Author: Emil Lazarian

Yerevan, Teheran sign treaty on building gas pipeline
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 12, 2004 Wednesday
YEREVAN, May 13 — A basic treaty on construction of a gas pipeline
from Iran to Armenia will be signed in the Armenian capital on
Thursday. For this purpose, Iranian Oil and Gas Minister Bijan Zanganeh
arrives in Yerevan, Tass learnt on Thursday from press service head
of the Armenian Energy ministry Lusine Arutyunyan. The Iranian guest
will be received by President Robert Kocharyan and Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan.
The project provides for laying down a 100-kilometer gas pipeline along
the Iranian territory and 41 kilometers in Armenia. The pipeline will
pump daily 1.5 million cubic meters of Turkmen gas. The approximate
cost of the project is 96 million U.S. dollars.
According to Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsesyan, it is planned
to start construction within this year and to complete tentatively
in 2006.
The gas pipeline from Iran is to be built only to meet domestic needs
of Armenia, Kocharyan emphasized. According to the president, any
other direction of the pipeline, for instance to Europe, is not under
discussion, since this will raise problems for the republic. “We regard
this project as a serious question for Armenian energy security,”
the president underlined.
Besides, the republic is now building the second high-voltage power
transmission line which will, apart from boosting power flow to
Iran, be used for selling power, generated in Armenia, in exchange
for deliveries of Iranian gas. According to the president, “this is
profitable business”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

International airport opens in Azerbaijani Nakhichevan
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 12, 2004 Wednesday
NAKHICHEVAN (Azerbaijan), May 12 – Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev
attended on Wednesday a ceremony to unveil an international airport
in Nakhichevan.
The commissioning of the airport will make it possible to link that
southwestern region of the country with Moscow, Ankara, Istanbul,
Tehran and some capitals of former Soviet republics, the first deputy
general director of the Azerbaijanskie Avialinii state carrier told
Itar-Tass.
According to Sabir Ilyasov, two landing strips of the new airport
will be able to land heavy passenger and cargo planes of the Il-76,
Mria and Boeing types.
The air terminal can accommodate up to 300 passengers an hour. The
new airport has a cargo terminal and flight-control points ensuring
the safety of flights in mountainous conditions. Nakhichevan Airport
has got the status of international one.
President Aliyev emphasized the importance of opening an international
airport in Nakhichevan, which has been cut off from the rest of
Azerbaijan since 1992 as a result of a conflict around the mostly
Armenian populated Azerbaijani enclave of Nagorno Karabakh.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, he drew attention to the fact
that such a major facility had been for the first time built without
the attraction of foreign investments.
Aliyev also said Azerbaijan was planning to buy several
state-of-the-art aircraft in 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
May 13 2004
Science conference on Armenian medieval architecture takes place in
Brussels
RA Ex-Minister of Culture and Youth appointed on position of Director
Executive of “One-Nation – One Culture” Foundation”
RA President to leave for Moscow with working visit
*********************************************************************
SCIENCE CONFERENCE ON ARMENIAN MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE TAKES PLACE IN
BRUSSELS
YEREVAN, May, 13. /ARKA/. Science conference on Armenian medieval
architecture took place in Brussels on the initiative of Armenians of
Europe Assembly. Architects, staff of European Commission culture
department, lectors and students. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA EX-MINISTER OF CULTURE AND YOUTH APPOINTED ON POSITION OF DIRECTOR
EXECUTIVE OF “ONE-NATION – ONE CULTURE” FOUNDATION”
YEREVAN, May, 13. /ARKA/. RA Ex-Minister of Culture and Youth Tamara
Poghosian was appointed on position of Director Executive of
“One-Nation – One Culture” Foundation, RA Government told ARKA.
According to RA President’s decree as of May 3, 2004 Tamar Poghosian
was release from taking position.
“One-Nation – One Culture” Foundation was created for organization of
All Armenia culture festival that will take place on August 14-23 in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR MOSCOW WITH WORKING VISIT
YEREVAN, May 13. /ARKA/. Today RA President Robert Kocharian to leave
for Moscow with working visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s
invitation. During the visit two Presidents will meet to discuss the
whole specter of issues of mutual interest. As planned Kocharian also
to meet Russian PM Mikhail Fradkov to touch the issues related to
enhancing of and development of economic relations. RA President also
plans to meet the Managers of the companies supplying gas to Armenia
and representatives of the Russian business circles. On 15 May RA
President to return to Armenia. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Forum 18, Norway
May 14 2004
TURKMENISTAN: Religious persecution’s latest disguises
By Felix Corley, Editor, Forum 18 News Service
In his latest attempt to disguise Turkmenistan’s de facto
criminalisation of religious belief, President Saparmurat Niyazov has
today (13 May) revoked the de jure criminalisation of unregistered
religious activity. Believers were, before the de jure
criminalization, treated as de facto criminals and fined, detained,
beaten, threatened, sacked from their jobs, had their homes
confiscated, banished to remote parts of the country or deported in
retaliation for unregistered religious activity. Niyazov has also
cancelled a secret decree requiring registered religious communities
to subject themselves to tight financial regulation by the state –
but has imposed tight financial regulation in a different way,
through an official model statute for religious communities. Forum 18
News Service has obtained a copy of this, and religious leaders in
Turkmenistan have told Forum 18 that they find these restrictions
unacceptable. Many prefer to continue to exist in the underground.
Under intense international pressure over its repression of religious
life, Turkmenistan’s president Saparmurat Niyazov has today (13 May)
revoked the punishments introduced into the Criminal Code last year
on those involved in unregistered religious activity. Before these
punishments were introduced, Turkmenistan already had tight controls
-which it still maintains – on unregistered religious activity. All
Shia Muslim, Baptist, Pentecostal, Adventist, Armenian Apostolic,
Lutheran, Hare Krishna, Jehovah’s Witness, Baha’i and Jewish activity
was de facto if not de jure treated as illegal. Believers were, even
before the de jure criminalization of unregistered activity, fined,
detained, beaten, threatened, sacked from their jobs, had their homes
confiscated, banished to remote parts of the country or deported in
retaliation for involvement in unregistered religious activity. De
jure decriminalisation is not expected to change the established
pattern of de facto criminalisation.
President Niyazov also cancelled a secret decree he had issued on 23
March which required registered religious communities to subject
themselves to tight financial regulation by the state. However, Forum
18 News Service has also received a copy of the six-page model
statute handed out to religious communities by the Adalat (Fairness
or Justice) Ministry which requires all religious communities to pay
20 per cent of their income to the government’s Gengeshi (Council)
for Religious Affairs and imposes other tight controls. This imposes
tight financial regulation in a different way, as well as forcing
registered communities to provide the state with information helpful
to its continued persecution of religious believers (see F18News 10
May ).
The pro-government website turkmenistan.ru claimed that the president
cancelled the criminal penalties and the secret decree “with the aim
of creating the necessary legal guarantees to secure freedom of
religion and belief, as well as to complete the laws of the country
on religious organisations”. Turkmenistan has for the last seven
years refused to register all communities of the Shia Muslims,
Armenian Apostolic Church, all Protestants (including Pentecostals,
Lutherans and Baptists), Jews, Baha’is, the Hare Krishna community
and the New Apostolic Church.
The president’s moves are the latest in an embarrassing series of
conflicting legal moves designed to head off international criticism
sparked by last October’s amendments to the religion law and the
criminal code which tightened even further restrictions on registered
religious communities and criminalized unregistered religious
activity.
In March this year, the president also announced an apparent paper
relaxation of persecution, apparently allowing religious communities
to gain official registration regardless of how many members they
have or what faith they belong to (see F18News 12 March
). However, it
became clear that this apparent relaxation masked moves to impose
stringent controls on any community that registered, such as a
requirement that any worship service or other event needs state
permission to take place (see F18News 10 May
).
The change in bureaucratic requirements also did not signal any
respite in persecution, being apparently intended to allow religious
communities to exist in theory but be persecuted in practice. Secret
police raids continued and on the same day the March announcement was
made, a Jehovah’s Witness was arrested and pressured by officials,
including a Mullah, to renounce his faith and then fired from his job
(see F18News ). As
Forum 18 has documented, persecution continued since then unabated,
Muslims, for example, being barred from building new mosques on 29
March (see F18News 30 March
). It is highly
unlikely that today’s announcement marks any actual relaxation in
persecution.
The registration regulations issued by the Adalat Ministry on 10
March, which appear still to be in force despite the latest legal
moves, come in the form of a model statute which religious
communities appear required to follow very closely if they are to get
registration. Article 13 defines the first aim of a religious
organization, ahead even of “jointly confessing and spreading their
faith”, as “respecting the Constitution and laws of Turkmenistan”.
Services would be allowed in property owned by religious
organisations and in private homes “in cases of ritual necessity”. It
remains unclear if regular services in private homes or elsewhere
would be illegal.
Only adults citizens of Turkmenistan would be allowed to belong to
religious organizations, according to Article 16, leaving it unclear
whether foreign citizens living in the country would even be allowed
to attend religious services of registered organizations.
Although registered religious communities would be able to teach
children on their own premises, teachers would have to be approved in
advance by the Gengeshi.
Article 15 of the statute requires the payment of 20 per cent of
income to the Gengeshi every quarter, while all donations from abroad
have to be registered at the Adalat Ministry.
Leaders of religious organizations have to be Turkmen citizens,
making it difficult for faiths like the Catholics or the Armenians
which do not have native clergy. The model statute also defines how
the administration of each faith must work and how often its
governing body must meet.
The model statute also states that leaders of religious organizations
are also expected to have higher religious education, a concept which
is not defined. This concept may be a further restriction on the
clergy who can be appointed, possibly related to Niyazov’s decree
dismissing from state employment, with effect from 1 June, anyone who
holds higher education decrees awarded outside Turkmenistan since
1993.
Article 38 allows courts to liquidate religious organizations for
“repeated or gross violations” of the country’s laws, while the
Adalat Ministry can also terminate an organisation’s registration
(for which the statute gives no further explanation).
Religious leaders in Turkmenistan have already told Forum 18 that
they find the restrictions in the model statute unacceptable. Many
prefer to continue to exist in the underground, as the latest
apparent relaxations mark no change in the continued de facto
criminalisation and persecution of religious believers.
For more background see Forum 18’s latest religious freedom survey at
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PM on Russia-Armenia relations
RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 14 2004
RBC, 14.05.2004, Moscow 10:58:37.Russia is ready to discuss
issues of relations with Armenia, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail
Fradkov declared before negotiations with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian. The Armenian leader has visited Moscow. “Our relations
are actively developing and we have a lot of things to discuss,”
Fradkov stressed. Russia and Armenia do have something to say each
other to cooperate more efficiently,” he emphasized.
Kocharian has declared that bilateral cooperation was wide and
that the two countries were cooperating more intensely for the past
several years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Recognizing Karabakh independence is optimal solution – CIS assembly official
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
11 May 04
Stepanakert, 11 May: “The recognition of Nagornyy Karabakh’s
independence is an optimal model of the settlement of the conflict,”
deputy of the secretary general of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly,
Feliks Khushchyan announced to journalists.
He expressed regret that after the signing of the Bishkek agreement
10 years ago the Interparliamentary Assembly was left within the
framework of the settlement process.
In connection with the new Azerbaijani leadership’s proposal on
starting the negotiations from the scratch, in particular, he stressed
that “they will be forced to reckon with the realities of modern life”.
Regarding the possibilities of including Karabakh parliamentarians
in the process of settlement of the conflict, Feliks Khushchyan noted
that he is not supportive of that, for the parliamentarians are always
pushing the process forward, but there are cases when this potential
must be used. “In a word, any option to reach the problem’s solution
must be taken into consideration,” deputy of the secretary general
of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Strengthened army capable of liberating Karabakh – Azeri leader
Lider TV, Baku,
13 May 04
[Presenter] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is continuing his
visit to the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic. At an opening ceremony of
a new corps at military unit N yesterday, the head of state said that
Azerbaijan is ready to liberate its land from the enemy at any minute.
[Correspondent over video of the ceremony, soldiers marching,
Aliyev addressing servicemen] President Ilham Aliyev, who attended
the ceremony to open the corps at military unit N, presented the new
corps with a combat flag.
Delivering a speech, the head of state spoke about the work done in
Azerbaijan over the past several years to develop the army. He said
that the army is one of the attributes of independence.
[Passage omitted: Aliyev criticized the authorities who were in power
before 1993 for shortcomings in the army development]
[Correspondent] But the time is different now and an Azerbaijani
soldier is very different. He said that the Azerbaijani army is capable
of liberating Karabakh and as a commander-in-chief, he believed in
the strength of the army.
[Aliyev] The Azerbaijani people will never put up with the loss of
the land. If we see that the negotiations do not yield any results,
we will use all our means to liberate our land. For this, a strong
army, patriotism, the unity and the will of the people are needed. We
have all this.
[Servicemen are clapping]
[Correspondent] The head of state familiarized himself with the unit’s
canteen. Interested in the conditions servicemen were living in,
the president decided to have his supper with them.
President Ilham Aliyev also attended a ceremony to open an electronic
library at the Naxcivan State University.
[Passage omitted: video shows Aliyev asking a student how he uses
the library; Aliyev attended the branch of the Academy of Sciences’
in Naxcivan where he delivered another speech; no details]
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:
FM OSKANIAN ATTENDS COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERIAL SESSION,
HOLDS TALKS ON KARABAKH
Minister Oskanian attended the 114th Ministerial Session of the Council of
Europe in Strasbourg on May 12 and 13.
Over two days the Minister met with the Council of Europe leadership, held
several bilateral meetings, and delivered a statement at the Session.
In the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister met Azerbaijan¹s Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamadyarov, under the aegis of the Minsk Group co-Chairmen,
to continue the consultations which had begun in Prague a month ago on
looking for common ground based on which the sides can resume negotiations.
They agreed to meet again in June.
The Minister¹s meetings within the Council of Europe structures included
extensive talks with Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of
Europe, Peter Schieder, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly, Bruno Haller, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the members of the Council of Europe¹s
Monitoring Group which follows Armenia¹s completion of its membership
commitments, known as the Ago Group.
With the Council of Europe officials, the Minister discussed the recent
resolution passed by PACE on Armenia¹s domestic situation. He thanked the
leadership for reaffirming that the opposition must leave the streets and
enter into a dialog in Parliament. He also reaffirmed Armenia¹s willingness
to address the issues raised by the Resolution. Finally, he indicated the
importance of receiving reliable, comprehensive information from Yerevan in
order for accurate conclusions and perceptions to be formed in Strasbourg.
In the margins of the Ministerial Session, the Minister met with the foreign
ministers of Georgia and Norway. Norway has just assumed the chairmanship of
the Council of Europe.
The Minister also met with Ireland¹s Deputy Foreign Minister, who informed
the Minister of the decision taken the previous day by the Irish EU
Presidency to recommend to the European Union Council of Ministers to
consider inclusion of Armenia and the other two Caucasus republics in the
EU¹s Wider Europe, New Neighborhood Initiative.
Minister Oskanian also met with members of the Council of Europe¹s Ago
Group, now headed by Ambassador Mats Aberg of Sweden. He responded to their
questions regarding the domestic situation in Armenia and provided other
information on Armenia¹s completion of Council of Europe commitments.
Minister Oskanian, in his statement delivered to the Committee of Ministers,
spoke about the need to convene the third Council of Europe Summit so that
heads of state can address the changing role of the Council of Europe in
light of an enlarged Europe, an expanding NATO and other European and global
challenges. He reiterated Armenia¹s support of reforms to the European Court
of Human Rights convention. During the session, the Minister signed Protocol
14 of the European Convention on Human Rights which reforms the Court¹s
ability to deal with repeat cases, with unmeritorious applications and
provides new admissibility criteria.
The entire text of the Minister¹s statement appears below.
STATEMENT BY
H.E. VARTAN OSKANIAN
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AT THE 114TH SESSION OF THE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
May 12, 2004
Strasbourg
Secretary General,
Dear Colleagues,
Each year, the focus of this organization and its member states remains the
same: to enhance democratization and rule of law so that governments can
nurture healthy societies and healthy economies.
Together with the OSCE and the European Union, the Council has worked hard
to institute programs which protect human rights, promote environmental and
economic progress, and advance democratization agendas. Armenia supports
deeper cooperation among these three European institutions, and advocates
the creation of mechanisms to increase effectiveness and minimize
duplication especially in light of the new definitions and relationships
that are appearing with an enlarged and widening Europe.
Unfortunately, some of what has emerged presents a quandary for mankind. We
thought human slavery was behind us. But Europe of the 21st century has been
stained by the scourge of human trafficking. With the dangers of terrorism,
too, and its threat to break up the international order as we¹ve known it,
we recognize even more that the only real defense against these mass
challenges to the principles and precepts that guide us is the deepening of
the rules of democracy and civil society, so that each individual gains from
that system and thus becomes more willing to defend and propagate that
system. We welcome, therefore, the reform of the European Court on Human
Rights. We will sign the protocol 14 tomorrow as one step forward for the
protection of human rights in Armenia and in Europe.
In order to provide the necessary attention and focus these issues require,
we would hope for a third Council of Europe Summit, where at the core of the
agenda would be the new menaces and new challenges which occupy our
attention and demand our resources. An enlarged European Union, an enlarging
NATO, evolving transatlantic interactions, this is the context against which
our heads of state should meet and carve out a new vision for a Council of
Europe that was born in one era, and now must lead in another.
Our search for deeper relations with Europe has, for us in the Caucasus,
become both cause and effect. This process is a continuum that began when we
targeted Council of Europe membership as a goal. We benefited from that
process, as we continue to benefit from membership itself which jumpstarted
and quickened legislative, judicial and other reforms. Today, we are looking
forward to becoming part of Europe¹s New Neighborhood and creating our own
cooperative and integrated neighborhood.
It is the same with democratization. The decision to transition to a
democratic, rule of law system of governance was a significant step. The
process of accomplishing that goal is an ongoing one, for all countries.
Mr. Chairman, I recall my first statement here, immediately after Armenia¹s
membership. I said then that we have become members not so that we would
bring our problems to this Council, but to use the Council to address our
problems. This is the first time that my Azerbaijani colleague and I are
both using this forum to meet in the sidelines and seek common ground, from
which I hope we can defend the rights of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to
self-determination, while resolving the other consequences of the conflict
which continue to cause pain and suffering to both Armenians and
Azerbaijanis.
Exactly 10 years ago today, the leaders of Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia and
Azerbaijan demonstrated the necessary political will to put a stop to years
of fighting, and to institute what is today the longest, and the only,
self-monitored ceasefire in the world. Today, as we meet under the aegis of
the Minsk Group co-Chairs, we have a chance to exhibit political will yet
again, and in this second decade, take our peoples forward toward a lasting
resolution.
I will use the opportunity today of meeting here with my new Azerbaijani
colleague to call for a de-escalation of the rhetoric of war, and the war of
rhetoric. Both sides stand to benefit from the suspension of charges and
accusations. The Europe of which we are a part is a Europe without borders
and barriers. This Europe presents us the opportunity to take advantage of
the mechanisms and institutions that have been developed and have proven
themselves in defending, promoting, implementing European ideals and
European norms.
Mr. Chairman, we hope to return to this forum, proud of our accomplishments
not just in establishing a vibrant democracy, but also in making possible
prosperity and cooperation in our region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan determined to get back occupied territory – president
Interfax
May 13 2004
Nakhichevan. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev said Azerbaijan will not put up with the occupation of its
lands and will ensure they are liberated.
“The Azerbaijani army is strong and is capable of solving any problem,”
Aliyev told servicemen while opening a new garrison in Nakhichevan
on Wednesday.
“Our people can restore the country’s territorial integrity at any
moment. International law gives us this right,” he said.
Aliyev said the army must be strengthened, given that part of the
country’s territory is under Armenian occupation.
Azerbaijan’s economic development will make money available for
enhancing the army’s combat readiness, Aliyev said.
He said that as before Azerbaijan believes the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict can be settled peacefully.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
May 13 2004
Parliament News
Speaker meets German MPs
On Monday, Murtuz Alasgarov, Speaker of the Milli Majlis (parliament),
received members of the German-Caucasus parliamentarian group of
the German Bundestag who visited Baku on Sunday. Pointing to the
successful economic cooperation between the two countries, Alasgarov
stressed the necessity to increase the turnover of goods.
The speaker also elaborated on the problems that the country is
currently facing. K. Berger, head of the German delegation, noted
that the close cooperation between the two countries would continue
in the future. During the meeting it was also mentioned that Germany
had rendered Euro 270 million worth of assistance to Azerbaijan so far.
Of the sum, Euro 130 million was allocated as part of bilateral
cooperation and the remainder as part of cooperation with the European
Union. The German delegation left Baku on Tuesday first for Georgia
and then Armenia.
Monument to Heydar Aliyev unveiled A monument to Heydar Aliyev
was unveiled in a ceremony at the building of the Milli Majlis
(parliament) on Friday attended by President Ilham Aliyev. Addressing
the event, Murtuz Alasgarov, Speaker of the Milli Majlis, Ali Ahmadov,
Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, and MPs spoke
about Heydar Aliyev’s activities in the protection of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, its comprehensive development and recognition
by the international community, as well as in the implementation
of huge economic projects. President Aliyev stressed that the
aim of Heydar Aliyev’s policy was to turn Azerbaijan into the most
dynamically developed country of the region. He also underlined that
the country would not encounter serious problems if Heydar Aliyev’s
policy continued. The monument to the late Azerbaijani President was
designed by sculptor Omar Eldarov.
Draft law “On alternative military service” discussed Despite
widespread public disapproval, a draft law “On alternative services”
will be passed shortly in compliance with Council of Europe
recommendations, according to the Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis
and Chairman of the permanent parliamentary commission on defense
and security issues Ziyafat Asgarov. The draft law is expected to be
put on the parliament’s agenda shortly. The bill proposes alternative
military service in private institutions instead of regular military
service. The new bill also envisions extending the duration of military
service. The draft law has triggered the disapproval of the public
and many military men in view of the fact that a number of Azerbaijani
provinces remain under Armenian occupation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress