Category: News

All Go For International Railway Corridor
Global News Wire – Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
Africa Analysis
April 16, 2004
Russia will supply expertise and investment for a major railway network
that should link eastern and northern Europe with India through Iran.
This North-South international transport corridor has been on the
drawing board for some time and will be formally launched next year.
Russia, Iran and India established the concept of the transport corridor
and have so far been joined officially by Kazakhstan and Belarus. There
are ongoing talks with Oman, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Syria,
Sweden, Finland and Bulgaria, all of which are already known to have
shown an interest.
Several other countries are also keen to link into, and support, what
promises to be one of the major freight corridors anywhere. Official
estimates put north-south freight at up to 50m tonnes a year by 2010.
The latest commitment by Russia comes after a meeting in Iran between
Iranian transport minister Ahmad Khorram and Russian Railways company
president Gennady Fadeyev . Russian Railways is also involved in
bilateral discussions with the Iranian government about the building of
several rail lines in Iran.
Rail traffic between the two countries has increased dramatically over
the past year and, once the international corridor is formed, should
double in 2005. The 4m tonnes of freight estimated to be carried between
Iran and Russia this year should rise to 8m tonnes.
Iran, which is spending large sums on the development of its ports, sees
itself as a hub for North-South traffic, providing port facilities to
service the Asia-Pacific region.

Parl democracy development one of CIS IPA priorities
By Maria Federova
ITAR-TASS
April 17, 2004 Saturday
ST. PETERSBURG, April 17 — Consolidation and development of
parliamentary democracy principles and implementation of constitutional
ideals of a rule-of-law state are among the most important political
priorities of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, Russian Federation
Council Speaker Sergei Mironov, who is also IPA council chairman, told
the 23rd plenary meeting of the Assembly in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
In 2003-2004, CIS IPA observers participated in monitoring of
presidential and parliamentary elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Russia, based on the Assembly-worked-out convention on
standards of democratic elections and election rights and freedoms
in CIS states.
The convention gains more and more recognition among international
organisations and countries, Mironov noted.
Addressing the CIS parliamentarians, the speaker called for joining
the convention and accelerating procedures to ratify it.

Azeri, Armenian ministers make no public statement after meeting
Assa-Irada
17 Apr 04
BAKU
The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers held a meeting in
Prague at the initiative of the OSCE Minsk Group today [as published,
actually yesterday].
The foreign ministers first met the co-chairmen [of the OSCE Minsk
Group]. The tete-a-tete meeting between [Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister] Elmar Mammadyarov and [Armenian Foreign Minister] Vardan
Oskanyan was held after that.
But neither the OSCE representatives nor the foreign ministers made
public the details of the meeting. Journalists only learnt after the
meeting that the US co-chairman, Steven Mann, will visit the region on
19 April.

Globalisation problems among Petersburg econ forum issues
By Maria Federova
ITAR-TASS
April 17, 2004 Saturday
ST. PETERSBURG, April 17 – Economic growth problems and quality of
life under conditions of globalisation and development of economic
ties between the European Union and Russia and other CIS countries
will be in the focus of particular attention of the eighth Petersburg
Economic Forum to be held from June 15-17, Russian Federation Council
Chairman Sergei Mironov told the 23rd plenary meeting of the CIS
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (IPA) in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
The Petersburg Economic Forum of political and business elite is held
annually under the aegis of the CIS IPA and the Federation Council.
The forum will also discuss economic and social reforms, development
of up-to-date information technologies, attracting of investments
and new members joining the World Trade Organisation.
A congress of CIS entrepreneurs, a meeting of the consultative council
on foreign investments in Russia and presentations of the South Russian
region, Armenia and the Czech Republic will be also held during the
Petersburg forum.
Mironov said he expected the forum to promote improvement of
legislative work in the Commonwealth of Independent States and legal
ensuring of CIS integration into the world economy.

CHESS;
It Wasn’t Petrosian’s Style, But It Certainly Did the Job
By Robert Byrne
The New York Times
April 18, 2004, Sunday, Late Edition – Final
The Tigran Petrosian Memorial Tournament — Petrosian would have been
75 this year — would not have bothered the former world champion at
all. He was never dogmatic, and if he had any motto, it might have
been, “They play their way and I play mine.”
His way was to avoid the slightest risk-taking and win by remarkably
accurate technique. He did not care if some of his comrades thought
him cowardly. Could they ever have dethroned Mikhail Botvinnik? He
did.
The participants in the competition to honor him wisely did not try to
copy his style. They did their thing, and in many games it was very
good.
The winner of the $4,000 first prize in the tourney, held in
Stepanakert, Karabak, Azerbaijan, from March 8 to 18, was Karen
Asrian, an Armenian grandmaster, who outscored nine of his rivals with
crisp tactical play in the round-robin event.
His best performance came in his game against the Russian grandmaster
Mikhail Kobalia in the second round. Asrian started out with
positional maneuvering, but he soon shifted to a mating attack with
some very nice tactical features.
One point of 8 f3 against the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian
Defense is that a quick 8 d5 yields White the slightly better endgame
after 9 ed Nd5 10 Nd5 Bd5 11 c4 Be6 12 Qd8 Kd8.
After 8 Nbd7 9 g4, one can see that White has replaced the older 8 f4
or 9 f4 with 9 g4. White’s strategy is to attack not in the center but
on the king’s wing.
After 17 Bc4 Qc4, Asrian does not mind yielding the bishop pair to
Black; there is no way the queen bishop can be superior to the c3
knight, which controls d5.
After 37 Qb3, it is not clear why Kobalia did not block with 37
Qf7. Then 38 Nd5 Rc4 39 Nf4 Qf4 40 Rd3 gives him an easier fight.
After 37 Kh8? 38 h5! Nh5 39 Bh4 Nf6 40 Nd5 Qf8 41 Rdh2 Nh5 42 Bd8 Qd8,
Kobalia had only a knight and pawn for his rook.
With 43 f4!, Asrian sharply opened roads to the black king. After 43
ef 44 Nf4! Be5 45 Qf7!, he was piling it on.
After 45 Bf4 46 Qf4!, it would have done Kobalia little good to take
the queen because 46 Nf4 47 Rh7 Kg8 48 Rh8 Kf7 49 Rd8 is a lost
endgame for Black.
After 49 Rc7, Asrian opened the black king position further with 50
e5! The pawn could not be taken because 50 de 51 Rh5! gh 52 Rg1 Kh6 53
Qe3 followedby mate or 52 Kh8 53 Qa8 followed by mate in two.
After 51 ed Qd6, 52 Qf7 Kh6 (52 Kh8 53 Rd4 Qe5 54 Rd7 Qg7 55 Qe6 Rf8
56 Rdf7 Rf7 57 Rf7 and it’s all over) 53 Rh5! Kh5 54 Qh7, Kobalia,
seeing that 54 Kg4 55 Rg1 Kf5 56 Qh3 loses a rook, gave up.

GRAPHIC: Table: “SICILIAN DEFENSE” White Black
Asrian Kobalia
1 e4 c5
2 Nf3 d6
3 d4 cd
4 Nd4 Nf6
5 Nc3 a6
6 Be3 e5
7 Nb3 Be6
8 f3 Nbd7
9 g4 Nb6
10 g5 Nh5
11 Qd2 Rc8
12 0-0-0 Be7
13 Kb1 0-0
14 Rg1 g6
15 h4 Qc7
16 Qf2 Nc4
17 Bc4 Qc4
18 Na5 Qc7
19 Bb6 Qd7
20 Qd2 Rfe8
21 Nd5 Bf8
22 Rh1 Bd5
23 Qd5 Rb8
24 Qb3 Rbc8
25 Nc4 Rc6
26 Ne3 Nf4
27 Ng4 Bg7
28 Be3 Rec8
29 Rh2 Qe7
30 Rhd2 Ne6
31 c3 b5
32 Qa3 Rd8
33 Bf2 f6
34 gf Bf6
35 Rh1 Nf4
36 Ne3 Bg7
37 Qb3 Kh8
38 h5 Nh5
39 Bh4 Nf6
40 Nd5 Qf8
41 Rdh2 Nh5
42 Bd8 Qd8
43 f4 ef
44 Nf4 Be5
45 Qf7 Bf4
46 Qf4 Qe7
47 Qf3 Rc4
48 Rh4 Kg7
49 Rf1 Rc7
50 e5 Rc8
51 ed Qd6
52 Qf7 Kh6
53 Rh5 Kh5
54 Qh7 Resigns

Like her first novel, Three
Armenian Diaspora
The Washington Post
April 18, 2004 Sunday
Like her first novel, Three Apples Fell from Heaven, Micheline
Aharonian Marcom’s The Daydreaming Boy (Riverhead, $23.95) revolves
around the Armenian genocide committed by Ottoman Turks from
1915-23. This time Marcom concerns herself with the campaign’s
aftermath, when Armenians have dispersed to, among other places,
idyllic Beirut in the 1960s, before the onset of civil war there.
The narrator is troubled by memories of not just the genocide but the
long-ago suicide of a boy he hardly knew (“You were brave, not, as
they claimed, a coward. Is there a more courageous man than the man
who with his will unmakes his life?”). The novel incorporates takes
such diverse approaches to its material as an old photograph of boys
at an orphanage, lists, an application form, and short chapters in
which the narrator descends into his haunted self.
— Dennis Drabelle

Campaign for Recognition of the
Armenian Genocide (CRAG)
w3.accc.org.uk / w3.24april.org
[email protected]
18 April 2004
Dear Friends & Supporters:
AA
SPECIAL REMINDER ONE
PENCIL IN YOUR DATES: 23, 24 and 25 April 2004 for the 89th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
1) Friday, 23 April 2004, at 7:30 pm:
A 90-minute ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SPECIAL MEMORIAL SERVICE with the
theme WE SHALL NOT DIE takes place at St John’s Anglican Church, Lansdowne
Crescent, Ladbroke Grove, (closest to Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove or
Holland Park tube stations) in London W11 2NN.
Thematising the Armenian Genocide, the Memorial Service will include a mix
of short addresses by distinguished speakers with short performances by
internationally-acclaimed and British-based Armenian artists who will generously
blend spiritual dance (Shakeh Avanessian), poetry (Garo Toughtarian), violin
(Tatevik Khacahtryan), piano (Anna Saradjian), organ (Arthur Babikian),
song (Nicole Carapiet) and duduk (Ara Petrosyan).
CRAG invites you all to support this unique and outward-looking evening. It is
an open and free public event, and you are encouraged to invite your Armenian
and British friends to attend this special remembrance event and pay homage to
the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century and to the surviving and
prevailing spirit of Armenians worldwide today.
2) Saturday, 24 April 2004:
aa) MARCH from Marble Arch to the Cenotaph at Whitehall. The assembly
point is at 12:30 pm at Marble Arch (nearest tube station, Marble Arch
on the Central line), and the starting time will be at 1:00 pm sharp.
A prayer and commemorative wreath at the Cenotaph, will be followed
by the handing of a letter a letter to PM Tony Blair.
A coach service is available from Acton Town, near Hayashen / Acton
High School. It departs at 11:30 am.
bb) SILENT VIGIL outside the Turkish Embassy, 43 Belgrave Square,
Belgravia, London SW1, from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm.
Nearest tube station is Hyde Park Corner.
cc) Requiem Service / HOKEHANKISD presided by HG Bishop Nathan
Hovhannisian, at St Sarkis Church at 7:00 pm.
3) Sunday, 25 April 2004, at 1:30 pm:
CRAG is also privileged to sponsor a lecture by the Armenian
American lawyer Vartkes Yeghiayan, and chaired by member
of BALA, the British Armenian Lawyers’ Association in the UK.
The timely topic will be the $20 million Armenian Genocide Insurance
Settlement. Mr Yeghiayan will elaborate on the proposed settlement
of class action lawsuit pending in the California Federal Court.
The venue is the Gulbenkian Hall, next to St Sarkis Church,
Iverna gardens, London W8. (Closest tube station, Kensington
High Street on the Circle and District lines).
CRAG invites all Armenian individuals and organisations to ATTEND
those commemorative and marking events.
BB
NEW YORK TIMES REVERSES POLICY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
In a move aimed at reaffirming its past record on the first genocide
of the 20th Century, the New York Times has lifted its long-standing
policy against the use of the term “Armenian Genocide,” reported the
Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New York.
According to a news release by the International Association of Genocide
Scholars, The New York Times revised guideline for journalists states that
“after careful study of scholarly definitions of ‘genocide’, we have decided
to accept the term in references to the Turks’ mass destruction of
Armenians in and around 1915.” The policy goes on to note that “the
expression ‘Armenian genocide’ may be used freely and should not be
qualified with phrasing like ‘what Armenians call,’ etc.
For full details, log on
CC.
The Armenian Genocide and Historical Memory
A newly-published book in English, by Ethnographer Dr Vergine Svazlian,
consists of 650 survivors’ stories and eye-witnesses accounts of the
Armenian Genocide, methodically carried out by the government
of Turkey between 1915-1922.

This book is a heavy contribution to the history of the Armenian
Genocide. Published in 500 copies it will be distributed to foreign
embassies in Armenia, international organizations, researching in
Armenian history. Its Turkish-language edition will appear soon.
For full details, log on
DD.
Historic Maps of Armenia: The Cartographic Heritage
A new book by Rouben Galitchian, private scholar and collector, brings
together an extraordinary collection of maps from the earliest times into the
modern era. It reproduces the most important representations of Armenia,
and consists a work of reference and artistic distinction which will prove an
essential tool to all who follow the history of Armenia, the Caucasus, the
Ottoman and Iranian worlds, collectors and enthusiasts of cartography.
Publishers are I. B. Tauris, and you can access them for full information and
order forms at
For full details also, log on
EE.
Genocide and Minorities, Preventing the Preventable
CRAG refers to the advocacy briefing, Genocide and Minorities, Preventing
the Preventable, by John Packer and Erik Friberg, that was launched by the
UK-based Minority Rights Group International on 15 April 2004 at the United
Nations Office, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
To access directly, ,where you can
also read the full briefing (in pdf format). Again, for this document as well
as other events and documents, log on
o0o

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UN COMMISSION URGES “FULL RESPECT” FOR RIGHTS IN TURKMENISTAN
Watan.ru web site, Moscow
18 Apr 04
The UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) urged the Turkmen government
“to ensure full respect for human rights and basic freedoms,
especially the right to express opinion,” a resolution adopted at the
UNCHR’s 60th annual session in Geneva on Thursday evening (15 April)
says.
The resolution, which was submitted by Western countries, has the
nature of an ultimatum. There was disagreement among members of the
commission during the vote (on the resolution). A total of 25
countries out of 53 voted for the adoption of the resolution, that is
less than half of the commission member states; 11 countries,
including Ukraine, voted against the resolution; 17 countries,
including Russia and Armenia, abstained.
The resolution expresses great alarm over “the restrictions on the
right to the freedom of information”, “the Turkmen government’s
discriminatory behaviour towards ethnic Russians, Uzbeks and other
minorities in the areas of education and employment”, “the retention
of a government policy which is based on the repression of political
activities”. The commission called on the Turkmen government “to
release all political prisoners without delay and any conditions”. It
also decided to continue consideration of the issue of human rights in
Turkmenistan at the 61st session.

AZERI DAILY URGES CLOSER TIES WITH ISRAEL
Zerkalo, Baku
17 Apr 04
Azerbaijani daily Zerkalo has praised several deputies for their calls
for closer cooperation with Israel at a recent parliament
session. Zerkalo said the government should not be afraid of
establishing closer ties with Israel for fear of Iran’s “wrath”
because the benefits would be much higher. The following is an excerpt
from Emin Mahmudov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 17 April
headlined “I love you, even if you do not love me”; subheadings have
been inserted editorially:
It is good when our MPs remember political issues of state importance
not only when the presidential administration or the ruling party
gives a hint or “concessions” have to be made for the Council of
Europe or the shapeless mass, usually described as the Azerbaijani
opposition, has to be “lynched”. It appears that people in our
parliament can sometimes “raise their nose” above the papers which
come “from above” and which have to be endorsed even without
deliberation.
Several quite balanced statements were made in parliament yesterday
(16 April). The Milli Maclis (parliament) decided to open Azerbaijani
embassies in Canada, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, India, Belarus, Bulgaria
and Indonesia and a permanent representative office at the UNESCO in
Paris.
During the debates, MPs from the People’s Front Party Asim Mollazada
and Alimammad Nuriyev, the head of the Compatriot Party, Mais Safarli,
and the head of the United People’s Front Party, Qudrat Hasanquliyev,
said that it was necessary to open an Azerbaijani embassy in
Israel. They explained their proposal by the fact that Azerbaijan is
in the “same coalition” as this country in the antiterrorist fight. In
addition, Israel supports Azerbaijan’s positions on the international
arena. It was also noted that Israel was one of the first countries to
recognize Azerbaijan’s independence.
The opinion that the opening of the embassy could cause Iran’s
negative reaction was dismissed as “groundless”. The MPs recalled that
Iran was strengthening diplomatic relations with Armenia by the day.
(Passage omitted: former President Heydar Aliyev never paid visit to
Israel)
Islamic factor
But it is clear that the authorities, to put it mildly, are afraid of
the “Islamic wrath”. To put it even simpler, of the Iranian
government. Tehran has always been sensitive on the issue of
Azerbaijani-Israeli relations. It is no secret that Tehran does not
like the people of lands of promise. Anti-Semitism is the cornerstone
of the Iranian policy. What does Azerbaijan have to do with this?
While speaking loud about eternal friendship between the peoples of
Iran and Azerbaijan, the mullahs are still pursuing an openly
anti-Azerbaijan policy. The country, where 60 per cent of the
population are ethnic Azerbaijanis, has always been putting a spoke in
its northern neighbour’s wheel. It is no secret that Armenia would
have long “kicked the bucket” if not for Iran’s considerable
assistance and support. The Tehran government’s attitude to its own
citizens, ethnic Azerbaijanis, is also well-known. Reports are coming
in almost every day about Azerbaijanis in Iran being subjected to
total pressure. Moreover, everyone might still remember that Tehran
twice “attempted to facilitate the settlement” of the Karabakh
conflict as a mediator. During the first attempt the Xocali massacre
was committed, during the second we lost Susa.
Iran’s pressure
We are well aware of the kind of pressure Tehran puts on Azerbaijan
during the signing of oil contracts. There was a wide “range” of them
– from not recognizing contracts to not recognizing Azerbaijan’s right
to the fields and to the sector of Caspian which Tehran had made no
attempts to claim in Soviet times. This almost grew into an armed
conflict, when an Iranian boat almost grappled with an Azerbaijani
research vessel. Not to mention Iranian Air Force planes boldly flying
over Azerbaijani territory after that.
Things got more complicated as it went on. The construction of a major
gas pipeline from Iran to Armenia, the allocation of significant
Iranian grants for Yerevan and so on are on the agenda. The list is
infinite.
We wonder how sincere Islamists are when they speak about Muslim
solidarity and friendship against the background of supporting the
occupying regime of a country which invaded the territory of their
alleged ally.
Naturally, Azerbaijan does not have friendship with someone for
“nothing”. Iran is our access to Naxcivan and a route for exporting
and importing of some goods today. We also receive humanitarian aid on
a regular basis. That is it. Of course taking into account the fact
that Naxcivan is under blockade, this is quite a lot. But Baku has
always offered its “thanks”. Not verbal, but concrete “financial
thanks”.
What is Israel for Azerbaijan?
Naturally, as a small country Azerbaijan has to take into account
Iran’s opinion, as well as the opinion of Russia, the USA, Britain and
so on. A paradoxical situation arises. For some reason, the
Azerbaijani government can afford to ignore the opinion of its western
“beacons”, not to mention Russia. But the authorities “surrender” to
Iran whenever it comes to deepening cooperation with Israel. We can
add here that no-one blames Tehran (at least at the government level)
for rendering its comprehensive support of Yerevan. An independent
country has the right to determine its policies independently, but
Azerbaijan is not independent enough to boost ties with Tel Aviv (or
if you wish, Jerusalem which Israel believes is its capital).
If we compare the benefit that Azerbaijan gets from “surrendering” to
Iran with the benefit it gets from cooperating with Israel, we will be
“overwhelmed” by the difference. The author says the basis for that
was not what he heard, but what he saw in Israel.
What is Israel for Azerbaijan? First, it is the “headquarters” of the
most powerful lobby in the USA, which, incidentally, has always
supported Azerbaijan and promoted the abolishment of Section 907 (of
the Freedom Support Act banning direct US assistance to the Baku
government) by the Congress.
In addition, Israel is a country of high technologies, developed
medicine, electronics, advanced agriculture technologies, defence, so
on and so forth. This country is genuinely strives for friendship and
cooperation and is ready for that, which has more than once been
declared by its envoys in Baku. We think we should pay attention to
these benefits.

GERMAN ENVOY URGES COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
Noyan Tapan news agency
15 Apr 04
YEREVAN
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer is to visit Armenia on 22
April within the framework of his regional visit.
In the run-up to the visit, the German ambassador extraordinary and
plenipotentiary to Armenia, Hans-Wolf Bartels, has agreed to give an
interview to Noyan Tapan news agency correspondent Susanna Petrosyan.
(Passage omitted: European officials visited Armenia recently)
(Correspondent) How do you assess the domestic political situation and
the human rights situation in Armenia?
(Bartels) As for the current developments, I hope that the opposition
and government will be able to return to a peaceful dialogue, for
state and political issues should be debated peacefully. Important
issues such as freedom of speech and movement can be included into the
agenda.
(Passage omitted: Armenian parliament adopted laws in this regard)
(Correspondent) Germany comes second after the USA in terms of
investment in Armenia. What can you say about the current level of
Armenian-German economic relations and what prospects can you see in
the development of bilateral economic relations?
(Bartels) Yes, German is the second biggest investor in Armenia after
the USA. It must also be noted that the overall assistance provided by
EU member countries makes over half of the funds received by
Armenia. Germany is carrying out effective projects here such as the
Armenian-German Fund which issues loans to small and medium-sized
businesses through local banks. A total of 16m euros have been
allocated within the framework of the project, and this figure is
increasing.
Unfortunately, German investment is not so big. A representative
office of the German Lycos information technologies company has been
operating in Armenia for one year already. The office employs 60-70
people and is planning to expand. I think it will be a good example
for other German investors.
(Correspondent) What hinders the inflow of German investment into
Armenia – laws or small market?
(Bartels) Both. Apart from this, it is difficult to export goods from
Armenia since transport costs through Georgia are high, and the route
through Iran is long. There are always problems with customs and
taxes, these are practical problems, and therefore, conditions for
investment are not quite favourable. Interestingly, the Armenian
diaspora is not investing much in Armenia either. Reasons are the
same, I understand.
(Correspondent) How important is the South Caucasus region from the
point of view of European security? The countries of the region are
members of the Council of Europe and it cannot be ruled out that the
three countries will be included into the Wider Europe – New
Neighbourhood initiative.
(Bartels) I think the region is of great importance to European
security. If something dangerous happens here, this will have a direct
impact on European security, and therefore much attention is being
paid to the South Caucasus. The appointment of a special
representative of the EU corroborates this policy. I do not doubt that
the region will be included into the Wider Europe – New Neighbourhood
initiative.
The settlement of the Karabakh conflict is of great importance to
Armenia, and not only from the point of view of regional
security. Closed borders and the frozen, but still existing, conflict
hinders the country’s development. We hope very much that this problem
will be resolved in the near future.
I do not see good prospects for the region without regional
cooperation, which Armenia and Azerbaijan do not have. The Karabakh
conflict is not the only one here, there are very complicated
conflicts in Georgia.
It must be noted that we also had bitter conflicts back in Europe and
believed that the French and the German were permanent enemies. But
thank God, we managed to settle these conflicts and establish good
neighbourly relations. In the future, I hope, this will be possible
for Armenia and Azerbaijan as well.