Author: Chalian Meline

Representatives of ex-Soviet breakaway regions seek recognition,
closer ties with Russia

.c The Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) – Representatives of four ex-Soviet breakaway regions
reiterated their intention Wednesday to seek international recognition
and closer ties with Russia, and a Russian lawmaker said it was high
time the provinces were recognized as sovereign states.

Officials and academics from Georgia’s breakaway provinces of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia, the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh disputed by
Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the Trans-Dniester region of Moldova met
at a conference in Moscow and pledged to pursue independence efforts.

Igor Akhba, Abkhazia’s envoy to Russia, said his region was determined
to become independent from Georgia and seek closer ties with Russia.

“The people of Abkhazia have voted for an independent republic of
Abkhazia, … we are building an independent, lawful state in
accordance with international law,” Akhba said.

Taimuraz Kokoyev, dean of the South-Ossetian University, said his
province also had similar aims and hoped one day to become part of
Russia.

“The people of South Ossetia have decided their destiny long ago
… the Ossetian people will keep seeking to join Russia,” Kokoyev
said.

Representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh and Trans-Dniester also said
they relied on Russia’s help in their efforts to win international
recognition.

All the regions broke away from central governments in separatist wars
in the early 1990s, cultivating close ties with Russia.

Konstantin Zatulin, a lawmaker from the Kremlin-backed United Russia
party, called the sovereignty of these entities a reality that should
be accepted. “Fighting with reality is as complicated as peeing
against the wind,” Zatulin said.

Modest Kolerov, a member of the Russian presidential administration
charged with regional relations, said all the ex-Soviet republics
needed to ensure freedom of speech, religion and citizenship to their
citizens.

“We are acting to provide these fundamental rights to our fellow
countrymen in the former Soviet republics,” the Interfax news agency
quoted Kolerov as saying.

09/14/05 10:01 EDT

Agence France Presse — English
September 14, 2005 Wednesday 12:36 PM GMT

New opposition arrest in alleged Azerbaijani anti-government plot

BAKU

Azerbaijani authorities Wednesday detained a third leader of an
opposition youth group allegedly involved in anti-government
activities, raising tensions in the run-up to parliamentary polls, an
opposition spokesman said.

Ramin Tagiyev, a leader of the Yeni Fikir (New Idea) youth protest
movement, was arrested Wednesday, just two days after the arrest and
subsequent hospitalization of Yeni Fikir’s Said Nuri.

“I think they’re trying to take out the whole executive committee of
the organization,” said Murad Gasanly, a spokesman for the Azadlyq
opposition block with which Yeni Fikir is affiliated.

Prosecutors were not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.

This week’s arrests followed the August detention of the group’s
leader, Ruslan Bashirli, who was implicated in an alleged plot to
overthrow the government in a Ukraine-style popular uprising at
parliamentary elections in November.

The Azeri authorities have claimed that Yeni Fikir took its
instructions from a prominent US democracy pressure group — the
National Democratic Institute — and has been funded by Azerbaijan’s
arch-rival Armenia.

Nuri, another of the group’s leaders, was hospitalized on Tuesday
with what appeared to be liver problems. His condition was still
unclear on Wednesday.

The arrests were also condemned by Ali Kerimli, leader of the
National Front, one of the main parties in the Azadlyq opposition
bloc.

“I strongly condemn these arrests. … The authorities fear that if
the group is not destroyed before the elections it could mobilize the
youth to become politically active,” Kerimli said.

Yeni Fikir participated in a demonstration by some 20,000
anti-government protestors in the capital Baku on Saturday to mark
the official start of election campaigning.

The last national vote in the mostly Muslim republic, the 2003
presidential elections in which Ilham Aliyev took over as president
from his father Heydar Aliyev, ended in two days of rioting and
hundreds of arrests.

The Messenger, Georgia
Sept 15 2005

Two takes on talks with Gazprom
Georgian minister calls Gazexport’s statement of new prices
“incompetent”
By M. Alkhazashvili

On September 19 Minister of Energy and Fuel of Georgia Nika Gilauri
will again hold negotiations with the leadership of Gazprom in
Moscow. The meeting will clear up once and for all just how much
Georgia will pay to be supplied by Russian natural gas. However, even
before the agreement is reached the two sides appear to differ on
what they have agreed to agree to.

In a statement made at the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi on Wednesday,
David Morchiladze, the head of Gazprom’s daughter company in Tbilisi
Gazexport, said that the prices were already decided at USD 120 per
1,000 cubic meters.

Speaking at the Russian Embassy, the head of Gazexport ironically
stressed that the decision being made was in no way political.
Morchiladze described the agreement as an “apolitical” one “between
partner countries.”

Immediately afterwards, Georgia’s minister of energy countered that
the price had in no way been fixed and reiterated that talks are
still under way. Calling Morchiladze’s statement “incompetent,”
Gilauri said that until now Georgia has relied on yearly contracts
that had to be redrafted annually.

But now, as the minister said, the Georgian side has decided to sign
a long-term contract. “That price that was mentioned cannot be
considered final, because we are planning to conclude a three, four
or maybe five year contract. And so far neither of the sides can fix
the exact price, as it is a much longer process and there are lots of
issues connected to each other,” said the minister

He described last weeks talks as “only the first two hour meeting
with the representative of Gazprom in Russia and the negotiations
will continue.”

One unusual aspect of the situation is that Gazprom openly speaks
about an inevitable price increase on natural gas. Currently the only
natural gas supplier to Georgia is Russia. The natural gas share in
Georgia’s energy balance is approximately 24 percent. In 2004
Gazexport, Gazprom’s child company that supplies Georgia with natural
gas, imported to Georgia 1.23 billion cubic meters of natural gas. In
2005 Georgia will get approximately the same amount.

Despite the fact that Gilauri does not think that the price increase
on natural gas price has been decided yet, the Russian side has
spread information on Gazprom’s website that “From 2006 Gazprom will
supply Georgia with the natural gas at European market prices,
including the transportation cost.” Gazprom’s second demand – that
the Georgian government cover its current debts this year – seems
almost insignificant in comparison with the price increase, as
outstanding debts amount to about USD 12.

Worries for the domestic market

The looming increased cost of gas is worrying many in Georgia and
Morchiladze’s statement did nothing to allay concern. 24 Saati writes
that if the increase happens, the electricity tariff will increase (2
gas-powered turbines are being built in Georgia to overcome the
electricity crisis), living conditions will worsen, prices will grow
on Georgian products, the trade deficit will widen, and so on.

A possible counter balance is that the gas transit fee for Armenia be
paid by monetary means and help offset the increase. 24 Saati writes
that another negotiating point is the Georgian government’s reaction
to demands that it submit proposals to involve Gazprom in the
“gas-energetic projects” underway on Georgian territory. Moscow
continues to demand ownership over the natural gas pipelines and
blocs of Tbilgazi and Tbilsresi. These are strategic state energy
assets that would give serious levers to Gazprom and by extension, to
the Russian government.

The Georgian media points out that there exists a way to avoid panic
over the natural gas price increase, but the administration does not
want to speak about it. It is true that the country used to receive
natural gas from Russia at a low price – 1,000 cubic meters for USD
65, but the population paid European-sized tariffs to consume it –
USD 130 per thousand cubic meters.

As the newspaper Alia points out, “The difference is the profit that
goes to firms that perform the role of middlemen. We have had two
such firms that existed even under the Shevardnadze administration.”
If these firms are eliminated, or if they at least take a sharp
reduction in profits, homeowners can get natural gas at almost the
same price as before.

The Irish Times
September 14, 2005

Turkish plan to jail author alarms EU

TURKEY: Turkey’s “provocative” plan to prosecute novelist Orhan Pamuk
shows that some members of its judiciary are resisting reforms vital
to Ankara’s drive to join the European Union, the EU’s enlargement
chief said yesterday.

Mr Pamuk faces up to three years in jail for backing allegations that
Armenians suffered genocide at Ottoman Turkish hands 90 years ago – a
highly sensitive issue in Turkey, due to start EU membership talks on
October 3rd. Turkish prosecutors are also investigating comments by
the best-selling author that some 30,000 Kurds were killed more
recently in Turkey in separatist clashes with security forces.

“I find a recent decision to prosecute writer Orhan Pamuk raises
serious concern,” EU enlargement commissioner Dr Olli Rehn told the
European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

“A decision . . . to bring the court case on December 16th . . .
cannot be just a coincidence. I think it is a provocation.” December
16th is the first anniversary of an EU decision to open entry talks
with Turkey.

Mr Pamuk’s comments during an newspaper interview drew an angry
reaction from Turkish nationalists and politicians.

The public prosecutor in Istanbul’s Sisli district found Mr Pamuk’s
remarks violated Turkey’s revised penal code, which deems denigration
of the “Turkish identity” a crime.

Dr Rehn said he was worried some Turkish prosecutors interpreted the
code in a way that breaches the European Convention of Human Rights,
undermining Turkey’s quest to join the EU. – (Reuters)

GREEK AMERICANS CALL FOR ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. The American Hellenic Institute (AHI),
today, urged House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry
Hyde (R-IL) to work for committee approval of Armenian Genocide
legislation, set to be considered by the panel on Thursday, September
15, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a September 13th letter to Chairman Hyde, AHI Executive Director
Nick Larigakis, explained that, “Americans of Hellenic origin, and I
believe most Americans, have long held that the U.S. Congress should
be on record as recognizing the Armenian Genocide, commemorating this
crime against all humanity, and applying its lessons to help prevent
future atrocities and genocides.” He went on to note that “Sadly, due
to the powerful pressure brought to bear by the Turkish lobby’s
threats and intimidation, legislation along these lines has been
blocked from passage.”

usopen.org
Sept 7, 2005

Men’s Singles – Quarter-Finals

Roger Federer SUI (1)
vs.
David Nalbandian ARG (11)

Lleyton Hewitt AUS (3)
vs.
Jarkko Nieminen FIN

Guillermo Coria ARG (8)
vs.
Robby Ginepri USA

Andre Agassi USA (7)
vs.
James Blake USA

NKR TO HAVE OWN CURRENCY SOON

AZG Armenian Daily #160
08/09/2005

Karabakh diary

Spartak Tevosian, NKR finance and economy minister, said in the
interview to Mediamax agency that “in one of the stages NKR is going
to have its own national currency.” But he didn’t specify about the
deadlines of the program, saying that NKR government is still working
on the details. Mr. Tevosian said that “the national currency is
one of the most important components of a state and that is of high
importance for NKR.” He stated that AMD which is currently used in
NKR will be circulated together with other foreign currencies in the
republic, when NKR national currency appears.

OSCE LEADER TO CONVEY “ALIYEV’S FRANK VERBAL MESSAGE” TO KOCHARIAN

Pan Armenian News

06.09.2005 03:33

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel will convey “a very frank verbal message of Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev” to Armenian President Robert Kocharian in the
course of their today’s meeting. Mr. Rupel stated it after a meeting
with NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan late last night. In the words of
the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, who had arrived in Yerevan, the solution
of the Karabakh problem should be found as a result of conciliation
of two principles: territorial integrity and people’s right to
self-determination. D. Rupel noted that “the details that should be
discussed in the course of the talks are the point.” A. Ghukasyan’s
conversation with D. Rupel continued longer than it was planned before,
which in the NKR President’s words evidences the OSCE interest toward
the NKR authorities’ stand. He called the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
visiting the region twice an unprecedented fact. “This evidences
desire to facilitate the process and speed it up,” A. Ghukasyan stated,
reported Mediamax.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SPLITTED UP

A1+

| 14:40:25 | 05-09-2005 | Politics |

Today the ex-members of the council of the Republican party who left
the party made an official announcement commenting on their decision.

Mr. Bazeyan represented the content of the announcement, “Expressing
our disagreement with the political path of the Republican party,
considering the hopes to solve inner political problems with the help
of outer powers unacceptable, considering the promises to organize
revolution periodically given to the people non-realistic, as well
as considering the search for scape-goats for their own mistakes
unacceptable, we announce that we are ceasing our member ship to the
Republican Party”.

The announcement has been signed by the ex-members of the council of
the Republican party Albert Bazeyan, Vagharshak Haroutyunyan, Simon
Gregorian, Hovhannes Aharonyan, Hayrapet Margaryan, Armen Lazarian,
and Gevorg Andrikyan. More detailed comment will be made during
tomorrow’s press conference in which Vagharshak Haroutyunyan will
also participate.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: OUR TASK IS TO SPREAD EUROPEAN VALUES AMONG POPULATION

Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 06:58

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Helsinki Final Act is one of the principal
international documents, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
stated today at the presentation of the Armenian translation of
the Helsinki Final Act. In his words, though the Act was adopted
in 1975 it has not lost its value and importance. “Our task is to
spread these values in Armenia and prove that we abide by them,”
he said. When asked whether the principle of territorial integrity
fixed in the document conflicts with the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh issue, the Minister said that the Act maintains both the
principle of territorial integrity and the principle of right of a
nation for self-determination.