Author: Chalian Meline

ArmenPress
Nov. 1, 2004

YEREVAN MUNICIPALITY PROMISES TO EASE COMMUTERS’ PROBLEMS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: A senior official of the Yerevan
municipality reiterated today previous promises to bring some 130
passenger buses from Ukraine and Belarus by the end of the year to ease
commuters’ problems, who often have to wait for tens of minutes to
squeeze into one of mini-buses that can carry a dozen people only.
Tigran Nazarian, the head of the transport department of the
municipality said 3,000 mini-buses operate in the capital, but they are
not enough to transport passengers, especially in rush hours.
Last year the municipality brought some 30 buses, mainly from
France. Previous state-run bus companies were privatized in 1997 and
now there is only one such company in Yerevan. Nazarian said companies
refuse to bring buses on grounds that they do not bring profits as
their fares are 70 drams against 100 drams charged by mini-buses. He
said bus fares may be revised and set at 100 drams.
Nazarian said also buses will be brought up to 2007 and by that time
Yerevan municipality is expected to run 1000 buses. He said some 20
buses and trolley-buses are coming soon from French Lyon.

Pressure group appeals to NATO Secretary General

Assa Irada, Azerbaijan
28 Oct. 2004

The Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has forwarded an appeal to
the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer saying that by trying
to attend the NATO events in Baku Armenia aims to hurt the relations
between Azerbaijan and the organization and provoke stand-off and
tensions in the country.

The documents regards as unacceptable inviting Armenia to any event
in Azerbaijan, as this aggressor country perpetrated the Khojali
massacre, killed thousands of Azerbaijanis and currently holds many
Azeri citizens in captivity.

The GLO termed this as an insult to the entire Azerbaijani people
and the memory of war victims and demanded NATO to end the practice
of inviting Armenians to events in Baku.

NATO Secretary General Scheffer is expected to arrive in Baku as part
of his tour over South Caucasus November 4.*

NDTV.com, India
25 Oct. 2004

Chess: India lose to Russia at Mallorca

India suffered a 1.5-2.5 defeat against top seeds and defending
champions Russia in the ninth round of the 36th Chess Olympiad here at
the Gran Casino.

Viswanathan Anand gave India an early lead but his effort went in vain.

Leading from the front, Anand crashed through the defences of
Grandmaster Alexander Morozevich.

Krishnan Sasikiran also did well on the second board in getting an easy
draw as black against Russian champion Peter Svidler.

Leading the downfall

But the remaining two boards saw the Indian downfall as Surya Shekhar
Ganguly was outdone from a complicated position by Vadim Zvjaginsev.

Harikrishna missed out on a simple winning manoeuvre against Alexey
Dreev before he was eventually tamed.

In hindsight, it could have been 3-1 in India’s favour but in the end
the six-time winners proved superior.

Top of the table

Leaders Ukraine, who settled for a 2-2 draw with fourth seeds Armenians
on the top table, maintained a 2.5 advantage over Russia (24.5).

With just five more rounds remaining, USA was the biggest gainer of the
day as they moved to sole third spot on 24 points after drubbing Spain
‘A’ 3.5-0.5.

Armenia and third seed Israel were in joint fourth spot on 23 points
while the Indians shared the sixth spot on 22.5 along with Switzerland,
Bulgaria, France, Slovenia, Azerbaijan and Cuba.

Poland and Moldova were next in line on 22 points each. More

For Ukraine, Andrei Volokitin delivered the goods against Smbat Lputian
on the third board while veteran Rafael Vaganian put it across former
World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov to level scores for Armenia.

As the other two boards were drawn, Ukraine maintained their no-loss
record and took their tally to 27 points out of a possible 36.

Victory in vain

Anand was brilliance personified as he outplayed Morozevich in an
extremely complicated game arising out of a Sicilian defence and
leading to a Hedgehog setup.

“I think I was winning after the opening itself, it looks to me like he
was two tempis (moves) down but then the nature of the position is such
that black can make some complications and Morozevich succeeded in
doing that,” said Anand about the opening after the match.

In the middle game, for quite sometime, Morozevich’s trademark
complications were quite visible as he had Anand looking out for best
manoeuvres to maintain the upper hand.

The Russian finally faltered when he fell way behind on the clock and
sacrificed an exchange, missing Anand’s bait that left him tottering on
move 37. Anand finally netted the full point in 45 moves.

Grandmaster Krishnan Sasikiran also came out with flying colours on
board two for India as he held Svidler to a creditable draw with black
pieces. (PTI)

Date: 22.10.2004

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Tourism Development Agency /ATDA/
3 Nalbandyan St., Yerevan 375010, RA
Tel.: (+3741) 54 23 03, 54 23 06
Fax: (+3741) 54 47 92
Email: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]
<;

ATDA to Showcase Armenia Exhibit at WTM 2004 London Trade Show

November 8 – 11

The Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) will be presenting
Armenia and the Armenian Tourism Industry at the prestigious World
Travel Market (WTM) in London from November 8th to the 11th, 2004
marking its fourth consecutive attendance with each year securing
maximum benefits and growth for its burgeoning tourism trade. This year
Armenia will be introduced to the British and world travel market by
ATDA together with Armenia Travel +M, Jason Travel and Tufenkian
Hospitality.

Armenia’s participation at WTM 2004 was made possible with the
invaluable financial assistance provided by the British Embassy in
Armenia which enabled Armenia’s travel industry’s continuous presence to
this popular tourism exhibition.

Open exclusively to the trade, WTM is the international travel
industry’s premier business-to-business forum with over 5,000 leading
suppliers and 44,000 industry professionals from over 190 countries
exhibiting this November. 25 years old this year, WTM is recognised as a
meeting ground to negotiate and exchange vital contracts, source new
products and services and learn about the latest worldwide industry
developments, network and new destinations.

With this in mind Armenia’s representation at this event is fundamental
to showcase Armenia as a compelling “four season new destination” and to
highlight all of Armenia’s treasures-its rich arts, architecture, and
archaeology, as well as its cultural and religious history within its
impressive exhibit through press packages and informational materials.

The WTM exhibition hall is grouped according to geographic destination
making it easy to find and accessible to all. For all visitors to London
during WTM, the ATDA/Armenia exhibit will be located in London’s ExCeL
at EM197.

For further information about ATDA, WTM or other industry exhibitions
and events, please visit us at
<; on the web, 3 Nalbandyan Street in
Yerevan, or call us at 54-23-03. We are always ready to provide
information on this and other Armenian Tourism matters.

Armenian Tourism Development Agency
Address: 3 Nalbandyan Street
Yerevan 375010, Armenia
Tel: (3741) 542303, 542306
Fax: (3741) 544792
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
URL: <;

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 22 2004

Saakashvili, Kocharian Held Talks

/ Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 2004-10-22 19:32:26
Visiting Armenian President Robert Kocharian said after talks with
his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi on October 22
that they focused `at purely bilateral relations during the talks.’
Mikheil Saakashvili described relation between the two countries as
`brotherly and friendly.’

`We have discussed bilateral economic ties, cooperation in transport
sector… as well as cooperation between the law enforcement agencies,’
Robert Kocharian said.

The two Presidents have also discussed the issue of restoration of
the railway connection in Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia, which will
enable landlocked Armenia to restore its railway link with its
strategic partner Russia.

`Restoration of the railway will be favorable not only for us, but
for Georgia as well. But it is Georgia’s prerogative to deal with
this issue,’ the Armenian President added.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2004

MPs attend UN-organized hearings on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict

An Azerbaijani parliament delegation led by Ziyafat Asgarov, Vice
Speaker of the Milli Majlis (parliament), left for New York on Monday
to attend the UN-organized inter-parliamentary hearings on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, a parliamentary source told AssA-Irada.
The hearings will last till Saturday.*

“HUMANE” OSSETIANS AND “INHUMAN” GEORGIANS

Why Armenian Embassy to Russia Keeps Silent

Azg/am
21 Oct 2004

Eduard Kokoyti, President of unacknowledged South Ossetia, turned to
be interested in the fate of dozens of Armenian hostages of Ergneti
settlementon the Georgian-Ossetian border. Regnum news agency informs
that the latter met the Armenians.

Boris Chichoyev, representative of South Ossetia on the issue of
Russian-Ossetian confrontation, and Marat Kulahmedov,
commander-in-chief ofpeacekeeping forces, also visited the
Armenians. South Ossetia, Ossetia’s official newspaper, defined
Georgia’s actions as “inhuman” in an article titled “Armenian
Hostages”. The newspaper informs that local Ossetians help the
Armenians, supply them with food and water, send doctors to them and
offer lodges for night.

There is no reason to disbelieve. We witnessed Georgians helping
Armenians at the Kazbegi settlement of Russian-Georgian border few
weeks ago. But it’s a pity that Georgians and Ossetians alike
try to use Armenians’ adversity to settle their own political
problems.

Russia also has its own calculations. After having closed the Upper
Lars border crossing, Russian frontier guards send Armenians to
illegal checkpoint of Lower Zamarag-Tskhinvali-Ergneti knowing
beforehand that they will not be allowed to cross it. One may presume
that Russia wants to discredit Georgian authorities and throw
obstacles on the way of Yerevan-Tbilisi relations.

It’s hard to understand why Russia considers Tbilisi-Kazbegi-Upper
Lars-Vladikavkaz route that is controlled by Tbilisi (only Vladikavkaz
is under Russia’s control) to be dangerous. Is there any terrorist who
uses checkpoints to pass a border? If terrorists really pass to Russia
through Georgian-Russian checkpoints then why can’t they use South
Ossetia for the same purpose?

There are other questions as well. For instance, why do Armenian
embassy to Russia, consulates in Sochi and Rostov-on-Don keep silent?
Why don’t they visit Armenian citizens and try to support them? They
certainly cannot open the closed border but they can at least try to
keep back Armenians from going to South Ossetia and becoming “victims”
of Russian, Georgian and South Ossetian policy.

Armenians have been using the Georgian route to reach Russia for 14
years before border closure. They were often robbed on their way. The
Armenian press often wrote about the anarchy in South Ossetia, Georgia
and North Ossetia (Russia). I witnessed many incidents when buses with
Armenian citizens werestopped and passengers were robbed. It’s useless
to pretend humane and manipulate with Armenian-Ossetian,
Armenian-Georgian and Armenia-Russian “friendship”.

Armenia should make all possible efforts to hold Armenians back from
entering South Ossetia as long as Russian-Georgian border is
closed. Otherwise the number of Armenian “captives” will increase. If
Armenian state is unable totake out its citizens of Ergneti then it
should turn to the international organizations such as the Red Cross,
which has experience of dealing with such problems.

By Tatoul Hakobian

US official says Karabakh conflict no threat to major pipeline – Azeri TV

ANS TV, Baku
17 Oct 04

Presenter Washington wants the continuation of negotiations to resolve
the Nagorno Karabakh problem, the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Steven Mann, who is currently on a visit to Azerbaijan, has
said. He said that the OSCE Minsk Group has no new proposals to the
conflicting sides.

Correspondent over video of Mann’s interview The special representative
of the US president for Caspian issues and US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minks Group, Steven Mann, attended the ceremony of joining the
Azerbaijani and Georgian sections of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan major
oil export pipeline. He said that the Nagornyy Karabakh problem did
not pose a threat to the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil pipeline project. Steven Mann said that the USA was not concerned
about the security of the pipeline but stressed that it was important
to always keep this issue in the focus of attention.

Steven Mann, in Russian fading into Azeri translation We knew all
along that the oil pipeline project would materialize. Many doubted
this. I hope that now they have changed their minds. This project
will be ready in a few months. This is an excellent project for
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. The USA is proud that it has an
opportunity to support the project. The security of the pipeline is
a serious issue. We treat it seriously. Both the consortium and the
parties should seriously work on this issue.

Correspondent Asked as to what he, as a mediator, could do to bring
the parties to the conflict closer together, Steven Mann said that this
question should be referred to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan. It emerges from the statements
of Steven Mann, a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, that there are
no new approaches to the problem.

Steven Mann The Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents have held two
meetings in my presence. Both Washington and the Minsk Group want these
negotiations to continue and the conflict to be resolved peacefully.

Correspondent The US co-chairman said that there were no new proposals
on the settlement of the conflict and added that their work was based
on the views and ideas of Azerbaijan and Armenia and that new ideas
should originate from them, end of quote.

Steven Mann also disclosed the US position on projects alternative to
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. He said that the USA backs the Kazakhstan-China
project but, as always, protests against the transportation of gas
via Iran because this runs counter to US policy, end of quote.

Russian minister points up “strategic” Tajikistan military base

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
16 Oct 04

Dushanbe, 16 October: The Russian military base that is due to
open in Tajikistan on 17 October will have “an important strategic
significance” for ensuring regional security, Russian Defence Minister
Sergey Ivanov told an ITAR-TASS correspondent today, following the
talks with his Tajik counterpart, Sherali Khayrulloyev.

“The base, which is being set up under the Collective Security
Treaty Organization CSTO; members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia , will become a main component of
the rapid deployment forces in Central Asia,” he said.

The minister said the base would include the 201st Russian Motor-Rifle
division and the Norak optical-electronic tracking station some 120
km southeast of Dushanbe and would definitely be reinforced by an
air squadron as well. Sergey Ivanov also added that the base would
comprise approximately 5,000 servicemen.

“Its combat potential will be tested as early as 2005, in the course
of CSTO military exercises planned in Tajikistan” he said. He added
that with the formation of the base, there would more opportunities
to provide “more military as well as military and technical assistance
to the Tajik armed forces”.

Commenting on the 201st division, the Russian defence minister said:
“The personnel of the division have accomplished all the targets set.”

“During Tajikistan’s tragic period (the five-year civil war of
1992-97 ), the division demonstrated high military preparedness and
its ability to accomplish the tasks set,” Sergey Ivanov concluded.

Map drawn in USA outlines Azerbaijan’s true historic lands

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 15 2004

The State College of Pennsylvania, USA has drawn a new geographic
map of the South Caucasus.

The map suggests that the Sisyan, Gafan, Gorus, Mehri, Sevan and
Kalinino regions, which are Azerbaijan’s historical lands located in
the territory of present-day Armenia, belong to Azerbaijan.

Shusha and Khankandi cities in Upper Garabagh are also presented on
the map as regions of Azerbaijan.

The map indicates Armenia’s Arzni settlement as the territory of
Georgia.*