Author: Chakrian Hovsep

“DURING ITS EU PRESIDENCY THE NEW GERMAN GOVERNMENT WILL DEFINITELY GO FOR
AN IMPROVED ENP”
(The exclusive interview of Dr. Joerg Himmelreich, Senior
Transatlantic Fellow, the German Marshall Fund of the United States,
to Mediamax news agency, June 2006)
In mid May 2006, German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of the
need to bring the South Caucasus closer to Europe. Mediamax has
asked the Senior Transatlantic Fellow, Eastern Europe and Wider
Black Sea Region, the German Marshall Fund of the United States,
Dr. Joerg Himmelreich, to comment on the new policy of the German
government. The opinions in this interview reflect the personal
viewpoint of Dr. Joerg Himmelreich.
– On May 11, German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivered a speech in
Bundestag on “EU’s Eastern Policy” and spoke of the need
to bring South Caucasus closer to Europe. Did you expect to hear
something like this from Chancellor Merkel?
– Angela Merkel gave for the first time a broader outline of key
elements of the future German EU policy ahead of the German EU
Presidency in the first half of 2007 and the German G8 presidency in
2007. She underlined the importance of a common European Foreign
and Security Policy and of a common European Neighborhood Policy
for addressing the global challenges for the EU and for diminishing
a security gap between the EU and its neighbors. In his speech at
the Munich Security Conference this February, German Minister of
Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier had particularly underlined
the importance of the stabilization of the South Caucasus for the
stability of Europe.
– May we assume that Germany’s growing interest in the South
Caucasus region has been conditioned by the problems of energy
security which were brought to forefront early this year, or the
new policy was planned irrespective of it?
– The new German government seems to be deeply aware of various
problems of instability of the region – the unresolved frozen
conflicts, organized crime, terrorism and illegal trafficking of
people, drugs and arms – and their immediate threats for the European
security.
As the engaged European policy to the South Caucasus has as well to
keep in mind its effects on the relations with Russia, the main change
in the new government’s thinking is related to a slightly adjusted
German policy towards Russia. Russia remains a strategic partner
and the most important neighbor of the EU, but that doesn’t exclude
different understandings and approaches for the stabilization of
the South Caucasus and the whole common neighborhood region. As a
smart pupil of Helmut Kohl and by her own biography as a German of
the former GDR, Mrs Merkel has a particular sensibility for the
worries of the Eastern European states about Russia.
The security of energy transport routes via the South Caucasus and
the Wider Black Sea region is certainly a reason for the raising
importance of the region for Europe; Germany itself though doesn’t
have a big stake in this energy market. The broader geopolitical
context of the problems of the South Caucasus with its immediate
consequences for Europe has mainly driven the recognition of the
German government that Europe in its own key interest can’t anymore
afford a destabilization of this region.
– Should we consider Germany’s new view on the South Caucasus
in the context of the European Neighborhood Policy or in the light
of initiatives related to the Wider Black Sea region, or a separate
initiative is only meant?
– The German government has increasingly become aware of some
weaknesses of the existing European Neighborhood Policy. Even if the
EU can’t give any immediate membership prospective to the Eastern
European Neighbors, the long lasting implementation of the acquis
communitaire in these countries as the ultimate goal does not meet
the urgent challenges of stabilization of this region. Instruments
beyond the ENP have to be offered to these EU neighborhood countries
like the Barcelona process for the Mediterranean Neighborhood.
In particular, the regional cooperation of these countries has to
be strengthened. Russia is part of many problems, but has to be part
of the solution to establish regional security as well. Additional
ENP instruments therefore should contain elements enhancing regional
cooperation and including offers to Russia. A further developed ENP
will include elements of Wider Black Sea region cooperation.
The German government intensively reflects about a modified Black Sea
Stability Pact or an ENP Plus that contains additional support for
regional cooperation in areas like environmental protection, energy
security, infrastructure, security and trade regulation. With the
EU accession of Bulgaria and Romania by January 1st, 2007 the EU
will already consist of Black Sea states as member states.
– Can EU’s closer interest in Caucasus assist in softening existing
problems, for instance, normalizing relations between Armenia –
involved in the European Neighborhood Policy – and Turkey, striving
for the EU membership?
– The EU can only offer additional instruments for regional cooperation
and European integration. To which extend they will be fruitful depends
ultimately from the political will of the addressees. During the
long process of the negotiations with Turkey about its EU accession
it will be a key question to which extent Turkey is able and wishes
to contribute to the stabilization of the South Caucasus. Given her
close historical and cultural ties with the region Turkey can offer
a lot, if it is ready to accept its own history and the genocide like
prosecutions against the Armenian people by the Ottoman administration
at 1915.
– Do you agree with the viewpoint of the EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby that all three South Caucasus
countries move “in various directions”? If yes, then what dangers these
“various directions” may entail?
– There are no doubts that the South Caucasus consists of three very
different states, different in the status of democratic transition,
different in economic reforms and size, and different in some foreign
and security political aspects. All in all, however, I see a broad
overall strive of all the three countries for integration into
the EU and from a long term point of view even into NATO. Georgia
is strongly aspiring for NATO integration, Azerbaijan is carefully
assessing the ground for a more intensive NATO integration and Armenia
is looking for an active participation in the ENP and tries to easy
Russia’s strong grip. In some regard there is even a sort of common
competition among all three states who rushes quicker on the path to
Western integration. The people and the governments in all 3 states
are going to understand more and more that on the long term the West
has something to offer that other influential powers in the region
don’t: security and prosperity and freedom.
– In early and mid 90s, it has been suggested that the European
countries have “divided” the South Caucasus the following way:
Germany “supervises” Georgia, France – Armenia, and Great Britain –
Azerbaijan. May we say that the time for such schematic approaches has
gone and Germany’s ambitions now cover the whole South Caucasus region?
– This scheme, indeed, reflects some historical and economical
relations, but is driving neither the German nor the French nor
the British nor the EU policy. Neither Germany nor any other EU
member state can successfully pursuit any unilateral policy towards
the region. The only way to success is a more active, common EU
Neighborhood Policy as difficult as it is to find a common EU South
Caucasus policy among 25 member states with equal voting rights. During
its EU presidency the new German government will definitely go for
an improved ENP to make the EU integration of the 3 South Caucasian
states real.

Another trainload of Russian military hardware leaves Georgia
Interfax-AVN military news agency website, Moscow
18 Jul 06
Tbilisi, 18 July: Another trainload of military hardware from the
Russian military bases that are being withdrawn from Georgia left
for Russia on Tuesday morning [18 July], Col Vladimir Kuparadze,
deputy commander of the Russian Force in the Transcaucasus [RFT],
has told Interfax-AVN.
“The train is carrying 12 transport vehicles for surface-to-air
missiles, two Shilka self-propelled artillery systems, as well as
Strela portable surface-to-air missile systems from the 62nd base in
Akhalkalaki,” Kuparadze said.
The RFT deputy commander added that this was the 16th trainload of
Russian military hardware [to leave Georgia] this year.
“Ten trainloads of hardware, armaments and other equipment of the 12th
(Batumi) and 62nd Russian bases left for Russia earlier, and another
five went from Batumi to the town of Gyumri (Armenia) to continue
the equipment the 102nd Russian base there,” he said.
According to the RFT headquarters, a total of 19 trainloads are to be
dispatched from Georgia in 2006, bringing some 400 pieces of military
hardware and over 1,500 tones of other military equipment to Russia.
The RFT deputy commander also said that two lorry convoys with
equipment and ammunition were to leave Akhalkalaki for Gyumri within
a week.
Under Georgian-Russian agreements, Russian military bases are to be
removed from Georgia in 2008.

Armenia the third in the 15th international “Slavyanski Bazar” festival
ArmRadio.am
14.07.2006 14:45
Karine Asryan of Armenia and Chicks of Italy took th ethird place
at the 15th international “Slavyanski Bazar” festival of pop songs,
receiving also a financial prize.
The Embassy of the Republic of Belarus told “Arminfo” Agency that
Oksana Bogoslovskaya of Russia took the Grand Prix of the international
festival. Natalia Gordienko of Moldova and Alexey Goman of Russia took
the first and second prizes correspondingly. Marina Vasilevskaya of
Belarus was awarded a special prize after Vladimir Mulyavin.
All n all 23 young singers from 20 countries were participating in
the 15th international “Slavyanski Bazar” festival of pop songs

Senator Feingold adds voice to growing congressional calls for answers on
Ambassador Evans firing
ArmRadio.am
12.07.2006 11:55
Concerns continued to grow this week regarding the circumstances
surrounding the firing of US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall
Evans, as Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) becomes the ninth member
of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee to call for
clarification of the State Department policy on the Armenian Genocide,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
In a written statement submitted as part of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee hearing on Ambassador Designate to Armenia Richard
Hoagland, Senator Feingold noted that, “I want to express my deep
concern about the Administration’s reluctance to acknowledge the acts
of genocide that were committed against the Armenians almost a century
ago. The Administration’s continued failure to recognize these tragic
events is troubling to me and to those who share my belief that we
should speak honestly about, and insist on accountability for, past
crimes against humanity and genocide.”
Sen. Feingold’s concerns are shared by half of the influential Senate
Foreign Relations Committee members – including Senators George Allen
(R-VA), Ranking Democrat Joe Biden (D-DE), Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT),
John Kerry (D-MA) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) – who must first approve
Ambassador Evans’ replacement prior to a full Senate confirmation. The
Senate Foreign Relations Committee delayed action on Ambassador
Designate Hoagland, while quickly voting for the incoming Ambassadors
to Switzerland and Ireland, who were before the Committee the same
day as Ambassador Designate Hoagland.

Chess king Kasparov goads Putin with ‘alternative summit’
By Adrian Blomfield
The Daily Telegraph, UK
July 11 2006
(Filed: 11/07/2006)
Garry Kasparov was furious as he strode into the Moscow boardroom of
his new political movement, the United Civic Front. Flopping into
a chair, he gesticulated towards a giant map of Russia covered in
red labels.
“They are detaining our delegates all over the country,” he said. “At
least 20 arrests that we know of and two guys badly beaten in
Kaliningrad.”
Garry Kasparov Since he swapped chess for opposition politics a year
ago, Mr Kasparov has been transformed from one of Russia’s all-time
heroes to one of the Kremlin’s most hated men.
Today he will seek to goad President Vladmir Putin still further when
he plays co-host to an “alternative G8” summit, four days before the
leaders of the real thing meet in St Petersburg.
The Kremlin is worried that the chess master’s conference will upset
the carefully co-ordinated public relations drive before the summit,
the first time it has been held in Russia.
Igor Shuvalev, Mr Putin’s envoy to the group of eight industrialised
nations, has said that attendance by fellow members at the alternative
meeting would be seen as “an unfriendly gesture”.
Reflecting the souring relationship between the White House and the
Kremlin, Washington is sending two senior State Department officials.
Britain, normally more timid about upsetting Moscow, is sending its
Moscow ambassador, Anthony Brenton.
Mr Kasparov, 43, said he hoped the two-day meeting would act as “a
mirror on the reality of Russia” for the G8, demonstrating that Mr
Putin was an autocrat intent on erasing the freedoms won since the
collapse of communism.
He believes that the alternative G8 could persuade Russia’s bickering
opposition to unite against Mr Putin.
“This meeting represents the coming together of the Left-wing and the
Right-wing opposition,” he said. “If we succeed, we can no longer
be dismissed as marginals or puppets of the West. That is why the
Kremlin is so afraid. Our unification is their greatest fear.” Even
if Mr Kasparov succeeds in unifying the opposition, he will have a
hard time getting his message across. It is a fair bet that state
television is unlikely to give the alternative summit much airtime.
Besides, the opposition has almost no presence in parliament, while
activist groups which could help Mr Kasparov put his message out have
been subjected to strict controls.
Then there is Mr Putin’s popularity. Polls suggest that he enjoys a 70
per cent approval rating. That could be because so few Russians are
allowed to hear any criticism of him but also because the economy,
aided by high oil prices, is thriving.
Mr Kasparov, ranked as the world’s leading chess player for 20 years,
is no longer feted as he once was. He has been pelted with eggs and
an elderly woman once cracked a chessboard over his head. Having
an Armenian mother and a Jewish father is also seen as a serious
impediment for anyone harbouring presidential ambitions.
Yet the Kremlin seems to fear him – if not as a challenger in his
own right, as someone with the determination and charisma to unite
the opposition.
The authorities have made great efforts to stop him giving talks during
tours of the regions, where rally venues have been double-booked and
speeches have had to be abandoned because of mysterious fire alerts.
Mr Kasparov is reticent about whether his ambitions include running
for president.
“It is not yet on anyone’s agenda,” he said. “We are trying first to
ensure a free and fair election that will allow us to regain pride
in our country.”
The odds may be against him if he does try but he has stared down
rivals in the past, most famously when, aged 22, he came back from 5-0
down in an epic world championship match with Anatoly Karpov in 1984/5.
The match was abandoned after five months but Mr Kasparov eventually
snatched the crown from his greatest rival in 1986.

European Parliamentarians demand Armenian Genocide recognition be
included in the negotiations roadmap
ArmRadio.am
11.07.2006 12:23
On Wednesday, July 12th, the European Parliament’s Committee for
Foreign Affairs will vote on a draft resolution on “Turkey’s progress
toward accession,” but not until it considers some 343 amendments
submitted to the report prepared by Mr. Camiel Eurlings, reported
the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).
While Mr. Eurlings’ report made only vague references to Armenian
concerns, the amendments tackle key conserves comprehensively. Many
parliamentarians from the main political parties – including the
Conservative, Socialist, Liberal, and Communist – unanimously call
on Turkey to “withdraw without condition the blockade of Armenia” and
to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as “a prerequisite to accession”.
Further, many amendments urge the European Commission and Council to
include the Armenian Genocide as a perquisite in the Revised Accession
Partnership – the roadmap of the negotiation process.
“Twenty years ago, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on ‘a
political solution to the Armenian question’ the findings of which were
considered ‘insurmountable obstacles’ to Turkey’s accession. Twenty
years later, none of these issues has been resolved. Given these
circumstances, the continuation of the negotiations, without dealing
with the root concerns, is a political anomaly which must stop,”
commented Hilda Tchoboian.

Armenian, Georgian premiers discuss bilateral cooperation
Arminfo
7 Jul 06
Yerevan, 7 July: The Armenian and Georgian prime ministers discussed a
wide range of issues related to the further development of cooperation
between the two countries in Batumi today, Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Markaryan told journalists after a one-hour meeting with
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli.
He said that the construction of the third high-voltage power line by
Georgia was discussed and an appropriate agreement was reached today.
Apart from that, issues related to the sphere of transport were also
discussed at the meeting, specifically, the talks focused on the fact
that the authorities of both countries are doing everything possible
to open the Abkhaz sector of the railway. However, the prime minister
added that in order to fully solve this issue, Russia’s support is
also important. Markaryan said that during the meeting, an agreement
was also reached to set up a joint working group that will estimate
the possibilities and benefits of resuming the rail service between
Kars, Gyumri and Tbilisi.
Speaking about the Georgian authorities’ decision to restore the
infrastructure of [the Armenian-populated Georgian] Samtskhe-Javakheti
region, Markaryan pointed out that it will be expedient to involve
businessmen and the local population of Samtskhe-Javakheti in the
implementation of the aforesaid work in order to weaken tensions in
the region, especially as the local population has great experience
in such work.
[Passage omitted: Markaryan spoke about Armenia’s possible assistance
to the region]
The Armenian prime minister said that they also discussed the
importance of opening an Armenian-Georgian university in Tbilisi. In
this regard, the Armenian education and science minister will visit
Georgia to discuss a number of technical issues.
The sides also discussed cooperation in the sphere of tourism and noted
that the number of Armenian tourists visiting Georgian and Ajarian
resorts on the Black Sea coast is increasing year by year. In this
regard, Markaryan told journalists that the importance of increasing
the volume of Armenian investment in the Black Sea resorts was
also noted.

Armenian Intellectuals will take Part in 8th Championship in Intellectual Games in Georgia
The Messenger, Georgia
July 7 2006
Seven Armenian teams will participate in the 8th South Caucasian
Championship in Intellectual Games that will be held in Georgia
on July 7-9, Karen Kocharian, chairman of the Armenian Association
‘What? Where? How?’ stated to Novosti Armenia news agency.
Kocharian said that the participating teams occupied the first seven
places in the [Armenian] Republican Championship in Intellectual
Games, and include the current champions of the South Caucasus –
the team of the Republican Party of Armenia.
“Armenian teams are tuned for victory. We are going to maintain the
title of champion”, he stressed.
Kocharian noted that Armenian teams would compete with each other at
the forthcoming championship. Among the other competitors, he pointed
to Tanakhard – the Azeri team from Baku.
Over 30 teams from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, as well as from
Tskhinvali and Sokhumi will take part in the championship.
Alexei Paevski from Moscow will lead and judge the games. (Black
Sea Press)

LIBRARIAN AWARDED WITH HONOR CERTIFICATES
Panorama.am
14:43 07/07/06
July 7 has been celebrated as the day of National Library for the sixth
year now. On this day in 1919 the library of the men’s gymnasium was
transformed into National Library by the decision of prime minister
receiving state status. At the moment, the library closely cooperates
with about 30 countries and 100 international organizations, Davit
Sargsyan, library head said. Starting from today, the library will
have its Internet page.
21 librarians will get honor certificates today and the library
celebrates the event with an exhibition of books. /Panorama.am/

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
ARMENIA
7 July 2006
Editor jailed without bail; political motives cited
SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release:
Armenian editor jailed without bail; political motives cited
New York, July 7, 2006 – The editor of an opposition daily has been
jailed in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, for more than two weeks
without bail. Arman Babadzhanian, editor-in-chief of Zhamanak Yerevan
(Yerevan Times), faces up to five years in prison for allegedly
forging documents to avoid military service, but the Committee to
Protect Journalists and others are concerned that the charge was
prompted by his newspaper’s critical reporting on government conduct.
Babadzhanian was arrested June 26, just days after the
Armenian-language newspaper published an article questioning the
independence of the prosecutor general’s office, said Seda Muradian,
of the London-based Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR),
which has followed the case closely. Authorities allege that the
forgeries occurred in 2002, but they did not explain the delay in
pressing charges.
Press reports said the prosecutor general summoned Babadzhanian for
questioning as a witness in a criminal case but jailed him instead
on the forgery charge. News reports said that the editor allegedly
confessed to forging documents to avoid the draft, but press freedom
and human rights groups are questioning the prosecutors’ motives.
Babadzhanian was being held today in the Nabarashen pretrial detention
center in Yerevan, according to the Yerevan Press Club. His lawyer
unsuccessfully sought Babadzhanian’s release from preliminary detention
while the case was pending. CPJ sources said that Babadzhanian could
remain imprisoned without bail for weeks before the case proceeds.
Muradian, Armenia country director for IWPR, said the prosecutor’s
refusal to grant Babadzhanian preliminary release on bail is very
unusual in this type of case. “Authorities are treating Babadzhanian
as a dangerous criminal,” Muradian told CPJ.
On Wednesday, the Yerevan Press Club, Internews Armenia, the Committee
to Protect Freedom of Expression, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia,
and other local press freedom groups sent a letter to the prosecutor
general’s office seeking Babadzhanian’s release on bail.
The groups also challenged the validity of Babadzhanian’s purported
confession. Also on Wednesday, editors of seven Armenian independent
and opposition newspapers issued a statement saying Babadzhanian’s
arrest was intended to intimidate the press.
“We are very concerned that the criminal case against Arman
Babadzhanian may be related to his journalism,” CPJ Executive Director
Joel Simon said today. “We call on Armenian authorities to release
him pending trial and make their evidence against him public.”
Babadzhanian’s colleagues from Zhamanak Yerevan staged protests in
front of the prosecutor general’s office for three days after their
editor was arrested, saying that the case is politically motivated
and connected to the paper’s critical editorial stance, according to
press reports.
Armenian independent press has come under pressure in recent years.
The independent television station A1+ has been refused a broadcast
license 11 times since it was taken off the air in 2002. In April
2005, legislation restricting press coverage of terrorism was
adopted. Retaliatory assaults against journalists continue, especially
in the provinces, and officials do little to apprehend and prosecute
the perpetrators, CPJ research shows.
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that
works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information on
Armenia, visit
For further information, contact Nina Ognianova (x106) at CPJ, 330
Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax:
+1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected], Internet:
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility
of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please
credit CPJ.
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