Author: Maghakian Mike

THE VIRUS EXISTS IN CIS
A1+
| 18:41:52 | 05-10-2005 | Politics |
The model draft about “Bankruptcy of Banks” has been in the processing
phase for the last two years and it is supposed to be adopted
on November 18 in the CIS Inter Parliamentary Assembly plenary
session. Today it was discussed during the international seminar in NA.
The deputy head of the RF Higher Court Experience Investigation
Administration Andrey Egorov represented the revised draft to the
participants of the seminar. He mentioned that the model laws give an
overall regulation but they give the opportunity to take into account
the peculiarities of national legislation. That is the draft has an
advise-giving character and it does not suppose direct application.
According to the RA Central Bank Advocatory administration head Pirouz
Sargsyan, the Law on Bankruptcy of Banks has been adopted in 1996 and
amended in 2004. According to her, the Armenian law is much better
than the model one as it has been tested. In her words, the model law
creates basis for improving the existing law. The Central Bank intends
to represent an offer to amend to law to the Parliament in 2006.

“NATIONAL RENAISSANCE” DOES NOT GIVE PROMISES
A1+
| 20:35:21 | 05-10-2005 | Politics |
Today the Armavir regional organization of the “National Renaissance”
party founded by the ex-members of the Republican party Albert
Bazeyan and Vagharshak Haroutyunyan was opened. This one too, like
the other in Shirak region was founded in the basis of the Republican
party; moreover, 265 of the 270 members wished to join the “National
Renaissance”, another 10 people became members of the newly founded
party.
Today during the meeting with the members of the regional organization
in Echmiadzin Bazeyan and Haroutyunyan thanked the party members and
explained the importance of their step. Albert Bazeyan announced that
they were against the promises of revolution which were not kept,
while “people counted on them and were disappointed”. Besides, he
was also discontent with the tendency of leaning on outer powers.
One of the members of the party complained that the Republican Party
did not count with their opinion and asked what the new party will do
in this respect. “No document will be created without your agreement”,
announced Vagharshak Haroutyunyan. He also said that when they ask
when the change of authorities will take place, the people and not
single persons must answer this question.
It was also announced that in the coming weeks the other regional
structure of the “National Renaissance” will be founded, and on
November 11 the founding conference will take place.

US’S NAGORNO KARABAKH POLICY REMAINS UNCHANGED
AZG Armenian Daily #179
06/10/2005
Karabakh issue
Sean McCormack, official representative of the US State Department,
stated that the policy of the United Stated in the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement remained unchanged. In response to the question
whether the letter by 50 congressmen addressed to President George
W. Bush claiming to protect the right for self-determination of
the NKR people testifies to the change in the in the American
policy, McCormack said that they certainly support the interest of
the congressmen concerning different political issues. As for the
US policy on the NKR issue, he said that nothing has changed. They
support the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group and all the efforts
of Armenia and Azerbaijan directed to the settlement.
While Elmar Mamediarov, Azeri foreign minister, stated that they agreed
in the issue of demining in the course of the negotiations. “Demining
is a very important process and it will be of primary importance when
the Armenian side leaves the occupied territories,” Elmar Mamediarov
said in the interview to Mediamax agency.

