Author: admin

An anniversary: Archbishop to make dedication
By Cathy Flynn / News Staff Writer

Dailynews.com
Sunday, October 3, 2004

FRAMINGHAM — When the town of Framingham built a park near the
Armenian Church of the Holy Translators, the church came through with
a nice gesture: extending the path that cut through the new park.

“We wanted to ensure that the area stayed welcoming and nice,”
said Dora Garabedian, a founding member of the church, which today
draws almost 200 members from around MetroWest and the Milford area.

When Armenian Church Archbishop Khajag Barsamian visits the
church today to dedicate its new stained glass windows, it will be an
occasion to celebrate the paths that the church has forged between its
members, their heritage, the community and the world.

“Our motto is ‘where faith, family and fellowship meet,'”
explained Father Krikor Sabounjian, pastor of the church, located at
38 Franklin St. in downtown Framingham. “We have a philosophy of
inclusion…of making people feel welcome.”

Many of the church’s 160 members are couples in mixed marriages
including non-Armenians, and children are always an important part of
Sunday services, Sabounjian said.

The new windows, donated by Tom and Dora Garabedian of Hopkinton,
show historic symbols of the Armenian Church. Designed by Worcester
artist Arthur Arakelian and built by Ken Paulson of Paulson Stained
Glass Window in Upton, they depict grapes and pomegranates, wheat
sheaves, the Armenian cross, andthe colors of the Armenian flag. The
angels hold a lyre and a harp to signify the church’s love of music.

“We wanted to make it a warm and welcoming symbol,” said
Garabedian, adding that the windows harmonize with the building’s more
modern architecture and the Byzantine touches added by the church.

The windows are the latest of many milestones celebrated by the
church in its 7-year history. The first was its birth around a kitchen
table in Hopkinton, where four Armenian couples, including the
Garabedians, decided to establish an Armenian Church in MetroWest.

“Our church has some wonderful roots in Worcester, Watertownand
Boston,” said Garabedian. “But MetroWest has many young families, and
it was tough for us to drive 40 minutes to a church for a three-hour
service.”

Through the Armenian Church of America, the new church was
established as a “mission parish,” a term for fledgling churches
without a permanent structure and priest. Sabounjian was its deacon.

From its original 25 members, the church quickly rose to 40
members and continued to grow. While the first worship services were
celebrated in members’ homes, the Sisters of St. Joseph later donated
their facilities onBethany Hill in Framingham for worship and Sunday
School. The church found its present location — once the home to
Brazilian and Baptist churches — in 2001.

Both Sabounjian and Garabedian said that Armenians have always
had strong faith, which in turn leads to a strong connection with
their own heritage.

“Whenever you have a commonality of ethic background and
religious purpose, it keeps the community strong,” said Garabedian.

About 45 church members made a pilgrimage to Armenia last summer,
visiting ancient monasteries, a monument to the one million Armenian
victims of the Ottoman genocide in the early 20th century, and the
capital city of Yerevan.

“We have a strong tie to Armenia, and our pilgrimage emphasized
that,” said Sabounjian. “It was the first time that many of our
members had been there. The biggest tie to Armenia is through the
church … it maintains both the religion and the culture.”

The church is also making its mark in other parts of the
world. Through the Merguerian family of Ashland, church members whose
son John spent a year in Iraq, the church sent care packages to
soldiers there.

Members also volunteer at the nearby Salvation Army soup kitchen.
Through the state Department of Social Services, the church also
donates turkeys, Christmas gifts and Easter baskets to local families
in need. Its youth group participates in the annual Walk for Hunger
sponsored by Project Bread.

Today’s service, which starts at 9:30 a.m., will be followedby a
coffee hour.

( Cathy Flynn can be reached at 508-435-8593 or at [email protected]. )

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA GEORGY PIRVANOV WILL VISIT YEREVAN OCT 5-7

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1. ARMINFO. President of Bulgaria Georgy Pirvanov
will pay an official visit to Yerevan accompanied by his spouse Zorka
Pirvanova on Oct 5-7. The Bulgarian leader visits Armenia on the
invitation of Presdient Robert Kocharyan.

The Presidential Press Service of Armenia told ARMINFO that the main
goal of the visit is stimulation of development of interstate ties,
deepening of cooperation between the two states, designation of the
prospects of economic cooperation, as well as exchange of opinions on
the issues of mutual interest. “Today, when integration into European
structures is one of the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy, close
cooperation with the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe
seems necessary. In this context, it is more than important to develop
bilateral and multilateral relations with Bulgaria,” the press-service
says. On October 5, after a solemn meeting at the Armenian President’s
residency, a tete-a-tete meeting of the two presidents will be held,
which, in its turn, will result in enlarged negotiations. Then a
press-conference will be given. In the course of the visit, Bulgarian
President will meet Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Artur Baghdasaryan
and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. A meeting with Catholicos of
All Armenians will be held in Etchmiadzin. Georgy Pirvanov will also
visit the Memorial for the Victims of the Armenian Genocide. In the
course of the visit, an Armenian-Bulgarian Business Forum will be
held. President Pirvanov is also expected to meet the students and
the teaching staff of Yerevan State University and the school after
P.Yavorov. The president is also expected to visit historical and
cultural sights. On October 7, the Bulgarian delegation headed by
President Pirvanov will leave Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IF COALITION FAILS TO FULFILL ITS TASKS, ARFD WILL WITHDRAW FROM IT:
CHAIRMAN OF ARFD SUPREME BODY ARMEN ROUSTAMYAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1. ARMINFO. ARF Dashnaktsutyun joined the ruling
coalition with the object of solving the country’s urgent problems, if
the coalition fails to fulfill its tasks, ARFD will withdraw from it,
Chairman of ARFD Supreme Body Armen Roustamyan said at a
press-conference today.

At the same time, he said that if ARFD withdraws from the ruling
coalition, it will not join the opposition, as it has its own place in
the political arena. Meanwhile, Roustamyan said that in spite of
definite gaps in the activity of the coalition, the latter has a
achieved considerable results, in particular, Armenia’s international
authority has been upgraded and the domestic political situation has
been stabilized just due to the ruling coalition.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN SAYS MECHANISMS OF COUNTER-BALANCE AND RESTRAIN OF
AUTHORITIES NECESSARY CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

YEREVAN, October 1 (Noyan Tapan). The ARF Dashnaktsutyun believes that
the mechanisms of counter-balance and restrain of authorities are
important Constitutional reforms, Armen Roustamian, member of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun Executive Council, Chairman of the Parliamentary
Standing Commission on Foreign Relations, told an October 1 news
conference, adding that the three power branches are not divided
according to this principle in Armenia. Armen Roustamian also
emphasized the necessity of independence of the judicial power. This,
according to the ARF member, may only be achieved through amending the
order of forming the Justice Council. According to Roustamian, a
self-governing common republican control system should be founded. The
ARF Dashnaktsutyun also emphasizes the importance of employment
problems. “A government ought to address the employment problems of
its people and be able to provide them with jobs,” Armen Roustamian
stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenianow.com
Oct 2, 2004

Outside Eye: This Week, An Insider Looks Out

By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter

This week I joined hundreds of Armenians in the long line of dreams, waiting
outside the US Embassy in Yerevan for a visa to America. The process is a
test of endurance.
Having previously taken papers, we all were invited between at 9 -9.30 a.m.
and were told to wait. Two by two, applicants disappear inside for about 20
minutes at a time. I was 15th in the line and grew weary calculating when my
turn would come.
I decided instead to indulge in eavesdropping. . .
Two people in front of me and three behind were angrily discussing the
increased price for visiting a consular service. Last year it was $50 and
now it is $100. Even if you don’t get the visa, you pay the fee.
“For what we are paying, for being rejected?,” asked one woman.
“Because here in Armenia it is anarchy,” answered one man. “And the
Americans decided: ‘Why do we have to pay $20 at the airport for leaving
their country. If so let them pay too for entering our country’.”
“They just collect money from people and give visas to a few,” said the
other man. “How do you think the Americans are building their new embassy
here? Each week they collect $20,000 from people like us and it goes to the
construction works and to the wages of embassy employees. They get at least
$1,000, and it all comes from our pockets.”
You can learn a lot about your countrymen, listening to them trying to
leave. By their words, they neither like where they are nor where they are
going . . .
They went on, accusing President Robert Kocharyan of corruption, anarchy,
poor economy in the country and in allowing Americans to take so much money.
“I would never leave Armenia if I feel protected here, if I have job. If my
president can not provide me with a job, I will go to serve another
country,” one man said.
It is a sunny September in Yerevan. The sidewalk, the walls, the pavement
and the heated words are enough for a headache.
I crossed the roped off line to stand in the shadow of a tree between the
stone barriers built by the embassy after 9/11. People watched, perhaps
enviously, but none left the line to join me. However in about five minutes
an embassy guard approached to put me back in line.
“I can’t. It’s too sunny there,” I told him.
“Please go back,” he repeated, politely, but firmly. “You can’t wait here”
“Did I do something illegal,” I asked, jokingly. “I want to wait here and I
see no problem.”
“You hinder the way of passersby,” the guard said. “See everyone stands,
even old people. Please sister- jan go back, otherwise I will be in
trouble.”
Of course I was not obstructing pedestrians, but his last argument persuaded
me.
I returned to the line to find global issues on the talk agenda.
One man predicted an imminent energy crisis in the US.
“Soon Americans will not fuel their cars because it will be too expensive
for them,” the man said. “And they will be deprived of electricity and gas.”
“If it is so, then why are you going there?” a woman asked.
“I go to see my grandsons, whom I’ve never seen,” the man replied. He then
told that his two sons are not US citizens and could not send him an
invitation.
In an hour of listening I realized that I was probably the only one in the
line who had an official invitation from a US entity (for a Duke University
media fellowship) – the only one in that hot line who had reasonable hope.
And I guess that for most people the visa was a one way ticket. For a group
of people I saw, mostly middle-age and old the visa stamp was the most
desirable thing they could wish for.
But what impressed me most was the people’s sympathy towards each others,
their uniting around the common aim. The frankness of Armenians reach its
apex in the visa line. Or so it was that day I was watching people’s true
stories about their life in Armenia and purposes in US. People were so
easily sharing their secrets of their true intentions in US as if we were at
a private party.
A woman of about 40 with emaciated face was telling people around that she
is going to get a job in the US but she would tell the embassy interviewer
that she goes to the US to visit her god mother. The woman had no paper, no
invitation and no idea how she would get a job in the US. The only thing she
knew was that she has to leave Armenia to get a job in America, because no
one of her five family members has a job here.
“If I get a visa we will sell a car to cover the ticket cost,” the woman
said. “And I will not be back for at least five years.”
I tried to persuade her that it is not so easy to get a job and warned her
that she could become a victim of cheaters. But she replied that her friend
left last year and now is a housemaid at one of the hotels in Utah. She too
wanted to be a housemaid. I asked her if she is ready for this job, why she
does not try to find a similar job here.
“I can’t do this job here. My relatives will know about it and I will feel
uncomfortable. If I go to the US I will tell them that I work as a
babysitter.”
In 20 minutes the woman told me the story of her life, about her husband, of
her uneasy relations with her mother-in-law.
I was trying to follow her logic, logic of a tired and unprotected Armenian
woman, who told me her secret only because I was a stranger. I asked her if
she is not concerned that one of the people in line is an employee of the US
embassy who learned about her true purposes. As soon as I said that, others
in the line joined our discussion, saying that no matter why you go to US,
if they (interviewers) decide to give you a visa they do not care why you
are going to their country.
In that line I learned that all the US consular employees are psychic, and
no matter what papers you have, they look at you and make a decision.
Face-control, in other words. I also heard that the most severe consular
agent is a bald American of middle age who rejects everybody.
“There are three windows in the consular room, try to approach the windows
with two young Americans, they give visas,” said one old woman, whose sister
was rejected last month by the bald American.
People in line were generously giving advice on how to behave to get a visa.
The one I liked most was from a woman who was going on her second trip to
visit her daughter.
“Whatever you are asked, you have to tell ‘no’,” the woman said. “Do you
have relatives in US? Say ‘No’. Do you intend to stay in the US? ‘No’. I did
so last time and got a visa.”
Finally my turn came. I got the bald guy.
He went through my papers for five minutes without saying a word. Then he
started asking questions. Turns out that all my answers, in fact, were “No”.
“Do you need a translator,” he asked in Russian. “No,” I replied. “Do you
intend to study or work in the US?” “No.” “Did someone else fill out your
application?” “No.”
I was the last to leave the US embassy that day. The guards asked me the
results, then sincerely congratulated me.
There were some people outside who were rejected but stayed near the
building as if it could help them. One woman was crying, men were smoking.
They all looked very depressed.
I was looking for the woman who indented to go to the US for work, but I did
not see her. I hope that she is aware of human trafficking. And I want to
hope that whatever she does she will not be involved in a bigger trouble.
I looked at them all – at people whose life turned in a way they could never
expect. At people whose children, though safe in the US, can not see their
parents. At people who know the US life only from movies and want to go
there to be in the country where dreams come true. For some.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Border control in North Caucasus not aimed against Armenia

YEREVAN, October 1 (Itar-Tass) – Border control imposed on the Russian
border in the North Caucasus is not aimed against transit of cargoes
to and out of Armenia, Chairman of the Federation Council Sergei
Mironov declared on Friday.

Mironov arrived in Yerevan on an official visit as the head of a
delegation of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament.

Mironov expressed the hope that the Armenian leadership and the people
will express understanding of the causes that forced Russia to
terminate transit of cargoes across Russia’s state border in the North
Caucasus. Many terrorists who feel at ease in Georgia go straight to
our territory, Mironov said. After the tragedy in Beslan we had to
take definite measures, he added.

Russia and Armenia are among the countries, which occupy top positions
in the struggle against terrorism, Mironov said. The coming discussion
with the Armenian leadership will be another contribution to the
common wall that should rebuff terrorism all over the world, Mironov
stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CENN – OCTOBER 1, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. EBRD — Country strategy for Georgia
2. Workshop on SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) in Tbilisi and
Pilot Project as the Capacity Building Tool for SEA Protocol
Implementation in Georgia
3. Public Movement “Stability” Intends to Unite All Public Organizations
of Armenia to Strengthen Activity of Public Sector
4. Armenian Metallurgical Plants Report Major Output Growth
5. Russian energy group plans expansion drive
6. Invitation to Workshop on Clean Development Mechanism and Project
Financing in Tbilisi, Georgia

1. EBRD — COUNTRY STRATEGY FOR GEORGIA

Please be informed that the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) country strategy for Georgia is now available at:

2. WORKSHOP ON SEA (STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT) IN TBILISI AND
PILOT PROJECT AS THE CAPACITY BUILDING TOOL FOR SEA PROTOCOL
IMPLEMENTATION IN GEORGIA

First workshop on Strategic Environmental Assessment took place in
Tbilisi on September 29-30, 2004. Representatives of UNDP and REC for
Central and Eastern Europe presented their vision on SEA, UN/ECE SEA
protocol, its implementation in South Caucasus countries. Leading
specialists of the MoE made a national overview on problems, gaps, needs
and challenges related to the environmental assessment in Georgia.
Representative Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) presented
results of the regional project on effectiveness of EIA system in South
Caucasus countries implemented by the organization and also informed
attendants about new projects of CENN in environmental assessment field,
namely two new projects:

In October 2004, CENN starts a new project: `Strengthening of
Environmental Assessment (EIA/SEA) System in the South Caucasus
Countries’.

The objectives of the project are:
(i) Improvement of EA legislation in Georgia – Elaboration of Law on EA
(incorporating provisions both on EIA and SEA) for Georgia;
(ii) Increase of public environmental awareness through nation and
region wide campaign in the South Caucasus region to stimulate active
public participation in environmental decision-making.
– Establishment of Public EA library in Georgia;
– Organization of public oversight of EA activities in the South
Caucasus countries;
In November 2004, CENN plans to start a new Project on: Improvement of
EA Practice in Georgia through Development of EA Implementation Tools.
The Project aims at improvement of EA practice in Georgia through
development of EIA implementation tools – sector guidelines that will
significantly promote effective application of the EIA related legal
requirements.

Ecoline EIA Centre, Moscow presented suggested principles for quality
control of SEA within environmental review.

Pilot SEA project was chosen as the capacity building tool for SEA
protocol implementation in Georgia (Port Development Concept).

The Seminar was organized by the UNDP Georgia country office and the
Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe.

Prepared by: CENN
Katya Nakashidze

3. PUBLIC MOVEMENT “STABILITY” INTENDS TO UNITE ALL PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS
OF ARMENIA TO STRENGTHEN ACTIVITY OF PUBLIC SECTOR

Source: ARMINFO, September 28, 2004

The Public Movement “Stability” intends to unite all the public
organizations of Armenia to contribute to the vulnerable groups of the
population, Head of the Initiative Group of “Stability” Tigran
Urikhanyan made this statement today at the Constituent Congress.

He said that to implement joint programs, the possibilities and the
whole potential of the public sector of Armenia would be united.
Besides, the movement’s activity will be aimed at developing and
strengthening the public organizations interested in protection of human
rights. The supporters of the movement intend to contribute to the
fruitful activity of the state bodies of Armenia cooperating with them.
At present, 174 public organizations of Armenia have joined the
movement, such as the Fund of Armenians Aryans, the public organization
of invalid freedom fighters “Heritage,” the Union of Progressive Women
and others. Urikhanyan, who also heads the Progressive Party of Armenia,
said that any parallels between the activity of the movement and the
party are ruled out.

The Initiative Group of the Movement consisting of 174 NGOs was
established on June 9, 2004. That day a Declaration on Establishment of
the Stability Public Movement was signed,

4. ARMENIAN METALLURGICAL PLANTS REPORT MAJOR OUTPUT GROWTH

Source: ArmenPress, September 28, 2004

Output of 26 ore mining enterprises in the first eight months of this
year, monitored by a trade and development ministry department,
amounted, in terms of money, to 90 billion Armenians Drams, virtually as
much as in the first eight months of last year. The department head,
Arthur Ashughian, said last year’s figure included also the 11 billion
AMD output of Armenal foil manufacturing plant. Armenal is not operative
now because of undergoing a sweeping process of equipment upgrading.

This year’s increase was due to efficient operation of an ore mining
plant in Agarak, in southern Armenia, whose production capacity has gone
up by 25 percent after it was privatized by a foreign company. The plant
has doubled its production growth rate against last year. Another ore
mining plant in Kapan, also in southern Armenia, has also doubled its
output after implementation of a development plan of Shahumian mines.

The leading Armenian metallurgical company, the Armenian Copper Program,
has designed developments plans for both Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh,
reporting also a 20 percent output increase. According to
Ashughian, if Armenian metallurgical plants maintain this dynamic, their
overall output may amount to $280 million by the end of the year against
$170 million in 2003.

He said a total of $8 million were invested in Agarak and Kapan plants,
more than committed by their new owners.

The gold extracting plant in Ararat has produced this year 10.5 billion
worth gold, 30 percent less than last year. According to Arthur
Ashughian, the decrease had been planned after the Zod mines began
exploring new mines. He said the current capacities of the mine ould be
exploited for another 6-7 years, as it has been exploited for decades.
He said there are other gold mines in Armenia, but added that they do
not contain much gold.

5. RUSSIAN ENERGY GROUP PLANS EXPANSION DRIVE

Source: FT, September 29, 2004

Unified Energy System, the Russian electricity monopoly, is considering
politically sensitive moves to supply power to Iran, Turkey and China as
part of an international expansion drive.

The group is planning investments in power generation and/or
distribution in the countries of the former Soviet Union on Russia’s
southern borders, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which
would complement existing UES investments in Georgia and Armenia. Once
these are in place, UES will be in a position to build connecting links
to Iran, Turkey and China and use an existing link between Armenia and
Iran.

Anatoly Chubais, UES chairman, said the moves would make sense
commercially in spite of the political challenges involved in dealing
with several different countries lying in a politically sensitive
region. “There’s a business logic. There’s a good price for electricity
in Iran, China and Turkey,” he said.

The planned investments by the state-controlled UES might be seen in
some of the former Soviet republics as a new form of Russian
imperialism.

But Mr. Chubais, a leader of Russia’s liberal Union of Right Forces
party, said UES’s plans were in tune with his programme of “liberal
imperialism” in which businesses, not governments, took the initiative,
acting out of commercial, not political, motives. Mr Chubais said the
proposed Kazakh investment was a stake in a large power station but he
declined to give details of the plans in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as
talks were at a sensitive stage.

The group’s existing investments in the region include about 20 per cent
of Georgia’s generating capacity and 35 per cent of its distribution
network. In Armenia, it controls 85 per cent of generation through its
management contract for the Metsamor nuclear plant. Mr. Chubais said
these investments could open doors to larger markets.

Earlier Mr Chubais told an investment conference that the company was
preparing for reform of the domestic electricity market, in spite of the
fact the government postponed key decisions this year.

Under the plan, UES would be broken into distribution, transmission and
generating companies which would mostly be privatised. But Mikhail
Fradkov, the prime minister, delayed implementation, saying he needed
more time to study the mechanism of deregulation and its impact on
households.

The government is now due to reconsider the reforms on December 2.

Mr Chubais said yesterday that UES had proposed new plans under which
prices would be liberalised only slowly – over 3 to 5 years – to protect
vulnerable consumers.

6. INVITATION TO WORKSHOP ON CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM AND PROJECT
FINANCING IN TBILISI, GEORGIA

Dear Sir/Madame,

Two-day workshop on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and project
financing will be held on 18-19 October at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel,
Tbilisi Georgia.

We would like to formally extend an invitation for your attendance at
the workshop which is aimed at project developers, governments
(Designated National Authorities), banks, and consultancy organizations
in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The workshop is organized by Ecofys under assignment from the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and is sponsored by the
Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and The Environment, through
the Netherlands Environment Trust Fund at the EBRD. It is being held in
partnership with the PPC, back-to-back with the Second Joint Meeting of
the EAP Task Force/PPC and the Conference of Environment Ministers from
the countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) and
their Partners, taking place in Tbilisi on 21-23 October.

If you are interested in attending the workshop, please send your full
detail (Name, Organisation, Address,
City, Country, Zip/Postcode, Telephone/Fax numbers and E-mail address)
to: Yvonne Hofman (Ecofys) at [email protected].

If you have any questions concerning the workshop, please contact Yvonne
Hofman directly.

For the more detailed information please see the following link:
announcement.doc

Drs. Yvonne Hofman
Energy & Climate Strategies
Ecofys bv

Kanaalweg 16-G; P.O. Box 8408; NL-3503 RK Utrecht; The Netherlands
T: +31 (0)30 280 83 39; F: +31 (0)30 280 83 01
E-mail: [email protected]
Info:

—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)

Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian authorities unable to defend Karabakh – pressure group leader

Arminfo
29 Oct 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian authorities cannot defend properly the liberated Armenian
lands in the international arena, the head of the Defence of the
Liberated Territories political initiative, Zhirayr Sefilyan, said at
the National Press Club today.

He said that by fighting for their land, the Armenians proved that the
liberated territories belong to the Armenians, not to the Azerbaijanis.
Nevertheless, the behaviour of representatives of the Armenian
leadership in the international arena is incompatible with the courage
and aspirations of the freedom fighters.

Zhirayr Sefilyan noted that at present, the USA and West are showing
great interest in the liberated territories. As for Turkey, it is more
interested in the valley of the Araz River. Zhirayr Sefilyan explained
why this territory: “This territory is located on the very border and
he who deploys his troops here will have an opportunity to control the
entire region.”

On this basis, West and America are keen to settle here. At the same
time, speaking about Putin’s proposal, Sefilyan noted that “he does
not take it seriously, considering it to be another slap in the face
of our authorities”.

To recap, the mass media reported that Putin’s suggestion was “to
withdraw the Armenian troops from the occupied territories outside the
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] in exchange for holding a referendum
on the status of Karabakh both in Karabakh and in Azerbaijan”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri pundits say Armenia trying to provoke resumption of hostilities

Zerkalo, Baku
1 Oct 04

Armenia is trying to speak to us in the language of threats. This
conclusion can be inferred from Armenian Defence Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan’s statement made in an interview with Armenian Public
Television. He said that the fallout from hostilities in Nagornyy
Karabakh would be extremely unpleasant for both Armenia and
Azerbaijan. He added that “whatever the outcome of a possible war,
even the most beneficial for Armenia, we have no desire to be dragged
into hostilities”.

He said Armenia would have to fight only if the Azerbaijani side
launched an attack. Sarkisyan noted that Armenia was capable of giving
“a response that would discourage Azerbaijan from fighting for many
years”. Let’s recall that Armenian officials have repeatedly made such
statements.

We have asked some Azerbaijani analysts what they think about the
Armenian defence minister’s remarks. The former foreign minister,
Tofiq Zulfuqarov, said that the statement is unlikely to stem from the
Armenian minister’s desire to maintain peace in the region. He said
the statement reveals Armenia’s intention to blame Azerbaijan for a
possible resumption of hostilities.

Zulfuqarov said Sarkisyan’s statement comes at a time when, as he
thinks, another round of talks has not produced results due to
Armenia’s non-constructive position. “To demonstrate Armenia’s
firmness in the issue, the Armenian minister is trying to show that
Armenia can defend its position even by force,” the former minister
said.

He added that the resumption of hostilities is mainly impeded by the
position of the international community. At the same time, he said “if
no breakthrough is reached in the negotiations, the start of
hostilities is practically inevitable”. The former minister did not
rule out the possibility of Armenia attempting to resume hostilities,
thus capitalizing on the factor of the US presidential elections when
the country’s attention will focus on domestic problems.

Zulfuqarov believes that in a move to solve domestic problems, the
Armenian administration may provoke Azerbaijan to start a war. He
added that such statements must send a message to the Azerbaijani
authorities that the resumption of hostilities by Armenia is a real
threat and “at this juncture, our country must take specific and
large-scale action to strengthen its defence capability”.

[Passage omitted: comments by another political analyst]

Military expert Uzeyir Cafarov said that Sarkisyan’s statement
proceeds from his confidence in Russia. He said that the agreement on
strategic partnership between these countries enables Moscow to
provide assistance to Yerevan. Cafarov believes that the wait-and-see
position of the Azerbaijani authorities is very convenient for
Armenia. The military expert thinks that while Armenia continuously
builds up its military potential, Azerbaijan acts like a “guilty
schoolboy”. He added that Azerbaijan must not allow Armenia, its
defence minister in particular, to make such statements.

Considering Sarkisyan’s statement that starting from 5 January 2005
Armenia will be able to sign agreements directly with Russian
[military] enterprises on arms and ammunition supplies on the same
terms as the Russian army, our country has to think carefully about a
reciprocal action.

TO GET RID OF THE DEADLY LOAD

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
01 Oct 04

In May 1994 the conflict sides agreed to maintain a cease-fire in
Artsakh. However, this could not be considered the end of the war
because we again faced it in the form of deadly mines. It was
necessary to start clearing from mines huge territories which used to
be farming land, roads, forests and simply our surroundings. According
to Red Cross, in the invaded and returned areas along the border both
sides of the conflict have installed 50 thousand units of medium and
large size mines and other explosives. Still in mid-2000 the
coordinator of the Caucasian bureau of the British organization `The
HALO Trust’ Richard Boater mentioned the fact that Karabakh is not
recognized hinders acquirement of financial means for implementing
programs in Nagorni Karabakh. Nevertheless, he mentioned that if
necessary financial means are acquired, the organization is ready to
elongate the agreement with the NKR government till the complete
clearance of the territory of the republic from mines. In fact, the
humanitarian mission of this British charity is worth high
appreciation. Nevertheless, the official and non-official propaganda
machine of Azerbaijan keeps accusing it of espionage. The directors of
the Caucasian bureau and the program in Nagorni Karabakh have denied
such accusations stating that `The HALO Trust’ exclusively deals with
survey of mine fields, teaches people the difficult but necessary job
of mine clearance, therefore any accusations that the organization
cooperates with certain reconnaissance services are groundless. Anyway,
the problem of mine disposal is attracting more and more public
interest. Several years ago journalists from Russia, Georgia,
Azerbaijan, Abkhazia and Nagorni Karabakh gathered in the resort town
Tsaghkadzor in Armenia during a two-day seminar organized by the RF
committee `Doctors of the World AgainstNuclear War’ and the national
committee of Armenia of the international movement against
antipersonnel mines. The coordinator of the recently established
committee of the international movement against antipersonnel mines
doctor Ashot Adamian presented to the participants of the seminar the
general situation of mine clearance in Artsakh, showed the reels made
by Red Cross and the republic television warning the population
against the danger of mines and teaching how they may avoid
it. Besides, together with the Stepanakert office of the Red Cross
illustrated booklets and posters were printed, puppet shows were
performed,signs warning against the danger of minefields were put on
the sides of the important roads of NKR in the Armenian and Russian
languages, etc. However, in 2004 the number of casualties of mine
explosions grew steeply. In the past nine months of the current year
13 cases of explosion of mines were reported, 18 peaceful citizens
suffered, 9 died (among them 3 children). Whereas, in 2003 there were
only 7 cases of mine explosion, the number of casualties was 10, 3
people died. According to experts, the reason is that people ignore
the danger. Besides, among them there is the wrong opinion that the
greater part of the territories has been cleared of mines, which is
far from the real situation. Since 2000 `The HALO Trust’ has surveyed
about 500 minefields, 90 werecleared, as many were cleared by other
organizations. But the danger persists and people should not ignore
it. The present director of the program in NKR Edward Rowis optimistic
in reference to the continuousness and successful completion of the
program. He told this during his meeting with the president of NKR
Arkady Ghukassian who visited the head office of the organization. The
president appreciated the activity of the organization and at the same
time called them to cooperate with the local organizations more
actively in order to get rid ofthe deadly load as soon as possible.

NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN.
01-10-2004

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress