Author: Khondkarian Raffi

Azerbaijani president: Armenia too dependent on Russia in territory dispute talks
By AIDA SULTANOVA
The Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) – Russia is taking too active a role in the
negotiations over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, whose unresolved status
remains a source of tension for Azerbaijan and Armenia, Azerbaijan’s president said
Friday.
Ilham Aliev was reacting to comments by Russian parliament speaker Boris
Gryzlov, who said that Armenia was Russia’s outpost in the Caucasus region.
Gryzlov made the statement Wednesday at a meeting between Armenian legislators
and their Russian counterparts.
“We are confused: We have always considered Armenia a state, but now it
turns out that it is an outpost,” Aliev told journalists Friday.
“So whom should we negotiate with now – the outpost or the master of the
outpost?” he said.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a bitter dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan’s territory. Ethnic Armenian
forces drove Azerbaijani troops out of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 1990s. Since a
1994 cease-fire, the sides have been separated by a demilitarized buffer
zone, but occasional shooting breaks out and each side accuses the other of
mounting small incursions.
“I believe that if these negotiations are conducted in a constructive way,
and the Armenian side does not go back on earlier agreed-upon positions …
we can come to certain agreements,” Aliev said.
Baku wants Armenian forces to withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh before a peace
treaty can be signed.
Aliev also said Friday that Azerbaijan is ready to fully reopen its railway
connection with neighboring Georgia only after it receives guarantees that
the cargo is not redirected to Armenia.
Azerbaijan closed its railway link with Georgia for five days in November,
barring about 1,500 train cars carrying oil and other cargo, on the grounds
that some of the cargo had ended up in Armenia. Baku then reopened the
connection partially – allowing in some trains, mostly those carrying oil – after
Azerbaijan and Georgia agreed that no cargo would be redirected to Armenia.
But Aliev said Friday that “smuggling and falsifications” were still
taking place.
“If it persists, the border will remain closed,” Aliev said. “We
understand that it causes harm to us and to a certain extent to Georgia, but we have
no other choice.”
12/17/04 11:22 EST

VARDAN OSKANIAN: EUROPARLIAMENT’S DECISION IS JOINT VICTORY OF ARMENIAN
DIPLOMACY AND DIASPORA
YEREVAN, December 16 (Noyan Tapan). The RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian welcomes the adoption of the resolution by the Europarliament
on Turkey’s joining the EU. The resolution calls on Turkey to recognize
the Armenian genocide and lift the blockade imposed on Armenia. He
stated this in an interview to the Armenian Public Television. Noting
that the resolution approves the start of negotiations on the issue
of Turkey’s joining the EU, the RA Foreign Minister at the same time
inderlined some conditions have been also put forward. According to
Oskanian, for Armenia “from the political point of view it is important
that the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and the recognition
of the Armenian genocide have been included in these conditions.”
The minister also mentioned that if Turkey does not meet the political
criteria, which also include relations with Armenia, at the first
stage of the negotiations, “it is not ruled out the negotiations
might be interrupted.”
The RA Foreign Minister stressed that the decision made by the
Europarliament is a joint victory of the Armenian diplomacy and
the Diaspora communities. In particular he pointed out the letter
presenting the essence of the problem sent by the RA President to
the leaders of the EU member countries.

Interfax
Dec 15 2004
Talks on Nagorno-Karabakh entering second stage
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Problems in negotiations on ways to settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been
settled and the talks will soon enter their second stage, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian told a news conference on Tuesday.
The talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in
Prague in 2004 produced joint proposals “which may provide a basis
for further talks on Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said.
These proposals were presented by the Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidents at the Astana summit of the Commonwealth of Independent
States.
“However, Azerbaijan has put the Prague process under threat by
submitting a draft resolution on Karabakh in an attempt to pass the
Karabakh process from one international organization [the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] to another,”
said Oskanian.
“Due to the mediation of the co-chairmen of the OSCE’s Minsk Group on
Nagorno-Karabakh, problems in the talks have been settled and we are
planning to meet with the Azerbaijani foreign minister again at the
beginning of next year,” Oskanian said. The date and place of the
meeting have not been chosen yet, he said.
Oskanian said that in matters pertaining to the Karabakh settlement,
he is more optimistic than Armenian President Robert Kocharian.
Azerbaijan lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh in a bloody conflict with
Armenia in the 1990s. Settlement of the problem is proceeding within
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is co-chaired by Russia,
France and the U.S.

Annan asks UN members for Holocaust commemoration
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 13 (Reuters) – Secretary-General Kofi Annan has
begun to poll U.N. General Assembly members in an effort to convene a
special session to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi
concentration camps, U.N. officials said on Monday.
Soviet Red Army troops freed the Auschwitz concentration camp in
Poland on Jan. 27, 1945. The 60th anniversary of the liberation of
Auschwitz is to be observed in 2005 as Holocaust Memorial Day.
“The secretary-general feels this would be an important event and
awaits the responses,” said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
A majority of the 191-member assembly will have to approve the January
session, requested by the United States and supported by Russia,
France, Hungary, Canada and the Netherlands, representing the
25-member European Union as well as other nations.
U.S. Ambassador John Danforth, in a Dec. 10 letter to Annan, said the
General Assembly should convene three days before the anniversary to
avoid conflicting commemorations in Auschwitz.
U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, a California Democrat, visiting Annan on
Monday, said Arab nations had raised objections. However, Yahya
Mahmassani, the Arab League’s U.N. ambassador, told Reuters he was
unaware of any opposition.
“I am appalled by what I understand is the opposition of some (Arab)
countries to this session, which reflects a degree of a historical and
mindless venom which is difficult to justify in the international
arena,” Lantos told reporters, without naming any nation.
The secretary-general said he was determined to do everything in his
power to proceed with such a session,” he added.
“I feel very deeply and strongly about the importance of a special
session,” said Lantos, the only holocaust survivor in the
U.S. Congress.
Lantos survived by serving as a 15-year old messenger for Raoul
Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of
Hungarian Jews from Nazi destruction near the end of World War
II. Wallenberg is the uncle of Nane Annan, the wife of the
secretary-general.
Six million Jews were exterminated in the concentration camps and
millions of others — including Poles, homosexuals, Soviet prisoners
and Gypsies — were killed, imprisoned or used as slave labor.
A session on the Holocaust would mark a change for the General
Assembly, which sets aside several days a year for resolutions on the
rights of Palestinians and Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and
Gaza Strip.
12/13/04 21:52 ET

KARS MAYOR: IF AZERBAIJAN IS SURE THAT IT WILL NOT FACE PRESSURE OF
DEFINITE FORCES IN THE WORLD, IT WILL INVADE ARMENIA AT THE SAME
MOMENT
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9. ARMINFO. If Azerbaijan is sure that it will not
face pressure of definite forces in the world, in particular, the USA
and Russia, it will invade Armenia and level it to the ground at the
same moment, Kars Mayor, the member of the ruling Justice and
Development Party in Turkey, Naif Alibeyoghlu says in his interview
with Zerkalo newspaper.
Taking into account that the military resolution of the conflict is
not on the agenda, we can establish relations through bilateral ties,
trade and cultural interaction in the region. But, if there is a
military situation, I shall be the first to arm and fight on the part
of by Azerbaijani brothers, Alibeyoghlu says. At the same time he says
that they believe in peaceful resolution of Karabakh conflict and Kars
is ready to do everything possible for establishment of peace in the
region. Alibeyoghlu refuted the statements on imposition of embargo on
the relations with Armenia by Turkey. If it takes place, so why the
air space between Yerevan and Istanbul is opened, 40,000 Armenian live
in Turkey, visas are provided to them, trips to Antalia and Trabzon
are organized?” It should be noted that in 1999 Alibeyoghlu signed a
Protocol on twin-towns with Gyumiry Mayor. He is known in the Eastern
regions of Turkey with his pro-Armenian sentiments.

Armenia actively settling occupied Azeri territories – minister
Trend news agency
7 Dec 04
Baku, 7 December: In an effort to invigorate the results of its
military aggression, Armenia, which has occupied the Nagornyy Karabakh
region and adjacent districts of Azerbaijan, is actively settling the
occupied territories, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
said in his remarks at the 12th meeting of the OSCE Foreign Ministers
Council in Sofia, the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
has told Trend.
The minister said this means a flagrant violation of international
humanitarian law, namely, the 1949 Geneva Convention. Mammadyarov added
that Azerbaijan adheres to a negotiated solution to the conflict on
the basis of international legal norms and principles, four UN Security
Council resolutions and OSCE documents. It was stressed that Azerbaijan
is ready to restore relations with Armenia, but before that can happen
Armenia must start acting not on the basis of the position it has
secured by means of force and the ideology of territorial claims,
but on the basis of principles of international law and democracy.
Giving a positive assessment to the Prague meetings, Mammadyarov
expressed his concern over the illegal activities carried out on the
occupied territories, which damage the peace process, and called on
the OSCE to contribute to the conflict settlement.
[Passage to end omitted: Mammadyarov had a number of other meetings
in Sofia]

Forensic evidence shows arson behind blaze in Armenian editor’s car
Arminfo
3 Dec 04
Yerevan, 3 December: A criminal case has been opened into the
explosion in the car of the editor of Yerevan daily Aykakan Zhamanak,
Nikol Pashinyan.
At approximately 2040 local time [1640 gmt] on 22 November, the
Niva jeep belonging to Nikol Pashinyan caught fire outside Aykakan
Zhamanak’s editorial offices. The forensic fire and technical
examination concluded that open fire caused the blaze, the Armenian
Prosecutor-General’s Office told Arminfo. The source said that this
gives a basis to open a criminal case. When the results of the forensic
examination were received, on 2 December a criminal case was opened
on the incident under points 2 and 3 of the second part of Article
185 of the Armenian Criminal Code (deliberate destruction or damage
to property by arson, causing major losses). The Yerevan police’s
investigative department is investigating the circumstances.

ACCORDING TO PARUYR HAYRIKIAN, NSU’S PROPOSAL IS THE ONLY PRACTICAL
ONE WITH RESPECT TO CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
YEREVAN, December 3 (Noyan Tapan). One of the serious political steps
taken recently by the “National Self-Determination” Union (NSU) is the
initiative to establish cooperation with other parties with respect to
the constitutional reforms. The NSU chairman Paruyr Hayrikian stated
this at the December 4 session of the party board. He believes that
the only practical proposal is the one put forward by the NSU: to
reject the constitutional reforms package and suggest putting into
circulation only an abridged version of its last article.
Hayrikian proposes to hold a referendum on this issue so that the
constitutional amendments will be made through the parliament with the
previous consent of the RA President and the Constitutional
Court. According to the NSU chairman, instead of cooperating on this
issue some parties linger considering this to be “a game by Robert
Kocharian.” However, he stated that this is “the NSU’s game” and
announced that discussion on this issue with other parties will be
held on December 10. According to Paruyr Hayrikian, a movement, which
was established on the initiative of the National Press Club and
called “the Democratic Armenia” movement in the document at the
suggestion of the NSU, will get their support. Yet there is no
signature of the NSU among signatures of those who signed the
document, which, in the opinion of Hayeikian, is the reason why “they
are not progressing.” The NSU leader considered as long-term the
agreement on setting up a social consultative system for Armenia’s
foreign policy, which was signed by the National Democratic Union’s
chairman Vazgen Manukian, the Armenian Socialist Forces and
Intellectuals Union’s political secretary Ashot Manucharian and
himself. The agreement envisages setting up two councils in the
future: the foreign policy experts council and the political leaders
council.
Analyzing the political situation in Ukraine and stating that “the
Russian imperialism” relies on criminal elements of various countries,
Hayrikian congratulated everybody on the victory of democracy in
Ukraine. During the session the issue of the NSU’s central office was
also discussed. Only 120 thousand dollars out of the needed amount of
500 thousand dollars has been raised so far.

Armenian foreign minister justifies president’s congratulations to Yanukovych
Arminfo
4 Dec 04
YEREVAN
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan does not believe that
President Robert Kocharyan hurried to congratulate [former Ukrainian
prime minister and presidential candidate] Viktor Yanukovych on his
election as Ukrainian president.
Speaking on Armenia’s Kentron TV recently, Oskanyan said that
Kocharyan did not make any mistake [by congratulating
Yanukovych]. Kocharyan’s move was justified from a purely legal point
of view, he said.
“I can provide a counter-argument: A political decision was made by
the countries that did not congratulate Yanukovych after the Ukrainian
Central Electoral Commission released the official results of the
elections. Armenia did so on a legal basis,” Oskanyan said.
Oskanyan also said that Armenia does not view the Ukrainian elections
as a confrontation between the West and Russia. He said that official
Yerevan is utterly indifferent to what the rest of the world thinks
about the Ukrainian elections. This kind of approach is based on the
Armenian foreign policy of complementarity. The world’s media have
deliberately presented the confrontation between the two Ukrainian
presidential candidates as a fight between the West and Russia.
“The radical views that Yanukovych is going to lead Ukraine only
towards Russia while Yushchenko will adopt an extremely pro-Western
course are baseless. He who is elected the next Ukrainian president
cannot change the course completely. There are no other alternatives
to this. Ukraine cannot break off its relations with Russia. Nor can
it stop the process of integration into Europe. This is a
geopolitical reality,” Oskanyan said.

Calcutta Telegraph, India
Dec 1 2004
Crown for Hari
– Korbut wins girls’ U-20 title l Deep in top-10 finish

Harikrishna has followed in the footsteps of idol Anand, who won the
title in 1987
Kochi: Indian Grandmaster P. Harikrishna lifted the world junior
chess crown with 10 points after the 13th and final round on Tuesday.
Harikrishna has followed in the footsteps of his idol Viswanathan
Anand, who won the title in 1987 in Baguio, the Philippines.
Russia’s Ekaterina Korbut, with 10.5 points, won the girls’ under-20
championship. GM Koneru Humpy had won the girls’ world junior crown
in 2002.
Harikrishna was sharing the leaderboard on the penultimate round with
Zhao Jun of China with 9.5 points.
In the last round, however, Harikrishna drew with top seed GM Ferenc
Berkes of Hungary in a Catalan defence in 50 moves, while on the
second board, Zhao went down to Radoslaw Wojtaszek of Poland in a
closed Sicilian opening in 49 moves.
Fourth seed GM Tigran Petrosian of Armenia defeated IM Elshan
Moradiabadi of Iran in a Catalan defence in 37 moves.
Petrosian took the second spot on better progressive score than Zhao,
who had to be content with the third spot.
`I am delighted to win the world junior title. Though I was
confident, I was a bit tense as I was in a must-win situation,’
Harikrishna said.
On the top board, Harikrishna, playing white, captured a pawn on b7
on the 17th move. Two moves later, he got one more pawn on a7, but
white was forced to give back one pawn on the 27th move.
The game then proceeded to an opposite colour bishops ending with
both sides having lone rooks.
White’s one pawn advantage was not sufficient to give the Indian a
point since Ferenc, a former under-18 world champion, was defending
the position with mathematical precision, and the game ended in a
draw after 50 moves.
In another game, Petrosian, playing white, gained some control on the
seventh file after the 20th move, but the Iranian was able to defend
with the exchange of minor pieces. In the resultant end game with
equal pawns, both players agreed for a draw in the 37th move.
Zhao, who posed a threat to Harikrishna by bouncing back to share the
lead after 12th round, lost to Radoslaw in 49 moves.
On the 13th move Radoslaw, playing black, gave an exchange for a pawn
and was able to hold the white position in an underdeveloped
situation which gained black two more pawns by the 24th move.
Playing an exchange down with three pawns, black’s bishop proved
stronger than the white rook. Unable to prevent promotion on the `a’
and `b’ files, white resigned on the 49th move.
Humpy, the lone girl in the junior boys’ category, defeated Artem
Iijin of Russia in a Kings Indian attack after 30 moves.
Besides Harikrishna, Deep Sengupta and Koneru Humpy, finished in the
top ten.
In the girls’ championship, Korbut sacrificed a pawn on the 11th move
to gain some attack on the rival king. But after a couple of moves,
Alina Motoc, playing white, was able to trade the queens. In the
middle game black gained one more pawn. White tried a mating by the
20th, but black defended it with a counter attack that bore fruit on
the 37th move.
On the top board, WGM Elisabeth Paehtz, who was jointly leading with
Korbut after the 12th round, was shocked by India’s Krutika Nadig in
an English opening in 70 moves, while Eesha Karavade defeated Zhang
Jilin of China in a Ruy Lopez opening in 64 moves.
Paehtz and Karavade finished with 9.5 points each, but the former,
with a superior progressive score, took second place. Karavade,
Nadig, N. Vinuthna and P. Sivasankari did well to finish inside the
top ten.