EXHIBITION “SEE THE LAND OF ITALY: TREASURES OF SAINT LAZARUS ISLAND” OPENED IN YEREVAN
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. The exhibition “See the land of Italy”
treasures of Saint Lazarus island” has been opened in Yerevan. RA
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan pointed out that the exhibition
inaugurates Days of Armenian-Italian friendship, which is the best
manifestation of the two nations’ ancient ties and mpresent-day
contacts. Minister Oskanyan thanked Armenia’s authorities for their
assistance in holding Days of Armenian-Italian friendship. He expressed
a special gratitude to the Congregation of Mkhitarists, which agreed
to display some of its treasures in Armenia.
Archimandrite Harutyun Pstikyan, who is responsible for cultural
treasures of the Congregation of Mkhitarists, reported that only 100
of over 10,000 exhibits of the treasures of Saint Lazarus island are
being displayed in Yerevan. “We have brought only the exhibits that
are related to the 1600th anniversary of Armenian alphabet. These
are mostly printed editions, Armenian geographical maps, portraits of
clergymen by well-known Italian painters, such as Heirich Reinhard,
Geuseppe Gavanin, Francesco Mageotto, Hovhannes Aivazovky. Among
the exhibits are also the sword of Levon V, King of Cilicia of the
14th century and the death mask of the Armenian composer Komitas,”
Pstikyan said. He pointed out that the Congregation of Mkhitarists
intends to establish permanent cooperation with the Armenian Government
in organizing an exhibition of treasures of Saint Lazarus island in
Armenia. He said that the Congregation intends to present some of
the exhibits to the National Gallery of Armenia. However, the issue
is yet to be discussed by the Congregation Board.
Says of Armenian-Italian friendship will be held in Armenia from
October 5 to November 5, 2005. Films shot by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
will be demonstrated. A meeting with the well-known writer, author
of the bestseller “La masseria delle allodole” Antonia Arslan, opera
and theatrical performances and photo exhibitions will be held as well.
The Days of Armenian-Italian friendship are being held on the
initiative of the Armenian and Italian Governments under the
patronage of the two countries’ presidents and with the sponsorship
of businessmen.

AFTER THE EUPHORIA, TURKEY PREPARES FOR THE HARD SLOG
By Anthony Browne, Brussels Correspondent
The Times, UK
Oct 5 2005
TURKEY promised a “great struggle” to turn itself into a modern
economically developed democracy, as officials in Brussels started
work yesterday on EU entry negotiations.
After the euphoria of agreeing to start talks early yesterday, EU
leaders spoke of the difficulties of bringing the vast, semi-developed
Muslim nation, which is almost entirely in Asia, up to EU standards.
President Chirac of France said that Turkey would need a “major
cultural revolution” and may never be ready to join.
Over the next ten or fifteen years Turkey will have to implement 83,000
pages of EU legislation. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Prime
Minister, said: “There will be a great struggle to fully implement
the harmonisation laws. Our ideal is a Turkey that will take its
place among democratic, free and developed countries.”
Turkey must also resolve the conflict over its illegal occupation
of Cyprus, starting by recognising its Government and opening up its
ports and airports to Cypriot traffic.
Angela Merkel, who is likely to be the next Chancellor of Germany,
and Nicolas Sarkozy, who aspires to be the next President of France,
oppose Turkish membership and could derail talks once in power.
France and Austria, whose voters oppose Turkish membership, have
promised referendums on the issue.
The membership talks were formally opened at a ceremony in the small
hours yesterday when Abdullah Gul, the Turkish Foreign Secretary,
and Jack Straw, his British counterpart, read opening statements.
A few hours later, European Commission officials started the
painstaking “screening” process, assessing Turkey’s harmonisation
with EU law under 35 chapter headings, covering everything from human
rights to environmental protection. This screening process will be
followed next spring by negotiations on each of the 35 chapters.
Each EU country has a veto on the closing of each chapter, which
will give hostile countries such as Austria and Cyprus plenty of
opportunities to trip Turkey up.
Austria is also insisting that Turkey, which would be the biggest
member by the time it joins, cannot be admitted until the EU is ready
to absorb it.
There is concern that although Ankara passed a modern penal code last
year Turkish judges are continuing to breach human rights.
European politicians have also been alarmed by human rights abuses,
such as the prosecution of a Turkish writer for acknowledging that
his country had committed genocide against Armenians, the continued
persecution of religious minorities, a recent order to close down
the country’s only gay rights group, and the killing of children in
mental hospitals.
THE CHALLENGES
Adopt and implement 83,000 pages of EU legislation
Resolve dispute over Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus, including
recognising Cypriot Government
Renegotiate Nice Treaty to change voting weights in the EU
Probable next leaders of France and Germany oppose Turkey’s membership
Any present EU member can veto any of 35 different “chapters” of
negotiations over the next ten years
Referendums in France and Austria, with voters of both highly hostile
,,13509-1811246,00.html

STRAW: “WE HAVE JUST MADE HISTORY”
EurActiv.com, Belgium
Oct 4 2005
In Short:
The formal opening of accession negotiations with Turkey was marked
by praise but also scepticism and accusations of backroom deals.
Background:
Turkey first applied for membership of the EU in 1963. In 1999, the
EU said yes, and the decision to open accession talks with Ankara on
3 October 2005 was reached at the December 2004 European Council.
Formal negotiations, which began on 3 October could take between 10 to
15 years, and the outcome is uncertain. During last-minute wrangling,
Austria had demanded that the EU offer a special partnership deal
rather than full membership to Ankara
During the lengthy negotiations ahead, the most controversial issues
in Turkey’s modern-day history are bound to come to the fore, including
the Cyprus conflict and the Armenian and Kurdish problems.
Meanwhile, thousands of Turks took to the streets of Ankara last
weekend protesting against their country’s projected accession to the
EU. The crowds assailed the government for creating and tolerating
“an environment of enmity from outside and an environment of treason
from within”.
Issues:
The prolonged dispute among the EU-25 foreign ministers revolved around
the clause in the EU-Turkey negotiating framework which defines the
objective of the negotiations.
Under the final agreement that was reached after more than a day of
straight debate, the text conserves the original wording that “The
shared objective of the negotiations is [Turkey’s] accession”. The
agreed text also adds that “”While having full regard to all [EU
political criteria], including the absorption capacity of the Union,
if Turkey is not in a position to assume in full all the obligations
of membership it must be ensured that Turkey is fully anchored in
the European structures through the strongest possible bond”.
Ankara was also concerned about the paragraph (No 5) in the draft
negotiating framework which insisted that Turkey “progressively align”
its policies in international organisations with that of the EU. This
paragraph was feared in Ankara to eventually allow Cyprus to join
NATO. However, the dispute on this point was finally settled after
Turkey received reassurance from lawyers as well as from US Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice that NATO was not an issue in the EU talks.
Positions:
Opening the first – symbolic – meeting of the accession negotiation
process in the small hours of 4 October, British Foreign Minister
Jack Straw said that “We have just made history”.
“There’s a lot of speculation about the open-ended business,”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. “Every negotiation
is open-ended, but has goals. Full membership is the objective of
this one. The achievement of this goal will depend on our success”
in [carrying out the negotiations].
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the conclusion was a
“win-win” situation for all sides concerned, and stressed that Turkey
was “determined the carry on with the reforms”. He added that “Some
of the concerns which exist in European public opinion will, I think,
change in 10 years.”
Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn commented that the opening of
talks marked a “new era” in the EU’s ties with Turkey.
The speaker of Turkey’s parliament, Bulent Arinc, said that Turkey
would not “sacrifice everything”, including self-esteem, to become
a member of the EU.
“(For) the citizens of Europe … we have shown they cannot simply
be steam-rollered,” said Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel,
who added that he was “proud” of his country’s tough position.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that “It’s a historic
step Europe has won; it’s a big chance for both sides”.
In Paris, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said that the French have
“serious reservations” and would prefer a partnership.
“Any (EU) state at any stage can interrupt the talks, for whatever
reason,” said French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy. “The
result of these negotiations is absolutely not guaranteed,” he said.
“If it’s not accession, it’ll be another strong link.”
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the negotiations
will be “long and difficult” and added that “accession, as for every
country, is neither guaranteed nor automatic”. “Europe must learn more
about Turkey. And Turkey must win the hearts and minds of European
citizens. They are the ones who at the end of the day will decide
about Turkey’s membership.”
“A Turkey anchored in Europe will be an even more reliable partner for
the trans-Atlantic family and a positive force for advancing peace,
prosperity and democracy,” the US State Department said.
MEP Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
in the European Parliament welcomed the agreement, saying that
“The prospect before us now is not the accession of today’s Turkey
but that of tomorrow’s Turkey – of 2015 or 2020”. At the same time,
“However, the process leaves a smell of a back room deal”, Watson said,
referring to the simultaneous decision to open accession talks with
Croatia. “Three days ago, the [International Criminal Tribunal for
the former Yugoslavia] chief prosecutor stated her dissatisfaction
with Croatian compliance. What has suddenly changed?
A political trade-off on matters as serious as enlargement ill-befits a
Union desperately in need of restoring credibility with its citizens,”
he said.
Speaking to Belgian television, former Competition Commissioner Karel
Van Miert called the opening of negotiations with Turkey a “drama”
for Europe. Not only will it lead to years of political fighting
between current member states over Turkey but in the end, several
populations will in referenda reject the outcome of the negotiations
and thereby start a new crisis, he said. The EU should have won back
citizens trust in its project first, Van Miert added.
Portuguese Foreign Minister Diogo Freitas do Amaral said the deal
“probably will displease Mr [Osama] bin Laden”, referring to al
Qaeda’s campaign to stem Western influence and spread Islamic rule.
Latest & next steps:
-The symbolic launch of negotiations on 3 October signalled the start
of the Commission’s screening process aimed at taking stock of Turkey’s
progress in harmonising its laws with those of the Union.
– This process may take up to six months to complete.
– On 9 November, the Commission is scheduled to issue its next annual
progress report on Turkey.
– On 1 January 2006, Austria takes over the rotating Presidency of
the EU
– Mid-2006: the conclusion of the screening process will mark the
opening of negotiations on the individual “chapters”. The negotiating
framework specifies 35 chapters.
– The accession talks have been defined as an “open-ended process”
that may last from ten up to 15 years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Sunday Times (UK)
October 02, 2005
Turkey cools on joining club Europe
Gareth Jenkins, Istanbul and Nicola Smith, Brussels
SIPPING a latte at a cafe in a leafy Istanbul suburb, Inci Can, 34,
looks as if she should be a natural supporter of European Union
membership for Turkey. A graduate of Exeter University, she wears
fashionable western clothes, leaves her shoulder-length hair uncovered
and travels frequently to western Europe on business.
Yet as EU foreign ministers meet today to resolve an impasse that
threatens to prevent formal talks on Turkish entry from starting on
schedule tomorrow, Can and increasing numbers of her compatriots are
questioning whether they really want to join after all.
`If the EU doesn’t want us because we have a large population or an
undeveloped economy, then fair enough,’ she said. `But it should say so,
not keep hiding behind new excuses. All my life I’ve wanted Turkey to
join the EU but in the past few weeks I’ve begun to think that maybe we
should stay outside.’
That Can’s views are shared by many of her compatriots is evident from a
poll yesterday that showed 57% of Turks wanted to join the EU – down
from 68% a year ago. Support among workers is even lower: only 44% of
trade unionists are in favour and a mere 24% believe that Turkey will
ever be admitted.
They may be right to feel unwanted: just over half of people in the EU’s
25 countries oppose Turkish entry. In Austria, the country leading the
opposition to full EU membership for Turkey, eight in 10 are against.
At an emergency meeting in Luxembourg tonight, Jack Straw and other EU
foreign ministers will put pressure on the Austrians, who have insisted
the Turks be told from the outset they have to make do a `privileged
partnership’ that stops short of full membership. Diplomats say the hard
line taken by Wolfgang Schüssel, the Austrian chancellor, has been
dictated in part by regional elections today and hope he will soften his
stance once polls close.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, has refused to proceed
with membership talks if there is any downgrading of his country’s
prospective EU status.
For Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country of 70m people, it is the
apparent whiff of racism – coupled with suggestions that it is not fit
to join a `Christian club’ – that especially rankles.
One of the main stumbling blocks is Turkey’s refusal to recognise the
Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia with which it has been at odds since
a breakaway Turkish republic was established in the north of Cyprus in
1974. Many Turkish nationalists also fear that they might be obliged to
make their country’s 13m Kurds equal partners in a federal state.
The mood has been further soured by a European parliament resolution
last week making it a precondition for membership that Turkey should
formally recognise the killing of 1.5m Armenians between 1915 and 1923
in the last days of the Ottoman empire.
Turkey’s poor human rights record also remains a matter of contention. A
two-year investigation by Mental Disability Rights International, a
Washington-based lobby group, revealed last week what it described as
`inhuman and degrading conditions of confinement’ in Turkey’s mental
health and social services system. A recent report by Amnesty
International, the human rights group, found torture and ill-treatment
continue to be a widespread problem.
While Can is seething quietly at European attitudes to her country,
Turkish politicians and businessmen are finding it difficult to contain
their anger.
At a rally on Friday Erdogan gave one of his strongest hints yet that
Turkey might walk away if the EU continues upping the ante. `They should
behave as honestly as Turkey,’ he said. `If we don’t see this honesty
then the response we shall give will be very very different to the
responses we have given to date.’
Omer Sabanci, chairman of the Turkish Businessmen’s and Industrialists’
Association, said those supporting a `privileged partnership’ were
`exhibiting a 19th century mentality’.
This morning the ultra-militant Nationalist Action party (MHP) will bus
tens of thousands of demonstrators to Ankara, the capital, to protest
against what it regards as the EU’s unacceptable demands. `Membership
should be honourable,’ said Mehmet Sandir, its vice-chairman. `It should
not convene our national interests or distort our history.’
For Straw, finding a way out of the impasse at tonight’s meeting is of
vital importance. The successful launch of entry talks would be one of
the few tangible achievements of Britain’s six-month EU presidency.
However, matters have been further complicated by the entanglement of
the Turkish issue with Croatia’s bid to join the EU. This was suspended
in March over Croatia’s failure to co-operate fully with the
international war crimes tribunal over the search for Ante Gotovina,
indicted as an alleged war criminal.
Austria is one of the strongest backers of the Croatian application.
Carla del Ponte, the tribunal’s chief prosecutor, who visted Croatia
this weekend, was due to make a statement to ministers tomorrow.
Indications this weekend were not positive.
Even if entry talks do begin tomorrow, many more hurdles remain. Angela
Merkel, expected to become Germany’s next chancellor, has misgivings,
while France has promised a referendum before the Turks are finally
admitted.
Diplomats fear the last-minute hitches could reduce Turkey’s enthusiasm
for the long and costly reforms that it must make to everything from the
regulation of industry to the judicial system as a precondition for
eventual membership.
Equally important, however, is the effect on the attitude of Can and
other Turks who are rapidly losing faith in an organisation they once
saw as a key to the modernisation and development of their country.
`Of course we are not perfect. We still have a lot of things to do
before we finally join,’ said Can. `But we have done everything that was
asked of us in order to begin negotiations. When you join a club you
have to abide by its rules. But adding new rules only for us just isn’t
fair.’

EIU European Voice
September 29, 2005 Thursday Turkey
Turkey talks move closer, but MEPs postpone customs deal

The opening of accession negotiations with Turkey moved closer
yesterday (28 September) after the European Parliament backed plans
to start talks next week. But in a serious political blow to Turkey,
MEPs decided to postpone a vote on an EU-Turkey customs agreement, as
a sign of frustration with Ankara’s refusal to recognise Cyprus.

MEPs demanded a guarantee that the Turkish parliament, when it
ratifies the extension of the customs union with the EU’s ten newest
member states, including Cyprus, will drop the Turkish government’s
unilateral declaration that this would not amount to recognition of
Cyprus.

Some MEPs reacted angrily to the decision to postpone approval of the
protocol. Dutch Green deputy Joost Lagendijk, chairman of the
Parliament’s Turkey delegation, said: “It sends a very bad signal.”

UK Liberal MEP Andrew Duff said: “The decision is short-sighted and
mean-spirited and will particularly affect the ten new member states.
It sows distrust between the two sides and delays the possibility of
relaxing the financial and trade embargo against Turkish North
Cyprus.”

The European Commission said that it deplored the Parliament’s
decision to withhold approval of the customs protocol, describing it
as “an own goal” for the EU.

The protest was led by the centre-right European People’s Party
(EPP-ED) but was supported by a cross-party coalition of MEPs.
Socialist deputy group leader Jan Marinus Wiersma said: “We deplore
the stance Turkey has taken on Cyprus and the way it has cast serious
doubt on its willingness to implement the protocol extending the
Ankara Agreement to the ten new member states.” The Socialist leader
Martin Schulz said that Turkey should recognise Cyprus during the
negotiations. “This cannot be at the end of the negotiations. It must
take place immediately, within the first one or two years,” he said,
adding that without such recognition, accession talks should be
broken off.

Parliament also said that it considered Turkish recognition of the
Armenian genocide “to be a prerequisite for accession”.

During the debate Hans-Gert Pottering, the EPP-ED leader, attacked EU
leaders’ tolerant attitude towards Turkey and their tough stance on
Croatia. Talks with Croatia, initially planned to start last March,
have been postponed because of the government’s alleged failure to
help bring a war criminal before international justice. The
Socialists’ leader hit back accusing Pottering of religious
discrimination: “You don’t want Turkey in because it is Islamic and
far away. Croatia is closer and is Catholic,” Schulz said.

DAILY MAIL (London)
September 30, 2005
EU REBELLION COULD SLAM DOOR ON TURKS
by BENEDICT BROGAN. POLITICAL EDITOR
TONY Blair’s European presidency was under strain last night after
Britain was forced to call an eleventh-hour crisis summit on Turkey’s
entry to the EU.
Austria yesterday threatened to scupper the whole process by holding
out for Turkey to be offered an alternative to full membership,
something rejected by Ankara as ‘second class’.
It forced Britain to call a meeting of EU foreign ministers in
Luxembourg on Sunday to try and break the deadlock.
Landmark accession talks with Turkey are due to begin the following
day.
Mr Blair has championed Turkey’s entry as an example of the West’s
positive engagement with the Muslim world at a time of heightened
tension, and the failure of talks to get off the ground would be a
devastating blow to his presidency.
Mounting grassroots opposition to Turkish membership in several
countries has jeopardised the whole accession process, which would
see the EU expand beyond Europe’s historical frontiers.
Polls show 80 per cent of the Austrian electorate opposes the move.
In France the public is overwhelmingly opposed, causing President
Jacques Chirac to pledge a referendum on the issue. Likely German
chancellor Angela Merkel is firmly against Turkey joining.
Public opposition was fuelled this week by accusations that mental
health patients in Turkey have been subjected to serious abuses,
including the use of electric shock treatment without anaesthesia.
Several countries have also been pushing Turkey to recognise EU
member Cyprus, and the European Parliament this week called on it to
recognise the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks at the beginning
of the 20th century as genocide.
Yesterday, ambassadors were unable to agree even a negotiating
framework for the accession talks – which themselves are expected to
take ten years.
Turkey’s foreign minister Abdullah Gul said that his country will not
send its delegation to Luxembourg for talks on Monday unless his
officials have seen the details of the EU’s negotiating positions.
‘Of course there is a possibility that negotiations will not start,’
he said.

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.