Armenians and Azerbaijanis need to meet from time to time, Azerbaijani journalist considers
ArmRadio.am
27.07.2006 17:33
Gita Eibekyan,
Tbilisi
Azerbaijani journalist, publisher and writer Seymur Bayca says that
Armenians and Azerbaijanis need to meet with each other. He has been
to Armenia for five times. He has been invited also to Karabakh. The
journalists wishes to go there, but fears that on his return he
ill face hostile disposition. Seymur, who works at the opposition
“Realni Azerbaijan” newspaper, regrets that Azerbaijanis are
very aggressive on such issues.
Seymur was born in Fizuli and lived there for 14 years. He retrieves
that Armenians and Azerbaijanis lived there in peace.
Seymur says he has many Armenian friends – journalists, writers
and common citizens. He likes Yerevan more than the capital of his
country. “Baku is a very noisy city. Generally I do not like such
cities, I’m afraid of these. Now it has become very hard for me
to live in Baku and I’m going to move,” the journalist says.
Seymur writes predominantly on political and social issues. He is
one of the most famous journalists in Azerbaijan. He was awarded a
number of honorable prizes.
“Now only the journalists are opposition in Azerbaijan. One of
them – editor-in-chief of the “Monitor” newspaper Elmar
Huseynov – was killed last year, and up to now the criminals have
not been called to responsibility. Another opposition journalist was
beaten recently. Doctors say he will stay handicapped. The third one
was sent to jail. Now every opposition journalist is waiting for his
turn,” Seymur states.
The Azeri journalist concludes that from time to time it is necessary
to organize meetings between Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S DIFFERENT APPROACHES
Aravot.am
27 July 06
Is the opinion of NDP leader Shavarsh Kocharian.
1. Mr. Kocharian, how do you explain exaggerated activities of
the authority powers? 2. The most important problem in Armenia is
qualitative changes, which connect with the NK conflict settlement,
foreign policy and many other issues. As regards the NK conflict,
the pressures will be increased. Economy must be improved, and this
depends on the army and its strengthening. Next is overcoming of
social concentration. Each citizen of the country must feel himself
as the owner of it to reach our national aims, which are in danger.
There are a lot of problems, but it is worth to mention some of
them, demographic situation, for example. Year by year Armenia grows
old, there is baby bust, people don’t feel themselves the owners
of their country. The youth leaves and doesn’t come back. Finally
disregard of humanitarian sphere, it refers both to the culture,
education and science. Instead, the authorities are engaged in other
things. What happens to the Republican Party has an aim: to keep
what they have. Those who are in the ruling clique of the authority
don’t only want to keep their positions but also to add. The others
realize that this is the train of keeping, where they must have their
seats, so they must hurry up. The same refers to those who carry out
economic activities. 3. In your opinion, aren’t there seats for the
opposition? 4. The point is just that we have an apprehension to find
ourselves in the state of Russian Duma. The opposition is left out
from the legislative body. On the one side is the whole authority
resource, money of shadow economy, criminal. ”Prosperous Armenia”
has no place in this game, and it must hope on its money. But nobody is
so naive to oppose the authority only by money; I think they must come
to an agreement. In this case the opposition should have a project,
which will be approved by people. But it doesn’t exist yet. 5. Do
you mean that ”Prosperous Armenia” Party can’t oppose the authority
only with money? 6. Yes, that’s right. 7. So, do you think PAP will
be against the authority?
8. No, I mean if it is already decided who will be number one inside
the authority, it is impossible that PAP will send a challenge.
9. Do you know who will be number one?
10. Yes, of course and it is Republican. The PAP representatives
will simple take advantage of the authority, as they aren’t a serious
danger for the authority.
11. In that case what prospects do you for Dashnaktsutiun and
”Orinats Erkir” 12. OEP solved its problems leaving the authority
and its future connects with the opposition. ARF is in more difficult
situation.
It is an ideological party and understands those dangers, which connect
with the regional activities. Unlike other parties, it also has its
participation in NKR. So Dashnaktsutiun doesn’t have any place in the
fight out of ideology. Either it must submit to these conditions or
send a challenge.
13. It seems there is nothing to do against them, is the situation
so hopeless?
14. Theoretically there are two ways. First of all, Robert Kocharian
approves what happens in the country. Kocharian can’t be elected
for the third term; it will be the end of Armenia. He has a way,
to fill the post of prime minister. But in that case he must strive
for mosaic majority. The fact that the initiation isn’t mosaic shows
R. Kocharian has guarantees from the super power. Though I don’t
think that R. Kocharian has only a script, he has always had various
approaches. The possible obstacle of all this is to make the mosaic
script valid, it’s signal will be the fact that defense minister
will resign.
Margaret Yesayan
–Boundary_(ID_lwa8Cx/AO7vYdDc7cx40rQ)–

WHAT DEPENDS ON US
Aravot.am
27 July 06
Armenia faces problems and the settlement half of them depends on us,
in particularly our relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey. But there is
a group of problems, which we can’t solve but they have their direct
influence on Armenia Armenians.
Those problems are:
1. Georgian-Russian, Georgian-Abkhazian, Georgian-Osetian,
Georgian-“Kodorian” /Svan/ escalated relations which can turn into
war at any moment. Certainly the main conflict among the above
mentioned is the first one. The Georgian regard both Osetian and
abkhazian separatists and rebel officer in Kodor Ekzar Kvitsiani as
the agents of the Kremlin but the Kremlin does nothing to prove the
opposite. Anyway, both the Abkhazian railway and Upper Lars passage
will still remain closed for a long time.
2. West-Iran conflict, which also can turn into military activities.
Europe wants to punish our neighbors “a little”, the U.S.
wants to punish more, Russia and China don’t want to punish at
all. President of Iran Ahmadinejad sent a long massage to Chancellor of
Germany Merkel last week, where he cast doubt on the right of Israeli
state existence and Holoqost. Armenia won’t have profits from the
further escalations.
3. Israel-Palestine, Israel-Syria, Israel-”Hisballah” relations,
which have already turned into the war. The sides are inclined to
annihilate each other. Condoleeza Rice offers to deploy Turkish and
Egyptian peacekeeping troops in the zone of hostilities. As our
compatriots in Lebanon as well as regional security suffers from
the war.
Armenia has nothing to do in these three conflicts. In favor of our
security we can do what depends on us, both in the relations with
our neighbors and inside the country. But, unfortunately, we don’t
do it, too.
Aram Abrahamian
–Boundary_(ID_pnhjZKi2eT8oU3LAnSa4NQ) —

GEORGY PETROSSIAN: MEDIATORS FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION NOT ON ESSENCE OF
CONFLICT BUT ON LIQUIDATION OF CONFLICTS’ CONSEQUENCES
STEPANAKERT, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 27,
Nagorno Karabakh Republic Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian received
Vice Speaker of the British Parliament House of Lords Baroness Caroline
Cox and a delegation, which had arrived with her in Stepanakert.
On the request of the guests the Head of the NKR Foreign Office dwelt
upon the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in the
context of recent regional and world events. “The Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is a complicated one, as a great number of interests are
coming into collision here, which acquire a special urgency from the
standpoint of the recent events in the region and in the world on
the whole”, – Georgy Petrossian said.
The Minister noted that the existing format of the negotiations on the
Karabakh conflict settlement did not reflect the core of the conflict.
Unfortunately, today, the mediators focused their attention not on
the essence of the conflict but on the liquidation of the conflicts’
consequences. We emphasize once more that without the participation
of Nagorno Karabakh – the most suffered party to the conflict, the
achievement and realization of any agreements are impossible,” –
Georgy Petrossian said.
Having noted that the negotiations for Nagorno Karabakh are not an
end in itself, the Minister expressed the NKR authorities’ readiness
to discuss any issues, which do not infringe upon Karabakh people’s
rights and do not threaten their security.
The interlocutors also touched upon the issues of democratic
development of Nagorno Karabakh and its integration into international
processes.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from NKR Foreign Ministry Press Service,
the interlocutors also discussed issues relating to NKR democratic
development and its integration to international processes: “Today,
we face a task of development but not a survival. In this connection
we attach great importance to democratization processes. The freer
are the people, the more protected are their rights in our country
the stronger we shall be. It is a strategical way for us”,- Georgy
Petrossian emphasized.
Baroness Cox and the delegation members, headed by her, expressed
their readiness to assist Nagorno Karabakh in asserting its interests
on the international scene and in announcing truthful information to
the world community.

RESULTS OF COOPERATION WITH IMF OBVIOUS FOR ARMENIA, RA PRIME MINISTER DECLARES
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 26, RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian met with IMF Resident Representative James McHugh finishing
his mission in Armenia. Andranik Margarian positively estimated RA
government-IMF cooperation during 4 years of J.McHugh’s tenure. He
said that the positive results of this cooperation are obvious
in Armenia. In RA Prime Minister’s words, RA government and this
authoritative international financial organization were able to find
solutions to a number of problems with joint efforts.
J.McHugh emphasized that RA government managed to solve many problems
and to register progress over the past four years. He mentioned
the financial difficulties of RA government at the beginning of his
tenure, the great debts on pensions and salaries accumulated by the
state, the high level of unemployment and a number of other problems
the most of which are solved today. “Now the Armenian government is
not only free of debts, but also has some savings at the end of a
year, progress is registered in the fulfilment of Poverty Reduction
Strategic Program’s goals, reduction of abject poverty level, stable
economic growth is registered,” IMF resident representative said at
his meeting with RA Prime Minister.
Now, in his words, there are new challenges and problems, in the
direction of which great work should be done. J.McHugh also presented
IMF’s future programs in Armenia mentioning that IMF missions will
arrive in Armenia in the future on issues of estimating fufilment
of commitments by RA government, providing technical assistance,
on monitoring of the financial sector, statistics, etc.
A.Margarian considered useful the visits of the above mentioned
missions to Armenia emphasizing that they fully coincide with the
priorities of RA government’s economic policy and the joint work
within the framework of the visit can be rather efficient.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA government Information and Public
Relations Department, J.McHugh presented RA Prime Minister IMF new
representative in Armenia who has an experience of about 5 years’
activity in the fund and works at IMF Policy Estimation Department. The
latter is also engaged in problems of the Poverty Reduction Strategic
Program and crediting, which, as
J.McHugh said, corresponds to the current problems and goals of
Armenia.

GROWTH OF IMPORT AS COMPARED WITH EXPORT DOES NOT GIVE OCCASION FOR ANXIETY,
MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERS
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The circumstance that in the first six
months of 2006 the exports of goods from Armenia (without diamonds)
increased by 7.6 percent as compared with the same period of the
previous year (making 1 bln 159.7 mln USD) and imports increased by
30.6 percent (834.9 mln USD) cannot be an occasion for anxiety, as in
the total amount of imports the most part falls to machines-equipment
and new technologies. The tax costs of imported goods also contributed
to the growth of imports amounts. RA Minister of Trade and Economic
Development Karen Chshmaritian informed journalists about it at the
July 26 press conference.
In his words, in the above mentioned period only two big companies
imported machines-equipment and technologies amounting to 70 mln
euros. It is expected that the Armenian companies of mining sphere
will export equipment and technologies of 50-60 mln USD in 2006. It was
said that in total, the tax cost of imported goods increased by 18%.
As the minister prognosed, investments in the direction of import of
equipment and technologies will provide a serious growth of release
of industrial production and its export in 2007.

GERMAN TECHNICAL COOPERATION HOLDS DISCUSSIONS DEDICATED
TO COMMUNAL GARBAGE DISPOSAL PROBLEMS IN SYUNIK
KAPAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Problems of communal garbage disposal were
discussed at the seminars organized in towns of Meghri, Kapan, Sisian,
Goris, Syunik region, within the framework of the Civil Society and
Communal Democratic Assistance in the South Caucasus program of the
German Technical Cooperation.
Garbage disposal is a serious problem in Armenia, so the German
company found it expedient to discuss the issue with all interested
structures and to find variants of solution.
In the opinion of community heads participating in the seminar
held on July 26 at the Darist hotel of Kapan, though exchange of
experience and cooperation is important, the first and foremost
issue for solving the problems of this sphere is to get funds. But,
as Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Claus Toyfel, expert of
German Technical Cooperation Communal Development Promotion Program,
the organization has lack of funds. At the same time, he did not
exclude that the German Technical Cooperation will provide funds if
necessary. C.Toyfel also added that “garbage disposal is the function
of the local self-government bodies and it is the local authorities
that should mainly get these funds.”

IAC’S REPORT ON REASONS OF ACCIDENT OF A-320 PLANE IS INCOMPLETE, ARMAVIA SPECIALISTS DECLARE
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The report on the conclusion of
the Intergovernmental Aviation Committee’s (IAC) commission that
implemented the investigation of the May 3 accident of Armavia
airline’s A-320 plane carrying out Yerevan-Sochi flight is incomplete,
as contrary to IAC’s statement, the investigation has not been
officially finished yet. Arshak Nalbandian, Head of the Armavia’s
Flight Security Inspection, member of IAC Flight Subgroup, informed
journalists about it on July 27. From the very start he took part
in studying the accident reasons and in works of IAC. In his words,
the Armenian side has not signed yet under any final document.
In A.Nalbandian’s words, no one refutes that the plane crew made
some mistakes during the flight. But, as he said, it is not proved
yet that the accident was caused by the very mistakes.
As A.Nalbandian said, the plane’s hitting the sea surface is connected
not only (if is connected at all) with the mistakes of the crew, but
also with the flying control officers of Sochi airport, in particular,
the wrong information of Sochi meteorological station about weather
also contributed to the accident. It was mentioned that the guards
watching the sea surface confirmed that there were thick clouds in
the area of airport at that time, the same was also fixed during the
conversation of the crew. But there are no data about this at the
airport’s meteorological station. And one of the reasons of plane
accident, as A.Nalbandian stated, could be the influence of external
meteorological phenomena.
The head of Armavia’s flight security inspection did not exclude that
unless they are satisfied with the investigation, the company will
apply to the neutral side for carrying out a new investigation.
Mihran Khachatrian, Director of Armavia on Flights, declared that
the flight was controllable from start to end. He reported that
the conclusion made up after the flight modelling done in the
French city of Toulouse and signed by the Armenian side consisted
of three points. But the last point was not included in the IAC
conclusion. According to it, after turning off the autopilot, during
the last 16 seconds of the flight, the reason of the plane’s lowering
has not been disclosed yet.

RA AUTHORITIES APPLY TO GEORGIA WITH REQUEST TO PERMIT MOVING OF
ARMENIANS THROUGH NON-OPERATING BORDER POINT OF ERGNETI
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. By the instruction of RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, for solving the problem of moving of RA citizens
having accumulated at the non-operating border point in the Georgian
locality of Ergneti for entering RA through Georgia due to the closure
of the Verin Lars check-point on the Russian-Georgian border, in the
evening of July 25, a meeting with Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia
Revaz Gachechiladze took place at RA Foreign Ministry, during which an
official memorandum was passed to the Georgian authorities for them
to show a good will and to permit movement of about 100 Armenians to
Armenia through Georgia when possible.
According to RA government Press Service, for avoiding such situations
in the future, the Embassy and Consulate General of RA in Russia were
charged to inform RA citizens through media and other possible means
that this point in Ergneti does not operate and they can travel by
the Novorossiysk-Poti ferry-boat.
On July 26, they informed from the Georgian Foreign Ministry that the
letter with a proposal on the positive solution of the issue has been
passed to the Georgian government.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION WILL AGAIN INCREASE, MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERS
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.4% decrease of industrial
production in the first six months of this year in Armenia is
temporary and there are preconditions for registering a 5% growth by
the results of the year, as compared with 2005. RA Minister of Trade
and Economic Development Karen Chshmaritian said this at the July 26
press conference.
In his words, the work of the Glass World plant producing glass
containers that opened recently, the relaunching of the RusAl-ArmenAl
foil plant in September, the active work of the Nairit Plant, the
expected growth of electricity generation connected with increase of
exports volumes will contribute to this growth.
It was mentioned that it is planned to release at least 3000 tons of
aluminium foil at RusAl-ArmenAl, 8 thousand tons of rubber at Nairit
Plant in 2006.
The Minister clarified that decrease of industrial production in the
first six months was conditioned by 20% reduction of production of
diamond-cutting sphere greatly depending on international markets. In
his words, three-four years ago such reduction of this sphere’s
production could have a serious negative impact on both industry and
GDP, whereas at present this impact is compensated by growth of other
branches’ production.