Author: Emil Lazarian

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ECONOMIC POTENTIALS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN IS
ONE OF BAKU’S PROPAGANDA ARGUMENTS
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26. ARMINFO. The difference between the economic
potentials of Armenia and Azerbaijan has been one of the propaganda
arguments of Baku since 1989, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan
says in an interview to the readers of Golos Armenii.
It was this conviction that pushed Azerbaijan to start war against
Nagorny Karabakh in 1992. It’s enough to see the Azeri press and to
listen to what their officials say to understand this. The result is
known. Today economic potential is not just how much oil one produces
but how effective his economy is. In this aspect Armenia is certainly
ahead of Azerbaijan, says Kocharyan.

70TH JUBILEE OF WELL-KNOWN PUBLICIST AND PUBLIC WORKER ZORY BALAYAN
CEREMONIALLY MARKED IN NAGORNY KARABAKH REPUBLIC
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO. The 70th Jubilee of the well-known
publicist and public worker Zory Balayan was ceremonially marked in
Nagorny Karabakh Republic.
According to ARMINFO’s correspondent to Stepanakert, NKR President
Arkady Ghoukassyan and other officials and public representatives
attending the jubilee evening party. The congratulation message of
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was read out. In his speech, Zory
Balayan touched upon the problems of the world; globalization and its
possible influence on the region as well as the role of oil factor in
the process of Karabakh conflict’s settlement. Speaking of the
Karabakh National Liberation Movement, Balayan said: “God forbid! If
someone thinks that the sacrifices were in vain, if we doubt that we
have achieved our goal, there will be no forgiveness for us.”

Catholic World News
Feb 26 2005
Cardinal Sodano, substituting for Pope, meets Azeri leader
Vatican, Feb. 26 (CWNews.com) – Cardinal Angelo Sodano (bio – news)
met with visiting President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaidjan on Saturday,
substituting for Pope John Paul II (bio – news).
With Pope John Paul remaining in Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican
Secretary of State welcomed Aliev to the Vatican. An official Vatican
announcement after the visit reported that the visiting Azeri leader
had sent his best wishes to the Pope, and assured him that the people
of the former Soviet republic were praying for his recovery.
As Secretary of State, Cardinal Sodano ordinarily meets privately
with visiting government leaders after they have been received by the
Pope. His discussions with Aliev reportedly centered on questions of
religious freedom in Azerbaidjan and the border conflict between that
country and neighboring Armenia over the region of Nagorni-Karabakh.
Pope John Paul II visited Azerbaidjan in May 2002, as the country
celebrated the 10th anniversary of its independence. An
overwhelmingly Muslim country, Azerbaidjan has a tiny Catholic
community– composed primarily of people of Polish or Armenian ethnic
origin– that survived decades of persecution. The underground
Catholic community returned to public life in 1997 when the new
regime recognized freedom of religion.

Interfax
Feb 26 2005
Kocharian dismisses possibility of revolution in Armenia
YEREVAN. Feb 26 (Interfax) – There are no preconditions for the
replay of the Georgian or Ukrainian revolutionary scenarios in
Armenia now, said Armenian President Robert Kocharian.
“The best guarantee of stability is an efficient and energetic
government and a targeted and balanced foreign policy,” Kocharian
said in the Saturday issue of the newspaper Voice of Armenia.
“If the government is sluggish, there will always be someone who
could try to seize power; if there are a lot of angry people, this
someone could lean on them; and if the government stands on the way
of someone powerful, these attempts will gain support from abroad.
All the three factors worked in Georgia and Ukraine,” Kocharian said.
At the same time, the president said there is no strong opposition in
his country now. “The higher the opposition’s level, the higher the
standards that society wants the government to comply with. A weak
opposition corrupts the government and produces apathy in society,
and therefore I am in favor of a strong opposition,” Kocharian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Seventeen Years Later:
Remembering and Condemning the Armenian Pogroms in Azerbaijan

CONDEMNING SUMGAIT

On July 7, 1988, the European Parliament adopted the following resolution:
Considering, that Nagorno Karabagh was historically a part of Armenia, that
currently over 80% of its population are Armenians, that this region was
annexed by Azerbaijan in 1923 and that in February 1988 Armenians suffered
from a massacre in the Azeri city of Sumgait,
– Considering that aggravation of political situation, having caused
mass killings of Armenians in Sumgait and atrocities in Baku, is dangerous
for Armenians living in Azerbaijan,
– Condemns brutality and pressure used against Armenian protesters in
Azerbaijan.

WHAT WAS SUMGAIT?

The pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait in February 1988 have the dubious honor
of being the first — the first time that ethnic cleansing was utilized in
what was still Soviet space – even before this scourge of modern humanity
reared its head in the Balkans.

The Nagorno Karabakh problem, which still festers in the South Caucasus,
began 17 years ago as a series of peaceful demonstrations by Armenians who
wished to determine their own lives, their own futures, NOT under the
jurisdiction of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani government responded to these
calls with violence and repression. The most violent and obviously political
instance of this response were the massacres which took place on three days
in February 1988 in the industrial town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan, miles away
from the territory of Nagorno Karabakh and the peaceful calls for
self-determination. The violence against Armenians in Sumgait changed the
nature of the Karabakh conflict.

George Soros spoke about this in Moscow Znamya Journal (Issue #6, 1989). He
actually confirmed that the first Armenian pogroms in Azerbaijan were
instigated by local bands, managed by the then First Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party, future President of Azerbaijan,
Heidar Aliev – father of the current President.

THE HORRORS OF SUMGAIT – February 1988

Massacres of Armenians in Sumgait (a city located a half an hour drive away
from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku) took place in broad daylight, witnessed
by numerous gapers and passers by. The peak of the atrocities committed by
Azeri perpetrators occurred on 27 – 29 February 1988. The events were preceded
by a wave of anti-Armenian statements and rallies that swept over Azerbaijan
in February 1988.

Izvestia Daily (20 August 1988) quoted Soviet deputy chief prosecutor
Katusev who said that almost the entire area of Sumgait, a city with a
population of 250,000 had become the site of unhindered mass pogroms. The
perpetrators who broke into Armenian homes used lists identifying Armenian
residents. They were also assured impunity. They were armed with iron rods,
stones, axes, knives, bottles and canisters full of benzene.

NOT JUST SUMGAIT

This was not an isolated incident. The assault of a sovereign government
against its citizens continued.

In May 1988 in Shushi, the local authorities initiated the deportation of
Armenians living in that hilltop city from which Karabakh¹s largest city,
Stepanakert, was to be so easily shelled for the next several years.

In the same year, Armenians were killed and wounded in the village of
Khojali.

In November and December 1988, a wave of Armenian pogroms swept Azerbaijan.
The worst took place in Baku, Kirovabad (Ganja), Shemakh, Shamkhor,
Mingechaur and Nakhichevan.

The Soviet press described how, in Kirovabad, perpetrators broke in a
hospice for the elderly, captured and subsequently killed 12 helpless old
Armenian men and women, including several disabled ones.

The 40,000 Armenians of Azerbaijan¹s third largest city, Ganja, were also
forcibly removed from their homes.

Throughout 1989, sporadic attacks, beatings, looting and massacres in Baku
reduced that number to 30,000 – mostly the elderly who could not leave Baku.
By early January 1990, Armenian pogroms in Baku intensified and became more
organized. When it was over, there were less than 50,000 Armenians left in
Baku, out of a total population of 215,000.

The Soviet press had daily reports of indescribable horror – dissecting
bodies, ripping open the abdomens of pregnant women, burning people alive –
with a daily tally of murders in full view of the authorities. Russia¹s
Soyuz magazine reported that one man was literally torn apart, and his
remains thrown in a garbage container.

The active role of the authorities was evident throughout.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUMGAIT

The Azeri leadership, then and now, never expressed remorse over the ethnic
cleansing and massacres of the Armenians of Azerbaijan, or the Armenians of
Karabakh. According to Ilias Izmailov, Azerbaijan¹s Prosecutor General
during the Sumgait pogroms, ³Perpetrators of the pogroms now carry mandates
and sit in the Parliament,² (Zerkalo, 21 February 2003).

As a result of the atrocities and the events which followed in the same
spirit, Azerbaijan has lost the moral right to expect that the people of NK
would consider being under Azerbaijani jurisdiction. We expect that the
Azerbaijani leadership will honor the principles of individual and human
rights and will come to terms with the fact that the people of Nagorno
Karabakh will determine their own future, in peace and security with their
neighbors.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 25 2005
PROBLEMS & PROSPECTS OF AZERBAIJAN DIASPORA DEDICATED
[February 25, 2005, 21:17:13]
On the initiative of Azerbaijan-Netherlands friendship society, a
conference related to the activity, problems and prospects of
Azerbaijan communities and unions in Europe took place in Amsterdam,
AzerTAj reports.
Azerbaijan was represented by Chairman of the state committee on work
with Azerbaijanis living abroad Nazim Ibrahimov, heads of Azerbaijan
Diaspora organizations functioning in the European countries.
It was stressed the necessity of unification of Azerbaijan Diaspora
organizations for exposure of the Armenian aggressive policy, as well
as to hold the arrangement on the occasion of 13th anniversary of
Khojali Genocide.
Finally, on behalf of Azerbaijan communities and unions of Benelux
countries, a statement sharply condemn aggression of the Armenian
against Azerbaijan was adopted. The document was sent to the
international organizations of European countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORLD CENTER FOR TRANSPLANTATION OF ORGANS TO CHILDREN ORGANIZES
CHARITABLE CONCERT IN WASHINGTON TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR TREATMENT OF
ARMENIAN CHILDREN
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. World Center for Transplantation of
Organs for Children has organized a charitable concert in Washington
to collect funds for treatment of children from socially unsecured
families in Armenia.
The press service of the Armenian foreign ministry informs ARMINFO
that the event was held with support of Armenian Embassy in the USA
and the Armenian Office of the World Center. The action organizers
invited laureates of international contest – Trio of State
Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia Lilit Zakaryan (violin), Vahan
Grigoryan (violoncello) and Shushan Hakobyan (piano). Participating in
the party held at the concert hall of the Austrian Embassy in
Washington were Chairman of the World Center for Transplantation of
Organs to Children Mark Crocker, his assistant Valeriy MacCafrey and
representatives of Washington Administration, World Bank and the
Armenian Diaspora of Washington.- M-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
02/24/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. ANCA Discusses Armenian American Concerns with US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans 2. German CDU to Demand Turkey Acknowledge Killings of Armenians 3. Embassy Official Says Congressman Received Payment for Anti-Armenian Speech 4. Putin Firm Despite Bush's Democracy 'Concerns' 5. NATO Envoy Discusses 'Individual Partnership' with Armenia 1. ANCA Discusses Armenian American Concerns with US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans --Talks include special focus on US policy on the Armenian genocide WASHINGTON, DC--The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) met this week with Ambassador John Marshall Evans, the US Ambassador to Armenia. The meeting, held in the ANCA offices in Washington, DC, was characterized by a substantive and meaningful exchange on a broad range of issues of concern to Armenian Americans, particularly US recognition and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Joining Ambassador Evans were Aaron Sherinian, the US Embassy's Political Officer and Assistance Coordinator in Yerevan, and Robin Phillips, the USAID-Armenia Mission Director. The Ambassador's meeting with the ANCA followed a two week tour of Armenian American communities in Boston, New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno and Washington, DC. During his presentations in these cities, the Ambassador spoke with a level of candor on the historical reality of the Genocide that was specifically welcomed by Armenian Americans. "We welcomed the opportunity to exchange views with the Ambassador, and value his insights and clarity regarding our nation's diplomacy toward Armenia and the region," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "Along with those who heard him speak during his public lectures around the nation, we appreciate the forthrightness of his remarks about the Armenian Genocide. We take note of the fact they coincide with a new level of awareness within the Administration, and the American public, regarding the current attitudes in Turkey toward the United States." Commenting in the wake of the Ambassador's visit, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian said, "On this 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we urge the Bush Administration to take the decisive step of breaking with Turkey's shameful campaign of genocide denial. The time has come for the US government to adopt a fresh and positive approach to the Armenian Genocide issue - in terms of both White House and Congressional initiatives - in a manner consistent with our nation's moral obligations to truth and justice, and in light of new realities in the region." 