Category: News

Mark Thatcher’s Trial in S. Africa Delayed
By ELLIOTT SYLVESTER
The Associated Press
11/25/04 03:54 EST
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) – A South African court on Thursday
postponed Sir Mark Thatcher’s trial for allegedly helping finance a
foiled coup attempt in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea until April 8 for
further investigation.
Thatcher, the 51-year-old son of former British Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher, appeared smiling and relaxed during the brief hearing. He
was not asked to plead.
Magistrate Awie Kotze granted the delay at the request of
prosecutors. He also extended Thatcher’s bail conditions, which require
that he remain in the Cape Town area and report daily to police.
Thatcher, who has lived in South Africa since 1995, was arrested at
his suburban Cape Town home on August 25 and charged with violating
this country’s anti-mercenary laws.
He also faces charges in Equatorial Guinea, where 19 other defendants
are already on trial in connection with an alleged plot earlier this
year to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled
Africa’s third-largest oil producer for the past 25 years. Officials
there have said they will seek Thatcher’s extradition from South
Africa.
On Wednesday, the Cape High Court ruled Thatcher must answer questions
under oath sent by Equatorial Guinea.
Thatcher’s lawyer, Alan Bruce-Brand, said Thursday the legal team had
not yet decided whether to appeal. Earlier, he told The Associated
Press that his client would most likely answer the questions before
a magistrate on Friday.
Equatorial Guinea alleges Thatcher and other, mainly British financiers
worked with the tiny country’s opposition figures, scores of African
mercenaries and six Armenian pilots in a takeover attempt foiled in
March. Thatcher maintains he played no part in the alleged conspiracy.
Simon Mann, a former British special forces commander accused of
masterminding the plot, was arrested and convicted with 67 accused
accomplices in Zimbabwe on weapons and other minor charges. Three
others later pleaded guilty to violating South Africa’s Foreign
Military Assistance Act as part of a plea bargain under which
they agreed to give evidence in court against other alleged coup
participants.

LEVON TER-PETROSSYAN ANSWERING JOURNALISTS’ QUESTIONS
A1+
25-11-2004
Armenian former president Levon Ter-Petrossyan answered the questions
journalists put to him in Zvartnots airport Thursday upon his arrival
in Yerevan after his journey to the U.S.A.
A few years ago you said people will need you and ask to come back
to political activity.
I’ve never said this.
You said “if you ask, I’ll be back”.
Not a bit of it. In 2001 I was asked if I want to run for the third
term I refused saying it would be contrary to the Constitution. Then I
joked and said if people wouldn’t ask me I wouldn’t return. My words
was distorted and turned to a legend.
Today your article War or Peace is being published again and
again. What do you think, why?
I am glad that eventually it attracted proper attention and serious
consideration. What I said in my article didn’t lose its up-to-date
significance. It became more urgent nowadays, as there is no any
progress in Karabakh issue and even negative consequences are already
seen. It became more difficult to solve the issue.
Do you think war can resume?
I don’t rule it out.
Can you return where you was, or there is no way back?
I think no. We can’t reckon on the same what we could get in 1997.
Even in the event of your return to power?
It is impossible under any circumstance.
What can be done in present situation?
This is the current authorities’ duty, not mine.
Didn’t you regret that once called Robert Kocharyan to Armenia.
I don’t regret, because I invited him as a prime minister. It was
perhaps the only my step that received unanimous public approval.
But now people are unhappy about that.
It is easy to tell history in conjunctive mood.

Armenian MPs denied entry to Azerbaijan for NATO seminar – agency
Mediamax news agency, Yerevan
25 Nov 04
Yerevan, 25 November: The Armenian deputies will not take part in the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s seminar which starts in Baku today, as
the Azerbaijani authorities did not provide the Armenian delegation
with security guarantees.
The chairman of the standing parliamentary commission on defence and
security, Mger Shakhgeldyan, who must have left for Baku with another
deputy Aleksan Karapetyan, said this in an interview with Mediamax.
Mediamax recalls that several days ago Armenian National Assembly
Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan sent a letter to his Azerbaijani counterpart,
Murtuz Alasgarov, and the leadership of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
and expressed hope for providing the Armenian deputies with security
guarantees.
The non-admission of the Armenian military to Baku for taking part
in NATO-led exercises [in September 2004], as well as the recent
deportation of a Bulgarian citizen of Armenian origin from the
Azerbaijani capital have become the reason of this letter.
[Armenian MPs Mger Shakhgeldyan and Aleksan Karapetyan have arrived in
Baku to attend the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Rose-Roth seminar, the
Azerbaijani radio station ANS reported at 0600 gmt on 25 November 2004]

Azeri Speaker unruffled by Armenian MPs’ absence from NATO seminar
Lider TV, Baku
25 Nov 04
[Presenter] The Rose-Roth seminar of NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly
opened in Baku today. Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov said that
Armenian MPs did not join the seminar.
[Alasgarov, speaking to microphones] Ask the NATO secretary [as heard,
actually secretary-general of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly], why
they have not come. I have not invited them and I am not interested
in their visit to Azerbaijan. They do not tell us [about this]. This
is not our business. Ask the organizations which have granted visas
and invited them. So, they did not come. Very well.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
[Presenter] Speaker Alasgarov spoke about the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem at the Rose-Roth seminar. He informed the participants in
the seminar of the OSCE’s inactivity [in settling the conflict].

Azeri foreign minister, OSCE mediators discuss Karabakh in USA
ANS Radio, Baku
25 Nov 04
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is on a visit
to the USA, has met the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen [from the USA,
Russia and France], Steven Mann, Yuriy Merzlyakov and Henry Jacolin
in New York. The meeting, which was also attended by the Azerbaijani
president’s special envoy on the Nagornyy Karabakh problem [and deputy
foreign minister], Araz Azimov, was held behind closed doors.
The sides focused on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Elmar
Mammadyarov conveyed to the co-chairmen official Baku’s concern
and dissatisfaction with the recent mass resettlement of Armenian
families on Azerbaijan’s occupied territories with financial support
of the Armenian leadership. The minister stressed that, in doing so,
Armenia violated the UN Security Council resolutions and international
humanitarian law. He added that this posed danger to the peace talks
held with the OSCE mediation. During the meeting, the Azerbaijani
side shared its views about the establishment of an independent
expert group to find the facts with regard to Armenia’s policy of
resettlement on occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Azeri leader, Turkish gendarmerie chief discuss military ties
MPA news agency
25 Nov 04
Baku, 25 November: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received
Turkish Gendarmerie Commander Gen Fevzi Turkeri. The head of state
expressed his satisfaction with the fact that Gen Fevzi Turkeri held
a number of important meetings in Azerbaijan, stressing that further
cooperation between the Turkish Gendarmerie and the Azerbaijani
Interior Troops represents special importance.
President Aliyev spoke highly about military cooperation with Turkey
and added that Ankara’s assistance was helping the development of
the Azerbaijani army.
The president believes that the strengthening of the army serves
the interests of peace and stability in the region and strengthens
Azerbaijan’s positions in the negotiations to resolve the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict.
Gen Fevzi Turkeri said the Azerbaijani-Turkish relations were
expanding in all areas, including the armed forces. The visitor
expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the
Turkish Gendarmerie and the Azerbaijani Interior Troops.
“The high level of the Azerbaijani armed forces serves peace
and stability in the South Caucasus. I am confident that the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh will soon be
resolved,” he said.
–Boundary_(ID_bStGecRLz+tM6o9QdL1Gbg)–

Armenian ombudsman voices concern over blast in opposition editor’s car
Arminfo
23 Nov 04
Yerevan, 23 November: The Armenian ombudsman, Larisa Alaverdyan,
has expressed regret and concern over the explosion in the car of
the editor of the Aykakan Zhamanak newspaper, the ombudsman’s press
service has told Arminfo.
The ombudsman’s statement reads that any kind of violence against
journalists is inadmissible and that it damages Armenia’s international
reputation as a country developing on the path to democracy and
protection of freedom of speech, which is one of the fundamental
human rights and freedoms.
Alaverdyan said she hoped that the gained experience of reacting
quickly to violence against journalists and giving the punishment
that fits the crime will work this time as well and that it will be
a deterrent for those who are trying to solve their personal problems
with the press in unlawful ways.

EBRD EXPRESSES READINESS FOR FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION IN CAPITAL OF ONE OF
INSURANCE COMPANIES OF ARMENIA
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24. ARMINFO. European Bank of Reconstruction and
Development expressed readiness for financial participation in the
capital of one of the insurance companies of Armenia. Deputy Minister
of Finances and Economy of Armenia David Avetisian told ARMINFO.
According to him, many international financial organizations have begun
to show serious interest in the Armenian insurance market. A number of
international, regional financial organizations intend to implement
insurance in Armenia to create joint ventures, the deputy minister
noted. On the whole, a progress is seen in the insurance market of the
country today – some 95% growth is registered regarding practically
all the main indices of the market. For example, on the results of
the first half of the current year the volume of insurance premiums
grew by 95.8%, insurance reserves increased by 27.6%. The increase
of these indices supposes increase of the extent of reliability of
the activities of the companies working in the insurance sector.
He noted that the insurance is already considered an attractive sphere
of business in Armenia. Despite the considerable restriction of the
requirements to insurance companies, their number has increased. The
deputy minister informed that only during the last month the Ministry
of finances and economy has granted licenses to 3 insurance – “Elite
insurance”, “RASKO” and “HF”, as well as to one brokerage of the
company. Moreover, about a week ago two more companies have appealed
to the Ministry of finances and economy of Armenia for getting a
license. Thus, till the end of the current year the total number of
the companies will reach 26 against 21 at the beginning of the year,
which is the proof of the growth of the interest in insurance and
increase of the competition in the market.

ARMENIAN FM ARRIVES IN BURKINA-FASO TO PARTICIPATE IN 10TH SUMMIT ON
FRANCOPHONIA
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24. ARMINFO. The head of the Armenian foreign
ministry Vardan Oskanyan arrived today in Burkina-Faso where he will
participate in the 10th summit on Francophonia.
The press services of the foreign ministry told ARMINFO that
Armenia will be ceremonially granted status of observer in the
organization during the event. Armenia has already joined several
parallel international organizations like the international union of
Francophone countries or the international assembly of Francophone
parliamentarians. The status of observer, to be followed by full
membership, will enable Armenia to make contacts with member states
and develop relations with African states which are at the core of
the organization. During the 10th summit of Francophonia, presidents
of countries will also participate, particularly from France and
Livan. Together with Armenia, Georgia, Austria, Hungary and Corvatia
have also applied for the status of observer.
To remind, the permanent council of Francophonia decided in its Paris
sitting to grant Armenia status of observer in the International
Organization of Francophonia. Concurrently, Armenia was officially
invited to participate in the 10th summit of Francophonia in Burkina
Faso. The Armenian delegation will for the first time participate in
the summit of the international organization of Francophonia. The
organization comprises 51 states. Five countries have already been
granted status of observer – Check, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia
and Poland. -A-

ARMENIAN MPs NOT TO TAKE PART IN NATO PA ROSE ROAD WORKSHOP IN BAKU
YEREVAN,. NOVEMBER 25. ARMINFO. The Armenian delegation will not
take part in the NATO PA Rose Road workshop in Baku as the workshop
organizers have failed to answer their question if they were ready
to ensure the Armenian MPs’ security in Baku, says MP Mher Shahgeldyan.
Shahgeldyan notes that the delegates were ready to go to Baku they
even booked tickets and hotel rooms.
The workshop is starting today. The radical activists of the Azeri
Organization for Karabakh’s Liberation have held an action of protest
against Armenia’s participation in the event. They flied lots of
black balloons to show their protest.