Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

SAAKASHVILI: AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY IMPORTANT PARTNERS FOR GEORGIA

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 13 2005

TBILISI – Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Wednesday
at a ceremony marking the opening of the Georgian section of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline that Azerbaijan and Turkey were
important partners for Georgia. Saakashvili welcomed his Azerbaijani
and Turkish counterparts at the ceremony in Tblisi.

“We are glad that Azerbaijan is developing very well,” the Georgian
leader said. “It is becoming a rich country with a developed
infrastructure and economy.”

He said Georgia was ready to provide whatever support Azerbaijan
needed.

He also said Turkey had always supported Georgia in hard times and
remained a close partner. “We are one region with a common economy,”
he said.

Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia have good relations in almost all areas
including defence and economic integration. All three countries see
the NATO, the European Union and the United States as important actors
in security and stability of the region.

Dr. Nilgun Gulcan from Ankara-based ISRO said “Turkey-Georgia and
Azerbaijan-Georgia relations are simply perfect. The missing part of
the regional integration is Armenia. However we cannot blame Georgia or
Turkey for that.” According to Dr. Gulcan Armenia has thorny relations
with almost all neigbouring countries except Iran. “Armenia prefers
Russia and Iran in the region. Armenia also has problematic relations
with the EU, US and Israel. The Armenian Diaspora in Europe and US
has secured the Armenian interests till now. However the Armenian
policies contradict with the Western interests. So this balance of
power cannot last any more” Gulcan added.

The only Russian military base in the region is in Armenia. Armenia
does not recognise Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s national borders and
the Armenian separatism in Georgia causes doubts in Tblisi about
Yerevan’s policies.

AXA SETTLES SUIT BROUGHT BY HEIRS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Forbes
Oct 13 2005

LOS ANGELES (AFX) – The heirs of victims of the 1915 Turkish massacre
of Armenians have agreed to settle a class action lawsuit against
French insurer Axa for 17 mln usd, lawyers said yesterday.

The lawsuit, filed in a California court, accused Axa of failing to
pay death benefits for the insurance policies purchased by Armenians
living in the Ottoman Empire prior to the genocide in which up to
1.5 million people were killed.

‘This is an example where dead men can’t speak but they can file
lawsuits,’ said Vartkes Yeghiayan. ‘It writes another chapter about
persistence and hope. The resolution of the case helps the healing
process.’

Under the terms of the deal, announced in Los Angeles, Axa will donate
at least 3 mln usd to various French-based Armenian charities and
another 11 mln usd towards a fund designed to pay out policyholders
of Axa units that did business in the now defunct Turkish-run Ottoman
Empire.

‘Certain of these policyholders and beneficiaries were among the
1.5 million Armenians who perished and were unable to obtain their
insurance proceeds in the ensuing chaos,’ lawyers for the victims’
descendants said in a statement.

The Axa settlement follows a similar agreement with New York Life
Insurance Company in early 2004 under which it agreed to pay 20
mln usd.

‘The AXA and New York Life settlements are important building blocks
not only toward seeking financial recovery for the losses resulting
from the Armenian Genocide but also in our ultimate goal, which is
for Turkey and the US to officially acknowledge the genocide,’ said
US celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos.

Geragos, who has represented stars including Michael Jackson and
Winona Ryder, is of Armenian descent.

‘These cases are historical because they are the only cases ever
brought on behalf of genocide survivors,’ he said.

No comment was immediately available from Axa.

The settlement, subject to court approval, will be administered
in France, which was one of the first countries to recognise the
Armenian genocide.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in orchestrated
killings during the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

But the Turkish government strenuously denies this, saying that
300,000 Armenians and as many Turks were killed in a civil war when
the Armenians, backed by Russia, rose up against the Ottoman Empire.

BERKTAY: THERE ARE FORCES IN TURKEY WHICH ARE AGAINST EU MEMBERSHIP

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 11 2005

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. There are retired
generals, extreme nationalist parties and mass media in Turkey which
are against the country’s membership to the European Union. Halil
Berktay, Professor of the History Department of the Sabanci University,
who was a participant of the NATO “Rose Roth” seminar which took
place in Yerevan, stated about this during an interview to journalists.

According to the Turk Professor, such people are too glad when
European officials speak against Turkey’s membership to the EU. “They
hope that the European Union may make a great political mistake and
demand that Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide becomes a
direct precondition for negotiations,” Berktay mentioned. According
to him, this will give an opportunity to reaction forces to say that
Europe changes rulls of the game and present such demandes to Turkey
which weren’t presented to any other country placed an order with
membership to the Union. As a result, according to Halil Berktay,
Turkey will be isolated, and an opportunity will be created for a
revenge of natioanlist forces.

“I don’t know what the final diplomatic solution of the Armenian cause
will be but it’s an important index for development of democracy for
Turkey,” the Turk historian stated. According to him, the Armenian
cause in reality is a radically Turkish cause. “The main issue is that
the Turkish society examins this issue without any outer pressure or
inner censorship,” Berktay mentioned. According to him, the Armenian
cause will just disappear in conditions of a complete democracy and
freedom in discussion of the issue in Turkey.

According to Berktay, there are very powerful inner forces in Turkey
which strike for democracy for the country really change into an
open society. Those forces particularly demand a complete freedom in
studying the Armenian cause. Mentioning that many steps have already
been taken in his country on the way to democracy, Berktay expressed
a hope that this process will be irreversible.

In his speech at the NATO seminar on the theme “Security in South
Caucasus,” Halil Berktay stated that events taken place in Ottaman
Turkey in 1915 may be qualified only as a genocide. The Turk
Profeesor, which is famous for his veiwpoint on the Armenian cause
which differs from the Government’s position, was the main organizer
of the conference on the Armenian cause held in Istanbul in September.

RESIDENTS OF BUZAND STREET APPEALED TO RUSSIAN EMBASSY

A1+
| 15:55:51 | 11-10-2005 | Politics |

The victims of state needs (those evicted from the Northern Avenue,
the Aram and Buzand Streets) gathered today at the Russian Embassy
in Yerevan. Over 50 people demanded explanation how Mayor of Moscow
Yuri Luzhkov has obtained several buildings in Pushkin street “without
asking their permission”.

“Do the government and President Putin know how much Mayor Luzhkov paid
for a square meter?” chairman of the committee for protection of the
Northern Avenue Vachagan Hakobyan said. Committee representative Sedrak
Baghdasaryan found out that Ches-Tor Moscow organization is going to
construct 6 buildings in Pushkin street. He produced documents, which
say that Ches-Tor is registered at the address of Rublev road, where
the company belonging to Luzhkov’s wife Yelena Baturina is situated.

Moreover, the residents also produced document saying that 81% stocks
of GRIAR Armenian organization, registered in the state register
November 21, 2003, also belongs to Ches-Tor. Sedrak Baghdasaryan
informed that in early 2004 GRIAR’s debt to the government made 3
million 343 thousand AMD.

However, despite the debt the government has granted 8 thousand square
meters to the organization to the realization of its project.

To note, the embassy guards forbade an operator of Shant TV Company
to shoot the embassy building and the demonstrators.

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: (374 10) 517 163
Fax: (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail: [email protected]
October 10, 2005

His Holiness Karekin II Sends Condolences to Pakistan and India

On October 9, 2005, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, sent letters of condolence to the leaders of
Pakistan and India following the great earthquake which struck the region of
Kashmir on Saturday.

Addressing his letters to President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh of India, the Pontiff of All Armenians expressed his
sorrow and pain for the tragic loss of life, countless casualties and
immense property damage inflicted on their countries.

In the letters, His Holiness extends the consolation and solidarity of the
Armenian Church and people, and expresses his sincere and heartfelt wish
that the tragedy-afflicted peoples of Pakistan and India quickly triumph
over the tribulations and difficulties they are facing. His Holiness also
appeals for Divine solace to comfort the hearts of all those who have
suffered devastating losses from this tragedy.

ITALIAN GEORGIAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM LEADS TO CONCRETE SUCCESS
By Anna Arzanova

The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 10 2005

Italian and American business organizations are optimistic about new
partnerships in Georgia.

With the success of the second Georgian-Italian business forum last
week behind them, the forces behind the Italian-Georgian Economic
Partnership Program (IGEPP) are geared to generate even more business
and business partnerships for entrepreneurs in both countries.

On Thursday, October 6, the Italian Embassy in Georgia and the American
Chamber of Commerce held a joint press conference to announce that
the IGEPP has successfully ended the first stage of the project and
is pleased with its progress to date.

The Italian Ambassador to Georgia, Fabrizio Romano, said that the IGEPP
project was the driving force behind the Georgian-Italian forum that
was held on October 4. “This project was one of the initiatives of
the Italian government that had a very important function: to learn
the prospects of development possibilities,” said Romano.

The aim of this project was to reveal which enterprises in Georgia,
with their activities and current structure, are more compatible with
Italian enterprises, as well as to promote industrial cooperation
and trade between Georgia and Italy as part of a larger vision that
identifies Georgia’s strategic location between businesses in the
Caucasus and Central Asia.

IGEPP, which will be technically completed in July 2006, is promoted
by the Union of Industrialists of the Province Caserta, in partnership
with its member company EXEN S.p.A., the American Chamber of Commerce
in Georgia and the Georgian Businessmen Federation.

As a result of the information gathered so far, they have identified
and prepared profiles of over 100 Georgian companies all over Georgia.

Filippo Tiburtini, the senior expert of this project, said that the
most concrete and important result of this project to date is the
database of enterprises that “we created ourselves.” According to him,
about 150 of the enterprises were discovered, most of which represent
different spheres of business.

“This is strategic information to learn what opportunities [are
available] and directions for possible cooperation with Italian
companies. This gives us a serious [foundation] to move to another
stage and take other serious steps forward,” said Tiburtini.

He noted that within the framework of this project, the second stage is
also very important, since a group of Italian businessmen will arrive
in Georgia in the mid October. “These events, particularly the stages
of the projects, are being developed very specifically. The second
important event will be a visit of the Georgian industrialists to Italy
in November who will become acquainted with how the industrial system
in Italy is working. This is a rather progressive project,” he added.

Within the project, several Georgian professionals from partner
organizations have been trained to identify and promote cooperation
between Italian and Georgian businesses. To better facilitate
communication between the two countries, the project’s working group
has recently held information seminars in Tbilisi-as well as in
regions of Georgia, including Gori, Kakheti and Kutaisi. The group
also plans to travel to Adjara in the near future.

Technical Manager of the project Antonio Limatola thinks that this
initiative will bring positive results and develop well. “I think
that I also will start activity in this region. I am going to supply
Caserta Industrialist Union, mayor of the town and the head of the
region with all the necessary information so they can be initiators
for the development of this project,” he stated.

According to Amy Denman, the Executive Director of the American
Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, the first stage of the IGEPP was
very successful. “Probably three of our members have begun to
create partnerships with Italian companies. I think often many of
these forums are a lot of talk. This forum-and building up to this
forum-was interesting because I have seen concrete partnerships
formed,” she stated.

According to her, even if one partnership is formed, the project
will be successful, and she is sure that there will be more than one
partnership in Georgia. “Measured in terms of new business, it is a
big success,” Denman noted.

She added that while the actual impact of the program on Georgia’s
economy will depend on investors in Georgia, she believes there is
the potential that it will be good for the business community. “I
do want to say that any time we see potential manufacturing direct
investment we are very happy. If anyone does want to come to Georgia
for manufacturing purposes we consider this as a very big success,”
Denman stated on October 6.

The IGEPP plans to expand to Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to
familiarize local entrepreneurs with the project mission and goals.

They plan to hold a seminar in the capital cities of each republic
before taking the project to Italy where it will be completed in May
2006. The IGEPP was launched in November 2004.

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
[Turkey’s aspiration to be “European but different” must not include
continued Armenian Genocide denial]

Turkey and the European Union

Now make Turkey’s case

Oct 6th 2005
>From The Economist print edition

On being European and different

AFTER two days and a night of unseemly horse-trading between Turks,
Austrians and other Europeans, Britain’s foreign secretary, Jack Straw,
made bold claims for the deal he brokered this week. The start of entry
talks between the European Union and Turkey, he said, marked an
“historic day for Europe and the whole of the international community”.

His bleary-eyed triumphalism may yet prove premature. But the reverse of
what he said is certainly true. It would have been an historic disaster
if, 42 years after promising the Turks the possibility of entry, and ten
months after giving a definite date for talks to begin, the Union had
slammed the door in Turkey’s face. That outcome would have been
dreadful, both in its direct consequences and because of the
opportunities lost.

Among the short-term results, Turkey’s impressive but still fragile
programme of economic and political reform could have slowed or worse.
Those Turks-starting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister-who
have invested in a European future would have been left horribly
exposed. Worse, Muslims in Turkey and elsewhere would have concluded
that Europeans bore a grudge against them because of their faith alone.
This would have encouraged all those, from Osama bin Laden to the
western world’s religious far-right, who long for a clash between Islam
and the historically Christian world.

It is also true that a chance now exists to achieve something vastly
desirable. All sides will benefit hugely if what is best in Europe,
including its tolerant, liberal-democratic tradition, can finally come
together with what is best in Turkey-including the dynamism of a
demographically young nation that makes Europe’s heartland seem sluggish
by comparison.

But reaching that goal will require hard work and political courage. It
will also need a prudent openness to the possibility that somewhere in
the process, one or other party (and it could well be the Turkish side)
will conclude that the price is too high. That would be disappointing
but not necessarily terrible-as long as the EU expects of Turkey only
the same as it would of any other applicant.

In Turkey, people’s enthusiasm for a European future has already waned
in the face of the “rudeness” of potential partners such as France and
Austria. How can it be, many Turks ask, that people in those countries
do not see the obvious benefits of having them as members? If the Turks
are to find their way to Europe, they will need to grow thicker skins.

For European politicians, the queasiness of many citizens about
embracing another large, impoverished country is a hard, irreducible
fact. In several European countries, far-right parties are doing well by
playing on fears of Muslim immigration. The response of the EU’s leaders
to these realities may yet be statesmanlike, or opportunistic. But it is
politics, not technicalities, that will finally decide Turkey’s fate.

And the politics will be tough. All the arguments against incorporating
the Turks seem obvious and, to some politicians, tempting. The case for
keeping the doors open has to be reasoned through more carefully. The
onus is on politicians to convince voters that making western Europe a
sort of up-market gated community would be worse than useless: it would
not protect existing job-holders, or keep desperate labour migrants out,
or stem Europe’s relative decline in the world economy. If politicians
are responsible, they will also point out that trying to toughen the
rules unreasonably for Turkey will not make that country go away, or
reduce its importance, or slow the pace at which it is changing: it will
simply increase the chances that Turkey will evolve in an unhappy
direction, towards Muslim fundamentalism or militaristic nationalism.

The right sort of scepticism
At the same time, politicians should accept that one ground for
Turco-scepticism is, in its own terms, perfectly sound. To the delight
of some and the dismay of others, Turkey’s presence will make it harder
for any country or axis to play a dominant role in Europe. With 15% of
the total population, the Turks will hardly take over the Union
themselves; but their membership will deny preponderance to others.

So France’s ex-president, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, is right to say
that an EU including Turkey will be a looser grouping than some people
desire. The Turks may well wreck things for any state or pair of states
which still hope the EU as a whole will act as a mouthpiece for their
own political, or geopolitical, ideas; or that the Union will turn into
a super-state with one or two of its current members in charge.

But in fact, those dreams have been dashed already, and it was not the
Turks, or even the party-pooping Brits, who destroyed them. Among the
many messages delivered by French and Dutch voters when they rejected
the Euro-constitution, one was certainly this: that there are still some
fundamental questions-such as how to mix efficiency with fairness, or
tolerance with responsibility-that cannot be settled by pan-European
edict alone. And many would rather see a somewhat looser EU than have
choices they abhor imposed on them from above.

So as politicians consider the arguments in favour of embracing Turkey,
they might try this one: the Turks’ aspiration to be “European but
different” may yet give heart to people in other parts of the EU who are
willing to participate in the Union, and abide by commonly-agreed rules,
but not to sacrifice their own nations’ distinctiveness. Such people are
quite numerous, and Europe is the stronger for it.

VIVACELL ENTERS VANADZOR AND GYUMRI

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 6 2005

GYUMRI, OCTOBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Ralph Yirikian, Director General of the
company VivaCell – the second operator of mobile phone communication
in Armenia, told reporters on October 6 that the company has provided
coverage for Lori and Shirak marzes. He noted that VivaCell’s services
will be made available throughout Armenia by late October.

In the words of R. Yirikian, during 3 months of the company’s
operation, it has ensured coverage of nearly 65% of the country’s
territory – Yerevan and 8 marzes. Work is underway to extend coverage
to Syunik and Tavush marzes. R. Yirikian said that some mountainous
settlements of Shirak will be able to use VivaCell’s services from
2006.

Romik Manukian, the regional governor of Shirak marz, noted that
VivaCell’s mobile phone communication services will be available to
70 communities of the marz.

OPINION : TURKEY’S EU SKEPTICS ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE NEGOTIATION TALKS
Burcu Sahiner , JTW UK Correspondent [email protected]

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Oct 5 2005

After a long run of the disputes during the EU summit, finally an
agreement was launched on the framework for the membership talks only
after the last minute turn over by the European foreign ministers.

The historic step was taken when Austria withdrew of its demands
which were suggesting another option for Turkey rather than a full
membership statute.

It was stated that the Turkish government was strongly disagree with
the Austrian proposals and the Prime minister has declared at several
times, in his speeches, that if anything different has been made on
the draft document Turkey will reject it immediately. It appears
that Austria’s last minute concession on Turkey was linked to the
EU’s decision of opening the negotiation talks with Croatia at the
same time. However, the Croatian demands of Austria were accepted,
it was elaborating for Turkey that her restrictions almost respected
on the final framework. The talks opened when the compromise has
been launched in the late afternoon both European and Turkish leaders
welcomed the official start of European Union membership talks with
Turkey on the 3 October midnight.

After that particular historical event, it was inevitable not to fall
in disagreement with in the Turkey. The oppositions are coming from
various perspectives, such as, without any surprise the Islamic press,
particularly Vakit, Milligazete and Yenicað. Other basic indignations
about the opening of the talks are basically coming from essential
anti-government presses like Cumhuriyet and conservative Tercuman.

When the parties are concerned the Right- wing party supporters take
the lead in contradictions, especially of those who are the Nationalist
Action Party that was held a meeting yesterday protesting the European
Union membership and the government’s policies against the Union. The
oppositions of the Nationalists are being supported by an essential
anti-European party which is to be known as Labor Party.

What is interesting here is that the Main Opposition Party of the
republic also appears to be one of the main actors who strongly
criticize government policies and the Union attitudes towards Turkey.

The point that has to be taken attention on is that these different
groups are all representing their own perspectives which rarely come
together especially on the live or death matters, however this time
they are standing together. The closer the period gets, the stronger
the critiques of these groups rise.

To illustrate why these different groups are standing against the
recent government attitudes in the EU summits, let’s figure that out
by considering their suggestions instead of a path to Europe.

The Islamic Press, faraway, is considering the Austrian resistance from
the historical perspective. Milligazete, for instance, describes the
Autrian position referring that Austria is playing the same role till
the Europe has given to her during the Crusade wars. They suggest that
there is no significant difference between the role played by Austria
now and the Crusade wars. They believe that the European Union is
rather a Christian Club and this is why it is an indefinite process
for Turkey even the negotiation talks have been opened. There will be
no difference unless the Europeans have changed their discriminated
perceptions.

Milligazete, rather requires another path for Turkey which is
completely towards a different direction. They insist that Turkey
must have returned to the forgotten place where its’ real origin has
been lying. In this respect, Turkey must develop stronger relations
with the Islamic countries immediately or rather she will resume the
unequalized relations with a Club where the membership possibility
is still very low.

Ali Karahasanoðlu who is a writer in the Vakit newspaper, depends his
arguments on the very idea of discrimination, just as the Milligazete
claims but rather he does not offer another path for Turkey to turn
over. Karahasanoðlu suggests that EU’s attitude towards Turkey was
affirmative, as always and it will remain so, in the future. He says,
“in a club such as EU involving 24 member states, it is unbelievable
that persuading such a small member state like Austria is becoming
so impossible, this is exactly what the EU is expected to be in the
session to make pressure over Turkey.”

An even greater indignation is expressed in the conservative
Tercuman. Their main critique is against the governments Cyprus policy
and their weak policies including the case. “If some countries insist
on turning Cyprus into an EU issue, Turkey will get to the point of
telling its public ‘We have had it up to here’,” it says. It goes on
to say that the reason for this will not even be “sensitivity about
Cyprus”, but reaction against “Europe’s unreliability”.

An editorial in Cumhuriyet agrees that the latest statements by Prime
Minister Erdoðan and Foreign Minister Gul are “entirely proper”.

“Turkey can neither consent to a ‘privileged partnership’ nor recognise
the Greek administration on Cyprus as a legitimate state,” it insists.

Cumhuriyet newspaper said the EU was still offering Turkey something
short of full membership, despite rejecting an Austrian bid to say
so openly. They suggest that the real reason of what they fear has,
at heart, little to do with agricultural costs, Turkey’s human rights
record or the tortuous Cyprus negotiations. It is, more crudely,
the atavistic clash of civilizations – the contention that a Europe
based on Christian values and culture has no place in its midst for
a Muslim nation.” And when the time comes Europe will create new
reasons to say no for Turkey’s membership.

The most traumatic opposition has come especially from the Nationalist
Action Party. Yesterday, they have organized a general meeting to
protest the government policies about the EU process. The NAP leader
Devlet Bahceli, in his speech during the meeting, set the reasons
in order why the NAP is so strongly criticizing both the EU and the
Erdoðan government. Here are some of the spectacular points underlined
by Bahceli:

_ The Cyprus issue has been left to its own destiny by the government
which is certainly about to be solved in favor of the Greek Cyprus.

_ The Armenian issue will be set on Turkey during the negotiations.

However, it is a fact that the government couldn’t show its resistance
both inside and outside Turkey. For example, they have given permission
to the intellectuals to discuss the Armenian issue in the Bosphorus
University, recently.

– The government has already given the promise of reopening the
Theological School in Heybeliada in Ýstanbul.

– “The brotherhood of the religions” is something that was unnecessary
in the mean time because there is no hostility between the different
religion members in Turkey

_ The Justice and Development Party government, in order to be a
member state is about to do everything and not only about the issues
related with the European matters but also the ones which are threatens
Turkey’s national interests.

Another indignation about the opening of the negotiation talks came
from the Main Opposition Party, Republican Public Party, especially
regarding the government’s attitudes during the last EU summit. They
suggest that the negotiation framework for Turkey is rather worse than
the 17 December Summit decisions. Conditions for membership have been
made heavier despite the EU leaders’ promises and the government has
accepted whole restrictions which were put forward Turkey without any
delay. The leader of the party Deniz Baykal indicates that the EU is
offering a position for Turkey to resume her candidature eternal and
it is just not possible to accept the framework with the existing
conditions.

These are the reasons on which the separated groups are depending their
claims. Because the process is just started, we do not know what the
future expectations will become or whether these oppositions will
be insisted on. Fortunately, we all know that the process will be
a long and an unpredictable one, not so frustrating as the opposite
wings have supported or either so satisfactory as the supporters have
been defending.

–Boundary_(ID_WMTZGKHXUMYZ9sQqh5/cqw)–

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS TO MEET IN LJUBLJANA ON DEC. 4-5

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2005

Armenian and Azeri FMs may meet within the frames of OSCE member
countries FMs summit in Ljubljana on December 4 – 5. Azeri FM Elmar
Mamedyarov informed of the fact, Day.Az reports.

Elmar Mamedyarov also said the OSCE MG American Co – Chair Steven
Mann was to visit Baku in mid – October. In the course of the visit
the American Co – Chair is to meet Azeri leadership.

The OSCE MG three Co – Chairs are to arrive in the region in early
November. The mediators are expected to negotiate with Azeri and
Armenian Presidents on the Nagorno Karabakh settlement process.