Month: November 2006

AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN LEADERS AGREE TO BILATERAL MEETING TO DISCUSS KARABAKH PROBLEM
The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune, France
Nov 23 2006
BAKU, Azerbaijan: The presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed
to hold a bilateral meeting aimed at resolving the simmering conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, officials said Thursday.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region in Azerbaijan that has been
under the control of Armenian and ethnic-Armenian Karabakh forces
since a 1994 cease-fire ended a six-year separatist war that killed
about 30,000 people and drove about 1 million from their homes.
The region’s final status remains unresolved, and years of talks
under the auspices of international mediators have brought few
visible results.
President Ilham Aliev’s press service said Thursday he has agreed to
meet with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian on the sidelines
of a Tuesday summit of ex-Soviet republics in Minsk, Belarus.
Earlier this week, Russian officials involved in mediating the conflict
said Kocharian had also agreed to meet.
Both leaders last held bilateral talks in June and the meeting failed
to produced a breakthrough.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FUNDING FOCUS – CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION
Young People Now
November 22, 2006
What’s it all about? The UK branch of this major Anglo-Portuguese
Trust, now entering its 51st year, has announced its four themes for
2007. Calouste Gulbenkian, by the way, was an Armenian Turk who made
money in the oil industry, before retiring to Portugal in the 1940s.
What does it fund? In 2007, the four priority areas are arts,
education, social change and welfare and Anglo-Portuguese cultural
relations. Under the education theme, there will be specific support
for youth organisations wishing to initiate projects aimed at fostering
better relations between young people from different cultures and
faiths. Other priorities include citizenship work in secondary schools,
by schools or partner bodies, that promotes understanding and empathy
between students of different cultural backgrounds. The arts programme
is mainly for professional artists or organisations doing innovative
and experimental work in public spaces. The social welfare programme
will support ‘radical, experimental but well thought through’
projects promoting financial inclusion, environmental awareness
among disadvantaged groups and supporting older people in their
communities. Check the ‘advice to applicants’ leaflet – there is a
long list of things the foundation won’t support, including building
work, drug or alcohol work, sport, conferences or religious activities.
Who can apply? Generally, it funds proposals from ‘charities or
otherwise tax-exempt’ groups. As a rule, the foundation supports
projects that are original in their field and favours those outside
London.
How much is available? There is a notional limit of pounds 15,000.
Application process: Trustees meet to consider proposals three times
a year in March, July and November. Grant proposals will need to be
submitted at least two months in advance of each meeting. There is
no standard application form so apply in writing – ‘succinctness is
welcomed’ – to Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch, 98 Portland
Place, WIB 1ET. Full details of eligibility and application procedures
are available on

ISTANBUL TRADE CHAMBER, FRENCH ENVOY MEET TO BOOST TIES
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 20 2006
Istanbul, 20 November: A consultation meeting on boosting relations
between Turkey and France was held by Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO)
on Monday [20 November].
French Ambassador to Turkey Paul Poudade, representatives of French
companies in Turkey and ITO members attended the meeting.
ITO Executive Board Chairman Murat Yalcintas said: “We feel sad over
the decision of French National Assembly on the bill criminalizing
denial of so-called Armenian genocide. Not politicians, but historians
should write the history.”
Stating that this bill harmed relations between Turkey and France,
Yalcintas noted that they held this meeting to boost economic,
cultural and friendly relations between the two countries.
On the other hand, Poudade noted that there were deep-rooted and
significant relations between Turkey and France.
Recalling that Turkish and French authorities aimed to increase
trade volume to 15bn euros in three years, Poudade underlined that
commercial relations and mutual investment should be continued.
Poudade stressed that the mentioned bill would not be approved, because
the (French) parliament would recess till the presidential election.
Stating that Turkey’s EU accession negotiations should continue,
Poudade noted that Europe could establish dialogue with Islam countries
through Turkey.
Poudade stressed that if Turkey joined the EU, problems in the Middle
East would be minimized.

RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN TO FUND ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA
by Tagui Tovmasyan
Iravunk, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
“Russian businessmen will give money to the RPA”
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has recently received a delegation
of 20 Russian businessmen of Armenian origin. The official press
release did not say why they came to Armenia, but it “smells” of
preparation for the forthcoming [parliamentary] election.
In fact, they were invited to Armenia by Samvel Karapetyan, a
well-known businessman in Russia. His brother Karen Karapetyan is
the leader of the People’s Deputy [parliamentary] group. Let us
recall that the leader of the faction said in April that if they
decide to set up a party, about 50 businessmen in CIS [Commonwealth
of Independent States] countries will support them.
But since Karen Karapetyan is a member of the Republican Party of
Armenia, it is not hard to guess that those businessmen will lend at
least partial support to the RPA. Incidentally the businessmen also
had a separate meeting with Serzh Sarkisyan, the defence minister
and chairman of the RPA board. According to some reports, the “super
minister” had to find a pretext to organize the meeting.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS OSCE MEDIATORS
Mediamax, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
Yerevan, 21 November: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met the
Russian and French co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagornyy
Karabakh in Yerevan today.
The mediators are not going to hold a news conference on the result
of their visit to Yerevan, Mediamax reports.
The mediators will meet Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku
on 22 November.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN MINISTRY DRAWS UP NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Mediamax, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
Yerevan, 21 November: The Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
has drawn up a national strategic programme of stable economic
development in Armenia, the chief advisor of the minister, Meruzhan
Akopyan, said in Yerevan today, Mediamax reports. The programme will be
submitted for the government’s consideration in the very near future.
Meruzhan Akopyan noted that the programme presents the general
approaches on ensuring stable economic development of Armenia. He
said that following the endorsement of the programme, special policies
will be elaborated for each sphere.
Speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today, Meruzhan Akopyan said
that the Armenian exporters continue to face serious difficulties,
caused by the strengthening of the national currency with respect
to the dollar. He noted that some domestic producers were forced to
cancel the dollar contracts which were signed in the beginning of
the current year.
The chief advisor of the trade and economic development minister
suggested that in the present situation the state should assist
exporters. In particular, Akopyan believes that the Central Bank could
have created more favourable conditions for lending to the small and
medium-sized business.

VIMPELCOM SAYS STILL UNDECIDED ON ARMENTEL’S FIXED-LINE BUSINESS
Prime-Tass Business News Agency
November 21, 2006 Tuesday 4:38 PM EET
Russia’s second largest mobile operator VimpelCom has still not decided
on whether to keep or sell the fixed-line business of recently acquired
Armenian mobile and fixed-line operator ArmenTel, VimpelCom’s Vice
President Nikolai Pryanishnikov told a news conference Tuesday.
A VimpelCom spokeswoman said earlier that VimpelCom planned to offer
converged fixed-to-mobile services.
Speaking on the mobile business of ArmenTel, Pryanishnikov said
that VimpelCom would introduce its Beeline brand in Armenia as soon
as possible.
VimpelCom’s top priority markets in the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) are Azerbaijan, Moldova and Georgia, where VimpelCom
has recently acquired a GSM license holder, Pryanishnikov said.
VimpelCom purchased ArmenTel earlier this month and some market experts
suggested then that VimpelCom may sell ArmenTel’s fixed-line business
as it is not a core business for VimpelCom.

ALL RUSSIAN SERVICEMEN TO WITHDRAW FROM TBILISI GARRISON BY DEC 25
ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
November 21, 2006 Tuesday
All Russian servicemen will leave the Tbilisi garrison by December
25, troops commander of the North Caucasus military district /SKVO/,
General of the Army Alexander Baranov said on Tuesday.
A total of 97 units of equipment and 353 tonnes of property and
ammunition will be withdrawn from the premises of the Tbilisi garrison,
Baranov said, adding that the number of withdrawing personnel slightly
exceeds 350.
Two freight trains with garrison property will be evacuated to Russia,
and another two – to the Russian military base in Gyumri, Armenia,
through Azerbaijan.
Georgia has not hampered the pullout efforts so far, according to
the commander.
Baranov also said no reservist from among the troops withdrawing from
Georgia will be left without an apartment. The issue is as good as
settled, he added.
Earlier, he stated that many servicemen from the units which Russia
is withdrawing from Georgia, have opted for continuing service in
the North Caucasus, Moscow and Volga-Ural military districts.
But part of the military have to be discharged from the armed forces
as the term of their service has expired. “For those who are to
be transferred to reserve and who will live in Russia, 80 housing
certificates have been allocated, and 56 apartments purchased in
the territory of the Southern Federal District. No serviceman will
be transferred to reserve until he’s been given an apartment,” the
commander underlined.

