Category: News

FIRST SECRETARY OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF ARMENIA FAINTS DURING CPA CONGRESS
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The first secretary of Communist Party
of Armenia Ruben Tovmassyan fainted while making a report during
today’s 36th congress of CPA.
Journalists managed to enter the building with great difficulty. The
congress was interrupted to give Tovmassyan first aid. Some congress
participants began shouting at journalists demanding that they
not shoot the scene. Tovmassyan has been brought to his senses and
sent home.
In the meantime supporters of expelled second secretary Sanatruk
Saakyan continue their rally outside.

36TH CONGRESS OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF ARMENIA STARTS WITH SCANDAL
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20. ARMINFO. The 36th congress of Communist Party
of Armenia has started with a scandal.
The supporters of Sanatruk Saakyan and Khoren Sargsyan earlier expelled
from the party have gathered near the government building demanding
that they be let in “as they are also delegates.” They are holding
posters “Tovmassyan Betrayed Communist Party!” The police are not
letting them inside saying they were given such an instruction.
Sargsyan told journalists that the present first secretary of CPA Ruben
Tovmassyan and his supporters “have been bribed by the government”
particularly by Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan. He can even say how
much they got – $50,000. The tensions are growing nobody outside is
being let inside.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Paper reports details of Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers’ Berlin talks
Source: Ekspress, Baku
20 Nov 04
The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers held a meeting in Berlin
yesterday [19 November]. The sides discussed options for the settlement
of the Karabakh conflict and the break in the peace process [after
the Astana meeting between the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
in September 2004].
The talks were held with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen in
attendance. It was [Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar] Mammadyarov’s
fifth meeting with his Armenian counterpart. Their last meeting took
place in Prague on 30 August [2004].
A 15-minute meeting
The Berlin meeting lasted for just 15 minutes. The one-to-one talks
started at 1130 Baku time [0730 gmt] and continued at 1140 [0740 gmt]
with the co-chairmen in attendance. Following that, the sides ended
the meeting with no public statements.
A press release by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s press centre
simply says that “the sides exchanged views on the issues that topped
the agenda of the Prague talks”.
Following the talks, Minister Mammadyarov left Berlin for New York
to attend the 23 November discussions of point No 163 on the agenda
of the UN General Assembly session entitled “On the situation on
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories”.
[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan] Oskanyan is accompanying
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan who is on a working visit to
Germany. Briefing the Berlin media, Oskanyan said that during the
meeting with Mammadyarov, the sides made “a number of successful
and objective decisions” to continue the dialogue “based on existing
realities”.
“Specific issues were spoken about and discussed during the talks,”
Oskanyan told the journalists in Berlin commenting on his talks with
Mammadyarov (ArcNews). “We decided that we can continue the Prague
process again,” he added.
The meeting touched upon the upcoming discussion of the Karabakh
issue at the UN General Assembly as well. Oskanyan said that the
“possible impact” of this issue on the peace talks “should be taken
into account” and made a number of proposals, Ekspress newspaper
learnt from diplomatic sources. These proposals included “initiatives”
like setting the date for the next meeting of the heads of state and
rejection of the UN discussions.
In addition, in Berlin Oskanyan admitted for the first time that
during their meeting in Prague, the ministers discussed the return
of a number of Azerbaijan’s [occupied] districts: “It was simply
impossible to arrive at a common conclusion because of the variety
of scenarios. In addition, our talks have not fully ended yet and
discussions in this direction may continue”.
The meeting also discussed the recent tension on the front line
and the so-called youth forum held by separatists in Karabakh. The
Azerbaijani side expressed its protest to Yerevan on both issues.
“It was decided to take these issues seriously and to take into account
their impact on the talks. I hope that cases of this kind will stop,”
the French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Henry Jacolin, said
after the meeting.
The dialogue is resuming
In his interview with A-Info news agency before the meeting with
Mammadyarov, Oskanyan said that the conflicting sides were “close”
to settling the problem several times, but there were disagreements
on the status of Nagornyy Karabakh.
[Passage omitted: details of Oskanyan’s interview with A-Info]
Henry Jacolin’s office reported that during the Berlin meeting, “the
co-chairmen received a signal on the continuation of the dialogue”
between Mammadyarov and Oskanyan. Presumably, the ministers’ next
meeting may be held within the framework of the OSCE foreign ministers’
meeting in Sofia on 7 December.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran: Bomber of Revolution Court building appeals against death sentence
Baztab web site
0 Nov 04
Tehran, 20 November: After investigations into the dossiers of two
people responsible for bombing the building the Islamic Revolution
Court in Tehran, the Branch Six of the court has condemned one of
them to death.
Iran daily reported that Hojjat Z., a member of the Monafeqin [i.e.
Mojahedin-e Khalq] Organization, is accused of bombing the building of
the Revolution Court on 12 khordad 1377 [2 June 1999] and martyring
three people – Haj Hasan Salehi, Mozafar Nikzad and Wilhelm Aton
(an Armenian compatriot) – and injuring 22.
At the end of the trial the court found the two guilty. As the main
element responsible for the bombing Hojjat Z. was condemned to death
and his culprit condemned to imprisonment.
The dossier has been sent to the Supreme Court with the appeal of
the accused.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Demonstrations staged in Turkish cities against US military operations in Iraq
Anatolia news agency
19 Nov 04
Ankara, 19 November: Nongovernmental organizations have staged protests
against the US military operations in the Iraqi town of Al-Fallujah.
The Intellectual Hearths Kayseri Branch protested against the
occupation of Iraq at the Surp Kirkor Lusovoric Armenian Church in
Kayseri. Kayseri Intellectual Hearths Chairman Kemal Tekden issued
a statement there saying that the bullying carried out by the United
States against the civilian people in Iraq in the name of freedom and
democracy had turned into violence and barbarity in Al-Fallujah. Tekden
said that the killing of a wounded Iraqi in a mosque by American
soldiers would go down in history as the “most shameful episode in
the history of mankind”.
Noting that at no time in the history of the world had the holy
sites of any great and civilized state been violated Tekden said:
“Holy sites like mosques, churches and synagogues are inviolable
places. Even the primitive Aborigines respected holy sites. The
Ottoman State never showed the slightest disrespect to the holy sites
on the three continents it ruled over, which is why it is recalled as
a great state. Respect for holy sites is part of the glory of being
a great state. We invite the United States to stop being a powerful
and bullying state and become a state that respects humanity and
human rights.” [Passage omitted].
Adana
In a press statement issued by a group that had gathered outside the
Adana Sabanci Centre Mosque to protest the operations in Iraq it was
stated: “By pointing out that Muslim lands are being occupied one by
one the objections to bullying will grow with each passing day and
the voices will grow louder.”
Those in the group then held funeral prayers for the dead in
Al-Fallujah before dispersing.
Administrators of the Adana branch of the Human Rights Association
and a group of members held a protest in Inonu Park where they stated
that many civilians had died in the US army operation mounted in
Al-Fallujah. They said: “What is being killed is not just the people
of Iraq but all of mankind. Yet, the whole world is watching what is
going on as if it were a movie.” They called on workers and artisans
not to sell US goods and for the citizens to boycott them.
Bursa
Speaking at a press conference staged by the Confederation of
Turkish Public Sector Labour Unions (Kamu-Sen) Bursa Representation
the Provincial Representative Ramazan Karakoc said: “We strongly and
with hatred condemn this violence and wish that this bloody occupation
would end as soon as possible.”
Karakoc said that the US occupation of Iraq had gone on for a year
and a half and that during this time US President George W Bush was
“no better than” the Saddam regime.
Asserting that over 100,000 Iraqis had been murdered in Iraq
in one and a half years, Karakoc said: “What the US soldiers,
who exhibited monstrosity in murdering injured people in mosques,
did is no coincidence. The US authorities’ explanations are not
convincing. The real aim is to strike fear into the world.”
Izmir
Chairman of the Izmir Bar Association Nevzat Erdemir in a written
statement asked for an end to the inhumane and illegal coalition
forces’ attacks against the people of Iraq.
Erdemir said that for the UN and all of mankind and the world states
to remain silent and do nothing was “a huge disgrace to mankind” and
that those carrying out crimes against humanity ought to be brought
to justice.
Konya
The group that had set off from Sanliurfa on 22 October aiming to
get the headscarf ban lifted today arrived in Konya. After issuing a
statement in front of the Mevlana Museum they took part in a funeral
prayer for the dead of Al-Fallujah at the Serafettin Mosque.
Following the funeral prayer an anti-US protest was held. During the
protest anti-US slogans were chanted, and a US flag was doused in
gasoline and burn.
Trabzon
Ahmet Kilic, Trabzon provincial representative for Turk-Is [The
Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions], spoke at a press conference
held by the Trabzon Journalists Association on behalf of the Labour
Platform Trabzon Component. Asserting that the United States was
ignoring international law he said: “The United States and its allies
attacked Iraq before the eyes of the whole world ignoring international
law and international institutions. With these attacks they have
committed a crime against peace according to international law.”
Ahmet Kilic called on the Turkish government and public opinion to be
more aware of what was going on in Iraq and to act with more reaction.
Elazig
Elazig representatives of the Anadolu Youth Magazine together with
members of the Islamic Education and Solidarity Foundation held a
funeral prayer for the dead in Al-Fallujah.
After the funeral prayer, held at the Izzetpasa Mosque, Muhammet
Bakir issued a statement on behalf of the group at the mosque. He
said that the United States was murdering people regardless of women
and children in the Al-Fallujah operation, and that this situation
was an affront to humanity and to Islam.
The group later walked to PTT Square chanting slogans on the way. After
holding a prayer for the dead the group silently left the square.

WORLD BANK ALLOCATES FIRST THEME OF POVERTY REDUCTION SUPPORT CREDIT TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, November 19 (Noyan Tapan). The World Bank will allocate the
first theme of a Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC) for Armenia
worth $20 mln. Roger Robinson, the Director of the WB Yerevan Office,
and RA Minister of Finances and Economy Vardan Khachatrian signed
the credit agreement on it in Yerevan on November 19. Roger Robinson
said during the November 18 press conference which followed the
signing that the Board of Directors of the World Bank completely
approved this new credit program consisting of four themes. It
is directed at the implementation of the RA government’s Poverty
Reduction Strategy program. A total of 75 mln dollars (the whole
sum of PRSC) will be allocated to Armenia during four years. The
credit will be made to Armenia on standard IDA terms, including 40
years maturity and a 10-year grace period. It will be given at 0.75%
annual interest rate. According to R. Robinson, the credit will be
transfered to the state budget and will contribute to the government
in poverty reduction. The first theme recognizes that a continuation
of Armenia’s exemplary macroeconomic performance over the past five
years is necessary to underpin high rates of growth. Moreover it
is supposed that the governance reforms will improve the climate of
public sector investment. The second theme of sharpening competition
and entrenching property rights – sutting across trade, utilities
regulation, property and contract law, banking and capital markets
and rural sectors – adrresses the key weaknesses in the competition
environment. According to V. Khachatrian, it became possible to
approve the program owing to a number of complex arrangements carried
out by the RA government. In particular, business atmosphere improved,
and it is expected that the work directed at the regulation of the
finacial market and the development of rural infrastructures will
be carried out next year. The Minister expressed hope that the first
part of the credit will be given to Armenia this December. A grant of
4.3 mln euros allocated by the Netherlands government will be also
directed at the implementation of the program. Vardan Khachatrian
also mentioned that Armenia’s work with international organizations
was very effective this year. He assured that the RA government is a
hopeful partner for international organizations and donor countries:
they work with Armenia in quite an active way and without doubts. Since
joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, the commitments to
Armenia make total approximately US $841 million for 37 operations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MHER SHAHJELDIAN: VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD IN KARABAKH PROBLEM STARTS FOR ARMENIA
YEREVAN, November 20 (Noyan Tapan). During the recent session of
the MATO Parliamentary Assembly in Venice the report on the South
Caucasus was discussed. The RA NA deputies Mher Shahgeldian and Alexan
Karapetian who had participated in the session informed reporters about
this at the November 19 press conference. According to M. Shahgeldian,
the issue of opening Armenia’s borders with Turkey was also raised
during the NATO PA Political Committee session. The issue may become
a subject of discussion at a plenary session in the future. When
answering the reporters’ questions, M. Shahgeldian noted that in
the report at the NATO PA session the Nagorno Karabakh problem was
given as much attention as to other regional problems, and the matter
concerned only an informational report. At the same time the deputy
considered as worrying the fact that Azerbaijan’s efforts aimed at
discussing the Karabakh problem in various international organizations
have been crowned with success. He underlined that a difficult period
starts for Armenia in terms of the Karabakh problem.

EXPANSION OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE IN ARMENIA NOT PLANNED IN NEAR FUTURE
YEREVAN, November 20 (Noyan Tapan). The expansion of Russian
military base No 102 stationed in Armenia is not planned in the near
future. Colonel Mikhail Baranov, the RF Defence Ministry Press Center
Head, informed reporters about this on November 19 in Yerevan. He
underlined that such an expansion may take place only as a result
of a respective decision between Russia and Armenia. According to
Colonel Baranov, financing military base No102 is completely done
by the RF Ministry of Defence, as well as its provision. However,
while responding to NT correspondent’s question, the representative
of the Russian Defence Ministry stated that the closure of the
check point Verin Lars at the Russian-Georgian border did not affect
the vital activities of the base in any way. According to Baranov,
this route accounts for only 20% of total goods transportation to
Armenia. Colonel Baranov stated that the total personnel of military
base No102 makes about 4,000 people and is composed of servicemen on
a contractual basis, officers and non-commissioned officers. Persons –
Armenians by nationality who serve in the base are Russian citizens.

YOUTH NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ARMENIA TO RAISE ISSUE OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DURING
APRIL MEETING IN ISTANBUL IN 2005
YEREVAN, November 19 (Noyan Tapan). The preliminary arrangement on
the organization of a meeting in Istanbul in April 2005 was reached
between the representatives of Greece, Armenia, Israel, Turkey and
other countries-participants during the Youth Forum held in Madrid on
November 11-13. RA MP Vazgen Khachikian, the Chairman of the Youth
National Council of Armenia, said about it during the November 18
press conference. According to him, the Armenian side is going to
raise the issue of the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and make
it the theme of discussion.

Kocharian not to Assert ‘Genocide Condition’
Zaman, Turkey
Nov 20 2004
Armenian President Robert Kocharian wants Turkey to end it’s isolation
of Armenia and open the border gates, which have been closed for 11
years. He did not see the Armenian genocide claims as a provision to
start bilateral negotiations.
In an interview with Die Welt, Kocharian said, “Turkey’s application
of blockade towards Armenia; this is called harassment.”
Turkey’s recognition of a so-called genocide is not a condition
to begin normalizing relations. Determining that “genocide”, which
allegedly took place in 1915, was a significant issue for Armenians,
Kocharian continued, “However this will never be a condition to
develop bilateral negotiations”. If Ankara recognizes this reality,
it will be another step toward a normalization of relations.
Kocharian, who is currently in Germany, disclosed in a seminar titled,
“The EU and CIS: Key of the New Economic Cooperation”, that the
opportunity had appeared for a reconciliation between Turkish and
Armenian relations. Turkey closed it’s border gates with Armenia in
1993 because of the Nagarno Karabagh conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia and the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
Although Turkey wants to normalize its relations with Armenia,
relations cannot be reconstructed yet because Armenia has made no
attempts toward solving its dispute with Azerbaijan. Armenia also
does not recognize the 1921 Kars Agreement, which determined the
Armenian-Turkish border.