Author: Jagharian Tania

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 17 2004
NEW FOREIGN MINISTER’S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE
By Dmitry Kosyrev, RIA Novosti political analyst
After Sergei Lavrov was appointed foreign minister, Russian analysts
wrote there would be no major changes in Russia’s foreign policy,
while the work of Russia’s Security Council should be watched closely
because it is now headed by ex-foreign minister Igor Ivanov. This
forecast was proved perfectly correct during the first press
conference of Sergei Lavrov, who moved into his new office this week.
“I see no need to amend the strategic elements of the concept of
Russia’s foreign policy,” he said, recalling Vladimir Putin’s recent
statement: “We shall try to guarantee Russia’s national interests
without reverting to confrontation or aggression.”
Lavrov also said, “It is encouraging that Igor Ivanov has been
appointed Secretary of the Security Council, which is designed to
co-ordinate the work of all departments responsible for national
security.” The minister expressed the hope that the Security Council
will become more effective under Igor Ivanov.
Sergei Lavrov, who spent a lifetime in New York, is well versed in
international politics and the intricacies of Russia’s position on a
variety of issues. He clearly answered questions about Russia’s
relations with the EU and the USA, the Cyprus and Karabakh
settlements, the situation in Kosovo and Bosnia, co-operation with
Iran, etc.
The triumphant Moscow debut of Russia’s new foreign minister can be
attributed to Lavrov’s service at the UN, where he represented Russia
for ten years, from 1994 to 2004. However, some say he worked there
for 17 years, since in 1981-1988 he was first secretary, counsellor
and then senior counsellor in the Soviet Union’s permanent mission at
the UN. By studying “the world as it is” at the UN, he has a thorough
knowledge of virtually every international problem.
One consequence of this is the word “we,” which the minister
sometimes uses. When he says it, he usually means “we the
international community” or “we the UN Security Council.” Another and
far more serious result of that experience is Lavrov’s conceptual
view of modern developments. In his words, the new world system is
still under construction. The mechanisms that prevented many
conflicts in the past became ineffective after the end of the Cold
War, thereby giving rise to new crises to which the world is
straining to find a common answer. Taken together, this forces the
world community to search for new solutions in the dark and on the
move. The main thing is to do this collectively rather than
unilaterally.
The new minister mostly replied to questions in a calm and easy
manner. Take the answer to a question about the right to pursue and
eliminate terrorists beyond national territory. “This is not a
question to Russia,” said Lavrov. “We should better recall the
actions of Israel and what has been done to the Taliban, al-Qaeda and
the Iraqi regime.” The minister pointed out that there were many
difficulties today, but said this was not a reason to avoid facing
problems or giving answers to questions that affect Moscow’s
legitimate answers.
Sergei Lavrov is a globally respected diplomat, which his first
confident actions as the new foreign minister of Russia show
convincingly. He is perfectly suited to the image of new Russia, a
country that has emerged stronger from the crisis of the 1990s and
whose role on the world scene will continue to grow.

Baltic News Service
March 15, 2004
LITHUANIA PLANNING TO ESTABLISH EMBASSY IN GEORGIA
VILNIUS, Mar 15
Lithuania’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee approved during
its sitting on Monday of the proposal to establish Lithuania’s
embassy in Georgia.
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gediminas Kirkilas told BNS it was
scheduled to establish embassy in Tbilisi in the end of May, and it
would represent Lithuania not only in Georgia but also in Armenia and
Azerbaijan.
Lithuania is currently represented in Georgia by an ambassador
residing in Ukraine, ambassador to Russia represents the country in
Armenia and envoy residing in Turkey represents it in Azerbaijan.
Meantime, the Georgian Embassy in Vilnius was opened in September
last year. Before that, Georgian Consulate General operated in
Vilnius since 1996.
In Kirkilas’ words, decision on the candidacy of Lithuania’s
ambassador to Tbilisi should be made in the nearest months.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
March 8 2004
INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN STEPANAKERT
On March 8-18 in the capital of NKR an international chess tournament
will be held devoted to the 75th anniversary of the 9th chess
champion of the world Tigran Petrossian. Ten chess-players from
Poland, Switzerland, Latvia, Georgia, Iran and Armenia will
participate in the tournament. The guest of honour of the tournament
will be the 10th world champion Boris Spassky who arrived in Yerevan
on March 5.
ANAHIT DANIELIAN.

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
March 8 2004
DENTAL CENTER AT ARSU
Very soon the State University of Artsakh will have its own dental
center provided with modern equipment. This means that the students
of the department of dentistry will not have to go to the policlinics
of the town for practical work. The equipment was acquired owing to
the rector of the ArSU Hamlet Grigorian and the “Union of Armenian
Doctors” of Teheran where the rector has been recently on a business
visit. Hamlet Grigorian told our journalist that one of the main aims
of his visit to Teheran was the acquisition of equipment for the
dental center. “As the university already has a department of
dentistry and already has graduate students, we must provide all the
possibilities and conditions for preparing qualified specialists. In
any sphere education should not be formal,” said the rector.
According to the arrangement with the rector of the ArSU in the
upcoming months the representatives of the “Union of Armenian
Doctors” will visit Artsakh State University. They promised to
provide part of equipment and medicament to the university as
humanitarian aid.
LAURA GRIGORIAN.

ARKA News Agency
March 9 2004
President of Georgia to visit Armenia on March 12
NKR President and RA Minister of Science and Education discuss
problems in the sphere of Nagorno Karabakh education
Hungarian Ambassador to Armenia hands copies of credentials to RA MFA
Hungarian Ambassador to Armenia hands credentials to RA President
International chess competition starts in Nagorno Karabakh
Additional protocol of agreement on application of MAGATE guarantees
corresponds to RA Constitution
The agreement on settlement of voluntary emigration processes
prolonged between Armenia and Russia
Banknotes with nominal value of AMD 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 to be
withdrawn from circulation since 1 April
`Open doors day’ to be held in American University of Armenia on 20
March
Yerevan Mayor instructed inventory of unfinished erections in
capital’s communities
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PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA TO VISIT ARMENIA ON MARCH 12
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. President of Georgia Mihail Sahakashvili
will visit Armenia on March 12 on the invitation of RA President
Robert Kocharian. On March 12, the presidents will hold confidential
conversation, after which will conduct Armenian-Georgian negotiations
in expanded format.
In the frames of the visit Sahakashvili will meet with RA NA
Chairman, Prime Minsiter, Catholicos of All Armenian and
representatives of Georgian community of Armenia. Delegation headed
with Georgian President will visit memorial of Genocide victims.
The delegations includes ministers of foreign affairs, energy,
infrastructures and development; parliament members. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
NKR PRESIDENT AND RA MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION DISCUSS
PROBLEMS IN THE SPHERE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH EDUCATION
STEPANAKERT, March 9. /ARKA/. NKR President Arkady Gukasian and RA
mInister of Science and Education Sergo Yeritsian discussed problems
in the sphere of Nagorno Karabakh education, NKR President’s press
office told ARKA. Gukasian expressed confidence that only every-day
cooperation between profile ministries of Armenian and NKR and
realization of joint programs can positively affect the improvement
of education sphere in Artsakh.
Yeritsian said that his visit in Nagorno Karabakh follows the goal to
get familiar with the problems existing in the sphere. The parties
discussed some aspects of the program on implementation of new system
of education in NKR that envisages use of computer technologies,
re-training of teachers. The Minister promised to provide educational
institutions of Karabakh with 600 computers. The parties noted with
satisfaction that joint efforts of the ministries of the republics
helped opening of representation of National Institute of Education
of Armenia. L.D. –0 –
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HUNGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA HANDS CREDENTIALS TO RA PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. Hungarian Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Ferents Contra (residence in Moscow)
handed credentials RA President Robert Kocharian. The parties noted
that the countries have no political problems and emphasized the
importance of activation of economic cooperation.
Contra in his turn stated that Hungary will become a full member of
EU in May 2004 and noted readiness of his country to assist to the
strengthening of cooperation between EU and Armenia. He also
presented Hungarian Government and his condolences considering murder
of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian in Budapest. L.D. –0–
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HUNGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA HANDS COPIES OF CREDENTIALS TO RA MFA
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. Hungarian Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Ferents Contra (residence in Moscow)
handed copies of credentials to RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian,
RA MFA told ARKA. The parties discussed perspectives of deepening of
bilateral cooperation and emphasized the importance of mutual visits.
It was noted that activation of political contacts and strengthening
of legal-agreement field will create conditions for development of
business, economic and cultural cooperation between the countries.
According to Oskanian, entry of Hungary in EU will give new impulse
to Armenian-Hungarian economic cooperation, because the states will
be able to use opportunities of the agreement on partnership and
cooperation of Armenian and EU.
Contra presented Hungarian Government and his condolences considering
murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian in Budapest. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
INTERNATIONAL CHESS COMPETITION STARTS IN NAGORNO KARABAKH
STEPANAKERT, March 9. /ARKA/. International chess competition started
in Nagorno Karabakh. The competition is dedicated to 75th anniversary
of birthday of 9th World Champion Tigran Petrosian. The tournament
will include 10 grand masters from Armenia, Switzerland, Georgia,
Latvia and Iran. The honorary guest of the tournament is 10th World
Champion Boris Spasski. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL OF AGREEMENT ON APPLICATION OF MAGATE GUARANTEES
CORRESPONDS TO RA CONSTITUTION
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. Additional protocol of agreement on
application of MAGATE guarantees corresponds to RA Constitution, the
decision was made by RA Constitutional Court.
The agreement was signed on Sep. 29, 1997 in Vienna. According to
Deputy Foreign Minister Tatoul Margarian, on Aug. 15, 1993 Armenia
joined the non-proliferation treaty as of 1968. The treaty allows
MAGATE to conduct inspections in the countries that joined the
agreement. According to the agreements Armenia is obliged not to
create and receive nuclear weapons and not to assist to other
countries in creation of nuclear weapons. L.D. –0
*********************************************************************
THE AGREEMENT ON SETTLEMENT OF VOLUNTARY EMIGRATION PROCESSES
PROLONGED BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA
YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. The agreement on settlement of voluntary
emigration processes was prolonged between Armenia and Russia. The
agreement was signed in 1997. According to the RA President’s Press
Service and Public Relations Department, the protocol on the
agreement prolongation as signed by the RA Minister of the regional
control and industrial infrastructures coordination Hovik Abarahamyan
and the RF Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Armenia
Anatoliy Drukov. According to the protocol, the expire date of the
agreement is in 5 years.
In the course of the agreement signing ceremony the RF Ambassador in
Armenia noted that settlement of voluntary emigration processes
proved to be important. In his turn the Head of the Migration and
Refugees Department at the RA Government Gagik Eghanyan added that
the agreement is aimed at creation of favorable conditions for
voluntary emigration of citizens of Armenia and Russia. According to
him, it’s especially important now, when many people return to
Armenia, and the agreement may become stimulus for returning the
citizens of Armenia and settling in the Republic. Eghanyan stated
that at the assignment of the RA Prime Minister, an Armenian
delegation will go to Russia next week to introduce to the Armenians
staying in Russia the favorable conditions provided for them by the
agreement. A.H. – 0–
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BANKNOTES WITH NOMINAL VALUE OF AMD 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 TO BE
WITHDRAWN FROM CIRCULATION SINCE 1 APRIL
YEREVAN. March 9. /ARKA/. Since 1 April banknotes with nominal value
of AMD 10, 25, 200 issued in 1993, as well as banknotes of AMD 50 and
100 issued in 1998 will be withdrawn from circulation, as stated by
the CBA Head of Emissions and Monetary Reserves Gevorg Tumanyan. In
his words, these banknotes are still in circulation and will be
accepted for payments in relevant service points. As reminded by
Tumanyan, banknotes with nominal value of AMD 500 and 100 issued in
1993 have been withdrawn from circulation from 1 January 2004, while
the banknote with nominal value of AMD 1000 issued in 1994 were
withdrawn since 1 March 2004. `All banknotes that to be withdrawn
from circulation by the CBA will be circulating for a while, however,
they must be exchanged that can be made in any Armenian bank or their
affiliates in their nominal values without any limitation in number
of banknotes or terms of exchange’, said Tumanyan. The head of the
departments also stated that the main portion of these banknotes has
been already withdrawn from circulation, while the other was replaced
by coins.
At the same time, as mentioned by Tumanyan, the CBA is to withdraw
from circulation banknotes of AMD 5000 issued in 1995 in July 2005,
while banknotes of AMD 500 issued in 1993 in September 2005. T.M. -0 –
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`OPEN DOORS DAY’ TO BE HELD IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA ON 20
MARCH
YEREVAN. March 9. /ARKA/. The American University of Armenia (AUA)
starts admission of students for education year of 2004-2005 and
`Open doors day’ to be held in the University on 20 March. As
mentioned in the AUA press-release provided to ARKA News Agency
today, the administration, lecturers, students and graduates of the
University will take participation in the action. The participants
and those invited will be familiarized with the AUA admission
requirements, its education programs, library, computer and research
centers, as well as other structures of the University.
The American University of Armenia is functioning since 1991 and
awards Master of Arts degrees in six fields such as Industrial
Engineering and Systems Management, Computer and IT Sciences,
Comparative Legal Studies, Business & Management, Political Science,
Teaching of English as a Foreign Language and Certificate in Teaching
of English as a Foreign Language. High education and good knowledge
of English are obligatory requirements for admission to the
University. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
YEREVAN MAYOR INSTRUCTED INVENTORY OF UNFINISHED ERECTIONS IN
CAPITAL’S COMMUNITIES
YEREVAN. March 9. /ARKA/. Inventory of unfinished erections in
Yerevan’s communities was the subject of today’s sitting in Yerevan
Municipality. As reported by the Vice Mayor of Yerevan Vano
Vardanyan, the Head of Landscaping Department presented the list of
these types of erections, while the Mayor instructed to hold
discussions on this problem with the leaders of the communities
within a week. According to the Vice Mayor, there will be offered
concrete programs for solutions of the problem in the course of the
discussions held, adding that the problem of unfinished erections is
timeliest for 6 Yerevan communities and each community to held
separate meeting with the Mayor. T.M. -0–

Batumi News, Georgia
March 12 2004
NGO presents `Torture prevention and victims rehabilitation in
Georgia’
The NGO `Ex Political Prisoners for Human Rights’ presented the EU
financed project on `Torture prevention and victims rehabilitation in
Georgia’.
N. Kakabadze, leader of the organization, told journalists the
project stands as more significant presently than it was during the
forerunning Govt.
When we were working on the project it was very up – to time and of
paramount importance.
The outlook of the recent developments makes it stand as even more
important. Presently, the torture cases have take shape of a routine
and frequency exceeds indices for 2003, Kakabadze said. Kakabadze
said the organization’s watchdogs visited the pre-trial detention
cells, and held seminars for policemen. The watchdog reported on the
torture cases, bringing instances over 20 unwarranted acts of the
policemen.
Kakabadze points to the absence of fundamental human rights’ defense
basis in Georgia; absence of the adequate political, social and
psychological environment and commitment to the task to reach the
strategic goals: to have the independent and unbiased court, NGO-s –
free from prejudice, and to uproot venality among state officers,
power avidity among high ranks, oppression of the independent mass
media and social assistance to the poverty – stricken state.
Leader of the NGO laid stress to the dramatic dwindle of the number
of NGO-s is dwindling.
“NGO-s are either politicized or keep indifference. Georgia had
better image compared with Azerbaijan and Armenia with its freedom
and independence of the NGO activities; We can not boast the same
however’, – Kakabadze said.
Kakabadze pointed to the cases of independent media oppression:
`Banning programs in various TV companies which were tribunes for
democracy is diminishing of independence rate”- Kakabadze warns.