Author: Maghakian Mike

FINNISH PRESIDENT PLEASED WITH RESULTS OF VISIT TO ARMENIA

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan, in Armenian
27 Sep 05

[Presenter] Finnish President Tarja Halonen and her husband are
paying a two-day visit to Armenia at the invitation of Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan.

The Armenian and Finnish presidents held a tete-a-tete meeting at the
Armenian president’s residency this morning after the official
reception of the high-ranking guest. The leaders of the two countries
discussed bilateral relations between Armenia and Finland,
cooperation between the European Union and Armenia, as well as
regional problems.

The sides also exchanged views on pressing international problems.
The Finnish president hailed Armenia’s involvement in the European
Union’s New Neighbourhood programme and noted that Finland is paying
great attention to issues of expanding relations with the South
Caucasus countries, especially as Finland will take over the
presidency of the European Union next year.

Kocharyan and Halonen also discussed the future directions of
economic cooperation between the two countries and opportunities of
their intensification. On the same day, Kocharyan and Halonen held a
joint news conference.

[Kocharyan] We discussed bilateral relations between the two
countries. I expressed my satisfaction with our political
discussions, and we specially stressed issues that will stimulate
economic cooperation. Moreover, our relations can expand in the
context of relations with the European Union and I hope that we will
receive assistance from the Finnish side in preparing our action
programme within the framework of the New Neighbourhood programme. I
informed the Finnish president about the negotiating processes on the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. This is her first visit to Armenia as
president. But she is well-informed about the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and its history.

We discussed regional problems, Armenian-Turkish relations and a
number of other issues. I am pleased with the volume of the
discussions which were successful.

[Halonen, speaking in English with Armenian voice-over] I am also
pleased with my visit. It is important when presidents meet. This is
a high-level political meeting. I regard prospects for economic
cooperation at the current stage as being important. There are two
important documents on this sphere which are being prepared at the
moment. This is an agreement on protecting investments and an
agreement on avoiding double taxation. They are important for
businessmen.

I am also aware of the process of settling the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict and I encouraged President Kocharyan to continue his efforts
and take further steps towards a final solution to this problem.

I congratulated the Armenian government on progress made in
cooperation with the European Union, especially within the framework
of the New Neighbourhood programme.

I think that the document on cooperation within the framework of the
New Neighbourhood programme will be prepared by Armenia when Finland
takes over the European Union’s presidency next year.

IRAN, ARMENIA TO WORK ON JOINT RAILWAY PROJECT

Persian Journal, Iran
Sept 29 2005

Sep 28, 2005

The official in charge of the Public Relations Department of Armenia’s
Ministry of Transport, Arthur Sarkisian, said on Wednesday that the new
government in his country will examine a new project on Armenia-Iran
railway track.

Speaking at the joint meeting of the “UN Economic and Social Commission
for Asia and Pacific Affairs” and “Russia’s Railway Company”, he
added that the new railway line will connect Armenia to Iran without
passing through Turkey and Azerbaijan.

He noted that at present the technical and economic dimensions of the
project are being assessed and that the prospect of connecting it to
the railways of Georgia, Abkhazia and Russia is likely to be examined.

Turning to Armenia’s geopolitical position, he said that given his
country is situated at the intersection of North-South and East-West
corridors, its transport facilities can help develop these corridors.

Referring to Armenia’s political discord with Azerbaijan and
Turkey, Sarkisian noted that using such facilities will cause many
difficulties.

The railway connection from Armenia to Azerbaijan has practically been
disrupted since disintegration of the ex-Soviet Union in early 1990s.

Meanwhile, Iran-Armenia railway connection has also been disrupted on
account of breakout of relations between Armenia and the Autonomous
Republic of Nakhichevan.

Caucasus Environmental NGO Network
(CENN)
Weekly Digest
September 28, 2005

NEWS FROM GEORGIA

Georgia: First Poverty Reduction Support Operation

Source: Ein News, September 15, 2005

The following project was approved today by the World Bank’s Board of
Executive Directors:

IDA Credit amount: US$13.5 million

Terms: Grace period =3D 10 years; Maturity =3D 40 years

Grant amount: $6.5 million

Project description:
<; more

Ten Years Left on MDGs, Poverty Still a Concern

Source: The Messenger, September 19, 2005

Five years after signing the Millennium Development Goals, Georgia has
accomplished little progress against poverty, the senior UN development
official in Georgia said on Friday.
<; more

MCG Establishes Consultant Committee

Source: “24 Saati” (“”24 Hours), September 20, 2005

The consultant committee of Millennium Challenges Georgia (MCG) will be
created until the end of month. Committee will be the tool for the
representatives of private sector, non-governmental organizations, local
and
regional government to express and submit their recommendations on the
implementation of MCG projects.
<; more

Agricultural lands’ privatization begins

Source: the Messenger, September 21, 2005

The government is preparing for yet another massive privatization
initiative. The sale of the majority of agricultural lands remaining in
state possession will begin from October 2005, bringing to the budget an
estimated GEL 80 million in revenues.
<; more

World Bank sets Georgia strategy for 2006-2009

Source: The Messenger, September 21, 2005

In Tbilisi on September 18, the government of Georgia and the World Bank
signed a financing agreement for the country’s first Poverty Reduction
Support Operation (PRSO) provided for in the new World Bank strategy for
Georgia.
<; more

Cracks revealed in BTC oil pipeline

Source: UPI Energy Correspondent: By Andrea R. Mihailescu, Published
September 21, 2005

One of the most expensive pipeline systems in the world, the $3.6
billion
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, will fill its first tanker in less
than
two months and the pipeline is already showing cracks, but Georgian
officials assert they pose no ecological threat.
<; more

The Unique Forests of Borjomi are under the Danger of Extinction

Source: “Sakartvelos Respublika” (“Georgian Republic”), September 21,
2005

As NGOs declared due the influence of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in
Borjomi forests the fir-tree groves are withering.
<; more

NEWS FROM Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have solved almost every question on inter
governmental agreement on BTC

Source: Our Century, September 25, 2005

“Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have completed discussion of almost all
questions
related to intergovernmental agreement required to fill in the Baku
-Tbilisi
-Ceyhan oil pipeline with the Kazakhstan oil. This meeting was held
<; more

BTC WORKING GROUP HOLDS SITTING

Source: AzerTag, September 26, 2005

A regular sitting of the inter-governmental working group formed in
connection with Kazakhstan’s joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main oil
pipeline / BTC MEP/ took place in Almaaty. A delegation of Azerbaijan
<; more

“SHAHDENIZ” PROJECT ACTIVITIES PROGRESSING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Source: AzerTag, September 26, 2005

The construction works for the “Shahdeniz” project are 55 percent
complete.
The works are progressing 6 percent ahead of schedule.

With four production wells drilled in the field one more test hole is to
be
drilled. The platform will include
<; more

News From Armenia

COMSUP COMMODITIES PLEDGES 21 MILLION DRAMS TO MUNICIPALITY

Source: ARMENPRESS, September 19, 2005

The owners of a copper and molybdenum plant in the southern Armenian
Agarak,
near the border with Iran, have pledged to release 21 million Armenian
drams
<; more

UNICEF’s PARTNERSHIP WITH MILLENNIUM ARMENIAN CHILDREN’S VACCINATION
FUND
HELPS SAVE CHILDREN’S LIVES

Source: ARMENPRESS, September 19, 2005

Partnering with Armenian Diaspora organizations such as the Millennium
Armenian Children’s Vaccination Fund (MACVF) is crucial for successful
implementation of programs benefiting children, UNICEF said today,
speaking
of the importance of the vaccination program in Armenia.
<; more

ARMENIA’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN
Source: Pan Armenian News, September 20, 2005

Growth of Productivity and Competitive Ability: Strategy of Sustainable
Development of Armenia forum, organized by Armenia 2020, opened in
Yerevan
today. During the opening ceremony Armenian President’s Advisor for
Economic
Issues Vahram Nersisyan read R. Kocharian’s message to the forum
participants.
<; more

OSCE TO SUPPORT ARMENIA IN ECOLOGY INITIATIVES
Source: ARMINFO News Agency, September 23, 2005

“We and our Planet” educational and environmental program was presented
today at the Yerevan Museum of Armenia’s Nature. The program has been
initiated and implemented by “Khazer” environmental and cultural NGO
with
the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Aarhus Center.
<; more

International News

EPA and LDEQ Report Potential Health Risks from Sediments

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, September 16, 2005

(9/16/05) Eighteen sediment samples from across the New Orleans area
were
collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) on September 10, 2005 and
analyzed for bacteria and chemicals.
<; more

ENVIRONMENT: Pollution Takes a Backseat in Congo

Source: Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS): by Anjan Sundaram,
September
17, 2005

Yellow flames from oil rigs light up the night sky, helping Richard
Vuadi
guides his boat as he sets out to cast his nets along the Democratic
Republic of Congo’s coast. Oil rigs that dot the horizon have polluted
the
water, so much that fishermen say they pose health risks.
<; more

MIDWEST BLAZES ENERGY EFFICIENCY TRAIL: 2ND ANNUAL INSPIRING EFFICIENCY
AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Source: World Wire, September 19, 2005

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) announced its 2005 winners
of
the Inspiring Efficiency Awards. These awards recognize innovators for
their
dedicated work in developing and applying energy efficient technologies,
programs and policy initiatives.
<; more

A Global Strategy for Protecting Health & the Environment from Chemicals
Risks

Source: UNEP Press Release, 19 September, 2005

Representatives of the world’s governments, intergovernmental
organizations
and other stakeholder groups are meeting here this week to finalize
arrangements for the launch of the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management (SAICM).
<; more

EU to Re-Launch Air Quality Initiative with Changes

Source: Planet Ark, September 21, 2005

Brussels – The European Commission will re-launch a package of measures
on
Wednesday aimed at improving air quality after cutting anticipated
annual
costs by about 5 billion euros ($6.08 billion), according to EU
officials.
<; more

ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY

Source: Environmental Investigation Agency Press Release, September 21,
2005

Environmentalists Call on European Countries to Stop Producing
Ozone-Destroying Chemicals as Ozone Hole Approaches Record Size
<; more

EU Tackles Air Pollution in Multi-Billion Euro Plan

Source: Planet Ark, September 22, 2005

Brussels – Wide-ranging proposals to clean up Europe’s polluted air won
approval from the European Commission on Wednesday after a debate over
the
package’s multi-billion euro price tag threatened to scupper it.
<; more

Seminars, conference and meetings

International Symposium – Yerevan, Armenia

Source: <; NGOC, September 14, 2005

Location – American University of Armenia (AUA)

Armenia Marriott Hotel

Dates & Time

Monday, October 10, 2005, 14:00 to 19:30

Tuesday, October 11, 2005, 15:00 to 19:30

Wednesday, October 12, 2005, 15:00 to 19:30

Thursday, October 13, 2005, 9:00 to 13:00 and 18:00 to 21:00
<; more

Announcement

Explore Georgia with Caucasus Travel – Mtiuleti and Khevi Provinces

Source: The Messenger, September 16, 2005

We will experience the Mtiuleti and Khevi Provinces, situated on the
slopes
of the Caucasus mountain range:

=07 Have the opportunity to enjoy the scenery on horseback. Sheep, well
protected by brave Caucasian sheep dogs, may interrupt your voyage.

=07 Try the local dish Khinkali – boiled minced meat in dough.

=07 Spend a nice evening in the quite cozy atmosphere of the Panotama
Hotel.
<; more

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR CONFERENCE

Source: Mountain Forum – Global, September 21, 2005

International Mountain Corridor Conference will be held from 24 to 31
October 2005

Les Planes de Son, Spain (24-27)

Vitoria, Spain (27-29)

Cantabria, Spain (29-31)
<; more

Job Announcements

The USAID funded Program for Institutional and Regulatory Strengthening
of
Water Management in Armenia started in October 2004 and is being carried
out
by PA Government Services Inc. The anticipated completion date of the
Program is 2008.

The Program is designed to provide assistance to the development of the
National Water Program, the improvement of the legal framework of the
water
sector, and the strengthening of selected agencies with responsibilities
in
water management. Because of broadening and deepening of our activities,
the
following specialists will strengthen our team:

1. A communication/training specialist;

2. A water resources monitoring specialist;

3. A groundwater monitoring specialist;

4. A river basin planner/IWRM specialist;

5. A database programmer.
<; more

Eurasia Foundation Vacancy Announcement

Source: Georgian Office of the Eurasia Foundation, September 26, 2005

The Georgian Office of the Eurasia Foundation announces vacancy

Title: PMDI Program Coordinator

Under the supervision of the Country Director, the Program Coordinator
is
responsible for developing and managing the Pipeline Monitoring and
Dialogue
Initiative (PMDI). PMDI is a new Initiative implemented by Eurasia
Foundation in cooperation with BP, UNDP, IFC for building capacity of
Georgian NGOs in Monitoring Methods for Pipeline Construction &
Operations.
PMDI supports a series of activities aimed at developing monitoring
skills
amongst NGOs and their members, providing an effective channel for
increased
public dialogue related to pipeline-oriented issues.
<; more

Ecology and Economy in Harmony

Source: The Messenger, September 26, 2005

We believe we can have a real, measurable and positive impact on the
biodiversity of the world. If you are a non-governmental organization
(NGO)
or an environmental agency who thinks the same way, please read
on:Building
on last 3 years’ success BP is pleased to announce the fourth Georgia
Biodiversity Competition.

The competition, which is a part of BP’s Biodiversity Strategy in
Georgia,
support our commitment to undertaking a serious of species biodiversity
initiative in the countries and areas where we operate.

This year competition will conduct on 2 categories:

1. Biodiversity projects;

2. Biodiversity article and video materials.
<; more

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Kurdish Info, Germany
Sept 23 2005

Human Rights says Turkey does not want to confront with her past

ISTANBUL (DIHA) – Istanbul Branch of Human Rights Association stated
that the postponement of the Armenian Conference to be held today in
Bogazici University shows how dependent is the jurisdiction. The
association indicated that there is no freedom of speech in Turkey
yet.

The association released a written statement about the decision of
the court postponing the conference entitled ‘The Armenian of Osmanli
in the falling period of the Empire’. The statement declared “This
decision assessed even by the PM Erdogan as ‘against to democracy’
has once more proved the effect of the military on the jurisdiction
which we said for many times before. The existing system does not
desire a discussion environment. It does not want Turkey to confront
with her past.”

A1+

| 18:20:57 | 23-09-2005 | Social |

THE DISASTER ZONE ELIMINATED?

The Lins Fund office «Disaster zone rehabilitation» ceased its activity.
This is accounted for by the fact that money from the fund will not be spent
on reconstruction works in that territory.

Nevertheless, the fact does not come to prove that Robert Kocharyan has kept
one of his pre-election promises – eliminate the «disaster zone» phenomenon.

Let us remind you that the Lins Fund has build 3700 houses in the disaster
zone.

Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, Yerevan, in Armenian
17 Sep 05 p 2

SEPARATIST MINISTER NEGATIVE ABOUT AZERI LEADERSHIP’S BELLICOSE
STATEMENTS

“I am sure that the world will recognize Nagornyy Karabakh”

An interview with the foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR], Arman Melikyan.

Asked about his attitude towards the International Crisis Group’s
report on Armenia, Arman Melikyan replied: “There are impartial and
sensible points in it, but there are also views that contradict our
position. At present, I would not like to talk about the details of
our approaches, but a certain policy can be noticed from the first
pages of the document.” Then, he added that the report is being
studied in detail and the attitude of the NKR Foreign Ministry
towards the report will be presented in a written form.

Journalists also wondered about the details of discussions on the
Karabakh issue at the sitting of the temporary commission of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The minister said:
“In fact, it is already noticeable that different international
organizations understand that without the NKR, it is difficult to
find a way to solve the issue.” Asked about the steps taken by the
Foreign Ministry for the international recognition of the NKR,
Melikyan replied: “It is no secret that the beginning of legislative
work is one of the most important components for the international
recognition of the country. The NKR parliament recently adopted a
number of laws concerning our system. I would emphasize the law ‘On
the international agreements of the NKR’, which will become a basis
for establishing official relations with our country. I hope that we
shall join a number of international conventions by the end of the
year. I am sure that the NKR will be internationally recognized in
the near future.”

Asked about Melikyan’s attitude towards [International Crisis Group
representative] Alain Deletroz’s statement that a referendum should
be conducted in the NKR in 10-15 years’ time to define the status of
the NKR and asked whether Deletroz had grounds to say this, Melikyan
replied: “I do not doubt that the group is not interested in a
long-lasting peace in the region. As for the conditions that have
been offered, we may not accept them, especially as idea of holding a
referendum is not at a stage when we should discuss such an option.
There are always pre-conditions. But the principle of adequacy should
become one of the main principles in the negotiations, however, in
fact it does not exist yet.”

“Mr Melikyan, how will you comment on the fact that there was no
comment in Armenia and Azerbaijan after Kazan meeting between
[Armenian President Robert] Kocharyan and [Azerbaijani President
Ilham] Aliyev?” Melikyan did not deny that maybe this time Aliyev
decided to keep to the principle of confidentiality. Asked about his
attitude towards the openly bellicose statements of the Azerbaijani
leadership, Melikyan replied: “Of course, my attitude is negative. I
think that war is unlikely at the moment.” At the same time, the
minister did not rule out that war is possible.

Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust foundation to become part of university

.c The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, a repository
of Holocaust testimonials, is becoming part of the University of
Southern California’s College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Spielberg, the foundation’s chairman and a USC trustee, said moving
the collection to USC will ensure its preservation and access to the
public.

“All of us know that the survivors and witnesses have given us a
precious gift whose wise use will build a better world for this and
future generations,” Spielberg said in a statement.

The repository’s 52,000 testimonials from survivors and witnesses will
be transferred Jan. 1 to USC indefinitely under an agreement announced
Friday between the university and the Survivors of the Shoah Visual
History Foundation.

09/17/05 18:15 EDT

Fresno Bee
Sept 15 2005
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

Turkey in denial
Bid to join European Union entangled in genocide dispute.

(Updated Thursday, September 15, 2005, 5:55 AM)

For nearly a century debate has roiled over what the Turkish
government and most Turks call a human tragedy brought on by the
chaos of World War I and what most of the world – including The Bee –
call the Armenian genocide.

Now the issue has become enmeshed in Turkey’s faltering effort to
join the European Union. How the conflict turns out is important –
for Turkish-Armenian relations and for the future of Turkey, a
country that straddles Europe and the Middle East.

Turkish officialdom has always denied that forces of the collapsing
Ottoman Empire sought to exterminate Turkish Armenians starting in
1915, when ethnic Armenians say the Turks killed as many as 1.5
million Armenians over eight years. Turkish officials agree that
hundreds of thousands of Armenians died, but say that disease, famine
and exposure, as well as fighting caused by Armenian guerrilla raids
against retreating Turkish troops, were the primary causes.

There matters stood until last spring, when Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited foreign scholars to study Ottoman
archives to determine what really happened.

That encouraging gesture has had little hopeful result. Scholars have
run afoul of Turkish officials and military leaders, who forced
cancellation of a conference. An ethnic Armenian publisher has been
accused of defaming Turkey by calling himself “an Armenian of
Turkey,” and a prominent Turkish novelist faces a similar charge for
saying in an interview that Turks killed 1million Armenians and, more
recently, 30,000 Turkish Kurds in a guerrilla war, and that “no one
but me dares to talk about it.”

The timing of these charges – just weeks before negotiations are to
begin on Turkey’s application to join the EU – has raised suspicion,
and charges that some nationalist elements, already angered by
growing European opposition to Turkish EU membership, are trying to
sabotage the process. The criminal charges fly in the face of
extensive changes in Turkish law, including abolition of the death
penalty and ending a ban on speaking Kurdish, to satisfy EU
requirements for membership. France opposes Turkey joining, and if
the Christian Democrats win Germany’s election, another prominent
negative voice would be added.

What’s at stake goes well beyond the Armenian issue, coming as
millions of Europeans – even in such liberal bastions as the
Netherlands – are rethinking their traditional welcome to immigrants.
And Muslims rank highest in this reassessment.

Turkey, with an overwhelmingly Muslim population but a staunchly
secular political system, is seen by many as a bridge between the
Christian West and the Muslim East. But as Europe’s welcome mat is
pulled away, many Turks resent what they regard as rising religious
and cultural bigotry among Europeans.

Although it’s hard to envision Turkey’s secular leaders rejecting the
West and embracing Islamic tradition, the roadblocks in the path of
Armenian-Turkish reconciliation raise again the question of whether
Turkey and Europe can ever share a common home.

There’s a simple solution, though it would by no means be easy:
Turkey should simply recognize and acknowledge the past. That would
both smooth Turkey’s path toward EU membership, and begin to right a
historic wrong.

AZG Armenian Daily #166, 16/09/2005

Karabakh issue

RESUMPTION OF WAR IN KARABAKH IS VERY PROBABLE

ICG’s Report Contains A number of Unpleasant Moments for Armenia

The lasting Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the
most significant obstacle to peace and stability in the South Caucasus. On
September 14, the International Crises Group made public its first report on
Karabakh regulation titled “Viewing the Conflict from the Ground”. “Whatever
is being done at the internationally mediated negotiations, at ground level
resumed war appears a real possibility”, the report says. The 30 page long
report presents situation in Nagorno Karabakh, in 7 Armenia-controlled
territories as well as the living conditions of the Azeri refuges in special
refugee camps.

The report contains a number of unpleasant formulations for Armenia and NK.
“Nagorno Karabakh has inspiration for independence and argues with some
reason that it has a democratically-elected government that is meeting the
preconditions of statehood… Nagorno Karabakh has mono-ethnic institutions
and become one of the world’s most militarized societies”

“Nagorno Karabakh forces, reinforced by many conscripts and contracted from
Armenia, occupy some 13.4 per cent of Azerbaijan’s land (11.722 sq. km.).
This includes some 92.5 per cent of the former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous
Oblast (NKAO), five districts outside Nagorno Karabakh, and significant
segments of two others. The occupied territory outside the former NKAO
amounts to 7.409 sq. km., close to double the territory of the former Soviet
oblast… This includes part of the districts of Martuni and Mardakert (327
sq. km.), which were in the NKAO, as well as the pre-war Shahumian district
and Getashen Settlement (701 sq. km.) northeast of the NKAO. Stepanakert
authorities claim these last two should be part of present day Nagorno
Karabakh as they also declared secession from Soviet Azerbaijan in 1991. In
addition they consider Lachin (1.835 sq. km.) to be part of Nagorno Karabakh
and say ‘it cannot be subject to compromise, as it connects Karabakh to the
outer world’, even though it was never part of NKAO, and no Armenians lived
there before the war”.

“Probably some 413.000 Armenians fled Azerbaijan and regions in Armenia
bordering it, and 724.000 Azerbaijanis (and Kurds) were displaced from
Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts… Before the war
the 424.900 inhabitants of those districts were almost exclusively Azeris,
none of whom remain. Towns like Agdam (28.200), Kelbajar (8.100), Jebrail
(6.200) and Fizuli (23.000) have been systematically leveled so that only
foundations remain. Even electrical wiring, pipes, and other infrastructure
have been sold as scarp. Authorities in Stepanakert have done nothing to
stop the destruction process”.

“Stepanakert’s settlement policy in Lachin and Kelbajar, and to lesser
extent Agdam, appears to be a violation of international law and is likely
to complicate the implementation of any political settlement… As the chair
of the Nagorno Karabakh parliament said, ‘once Armenians start burying their
dead there, it will be difficult to move them again'”.

A chapter of the report title “Life in Nagorno Karabakh” says that though
internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh is
independent de facto and its military and economic safety is guaranteed by
Armenia.

The report provides detailed account of construction of Karabakh’s armed
forces. “NK may be the world’s most militarized society. The highly trained
and equipped Nagorno Karabakh Defence Army is primarily a ground force, for
which Armenia provides much of the backbone. A Nagorno Karabakh official
told Crises Group it has some 20.000 soldiers, while an independent expert
estimated 18.500. An additional 20.000 to 30.000 reservists allegedly could
be mobilized… According to an independent assessment, there are 8.500
Karabakh Armenians in the army and 10.000 from Armenia. If these figures are
accurate, Nagorno Karabakh’s 65 persons per 1.000 inhabitants under arms
would surpass almost all other countries for proportion of population in the
military”. Based on hundreds of interviews and observations, the ICG arrived
at a conclusion that the NK armed forces played a significant role in
politics. The situation has changed after the then commander-in-chief of the
army was imprisoned.

The report underscores that Armenia fills up half of Karabakh’s budget. “The
US is the only other state that provides direct governmental assistance [to
Karabakh]”.

A whole chapter deals with Azeri IDPs (internally displaced persons). It
says that they keep on living in terrible living conditions and meanwhile it
cites accusations that the IDPs have turned into “political pawns” in
Azerbaijan’s politics.

The most serious obstacle to dialogue and reconciliation between Armenian
and Azeris is nationalism, the report says. The report ends with a very
unpleasant sentence for both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. The ICG quotes
the words of an Armenian student who says, “I am Yerevani and refuse to
serve in the army once I graduate. I will simply leave Armenia because
people from Karabakh are even worse than Azerbaijanis. Why do we have to
serve them?”

By Tatoul Hakobian

ARMENIA WILL NOT BE AN OBSTACLE

A1+
| 13:27:39 | 14-09-2005 | Politics |

Azerbaijan will not cooperate with Armenia within the framework of
the World Trade Organization (WTO) till the final establishment of
peace. The Azeri deputy Foreign Minister Mahmoud Mamedkuliev mentioned
about it, day.az reports.

According to the deputy Minister, this does not contradict to UN
provisions taking into account the fact that Armenia has taken up
the commitment not to hinder Azerbaijan~Rs entering the WTO.

According to Mr. Mamedkuliev, in the initial phase of negotiations
with WTO Azerbaijan managed to make the RA Foreign Minister take up
the commitment.

Armenia has been member of the organization since 2001.

According to the deputy Minister, the fact that Armenia was quicker
than Azerbaijan is accounted for by the fact that Armenia had applied
earlier and has been accepted with certain concessions.