Author: Chmshkian Vicken

PARLIAMENT WITHOUT OPPOSITION?
A1 Plus | 18:46:01 | 10-09-2004 | Politics |
Issue on stripping opposition MP of their mandates is put at the
top of Armenian National Assembly’s fall session by closed vote on
condition of anonymity.
It is hard to predict how the fate of opposition legislators will be
decided. Each MP will vote separately.
Whether those opposition MPs retaining their seats in parliament
will reject their mandates in solidarity with their less lucky fellow
parliamentarians? If so, there is no any way out from such a situation
stipulated in the constitution.
Armen Harytyunyan, the presidential representative on constitutional
issues, said new elections would be announced for 24 seats.

Iran gives Armenia $30 mln-loan for gas pipeline
IranMania News, Iran
Sept 9 2004
LONDON, Sep 9 (IranMania) – Iran has extended a 30-million-dollar
(25-million-euro) loan to Armenia to build a gas pipeline between the
two countries, Armenian President Robert Kotcharian said on Wednesday.
According to Agence France Press (AFP), the loan should enable Yerevan
to finance the 41 kilometres of the 141-kilometre (88-mile) pipeline
that cross Armenian territory, Kocharian told journalists after a
meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Khatami.
The construction contract has been awarded to Iranian company Sanir.
Iran and Armenia signed a contract in May, under which Iran will
supply Armenia with a total of 36 bln cubic metres of gas over a
20-year period, expected to start in early 2007.

NINE ARMENIANS DEATH IN BESLAN SCHOOL SIEGE CONFIRMED
ArmenPress
Sept 8 2004
ROSTOV ON DON, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: According to the latest
information from Armenian consul general in the southern Russia,
Ararat Gomtsian, at least nine of the hostages killed by the
terrorists in Beslan school siege were ethnic Armenians. Five of them
were children. He said all Armenians who suffered in the crisis were
taken to hospitals in Moscow and one, Mariam Simonian, to a hospital
IN Rostov-on-Don city. All in all 33 ethnic Armenians were among the
hostages, seven of them are reported missing. Another official of
the Armenian consulate general said the figures were not final and
could change any minute.
At least 335 people, most of them children, have been officially
confirmed dead since Russian special forces stormed a secondary school
in the North Ossetian town of Beslan seized by Islamist militants
fighting for neighboring Chechnya’s secession from Russia.

HALO Trust (USA) Inc.
850 Seventh Avenue #506
New York, NY 10019
Contact: Kurt Chesko
Tel: 212-581-0099
Fax: 212-581-2029
Email: [email protected]
Web:
For immediate release:
HALO Trust to brief Armenian community in San Francisco
Kurt Chesko, Program Officer for the HALO Trust, will speak about his
recent visit to Nagorno Karabakh and discuss the impact that landmines
and unexploded ordnance (UXO) have on the population there. He will
share photographs and give a mine clearance demonstration. This event
is hosted by the Armenian National Committee of San Francisco and is
open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
The HALO Trust is the world’s largest humanitarian landmine clearance
organization and operates a 200-person program in Karabakh, one of the
most mine-affectied regions in the world. HALO’s dedicated Karabakhi
staff have destroyed 2,300 antipersonnel landmines, 1,000 antitank
mine and over 26,000 items of UXO since 2000. HALO also provides mine
risk education to the goverment authorities and residents of Karabakh.
This briefing will be held on Wednesday, September 8th at 8:00PM. The
venue is Vaspourgan Hall at 51 Commonwealth Avenue in San Francisco.

