Category: News

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part A (Russia)
September 15, 2004, Wednesday
THE OPPONENT IS TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE
SOURCE: Kommersant, September 14, 2004, p. 9
by Vladimir Novikov, Sergei Kisin, Gennady Sysoev
Moscow and Tbilisi are on the brink of open conflict again.
Yesterday, Georgian authorities accused Russia of planning a
transport blockade of Georgia. Tbilisi alleges that this is how
Moscow plans to keep Georgia within Russia’s sphere of influence.
Actual blockade
Yesterday, the Transport and Communication Ministry of Georgia
reported that it received an unexpected notification from Russia
about an upcoming halt to practically all transport relations with
Georgia. From September 15, Russia is banning the entry of automotive
vehicles from Georgia and from October 1 Russian airspace will be
closed to Georgian airlines. Yesterday, Georgian transport companies
have already started offering the passengers to return the previously
purchased tickets and get refunds.
The formal pretext for introduction of an air blockade of Georgia is
the fact that some Georgian airlines owe large sums to Russia.
However, Russian airspace is also closed for the airlines having no
debts and even for the airlines that have transit flights to European
countries. Naturally, Georgia will be able to use alternative air
corridors but the costs of air transportation will grow
significantly.
Tbilisi authorities remark that stopping of the bus communication
(and maritime communication from Batumi and Poti) is not motivated at
all. There is no railway communication between Russia and Georgia and
the latest decisions of Moscow mean complete stopping of transport
communications with Georgia. Along with this, transport
communications between Russia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which
have declared independence from Russia, is dramatically increased.
Political commuter train
The first commuter train since the suspension of railway links with
the breakaway republic of Abkhazia in 1992 departed from Sochi to
Sukhumi yesterday at 4.52 p.m.
According to a source in Russian Railways (RZHD), the rapid opening
of railway links between Russia and Abkhazia is due primarily to
political reasons, namely cooling down of the Russian-Georgian
relations due to the conflict in South Ossetia. Hence, restoration of
the 146-kilometer railway to Sukhumi was accelerated. RZHD invested
approximately 200 million rubles in this project and sent the
commuter train last week. Along with this, the source said that there
was such haste that finishing of Sukhumi railway station was not
completed. On the side of the railway the building in painted in
white and on the side of the near-the-station square the building
retained traces of the fire that happened ten years ago.
According to the PR service of the North Caucasian Railway, due to
restoration of the railway a commuter train will cover the distance
from Sukhumi to Sochi just in 4 hours and 43 minutes. Depending on
the season, the train will have from six to ten carriages. It is
expected that the carriages will be filled by approximately 50-60%
and the price of a ticket will be 45 rubles or a few times cheaper
than the price of a bus ticket for the same route. Representatives of
the North Caucasian Railway do not hide that they do not doubt that
the railway would be unprofitable but say that “political benefit
from the commuter train overweighs any money.”
“Of all mortal sins”
Decisions of Moscow caused serious concern of Tbilisi. Tbilisi
authorities are afraid that harsh measures may also be applied to the
energy sector. Georgian authorities have more than enough reasons to
worry.
Tbilisi noticed that the visit of Deputy CEO of RAO EES Rossii Andrei
Rappoport to Tbilisi was recently postponed indefinitely without any
sensible explanation. The visit of a delegation of representatives of
Georgian energy companies to Moscow was also postponed. In Moscow the
delegation hoped to meet with the management of Gazprom and to come
to agreement on gas supplies in the autumn-winter period. Supplies of
electric energy to Georgia from the Inguri hydro power station
located in Abkhazia was interrupted yesterday unexpectedly and
resulted in a complete collapse of the electric energy system of
Georgia. For a few hours the whole country drowned in darkness.
Yesterday, State Minister Georgy Khaindrava flew to Moscow according
to the order of Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvaniya to meet with
officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Security Council.
Before departure to the Russian capital Khaindrava said bitterly,
“Someone in Russia accuses us of all mortal sins, nearly of planning
of the terrorist act in Beslan and September 11 in New York. That is
why there is a need to meet with Russian colleagues. We will also
discuss the illegal restarting of railway communication between
Abkhazia and Russia.”
After arrival to Moscow Khaindrava said that announcement of a
transport blockade to Georgia by Russia is an attempt to direct
unregulated Russian-Georgian political relations to the economic
area. The Georgian minister adds, “We do not understand what is
happening and what has caused all this. We are under political press
and will most likely be exposed to economic pressure too.”
Tbilisi authorities presume that the latest decisions of Russia that
hit on Georgian economy painfully pursue several goals. First, Russia
wants to force Tbilisi to agree with opening of the through railway
communication between Russia and Armenia, its strategic partner in
the region (to date, Georgian has rigidly connected with issue with
return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia rejected by Sukhumi
authorities). Second, Russia wants to correct the situation that has
appeared after Georgian authorities have closed the administrative
border with South Ossetia. As a result, the uncontrollable glow of
goods from Russia to Georgia practically stopped in the South
Ossetian territory, which incurred big losses on the South Ossetian
budget and Moscow (especially after the tragedy in Beslan) should
react to requests of the Ossetian party about the “response
measures.”
In general, Tbilisi authorities say that the unprecedented steps of
Moscow show that Russian authorities have finally adopted a course at
preserving of Georgia in the orbit of Russia’s influence by all
means. Taking into account strategic partnership with Armenia,
preserving of Georgia in Russia’s orbit of influence would enable
Russia to control Transcaucasia in general.
Hence, negotiations on the deadlines for withdrawal of Russian armed
forces from Georgia are postponed indefinitely. Due to the same
reason President Vladimir Putin demonstratively meets in Dagomys with
Abkhazian Prime Minister Raul Khadzhimba, the most realistic
candidate for the post of the president of the breakaway republic.
Finally that is why Moscow is persistently hinting on the need for
Georgia to return to the system of the collective security treaty
organization (Tbilisi quit the organization in 1999) and at solving
of Georgia’s economic problems not through alienation from Russia and
closing of the economic border in its South Ossetian part but, on the
contrary, through integration into the pro-Russian economic and
political structures like Eurasian Economic Community and Customs
Union.
Translated by Pavel Pushkin

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 15, 2004, Wednesday
AZERBAIJAN REFUSED TO ISSUE VISAS TO ARMENIAN OFFICERS, WHO INTENDED
TO PARTICIPATE IN COOPERATIVE BEST EFFORT-2004
Colonel Seiran Shahsuvaryan, press secretary of the Armenian Defense
Ministry, stated that the embassy of Azerbaijan refused to issue
visas to five Armenian officers who intended to participate in the
Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercise. He noted that the embassy did
not announce the cause of the refusal. He said: “Armenia cannot
comment on this incident – it must be evaluated by NATO’s
leadership.” He noted that some officers faced problems with entering
Baku to attend a conference aimed at organizing this exercise. This
is why Armenian officers have attended only one out of two
conferences in Baku.
Source: KOmmersant, September 13, 2004, p. 10

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
September 15, 2004, Wednesday
ARMENIA’S MISSION IN NATO MEETS NEW CHIEF
President Robert Kocharyan has appointed Samvel Lazarian as chief of
the Armenian mission in NATO. This statement was made by the
persident’s press service.
He has replaced Vigen CVhitechyan, who also worked as Armenia’s
ambassador to Benelux.

EU: PRODI TO VISIT SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION
ANSA English Media Service
September 15, 2004
BRUSSELS
(ANSA) – BRUSSELS, September 15 – European Commission President Romano
Prodi will make an official visit to Azerbaijan on September 17,
Georgia on September 18 and Armenia on September 19, the EC reported.
Prodi’s meetings will be focused on the European rapprochement policy
as regards the South Caucasus region as well as on bilateral relations
between the countries and the EU.
The EC President is to appeal to the three governments to press on
with the reform process.
The official visit follows a decision of the European Council taken on
June 14 to include the three countries in the European rapprochement
policy. (ANSA).

Azerbaijan, Armenia hold key talks on Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
Agence France Presse — English
September 15, 2004 Wednesday 5:26 PM GMT
ASTANA Sept 15 — The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Wednesday
held talks in presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin that could
make or break the fragile peace process between the warring neighbours.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and his Azeri counterpart Ilham
Aliyev held two-way talks before joining Putin to discuss the enclave
of Nagorno-Karabakh, over which they fought a five-year war in the
early 1990s.
“I am happy to see that you have not lost your optimism… and are
continuing the dialogue at the highest level,” Putin said as the talks
began, on the sidelines of a summit of former Soviet republics here.
Though a fragile ceasefire is in force in Nagorno-Karabakh, the two
sides are still officially in a state of war. Azerbaijan had threatened
to renew hostilities unless peace talks produce results soon.
“Hopes are very high, despite the complexity of the problem,” Putin
said, adding that “whatever the result, a meeting of three leaders
is always a step forwards.”
Aliyev thanked Russia for taking part in the summit talks.
“Our neighbour Russia, co-president of the Minsk Group, plays a key
part in the settlement,” he said. The Minsk Group, comprising France,
Russia and the United States, has been mediating between the two
states for the past decade.
Some 35,000 people were killed and about one million displaced by
the conflict, which erupted during the break up of the Soviet Union.
The war ended with Armenian forces in control of Nagorno-Karabakh,
but the enclave is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan’s
territory.

NATO appoints special envoy to Caucasus, Central Asia
by PAUL AMES; Associated Press Writer
Associated Press Worldstream
September 15, 2004 Wednesday
BRUSSELS, Belgium — NATO announced the appointment Wednesday of
a special representative for Central Asia and the Caucasus as part
of the alliance’s efforts to build closer ties with former Soviet
republics in the strategically important region.
Former U.S. State Department official Robert F. Simmons Jr. will hold
the post, with responsibility “for establishing high-level working
contacts with regional leaders,” the alliance said in a statement.
Simmons told reporters that one of NATO’s aims was to help modernize
armed forces in the region and boost their ties to allied militaries
so they can play a more effective role in international crisis
management missions.
Western allies see the region stretching from the Black Sea to the
borders of Afghanistan as vital in the fight against terrorism. They
have used bases in the region to support military operations in
Afghanistan.
Simmons is scheduled to travel to the region in October and November
with NATO’s Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
The eight-former Soviet republics in the region are already part of
NATO’s “Partnership for Peace” outreach program offering political
and military cooperation.
But while some, such as Georgia, have enthusiastically sought closer
links, and even the prospect of NATO membership, others have been
reluctant to build up closer ties.
Simmons declined to comment on Moscow’s threats to strike at terrorist
bases outside its borders following the school massacre in southern
Russia this month, which have raised speculation that Georgia might
be a target.
“We have not discussed that in this house,” Simmons said. He rejected
a suggestion that NATO might consider sending peacekeepers to the
Georgia.
Simmons said NATO would use its contacts with Central Asian and
Caucasus nations to promote human rights and democracy, although he
said prime responsibility in that field lay with other organizations.
Difficulties in the building of ties in the region were underscored
this week when NATO was forced to cancel military exercises
in Azerbaijan at short notice when the country objected to the
participation of officers from neighboring Armenia.
Although both countries are members of Partnership for Peace, relations
between them remain tense a more than decade after the war between
them over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

No breakthrough in Azerbaijan, Armenia talks on Nagorno-Karabakh dispute
Agence France Presse — English
September 15, 2004 Wednesday 5:26 PM GMT
ASTANA Sept 15 — The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Wednesday
held talks in presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid
to resolve their dispute over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, but
failed to report any breakthrough.
“We cannot boast any particular success. We must continue to quietly
and patiently discuss this problem which we have inherited,” Armenian
President Robert Kocharian told reporters after the talks.
His Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev was equally cautious. “We must as
usual content ourselves with making fairly vague declarations. Today
is no exception,” he said.
“We hope to progress towards a settlement” of the issue surrounding
the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, over which Armenia and Azerbaikan
fought a five-year war in the early 1990s, Aliyev added.
Kocharian and Aliyev held two-way talks before joining Putin for
more discussions.
“I am happy to see that you have not lost your optimism… and are
continuing the dialogue at the highest level,” Putin said as the talks
began, on the sidelines of a summit of former Soviet republics here.
Though a fragile ceasefire is in force in Nagorno-Karabakh, the two
sides are still officially in a state of war. Azerbaijan had threatened
to renew hostilities unless peace talks produce results soon.
“Hopes are very high, despite the complexity of the problem,” Putin
said, adding that “whatever the result, a meeting of three leaders
is always a step forwards.”
Aliyev thanked Russia for taking part in the summit talks.
“Our neighbour Russia, co-president of the Minsk Group, plays a key
part in the settlement,” he said. The Minsk Group, comprising France,
Russia and the United States, has been mediating between the two
states for the past decade.
Some 35,000 people were killed and about one million displaced by
the conflict, which erupted during the break up of the Soviet Union.
The war ended with Armenian forces in control of Nagorno-Karabakh,
but the enclave is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan’s
territory.

NEWS Press
15 septembre 2004
Assemblée des Arméniens d’Europe : Adhésion de la Turquie : angle
mort pour l’Union Européenne. Les minorités non-musulmanes sont la
cible d’une campagne discriminatoire
par Assemblée des Arméniens d’Europe
Mercredi 22 septembre 2004, à 14 h 00
Résidence Palace Centre de Presse Internationale
Rue de la Loi 155, 1040, Bruxelles, Salle « Passage ».
Embargo jusqu’à mercredi 22 septembre 2004, 14 h 00
La Commission européenne jugera-t-elle la Turquie «apte» à
l’adhésion, dans le rapport qu’elle doit publier le 6 octobre 2004?
Le Conseil européen lancera-t-il les négociations en vue de
l’adhésion de ce pays à l’Union lors du sommet de décembre prochain ?
La Turquie a connu un processus de réformes légales et
administratives sans précédent ces dernières années. Mais, dans le
même temps, elle a sensiblement durci ses activités à l’encontre de
la liberté d’opinion sur son territoire, maintenant une politique
fortement répressive à l’égard de ses minorités. En particulier, les
préjudices traditionnels contre les minorités non-musulmanes sont
maintenus vivaces par le système d’éducation publique et par les
médias. Cette attitude est en nette contradiction avec les critères
de Copenhague dont le respect est la condition préalable à
l’ouverture des négociations en vue de l’adhésion d’un nouvel État
membre.
Dans cette perspective, le Groupe de Travail Reconnaissance, contre
le génocide et pour le dialogue international (Berlin), et
l’Association Suisse-Arménie (Berne), ont soumis un Mémorandum au
Conseil européen, au Conseil de l’Union européenne, à la Commission
ainsi qu’au Parlement européens.
Rappelant les critères de Copenhague et les résolutions du Parlement
européen faisant de la reconnaissance du génocide des Arméniens une
condition préalable à une éventuelle adhésion de la Turquie à l’UE,
le Mémorandum exprime le soucis des signataires quant à la situation
des minorités non-musulmanes en Turquie et demande une amélioration
durable de celle-ci. Les très nombreuses ONG nationales et
internationales qui ont signé le Mémorandum protestent contre la
campagne de haine relancée par le ministre turc de l’éducation, le
Dr. Hüseyin Çelik, ce qui inclu le négationnisme officiel du génocide
commis contre les populations chrétiennes de l’empire ottoman,
faisant 3.5 million de victimes entre 1912 et 1922. Pour ces raisons,
les signataires désirent attirer l’attention de l’UE sur la nécessité
d’instaurer des réformes profondes dans le système d’éducation et
dans le contrôle des medias qui sont tous deux les principaux
vecteurs de cette haine. Ils forment l’opinion publique et ils sont
donc les premiers responsables de la perception extrêmement négative
envers ces minorités en Turquie. Ils portent également la
responsabilité des attaques qui en découlent, et que les récentes
réformes n’ont en rien jugulé, contre les institutions représentant
ces communautés non-musulmanes : les églises, les synagogues, les
écoles, etc.
L’Assemblée des Arméniens d’Europe ainsi que les auteurs du
Mémorandum vous invitent à la conférence de presse pour la
présentation de ce document.
Intervenants (par ordre alphabétique):
– Monsieur Baastian Belder, Groupe de Démocratie/indépendance, Député
du Parlement Européen, Pays Bas;
– Monsieur Michalis Charalambidis, écrivain, membre du comité central
de la Ligue internationale pour les droits et la libération des
peuples, spécialiste du génocide des Grecs pontiques, Athènes;
– Madame la Baronne Caroline Cox of Queensbury, vice-présidente de la
Chambre des Lords du Royaume Uni, Présidente de Christian Solidarity
Worldwide, Londres;
– Madame Hülya Engin, membre du comité du TÜDAY, organisation pour la
défense des droits de l’homme en Turquie, Cologne;
– Madame Dr. Tessa Hofmann, expert en sociologie; documentaliste
scientifique à l’Université Libre de Berlin; écrivaine, activiste des
droits de l’homme; présidente du Groupe de Travail Reconnaissance,
contre le génocide et pour le dialogue international;
– Monsieur Johny Messo, président de la Fondation des études
araméennes et représentant principal de l’Alliance Universelle des
Syriaques (AUS) au bureau des Nations Unies à Genève;
– Monsieur le Prof. Dr. Yves Ternon, médecin, historien et écrivain,
chercheur et spécialiste des génocides, notamment celui des Arméniens
et de sa négation, Paris.
La modération de la conférence de presse sera assurée par Monsieur
Nicolas Tavitian, spécialiste en relations politiques
internationales, Bruxelles.
Une traduction simultanée vers le français et l’anglais sera assurée.
A partir de 13h30, le welcome coffee sera offert aux journalistes
devant l’entrée de la salle Passage de la Résidence Palace.
Arminé Grigoryan
Assemblée des Arméniens d’Europe
Responsable du Bureau de contact et d’information auprès de l’Union
européenne
Bruxelles
Le 22 septembre 2004 à partir de 14h00, toute l’information
concernant la conférence de presse (en anglais, en français et
partiellement en allemand) sera disponible sur les sites internet
suivants :
Pour une information ultérieure, vous pouvez contacter :
Assemblée des Arméniens d’Europe
Contact : Arminé Grigoryan
Tél. : +32 2 647 08 01
Fax : +32 2 647 02 00
E-mail : [email protected]
M. Nicolas Tavitian
Modérateur de la conférence de presse
Tél. : +32 4 95 770 867
E-mail : [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

El Mundo
September 15, 2004
EL ZOO DEL SIGLO XXI / KIRK KERKORIAN.
El ultimo ‘tiburon’ del Pacifico.
Albanil, boxeador, piloto suicida y multimillonario. El magnate que
demando a Daimler Chrysler ha vendido MGM a Sony.
PABLO PARDO / Especial para EL MUNDO
EEUU. Kerkor Kirk Kerkorian, el magnate que demando a Daimler
Chrysler, ha vendido MGM a Sony
WASHINGTON.- Kerkor Kirk Kerkorian esta a punto de vender por tercera
vez el estudio de cine Metro Goldwin Mayer (MGM). A sus 87 anos, todo
hace pensar que esta vez es ya la definitiva. Pero con Kerkorian
nunca se sabe. El viejo leon del capitalismo estadounidense puede
volver a la carga. Al fin y al cabo, esa es su especialidad.Albanil,
boxeador, piloto suicida en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, adicto al
juego, amigo de mafiosos y de artistas, Kerkorian es el hombre que
ejemplifica el sueno americano. Se ha convertido en la trigesimo
tercera mayor fortuna de Estados Unidos, con un capital de 5.000
millones de dolares, segun la revista Forbes y ha sobrevivido a tres
divorcios y a dos investigaciones de la Comision del Mercado de
Valores (SEC) de EEUU. Y todo ello sin haber ido nunca a la
Universidad.
Desde que empezo a trabajar a los siete anos no ha dejado de cerrar
tratos, muchos por medio de los tribunales, ha partido la cara a mas
de uno -dentro y fuera del ring- y ha transformado a Las Vegas de una
pacifica ciudad con unos cuantos casinos en una especie de
Disneylandia no apta para menores de edad.
Las Vegas ahora teme que con la venta de MGM Kerkorian pase a un
segundo plano. Pero parece improbable. Con una mala leche y ganas de
pelea iguales que siempre -que le pregunten a DaimlerChrysler, a la
que demando por 9.000 millones de dolares el ano pasado- Kerkorian,
un destacado miembro de la influyente minoria armenia de EEUU, no
parece nacido para irse a envejecer a una residencia de ancianos en
Florida.
Con su ultima operacion, Kerkorian vende MGM a la japonesa Sony por
4.800 millones de dolares (3.900 millones de dolares). El gigante de
la electronica se queda asi con tres grandes casinos de Las Vegas y
con la productora de exitos de taquilla recientes como Una rubia muy
legal, la serie de James Bond y, sobre todo, unos 4.000 clasicos
listos par ser transformados en DVDs y puestos a la venta. Siguiendo
su mas puro estilo, Kerkorian ha jugado a enfrentar a Sony y a Time
Warner en una puja de la que esta se retiro al llegar a 5.600
millones de dolares.
Para Kerkorian, vender MGM es casi una rutina. En treinta anos lo ha
hecho tres veces. Es el estilo empresarial de un ‘buscavidas’ pura
sangre.
Kerkorian nacio en Fresno (California), en una familia en la que solo
se hablaba armenio. “No aprendimos ingles hasta que empezamos a vivir
en calle”, ha dicho. Lo cual, en su caso, fue pronto. La recesion de
1921 arruino a los Kerkorian, y a los nueve anos de edad el joven
Kirk ya vendia periodicos viejos en Los Angeles.
La familia viajaba constantemente en busca de oportunidades de
trabajo, y Kerkorian siempre era el nuevo en la escuela. Asi que tuvo
que aprender a hacerse respetar. Se convirtio en pandillero, y de ahi
en boxeador.
En sus ratos libres, cuando no estaba internado en un reformatorio en
el que la disciplina se imponia a latigazos, siguio entrenando, hasta
convertirse en campeon amateur de boxeo del Pacifico.
Despues de pasar un ano trabajando de vaquero en Nevada para pagarse
un curso de piloto, Kerkorian se fue a Canada. En 1940, y por un
sueldo de 1.000 dolares de entonces (10.000 dolares de hoy), acepto
el trabajo mas peligroso de su vida: pilotar bombarderos ‘mosquito’
desde Canada a Gran Bretana.
Con mas de 25.000 dolares de la epoca en el bolsillo, se fue a
celebrar el fin de las hostilidades a Las Vegas. En su primera noche
en la ciudad, gano en el casino 700 dolares. Fue el inicio de una
ludopatia que le llevaria a perder -o ganar- hasta 80.000 dolares de
1950 en una sola noche.
La relacion de amor entre Kerkorian y Las Vegas ha durado mas de
medio siglo. Ha sido uno de los grandes transformadores de la ciudad.
Ayudado por sus excelentes contactos con la comunidad armenia
estadounidense -un lobby casi tan influyente como el judio-, lleva
sesenta anos realizando operaciones urbanisticas y especulativas en
la ciudad.
Su carrera ha sido una sucesion de exitos, aunque no ha logrado dos
de sus objetivos fuera de Las Vegas: el control de Chrysler y
convertir a MGM en una inmobiliaria que no tenga nada que ver con el
cine.
El general McArthur dijo que “los viejos soldados no mueren, solo
desaparecen”. Todo hace pensar que Kerkorian no morira nunca.En todo
caso, cuando desaparezca de la faz de la tierra reaparecera en
cualquier pelicula de Scorsese o de Coppola.
LO DICHO Y HECHO
“Soy un hombre hecho a mi mismo. Empece a aportar ingresos a mi
familia con nueve anos”
1917: Nace en Fresno (California). 1939: Aprende a pilotar
aviones.1967: Abre el primer hotel-casino de Las Vegas. 1971: Compra
por primera vez MGM. 1985: Vende la compania a Ted Turner, dueno de
la CNN. 1988: Recompra MGM y se desprende de ella dos anos despues.
1995: Lanza una OPA hostil por Chrysler. 1996: Compra de nuevo MGM.
2003: Demanda a Daimler por la compra de Chrysler.2004: Vende MGM a
Sony.

UE: DA DOMANI PRODI IN AZERBAIGIAN, GEORGIA E ARMENIA
ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
September 15, 2004
BRUXELLES — (ANSA) – BRUXELLES, 15 SET – Il presidente della
Commissione Ue Romano Prodi sara’ in visita ufficiale domani e venerdi’
in Azerbaigian, poi in Georgia e il 19 settembre in Armenia. Lo rende
noto la Commissione europea precisando che i colloqui con questi tre
paesi saranno incentrati sui prossimi passi della politica europea
di vicinato e piu’ in generale sulle relazioni bilaterali.
Prodi lancera’ un appello ai governi dei tre paesi per spingere avanti
le riforme e la risoluzione dei conflitti. La visita fa seguito ad
una decisione del Consiglio Ue del 14 giugno scorso che ha incluso
i tre paesi della regione sud del Caucaso nella politica europea
di vicinato.(ANSA).