Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

Agence France Presse
14 novembre 2004 dimanche 8:33 AM GMT
Le gouvernement azerbaïdjanais veut camoufler son inflation galopante
(PAPIER D’ANGLE)
Par Simon OSTROVSKY
BAKOU 14 nov
Au début, Elchine, un commerçant de la banlieue de Bakou, avait
encore un doute, mais il y a un mois, il s’est rendu compte que les
miches de pain vendues dans son magasin devenaient de plus en plus
petites.
“Vous voyez ? Elle pèse 240 grammes”, explique Elchine en plaçant la
miche sur une balance, “ils rétrécissent le pain pour ne pas avoir à
le vendre plus cher !”.
Le gouvernement azerbaïdjanais qui refuse de reconnaître l’évidence a
décidé pour maintenir le prix du pain à 500 manats (10 cents) d’en
réduire le poids.
Du coup, une miche de pain ne pèse aujourd’hui plus que la moitié de
ce qu’elle pesait il y a encore un mois.
“Il n’y qu’en Azerbaïdjan qu’on pouvait avoir cette idée”, dit
Elchine.
En un mois, les prix à la consommation ont augmenté de 40%. Le
gouvernement refusant de l’admettre, il n’en tient tout simplement
pas compte dans ses statistiques.
Les salaires dans le secteur public ainsi que les retraites n’ont pas
suivi cette inflation galopante, privant les plus démunis de nombreux
produits de première nécessité.
Les réfugiés du Nagorny-Karabakh, une région que l’Arménie et
l’Azerbaïdjan se sont disputés au cours d’une guerre au début des
années 1990, sont particulièrement touchés.
“Je ne peux même plus me permettre les choses les plus simples”, se
plaint Jafar Chirinogly, 80 ans, un réfugié de cette région
actuellement sous contrôle arménien.
L’Azerbaïdjan a pourtant largement profité de la hausse du prix du
pétrole, mais cette manne financière n’a pas été répercutée dans la
pension mensuelle de l’équivalent de 20 dollars que reçoit M.
Chirinogly.
Pour le président azerbaïdjanais, Ilham Aliev, il n’est pas possible
de juguler cette inflation qui selon lui est parfaitement naturelle.
“Ni le gouvernement ni le président ne sont satisfaits de cette
situation, mais n’en faisons pas une tragédie”, a-t-il indiqué à
l’AFP.
L’opposition explique cette hausse soudaine des prix par la décision
du gouvernement au début du mois de multiplier par trois le prix du
gaz domestique et d’augmenter de 10% celui du carburant.
L’Azerbaïdjan suivait ainsi le Fonds monétaire international (FMI)
qui demandait l’alignement des prix sur ceux du marché international.
“Le gouvernement aurait dû prendre des mesures pour protéger la
société avant d’adopter de telles décisions”, estime Gulamgusseïn
Aliev, le vice-président du Front populaire, un parti de l’opposition
parlementaire.
Les économistes sont du même avis, mais ils voient en la corruption
généralisée une autre cause de l’inflation.
Selon Bakou, la hausse des prix à la consommation est restée stable à
6%, mais l’économiste indépendant Nazim Imanov estime lui que rien
que du fait du haut niveau de corruption l’inflation s’établit à 10%.
“Aucune transaction d’importance ne se fait sans payer un pot-de-vin,
alors si le fonctionnaire commence à demander plus, le niveau général
des prix augmente”, explique M. Imanov
La corruption influence aussi les prix de façon plus subtile, les
fonctionnaires surestimant le coût des projets publics pour se mettre
la différence dans la poche.
Dans une récente étude de l’organisation non gouvernementale
Transparency International, l’Azerbaïdjan a été classé au septième
rang des pays les plus corrompus au monde, sur un total de 146
étudiés.
Une inflation maîtrisée peut être bénéfique, car elle entraîne une
baisse des prix en devises étrangères ce qui favorise les
exportations. Mais ce n’est pas le cas en Azerbaïdjan, le dollar et
le manat étant utilisés de manière interchangeable. “Si les prix en
manats augmentent, ils augmentent aussi en dollars. C’est un
phénomène très rare”, conclut M. Imanov.
–Boundary_(ID_eAnmfx/fQs7JgjMRA2RonQ)–

NKR President Met With Representatives Of Armenia’s Business Circles
MFO
Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
11 Nov 04
As it was already informed, today, November 11, President of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghoukassian has left for the United
States of America for the participation in the telethon planned for
November 25 in the USA, and aimed at fund raising for the development
of Artsakh.
On November 10, in Yerevan, Arkady Ghoukassian met with representatives
of the business circles of Armenia. The meeting, initiated by the
Armenian Development Agency, was dedicated to the coming telethon.
It was noted that the raised funds, first of all, would be directed to
the construction of the “North-South” highway, strategically important
for the NKR. Arkady Ghoukassian emphasized the significance of the
road, both for the security guarantee and economic development of
Artsakh. He noted with satisfaction the readiness of the business
circles of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh to contribute actively to
the construction of the highway. The NKR President expressed his
confidence that this activity would also encourage the Armenian
Diasporaâ~@~Y s representatives.
The majority of those, who made speeches at the meeting, expressed
their opinion that the construction of the “North-South” highway was
a nation-wide goal. They expressed their readiness to contribute to
the programâ~@~Ys realization.
Issues related to the economic cooperation between Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh were touched upon at the meeting. In particular,
the necessity of a clear definition of the relations in the legal
field was stressed. A proposal on organizing a business forum in the
NKR was also made.
–Boundary_(ID_+pbNyRqWCkWaMb4A28ZLKg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV HAS HIGH HOPES FOR USA AND GEORGE
BUSH IN ISSUE OF “JUST RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT”
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5. ARMINFO. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has
high hopes for the USA and George Bush in the issue of “just
resolution of Karabakh conflict.”
According to Azerbaijani Mass Media, the congratulation message of
Azerbaijani President I.Aliyev to US President George Bush, in
particular, says that as a reliable strategic partner of USA,
Azerbaijan will further make its contribution to provision of peace
and security in the region, struggle against international
terrorism. At the same time, we have high hopes for the USA’s efforts
as an OSCE MG co-chair and you personal efforts in just resolution of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict within the framework of territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan and the norms and principles of the
International Law, the message says. Besides, Azerbaijani President
thanks G.Bush for support in development of rich energy resources in
the sectors of the Caspian Sea belonging to Azerbaijan, their export
to world markets, construction of BTC oil pipeline and gas pipeline
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum jointly with leading companies in the USA and the
world.
In his turn, press-center of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also
made a statement, which in particular, mentions that after the Section
907 of Freedom Support Act was suspended, the USA started assisting
Azerbaijan, which resulted in implementation of various projects in
the country. The Azerbaijani Republic also wants to be sure that in
future the USA will activate its efforts in elimination of problems,
establishment of peace and security in the South Caucasus, and first
of all, in peaceful resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani, Karabakh
conflict, the statement says.

International Journalist’s Network
Nov. 5, 2004
Contest in Armenia to honor special reports on Georgia
Television stations and companies in Armenia can enter a competition
aimed at producing a series of special reports about Georgia.
Internews-Armenia is organizing the competition, sponsored by the U.S.
Agency for International Development. The application deadline is
November 20.
The contest aims to offer the public better information on the social
and political processes in Georgia. Internews encourages a creative
approach to the reports, which could focus on the economy, culture,
environment, politics, social problems or international relations,
among other topics.
Candidates should submit a completed application form; two
Russian-language copies of a detailed script proposal; the production
schedule, to be completed by January 15; the curriculum vitae of the
director/producer and main participants; detailed production expenses;
a videotape of the applicant’s past work; and a letter from the TV
company agreeing to air the reports.
Internews will select the proposal based on the best likelihood of
carrying out the project and the professionalism of the bid, among
other criteria.
Detailed requirements and forms are available at
For more information, contact Internews-Armenia at [email protected],
telephone +374 1 583 620.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

noticias.info (press release), Spain
Nov. 4, 2004
Canada offers new lease of life to Afghan refugees in Central Asia
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, Nov 4 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency and the
Canadian government have teamed up in programmes that could resettle
nearly 2,000 Afghans who had been stranded in Central Asia for years
with no hope of returning to their homeland.
Two Canadian immigration officers have just concluded weeks of
interviews in Tajikistan that are likely to lead to the resettlement of
about 1,000 Afghan refugees. At the same time, UNHCR announced in
Turkmenistan that Canada had accepted some 140 refugees interviewed
there – 64 Afghans, followed by 47 ethnic Armenians who had fled
Azerbaijan and 34 ethnic Turkmen from Iran.
Simultaneously, 511 Afghan refugees accepted by Canada earlier this
year from Kyrgyzstan – where the programme was designed and tested –
are now arriving in their new home, a few families at a time. And the
UNHCR office in Tashkent has arranged for Canadian immigration
officials to consider 360 people for interviews starting shortly: all
but three were either Afghans stranded because they were students in
the former Soviet Union or their families.
While UNHCR’s preferred “durable solution” for refugees is a return to
their homes, there are often some who cannot return. The only
alternative then is integration in the country that provided asylum, or
resettlement in a third country.
That last option was the only hope for many of the refugees scattered
in the former Central Asian republics of the Soviet Union.
Many Afghan refugees were associated with the government of Najibullah,
who was overthrown in 1992, and even a peripheral link with his
pro-Soviet regime – such as studying in the former Soviet Union – could
still prove fatal to a returnee. And the host countries have been
reluctant to grant citizenship to refugees, closing off that solution
for most.
“We had problems with both the mujahideen and the Taliban,” said Bashir
Ahmad Mavlavizoda, whose family has been accepted for resettlement in
Canada from Tajikistan and hopes to be leaving early next year. “The
mujahideen plays the role of the Taliban and vice versa. They are still
there.”
Although he and his family were fasting when interviewed during the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in the view of some of the ex-mujahideen
still holding powerful positions in Afghanistan, his interpretation of
Islam made him a communist.
Currently nine governments – the United States, Canada, Australia,
Sweden, Norway, Finland, New Zealand, Denmark and the Netherlands –
receive most of the refugees who are annually resettled. Last year, of
the nearly 27,000 refugees resettled by UNHCR, 13,987 went to the
United States, 4,749 to Canada and 3,935 to Australia.
UNHCR is also working to find other states willing to accept vulnerable
people and to strengthen recently introduced programmes in places like
Chile, Benin, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Ireland, Iceland and the United
Kingdom.
In the case of Canada, its official programme of accepting immigrants
from around the world includes an annual quota of up to 7,500 refugees.
That prompted UNHCR representatives in Central Asia to invite Canadian
officials to interview their Afghan refugee population.
”We identified the need in Central Asia and thought the people would
benefit, so said ‘Let’s try,'” said Brian Casey, head of the
immigration section in the Canadian embassy in Moscow that has overseen
the programme. “We are dealing with a relatively small population – but
just a small movement makes a big impact.”
Canadian officials flew in and examined each of the cases compiled by
UNHCR offices in the capitals of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and
Kyrgyzstan. Although the acceptance rate was high – more than 80
percent in Kyrgyzstan – some individuals were screened out by joint
Canadian-UNHCR analysis because of security concerns or past
involvement in the notorious security services.
But the vast majority was just an unfortunate group caught in the
shifting politics of an Afghanistan that was falling apart even before
the Soviet invasion of 1979. Some were moderates who did not back the
communist rulers of the 1980s but refused to support the resistance of
the mujahideen guerrillas. Some were merely teachers, journalists or
bureaucrats who continued to work through the Najibullah era, earning
the undiminished suspicion of the anti-communist forces that eventually
triumphed.
Among the most unfortunate were scores of Afghans who had arrived as
young orphans when Central Asia was part of the Soviet Union. They have
almost no memories of Afghanistan and no family ties, but just being
the children of those associated with the Najibullah regime could be
enough to condemn them to death.
The numbers to be resettled in Canada are modest when seen in terms of
the total Afghan population still outside their borders. Despite more
than 2.3 million Afghans repatriating since the fall of the Taliban
regime in Afghanistan in late 2001, an estimated million remain in Iran
and a million just in the refugee camps of Pakistan – with perhaps
double that number of Afghans in the cities of Pakistan.
But the Afghan refugee populations in Central Asia are, in many ways,
different from the majority of those in Iran and Pakistan. They tend to
be more educated – either before their arrival or because they received
better education after reaching asylum. Their claims to refugee status
– the fear of persecution if they return to their homeland – are often
better documented.
And a resolution of their cases also has a greater effect. Compared to
Iran and Pakistan, there were relatively few Afghan refugees in the
three Central Asian countries at the start of this programme; around
2,500 in Tajikistan, 2,300 in Uzbekistan, 1,200 in Turkmenistan and 650
in Kyrgyzstan. The resettlement of such a large proportion to Canada
raises hopes that a solution is now in sight for all of these Afghan
refugees.
Of the remainder, other countries may take some for resettlement. US
officials are expected in Turkmenistan later this year and in
Tajikistan early in 2005 to interview the dwindling number of refugees
there. A few refugees might still decide that conditions inside
Afghanistan have improved enough that they can return. And a small,
manageable residual number might be accepted as citizens in their
countries of asylum since many – such as Afghan Tajiks in Tajikistan
and Afghan Turkmen in Turkmenistan – have the same ethnicity as their
hosts.
A quarter century after UNHCR began caring for Afghan refugees, hopes
are rising for an end to the problem. Increasing stability and economic
growth inside Afghanistan have drawn millions of Afghans back from Iran
and Pakistan, while cooperation between Canada and UNHCR has
demonstrated that there are solutions also for those refugees who
cannot go home.

Azeri Foreign Ministry protests at British MPs’ Karabakh visit
Ekspress, Baku
27 Oct 04
Text of Alakbar Raufoglu’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress
on 27 October headlined “Baku sends a note to London” and subheaded
“Baroness Cox makes Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry sick and tired”
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has sent a note of protest to
Britain over a visit to Nagornyy Karabakh by Deputy Speaker of the
British House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox, Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov has told Ekspress newspaper.
“We have given special instructions to our embassy in London in
connection with the issue and have voiced our protest to the British
side. This was done by means of a note and at individual meetings. We
think that official London should voice its attitude to the incident,”
Mammadyarov said.
In its note, the Foreign Ministry noted British MPs’ illegal visit to
Karabakh and demanded an end to such visits. It also voiced regret
over Baroness Cox’s continuous visits to the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan.
“She has never appealed to us over her visits to Karabakh. She has
been travelling to the occupied territories for more than 10 years but
we have not been informed about this. This runs counter to official
London’s relations with Azerbaijan and its position on the Karabakh
conflict,” Mammadyarov said.
Despite the baroness’ disrespect, Azerbaijan has repeatedly asked
her to revise the route of her trips to Karabakh. “We have always
suggested that they travel [to Karabakh] from here. We are ready to
do our best for this,” Mammadyarov said.
As for the impossibility of travelling to Karabakh from Azerbaijan,
Mammadyarov said that not Azerbaijan but the Karabakh separatists are
to blame for that as it is “the occupying side which makes these trips
impossible”. “They have planted mines on the occupied territories,
thus creating dangerous conditions,” he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karami unveils final Cabinet lineup
30-member government includes 2 women
By Nada Raad and Nafez Kawas
Daily Star staff
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
BEIRUT: Prime Minister-designate Omar Karami formed a pro-Syrian
30-minister Cabinet on Tuesday excluding opposition members and former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s parliamentary bloc, but, for the first
time in Lebanon, naming two women to ministerial posts.
“We would have wished all parties to participate, but we could not
do better,” Karami, who had called for a national unity government
to face the pressures on Lebanon, said from Baabda following the
announcement of his new Cabinet.
The Cabinet reshuffle comes amid international pressures on Syria to
withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
However, Karami promised that his Cabinet will draft a new
parliamentary electoral law respecting the Taif Accord, which
stipulates that Syria leave Lebanon.
The Cabinet excludes anti-Syrian opposition groups, who boycotted the
parliamentary consultations ahead of Karami’s appointment. However,
the prime minister designate said that it was the opposition that
decided not to participate in his Cabinet, despite attempts he
initiated in the last few days.
“We will continue to deal with the opposition to solve all difficulties
placed on Lebanon,” he said.
Karami’s Cabinet is the first to include two women, Leila Solh,
daughter of former Prime Minister Riad Solh and aunt of billionaire
Saudi Prince Walid Bin Talal, and Wafaa Hamza, a Shiite close to
Speaker Nabih Berri. Said Karami, “Women constitute half the Lebanese
population.”
Two of the most prominent portfolios, the defense and foreign
ministries, were given to Syria’s allies Abdel-Hamid Mrad and Mahmoud
Hammoud, while Syria’s strongest ally, Suleiman Franjieh, was named
interior minister.
Karami named economist and former Minister Elias Saba as finance
minister, at a time when his government is suffering from an estimated
$35 billion national debt.
Druze Talal Arslan was named minister of the displaced, replacing his
opponent Chouf MP Walid Jumblatt, who said he will not participate
in any Cabinet under Lahoud’s mandate in opposition to the extension
of the president’s term for three years on Sept. 3.
In accordance with the Taif Accord, the Cabinet must include equal
Christian and Muslim representation spread between six Christian
Maronites, four Christian Orthodox, three Christian Catholics,
two Christian Armenians, six Shiites, six Sunnis and three Druze,
headed by a Sunni Muslim prime minister.
The Cabinet was announced following extensive and lengthy consultations
between Lahoud, Berri and Karami over the past five days.
Kararmi’s first visit to Baabda on Tuesday was used to reach an
agreement over the names appointed to some ministries.
Sources close to the Cabinet discussions said that Berri vetoed the
presence of former Speaker Hussein Husseini in the Cabinet and demanded
that the names of all six Shiites ministers receive his approval.
Berri, who heads the Amal Movement, issued a statement on Tuesday
denying all information about a “Shiite obstacle” in the Cabinet
reshuffle.
“There is no Shiite obstacle at all in the Cabinet reshuffle. Several
of the names mentioned in the press are inaccurate,” the statement
said.
After resolving the interior ministry obstacle, granted to outgoing
Health Minister Suleiman Franjieh after outgoing Interior Minister
Elias Murr announced he would not participate in the next Cabinet,
other difficulties emerged over the past 24 hours concerning the
names to be appointed in the culture and education ministries.
Sources said that while Lahoud wanted to grant the Education Ministry
to Bsharri MP Qabalan Issa Khoury’s nephew Ibrahim Daher, Karami
wanted the post for Sami Minkara or Tammam Salam.
“Salam wanted the Public Works and Transportation or the Education
Ministry, but we could not offer him either of the two portfolios. We
hope to include him in future cabinets,” Karami said.
Sources said that former Beirut MP Tammam Salam also wanted a prominent
ministry as none of Beirut’s main figures were handed a portfolio.
Hariri’s parliamentary bloc, which includes 17 Beirut MPs, announced
last week it would not participate in the next cabinet. It also
refrained last Thursday from naming a prime minister during the
compulsory parliamentary consultations with Lahoud.
Early before heading to Baabda, Karami said from his residence in
Ramlet al-Baida that the delay in the Cabinet reshuffle was due to
obstacles concerning names more than allotted portfolios.
Karami also received a delegation from the Syrian Social Nationalist
Party headed by the party’s president Gebran Araiji and a delegation
from the Phalange Party, two visits which were kept away from the
media.
The new Cabinet excludes members of the opposition, such as Jumblatt’s
Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc, the Qornet Shehwan Gathering
and any ally of Hariri.
Karami’s extensive attempts to include members of the opposition in
his Cabinet failed late Monday. The opposition groups, although not
opposing Karami personally, are determined not to participate in a
cabinet that falls short concerning basic national objectives, such
as implementing the Taif Accord.
They have also repeatedly said that the next cabinet will not bring
any improvement to the current situation.
“We refused to participate in the next cabinet knowing … that the
opposition would be a minority and could not make any difference
to face the majority of pro-regime parties and forces that are
determined to keep the situation going as it is now,” said Qornet
Shehwan Gathering member Batroun MP Butros Harb in a statement Tuesday.
Until late Monday night, Karami was still trying to convince both
Harb and Zghorta MP Nayla Mouawad to join his Cabinet. However,
his initiatives failed when the opposition groups said they would
not participate in a cabinet that lacks reform plans.
What remains to be seen following the Cabinet reshuffle is whether
it will be granted the confidence of Parliament, which requires the
vote of 86 out of its 128 MPs.
According to Article 64 of the Constitution, “The Cabinet does not
exercise its powers before it gains Parliament’s confidence.”
The 29 MPs who voted against the constitutional amendment of the
extension of Lahoud’s term may refuse to cast their vote for the
new Cabinet. However, such a number would not affect the Cabinet’s
legitimacy. But if Hariri’s parliamentary bloc decided not to vote
in favor of the government, in addition to the 29 other MPs, Karami’s
Cabinet would not be able to exercise its powers.
On Wednesday morning the   ministers will go to the Cabinet offices
in Beirut, form a committee and issue a ministerial statement that
needs to receive Parliament’s vote of confidence before the ministers
start exercising their powers.
Lineup of new cabinet
Prime Minister: Omar Karami Deputy Premier: Issam Fares
Finance Minister: Elias Saba
Information Minister: Elie Ferzli
Minister of State: Albert Mansour 
Interior Minister: Suleiman Franjieh
Minister of the Displaced: Talal Arslan
Education Minister: Sami Minkara
Defense Minister: Abdel-Rahim Mrad
Public Works and Transport Minister: Yassin Jaber
Social Affairs Minister: Ghazi Zeaiter
State Minister: Karam Karam
Sports and Youth Minister: Sebouh Hovnanian
Foreign Minister: Mahmoud Hammoud
Telecommunications Minister: Jean-Louis Qordahi
Agriculture Minister: Elias Skaff
Labor Minister: Assem Qanso
Tourism Minister: Farid Khazen
Economy Minister: Adnan Qassar
Minister of State: Mahmoud Abdel-Khaleq
Justice Minister: Adnan Addoum
Culture Minister: Naji Boustany
Energy Minister: Maurice Sehnawi
Industry Minister: Leila Solh
Minister of State for Administrative Development: Ibrahim Daher
Minister of State: Youssef Salameh
Health Minister: Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh
Minister of State: Wafaa Hamzeh
Minister of State: Alain Tabourian
Environment Minister: Wi’am Wahab
–Boundary_(ID_cawbwTzA3G86VFijMUcZ2g)–

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
October 23, 2004 Saturday
Congress of submarine fleet veterans opens in Petersburg
By Nikolai Krupenik, Lev Frolov
MOSCOW
The second congress of the international association of public
organizations of veterans of the submarine fleet and submariners is
opening in St. Petersburg.
Over 200 delegates of a 300,000-strong detachment of former
submariners of the Navy of the USSR and Russia from 44 regions of
Russia, as well as Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Latvia and Estonia take
part in the congress.
As Itar-Tass learnt at the congress organizing committee, the
participants in congress will pay special attention to “the
preparation and holding of the celebrations devoted to 100th
anniversary of Russia’s submarine forces due to be marked in 2006.
The congress delegates will visit memorial complexes and the
Serafimovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg to pay homage to
submariners from nuclear-powered submarines “Kursk” and
“Komsomolets.”

SOME FORCES IN BRATISLAVA TRY TO COMPROMISE LEADER OF ARMENIAN
COMMUNITY
BRATISLAVA, October 22 (Noyan Tapan). One of the private TV companies
of Bratislava broadcasted disinformation compromising the activities
of the Armenian representation in Slovakia, as well as the personality
of leader of the Armenian Community of Slovakia Ashot Grigorian. It is
interesting that these materials were submitted several days prior to
the beginning of the discussion on the issues of the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s possible membership in the European
Union at the National Assembly of Slovakia. Mr. Grigorian has always
made every effort directed at decisions making in favor of the
Armenians in the Slovakian parliament and other state instances. It is
natural to suppose that this attempt of compromising was initiated or,
at least, financed by the anti-Armenians circles. To recap, Ashot
Grigorian also directs his efforts at the development of the
Armenian-Slovakian economic relations, as well as at the stimulation
of foreign investments in Armenia. In particular, he is an active
participant of the Pan-Armenian business-forum, which was held in
Yerevan last week. A delegation of Slovakian businessmen also arrived
in Armenia along with him. The Slovakian businessmen got acquainted
with the great number of Armenian investment programs and found
partners. A. Grigorian also made quite an interesting report devoted
to the possibilities of the attraction of the funds of the European
Union to foreign investments in Armenia.

Baku Today
Azerbaijan Appeals UN General Assembly to Include Karabakh Issue to Its 59th
Session’s Agenda
AssA-Irada 23/10/2004 10:45
Baku has put forth an initiative to include the provision on the situation
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan into the agenda of the UN General
Assembly session.
On Thursday Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with ambassadors of the
European Union countries and Islamic Conference Organization member states.
Mammadyarov said his country is concerned over the recent purposeful
settlement of Armenians in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. He said
Azerbaijan has therefore appealed to the UN General Assembly to include a
provision `On the situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan’ into
the agenda of its 59th session.
He said Azerbaijan needs support of Islamic Conference Organization member
states for the provision to be approved. He also expressed hope for approval
of this provision by ambassadors of other countries.
“Azerbaijan supports conflict settlement based on international legal norms
and hopes that the international community would take the same stance and
assist in preventing the illegal actions by Armenia in the occupied Azeri
lands,” the Minister added.
Armenia occupied former autonomous Nagorno-Karabakh region and also seven
other Azerbaijani districts in 1991-94 war, forcing over 700,000
Azerbaijanis to leave their homes. Despite an armistice signed in May 1994,
no final solution has been achieved to the conflict between the two
countries.