Author: admin

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 14 2005

OSCE fact-finding mission to visit occupied territories

The OSCE Minsk Group (MG) co-chairs from Russia, United States and
France are due to arrive in Baku on January 28, Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov told a press conference on Thursday.
The MG co-chairs will visit the country as part of the OSCE
fact-finding mission which will look into the illegal settlement of
Armenians in the occupied
Azerbaijani lands. The mission will also include OSCE MG co-chairs
from
Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Finland.
Azimov said that the mission members will hold a number of meetings
with Azeri officials, after which they will tour the region. He said
that as part of preparations for the visit, the co-chairs will meet
with the other mission members in Vienna on January 21 to discuss
technical issues.
The Deputy Foreign Minister continued that `the mission should not
give any political assessments but prepare a report on the facts it
witnesses and confirms’.
The mission will visit five Azerbaijani regions – Kalbajar, Lachin,
Jabrayil, Gubadly and Zangilan, where Armenians were purposefully
settled, Azimov said.
`With regard to the two other regions, Aghdam and Fuzuli, I am not
aware of such facts’, he added.*

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Occupied Northern Cyprus
Jan 14 2005

Sources on what Erdogan asked from Putin on Cyprus and more on Cyprus
from Erdogan’s visit to Moscow

Ankara Anatolia (11/01/05) reported from Moscow that the Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his expectation during
his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia would
support the end of the so-called isolation of the occupied by Turkish
troops territory of Cyprus, sources said on Tuesday.
Noting that Erdogan asked Putin to contribute to the solution of the
Cyprus problem during their meeting, the same sources said that
Erdogan also asked Putin to be beside Turkey during talks regarding
Cyprus in the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

The same sources quoted Erdogan as saying in the meeting: ”We expect
Russia to support end of isolations of North Cyprus. The Cyprus
problem can be solved with the good offices of the UN. Guarantor
state Turkey supports this mission. And, the European Union (EU) will
naturally make a positive contribution to the solution of the Cyprus
problem.”

Ankara Anatolia (11/01/05) further reported from Moscow that the
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that the
Cyprus issue should be resolved within the United Nations and not the
European Union. After a meeting with the Russian President Vladimir
Putin and Turkish businessmen, Erdogan replied to questions from
journalists. In reference to a question on solution of the Cyprus
issue and lifting the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots,
Erdogan remarked that there is no change in the Annan Plan. ”The
process related to Cyprus is going on. Turkey’s position is firm and
unchanged. Cyprus is an issue that should be resolved within the
framework of the United Nations and not the EU,” said Erdogan.

Furthermore, Istanbul NTV television (11/01/05) broadcast that
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he supports the efforts of
the UN Secretary-General and the Annan Plan in connection with the
solution of the Cyprus problem.

On the second day of his Moscow visit, together with Putin, Prime
Minister Erdogan called on businessmen. Pointing out that bilateral
relations have reached the level of multilateral partnership, Erdogan
expressed support for Russia’s membership in the World Trade
Organization. Putin, in turn, said that the volume of bilateral trade
can be increased to $15 billion, adding that political dialogue lies
at the bottom of commercial and economic partnership.

The Cyprus problem was also on Putin’s agenda. Noting that the
developments pertaining to Cyprus were discussed, Putin expressed
support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and the Annan
Plan. The isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots is not fair, the
Russian president stressed, adding that the matter is sensitive and
one must act delicately. Putin also remarked that Russia’s stand with
regard to the report to be submitted to the UN Security Council will
depend on the document to be submitted to the council.

In reply to a question, Putin also commented on the Armenian issue.
Pointing out that Russia could act as a mediator or a guarantor with
regard to Armenia’s problems with Azerbaijan and Turkey, Putin said:
“We are ready to do our utmost”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BORDERLINE MONITORING

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
14 Jan 05

On January 11 the OSCE mission held monitoring to the east of the
border between the armed forces of Nagorni Karabakh and Azerbaijan
near the settlement Marzili. At the NKR emplacement the monitoring was
conducted by the coordinator of the OSCE Tbilisi office Imre Palatinus
(Hungary). The group included the field assistant of the personal
representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Alexander Samarsky
(Ukraine). No cases of breaking of the cease-fire were reported. On
the NKR side the monitoring mission was accompanied by the
representatives of the NKR ministries of defence and foreign affairs.

AA.
14-01-2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MGM Mirage to Get U.S. Clearance to Acquire Mandalay (Update1)

Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) — MGM Mirage, the casino operator controlled by
billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, will win U.S. Federal Trade Commission
approval for a $4.8 billion takeover of Mandalay Resort Group without
having to sell any Las Vegas casinos, people familiar with the matter
said.

The combination of MGM Mirage, the world’s third-largest casino
operator, and Mandalay would create the world’s largest
gambling-resort company. The proposed combination of No. 2 Harrah’s
Entertainment Inc. and Caesars Entertainment Inc., the industry
leader, would supplant MGM Mirage and Mandalay as the world’s biggest
if the FTC approves that takeover. Harrah’s offered to buy Caesars for
$5.18 billion in July.

FTC lawyers have concluded they lack evidence that the MGM
Mirage-Mandalay combination would lead to higher room rates or fewer
promotional discounts aimed at luring customers to the gaming tables,
the people said. Together, the two companies would own almost half the
hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip, a four- mile stretch of Las Vegas
Boulevard between downtown and the airport.

The five-member Federal Trade Commission seldom overrules its staff.

MGM Mirage agreed to pay $71 for each Mandalay share. Mandalay shares
rose 10 cents to $70.61 as of 1:20 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange
composite trading. MGM Mirage shares rose 66 cents to $75.11.

“We are confident we will be able to close the transaction by the end
of the first quarter,” MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman said. An FTC
spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.

Much Competition

The FTC staff can’t refute the companies’ argument that casino hotels
on the Strip, where MGM Mirage and Mandalay together operate 10
casino-hotels, isn’t a distinct market, people familiar with the case
said. That’s because casinos on the Strip face competition from those
in downtown Las Vegas, the Bahamas, and some operated by American
Indian tribes in California and Connecticut, they said.

Las Vegas also faces competition from luxury casinos in Australia and
Macao.

To block a proposed merger, the government must prove that companies
seeking to combine would gain power to raise prices in a distinct
market.

MGM Mirage operates the Bellagio, the Mirage, MGM Grand, the Boardwalk
and the Treasure Island casino resorts on the Strip. Mandalay Resort
Group owns Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Monte Carlo and Circus
Circus. Mandalay, based in Las Vegas, also operates casinos in four
other Nevada cities, including Reno, as well as in Tunica,
Mississippi, and Elgin, Illinois.

State Approvals

The companies must also get approval from gambling regulators in
Nevada and Illinois. MGM Mirage’s Feldman said the company hopes to
get a February hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission on its
application. Mandalay operates the Grand Victoria riverboat casino in
Elgin, about 40 miles northwest of Chicago.

MGM Mirage said last month it is considering selling one of two
Michigan casinos to comply with the state’s antitrust law. The
company, which originally said it would sell Mandalay’s 53.5 percent
stake in the MotorCity casino in Detroit, said it was weighing offers
for its Michigan property.

MGM Mirage, based in Las Vegas, also operates casino resorts in the
Primm Valley area 25 miles south of Las Vegas near the California
border and another in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Harrah’s and Caesars will sell four casinos for $1.24 billion in cash
to Colony Capital LLC as part of their attempt to win regulatory
approval for their combination. The companies said they would sell two
casinos in Tunica, Mississippi, one in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and
another in East Chicago, Indiana.

Last June, the FTC cleared Harrah’s $916 million purchase of Horseshoe
Gaming Holding Co. eight months after the deal was announced. The
agency required no divestitures. The takeover gave Harrah’s ownership
of Binion’s Horseshoe Casino & Hotel in downtown Las Vegas, along with
casinos in Mississippi, Louisiana and Indiana.

To contact the reporter on this story:
James Rowley at [email protected]

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Glenn Hall at [email protected]
Last Updated: January 13, 2005 13:26 EST

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WMUR Channel.com, NH
Jan 13 2005

Church Parishioners Lose Court Battle To Prevent Sale
Diocese Trying To Sell Church For $1 Million

NASHUA, N.H. — Former parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Church have
lost a second court battle to prevent its sale.

The Diocese of Manchester merged St. Francis Xavier with another
parish in 2003. Now the diocese is trying to sell the 100-year-old
church building for about $1 million to a man who plans to donate it
to the Armenian Orthodox Church.

A group of former parishioners and historic preservationists sued.
But a Hillsborough County Probate judge said in November the sale did
not violate the church’s deed, which says the land it’s on must
always have a place of religious observance.

The parishioners also filed a civil suit in Hillsborough County
Superior Court, claiming their rights were violated because of flaws
in the diocese’s procedure for choosing which churches to close.

But in an order released Wednesday, Judge William Groff said the
court should not become entangled in internal church decisions.

Diocesan officials say the proceeds of the sale will be used to
benefit the merged parish.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Jan 13 2005

AZERBAIJAN NGOS APPEAL TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE
[January 13, 2005, 23:23:55]

Representatives of the national NGOs gathered January 13 at the
International Press Center in Baku to exchange views on the report on
Nagorno-Karabakh problem to be delivered by head of the European
Democratic Group in PACE David Atkinson in PACE enlarged meeting on
January 25.

According to President of the Azerbaijan NGOs Forum Azay Gouliyev,
the report indicates the Council of Europe is interested in fair and
international law-based resolution of the problem – it describes
Armenia as an aggressor and a country pursuing a policy of ethnic
cleansing against Azerbaijanis, points to separatist forces currently
keeping control over the occupied territories as well as Armenia’s
intention to create here a mono-ethnic state. At the same time
however, there are a number of vital problems not reflected in the
report. Among them are: territories must be released, return of
refugees and IDPs to their lands should be ensured, Armenia must pay
an indemnity to them for property and moral damage, the European
Court should give a legal assessment to the Khojaly tragedy.

The participants of the meeting expressed confidence that PACE member
would take a fair stance with respect to the problem.

After the discussion, the appeal signed by representatives of over
100 NGOs was sent to COE Secretary General Terry Davis, PACE
President Peter Schieder and Secretary General Bruno Haller, PACE
Political Affairs Committee, deputies and Embassies of the COE member
states in Baku.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Jan 13 2005

JUSTICE MINISTER TO HAVE NEW DEPARTMENTS TO DEAL WITH EUROPEAN HUMAN
RIGHTS COURT

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government has
ordered to establish a special department at the justice ministry
that will be supervising contacts with the European Human Rights
Court in Strasbourg. Gevork Kostanian, the representative of the
Armenian government at the Strasbourg-based court, told Armenpress
that the prime minister has also ordered to create “the institution
of Armenia’s authorized representative at the Court,” which he said
is in line with the requirements of the European Convention on Human
Rights. The new institution is to become a liaison between the
Armenian government and the Court. He said the new department will
represent the interests of Armenia in the Court.
Kostanian said the new department’s main objective will be to
prepare the position of the government regarding cases filed against
the Republic of Armenia and in case of need, to take measures to
correct possible violations. “If the government representative finds
that an official has violated the European Convention on Human
Rights, which has led to filing a lawsuit against Armenia at the
European Court, he or she will have to prepare a report and suggest
proposals to eliminate the violations,” Kostanian said.
Apart of his or her main duties the representative will also be
eligible to make suggestions concerning improvement of legislation.
The new department is already hiring its staff who were selected
through a competition.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Jan 13 2005

