Author: Babken Chilingarian

The Sweet Science
Tuesday Apr 5, 2005
Bernard Fernandez said “I do not support politicizing the BWAA one way or
the other.” But to me it should seem obvious that honoring Termite Watkins
IS a political statement.
Termite Watkins, Iraq and the BWAA
by George Kimball
I can’t have been the only one to have felt uncomfortable when Najay
Ali walked into the Peristeri Boxing Hall last August. The light
flyweight had the slogan “Iraq is Back!” emblazoned on the back of
his jacket, and he was accompanied not only by Iraqi coach Maurice
“Termite” Watkins, but by Basheer Abdullah, the head coach of the
US Olympic boxing team, who didn’t always work the corners of his
own fighters.
I had the feeling I was watching the sporting equivalent of
George W. Bush landing on an aircraft carrier to proclaim “Mission
Accomplished.”
That Ali and, in a sense, Watkins were pawns in a propaganda game
is undeniable: the message was, apparently, “Iraq is Liberated”
and here’s proof.
The Bush administration also attempted to make political hay of
the Iraqi soccer team, running campaign ads taking credit for their
successes in Athens.
“At this Olympics there will be two more free nations – and two fewer
terrorist regimes,” said the narrator in the voiceover, as footage
of the Iraq team rolled on the Bush-Cheney spot.
When word of this reached the Iraqi players they were uniformly
indignant. One of them even told Sports Illustrated that if he
weren’t in Athens playing soccer he’d probably be back in Fallujah
fighting against the Americans.
Whether you consider Termite Watkins a great humanitarian or a
shameless self-promoter, there can be no doubt that this was the
crowning moment of his life. Fighting mainly in his native Texas,
he had compiled an admirable 59-5-2 record as a pro, but in his
only fight for a world championship he came up on the wrong end of
a decision in a WBC 140-pound title bout against Saoul Mamby.
Watkins had originally gone to Iraq as an exterminator, volunteering
to work for a subsidiary of the Halliburton Corporation. Although
he would later describe his decision to travel halfway around the
world to kill bugs as “a calling from God,” another recollection of
his decision sheds more light on his motivation:
“It was my time to do my part in serving the country and helping the
military,” Watkins told reporters in Athens.
In other words, Watkins went because he believed the invasion of Iraq
to be justified, and he went to make money.
It was Mike Gfeoller, a regional director for the Coalition
Provisional Authority, who first envisioned the potential propaganda
value of getting an Iraqi boxer to Athens. Having learned of Watkins’
pugilistic background, he approached him with the idea of re-forming
a boxing team that hadn’t competed in the Games since 1988.
Initially working with equipment nearly as rudimentary as the skills
of his pupils, Watkins assembled an 11-man team, but once the word got
out, a donated ring, gloves, and protective cups quickly materialized.
Given what he had to work with, there is no question Watkins did a
tremendous job, but the greatest coach in the world couldn’t have
transformed the Iraqi boxers into bona fide world-class competitors
overnight.
None of them qualified for the Olympics. In qualifying matches,
Najay Ali went 0-3. But pressure was exerted on the International
Olympic Committee to extend a “special invitation” to one member of
the Iraqi team. Ali got the nod and traveled with Watkins to Colorado
Springs where he spent six weeks training with the US team.
Many of my brethren scribes felt Watkins should have gotten a medal
in Athens, if only for his storytelling prowess. There can be little
doubt that Termite relieved much of the tedium of what may have been
the dullest boxing tournament in Olympic history.
No reporters had to track Termite down. He found you. And, if you had
a moment to spare, he would regale you with, mostly, war stories – his
awakening in the middle of the night to discover that his bunkhouse
was under a mortar attack, being a passenger in a gas-laden Humvee
that flipped over doing, or so he claimed, 100 mph.
The tales grew more grandiose with each telling. Ten days into the
Olympics you’d have thought Termite had singlehandedly put Saddam
Hussein to flight, but nobody protested. In the midst of some truly
awful boxing, Termite made for great copy, whether you believed
everything he said or not.
And few did. Even the most sympathetic of Termite’s chroniclers
described him as “a raconteur and boaster,” which is a kind way of
saying “bullshit artist.” He was plainly as much snake oil salesman
as snake exterminator. Before getting back into the pestilence game,
Watkins had been working in Texas as a used-car salesman. Need we
say more?
Only a cynic would suggest that the same sporting politics that
got Najay Ali into the Olympics were also responsible for his first
round draw. The Iraqi may have been the second-most inept boxer in
the Olympics, but in his opening match he met the first. After Ali
defeated North Korea’s Kwak Hyok Ju 21-7 to advance to the second
round, Basheer Abdullah conceded as much when he noted “I don’t want
to say anybody is easy in the Olympics, but we thanked God we had
that type of draw to get him some confidence.”
After Ali was eliminated by Armenia’s Aleksan Nalbandyan in the
next round, Termite Watkins ensured that he would remain available
for interviews by attaching himself to the American team as a spit
bucket carrier.
