Author: Ekmekjian Janet

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.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Oct 15 2004
FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS WITH POLISH DELEGATION
[October 14, 2004, 17:32:51]
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met with
delegation of Poland led by deputy Foreign Minister of the country
Anzei Zalutski. Minister Mammadyarov noted that historical ties
between the two countries are now also being developed in political,
economic, military spheres, as well as in science and education. He
expressed hope as well that as a member of European Union and NATO,
Poland would support Azerbaijan’s position at these organizations.
Deputy Foreign Minister of the country Anzei Zalutski highly valued
the opening of Azerbaijan Embassy in Warsaw noting it would give an
impetus to development of the Azerbaijan-Poland bilateral cooperation.
Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov informed the guests on the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulted in occupation by Armenian of 20%
of the Azerbaijani territories and over one million refugees and IDPs
from their native lands. He stressed the importance of the problem’s
resolution in the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
and appreciated the fair stance of Poland with this respect.
The sides also discussed a number of other issues of mutual interest.

Russia calls for opening railway traffic in Transcaucasia
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 13, 2004 Wednesday
YEREVAN, October 13 — Russia calls for opening railway traffic on
the whole territory of Transcaucasia, Russian Transport Minister Igor
Levitin said.
Levitin, who is Russian co-chairman of the intergovernmental commission
on economic cooperation, said he will discuss Russia’s initiative with
Armenia’s leadership on Wednesday and Thursday. Then he will leave
for Baku and Tbilisi for a meeting with the presidents of Azerbaijan
and Georgia to focus on this issue.
“We realise that this is a difficult task, but we should solve it
jointly,” the Russian minister said. In his view, “on the contrary,
our countries may lose to competition in other fields.”
Levitin said Armenia’s transport isolation thwarts trade with Russia.
This problem is in the focus of sessions of the inter-governmental
commission, he said.
Among major problems, the Russian minister named the unsatisfied
development of the transport infrastructure, which requires additional
finances, and Georgia’s unconstructive position on opening through
railway traffic between Russia and Armenia.
Levitin said, “There are obstacles to carry out the project on
organising direct ferry traffic via Poti. The solution of the transport
problem in the Caucasus should be subject of the whole region.”
Armenia ranks third among CIS countries in investments in Russia’s
economy, he said.
Speaking at an international economic forum, the minister said,
“At present, the improvement of trade structure and the expansion
of investment cooperation is one of priority tasks.” The forum was
organised by the World Armenian Congress and the Union of Armenians
of Russia.
He recalled, “Russia invested in different fields of Armenia’s economy,
primarily in the productive and banking sectors of the economy.”
Last year Russia’s investment in Armenia’s economy reached 68 million
U.S. dollars. From 1988 to 2003 Russia’s direct investment in Armenia
exceeded 230 million U.S. dollars.
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said Russia is ready to take an active
part in investment programmes and the implementation of economic
projects in Armenia.
The prime minister’s message was read by Russian Transport Minister
Igor Levitin.
Fradkov said he is hopeful that this forum would become a catalyst
for the development of trade and economic ties between Armenia and
Russia and other countries.
He noted that the Armenian community in Russia played a significant
role in launching mutually advantageous ties in various spheres
between the two countries.
Levitin said the development of inter-regional relations between the
two countries was an important reserve of bilateral relations.
Commenting on Armenia’s state debt to Russia, the minister said the two
countries had found a solution to this problem last year. The handover
of companies as payment of the state debt creates preconditions for
boosting trade and economic interaction between the two states.
Russian-Armenian trade and economic cooperation is developed in
accordance with the principle of equality, while meeting each party’s
national interests and to their mutual advantage, the minister said.
Levitin noted positive examples of cooperation, including such joint
ventures as Armenal, in which the Russian Aluminium Company invested
more than 40 million dollars, the Armavia airline, in which Russia’s
Sibir holds a 70-percent sake and the Orbita plant, which is wholly
owned by Rosaviaspetskomplex.
“We have cooperation plans in the fields of power generation,
including nuclear power generation, and information technologies
where resources and experience of Russian communication operators
on Armenia’s market will be used, as well as in the sphere of space
exploration and science,” the minister said.
He said Russia’s commercial banks begin to display interest in
servicing Russian companies, which operate in Armenia, and setting
up new joint ventures.

Armenian campaign is worth a shot
Nonprofit Children’s Vaccine Fund aiming to raise $1.5
million for various inoculations for Armenian children
for next 15 years.
Glendale News-Press
October 13, 2004
By Josh Kleinbaum
GLENDALE – While many Americans worry about the flu vaccine shortages,
children in Armenia and other countries around the world are trying
to get vaccines for more serious treatable diseases. In Glendale,
one group is trying to help.
The Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccine Fund is attempting to
raise $1.5 million to provide the standard set of vaccinations for
children in Armenia for the next 15 years. The vaccinations, given
to children in America as standard practice, cover serious diseases
such as diphtheria, hepatitis B, polio and tuberculosis.
“The need is enormous,” said Eliza Karagezian, the fund’s project
manager. “Without vaccines, children get sick with preventable diseases
and suffer needlessly. The financial infrastructure in Armenia does
not allow [the government] to provide children with these vaccines.”
In the past, Armenia has relied on foreign aid from other nations to
provide the necessary vaccines, Karagezian said. This money raised
by the Millennium Fund will allow Armenia to be self-sufficient.
“Children in developing countries are under so much stress from
malnutrition and the environment that vaccines are a wonderful way
to make them less susceptible to other things, like diarrhea or
pneumonia,” said Celia Woodfill, epidemiologist in the immunization
branch of California’s Dept. of Health Services. “It’s very good
that they’re trying to go for 15 years, because then it could have
a sustained effect. If you could stop the disease in kids, you can
stop the disease in the community. Maybe by then, Armenia will have
found its feet.”
The fund is working with UNICEF and Armenia’s Ministry of Health to
get the vaccines to children. Karagezian said the fund, administered
by the Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation, has raised $1.3 million,
and she hopes to raise the additional $200,000 by the end of the year.
When the fund reaches its goal of $1.5 million, it will have enough
money to vaccinate 560,000 children in Armenia.
“Having a healthy economy and a healthy democracy starts with having
healthy individuals,” said Ardashes Kassakhian, executive director
of the Armenian National Committee’s Western Region. “We see how
important health care issues are here in this election in this country,
and other countries have the same concerns.
“Children are our future. We have to teach them well and let them
lead the way.”
,1,2967802.story?coll=la-tcn-glendale-news
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress