Category: News

Azerbaijan backs Georgia in South Ossetia conflict – minister
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
12 Jul 04
The Azerbaijani government supports Tbilisi in the Georgian-Ossetian
conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has said.
The latest developments in South Ossetia concern Azerbaijan as well,
and Baku supports Georgia’s territorial integrity, Mammadyarov
said. What is more, Georgia is Azerbaijan’s strategic partner, he
said. Although the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has issued no
statement over the situation in South Ossetia, it has informed Georgia
of its stance, he said.
The minister also spoke of the current visit to the region of the OSCE
Minsk Group cochairmen, who are mediating the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. It is too early to talk about the co-chairmen’s any new
proposals or ideas on how to resolve the conflict. The co-chairmen –
Yuriy Merzlyakov [of Russia], Henry Jacolin [France] and Steven Mann
[USA] – visited Armenia today [12 July]. Tomorrow, they will leave
Yerevan for the occupied part of Azerbaijan, Karabakh, and will visit
Baku on 14 July.

Opposition daily speculates on Russia’s latent interests in Azerbaijan
Yeni Musavat, Baku
13 Jul 04
One of the issues topping the political agenda of the day is the
frequent visits by different Russian officials to Baku. While analysts
have been putting forward various theories as to the objectives of
such visits, their common belief is that our northern neighbour is
interested in returning to Azerbaijan and at least partly restoring
its lost clout. At stake are primarily geo-economic and
military-political interests.
It is noteworthy that most of the Russian officials who have visited
Baku recently are either former or current secret agents. Yevgeniy
Primakov, Sergey Stepashin and now Vladimir Rushaylo all come from the
same field. This shows the level of the Russian administration’s
interest (President Vladimir Putin himself is a former KGB agent) in
our country.
As for Rushaylo’s visit in the capacity of a CIS official, as he
himself put it, well this can be explained by Russia’s plans to
strengthen its positions on the entire territory of the CIS, including
Azerbaijan. Rushaylo is Moscow’s man, isn’t he?
But what is the Kremlin looking for in Azerbaijan? What is it
concerned about?
First of all, Russia is one of the countries extremely interested in a
dynastic regime in Azerbaijan, because it is much easier to get along
with a “family” regime than with a democratic government. This is
particularly obvious in the example of Georgia and its [president]
Mikheil Saakashvili, as Georgia’s democratic leader has been causing
Russia a real headache of late. Therefore, the “family” regime in
Azerbaijan is becoming even twice as important for Moscow.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
Another interesting aspect is that Moscow has become more active since
the European Union announced the launch of its European Neighbourhood
Policy for the three South Caucasus republics and NATO declared that
post-Soviet republics are in the sphere of its interests. The Kremlin
is smart enough to understand that if such programmes and strategies
are implemented, it will have to pack up and leave not only the
Ukraine and the Caucasus but even Central Asia.
[Passage omitted: Russia’s relations with Georgia]
Let’s return to Azerbaijan, however. One of the factors preconditioning
Russia’s stepped up activity in Azerbaijan is the personality of the
heir. The thing is that while the Kremlin is coming to terms with the
loss of Saakashvili (Moscow is no longer pinning hopes on him),
[Azerbaijani President] Ilham [Aliyev] is clearly Moscow’s
man. Saakashvili is the man of the West and the heir is the man of the
East. In all respects. Obviously, the Kremlin can get along with the
latter much more easily.
Also, it is common knowledge that while the Georgian leader has
enthusiastically embarked on reforms and the protection of the
country’s territorial integrity, the heir can’t stand the word
“reform”, does not fidget with conflicts and instead curtsies to the
North as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
In other words, the visits by the Kremlin officials are in Aliyev’s
interests as well. At the same time, if Russia is not doing very well
in Georgia, then why not make up for that at the expense of
Azerbaijan?
[Passage omitted: repetition]
But it is so good that Azerbaijan consists not only of the regime and
the New Azerbaijan Party. There are strong and influential enough
political forces here which see the country’s successes through
integration with the West. They are highly unlikely to remain
tight-lipped over Russia’s return to Azerbaijan.
If Russia is serious about its intention to return to Azerbaijan, let
it first think about ways of winning back public confidence. This
could be done by showing Armenia its place in the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict, helping Azerbaijan liberate its lands without any
preconditions and making Armenia abandon its territorial claims. As
far as we can see, Moscow is not preparing to do that. Therefore,
being a friend of the regime does not mean being a friend of
Azerbaijan.

Solid progress on security and defence policies
Irish Times
Jul 13, 2004
Paul Gillespie in Brussels

Effective multilateralism has provided an active and topical agenda
for Ireland’s EU presidency during the last six months, which is amply
reflected in the conclusions of yesterday’s European Council.
The phrase comes from the European Security Strategy adopted at last
December’s summit, which stipulated that the United Nations should be
at its core.
This gave an opportunity to combine Irish political priorities with EU
ones when the UN was more and more anxious to benefit from EU
initiatives on peacekeeping, peacemaking and crisis management issues.
The fruits of this activity are endorsed in the conclusions. They
include detailed policy papers for the UN Secretary General’s high
level panel on threats, challenges and change in support of a
strengthened UN; work undertaken to implement the EU-UN joint
declaration on co-operation on crisis management of September last;
and joint commitments made to effective multilateralism with the EU’s
regional partners such as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, where the
EU is to send its first rule of law mission under the European
Security and Defence Policy. It anticipates future proposals on steps
to promote a more rules-based international order. Other initiatives
involved include work to develop EU policy towards conflict prevention
and human rights and to develop basic principles on how sanctions can
be used to implement such multilateral approaches.
The EU is shortly to take over the NATO mission in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. In practice, the military and police resources being made
available through new structures will be deployed within its immediate
neighbourhood there and in Macedonia rather than much further
afield. But policy is increasingly geared to UN peacekeeping
work. These priorities are spelled out in a section devoted to how
such capabilities are to be enhanced.
The EU has a “headline goal” of deploying 60,000 troops in military
rapid response for crisis management tasks by 2010. The latest plan is
to use multinational 1,500-strong “battle groups” for this task to be
ready by 2007 and to maintain close contacts with the UN on this
issue, which the summit endorsed.
The summit launched the EU’s first military planning cell to
co-ordinate such work. It will be based in Brussels and begin work by
the end of the year. It will complement existing cells in NATO and
co-ordinate with other operations centres.
The summit endorsed progress made during the Irish presidency on
combating terrorism, both by taking steps on such issues as asylum,
border protection and drug trafficking and by implementing the
declaration on the subject adopted after the train bombs in Madrid on
March 3rd last. These include work on the Schengen system of border
controls, sharing intelligence between law enforcement agencies and
protecting civilians and critical infrastructures.
Solidarity and international co-operation are integral to combating
terrorism and addressing its root causes, the conclusions state. The
subject will be to the foreground in relations with the US and in
political dialogue with other third countries.
The summit pledged itself to continue the fight against weapons of
mass destruction and their means of delivery. It endorsed a report on
the implementation of an EU policy on proliferation and adopted a
declaration on criminal sanctions in related materials.

July 13, 2004
PRESS RELEASE
Armenia Tree Project
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-926-8733
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Armenia Tree Project’s 10th Anniversary Celebrated with a Concert at
Garni Temple in Armenia
YEREVAN (ArmeniaNow, combined sources)-Beneath a full moon over an
ancient temple, the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia filled Garni
with music on July 2.
Maestro Aram Gharabekyan waved his orchestra into motion at 10pm, with
“Dance of Rosy Girls,” from Aram Khachaturian’s ballet “Gayane,” just
as the moon made its way into view over the 1st century BC temple.
Yellow lighting filled the inside of the temple, while purple, blue,
and green lights successively highlighted its columns and façade. It
is the first time such a spectacle has been held in the gorge, one of
Armenia’s most popular tourist destinations.
Seating was provided for 600, but about 100 others stood for the
two-hour performance. The audience was a mix of dignitaries, citizens,
and diasporan Armenians who received special invitations to the event.
“It is the most extraordinary concert I have ever seen,” said Heghine
Zurabyan, 45, who lives in Garni. “I dream that my children will have
many opportunities to hear such concerts.”
The orchestra was accompanied by soprano Gayane Grigoryan and soprano
Nune Badalyan, who received a standing ovation for her performance of
the last aria of the opera “Anush.”
Gharabekyan praised the work of the Tree Project, which over the past
decade has planted 531,000 trees in 500 locations throughout Armenia.
“The orchestra is honored to have a role in the protection and
revitalization of our environment through music,” Gharabekyan was
quoted as saying. “Let’s place our hands together across Armenia and
across the world so that we can replant, replenish, and rebuild a new
vision for the future.”
“It was just a breathtaking, stunning scene to listen to this music in
front of this amazing temple,” said Glenn Surabian, of Boston, who is
in Armenia to work on a USAID-sponsored program. “These beautiful
trees were lit up. I think it was just a wonderful celebration for the
Tree Project.”
The orchestra produced a similar event last year in Shushi, Nagorno
Karabagh at the College of Applied Arts and Sciences, which was
destroyed during the armed conflict. The concert aimed to promote
awareness of the college’s reconstruction, just as the Garni concert
publicized the Tree Project’s reforesting efforts throughout Armenia.
“One of the objectives of the orchestra has always been to play a
part, not only in the cultural life of our society, but to make a
meaningful contribution to the causes that impact our lives as
citizens,” read a statement by the orchestra about the performance.
“Therefore, this evening’s concert is not incidental, but a commitment
whose roots can be traced to Shushi. Let’s all ensure that we build a
new society – one which places importance on ecology and the
environment and one which our children will be proud to inherit,” the
statement concluded.
Orchestra director Armen Arabyan said the Garni concert was a
logistical challenge, more so than the Karabagh performance. He also
said they spent about $20,000 to organize the concert and that the
orchestra hopes to produce such events annually.
The performance was filmed and will be produced as a DVD and recorded
for release on CD.
The ATP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994 during
Armenia’s darkest and coldest years with the vision of safeguarding
Armenia’s future by protecting its environment. Funded by
contributions from Diasporan Armenians, the ATP has planted and
rejuvenated 531,000 trees at more than 400 sites ranging from Gyumri
to Goris.

PRESS RELEASE
July 13, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Armenian Official Meets with MCC, Details Work on MCA Compacts
On July 13, 2004, Chief Economic Adviser to the President of Armenia,
Vahram Nercissiantz, who serves as Deputy Chairperson of the Board of
Trustees of the Armenian Program of the Millennium Challenge Account, and
Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Arman Kirakossian held a meeting with
Paul V. Applegarth, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
(MCC). Mr. Nercissiantz briefed the MCC official on Armenia’s progress
since June, when the MCC delegation visited Armenia.
In particular, Mr. Nercissiantz presented the activities of the Board of
Trustees of the Armenian Program of the Millennium Challenge Account, an
ad-hoc working group established by the Government of Armenia to coordinate
the preparation of the MCA compacts. The Government has held extensive
consultations with Armenian NGO’s, groups of experts and other concerned
parties, both at national and local levels, to solicit advice and develop a
public awareness on the strategic directions for developmental assistance
under the terms of MCA, Mr. Nercissiantz explained. He added that the Board
of Trustees is preliminarily planning to complete the preparation of draft
compacts by the end of August, with an aim to approve the compact and
formally submit it to the MCC for consideration in September.
Noting with satisfaction the activities of the Board of Trustees in Armenia,
Mr. Applegarth stressed the need for the compacts to also address the issues
relating to further strengthening the democracy in Armenia. Asked to present
the results of the consultations between the Government of Armenia and the
concerned parties, Mr. Nercissiantz noted that the consensus among the
government agencies, NGO’s, and expert groups was that the priority needed
to be given to the task of alleviating poverty among the rural population of
Armenia by promoting economic growth in rural regions. In particular,
greater integration of the rural communities in Armenia’s economy and
increased economic opportunities will help to reduce chronic poverty in
rural and small farming communities; an important by-product of such
economic empowerment will be the strengthening of local self-government and
civil society in Armenia. With the above strategic direction in mind,
elements of the program-compacts to be submitted to the MCC will likely
include, but not be limited to, rehabilitation of rural roads and transport
infrastructure; soil amelioration (drainage and desalination); improving
irrigation system; and investing in social infrastructure.
Mr. Nercissiantz reiterated the commitment of the Armenian Government to
continue to adhere to the goals of the Millennium Challenge Account
developmental assistance, such as governing justly, promoting economic
freedom, and investing in human capital of Armenia.
For more information on the MCC and Armenia, please visit:

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 13, 2004 Tuesday
Russia, Armenia sign agreement on cooperation in education
By Andrei Lavrov
MOSCOW
Russia and Armenia signed an agreement on cooperation in public
education. The Russian and Armenian ministers of public education and
science signed the documents in the presence of the prime ministers
of the two countries.
Armenian premier Andranik Margaryan said that “the Russian language
has a high status in the republic”. He emphasized that Armenia trains
Russian language teachers for schools.
In turn, premier Mikhail Fradkov noted that Russia handed over 55,000
Russian language textbooks to Armenia last year. “This is an
important sphere of cooperation,” said Fradkov, stressing that
Armenia has 65 schools with extensive studies of the Russian
language, while 50 schools have classes with extensive studies of the
Russian language.
Another Tass dispatch says that following a meeting with Margaryan,
the Russian premier said that the first meeting of the
Russian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on military cooperation
will be held in September-October.
“We have a positive experience of cooperation in this sphere,”
Fradkov added. As an example he instanced training of Armenian
military personnel at higher educational establishments of the
Defence Ministry.
According to Fradkov, bilateral military cooperation “will be
oriented on updating military hardware, supplied to the Armenian army
earlier,” as well as at prolonging its service life.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
July 13, 2004 Tuesday
Russian market promising for Armenian producers – premier
By Susanna Adamyants, Alexandra Urusova
MOSCOW
The Russian market is the most promising for Armenian producers,
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said in Moscow on Tuesday.
He said the Armenia pavilion at the All-Russia Exhibition Center had
helped to increase bilateral trade by $5 million.
“Energetic efforts are being taken to upgrade trade and economic
cooperation to the level of political partnership,” Margaryan said.
The Armenian premier had negotiations with his Russian counterpart
Mikhail Fradkov.

RosBusinessConsulting Database
July 13, 2004 Tuesday
PM comments on Russian trade with Armenia
Russian trade with Armenia totals over $200m currently, Russian Prime
Minister Mikhail Fradkov announced at a meeting with his Armenian
counterpart Andranik Markaryan, who pays an official visit to Moscow.
According to Fradkov, Russian trade with Armenia can grow further but
the two parties have to contribute more to the development of
bilateral relations. The trade with Armenia surged over 30 percent in
2003, the Prime Minister stressed. “We are satisfied with the
development of economic relations,” he added. According to him, the
two countries should enhance the cooperation in the energy and gas
sectors, as well as in the high tech sector.

RosBusinessConsulting Database
July 13, 2004 Tuesday
Russia and Armenia to prepare cooperation accord
Russia and Armenia will complete preparations for signing a
government agreement in the gas sphere, Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov declared after negotiations with his Armenian
counterpart Andranik Markarian. According to the head of the Russian
government, relations between the two countries in the gas sphere are
developing dynamically. Fradkov also noted that the sides had
considered the efficiency of activities of the joint venture
ArmRosgazprom in Armenia.
Moreover, the construction of a fifth energy generating unit of the
Razdan power plant was negotiated at the meeting. Fradkov also
mentioned that issue concerning supplies of Russian nuclear fuel to
the Armenian nuclear power plant had been settled.

RosBusinessConsulting Database
July 13, 2004 Tuesday
Armenia to continue upgrading its military forces
The first meeting of a joint Russian-Armenian intergovernmental
commission on cooperation in the military sphere will take place in
September to October 2004. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov
made a corresponding statement after negotiations with his Armenian
counterpart Andranik Markarian, who is on an official visit in
Moscow. According to Fradkov, this cooperation will continue within
the framework of modernization of Armenian military forces.