was Hariri’s assassination – so the opposition had
no choice but to go on with the elections on time than delay it,”
Hammoud said.
Turnout was particularly low in Christian districts of the capital.
Former exiled Christian General Michel Aoun, who recently fell out
with Hariri and his Moslem allies in the opposition, and the powerful
Armenian party Tashnag had called for a boycott.
A senior aide of Aoun, Alain Aoun, told dpa: “The Beirut voters have
expressed their wishes by rejecting to vote because there was no
battle, not because we called on them not to boycott.”
Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, which decided not to participate in
the Beirut elections but will take part in the elections in other
districts, insisted the 2000 electoral law should be rejected because
it was drafted during the “Syrian hegemony over Lebanon”.
Malek said: “I think we will see battles in the coming rounds of
elections in areas like Mount Lebanon. So let every political force
fight for its place and show its real weight. This is what will lead
us to a democratic election in the country in the future.” dpa wh sc