Author: Kanayan Tamar

AZERTAG
March 14, 2005
PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY
[March 14, 2005, 17:37:55]
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation
of Turkey led by the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Ahmet
Uzumchu, March 14.
The Head of State said the friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan-Turkey
relations are developing in all fields, and recalling with satisfaction his
official visits to Turkey, highly appreciated the regular political
consultations between the two countries.
Noting the high standard of cooperation in the framework of international
organization, President Ilham Aliyev described the involvement of both
countries in the world-scale energy projects as very significant factor.
Touching upon the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over
Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijani leader advised the talks now taking place
in the framework of the Prague process are held at foreign ministers level.
President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope these talks would contribute to the
conflict’s resolution, and stressed the importance of more attention to the
problem from the international organization.
Mr. Ahmet Uzumchu first conveyed to the Azerbaijani President sincere
greetings from President of Turkey Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The guest confirmed that friendly and fraternal
relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkey is successfully developing in
political, economic, military and other spheres. As for the negotiations on
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he noted that Turkey
regularly holds political consultations with the Foreign Ministry of
Azerbaijan towards peaceful solution to the problem.

The Messenger
Friday, March 14, 2005, #045 (0819)
Armenia, Georgia praise expanding trade, energy
In Armenia, Georgian PM discusses trade links, energy and Russian bases in
Georgia
By Christina Tashkevich
Zurab Noghaideli
The development of economic relations between Armenia and Georgia topped the
agenda during Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli’s two-day visit to Yerevan on
March 10-12.
Noghaideli and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met on March 11 to talk
about cooperation in the energy sector and the expansion of trade links.
News agency Ria Novosti reports that Kocharyan expressed his satisfaction at
the meeting with Noghaideli that the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental
commission on economic relations will continue its activities headed by the
prime ministers of the two countries.
“Armenian-Georgian relations have always included a wide spectrum of issues
of mutual interests,” he said. The commission will meet next in Yerevan.
The sides positively assessed the increase in trade turnover between the
countries last year, which according to Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan rose by 51.1 percent.
The National Department of Statistics of Armenia reports that trade turnover
between Armenia and Georgia equaled USD 78 million in 2004 compared to USD
51 million in 2003.
The two countries hope to further increase trade, however, and Noghaideli
made a report to his Armenian colleagues about the completion of the
construction of the road between Sadakhlo on the Georgia-Armenia border and
Marneuli. The sides also discussed the construction of a new border
checkpoint in Sadakhlo.
The prime minister was upbeat about energy cooperation between the two
countries, telling journalists that for the first time in recent years the
Armenian energy ministry of energy had not made claims against the Georgian
side.
“For the first time we discussed not past problems but issues of future
cooperation between Georgia and Armenia,” he enthused.
One issue of discussion during the prime minister’s visit to Armenia was the
construction of a gas pipeline linking Iran with Europe via Armenia, Georgia
and Ukraine.
Construction of the Iranian-Armenian segment of the pipeline has already
started, while the two countries are currently in negotiations with Ukraine
and Georgia. One issue likely to hold up the project is the exorbitant cost:
the prime minister of Armenia said the total cost of the pipeline was
estimated at USD 180 billion.
Noghaideli and Kocharyan also discussed the existing conflicts in the region
and their resolution, and the Georgian PM told journalists in Yerevan that
he was confident an agreement would be reached between Moscow and Tbilisi in
regard to the withdrawal of Russian bases on Georgian soil.
“In the nearest future we will agree with the Russian side on the withdrawal
of Russian military bases,” he said in Yerevan airport before returning to
Tbilisi.
News agency Regnum reports Noghaideli as saying he did not discuss this
matter with the Armenian side, although Armenian Prime Minister Margaryan
noted that the issue was important to Yerevan because of the predominantly
Armenian population living close to the base in Akhalkalaki.
“The only thing which is important for us is the provision of jobs and
resolution of social problems facing the Armenians living in Javakheti,” he
said, adding however that Armenia does not plan to interfere in Georgia’s
internal affairs regarding the issue of Russian military bases in Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

El Pais, España
viernes, la 11 de marcha de 2005
Kasparov anuncia su retirada definitiva
LEONTXO GARCIA
Linares
El ruso Gari Kasparov, numero uno del mundo, anuncio ayer en Linares
(Jaen) que abandonaba definitivamente el ajedrez de competicion.
Kasparov, con sonrisa triste y un rostro entre alegre y preocupado,
dijo que la enorme presion que tiene en estos ultimos anos le han
hecho tomar esta decision. “Jugare al ajedrez, porque me gusta mucho,
pero no en plan profesional. Podre participar en simultaneas o en
partidas rapidas pero nada mas”, dijo con aire compungido. El ruso,
que cumplira 42 anos el proximo 13 de abril, anadio que los problemas
de los ultimos anos se han ido agravando y se quejo de que en
Federacion Internacional de Ajedrez (FIDE) nadie le haya apoyado.
De hacer efectivo su anuncio, su ultima partida habria sido una
derrota, la que cosecho ayer contra el bulgaro Topalov en la ultima
jornada del torneo andaluz.
Hijo de padre judio y madre armenia, se inicio en la practica del
ajedrez a los seis anos. A los trece se convirtio en campeon
sovietico juvenil y a los dieciseis se adjudico su primer torneo
internacional.
Su imparable progresion en el mundo del ajedrez se debio, en buena
medida, a los cuidados de Mijail Botvinnik, antiguo campeon mundial,
en cuya escuela estudio entre 1973 y 1978. A partir de esta ultima
fecha se puso a las ordenes de Aleksandr Nitkin. Maestro
internacional desde 1980, en 1985 se convirtio en el campeon del
mundo mas joven de la historia al derrotar a su compatriota Anatoli
Karpov. En 1996 vencio al potente ordenador Deep Blue.
–Boundary_(ID_fNqAXUcqbL4eFE4D9DZ10g)–

PanArmenian News
March 11 2005
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ADVISED NOT TO MAKE FAR-REACHING CONCLUSIONS FROM
DIFFERENT REPORTS OR STATEMENTS ON KARABAKH
11.03.2005 06:55
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Presently Armenia has no reasons for anxiety over
the Karabakh conflict settlement process, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian said. In his words, the admitted format of international
mediators formed to settle the conflict does its work. The President
also advised not to make far-reaching conclusions from different
reports or statements on Karabakh.

Council of Europe

March 9 2005
Venice Commission discusses Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia,
Italy and Serbia
/noticias.info/ Strasbourg, 10 March 2005 ~V The constitutional
situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the powers of the High
Representative, judicial reform in Georgia and the status of South
Ossetia, media freedom in Italy – these are among the items on the
agenda of the plenary session of the Council of Europe~Rs Venice
Commission which will take place on 11 and 12 March in Venice, in the
Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista.
The efficiency and rationality of current constitutional arrangements
in Bosnia and Herzegovina, resulting from the Dayton Peace Agreement,
are the subject of a comprehensive document to be adopted by the
Commission. This opinion will outline major changes required if the
country wants to make further progress, and examine whether the
present practice of decisions by the High Representative is
compatible with European standards. A further opinion on Bosnia and
Herzegovina concerns the responsibility of the United Nations for the
dismissal of former police officers.
The Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, Mr Konstantin
Vardzelashvili, will inform the Commission on further developments on
the status of South Ossetia, following the recent visit of the
Commission to Georgia. In addition, the Commission will adopt its
opinion on the latest draft constitutional amendments relating to the
reform of the judiciary in Georgia.
The laws on the conflict of interest and on principles governing the
broadcasting system of Italy and the draft law on religious
organisations of Serbia are also on the agenda of the 62nd plenary of
the Venice Commission. It will also express its opinion on the law on
public meetings and on draft amendments to the electoral code of
Armenia.

Georgia’s foreign debts show signs of growth
By M. Alkhazashvili
The Messenger, Georgia
March 11 2005
In 2005 Georgia will again receive credits from the World Bank, from
the government of Germany and from the Japanese Development Bank. As
a result of this Georgia’s foreign debt will increase by USD 487
million and by the end of the year it will total USD 2.335 billion.
Georgia currently has debts to large financing institutions as well
as 15 states, and debt repayment remains a serious outlay for the
country.
According to Finance Ministry data, as reported in the newspaper 24
Saati, Georgia’s foreign debt by the end of 2004 was USD 1.857
billion. Of this, USD 1.68 billion is owed to international
organizations such as the World Bank, European alliances, the
International Agricultural Development Fund and the International
Monetary Fund. The biggest creditor is the World Bank with USD 677.61
million. The total debt to foreign governments totals USD 693.22
million, of which more than USD 157 million is owed to Turkmenistan.
Servicing debts is a major problem for the Georgian budget, while
repaying them is even more so. In recent years despite the chronic
budget deficit, fulfilling debt obligations remained a top priority.
In 2004 Georgia allotted approximately GEL 199 million to cover
foreign debts, GEL 150.441 million of which was allotted for
repayment and GEL 48.502 million to pay off interest.
This year GEL 217.38 million has been allotted for servicing foreign
debts (GEL 119.053 million – principal and GEL 43.85 million –
interest). The Finance Ministry hopes that if the revenues planned
from privatization are doubled, an additional GEL 39 million will be
allotted for foreign debts servicing.
The biggest debt that Georgia had was to Turkmenistan – approximately
USD 400 million. Turkmenistan did not permit the re-organization of
this debt, but did allow Georgia to repay in the form of goods and
services. This process began in 1998 and the debt now stands at USD
157 million. It was recently announced that Georgia is holding
negotiations with Russia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan regarding debt
repayment in a similar manner.
The newspaper 24 Saati speaks to economist Niko Orvelashvili who says
much of the money credited to Georgia was actually spent outside the
country. “Foreign assistance morally ruined society and especially
the ruling elite,” he said. “80 percent of this so-called ‘aid’ did
not even get to Georgia and was spent in the form of salaries,
honoraria, etc. Why it was called ‘aid’ I do not understand,”
Orvelashvili continued.
Given this, questions must be asked regarding the nearly USD 500
million in credits to be received this year. The representatives of
the post-Rose Revolution government state that this money will be
spent well and will be used to finance new investment projects that
occur in the country. If this happens, and the economy develops as a
result, the credits will be in Georgia’s interest; although even if
this is the case, future budget expenditure on debt servicing will
necessarily increase as a result of the loans.

Azeri church sparks political row
Armenians say the church is part of their heritage
BBC
10 March 05
The restoration of a centuries-old Christian church in predominantly
Muslim Azerbaijan is hanging in the balance amid a row over wall
inscriptions.
The local Udi people, a Christian community, removed lettering they
say was put there by Armenian Christians.
The white-stone building in the northern mountain village of Nij
is undergoing renovation with funding from a Norwegian charity, the
Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise, but the organisation is unhappy
about the alterations.
The Udis say they erased the inscriptions over the entrance to the
church and next to the altar to right a historic wrong.
Armenians, they contend, put the lettering there long after the church
was built so they could lay claim to it.
‘Fake inscriptions’
“If those fake inscriptions are not erased, the renovation will lose
its importance,” the head of the Udi community told Azerbaijan’s
ANS TV.
The Udis, who number around 8,000, are keen to distance themselves
from Azerbaijan’s arch-foe, Armenia.
I regret that they have been erased. This was a chance for Azerbaijan
to set an example to the whole world
Norway’s ambassador Steinar Gil
“We live in Azerbaijan, and when people came into the church and saw
Armenian letters, they automatically associated us with Armenians,”
one of the village elders told the AFP news agency.
The Udis have struggled to separate their heritage from that of their
fellow Christian Armenians, who fought a war with Azerbaijan over
the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 1988-1994.
The Armenians argue that churches with this type of inscription are
an indication of their long roots in the region.
‘Vandalism’
The Norwegians view the erasing of the inscriptions as “tantamount
to vandalism”, the Azeri newspaper 525 Qazet reported.
The Norwegian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Steinar Gil, said politics
should not play a role.
“Any historical monument should be protected. One should take care
of historical monuments despite political relations,” he said.
“I visited that village in November last year and saw the Armenian
inscriptions. I regret that they have been erased… This was a chance
for Azerbaijan to set an example to the whole world.”
And the head of the Norwegian Humanitarian Office in Azerbaijan,
Alf Henry Rasmussen, told the BBC that the organisation was now
reconsidering the whole restoration project.

Azeri magazine staff launch own investigation of editor’s murder
Azadliq, Baku
10 Mar 05
Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 10
March headlined “Monitor’s staff are setting up a new magazine” and
subheaded “Eynulla Fatullayev: ‘We have launched our own investigation
besides the official one'”; subheading inserted editorially:
The editor of Monitor magazine, Eynulla Fatullayev, cast light on some
points related to slain journalist Elmar Huseynov during yesterday’s
event held by the local media.
Monitor’s fate
[Fatullayev] First of all, I would like to ask journalists not to
ask Elmar’s father any questions. He is under stress. Some media go
on to distort his statements. Do not ask him questions for the sake
of Elmar’s memory. Understand his plight.
As for Monitor, the magazine will continue to come out, but under
a different name. We buried Monitor together with Elmar. However,
I am saying with full responsibility that Elmar’s colleagues will
continue his activity. All the staff of Monitor will work for the
new publication. Our stance will not be changed. We still believe
that a democratic state should be built in Azerbaijan. And we will
push ahead with our struggle in this area.
[Interviewer] Who will fund the new magazine?
[Fatullayev] Who funded Monitor? Its readers.
[Interviewer] Do you believe that by showing concern opposition
leaders are seeking to benefit from the situation?
[Fatullayev] Not at all. I agree that Monitor has never belonged
to the opposition. I would dare to say that this magazine laid the
foundation of Azerbaijan’s independent press. As to the political
leaders, they represent the part of the population who are protesting
against this barbarism.
[Interviewer] There are reports that Elmar Huseynov was about to get
a grant from the US embassy… [ellipses as published]
[Fatullayev] This is inaccurate information. The embassy can also
confirm that it is untrue. There was neither a grant nor an offer
from the US embassy. We were just planning to publish a Caucasus-wide
newspaper. We applied to the Eurasia Foundation in regard to this
project. The founders of the newspaper would have been Monitor
magazine, Georgia’s Rezonansi and Armenia’s Aravot newspapers. The
Eurasia Foundation asked those two publications to replace Monitor
with another Azerbaijani print media outlet. That is it. Monitor has
never received any grant throughout its publication.
[Interviewer] When will the last issue be published?
[Fatullayev] This Saturday. This will not be Monitor, since we
have already announced its closure. In 10 days we will make another
announcement about the new publication that will supersede Monitor.
The new magazine will be even fiercer than the previous one, because
we are angrier since the killing of our colleague.
[Interviewer] Who do you think ordered the murder of Elmar Huseynov?
[Fatullayev] The causes of Elmar’s killing lie in those whom Monitor
has been fighting. ANS TV believes that we have been fighting the
opposition, but the Azerbaijani public knows very well whom we are
fighting and whom we will fight. The fight has not stopped, it is
continuing. That is why we have launched our own investigation besides
the official one. We have announced the murderers of [Academician]
Ziya Bunyadov, [former investigation chief of Prosecutor General’s
Office] Rovsan Aliyev, [former vice-speaker] Afiyaddin Calilov and
[special presidential department chief] Samsi Rahimov. Will we not
find and announce the killers of our brother, Elmar Huseynov? They
do not have to worry, we will.

COLLECTED ARTICLES ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PRESENTED IN YEREVAN TODAY
YEREVAN, MARCH 9. ARMINFO. A collection of articles entitled “Nagorno
Karabakh Conflict: Searching for Solutions” was presented in Yerevan
today. The book has been published by the Spectrum strategic analysis
center (Armenia) and Sania humanitarian information and analysis
agency under the CE Confidence Building program.
Spectrum Director Gayane Novikova says that the goal of the project
was to reveal the role of the Karabakh conflict in the public opinion
of the Armenians and Azeris, to see if the sides are ready to agree
on some solution and to search for ways to normalize Armenian-Azeri
relations.
Novikova says that the Karabakh conflict is very difficult to
resolve. Its unsettled state is having a serious impact on the life
of both Armenian and Azeri peoples. No settlement efforts have given
any tangible results so far. The key obstacle is different approaches
to its resolution by the conflicting parties. It’s here that public
opinion can and should help. Novikova notes that the public opinion
of Karabakh has not been surveyed under the project.
Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torossyan highly
appreciates the project noting that the Karabakh conflict settlement
process has entered a new phase and that Europe is becoming more
and more interested in its resolution considering South Caucasus a
potentially European region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENTHRONEMENT OF HIS HOLINESS AND THE 75TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SEMINARY ARE CELEBRATED IN NICOSIA
The 10th anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Aram I and the 75th
anniversary of the establishment of the Seminary of the Armenian
Catholicosate of Cilicia were marked during a special ceremony held under
the patronage of His Holiness on Saturday the 5th of March in Nicosia.
The opening remarks were delivered by Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian,
Catholicosal Vicar of the Diocese of Cyprus, who presented the unique
aspects of a decade of service by His Holiness as Catholicos of Cilicia. He
also highlighted the important role of the Seminary in the life and mission
of the Catholicosate.
Sebouh Tavitian focused on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the
Seminary, presenting its history and talking about the difficulties it faced
during the first years of its establishment. He emphasized that the Seminary
has been the heart of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and has carried out its
mission with this realization.
Vartan Tashdjian talked about the decade long services of Aram I. He said
that it is not possible to present His Holiness through a lecture, because
the Catholicosate’s expanding mission during the last ten years is a
testimony His Holiness’ extensive work. He highlighted some of aspects of
His Holiness’ work and person, focusing on the Pontiff, intellectual,
international ecumenical figure and constructor.
Archbishop Nourhan Manougian of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, who
had arrived in Cyrus to take part in the ceremony, also spoke during the
event. The Archbishop, once a classmate of His Holiness in the Antelias
Seminary, gave a personal testimony about the Catholicos, highlighting the
unique aspects of his services as Catholicos of Cilicia.
The “Shenorhali” choir of the Catholicosate also took part in the event,
delivering Armenian spiritual and classical songs, under the directions of
Fr Bartev Gulumian.
His Holiness Aram I delivered the closing remarks. The Catholicos thanked
the organizers of the event and emphasized two points during his speech.
First, the work being conducted in Antelias is a collective effort and
second, it is a mission that requires dedication, faith and vision. “It is
with renewed faith and vision that we will continue our mission through
Antelias for our entire church and people,” concluded His Holiness.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.