NATO, USA to develop military aid programme in Azerbaijan soon – daily
Ekspress, Baku
2 Sep 04
“The USA and NATO intend to launch an unprecedented military aid
programme in the former Transcaucasus republics in the near future,”
a general of NATO’s European command and the director of the Force
Planning Section [in the Defence Policy and Planning Department], Frank
Boland, told Ekspress yesterday [1 September], commenting on results of
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s visit to the region last month.
“We are thinking about extending our aid to Azerbaijan within the
framework of the newly-drawn up programme. Discussions were held during
Rumsfeld’s meetings with Azerbaijani officials,” the general said.
Boland said that the US Congress had envisaged specific budget
loans for the development of military forces in the South Caucasus
countries in the current year. “This figure is higher in Azerbaijan
than in other countries,” Boland said. As for specific regions where
the new programme will be applied, the NATO general said that Baku
offered the Pentagon mainly two areas – the Caspian basin and [its]
borders. [Passage omitted.]
According to some reports, “the new aid initiative” by the USA and NATO
exceeds the limits of the Caucasus. Boland thinks that the initiative
is to help beef up onshore, offshore and air security of Azerbaijan
and Kazakhstan in the Caspian region.
Touching upon the regional conflicts, Boland said that NATO “is seeking
new ways” to resolve the Karabakh conflict. He thinks that NATO is
very much familiar with realities of the Karabakh conflict and “we will
increase our positive attempts to achieve a solution to the conflict”.
He said that cooperation between NATO and Baku in the fight against
terrorism and in the sphere of security was an important factor. “The
main priority for us is that peace and stability assume a lasting
character in the region, ” he said.
“Numerous projects” between Azerbaijan and NATO are now nearing
completion. “These projects mainly serve the development of security
in the region. The interests of NATO and Azerbaijan in the region
coincide. We will develop more successful projects together in the
future. I am convinced that these projects will create a need for
deepening our cooperation in other fields as well,” Boland said.
As for the Cooperative Best Effort 2004 exercises, the NATO general
said that preparations for the high-profile military event “were
being successfully completed”.
“We hope that Azerbaijani will entirely fulfil the commitments it
has undertaken,” Boland said.

Azeri parliamentary speaker is losing his power – daily
Baki Xabar, Baku
6 Sep 04
It is evident that the ruling team has completely cornered Azerbaijani
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov. He will obviously have a problem getting
a deputy seat during the next parliamentary elections. As a result
of pressure exerted from everywhere, the speaker has been sidelined
from all processes within the government. Now it is only known that
Alasgarov is trying to maintain his post and get out of this situation.
It is now generally accepted that the speaker, who has the status of
the third most important official in the country, has been sidelined
from all processes. There are evidently problems between the different
branches of power. The “weak” are hit in the war for mutual reputation
[as published]. As a result, the staff led by a weak figure operate
just symbolically. In fact, the dynamics of the current process show
that the organization led by a weak figure is not a centre of power
in the government, as has been the case with Murtuz Alasgarov. His
tenure as speaker has shadowed the parliament’s activities and turned
it into a powerless one. This is just the result of the fact that the
speaker does not even attend the ceremonies of meeting and seeing off
the country’s president and does not accompany him on his visits to the
country’s districts and abroad. But being the speaker, he is expected
to attend these ceremonies. The fact that he is on the sidelines
from these events shows that he is among the “hit” people. Truly,
one might link the speaker’s isolation from the said ceremonies to
his physical condition. However, it seems to be implausible.
For this reason, one can assume that Alasgarov has already become
an undesirable figure in the government. He is even unaware of the
government’s Karabakh talks. This is not our assumption. Alasgarov
confirmed this in a statement he made a few days ago. Touching upon
the Karabakh discussions by the [Azerbaijani and Armenian] presidents
and foreign ministers, Alasgarov said that he had no information
about those. Saying so, the speaker confirmed that he has been
“hit”. [Passage omitted: repetition.]
The chairman of the Great Creation Party, Fazil Qazanfaroglu,
also verified this in an interview with our newspaper yesterday
[5 September]. He said that Azerbaijan had no supreme legislative
body. Therefore, the speaker’s unawareness of the Karabakh talks
should be regarded as natural.
“A parliament formed on the basis of a list [of people] drawn up in
the way the president wished cannot be regarded as a serious body,”
Qazanfaroglu said and added that Alasgarov was an unimportant figure
in the country’s authorities.
Fazil bay [form of address] also said that generally the people
leading various branches of power do not keep each other informed
because of intrigues among them. Everyone is trying to provide their
information mainly to the first person. Therefore, the head of one
body is unaware of another’s activities. Qazanfaroglu said that
Alasgarov’s unawareness was of this kind and the case will be the
same until the [current] administration methods and the team change.

The Globe and Mail
Sept 6 2004
Classic match-up is set
Venus Williams meets Lindsay Davenport, while Agassi-Federer showdown
looms
By TOM TEBBUTT
NEW YORK — Week two of the U.S. Open begins today with the classic
match-up of Venus Williams against Lindsay Davenport and the strong
possibility of an Andre Agassi-Roger Federer blockbuster looming for
Wednesday night.
After their wins on Saturday, Williams and Davenport will play this
afternoon for the 25th time. Their career head-to-head competition is
deadlocked at 12-12. Williams returned to action at the Australian
Open in January after six months out with an abdominal strain.
Then she suffered a bad ankle sprain before the French Open and a
wrist problem this summer.
“I’m just now starting to get healthy,” she said on Saturday after
beating Chanda Rubin. Ranked No. 12, Williams, 24, resents that
injuries have made her vulnerable and implied that she had no choice
but to play the Athens Olympics, where she lost to Mary Pierce.
“It’s a terrible thing,” she said of her current status. “I mean, I’m
a former No. 1, Grand Slam champion. I’m Venus Williams. People come
out and start to think that they can win because I’m not on top. If
I’m playing well, normally I’m going to be in the winner’s circle.”
Davenport, 28, has had her injuries woes as well — right knee
surgery in 2002, toe surgery last October and continuing knee
cartilage degeneration — but is on a roll. She has won four
tournaments and 22 matches in a row as she winds down a career that
could be in its final few months.
“There’s not a lot of pressure,” she said of today’s showdown. “Maybe
that’s because I feel I played so well all summer. I just have a
belief in myself.”
That showed on Saturday when she coolly saved two set points in the
tiebreaker of a tense 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 win over red-hot Elena Bovina of
Russia.
The women’s event lost Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova on Saturday
when her shortcomings on hard courts were exposed in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
loss to Pierce.
The 17-year-old Russian does not get the rewards for her power play
on hard courts that she does on grass and does not make any
adjustment to compensate.
Her loss removed a possible quarter-final match-up with top seed
Justine Henin-Hardenne, but the highly anticipated Jennifer
Capriati-Serena Williams quarter-final did materialize yesterday when
Capriati defeated Ai Sugiyama 7-5, 6-2 and Williams downed Patty
Schnyder 6-4, 6-2.
It will be their third consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final —
Capriati winning at Roland Garros and Williams at Wimbledon.
Last night No. 2 seed Amélie Mauresmo defeated Italian Francesca
Schiavone 6-4, 6-2 and will next meet Elena Dementieva.
In men’s action, Andy Roddick showed form worthy of a defending
champion, hitting 21 aces and no double faults in the 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
dismantling of Guillermo Canas of Argentina and Lleyton Hewitt ousted
Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
Tommy Haas, after missing 15 months after two operations on his right
shoulder, continued an impressive 2004 campaign by beating Ricardo
Mello of Brazil 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.
As a result of their victories on Saturday, Federer and Agassi are
destined for a quarter-final confrontation.
Today, Federer will take on Andrei Pavel, whom he has defeated seven
times in a row (four in 2004), while Agassi will plays his pal Sargis
Sargsian, with whom he shares Armenian ancestry.
He is 5-0 against Sargsian.
In doubles yesterday, No. 3 seeds Daniel Nestor of Toronto and Mark
Knowles of the Bahamas reached the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-1 win
over Americans Justin Gimelstob and Graydon Oliver.
“It’s always important in a match like that with a rowdy crowd
[Gimelstob is from nearby New Jersey] to get off to a good start,”
Nestor said.
That was on the Grandstand.
Later, in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, supermodel Naomi Campbell watched
Serena Williams, who wore a relatively modest black, silver-studded
dress. Campbell told a CBS interviewer that she liked the Williams
sisters’ fashion sense, proclaiming them “bold and interesting. I
love their looks.”
“She’s a really good friend of myself and my sisters,” Serena said.
On a more serious matter, Williams revealed that three doctors had
recommended she not play the U.S. Open because of the problem with
her left knee.
Explaining her participation, she said jokingly: “I became a doctor
just recently. I took my own doctor’s advice.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri leader advises jailed pressure group members to appeal against sentence
ANS TV, Baku
2 Sep 04
[Presenter] The head of state, who is on a visit to Naxcivan
[Azerbaijani exclave], has commented in an interview with reporters
on the ruling of [Baku’s] Nasimi district court on the members of
the Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO].
[Video of Aliyev, talking to reporters] Of course, as the president
I cannot intervene in the ruling of the court and I do not want to do
so. But as a citizen I believe that the punishment is not relevant to
what they did. This is an extremely severe punishment. As a citizen I
cannot support the verdict. I think that the next judicial instance
should reconsider the verdict. I would advise [the convicted KLO
members] to appeal against the ruling and I hope that the issue can
be settled in the next instance. At the same time, everybody should
be equal before the law and one should not idolize any organization
or person.
There are authoritative bodies and persons in Azerbaijan to deal with
the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict: the president,
foreign minister, defence minister, other appropriate bodies. And we
know what is the way to struggle.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 1 2004
JAPAN ALWAYS SUPPORTED FAIR POSITION OF AZERBAIJAN AND THIS POLICY
WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED
[September 01, 2004, 14:23:31]
On August 31, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov has met with the delegation headed by chairman of
Japan-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary League of Friendship Mr. Akira
Amari.
As was informed to AzreTAj from the press center of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, minister Elmar Mammadyarov, warmly having
welcomed visitors, has emphasized the high level of development of
the Azerbaijani-Japanese relations, has noted, that he supports
strengthening of links between our countries and continuation of
mutually advantageous cooperation. He has especially emphasized
exclusive merits of our national leader Heydar Aliyev in establishment
of strong relations between the two countries.
Having noted, that as a result of aggression of Armenia against
Azerbaijan, 20 percent of the Country’s territories has been occupied,
and about one million of citizens, being ousted from the native lands,
became refugees and IDPs, the Minister informed visitors on last
meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Armenia
carried out in Prague.
Having stated to visitors the position of the Azerbaijan side, the
Minister has noted importance of settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh
conflict within the framework of territorial integrity and sovereignty
of our country and has expressed to the government of Japan gratitude
for support of the position of our state.
During the meeting, the Minister informed that last year Milli Majlis
has adopted a decision on opening of embassy of Azerbaijan in Japan,
having expressed confidence that up to the end of this year the said
question would be solved. Having noted, that between Azerbaijan and
Japan there is a wide economic potential, the Minister has expressed
hope for expansion of bilateral economic relations in this direction.
The Minister has expressed to the government of Japan gratitude
for the humanitarian help rendered to the Azerbaijan refugees both
at the state level, and within the framework of the international
organizations. Highly having estimated training of our young diplomats
in Japan, the Minister has expressed confidence of continuation of
this tradition.
Chairman of Japan-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary League of Friendship
Mr. Akira Amari has emphasized, that his country gives great value to
development of connections with our Republic, has told, that trusts
in the further expansion of these connections and continuation of
mutual cooperation in many areas.
Having touched the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict,
the visitor has noted, that the Japanese side supports territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, having emphasized, that his country is ready
to peace settlement of the mentioned problem.
At the meeting, also discussed were some other questions, representing
mutual interest.

CEREMONY ON OCCASION OF 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE’s INDEPENDENCE
HELD AT UKRAINIAN EMBASSY
YEREVAN, AUGUST 28. ARMINFO. A ceremony on the occasion of the 13th
anniversary of Ukraine’s independence has been held at the Ukrainian
Embassy in Armenia.
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, who attended the ceremony,
congratulated the Ukrainian people and expressed a hope that
friendship and mutual understanding between Armenia and Ukraine will
be developing to the two people’s benefit. In his turn, Ukrainian
Ambassador to Armenia Vladimir Tyaglo said that Ukraine has marked its
13th anniversary and proved to be a dynamically developing state. The
country is also developing its relations with Armenia. Responding to
journalists’ questions concerning the weak points of bilateral
relations, Tyaglo pointed out that a wide range of issues is currently
being worked out. According to him, Ukraine has not until this year
supplied means of transportation to Armenia. This year, Ukrainian
buses and cars have been supplied to Armenia. The Ukrainian diplomat
added that the bilateral relations are successfully developing in such
spheres as energy, construction, science, and education, the
last-named being exemplary in bilateral relations. Tyaglo said that
this year Armenian children received 17 Ukrainian certificates. Also,
the ancient Armenian epic work “David Sasuntsi” and “Book of Sadness”
by Grigor Narekatsi have been translated into the Ukrainian
language. Tyaglo pointed out that negotiations are currently under way
for intensifying the supply of mixed fodder to Armenia. Although the
transport problem exists and transport expenses exceed all the norms,
the problem will shortly be resolved, the Ambassador said. Tyaglo
also pointed out an increase in the exports of Armenian rubber,
brandy, wines and confectionery to Ukraine. Responding to a question
concerning possible changes in Armenian-Ukrainian relations after the
presidential elections in Ukraine, Tyaglo quoted President Leonid
Kuchma as saying that after the presidential elections there will be
no changes in either domestic or foreign policy of Ukraine.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress