Category: News

PRESS RELEASE
May 4, 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:
Second Pan-Armenian Youth Conference to be Held in Yerevan in July 2004
A pan-Armenian youth conference will be held in Tsaghkadzor and Yerevan,
Armenia, on July 24-29, 2004, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and the Pan Armenian Youth International Center. This is the second
in a series of youth conferences; the first was held in Yerevan in November
2002, following a decision by the Armenia-Diaspora Conference.
The objectives of the conference are to promote links between Armenians in
Armenia, Artsakh, and Diaspora, find solutions to challenges facing the
Armenian people, to increase cooperation between the Armenian youth
organizations and entities, and put forward pan-Armenian youth programs.
The participants of the conference must be engaged in activities related to
youth policies or organizations, and be endorsed by governmental and
non-governmental youth organizations in Armenia and Artsakh, and Diaspora
organizations and communities. The age limit for the conference participants
is generally from 18 to 35 years old. The participants should be able to
communicate in Armenian.
Application forms, agenda, and more detailed information, in Armenia, is
available at the website of the Pan-Armenian Youth International Center, at
, or upon request from the Embassy of Armenia.
The deadline for applications is June 10, 2004.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 4 2004
AZERBAIJAN, SLOVENIA: PROSPECTS OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
[May 04, 2004, 21:20:11]
Foreign minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on 4 May met the
ambassador of Slovenia accredited in Turkey ad Azerbaijan Andrey
Grossel and this Country’s honorary consul in Baku Borut Megushar,
AzerTAj correspondent reported.
At the meeting, Mr. Mammadyarov stressed the necessity of opening of
the embassy of Slovenia in Azerbaijan for further development of
relations between the two countries.
Ambassador Andrey Groselli thanked for warm reception, noting it
would be important to assign this mission to the ambassador of
Azerbaijan accredited in Vienna. Further, the Ambassador presented
credentials of the honorary consul Borut Megushar to Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and expressed hope for step-by-step solution of opening
of the embassy of Slovenia in Azerbaijan.
Head of foreign policy department of the Republic expressed
confidence in positive impact of the activity of honorary consul for
strengthening bilateral relations, and that Slovenia would assist
Azerbaijan in integration to the European structures, and said that
he has sent congratulatory letter to his Slovenian counterpart.
Slovenia stands ready to assist in integration of the country to
European structures, the Ambassador said. Slovenia would support the
position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorny Karabakh conflict during its
presidency at OSCE.
Updating the Ambassador on the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorny Karabakh
conflict and the work done for its settlement, Minister Mammadyarov
highly estimated the Council of Europe’s position to this end.
Speaking of 2004-2008 socio-economic development program of the
regions, the Minister expressed wish to attract Slovenian businessmen
to invest in Azerbaijan. He also noted that according to agreement
between Turkey and Greece, Azerbaijan would deliver its gas to the
Balkans.
Touching the prospects of bilateral links, Ambassador Andrey Groselli
expressed readiness of his country for conclusion of relevant
agreement on cultural cooperation.
At the meeting, a number of other issues representing mutual interest
were discussed as well.

NT Highlights #17 (519)
3 May, 2004
The Caucasus and Europe
By Haroutiun Khachatrian
Last week we saw the three leaders of the South Caucasus countries together.
As always, this happened out of the region, this time in Warsaw. The
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan prevents organization of such
meetings inside the region, the most natural place for this. The fact that
the leaders met in Poland, and just a couple of days before this countries
adhered the EU, has a symbolic meaning as well. The three countries have
declared their commitment to European values and eventually, tend to
integrate into Europe. The reality still looks fairly far from such a
perspective, reasons differing for each of the countries. Whereas Armenia
and Azerbaijan are being criticized for failing to meet the European
standards of democracy and human rights protection, Georgia’s main problem
is lack of an effective statehood per se. Many hope that contacts with
European structures will help the counties to overcome the above mentioned
problems (of course, many other problems as well, but these ones are the
fundamental difficulties). How realistic these hopes are?
A key factor is how sincere the three leaders are in declaring their
pro-European orientation? One can only be sure that the Georgian President
is indeed committed to those values. As for the other two, they probably
would not mind developing democracy and human rights further, but with the
precondition that these principles would not endanger their personal powers.
The analysts expect that all the three countries will soon become part of
the so-called Wider Europe, i.e., given some privileges in their contacts
with the EU. However, the EU would not be happy to cooperate with the
leaders (I mean those of Armenia and Azerbaijan) who are not very accurate
in fulfilling their commitments concerning the basic human rights. But the
irony is that the European structures (both the Council of Europe and the EU
itself) may have no adequate leverages to improve the situation in these two
countries. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have enough cap acities to cooperate
with EU in the economy matters (both have good performance in recent years),
without improving the human rights records.
Despite all calls and checks by the bodies like PACE, Kocharian will deny
that the men who crashed the video cameras at the rallies enjoyed the
support of the authorities, or that armored vehicles were used to block the
roads in provinces on the days of expected opposition rallies. So, the
progress in democracy does not look to be likely in the near future, both in
Armenia and in Azerbaijan.
—

zawya
Lebanon: Lack of unity costs opposition in polls
Authorities are big winners with 40 of 48 municipal council seats in Metn
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
BEIRUT: The opposition’s less than stellar performance in Sunday’s Mount
Lebanon elections was attributed to its failure to forge robust alliances
when facing pro-government candidates, according to observers.
The authorities, represented by former Interior Minister Michel Murr, the
current Metn MP, were the big winners, securing nearly 40 municipal councils
out of 48 municipalities in the Metn, which is considered Murr’s turf.
Similarly, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt grabbed most Chouf villages,
including Deir al-Qamar, where National Liberal Party leader Dory Chamoun
won the mayor’s seat.
The opposition also lost in Jbeil, where the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM)
formed an alliance with the National Bloc, which considers Jbeil its
headquarters, as founder Raymond Edde was from that area.
Hizbullah grabbed 68 percent of the votes in the southern suburbs of Beirut,
according to unofficial election results. Official results were still being
finalized as The Daily Star went to press.
But the opposition was successful in Sin al-Fil, Baskinta, Zouk Mikael and
Tabarja, while FPM media Elias Zoghbi said that FPM candidates won seats in
different towns and villages, mainly in Baabdat, and the qadas of Jbeil and
Kesrouan.
Observers said these results should compel some opposition parties not to
overestimate their clout and power.
Metn MP Pierre Gemayel told The Daily Star on Monday that the election
should serve as a lesson to some “almighty opposition parties” that they are
simply not that powerful, in reference to the FPM.
But other political observers chalked off the opposition’s failure to a lack
of unity, noting the defeats in towns and villages were there was no
cooperation among the different parties, such as in Jounieh, Jbeil, Shiyah
and Beit Chabab.
“The lack of cooperation among opposition groups in all areas under a clear
and unified political slogan was the major reason for their unsuccessful
representation in the municipal councils,” said Fadia Kiwan, a professor of
Political Science at Universite Saint Joseph.
For some opposition groups, the defeat was due to the betrayal of their
partners.
The FPM blamed former President Amin Gemayel for betraying the opposition
groups, describing Gemayel’s move as a “pre-calculated strategy” for the
2005 parliamentary election.
“Gemayel betrayed us as usual and cooperated with the government-supported
lists to win more seats in municipal councils and to be prepared for the
2005 parliamentary elections,” Zoghbi said.
Amin Gemayel’s son, Pierre, denied the allegations and said no cooperation
between the Phalange Party opposition faction and the government was made
during the municipal election on May 2.
He said the Phalange Party opposition faction never considered the FPM as a
“competitor and did not regard General Michel Aoun as an enemy.”
“If we cooperated with the government, particularly with Murr, then let the
FPM name the areas where we did so,” Gemayel said. “When the FPM are
cooperating with (former MP) Najah Wakim and Hizbullah, is that not
polishing their cooperation with the government?”
The FPM formed a coalition with Hizbullah in Haret Hreik, a southern suburb
of Beirut and is allying itself with Wakim in the Beirut elections next
Sunday.
Gemayel also denied FPM claims that the party withdrew from Beit Chabab,
accusing the FPM of “rejecting the Phalange Party’s proposals for the
mayor’s seat.”
“They want to lead the battle alone, which they are directing against Amin
Gemayel and not Murr and against some opposition groups and not the
government,” he said.
A source in the Lebanese Forces said the results of the municipal election
could have been better had all opposition parties cooperated.
“We did not have conflicting positions like other parties by cooperating
with a group in Jbeil and its opponents in Jounieh, like other parties did.”
Some opposition groups justified their unsuccessful battle by the bribes
offered to voters.
Kiwan, who is also a member of the National Bloc and a candidate who ran for
the Jaj municipal election in Jbeil and failed, said that some $300 were
paid to voters as they stood at the voting booths.
Zoghbi said some Armenians were used by the government to win the municipal
battle, such as in Bsalim, where over 150 Armenians were registered on the
village’s electoral lists few weeks before the election day.
Nada Raad Daily Star staff
© Arab News 2004

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
May 4, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY, AGBU AND WESTERN DIOCESE:
TOGETHER AT CALIFORNIA ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Los Angeles, CA – A joint delegation representing the Armenian Assembly, the
Southern California District of the AGBU and the Western Diocese of the
Armenian Church joined members of the California State Assembly in
Sacramento last week in marking the 89th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
Traveling from Los Angeles to Sacramento as a single delegation to
participate in the annual “California Day of Remembrance for the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923” further reinforced the unity of purpose by the three
major non-partisan Armenian organizations which emerged from their
cooperation at the Assembly’s three-day National Conference and Banquet in
Washington earlier this month – the largest such advocacy gathering in the
nation’s capital.
The National Conference and Banquet brought together hundreds of activists
from across the United States to Washington to advocate for issues of
importance for not only the Armenian-American community, but for Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh.
“I am happy we have a coalition with the AGBU, the Armenian Assembly and the
Diocese and that we are speaking with one voice again today in Sacramento,”
said Primate of the Western Diocese Archbishop Hovnan Derderian at a
luncheon with State Assembly members.
“The AGBU, with its strong network of chapters and schools, is committed to
serving the Armenian-American community at the local and state level,” AGBU
Southern California District Chairman Vahe Imasdounian said.
Archbishop Derderian, who led the special opening prayer at the State
Assembly, was joined at the California Day of Remembrance event by Assembly
Western Office Chairman Richard Mushegain, Board of Directors member Lisa
Kalustian, Assembly Western Office Director Lena Kaimian, Western Office
Deputy Director Nicole Shahenian and AGBU Southern California District
Chairman Vahe Imasdounian.
“I was very pleased by the response that our delegation received from the
members of the State Legislature and the support for our cause,” Mushegain
said.
In his homily, Archbishop Derderian said:
“In our prayers we thank God for our many great friends in the California
State Legislature who have stood with the Armenian-American community
throughout the many years in reaffirming the record on the Armenian Genocide
and establishing relations with Armenia.”
Following the Archbishop’s prayer, several members of the California State
Assembly also spoke and expressed their support for California Assembly
Joint Resolution (AJR-73) which was introduced by Assemblyman Joseph
Simitian (D-Palo Alto).
Among them were California State Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer
(D-Glendale) Assemblymen Greg Aghazarian (R-Stockton), Carol Liu
(D-LaCanada/Passadena), John Longville (D-San Bernardino) and Mark Wyland
(R-Del Mar).
After the unanimous passage of AJR-73, the delegation met with California’s
new speaker of the State Assembly Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles).
California was one of the first States to affirm and recognize the Armenian
Genocide and designate April 24 as a “Day of Remembrance for the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923.”
This year, in a letter to State Senator and California Senate Education
Committee Chairman John Vasconcellos, the Armenian Assembly advocated for
the passage of a key resolution which would ensure that high school history
and social science textbooks fairly and accurately portray human rights
violations and historical atrocities of the 20th century.
In her letter to Vasconcellos, Assembly Western office Director Lena Kaimian
urged the committee to pass (California State) Assembly Concurrent
Resolution 116 which will help provide “a fair and accurate age-appropriate
portrayal of historical atrocities of the 20th century, including, but not
limited to, the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, the Rwandan Genocide of
1994, and the Bosnian-Serbian human rights violations of the 1990s.”
Learning about these crimes, Kaimian said in her letter, “will instill in
our students the importance of personal dignity and human rights.”
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-050
Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
CAPTION: L to R: Assembly Board Members Lisa Kalustian and Richard
Mushegain, Assembly Western Office Deputy Director Nicole Shahenian, Rev.
Yeghia Hairabedian, Sen. Charles Poochigian, Asm. Negret McLeod, Speaker
Fabian Nunez, Arch. Hovan Derderian, Asm. Joseph Simitian, Asm. Carol Liu,
AGBU Southern California District Chairman Vahe Imasdounian, and Assembly
Western Office Director Lena Kaimian.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
05/04/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Canada's Dalphond-Guiral Captivates Capitol Hill Audience 2) Conference Explores National Priorities, Diaspora Collaboration 3) A New Body Established To Fight Corruption 4) Ajaria's Abashidze Vows to Tighten Rule 1) Canada's Dalphond-Guiral Captivates Capitol Hill Audience The champion of the recently adopted Armenian Genocide resolution in Canada's House of Commons, the Honorable Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, along with Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau member Hagop Der Khatchadourian, attended the 10th annual Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Observance on Capitol Hill to honor victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide. The program, which took place on April 28, was held in the historic Cannon Caucus Room. During her one-day visit, Dalphond-Guiral took the opportunity to visit the ANCA offices, and was briefed by Khatchadourian and ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian, on the numerous and diverse ANCA activities. ANCA Representatives, along with regional and local ANC representatives, accompanied the Canadian parliamentarian to offices of those Congressmen who work diligently to advance Armenian American issues. In what was a most memorable visit, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) bombarded Dalphond-Guiral with questions about the activities and details that led to the positive vote in Canada's House of Commons. During the Capitol Hill Observance that evening, author Peter Balakian, along with Dalphond-Guiral, were honored for their tireless efforts to advance the Armenian Genocide issue, and their commitment to the Armenian community. Many Senators and Representatives expressed their support not only for official US recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but also for monetary and other assistance to strengthen the government of Armenia. They commended the ANCA for their work, unwavering commitment, and ability to rally absolute support. They also addressed the importance of Canadian Parliament's resolution--its potential to spur similar activity in US Congress. Over 400 community members and guests greeted Dalphond-Guiral with lingering cheers as she got up to speak. After presenting her brief biography, Dalphond-Guiral explained that the debate on the Armenian Genocide is nothing new in Canada's House of Commons, beginning with efforts in the 1980s. Since then, five motions and several debates have succeeded one another in the House, all aimed at having Canada acknowledge the 1915 genocide of Armenians. After three attempts by Dalphond-Guiral, (the first two motions were never put to a vote) Motion M-380 was adopted on April 21. "What seemed to be impossible--voting on acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide--became possible..." She applauded Canada's Armenian community, particularly the network of Armenian National Committees. "This community's determination, perseverance, and attachment to its identity are models for all of us. Over the decades, through its unwavering demand for acknowledgment of the genocide of 1915, it has given us the right to think that faith can move mountains. It was the steadfast support of Armenians--young and old--that persuaded Canada to join its voice to those of the parliaments of Argentina, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, the Vatican, the European Parliament, the European Council and almost 30 American states, including Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Washington, Virginia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and California. Here is the true glory of freedom and democracy," concluded Dalphond-Guiral. 2) Conference Explores National Priorities, Diaspora Collaboration YEREVAN (Armenpress/Yerkir)--As a follow-up to the Armenian Diaspora conference, representatives of European and US-based Armenian organizations met with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and ministry officials to determine how to collaboratively tackle advocacy issues on Armenia's foreign policy agenda. Organized by the Foreign Ministry, the conference ended on Tuesday in Yerevan. Armenian ambassadors were also on hand to examine national priorities and the fundamental direction of Armenia's foreign policy. Security, development, European integration, peaceful regulation of Karabagh conflict, and preservation of historical rights and values were targeted as Armenia's primary priorities. Oskanian said that Diaspora organizations and the foreign ministry will be working more effectively in the coming years to advance those priorities, while considering interests of the countries where they are based. He also explained that as Armenia's foreign policy expands daily, the necessity to mobilize the potential of all Armenians becomes even more vital. He praised the already persistent efforts of Diaspora organizations in the US, Europe, Canada, and Latin America. Meeting participant Hilda Tchoboian, who is the chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, said that international diplomacy and formation of policy must consistently be monitored by not only Armenia's diplomatic force, but also Diaspora organizations in order to act promptly and effectively. 3) A New Body Established To Fight Corruption YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenia's Prosecutor General's Office announced that a special division to combat government corruption has been established. Chief prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian, said the department's regulatory powers will be clarified in the coming ten days to establish the direction of its activities, but that no new employees will be hired to carry out the job. The special division will work uncover and prevent corruption in the judicial system, tax and customs agencies, as well as the prosecutor's office. The new body is expected to cooperate closely with the presidential oversight service. 4) Ajaria's Abashidze Vows to Tighten Rule TBILISI (Reuters)--The head of Georgia's rebel Ajaria region on Tuesday defied central government threats to depose him and promised to tighten his hold on the territory as his followers crushed an opposition demonstration. Aslan Abashidze has declared a state of emergency and curfew in the Black Sea region of Ajaria, which includes the important oil shipping port of Batumi. Tbilisi has given him until May 12 to recognize its authority. Armed men broke up a demonstration in support of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in central Batumi on Tuesday, opposition politicians said. To prevent students gathering, Abashidze has closed all schools and universities for two weeks. Saakashvili has promised not to use force to crush the region's autonomy but militiamen blasted bridges linking Ajaria to the Georgian heartland on Sunday, saying they feared invasion from troops stationed nearby. "The humane approach that the autonomous republic's leadership has followed has not brought results," Abashidze told local television. "Any criminal acts, actions or slogans will be treated with the utmost severity...No one will be forgiven for attempts to create a hotbed of disorder." Saakashvili came to power in a bloodless revolution in November, promising to end corruption and sweep away figures such as Abashidze who have held office since Soviet times. But Abashidze has not backed down. He has refused to disarm his militias as demanded by Saakashvili and kept a firm grip on the opposition. "A group of people armed with metal poles fiercely beat the demonstrators. Before this, fire engines with water cannons were used," opposition politician Tamaz Diasamidze told Reuters. He said there had been 200 demonstrators. Abashidze told local television that the universities and schools had to be closed for a fortnight to prevent "tension." "We had to take preventative measures. No one can calmly watch as preparations are made for tension. They have to be cut off at the roots," he said. Washington is watching the stand-off with concern, fearing for stability in a country that will be part of the route for a major pipeline taking oil from the Caspian Sea to a Turkish port. It has called on Abashidze to disarm local militias. Two Georgian regions are currently completely outside central government control, having gained de facto independence in bloody wars in the 1990s. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Monday that the US stayed in constant touch with Russia on Georgia's defiant autonomous region of Ajaria, trying to prevent a military confrontation in Georgia. He stressed that the US supported the Georgian government in its bid to restore constitutional order in Ajaria. "We welcome President Mikhail Saakashvili's announcement that he would not use force and we continue to encourage the government of Georgia to use political and economic tools in its efforts to restore the rule of law in Ajaria," Boucher said. Moscow has also called for calm, fearing that the crisis could descend into bloodshed. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said, "We regard relations between Batumi and Tbilisi as an internal affair of Georgia, but we think that attempts to resolve the problem with militant statements and threats to use force are absolutely impermissible." "Tbilisi should realize that the use of force will inevitably have in the gravest consequences, primarily for Georgia itself," he remarked. Saakashvili appealed to Moscow on Monday to help rein in former Russian servicemen he said had blown up bridges around the restive region of Ajaria. But Saakashvili, clearly wary of stoking tensions with Georgia's mighty neighbor, told CNN television he did not think Moscow had ordered the action. He said he sought a peaceful end to his dispute with Ajaria, the site of an important oil terminal. He said the action had been conducted by militia led by retired Russian officer, Major-General Yuri Netkachov. "But I am certainly addressing the Russian government today to help us, to spare us and get rid of some people who fly in and blow up bridges and stir up trouble," he told CNN. Tbilisi has frequently accused Netkachov, once a top commander in the Transcaucasus region, of raising rebellion. Tensions in Georgia, which faces rebellion in several regions, are fraught with implications for the West as well as the former Soviet Union. The country is a transit territory for a planned pipeline to bring Caspian oil to the Mediterranean. Russia's two military bases, remnants of past Soviet power, are a source of tension between Georgia and Russia. Russia is also viewed warily by Tbilisi for its tacit support for rebel administrations in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PERSECUTOR’S OFFICE DECLARES WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
4 May 04
(Presenter) Armenian Prosecutor’s office is declaring war against
corruption.
Armenian Prosecutor General, Agvan Ovsepyan has signed a decree on
establishing a Department for Struggle against Corruption. The
department will have a head and four prosecutors. The newly-set up
department will cooperate with the Control Chamber of President.
Armenian General Prosecutor Agvan Ovsepyan stressed that there is a
political will to prevent corruption.
(Armenian General Prosecutor, Agvan Ovsepyan, captioned) Corruption
crimes will be precluded in both economy and legal spheres. Tax and
customs systems will be checked to disclose corruption crimes.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION RALLY STARTS, DEBATING EUROPEAN TALKS
A1+ web site
4 May 04
The opposition rally has started on Freedom Square on time. All the
opposition leaders are on the original stage.
The key topic of the rally is the events in Strasbourg (the session of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe). The opposition
finally has an opportunity to inform public of the course of the
debates on the the issue of the domestic political situation in the
country, and also about the fact that the Turkish and Azerbaijani
delegates did not participate at all in the debates and in the voting.
Asked if the rally will be a decisive one, the spokesman for the
political Justice bloc, Ruzana Khachatryan, said that they were
deciding something at every rally.
According to preliminary information, a procession will take place
after the rally. However, it is not known in what direction the crowd
will head.

ARMENIAN PAPER REVIEWS 10 YEARS OF KARABAKH CEASE-FIRE CRITICALLY
Novoye Vremya, Yerevan
4 May 04
Novoye Vremya headlined “Will cease-fire become peace?” on 4 May
In several days, on 12 May it will be ten years of the cease-fire
regime in the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.
Unfortunately during all these years of cease-fire the parties did not
make the day of final political settlement of the NKR (Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic) problem closer. Moreover, the Azerbaijani party is
often coming forward with threats to restart battle actions, in fact
refusing to search for mutually acceptable compromise in
settlement. For this reason a question raises: is cease-fire
transforming into final peace? There is not a strict answer to this
question yet.
There is not an answer because the parties have different attitudes to
the conflict. In Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh the cease-fire jubilee
is understood as a positive phenomenon that promotes peaceful
settlement of the conflict. But in Baku they have an undisguised
attitude of irritation towards so long a term of cease-fire, because
during that period they did not manage to return Nagornyy Karabakh to
the constitutional field of Azerbaijan. As for the international
intermediaries, they have the same point of view as the Armenian party
has, regarding the problem.
They had almost the same attitude towards the cease-fire ten years
ago. The intermediaries had to work hard to make the Azerbaijani party
to agree on a final cease-fire though it needed that most of all. Let
us recall the events that took place ten years ago. (Passage omitted:
In 1994, in Bishkek the cease-fire document was signed by the heads of
the delegations of Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh as well as by all the
intermediaries except Azerbaijan. But the intermediaries continued
their peacemaking efforts. Finally Heydar Aliyev agreed to accept the
document, and it was signed by the head of Azerbaijani parliament.)
How did the parties use the cease-fire? Unfortunately, they used it in
different ways. The Azerbaijani party had a goal to buy time to
strengthen its army with the hope of gaining military revenge over
Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh in future and to settle the conflict
finally.
As for the Armenian parties, understanding very well the intentions of
their neighbours, they did not forget about the rigging of their
armies as well. Along with it they were urgently aspiring to build
bridges (of trust) with Azerbaijan for the creation of a favourable
atmosphere for constructive talks on a settlement.
As for the talks, naturally they could not lead to a desirable result
without trust between the parties of the conflict. Moreover, the
Azerbaijnai party using the oil factor, started a policy of provoking
the world and regional countries to implement political and economic
isolation of Armenia. At the same time Baku did not at all take into
account the interests of the world and regional states, insisting on
setting the Armenian-Azerbaijani cooperation in the conditions of
settlement of the conflict as a necessary step for creation of an
atmosphere of mutual trust.
To all appearances Azerbaijan intends to continue a policy of the
isolation of Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh. The recent speech of Ilham
Aliyev at the PACE session in Strasbourg is evidence of this. The
Azerbaijani president in fact confirmed that his country will continue
to blockade any bilateral or regional cooperation with Armenia. As for
setting measures of trust, he cynically said that withdrawal of troops
from all the territories of Nagornyy Karabakh would become such a
measure of trust. Though it is clear to any man of sober judgment that
for such a step as withdrawal of troops, it is necessary to trust a
neighbour that does not at all need that trust.
The last condition means that Azerbaijan has not stopped fighting with
Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh and is not going to search for mutually
acceptable peace with us. Simply it temporary transferred the
bellicose actions into a sphere of policy and economy until “the best”
time comes, that is, until the moment when it will have an opportunity
to settle the conflict by means of force.
In addition, agreement on cease-fire is not an agreement on a military
conflict stopping as such. In connection with this, it should be
recalled that there was a point in the document adopted ten years ago,
according to which the parties obliged during ten days term to make an
agreement about stopping of the armed conflict on the whole. In its
turn it was necessary for settlement of all the military and technical
issues before passing to the stage of direct political settlement. But
this intention remained on a list and mainly because of the
Azerbaijani party.
The logic of the Baku authorities is quite clear. It does not allow
fixing in any document a sentence about inadmissibility of a restart
of battle. They think in Baku that such fixing will mean the final
loss of Nagornyy Karabakh. By the way, as it was mentioned above,
Azerbaijan is using the cease-fire with a purpose to gain force for a
new war. By the way, the officials of Baku do not hide such
intentions. If the intermediaries will not make Armenia refuse
supporting of Nagornyy Karabakh, in that case Azerbaijan itself will
take “its lands” back.
Naturally, Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh have their own plans on
this. In Stepanakert as well as in Yerevan they think that there is no
alternative to a peaceful settlement. Along with it, they understand
what Azerbaijan hopes to. For this reason one should always be ready
for unpredictable actions from official and unofficial Baku. Moreover,
they are sure in Stepanakert that the way to the international
recognition of the NKR is via building of really democratic statehood
in Nagornyy Karabakh. Just this is being implemented in Karabakh in
the conditions of the cease-fire regime, though slowly, with tests and
mistakes.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION MARCHING DOWN CAPITAL’S STREETS
A1+ web site
4 May 04
The participants in today’s procession, headed by the opposition
leaders, are marching right now down the streets of Yerevan. In order
to have a rough impression of the number of the protesters, we should
say that part of them are already on Koryun Street, near Matenadaran,
and the remaining people are still on Moskovyan Street.
The participants in the procession with photos of (ex-defence
minister) Vagarshak Arutyunyan, Aramazd Zakaryan, Suren Surenyants are
demanding that these political prisoners be set free.
The procession passed by the Police Department, stopped near the
National Security prison. The protesters demanded that the political
prisoners being held in this prison be released and political
persecution be stopped.
The protesters are now marching through Nalbandyan Street towards the
Prosecutor’s Office to protest at fabricated criminal case against
Agvan Ovsepyan.
The procession will end on Freedom Square.