Category: News

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 21 2004
ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: `UNTIL RETURN OF IDPS TO THEIR HOMELANDS, IT IS
NOT REAL TO SPEAK OF SETTLEMENT OF THE ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN, NAGORNY
KARABAKH CONFLICT’
[July 21, 2004, 15:53:37]
As was informed, foreign minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov is
on his visit to Washington on the invitation of Secretary of State
Mr. Colin Powell. This is his first visit as foreign minister.
On 20 July, Minister Mammadyarov has met Secretary of State Colin
Powell, minister of energy Spenser Abraham, chairmen of working
groups of Congress-Milli Majlis, congressmen Curt Weldon and Solomon
Ortiz, as well as representatives of the Jewish community, AzerTAj
correspondent reported.
At the meeting with the minister of energy Spenser Abraham, the
foreign minister informed on the achievements in the oil-gas fields
in the Republic. The parties stressed the importance of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines for
the region. Currently Azerbaijan negotiates with Greece on gas
transportation, Minister Mammadyarov said. There are good
opportunities for transportation of Azerbaijan gas to world markets.
He stressed necessity of US assistance in this question.
The Ministers also focused the question of signing the project
`US-Azerbaijan energy dialogue’ that covers bilateral cooperation in
the energy sector. It was noted that there is an interest to the
restored energy sources in the world. Mr. S. Abraham expressed hope
that the two countries would reach high-level cooperation in this
sphere. Also were touched issues of establishment of links between
scientific-research centers, made suggestions on joint research with
the participation of Azerbaijan scholars in the labs in America with
their American colleagues.
The same day, Mr. Mammadyarov made a report on the topic `Foreign
policy priorities of Azerbaijan at the Center of Strategic and
International Researches in Washington. The Minister highlighted on
the relations of the Republic with US, Iran, Russia, Turkey and NATO,
on the projects being realized in the Caspian basin, on ensuring
safety of the oil-gas pipelines, on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
Noting that the democratic and economic reforms are going at full
scale, Mr. Mammadyarov said that investing the oil profits to the
non-oil sectors of Country is one of the major tasks of Azerbaijan
government. Deposits of the transparently acting Oil Fund of Republic
will be directed to agriculture, tourism, transport, communications
and other spheres.
Impeding regional development in the South Caucasus, the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict was in the focus of the
meeting at the Center of Strategic and International Researches in
Washington. In reply to numerous questions of the participants,
Minister Mammadyarov stated that despite 20 percents of the Country’s
territories have been occupied and there are over million refugees
and IDPs, Azerbaijan still adheres peaceful settlement of the
conflict in the frame of international laws. He reminded that
Presidents of both countries have met two times and foreign ministers
– three times in this year. Touching the recent visit of Minsk Group
co-chairs to the region, foreign minister of Azerbaijan said he is
hopeful for their mediation in the conflict settlement. At his words,
international support for Azerbaijan’s position gives reason to say
that. He reminded that the Council of Europe has reaffirmed in its
recent document the territorial intensity of Azerbaijan.
One of the items focused in the meeting was allocation by the
Congress Committee of equal military assistance for Azerbaijan and
Armenia. Mr. Mammadyarov gave high assessment to the links between
Azerbaijan and Pentagon, recalled the earlier successfully realized
military programs. He, at the same time, underlined that he is
surprised at equal assistance to Azerbaijan who is in the anti-terror
coalition with the United States in the hot spots, and Armenia, who
simply expresses its support for the Alley’s military operations. If
the United States wants to continue cooperation with Azerbaijan it
should appropriately regard and military assistance to Azerbaijan.
***
On 20 July, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov has met at the Department of State
with Secretary of State Mr. Colin Powell. In the course of talks, Mr.
Powell expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s participation at the
anti-terror campaign and in particular, for service in staff of the
peacemaking forces in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. The United States
attentively watches the democratic and economic reforms in
Azerbaijan, Secretary of State said. Noting that since George Bush
Administration assumed power, the US pays constant attention to
settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Mr. Colin Powell said
that as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair the United States would closely
watch the developments in the region and continue to effectively take
part at the process of negotiations. He noted that it should be taken
into account how the society is ready to discuss the settlement of
conflict.
Minister E. Mammadyarov stated: `Until return of IDPs to their
homelands, the society will remain sensitive to settlement of
conflict and in this case, it is not real to speak of settlement of
the Armenia Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict’. He called on the
United States as a super state and OSCE Minsk Group co-chair to
increase its efforts for just settlement of the conflict in the frame
of international laws.
During the talk, the parties also focused the energy projects being
realized in the Caspian basin. Also were discussed other questions of
mutual interest.
Ms. Elizabeth Jones, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and
Eurasian Affairs, American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven
Mann, ambassador of Azerbaijan in Washington Hafiz Pashayev,
Azerbaijan’s permanent representative in UN Yashar Aliyev took part
in the meeting.
Mr. E. Mammadyarov is expected to have a number of meetings and
discussions till 24 July.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Press
July 21 2004
No Compromises On Karabakh: Azerbaijan’s President
AFP: 7/21/2004
KHUDAT DISTRICT, Azerbaijan, July 21 (AFP) – Azerbaijan will make no
compromises in its negotiations with Armenia over the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, President Ilham Aliyev said Wednesday.
The statement appeared to mark a hardening of Azerbaijan’s stance
over the conflict, which remains unresolved after a war in the early
1990s that displaced a million civilians and left some 35,000 people
dead.
“We cannot react positively to calls on us to make compromises. On
questions of our territorial integrity we will never make any
compromises,” Aliyev said on a visit to northern Azerbaijan.
“Certain calls on us (to make compromises on Nagorno-Karabakh) are
without foundation,” the Azeri leader added.
“All international norms, the economic situation, are on our side.
Large resources are being given to the army and we will continue to
make available these resources.”
Since large-scale fighting ceased in 1994 Nagorno-Karabakh — which
is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan — and several
surrounding Azeri regions have been under the control of Armenian
forces.
Azerbaijan has insisted that Armenian troops relinquish the
territory, and has said it reserves the right to use force to settle
the dispute.
In the past, Azerbaijan has signalled that it might make concessions
in order to reach a lasting peace settlement with Armenia over the
enclage. One possibility that has been mooted is an exchange of
territory.
But Aliyev’s comments Wednesday, to a unit of border guards on
Azerbaijan’s frontier with Russia, seemed to indicate that this
option has now been ruled out.

TURKEY MUST NOT ACCEDE TO EUROPEAN UNION UNTIL IT ADMITS GENOCIDE OF
ARMENIANS OF 915
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has pressed ahead with an official visit to France aimed at prying
open the European Union’s doors to his overwhelmingly Muslim
country. But his quest was a hard sell in France, where leaders have
failed to enthusiastically embrace Turkey’s bid and polls show most
French want Turkey to stay out of the 25-member union. Erdogan, after
meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, on Tuesday, said he
tried to convey the message that Turkey is making the changes required
to meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria for membership and is
counting on France not to withdraw its support. But he said Turkey
should not be held to a higher standard than the other EU members or
the two nations hoping to join in 2007, Romania and Bulgaria. “Turkey
doesn’t ask to join at any price,” Erdogan said at a press
conference. “Joining the EU is not a must for Turkey.” But France has
its doubters. One of the most prominent voices to oppose Turkey
membership has been former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing,
who bluntly said that Turkey isn’t European and its entry would mean
“the end” of the EU.
The ruling Union for the Popular Majority party, which has an
overwhelming majority in the French parliament, also is hostile to
Turkey’s membership. Erdogan met with former party head Alain Juppe
and others later Tuesday to try to win over hearts and minds. The
French public also needs to be convinced. In a poll of 1,511 people
last month, 61 percent of French who responded said they opposed
Turkey membership in the EU, and only 31 percent said they approved.
Eight percent did not have an opinion. Turkey is hoping for a positive
report on its candidacy from the European Commission this fall. Turkey
hopes to get a start date for entry negotiations at the EU summit in
December, but some European countries have seemed reluctant to include
Turkey _ a country of some 70 million, mostly Muslim inhabitants.
Membership of Turkey, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia,
would stretch the EU’s borders to Syria and Iraq _ a fact that
opponents say moves Europe too close to the unstable Middle
East. Chirac has said that he believes Ankara was not likely to be
able to meet the bloc’s conditions for another 10-15 years. Foreign
Minister Michel Barnier said in a radio interview Tuesday that “Turkey
should not expect to enter the European Union tomorrow morning” even
if it improves its human rights record and reforms its justice system,
two key requirements.
“Turkey still has a ways to go toward becoming a social and democratic
model along the lines of the European model,” Barnier told Europe-1
radio. Turkey also has passed sweeping democratic reforms to meet the
EU’s membership criteria, abolishing the death penalty and granting
greater cultural rights to long-oppressed Kurds. French Prime Minister
Jean-Pierre Raffarin said Monday after talks with Erdogan that France
was awaiting the European Commission report. “We will study the
Commission’s report this fall with the greatest attention,” Raffarin
said. Whatever the outcome of Turkey’s application, it likely will
maintain its strong commercial contacts with France. Turkey’s Anatolia
news agency said that Erdogan and Chirac on Tuesday agreed in
principle on the purchases of 36 Airbus planes by Turkish Airlines at
a cost of around US$1.5 billion. In Paris, members of the
Revolutionary Armenian Federation held a demonstration against
Erdogan’s visit and said Turkey should not be allowed into the EU
until it recognizes the Armenian genocide. Armenians accuse Turks of a
genocide of up to 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923. Turks
claim the number of deaths is inflated and say the victims were killed
in civil unrest.
“We are here to convince the French government, specifically Chirac,
to say absolutely ‘No’ to Turkey’s entry into the European Union,”
said Marie Ghazarossian, a housewife of Armenian descent who has lived
in France for 15 years. “Turkey is not a part of Europe, not the
Europe that we know.”

RA PREMIER MEETS WITH GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan and
Georgian Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvily discussed issues of
developing the bilateral relations.
The press service of the RA Government reports that during a meeting
today the Armenian Premier expressed his satisfaction over the high
level of bilateral relations. According to him, the Armenian-Georgian
relations are one of the components of regional stability, but they
need attention and discussion, especially in the economic aspect. In
this context, pointing out the importance of the Georgian Foreign
Minister’s first official visit to Armenia, the Armenian Premier
stressed that it will contribute to his own visit to Georgia in a few
days. During the visit, the Armenian-Georgian Intergovernment Economic
Cooperation is to hold its regular meeting to be chaired by the
Armenian and Georgian Premiers. Stressing the importance of the
Commission’s activities, the Armenian Premier expressed confidence
that he will discuss a wide range of issues of Armenian-Georgian
economic cooperation with his Georgian counterpart Zurab Zhvania.
Speaking of ensuring regional stability, Andranik Margaryan stressed
Armenia’s concern with stability in Georgia. In his turn, the Georgian
Foreign Minister presented the political situation in Georgia, in
particular, the new situation in Ajaria, the problems in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia, Georgia’s relations with Russia and Turkey. The sides
also discussed problems of Javakhetia. Pointing out that Armenia is
constantly concerned with the Armenian diaspora, the Armenian Premier
expressed a hope that the Georgian authorities will deal with the
socio-economic, educational and cultural problems of Georgia’s
citizens of Armenian nationality. Andranik Margaryan re-affirmed
Armenia’s willingness to assist with the implementation of
socio-economic development programs in Samtskhe-Javakhetia. The sides
re-affirmed the willingness of the Armenian and Georgian Governments
to strengthen the bilateral political and economic relations, as well
as to be actively involved in regional integration.

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER OF GEORGIA
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. Speaker of Armenian parliament and Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, who is in Yerevan
on an official visit, discussed issues of deepening of
Armenian-Georgian interstate relations.
ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the National Assembly of
Armenia, during the meeting the participants have stressed the
necessity of simultaneous integration of the South Caucasian countries
into the economic programs being implemented in the region. They
mentioned that establishment of peace in the region of the South
Caucasus and deepening of the cooperation between the countries of the
region opens prospects for the development. The sides considered
necessary the deepening of the cooperation of the parliaments of the
two countries in international structures, as well as intensification
of the activities of the South Caucasian parliamentary initiative. In
his turn, Arthur Baghdasarian expressed hope for that the large-scale
reforms in Georgia will result in the improvement of the welfare of
the Armenians who live in the territory of the neighbor republic. He
stressed that Armenian community of Georgia is a “bridge”, which links
Georgia with Armenia.

Turkiye
July 21 2004
ERDOGAN MEETS WITH FRENCH PARLIAMENTARI8ANS, DISCUSSES TURKEY’S EU
BID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday met with members of the
French Parliament’s Foreign Relations Commission to seek their
support for Turkey’s European Union membership bid. During their
meeting, Erdogan said that the Turkish and French peoples had had
friendly relations since the days of the Ottoman Empire. Asked about
the so-called Armenian genocide, Erdogan said that the issue was up
to the historians. Later, meeting with French businessmen, the
premier stressed that Turkey needed foreign capital and so urged
French businessmen to make investments. /Turkiye/

Zaman, Turkey
July 21 2004
PM: Border Gates will Open if Genocide Campaigns End
“The Armenian Diaspora is making a mistake by putting the so-called
Armenian genocide on the agenda,” said Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan yesterday in response to a question from a member of
the Commission of Foreign Affairs in the French Parliament about what
Turkey thinks of the Armenian issue.
“Progress on the relationship is difficult to make so long as the
campaigns continue. The border gates will not be opened unless the
campaigns are ended,” emphasized Erdogan. The Prime Minister also
reminded that Yerevan does not recognize the borders of Turkey.
Erdogan is currently in the middle of a three-day official visit to
France.
07.21.2004
Ali Ihsan Aydin
Paris

Zaman, Turkey
July 21 2004
Erdogan Answers Calls of Turkish Immigrants in France
France is the sharpest turn on Turkey’s way to the European Union
(EU). Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Paris visit is
important to ensure that Turkey rounds this difficult turn safe and
sound.
Erdogan first held meetings with French Prime Minister Jean Pierre
Raffarin yesterday and then in the evening met with Turkish citizens
living in France. Thousand of citizens living in and around Paris
turned out for the meeting held in a sports arena. Speakers were
limited to four minutes. Association representatives expressed their
complaints and their wishes. Afterwards, Erdogan approached the
podium and addressed the emigrants.
“Do not worry,” Erdogan said in response to difficulties the
emigrants were experiencing trying to get back into Turkey. “Use the
double citizenship passport, do not stay away from the administration
and become involved in politics.”
Erdogan gave the mobile phone number of Binali Yildirim, the Minister
of Transport, and said that the Minister would deal with the problems
in person. Then Erdogan gave another number for the citizens to call
if Yildirm could not help them: The Prime Minister’s personal number.
Citizens reportedly busied the mobiles of Erdogan and Yildirm all
night. Erdogan personally responded to several calls.
The next morning Erdogan met with members of the business circles and
requested the support of MEFED, the French Association of Businessman
and Industrialists. At noon Erdogan visited French President Jacques
Chirac in the Elysee Palace. Minister of Transport Yildirim, Minister
of Finance Kemal Unakitan and Minister of State Mehmet Aydin also
attended the meeting. The meeting had two critical issues: The
European Union and Turkish Airlines (THY).
Erdogan explained the reforms of Turkey to Chirac and reminded the
French President that Turkey deserved a negotiation date. Chirac said
that the EU’s progress report would be a determining factor in their
decision.
THY also put the final touches on a deal for 36 planes from the
French-German Airbus partnership. THY had been negotiating with
Airbus for quite some time. The tender, in excess of US$1.5 billion,
had a small problem left to take care of. Erdogan evaluated the
meeting as positive.
After Chirac, Erdogan met with the leader of the Turkey France
Friendship Group and Foreign Affairs Commission in the parliament.
When asked about the so-called Armenian Genocide, Erdogan responded,
“This is primarily an issue for historians. The Armenian Diaspora
should give up using these so-called alleged claims.” Meanwhile a
group of Armenians marched along Erdogan’s route.
Erdogan is making special efforts to influence French public opinion
since the publicity will help influence Chirac’s decision. The Prime
Minister gave an exclusive interview to France2 Channel and Le Figaro
newspaper.
07.21.2004
MUSTAFA UNAL

Sabah, Turkey
July 21 2004
ARMENIAN BORDER GATE IS A MUST
During his visit to France, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was
asked questions mostly about ”Armenian issue”. Erdogan said that
Armenians faced difficult situation due to Diaspora campaign. ”It is
not in favor of Armenians. Turkey-Armenia border gates can open after
end of Diaspora campaign.”

ARMENIAN, GEORGIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS SETTLEMENT POSSIBILITIES
OF REGIONAL CONFLICTS
YEREVAN, July 21 (Noyan Tapan). Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Ms. Salome Zurabishvili, who is in Armenia on an official visit, and
her Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanin met on July 21 to discuss key
problems related to the regional prospects and Armenian-Gerogian
bilateral relations. The Armenian foreign minister espressed
confidence that S. Zuabishvili’s visit and high-level meetings will
give a new context to Armenian-Georgian agenda issues. The two sides
outlined their approaches to the European prospect and pointed out the
existing potential of mutually advantageous cooperation in deepening
partnership with the European and Euroatlantic structures, namely, the
European Union and the NATO, which acquires more importance with the
involvement of the three Southcaucasian countries in the new
neighborhood program. The RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Departments quoted Vardan Oskanian as stressing the importance of
developing the road and transport corridors both to the West-East and
to the South-North from the viewpoint of regional economic development
meanwhile emphasizing their harmonic development will make it possible
for the South Caucasus to become a lively crossroads. In this context,
the sides exchanged views over the full re-operation of the regional
railroads, especially dwelling upon opening the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi as
well as the Abkhazian section of the Russia-Georgia-Armenia
railroads. The sides also touched upon the regional energy safety
problems and relevant developments. In this context they discussed
Turkey’s relations with the countries of the region. Vardan Oskanian
outlined the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations and the
registered shifts. Further the sides refered to the soft points of the
region, i.e. the Karabakhk, Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian
conflicts and the possibilities of settlement. To sum up the meeting
that lasted close to an hour, the sides agreed to continue the talks
during the official reception in honor of the Georgian foreign
minister given by Vardan Oskanian. Later in the day Salome
Zurabishvili met with RA Parliament Speaker Artur Baghdassarian and
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, put a wreath to the Tsitsernakaberd
Memorial Complex to the Victims of the Armenian Genocide, met with the
representatives of the Georgian community of Armenia at the Georgian
Embassy and visited the house-museum of Parajanov.