Month: October 2005

TENSION IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHETI INCREASES

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:30

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of Tax Service arrived in Akhalkalaki
region of Samtskhe-Javakheti region from Tbilisi. By a decision of
Service representatives some ten shops were closed. Today some 300
citizens gathered in front of the building of Regional Prefecture to
voice protest against the Georgian authorities’ decision. In response
Akhalkalaki gendarmerie soldiers starting dispersing those gathered,
beating them with rubber batons. The gendarmes also fired in the air
with submachine-guns. Several peoples suffered from the beating and
were taken to hospital. Citizens and residents of neighboring villages
are now gathering in the city center. The situation is tense in the
city. Javakheti NGO leaders are sure that the mass closure of shops
owned by Armenians and the cruel dispersal of the peace rally are an
attempt by Georgian authorities to put pressure upon Javakheti after
the Javakheti NGO Council urging Georgian authorities on September 24,
2005 to provide status of autonomous federal subject of Georgia to
Samtskhe-Javakheti region mostly populated by Armenians. Aggressive
actions of Georgian authorities do not leave other choice to Armenian
population of the region, but using force to defend their rights,
leaders of Javakheti NGOs suppose, reported Javakhk.Info.

PACE KARABAKH COMMITTEE TO MEET IN DECEMBER

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 09:02

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday PACE Armenian and Azeri delegations met in
Strasbourg. Chairman of the PACE Ad-Hoc Committee on Nagorno-Karabakh
Lord Russell-Johnston was also present at the meeting held behind
closed doors.

Matters of arranging the Subcommittee third session scheduled for
December, ways of activation of efforts of the Subcommittee to settle
the Armenian-Azeri conflict were discussed at the meeting.

LATVIAN PRESIDENT ARRIVING IN ARMENIA ON OFFICIAL CALL

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 08:41

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 6-8 Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga
along with her husband Imants Freibergs will be in Armenia on
an official call on the invitation of Armenian President Robert
Kocharian. As the Press Service of the Armenian leader had told
PanARMENIAN.Net before, the Latvian delegation will include Ministers
of Economy, Transport and Communication, Culture, other officials,
some 50 entrepreneurs. The visit main goal is to encourage development
of inter-state relations, strengthening cooperation, as well as
determination of priority directions of economic cooperation. The two
state leaders will discuss EU-Armenia cooperation, regional issues
and will exchange views over urgent international problems. It should
be noted that in April 2005 UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan included
Vaira Vike-Freiberga in the group of world leaders, who will promote
UN reforms as delegates of the Secretary-General.

KOCHARIAN MET LENNMARKER

A1+
| 17:09:21 | 06-10-2005 | Official |

Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian received OSCE PA Special
Representative for Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lennmarker, who arrived in
Armenia to take part in Rose-Roth NATO PA seminar.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the report on Nagorno Karabakh. By
Mr.

Lennmarker’s request Robert Kocharian presented the current stage
and prospects of the conflict settlement.

He also noted the expanding cooperation with the OSCE stressing the
importance of the interparliamentary activities.

LENNMARKER: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION MODEL SHOULD BE APPLIED TO SOUTH CAUCASUS

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 11:28

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The current stage of settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict should be continued, as a rather good, honest
and frank team has been formed. This is a golden opportunity for
Armenian and Azeri Presidents and FMs to continue talks to find a
lasting solution,” said OSCE Special Representative for NK Goran
Lennmarker. In his words, a bilaterally favorable solution should be
found and there will be no losers if it is the case. “I support the
process under the OSCE MG auspices, however it can be completed by the
two countries only,” he noted. The NK people should become participants
of the process in the long run. European integration model should be
applied to the South Caucasus: open borders, united work for welfare,
Lennmarker added. The NATO and EU are also interested in security
and cooperation in the region, Armenpress reported.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSKANIAN: NO ALTERNATIVE TO OSCE MG TODAY

