Irrational diplomacy

Editorial

Yerkir/arm
27 May 05

No one can compete with the Turkish diplomacy in making irrational
decisions. The dynamics of the Armenian-Turkish relations and the
Turkish diplomacy shows come to prove this fact.

And while number of the reports in the Turkish press on these relations
are declining, a worrisome trend is emerging; it looks like that after
the events marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
Turks have launched a counter-attack.

It became clear at the Council of Europe summit that the Turkish
initiative to show a false dialogue with Armenia has failed. Now,
Ankara is attempting to begin a new project: Turkish government is
trying to sue the countries that have recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Upon his return from Warsaw, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, speaking
with his party members, indicated that the Armenian Genocide has no
historical and legal bases, and those countries, which have recognized
it, are guilty of various crimes against humanity.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told a Turkish TV station that
a separate case will be filed against anyone offending a Genocide
denier, and the court of that country will be requested to produce
evidence that the Genocide had happened. Interestingly, the Turkish
newspaper Star wrote that the Ottoman Empire was the first country to
recognize the Armenian Genocide: “In 1919, the court martial sentenced
to death those guilty of extermination of the Armenians.”

The newspaper said that the Ottoman Empire did nothing to solve the
Armenian cause. The author goes on to say that the official Turkish
history science gives no comprehensive answers to existing questions;
it just offers propaganda. But Turks are failing even in the sphere
of propaganda.

Giving way to official pressures, the planned conference on the
Armenian Genocide in Istanbul has been put off. Scholars who recognize
the fact of the Genocide were also invited to participate in the
conference, and according to media reports, this was the key reason
why the conference was cancelled.

Russo-Georgian Joint Declaration – Details

Civil Georgia, Georgia
May 30 2005

The Russian and Georgian Foreign Ministries published a joint
declaration, which outlines the process of withdrawal of Russian
military bases from Georgia. It also deals border delimitation and
conflict resolution issues. The Joint Declaration was signed by the
to Ministers – Sergey Lavrov and Salome Zourabichvili, after talks
in Moscow on May 30.

According to the declaration Russia committed itself to putting its
two military bases, in Batumi and Akhalkalaki, into “a pullout regime”
starting from the signing of this declaration. The Russian side pledged
to finish withdrawal process in the course of 2008. The Russian side
has no right to carry out rotation of arms, or equipment during this
pullout process. But has right to rotate solders currently serving
on the bases.

The sides also agreed to launch talks over an agreement, which
should prescribe details of setting up of a joint Russo-Georgian
anti-terrorist center. Part of the personnel and equipment of the
Russian military base currently stationed in Batumi will be used for
setting up of this center.

Pullout of the Military Hardware

Withdrawal of military hardware from the Russian military bases will
be launched in 2005 and at least 40 armored vehicles, including 20
tanks, will be withdrawn before September 1, 2005.

The process of withdrawal of military hardware from Akhalkalaki
military bases should be over by the end of 2006.

The complete withdrawal of military hardware, including from Batumi
military base, should be over by October 1, 2007, “and not later the
end of 2007, taking weather conditions into account.”

For the purpose of withdrawal of military hardware the Georgian side
has undertaken to enable the Russian side to deliver necessary spare
parts to the military bases.

Handover of the Military Facilities

The Russian side will hand over to Georgia those military facilities
which are not used by the Group of Russian Troops in Trans-Caucasus
(headquarters in Tbilisi) before September 1, 2005.

The communications relay facility in Kojori and a training ground in
Gonio, Adjara Autonomous Republic will be also handed over to Georgia
by September 1, 2005.

While, the Armor/Tank Repair Factory No 142 in Tbilisi will be handed
over to Georgia before June 15, 2005.

The process of hand over of all the military facilities, which are
not part of the Russian military bases in Batumi and Akhalkalaki,
should be over before January 1, 2007.

Route of Withdrawal/Financing

Georgian side will assist Russia in the process of pull out of military
hardware and personnel via port of Batumi, airport of Batumi, as well
as via Ninotsminda, which borders Armenia.

The Russian and Georgian sides will cooperate in an attempt to raise
additional funds to cover transportation expenses.

Anti-Terrorist Center

Part of personnel, equipment and infrastructore currently belonging
to Batumi military base will be used for setting up of a joint
Russo-Georgian anti-terrorist center.

Details about this joint anti-terrorist center will be outlined in
a separate agreement, which is expected to prescribe the number of
those personnel and equipment, which will be used for the center.

According to the joint communique the sides pledge to develop agreement
over the joint anti-terrorist center in the near future.

Gudauta Military Base

The sides agreedto continue work over the launch of international
monitoring of a military base in Gudauta, breakaway Abkhazia, under
the aegis of the OSCE.

Russia claims it has already closed down its base in Gudauta, as
envisaged by 1999 OSECE Istanbul treaty; however Georgian insists on
international monitoring of the base to verify the fact of closure.

Borders

The joint communique says that Russia and Georgia expressed interest
to finalize an agreement over delimitation of Russo-Georgian state
borders during 2005.

Conflicts

The sides expressed readiness to work over a political settlement of
conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia “solely through peaceful means”
based on the principle of respect of Georgia’s territorial integrity.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CUSTOMS OFFICERS DETAIN WOMAN TRYING TO PASS DIAMONDS
WRAPPED AS FILLING IN GRAPE LEAVES

YEREVAN, MAY 30. ARMINFO. A few days ago Armenian customs officers
detained Kazakh citizen Aishe Haroutyunyan while trying to pass via the
green zone of Zvartnots Airport (Yerevan) 430 g of diamonds and gold.

The press service of the State Customs Committee of Armenia reports
that Haroutyunyan was going from Yerevan to Actau and to pass the
jewelry worth an estimated 1.700 mln AMD she had wrapped it up as
filling in grape leaves and placed it in a glass jar. Haroutyunyan
says that in Yerevan she bought the jewelry for $3,000 but gearing
that she would not be able to take them legally to Actau resorted to
fraud. She has been fined for 1.247 mln AMD.

Last year customs officers detected 2 cases of contraband. The
smugglers attempted to pass uncut diamonds worth $18,000. A total
of 6 kg of smuggled gold and 852 carats of diamonds were seized by
customs officers throughout 2004.

Deployment of peacekeepers out of question, NKR president says

30.05.2005 11:13

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “Deployment of peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabakh
is out of the question; the ceasefire has been maintained for over
11 years,” Nagorno Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghukasian
said commenting on media reports that Ukraine was ready to dispatch
peacekeeping troops to the conflict zone, Armenpress reported.

Ghukasian dismissed as perplexing those statements, noting that
negotiations are under way to settle the issue. “Negotiations are a
complicated process and it cannot be clearly said today which stage
we are at because of Azerbaijan’s destructive position — to get
everything without conceding anything,” he added.

How to tame market’s potential and make it serve everybody’s prosperity
By Mher Ohanian

Yerkir/arm
27 May 05

Only fifteen years after the market reforms were launched in Armenia,
the Armenian officials began to cautiously speak about the European
Union granting “market economy country” status to Armenia; they even
express confidence that such status will be granted to Armenia by
the end of the year. What are these expectations based on and what
does the term “market economy country” actually mean?

The fact is that out of the 200 world countries, only 10 percent —
or 20-25 countries — is considered to have advanced market economies;
in others, despite the existence of infrastructures, markets are
unable to produce glut and dignified living conditions for the society.

International finance organizations and donor countries spend billions
of dollars every year to reform economies of those countries but do
not get desirable results. In fact, the gap between the wealthy and the
poor is actually growing: “the rich get richer, the poor get poorer.”

The experience of the developed countries prompts that the key
precondition for the market to develop is the efficiently defined
property rights. Only then, it can be expected that the property rights
can become permanently available, can be standardized, registered,
and the owners can be guaranteed that their assets will not be taken
away, nationalized or become subject of rip-off.

The developed markets also prosper because the property rights in
those countries are clearly defined making it possible to trade,
sell and resell them, resulting in an efficient redistribution of
resources, and investing in modern and competent technologies thus
increasing the production and the prosperity.

Baku-Tbilisi-Cehyan pipeline begins to operate: beginning of an end for Aliyev clan?

Yerkir/arm
27 May 05

The solemn opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline on
May 25 was apparently the most important event in Azerbaijan this
week. However, Heydar Aliyev pipeline could become a bad surprise
for Ilham Aliyev.

The U.S.-Israeli analytical center Stratfor indicates that after
the post-Soviet regimes in Georgia and Ukraine were ousted, and
following the Kyrgyz president’s removal, the Azerbaijani president
has found himself in focus in the context of the upcoming November
2005 parliamentary election in Azerbaijan.

The experts of the Center say that Aliyev the son has received
instructions from Washington on the things he has to do in order to
keep his hold on power. On April 4, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Reno Harnish told Aliyev that the U.S. is expecting that Azerbaijan
should take decisive steps towards democratization, economic reforms,
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh confrontation, as well as ensuring
the security of the “East-West energy corridor.”

The American diplomat also urged Aliyev to engage in a dialogue
with the opposition, and suggesting that the sides should sign an
agreement to hold free, fair and transparent parliamentary election.
But here is that the odd things began.

Aliyev told the U.S. diplomat that he is too interested in democratic
elections, surprising the Americans. First the Azerbaijani ruling
party in contrast to its leader and the opposition criticized the
U.S. proposal, calling it an interference with the country’s internal
affairs.

On May 21, the authorities brutally dispersed an unsanctioned
opposition rally, thus indicating that the Azerbaijani government is
not ready to keep to its promises. There is no doubt that the West
would remind this to Aliyev when needed. But it is too early to speak
of Aliyev’s failure in the upcoming election. “Azerbaijan has enormous
oil resources that ensure significant finances.

And those who are currently in power are not likely to relinquish the
profit they get,” Stratfor concludes. “In its turn, the U.S. does not
want to see a chaos in Baku similar to what happened in Kyrgyzstan
following the overthrow of President Akayev. Washington wants to make
sure that the Caspian oil flows westwards, expecting to get 1 million
barrels annually spelling in $3.5 billion.”

Stratfor analysts, however, mention that like it was the case with
Kyrgyzstan, the Azerbaijani opposition is too segmented, and what
is important, there is no charismatic individuals “to assume a
responsibility for a revolution.”

Given this, the analysts note, the U.S. would prefer to keep Aliyev
in power until the opposition parties become more organized. As soon
as Washington is satisfied with the state of things with the oil,
it would probably begin to work toward ousting Aliyev and getting
the country out of his corrupt influence. Aliyev too realizes this;
it is better to have a few years in power than just a few months
especially when he sees Akayev sitting in Moscow.

Was Heydar Aliyev realizing in the beginning of the 90’s when signing
the “deal of the century” that he was digging a political grave for
his son?

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEETING WITH THE PARENTS OF KILLED SOLDIERS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 May 05

Last month three servicemen of Artsakh were killed. By the decree of
NKR President Arkady Ghukassian, Vrej Gevorgian, Nerses Hambardzumian
and Saribek Hovsepian were posthumously awarded the medal “For Bravery”
for their courage in defending the border of the country. On May 24
the head of state delivered the medals to the families of the killed
servicemen. The minister of defence Seyran Ohanian said the army lost
three of its best soldiers. “They had gone through war and were always
distinguished for their courage. Of course, we cannot console their
families but we are proud of them,” he said. “It is very painful
to have victims in the time of war, but it is twice as painful to
lose soldiers in time of peace. It is difficult to find words of
consolation. Our duty is to take care of you and your families and
build a state together with you, which will be worth the memory of
our heroes.”

SRBUHI VANIAN. 28-05-2005

THE LAST BELL

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 May 05

Seventeen years ago the last bell in the schools of Artsakh was
the longed-for call of the national revival. The generation of 88
is now seventeen. This date is very symbolic, for the birth of this
generation marked the beginning of future victories. And it is the
generation of 88 that will keep and pass on the precept of life in
a free country. On May 25 the celebrations of the last bell of the
pupils who finish school in 2005 were in the light of this idea. It was
established that the generation of 88 and the following generations
will remain the masters of Artsakh. The Last Bell is a crossroad of
joy and wistfulness. The thing that is obvious is that they grow up and
begin to view life in a new light. They open the door which leads them
to a new world where they will look for their dream. And, of course,
they will bear in their minds the symbol of the year of their birth
and be the worthy citizens of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.

SVETLANA KHACHATRIAN. 28-05-2005

MAY 28

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 May 05

May is a month of victories for the Armenian nation. Avarair,
Sardarapat, Shushi … Different epochs, different places, but in
all the three cases it was the unity and morale of people that won.
The battle of Sardarapat is written in golden letters in the history
of the Armenian nation. It is an example of heroic struggle in which
all the classes of the society and all the political forces came
together. In Sardarapat the 5th Infantry Regiment and the squads of
volunteers from Karabakh under the command of Daniel Bek Pirumian
especially distinguished themselves in the battle. The names of Daniel
Bek Pirumian, Movses Silikian, Catholicos Gevorg V, Garegin Hovsepian,
Vardan Jaghinian, Sergo Atanessian, and many others were written in
golden letters. Among the fighters there were also representatives
of the intelligentsia, such as writers Malkhas and Aksel Bakunts,
scientists Grigor Ghapantsian, Ararat Gharibian, others. The battle
in Sardarapat had a deciding role in the history of the Armenian
nation and restored the lost statehood. May 28 revived belief in
the future, strength, and the pride of living in an independent
country. Only 3 years after the Genocide, in the orphaned country
our nation managed to come together and walk to Sardarapat. Being
on the verge of destruction, the country won the war and regained
independence. The glorious victory in Sardarapat was followed by
May self-defence battles which led to the decision of the National
Armenian Council to found the Independent Republic of Armenia. Through
hardship and misery Armenia walked towards its independence in 1918.

LAURA GRIGORIAN.
30-05-2005

NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 May 05

On May 25 the plenary meeting of the NKR National Assembly took
place. Placing changes in the legislative programme of the tenth
session of the National Assembly, the parliament confirmed the agenda
of the meeting consisting of 21 points. The first bill discussed was
the bill on amendments to the NKR Law on Land. The chairman of the
State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre Valery Alexanian mentioned that
the proposed changes will provide wider possibilities for privatization
of land by inhabitants of rural communities, including the families
of killed or disabled azatamartiks, as well as the families of
innocent victims of the war. The bill was approved by the standing
committee of production and industrial infrastructures (Chairman
Kamo Barseghian) and adopted by the parliament. The committee also
recommended the bill on amendments to the NKR law on city building,
proposed by the minister of development of industrial infrastructures
and city building, and the bill on amendments to the NKR laws on
“Commerce and Services”; “Energy Saving and Restored Energy System”,
“Nature Protection and Fees for Use of Natural Resources”, “Trade
Marks and Service Marks and Place of Production of Goods”, Postal
Service”, “Electronic Document and Electronic Digital Signature”,
“Technical Surveillance of Energy System and Energy Consumption”
proposed by the vice minister of industrial infrastructures and city
building Arnold Abrahamian. These bills did not cause controversies
and were adopted by the National Assembly. Presenting the bill on
civilian registry, the minister of justice Robert Hayrapetian said
the aim of the bill is to provide legislative ground for reforms
in the system of civilian registry. The importance of the bill was
pointed out in the review of the standing state and legal committee
(Chairman Youri Hayrapetian). The bill was enacted. The vice minister
of education, culture and sport Slava Asrian presented the amendments
to the laws on “Graduate and Post-Graduate Education” and “Education”
and commented on the essence and role of the educational reforms
emanating from the cited laws. The standing social committee (Chairman
Vasily Atajanian) recommended the bill. The parliament adopted the
amendments. The minister of social security Lenston Ghulian presented
the amendments to the laws on State Labour Agency and social security
of the families of servicemen. According to the representative of
the government, the first document provides for establishing a state
agency which will control the implementation of the Labour Code,
as well as the principles of other legislative acts and collective
agreements containing items on labour. The second bill proposes
amendments which correspond to the references made to the law on
state pensions in effect. The standing social committee approved of
both bills, and they were enacted by the National Assembly. Then the
parliament discussed the package of bills on amendments to the NKR
laws on stable payments for petrol and diesel fuel and tax on trade,
adopted at the first reading, and the law on stable payments. The bill
caused controversies in reference to the maintenance of the rate of the
stable payments in foreign currency. The members of parliament did not
accept the explanations of the vice chairman of the standing committee
of finance, budget and economic management Suren Sarghissian. Taking
into account the absence of the director of the State Tax Agency
Hakob Ghahramanian, the discussion of the package was postponed
to the next meeting of the parliament. By the request of the NKR
Central Election Committee, the parliament discussed and adopted the
expounding of the Point 1 Article 108 of the NKR Electoral Code. Then,
the members of parliament presented their statements. In particular,
Ararat Petrossian expressed concern about the imperfections observed
by him in the course of the election campaign. Edward Aghabekian
congratulated the tenth form pupils on finishing school.

AA. 28-05-2005