Category: News

Interfax
July 21 2004
Iran starts to build pipeline to Armenia
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Iran has started to build its 100- km section
of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Armenian Ambassador Plenipotentiary
to Iran Gegam Garibjanian told journalists in Yerevan.
He said that an Iranian company is building the pipeline using state
funds.
He said that the 40-km Armenian section of the pipeline would also be
built by an Iranian company, whose representatives arrived in Armenia
over the past few days. The ambassador did not name the company, but
said that it has state support and will be able to complete the
project ahead of schedule.
ZAO Armrosgazprom announced earlier that its plans to participate in
the construction and operation of the Iran-Armenia pipeline.
ZAO Armrosgazprom was set up in 1997 with a charter capital of $280
million. The company includes the entire gas transport and
distribution system in Armenia. The company’s shareholders are
Gazprom and the Armenian Energy Ministry – 45% each, and Itera – 10%.
According to the feasibility study for the project, developed by
Gazprom, the project will cost $140 million.
Armenia and Iran signed an agreement on May 13 for the construction
of a pipeline between the two countries. The pipeline is 141 km long,
inducing 41 km in Armenia and 100 km in Iran. The total cost of the
project is estimated at $210-$220 million.
Gas should start to arrive in Armenia from January 2007 and will be
used at Armenian thermal power plants to produce electricity for
export to Iran.

ARMENIA’s LAW RESTRICT SANITARY INSPECTIONS’ STRUGGLE FOR SANITARY
SAFETY
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. The State Epidemiological and Hygienic
Inspection, RA Ministry of Health, has no right to conduct inspections
at enterprises or trading institutions without notifying them, Head of
the Inspection Artavazd Vanyan told ARMINFO.
He said that the law allows inspectors to conduct sanitary inspections
only once a year, notifying the enterprises three days in
advance. “Enterprises have time to get ready for inspections, and they
do not produce any results,” Vanyan said. Enterprises often close
their doors before inspectors, and small ones suspend their
activities. According to Vanyan, if inspectors find any violations of
sanitary conditions of producing or keeping foodstuff, they can
decided to impose a 1,000 AMD fine on the enterprise or order it to be
closed. However, in a number of cases punishment does not produce any
effect, and the law breaker pay little fines and continue their
work. To control the situation the State Inspection elaborated new
sanitary norms, which are to be included in the draft law on sanitary
safety to be submitted to the Government late this year or early next
year. Also, the Inspection submitted proposals for amendments to the
Code of Administrative Offences, which stipulate fines of 50-100
thousand AMD for violating sanitary standards. High fines and legal
specification of the Inspection’s activities will enhance the
efficiency of sanitary control at all institutions, Vanyan said.

RA COURT OF APPEAL STARTS CONSIDERING VARDAN ZURNACHYAN’s APPEAL
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. The RA Court of Appeal has started
considering an appeal lodged by Vardan Zurnachyan, lawyer of the
opposition activist Lavrenty Kirakosyan.
Advancing arguments for his appeal, Zurnachyan stated that the
investigation was conducted with gross violations of the Code of
Criminal Procedure. Kirakosyan’s flat was searched on the last day of
his being under arrest for participating in the opposition’s rallies
not sanctioned by the authorities. “After a telephone conversation,
during which the policemen reported that nothing suspicious had been
found, they came back and searched the tank once more and found a
package with green substance. Moreover, my client was subjected to
violence at the police station. This and other violations testify that
the investigation was not impartial and the case is trumped up,”
Zurnachyan said. The lawyer asked the court to invite as witnesses the
Head Physician of the Baghramyan regional hospital and the medical
nurse who rendered medical aid to Kirakosyan that day.
Speaking in court, Kirakosyan pointed out that he is being persecuted
for political reasons. “Since 1995, the time of dictatorship of the
Armenian National Movement, I have been persecuted by the police. A
testimony to that is the criminal charge of unlawful possession of
arms trumped up against me at that time, for which I was unfairly
imprisoned for six months. And now I am being persecuted for my being
honest and committed to principles during last year’s elections and
latest developments in this spring,” he said.
Lavrenty Kirakosyan, the active member of the National-Democratic
Union, which is part of the opposition bloc “Justice”, was sentenced
to 18 months of imprisonment for unlawful possession of drugs. The
convict and his lawyer claim that the drugs were put stealthily by the
policemen during the search in his house. The trial is to be resumed
on July 26.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT CAN BE CONSIDERED SETTLED: HRANT KHACHATRYAN
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be
considered settled, as Nagorny Karabakh is free and independent,
Chairman of the opposition party “Constitutional Right Union” (CRU)
Hrant Khachatryan told a press conference at the National Press Club.
According to him, as far back as 1989 the Supreme Soviet of the
Armenian SSR adopted a resolution that Nagorny Karabakh was an
integral part of Armenia. Thereafter, the entire world recognized
Armenia’s independence, and, according to the 1989 resolution, Nagorny
Karabakh was part of it, Khachatryan said. On the other hand, he
stressed that Nagorny Karabakh is not a geographically clear-cut
territory, and its borders were determined during the liberation war
in 1988-1994, when the Armenian side succeeded in liberating a number
of regions neighboring on Nagorny Karabakh. Khachatryan also expressed
the opinion that the international community will not during next 2-3
years pressure the conflicting parties into settling the conflict as
soon as possible. According to the CRU leader, the superpowers are not
concerned with whether Nagorny Karabakh will be part of Azerbaijan or
of Armenia. The most important for them is that the conflict be
settled, as the international community views Nagorny Karabakh as a
hotbed of instability. Khachatryan also stressed that the Armenian
people will not retreat in the issue of Nagorny Karabakh, irrespective
of what position the country’s authorities assume.

RPA EXCLUDES POSSIBILITY OF RETURN OF ALL LIBERATED DISTRICTS,
NEIGHBORING ON NAGORNY KARABAKH, TO AZERBAIJAN
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. Republican party of Armenia excludes the
possibility of return of all the liberated territories, neighboring on
Nagorny Karabakh, to Azerbaijan. Member of the RPA Board Gagik
Minasian stated during the press conference at the National press
club.
At the same time he did not exclude the possibility of return of
several liberated districts, which are not included in the program of
resettlement, in exchange for Azerbaijan’s admitting the independence
of Nagorny Karabakh. Gagik Minasian mentioned that during his recent
visit to the liberated districts he made sure of that the process of
resettlement of these territories is going on quite actively. According
to him, large-scale construction works are being implemented in the
liberated territories, these populated areas are provided with power
supply. The population of these districts is getting ready for the
elections to local self-government bodies. Gagik Minasian stressed
that as regards the democratization level Nagorny Karabakh and
neighboring districts are by no beans inferior to Azerbaijan.
Speaking about RPA’s position in the issue of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict Gagik Minasian stressed that RPA advocates full
independence of Nagorny Karabakh or its joining to Armenia. He also
declared that the territories of Armenia cannot be a subject of trade
during the negotiations concerning the peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. According to him, Nagorny Karabakh must also have
direct communication with Armenia.

NKR MUST PROCLAIM ITS HEGEMONY OVER NEIGHBORING TERRITORIES: KIRO
MANOYAN
YEREVAN, JULY 21. ARMINFO. Nagorny Karabakh must proclaim its hegemony
over the neighboring liberated territories as soon as possible, Kiro
Manoyan, a Board member, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)
“Dashnaktsutyun”, told a press conference at the National Press Club.
According to him, as long as the status of liberated territories
remains undetermined, they will be a subject of “bargain” in the
negotiations for the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. Manoyan stressed
that the intensification of the re-settlement process requires
guarantees against the return of liberated territories to Azerbaijan.
“The ARF is not against concessions in the negotiations, but if
Azerbaijan wants to get the liberated territories back, let it
exchange them for the Shahumyan, Martunashen and Getashen regions,”
Manoyan said. He also stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
cannot be settled without considering the public opinion in Armenia
and in Nagorny Karabakh itself. He said that sooner or later
Azerbaijan will have to sit down at the negotiating table with Nagorny
Karabakh.

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.