2. German CDU to Demand Turkey Acknowledge Killings of Armenians (Bloomberg)--Germany's main opposition parties, which oppose Turkey's bid to join the European Union, plan to submit a motion to parliament calling on Turkey to acknowledge responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in 1915. The Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, said the Turkish government arrested the Armenian political elite in Istanbul in 1915, marking the start of mass deportations and murders in which as many as 1.5 million Armenians are estimated to have died. The Turkish government's refusal to accept responsibility for the crimes committed 90 years ago "stands in contrast to the idea of reconciliation that spearheads the shared values of the European Union, which Turkey aims to join,'' said the draft motion, a copy of which was e-mailed to Bloomberg News. CDU leader Angela Merkel and CSU head Edmund Stoiber have called for Turkey to be allowed a "privileged partnership'' with the 25-nation bloc. EU leaders including German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder agreed two months ago that Turkey should start membership talks in October this year. Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper today called the motion an attempt by Merkel to block the country from joining the EU. The CDU leader has said Turkey isn't European enough in terms of its culture and history to join the union. "It isn't true that we want to bar Turkey from EU entry with this proposal, but still we think it's important to honor the memory of the Armenian victims,'' the CDU's Christoph Bergner, one of the legislators who signed the motion, said in a telephone interview. Germany has a part in the crimes because the government at the time didn't act to prevent the killings in spite of detailed evidence documented by German ambassadors in Turkey, Bergner said. Not all CDU lawmakers back the motion. "I reject this proposal and didn't vote for it,'' said Volker Ruehe, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary foreign affairs committee, in an interview. "I think it will be modified eventually. We've no right to thrust this demand on Turkey." 3. Embassy Official Says Congressman Received Payment for Anti-Armenian Speech YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)According to the Noyan Tapan News agency, a representative of the United States Embassy in Yerevan told Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty that the Azeri government paid Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) an undisclosed amount of money in exchange for an anti-Armenian speech he delivered to the House on Thursday, February 17. A member of the Committee on International Relations, Burton told members of Congress, "For years a number of distinguished Members of this House have come to the Floor of this Chamber every April to commemorate the so-called Armenian Genocidethe exact details of which are still very much under debate today almost 90 years after the events. Ironically and tragically, none of these Members has ever once mentioned the ethnic cleansing carried out by the Armenians during the Armenia-Azerbaijan war which ended a mere decade ago. "This savage cruelty against innocent women, children and the elderly is unfathomable in and of itself but the senseless brutality did not stop with Khojaly. Khojaly was simply the first. In fact, the level of brutality and the unprecedented atrocities committed at Khojaly set a pattern of destruction and ethnic cleansing that Armenian troops would adhere to for the remainder of the war," Burton noted during his speech. The Embassy official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Burton's speech comes only two weeks after the government of Azerbaijan officially retained former Congressman Robert Livingston as a lobbyist. Recently, Burton supported the January 25 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe resolution, which states that "considerable parts of Azerbaijan's territory are still occupied by the Armenian forces and separatist forces are still in control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region." 4. Putin Firm Despite Bush's Democracy 'Concerns' BRATISLAVA (AFP)--During a joint press conference after a summit in the Slovakian capital Bratislava, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave little ground to his US counterpart George W. Bush's concerns that Moscow is backsliding on democratic values Though Putin said there could be "no returning" to a Soviet-style government, Democracy in Russia would develop at its own pace. "We are not going to make up, to invent any kind of special Russian democracy. We're going to remain committed to the fundamental principles of democracy that have been established in the world," Putin said. "But, of course, all the modern institutions of democracy, the principles of democracy, should be adequate to the current status of the development of Russia, to our history and our traditions," he said through an interpreter. "Democracies always reflect a country's culture and customs and I know that," said Bush. "But they have certain things in common: they have rule of law, and protection of minorities, a free press, and a viable political opposition." "I was able to share my concerns about Russia's commitment in fulfilling these universal principles," said the US president, who has been increasingly vocal in criticizing Putin on the issue. The Russian president responded, declaring that debating "whether we have more or whether we have less democracy is not the right thing to do," and dismissing some of Bush's ideas as things "I will not comment on." The two leaders, whose once warm relationship chilled when they broke over the war in Iraq, seemed closer on a range of international issues, agreeing that Iran and North Korea must not obtain nuclear weapons. "It is important to neutralize the attempts to proliferate weapons of mass destruction," said Putin, who has rejected Washington's charges that Tehran seeks nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic program. But a senior US administration official, briefing reporters on condition he not be named, acknowledged that the summit had yielded no breakthroughs on Iran, or on Russian weapons sales to Syria, which Washington wants halted. The official said Bush and Putin met alone with only interpreters in a separate room for over one hour of the two-and-a-half hour meeting. Bush indicated that his personal assessment of Putin had not suffered from their break over Iraq or a series of steps seen as autocratic, including moves against the oil giant Yukos, a clampdown on the media, and centralizing political power in the Kremlin. "I can tell you what it's like dealing with the man over the last four years. When he tells you something, he means it. He asked what some of my concerns were, and he explained answers," said the US president. The White House released a series of joint statements recommitting both countries to cooperating on energy, fighting nuclear weapons proliferation, curbing the spread of shoulder-launched rockets, and helping Russia join the World Trade Organization. But these mostly focused on existing initiatives, and seemed designed to reinforce the idea that Washington and Moscow are still working together on important issues. Washington and Moscow also agreed to keep working on enhancing security at Russian nuclear sites--days after a US intelligence report said theft of radioactive materials from such facilities "has occurred." Ahead of their talks, Bush gave his strongest endorsement yet of European efforts to convince Iran not to develop nuclear weapons and said he hoped for a "diplomatic solution" to the dispute. "We're more likely to do so when we're all on the same page," said Bush, who in the past has stressed that he cannot rule out using force against Tehran. Just hours before seeing Putin, Bush seemed to tweak the Russian leader by predicting that former Soviet republics Moldova and Belarus would embrace democracy and by praising NATO's expansion to Russia's doorstep. "Eventually, the call of liberty comes to every mind and every soul. And one day, freedom's promise will reach every people and every nation," Bush said in a speech to thousands of cheering Slovaks packed in a town square. 5. NATO Envoy Discusses 'Individual Partnership' with Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--A visiting representative of NATO met with President Robert Kocharian and other top officials in Yerevan Thursday to discuss the alliance's expanding cooperation with Armenia, which will soon be formalized with an "individual partnership action plan," or IPAP. Robert Simmons, NATO's recently appointed special representative to the South Caucasus and Central Asia, said the cooperation framework will further boost what he described as a "very active relationship." "We at NATO are very glad that Armenia has decided to begin an IPAP and we think it will offer a significant step ahead in relations between the alliance and Armenia," he told reporters after the talks. "At the core of those is the fact that Armenia, as a partner, is contributing to NATO activities in the struggle against the threats we face together: terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, failed states." The Armenian government set up last year an interagency group tasked with making proposals and working with NATO officials on the IPAP. Its permanent representative at the NATO headquarters, Samvel Mkrtchian, said last week that the action plan will be unveiled "soon." A military alliance with Russia has been the bedrock of Armenia's national security doctrine since independence, though the Armenian government also tries to complement it with closer links with NATO. Meeting with Simmons, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian described those relations as "an integral component of Armenia's security" and said Armenia will continue to "deepen" them. Simmons confirmed that Yerevan itself will decide how far it wants to go in forging closer ties with the US-led military bloc. "It's not for us, it's for Armenia to decide when they are ready to make their [IPAP] presentation at NATO and NATO will go through the process of approving that document," he said. The envoy also sought to guard against excessive expectations from the plan. "IPAP is not a magic step that begins a whole bunch of new programs," he said. "In fact, there are many ongoing programs in the partnership with Armenia and IPAP will put them together in a package." Neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan have already developed similar individual plans that put their participation in NATO's Partnership for Peace program on a higher level. Both countries view NATO membership as a long-term foreign policy goal. Simmons reiterated the alliance's position that while keeping its doors open to any country that meets its political and military criteria, NATO does not intend to start accession talks with any of the South Caucasus states in the near future. "Right now all three countries are trying to make the most of partnerships that they have with NATO," he said. Sarkisian said on Thursday that a key problem hampering Armenia's cooperation with NATO is the unresolved conflict over Karabagh. "If we had no unresolved conflict, we would be able to have a greater participation in [NATO] programs," he was quoted by his press service as telling Simmons. Simmons made it clear that the alliance does not aspire to any mediating role in the long-running Karabagh peace talks sponsored by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. "We follow those discussions and the [NATO] secretary general has charged me as his representative to the region to keep him informed of developments in those discussions," he said. "But we are not an active participant in the negotiations." 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) 2005 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

NATO not to deploy peacekeepers in Nagornyy Karabakh
Mediamax news agency
24 Feb 05
YEREVAN
The special representative of the NATO secretary-general in the South
Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, said in Yerevan today that
“NATO is not taking part in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict and is not discussing the possible deployment of its
peacekeeping forces in the conflict zone”.
Simmons said this at a briefing in Yerevan today in reply to a
question from our Mediamax news agency correspondent.
He pointed out that NATO is “closely following the negotiations
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, however, this does not mean that we
are directly participating in this process”. The special
representative of the NATO secretary-general said that the OSCE Minsk
Group remains the most suitable format for the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
As for the possible deployment of NATO’s peacekeeping forces, “we are
not discussing this issue at all”, Simmons stressed. He explained that
in order to deploy peacekeeping forces, it is necessary to reach an
agreement on the settlement of the conflict first. And second, the
conflicting sides themselves should ask for the deployment of
peacekeeping forces, the special representative of the NATO
secretary-general said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia offers “preferential” railway tariffs to Azerbaijan, Turkey
Regnum, Moscow
22 Feb 05

Armenian Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan has
said that Armenia is ready to introduce preferential railway transit
tariffs to Azerbaijan and Turkey should the railway blockade of
Armenia from Georgia and Turkey be lifted. In an interview with the
Russian news agency Regnum, he said that there is no need to build an
expensive stretch of railway connecting Georgia and Turkey when there
is a fully operational link via Armenia. Although the launch of the
train ferry service between the port of Kavkaz in Russia and the
Georgian port of Poti will allow Armenia avoid expensive detour via
the Ukrainian port of Ilichevsk, Armenia will not be able to meet its
needs for cargo turnover with Russia until the Abkhaz section of the
Transcaucasus railway is restored, he added. Manukyan also said that
knowing that political factors change quickly, Armenia is building a
new highway connecting it with Iran and repaired the critical parts of
its railway. The following is excerpt from unattributed interview with
Armenian Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan as
carried by Regnum news agency web site on 22 February headlined
“Armenia is ready to introduce preferential transit tariffs for
Azerbaijan and Turkey: interview of Armenian Transport and
Communications Minister Andranik Manukyan with the Regnum news
agency”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Strategic location
[Journalist] Minister, as is known, Armenia has officially joined the
North-South international transport corridor (ITC). What prospects
does the participation in the ITC open for the republic?
[Manukyan] I will only add that Armenia is also a member country of
TRACECA [Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia], the West-East
communication project.
Armenia’s desire to join the North-South ITC was voiced by me in St
Petersburg in 2002, at the meeting of the transport ministers of
Armenia, India, Iran and Russia. Our application was accepted, and in
October 2004, my Russian colleague Igor Levitin congratulated us on
our official accession to the ITC. The main goal of the project is
transportation of cargo from the Baltic states across Russia and the
Caspian Sea towards Iran, and thence via Afghanistan to India. To
service this route, the Transcaucasus railway can be used if the
Abkhaz section [in Georgia] is unblocked.
Upgrades to transport infrastructure
Naturally, we should prepare for this in advance: Armenia has invested
huge sums in bringing the routes of international importance back into
order. It is now possible to say with certainty that the main roads in
Armenia meet the international standards. The most dangerous sections
of the railway, with total length of 70 km, have been repaired with
assistance from the World Bank. If in the past average speed of a
train on the Gyumri-Ayrum section was 25 km per hour, now the
technical condition of the railway allows the trains to travel at
55-60 km per hour.
On the other hand, it is known that speed is the most important factor
of profitability. The same World Bank has elaborated the programme for
the development of the transport system of our country, which will
cost 40m dollars, of which 16m dollars will be spent on development of
the railway system. An independent audit company has already drawn up
a business plan for the development of the system and renewal of the
entire carriage park. I want to note that the state will fund the
programme as well.
Of course, Armenia’s involvement in the North-South ITC is crucially
important to our country, so we eagerly take part in all measures that
are organized within the framework of the project. I am absolutely
certain that time will come when political problems will be resolved
and this corridor will be operated at its full capacity. The same can
be said about the TRACECA programme. In any case, Armenia occupies an
advantageous position as it is located at the crossing of these roads
– both from north to south and from west to east. My goal as the
transport minister is to keep our main roads ready, so that when
issues of political nature are resolved, we do not have to do all this
in an emergency mode.
The second main highway Megri (on the border of Armenia with
Iran)-Kapan, which we plan to build, is also directly related with the
North-South ITC. This project is of immense strategic importance to
Armenia. At present, these two towns are connected with just one road
which traverses the Kadzharan mountain pass. In Soviet times it was of
local importance, that is to say, it could not be used by heavy hauler
lorries with more than 30-tonne capacity. After the aggravation of the
political situation in the region, the road via Naxcivan [Azerbaijani
exclave] was closed and Armenia was forced to invest huge sums in the
Megri-Kapan highway, which in some areas goes up to the heights of
over 2,400 m (above the sea level). Nonetheless, the road remains
hardly passable in the winter. With the length of 74 km and average
acclivity of 12-14 degrees, average speed of travel for heavy haulers
does not exceed 30-35 km per hour.
Perhaps you know the story of the project for building the Kadzharan
tunnel. Why we decided not to proceed with this undertaking and
instead to opt for building the new road Megri-Kapan…[ellipsis as
published]. I want to note that the alternative to the tunnel was
studied and elaborated on instructions by the country’s
president. When we build the second road, we will effectively ensure
the second access point to Iran, hence the strategic importance of
this project. According to preliminary estimates, building the tunnel
on the old road would cost about 45m dollars, although I think that
expenses would reach at least 60m dollars.
[Passage omitted on technical details]
I have already noted that the new highway will fit very well into the
North-South ITC, but we will build it with money from the Armenian
budget. In other words, we are making preparations. What remains to be
done is that international structures that are interested in full
utilization of communications assist in the integration of our main
roads into transit routes.
[Journalist] Is the deadline set for the beginning of the
implementation of this project?
[Manukyan] The tender has already been announced and is under way. The
construction will start on 1 April, and it is expected to be put into
operation in 2006.
Need to resume railway service to Turkey
[Journalist] What is the state of the Armenian railway at present?
[Manukyan] In 2004, we transported 2.7m tonnes of cargo using the
Armenian railways, employing 20-30 per cent of the carriage park. If
the Kars-Gyumri section and the Abkhaz section of the Transcaucasus
railway are reopened and Armenia, using its transit potential, ensures
delivery of cargo to Turkey and Russia, the total cargo turnover will
reach 10-20m tonnes. Even in this case, after the modernization under
the World Bank programme, our carriage park will be able to handle the
task.
I would like to underscore once again that at present our railway,
from the border with Georgia in the north and to the border with
Naxcivan in the south, is in good repair. If, as the European
Commission wants, Azerbaijan agrees to use these trunk railways, they
can be used both as part of TRACECA and as a component of the
North-South ITC. This will noticeably cut expenses on transportation
of the cargo.
[Journalist] A few days ago, the co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian
Business Development Council, Kaan Soyak, said in Yerevan that if the
settlement of political problems between Turkey and Armenia is dragged
out, the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi railway might become the reality. In
the conditions of the continuing blockade of Armenia by Turkey, to
what extent does the Armenian side calculate the possibility of
ensuring an alternative railway service to Iran?
[Manukyan] We have never been, and never will be, sitting on our
hands, allowing Armenia to be outstripped. To date, we have submitted
two programmes to international organizations. These are Vardenis
(Armenia) – Jolfa (Iran) and Yeraskh (Armenia) – Jolfa sections. Of
course, these are very expensive, but potentially undoubtedly
profitable programmes. I think that solutions shall be found. By
connecting our railway system with the Iranian one, we will gain
access to the markets of the Middle East and Asia. The Iranian side is
ready for this too.
As for the Kars-Akhalkalaki railway…[ellipsis as
published]. Currently it is talked about both in Turkey and in
Georgia. But when the Kars-Gyumri (Armenia) -Tbilisi railway already
exists, when there is the terminal on the Armenian-Turkish border for
preparing the train for switching to a different width of the railway
track, building a new 150-kilometre section is absolutely
unreasonable, first and foremost, from the economic point of view. The
initiators of this talk say that building the 150-kilometre section
will require 250-300m dollars, but the terrain in that area is such
that this sum will not be enough to build 150 km of the railway.
In addition, why should so much money be invested, for what purpose?
Here we are dealing with an attempt to put political pressure on
Armenia, to isolate it from access to transport hubs. A sensible
person should realize that it does not make sense to look for an
alternative to the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi trunk railway, which is ready
for operation. Besides, Armenia does not stipulate any preconditions,
we also say that we will provide preferential transit tariffs should
this service be put into operation. Factors of a purely political
nature hinder the adoption of an economically sound plan, but politics
is liable to changes. We will see…[ellipsis as published]. But I
repeat, we do not sit on our hands and have no intention to.
Mutual benefits of lifting the blockade
[Journalist] But is the Armenian economy ready for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border?
[Manukyan] Of course, our economy is ready. Many people say that we
will be subjected to economic expansion by Turkey. But economic
expansion is out of the question. These sorts of statements are made
by people who have no idea about the economy and business, and they
are profoundly wrong. Moreover, their statements are damaging to our
economy. If the borders are opened, trade relations with Turkey will
be normalized: Armenia has an appropriate legal framework for
this. Trade will be conducive to the development of both countries.
Recently even a Turkish businessman said in Yerevan that turnover
between Armenia and Turkey in the conditions of closed borders amounts
to 120m dollars annually, but I am certain that this sum is much
larger. In most cases, goods from Turkey arrive in Georgia and are
then sent to Armenia as Georgian goods. So, there is legal and
illegal turnover of goods between Armenia and Turkey, and according to
my assessment, turnover between Armenia and Turkey is greater than
that between Armenia and other countries.
I have already said that if the border is opened, we will be ready to
provide preferential tariffs for our transport infrastructure to
Azerbaijan and Turkey, and this is a transit route for them. The issue
of regional transport communications should finally be
resolved. Transport is the foundation of a country’s development, it
is a business which should be viewed in isolation from
politics. However, some countries unfortunately use it for political
purposes.
Georgia-Russia train ferry
[Journalist] Thanks to your efforts, as well as effort of your
colleagues in Georgia and Russia, the idea of launching the seaport of
Kavkaz is drawing to near to the logical conclusion. At which stage is
the project today? And when will the ferry start to operate at full
capacity between the seaport of Kavkaz and Poti (Georgia)?
[Manukyan] The agreement on launching the train ferry service between
the seaport of Kavkaz and Poti has been reached by the presidents of
Georgia, Russia and Armenia. [Passage omitted: details of talks]
It is noted in the agreement that the ferry should operate for two
months from the moment of signing the agreement, in other words, we
have time till 10 March. According to the preliminary agreement, the
first ferry was to leave on 10 February, but later we had to review
this deadline and to extend it to 28 February. The first ferry will
carry 24 carriages, and the cargo for it has already been prepared.
As for the importance of the ferry, it is hard to overestimate
it…[ellipsis as published]. This is a direct railway link with
Russia. In the past, we used to travel to Poti, then bore huge
expenses on taking the cargo to the Ukrainian port of Ilichevsk, and
only from there we would proceed to Russia. If in 2001, expenses for
taking one carriage to Ilichevsk amounted to 900 dollars, now they
have reached 2,100 dollars. This is connected with the fact that the
Ukrainian company Ukrferry is a monopolist and is reviewing its
tariffs almost on a daily basis.
With the launch of the ferry service between the port of Kavkaz and
Poti, there will be competition, and we will be sending the cargo that
are bound for Russia to the port of Kavkaz, we will also be able to
ship to Europe via the same route – it is cheaper. As for Ilichevsk,
the cargo bound for Ukraine will go there. Given the fact that Georgia
also does not have a railway link with Russia in the conditions of
disuse of the Abkhaz railway and sends its cargo via Azerbaijan,
covering some 720 km of extra distance and paying for transit, the
port of Kavkaz is an economically profitable project both for Armenia
and Georgia.
Reopening of Abkhaz railway would benefit all
[Journalist] Can one say that with the launch of the port of Kavkaz,
the need for railway service between Armenia and Russia will be fully
satisfied, or the restoration of service via Abkhazia remains a
priority?
[Manukyan] It is possible to say that the link between Armenia and
Russia has to some extent been ensured. Of course, it will only be
possible to talk about full-fledged link after the Abkhaz section of
the Transcaucasus railway is put into operation. With participation of
the heads of railway departments of the three countries, appropriate
working groups have been created, which we intend to join into a
single commercial body.
Incidentally, you must probably know that at present this railway is
used from Moscow to Sukhumi. There is a problem: the bridge over the
River Enguri is dilapidated, and now the assessment of the cost of
repairing it is under way. On the Georgian side the railway is also
in normal condition. Of course, there is also a political aspect of
the issue – the Georgian side talks about the need for return of the
refugees to Gali [District]. Let us see how the events will unfold
after the [last presidential] election in Abkhazia. Perhaps the sides
will reach certain agreements on this issue. This will be beneficial
for all the countries of the region, including Georgia, which
currently has to resort to transit via Azerbaijan.
[Passage omitted: about mobile communications]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress