OSKANIAN AND LENMARKER DISCUSS PROSPECTS OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Goran Lenmarker, Special
Representative of the Chairman of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
on Nagorno Karabakh issue, arrived in Yerevan for the purpose of
participating in the seminar of NATO Parliamentary Assembly. On October
5, Goran Lenmarker was received by RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.
According to RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
Goran Lenmarker presented the results of the OSCE PA annual session
held in July in Washington, during which the report of the OSCE PA
Chairman’s Special Representative was heard. The Minister positively
estimated the report noting that it gave the realistic picture of
the process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict’s peaceful settlement. Then
V.Oskanian and G.Lenmarker exchanged thoughts about the current state
and prospects of Nagorno Karabakh settlement.
Touching upon Armenia’s participation within the framework of the
European Neighborhood policy, the sides held the same opinion that the
elaboration of an Action Plan will open a new page in the Armenia-EU
relations.
RA Foreign Minister and OSCE PA Chairman’s Special Representative
touched upon the current state and prospects of Armenian-Turkish
relations at a bilateral level, as well as in the light of the
negotiations on Turkey’s membership to the EU.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN AZERBAIJAN
Eurasianet Organization
Oct 5 2005
1828 Russia and Persia conclude Turkmanchay Treaty, dividing
Azerbaijan.
Present-day Azerbaijan becomes part of the Russian empire.
1840s First oil wells drilled near Baku.
1918-20 Azerbaijan enjoys short-lived independence, gained as a result
of collapse of Russian empire, before re-conquest by the Red Army.
1922 Azerbaijan is part of Trans-Caucasian Soviet Federative Republic
within Soviet Union.
1936 Azerbaijan established as separate union republic of the Soviet
Union.
1967 Heidar Aliyev becomes head of Azerbaijani KGB.
1969 Aliyev named head of Azerbaijani Communist Party.
1982 Aliyev becomes full member of Soviet Politburo.
1987 Heidar Aliyev leaves Politburo.
1988 Inter-ethnic strife hits Nagorno-Karabakh region. Ethnic
Azerbaijanis begin to leave Karabakh and Armenia and ethnic Armenians
leave Azerbaijan. Violence in Azerbaijani city of Sumgait leaves at
least two dozen ethnic Armenians and six Azerbaijanis dead.
1990 Inter-ethnic tension in Karabakh escalates. Trouble also occurs in
Nakhichevan exclave, as local residents agitate for more open border.
Soviet and Iranian authorities ultimately agree to ease border-crossing
restrictions. Inter-ethnic violence in Baku leaves at least 100 dead
and prompts intervention by Soviet troops.
Ayes Mutallibov named Azeri Communist Party leader. Communist Party
retains power in parliamentary elections, but opposition Popular
Front also gains representation.
1991 Azerbaijan regains independence after failed coup attempt
against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sparks the collapse of the
Soviet Union. Mutallibov becomes Azerbaijani president. Heidar Aliyev
assumes leadership of Nakhichevan exclave.
Armenian leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh declares the region an
independent republic. Warfare between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces
breaks out.
1992 More than 600 Azerbaijanis are killed as they flee an Armenian
attack on Karabakh town of Khojaly. Ethnic Armenian forces establish
land corridor linking Karabakh with Armenia proper.
Mutallibov forced to resign. Abulfaz Elchibey, leader of Popular Front,
becomes president.
1993 Armenian forces occupy Azerbaijani territory surrounding Karabakh.
Political instability rocks Baku. An uprising led by an army commander,
Col. Surat Huseinov, prompts Elchibey to invite Aliyev to return to
Baku. Elchibey subsequently steps down, and Aliyev assumes leadership
of the country. His rule is later ratified in a referendum.
1994 Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh sign a ceasefire accord.
Ethnic Armenians remain in control of Karabakh and a swathe of
Azerbaijani territory around it. Aliyev acts to consolidate his
authority, cracking down on Popular Front. Later he declares a state
of emergency following what he characterizes as a coup attempt.
Azerbaijan signs what it calls the “deal of the century” with a
consortium of international oil companies, led by British Petroleum,
for the exploration and exploitation of three offshore oil fields.
1995 Karabakh functions as de facto independent republic, holding
legislative elections. Robert Kocharian becomes Karabakh leader. The
Aliyev-led New Azerbaijan Party wins controlling share of seats
in parliamentary elections. Voters approve a new constitution in
a referendum.
1997 Kocharian becomes prime minister of Armenia proper. Aliyev and
his Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrossian agree to OSCE proposal
for step-by-step Karabakh solution. Fierce domestic opposition to
peace plan in Armenia forces Ter-Petrossian to resign. Kocharian
becomes president of Armenia.
1998 Opposition activists complain that president election, won
easily by Aliyev, is marked by fraud. International monitors note
irregularities.
2001 Azerbaijan becomes full member of Council of Europe, despite
criticism about the country’s human rights record. US-brokered talks
on Nagorno-Karabakh, held between Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
in Key West, Florida, reportedly produce tentative deal to settle
the conflict. However, the deal, if it existed, ends up falling apart.
Following the September 11 terrorist tragedy, the United States lifts
sanctions against Azerbaijan imposed over Karabakh conflict.
Azerbaijan becomes ally in anti-terrorism campaign.
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey reach agreement on oil and gas pipelines
linking Caspian fields with Turkey.
2002 Construction work starts on multi-billion-dollar pipeline to
carry Caspian oil from Azerbaijan to Turkey via Georgia. The Pipeline
is known as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC).
2003 Aliyev appoints his son, Ilham, as prime minister. In April,
Heidar Aliyev collapses while making speech. He is rarely seen in
public after that. Ilham wins a landslide election as president
in October.
Opposition leaders, complaining about vote-rigging, mount a protest.
Authorities crack down hard against opposition. Authorities announce
in December that 80-year-old Heidar Aliyev has died.
2005 Journalist Elmar Huseinov, an outspoken government critic, is
killed in Baku in March. Opposition supporters believe killing was
politically motivated. Police use force to break up an opposition rally
in Baku in May. The same month, authorities and diplomats celebrate the
formal opening of the BTC pipeline. Azerbaijan and Armenia renew search
for Karabakh peace settlement under the so-called Prague Process.

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I LEADS BRANCH OF CHURCH
The Toronto Star
October 5, 2005 Wednesday
His Holiness Aram I, of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church, is the
Catholicos of the See of Cilicia, which is based in Lebanon. Aram I
arrived in Toronto Friday for a six-day visit.
The See of Cilicia was established in Lebanon after the Armenian
genocide in the early 20th Century. For historical and political
reasons, this branch developed into an independent institution
operating separately from the Armenian-based church, whose
administrative and spiritual headquarters has always been the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia. His Holiness Karekin II, whose
title is Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, leads
that church. Both have operations worldwide – generally linked to
the diaspora of one See or the other. The Canadian diocese for the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin is in Montreal. A story published last
Thursday did not explain the divide. As a result, the role of Aram
I was unclear. Clarification

“HUSHAMATEAN” BOOK DEDICATED TO 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE SUMMER COURSES IN VENICE
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The book
“Hushamatean” (Book of Memories) is dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of the Summer Intensive Courses of Armenian Language and Literature
of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The Yerevan presentation of
the book took place on October 4, at the Writers’ Union of Armenia.
The 20th anniversary of the courses was receintly marked in Venice
with a great celebration with the participation of guests arrived
from Italy, France, England, Germany, Australia and Armenia.
The summer courses have been held at the Ca’ Foskari University of
Venice on the initiative of Father Levon Zekiyan, the Director of
the Armenian Language and Literature Department of the University
Ca’ Foskari, since 1986. Not only Armenians but foreigners, either,
who today works at the Armenian Studies Departments of different
Universities, participate in those courses. 774 people participated
in the courses till now.
Levon Ananian, the Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia
mentioned that those courses are of important meaning for Armenian
traditions. “Today the education field of Diaspora is before danger.
Closing of Moorat-Rafael College of Venice and Melkonian College of
Cyprus already speaks on the fact that the national school in Diaspora
retreats. We should make every effort to keep Armenian schools of
Diaspora otherwise in some years there will be almost no Armenian
schools in Diaspora,” the Chairman of the Writers’ Union mentioned.
L.Ananian emphasized that they should show honour to father Levon
Zekiyan for the work carried out and the activity beneficial for the
nation as the summer school doesn’t only give knowledge of Armenian
language but has a mission of securing Armenian culture and national
originality as well.
“We are proud that 4-5mln Armenians live in different countries of the
world but we shouldn’t forget that only 10% of them speaks Armenian,”
Vladimir Barkhudarian, the RA NAS Academician mentioned.
According to him, courses dedicated to problems of keeping Armenian
traditions should be held not only in Venice but in Armenia as well
for children living in communities of Diaspora like the Fatherland
coming to Armenia, remain Armenians and know the native tongue.

CONGRESS PRESIDENT OF COE CONSIDERS INADMISSIBLE TURKEY’S CLOSING OF BORDER WITH ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Appreciating almost ten years
cooperation of the Congress of the Council of Europe with Armenia in
the direction of the process of formation of local self-government
bodies and its control, RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian expressed
confidence that the mutually beneficial cooperation will successfully
continue from now on as well. Meeting Giovanni Di Stasi, the President
of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe,
on October 4, the Prime Minister welcame the CE Congress President’s
visit to Armenia especially within the framework when elections of
local self-government bodies go on in the country which are observed
by the observation mission of the congress delegation as well. The
head of the Government of Armenia mentioned that active processes,
particularly, discussions of the constitutional reforms, adoption of
the RA law “On Community Service,” implementation of amendments in the
RA law “On Local Self-Government” take place in the country at present.
Touching upon the constitutional reforms, Giovanni Di Stasi attached
importance, particularly, to the definition of Yerevan Mayor’s being
elective, steps directed to separation of the power. He appreciated
the idea of adopting the law “On Intercommunity Unions.” The Congress
President of the Council of Europe expressed readiness to assist
Armenia in the issue of implementation of demands of the charter “On
Local Self-Government” as well which Armenia certified still in 2003.
According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
Government’s Information and Public Relations Department, at the
meeting, the sides touched upon problems of regional cooperation as
well. A.Margarian emphasized Armenia chosen the way of integration
to the European Union has always acted with initiative of an active
mutual cooperation of the South Caucasian region and will continue
efforts in that directions then as well. Attaching importance to
regional economic cooperation with neighboring countries as well,
Giovanni Di Stasi considered inadmissible Turkey’s closing the
border with Armenia from that viewpoint. He emphasized that the
European society also considered intolerable any kind of separating
lines on the European territory. Expressing readiness to assist all
initiatives, including Armenia’s one as well, addressed to regional
cooperation, he brought forward the idea of creating a regional center
of local self-government bodies what, according to him, will support
establishment of economic, social, cultural cooperation among them.
Welcoming that idea, A.Margarian expressed readiness on behalf of
the Government of Armenia to assist all similar initiatives which
can support solution of common regional problems as well.

OSKANIAN: DAYS OF ARMENIAN-ITALIAN FRIENDSHIP REFLECT HIGH LEVEL OF BILATERAL RELATIONS
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The organization
of the Days of Armenian-Italian Friendship reflects the high level of
bilateral relations between Armenia and Italy. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian declared this at the October 5 meeting with Italian
Foreign Trade Minister Adolfo Urso. The Italian Minister arrived in
Armenia on the occasion of opening of the Days of Armenian-Italian
Friendship.
According to Vartan Oskanian, during these days the Armenian
public will have a peculiar opportunity to get acquainted with
Armenian-Italian relations, Italian culture.
According to RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
the Italian Foreign Trade Minister in his turn attached importance to
the holding of the days in Armenia mentioning the familiarization of
well-known Italian figures with the Armenian public, Armenian culture.
The guest especially mentioned the trade and economic relations
successfully developing between Armenia and Italy. The interlocutors
agreed that in spite of the positive dynamics, there is much to do
in this direction. The organization of the Armenian-Italian business
forum starting on October 6 was considered important in this context.
Minister Oskanian briefly touched upon the recent regional
developments, process of Nagorno Karabakh settlement.
After the meeting Ministers V.Oskanian and A.Urso officially opened the
Days of Armenian-Italian Friendship and the “Treasures of Surb Ghazar
(St Lazzaro) Island” exhibition at the National Gallery of Armenia.

HOVANNISIAN SAYS TURKEY’S EU TALKS ‘IN ARMENIA’S INTERESTS’
By Anna Saghabalian
Armenialiberty.org, Armenia
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 5 2005
Raffi Hovannisian, a prominent opposition politician, welcomed on
Wednesday the launch of membership talks between Turkey and the
European Union, saying that they could pave the way for Armenia’s
eventual accession to the affluent Western bloc.
Hovannisian, who served as independent Armenia’s first foreign
minister in 1992, chided the authorities in Yerevan for their less
than enthusiastic reaction to what promises to be a lengthy negotiation
process that got underway on Monday.
“It must be stated clearly and loudly that Turkey’s aspiration to join
the European Union correspondents to the political interests of the
Republic of Armenia,” he said in a speech at the Armenian Center for
National and International Studies, a think-tank which he founded 11
years ago. “It can be predicted that even in the best-case scenario
Turkey may become an EU member only together with Armenia.
Turkey will also have to undergo serious and irreversible reforms.”
The administration of President Robert Kocharian believes that the EU
should admit Turkey only if the latter opens its border with Armenia
and recognizes as genocide the 1915 mass killings of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire. Armenian leaders have repeatedly urged the EU’s
governments and executive Commission to include the two issues on the
agenda of the accession talks. In a statement on Tuesday, the Armenian
Foreign Ministry expressed hope that Ankara will now be more interested
in normalizing relations with Yerevan and admitting to the genocide.
Armenian Diaspora organizations in Europe and France in particular
take a harder line, saying that Turkey is not prepared for even being
considered for EU membership. Scuttling Turkish entry into the union
is now a key goal of their activities.
However, some political groups in Armenia believe that the prospect
of Turkey joining the EU could benefit their small landlocked country
and lessen the perceived Turkish threat to its security.
Hovannisian appeared to agree with them, saying that the accession
process makes Armenia’s future membership in the EU more realistic
and represents a chance for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. “Enmity
can and should turn into partnership,” he said.
In his speech, Hovannisian also attacked the Kocharian administration’s
domestic policies which he said have resulted in “unbridled and
worsening corruption, legalized arbitrary practices and persisting
poverty.” He reaffirmed his Zharangutyun (Heritage) party’s rejection
of constitutional changes that will be put to a national referendum
on November 27.
“[Sweeping constitutional reform] can be put into practice only by a
government that received a popular vote of confidence in a free and
fair election,” he said. “Constitutional reforms [sought by Kocharian]
remind of an unsuccessful attempt to hastily hide cracks in an old
and decayed structure.”
Speaking to reporters separately, Hovannisian said Zharangutyun has
yet to decide whether to campaign against the passage of the draft
amendments jointly with other major opposition parties that are also
against the reform. He said the decision will be made after talks
with his opposition allies.
Armenia’s largest opposition alliance, Artarutyun, and eight other
opposition groups plan to conduct a joint “no” campaign ahead of the
November vote.

ARMENIA, GREECE DISCUSS CLOSER MILITARY TIES
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Armenialiberty.org, Armenia
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 5 2005
Greece’s Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos pledged on Tuesday
to boost long-running Greek military assistance to Armenia which
Armenian leaders said stems from “common strategic interests” of the
two nations.
“The Greek people and the Greek Defense Ministry always stand by the
Armenian people and are ready to help them on any issue,” he told
reporters at the end of an official visit to Yerevan.
Spiliotopoulos gave few details of his meetings with President Robert
Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and Defense Minister
Serzh Sarkisian, saying only that they touched upon Greek-Armenian
military ties both within the bilateral and NATO frameworks.
Spiliotopoulos was reported to tell Kocharian that Greece is ready
to “continue and reinforce” its military cooperation with Armenia,
which includes “material assistance” to the Armenian armed forces. The
presidential press service also cited him as promising to assist in
Yerevan’s growing involvement in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.
“Greece is a friend and partner of Armenia,” Kocharian said, according
to his office.
The praise was echoed by Markarian. “Andranik Markarian and Spilios
Spiliotopoulos stressed that Greece’s and Armenia’s interests in the
region converge because they are based on common approaches to the
existing problems and the realization of the need to maintain its
stability and military-political balance,” read a statement by the
Armenian government’s press service.
“They noted that the expansion and development of the ongoing military
cooperation between the two countries in the military-technical,
military-educational, military-information and other fields will
enable our countries to protect their common strategic interests in
a more effective manner,” the statement said.
The two Christian nations share a long history of troubled relations
with their common Muslim neighbor, Turkey. That might explain why
Greece is Armenia’s closest NATO partner, having provided its military
with non-combat equipment and trained scores of Armenian officers.
Greece’s financial and technical aid was also instrumental in the
creation in 2001 of a special peace-keeping battalion of the Armenian
army which has contributed troops to NATO’s peace-keeping mission in
Kosovo and the U.S.-led occupation force in Iraq. Incidentally, the
Armenian soldiers serve in Kosovo as part of a Greek battalion. Their
track record was praised by Spiliotopoulos.
Officials in Yerevan said the Armenian military plans to substantially
increase the size of its peace-keeping detachment and counts on Greek
assistance to the effort.

DIPLOMATS’ SAFETY UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
Embassy Magazine, Canada
Oct 5 2005
A look at security concerns behind the wheel
Paul Cellucci did something last week he hadn’t dared in four years
as U.S. Ambassador to Canada ­ got behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Mr. Cellucci, who completed his posting in Ottawa a few months ago
but returned last week to promote his book Unquiet Diplomacy as
part of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, said he’d been
enjoying chauffeuring himself around town all day. He discovered that,
amazingly, his navigational skills were pretty sharp considering he
learned the street names and travel routes as a passenger peering
through heavily-tinted windows.
As ambassador, Mr. Cellucci had been under heavy surveillance, a
microscope his successor David Wilkins is now under. In transit, a
bodyguard and driver from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police accompany
the ambassador on each and every car trip.
Only the American, Israeli and Turkish heads of mission in Ottawa
are given such privileges, or when security intelligence shows a
diplomat is under direct threat in the country, says Marcel Richard,
of the Protective Liaison Section of the RCMP.
“It may change from one day to the next,” he says. “If something
happens in the world and we feel that [one country] may be jeopardized,
we might offer to add security. We always have to see if it changed
security here in Canada.”
Envoys with special protection and their families are transported
from home to the office and to stops in between in an unmarked car,
equipped with police devices like radios and earpieces. Their vehicles
don’t sport the customary red diplomatic plates.
Under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, the host country
is responsible for the safety of diplomats and foreigners on official
business, like heads of state and political delegations. Dignitaries
visiting Canada are under the special watch of the RCMP.
A telephone hotline gives diplomats posted to Canada a way to reach
the RCMP directly if they get into a car accident or need another
type of assistance on the road or elsewhere, says Mr. Richard. In
Ottawa, the RCMP — as opposed to the city police force — is also
responsible for keeping a watchful eye on the diplomatic neighbourhood
of Rockcliffe, downtown missions and patrolling other areas where
foreign envoys gather.
Peter Marwitz, a former adviser of safety and security issues to
the RCMP and national security liaison office with the department
of Foreign Affairs, recalls three separate attacks in the 1980s on
Turkish diplomats in Ottawa by Armenian extremists, including one
involving an attache who was shot dead while idling at a red light
on Island Park Drive.
The targeted strikes were an impetus for security to improve in
the past 20 years, says Mr. Marwitz. Today, “the U.S. and Israeli
embassies are under constant threat,” he notes.
Asked whether Mr. Cellucci, now an executive at Canadian-owned Magna
Entertainment, was a moving target when he took to the driver’s seat
last week, Mr. Marwitz says any political danger has expired.
“Now that he’s no longer ambassador he can go wherever he wants,”
says Mr. Marwitz. “These terrorists aren’t going to get a slap on
the back if they get him now. His successor is now the one under
constant threat.”
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PRESIDENT OF LATVIA TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA ON OCT. 6
Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 5 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. At RA President Robert Kocharian’s
invitation, Mrs. Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the President of the Republic
of Latvia will arrive in Armenia on an official visit on October 6-8
with her husband Imants Freiberga.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press Office,
Ministers of Economy, Transport and Communication, Culture, other
officials, about 50 businessmen are in the delegation headed by the
President of Latvia.
The main goal of the visit is to stimulate development of interstate
ties, to deepen the cooperation, to define primary directions of
mutual economic cooperation. The heads of the two countries will
discuss the European Union-Armenia cooperation, issues concerning
regional problems as well as will exchange opinions concerning urgent
international problems.
In April, 2005, President of Latvia Mrs. Freiberga was involved in the
team of the world leaders created on the initiative of Kofi Annan,
the Secretary General of the United Nations. The team leaders must
assist the process of UN reforms as delegates of the Secretary General.
Robert Kocharian’s and Vaira Vike-Freiberga’s private conversation will
take place after the official ceremony of meeting the high-ranking
guest at the RA President’s residance on October 7. Then the
negotiations will continue in a enlarged staff. The ceremony of signing
bilateral documents will follow. The Presidents of Armenia and Latvia
will sign a joint declaration, agreements on encouragement and mutual
security of investments between the Governments of the two countries,
on cooperation in the sphere of customs and an interdepartment document
in the sphere of culture will be signed as well.
The Presidents will hold a joint press-conference as well.
During the official visit, the President of Latvia will meet with the
Speaker of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister. The closing
ceremony of the Armenian-Latvian Business Forum will take place with
the participation of the heads of both countries.
The delegation headed by President Freiberga will visit the Armenian
Genocide Memorial Complex, lay a wreath to the monument to the 1915
Genocide victims.
The President of Latvia will have a meeting with the professors’
and lecturers’ staff and students of the Yerevan State University
as well. At the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin President Vaira
Vike-Freiberga will visit the Treasure House and the Mother
Cathedral. She will visit the Brandy Factory, Martiros Sarian park,
look at works of Armenian painters.
The delegation headed by the President of Latvia will leave Armenia
on October 8.