Even boxing writers who had devoted reams of copy to Watkins’
improbable Olympic quest often joked about it over dinner. As far
as I could tell, nobody believed everything he said, and some didn’t
believe anything he said.
Which is why I found it somewhat startling last week when I received a
communiqué from the Boxing Writers Association of America, proclaiming
Termite Watkins a “hero” and announcing that he would receive a
“Special Achievement Award” at next month’s BWAA dinner in Las Vegas.
Having been a member of the organization for over a quarter-century,
I’ve dutifully cast my vote whenever such awards were presented, but
I didn’t recall this having appeared on any ballot I’d seen. Moreover,
I couldn’t imagine any boxing writer who had endured prolonged exposure
to Termite Watkins voting for it.
BWAA president Bernard Fernandez replied to my query, explaining that
Termite had been “nominated and approved by a vote of officers and
board members.”
As it happened, I found myself seated in the presence of several
BWAA officers at Don King’s John Ruiz-James Toney press conference
at Madison Square Garden the next day, and when the subject came up,
not a single one of them could recall having voted to honor Watkins.
Ron Borges said he’d never heard of the vote. Tom Hauser couldn’t
remember, but said he would likely have abstained in any case. Steve
Farhood and Tony Paige had no recollection of any vote for a special
achievement award. Most of them did remember that Watkins had been
proposed for a “long and meritorious service to boxing” award, but
had failed to get enough support to even be placed on the ballot for
that honor.
When I suggested to Fernandez that the episode seemed uncomfortably
redolent of the previous year’s balloting for the Nat Fleischer Award
for Distinguished Boxing Journalism, in which the 2003 award was
embarrassingly vacated when it was revealed many eligible voters –
i.e. past recipients – had never been polled, it appeared to strike a
raw nerve. The email I got back went into a rant about “Iraqi boxers
who had been routinely tortured by Uday Hussein.” (Najay Ali never
claimed to have been tortured by anybody. Moreover, the BWAA press
release refers to the “triumph” of his having “qualified” for the
Olympics, which he did not.)
My suggestion that honoring Watkins could be perceived as legitimizing
the invasion of Iraq was predictably challenged by the contention
that “even those who oppose the war usually speak of supporting the
troops,” and that “Watkins initially did go over there to serve as
an exterminator at U.S. military installations, which probably made
living conditions a little more comfortable for our servicemen and
servicewomen.”
Now, personally, I think that the best way to ‘support our troops’
would be to bring them home forthwith, but that is beside the
point. They had no choice in the matter. Termite Watkins did. He went
to Iraq voluntarily, and he was well paid for it. I told Bernard if
he wanted to name Watkins Exterminator of the Year, I wouldn’t have
a problem with that, but this didn’t sit well with me.
Bernard did say “I’d like to see our involvement (in Iraq) quickly
lessened if not ended outright,” but added “I do not support
politicizing the BWAA one way or the other.”
But to me it should seem obvious that honoring Termite Watkins is a
political statement.
“I refuse to be casually categorized, and neither should you, or
anybody,” argued Fernandez. “Watkins coached some athletes who were in
need of a coach, and had suffered under an oppressive regime. Even the
New York Times appears to think he did a good job of it. Now, is he
a self-promoter hyping himself now? Yeah, probably, and that doesn’t
sit well with me. But his doing what he did was fairly courageous,
and I for one and not going to penalize him for his personal politics.”
Bernard also suggested that I “check with Steve Farhood and Tom Hauser
again. They were at the December meeting when Watkins was nominated
and confirmed by vote for this award.”
I did. Hauser is certain that he wouldn’t have voted one way or the
other at the time, but that upon reflection, probably wouldn’t have
approved the award for the reasons under discussion here.
“I’m not saying there wasn’t a vote taken,” said Farhood. “I just
don’t remember one having taken place.”
Watkins, alas, will probably have the last word. “Termite,” his
autobiography, co-written with Suzy Pepper, will hit the bookstores
in two weeks’ time.
–Boundary_(ID_DCaEzgdyV4H4gtehtjSxdw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER MARTYRED IN BATTLE TO PREVENT ARMENIAN ATTACK
Azerbaijan News Service
March 21 2005
2005-03-21 15:19
Azerbaijani soldier Ruslan Rajabov was martyred on March in Mirashelli
village of Aghdam region while preventing attack by Armenian armed
forces in occupied village of the same region. ANS Qarabaq bureau
informs that Armenian forces shot at Shikhlar and Qarvand village of
Aghdam region at 2 AM on March 21.

