Author: Alex Jidarian

Xinhua News Agency – Spanish
August 12, 2004 Thursday 5:01 PM EST
Azerbaiyán busca ayuda de EEUU para recuperar control en áreas
perdidas con Armenia
MOSCU
Azerbaiyán está buscando la ayuda de Estados Unidos para recuperar el
control de Nagorno-Karabakh y de siete distritos vecinos que perdió
en un sangriento conflicto con Armenia en los 1990’s.
Al hablar hoy en una conferencia de prensa durante la visita a
Azerbaiyán del secretario de Defensa de EEUU, Donald Rumsfeld, el
ministro de Defensa azerbaiyano, Safar Abiyev, dijo que su país pidió
a EEUU apoyar su objetivo de recuperar el control de Nagorno-
Karabakh, un enclave poblado por armenios que se separó luego de la
desintegración de la ex Unión Soviética.
Dijo que Baku quiere que EEUU “pida a Armenia que retire sus fuerzas
de ocupación de tierra azerbaiyana”, según la agencia de noticias
Interfax.
Rumsfeld dijo que EEUU apoyó la integridad territorial de Azerbaiyán
y que espera que el conflicto sea resuelto y que Azerbaiyán mantenga
su integridad territorial.
Agregó que Washington contribuyó a desarrollar relaciones con
Azerbaiyán –un país rico en petróleo– que debe comenzar a enviar
petróleo el proximo año a occidente mediante un oleoducto que
atraviesa Georgia y Turquía.
El presidente azerbaiyano, Ilham Aliyev, dijo a Rumsfeld que
Azerbaiyán está dispuesta a fortalecer las relaciones bilaterales con
EEUU en todas las áreas.
“Nuestra cooperación se está volviendo más fuerte y creo que
continuaremos fortaleciéndo las relaciones en el futuro”, dijo Aliyev
según Interfax.
“Le damos gran importancia a las relaciones con Estados Unidos”,
señaló.
Rumsfeld, que llegó a Baku luego de una visita de un día a
Afganistán, agradeció a Azerbaiyán su apoyo en la lucha contra el
terrorismo y su ayuda a los esfuerzos de estabilización en Irak y
Afganistán.
Alrededor de 150 tropas de Azerbaiyán están laborando en el sur de
Irak como parte de la fuerza internacional en ese país.
Rumsfeld dijo en la conferencia de prensa que los programas nucleares
iraquíes son una amenaza para la región y el mundo entero. También
dijo que había discutido su preocupación acerca del programa nuclear
de Irán con Aliyev, que recientemente recibió la visita del
presidente iraní, Mohammad Khatami.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Chicago Tribune , IL
Aug 1 2004
Insurer settles with Armenian families
Items compiled from Tribune news services
LOS ANGELES — A judge on Friday formally approved a $20million
settlement in a class action lawsuit between New York Life Insurance
Co. and the descendants of Armenians killed nearly 90 years ago in
the Turkish Ottoman Empire.
The landmark legal agreement approved by U.S. District Court Judge
Christina Snyder is thought to be the first ever in connection with
what Armenians say was genocide but what Turkey describes as civil
unrest.
Snyder granted preliminary approval for the unpaid death benefits
earlier this year.
Many of the policies languished because heirs could not be found, the
firm said. The company has located about one-third of the
policyholders’ descendants to pay benefits.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US mediator urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to make compromises
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
27 Jul 04
The US mediator for the Nagornyy Karabakh problem, Steven Mann, has
said that the OSCE Minsk Group sees the conflict settlement only in
compromises and called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to be ready for
them. He stated that the Minsk Group supports the dialogue between the
foreign ministers and presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. At the
same time, the co-chairman added that if the conflict drags on for a
long time, the situation in Azerbaijan as well as in Armenia will
become more difficult, which is why the parties should start a
dialogue so that this does not happen. The following is the text of
Regnum news agency’s report by Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii on 27
July headlined “Baku and Yerevan should be ready for
compromises”. Subheadings have been inserted editorially:
An interview with the American co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Steven Mann.
Emotions prevail here and there
Regnum correspondent Mr Mann, what was the purpose of the latest visit
to the region by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen?
Steven Mann That was a planned visit and its purpose was to bring
together the positions of the parties and to help find ways of
settling the Karabakh problem. This time we visited Yerevan as well as
Nagornyy Karabakh and Baku, where we informed the parties that the
Minsk Group will continue its activity and will support a dialogue
between the presidents and foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and
Armenia. The co-chairmen understand the situation of the two
countries’ governments and want to make their positions closer. But
unfortunately, emotions prevail here and there. The problem may not be
resolved when they are guided by emotions. As long as there are
conditions for continuing the talks, we, the diplomats, will do
everything possible to prevent a new tragedy.
Correspondent The position of the Minsk Group is taken negatively by
Azerbaijani society. Sometimes, you are even called “political
tourists”. Are you going to correct your activity?
Mann Harsh criticism is an ordinary thing for us politicians and it
does not disturb us. The point is that the talks are really difficult
and society expects a lot from us. But we are not Gods. The parties
themselves should come to a solution, our aim is to get any decision
from any of the conflicting parties. The success of the talks depends
on the parties’ readiness for compromises. The Armenian and
Azerbaijani leadership, not the mediators, are responsible for the
talks. Progress in the talks also depends on them. Along with it, a
peaceful settlement to the Karabakh conflict by means of negotiations
within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group meets the national
interests of the USA. I will make every effort to represent US
interests fully and I take my duty seriously. If the conflict drags on
for a long time, the situation in Azerbaijan as well as in Armenia
will become more difficult. The parties should start a dialogue so
that this does not happen.
The conflict can be settled only through compromises
Correspondent In Tbilisi you said that the USA supports the actions of
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in the South Ossetia
problem. Will you support Azerbaijan if it makes up its mind to
restore its territorial integrity?
Mann Every conflict has its peculiarities. The US position on the
Karabakh issue is unchangeable – the conflict should be settled
peacefully. Let us think soberly and make a compromise. The mutually
acceptable decision may be found only in compromises. One cannot have
success in any talks if he does not make compromises. The co-chairmen
see the settlement to the conflict only in compromises. Azerbaijan as
well as Armenia should be ready for compromises. A lasting peace can
be achieved in the region only in this way. The parties to the
conflict themselves have chosen the OSCE for its settlement and we are
trying to settle the conflict peacefully and will support the
decisions adopted by the parties.
Correspondent The Russian co-chairman, Yuriy Merzlyakov, said in Baku
that the UN Security Council resolutions on the Karabakh conflict were
adopted in another situation and today they may not be fulfilled. Do
you share such a viewpoint?
Mann You simply misunderstood his statement: at the press conference
in Baku, touching on the fulfilment of the four UN Security Council
resolutions, the Russian co-chair said that he does not think they are
obsolete. In our work we use all the options including resolutions.
Conflicting parties have the last say
Correspondent Do the co-chairmen regard Nagornyy Karabakh as a
participant in the negotiating process?
Mann Nagornyy Karabakh’s involvement does not depend on the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairmen, it only depends on the conflicting parties. One of
the conflicting parties is against Nagornyy Karabakh’s participation
in the negotiating process. But I think that all the interested
parties should be involved in the talks. I think this will help
accelerate the process of finding ways to settle the conflict. But at
the same time, the parties to the conflict have the last say. They
should decide who will be involved in the negotiating processes.
Correspondent Does the Karabakh conflict have an impact on the energy
interests of the USA in this region?
Mann US policy in this region has a long-term nature and we are in
favour of stability. Of course, the USA is not interested in events
that may threaten st ability. Here the USA supports big energy
projects. The Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline is one of such projects. It is
significant for the whole region.
Correspondent Some time ago there was information in the press that
you allegedly suggested recognizing the independence of Nagornyy
Karabakh in exchange for three of the occupied Azerbaijani districts.
Mann Yes, there was really such information in the Armenian press. I
would like to say once again that all this information is not true and
is invented. I expressed my indignation in connection with this – I
said nothing concerning three, five or seven districts. I would like
to ask journalists to clarify my position before publishing anything
on my behalf.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACCORDING TO AMERICAN EXPERT, NECESSITY OF SECURITY ZONES SHOULDN’T
APPEAR WHILE SETTLING KARABAKH CONFLICT
STEPANAKET, July 26 (Noyan Tapan). A meeting of heads of the local
public organizations with representatives of the German Marshall Fund
of the United States (GMF), which is engaged in the problems of
conflicts, was held in Stepanakert on July 23. During the meeting the
guests got acquainted with the the numerous aspects of the settlement
of the Karabakh problem. International experts were convinced of the
fact that the majority of the local population prefers to see the
country in an independent status rather than united with Armenia in
the future. Answering the inquiry of the experts how the Karabakh
public will react if the discussion of the issue of the return of the
territiories controlled by the Army of the NKR Defense starts,
representatives of the public organizations of Artsakh mentioned that
almost all the population of the republic adheres to the opinion that
the indicated territories shouldn’t become a subject of political
speculations, as they are security zones for Artsakh. According to
Bruce Jackson, an American expert, the necessity of security zones
shouldn’t appear while settling the Karabakh conflict. According to
the expert, the current uncertain situation in the negotiation process
may create new obstacles in the region, and one should undertake
decisive steps in the direction of the making of the final
decision. The same day, the international experts met with NKR
President Arkady Ghoukassian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian acid spill kills one, injures seven
YEREVAN, June 30 (Reuters) – An explosion at an Armenian power station
released 9.5 tonnes of toxic sulphuric acid on Wednesday, killing one
person and injuring seven, an Emergencies Ministry official said.
The explosion struck an acid storage tank at the power station at 1540
GMT. It was unclear how much damage the acid had done to the area or
the facility, partly owned by Russian power company Unified Energy
System (EESR.RTS).
The official said people who lived near the Hrazdan power station in
the tiny mountainous south Caucasus country were not being evacuated.
06/30/04 14:38 ET