GOVERNMENT GIVES MORE AUTHORITY TO COMMISSION ON PROTECTION OF
ECONOMIC COMPETITION

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government pledged
today to make protection of economic competition a focal point of its
current economic policy and has approved a bill on making changes to
the relevant law.
Speaking to reporters after the regular government session, deputy
trade and economic development minister Armen Gevorkian said the bill
is expected to give more authorities to the state-run commission on
protection of economic competition, to specify the range of its
operations and apply more clearly-cut punishment measures to business
entities breaking the law.
One of the changes enables the commission to break up into smaller
units those dominating companies which would prevent their
competitors to enter their market. Another change demands that
companies with dominating positions in the domestic market provide
information about their economic activities twice a year.
Some other changes also envisage penalties for companies with
dominating positions for abuse of their position, unfair competition,
which, according to the deputy minister are a frequent occurrence in
Armenia now.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RosBusinessConsulting Database
January 13, 2005 Thursday 1:54 am, EST

Armenian minister comments on relations with Russia

In 2004, Russian-Armenian relations were focused on maintaining
economic ties and on cooperation in the transportation sector,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said at a news conference
devoted to the 2004 results. According to him, the sides managed to
solve many economic problems. In particular, they agreed on Armenia’s
participation in organizing an international transportation route
North-South, which is of strategic importance for Armenia as an
alternative transportation link through Iran, the ARKA news agency
quoted him as saying.

Among other important issues of Russian-Armenian economic
cooperation, Oskanian mentioned the necessity to increase cargo
transportation between the two states and promote Russia’s
investments in Armenia’s economy as well as use Armenia’s energy
generating facilities in full volume.

Oskanian pointed out that last year, bilateral relations continued
developing and strengthening in the military, political and
humanitarian spheres. The Armenian-Russian association of business
cooperation that unites some 100 companies in both countries was
created in 2004. Officials also agreed to declare the year 2005 as
the Year of Russia in Armenia and 2006 as the Year of Armenia in
Russia.

PanArmenian News
Jan 13 2005

ARMENIANS EXPATRIATED FROM NORTH ARTSAKH SETTLE IN KARVACHAR

13.01.2005 16:07

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The territory of Karvachar (Kelbajar) is being
spontaneously settled by Armenians, expatriated from their residence
places in North Artsakh. Unfortunately, official Yerevan and
Stepanakert statements that there is no state policy on settling the
security belt territories are true,” Azg newspaper writes in its
today’s issue. Meanwhile, the article author notes that Azerbaijan
pursues an official policy of peopling of former Armenian settlements
in the territories of NKR that are occupied. Forced migrants from
Getashen, Shahumian and other places mainly live in Karvachar. In May
1991, the newspaper reminds, the soviet army and OMON (special
destination militia detachment) held an operation to deport the
residents of Armenian villages of North Artsakh. “Our houses stayed
on the other side of the Mrav Mounts,” the present residents of
Karvachar say. Getashen resident Yeghish Markosian has walked all
over the territory of the former Kelbajar region. He shows the
newspaper journalist innumerable khachkars (stone steles picturing
crosses), churches, monasteries. “Where from the Turks have
khachkars, churches, monasteries?” he asks. “Already 150 years ago it
was a land inhabited by Armenians.” When in 1992 Armenian forces
entered Kelbajar, in the regional museum of the city they found a
khachkar of the 10-th century with an inscription in Armenian, which
was presented to the visitors as a monument of the Azeri culture.
Dadivank famous monastery, where according to the tradition the
relics of St. Apostle Thaddeus, the Enlightener of Armenia, are kept,
is also situated in the Kelbajar territory. The name Kelbajar itself
is the distorted Armenian place-name of Karvachar. “This land was
Armenian and it remains Armenian,” the former Getashen resident
concludes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress