Category: News

Armenian National Committee of Florida
PO Box 741364
Boynton Beach, FL 33474
954-401-9787
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
August 18, 2004
Contact: Bedo Der-Bedrossian
[email protected]
ANC FLORIDA ACTIVISTS MEET
WITH KEY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS
— Strengthen ties with Cuban American Community
Ft. Lauderdale, FL – ANC Florida activists continued their meetings
with South Florida Congressional offices today, discussing
community concerns with six-term Republican House Member Lincoln
Diaz-Balart and senior representatives from the offices of Rep.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Rep. E. Clay Shaw (R-FL).
During the first meeting, participants discussed the status of the
Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193) and asked Rep. Diaz-Balart for his
support in encouraging the House Leadership to schedule a vote on
the measure. The group also urged the Representative to
participate in upcoming commemorative events marking the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, both in Washington, DC and in
his local district. ANC South Florida Chairman Bedo Der-Bedrossian
thanked the Congressman for joining with the South Florida Armenian
American community this past April 24th to mark this solemn
occasion. In turn, Rep. Diaz-Balart expressed appreciation to the
Armenian community for their solidarity on several issues of
concern to the Cuban American community. Specifically, the
Representative made reference to Armenian participation at a
protest against Communist repression in Cuba held during an
international summit in Geneva, Switzerland last year. The ANC
delegation pledged to work even more closely with the Cuban
American community on issues of mutual concern.
Participants at the meeting included ANCA Eastern Region Director
Doug Geogerian, ANCA Government Affairs Director Abraham Niziblian,
ANC South Florida Chairman Bedo Der-Bedrossian, Naomi Davityan,
ANCA intern and Florida activist Michael Toumayan, and Tony
Yaghjian as well as Armenian Assembly Grassroots Director Nancy
Hiteshue and recent Armenian Assembly intern Daniel Koushagjian.
Following this meeting, Geogerian, Niziblian, Der-Bedrossian and
Toumayan went on to discuss Armenian Genocide legislation and U.S.-
Armenia trade relations with Deborah Zimmerman, District Chief of
Staff for Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. The ANCA delegation expressed
appreciation for a key Committee vote Rep. Ros-Lehtinen had cast in
September 2000 in support of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
(H.Res.596). They went on to discuss a number of U.S. – Armenia
economic issues including continuing high levels of U.S. assistance
to Armenia, the importance of maintaining U.S. military assistance
parity to Armenia and Azerbaijan and providing U.S. assistance to
Nagorno Karabagh
During the meeting with Rep. E. Clay Shaw’s District Director Joel
Gustafson, the ANCA delegation again focused on proper U.S.
reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide as well as efforts to
strengthen U.S. – Armenia economic and political relations. The
delegation included Geogerian, Niziblian, Der-Bedrossian, Toumayan
as well as local activists Siran Der-Bedrossian and Allen
Jaknavorian.
At each of the meetings, ANCA activists encouraged Members of
Congress to co-sign a letter, initiated by Representatives George
Radanovich (R-CA), Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) urging the House
Leadership to support inclusion of the Schiff Amendment in the FY
2005 Foreign Aid Bill and to schedule a vote on the Genocide
Resolution (H.Res.193). The Schiff Amendment, adopted unanimously
by the House by a voice vote, would bar Turkey from utilizing U.S.
foreign assistance to lobby against the Genocide resolution
(H.Res.193).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
Aug 18 2004
REEL CRITICS
‘Diaries’ sequel royally engaging

AMUSING EVENTS KEEP STORY ROLLING
Carin Kellzi, 13, of Glendale begins eighth grade in the fall at
Armenian Sisters’ Academy in Montrose.
It all started when shy, 15-year-old Mia Thermopolis’ (Anne Hathaway)
grandmother Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews) came to town and told Mia
she was a princess – heir to the throne of Genovia. Furious and
skeptical, Mia agreed to take princess lessons and make the biggest
decision of her life – to leave San Francisco and her wonderful
friends and family or to live in Genovia and make a difference in the
world. That was in part one – “Princess Diaries.”
Now five years later, Mia, a college graduate, returns and faces
bigger challenges than before. Not only does Mia have to get married
in 30 days, she has to win the hearts of all Genovians over the man
who is trying to take the throne away from her.
Before I divulge more of the movie, which has a good plot, constant
laughs and other witty events that keep the movie rolling fast, I
think “Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” is an incredible movie.
It’s hip, hilarious, romantic and heartwarming. It’s a movie that the
entire family would enjoy. Andrews is a wonderful actress and
Hathaway is truly a princess. On a scale of one to 10, I would rate
this awesome movie a 10-plus.
OLD AND NEW CHARACTERS ARE ENDEARING
Sareen Kellzi, 16, of Glendale will be a senior in the fall at Clark
Magnet High School. She is the sister of fellow critic Carin Kellzi.
Mia Thermopolis is no longer the awkward 15-year-old from the first
movie. She is now 21 and ready to accept her responsibilities as
queen of Genovia. There’s just one little problem – she has to get
married. So as the search for the perfect husband begins, Mia has to
decide what’s more important to her, finding true love or her
obligation to the Genovian people.
Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews reprise their roles as Princess Mia
and Queen Clarisse. Much of the original cast has also returned, to
the audience’s delight, including Heather Matarazzo as Mia’s best
friend, Lily, and Hector Elizondo as Joseph, head of Genovian
security. There are also many new faces that only add to the humor,
overall appeal and charm of the film, such as Princess Mia’s two love
interests and the palace employees.
While it could have easily been cheesy and predictable, “Princess
Diaries 2” doesn’t fall into that trap and manages to be both funny
and fresh, mostly due to Hathaway’s charming performance and Andrews’
elegant allure.
The movie is full of nonstop laughs kids and parents will both enjoy.
While I think the movie will be more appealing and enjoyable for
girls, I think brothers or dads dragged along to see it won’t be
disappointed either. It’s a great summer movie and I guarantee you’ll
leave the theater smiling.
– “Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” is rated G.

Arizona Republic, AZ
Aug 18 2004
Just 16 centuries later, we return to Olympia

Jeff Metcalfe
ATHENS – So, where did we leave off?
You remember, of course, Armenian Prince Varazdates and the spectacle
of his boxing triumph. And who can forget Zopyros of Athens,
wrestling-boxing his way to the junior pankration crown.
It seems like just yesterday, and a scant 1,611 years later, the boys
are back in Olympia. This time the girls were invited, too, and for
more than marrying off.
In the spectacle of all spectacles in the Olympics’ return to Greece,
the men’s and women’s shot put will be held today at the revered site
of the ancient Games, near where the flame for each modern Olympics
is lighted.
“It’s the lush, ancient Olympic scene,” said John Godina, the
two-time Olympic shot put medalist who now makes Mesa his home. He
and the other U.S. throwers, who could pull off a men’s medals sweep,
have been in Olympia, 210 miles southwest of Athens, since Sunday.
“It’s really getting me charged up. I have to relax myself so I don’t
waste any nervous energy. It’s exactly what you’d think it was going
to be.”
That’s the rub of being part of the emotional touchstone of these
Olympics. It’s simultaneously inspiring and draining, with as much
potential for crashing as for soaring in the personal playground of
Zeus and Hercules.
“I just want to keep it as serious as possible,” said Reese Hoffa,
who competed wearing a mask in 2003 as the Unknown Shot Putter.
“Olympia itself is enough attention right now. I don’t want to make a
mockery of the site or Olympia itself.”
Godina, Adam Nelson and Hoffa could post the first U.S. men’s sweep
since 1960. Godina places those odds at 50-50, but first priority for
the 32-year-old is to add gold to his silver medal from 1996 and
bronze from 2000.
Andrei Mikhnevich of Belarus and Janus Robberts of South Africa could
challenge the Americans, but the U.S. treasure chest of 46 all-time
men’s shot medals will almost certainly grow.
Russians Irina Karzhanenko and Svetlana Krivelyova are favorites to
become the first female champion at Olympia, where women participated
only as chariot-race owners during the ancient Games.
There was no shot put in Olympia, either. Discus and javelin were the
throws in the pentathlon, which also included long jump, running and
wrestling.
Modern style – allowing two body turns rather than three-quarters of
a turn – and distances make the discus impossible in a stadium that
is only 232 yards long. Some 45,000 crammed in for the ancient
Olympics, but attendance is restricted to a third of that today.
And unlike the ancients, today’s Olympians are keeping their clothes
on.
“Most of the fans are very thankful about that,” Godina said.

Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK
Aug 18 2004
CRIME: Murder victim’s gravestone may be changed
THE name on the gravestone of a man brutally murdered in a field
could be changed if detectives can contact his parents.
Police have released a list of pseudonyms belonging to Hovhannes
Armirian (43), from Armenia – the name attributed to him by his
Belgian wife.
However, in the asylum-seeking community of East Anglia, Mr Armirian
was more commonly known as Sarko.
And after delving into his past, detectives have uncovered a long list
of aliases, most of which are variations of Sarkis Matewosjan.
That list has been passed to newspapers in eastern Europe, in the
hope of discovering both Mr Armirian’s true identity and his parents.
If detectives are successful, the inscription on the wooden cross in
Eastfield cemetery, Eastfield Road, Peterborough, which originally
read Male Unknown, could be changed for a third time.
The bid to find the Upton murder victim’s true identity is not a part
of the murder investigation.
A 26-year-old man, previously arrested on suspicion of murdering Mr
Armirian, whose smouldering body was found shot, stabbed and set
alight in a field, in Upton near Peterborough, remains in care,
mentally unfit to be questioned.
However, Detective Inspector Bert Deane, who has led the 20-month
investigation, said: “I feel it is necessary to find out the full
background of the victim.
“That is something we have always wanted to do, even after we found
his wife in Belgium. Whenever you have a murder victim you want to
make sure all his next of kin know what has happened to him.”

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 18 2004
K.KOSACHEV: RUSSIA RECOGNIZES TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN
[August 18, 2004, 16:20:03]
Russia’s stance is unambiguous: the Russian Federation recognizes
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and this fact is reflected in a
plenty political documents signed between Azerbaijan and Russia ,
Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State
Duma Konstantin Kosachev told AzerTAj Moscow -based reporter.
Overwhelming majority of the Russian State Duma members, according to
him, support the thesis on Russia’s recognition of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.
Asked how does Russia value the facts of Armenia’s military exercises
in the occupied Azerbaijani territories and the `elections’ in
Nagorno-Karabakh, and can Azerbaijan count on fair stance of the
Russian Federation as the OSCE Minsk group co-Chair considering that
Armenia is a Russia’s military appendage, Konstantin Kosachev noted
that Russia’s only aspiration is to work not in favor of either side
but enduring resolution of the conflict that, according to him, is
possible only in case of peaceful, not military methods. Russia will
accept any decision made by Azerbaijan and Armenian for the
conflict’s resolution, he said.
Commenting on why does Russia not urge Armenia to fulfill the UN SC
four resolutions on release the occupied Azerbaijani territories,
whereas Russia stands for the UN’s leading role in solving
international problems, Mr. Koshachev said: Russia has always
supported these resolutions, and confirms its positions in both OSCE
and Minsk Group. However, he added, we believe that the role of third
countries here is minimal, and bears just intermediary character. But
our role, at the same time, our historical mission is to make the
Armenian side sure to accept the principles on which the
international law is based, the Chairman concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 18 2004
Azeri, Armenian Foreign Ministers May Not Meet In Paris
Baku Today 18/08/2004 17:04
It is still to be ascertained whether the next meeting between
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian
counterpart Vardan Oskanian scheduled to be held in Paris in August
will take place, Mammadyarov has told journalists before leaving for
Moscow on an official visit.
The minister said that issues related to the forthcoming meeting
remain unsettled. Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers were
scheduled to meet this August after the last visit of the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs to the region in July.
However, no steps in this respect have been taken since then,
Mammadyarov underlined.

UEFA.com
Aug 18 2004
Stojkov shoots down Armenia
F.Y.R. Macedonia’s bid for a place in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21
Championship finals got off to a good start with a comfortable 4-0
victory against Armenia.

F.Y.R. Macedonia have made a winning start in Group 1

Took control
The home side had not won a competitive U21 match since June 2001,
but they took control in the early stages of the Group 1 tie and
never looked back after Aco Stojkov had opened the scoring on 27
minutes.
Hat-trick complete
On the half-hour Darko Tasevski set up Stojkov to double the lead and
after Goran Todorcev had struck the third from outside the area on 48
minutes, Stojkov completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot with
three minutes remaining. The Macedonians now hold the early lead in a
group where Romania, their next opponents on 3 September, beat
Finland 1-0 yesterday.
Next fixture
Armenia will hope to revive their bid for one of the two play-off
places on offer when they welcome Finland on 8 September, by which
time the Czech Republic and the Netherlands will also have begun
their campaigns in the six-team group.

Opinion Editorials, VA
Aug 18 2004
FROM THE HEARTLAND/Will it be as it was?
Alan Thederahn
`There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not
know'(Harry S. Truman). The current armed uprising in Iraq is not a
surprise to anyone familiar with the Iraqi revolt against the British
military occupation in 1920. Resentment of the occupation led to the
formation of a secret society, Haras al-Istiqlal (Independence Guard)
led by Muhammad al-Sadr, (Grandfather of Moqtada Sadr, the leader of
the current Iraqi uprising) a son of the prominent Shi’a mujtahid
Ayatollah Hasan al-Sadr. Haras al-Istiqlal also had a close liaison
with esteemed cleric Ayatollah Muhammad Tami al-Shirazi who in April
1920 issued a fatwa pronouncing that service in the British
occupation administration was unlawful. By May there was active
cooperation between Sunnis’ and Shi’a against the British occupation.
The armed uprising broke out in June, set off in part by the arrest
of the son of Ayatollah al-Shirazi by British authorities. The
response of Ayatollah al-Shirazi, the premier Shi’a cleric in Iraq,
was to send out another fatwa appearing to encourage armed
insurrection. British measures to pre-empt an uprising only resulted
in the revolt breaking out and acquiring momentum. Inadequate British
forces were compelled to regroup and the uprising was not suppressed
until the end of October 1920 at a cost of lives of approximately 500
British and Indian soldiers and 6000 Iraqis.
If viewed from a time outlook of years rather than months the current
American military invasion and occupation of Iraq shares conspicuous
affinities with the campaign of the Roman emperor Trajan in the same
geographic region between 113 and 117 A.D. In both instances
political instability in the region jeopardized vital economic
interests which motivated both America and Rome to attempt to impose
a radical political solution upon the region by military conquest and
de facto annexation. It is a noteworthy fact that in both cases this
fundamental and far-reaching revision of previous established foreign
policy was instigated by `War cliques’ within the current American
administration and the emperor’s retinue. In both cases initial rapid
and complete military success was followed by an occupation
characterized by chaos, growing resentment, and ever more pervasive
violence which served only to generate even more political
instability in the region. Finally in both instances the military
invasion and occupation produced enormous strains upon both the
military capacity and financial solvency of both America and Rome.
These costs could not be recouped from the economic exploitation of
the occupied territory. A brief review of the main factorsand
sequence of events comprising Trajan’s campaign and its aftermath
clarify these four defining similarities with the present American
position in Iraq.
The prudent moderation of Emperor the Augustus fixed the geographic
limits of the Roman Empire within the Empire’s military capacity to
protect Rome’s vital economic
interests. These economic interests were essentially coterminous with
the Commerce of the Mediterranean world. On its eastern frontier Rome
had come to an arrangement in 66 A.D. with the Parthian Empire (the
regions of present day Iran and Iraq) over the disputed buffer
Kingdom of Armenia to the satisfaction of both Rome and Parthia. This
modus vivendi produced conditions that fostered regular caravan trade
which was a source of income for both powers. Such commerce yielded
large customs duties to both empires Treasury’s and brought
prosperity both to Roman Syria and Parthian Mesopotamia. The
arrangement permitted Rome to continue consolidation of its eastern
frontier to promote the affluence of the Empire’s urban and upper
classes.
The diplomatic and commercial understandings between Rome and Parthia
were ruptured in the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117 A.D.). An
irregular succession inthe buffer Kingdom of Armenia and attendant
disorders in that realm provided Rome with a pretext to place matters
in the East on an entirely new footing. The death of Trajan’s
confidante L. Licinius Sura about 110 A.D. was an evil day for the
Empire because it strengthened the influence of the military element
in the emperor’s entourage. From his experiences in the Dacian wars
(105-108 A.D.) Trajan had acquired distaste for compromise which
played into the hands of those who advocated an aggressive policy in
place of the established traditional policy of Augustus.
The end result was that Trajan determined to annex Armenia as a Roman
province and end the threat posed by Parthia by occupying portions of
its territory by military garrisons and appointing a Roman nominee as
king of Parthia. This radical military solution would also entail a
tremendous commercial coup for the conquest to of Iraq would
eliminate Parthia from its middleman roll in the lucrative India
trade leaving the caravan routes to Syria completely in Roman hands.
Initial and complete military success attended Trajan’s plans from
114-116 A.D. With the fall of the Parthian capital, near present-day
Baghdad, and the emperor’s advance to the Persian Gulf the war seemed
over. Revolt quickly broke out to in the occupied areas of Iraq and
Rome regain control only after extensive heavy fighting. However, the
resources of Rome had been severely strained and it became a serious
question of how much effort would be required from the Roman Army to
preserve the bulk of Trajan’s conquests with Parthian military forces
still very much present and active. With the memorable failure of the
Roman Army before the key caravan city of Hatra in Iraq in 116
A.D.and the death of Trajan in 117 A.D., his successor Hadrian was
left to wrestle with the formidable legacy Trajan’s radical policy
had bequeathed to him. The new emperor, who had served on the Army
staff in the recent campaigns, was deeply impressed that Trajan’s
conquests were a severe political miscalculation and that it was
unsafe to attempt any extension of the Empire’s eastern frontiers
beyond the boundaries Augustus established 100 years previously. The
discretion of Hadrian recognized that in the East there were alien
and indissoluble cultural structures that might well exhaust the
energies of the Empire to provide the institutions and laws which
characterized the pax Romana. He also fully appreciated the extent to
which the Roman army had been stretched in the recent fighting and
for the preservation of the Army it was necessary to disengage the
troops from Iraq. The first acts of Hadrian were to evacuate the new
conquests in Iraq, to reestablish the former arrangement with Partha
over Armenia, and to withdraw the legions within the traditional line
of the Euphrates. The wisdom of these measures was quickly
demonstrated when the withdrawal of the legions made available extra
military forces for the suppression of an extensive insurrection
which had broken out among the Jewish Diaspora in the possessions of
the Empire itself while Trajan had been campaigning in Iraq. In his
actions on becoming emperor demonstrated a political courage that
enabled him to reject a failed radical policy, and in doing so save
the Army and restore peace within the Empire. The present American
position in the occupied Iraq leaves unanswered the critical
historical question: Will it be as it was?
Comments may be sent to: [email protected]
Alan W. Thederahn Director
Robert W. Meyer Deputy Director & Senior Analysts
The Old Virginia Military District Institute

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 18 2004
AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER MEET WITH HIS RUSSIAN COLLEAGUES
[August 18, 2004, 20:17:29]
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov meet with with his
Russian colleagues Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on August 18.
After the talks the both ministers were hold press-conference.
The settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh issue is possible only through
agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov told journalists.
“Russia is interested in the resolution of the Nagorny Karabakh
problem. The conflict can be settled only on the basis of the sides’
agreements,” Mr. Lavrov said.
He noted that Russia is ready to contribute to the negotiating
process both as “a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and as a friend
and partner.”
“We are satisfied with the fact that the negotiating process was
resumed early last year,” Mr. Lavrov said.
“We hope that the working group on the Caspian will work out
acceptable decisions on the Caspian status at its regular meeting, to
take place in Moscow,” the minister told journalists.
He noted that these decisions would be in the field of international
law.
In his turn, Mr. Mamedyarov stressed that “the diplomatic resource
must be intensified.” He also expressed confidence that “points of
contact will be found to reach a final decision in determining the
Caspian status.”
Russo-Azeri relations have been developing actively, Sergei Lavrov
said after talks with Elmar Mamedyarov.
“We discussed a wide range of bilateral relations, regional and
Caspian cooperation, the Nagorny Karabakh settlement and
international cooperation. We agreed on a number of issues called
upon to remove the existing problems,” he said.
On his part, Mr. Mamedyarov said that Azerbaijan regards relations
with Russia as strategic partnership.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 18 2004
STEVEN MANN: CO-CHAIRS TRY TO BRING ELEMENTS OF REALISM INTO THE
DISCUSSIONS.
[August 18, 2004, 21:33:27]
The following is an exclusive interview given by US co-chair of the
Minsk group Ambassador Steven Mann to the Washington representative
of AzerTAj news agency Shafag Akifqizi.
– Mr. Mann, it has been 4 months since you have been appointed as a
Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Do you think this
assignment brought anything new to the Minsk group or peace process?
I think there is no magic to the mediators, myself included. By
participating in the process, we demonstrate strong interests of our
governments in promoting a solution. But the bottom line, as always,
is that, it is up to the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia to
come through with the solution.
-The recent developments coming from the region are troublesome – the
so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic holds elections, conducts
military trainings on the occupied Azerbaijani territories. What’s
your reaction to that?
The State Department has already answered your question. I’d just
like to stand with the statement of Mr. Ereli – `we don’t recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country. Our position is to
support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We don’t believe
that these elections will have an impact on the Minsk process.’
-Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs doesn’t seem to agree with you. They
are concerned, that Minsk co-chairs don’t react properly to some of
the developments going on in the region. They believe, that if
mediators don’t come up with clear position on issues like the
so-called elections or military training on the occupied territories
conducting by the separatists, the continuation of the whole
negotiation process may be jeopardized. Do you agree with that?
First of all, let me say that the Minsk group discussions at the
ministerial level are discussions, not negotiations. These
discussions are a serious effort among diplomatic professionals. And
we need to keep to that.
There are always going to be events in the region that are unpleasant
to one side or the other. This simply comes from the history of
conflicts. But a responsibility of all of us involved in the Minsk
process is to keep focused on the discussions themselves and the
development of the peaceful solution. Now, let me explain – why do we
do this? Why does Azerbaijan or Armenia do it? We don’t do these out
of any vague sense of courtesy or certain norms that we follow. All
of us are pursuing this out of our national interests. So, I think it
is a correct decision that president Aliyev has taken to participate
in the process and that is the decision based on Azerbaijan’s
national interests.
-Mr. Mann, you have stated that the US supports the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. Yet, your country never recognized Armenia
as an occupant. What is that holds you back?
Yes, of course. And I reaffirm that we support territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. We have also made a point that the solution to the
Karabakh conflict must take into account wishes of all the people of
the area. As to your question, you shouldn’t forget what a mandate of
the Minsk group is. The Minsk group is not there to take sides. The
international community has recognized the conflict and decided to
support negotiations and mediate. The international community didn’t
give the Minsk group the mission to be a judge. That is not what our
instructions are from the international community. So, what we can do
is work as hard as we possibly can to look for those elements of
common ground between the two sides and try to bring elements of
realism into the discussions.
-Will the November elections in the US put the interest of your
country in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the background?
No, I don’t think so. The position of the US has been very consistent
year after year, administration after administration in this. The
elections in November are not going to affect the professional
diplomacy that we want to this conflict.
-As a Special Advisor on Caspian Basin Diplomacy, were you surprised
by the recent suspension of the construction on BTC pipeline?
Frankly, I was mildly surprised. We have been having discussions with
BTC Co and Georgian government for some months now. The officials of
new Georgian government had a lot of questions about the project.
But, we were surprised when we saw stop of work order This was the
subject of extensive discussion in president Saakashvili’s recent
visit to Washington. It has also been the subject of some real
productive work between Georgia and BTC Co. I’m feeling good about
where we have come out and, as you know, the construction has fully
resumed now on the Georgian section of the pipeline.
-Will the main export pipeline have a role to play in
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution?
Interestingly, I get asked this question in Armenia as well. The
answer is no, it will not. The issues are separate. Naturally, we all
wish that the conflict was settled, so that we could all have
region-wide cooperation. But the pipeline reflects not political, but
commercial realities in the region.
Washington, D.C.
August 17, 2004