Author: Torgomian Varazdat

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Oct 9 2004
VISIT OF FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN TO ITALY
[October 09, 2004, 13:12:03]
On 6-8 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov on the invitation of senator of the Veneto region Mr.
Juseppe Gaburro has been with an official visit to Italy.
As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the ministry, the
purpose of visit to Veneto consisted in carrying out of meetings with
business circles of region, giving information on economic
opportunities of Azerbaijan and carrying out discussions in the field
of attraction of the local companies to Azerbaijan.
At the city of Abano Terme, province of Padova, there started a
conference on presentation of Azerbaijan. President of the province,
heads of local law-enforcement bodies, Mayor of Abano city, rector of
the Padova University, other officials attended the meeting held at
the business center with participation of 100 companies. The Chamber
of Commerce of Padova and the Azerbaijan-Italy Chamber of Commerce
just functioning in Italy organized the event.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in his remarks at the conference informed
about important geo-politic and economic situation of Azerbaijan, its
rich natural resources, the successes achieved at macroeconomic
level, large power projects carried out in the country. Having noted,
that development of non-oil sector is a priority question with a view
of branching of economy in Azerbaijan, the Minister has stopped on
the ample opportunities available in the field of agriculture,
manufacture of chemical, textile-knitted wear, food production, in
spheres of tourism, processing of leather, etc. He has emphasized
wide experience of the small and medium companies of Italy in these
spheres, has invited them to Azerbaijan. Then, the Minister has
answered questions of participants of action.
Elmar Mammadyarov has met in Venice Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Veneto region Ms. Marialuisa Coppola. At the meeting, discussed
were the question of establishment of direct communications between
Azerbaijan and Veneto, value of economic experience of Veneto.
At the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of
Vatican Juseppe Loyano, on 7 October, were held discussions on
prospects of development of links, opportunities of opening in Baku
of diplomatic representatives of the State of Vatican, the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh problem, and also exchange of
vies on the international questions, in particular, position in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
The same day, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov has met Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Italy Franco Frattini. The sides have emphasized high
level of relations between Azerbaijan and Italy in political,
economic, humanitarian spheres, value of the further development of
cooperation in the field of economy, in particular, in non-oil
sector. Discussions also concerned meetings and actions, which will
be carried out within the framework of the program of official visit
of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Italy forthcoming in
the first quarter 2005. At the meeting, the sides had exchange of
views concerning peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict on the basis of norms and principles of
international law, and also the general position on the Caucasus.
At the meeting with chairman of the commission of foreign relations
of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of Italy Gustavo Selva and
Chairman of the Italian Senate Marcello Pero, discussed were issues
of present state of relations between two countries and
inter-parliamentary ties, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict, global political problems.

The St. Petersburg Times
#1010, Friday, October 8, 2004
ARTS + FEATURES
Decline and fall
By Matthew Duncan
SPECIAL TO THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
It’s a tough old game, civilization. No sooner does one empire set itself
up, than another one comes along, knocks it off its perch and sets up shop
in the ruins. The same ruthlessness seems to operate in the world of dining
out. If you had ventured behind the ornately carved doors of the
recently-opened Armenian restaurant about the same time last year, you would
have found yourself in a recently-opened African restaurant. Like most
conquerors, these ones haven’t bothered to do much with the décor. You have
to assume that the new management were either working within a limited
budget or thought the African theme, with pots half submerged in the walls
and wattle roofing over the cloakroom area, too good to waste.
We took a table by the large street windows and listened to the acceptably
pitched ballroom synth-pop. We asked for an English menu, but they didn’t
have one, and, happily, each dish has a photograph alongside sit on the
Russian-language menu they do have.
There is a good choice of soups, fish, prawns and so on in the 60 to
150-ruble ($2 to $3.44) range. For starters I ordered a vegetable dish
called “Adjab Sandal” (80 rubles, $2.75). My companion chose an ‘assortment
of fish’ (100 rubles, $3.44). The Adjab Sandal was a disappointment. Roughly
the same size as the photo in the menu, it tasted just like cold pizza
topping (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in other circumstances). The
assorted fish was no better and, staring at the bits of fish lying flaccidly
on the plate, one can only conclude that not much thought was given to its
preparation.
Choosing a main course was tricky. Everything looked extraordinarily, some
might say suspiciously, appetizing. There is a page of fish and a page of
meat, a range of kebabs, some things called tavas and some tempting looking
pizzas at the back.
Most items are priced between 150 and 250 rubles. My companion ordered duck
breast (220 rubles, $7.60). It looked great. Succulent slices of duck breast
were temptingly nestled on a bed of fried potatoes with a row of ripe
raspberries lying alongside like a discarded item of clothing. On the other
side of the plate, a limp green salad looked jealously on. It was tasty, and
the raspberry actually worked. We demolished it in seconds. My main course
came with a weight of expectations upon it. I had ordered the biblical
sounding Tava “Ararat” (220 rubles, $7.60), a tomato-based stew filled with
peppers and beans and mushrooms and promisingly large chunks of lamb.
Regrettably, upon closer examination, the meat was mostly fat or bone, so we
were left with what was essentially a vegetable casserole.
The place was starting to fill up with underdressed girls. The barman was
working so frenetically that I thought the president had arrived while I
wasn’t looking. I asked if the barman could make a Singapore Sling. After
two minutes agonizing with his conscience, he decided that he could.
At that point we were joined by an unexpected visitor: the bill. A bit
premature, perhaps? Our efficient waitress, Nadezhda, informed us that it
was “the system.” You can’t fight the system. But could one order dessert?
She went for the menu. Let’s see: ice cream, “night and day cake,” banana
split, all priced between 40 and 100 rubles ($1.30 and $3.40). What should
we have? Maybe it was already written on the bill. No, the bill had vanished
again. My expensive, inevitably ghastly cocktail (240 rubles, $8.20)
arrived. I decided to go for the banana split (90 rubles, $3.10), because I
was still hungry. It wasn’t bad and at least had plenty of ice cream.
The bill came back for an encore. By now the music was loud and it seems
there is a Latin disco here on Saturday nights. Behind our table at the
entrance, there was now a cash register – people were paying to get in! We
paid and got out. It wasn’t that good and it wasn’t that cheap. I wondered
how much it would cost to bankroll an African revolution.
Armenia, 3 Ulitsa Lomonosova. Tel 310 2230, All major credit cards accepted.
Menu in Russian only.
Dinner for two with wine: 1,340 rubles ($46.20).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER REMAINS CLOSED WITH OVER 1,000 VEHICLES STUCK
Armenian Radio First Programme, Yerevan
8 Oct 04
(Presenter) The Russian-Georgian border remains closed. It is not yet
known when it will reopen.
(Correspondent Tatul Akopyan by phone from Georgia) The
Russian-Georgian border remains closed. As has already been reported,
more than 1,500 vehicles have piled up on the Russian-Georgian
border. Most of them are heading for Armenia, some are delivering
various Armenian products to Russia and other CIS countries. The
condition of the Armenian drivers who are still on the so-called
“neutral zone” is very difficult. They must either wait till the
opening of the border, and is not known yet when this will happen, or
return to Armenia with cargo and pay extra transit duties.
The employees of the Armenian embassy in Georgia visited the Verkhniy
Lars checkpoint yesterday to familiarize themselves with the situation
on the spot and try to help the Armenian drivers. It must be noted the
Armenian drivers have been caught unawares. They are living in their
vehicles and the nights are very cold. There is also a bread problem;
people have spent all their money.
The number of people stuck at the border is less than 100; they are
bus passengers. After waiting for many days most of them returned to
Armenia or Russia. The Georgian authorities gave assurances that they
were ready to open the border for three hours but the Russian side
violated the agreement. Yesterday when we asked the Russian border
guards why they did not open the border, they answered that they had
received an order from on high not to.
The Russian border guards said that even if they opened the border for
three hours it would not be possible to allow more than 10-15 vehicles
to cross the border.
Tatul Akopyan, Tbilisi.
(Note: Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 1015 gmt 8 Oct 04 reported that
yesterday evening three lorries were able to cross the border with a
special load destined for the Armenian Nuclear Power Station)

Luchtzak Aviation, Belgium
Sept 30 2004
Rus sia stops providing aero-navigational services to some CIS
airlines
Posted on Friday, October 01, 2004 @ 8:43 AM CEST by sn26567

SN30952 writes “Beginning October 1, Russia plans to stop providing
aero-navigational services to the planes of several airlines from CIS
countries.
The ban will affect the airlines from Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan
and Ukraine.
The majority of debts come from companies that have already gone
bankrupt or stopped flying to Russia. But this fact doesn’t bother
the Russian Transportation Ministry, which believes that in this case
the debts have to be repaid by the country’s authorities.
The debt of Armenian airlines which no longer fly to Russia amounts
to almost $2.7 million, while the airlines that still have flights to
Russia, owe $6,000. 16 Georgian airlines, which no longer fly to
Russia, owe the Russian authorities more than $3.6 million for the
flights between 1994 and 2001.
Kazakhstan owes $5.5 million, while 37 Ukrainian airlines owe more
than $5 million.
The Georgian side have left all of Russia’s requests without answer,
which means that Georgian airlines are likely to be banned from the
Russian skies for a long period.”

Georgian border closure not to affect Russian-Armenian relations – paper
Hayots Ashkarh, Yerevan
6 Oct 04

Text of Vardan Grigoryan report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkarh
on 6 October “Situation at Verkhniy Lars and around it”
The fact that hundreds of lorries bound for Armenia have been stranded
at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border is
being assessed differently.
The situation was created after the incredible terrorist act in Beslan
when the Russian leadership decided to close land borders with Georgia
and Azerbaijan. But this has affected Armenia more than the countries
mentioned. It turns out that due to limited communication
opportunities and the blockade imposed by Turkey and Azerbaijan,
Armenia has found itself in this situation “through no fault of its
own”.
It has nothing in common with the rumours disseminated recently that
allegedly by closing the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint on the
Russian-Georgian border, Russia is trying to punish Armenia along with
Georgia for cooperation with NATO or for the intention to send
Armenian servicemen to Iraq. If Russia had really wanted to punish
Armenia, it could undoubtedly have found more effective levers.
This forcible step taken by Russia in the context of the antiterror
fight has created a very contradictory situation in both
Russian-Georgian and Armenian-Georgian relations.
The speaker of the upper chamber of the Russian State Duma, Sergey
Mironov, who was in Yerevan recently, promised that the situation
would be settled. Moreover, he hinted that the problem of the
Transcaucasus railway link to Sukhumi would be also
settled. Certainly, it is a very pleasant piece of news for Armenia,
but at present the settlement of such a complex problem is coming up
against the political dispute about the return of Georgian refugees to
Gali District, as well as the fact that the Sukhumi-Zugdidi sector of
the railway is badly damaged.
A question arises: Are these measures of Russia fruitful while it is
evident that terrorists penetrate this country through mountains and
gorges? Georgia, which has sea ports and receives large western loans,
does not at all submit to Russia’s requests to capture and extradite
them [terrorists] to Russia. Thus, the problem is not in closing the
Verkhniy Lars checkpoint but in turning the measures against Georgia
into “targeted” ones. We think that in this context economic and
political steps could be taken which will not directly affect
Armenia’s interests. This gives us the hope that they will finally
find mutually acceptable solutions that will take Armenian cargo
transportation out of this misunderstanding.
By the way, the closure of the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint may be used by
some forces to call into question Russian-Armenian strategic
partnership. Certain political forces in Armenia are interested in
this, they are spreading incredible rumours about Moscow-Yerevan
relations and politicizing the problem. But the majority of the public
understand that the situation created at the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint
is not that problem which can cast doubt on Armenian-Russian strategic
partnership. Russia is not the country which Armenia can have problems
with because of this kind of incidents. Thus, we are sure that today’s
search for mutually advantageous options to resolve the situation
created around the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint will yield positive
results and thwart all attempts to discredit Armenian-Russian
relations.

CARDIFF CITY COUNCIL RECOGNISES THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Following in the steps of Gwynedd County Council that recognised
the Armenian Genocide by a unanimous vote in March 2004,
Wales again leads the way today.
The Council of Wales’ capital City, Cardiff, has now officially recognised
the truth of the genocide by deciding to incorporate references to it in
its Holocaust Memorial Day service in 2005 and in future years.
We believe that this is the first time a major city in Britain (in this
case the capital of Wales) has decided to accord such recognition
to the Armenian Genocide in its Holocaust Memorial Day Service.
In a letter to Wales-Armenia Solidarity, an associate body of CRAG
in Wales, Councillor Rodney Berman, Leader of Cardiff Council, wrote:
Ref EM2071
29 Sept 2004
Following further consideration I am writing to inform you that we will
be incorporating specific reference to the Armenian Holocaust in the
commemorative service of 2005 and for future years.
I am sure this will meet with your agreement.
Councillor Rodney Berman
(Leader of Cardiff Council)
Leader’s Office
Room 525
County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
CardiffCF10 4UW
CRAG congratulates Cardiff for its charting initiative, and also thanks
Wales-Armenia Solidarity, and particularly Mr Eilian Williams, for the
tireless efforts expended toward this goal.
With HMD 2005 fast approaching, it is high time that due consideration is
shown to the Armenian British community in terms of the pain it carries
with the history and memories of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

Armenian, Bulgarian leaders sign Karabakh communique
Mediamax news agency
5 Oct 04
YEREVAN
Armenia and Bulgaria welcome the intensification of talks in 2004 to
settle the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, said a joint communique signed
between Armenian and Bulgarian Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Georgi
Purvanov in Yerevan today.
“Both sides are united on an opinion that the conflict should be
resolved only peacefully,” the document said.
“Armenia and Bulgaria are expressing their support for the efforts of
the OSCE Minsk Group and its co-chairmen aimed at finding a lasting
and comprehensive solution acceptable for the sides,” the joint
communique by Kocharyan and Purvanov said.

Barring Armenians from NATO event to isolate Azerbaijan – aide
ANS TV, Baku
2 Oct 04

[Presenter Leyla Hasanova] Hampering Armenian MPs’ presence at the
Baku-hosted Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in
November is tantamount to isolating Azerbaijan from cooperation with
international organizations, the head of the Azerbaijani Presidential
Executive Staff, Ramiz Mehdiyev, has said.
[Mehdiyev, speaking to journalists] We should recall that several
Armenian officers had planned to attend a NATO event in Azerbaijan
[Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises in September]. As for our
[changing tack], frankly speaking, Mr President’s attitude to this was
negative from the very beginning because their visit here would not be
the right move. Why? Because even if these officers are not involved
in Azerbaijan’s troubles, others are.
On the other hand, Azerbaijan cannot be isolated from the world. We
have to participate in events conducted by international organizations.
It would also be incorrect to hamper the activities of international
organizations in Azerbaijan because this would willy-nilly form a
negative image for Azerbaijan. For this reason, we regard the
activities of international organizations in Azerbaijan as normal. It
is possible that representatives of Armenia might attend these
events. But they attend these events in Azerbaijan as members of
international organizations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan, Georgia reinforce links
By Christina Tashkevich
03/10/2004 22:58
The Messenger
An Azerbaijani governmental delegation including the country’s foreign
and education ministers continues its visit to Georgia.
The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov, already met with
President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and the
Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili. Meanwhile the Minister of
Education Misir Mardanov brought humanitarian aid with him to
distribute to Azeri schools in Georgia. The Azeri schools in Marneuli
and Bolnisi regions will receive textbooks and computers as a gift
from the Azerbaijani government.
Georgia’s Minister of Education Kakha Lomaia has traveled to Georgian
schools in Azerbaijan in similar programs to deliver text books and
supplies.
Azerbaijan’s senior Islamic clergyman, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allakhshukur
Pashazade is also in the delegation and is participating in an
international religious conference in Tbilisi. Meanwhile, Pashazade
invited the Georgian Patriarch Ilia II to visit Azerbaijan in the near
future.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister and the Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
Zhvania discussed the future construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum
gas pipeline during their meeting on Tuesday.
The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will begin
only after the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is constructed
sometime in 2005.
According to Mamedyarov, they discussed other issues of bilateral
relations as well, including economic issues of cooperation. “We have
very good, useful and intensive exchange of opinions,” said the Azeri
foreign minister.
The Azeri media reports that the development of transport
communications between the two countries was also discussed at the
meeting.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Tuesday briefing Mamedyarov said, “There
are no problems in the relations of Azerbaijan and Georgia. There are
only issues which are being decided on in constructive ways.” He added
that both countries have common interests both “on the regional and
international level.”
Talking about Georgia’s possible role as a mediator in resolving the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the foreign minister said, “Baku will only
welcome it if the Georgian side will show this initiative.”
During his visit to celebrate the ‘Contract of the Century’ on
September 20, Zurab Zhvania met with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev,
who expressed strong support for Georgia. President Aliev said, “A
successful Azerbaijan means a successful Georgia. And the welfare of
Georgia means the welfare of Azerbaijan.”
The Azeri president also declared that Baku supports Tbilisi in its
fight against “aggressive separatism” and recognizes the territorial
integrity of Georgia.

Film festival set to open on Tuesday
By Naush Boghossian
Staff Writer
Daily news.com
Saturday, October 02, 2004

GLENDALE — Less than a decade after it was launched to promote only
Armenian filmmakers, the Arpa International Film Festival has evolved
into a prestigious showcase for filmmakers from around the world.
The six-day film festival, celebrating its seventh year, starts
Tuesday and will feature 60 films by artists from 19 countries
including Botswana, the Czech Republic, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan and
Iran, all with one central theme: human struggles.
“Every year, we get more countries in our festival and people calling
from all around the globe to submit their films,” said festival
committee member Alex Kalognomos.
“While we still have a core of Armenian filmmakers submitting films
from the diaspora, every year it’s more representative of the world at
large.”
The nonprofit Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art, or AFFMA, was
founded in Los Angeles — home to the largest population of Armenians
outside Armenia — with the purpose of supporting filmmakers who
explore subjects of social and cultural importance including diaspora,
exile and multiculturalism.
“It’s about people who have turned great misfortune into stories of
human resilience. That’s what this film festival is about,” Kalognomos
said.
“It’s about global empathy and the love of humanity, especially at a
time when we are at war, and that we can do it if only through the
love of cinema.”
The festival — named for the Armenian word for a life-giving water
source — draws about 2,500 people a year to its screenings and
parties.
Next Sunday’s awards banquet, to be held at the Sheraton Universal
Hotel, will honor producers Robert Papazian and James Hirsch.
This year’s films tell stories including a Japanese-American baseball
pitcher’s plight in a U.S. internment camp in World War II in “Day of
Independence”; modernism clashing with tradition for a teacher in
post-revolutionary Iran in “The Fifth Reaction”; and a young woman’s
humanity being cruelly rejected as she is placed on the auction block
in pre-Civil War America in “Bid’em In.”
Stories that revolve around life in America include “Compton Cowboy,”
about a young African-American boy living in Compton who grew up
dreaming about becoming a country music singer, and “Poster Boy,”
about a senator’s son coming out to his father about being gay during
his campaign.
The festival, which was once restricted to Armenian filmmakers, began
accepting submissions from non-Armenians within two years of the
organization’s inception.
“In the beginning, AFFMA as a small organization catered to young,
aspiring filmmakers and other artists,” said screenwriter Paul
Peterson, who serves on the group’s board of directors. “Over the
years, with its success becoming greater each year, AFFMA has opened
up to artists of all caliber, from neophyte to veteran filmmaker.”
What helped propel the festival to a more prestigious level was
getting ArcLight Cinemas on board, a coup for the foundation.
Even though the organization had shown films at local studios,
ArcLight allowed its movies to be seen by the general public.
“ArcLight made Arpa visible to the public at large, and it wasn’t by
invitation only, and in that sense, ArcLight has been fantastic,”
Peterson said.
Though relatively small compared with the Hollywood Film Festival and
the AFI Film Festival — also hosted by the theater — Arpa has always
been well-received and well-attended by the public, said Tracy
Hawkins, director of strategic alliances for ArcLight Cinemas.
“I think they have done a really good job choosing films to be in the
festival that can cross over to people other than Armenians,” Hawkins
said. Arpa is one of about 10 festivals they hold each year. “Through
all their films, they have a way of touching all cultures.”
As the organization gets more involved in the industry, its leaders
say, it will only grow in its role as an international festival.
“I think there are no limits to how big and how prestigious it could
become. Am I saying it will ever be as big as the Cannes Film
Festival? No. But that’s not its purpose,” Peterson said.
“For what started out as a small community festival, it has now
blossomed into a legitimate international festival, which in time will
only get bigger and better.”
Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 [email protected]