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:57

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The positions of the Armenian and Azeri parties
over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict have become closer
on a number of principal aspects. We may hope that upon the increasing
of elements of the kind these positions will be documented,” Armenian
FM Vartan Oskanian stated in a conversation with journalists. In his
words, the community of approaches is particularly observed over “the
status, security and territories.” “However, there is no ready package
over settlement at present and it is hard to say whether the current
situation will lead to a solution,” V. Oskanian remarked. Touching upon
transferring discussions over NK settlement from the OSCE MG format
to another one, specifically that of CE as proposed by Azerbaijan,
the Armenian FM noted the NK issue may be discussed anywhere “and it
is even useful.” “However, the OSCE MG is the sole structure providing
for comprehensive discussions. It is obvious the NK conflict should be
settled within the OSCE MG. The international community recognizes this
fact as well,” V. Oskanian stated. “If a decision is passed to consider
the issue in another format, it will be done so. However, there is
no alternative to the OSCE MG today, the FM remarked. Touching upon
NK participation in the talks Oskanian said it was inevitable. “NK
will become full participant of the talks some day and the Azeri
party realizes it as well,” the Armenian FM said. Referring to OSCE
PA Representative for NK Goran Lennmarker, Oskanian hoped solution to
the conflict to be found after parliamentary election in Azerbaijan,
reported IA Regnum.

OSKANIAN-MAMMADYAROV MEETING MAY BE HELD IN LJUBLJANA

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:35

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian does not rule out the
opportunity to hold a meeting with his Azeri counterpart E. Mammadyarov
in Ljubljana in December. However, the Armenian FM said no official
invitation from the OSCE MG had been received yet. “A meeting is
not ruled out, as we will be in Ljubljana at that time,” Oskanian
stated. It should be reminded that earlier Mammadyarov said OSCE MG
US Co-Chair Steven Mann will arrive in Baku in the second decade of
October. The date of the meeting of the Armenian and Azeri FMs will
be appointed just in the course of that visit.

In his words, most probably the Oskanian-Mammadyarov meeting will be
held in Ljubljana December 4-5. It may take place during the Summit
of the OSCE FMs in Ljubljana, reported IA Regnum.

ITALY TO SHARE EXPERIENCE OF TRADE CHAMBERS DEVELOPMENT WITH ARMENIA

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:51

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met
with Italian Foreign Trade Minister Adolfo Urso, reported the Press
Service of the Armenian leader. Noting the importance of holding of
Armenian-Italian Friendship Days in Armenia, R. Kocharian stated
the event represents another opportunity to strengthen bilateral
relations. The Armenian leader assessed the rate of development of
the Armenian-Italian relations as satisfactory.

Adolfo Urso qualified the level of the Armenian-Italian relations as
excellent. He informed Italian entrepreneurs had arrived with him
and they have very promising impression of Armenia. In the Italian
Minister’s words, Trade Chambers are rather developed in Italy and
he had discussed matters of sharing Italian experience. Besides, the
interlocutors discussed question of promotion of small and medium
scale business. R. Kocharian noted Italian experience of linking
small and medium business with foreign trade is important from the
point of view of application in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN AND LENNMARKER DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS

Pan Armenian
06.10.2005 10:26

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian has met with
OSCE Special Representative for Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lennmarker,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian leader. In the course of
the meeting the interlocutors exchanged view over Lennmarker’s report
on Karabakh conflict.

At the instance of the OSCE Special Representative, R. Kocharian
briefed him on the current stage and prospects of Karabakh
settlement. The Armenian President also touched upon the increasing
OSCE cooperation, noting the importance of interparliamentary
cooperation in that respect.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN AND ITALIAN MINISTER DISCUSS BOOSTING TIES

Armenpress
Oct 6, 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, ARMENPRESS: President Kocharian received today
Italian minister for external trade Adolpho Urso and underscored
boosting multi-lateral cooperation, saying holding of Armenian-Italian
Friendship Days is another good chances to enhance these ties.

Kocharian was reported by his press office as saying he was satisfied
with the dynamic of bilateral cooperation development, singling
out also stepped up political contacts. Kocharian said virtually
all Italian investments in Armenia have proved successful. Adolpho
Urso was quoted as saying that the level of bilateral relations was
‘excellent.’ He said a large group of businessmen have arrived with him
in Armenia to explore possibilities for starting new joint businesses.

A special focus in the meeting was on boosting small and medium-sized
businesses. Kocharian also received today Goran Lenmarker, OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur on Nagorno-Karabakh and briefed
him on the latest developments in the conflict regulation process
and outlined also prospects for its resolution.