PanArmenian News
Feb 25 2005
JOHN EVANS: “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WAS FIRST GENOCIDE OF 20-TH CENTURY”
25.02.2005 18:30
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the meeting with the representatives of the
Armenian community in San Francisco US Ambassador to Armenia John
Evans spoke of the “importance of the Armenian Genocide recognition”,
IA Regnum reports according to the Armenian National Committee of
America. “Today I will call it the Armenian Genocide”, Mr. Evans
stated. The Ambassador stated that he “has examined the issue of the
Armenian Genocide with the help of Professor Richard Hovhanissian’s
works”. According to the source, Mr. Evans stated that he held
consultations with an attorney from the US Department of State, who
defined the massacres of the 1915 as Genocide. Representatives of the
US Administration and other officials avoided the word “Genocide”
when speaking of the tragedy that took place Turkey at the beginning
of last century, the source notes. “None of the US officials has ever
denied this fact. I just think to play on words in this case would
not fit Americans”, Mr. Evans said. “I believe that things should
called by their proper names, however US’s formal policy towards
Turkey has not changed, as Turkey has some old military ties with
NATO”. “The Armenian Genocide was the first Genocide of the 20-th
century”, The Us Ambassador stated noting that at that time the world
was not ready to give an adequate reaction. “But I would like to
assure you that we are going to work at this problem”, he said. When
touching upon US-Turkish relations, Mr. Evans stated, “we want to
witness development within the Turkish society. Let’s hope that once
views will change”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR DEFENSE MINISTRY MAKES STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH ANNIVERSARY OF
MURDER OF LIEUTENANT GURGEN MARGARYAN AXED BY AZERBAIJANI OFFICER
RAMIL SAFAROV IN HUNGARY
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 21. ARMINFO. NKR Defense Ministry has made a
statement in connection with the anniversary of the murder of
Lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan axed by an Azerbaijani officer Ramil
Safarov in Hungary.
According to the statement, Azerbaijan not only has not condemned the
incident, but also has announced Safarov a national hero. The NKR
Defense Ministry assesses the vandalism and the position of the
Azerbaijani authorities as a result of continuing anti-Armenia and
militarist propaganda, the statement says. Such policy creates an
atmosphere of intolerance between the peoples of the conflicting
parties, greatly damaging the peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict
and threatening to the regional peace and security, the ministry says.
Further in the statement: “Such an image of Azerbaijan, its aspiration
to make a hero of the criminal once more testifies that the
independence of Nagorny Karabakh is an issue of not only
self-determination of peoples but also existence of the people of
NKR. It must be a precondition for any version of the conflict’s
settlement. The NKR Defense Army is an important guarantor of regional
stability; and for lack of international peace-making forces in the
tense conflict zone created by Azerbaijan it has a role of a
restraining factor. To further fulfill this mission, NKR Defense Army
will increase its fighting combativity to protect both its
independence and territorial integrity of NKR should need arise.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Hindustan Times, India
Feb 1, 2005
PM’s gift sparks jumbo controversy
Press Trust of India
London, February 1

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention has been sought by an
international wildlife and animal welfare charity to prevent transfer
of a Bangalore based elephant to Armenia.
“The Born Free Foundation urges the Indian Prime Minister, Dr
Manmohan Singh to reconsider this gift and to call the move off,” its
CEO Will Travers said in London on Monday.
He said the Foundation, founded by actors Virginia McKenna and Bill
Travers, believed that there were many other ways of improving
relations between New Delhi and Yerevan which would not involve the
potential suffering and possible demise of animals.
Virginia McKenna, OBE, who starred in the classic 1966 movie Born
Free, said, “It is deeply disheartening that the custom of using
animals as diplomatic gifts still continues. Animals are not
inanimate objects and certainly deserve to be treated with due
respect for their nature and needs.
“The proposed removal of an elephant from Bangalore to Yerevan Zoo
highlights the urgent need for this issue to be addressed on an
international basis, and I can only hope that it is not too late to
change hearts and minds. Not only for this elephant, but in future no
more animals should be used in this way.”
According to information received by the Foundation, the elephant is
due to leave Bangalore and is destined for Yerevan. The exchange is
in the form of a diplomatic gift consigned by the Indian Prime
Minister to his counterpart in Armenia, the foundation claimed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Brown Daily Squeal (satire), NY
Jan 27 2005
Remembrance and Celebration
Posted by Benjamin Bright-Fishbein
Auschwitz was liberated 60 years ago today. A host of international
leaders will be gathering in Poland today to commemmorate the event
and remember the victims of genocide.
If you have the time, listen to this piece on the Holocaust. One
survivor talks about her forgiveness of the Nazis. Hate is baggage,
she says, that can only be lifted by forgiveness. Forgiveness is not
a gift to your oppressor; it is for your own healing, so that memory
is no longer overpowering. I’ve always had trouble fathoming how
anyone could ever forgive their oppressors. From my perspective, if
to forgive is to forget (or even alleviate), then I choose hatred. My
baggage is my identity, and to lighten the load would be the gravest
wrong. I wouldn’t touch inner peace with a ten-foot pole. The
Armenian Genocide suffers from being generally forgotten and
neglected by the world. In essence, the Armenians suffer from the
opposite problem: they don’t have enough memory. Their baggage is too
light. To forget is to kill a people twice.
But today is a day of celebration, a day to commemmorate liberation
from the most abject tyrrany. Yesterday, the first reparation checks
were paid out to the families of victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Today is Mozart’s birthday. All in all, a good day in history.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Eurasianet Organization
Jan 5 2005
CHANGES IN THE CIS: WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2005
Stephen Blank 1/05/05
A EurasiaNet Commentary
Ukraine’s Orange Revolution and the European Union’s decision to
begin membership negotiations with Turkey will have far-reaching
repercussions for members of the Commonwealth of Independent States
in 2005. Both of these events will lead to a greater engagement by
both the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the
Caucasus and Central Asia. Sharper East-West rivalry may be the
result, but this engagement will also ensure that the struggle for
democratic change will not abate.
Though it received less press attention than the uprising in Kyiv,
the starting point for this process begins with the EU’s December 17
decision to start membership talks with Ankara. The move came more
than one year after Georgia’s 2004 Rose Revolution – an event that
considerably increased the EU’s interest in the region.
After Russia vetoed prolonging the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe’s border monitoring mission in Georgia, for
instance, the EU offered, on December 30, to send in its own
monitors. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili’s reform drive
triggered an outpouring of millions in humanitarian and financial aid
from the organization, contradicting earlier observations that the EU
has no interest in the South Caucasus.
Talks with Turkey could play a key role in furthering this
engagement. It is likely that Ankara will attempt to raise awareness
in Brussels about the potential security threats to Europe that stem
from the Caucasus’ unresolved conflicts. [For additional information
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. With the opening of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline scheduled to occur in 2005, Europe’s
incentive for clearing up territorial disputes will only increase.
Turkey could use this situation to emphasize its own possibilities as
a peace broker.
That, in turn, could make the reforms enacted by Turkey since 2002 in
its bid for EU membership a model for the region. When countries in
the Caucasus look at Turkey, they will see a country that has
democratized its political process, instituted greater civilian
control over the military and undergone a robust economic revival.
But Turkey is not the only example for the Caucasus. The recent
pro-democracy uprising in Kyiv can only further the cause of reform.
[For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Already, a
connection between Ukraine and the Caucasus has been made with the
partnership on display between President-elect Viktor Yushchenko and
Saakashvili.
Unlike Turkey, however, the Ukrainian democratic reform drive will
encounter harsh resistance from Russia. Yushchenko’s government will
try to enhance Ukraine’s ability to meet the requirements for closer
ties with both NATO and the EU — associations that could completely
rework security and diplomatic relationships across the CIS.
Russia, already rebuffed in Georgia and Ukraine, will put up a strong
resistance against any such transformation. Moscow’s criticism of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s human and civil
rights monitoring activities is already one tactic put to use in this
battle – and one that secured the prompt support of certain CIS
member states. Additional examples of such maneuvers should be
expected in 2005.
But as Russia attempts to play its hand to greater effect in the
Caucasus and Central Asia, the calls for democratic reform will only
increase – first in the Caucasus, then, to a lesser extent, in
Central Asia. An upsurge in domestic tensions in Azerbaijan and
Armenia, where examples of misgovernment are rife, is plausible,
while in Georgia, greater expectations will be placed on the
Saakashvili government to deliver on its promises for reform.
Paradoxically, though, the increased rivalry between East and West
for influence will come with enhanced opportunities for conflict
resolution. The status quo in Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia and
Abkhazia appeared durable as long as there was no external pressure.
As competition between Russia and the West potentially heats up, such
conflicts could be used by both sides to demonstrate their usefulness
as peace brokers, and, thereby, solidify their influence in the
region.
Editor’s Note: Stephen Blank is a professor at the US Army War
College. The views expressed this article do not in any way represent
the views of the US Army, Defense Department or the US Government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH OPPOSITION LEADER ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF UNDERMINING NATIONAL UNITY
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
12 Dec 04
ISTANBUL
(Opposition) MHP (Nationalist Action Party) Chairman Devlet Bahceli
has said that Turkey reached a critical juncture ahead of the EU’s
summit meeting on 17 December. He said: “The prime minister should
tour the country and lend an ear to the people rather than touring
Europe and making concessions.”
In a speech he delivered during a rally entitled “My Turkey’s unity
and my nation’s well-being”, which was organized by MHP’s Istanbul
branch at Caglayan Square, Bahceli noted that Turkey had been besieged
and drifted towards a crossroads.
Criticizing the government officials for touring the European
countries and making concessions one after another before 17 December
in a bid to convince the EU to fix a date for starting accession
talks, Bahceli went on to say: “Those who say that they are pursuing a
win-win policy are actually acting like inexperienced and impetuous
merchants and have rather taken a submissive stand based on giving up
what we have. We urge them to stop making concessions. The prime
minister should tour the country and lend an ear to the people rather
than touring Europe and making concessions.”
Arguing that the nation was insidiously besieged by using some
criteria, which, he said, had been put before the people as the
Copenhagen criteria, Bahceli noted: “Demands voiced by those who want
to divide and dismember the country fully coincide with the terms that
the EU is trying to dictate.
Accusing the EU of finding new excuses every other day in order to
avoid setting a date for beginning accession talks with Turkey,
Bahceli remarked: “The prime minister has said ‘We would push ahead by
renaming the Copenhagen criteria as the Ankara criteria if they
decline to set a date.’ What are your Ankara criteria Mr Erdogan? Why
do not you make them public? In our view, the principles set forth in
the preamble of the constitution are our red lines and represent our
Ankara criteria.” (passage omitted on history of Armenian museum)
Reminding that there were some attempts aimed at ensuring recognition
of the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch as the ecumenical patriarch,
Bahceli said: “This nation will never grant you ecumenical status. If
you have such a goal, you should rather go to Athens where they would
confer on you the highest title.”
Noting that the EU countries had been putting pressure on Turkey in
order to convince it to reopen the Greek Orthodox seminary and to
recognize Bartholomeos as ecumenical patriarch in addition to their
demands concerning ethnic minorities, Bahceli stated: “Nobody should
attempt to plant weeds in this country’s flower garden, asserting that
it is necessary under the Copenhagen criteria. We would never allow
this flower garden to be overgrown with weeds.”
Bahceli concluded his speech by saying: “I advise the leaders against
trying to darken Turkey’s future. If you want to admit Turkey, then go
ahead. Otherwise, just say that you will not. One day, this nation
will make its presence felt in Europe.”
Pro-MHP demonstrators attending the rally at Caglayan square shouted
slogans, including “Neither the United States, nor the EU: Patriotic
Turkey” and “We Love Turkey, not Brussels” during Bahceli’s address.
The demonstrators carried Turkish flags as well as the flags of the
Turkic republics and the (self-declared) Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri president’s speech at 7 December government session – full text
Azarbaycan, Baku
12 Dec 04
The year of 2004 was very successful in all spheres, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev has said in his speech at a government session
summing up the results of the outgoing year. As a result of correct
policy, the country “is already turning into a significant power
centre” and has become “the leading country of the region”, he
added. Praising the establishment of good relations with all
countries, Ilham Aliyev noted that serious steps had been taken to
improve ties with the neighbouring states. Speaking highly about
Azerbaijan’s economic potential, Ilham Aliyev announced an increase in
military spending by “nearly 30 per cent”. He said that no changes
will be made in Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. The following is text of Aliyev’s speech
at the expanded session of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 7 December
2004, published by Azarbaycan newspaper on 8 December; subheadings
have been inserted editorially:
The year of 2004 is coming to an end. In general, it was a successful
year. Today, at an expanded session of the Cabinet of Ministers, we
will sum up the results of this year, examine the events that have
taken place, hear reports about the work done this year and hold an
exchange of views.
Successful foreign policy
In 2004, Azerbaijan was more confident and more successful in all
spheres. In foreign policy, our country’s integration into the
international community was more intensive and the protection of our
national interests was at a high level. We successfully developed
mutual relations with all countries. Especially, I can note that we
took serious steps to develop ties with our neighbours. Our relations
with them have expanded on the basis of bilateral, regional as well as
multilateral cooperation. This is very important to us. Azerbaijan is
already turning into a very significant power centre in the
region. Our positions in the region are strengthening. Regional
projects are being implemented which will help more rapidly and
successfully develop and protect our national interests.
Azerbaijan has also made success in the work with international
organizations. We can say that our positions in the international
organizations have strengthened. Our activities in the EU, the Council
of Europe and the UN were very successful. I believe that the steps
taken towards a settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict has had a positive impact on the negotiations. The
talks are already being held in the format that suit us and
Azerbaijan’s just position is better understood by international
organizations, and as a result, we can say that positive aspects have
been strengthened during the talks.
Azerbaijan has clearly voiced its stance which remains unchanged.
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity cannot be a subject of the
negotiations: it must be restored and the occupying forces must
withdraw from the occupied territory. Only on the basis of this
principle there can be talk of a peace accord. This is our strict and
unchanged position and it is very pleasant that the world understands
this position and we can say that this is the main principle in the
negotiations.
Some accuse us of taking hostile and attacking position. But this is
natural because our country is a side that has sustained losses in
this conflict and at the present time, if one can put it, we are
waging a “cold war”. I can say that we are waging this war very
efficiently. We are doing our best to put pressure on Armenia in all
directions. We have increased our propagating activities in the
international organizations and in the bilateral format at peace talks
with Armenia . All this, I think, will allow us to achieve our
goal. That is to say, the international law should be observed, the
occupying forces must pull out from our land and Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity must be restored. The negotiations are
currently being held between the foreign ministers. If necessary, the
presidents will join the negotiations as well. I would like to note
again that the principles of the negotiations have remained
unchanged. I believe that we will continue strengthening our efforts
in the future as well.
As you know, we have also done tremendous work to open Azerbaijan’s
embassies in other countries. New embassies have opened in many
countries and more detailed information about Azerbaijan will be
released to the attention of the international community. At the same
time, we should always strengthen our economic and military
potential. Work is under way in this sphere as well.
Military spending will increase by nearly 30 per cent
In 2004, we also carried out a major work to develop our army and
strengthen its infrastructure. Our army is being modernized and
equipped with new modern technology. We are focusing our attention on
this, and my numerous visits to military units and meetings there
prove that our army is strengthening day by day and is able to resolve
all its tasks. We are determined to continue our efforts in this
field.
As you know, while making additions to the state budget this year,
above all, we increased the funds allocated to the army. Next year, we
will increase the funds allocated to the army nearly by 30 per
cent. If necessary, over the next years, we will increase it by 50,
100 or 200 per cent. Azerbaijan’s economic potential will allow this
and no-one, in particular, Armenia, which occupied our land, can
compete with us. Armenia’s current budget is only 500m dollars,
whereas the amount of the sum planned for the army in Azerbaijan is
about 250m dollars. Until we liberate our land from the invaders, we
will increase our funds and will always continue keeping our army at
the high level.
No dependence on foreign countries
Economic and financial potential is obviously needed to do all this,
and we are building it. We all know very well that the economic
reforms launched by our national leader ex-president Heydar Aliyev
since he came to power in 1993 and which are being carried out
successfully yielded successful results and strengthened our financial
base. The GDP grew by 90 per cent in 1995-2003. Foreign trade
increased by 200 per cent. An average salary grew six times and
pensions 8 times. Thanks to all financial sources, 22bn dollars were
invested in Azerbaijan’s economy. The successful economic reforms have
allowed us both to cover the country’s needs properly and to allocate
larger funds for the army. In general, economic potential is the main
requirement for pursuing an independent policy.
Today Azerbaijan is fully pursuing an independent policy, does not
depend on anybody or any country and is pursuing a policy aimed at the
interests of the Azerbaijani people alone. I am confident that the
policy of strengthening Azerbaijan’s statehood fully meets the
interests of the Azerbaijani people. I would like to add that if we
have not had our economic potential, we might also have begged and
asked other countries and circles for assistance, like Armenia
does. Relying on our own potential and force, our national leader,
Heydar Aliyev, extricated the country from anarchy, crisis and
economic collapse and brought it to today’s path of progress.
Successful domestic policy
These positive factors in the economy have even more strengthened in
2004. The GDP increased by approximately 10 per cent, money income of
the population increased by nearly 20 per cent, the average salary by
26 per cent and today it is 478,000 manats 98 dollars . For the first
time, the average salary in Azerbaijan is already nearly 100
dollars. The next year, this sum will be bigger and will grow in the
future.
Foreign trade increased by 40 per cent and the country’s currency
reserves today stand at 1.8bn dollars. All this shows that 2004 was a
successful year for us. Of course, this success had good reasons. As I
noted before, the strong economic base set up by Heydar Aliyev and the
beneficial economic climate have been created in Azerbaijan for the
future development. We used these opportunities in 2004 effectively
and managed to achieve these economic results.
Structural reforms were carried out and, as is known, new ministries
were set up in 2004. The Communications and Information Technologies
Ministry was set up in the beginning of the year. You know that
information technologies is profoundly important in the world today,
as it has great potential and prospects. Azerbaijan should also keep
up with this process. We should take measures in this sphere as
well. The Agriculture Ministry has been reorganized. I am sure that
this will speed up the development in the sphere of agriculture. The
number of people engaged in agriculture in Azerbaijan is large. The
conditions created for them as well as the establishment of the
Aqrolizinq Agriculture Leasing joint-stock association will help bring
plenty of machinery. About 250bn manats 50m dollars are to be
allocated in the next two years for this purpose and this will allow
us to provide farmers with equipment. This amount is not enough to
fully provide them with equipment, we will not confine ourselves to
the 250bn manats and will increase this sum in order to resolve the
problem with machinery.
I signed a decree on setting up the Ministry of Industry and Energy
yesterday 6 December . This ministry will carry out major tasks as
well. Like in the past, the industrial potential is currently enormous
in Azerbaijan. We have paid less attention to this sphere until
recently, but we must take effective measures and attract investments
to boost our industrial potential. New jobs will open in the
industrial complex as well.
The Azarsu Azerbaijani Water joint-stock association has been set
up. A free-for-all in the water supply system will be eliminated. The
steps taken in this system allow us to say that a strictly-managed
system is going to be created there. Unfortunately, up to now, there
has no been strict discipline there and nobody knew what was going on
there.
Market economy will grow, major projects will be developed
Azerbaijan is faithful to the principles of market economy and we
highly value these principles. Aid to entrepreneurs will definitely be
continued. At numerous meetings with businessmen this year, I have
clearly expressed my support to them. I confirm this support today as
well. The share of the private sector in the GDP is 74 per
cent. According to reports, this figure will be 77 per cent next
year. This figure should grow in the future. However, saying this, we
should also take into account the fact that the oil industry which is
the main sector in Azerbaijan’s economy is in the state monopoly. If
we get the oil factor out of the GDP, we will see that the share of
business, that is the private sector, is even larger.
The sum of the loans allocated to entrepreneurs this year stands at
100bn manats 20m dollars . We will increase this amount twice next
year and businessmen will receive the loans to the tune of 200bn
manats 40m dollars as most of them need these funds. That is to say,
it is impossible to start business without funds. It is true, there
are some people and structures which use their own funds to invest in
business. But the overwhelming majority has no funds and the state
should render its assistance, and it does so.
Over the past 10 months, the figure of investments in fixed assets has
been 43 per cent. Foreign investments grew by 48 per cent and totalled
4bn dollars. The oil sector, which is the most important industry in
Azerbaijan today and in the future, achieved successes this year. All
the projects and programmes started jointly with foreign partners are
being implemented. Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy is developing
successfully. The launch of the construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline proves that we are making progress in this field. Azerbaijan
is successfully and timely implementing the projects which are
important to the world and, above all, to Azerbaijan itself. This will
help increase our economic potential, expand our financial potential
and fully put into operation Azerbaijan’s oil potential.
At the same time, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic
SOCAR has its own projects which have already been discussed. I reckon
that work will be done in the next year to implement new projects and
therefore, the SOCAR will be able to increase the extraction of oil
and gas. We are fully satisfied with the work in this
sphere. Azerbaijan has proved that it is a very reliable partner and
is a proper place for foreign investments.
When marking the 10th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy this
year, we stated that this strategy, this policy and strict line will
be continued. Azerbaijan’s oil potential will serve the Azerbaijani
people and will continue to bring more currency reserves to Azerbaijan
and to its treasury in the future as well.
Regions will develop, new jobs will open, social welfare will improve
The programme for the development of regions has been adopted. It can
be described as a new direction in our work in the economic sphere. It
is true that this field has always been in the focus of the attention,
but the main parameters of this programme were identified this year in
the form of a complex system. Our work in this system was
efficient. There has been liveliness in our regions now: tremendous
work, including renovation and the development, is under way.
New jobs is a very pleasant process and most of them opened in the
regions. All the efforts to open new jobs lead to achievements. Over
the past year, more than 110,000 new jobs, these figures change
quickly, have opened. This process is so rapid that we have to correct
these figures every month. Anyway, according to latest information,
over 110,000 jobs opened, and 110,000 new jobs in one year for 8m
population is a big success. I can even say that this result has never
been registered in the world. This proves that all our plans and
programmes are based on realistic aspects. Simply, one should organize
work correctly, approach tasks with success and confidence in order to
implement all programmes.
Social tasks were carried out properly. Salaries, pensions and other
social allowances were increased and paid timely. A minimum wage
increased as well. At the beginning of the year, it was 45,000 manats
about 10 dollars , later on, it became 60,000 12 dollars and now
100,000 20 dollars . From 1 January it will be 125,000 manats 25
dollars . This shows that the growth is continuing. Of course, 125,000
manats is not a big sum, and we understand this very well. But the
fact is that this figure increased more than twice. The growth of the
minimum salary and, in general, the improvement of the Azerbaijani
people’s well-being is very important to us. I would like to add that
well-being of the Azerbaijani people should improve on a yearly basis.
Our attention to the social sphere will continue in the future as
well. The improvement of conditions has been especially planned for
those in need – refugees and forced migrants. Relevant decrees were
issued in this field and are currently being fulfilled. New towns are
being built on the territory of Agdam District freed from the
occupation, and residents in Barda District who live in the most
difficult conditions – in refugee camps and wagons – will move to new
houses. All conditions will be created for them. We are already well
experienced in this field. On the instruction of our people’s national
leader, Heydar Aliyev, the first revenues of the State Oil Fund will
go to creating conditions for refugees and displaced persons. Like in
all other spheres, we are continuing this policy in this field as
well.
There is a comprehensive plan of activities for 2005. The state budget
for 2005 has already been adopted and everyone is aware of our
work. Economic forecasts have also been made and they are quite
optimistic. According to the forecasts, the growth of the GDP will be
14 per cent. The growth of budget revenues will be 25 per cent and of
the average salary 22 per cent. Imports will grow by 70 per cent and
foreign trade by 53 per cent. Investments, including foreign
investments, will total 4.5bn dollars. All this is a forecast. But we
already know that we can fulfil them exceeding all expectations. I
hope that this forecast will be put into practice and we will make
bigger success.
In order to implement all this, we should organize our work
effectively. Of course, we have certain problems in the country. We
are continuing work to reduce poverty and unemployment. Our society is
concerned about other problems either. We are aware of them and are
trying to resolve them.
Of course, tremendous work was done in one year and in five years. But
if we go back 10 years ago, we can clearly see in what state
Azerbaijan was at that time and how things are now. Azerbaijan was the
most undeveloped country in the region and in the post-Soviet
area. Its economy was in collapse, the territory was occupied and
civil confrontation was under way inside the country. We can say that
Azerbaijan was being destroyed from both outside and inside the
country. Today Azerbaijan is the leading country of the region. It is
not only us who say this, but all international financial bodies and
the international community have stated this. Azerbaijan has turned
into a powerful centre in the region and can be an example for other
countries.
Political stability must be preserved
In order to strengthen all these positive factors, stability, peace
and order in the country will be of great importance along with other
factors. We have achieved this. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev’s
determination, far-reaching policy and bravery, stability and peace
have been established in the country. Illegal armed groups that were
controlling the country were eliminated. All of them do not exist now
and will never come back. We need stability, peace and order and we
will have them in order to continue our success in the future and to
implement all our plans. No-one in our society doubts this. It is the
duty of those who govern Azerbaijan to maintain this stability. We
should make sure that from now on the Azerbaijani people live in the
conditions of peace and safety and well-being of the people improve
further. Azerbaijan’s positions should strengthen in the world and, in
other words, our motherland will continue to develop and thrive.
I think we will hear reports and hold an exchange of views in this
sitting. I have delivered my general view about the results of
2004. There is probably a need for the more detailed discussion.
I am giving the floor to First Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of
the State Commission for Refugees and Forced Migrants Ali Hasanov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATO’s involvement in Karabakh settlement “undesirable” – Russian official
Ekspress, Baku
3 Dec 04

The press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Aleksandr
Yakovenko, has said that NATO’s involvement in the Karabakh conflict
settlement is “undesirable”. In his exclusive interview with the
Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress, Yakovenko said that Russia is not
concerned about NATO’s intervention in the issue as it will “have no
impact” on the settlement of the problem. It is naive to think that
the occupied lands of Azerbaijan will be liberated with the support of
NATO, he said. At the same time, he pointed out that the Russian
government recognizes that the Azerbaijani lands are under occupation
and supports Baku’s position on the issue. The following is the text
of Alakbar Raufoglu’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 3
December headlined “Russia recognizes that Karabakh is under
occupation” and subheaded “The press secretary of the Russian Foreign
Ministry, Aleksandr Yakovenko: ‘It is naive to think that the lands
will be returned with the support of NATO'”. Subheadings as published:
Russia is not concerned about NATO’s intervention in the Karabakh
settlement, but at the same time, it considers that this “will have no
impact on the settlement”, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official
spokesman, Aleksandr Yakovenko, told Ekspress in an exclusive
interview yesterday.
“It would be naive to think that any state will secure its right as a
winner or return its lands with the support of NATO,” Yakovenko said,
commenting on statements by Azerbaijani officials that NATO’s
intervention in the settlement process is necessary.
Moscow thinks that the current peace process “needs no changes that
would prevent the dialogue”. NATO’s involvement in the issue is simply
“undesirable”.
To recap, Azerbaijan called on the alliance to intervene in the
settlement during NATO’s Rose-Roth seminar in Baku last week.
“Russia has repeatedly stated that NATO’s intervention might divert
attention from the settlement of the problem,” Yakovenko said. He
called on Baku “to assess the situation correctly”.
Moscow evaluates Azerbaijan’s cooperation with NATO as “the country’s
internal affair”. At the same time, Russia cannot be indifferent to
the coming of a third power to the region.
“It is necessary to take only conscious, purposeful and well
thought-out steps and make decisions that will prevent tension.”
Moscow is impartial and upbeat
Yakovenko said that Moscow had always taken an active part in the
Karabakh settlement. “We are impartial and upbeat. The Russian people
and government admit that Azerbaijani lands are under occupation and
support Baku’s position on the settlement of the
problem. Unfortunately, Moscow’s steps have been fruitless so
far. Despite this, we are continuing our efforts,” he said.
Russia is currently “closely investigating” the peace talks and
keeping the discussions between the [Armenian and Azerbaijani] foreign
ministers in focus. The activity of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
is coordinated with the Russian Foreign Ministry as well. Yakovenko
said that an agreement to increase Russia’s efforts was reached during
the Astana meeting of the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents
this September. Therefore, Russia intends to take steps “at the
highest level” in connection with the issue.
“The point is about preserving and supporting the dialogue between the
countries,” the diplomat stressed.
There is no “Putin formula”
However, the reports that Russia has put forward some proposals on the
resolution of the conflict have not justified themselves. Yakovenko
said that at present, this is simply a version and is not based on any
official source.
To recap, after the Astana meeting, the Russian media circulated
reports that Putin has come up with a specific package of proposals on
the Karabakh problem – the Putin formula.
“There is no such formula. If this was the case, then it would have
been announced long ago,” the diplomat said.
The opinions about Russia’s intention to deploy a foreign [as
published] base on the occupied territories are also rumours.
“This was not discussed at all,” he said. At the same time, Moscow
might think about it if the issue of deploying bases arises during the
peace talks.
The Russian diplomat also commented on reports about the coming of US
and NATO troops to Azerbaijan.
“We know official Baku’s position on this. Azerbaijan has repeatedly
stated that there is no need to deploy any foreign military bases in
the country. That is, there is absolute stability and peace in
Azerbaijan and the state has enough possibilities to ensure internal
security. We think that this policy has brought Azerbaijan success for
years. Moscow approves of this policy, and we think that the
consequences of any step to be taken should be calculated beforehand,”
he said.
Russian bases in Armenia will not increase
Does the stationing and military reinforcement of the Russian bases in
Armenia have an impact on the talks?
Yakovenko said that “it is a completely different issue and has no
impact on the settlement”. That’s to say the Russian bases have
existed in Armenia since Soviet times and are not expected to
increase.
At the same time, the military factor in Russia’s policy on the
Caucasus is at the minimum.
“We are interested in Azerbaijan’s independence and sovereignty, the
resolution of its economic and social problems. We are ready to do our
best in this sphere,” Yakovenko said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress