Author: Hambardsumian Paul

CHECHEN SEPARATIST SPOKESMAN DISMISSES REPORT OF TIES WITH BIN-LADIN

Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency web site
20 Nov 04

A leading Chechen separatist spokesman has refuted a US defence agency
report alleging links between Usamah Bin-Ladin and the Chechens
back in 1998. Movladi Udugov says that the report that Al-Qa’idah
training camps were being set up in Chechnya, Ingushetia and other
republics is “a tissue of lies and a crude provocation”, and that
the Americans are using such false reports to prepare for further
interference in the North Caucasus. The following is the text of the
report by Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency web site on 20 November headlined
“Report on ties between Bin-Ladin and Chechnya a tissue of lies”;
subheadings inserted editorially:

US report says Al-Qa’idah camps “being set up” in North Caucasus

Some Russian and American information sources reported yesterday
(19 November) that a certain non-governmental organization, Judicial
Watch, had apparently gained access to a report prepared in October
1998 by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). The DIA report
claims that Usamah Bin-Ladin had established close ties with the
Chechens back in 1998. He was allegedly operating in mediation with
(late rebel field commander in Chechnya) Khattab and the leader of
the Islamic Path party, Movladi Udugov. It is claimed that Khattab
and nine other of Bin-Ladin’s associates had been sent to the North
Caucasus to set up a new Al-Qa’idah training base. As a result
of their efforts, Bin-Ladin’s organization had apparently set up
training camps in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabarda-Balkaria,
Karachay and Adygeya. Organizational and financial support was also
given to friendly groups operating in Crimea, Azerbaijan, Tatarstan,
Bashkortostan, Central Asia, as well as in Moscow and St Petersburg.

It is also claimed that Bin-Ladin had allegedly met Movladi Udugov
in Afghanistan on a number of occasions, and had focused particular
attention on the military training of ethnic Russians, Ukrainians and
Ossetians, who had converted to Islam, for the preparation of terrorist
acts. Al-Qa’idah’s main strike was expected to be directed against the
Americans and other representatives of the West, Israelis, Russians
(especially Cossacks), Serbs, Chinese, Armenians and disloyal Muslims.

Separatist spokesman rubbishes report

The head of the external sub-committee of the Information Committee of
the State Defence Council – Majlis ul-Shura of the Chechen Republic
of Ichkeria, Movladi Udugov described the story of the report about
ties between Bin-Ladin and Chechnya as a tissue of lies.

“This is a tissue of lies and a crude provocation. It is a simple
matter to expose this falsification. In the first place, Islamic Path
has never been a party, but was simply a pre-election association of
my supporters in 1997. It existed for a few weeks and was dissolved
immediately after the elections in accordance with the law. In 1998
this organization simply did not exist.

“Second, I did not travel outside Chechnya until December 1999 (not
counting trips to Moscow for talks, to the hajj in 1997, together
with (Chechen rebel) President (Aslan) Maskhadov, and to Poland, also
with Maskhadov). Therefore, there could not have been in principle
any meetings, especially with Bin-Ladin, either in Afghanistan or
anywhere else. Perhaps he himself went to Mecca, Moscow or Warsaw.

“Third, an elementary analysis of the text of the so-called ‘report’
shows that it had simply been copied from many ‘operational reports ‘
of the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service). The mention of Cossacks
is particularly touching.

“Fourth, this is not the first nonsense of this kind. One has only
to recall the false claims about Chechen detachments in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Iraq. As is known, up to now neither the Russians, the
Americans nor the British have come up with a single fact to support
their claims in this regard. It is nothing but a lot of nonsense. There
has not been a single living or dead Chechen there.

“Fifth, there have never been any Al-Qa’idah training camps in Chechnya
or anywhere else. If there were, then perhaps someone would indicate
specific geographical addresses rather than throw away general
claims. The only training centre in Serzhen-Yurt, which was run by
amir Khattab, was an official unit of the CRI armed forces. Khattab
himself was appointed the head of the training centre immediately
after the first war by an order of the commander-in-chief of the CRI
armed forces, (Aslan) Maskhadov.

“Therefore, my estimation of this false report is that it is a tissue
of lies from beginning to end. And there is one other observation. I
get the impression that the emergence of such ‘reports,’ is not
very much to Moscow’s liking. The Americans, with the help of such
outbursts of disinformation, are creating preconditions for future
direct interference in the North Caucasus,” Movladi Udugov pointed
out in his comments.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
18 Nov 04

MOTIONS OF AZERBAIJAN DEPUTIES ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY
[November 18, 2004, 23:01:01]

As correspondent of AzerTAj informs, on November 17, the next sitting
of Political Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe has taken place in the residence of the Council of Europe in
Paris. Discussed was questions: “Carrying out of `a round table» in
connection with political conditions in the Chechen Republic’,
`Discussion of the report on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict’, ` Situation in Macedonia’ and others.

During discussion of the question concerning the report on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, the Russian deputy
Michael Margelov presiding at the sitting has brought to the
attention of members of Committee, that the report as a whole would
not be discussed, will be simply given answers to the questions
connected to the report and made amendments in separate items of the
draft resolution. Then, he gave floor to the reporter from group of
democrats David Atkinson.

The deputy from England has noted that in spite of the fact that the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict was repeatedly
discussed in many international organizations, but promotions in this
area is not achieved, he informed about the meetings carried out by
him with deputies of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the PACE, that has
familiarized with their offers, has emphasized importance of making
serious steps shortly in the peace settlement of the conflict. He has
noted, that the Acting Chairman of PACE Terry Davis before election
on this post has prepared the detailed report and that after
appointment of him as a reporter, he has made serious amendments to
the report.

Deputy of Milli Majlis Asim Mollazade, having reminded about
realization of ethnic cleaning by Armenia in Azerbaijan territories
occupied by it, that there did not remain any Azerbaijani, has
addressed David Atkinson with such question: `Why in the report has
found the reflection of idea on involvement to negotiations of the
Armenian community, the Azerbaijan community is not mentioned?’

The reporter has accepted the remark of the Azerbaijan deputy and
promised before January session, on which the report will be
discussed, bring in this question to the report.

Then, discussions around of amendments to separate positions of the
draft resolution have taken place.

The deputy from Armenia Tigran Torosyan has made protest against the
motion` The territory of Nagorny Karabakh is controlled by separatist
forces’, found reflection in the report, and has told, that it sounds
as insult in address of the Armenians of Nagorny Karabakh.

Asim Mollazade, sharply having objected against the remark of the
Armenian deputy, has told that, on the contrary, the motion sounds
softly, it would be more exact to use here expression “radical
separatists’, he has especially emphasized, that Azerbaijanis from
our occupied territories have been driven from the native lands of
their fathers and grandfathers by separatist forces.

The deputy from France Daniel Gule has noted, that more than one
million Azerbaijan refugees and IDPs violently ousted by the Armenian
armed forces, live in heavy conditions, that their rights were
violated and having specified that in the report the question
connected with the right of these people is not displayed, has
brought the motion to bring to the report in the question on
protection of their rights and return to the native lands.

Asim Mollazade has reminded that in due time the parliament of
Armenia has accepted the decision about annexation of Nagorny
Karabakh to this country, having noted, that this decision completely
contradicts norms of international law and that Armenia till today
does not recognize territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, that military
forces of the next state serve on our occupied territories.

The head of delegation of Milli Majlis in PACE Samad Seyidov has
recognized expedient to use in the report instead of expression
“occupied territories” ` occupied territories of Azerbaijan’.

All motions of the Azerbaijan deputies connected to amendments of 15
items of the draft resolution, it is possible to tell, have been
accepted unanimously.

Thus, the next sitting of Political Committee rounded its work. At
the sitting, there was head of permanent mission of Azerbaijan at
Council of Europe Agshin Mehdiyev.

Armenian government won’t raise salaries of public servants in 2005

Mediamax news agency
15 Nov 04

YEREVAN

The government of Armenia has taken a “political decision” not to
raise in 2005 the salaries of public servants, including the people
occupying political posts.

Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan said this at hearings on
the draft budget in the National Assembly today. The prime minister
said that “the saved sum of money will be, thus, channelled into the
reduction of social polarization in society”.

It was planned to raise salaries of the public servants in line with
the programme of medium-term expenditures for 2005-2007, Markaryan
said.

[Passage omitted: 2005 budget details]

Turkishness or Turkey-ness?

Three weeks after it was leaked in the newspaper ‘Radikal’, a report
challenging the Kemalist doctrine of Turkey continues to divide liberal
and conservative thinkers and commentators
By Alex Penman
Athens Daily News

ISTANBUL. For three weeks, Turkey has been witnessing an unprecedented
debate, triggered by a minorities report issued by the prime minister’s
Human Rights Advisory Committee. The first of its kind to originate from
an official body, the report examined state policy on minority rights,
but it didn’t stop there. With its proposal to replace the Kemalist
model of a nation-state with a pluralistic, multicultural society, it
challenged the very foundations of the Turkish state. So extreme were
some of the reactions to the report that the committee was forced to
modify its suggestions. Even so, the country is now engaged in a bitter
dialogue over perceptions on citizenship, Turkish identity and the
nature of its constitution.

The question of Turkey’s minorities has remained taboo since the
foundation of the republic in 1923. But the EU Commission’s report on
the country’s progress towards accession, published on 6 October 2004,
found the protection of minorities inadequate, though it refrained from
making recommendations.

At present, Turkey doesn’t recognise any minorities besides the
“non-Muslims” mentioned in the 1923 Lausanne Treaty, traditionally
restricted by the state to Greeks, Armenians and Jews. Turkey’s other
Christians – Roman Catholics, Protestants, Chaldeans and Syrian Orthodox
– are not included. Also ignored are Muslim groups, such as the
Alevites, who consider themselves distinct from the Turkish-Sunni
majority. And the huge Kurdish community (20-25 percent of the
population) has long been denied official recognition.

Kemalism

Turkey is one of the few remaining states with an official ideology:
Kemalism. The constitution’s preamble declares: “No actions against
Turkish national interests, Turkish national existence in its
indivisible state and land, Turkish historical and moral values or the
nationalism, modernity, reforms and principles of Ataturk can be
afforded protection. ”
Article III.1, which the report criticises, affirms: “The state, with
its territory and nation, is an indivisible whole. Its language is
Turkish.” Amendment to this Article is prohibited by the constitution.

The establishment holds that “Ataturk’s nationalism” has nothing to do
with racism, religious, linguistic or ethnic discrimination and is a
synonym for modernity, a liberation movement from religious
obscurantism, a call to defend Turkey’s independence and the secular
republic. “It is always made clear in school that Ataturk’s nationalism
must be equated with citizenship, the commitment to the state and its
republican ideals. It is equivalent to the French fraternity slogan, ”
says Jem Taner, a member of the Society for Ataturkist Thought.

Many, though, view Kemalism very differently. They argue that although
the constitution may not mention race directly, the concept of
nationhood enshrined in it rests on the idea that only one culture is
acceptable in the country. Minority rights lawyer Fethiye Chetin points
out some practical problems: “Turkey doesn’t recognise minorities’
religious leadership bodies. Minority institutions lack legal
recognition. This creates obstacles in property trials…”

“Turkey hasn’t honoured its Lausanne obligations,” proclaims Human
Rights Association member Ayshe Gyunaysu. “Greeks in Imvros still await
the reopening of their schools, closed in an ethnic-cleansing campaign
of the Sixties. Armenians are denied permission to restore churches in
Asia Minor. Minorities are portrayed as potential traitors. Schoolbooks
present them cooperating with the enemy, stabbing Turks in the back – a
paranoia bequeathed from late Ottoman times. Unsurprisingly, the word
has become pejorative.”

The report

Against such a background, the report by the Human Rights Advisory
Committee, which operates under the Prime Minister’s Office and consists
mainly of academics and civil servants, infuriated many.

The report argued that minorities cannot be divided into recognised and
unrecognised ones. Going a step further, the report argued that
Ataturk’s concept of “modernity” – a nation-state organised in a secular
republic, as opposed to the multi-ethnic, confessional Ottoman structure
– may have been adequate for the 1920s and ’30s, but is now obsolete.
Denouncing the constitution’s “monolithic society”, it proposed that the
latter be amended – including its ‘unamendable’ Article III.1. The
report proposed that “Turkishness” be replaced with “Turkey-ness”, this
being the appropriate word to describe the bond between citizen and
state, a term devoid of any ethnic connotations.

The publication of the report caused an uproar and divided political
opinion. An angry Foreign Minister Gul said: “We disapprove of the way
the report was published without being handed to us first.” And then,
even as the committee was preparing for a press conference, they found
themselves unable to enter the room reserved for them: the locks had
been changed. Fethi Bolayir, the president of the Society for Social
Thought and himself a member of the committee, termed the report “a
document of treason produced by agents of powers who want to divide
Turkey”. He then sued the committee’s president, Ibrahim Kaboglu, and
rapporteur, Baskin Oran, for abuse of power.

With the debate between the committee majority who supported the report
and the dissenting minority becoming increasingly acrimonious, the
Turkish public was confronted by an open debate over its identity for
the first time since the nation-state’s creation. “Eighty years have
elapsed since the proclamation of the republic, and the question ‘Who
are we?’ still haunts us,” wrote Haluk Shahin, of the newspaper Radikal.
“Everything is now up for discussion.” “The only ‘untouchable’ subject
remains the Armenian Question,” said Oran, referring to Turkey’s denial
of that genocide. “The concept of Turkey-ness leaves no need for
minorities, since all the country’s citizens are treated as equal.”

As Alevis and Kurds protested that they wanted to be considered not
minorities, but ‘co-founders of the republic’, Oran argued that all
Turkey’s citizens should indeed be considered founders of the republic.
Meanwhile, the Kemalist intelligentsia made known to the press that it
won’t tolerate any challenge to Ataturk’s tenets. “There is no need to
resort to Turkey-ness,” conservative Hurriyet protested, while
Cumhuriyet strove to demonstrate that from the Middle Ages ‘Turk’ has
been an umbrella term covering the Muslims of Europe and Asia Minor. In
their statements for the anniversary of the republic celebrations, both
the president and the chief of staff also rejected ‘Turkey-ness’ and
stressed that “minority cultures can only be tolerated if confined to
private life”. “There is only one people in Turkey – the Turkish people
– uniting individuals from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, ”
President Sezer said.

[Caption: The ruins of a Greek school in Agridia, Turkey, shut down in
1964. A last month’s minorities report by the Turkish prime minister’s
office says the state structure is incapable of embracing
multi-ethnicity.]

ATHENS NEWS, 05/11/2004 [November 5, 2004], page: A08
Article code: C13103A081
;f=13103&m 8&aa=1&eidos=A

Armenian Genocide history to be taught in Argentine schools

Yerkir/arm
November 12, 2004

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Thanks to Hay Dat Committee’s long years of work,
the government of Buenos Aires presented a 44-page book on the
Armenian Genocide. The book, jointly prepared by the Hay Dat Committee
and the Buenos Aires Department of Human Rights, was published in
5,000 copies and was delivered to libraries and teachers of 600 public
schools of the city.

The book contains the summary of the Armenian Genocide and accounts by
famous international and local scholars, as well as newspaper
articles, maps, pictures and pedagogical programs. On the same day,
the book was presented at the Buenos Aires state school.

Speaking at it, Osvaldo Bayer, a renowned writer and author of the
preface to the new Spanish translation of “The 40 Days of Musa Dag,”
denounced the Turkish government and people for admitting to the
Genocide. He also praised the efforts of the Hay Dat Committee and
welcomed the government’s courage to publish the book.

Pedro Muradian, director of the Hay Dat Committee of South America,
pointed to the importance of the book. In her turn, Gabriella Alegre,
underscored that books on crimes like the Armenian Genocide are
essential, and then paid tribute to late lawyer Luisa Hayrapetian, who
had greatly contributed to the project.

ARKA News Agency
Nov 11 2004

RA Parliament Head receives political directors of German and French
MFA

Presentation of film “Fortress Europe” on illegal migration takes
place in Yerevan

RA President condoles with death of Yasir Araffat

NKR President receives representatives of business circles of Armenia

Presentation of report “International Investments in 2004” to be held
in Yerevan

Polling station to be functioning in Armenia for Ukrainian citizens
participating in second tour of presidential elections

*********************************************************************

RA PARLIAMENT HEAD RECEIVES POLITICAL DIRECTORS OF GERMAN AND FRENCH
MFA

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. RA Parliament Head Arthur Baghdasarain
received political directors of German and French MFA. During the
meeting the guests noted that pay familiarization visit in Caucasus
and it is very important to them to determine perspectives of
regional development, considering the fact aht EU pays special
attention to given region.
Talking about Armenian-Turkish relations Baghdasarain stressed that
Armenia is not against Turkish entry in EU, but thinks that double
standards should not be used in given issue. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

PRESENTATION OF FILM “FORTRESS EUROPE” ON ILLEGAL MIGRATION TAKES
PLACE IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. Presentation of film “Fortress Europe”
on illegal migration took place today in Yerevan. The film was shot
in Norway on assets of Czech charity organization People in Need. The
film describes situation of immigrants in Istanbul, which is
considered “gates of Europe”. According to estimations, 10 of 100
immigrants arrive in Turkey from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
Armenian mission of Czech organization operates in Armenia since Sep
2003 and follows the goal of provision of humanitarian assistance to
vulnerable groups of population. Organization has hot line (tel. 52
21 21), where people can receive consultations on the law on
migration and difficulties than can have Armenians in Czech Republic.
L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT CONDOLES WITH DEATH OF YASIR ARAFFAT

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian condoles
with death of Yasir Araffat. In telegram addressed to Acting Leader
of Palestinian Autonomy Rauhi Fattuh, Kocharian highly estimated the
contribution of Araffat in protection of national rights of his
people and from the name of Armenian people and himself personally
presented condolences to Palestinian people and relatives of Yasir
Araffat. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

NRK PRESIDENT RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVES OF BUSINESS CIRCLES OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. NRK President Arkady Gukasian received
representatives of business circles of Armenia. The parties discussed
issued related to economic cooperation between Armenia and NKR,
stressed the necessity of clear regulation of these relations in
legal field, offered to organize business forum in NKR.
The parties also discussed the construction of North-South highway
and expressed readiness to assist in realization of this program. The
President expressed confidence that this activity will encourage also
representatives of Armenian Diaspora.
Today, Gukasian left for United States for participation in
tele-marathon on Nov 25 on fund raising for construction in Artsakh.
L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

PRESENTATION OF REPORT “INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS IN 2004” TO BE HELD
IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. Presentation of the report
“International Investments in 2004” to be made in Yerevan on November
12. As UNDP Press Service told ARKA, the report will be presented by
Armenian Deputy Trade and Economic Development Minister Tigran
DAvtyan and Permanent Representative of and Coordinator of the UNDP
in Armenia Lise Grande. Te participants also will discuss the
business environment in Armenia with the representatives of the
business circles, state structures and donor organizations. “The
growth of the direct investments in Armenia restored in 2002-2003.
During the recent years South Caucasus recorded essential growth of
the foreign investments that mainly were targeted at oil industry of
Azerbaijan and oil transportation project via Georgia.”, the press
release mentions.
According to the Armenian National Statistical Service the inflow of
the foreign investments in Armenia in the first half of 2004 grew by
41.2% up to USD 106342.5 thou. v. the same period of 2003. The volume
of direct investments in Jan-Jun 2004 made USD 64738 thou. that is by
79.1% more as compared to the same period in 2003.
The largest investors in Armenia in the first half year of 2004 were
Greece, Argentina, USA and France the share of which were 39,07%,
15,11%, 14,28% and 12,92% respectively from all investments made in
the country. T.M. –0-

*********************************************************************

POLLING STATION TO BE FUNCTIONING IN ARMENIA FOR UKRAINIAN CITIZENS
PARTICIPATING IN SECOND TOUR OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

YEREVAN, November 11. /ARKA/. A polling station will be functioning
in Armenia for Ukrainian citizens participating in the second tour of
presidential elections in Ukraine to be held on November 21, 2004. As
Ukrainian Embassy Press Secretary told ARKA, the Ukrainian citizens
may participate in voting at the polling station N15 attached to the
Ukrainian Embassy located in Yerevan, St. Arabkir, St 29, h. 5/1. Te
voting will be held on November 21 from 8.00 to 20.00. The voters
list includes all those Ukrainian citizens registered in the
Ukrainian Embassy. The Ukrainian citizens that are not registered in
the consulate and have no registration documents may until November
13, 2004 to present personal statement to the polling station
commission with request to include them in the list. In case if they
have registration document they may present a written document to the
polling station commission with request to include them in the list
any day, including the elections day.
To remind the majority of votes was collected by candidate to
president Victor Yushchenko – 39.87%, for Victor Yanukevich – 39.32%.
The difference was 0.55%. Due to this the Central Electoral
Commission of Ukraine appointed the second tour of presidential
elections. T.M. –0–

*********************************************************************

–Boundary_(ID_imz8qG8Pto08HUHY6i4yNQ)–

Official says Armenia still holds thousands of Azeri POWs

Trend news agency
11 Nov 04

Baku, 11 November: Despite all their efforts, the Armenians will not
be able to conceal that they are holding up to 4,000 Azerbaijanis in
captivity, MP Rabiyat Aslanova, a member of the state commission for
POWs, hostages and missing persons, has told Trend.

Aslanova also denied the recent Armenian reports which allege that
there are Armenian POWs under false names in Azerbaijan’s prisons. She
said that although Azerbaijan returned all Armenian POWs to Armenia
several years ago, Armenia has not done this yet.

Aslanova said that most of the Azerbaijani POWs in Armenia were
taken hostage during the savage action carried out in Xocali on 26
February 1992. The rest are servicemen and civilians. She said the
Azerbaijani POWs are mainly children, women and old people and that
the state commission has appealed to all international organizations
to help release them.

Aslanova said that the issue of prisoners of war has repeatedly been
raised with the OSCE and the Council of Europe. She expressed the hope
that these organizations would respond to their appeals positively.

Armenia’s foreign debt highest in S Caucasus

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 10 2004

During the discussions of the 2005 state budget in the Armenian
parliament last week, MPs expressed their concerns over the country’s
foreign debt.

Armenia’s foreign debt currently amounts to $1.129 billion ($362 per
capita). The figure will make up $1.429 billion ($458 per capita)
in the near future, as the government plans to borrow $93.6 million
in 2005, $79.8 million in 2006 and $83.7 million in 2007.

Despite the hard situation, the country is expected to repay foreign
debt worth $48.6 million in 2006 and $39.8 million in 2007.

Some Armenian experts predict an increase in the country’s foreign
debt over the next five years, saying that the figure will exceed $2
billion ($622 per capita) in 2010.

Armenian sociologists, in turn, claim that the country’s per capita
foreign debt will increase and that the amount of per capita debt
will reach $1,053 in 2010.

According to the 2004 statistics, there are 3,213,000 people in
Armenia, 1,221,000 of whom, or 38% of the total population, have left
the country due to social hardship.

Armenia’s opposition explains the tough situation in the country by
its failure to participate in regional projects due to tensions in
relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey with regard to the Upper Garabagh
conflict and a high corruption level.

Georgia, with a population of 5,100,000, is second in South Caucasus
for the amount of foreign debt. The country’s liabilities make up
$1.7 billion or $333 per capita, according to the 2004 data.

The foreign debt of Azerbaijan, with a population of 8,100,000,
currently amounts to $1.5 billion, or $183 per capita. The country
repaid $102 million out of $143 million owed over the nine months of
this year.*

Cross-border projects in support of media

The Messenger
Nov 9 2004

On Monday the Eurasia Foundation’s South Caucasus Cooperation Program
announced grants totaling USD 311,189 in support of three cross-border
media projects.

Two of the projects will reinforce existing initiatives including an
online network for journalists and news outlets in Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia and a cross-border radio talk show. The third project
will establish a mechanism for conducting and sharing content analysis.

In Georgia recipients of the project include Green Wave Radio
Association (USD 34,702), Black Sea Press (USD 30,590) and the Caucasus
Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development (USD 34,616).

Azerbaijan denies holding Armenian POWs

Ayna, Baku
9 Nov 04

Text of Turan’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ayna on 9 November
headlined “There are no ‘Armenian slaves’ in Azerbaijan”

Commenting on an appeal to the OSCE Minsk Group by the Karabakh
Armenians, the Azerbaijani state commission for prisoners of war,
hostages and missing persons has told Turan news agency that Armenia’s
statements that there are Armenian hostages in Azerbaijan, that they
are being used as slaves and concealed from international organizations
under false names are wide of the mark.

The source said that representatives of an international working
group for POWs, hostages and missing persons checked in 1996
whether Armenians were present in quarries and other places
[in Azerbaijan]. Members of the group from Yerevan and Xankandi
[Stepanakert] were also among them. They visited the aforementioned
places and saw no Armenian hostages being used as slaves. Azerbaijan
is ready even now to enable them to search for POWs.

“There is not a single Armenian hostage in Azerbaijan now. All of
them have been handed over to Armenia,” the state commission said.