U.S. RADAR STATION IN AZERBAIJAN WILL NOT AFFECT NEGATIVELY AZERI-IRANIAN RELATIONS
Today, Azerbaijan
29 September 2005 [09:18] – Today.Az
Azerbaijani political scientists agree in views that the construction
of the U.S radar station in the territory of the country must not
affect negatively the Azerbaijani-Iranian relations.
Commenting negative reaction of some Iranian mass media on the issue,
Vafa Guluzada, the former adviser to the Azerbaijani President,
noted that the position of Iran is natural.
“Iran must understand that Azerbaijan peruses its own goals, but the
United States carries out its own plans in the region,” he underlined.
“Iran must regard extending of the cooperation between Azerbaijan
and the United States as normal,” Uzeyir Jafarov, the military expert
noted in his turn. Issue of license on construction of radar station
is internal affair of Azerbaijan.
“If Iran strengthen it relations with Armenia, but Azerbaijan does not
regard it as serious danger for its national interests, then Iran must
accept the fact of development of the Azerbaijani-U.S. relations,”
he added.
In his turn, MP Anar Mammadkhanov stressed that the Iranian-Azerbaijani
relations would be subjected to any serious changes. “Iran must
understand that Azerbaijan takes the steps not for pleasure, but to
ensure national interests,” he said.
(Trend)
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NATO PA COMMITTEE APPROVES REPORT ON GARABAGH CONFLICT
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2005
NATO Parliamentary Assembly committee on the civil dimension of
security has approved a report on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
Garabagh conflict.
All the recommendations made by Azerbaijan were included in the first
draft of the document, prepared by German parliamentarian Von Heden.
The report also indicates that Azerbaijan’s territories have been
occupied by Armenia, parliament vice-speaker and head of the Azeri
delegation at NATO PA Ziyafat Asgarov said.
Asgarov told journalists that the Azerbaijani party was earlier
discontent with the first draft, which erroneously said that not 20%,
but 16% of Azeri land is under occupation and that more Armenians
than Azerbaijanis used to live in the conflict zone. “The Azerbaijani
delegation aims to achieve approval of the report by NATO PA as well.
I have discussed this with the Assembly leadership. We stressed that
NATO PA should act the same way the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) did,” the vice-speaker said. PACE passed
a resolution late in January confirming that Armenia occupies Azeri
territories.

NATIONAL INTEREST ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON FOREIGN POLICY
Macedonian Press Agency, Greece
Athens, 29 September 2005 (13:16 UTC+2)
Issues of national interest and the latest developments in Turkey’s EU
accession course will be discussed in detail in the National Council
on Foreign Policy that meets today under the presidency of Foreign
Minister Petros Molyviatis.
Yesterday, the European Parliament plenary session sent a strong
message to Turkey just a few days before the opening of Turkey’s EU
accession negotiations.
In a resolution adopted by the European Parliament it is mentioned
that a precondition for Turkey to become a member of the EU will be
to recognize the Armenian Genocide committed in 1915, while Turkey
is also called to recognize the Republic of Cyprus as soon as possible.
It is underlined that in case this does not happen, the consequences
on the negotiation process will be serious and could lead even to
its interruption.
It is stressed that the opening of negotiations will be the starting
point of a long process which by nature is open-ended and does not
lead in advance and automatically to accession.
A special reference is made to the serious and persistent violation
(in Turkey) of the principles of democracy, freedom, human rights,
fundamental freedoms, minority rights and the state of law.
Specifically, a reference is made to the problems in the freedom of
expression faced by author Orhan Pamuk. Regarding a very sensitive
issue for Greece, concern is being expressed for the operation of
religious minorities. The law on properties that belong to religious
institutions (=Vakoufia) is mentioned as a characteristic example.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee
postponed the vote for the expansion of Turkey’s customs union with
the European Union.
The postponement decision was reached by the European
Parliament plenary session after a proposal by the leader of the
Christian-Democrats according to which, Turkey is not committed that
it will not proceed with the signing of the statement on the non
recognition of Cyprus during the ratification of the Ankara Protocol
by the Turkish National Assembly.

AMID DISQUIET, TURKISH SUPPORT FOR EU MEMBERSHIP WANES
Middle East Times, Egypt
Sept 29 2005
ANKARA — Turks are losing their enthusiasm for EU membership amid
increasing doubts on whether their mainly Muslim country will ever
be welcome in the bloc and mounting pressure on Ankara to tackle its
most nationally explosive issues, analysts say.
Ankara’s four-decade drive to join the European Union has always
enjoyed strong public support, but the latest polls suggest a
significant drop as the country gears up for long-craved accession
talks on October 3.
A survey released in early September by the US-based German Marshall
Fund of some 1,000 Turks showed that only 63 percent believe that EU
membership would be a good thing, compared to 73 percent last year.
“I have no faith in the EU, they will never allow us in,” said Cengiz
Aybar, a 34-year-old lawyer. “Even if membership talks begin they
will go on forever with no result.”
Hulya Aslan, a 41-year-old retired banker, was just as pessimistic,
arguing that Turkey would never be welcome because of its Muslim faith.
“They are only playing with us,” she said. “They will try to extract
as many concessions as possible before selling us off.”
The main reason for the sour mood is a mounting debate in Europe on
whether Turkey should actually become a member of the bloc. This is
giving Turks the feeling that they are being badly treated, Cengiz
Aktar, director of the EU center at Istanbul’s Bahcesehir University,
said.
Rejection of the EU constitution in referenda in France and the
Netherlands earlier this year, influenced in part by opposition to
Turkey’s membership, has taken its toll on the euphoria in Turkey that
followed the EU’s commitment at a December 17 summit in Brussels to
begin accession talks.
In Germany conservative leader Angela Merkel, whose Christian Union
bloc narrowly won the September 18 general elections and is aiming to
lead a ruling coalition, has long wanted to offer Turkey a “privileged
partnership” rather than full membership.
In France another political heavyweight, Nicolas Sarkozy, president
of the ruling UMP party and a possible successor to President Jacques
Chirac, argues against opening membership talks with Turkey for the
immediate future.
“These are not the expressions of new partnership but of new animosity
– Turkey is presented like a bitter enemy of Europe,” Aktar said.
“This has created a bitter and negative environment of which even
the most pro-EU circles in Turkey have had enough,” he added.
Adding to what appears to Turkey like a U-turn on the EU’s commitment
is increasing pressure on Ankara to take steps that many would
consider betraying the country’s basic policies, said Cigdem Nas,
of Marmara University’s European Community Institute.
Tensions have flared over the divided island of Cyprus since July,
when Turkey extended a customs union agreement to the bloc’s 10 newest
members, including Cyprus, but insisted that the move did not amount
to recognition of the island’s internationally acknowledged Greek
Cypriot administration.
The EU hit back by insisting on proper recognition.
Another hot topic is the massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire during World War I, the forerunner of modern-day Turkey.
Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million of their people were slaughtered
in an Ottoman “genocide”, a claim that Turkey strongly rejects.
“Turkey is being gradually pushed into an internal settling of accounts
and this creates a backlash in a country where nationalism runs high
and the EU has come to symbolize all the foreign pressure on Ankara,”
Nas said.
The past few months have seen the rise of several new civic
organizations that take their names from armed resistance groups
that fought against allied occupation during Turkey’s 1919-21 War of
Independence, and which say that their aim is to save the country from
“treasonous collaborators”.
“Even though there is an ideological anti-EU movement in Turkey,
many know that the EU will be to the country’s benefit. So support
of EU membership will once again increase,” Nas predicted.
“But cornering Turkey on national issues such as Cyprus and the
Armenian massacres would lead to a further backlash,” she warned.

CALL FOR AUTONOMY SPARKS CONCERN
The Messenger, Georgia
Sept 29 2005
Calls this month by the Akhalkalaki-based Armenian organizations
Javakhk and Virk demanding that Javakheti region be granted autonomy
and its own parliament have revived Georgia’s deep-seated paranoia
over separatism.
The organizations are trying to give their entreaty a peaceful and
constructive character and have argued simply that if Tbilisi is
offering similar perks to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, why not to
other regions. But as Georgia’s history shows, the idea of autonomy
has involved at best simmering rivalry toward the central government
(as in the case of Aslan Abashidze’s Adjara) and at worse bloody
conflict. The forum that was held in Akhalkalaki irritated the Georgian
media and was regarded by many as an event staged by Moscow.
Reactionary print media, in turn, has called on the government to
pay serious attention to statements.
Russians did not believe for a long time that they would ever have to
withdraw their military bases from Georgian territory, assuming that
the local Armenian population would never stand for the withdrawal of
the Russian military bases from Akhalkalaki as the base represented
a security guarantee and an important source of income.
But now it is clear that the Russian military base is to finally leave
Akhalkalaki by 2008. In the meantime, the Georgian government tries
to diffuse any unrest among the local population. Some time ago the
Russian newspaper Nezavisimaia Gazeta wrote that: “There are fears
in Tbilisi that separatist sentiment among the Armenians living in
Javakheti can be strengthened and in response, the government tries
to increase financial support for the region’s development.”
The argument that the withdrawal of the Russian bases from Akhalkalaki
will deprive the local population of their main source of income has
already been rebutted. President Mikheil Saakashvili has announced
a program whereby the Ministry of Defense will purchase foodstuffs
from Javakheti farmers in order to provide larder for the Georgian
army. What is more, USD 102 million of the sum to be received from the
U.S. Millennium Challenge program will be spent for the development
of the Javakheti transport infrastructure. It is also planned to put
investments in the region for the purpose of creating new jobs. It
can be safely said that at this point, no other region of Georgia is
receiving so much long-term economic attention.
But all of this is of little meaning for those forces in the region
for whom socioeconomic problems only provided rhetorical fodder for
their demands for separatism. On September 24 Javakhk and Virk held
their third forum in Akhalkalaki. The forum representatives were
dissatisfied with the increased number of Georgian-language schools
in the region and the possibility of Javakheti’s Georgian population
increasing. They stated that in order to overcome these tendencies,
Javakheti should be separated from the other parts of Georgia.
The authors of the resolution adopted in Akhalkalaki state that the
Georgian government makes representatives of ethnic minorities live
in unequal conditions. Moreover the authorities have proposed models
for autonomy to minorities in conflict zones that they do not offer
to other ethnicities who constitute a majority in other regions.
Representatives of Javakhk and Virk have not decided yet what to
demand – autonomy for the region, or to pin their hopes on the
establishment of a Georgian federation and becoming a constituent
entity of said federation.
“This can be autonomy, but if there is no autonomy then there can be
a region with the rights of autonomy with its own constitution. It
should be distinguished just what rights the region will have. I
propose that this region should have its own parliament, government
and laws,” stated representative of Javakhk Manvel Saltenian, as
quoted by Kronika, whereas Virk member Khachatur Stepanian demanded
that Javakheti be given the status of “federation subject.”
In Georgia many suspect that Russia stood behind the Akhalkalaki
forum. This “Third Power,” Kronika writes, “is not going to accept the
loss of Georgia and after Samachablo and Abkhazia now seeks to create
the next hot spot, now in the South.” The heads of the Akhalkalaki
forum themselves deny the existence of any “Russian trail.” They also
claim not to be separatists and state that they are acting entirely
within the frames of Georgian legislation. Khachatur Stepanian, who
also chairs the Council of Armenian Organizations, stated that the
decisions of the form are in complete compliance with the European
Convention of Defending the Rights of Ethnic Minorities, reports the
newspaper Kviris Palitra.
Such demonstrations however have been labeled in the Georgian media as
“acts against Georgia.” “Regardless of whether Russia is controlling
these actions in Georgia or not, it has recently become clear that
some representatives of the ethnic minorities that are sheltered in
our territory are not hiding their cynical attitude towards Georgian
state interests,” writes the newspaper Kviris Palitra. “Stepanian
and Saltenian should not hold their breath for Georgian society to
agree to the establishment of Armenian autonomy,” writes the newspaper
Akhali Taoba.
Representatives of the Georgian government have stated that there
is no cause for alarm yet. They are supported by the fact that
only a small group of people signed the resolution adopted at the
Akhalkalaki forum. But far more people in Javakheti, and throughout
Georgian regions, would agree that more must be done to develop the
country outside of the capital.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY VISITS ARMENIA
AZG Armenian Daily #174
29/09/2005
Visit
Executive secretary of CIS, Vladimir Rushailo, arrived in Yerevan
September 27 to take part in the council of CIS interior ministers. At
a short meeting with journalists at the airport Rushailo said that
he will meet with Armenia’s political leadership. They will discuss
the process of realization of Kazan arrangements, first of all
issues concerning economic integration, cooperation in the sphere of
humanities and security and stability issues in CIS. The council of
interior ministers will discuss the last issue on September 30.

NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET TO PROMISE HIGHER SALARIES
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily #174
29/09/2005
Economy
Pavel Safarian, deputy economy and finances minister, presented
yesterday the draft RA budget of 2006 that the Armenian government
passed on September 28. The GDP is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent
next year raising the GDP to 2.4 trillion dram. Inflation is expected
not to exceed 3 per cent.
The planned revenue for 2006 will amount to 380 billion dram against
last year’s 347 billion. The government will spend 450 billion
next year.
Budgeted deficit will be 69.9 billion part of which is supposed to
be filled by inner sources.
The relation of GDP-taxes will hopefully be reduced to 15.1 per
cent. Asked what is the GDP-tax correlation and is there a difference
compared to previous years, Pavel Safarian said that this index does
not differ much from the revenue index.
Deputy minister informed that the budget of 2006 will increase the
salaries of teachers and workers of the educational sphere by 10.000
dram. The money for education will surpass last year’s budget by 8
billion and by 6.7 billion for healthcare. The employees of hospitals
and outpatients will also receive higher salaries. As for the workers
of the cultural sphere they will mark 19 per cent increase in their
monthly earnings.
The average family relief payments will boost from 12.000 to
15.000. The average pension will grow by 1.500 drams. The minimal
salary in the republic will rise from 13.000 to 15.000.
Armenia’s military expenditure for the next year will rise by 13
billion.
The deputy minister considered it natural that the government assigns
more money for the military sphere. Asked what is the overall allotment
to the military sector and whether it is not worrying that Azerbaijan
increases its military expenditure year by year, Safarian said that
the army will get $150 million. In regard to neighboring country’s
intensions, deputy minister gave a rather neutral answer saying that
every state strives to increase allotments for its security.

EXHIBITION OF ARMENIAN ARTISTS AT EMBASSY OF FRANCE
By Melaniya
AZG Armenian Daily #174
29/09/2005
Exhibition
The exhibition of Armenian artists opened at the French Embassy. Over
10 artists represented their pieces at the exhibition. Some of
the artists used to live in France for some period, felt the charm
of Paris, the atmosphere and the spirit of Europe that had great
influence on their creative life.
Henry Cuny, Ambassador of France to Armenia, emphasized the great
importance of art and culture in the history of the human race.
Robert Elibekian stated that Europe, especially Paris, is a source
of inspiration for each artist, as well as a unique place for
establishment.
Armenia, as a wonderland, gives huge energetic potential to the
artists but Europe still dictates rules for the cultural development
of the world.
The pieces by Robert and Areg Elibekian, Aramayis Mkhitarian, Taron
Muradian, T. Voskerchian, Khachatur Azizian and by other painters
created warm atmosphere in the exhibition hall.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

‘HIGH FEST’ THEATRE FESTIVAL SETS OFF
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily #174
29/09/2005
Theatre
“Innocent Light” performance of Singapore’s “Odyssey” dance theatre
opened the 3d “High Fest” International Theatre Festival yesterday. But
before the play, young actors paraded from the Theatre and Cinema
Institute to Gabriel Sundukian Academic Theatre. The same day “Hope”
mono opera was staged at the Young Spectator’s Theatre.
At a press conference that followed president of “Kuk Art”
international puppet theatre, David Burman (Russia) said that he
arrived in Yerevan with great pleasure and is very glad to take part
in this festival. “With its dynamic developments, “High Fest” is the
forth of its kind in the world. You managed to gather a great deal
of participants in a very short time”, he said. This year’s festival
hosts 250 participants from 28 countries.
Austrian producer Christian Proney told the conference that he knows
all plays presented at the festival but the European ones. He was sure
that cultural differences will make the festival even more interesting.
Speaking about the master classes that the guests will give within
the frameworks of the festival, Mr. Proney and Mr. Burman said they
will stress theatre management. David Burman thinks that culture
management in Russia and Armenia are rather alike. “I’ll speak about
art management in my seminars. It’s very important that state officials
pay attention to this sphere”, he said.
Christina Proney assured that educational establishments in Austria
are closely watching that cultural arrangements get money they need.

DAYS OF BYELORUSSIAN CULTURE IN ARMENIA
By Marietta Makarian
AZG Armenian Daily #174
29/09/2005
Culture
The official delegation of Byelorussia, headed by culture minister
Leonid Gulyayko is expected to arrive in Yerevan today. From September
30 to October 2 famous “Pesnyari” choir and “Khoroshki” dance ensemble
will perform in Yerevan and provinces of Armenia. Within the frameworks
of the Days of Byelorussian Culture in Armenia, the National Gallery
will display Byelorussian icons, the “Moscow” cinema will feature a
series of Byelorussian films and famous singers of Byelorussia will
perform at Aram Khachatrian’s House-Museum. A gala concert at the
National Opera and Ballet Theatre on September 30 will signal the
start of Days of Byelorussian Culture in Armenia.