Author: Antonian Lara

Armenia/Azerbaijan: Expectations Muted On Eve Of Karabakh Talks
By Liz Fuller
Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 19 2005
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are scheduled to meet
in Moscow on 23 August to resume their talks on approaches to
resolving the Karabakh conflict. Days later, the two countries’
presidents, Robert Kocharian and Ilham Aliyev, will meet in Kazan on
the sidelines of a CIS summit to address the same issue. But although
international mediators from the OSCE Minsk Group expressed cautious
optimism after visiting Baku, Stepanakert, and Yerevan in early July,
they and senior officials in Baku have warned in recent days that
there is little chance the two presidents will sign a major peace
accord in Kazan.
The Kazan talks will be the second between the two presidents in the
span of four months. The first took place in Warsaw in mid-May on the
sidelines of a Council of Europe summit and, according to an Armenian
Foreign Ministry statement released several days later, that meeting
constituted “yet another step forward in the resolution of the
Karabakh conflict,” RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported. The statement
added that the Warsaw meeting “makes it possible to continue the
discussions” between the two countries’ foreign ministers that began
one year earlier. On 17 May, the French, Russian, and U.S.
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group that is mediating the search for
a solution to the Karabakh conflict released a statement similarly
noting that the two presidents “confirmed their strong interest in
reaching a peaceful, negotiated solution of the conflict.”
Growing Expectations
In early July, Armenian officials told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service that
Armenia and Azerbaijan had reached agreement on the key points of a
formal peace accord ending the Karabakh conflict, and that agreement
could be signed by the end of this year. Days later, the Minsk Group
co-chairmen likewise expressed cautious optimism. U.S. co-Chairman
Steven Mann told journalists in Yerevan on 14 July that “there is a
possibility of a Karabakh settlement in the course of this year,”
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service reported. Mann repeated that prognosis the
following day but qualified it, saying, “There are very difficult
issues that are still on the table and real gaps between the two
sides.” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov, who is
President Aliyev’s special envoy for the Karabakh conflict, was even
more upbeat, telling journalists in Baku on 18 July that “we are
closer to peace than ever before,” according to the website day.az.
Citing the need for confidentiality, the Minsk Group co-chairmen have
consistently declined to divulge any details of specific issues under
discussion. But both Azerbaijani and Armenian officials have gone
public in recent months, identifying aspects of the hypothetical
peace agreement. In mid-May, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov claimed that Yerevan had agreed to, and the two sides
were already discussing the time frame for, the withdrawal of
Armenian forces from seven districts of Azerbaijan bordering on the
unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). The Armenian Foreign
Ministry rejected Mammadyarov’s claim the following day.The timing of
the Kazan summit — two months before the 6 November parliamentary
elections in Azerbaijan — in itself makes it unlikely that the two
presidents would sign a formal peace deal that would require a major
concession from Baku, because any such concession could alienate many
voters. But Russian Minsk Group co-Chairman Yurii Merzlyakov was
quoted on 17 August by day.az as suggesting that the two presidents
might issue a joint statement hinting that a formal peace deal is
imminent.
Three weeks later, on 7 June, Mammadyarov told journalists in Baku
that the two sides were discussing between seven and nine issues
related to a peace settlement, and that those issues have to be
addressed in a specific order, with each made secure before the
following is added, “like pearls knotted on a silk thread.”
Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan insists on the liberation of the seven
districts currently occupied by Armenian forces, and that the two
sides are discussing which countries or organizations could provide
peacekeeping forces to be deployed on those territories after their
liberation, according to day.az. He also said that “after the
frontiers are opened we must revive trade links and transport.”
Echo-az.com quoted Mammadyarov as saying that the two sides are
discussing both the “phased” and the “package” approaches to
resolving the conflict. But a senior Armenian Foreign Ministry
official told this writer on 8 June on condition of anonymity that
the final agreement will be a package one, although its various
provisions might be implemented one after the other, rather than
simultaneously.
Then in early July, a senior Armenian official told RFE/RL’s Armenian
Service that under the anticipated peace deal, Armenia would return
to Azerbaijani control five of the seven districts adjacent to
Karabakh currently controlled by Karabakh Armenian forces, excluding
the strategic Lachin corridor. A peacekeeping force comprising troops
from countries that are not members of the OSCE Minsk Group would be
deployed in the conflict zone. Then, after 10-15 years, the
population of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic would be
required to vote in a referendum on whether the region should become
independent, become a part of Armenia, or revert to Azerbaijan. That
blueprint is very similar to one proposed in December by former
Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio and NATO Parliamentary Assembly
President Pierre Lellouche. But both Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Azimov and NKR Foreign Minister Arman Melikian promptly
denied that the two sides were discussing a possible referendum.
Azimov made the point that the constitution of the Azerbaijan
Republic does not make provision for a referendum to be held only on
selected parts of Azerbaijan’s territory, or on issues related to the
country’s territorial integrity.
Pulling Back?
Since the beginning of August — when Mammadyarov visited Washington
— the upbeat statements by both the Minsk Group co-chairs and
officials from the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministries have
given way to more guarded pronouncements. Commenting on 6 August on
Mammadyarov’s visit, U.S. Minsk Group co-Chairman Mann said the
Karabakh conflict was one of the issues Mammadyarov discussed with
his U.S. counterpart Condoleezza Rice, day.az reported. Mann added
that despite “certain progress” in the peace talks, the degree of
consensus reached to date is not sufficient to sign a peace treaty.
In an interview published on 17 August in the online daily
zerkalo.az, Mann similarly said that “it is still early to speak of a
specific document. It would be a mistake to affirm that we shall sign
some document right now.” At the same time, he stressed repeatedly
that the two sides “have achieved a great deal over the past 18
months,” and he predicted that the upcoming Kazan meeting between
Kocharian and Aliyev “will give an additional impulse to the talks.”
Armenian fighter near the the strategic highway that connects the
unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with Armenia, known as the
Lachin corridor (file photo)
(AFP)
Also on 17 August, Mammadyarov echoed Mann almost word-for word,
telling day.az that “the negotiations have not yet reached the level
of signing a document.” Echoing his comments of 7 June, he said that
between seven and nine issues would be on the agenda at his 24 August
meeting with Oskanian, and “we shall try to reach agreement on
certain elements and inform the presidents, so that they can discuss
them in Kazan.”
The timing of the Kazan summit — two months before the 6 November
parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan — in itself makes it unlikely
that the two presidents would sign a formal peace deal that would
require a major concession from Baku, because any such concession
could alienate many voters. But Russian Minsk Group co-Chairman Yurii
Merzlyakov was quoted on 17 August by day.az as suggesting that the
two presidents might issue a joint statement hinting that a formal
peace deal is imminent. A 17 August EurasiaNet analysis similarly
quoted an unnamed Azerbaijani official as saying that the most that
can be hoped for from the Kazan meeting is “a statement by the
presidents in which they would order their foreign ministers to start
working on the text of a future agreement.” Such a joint statement
would serve to send the message to Azerbaijan’s electorate that peace
is finally within reach — provided its elects a parliament in which
Aliyev’s Yeni Azerbaycan Party has a comfortable majority.

WIDOW OF KAREN DEMIRCHYAN AGAINST PRIVATIZATION OF K.DEMIRCHYAN SPORTS AND CONCERT COMPLEX
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. Widow of Karen Demirchyan Rima Demirchyan
is against privatization of K.Demirchyan SCC.
Talking to ARMINFO, she stated that SCC is a facility symbolizing
revival of Armenia’s spirit as counterbalance to the Memorial for
the Victims of Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. Besides,
Rima Demirchyan stated that construction of the complex cost 40
mln Soviet rubles to the country, which is equal to $40 mln, so its
privatization for $6 mln is illegal. Meanwhile, the promised $9 mln
investment will be made at the expense of SCC’s incomes.
She also stated that the Armenian Government will made a decision
on privatization on August 18. In his turn, Prime Minister assured
Rima Demirchyan that the complex will not be renamed even after
privatization. However, she doubts in it.
It should be noted that a Russian construction concern BAMO expressed
intention to buy SCC.

Police Hunt Man Who Stabbed 6 in Rampage
By Carl Schreck, Staff Writer
The Moscow Times, Russia
Aug 16 2005
Police on Monday were hunting for a man who went on a rampage early
Sunday, roaming the streets in central Moscow and stabbing six men
with a kitchen knife, seriously injuring five of them.
The unidentified assailant attacked two Armenian citizens, identified
by Kommersant as Vilen Shiboyan and Artush Kazaryan, near 11
Krasnoprudnaya Ulitsa by the Krasnoselskaya metro station at around
1 a.m. Sunday, police spokesman Kirill Sharov said.
Shiboyan, 40, and Kazaryan, 32, were admitted to the Sklifasovsky First
Aid Hospital at around 1:45 a.m., Shiboyan with lacerations to the
abdomen and Kazaryan with a puncture wound to the chest, Sharov said.
One hour later, three more people were admitted to the Sklifosovsky
hospital with knife wounds after they were attacked in the same area,
Sharov said.
Tajik citizens Gulrus Rakhmanov and Adil Nazarov, both 23, arrived at
the hospital at 2:25 a.m., with puncture wounds to the lungs, he said.
They were attacked on Rusakovskaya Ulitsa, which adjoins Krasnoprudnaya
Ulitsa.
Also arriving at the hospital 2:45 a.m. was Ashot Petrosyan, a
22-year-old Russian citizen with a puncture wound to the chest,
Sharov said. Petrosyan was alone on Krasnoprudnaya Ulitsa when he
was attacked.
The final attack happened at about 5 a.m. on Rusakovskaya Ulitsa. The
victim, Vladimir Kabanov, who is homeless, was hospitalized 20 minutes
later with a puncture wound to the abdomen, Sharov said.
Police had not detained any suspects as of Monday, and the motive
for the attacks remained unclear, Sharov said.
Igor Besfamilny, head of criminal investigations at the Krasnoselsky
police precinct, said the man who attacked the two Armenians had
yelled at them and accused them of stealing his cell phone, Vremya
Novostei reported Monday.
Russian media speculated that the attacks might have been racially
motivated, given that most of the victims came from Armenia and
Tajikistan. Sharov said, however, that some of the victims had Slavic
appearances.
Police were looking for a man aged 30 to 40 with blond hair and 160
to 170 centimeters tall.
The Sklifosovsky hospital could not be reached for comment, but
Besfamilny said Shiboyan had been treated and released, while Kazaryan
was in critical condition. The rest of the victims were in satisfactory
condition, he said.

EXPERIENCE OF SWEDEN CAN BE USEFUL FOR ARMENIA IN NUMBER OF SPHERES,
STATE SECRETARY OF SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER’S STAFF MENTIONS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Manuk Topuzian, the Minister-Head
of the RA Government’s staff met with a delegation headed by Lars
Danielson Gunnar, the State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s staff
of the Kingdom of Sweden on August 12. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Government’s Information and Public Relations Department,
the delegation arrived in Armenia within the framework of a regional
visit. During the meeting, at Danielson Gunnar’s request, the Minister
touched upon reforms and present problems of the judicial system,
issues of the gender equality and increase of women’s role in the
state and full-fledged usage of their potential, the economic policy
of the Government and prevailing spheres. The Swedish officials were
especially interested in approaches and programs of the Government
in the sphere of energy, including those on the issue of safety of
the Armenian nuclear power station as during the last period, those
problems were rather urgent in Sweden as well and underwent a process
of serious discussions. The State Secretary of the Prime Minister’s
staff of the Kingdom of Sweden mentioned that his country is ready
to give a consulting assistance in that issue if there is a need. He
also presented the experience of Sweden in some spheres which can be
useful for Armenia.

ARMENIAN-SWEDISH POLITICAL RELATIONS DEVELOP DYNAMICALLY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, NOYAN TAPAN. At the August 12 meeting with the
Swedish Prime Minister Staff’s State Secreatry Lars Danielsson, Vice
Speaker of the RA National Assembly Vahan Hovhannisian noted that the
political relations with Sweden are developing dynamically.
V. Hovhannisian briefly described the political situation in
Armenia. The issues of the constitutional reforms and the opposition’s
boycott were the pivotal ones during the meeting. NA Vice Speaker
expressed an opinion that the most realistic figures of the opposition
will return to parliament in order to amend the Constitution of the
country since it is quite obvious that the amended Constitution will
increase their rights and opportunities. Although the draft
constitutional amendments have been revised and improved, becoming
acceptable for European experts, V. Hovhannisian attached much more
importance to their being accepted by the people. According to the RA
National Assembly PR Department, the sides underlined the necessity of
keeping the public informed about the Constitutional amendments. The
main activities in this direction will be carried out after the
special session of the NA to be held on August 29 when the draft will
be passed in the second reading. The Swedish official showed interest
in the issue of the Armenian-Azerbaijani interparliamentary
cooperation. V. Hovhannisian explained that parliaments of the two
countries cooperate indirectly – within the framework of various
interparliamentary organizations. He said the Azerbaijani side rejects
the proposals for cooperation made by Armenia. He expressed concern
that this position of Azerbaijan may endanger the implementation of
the Wider Europe. New Neighborhood Program. The NA Vice Chairman noted
with satisfaction the Armenian-Swedish cooperation in various
international organizations. He assessed the report on the issue of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement made by G. Lenmarker, a Swede by
nationality, as a great assistance for its realistic and balanced
nature.

“VIVACELL” TO COVER ARMENIA WITH MOBILE COMMUNICATION NETWORK BEFORE
WINTER
YEREVAN, August 10. /ARKA/. The VivaCell company intends to cover
Armenia’s territory with a mobile communication network before winter,
Director General of the company Ralph Yirikian told reporters in
Gavar, Gegharkunik region, Armenia. According to him, the company has
started work in Gegharkunik and will try to cover the entire region
with mobile communication before September. Yirikian reported that
after finishing work in Gegharkunik the company will start working in
Vanadzor, Gyumri, Spitak, Aparan, AS WELL AS IN Vaiots Dzor and in
Southern Syunik. He pointed out that VivaCell retrains from leasing
communication lines of the ArmenTel company, using it only for
long-distance communication. However, if VivaCell expands its
communication network as far as Syunik it will have to lease
ArmenTel’s communication line. Yirikian did not report any information
on the number of VivaCell clients, saying that it is a “good number”,
and the company seeks to increase it.
In his turn, Gegharkunik Governor Stepan Barseghyan pointed out the
paramount importance of the company’s coming to the region. According
to him, communication is one the most urgent problems in the
region. Barseghyan reported that before VivaCell came to the region
mobile communication was only available to the residents of Gavar,
Sevan and Martuni, whereas 15 communities did not even have telephone
communication. Barseghyan said that Gegharkunik is the largest region
of Armenia, and VivaCell will make it possible to keep touch with
communities, enterprises and population.
VivaCell currently covers Yerevan, the Armavir and Ararat regions, as
well as part of the Gegharkunik region. P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Travelin’ man
Not quite the Magic Bus Tour
The Boston Globe
August 7, 2005
BASEBALL NOTES
By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff
Fort Myers, Fla.; Augusta, Ga.; Peoria, Ill.; Palm Beach, Fla.; Clinton,
Iowa; Stockton, Calif.; Frisco, Texas; Oklahoma City; Chattanooga,
Tenn.; Louisville, Ky. These have been *Rick Asadoorian’s *ports of call
since the native of Whitinsville was drafted No. 1 by the Boston Red Sox
in 1999. Asadoorian turned 25 a couple of weeks ago, but he is on his
fourth big-league organization: Red Sox, Cardinals, Rangers, and now
Reds, who recently promoted him to Triple A (Louisville), a level he
reached briefly once before (15 games for the Rangers’ franchise last
year). Asadoorian actually toyed with the idea of trying to make it as a
pitcher but was whacked around for 10 hits and 7 earned runs in 4
innings in a start for Double A Chattanooga. He hit his first Triple A
home run last Monday and came into the weekend batting .273 (6 for 22)
in seven games. He hit .271 in 93 games with Chattanooga.
Gordon Edes can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]. Material from
personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and
team sources was used in this report.

PanArmenian News Network
Aug 8 2005
CANCELLATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION DISCUSSION IN U.S.
CONGRESS – RESULT OF BRIBERY
08.08.2005 03:45
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2002 Turkish organizations and diplomats in the
U.S. were going to grant $500 000 to Dennis Hastert, the Speaker of
the U.S. House of Representative for preventing the discussion of the
Armenian Genocide Resolution in the Congress, a FBI agent stated. As
reported by U.S. media Sybil Edmonds, who was working as a FBI
translator will publish in Vanity Fair September edition the
translations of the records proving that Turkish organizations and
Turkish Consulate in Chicago were going to allocate $500 000 for
Hastert’s election campaign. The collection of funds was to be
carried out by way of small donations to avoid naming the real
donator. The article to be published questions Hastert’s receiving
the sum. However some U.S. media verify that during the election
campaign a great number of minor donations not demanding personal
identification were made. In 2000 Mr. Hastert spoke out for the
discussion of the Armenian Genocide resolution. However President
Clinton called the Speaker and asked to recall the resolution
motivating the request by the possible hardships in U.S. foreign
relations. Afterwards Mr. Hastert recalled the resolution, RFE/RL
reports.

ARMENIA – ALCATEL DEPLOYS GSM/GPRS NETWORK FOR VIVACEL
Telecompaper Europe (Was RDSL Europe)
August 4, 2005
Alcatel has signed a multimillion euro contract to deploy a GSM/GPRS
mobile network for Armenian mobile operator VivaCel. Alcatel partnered
in this project with Intracom company, a Greek telecommunications
integrator. Under the terms of this contract, Alcatel will deploy a
complete GSM network based on its Evolium solution. Alcatel’s solution
will cover the whole territory of Armenia and will include Mobile
Switching Centers (NSS) for 400,000 subscribers, more than 200 Base
Stations Sub-Systems (BSS) with natively embedded GPRS capabilities,
as well as a backbone solution based on Alcatel’s next-generation
SDH Optical Multi-Service Node (OMSN) systems and access network.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US PROMISES TO ACTIVATE EFFORTS TO SOLVE KARABAKH ISSUE
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 4 2005
04.08.2005 03:03
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On 1 August Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov started his first working visit to Washington at the
invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. During the
visit to last by 5 August the FM will hold meetings at the State
Department, Pentagon, National Security Council and U.S. influential
political centers, reported the 525 Baku newspaper. August 2
Mammadyarov held meetings at the State Department, including
with C. Rice. However, a short statement by the Azeri FM allows
concluding that the Karabakh issue was just the key one among the
questions discussed. The Azeri FM said he was fully satisfied with the
discussions, adding the talks were very useful. In his words, the US as
a Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group has promised to activate efforts for
soonest peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. C. Rice
underscored that the US stand in the issue is unchangeable – Washington
advocates solution of the conflict “based on the territorial
integrity principle.” The talks also focused on wide spectrum of
issues concerning bilateral and economic cooperation. The parties
noted with satisfaction the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum projects. C. Rice emphasized Azerbaijan’s
leadership in implementation of global projects. E. Mammadyarov
noted the importance of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
to Azerbaijan. August 2 E. Mammadyarov also met with OSCE MG US
Ambassador Steven Mann. The conversation focused on the Karabakh peace
talks. As it is known Armenian and Azeri Presidents are expected
to meet in Kazan Russian town at the unofficial CIS summit. The
Mammadyarov-Mann meeting again considered the settlement process on
the eve of the meeting. Yesterday Mr. Mammadyarov held meetings in
Pentagon and National Security Council. His visit to Pentagon resulted
in various speculations in the Azeri and Russian print. It should
be reminded that E. Mammadyarov paid a similar visit to Washington
last summer, but he did not go to Pentagon. Thus some observers
state that his visit to Pentagon aims at preparing Pentagon Chief
Donald Rumsfeld’s visit to Baku expected at the end of August. It is
noted that the FM’s visit in question and those to Pentagon becoming
frequent evidence the US launching implementation of the plans to
deploy its military base in Azerbaijan. There are also statements
available that Azerbaijan’s agreement to deployment of the base in
its territory can result in significant mitigation of the Washington
stance over the November election in Azerbaijan. It is stated that
political bargain takes place between the US and Azerbaijan over
these two issues, the newspaper notes.