Author: Christine Harutyunian

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
October 5, 2004
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SUPPORT GROWING AMONG CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES
FOR EXPANDED U.S.-ARMENIA TRADE
— Responses to 2004 Candidate Questionnaires
Reveal Strong Support for PNTR for Armenia
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional candidates from around the nation
strongly support legislation aimed at expanding U.S.-Armenia trade
relations, according to responses to multi-issue candidate
questionnaires circulated this election season by the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
Challengers and incumbents from both parties have stressed their
support for legislation that would grant Armenia Permanent Normal
Trade Relations (PNTR) status. This measure, which is being
spearheaded in the Senate by Senator Mitch McConnell and in the
House by Congressman Joe Knollenberg, may win final approval before
the Congress goes out of session this year.
“Armenian Americans have been tremendously encouraged by the
growing support for PNTR legislation for Armenia and remain hopeful
that it will be enacted prior to the end of the Congressional
session,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA.
A sample of response on U.S.-Armenia trade is provided below to
offer a sense of the strong bipartisan support for this issue:
* Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, representing the southern
part of the State, noted in his response to the ANCA Candidate
Questionnaire: “I support extending permanent normal trade
relations between the United States and Armenia as a means of
strengthening the bonds and the commitment between our nations.”
* Congressman Eric Cantor, the Chief Deputy Majority Whip and a
long-time friend of the Richmond Armenian community, explained
that: “The ascension of Armenia to the World Trade Organization
will begin to stabilize trade relations with the United States. It
is a step in the right direction because free trade with Armenia
will have a positive effect on not only the economy of that country
but that of the United States as well. All free trade promotes job
creation and economic growth throughout the world; by helping
Armenia we are helping the American economy prosper.”
* First-term Congressman from Michigan, Thaddeus McCotter, who has
already emerged as a leading member of the Armenian Caucus, stated
that: “Our two great nations will only grow stronger by trading
together. I signed a letter supporting Armenian PNTR in the House
and will continue to work to see it signed into law.”
* Candidate Robert Neeld, from the Gulf Coast of Florida, is
seeking to fill the seat vacated by new Director of Central
Intelligence Porter Goss, wrote that: “Favorable trading agreements
benefit both countries and would continue to stimulate Armenia’s
economy.”
The ANCA Congressional Candidate Questionnaire includes nine
different questions on the topics of the Armenian Genocide; U.S.
support for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh; U.S.-Armenia economic
relations; Self-determination for Nagorno Karabagh; Conditions on
U.S. aid to Azerbaijan; the Turkish blockade of Armenia, and; the
U.S. subsidy of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline bypass of Armenia.
“As in past years, we are pleased that candidates for Congress have
taken such full advantage of our questionnaires to speak directly
to Armenian American voters on issues of special concern to our
community,” noted Hamparian.
For an Adobe PDF version of the ANCA Questionnaire, visit:
or
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian aide calls for systematized fight against terrorism
Ayots Ashkhar, Yerevan
3 Sep 04
Text of Vaan Vardanyan report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkhar on
3 September headlined “International terrorism threatens everybody”
An interview with the president’s advisor on security issues, Garnik
Isagulyan.
[Garnik Isagulyan] The fight against international terrorism should
be systematized. First of all, superpowers should accept that it is
inadmissible to use such groups in the fight against each other. When
they get out of hand, they start acting against their former sponsor,
i.e. a boomerang effect takes place.
The second important problem is to prevent the phenomena that feed
international terrorism. First of all, this envisages the strict
registration of people who have served in special units of the armies
or other structures of different countries. Because if such people
fall under the influence of any ideological or religious sect, they
become very dangerous.
And finally, stable cooperation is necessary between the special
services on all issues related to terrorism – ranging from information
exchanges to joint actions. No country of the world is insured against
terrorism today.
[Ayots Ashkhar correspondent] Let’s take Armenia. We are going to send
sappers and drivers to Iraq. Do you not worry that as representatives
of other nations, they might be taken hostage as well?
[Isagulyan] We have only expressed our readiness to take part in the
reconstruction of Iraq, sending there sappers and drivers who will
not participate in the armed actions by the coalition forces against
local groups. Certainly, one may object to this in the sense that even
journalists of different countries have been taken hostage. But this
is being done mainly against the countries whose armed forces have
participated in the war. For this reason, they traditionally demand
the withdrawal of their armed forces from Iraq as a condition for
releasing the hostages. I think that Armenia’s top leadership took
these conditions into account when taking such a decision.
Although it is not right to say that we are absolutely insured against
danger. That’s to say, countries that are hostile to us may try to plan
any terrorist acts and then justify them by the fact that Armenia has
sent troops to Iraq. But I do not think such a danger is realistic.
[Correspondent] Does it mean that Armenia is more protected than the
powerful countries of the world?
[Isagulyan] No, it does not. Our privilege is that we are comparatively
a monoethnic country. If in Russia they link terrorism mainly to the
Chechens, it is very difficult to differ them from representatives of
other Caucasus nations living in Russia. This complicates the work of
the special services because they cannot arrest all the dark people
in order to expose just one terrorist.
In Armenia it is easier to notice and register foreigners entering
Armenia. Of course, this does not mean that we are in a perfect state
and are simply insured. Our special services should be very attentive
in this matter. Over the past 15 years, the national security system
in Armenia has not reached a flawless level. On the contrary, there
was an outflow of professional personnel, and it is difficult to say
that those who came instead are quite professional. We should pay
special attention to the national security service. Because today,
as well as in the future, much depends on the ability of this service
to ensure national security.
[Correspondent] And finally Karabakh. For many years, Azerbaijan has
been trying to present Karabakh to the world community as a centre
training terrorists. How “fruitful” is such propaganda by Azerbaijan?
[Isagulyan] Neither the special services of Azerbaijan, nor Azerbaijan
itself are at a level where their “information” and reports would
mean anything to the special services of superpowers.
The world community differs Karabakh from other unrecognized countries.
Although the world community’s attitude towards Karabakh may be
compared with their position on Northern Cyprus and Kosovo. That’s
to say, the world accepts the NKR as a well-governed territory with
all the attributes of a state, where the situation is under control
and normal elections are conducted. This is a country which has taken
the path of democratic development, not a territory where some groups,
which have unclear goals, have become masters, while the same cannot
be said for Azerbaijan.
Under the Soviets, there was a brunch of the KGB in Baku and a special
training centre where representatives of “Islamic” countries were
trained. I do not think that this fact is so imperceptible that it
does not lead to certain conclusions in the world community.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Associated Press Worldstream
August 4, 2004 Wednesday 4:47 PM Eastern Time
Azerbaijan lashes out at Armenian enclave over military exercises
BAKU, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan sharply criticized authorities in the ethnic Armenian
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday for holding military
exercises, calling the maneuvers a provocation that would hurt
efforts to reach a settlement over the disputed region.
The Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” about the exercises and
said the international community would not be fooled by the portrayal
of “these actions by illegal armed formations of the separatist
regime” as “exercises of the so-called armed forces of
Nagorno-Karabakh.”
It said the exercises would hamper preparations for the next meeting
between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which backs
the internationally unrecognized ethnic Armenian government of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
A spokesman for the military in Nagorno-Karabakh, which has been de
facto independent since Azerbaijan’s forces were driven out in 1994,
said Tuesday that it had begun a 10-day exercise meant to test
combat-readiness and improve coordination in “defensive battles and
counterattacks.”
With no settlement in sight a decade after a cease-fire ended a war
that killed some 30,000 people and drove about a million from their
homes, there are fears a new armed conflict could erupt.
Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh’s government also hold several sectors of
Azerbaijan outside of the enclave itself, and sporadic firing takes
place across the demilitarized zone that separates the forces.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

San Bernardino Sun (San Bernardino, CA)
July 24, 2004 Saturday
Weddings windows to diversity
Mirjam Swanson said it was going to be her “Big Fat Armenian
Wedding,’ and she wasn’t exaggerating.
Mirjam is the sports editor of The Sun. On Friday night she married
the sports editor of the Glendale News-Press, whose name is Hamlet
Nalbandyan – which is as Armenian as he is.
Hyphenated-American weddings are great fun and of great interest to
the more-or-less assimilated of us as the remarkably successful 2002
film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ demonstrated.
A bonus to living in Southern California: We don’t have to try very
hard to turn up at wedding ceremonies far outside the traditions we
learned in our parents’ house. Mexican-American, African-American,
Jewish-American …
See enough weddings in SoCal, you ought to be able to get college
credit for cultural anthropology courses.
Mirjam’s and Hamlet’s wedding was celebrated at Saint Mary’s Armenian
Apostolic Church, in Glendale, home to some 80,000 ethnic Armenians
which gives Glendale the second-largest Armenian population of any
city in the world, behind only Yerevan, the capital of the nation of
Armenia.
The ceremony was conducted almost entirely in Armenian. Sensibly,
since it was the native tongue of most of the people in the church,
including the men officiating.
We asked directions on where to sit groom’s side vs. bride’s side and
one of the the groom’s relatives said, “Boy left, girl right!’
Armenia was the first nation to embrace Christianity [in the year
301], and its church has been pivotal in the retention of ethnic
identity during centuries of domination by non-Christian invaders. We
now know.
An interesting feature of the ceremony: The bride and groom touch
foreheads for long stretches of it. Hadn’t seen that before.
The reception, at the Yepremian Banquet Hall, was an Armenian
party-down event, and indicated the apparent Armenian preference for
the spare-no-expense celebration.
We arrived to a surfeit of food, so much that the groaning tables
could not accept one more plate. And those were just the appetizers.
Fifteen of them, at the least. Hummus, olives, cheeses, veggies,
salmon eggs, cured meats, everything but a partridge in a pear tree.
Each table also featured a fifth of Absolut vodka [Armenia once was
part of the Soviet Union], a bottle of Hennessy brandy and two
bottles of wine. Which were useful fuels for the dancing that ensued.
The band was made up of a keyboardist, a couple of drummers and a guy
on a violin, and they weren’t shy about performing Armenian folk and
pop tunes at bleed-from-the-ears volume.
Armenian dance features hand movements of the sort you might
associate with India or Iran, even Arabia, and a tendency to arrange
themselves in a circle which you might see at a Greek or Jewish
wedding.
Mirjam led the way for her family, which was laudably game in the
cross-cultural dance-floor events.
The band and its lead singer mixed in a slow dance or two, for the
old folks, presumably, then would start in with something “everyone’
knew the Armenian answer to, oh, “Shout!,’ perhaps and the crowd
would buzz with excited approval and rush the floor for more dancing.
The dinner courses arrived about 20 minutes apart. Mushrooms stuffed
with meat; seasoned potatoes; an enormous platter of boneless
barbecued meats [chicken, beef, pork]; stewed mushrooms with cheese;
boiled beef with rice; melon and strawberries.
More than a college football team could hope to consume. Our table
had been overpowered way back at the appetizers.
Between the barbecued meats and the stewed mushrooms, three
gypsy-style dancers made their appearance in a flash of sequins and
veils, repeatedly drawing members of the wedding party back out to
the dance floor, tiring out spectators just from watching.
We lasted till 11 p.m., amid reports “they’ll shut the place down,’
from veterans of other Armenian-American weddings.
We left with the idea of how we Americans routinely make cultural
leaps that would never occur in The Old Country. Our colleague
Mirjam, basically WASPy a few days ago, now can present herself as
Mirjam Nalbandyan, if she chooses.
Some of us believe that sort of marital jump is a sign of America’s
healthy acceptance of cultural diversity. We all can agree it makes
for a great show.
Paul Oberjuerge’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday. Readers may call him at [909] 386-3849 or e-mail him at
[email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia-Iran gas pipeline requires 140m dollars – Russian company official
Noyan Tapan news agency
19 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The Russian company Gazprom has completed a feasibility study for a
gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia, Aleksandr Ryazanov, deputy chairman
of the company’s board, told journalists on 19 July. Prior to that,
Ryazanov held a meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to
discuss future cooperation between Gazprom and Armenia.
Ryazanov said that under their proposal it will take about nine years
for any pay off from the gas pipeline to be felt. “Some sources of
financing have now emerged and once we decide on them, we will have no
problems with the construction,” he said. About 140m dollars are
needed to build it. He said that the construction could either be
funded from interstate credits or at the expense of Russia. It is
possible of course that the pipeline will be constructed at the
expense of Gazprom, but the company sets “tough conditions”. The
construction of the Armenia-Iran pipeline is of strategic importance
as the gas pipeline going through Georgia is in a bad technical
condition and is in need of repairs,” Ryazanov said.
He said that an agreement had been reached with Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan to continue working on the document about the gas
pipeline. A Gazprom delegation is expected to arrive in Armenia soon
to discuss specific issues regarding the project.
An Armenian-Russian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the
gas industry will be probably drawn up soon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Noyan Tapan, Armenia
July 7 2004
Armenians in Turkey want own radio and TV station

Representatives of the Armenian community of Turkey have filed a
statement to the Supreme Board of Radio Television (RTUK) demanding
broadcasts in Armenian. This demand followed the start of broadcasts
in Kurdish and Assyrian by Turkish Radio and Television. Zaman
Turkish daily reports that the editor of Akos Armenian-language daily
published in Istanbul Grant Dink said that the Armenian community has
launched a donation drive to help it be realized. It is expected that
a total of US$300,000 will be donated. Armenian radio has been a
dream for 10 years, Dink added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI PUNDIT’S SPEECH PUZZLES OSCE MEDIATORS – AGENCY
Turan news agency
16 Jul 04
Baku, 16 July: There was a reception yesterday evening in the
residence of the US ambassador to Azerbaijan on the occasion of the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen’s visit to Baku. More than 100 guests
were invited to the reception, including representatives of political
parties, MPs, foreign ambassadors and leaders of a number of NGOs and
mass media.
All three co-chairmen addressed the guests on their vision of the
Karabakh conflict settlement. Each of the co-chairmen said that
reconciliation, compromises and concessions were necessary and that
achieving peace will be impossible without that, political analyst
(and former presidential aide) Vafa Quluzada has told Turan news
agency.
“No outsider can resolve the conflict and you have to reach an
agreement between yourselves. We are glad that the dialogue between
Armenia and Azerbaijan has resumed,” said one of the speakers. The
gist of all statements by the co-chairmen was that Azerbaijan had to
resign itself to the results of the occupation, drop the demands to
restore its territorial integrity and recognize Nagornyy Karabakh’s
independence.
“I reckon that such statements are absolutely inadmissible and
unacceptable. They pursue the goal of forcing Azerbaijan to stop
fighting for the liberation of its lands,” Quluzada said.
“I asked them to allow me to speak and told all this to the
co-chairmen. My indignation was caused by the efforts of the
co-chairmen to shift the responsibility for the ongoing conflict onto
Azerbaijan. We are the victims of the aggression and instead of
thinking how to liberate the occupied lands the co-chairmen are
demanding that we put up with the occupation. The co-chairmen are
deliberately making this blunder, calling the aggression a
conflict. No-one wants to recall the four UN Security Council
resolutions about the liberation of Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories. Russia’s position causes especial indignation. It
supplies Armenia with arms and signs a military alliance pact (with
Armenia),” Quluzada said.
Such sharp remarks puzzled the co-chairmen who asked someone else to
take the floor. However, the people who were there supported
Quluzada’s position by applause.
Quluzada believes that the idea behind the event was to persuade the
Azerbaijani public that concessions to Armenia were necessary. But
this idea failed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/14/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. ANCA Joins Washington, DC Protest to Stop Genocide in Sudan 2. Karabagh's Inclusion in Peace Negotiations up to Sides, Say OSCE Mediators 3. Armenian Official Meets with MCC, Details Work on MCA Proposals 4. Georgia Urges West to Help Resolve Regional Crisis 5. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Clarifies Armenia's Decision to Criticize OSCE 6. BRIEFS 1. ANCA Joins Washington, DC Protest to Stop Genocide in Sudan "When human lives are in jeopardy, there should be outrage." --New York Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) who was arrested during demonstration at Sudanese Embassy. WASHINGTON, DC--Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) staff and activists joined with Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and leading African American and human rights activists at a demonstration on Tuesday outside the Sudanese Embassy calling for US and international pressure to end the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. The protest, organized by the Sudan Campaign, featured the arrest of Congressman Charlie Rangel, a senior New York legislator who serves as the Ranking Member on the influential US House Ways & Means Committee. He was arrested for trespassing by the police after stepping to the door of the Embassy. He was released within hours from a Washington, DC jail after paying bail of fifty dollars. Former member of Congress and current president of the National Council of Churches Robert Edgar, was arrested at the Sudanese Embassy, on Wednesday. ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, Government Affairs Director Abraham Niziblian and the ANCA "Leo Sarkisian" Internship program participants, led by Director Arsineh Khachikian, joined the noon-time protest which included some hundred and fifty activists and representatives from a diverse coalition of Sudan Campaign partner organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus, Center for Religious Freedom at Freedom House, Institute on Religion and Democracy, American Anti-slavery group, Wilberforce Project, and Christian Solidarity International, among others. "We marched today, in the name of all Armenians, to do our part to help end the cycle of genocide," said Hamparian. "As the descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, we bear a special burden to fight intolerance and to demand moral leadershipand decisive actionfrom our government to prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths in Darfur." Niziblian, in an interview with the Associated Press (AP), was quoted as saying that, "A lot more people should be protesting and taking to the streets now." The Sudan Campaign is led by Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Joe Madison, a civil rights activist and radio personality in the Greater Washington, DC area. The group has been holding noon-time protests in front of the Sudanese Embassy for the past month, during which several leading human and civil rights activists have been arrested. During his remarks, Madison announced that he is launching a hunger strike until the Sudanese government takes action to end the obstruction of humanitarian assistance from reaching hundreds of thousands in need in Darfur. Over the past month, the ANCA has called attention to the atrocities in Sudan through a series of letters to Congressional offices, urging them to take a stand to stop the cycle of genocide through support of Congressional initiatives regarding Sudan as well as for the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193, S.Res.164), which reaffirms US commitment to the principles of the Genocide Convention. On June 23, Niziblian participated in a press conference organized by the Congressional Black Caucus and Africa Action. The ANCA has urged Armenian Americans to add their names to the Africa Action petition drive for Sudan, by visiting Some 30,000 have already perished over the past 18 months in Darfur, Sudan, with approximately one million forced to flee their homes. If the Sudanese government does not allow for the distribution of international humanitarian assistance, the death toll could rise to 350,000, according to conservative estimates. 2. Karabagh's Inclusion in Peace Negotiations up to Sides, Say OSCE Mediators YEREVAN (Noyan-Tapan/RFE-RL/Yerkir)--In a press conference held on Wednesday in Yerevan, OSCE's Minsk Group mediators announced that they would not bring any new proposals for the conflicting sides. "I did not think the Minsk Group should make new proposals. We are working with the sides to help them find practical and stable solutions to the problem," explained US Co-chair Stephen Mann. Speaking about the possibility of Karabagh's participation in the peace negotiations, the mediators made clear that the conflicting parties themselves must decide. "I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the responsibility for the Karabagh settlement lies with the sides. We leave the question of Karabagh's inclusion in the talks to the sides. They must solve and specify this problem by themselves," said Mann. After meeting with the co-chairs in Stepanakert on Tuesday, Mountainous Karabagh Republic president Arkady Ghukassian emphasized that no final settlement of the conflict is possible without Karabagh's full participation in negotiations. French co-chair Henry Jacolin meanwhile said that it is not the OSCE and its Minsk Group that have exhausted all resources to resolve the conflict, hinting rather that the conflicting sides have done so. "This is a good format of negotiations, although it has been criticized a lot. The format is fully acceptable for the Armenian president," Jacolin said. Last month the OSCE co-chairs held another round of negotiations in Prague between Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers trying to break a deadlock. The Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov rejected the criticism of the "Prague Process," saying that the initiation of the Prague talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers would not necessarily mean that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are less interested in resolving the conflict. "The meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Warsaw made possible the Prague meetings between co-chairs and Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan," said Merzlyakov. The Russian co-chair also did not rule out that the next meeting between Kocharian and Aliyev could be held in September when leaders of CIS meet again. 3. Armenian Official Meets with MCC, Details Work on MCA Proposals WASHINGTON, DC (Embassy of Armenia)--Chief Economic Adviser to the President of Armenia, Vahram Nercissiantz, and Armenian Ambassador to the US, Dr. Arman Kirakossian met with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) CEO Paul V. Applegarth on Tuesday to present Armenia's progress in targeting for MCC funding. The MCC is a US government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world to administer funds from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) designed to help poor countries spur the economic growth and attract the investment necessary to further development. Congress has appropriated $1 billion for the MCC for this fiscal year. Armenia was deemed eligible, along with 15 other countries, to apply for development aid. Nercissiantz, who serves as the deputy chairperson of an ad-hoc coordinating group for MCC Armenian Program, said it had met with national and local Armenian NGO's, experts, and other concerned parties, to solicit advice, develop public awareness, and to target the directions for developmental assistance under the terms of MCA. Nercissiantz said that a draft proposal would be complete by the end of August for approval and formal submission to the MCC for consideration in September. Applegarth stressed the need for proposals to address issues on strengthening democracy in Armenia, and asked about details of consultations with interested parties. Nercissiantz noted that all groups involved--government agencies, NGOs, and experts, have agreed to target poverty reduction in Armenia's rural areas by promoting economic growth. The program foresees their greater integration in Armenia's economy, and increasing economic opportunities for rural and small farming communities. A significant by-product of such economic empowerment, Nercissiantz said, is a strong local self-governing system and civil society in Armenia. The program proposal to the MCC will, therefore, likely include, but not be limited to, rehabilitation of rural roads and transport infrastructure; soil amelioration (drainage and desalination); improving irrigation system; and investing in the social infrastructure. Nercissiantz stressed that Armenia's Government will adhere to MCC's principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces sound political, economic, and social policies that promote economic growth. 4. Georgia Urges West to Help Resolve Regional Crisis LONDON/MOSCOW (Interfax/Reuters)--The president of Georgia said on Wednesday he believed a mounting crisis in the breakaway region of South Ossetia could be resolved in about six months if the West put pressure on Russia. "There should be continued pressure from the West and we must make Russia realize we will not be pushed around," Mikhail Saakashvili said during a visit to London which has included a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair. "I am sure within six months or more these few thousand people (in South Ossetia) will be fully integrated (into Georgia)." Saakashvili has made restoration of central power over restive regions a key policy plank since his landslide election victory in January. He has since succeeded in removing a local strongman in Ajaria on the Black Sea. But bringing back into the fold mountainous South Ossetia and Abkhazia, also on the Black Sea, is certain to be a much tougher task. Stability in the Caucasus region is critical to Western interests as a major pipeline is being built through Georgia to transport oil from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. South Ossetia's co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission on the settling of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, Boris Chochiyev, said on Wednesday that all sides present at the Commission's session in Moscow are currently preparing their versions of the session's final protocol. "Currently, the Russian, North Ossetian and the South Ossetian sides are working on the project, but the final protocol can only be approved if the Georgian side takes part [in the production of the final protocol]," Chochiyev told journalists. He said that the Russian, North Ossetian and South Ossetian chairmen of the commission have doubts about the return of Georgian State Minister on Separatist Conflicts Goga Khaindrava, who left the session. Representatives of North and South Ossetia, Georgia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are taking part in the Joint Control Commission's session. Tension in South Ossetia, where separatists broke away from central control after a conflict in the 1990s, has increased in recent weeks. Russia accuses Georgia of violating a 1992 deal overseeing a truce and of trying to trigger a new military confrontation. Georgia in turn accuses Russian peacekeepers in the region of siding with separatists and of trying to arm them. The situation came close to a climax last weekend when Russians said peacekeepers in the area had the right to use force to impose peace and Georgians said they were prepared to resort to arms to repel Russian aggression. Saakashvili said US Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice had helped ease the situation by speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin. And he acknowledged the EU had spoken up for Georgia. "I wouldn't expect Britain to have a confrontation but it is a matter of being part of a multilateral mechanism," he said. Britain's Foreign Office said: "We support the territorial integrity of Georgia and support the OSCE in its mediation efforts." Saakashvili said 160 British military staff were helping to train the Georgian army and had taken part in joint exercises. US forces have also been involved in training. The president said signs of Georgia's closer ties with the West and NATO had prompted Russia to stir up tension in South Ossetia. Moscow, he said, had no strategic interest in the region. "South Ossetia is not the price Georgia is willing to pay for anything, for closer relations with NATO," said Saakashvili. 5. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Clarifies Armenia's Decision to Criticize OSCE YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)In response to reporter inquiries as to why Armenia joined Russia and seven other countries in accusing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of unjustly meddling in their internal affairs, Hamlet Gasparian, a spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, said the Armenian government, like the other signatories, has a number of reservations about the activities of the OSCE and some of its bodies. Gasparian explained that the decision was not made overnight and that the government had been discontent with various aspects of the OSCE for a number of years. He said that similar criticism had been made by Armenia and other CIS member countries during official OSCE discussions aimed at improving the work of the organization. "The signatories of the statement are full members of the OSCE and have the right to express their opinions with regard to any aspect of OSCE's activity for the sake of its improvement," Gasparian stated. He clarified some of OSCE's failures, including, the use of double standards, biased assessments of OSCE monitoring missions and the explicit violation of the balance between the organization's "three dimensions." Despite the criticism, Gasparian noted that Armenia will remain committed to the responsibilities it assumed within the OSCE framework. "Armenia remains committed to all its obligations and is dedicated to this organization's values, and defends the principle of solidarity among all its members," he said. The statement released last week was not signed by Azerbaijan, prompting reporters to speculate about the negative affects Armenia's stance may have on the Mountainous Karabagh settlement. "It should be noted that the issues raised in [the statement] have no relation at all to the regulation process, nor to the work of the OSCE Minsk group and its co-chairmen," Gasparian stated. The spokesman said that according to Azeri media sources, Azerbaijan declined to sign the statement when other CIS countries refused to incorporate wording it had suggested. He made clear that Azerbaijan has often criticized OSCE and its Minsk group. 6. BRIEFS Council of Europe Says No Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan STRASBOURG (ARMENPRESS)In a report released on July 13, Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, noted that virtually all persons considered to be political prisoners in Azerbaijan have either been released or retried. The report was compiled and published by Professors Stefan Trechsel and Evert Alkema. "This demonstrates the good cooperation established with the Azerbaijani authorities; it also illustrates the usefulness of the work of my experts [Trechsel and Alkema]. The procedure established was indeed confidential and quite lengthy but it allowed for possible settlements to the satisfaction of all those concerned." In appreciation of their efforts, Schwimmer last week awarded both Trechsel and Alkema the Pro-Merito medal. Azeri Opposition Party Demands New Presidential Election BAKU (ARMENPRESS)Last Saturday, the main Azeri opposition party, Musavat (Equality), released a statement in which the demand for new presidential elections was made. The statement, which was adopted at the party council's session, accused the Aliyev family and its allies of "usurping" power by rigging the October 15, 2003 presidential elections through fraud and merciless repressions. Another statement by the Musavat party demanded the immediate release of over 100 opposition activists that were convicted shortly after the election. With several of its leaders on trial, the party also expressed its concern that Musavat members will not receive fair trials under the present judicial system. United States Cuts Off Aid To Uzbekistan WASHINGTON DC (EURASIANET.ORG)The United States has announced that it will withhold millions of dollars in security and economic assistance to Uzbekistan, citing "disappointment" over Tashkent's human rights practices. Human rights advocates have praised the US decision, expressing hope that it increases the pressure on Tashkent to implement long-promised reforms to improve civil-society conditions in the country. American law requires the US State Department to review the democratization performance of aid recipients. In Uzbekistan's case, Secretary of State Colin Powell decided that Tashkent is not fulfilling the terms of a 2002 Strategic Partnership Framework agreement that mandated "substantial and continuing progress" on democratization, a July 13 State Department statement said. As a result of Powell's decision to deny certification, Uzbekistan could lose up to $18 million in aid, the statement added. In recent years, Uzbekistan has faced sharp criticism from human rights groups over the government's clampdown on freedom of speech and religious expression. Human Rights Watch has estimated that roughly 7,000 independent Muslims have been improperly imprisoned. The crackdown intensified this spring after Tashkent was rocked in late March by clashes between Islamic radical insurgents and security forces. In addition to human rights transgressions, Uzbek authorities have frustrated US and European officials by failing to fulfill economic reform commitments. The Uzbek government has made "encouraging progress over the past year" in the human rights sphere, the State Department statement noted. However, the country's overall performance could not justify certification, it added. In its country report on Uzbek human rights practices, released in early 2004, the State Department characterized the country as "an authoritarian state with limited civil rights." 24 People Die in Iran Road Accident TEHRAN (ARMENPRESS)Twenty-four people died and 13 others were injured when the driver of a heavy truck smashed into a passenger bus on a road in southern Iran. The accident occurred shortly before dawn between the towns of Darab and Fasa in the Fars province. "The driver had fallen asleep and lost control," a police official was quoted as saying. Iran's roads are already considered to be among the most dangerous in the world. More than a quarter of all cars on the road are over 20 years old. Close to 100,000 people have died in road accidents in the past five years. 25,772 individuals were killed during the one year period between March 2003 and March 2004. Engineering University Introduces Religious Counseling YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)The Armenian Church has accepted an invitation from the state-run Yerevan Engineering University to provide religious counseling sessions to its students. The university has designated a room in which students will be able to hold private discussions with clergymen. The church announced that it is ready to establish similar programs at other universities. Pyunic FC Beats Pobeda of Macedonia SKOPJE (ARMENPRESS)On Tuesday night, Armenian champions FC Pyunik moved into the second qualifying round after a 3-1 victory over FC Pobeda of Macedonia. Edgar Manucharyan of Pyunik dominated the field, scoring two goals and assisting Zhora Hovhanesian for a third. Senior Military Officer's Son Fights with US Citizen YEREVAN (RFE-RL)The Interior Ministry press service confirmed on July 13 that Arsen Harutyunyan, the 30 year old son of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mikael Harutyunyan, attacked David Becker (29) on July 10 in the "Bunker" club in downtown Yerevan. Police officials confirmed that Backer has appealed to the central department of the police complaining that someone named Arsen beat him severely, causing injuries. Officials also said that according to Becker, Harutyunyan attacked two women. General Mikael Harutyunyan refused to comment on the incident. "It would be improper for me to comment," the general said, adding that his children were brought up properly. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri paper urges government to be more resolute in relations with NATO
Zerkalo, Baku
10 Jul 04

The problem brought about by the participation of Armenian officers in
the Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises within NATO’s Partnership
for Peace seems to be drawing to an end.
We have effectively witnessed the Armenian’s victory in this
diplomatic and procedural struggle. And they appear not to have
applied any particular effort to visit Azerbaijan and attend a
preliminary conference for the mentioned NATO exercises. Apparently,
they have simply used ordinary technical facilities by applying to
appropriate bodies in Brussels. This time the Armenians were more
careful not to repeat the past when they could not attend similar
conferences thanks to our efforts.
It turns out that the authorities and society stick to completely
different positions on the issue. The authorities proved too weak to
withstand the pressure from NATO officials and, in a move to justify
themselves, said this was an international event and if the Armenian
officers were to be barred from attending the conference it would deal
a blow to Azerbaijan’s international image and strain its relations
with NATO.
To be frank, we are surprised at the position of NATO
officials. Because unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan is actively cooperating
with NATO. Why does Brussels insist on the participation of the
Armenian officers in the exercises held in Azerbaijan knowing only too
well that this hurts the feelings of our people? Are there
pro-Armenian forces in Brussels who think that the Armenian officers
must attend the exercises by all means? And our authorities hope that
after seeing how fast Azerbaijan is developing, the Armenian officers
will realize that their position is not right and urge their leaders
to sit down at the negotiating table with Azerbaijan.
Let’s note, however, that the Armenians are unlikely to understand
that. First of all, because they will hardly be able to visit the
sites that testify to high living standards (high-rise buildings,
roads, factories, etc.). Secondly, why do they need to see everything
with their own eyes if they can easily see Azerbaijan’s achievements
using the advantages of our 21st-century world?
[Passage omitted: minor details]
The latest developments have set a dangerous precedent. Azerbaijan is
not a NATO member yet but is already retreating under pressure from
the alliance. Our country’s defeat in the issue, though not material
or physical, is beyond doubt. And this deals a moral blow to our
international image as of a partner country. In other words, it
appears that Azerbaijan can make concessions if put under pressure.
We have been hearing quite often that seven Armenian officers are
expected to come to Baku within NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme
in September. A short while ago the deputy foreign minister, Araz
Azimov, said two Armenian officers might attend the exercises. What
will our government’s reaction be? How will society respond? Or, more
importantly, what is to be done?
My suggestion: The foreign affairs and defence ministries have got to
make it clear to NATO officials in a harsher tone than before that
this must not happen again. In principle, our authorities have already
sent the message. Or the mentioned state agencies have to put forward
the initiative to hold activities within Partnership for Peace in
another country aspiring to a NATO membership, such as Ukraine or
Georgia. I don’t think Azerbaijan will end up losing a lot by refusing
to host the alliance’s exercises on its soil.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
June 23 2004
KARABAGH TOURISM BOOSTING
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 23, ARMENPRESS: According to Nagorno Karabagh
foreign ministry, tourism industry is booming with an annual 40
percent increase in the number of people wishing to visit it. Last
year 2,500 people traveled to Karabagh, the majority of them were
ethnic Armenians. On the rise is also the number of foreigners.
The foreign ministry said citizens of 70 countries visited
Karabagh in 2003. There is no information about people from Armenia
proper and CIS countries visiting Karabagh, as they are not
registered. The great majority of foreigners come to Karabagh as
tourists to see its places of interests, however Karabagh tourist
industry does not possess sufficient facilities. So far there are
only three destinations for tourists, while there are many other
areas that will be attractive for them.
Many of historical and cultural monuments are unavailable because
of poor roads, a major reconstruction of which is seen as number one
condition for bringing in more tourists. The absence of guidebooks,
maps is another obstacle, though some books and maps were already
published.
The government of Nagorno Karabagh ordered drafting of a tourism
industry development program, which still remains on paper. According
to unofficial figures, the annual income from tourism is around $1
million, but the biggest portion of this money does not enter
Karabagh as travel agencies from other countries are also engaged in
this business.
The government is also planning to reduce the cost of entrance
visa, that is $25 now, by around $2.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress