Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

Azeri daily predicts more US pressure on authorities ahead of polls
Yeni Musavat, Baku
6 Jul 05

Excerpt from Elsad Pasasoy’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni
Musavat on 6 July headlined “Pressure on Ilham Aliyev expected to
increase” and subheaded “Sulhaddin Akbar: ‘US policy in the near past
makes us take cautious approach'”
A warning to the Azerbaijani authorities from an influential member of
the US Congress, Christopher Smith, against the falsification of the
[November parliamentary] elections can be considered yet another
indicator of Washington’s current attitude to the government of
[President] Ilham Aliyev.
To recap, Smith was one of the Congressmen who criticized the wrong
position by the USA during the 2003 [presidential] elections. Smith
then expressed his strong protest at the White House’s decision to
turn a blind eye to irregularities and the mass repression. He even
said that the rise of Islamic fundamentalism or terrorism was possible
in Azerbaijan in the wake of injustice of this kind. Smith warned the
US officials that should such terrible events happen, then they must
look for the reasons of their wrong policy on Azerbaijan.
Granted, the Azerbaijani authorities then “blacklisted” Smith and even
tried to stigmatize him as “pro-Armenian”. However, it is obvious now
that, as a result of efforts on the part of Smith and other similar
advocates of truth, democracy is again a priority in the USA’s foreign
policy. There is no doubt that President Bush’s promise of democracy
to all freedom-loving peoples and the faith that Washington will stay
loyal to its policy have encouraged the congressman to speak bluntly
with Azerbaijani MPs.
Describing fair elections as “the main condition” for a stable and
successful future of Azerbaijan, Smith openly said the following: “The
2003 elections in Azerbaijan were a far cry from international
standards. This must not be repeated.”
[Passage omitted: background information on Smith]
A deputy chairman of the Musavat Party, Sulhaddin Akbar, believes that
these statements have to be considered within the context of the
significance attached to the Azerbaijani elections by the USA, and
generally by the international community.
“This shows again that the US Congress and administration, as well as
the public, are very interested in free and fair elections in
Azerbaijan. They correctly assess the situation in the country,
especially in the wake of the 2003 elections. They understand that it
is impossible to achieve a long-lasting stability in Azerbaijan
without free and fair elections. The US government realizes that an
Azerbaijani elite which does not share the Western values may not suit
the Western interests properly. Washington definitely needs a reliable
partner in Azerbaijan who shares the Western values and interests of
Azerbaijan, especially at the moment when some very significant
regional events are expected. Therefore, the tone of statements made
by the USA, the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and
the others has become harsher,” Akbar said.
The deputy chairman believes that Smith’s message regarding the
Electoral Code is grounded. “The absence of changes to the Electoral
Code signals the real intentions of the authorities. That is, the
government is preparing not for free and fair elections, but for
another falsification. They are well aware of this and it is not too
difficult to predict the consequences,” Akbar said.
He said that he expects the pressure from the USA to increase. At the
same time, however, Sulhaddin Akbar believes that it is not right to
fall into euphoria and make unequivocal statements. “It is impossible
to say now exactly which measures will be taken because the policy
displayed by the international organizations and the USA in the near
past makes us take a cautious approach. I am a cautious optimist,” he
said.
Sulhaddin Akbar also said that there will be a resolution of the US
Congress on Azerbaijan, but did not specify the date.

Turkish Press, Turkey
July 6 2005
The EU Trying to Make Us Foot the Bill
Gazi Erçel
source: Sabah
Columnist Gazi Ercel writes about Turkish-European Union relations. A
summary of his column is as follows:
`Following their defeat in the French and Dutch referendums on the
EU’s constitutional treaty, the leaders of the bloc have been trying
lately to find a scapegoat to foist off their own responsibilities.
At length, they decided to make Turkey pay the bill for their defeat.
But, what’s the real reason for their failure? Because they made
grave mistakes with regard to the enlargement process. Let’s take a
look at some of them:
They prepared a 350-page constitution and failed to explain the
motives and details of the text to their own people. 2. They held
referendums although there was no alternative to the constitution. 3.
They failed to make structural reforms to their own economies. 4.
They failed to address the unemployment problem. 5. They failed to
establish a competitive economic structure. They failed to display
sound leadership.
Consequently, the constitution prepared by these EU decision-makers
was tossed onto to the garbage heap. In addition, thorny problems
have emerged regarding the political integration process. Now most
European leaders seem to prefer giving up their enlargement
aspirations over trying to sell their voters on the process. `Let’s
stop the enlargement, don’t accept new members to the bloc and don’t
spend our taxes on them,’ they say. EU leaders are trying to make the
candidate countries foot the bill for their own failures.
But what will happen now? EU officials might have stumbled badly, but
they are no fools. I don’t think that they will change or postpone
the starting date of Turkey’s membership negotiations. They can’t
risk it because such a decision would damage their credibility in the
eyes of the international community. Instead, they will probably
increase pressure on Ankara, particularly on sensitive issues such as
Cyprus and Armenia. Their ultimate goal will probably be to deter us
by trying our patience.
Under these circumstances, we must act with common sense so as not to
be tricked by their ploy. We should keep patient and improve our
political structure without making concessions from our national
honor. We should not be incited by their provocations. These are the
best things that we can do for now.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
July 6 2005
Iran, Armenia discuss ways of promoting bilateral ties
Moscow, July 7, IRNA

Iran and Armenia in Yerevan on Wednesday discussed ways of expanding
bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, in a meeting with
visiting Governor General of the Iranian southern province of
Hormuzgan Ebrahim Derazgisou, said his country attaches importance to
promotion of ties with Iran.
He added strategic projects now being jointly implemented by Iran and
Armenia would consolidate mutual cooperation.
The premier expressed his felicitation to Iranian President-elect
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his landslide victory in the 9th presidential
election and hoped bilateral ties would receive further boost with
the coming to power of the new government in Iran.
Derazgisou, for his part, said Hormuzgan province which is located at
the beginning of North-South corridor plays a crucial role in transit
of goods in the region.
Meanwhile, the governor-general of Hormuzgan province, in a meeting
with Head of the Armenian presidential administration, Artashes
Tumanian, voiced Iran’s readiness to expand economic cooperation with
Armenia.
Tumanian, who is the co-chairman of the Armenian-Iranian
Intergovernmental Economic Commission, stressed the need to make use
of bilateral potentials by tradesmen and economic and industrial
officials considering the important role Hormuzgan province plays in
trade exchanges.
He called for activities of Armenian businessmen in Iran’s free trade
zones.
Derazgisou arrived in the Armenian capital on Monday at the head of a
trade delegation to discuss with Armenian officials ways to promote
Tehran-Yerevan cooperation.
The Iranian delegation will wrap up its visit to Armenia on Thursday.

ARMENTEL ANNOUNCES DOUBLE REDUCTION OF TARIFFS FOR MOBILE
COMMUNICATION
YEREVAN, JULY 1. ARMINFO. ArmenTel has published summer tariffs for
mobile communication.
Press Secretary of the company Hasmik Chutilyan informs ARMINFO that
starting from July 1, a minute of calls for contract subscribers (SIM
cards) costs 43.2 AMD instead of the previous 54 AMD, for the
subscribers of prepayment system (Easy cards) a minute of calls will
cost 79.2 AMD instead of the 118 AMD effective from, July 1. The
prices are presented VAT inclusive. It should be noted that from July
1, the second operator of mobile communication K-Telecom has started
selling its mobile communication cards.

AZERBAIJANI MPS INTEND TO RAISE ISSUE OF REDEPLOYMENT OF
RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES FROM GEORGIA TO ARMENIA AT FORTHCOMING SESSION
OF OSCE PA
YEREVAN, JUNE 29. ARMINFO. Azerbaijani MPs intend to raise the issue
of redeployment of Russian military bases from the territory of
Georgia to Armenia at the forthcoming session of OSCE PA, Vice
Chairman of Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation Eldar Ibrahimov
tells Echo newspaper.
He says that “he intends to raise an issue that one OSCE member-state
– Russia – arms Armenia with its bases withdrawn from the territory
of Georgia.”
To note, Russia does not “arm Armenia,” but re-deploys its bases in
Georgia to its bases in Gyumri, Armenia.

Presidential medal for His Holiness Karekin II
Fresno State News, CA
June 29 2005
Dr. John D. Welty, right, president of California State University,
Fresno, presented the President’s Medal of Distinction to His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, during a campus
visit on June 14. Assisting Dr. Welty was Barlow Der Mugrdechian,
Fresno State lecturer in Armenian Studies. The President’s Medal is
the highest non-degree award presented by Fresno State.
His Holiness Karekin II, considered to be pope of the Armenian
faithful, visited Fresno and the Central Valley from June 11-15 to
lead a “Renaissance of Faith.” He presented Dr. Welty with an engraved
silver tray.
The meeting was the second in a year for the two men. Last summer,
Dr. Welty visited His Holiness Karekin II while traveling in Armenia.

Reuters, UK
June 29 2005
EU Commission seeks membership for Turkey
Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:24 PM BST
By Sebastian Alison
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The EU’s executive Commission reaffirmed on
Wednesday that it aims to bring Turkey into the 25-nation bloc,
but not before 2014, adopting a draft mandate to start negotiations
despite fierce internal and public debate.
“The negotiations will be based on Turkey’s own merits and the pace
will depend on Turkey’s progress in meeting the requirements for
membership,” said a draft negotiating mandate adopted on Wednesday
as the basis for accession talks.
“The shared objective of the negotiations is accession.”
The negotiations are scheduled to start on October 3, as agreed last
December by EU leaders, provided the bloc’s 25 foreign ministers
unanimously approve the mandate by then.
The document states that negotiations for Turkish European Union
membership can only be concluded from 2014, after the bloc’s next
long-term budget which runs from 2007 to 2013.
Growing public scepticism about Turkey’s bid, especially in western
Europe, was reflected in a tough political debate inside the 25-member
EU executive on the terms and timing of the “negotiating framework”.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn was more than two hours late
for a news conference to announce that the Commission had adopted the
mandate and told reporters: “We had a lengthy, argumentative and also
very political debate.
Some Commissioners had argued the mandate should contain wording
allowing for Turkey to be granted only a “privileged partnership”
with the EU rather then membership, he said, although in the end no
such language was included.
“STICK TO OUR WORD”
Commission sources said Luxembourg’s commissioner, Viviane Reding, had
led a small group arguing against full membership and had questioned
the need to adopt a mandate now.
She was backed to a lesser extent by Charlie McCreevy of Ireland,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner of Austria and Jan Figel of Slovakia, the
sources said.
But Rehn prevailed, noting that EU leaders had reaffirmed unanimously
their commitment to accession talks at a summit just two weeks ago,
after the French and Dutch referendums rejecting the EU constitution,
in which hostility to Turkish membership was a factor.
“The European Union has made commitments to Turkey … We stick to
our word,” he said. “Europe needs a stable democratic and prosperous
Turkey. It is in our own strategic interests.”
However, he said he fully expected an impassioned public debate
about Turkey in which the issue of full membership versus “privileged
partnership” would be aired for years to come.
The Commission called on EU governments to launch a debate on Turkey’s
relationship with Europe.
A growing number of centre-right leaders in western Europe,
including the likely next German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and a
top presidential contender in France, Nicolas Sarkozy, oppose Turkish
entry and favour the “privileged partnership” option.
But Britain, which takes over the EU’s rotating presidency on Friday
for six months and will chair the start of accession talks, is a
staunch advocate of Turkish membership.
Commissioner Peter Mandelson led the pro-Turkey camp in the Commission
debate, the sources said.
Rehn called the negotiating framework “rigorous,” and highlighted its
demands that Turkey develops better relations with its neighbours —
notably Cyprus, divided since 1974 into Greek and Turkish Cypriot
communities, and Armenia, with which it has no diplomatic relations
and a sealed border.
He said Turkey had been working constructively to improve ties with
Cyprus, although more needed to be done with the eventual aim of
reunifying the island.
“So far we have not succeeded. I don’t take any sides on this issue,
I work for a solution,” he said, adding that he would emphasise
Cyprus in the Commission’s next regular report on Turkey’s progress
to membership, due on November 9.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“JOLLY TELECOM”
A1plus
| 15:25:56 | 29-06-2005 | Social |
The only competitor of “ArmenTel” “K Telecom” announced about the
tariffs of its service two days before entering the market. In case
of buying a Classic Card they are very close to the lowered tariffs
of “ArmenTel”, , but the competitor of the famous “Easy Card” –
“Alo Card” offers service at quite a low price.
First, “Alo Card” costs 7000 ARMD, and the head of the company Ralf
Yerikyan assured several times that it will not be sold in the black
market at a higher price.
While calling the subscribers of the same telecom a minute costs 48
drams by day and 44 drams by night. On Sundays a minute by day costs
44 drams too. The service is called “Jolly Sunday”.
While calling Karabakh 1 minute of Alo Card costs 110 drams, and of
Classic card 0 55 drams. As for inside Armenia, while calling the
subscriber of “ArmenTel” a minute costs 110/55 drams.
The reloading cards of Viva Cell are of different prices and dates. The
cheapest costs 2000 drams and is valid for 20 days, and the most
expensive costs 18 000 drams and is valid for 300 days.
As for the Classic Card, Viva Cell, in contrast to ArmenTel does
not demand a pre-payment of $100. The card costs 1500 drams, and the
monthly payment is 4000 drams. It should also be added that all the
costs include Value Added Tax.

Y. MERZLYAKOV: TURKEY’S POSITION IMPORTANT FOR KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Pan Armenian News
29.06.2005 02:31
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Elmar Mamedyarov was right to say that agreement on
two points of the negotiation process has been achieved. I suppose
it was achieved on the basis of mutual concessions”, OSCE Minsk
Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakovstated, APA Azeri news agency
reports. When asked whether these agreements can be confirmed by
the Presidents he said, “If a definition admissible for both states
is set, I think there is such a possibility.” At the same time he
refrained from commenting on the details. When asked how the visit
of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baku can tell on
the Turkish-Armenian relations, the Russian Co-Chair noted, “I always
supposed that Turkey’s position is important for the Karabakh conflict
settlement. The normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations will
have a great impact on the situation in the region.” It should be
noted that when commenting on Elmar Mamedyarov’s statement Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated that partial agreement was
achieved on one point only. “There are details we disagree on, but
I am convinced that they will be resolved and we will proceed to the
settlement of other issues”, the RA FM said.

VIVACELL, THE SECOND MOBILE COMMUNICATION OPERATOR IN ARMENIA,
ANNOUNCES CONSUMER PRICES OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION
YEREVAN, June 29. /ARKA/. VivaCell, the second mobile communication
operator in Armenia, has already set up consumer prices of mobile
communication. Difference in prices is due to hours when a call is
made. Rush-hour calls are those made over a period between 7:00 and
23:00, and common hours are between 23:00 and 7:00. Alo preliminary
payment card costs AMD 7thnd. AMD 3.7thnd of free conversation of
a 60-day validity (all the prices are presented with taking into
account 20-percent VAT).
A number of services such as conveying brief SMS messages, voice
mail, international porting, multi-customer communication, coming
calls identification, calls readdressing are to be rendered to those
possessing Alo cards without preliminary payment and with monthly
payment.
For Alo card users, rush-our calls within VivaCell customer network
will cost AMD 90 per a minute, while per-minute price at the rest time
of day is set at AMD 80. Price for calls to ArmenTel, Karabakh-Telecom
(NKR) and Nagorno-Karabakh cable phone communication customers at
rush hours is AMD 110, and over the rest time – AMD 90.
Prices for Alo cards of reloading are AMD 2thnd (20 days), AMD 4.5thnd
(55 days), AMD 7thnd (100 days), AMD 9.5thnd (150 days) and AMD 18thnd
(300 days). Alo cards will be on sale in Armpost, Ardshininvestbank,
Converse Bank and other centers.
Payment for attaching Classic customer card to the network is set at
AMD 4.5thnd and monthly customer payment is AMD 4thnd. Prices for calls
to VivaCell other customers and Armenian cable phone communication
customers are AMD 48 at rush hours and AMD 44 at the rest time. Calls
to ArmenTel and Karabakh-Telecom (NKR) cellular customers are AMD 55
and AMD 48 accordingly. Free services are also envisaged for Classic
card users. Calls identification, regime of waiting, call readdressing,
SMS messages sending, voice mail, multi-customer communication and
international porting are among them. New paid services such as data
conveying, bill detailing, phone number concealing in case of sending
SMS massages, calls blocking, double SIM-card and international roaming
are also included in the list of the services to be rendered by the
company. Alassic cards will be on sale in the company’s offices in
Yerevan. Their addresses: Kievyan Str.11/1, Argishti Str. 4/1 and
Erebuni Str. 18.
VivaCell also offers corporative Business, Business+ and Optima cards
intended for 5 to 20, 21 to 100 and 100 and more lines accordingly.
Prices for calls within the corporative network will make AMD 40, 38
and 36 accordingly. Calls to other VivaCell’s customers and to cable
phones in Armenia will cost accordingly AMD 46, 44 and 42 at rush
hours and AMD 42, 42 and 40 at the rest time. Prices for rush-hour
calls to ArmenTel and Karabakh-Telecom (NKR) mobile customers as well
as Nagorno-Karabakh cable phones make AMD 52, 50 and 50 accordingly
and at the remaining time AMD 48.
International calls for Alo, Classic cards and corporative packages
users to Russia and Georgia will cost AMD 235 and 165 (rush-hour and
not), to other CIS countries AMD 285 and 200, to the U.S.A., Canada,
Europe, Australia – AMD 430 and 300 and to the Middle East countries
AMD 350 and 245. VivaCell’s all customers will be able to send local
SMS messages at AMD 20 and international ones at AMD 55. The company
also announced that Sunday calls within VIvaCell and cable networks
will make AMD 44. The company’s free hot line number is 111. ($1 =
AMD 442.85). M.V. –0-