CAUCASUS RESEARCH RESOURCE CENTERS RELEASES 2006 SURVEY RESULTS
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
The Caucasus Research Resource Centers-Armenia released the results
of the 2006 Data Initiative Survey today, reports CRRC Armenia.
The regional survey is carried out across the South Caucasus and
interviews respondents from over 6,800 households, asking over 120
questions. The survey assesses knowledge, attitudes and practices in
all three South Caucasus countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia,
and paints an intriguing picture of behavior over time. Additionally,
2006 marks a watershed year for CRRC. Now in its third year, the Data
Initiative has been expanded to all regions of the South Caucasus.
The Data Initiative raises a host of fascinating questions that beg
further sociological and journalistic investigation. Why does Armenia
continue to have the most male smokers in the region? Although the
number of male smokers in Yerevan has dropped, it is currently 12%
higher than in Baku and 5% higher than in Tbilisi. What explains
Armenian and Azerbaijani ambivalence towards NATO membership, with
a large percentage of the population-41% and 35% in Yerevan and Baku
respectively-responding that they “don’t know” if their country should
join NATO?
The survey results also provide key indicators on economic
development. For instance, the percentage of households having personal
computers in Yerevan increased from 15% in 2004 to 21% in 2006. By
contrast, only 3% of rural households possess a personal computer.
The Data Initiative questions regarding social institutions also
provide contentious results for politicians and policymakers. In
Armenia, people distrust most social institutions. For instance,
in 2006, only 15% said they trusted the parliament.
The Data Initiative Survey contains blocks of questions on demography,
education, political attitudes/views, social institutions, migration,
crime, health and economic behavior. “The Data Initiative will improve
the quality and availability of up-to-date data in the region,”
states Dr. Hans Gutbrod, CRRC Regional Director. “Ultimately, the
CRRC data sets will enable local and regional social scientists and
policy practitioners to collaborate and engage in meaningful dialogue
about the ongoing transitions in their homelands”
CRRC are a network of resource and training centers established
in 2003, in the capital cities of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
with the goal of strengthening social science research and public
policy analysis in the South Caucasus. A partnership between the
Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Eurasia Foundation and local
universities, the CRRC network offers scholars and practitioners stable
opportunities for integrated research, training and collaboration in
the region.

NKR TO JOIN NEGOTIATIONS WHEN AZERBAIJAN SHOWS WILL TO RESOLVE THE CONFLICT, PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER OF NKR
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
Matthew Bryza, Minsk Group Co-Chairman of US, will meet with Arkady
Ghoukassyan, President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), now present
in the USA.
Ashot Ghoulyan, Speaker of the Parliament, said at the Yerevan press
conference, held on work results of the Armenian-Karabakh interstate
commission, that there are no meetings planned for Karabakh MPs,
Russian and French MG OSCE Co-Chairmen who are present in Armenia.
A. Ghoulyan was indefinite about whether NKR is satisfied with the
current results of the negotiations on the conflict solution or not.
“There is lack of information on concerning the negotiations and so
it is too yearly for conclusions”. He said that it is better to be
moderately optimistic about the coming meeting of Armenian and Azeri
Presidents. “The chances for success split 50/50”. A. Ghoulyan said
that NKR will join the negotiations process only when Azerbaijan
reveals political will to settle the conflict. Inclusion of
Stepanakert into the negotiation process will be the evidence of
the negotiations’ transition to an efficient stage. On the whole,
Nagorno-Karabakh’s participation in negotiations is not an end in
itself, as the international community has admitted that the Karabakh
conflict has three parties, he said. Speaking of the constitutional
reforms in Nagorno- Karabakh, A.Ghulyan said that the draft reforms
do not give the right to be elected president for a third term.
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan said that the
country which is constantly coming out with militarist statements
and briskly increasing its military budget, is not at all inclined
to the conflict settlement. He added that Azerbaijan openly rejects
the agreements reached at the twosome meetings. The Speaker said
that achievement of at least small progress during the presidents’
meeting may be qualified as success. But he doesn’t consider that
the year 2006 may be crucial in the peace process. T.Torosyan added
that the final settlement of the Karabakh conflict may be achieved
only with the consent of the two countries’ parliaments and after
holding a referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh. He also noted that the next
meeting of the Armenian-Karabakh inter-parliamentary commission will
take place in Stepanakert in spring 2007.
To note, besides the Karabakh peace process, today’s session covered
also the issues of constitutional reforms in Nagorno-Karabakh and
harmonization of the two countries’ economic legislation.