Category: News

Azeri diplomats urge British Foreign Office to explain travel warning
ANS TV, Baku
2 Feb 05
[Presenter] The British ambassador has been summoned to the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry to discuss the description of Nagornyy
Karabakh and the occupied territories as a disputed area between
Azerbaijan and Armenia and also reports characterizing Azerbaijan as a
dangerous country posted on the web site of the British Foreign
Office. Baku hopes that the British Foreign Office will correct its
mistake soon.
[Correspondent over video of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry] British
ambassador to Azerbaijan Lawrence Bristow was summoned to the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The ambassador was asked to give an
explanation of the British Foreign Office’s appeal posted on its web
site to British citizens over a potential threat of terror in
Azerbaijan.
The head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s press service, Matin
Mirza, said that the ambassador assured Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign
Minister Vaqif Sadixov that the issue will be clarified. Deputy
Foreign Minister Araz Azimov and British ambassador Bristow also
discussed the issue. Azimov said that the ambassador himself was
surprised at the warning.
[Azimov, speaking to journalists] He told me that it is
unfounded. Perhaps the issue will be looked into. This simply happened
as a result of someone’s inaccuracy or provocation.
[Correspondent] The deputy foreign minister said that Britain and
Azerbaijan have no problems and he is convinced that British citizens
living in Azerbaijan will reject the warning on the web site of the
British Foreign Office. Azimov is sure that the British Foreign
Office will correct its mistake soon.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
Baxtiyar Salimov, Ramin Yaqubov, ANS.

Analyst says Russia wants military presence in Azerbaijan
Yeni Musavat, Baku
2 Feb 05

Excerpt from Elsad report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 2
February headlined “Lavrov’s visit has begun” and subheaded “Vafa
Quluzada: ‘ In Azerbaijan, Russia intends to make up for its losses in
Ukraine'”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will begin his meetings in Baku
today [on 2 February].
[Passage omitted: Lavrov’s schedule in Baku]
Political analyst Vafa Quluzada believes that the visit should be
closely watched. In his view, the visit of the Russian foreign
minister to Azerbaijan is by no means a routine event. “Before this,
Yevgeniy Primakov once came to Baku in his capacity as Russian foreign
minister. True, there was a motive of personal friendship with [the
late Azerbaijani President] Heydar Aliyev in Primakov’s
visit. However, it became clear then that the objective behind
Primakov’s visit to Baku was to induce Azerbaijan to engage in direct
talks with Nagornyy Karabakh.”
In Quluzada’s opinion, Lavrov’s objectives are broader than those of
Primakov. “Because then there was no talk of a Nagornyy Karabakh peace
accord based on compromise. Instead, there was talk of Azerbaijan’s
position, territorial integrity and the withdrawal of the occupying
forces on the basis of UN resolutions, and giving the Armenians the
autonomous status. This is why Russia wanted its troops to receive the
status of peacekeepers at the Budapest summit [of the OSCE].”
In Quluzada’s view, Russia is trying to restore its military presence
in Azerbaijan and seeks to turn the country into a member of the
Collective Security Treaty.
Commenting on reports that Russia could become a guarantor on
Karabakh, Quluzada said: “Russia’s guarantee means that Armenia
withdraws its troops from certain districts and Russia occupies them
to prevent clashes between the two sides. This signifies that Russia
will establish complete control over Azerbaijan, like it did with
Armenia.”
Quluzada did not rule out that all these issues could be discussed
but, in his opinion, there is nothing else for Lavrov to do in
Azerbaijan.
Quluzada thinks that Moscow has drawn a complex plan regarding
Azerbaijan. “Lavrov’s visit could be the first step. Next,
[Azerbaijani President Ilham] I. Aliyev is expected to visit Russia
in February and will meet [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Russia
wants to use the Nagornyy Karabakh issue to return its armed forces to
Azerbaijan. In a nutshell, Russia intends to compensate its failure in
Ukraine by success in Azerbaijan.”

BBC News
Jan 3 2005
Burning body suspect due in court

One man has already been charged with murdering Mr Amirian
A man is due to appear before magistrates charged with the murder of
a man whose burning body was found on the Cambs/Northants border.
Armenian Havhannes Amirian’s remains were found at Upton in December
2002. Misha Chatsjatrjan, from Oldenzaal in the Netherlands, was
arrested by Dutch police on 12 January.
He is due before Peterborough Magistrates’ Court. Police worked on
the case for more than a year before identifying the dead man as Mr
Amirian.
‘Unknown male’
At one stage it was feared the body, which was found in a wood, might
never be identified.
It led to Peterborough coroner Gordon Ryall taking the unusual step
of allowing the man to be buried in a grave marked “Unknown Male”.
However after the police made a breakthrough in the case the inquest
was briefly resumed for Mr Amirian’s identity to be announced, more
than a year after his death.
The inquest heard that Mr Amirian was born in Armenia and had family
connections in the Ukraine. However, most recently he had lived in
Belgium and England.
For photo:

Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK
Jan 3 2005
COURT: Second man is charged in Upton murder case
A SECOND suspect has been charged with the murder of a man who was
shot, stabbed and set on fire.
Misha Chatsjatrjan (43) was extradited from Holland to be quizzed by
Peterborough detectives.
He was due to appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Nishan Bakunts (27), from Great Yarmouth, has already been charged
with murder, while 23-year-old Arpine Karapetian, also from the
Norfolk town, is accused of attempting to pervert the course of
justice.
The body of Armenian Hovhannes Amirian (43) was found in a field
between Upton and Wansford, near Peterborough, by a passing cyclist,
in the early hours of December 21, 2002.
Police carried out an exhaustive investigation following the
discovery of the body, including appearing on Crimewatch UK, and the
German equivalent, Aktenzeichen XY.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 16:28:00 | 03-02-2005 | Official |
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER CONDOLE ON ZURAB ZHVANIA’S DEATH
In view of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania’s death Armenian
Premier Andranik Margaryan expressed his sympathy in a letter to the
Georgian government.
`The Armenian government offers deepest condolences on the tragic
death of Zurab Zhvania. It is painful to learn of unexpected decease
of the unique man, talented political and public figure, who was
pivotal in the formation of independent and democratic Georgia and
made a great contribution to the development of friendship and
cooperation between the two countries.”
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan also send a condolence telegram to
Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili. The telegram says in part, “‘We
learned with sadness of the Prime Minister’s tragic death. We share
the bitterness of the loss with you.’

PanArmenian News
Feb 1 2005
OSCE SPECIAL MISSION MEMBERS PUT ON CANDLES IN ANCIENT ARMENIAN
CHURCH IN KARVACHAR
01.02.2005 17:23
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azg newspaper reports the details of yesterday’s
visit of the OSCE fact-finding mission in the security belt
territories around Nagorno Karabakh. As reported by the newspaper, on
they way back in the evening the group members visited the medieval
Armenian Monastery of Dadivank, situated in the territory of
Karvachar (Kelbajar is one of the territories of the security belt),
where they put on candles. The Dadivank Monastery, where according to
the legend, relics of St. apostle Thaddeus are kept, is one of the
numerous monuments of the Christian culture, which are situated
within the territories of the security belt and preserve the memory
of the Armenian civilization, which had once prospered here and fell
into decay after these lands being inhabited by Muslim
cattle-breeding tribes. According to the newspaper correspondent’s
impression, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, who were also present at
the work of the commission do not display special enthusiasm on the
mission main goal, considering that those steps will hardly bring to
the solution of the conflict.

ARKA News Agency
Jan 31 2005
2366 emergency cases registered in Armenia in 2004
US Ambassador to Armenia to make a report `Armenia in 2005′ in
California University
Arman Melikyan: NKR authorities are ready to cooperate with the
mission of OSCE
*********************************************************************
2366 EMERGENCY CASES REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN 2004
YEREVAN, January 31. /ARKA/. 2366 emergency cases registered in
Armenia in 2004, 749 people suffered in result of them, RA National
Statistics told ARKA. Of them 179 had died, 530 wounded and 40
evacuated.. 25.9% of the cases are disasters, in result of which 43
people had suffered, three people died, 32 – wounded and 8 –
temporarily evacuated. Namely in report period Armenia registered 13
disaster cases related to strong winds, 2 lightning strikes, 42 cases
of hail, 24 cases of showers, 9 snowfalls, 16 forest fires, 17
floods. Besides Emergency Department of Armenia registered 7
earthquakes. Damage from disasters in the republic made 271603
thousand AMD ($1 – 478.48 AMD). L.D. -0 –
*********************************************************************
US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA TO MAKE A REPORT `ARMENIA IN 2005′ IN
CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY
YEREVAN, January 31. /ARKA/. US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans will
make a report `Armenia in 2005′ in California University. UCLA told
ARKA that the visit is organized by UCLA Professor Richard
Hovannisian together with Association of Armenian Students. Evans
will be accompanied by the Head of USAID representation to Armenia
Robin Phillips. L.D. -0 –
*********************************************************************
ARMAN MELIKYAN: NKR AUTHORITIES ARE READY TO COOPERATE WITH THE
MISSION OF OSCE
STEPANAKERT, January 31. /ARKA/. NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs
Arman Melikyan received the delegation of OSCE. According to NKR
MFA’s Press Service Department, the delegation consists of the
co-Chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Yuri
Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven Mann (the USA) and Bernar Facie (France),
as well as the members of the mission for ascertainment of the facts
headed by Emily Haber (Germany). Greeting the members of the
delegation Arman Melikyan noted the interest of the NKR authorities
in the visit of the mission. Introducing the position of the
authorities of the republic regarding the territories under control
of NKR, the Minister emphasized that studying the real situation in
the security zone of NKR will enable the international community to
have an objective idea about the state of the refugees and
individuals moved out by force.
Melikyan noted that the authorities of NKR are ready to cooperate
with the mission of OSCE and create the necessary facilities for its
work and make it possible for the monitoring group to visit any
region it wishes.
The members of the mission for ascertainment of the facts touched
upon a wide range of issues connected with the official policy of the
authorities of NKR in respect of the territories under control of
NKR. Issues connected with the activity program of the monitoring
group during its stay in NKR were made agree.
The members of the delegation expressed their gratitude to the
Minister for a detailed conversation and readiness to support the
work of the mission. A.H. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency
Feb 1 2005
The leaders of the press-rating of ARKA for 2004 are Armeconombank,
Conversebank, Armsavingsbank, Ardshininvestbank, Anelik Bank
15TH conference of regional group of Basel committee on banking
monitoring to take place on Feb 2-4
1164 traffic accidents registered in Armenia in 2004
*********************************************************************
THE LEADERS OF THE PRESS-RATING OF ARKA FOR 2004 ARE ARMECONOMBANK,
CONVERSEBANK, ARMSAVINGSBANK, ARDSHININVESTBANK, ANELIK BANK
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. ARKA published the press-rating of the
banks of Armenia for 2004. The leaders of the press-rating are 1.
Armeconombank, 2. Conversebank 3. Armsavingsbank 4. Ardshininvestbank
5. Anelik Bank. According to the analysis of the press signals,
during the reporting year less bank information was received, as a
result of which the quantity of press signals reduced by 32,9%
compared to 2003. At that, the share of negative press signals
accounted for 2,1% versus 6,3% in 2003.
In 2004, the share of information for `Banking Activities in Figures’
increased by 1,8 % up to 36,4%. By the volume of information entries
this section is followed by `General on Banks’, the information
weight share of which reduced by 1% to 31,3 %. Notwithstanding the
decrease of the information entries in the section `Bank Development
Policy’, it accounts for 23,1% in the structure of total information,
which is by only 0,2% less than in 2003. With regard to the rest of
the sections, the share of the section `Bank’s Economic Forecasts and
Opinions’ increased by 1,2% making 6%, and the information weight
share of the section `Clients and Service’ reduced by 2% to 3,2%.
During the reporting period, Armeconombank was the leader for 4 out
of 5 sections: `General on Banks’, `Bank Development Policy’,
`Clients and Service’ and `Banking Activities in Figures’. Anelik
Bank was active for the section `Bank’s Economic Forecasts and
Opinions’.
To note, the leaders of the press-rating for 2003 were: 1.
Conversebank 2. Armeconombank 3. Armsavingsbank 4. ACBA 5. Anelik
Bank and 6. HSBC Bank Armenia.
ARKA’s press- rating is based not on financial-economic indicators
but on facts on banking activity, information about which is received
through mass media. As a result, the higher is the level of the
awareness of a bank’s activity, the more effective is its
communications policy. When making up the press -rating, no
information for advertisement purposes was considered or analyzed.
For more detailed information see Banking Information Bulletin #01
(24) for 2004. A.H. -0–
*********************************************************************
15TH CONFERENCE OF REGIONAL GROUP OF BASEL COMMITTEE ON BANKING
MONITORING TO TAKE PLACE ON FEB 2-4
YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. 15th conference of regional group of
Basel committee on banking monitoring of South Caucasus, Central Asia
and Russian Federation will take place on Feb 2-4, CBA press service
told ARKA. The parties will discuss issues of prevention of money
laundry by banking system, peculiarities of monitoring over
non-banking financial institutions and the issue of use of basic
principles of Basel committee on effective banking monitoring. L.D.
-0 –
*********************************************************************
1164 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS REGISTERED IN ARMENIA IN 2004
YEREVAN, February 1. /ARKA/. 1164 traffic accidents were registered
in Armenia in 2004(66 – in December), which by 13,6% exceeds the
indicator of the previous year. According to the RA National
Statistics Service, 259 people were killed (27 – in December), which
is by 2,8% more than in 2003, 1492 were injured (60 -in December),
which is by 15,3% more than in January-December of 2003. As a result
of 135 undiscovered traffic accidents, 32 people were killed and 110
were injured as of January 1, 2005. As a result of 74 accidents,
which took place because of the drunk drivers, 28 people were killed
and 114 were injured.
According to statistical data, 56,7% of the overall quantity of
traffic accidents in 2004 fell to urban and rural areas entailing 93
killed and 751 injured, 42,1% accidents took place outside of rural
and urban settlements entailing death of 162 and 726 were injured.
L.V.–0–
******

ARKA News Agency
Feb 2 2005
On Feb 7-9 Serge Sargsian to leave for Iran
On Feb 3-4 RA MFA to leave for Tbilisi
Russian Foreign Minister to arrive in Armenia on February 17
RA President conducts working meeting with RA Minister of Urban
Development
On February 11, the first seminar `Frenchizing as a way for the
development of SME’ to be held in Armenia
15-TH conference of Basel committee on Banking Supervision regional
group opens today in Yerevan
*********************************************************************
ON FEB 7-9 SERGE SARGSIAN TO LEAVE FOR IRAN
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. On Feb 7-9, RA Minister of Defense Serge
Sargsian will leave for Iran on the invitation of the Secretary of
Supreme Council of National Security of Iran Hasan Rohani, RA
Ministry of Defense press office told ARKA. Sargsian will meet with
the President of Iran, Foreign Minister and Minister of Defense. L.D.
–0 –
*********************************************************************
ON FEB 3-4 RA MFA TO LEAVE FOR TBILISI
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. On Feb 3-4 RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian will leave for Tbilisi with a working visit, RA MFA told
ARKA. Oskanian will meet with the administration of Georgia. On Feb
4, he will take part in international conference `South Caucasus in
XXI Century. Challenges and Opportunities’. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA ON FEBRUARY 17
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s
visit to Armenia is scheduled on February 17. As Armenian Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department told ARKA, discussion and
exchange of views on the agenda of mutual relations of two countries
are planned n the frames of the visit. During the meeting of two
Foreign Ministers, they will touch issues of bilateral relations and
regional problems.
It is planned that Lavrov’s visit to Armenia will be held within his
regional visits, particularly, his visit to Georgia is scheduled on
February 18. T.M. -0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT CONDUCTS WORKING MEETING WITH RA MINISTER OF URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian conducted
working meeting with RA Minister of Urban Development Aram
Harutyunian. Harutyunian represented the President the package of
changes envisaged by the law on urban development.
The parties discussed strategy in the field of apartments’
construction, namely construction of new apartments on state budget
assets, completion of construction in rural communities, issues
related to realization of program of provision of order for
apartments in Shirak region. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
ON FEBRUARY 11, THE FIRST SEMINAR `FRENCHIZING AS A WAY FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SME’ TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. On February 11, the first seminar
`Frenchizing as a Way for the Development of SME’ will be held in
Armenia. According to the Centre of Exhibition Projects `EXPOMEDIA’,
representatives of some large companies will participate in the
seminar, including Jean Claude Biguine (a net of beauty centres),
Baskin Robins (catering), EXPOFAR (organization of exhibitions),
Jakitoria (Japanese fast food), Star Galaxy (children entertainment
centres), etc. The following subjects will be discussed at the
seminar: the peculiarities of frenchizing relations in CIS, purchase
of frenchize from `A’ to `Z’, purchase of frenchizing in the sphere
of catering, peculiarities of frenchizing in Russia, the experience
of application frenchizing in the services sector, advantages and
shortcomings of franchising, problems of a and owner and user.
The seminar was organized by Trade -Commerce Chambers of Armenia and
Russia, Centre of Exhibition Projects `EXPOMEDIA’, EXPOFAR Moscow
company and the National Centre for SME Development. A.H. – 0–
*********************************************************************
15TH CONFERENCE OF BASEL COMMITTEE ON BANKING SUPERVISION REGIONAL
GROUP OPENS TODAY IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. 15th conference of the Regional Group of
Basel Committee on Banking Supervision of countries of Transcaucasia,
Central Asia and Russia opens today in Yerevan. As stated Tigran
Toirosyan, the Chairman of CBA addressing the conference, the work of
the conference has a principal importance, as the perfection of the
banking system `may play a decisive role in carrying out economic
reforms for our regional group’. He noted that quite interesting
discussions are carried out in the countries of the region concerning
the priorities in the area of reforms and order of steps in the
financial sector as well. `Exchange of views is always very useful
and the practice of reform implementation helps to a great extent to
figure out which mechanisms and forms of supervision are applicable
on this stage’, said Sargsyan.
In his turn, the President of the Regional Group on Banking
Supervision of countries of Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Russian
Federation, the Deputy Chairman of National Bank of Tajikistan Juma
Eshov noted that such meetings allow exchanging views on current
issues for the implementation of the tasks put before the group and
also help to identify the future direction of its activities. `Today,
we can say that we managed to achieve a lot in our work exactly
thanks to the experience and knowledge we obtain in our cooperation’,
noted Eshov.
15th conference of the Regional Group of Basel Committee on Banking
Supervision of countries of Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Russia is
being held in Armenia on February 2 -4. Within the framework of the
conference, it is planned to discuss the situation in the banking
system of each country, steps to prevent the use of the banking
system for money laundering, peculiarities of supervision over
non-banking financial institutions, as well as issues of an efficient
banking supervision implementation. The procedure of handing over of
the authorities of the President and the Secretariat of the Regional
Group will be held, Armenia being one of the main candidates.
Regional Group of Basel Committee on Banking Supervision was
established in 1995 to solve the problems on the way to bank
formation and coordination of common efforts. The National Bank of
Tajikistan was the President of the Group during the last two years;
the term of office expires in 2005. The election of the next
President of the Group is carried out on the rotation principle.
L.V.–0–

A1 Plus | 14:55:44 | 03-02-2005 | Politics |
PRESS CONFERENCE IN ARMENIA CANCELLED DUE TO ZHVANIA’S DEATH
his morning Chairman of the Armenian-Georgian Business Association, NA
deputy Vladimir Badalyan was taking in demulcents instead of taking
part in the press conference scheduled for today, as he was shocked by
Zurab Zhvania’s death. Badalyan and Zhvania last met several days ago
and today’s press conference should have been devoted to the work
carried out by Vladimir Badalyan.
Upon completion of the sitting of the Armenian-Russian Business
Cooperation held January 19-28 in Rostov-on-Don the Armenian deputy
paid a call to Georgia and discussed the Armenian-Georgian economic
relations with Zurab Zhvania. It is known that the Armenian-Georgian
relationships are partly connected with the exploitation of ferries to
relieve the cargo transportation with Armenia under the conditions of
blockade. Vladimir Badalyan is absolutely sure that Zhvania was
interested in the resolving of the above-mentioned problems. By the
way, according to the program schedule, 5 ferries were to start
functioning between the port of Poti and Caucasus before this August.
RA officials perceive that Zurab Zhvania’s death will reflect on
Armenia. However, at the moment the members of the Association prefer
not to forecast the further development of Armenian-Georgian
relations. Association Chairman Vladimir Badalyan is to depart for
Georgia to be present at the Prime Minister’s funeral. Only after that
the further activities of the Armenian-Georgian Business Association
will be clarified.