Author: Antonian Lara

AMBASSADOR OF GERMANY IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
June 20 2006
On June 20, Tigran Torosyan, RA NA Speaker received Heike Renate
Peitsch, the German Ambassador to Armenia.
Congratulating Mr. Torosyan on the occasion of being elected as NA
Speaker, Mrs. Peitsch emphasized the great responsibility that is
multiplied especially before the elections and attached importance to
the development of friendly relations to which can greatly contribute
the parliaments.
Touching upon the work of the parliament the NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan
attached importance to the reflection of constitutional amendments in
the Armenian legislation, which means additional editing of over 60
laws. Valuing the improvement of the Armenian political atmosphere
before the forthcoming general elections the NA Speaker noted
that only the amendments of the Electoral Code are not sufficient
for holding democratic elections. He considered unacceptable the
hostility of political forces towards each other highlighting their
competition. According to the NA Speaker, the improvement of the
political atmosphere and the holding of elections in conformity with
democratic criteria will contribute also to further developments of
European integration.
During the meeting interparliamentary issues were also discussed.
Noting the willingness for bilateral cooperation, Mr. Torosyan
highlighted the presence of clear programs, which will make the
interrelations efficient. Regarding the creation of a full multiparty
system in Armenia importance was attached to the study of the German
experience.
They also touched upon the activity of German funds in Armenia.
Importance was attached to the study and exchange of the experience
of German parties for all the Armenian parties, at the same time
abstaining form one-sidedness.
During the meeting other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN RECEIVED THE OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA
ArmRadio.am
19.06.2006 16:43
RA President Robert Kocharyan received today the OSCE Representative
on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti.
The President assessed the cooperation with the OSCE in different
directions as effective. Attaching importance to the freedom of media,
he said that free press has its decisive mission in carrying out public
control and presenting the real situation in the country. At the same
time, according to Robert Kocharyan, the freedom of press should be
regulated so that the rights of the individual are strictly respected.
The interlocutors exchanged opinions about formation of the free
press, the press as a major obstacle for development of business and
the necessity of state media. In the President’s words, Armenia is
still in a transition period, and in many cases the peculiarities of
this period are characteristic of the country.

BTC IS GUARANTEE OF PEACE BUT NOT OBLIGATION ON AZERBAIJAN TO RESOLVE
KARABAKH CONFLICT BY PEACE
Yerevan, June 17. ArmInfo. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is
a guarantee of peace but it is not an obligation on Azerbaijan to
resolve the Karabakh conflict only by peace, Azeri Ambassador to
Turkey Zahir Hashimov says in a interview to Trend.
On the contrary, it obliges and forces Armenia to resolve the
Karabakh conflict by peace. BTC is a lever of economic pressure on
Armenia. “Now the Armenians who do not want peace and welfare in the
region and refuse to give back occupied territories will realize what
mistake they have made when they see the profits we will get from
this project. They will understand that by refusing to take part in
such projects they only lose,” says Hashimov.
Asked about the prospects of Amenian-Turkish relations, Hashimov says
that he does not think that Turkey will change its position.

MATTHEW BRYZA TO REPLACE STEVEN MANN AS OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR
ArmRadio.am
15.06.2006 16:35
Adviser to US Secretary of State on Europe and Eurasia Matthew
Bryza has been appointed US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan declared yesterday. “The American
side informed us that Matthew Bryza will replace Steven Mann and he
will get fully engaged in the process of settlement of the Karabakh
conflict after confirmation in Vienna,” Oskanyan said.
Matthew Bryza is expected to visit the region to lean about the major
approaches of the sides in place.

NA UNANIMOUSLY RATIFIED BUDGET PERFORMANCE
Panorama.am
18:12 15/06/06
Today the National Assembly extraordinary session once again violated
its administrative regulations. The session continued discussions
on 2005 budget performance. However, Justice block secretary Viktor
Dallakyan reminded Vahan Hovhannisyan, who was chairing the session,
that according to regulations NA had to ratify the budget performance
still yesterday.
Anyway, Vartan Khachatryan, finance and economy minister continued
discussions on budget performance.
It received 77 votes.

THE ISSUE OF STATUS OF JAVAKHK THE MOST PAINFUL TODAY
ArmRadio.am
14.06.2006 16:16
The newly elected President of “Javakhk” Patriotic Union Shirak
Torosyan presented in detail the problems Javakhk faces and suggested
possible ways of resolution of these. According to him, the most
painful today is, most probably, the issue of the status of Javakhk,
regarding which the opinions are diverse. The President of the Union
is confident that there is no need to undertake extreme measures. It
is solely necessary to raise the level of self-governance in Javakhk,
providing corresponding liabilities to local authorities of Javakhk,
which will make it possible to resolve a number of issues locally.
“The problem of the status of Javakhk gradually deepens, since the
decisive steps are undertaken by interested sides,” Shirak Torosyan
said.
According to him, Javakhk should become a factor normalizing
Armenian-Georgian relations, not a worsening one. Aside from the
issue of teaching Armenian in the schools of Javakhk and preservation
of historical monuments, the emphasis is put today on the social
conditions of Javakhk Armenians.
The issue of Kars-Akhalkalak railway in the framework of
Georgian-Turkish relations has found itself among the numerous problems
Javakhk faces. Shirak Torosyan said this railway can resolve a number
of social problems in Javakhk.
Nevertheless, since it directly counters Armenia’s interests, Javakhk
Armenians defend the position of Armenia in this issue.

THE SPHERE OF EDUCATION MUST BE TRANSPARENT
Lragir.am
13 June 06
After his appointment to the post of minister of education and science,
ARF member Levon Mkrtichyan did not wait until the traditional 100th
day and met journalists June 13 hardly a month past his appointment. It
was not the only novelty. The Ministry of Education and Culture is
going to be highly open and transparent for public, says the minister.
Therefore, it was decided that once in ten days the head of an agency
on education will meet journalists with a monthly report. Plus news
conferences on specific topics. According to Levon Mkrtichyan, the
most important thing is to present the activities of the ministry to
the society. “An official needs to know that every citizen can turn
to him and receive an answer. The more publicly we act, and the more
we discuss the problems, the more invincible we will be.”
Levon Mkrtichyan says he also is to blame for the drawbacks and
problems in the sphere because he was appointed minister of education
and culture twice. However, Levon Mkrtichyan declined to speak about
the degree of accountability of Sergo Yerkitsyan for today’s mistakes:
“It is not an ethical question.” But he promises to find the right
solutions by analyzing his mistakes and the mistakes of the former
ministers.

GEORGIA HAS TO PROVIDE FIRM GUARANTEES TO ATTRACT AZERI CAPITAL
Daily Georgian Times, Georgia
June 12 2006
Traditionally Georgia and Azerbaijan maintain good neighborly
relations. When Russia cut gas and electricity supply to Georgia
last winter Baku extended a hand of friendship to Georgia sharing
some of its supply with Tbilisi. Georgia and Azerbaijan have similar
problems with territorial integrity. However, Azerbaijan has improved
its relations with Russia and due to its oil resources has started
to push its economic growth.
GT interviews Azeri ambassador to Georgia Namig Aliyev. This is
the first interview the Azeri ambassador has given to the Georgian
print media.
Namig Aliyev: At the GUAM summit a short while ago, Georgian President
Mikhail Saakashvili came up with a proposal to create a free economic
zone. I think this initiative should be welcomed, and we hope Georgia
will build its relations with its neighbouring country this way. I
believe Azerbaijan and Georgia are destined to live in peace and
friendship. It cannot be otherwise. It’s quite natural that our
relations have been improving.
Q: Many are unhappy to see good neighborly relations between Azerbaijan
and Georgia. In a live broadcast on Russian TV Channel RTV, a Russian
political expert noted with regret that Azerbaijan shared its supply
with Georgia when Russia cut the gas and electricity to Georgia,
adding that Russia was involuntarily strengthening the friendship
between Georgia and Azerbaijan by resorting to such actions…
A: Azerbaijan wants to maintain friendly, peaceful relations with all
of its neighbors. We do want to have friends, kind and peace-loving
neighbors in the north and south, east and west, with whom we can work
and interact. We want our borders to be open. This will contribute
to a firm and long-lasting peace in the region.
Q: You are struggling to achieve friendly relations with Armenia, much
like Georgia is with Russia. Is this because we have similar problems:
Azerbaijan – that of Karabakh, and Georgia – those of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia? How are you going to settle the Karabakh conflict,
and does Azerbaijan have any advice for Georgia?
A: Let’s start from the end. There are no ready recipes to solve
the problems. The biggest problem plaguing the Caucasus today is
the unresolved conflicts in the region. 20 percent of Azerbaijani’s
territory is broken away from Azerbaijan. Negotiations are underway
and conducted under the aegis of the Minsk group. We do want our
neighbour [Armenia] to make proper conclusions and recognise the
norms of international law, as other states have done. Our hope is
that the international community will make political assessments of
our neighbour’s actions, especially as OSCE has already recognized
that Armenia is occupying Azeri territory.
Q: Do you think this issue will reach the Hague Tribunal? As far as
I know, Azerbaijan is working on the issue, and our compatriot Paata
Davitashvili is also involved in this activity.
A: Launching a case in Hague would need extensive work. I think,
if necessary, Azerbaijan will take the proper measures, but it does
need preparations.
Q: In your opinion, how effective would it be to conduct an
inter-Caucasian dialogue with the participation of the leaders of
all three South Caucasian states, plus neighbouring Turkey and Russia?
A: We have seen several such meetings conducted under various
formats. Parliamentary speakers of these countries have already met
but it’s hard to say how effective these meetings have been. I hope
a meeting between the executives of the countries will yield more
concrete results. I can say more about the importance of bilateral
relations. Azerbaijan has a very distinct, clear position about the
breakaway territory, and is demanding the withdrawal of forces. It’s
absurd, almost impossible, when someone tries to impose on you the
importance of economic relations or re-opening of rail communications
when the territory is still in foreign hands. We can only talk of
ending this occupation, eliminating the results of the aggression,
and demanding compliance [from Armenia] with the norms of international
law.
Q: What is Azerbaijan’s position on re-opening of the rail link between
Georgia and Russia via Abkhazia? Armenia and Russia have deep interests
in this project.
A: It’s up to Georgia to determine the need for re-opening this
rail link. We cannot comment on it. I can only say that Georgia and
Azerbaijan are friendly countries and we have much in common.
Q: Among common points we can also name the BTC pipeline. What role
do you think it plays in Georgian-Azeri relations?
A: Had the pipeline been unprofitable for Azerbaijan, we would not have
launched it. It is profitable for Georgia, as well. Azerbaijan made
this step based on our historically friendly relations with Georgia.
Q: Let’s touch on the issue of the Georgian settlements in
Azerbaijan. As far as we know, Georgian schools functioning in
Azerbaijan have had some problems using Georgian textbooks. Is
Azerbaijan planning to make any steps to help Georgian schools?
A: Some 17,000 Ingilos live in the Kakh and Zakatalo regions in
Azerbaijan. I can say that they have all necessary conditions to
develop and preserve their mother tongue, to learn Georgian culture
and develop it. They have their own cultural centre and a theatre.
The Azeri government pays heed to the demands of the Georgian
population and assists them in solution of the problems. During her
visit to Azerbaijan, (Georgia’s First Lady) Sandra Roelofs asked our
government to provide ambulances for these regions and we certainly
honored her request. You know that Georgia is also home to a half
million Azeri minority. However, Azerbaijanis have quite a different
problem here – they are not taught the Georgian language at high
level. Poor language skills are one of the major impediments for the
integration of the Azeri minority in Georgia. Georgia should create
conditions to improve the teaching of its state language.
This is why we do want Azeri people to learn the Georgian language,
the history of the Georgian people, and to receive education in the
Georgian language to ensure that they are equal citizens of Georgia
and enjoy equal privileges and rights. However, due to poor knowledge
of the Georgian language, they cannot participate in the active life
of Georgia.
Q: From the very first years of its independence, Armenia has
identified Russia as its strategic ally. Azerbaijan has managed to
establish rather balanced relations with Russia; at least it does not
have any acute problems in its relations with Russia, while Georgia
does. Ironically, Azerbaijan has not sold any assets of strategic
importance to Russia, while Georgia has sold many. How have you
managed to improve your relations with Russia?
A: You know, every policy should be built on realism and experience
of international law. Azerbaijan made it clear that it was to build
its policy on good neighbourly relations and friendship. We only
want one thing – to make friends with all of our neighbours. That
would guarantee peace in the region. This is why, when we talk about
relations with Russia, Georgia, Iran, and even with Armenia, we try
to base our relations on peaceful co-existence, international law
and friendship. If you follow this policy without major deviations,
without compromising your principles, the policy will bear fruit in
the long run.
Q: Are you striving for integration into NATO?
A: No, we are striving to keep relations with the international
community and international organizations normal and active. At this
stage, we are satisfied with this level of relations with NATO as it
helps us further develop. However, it is not absolutely necessary
to join NATO to achieve that. We don’t set such goals at all, but
cooperation is beneficial for both parties.
Q: The US is building pressure on Iran concerning nuclear armament
allegations. If the US decides to attack Iran where will Azerbaijan
stand?
A: Iran is our neighbour and we have good neighbourly relations. We are
ready to cooperate with every party that supports peaceful settlement
of the issue.
Q: Azerbaijan is a member of GUAM. At the recent GUAM summit in Kiev,
Saakashvili’s rhetoric over Russia was explicitly negative, while
Azerbaijan refrained from being critical. Will those differences in
foreign policy priorities deepen the rift within this organization
and help divide it into two camps?
A: Let’s make it clear that GUAM is not an organization that
is targeting any country. GUAM is an organization which aims to
solve issues concerning the four member countries, to facilitate
to economic, political and cultural actions among them. It aims to
create the necessary conditions for common development. I don’t think
its confrontation with any country or organization would be reasonable.
Q: At the GUAM summit the leaders of the member countries talked
about further enlargement of the organization to incorporate Romania,
Bulgaria and some other countries.
A: I don’t think that is a bad idea.
Q: You don’t, but Russia might not like it.
A: I don’t have any such information, nor have I heard of any open
rhetoric [against GUAM enlargement]. Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said
that Azerbaijan viewed GUAM as an organization with a more economic
basis than a political one.
Q: Let’s get back to relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan. The
two countries have not yet agreed on the restoration of the portion
of the Davit Gareji monastery complex which is in Azeri territory.
Georgia wants to restore the complex and has launched some work,
but Azerbaijan has suspended it. Can you explain this?
A: Azerbaijan is planning to do the restoration work on its own and it
is expecting an appeal from the Georgian Patriarchate. What happened
before is that several Georgian men just crossed the border and began
erecting some frames around the monastery. This was an illegal move
and we had to take all proper measures to end to the action. However,
Azerbaijan is still ready to restore the monastery.
Q: Azerbaijan has spoken of conducting certain economic projects in
Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia [densely settled by Azeri population].
What is Baku thinking about the projects now?
A: I don’t think Azerbaijan will refuse the implementation of any
projects. However, Georgia has to create a favourable investment
climate to encourage Azeri investors.
Q: Who or what is hindering the inflow of investments?
A: Do you know? If I knew who was impeding the final solution of the
issue I would name them.
Q: Azerbaijan has seen a tremendous growth in its economy.
Nonetheless, Azeri companies do not participate in tenders in
Georgia. How can you explain this?
A: Georgia has to provide firm guarantees to attract Azeri capital.
This is very important for investors.

Cyprus vetoes Turkey’s talks to gain EU entry
· Foreign ministers fail to agree common approach
· Muslim country’s reforms and economy in difficulty
David Gow Brussels
Saturday June 10, 2006
The Guardian
Talks between Turkey and the EU over the largely Muslim country’s
entry to the world’s biggest trading bloc headed for collapse at the
first hurdle last night after Cyprus torpedoed a deal to kick-start
the stalled negotiations. After signing up for a late-night
compromise on Thursday, designed to allow formal accession talks with
Turkey’s foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, to go ahead on Monday, the
republic of Cyprus unpicked the agreement on the least contentious
issue of science and research – the first of 35 negotiating
“chapters”.
“It would be utterly humiliating for Mr Gul to head for Luxembourg and
be told by the 25 EU foreign ministers that they had failed to get
their act together and have the door slammed in his face,” a senior
European diplomat said as crisis talks among EU ambassadors got under
way before ending in deadlock. Mr Gul, who is due to be warned that
Turkey’s reform programme is unacceptably frozen, with renewed threats
to his country’s stability, support for human rights and religious
freedom and judicial independence, has already suggested he could stay
away or the talks be suspended. EU foreign ministers will try to
unlock the door on Monday.
Turkey began entry talks on October 3 last year with a view to
becoming the EU’s first Muslim member by the middle of the next
decade.
But the talks have been repeatedly held up by the refusal of the
Islamist AKP (justice and development) government of Recep Tayyip
Erdogan to recognise Cyprus – or at least honour an agreement to give
the Greek part of the island access to a customs union with the EU’s
10 new members, including to Turkish ports and airports.
Cyprus, in political manoeuvring that prompted some EU governments,
including the UK, to withdraw concessions they had made to enable the
Turkish talks to take place, demanded a more explicit reference to
Ankara’s adherence to the customs union deal. “They have new ministers
and are acting ultra-politically,” another diplomat said.
Ali Babacan, Turkey’s chief negotiator, warned this week that the
country should expect delays in its attempt to join the EU, and talks
on the second “chapter”, education and culture, could also be
postponed. He provoked outcry by excising a reference to Turkey’s
secular constitution in documents submitted to Brussels.
“The Turkish economy is resilient to all kinds of developments at home
and abroad but everyone should be ready for occasional slippages and
problems with the EU,” the country’s economy minister said.
But the Turkish economy, a “rising star” under Mr Erdogan since the
collapse of 2001, has been in free fall for several weeks.
This week the independent central bank raised interest rates 175
points to 15% to combat inflation, which leapt to almost 10% in May
because of surging oil prices and domestic demand. The bank’s target
this year was 5%. Similarly, the Turkish lira has lost more than 15%
of its value, and the Istanbul stock market, which had risen 500% in
four years, fell 11.5% this week alone.
But the Erdogan government has also come under sustained onslaught,
both at home and in the EU, for its alleged failure to act over a
suspected ultra-nationalist gang said to be behind the assassination
of a judge and the shooting of three others by a lawyer in the council
of state, the country’s highest administrative court. The court had
upheld the ban on women wearing the Islamic headscarf in public
offices, including schools and universities.
With daily fatal clashes between Kurdish rebels and the armed forces
in the deprived south-east of the country, the chief of staff has also
come under attack for urging his fellow citizens to demonstrate
against the governmentover the erosion of the secular state, prompting
EU fears over civilian control of the military.
Turkish business leaders have called on the prime minister to drop
religious issues and reboot the reform programme. Several have voiced
concerns that the lack of progress in the accession talks could spell
the end of Turkey’s European ambitions; these fears have been
heightened by repeated warnings from Olli Rehn, the EU’s enlargement
commissioner, that the talks are heading for a “train crash” over
Cyprus and stalled reforms. Other business leaders are now saying that
Turkey should position itself instead as a regional power in an area
stretching from central Europe via the Caucasus to the Gulf.

NEW STAGE IN PARTNERSHIP

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
09 June 2006
On June 7 Speaker Ashot Ghulian met with the delegation of the Audit
Chamber of the National Assembly of Armenia, headed by Chair Gagik
Voskanian. During the meeting the prospects of development and
upgrading of cooperation between the audit chambers of the parliaments
of NKR and Armenia were discussed. In this context, Speaker Ghulian
appreciated the development of partnership between the chambers, and
emphasized the likelihood to sign an agreement and place cooperation
on a legal basis. The agreement on partnership, he said, will enable
to enhance partnership and fulfill consistently the principles set
down in this document. According to the speaker, signing the agreement
will mark a new stage in partnership. The Chair of the Audit Chamber
of the National Assembly of Armenia said though significant efforts
have been made, there is still much more to do, which means that the
cooperation of the Audit Chambers of Armenia and NKR is going to be
active, especially that the agreement will provide for vast legal
opportunities. After the talk the ceremony of signing the partnership
agreement between the Audit Chambers of the National Assembly of NKR
and the National Assembly of Armenia took place. The agreement was
signed by the Chairs of the Audit Chambers Edward Barseghian and Gagik
Voskanian.
AA.
09-06-2006