Author: Emil Lazarian

4TH MEETING OF OSKANIAN AND MAMEDIAROV TOOK PLACE
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
4 Sept 04
Despite the recent statements of the Azerbaijani foreign minister
allowing to think that the meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia
and Azerbaijan would not take place, it nevertheless took place
in Prague on August 30. This was the fourth meeting on the level
of foreign ministers. As we had forecast, there was not much to be
expected from this meeting. According to the RA foreign minister,
“The only expectation was that the Armenian party may continue and
lead to its logical end what they had undertaken, at last making
it clear on what basis the talks between the two countries will
go on.” According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of RA, the American, Russian and French co-chairmen of the
Minsk Group Stephen Mann, Youri Merzlyakov and Henry Jacolin also
took part in the meeting of Oskanian and Mamediarov. The personal
representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk was
also present at the meeting. This meeting, as the previous ones,
did not have a special agenda. The ministers of foreign affairs of
Armenia and Azerbaijan went on discussing questions referring to the
prospect of regulation of the Nagorni Karabakh conflict. According
to the participants, the meeting was useful and positive. After the
meeting the RA minister of foreign affairs told the journalists that
the newly appointed ambassador of the USA in Armenia John Evans who has
recently arrived in Yerevan, must actively get involved in the talks
for the settlement of the Karabakh problem. As to the effectiveness
of the meeting, Oskanian noticed that this was an ordinary meeting
of which no results should be anticipated. “There may be news only
after the meeting of presidents,” said Vardan Oskanian. Therefore
we may state that the fourth meeting of Oskanian and Mamediarov did
not produce any results, at best it prepared for the next meeting
between Kocharian and Aliev. Let us hope that at least that meeting
will promote positive changes in favour of the peaceful regulation
of the Karabakh conflict.
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
04-09-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN TO VISIT POLAND ON SEPTEMBER 5
ArmenPress
Sept 3 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
will visit Poland from September 5 to 7. The invitation was extended
by his Polish counterpart Alexander Kwasniewski. In the course of the
visit the Armenian president is scheduled to meet with the leadership
of the Polish Sejm (lower parliament chamber), the Senate and the
prime minister. Two agreements on military cooperation and fighting
against organized crime and a memorandum on cooperation between
Armenian trade and economy development ministry and Polish Union of
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses will be signed in Warsaw.
According to Kocharian’s press office, the main goal of the visit is
to enhance inter-state ties, to outline economic cooperation priorities
and exchange views on issues of reciprocal interest.
Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Poland were established
in 1992, February. The Armenian embassy in Warsaw began functioning
in 1998. In 1999 president Kocharian paid a state visit to Poland.
The Polish embassy opened in Yerevan in 2001 and in the same year
Alexander Kwasniewski paid a state visit to Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines
Sept 3 2004
Armenian outlasts Massu in 5-set marathon at US Open
Updated 01:49pm (Mla time) Sept 03, 2004
Agence France-Presse
NEW YORK , New York, United States of America — Olympic double gold
medallist Nicolas Massu was eliminated from the US Open on Thursday
in a historic five-set marathon with Sargis Sargsian of Armenia.
Sargsian fired 20 aces and won 184 of 337 points to beat Massu 6-7
(6/8), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.
The match lasted five hours, nine minutes and is second longest on
record behind the 1992 men’s semi-final where Stefan Edberg beat
Michael Chang in five hours and 26 minutes.
The previous second-longest match was also in 1992 when Ivan Lendl
beat Boris Becker in five hours, one minute in the round of 16.
“So many things happened in that match,” Sargsian said. “It is just
amazing to come through.
“I wouldn’t put it on top of my list but it is in the top three. Now
I am just go to take my vitamins, get a massage and pray for rain,”
he said.
He has one day to rest before his third round match against France’s
Paul-Henri Mathieu.
Sargsian won the war of attrition but he paid for it as after four
hours on the court both players started to suffer from leg cramps.
“I couldn’t feel my legs,” Sargsian said of the end of the match.
Sargsian’s family and friends would have had to stay up to 4 a.m.
Armenian time to watch the entire match.
Massu came into the US Open after the best week of his career, having
won gold medals in singles and doubles at the Athens Games.
The Chilean lost his composure on several occasions, breaking his
racket in the first set.
He argued several times with chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, and vowed to
never play in front of Ramos again.
“I lost because of my mistake. But this umpire have not to umpire
anymore,” Massu said. “He is unbelievable. He is never going to
umpire me again.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Sept 3 2004
VISIT OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV TO NAKHCHIVAN AUTONOMOUS
REPUBLIC
[September 03, 2004, 18:48:57]
The ceremony of opening of the Civil Defense Center of Nakhchivan was
held on 2 September, AzerTAj correspondent reports.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the ceremony.
***
On the same day, a swimming center was opened in the city of
Nakhchivan.
Head of Azerbaijan State attended the ceremony and made a speech.
***
After familiarization tour, Head of State answered questions of media
representatives.
Q. Mr. President, Your first arrival to Nakhchivan was taken with
great interests, this is the second one…
A: If you remember, staying here in May this year, we did visit the
school to learn how the work was going on and decided that I would
arrive here again to attend its opening. I always keep my word, as
you know, and now I am here. Taking the chance I’ve also visited
other large objects in Nakhchivan including the Swimming and Civil
Defense Centers. After midnight we’ll hold a meeting at the Supreme
Majlis. I’ve made sure once again that Nakhchivan had become more
beautiful and developed. Nakhchivan is an ancient Azerbaijan’s land,
a strategic area of Azerbaijan, and everybody must take every effort
to strengthen Nakhchivan both from military and economic standpoints
for the people here to live better.
Q. Mr. President, your visit to Paris is expected in the next few
days. May we have the date of the visit, and are bilateral meetings
expected there?
A: This will be a working visit. The bilateral meetings are expected
during the first ten days of September.
Q. Mr. President, in the last days, Russia, Moscow is overwhelmed by
the wave of terror. What do think about it?
A: I have expressed sympathy to Head of Russia Mr. Putin. This is a
great trouble, great menace. Azerbaijan itself used to suffer from
terrorism. We are well aware what it is. It’s very difficult to fight
terror. Fighting terrorist attacks around the world needs
consolidation of all forces, all countries. We most resolutely
condemn the terror acts committed in the last days in Russia. We hope
the crisis will be settled soon, and the hostages released.
Q. You will have to meet with Armenian President. Armenia is
conducting military exercises. There is an opinion in our public that
the negotiations are useless. How do see the prospects of the
upcoming talks?
A: Since I haven’t yet rejected the talks, then I hope for them to
bring results. If you remember, I stated more than once that I was
not going to just imitate the negotiations. As soon as I am sure the
talks are ineffective and that I don’t believe in their future, then
Azerbaijan will be the first to reject the negotiations. What I can
say now is that there is a need to continue the talks. The talks are
going on, foreign ministers meet. Of course, sometimes you are
unsatisfied with their answers to your questions on the matter, but
it is normal as the negotiations are confidential. We have not yet
come to a certain result. But the talks cover concrete issues. I want
to hope that they will be effective. Azerbaijan’s lands will be
released and its territorial integrity restored.
Q. Mr. President, the judge passed the sentence on the members of the
Organization of Karabakh Liberation. Do you agree with the verdict
not as a President but a citizen Ilham Aliyev?
A: Good question. As a President I cannot and don’t want to interfere
in the court’s decision. But as a citizen, I consider the sentence
passed is not adequate to their actions. It ‘s too hard penalty; as a
citizen I can’t back up the decision. I would recommend addressing
the Court of Appeal, and I hope the issue will be resolved. At the
same time, the Law is for everybody. One should not idealize any
organization or person. Authorized structures and persons in
Azerbaijan are working hard on the resolution of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The president, foreign
minister, defense minister and other relevant structures know their
jobs well. They know well when and what step they should take. So,
the public has to have adequate attitude to such organizations. We
should not make an image of hero for anybody. Of course, every
organization has its own position, but everything should be exercised
within the limits of Law. We are building a legal state and stand for
supremacy of Law. So, every citizen must honor the Law. But I want to
repeat that the verdict brought in is too severe, and as a citizen, I
don’t agree with that. I hope the problem will be fairly solved.
Q. Mr. President, the other day You appointed ambassadors to four
countries. What would you comment on this?
A: I consider this decision as very important, Azerbaijan should take
more active part in the international community, defend its stance.
Azerbaijan has few representative offices abroad, so it had been
planned to open more embassies.
Q. Mr. President, is a new decree on pardon expected in the near
future.
A: Yes, it is.
Q. Mr. President, during the upcoming CIS Heads of State summit in
Astana, Russia intends to raise the question on the double standards
at OSCE. May we have your opinion on the issue?
A: Our opinion was expressed during the July summit when Azerbaijan
didn’t sign the statement. There were reasons for doing so then. We,
as a country, are pursuing independent policy, and this independence
is most important for us. We can also make claims on OSCE. I
personally expressed them our claims quite sharply, they are
reflected in official documents. But these issues concern us only.
The question is of political character and Azerbaijan does not intend
to interfere with that. We are pursuing our policy independently, it
was not accidental that I didn’t sign the statement in July, and
won’t this time.
Q. Mr. President, is the Council of Europe going to discuss
Azerbaijan related issue?
A: Hope the discussion will be constructive. There is not any problem
between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe. At the moment, our
relations with the Council of Europe are being developed; the
organization meets the political and economic reforms in Azerbaijan
with approval. I am very pleased of this. I expect that the issue of
honoring commitments will be discussed along the way; there may be
some recommendations or certain criticism, but that is quite normal.
Q. Mr. President, Nakhchivan has been living under blockade for 12
years. Nevertheless, considerable accomplishments have been gained.
Don’t you think the time has come to give the rank of city-hero to
Nakhchivan?
A: You know, it’s an obsolete practice. We should abandon the Soviet
experience. The ranks would reflect nothing then. Heroism must be
reflected in people’s attitude to their city and country. Our
national leader Heydar Aliyev paid special attention to Nakhchivan
not because he had been born here but because he realized very well
how important Nakhchivan is for Azerbaijan. We continue to follow
this policy, and I am very happy the good job done by local
authorities brings yields.
Q. Mr. President, after the meeting with President Khatami, you did
not presented detailed information on the North-South corridor. Was
the issue generally discussed?
A: Of course, it was. We don’t have any difference of opinion. Both
Iran and we have concern in the functioning of the corridor,
Azerbaijan’s joining it, and certain steps have been taken and talks
held with this respect. It is very important for us. Maybe this issue
was not reflected in a document but was seriously discussed. If all
these agreements are realized, Nakhchivan will be completely supplied
with electricity and gas in two years.
Thank you.
***
On September 2, President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev held an
enlarged meeting at the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous
Republic. He addressed the meeting with an opening remark. The
President noted in particular that Nakhchivan is now rapidly
developing and that good job in municipal improvements has been done
in the republic. He also mentioned the strengthening of the
republic’s infrastructure. As I mentioned earlier today, he said, 70
thousand new jobs have been opened here since the presidential
elections; all these facts show that we are on the right way.
The Head of State further touched upon the energy problems in
Nakhchivan. Nakhchivan has been living under blockade for many years.
Supply of natural gas from Azerbaijan is impossible, while
electricity supply does not fully meet the demands. However,
appropriate measures have been taken to completely supply Nakhchivan
with natural gas and electricity, President Ilham Aliyev said.
Following the presidential remarks, the meeting participants have
held a comprehensive opinions exchange on the mentioned issues.
***
In the evening on the same day, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
returned to Baku.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish F.M. Leaves For Netherlands
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Sept 3 2004
ANKARA – Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul left on Friday for the
Netherlands to attend the European Union (EU) Informal Ministerial
meeting.
Before he flew to the Netherlands, Gul told reporters that the draft
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) had not been given its final shape and
presented to the parliament, and refrained from commenting on the
amendments made to the draft which considered adultery as a crime.
Gul expressed thought that the matter was not reflected correctly to
Turkish public opinion.
“Every country can have some sensitivities peculiar to itself.
Turkish society can have some sensitivities and different views and
feelings about several matters as how Ireland has some sensitivities
about birth control and abortion, and some other countries have
similar sensitivities. I am sure that we will reach a conclusion in
a civilized way,” Gul added.
GUL: I DON’T KNOW HOW CORRECT IT IS TO LINK PUTIN’S VISIT WITH
TERRORIST ACT IN NORTH OSSETIA
Gul said, “I don’t know how correct it is to link (Russian President
Vladimir) Putin’s visit (to Turkey) with the terrorist act in North
Ossetia.”
Gul told reporters, “it is a reality that Russia is facing such
terrorist attacks for a long time. Therefore, I don’t know how correct
it is to link the recent terrorist act with this visit.”
Gul said that nobody could reach anywhere by terrorism, and those who
used terrorism as a tool to reach their targets would be considered
unjust although they had a rightful cause.
“Terror on innocent people, and violence against defenseless people
are wrong,” Gul stated, and said that Turkey condemned all those acts.
When he was recalled about the statement of Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey would fulfil its responsibilities
regarding the terrorist act in North Ossetia, Gul said, “if they ask
us to settle the matter peacefully, we will exert every effort we can.”
When a reporter recalled British press reports that some Chechen
leaders including Aslan Mashadov were in Turkey, Gul said those press
reports were inaccurate and noted, “Russian officials also know that
these claims are not correct.” He added that Russia had not asked
Turkey any questions about these claims.
-TURKEY-IRAQ-
Answering a question about Turks abducted and killed in Iraq, Gul
said that Turkey had taken and implemented some measures regarding
the matter. “But, unfortunately our citizens who travel to Iraq don’t
take our recommendations seriously.”
Therefore, Gul stated, they decided to tighten their measures.
Gul added, “who are behind these acts? Organs who will analyze this
matter attended our meeting (at the Foreign Ministry). What can the
reason (of these acts) be? Turkey is a friend of Iraqi people. It has
proven its friendship with its stance after the Iraq war. We need to
find the reasons of these attacks against Turks that are staged in
a period when Turkey is being sympathized in the Middle East as it
has never been sympathized before. We search for the reasons.”
Recalling that Turkey did not have any military forces in Iraq, Gul
said, “we are in Iraq to help (Iraqi people), to meet humanitarian
needs, and to serve (Iraqi people.) We need to well analyze the reason
of these attacks since this is our sole aim.”
-KERRY’S STATEMENT-
When recalled the statements of U.S. President candidate John Kerry
who said if he is elected as President, he will recognize so-called
Armenian genocide, Gul said, “this issue is important for Turkey.
Thus, we follow it closely.”
“However” Gul added, “such statements have made in the United States
previously during election milieu.”
When asked whether a Turkish diplomat on ambassador level will
be appointed to Jerusalem Consulate General and recalled that this
appointment does not take place in recent ambassadors decree, Gul said,
“the ambassadors decree which is published in news reports and the
appointment are separate issues.”
-MEETING IN THE NETHERLANDS-
Gul said, “the issues which will be discussed in the meeting in the
Netherlands are important for Turkey.” He added, “we will discuss
international issues and especially Iraq and international terrorism.”
Noting, “I will have bilateral meetings within the scope of the meeting
in the Netherlands,” Gul said, “the most important issue which will
be discussed is Cyprus.”
Gul said, “as you know, there is a decision which was taken by
Council of Europe about Cyprus and a report which was prepared by
the EU Commission.” He added, “we closely follow these issues.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Yerevan unruffled by Baku’s protest against Armenian presence at NATO drills
Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
3 Sep 04
NATO is the organizer of the Cooperative Best Effort – 2004 exercises
and has already confirmed the number of participants, the spokesman
of the Armenian Defence Ministry, Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, has said,
commenting on Azerbaijani media reports that Baku has lodged its
protest with Brussels against the participation of Armenian officers
in the NATO field exercises.
To recap, Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan said that the
Armenian side would participate in the NATO exercises in Baku. He
noted that seven Armenian servicemen would take part in the exercises.

San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Sept 3 2004
Sargsian captures five-set marathon
Match is second-longest in Open history By Jerry Magee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
NEW YORK – They don’t pass out gold medals at the U.S. Open, cash
being preferred, but Nicolas Massu of Chile, a gold medalist in
tennis at Athens, and Sargis Sargsian staged a match last night that
was truly Olympian.
Sargsian, from Armenia, finally won it, but only after he and Massu
had struggled through the second-longest match in Open history – 5
hours and 9 minutes.
The longest match on record at the Open was a 1992 men’s semifinal
between Stefan Edberg of Sweden and Michael Chang that lasted 5
hours, 26 minutes. Edberg won 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4.
Before the Sargsian-Massu match, the second-longest match also
occurred in 1992, with Ivan Lendl defeating Boris Becker 6-7, 6-2,
6-7, 6-3, 6-4 in 5:01 in the round of 16.
The Sargsian-Massu get-together was a stormy one, with Massu,
supported by a noisy, flag-waving contingent of Chileans, carrying on
several dialogues with the chair umpire, who twice warned him for
slamming his racket and later penalized him a game for another such
abuse.
“Three violations,” Massu said. “The first two were OK. Nothing to
say. But the third one, I can’t believe.”
Massu did not dispute that he had thrown his rackets; he shattered
two of them. “Yeah, but normally all the players throw the racket,”
he said. “This umpire (Carlos Ramos) should not umpire anymore. He
unbelievable. He’s never going to umpire me again.”
Ted Schroeder of La Jolla, meantime, remembered that in the final of
the 1949 U.S. Championships, he and Pancho Gonzalez played a five-set
match that went on for 5 hours, 15 minutes. Schroeder said there were
no chairs on the court and changeovers had to be completed in 30
seconds.
In his three previous matches in that tournament, Schroeder said, he
had played five-setters on consecutive days against Gardnar Mulloy,
Frank Sedgman and Billy Talbert.
Massu being eliminated left the men’s phase of the tournament without
any of the Athens medalists. Silver medalist Mardy Fish of the United
States failed yesterday against Michal Tabara, the player from the
Czech Republic winning 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Bronze medalist
Fernando Gonzalez of Chile had been beaten in the opening round by
Robin Soderling of Sweden.
The women’s field has lost bronze medalist Alicia Molik of Australia,
but gold medalist Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium and silver
medalist Amelie Mauresmo of France are still around.
Marathons aside, this week at the Open has been marked by
retirements, with first Todd Martin, then Wayne Ferreira saying
farewells. Andre Agassi, of their generation, presses on. He did
yesterday, gaining the tournament’s third round when a muscle problem
in the left leg forced Florian Mayer of Germany to retire in the
fourth set. Agassi advanced 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (ret).
Agassi, 34, said he misses many of the players against whom he
competed when he was in his 20s.
“In some cases, these are guys you grew up with and competed with
since you were 8 years old,” Agassi said. “So you do miss them; you
feel as if the game misses them.”
Agassi said he has not made any plans after the Open. He said he may
play a full fall schedule, he may not. On one point, he was clear: He
has no plans to retire should he win the Open.
No. 3 seed Carlos Moya took last night’s concluding match in Arthur
Ashe Stadium with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 conquest of American Amer
Delic. Earlier, French Open champion Gaston Gaudio of Argentina fell
to Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Father of California-based owner Krikorian dies at 89
Thoroughbred Times
Sept 2 2004
Former trainer George Krikorian Sr., father of Southern
California-based owner George Krikorian, died at age 89 on August 29 in
Vista, California, after a battle with cancer. Krikorian retired as
a trainer in the late 1980s after training on the New England circuit
at such tracks as Lincoln Downs, Narragansett Park, Rockingham Park,
and Suffolk Downs, Daily Racing Form reports.
His son gained prominence by campaigning multiple Grade 1-winning
millionaire Starrer and Grade 3 winner Makeup Artist.
A memorial service was scheduled for Thursday near Oceanside,
California. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations
be made to the St. John Garabed Armenian Church, 4473 30th Street,
San Diego, California 92116.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Communists condemn imprisonment of anti-Armenian protesters
Turan news agency
1 Sep 04
Baku, 1 September: The bureau of the central committee of the Communist
Party of Azerbaijan [CPA] yesterday condemned prison sentences for
members of the Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] handed out by
the Nasimi district court [in Baku].
The bureau’s statement issued in this regard criticized the court
verdict and described it as “unjustifiably harsh and not matching
the committed offence”.
The bureau of the CPA’s central committee believes that laws must
be obeyed and any offence should be punished. However, the taken
decisions and passed verdicts should match the essence and gravity
of the offence.
[The court sentenced six activists of the Karabakh Liberation
Organization to imprisonment for terms ranging from three to five
years for protesting against the presence of two Armenian military
officers at a NATO conference in Baku.]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RETIRED AZERI OFFICER SLAMS MINISTRY FOR CORRUPTION, POOR TREATMENT OF PRIVATES
Baki Xabar, Baku
24 Aug 04
Former brigade commander Ildirim Mammadov has accused several
high-ranking Azerbaijani Defence Ministry officers of inhumane policy,
adding that the ministry is rife with corruption. In an interview
with Azerbaijani daily Baki Xabar, Mammadov said that the Defence
Ministry was not supplying military units with necessary food, uniforms
and medicine shown in invoices. He also said that the Azerbaijani
armed forces were being governed by Soviet-era military laws and
any talk of transition to NATO standards was wide off the mark. The
following is an excerpt from report by Matanat Muslimqizi headlined ”
Professionals are being discharged from army” and subheaded “Former
brigade commander Ildirim Mammadov: Some high-ranking officers in
the army have declared themselves secret enemies of the people'”
published in Azerbaijani newspaper Baki Xabar on 24 August; with
subheadings inserted editorially:
Reports by numerous international organizations have more
than once highlighted rampant corruption in Azerbaijan’s state
bodies. Regrettably, bribery and corruption are rife in the Defence
Ministry, which is the bastion and the backbone of the nation’s
protection. The treatment of soldiers and officers in the armed
forces, high-handedness, corruption and widespread bribery in military
units are inflicting a serious blow to our national security and
state independence. We have had a detailed conversation to this
effect with Lt-Col Ildirim Mammadov, a professional officer and
former brigade commander in the Azerbaijani army. (Passage omitted:
Mammadov’s background.)
I asked my interviewee to assess the overall situation in the
Azerbaijani armed forces.
(Mammadov) Unable to put up with injustice in the army, I left the
military unit I was commanding. It was impossible to work there. Under
the existing system, when a military unit is audited three to four
times by various commissions and is requested to adjust something
without any financial support or help, it is impossible to work
normally in these conditions. Audits are conducted by the Defence
Ministry’s high-ranking officers. When the ministry sends these audit
commissions, it knows the state of affairs in military units very
well. It is impossible to endure this. Those who can endure this become
a member of the system engaged in cheating and providing false reports.
(Correspondent) What did the audit commissions from the ministry
demand specifically from you?
(Mammadov) For example, just imagine, military units are provided
with neither food, nor military uniforms nor medicine stated in
invoices. This is rife in all spheres. For example, a military unit
should be supplied with 3,800 kg of soap. However, they only get
a fraction of this amount. Out of 13,000-14,000 sets of bed linen,
one-third is never supplied. Soldiers should be supplied with boots
every six months, but they are not. If earnest investigations are
launched, one can see that high-ranking officers commanding the army
have made hundreds of firms bankrupt. (Passage omitted: officers are
elevated to high ranks undeservedly.)
Defence Ministry leadership insensitive to soldiers’ fate
(Correspondent) Why should the Defence Ministry put pressure on
officers to take care of privates? The issue at stake is human fate,
isn’t it?
(Mammadov) The Defence Ministry’s leadership is insensitive to fates
of sons of the people. If this were not the case, then the leadership
of the armed forces would have ordered commanders of brigades and
military units to cancel lessons between 1200-1700 o’clock when the
temperature rises above 30 degrees. Soldiers should rest at this
time and lessons should be conducted in the evenings.
Let us look into the matter. Why do the Azerbaijani people not love
the army? Because some high-ranking officials in the army have
declared themselves secret enemies of our people. Professional and
skilled personnel are discharged from the armed forces. However,
those who should not serve in the army are elevated. For example,
(Defence Ministry spokesman Col) Ramiz Duygun (Malikov) is a university
graduate and is 60 years old. However, he does not want to leave
his post to educate his grandchildren. (Passage omitted: on Soviet
experience in the army.)
Talk on transition to NATO standards wide off the mark
(Correspondent) It has been recently claimed that the Azerbaijani army
is being transformed to meet NATO standards. What is your attitude
towards this?
(Mammadov) Statements to this effect are purely formal. Actually,
nothing is being done. Why? Because, currently the Azerbaijani
armed forces are being ruled by Soviet laws. Being a NATO member,
first means that a soldier must be treated like a human and not like
a beast. In Azerbaijan, we see quite the contrary happen. It is very
early to speak about the NATO system in this country. Aspiring to NATO
membership also means big investment in the army. (Passage omitted:
the army needs new laws.)
(Correspondent) What is your assessment of the current state of
affairs in the Azerbaijani army?
(Mammadov) True, the Azerbaijani army with its many positive aspects
is better than the Georgian army, and the army of our enemy –
Armenia. However, I would like the Azerbaijani army be similar to
the Israeli army. Azerbaijan should have a small, mobile, strong and
professional army able to overcome all problems.