Author: Ekmekjian Janet

Iranian envoy says Azeri oil project “political” not commercial – Armenian paper
Iravunk, Yerevan
29 Oct 04
Not only the interests of the world’s super powers clash in the South
Caucasus but also those of the regional countries. In this sense
relations between Iran and Armenia stand out as they have always
been friendly and warm. The Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza
Haqiqian, answers some of the questions regarding Armenian-Iranian
relations.
[Iravunk correspondent] Mr Ambassador, what do you think of the
current level of Armenian-Iranian relations?
[Ali Reza Haqiqian] Today Iran-Armenian relations are at a good level.
[Passage omitted: the ambassador says that Kocharyan’s visit to Iran
In 2001 and Khatami’s visit to Armenia this year played an important
role in deepening relations and strengthening a long-lasting peace
in the Caucasus and calls for multilateral links]
[Correspondent] Although Nagornyy Karabakh is an unrecognized country,
it is Iran’s neighbour, and the latter has to have a certain position
on the Karabakh settlement. Which principles should be taken into
account in settling the Karabakh issue?
[Haqiqian] Iran’s position on regional developments is precise
and is based on the principles of cooperation, balance and mutual
understanding. We stress the need for a peaceful settlement of
the Karabakh issue and the continuation of Armenian-Azerbaijani
negotiations. And Iran has always expressed its readiness to help
settle the problem.
[Correspondent] After 15 years of neutrality Iran finally said that
it recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. It is quite normal
for a country to sympathize with its neighbour’s problems, but why
does your country put an emphasis on this? Does this statement mean
a radical change in Iran’s position?
[Haqiqian] Iran has not changed its principled position on the regional
developments and neighbouring countries.
[Correspondent] It is known that the USA and Azerbaijan have very
close relations. In this case why is Iran siding with these two?
[Haqiqian] Iran builds its bilateral relations with all the countries
and especially with its neighbours on the basis of the principle of
mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs. It is
noteworthy that relations with our neighbours develop in different
spheres on the basis of the will, desire, ability and potential of
the parties involved.
[Correspondent] They say that the Moscow-Baku-Tehran railway will
become an alternative to the Baku-Tbilisi Ceyhan [oil pipeline, BTC,
as received]. What is your view?
[Haqiqian] Iran has an important role and place in the regional
communication and transit system. For this reason it is natural for
the regional countries to be interested in developing cooperation with
Iran. Moreover the situation in the region and regional developments
have once again shown the significance of the Iranian direction. We
hope that this will also create conditions for the development of
regional cooperation. As for the BTC project, many specialists think
it is not a commercial but a political project.
[Correspondent] What can you say about a gas pipeline to link Iran
and Armenia? Will it become a transit one?
[Haqiqian] The Iranian-Armenian gas pipeline is one of the most
important elements of our relations. The construction of the gas
pipeline will have a positive economic impact on the region. As for
the transit problem, I must say that on the whole the development of
cooperation among different countries, in particular, in the energy
sphere will contribute to greater mutual understanding. At the
same time in case of the gas transit we must look at the economic,
technical and other sides of the issue.

Author Balakian to give Holocaust Lecture
By Barbara Rea
Washington University Record, Washington
29 Oct. 2004
Peter Balakian, Ph.D., will give the Holocaust Lecture for the Assembly
Series at 4 p.m. Nov. 4 in Graham Chapel. His talk is titled “The
Armenian Genocide and America’s First International Human Rights
Movement.”
Peter Balakian
Balakian is the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of the
Humanities and professor of English at Colgate University, and a
human-rights activist who has been involved in the national and
international movement for Armenian genocide recognition.
In his 2004 book, The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and
America’s Response, he describes the systematic deportation and
murder of as many as 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks
during World War I. The book was a New York Times Notable Book and
a New York Times best seller.
The Burning Tigris followed a 1997 memoir, Black Dog of Fate, which
won the 1998 PEN/Martha Albrand Prize for the Art of the Memoir and
appeared on the “best books of the year lists” for The New York Times,
Los Angeles Times and Publisher’s Weekly.
In addition, Balakian has written a book of poetry, June-tree: New
and Selected Poems, 1974-2000, published in 2001, and a book on the
American poet Theodore Roethke. He has also co-translated Armenian
poet Siamanto’s Bloody News From My Friend. Between 1976-1996, he
and Bruce Smith edited the poetry journal Graham House Review.
Most notable among Balakian’s many awards, prizes and civic citations
are a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts
Fellowship, an Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the Ahanhit Literary
Prize.
He earned an undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and a
doctorate from Brown University.
Assembly Series lectures are free and open to the public. For more
information, go online to assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call 935-4620.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 28, 2004
NATO SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT BAKU
[October 28, 2004, 19:19:40]
Secretary General of NATO Mr. Yaap de Hoop Scheffer is expected to
pay a familiarizing visit to Azerbaijan on 4 November, AzerTAj said.
Mr. Y.H. Scheffer will negotiate with political and defense leadership
of the Republic, discuss participation of the Republic in the PfP
program of the Alliance, realization of individual partnership plan,
and development of cooperation in the frame of international coalition
on combat against terrorism.
In the frame of visit, also will be focused issues of preparation
of the seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on situation in
the South Caucasus due late November in Baku, settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh.

ARKA News Agency
28 Oct. 2004
A.GRIGORIAN: STEPANAKERT TO CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION OF DEMOCRATIC STATE
WITH CONSIDERATION OF THREAT OF RECOMMENCEMENT OF MILITARY ACTIONS
Exclusive interview of Alexander GRIGORIAN, the Head of Chief
Information Department at NKR President, to ARKA News Agency.
ARKA- Mr. Grigorian, recently administration of Azerbaijan more often
uses militarist rhetoric in the issue of Karabakh settlement. How can
you comment these statements, and how do they contribute to search of
necessary compromises in conflict settlement?
A.Grigorian- Azeri party does not want any compromises. Official Baku
hopes that Western community and Russia sooner or later put pressure
upon Yerevan and Stepanakert and help Azerbaijan to return Nagorno
Karabakh in constitutional field of Azerbaijan. This is the explanation
of militarist rhetoric of Baku authorities. This rhetoric has a
character of blackmail and basically addressed to Western community,
which is interested in stable South Caucasus: it means, if you don’t
help to return Karabakh, we will ruin all your plans in the region. The
problem cannot be solved like that. The one can only aggravate the
situation. If Azerbaijan wants this, it is hopeless policy. I don’t
think that even allies of Azerbaijan are happy with this policy.
ARKA- After coming to power, Aliev Junior stated on the necessity to
start negotiations on Karabakh settlement from “zero level”. How strong
is administration of Azerbaijan attached to this principle?
A.Grigorian- If by word of mouth there are some small changes, in
practice everything testifies to unwillingness of Azeri powers to deal
with Karabakh problem themselves. Logic of their behavior is something
as following: if international community recognizes territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, then why bother looking for some compromises,
which more or less disturb the situation de jure. What about de-facto,
i.e. Nagorno Karabakh as independent, though unrecognized state, then
Baku thinks that similar situation is temporary. It is necessary, Baku
thinks, just to continue the policy on military-political and economic
isolation of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and wait for creation of
totally new, more favorable for Azerbaijan situation in the region. In
other words, “zero level” is nothing but the unwillingness of Baku to
deal itself with Karabakh problem and its attempt to put it on the
shoulders of mediators.
ARKA- Therefore, negotiations on Karabakh conflict settlement are in
dead end? If yes, then does the situation suit Karabakh party? And
generally speaking: would it be possible in the future the joining of
Karabakh party to Yerevan-Baku dialogue?
A.Grigorian- I will agree with you considering dead-end situation of
negotiating process. Does this situation suit Karabakh? Certainly not.
It is necessary to struggle for juridical distinctness, not only
factual. And we cannot wait for ever, until Azerbaijan decides to talk
to Karabakh. Talk on the base of constructivism. We will continue
construction of our state in correspondence to basic principles of
democracy, but with consideration of threat of recommencement of
military actions. Besides, Nagorno Karabakh already passed ahead of
Azerbaijan in the sphere of democratization of public-political life.
And it is not only my opinion. I suppose that this fact is even
realized in Azerbaijan. It is for this reason they always state against
conduction of elections in NKR and visit of Nagorno Karabakh by
representatives of Western structures.
ARKA- Armenian parties have more than once stated that Karabakh
conflict can be settled only be means of negotiations, on the base of
compromises. What compromises are possible from Karabakh party?
A.Grigorian- Karabakh party is ready to discuss with Azerbaijan all
issues considering thief future relations. Only in the process of
similar dialogue some acceptable compromises can appear.
ARKA- After amnesty of Samvel Babayan, there were no any official
comments considering given fact. Could you mention political motives of
the amnesty and how was this decision to NKR president, considering
organization of murderous assault?
A.Grigorian- The President showed mercy. All other interpretations of
this fact are groundless.
ARKA- Recently the visits of NKR administration abroad became more
often. How can you explain similar activation of Nagorno Karabakh
authorities?
A.Grigorian – Nagorno Karabakh is developing, NKR contacts with the
world are expanding. I want to specially note that the factor of NKR
unacknowledgement for many countries is not a negative irritant in the
view of establishment of cooperation with it. In many respects it is
explained with our achievements in state construction, reforms’ level,
conducted almost in all spheres of life of our republic. We created
favorable tax base for investment in NKR economy. External investors
every day become more confident that they deal with reliable partner.
First of all it considers our compatriots from abroad. Along with that
we expect their more active cooperation with Nagorno Karabakh. We
understand, that many are alarmed with the factor of unsettled conflict
and that investments in the economy of NKR have to deal with risk.
However, the one should not forget that nothing can happen without
certain risk in our region. L.D. –0–

Guns Found at Concert Attended by Georgian, Armenian Presidents
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
25 Oct. 2004
25/10/2004 04:50
Georgia Security Ministry officials found guns one hour prior to
the concert.
Georgian Security Ministry officials found a sniper rifle and a
Kalashnikov assault rifle late on October 23 in the concert hall in
downtown Tbilisi, one hour prior to the show, which was later attended
by the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his visiting Armenian
counterpart Robert Kocharian.
Security Ministry officials say that the investigation in ongoing
and decline to comment who is the owner of the guns.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia president hails unsealing of Russia-Georgia border
Interfax
25 Oct. 2004
Tbilisi. (Interfax) – The president of Armenia on Friday hailed the
unsealing by Russia of its border with Georgia while his Georgian
counterpart said the border’s closure several weeks ago “has reminded
us once again that sales markets should be looked for not only
in Russia.”
The reopening of the Upper Lars checkpoint “is evidence that tension
in North Ossetia is subsiding after the Beslan events,” Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, currently on a visit to Georgia, told
a joint news conference with Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili in
reference to the school siege in September.
“It was exactly the tension that arose in North Ossetia that explained
that measure [the border closure],” Kocharian said.
Saakashvili said: “The sealing of the border has reminded us once
again that sales markets should be looked for not only in Russia but
also in other countries.”
“While we should keep the Russian market, we should also find other
markets,” he said.

Interfax
Oct 21 2004
Armenia discusses commitments to Council of Europe
Yerevan. (Interfax) – A Wednesday conference with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian discussed the fulfillment of promises Armenia made
when it joined the Council of Europe in 2001, the presidential press
service told Interfax.
“Once again we have to find out at what stage of fulfilling our
obligations we are and to adopt a new timetable helping us fully
carry out these obligations,” the press service said.
Parliamentary deputy speaker and head of the Armenian delegation to
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Tigran
Torosyan gave a report on the issue. He said parliament is working on
a new electoral code taking due account of the opinion of the Venice
Commission.
A major commitment that has not been fulfilled is a constitutional
referendum, which is expected in 2005.
The conference also discussed plans for reforming the judicial system
and the system of provincial government and approved a schedule for
fulfilling them, the press service said.
In May 2003, Armenia held a constitutional referendum, but the
proposed reforms were rejected by the public.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Oct 22 2004
FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN MET AMBASSADORS OF EU AND OIC
MEMBER-COUNTRIES IN BAKU
[October 22, 2004, 10:47:13]
Foreign minister of the Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov has met
the EU member-countries’ ambassadors in Baku – Italy, Greece,
Romania, Great Britain, Norway, Germany, Poland, France and OIC
member-countries – Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Libya,
Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in Baku, 21 October, AzerTAj said.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov updated the ambassadors on the illegal
actions of the Armenians in the occupied Nagorny Karabakh region and
adjacent territories of the Azerbaijan Republic. Expressing concern
with latest developments in the occupied territories, in particular,
with the facts of artificial resettlement by Armenia of these areas,
has reminded that these illegal actions of the Armenian side have
been many times stated at high level, as well as in the statement of
President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev at the 59th session
of General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
Noting that these steps of Armenia have negative influence on peace
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, the
foreign minister said that the Republic of Azerbaijan had requested
to include the item, `On situation in the occupied territories of the
Azerbaijan Republic’, in the agenda of the 59th session of UN General
Assembly.
Foreign minister of Azerbaijan stated that Turkey and the OIC
member-countries already had supported the idea and he expressed hope
that the countries that the ambassadors represent in the meeting,
would also back it, to stop illegal inhabiting of the Azerbaijan
territories by Armenia and including the said item in the agenda of
session of the General Assembly. The Minister also stated that he
adheres peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict in the frame of international law and by the OSCE
Minsk Group, underlining, this meeting was organized to prevent
illegal commitments of Armenia to impede settlement of the problem.
Noting that Azerbaijan respects international legal norms, Mr. Elmar
Mammadyarov expressed confidence that the world community and UN
member-countries would also demonstrate respect and honor for the
international legal principles and back Azerbaijan in prevention of
inhabiting by Armenia the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Al-Ahram Weekly, Egypt
Oct 21 – 27, 2004
Election offensive
Intensifying US military operations in Iraq is designed to minimise
any damage to Bush’s re-election chances, reports Khaled Dawoud from
Washington
Before Ramadan had even begun US officials were predicting an upsurge
in violence during the month of fasting, hardly good news for
President Bush’s reelection campaign.
In recent polls Bush has looked increasingly vulnerable over Iraq,
with his administration’s conduct of the war regularly recording a 58
per cent disapproval rating. The US president has faced growing
criticisms, not only over the absence of any exit strategy but also
over inadequate planning for the conflict itself. With the number of
US soldiers killed in military operations now standing at 1,100, and
a further 6,000 wounded, the nightmare scenario for Bush’s campaign
managers is the possibility of even heavier US casualties ahead of
the closely contested 2 November US election.
Pentagon officials have apparently decided that their best option is
to go on the offensive instead of waiting for attacks by Iraqi
resistance fighters, one result being the sudden escalation of
violence in Falluja which has left scores of Iraqi civilians dead,
including children.
US officials claim the town is a haven for resistance fighters,
including those loyal to Abu Musaab Al-Zarqawi whose group, Al-
Tawhid wa Al-Jihad, the US State Department this week added to its
list of terrorist organisations. Al-Zarqawi already tops Washington’s
most-wanted list together with Osama Bin Laden: a $25 million reward
has been posted for information leading to the capture, or death, of
either.
Falluja, already under tight siege, has been subject to sustained
artillery and aerial bombardment by US troops. The operation, say
military spokesmen, has nothing to do with US elections but is
intended to secure the town ahead of Iraq’s own January poll.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he expected
American troops to continue working alongside the newly formed Iraqi
army to secure control of major cities in the Sunni Triangle ahead of
the vote: “We’ll see our coalition forces working with Iraqis, going
in other towns in the [Sunni] Triangle because the Triangle is the
centre of gravity of all of this. In military terms, this is where
the main attack, main effort has to be. And if we can get the
Triangle under control, then you give those people the freedom to
participate in the political process and take their anger out, or
their disappointments out, in the political process and not on the
streets.”
Some commentators argue that the recent spate of offensive operations
in Iraq is an attempt to undermine the arguments of anti- war critics
who claim that, with Iraq spiralling out of control, the January
elections will have to be cancelled.
US occupation authorities have already given their blessing to a plan
by Iraq’s interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi, to trade weapons for
cash in Sadr city, a stronghold of Shia resistance led by Moqtada
El-Sadr. The deadline for the exchange has been extended several
times, and on Monday Allawi announced the same scheme would be
extended to cover other large cities. The sudden rehabilitation of
Al-Sadr, who led a bloody rebellion in the holy city of Najaf earlier
this summer, is another indication of the compromises the Bush
administration is willing to make to calm the situation in Iraq ahead
of US elections.
Such compromises, though, have yet to staunch the flow of bad news
coming out of Iraq. The recent refusal by 19 US soldiers based in
south Iraq to drive fuel trucks to the city of Taji because, they
claimed, of inadequate vehicle maintenance and the absence of any
protection from armoured vehicles and helicopters, was quickly seized
on by the Kerry campaign.
Though Pentagon spokesmen sought to play down the incident,
describing it as “isolated”, it played into the hands of President
Bush’s opponent, who has repeatedly attacked the administration for
sending American troops to Iraq without adequate or sufficient
equipment.
The Kerry campaign has highlighted reports of how families of some US
soldiers had to buy their relatives bullet proof jackets before the
army provided them with badly needed supplies. US soldiers on the
ground in Iraq have also been quoted as saying they had to improvise
armour for vehicles in order to protect them from road side bombs.
Meanwhile, Pentagon officials remained tightlipped on their request
to move British troops into central Iraq. The move, intended to free
US troops for operations in Falluja and other resistance strongholds,
lends weight to charges that the Bush administration did not send
enough troops to Iraq in the first place.
The Pentagon request follows disclosures that a number of close US
allies are planning to pull out of Iraq in response to the
deteriorating security situation. Poland and Ukraine have both
announced they will withdraw troops at the beginning of next year
while Armenia, which had planned to send a nominal 50 troops, said
this week it had changed its mind, fearing reprisals against Iraq’s
small Armenian minority.
On Monday The Washington Post reported that Lieutenant General
Ricardo Sanchez, former commander of US troops in Iraq, had written
to the Pentagon at the beginning of the year warning of inadequate
troop numbers and urgently requesting spare parts. That letter
coincided with announcements by the White House and the Pentagon that
US occupation troops in Iraq had everything necessary to fulfil their
mission.
Despite mounting evidence no one expects the Bush administration to
concede it has put a foot wrong in Iraq two weeks before the
elections. Should Bush win on 2 November, though, the White House
will revise its Iraq strategy in a tacit admission that something
more than the minor “miscalculations” Bush recently conceded have
been made.
Until then Iraqi civilians and more US troops will continue to pay a
heavy price.

Azeri national security chief talks about “Armenian terrorism” at forum
Zerkalo, Baku
20 Oct 04
Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 20
October headlined “Threats posed by Armenian terrorism” and sub-headed
“This is what Azerbaijani National Security Minister Eldar Mahmudov
spoke about at an international summit”
An Azerbaijani delegation led by National Security Minister Eldar
Mahmudov has attended the world summit to combat organized crime held
in Monaco on 13-16 October.
The press service of the National Security Ministry has told Zerkalo
that the summit, attended by representatives of some 60 countries and
influential international organizations, discussed the fight against
transnational crime, including international terrorism, drug
trafficking, money laundering, etc.
In his remarks at a special session of the summit on combating
international terrorism, the Azerbaijani national security minister
focused on threats posed by Armenia’s armed separatism and terrorism,
and the aggressor’s use of the occupied Azerbaijani territories for
these purposes.
Mahmudov spoke about the antiterror measures being taken in Azerbaijan
at the state level. The minister also pointed to the need for stepping
up international cooperation in this sphere.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Azerbaijani national security
minister held a number of bilateral meetings which focused on
prospects for further cooperation.