Author: Hovhannisian John

Banning Armenian officers’ visit would not hurt relations with NATO
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 5 2004
The Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) hosted a roundtable,
“Repressions against those who care for Garabagh and public opinion”,
on Friday.
AssA-Irada/BT — The party chairman Ali Karimli condemned the arrest
of the Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) members and said
that allowing Armenian officers to Azerbaijan represents a policy
of surrender.
Karimli stated that Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan is not
creating any hurdles for this country’s cooperation with NATO, and
that forbidding the visit of Armenian officers to Baku would not hurt
the NATO-Azerbaijan relations either. He demanded the government to
put end to such a policy, not to interact with Armenia in any way
until Azerbaijan’s occupied territories are liberated.
The PFPA chairman also demanded to ban the visit of Armenian officers
to Baku and to release the imprisoned GLO members. He also said it
was important for local media to express a common national position
with regard to the GLO members.
Azerbaijan lost control over its mainly ethnic-Armenian populated
autonomous region of Nagorno(Daghlig)-Karabakh and also over its
seven administrative districts, Lachin, Kalbejer, Aghdam, Fuzuli,
Jerail, Zengilan and Gubadli in 1992-94 war with Armenia.
The conflict turned to a full-fledged war after the Soviet Union
collapsed in late 1991, forcing around 700,000 Azerbaijanis to leave
their homes in the occupied territories.
Some 300,000 ethnic Azerbaijanis also left their homes in Armenia
and the same number of ethnic-Armenians had to move from Azerbaijan
in 1988-90.

Armenian Parliament speaker stressed broadening ties with Iran
Tehran Times
Sept 4 2004
MOSCOW (IRNA) — Armenian National Assembly Chairman Arthur Baqdasaryan
on Thursday called for further expansion of mutual cooperation between
his country and Iran in various areas.
In a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Yerevan, Ali-Reza Haqiqiyan,
Baqdasaryan said the forthcoming visit by Iran’s President Mohammad
Khatami to Armenia is considered as a significant factor to promote
bilateral ties.
He also attached significance to Iran-Armenia mutual cooperation,
parliamentary relations and further communication between parliamentary
friendship groups of the two countries.
The Iranian diplomat, for his part, attached significance to
Khatami’s visit to Yerevan and parliamentary cooperation between the
two countries.
“The Republic of Armenia enjoys special status in Iranian foreign
policy. Tehran calls for strengthening stability and security and
economy of Armenia, said Haqiqiyan.
President Mohammad Khatami is scheduled to pay an official visit to
the Republic of Armenia in near future.

Open-Olympic champion Massu falls to Sargsian
Reuters
Sept 3 2004
NEW YORK, Sept 2 (Reuters) – Olympic champion Nicolas Massu emerged
on the wrong end of a five-set battle on Thursday as his U.S. Open
hopes were ended in the second round by Armenian Sargis Sargsian.
In a pulsating match on court 11, the 10th-seeded Chilean held a
matchpoint in the fourth-set tiebreak but finally bowed out 6-7 6-4
3-6 7-6 6-4 in five hours, 10 minutes, the second longest match in
U.S. Open history.
“It’s a huge win for me,” Sargsian said. “I haven’t had a very good
year, so to pull out a match like this, is huge.
“I would quite like it if it rains tomorrow and I can have an extra
day off, but I’ll be okay.”
Twice Sargsian fought back from a set down, but in an 80-minute fourth
set, Massu was on the verge of victory when he held matchpoint at
6-5 in the tiebreak only for Sargsian to save it, win the next two
points and force a decider.
The Chilean, who had already been warned for his behaviour, was then
penalised a point in the first game of the decider, handing Sargsian
a 1-0 lead.
The two stayed together until 4-4 when Massu dumped a forehand in
the net to give Sargsian the break.
With the crowd cheering him on, Sargsian held to 15 to clinch victory.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
09/01/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Leading Kurds Warn Fighting Could Harm Turkey's EU Prospects 2) Mountainous Karabagh Celebrates 13th Year of Independence 3) ICG To Qualify Javakhk Conflict In Upcoming Report 4) Kocharian, Aliyev Likely Meet Following Meeting of FMs 1) Leading Kurds Warn Fighting Could Harm Turkey's EU Prospects ANKARA (AFP)--Leading Kurdish activist Leyla Zana and three fellow politicians warned Wednesday that continued clashes between Kurdish rebels and the army could derail Turkey's bid to join the European Union. "Society is fed up with violence...It is time to say 'enough is enough' to suffering, tears, and mourning," the four former parliament members said in a statement. Zana and her colleagues--Hatip Dicle, Selim Sadak, and Orhan Dogan--have appealed to Kurdish militants to lay down their arms since they were released in June after a decade in jail, pending a review of their 1995 sentences for aiding the armed rebellion against Ankara. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), now known as KONGRA-GEL, called off a five-year unilateral ceasefire on June 1, raising tensions in the mainly Kurdish southeast which had been mostly calm during the truce period. Since then, the group has been blamed for a series of deadly attacks in the region as well as the bombing of two hotels in Istanbul last month, which left two dead and 11 injured. EU leaders will assess Turkey's progress towards greater democracy in December before deciding whether to set a date to open membership talks. "Though it is a very low possibility, if a date for accession negotiations is not given because of the clashes, the moral responsibility of this will be enormous," the four activists said. "That is why it is very important that arms are silenced." They argued that it would be easier to resolve the Kurdish question if Turkey came closer to the EU. "The attitudes and contributions of the EU member states will be as important as the attitudes of Kurds and Turks in the acceleration of the process," they said. Turkey has undertaken several major reforms to broaden the cultural freedoms of its Kurdish minority as part of its campaign for EU membership. Some 37,000 people have been killed in fighting between the PKK and the army since 1984 when the rebels took up arms for self-rule in the southeast. 2) Mountainous Karabagh Celebrates 13th Year of Independence STEPANAKERT (ARMENPRESS)--In a message delivered on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the independence of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR), President Arkady Ghukasian focused on steps being taken to advance the economic, social, and cultural development of the country. While speaking about the progress made by the government, Ghukasian stated, "The recent municipal elections served to once more display the MKR population's and government's commitment to promoting and strengthening democracy in an effort to create a truly civil society." Recognizing the important role assumed by the Armenian Diaspora in Karabagh's reconstruction Ghukasian said he is confident that the Diaspora will play even a more significant role in efforts to secure international recognition for MKR. Ghukasian referred to the military exercises held this last August as proof that the country's armed forces are willing and capable of defending themselves against foreign aggressors. He, nonetheless, moved on to confirm the government's intention to seek a peaceful solution to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict. Ghukasian concluded his message by stating, "No one can take away the freedom and independence, which have been gained through extreme sacrifice." Several Armenian officials and dignitaries, including President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Andranik Margarian forwarded congratulatory messages to MKR, extending their support for the republic. "The Mountainous Karabagh Republic is still devoted to the principle of a peaceful settlement it has adopted, but is resolute to resist any encroachment jeopardizing its self-governance. The heroic people of Karabagh must be confident that the Republic of Armenia and all the Armenian people are a reliable defender of their innermost dreams," stated Margarian's message. 3) ICG To Qualify Javakhk Conflict In Upcoming Report AKHALKALAK (Noyan Tapan)--International Crisis Group (ICG) senior analyst Filip Noubel, was in Akhalkalak August 30-31, to clarify whether recent tensions in Javakhk are inter-ethnic related or are conflicts between the center and region, as proposed by Georgia. An upcoming ICG report on Javakhk will likely peg the conflict as an inter-ethnic one, reported the local A-Info news agency. The ICG is an independent, non-profit, multinational organization, with over 100 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict. Its teams of political analysts are located within or close by countries at risk of outbreak, escalation, or recurrence of violent conflict. Based on information and assessments from the field, ICG produces regular analytical reports containing practical recommendations targeted at key international decision-takers. ICG also publishes CrisisWatch, a 12-page monthly bulletin, providing a succinct regular update on the state of play in all the most significant situations of conflict or potential conflict around the world. 4) Kocharian, Aliyev Likely Meet Following Meeting of FMs PRAGUE (CTK/RFE-RL)--Various approaches to a peaceful resolution to the Armenian-Azeri conflict over Mountainous Karabagh were discussed by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov, in Prague on Monday. The French, Russian, and US co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group also attended the day-long meeting. It was the first face-to-face encounter between Oskanian and Mammadyarov since the envoys' visit to the conflict zone last month. "We are continuing what we began at our first meeting," Oskanian said during a break in the talks. "Our main objective is to create a common basis on which we could build during further negotiations. We are working toward that objective and I can't say we have achieved it," he added. Asked whether the two sides have made any progress in the last few months, he said: "It's a bit early to speak of common approaches. But the dialogue is useful." Oskanian revealed that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will likely meet next in Astana, Kazakhstan, during a meeting of CIS heads of state. Only pieces of information about the results of the Prague meeting were proved to the press, though according to available reports, the talks did not have a precise agenda. While touring Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Mountainous Karabagh in late July, the OSCE mediators openly criticized the conflicting parties for their perceived intransigence, bluntly stating that the burden is on the sides, not the Minsk Group, to push the protracted peace process forward. The Prague meeting was the fourth between Oskanian and Mammadyarov; the previous talks were held in June, also in Prague. 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) 2004 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.

OVER 1000 FOREIGN STUDENTS STUDY AT MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN YEREVAN
ArmenPress
Sept 1 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS. This year the number of foreign
students at the Medical University after Mkhitar Herazi has surpassed
1000, the Assistant to Yerevan State Medical University rector Armen
Ashotian told Armenpress saying that the students mostly come from
India and Middle East.
According to him, the new university policy has reconsidered that the
mentioned countries have a great demand for doctors, unlike Armenia,
and year by year they increase the number of applicants taken the
fact that apart from quality education the tuition fee is quite
low in Armenia compared with international standards. Taking into
consideration this fact, the university prescribed more places for
foreign students.
Ashotian didn’t rule out that within few years more foreigners will
study at Medical University than Armenian citizens.

INVALIDS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH HAVE A NUMBER OF PRIVILEGES STEPANAKERT,
August 31 (Noyan Tapan). Thousands of people became invalids
as a result of the long Azerbaijani-Karabakh war, regular
artillery bombardment and firing of peaceful settlements in Nagorno
Karabakh. According to the acting legislation of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, the invalids have a number of privileges, mainly of medical
character. In particular, on the data of the Social Contribution
Department of the NKR Ministry of Social Security, the treatment and
medical service of invalids are conducted in the frames of the state
order. At the same time, invalids of the first and second groups
get free medicine, and those of the third group get it with a 50-%
rebate. Prosthetic appliances, distribution of carriages, crutches,
acoustics, etc. are made free of charge. In connection with the
September 2 holiday – the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Proclamation Day
– according to a corresponding governmental resolution, funds for
rendering one time aid to some category of people, including the
Karabakh war invalids, will be allotted from the Nagorno Karabakh
state budget.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 24 2004
PLANNED EXERCISE OF RUSSIAN ARMY WORRIES TBILISI
MOSCOW, August 24 (RIA Novosti) — Yesterday, Russia’s 58th Army
began an exercise in North Ossetia. “It is the largest exercise held
here this year,” a source in the army told a Kommersant correspondent.
Simultaneously the Russian peacekeepers launched an exercise in
western Georgia and Abkhazia.
The 58th Army’s exercise has no connection to the events around
Tskhinvali, as it was planned last year, says Colonel Vyacheslav
Sedov, head of the Defence Ministry’s press service.
Tbilisi, which is now in a ring of military exercises, rushed to
express its concern. Givi Targamadze, chairman of the Georgian
parliament’s defence and security committee, announced that if
Russian troops move towards Georgia, Tbilisi “will take appropriate
measures to protect its state border”. Defence Minister Georgy
Baramidze described the exercise at the Georgian border as display of
Russia’s non-constructive attitude.
The Russian army’s manoeuvres are not limited to the
Georgian-Ossetian region. Today, the North-Caucasian military
district will launch command and staff exercises featuring 5,500
reservists. Simultaneously, Armenia will host a joint
Russian-Armenian exercise using MiG-29 fighters and Su-25 attack
planes.

GEORGIAN PROTESTERS DETAINED IN CLASHES OVER AZERI PIPELINE RELEASED
A-Info news agency
24 Aug 04
Akhalkalaki, 24 August: Four protesters arrested in the village of
Tabatsquri in Georgia’s Borjomi District during clashes over the
construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline were released on
Monday (23 August).
We should say that on 20 August, there were clashes between locals and
the police. On the next day, special police forces from Tbilisi were
dispatched to Tabatsquri where the four men were arrested in the
course of their operation.

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug 20 2004
Armenian president satisfied with negotiations with Putin

SOCHI, August 20 (Itar-Tass) — Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
said he was satisfied with the negotiations with Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin, including the quick and efficient decision-making.
`Vladimir Putin got in touch with his ministers and gave them
instructions during the negotiations. I think that this style is very
efficient,’ Kocharyan said.
Putin confirmed that he had spoken to Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov,
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and Transport Minister Igor Levitin by
phone during the negotiations. `We had that possibility thanks to the
local conditions for the press and the presidents,’ Putin said with
the smile looking at the new press center opened at the Bocharov
Ruchei residence earlier this month.

RUSSIA AS A MEDIATOR IN SETTLEMENT OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT IS IN
RATHER A DIFFICULT SITUATION: RUSSIAN POLITOLOGIST
YEREVAN, AUGUST 18. ARMINFO. Russia as a mediator in settlement of the
Karabakh conflict is in rather a difficult situation, said Director
General of the Center for Political Conjuncture Konstantin Simonov,
Newsinfo.ru reports.
He said that it is explained by diametrically opposite points of view
of Azerbaijan and Armenia on the conflict. “For them the concept ‘the
keys to solution of the Karabakh conflict are in Moscow’ means the
following.” Azerbaijan says that in case of a desire, Moscow is able
to solve the conflict within two days in favor of Azerbaijan. In its
turn, Armenia wants that Moscow resolves the conflict in favor of
Yerevan, Simonov said. He added that Moscow cannot support neither of
the viewpoints because of well-known reasons. At the same time, the
politologist said that Azerbaijan has never wanted to go on
concessions, with Ilham Aliyev’s coming to power, this position has
only strengthened. In his opinion, from the point of view of economy,
Russia sees more unfriendly than friendly steps. Armenia is better
disposed to Russia, but the latter has less interests there. There are
projects, including in the sphere of energy there, but there are no
serious facilities for investments, as it is in Azerbaijan, Simonov
said.