Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus
Sept 16 2005
Cypriot FM discusses Cyprus and EU with counterparts in US
CNA – NEW YORK-USA – 16/9/2005 08:11
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0815:CYPPRESS:02
Cypriot FM discusses Cyprus and EU with counterparts in US
by Maria Myles
New York, Sep 16 (CNA) – Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs George
Iacovou had a series of meetings here yesterday with counterparts,
during which he talked about the question of Cyprus and other matters
of mutual interest relating to Cyprus’ role as a member of the
European Union.
The Minister, in New York for the World Summit and the UN General
Assembly, met a delegation of the American Jewish Committee, led by
its president Robert Goodkind, and his counterparts from Armenia,
Vartan Oskanian, and San Marino, Febio Berardi.

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| 18:35:56 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |
PACKAGE SETTLEMENT STEP BY STEP
During today’s press conference dedicated to the sitting of the PACE
Subcommittee on Nagorno Karabakh Shavarsh Kocharyan noted that certain
progress is observed in the settlement process.
In part, the model proposed during the discussions can be rated as positive
since it says that the issue can be resolved by the OSCE Minsk Group only.
Besides, the MG Co-Chairs and other rapporteurs were impartial enough in
their assessments. They noted that the conflict cannot be settled at
present, since one of the parties follows the principle of territorial
integrity and the other – the principle of self-determination.
According to Shavarsh Kocharyan, it was also noted that Karabakh cannot be
an enclave and should be connected with Armenia. When the Azeri party
reminded about Nakhichevan the Armenian delegates stressed that Armenia was
always offered to restore the railway communication and provide connection
with Azerbaijan.
When commenting on the statement by Andrzej Kasprzyk, who pointed out to the
necessity of forces at the contact lines, the Armenian deputy said it
maintains some danger, since it can be rated as a package settlement.
According to it, territories are retuned first and then a referendum is held
after an uncertain period.
`This would be a perfect variant if we had to deal with democratic
Azerbaijan’, the Armenian delegates said reminding of the constant military
statements by official Baku, doubled military expenses as well as the call
of the Azeri Ombudsman to take a pattern by murderer Ramil Safarov.
To note, representatives of the Council of Europe stated that Azerbaijan
will be expelled from the organization in case it wishes to settle the issue
by force. In response Shavarsh Kocharyan said, `When Turkey occupied the
territory of Cyprus, which was the CoE member, it was not expelled.’
According to him we should not lose time since every lost day jeopardizes
our national interests.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2005
Self-proclaimed republic’s `foreign minister’ opposes ICG report
Baku, September 15, AssA-Irada
Arman Melikian, `foreign minister’ of the self-proclaimed Upper
Garabagh republic, has come out against the report on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper Garabagh conflict issued by the
International Crisis Group, an organization working to prevent
conflicts worldwide.
ICG, in its report covering the results of its representatives’
visits to the two countries, indicated that 18,500 people died during
the war and over a million were ousted from their homes. It also said
that Armenia is destroying Azerbaijan’s property, appropriating land
in Upper Garabagh and failing to provide suitable conditions for
Azerbaijanis to return home.
Melikian opposed some proposals made by the Crisis Group. `The report
includes many provisions that are in favor of Azerbaijan and can’t be
accepted by Upper Garabagh Armenians’, he said.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2005
Pressure group urges to stop British MP’s visits to Garabagh
Baku, September 15, AssA-Irada
The hard-line Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has demanded
that visits by Baroness Caroline Cox, vice-speaker of the British
House of Lords, to Upper Garabagh be prevented and a monument to
British soldiers removed from the Cemetery of Martyrs in Baku.
A 20-member British delegation led by Cox and comprising Christian
organizations visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan on
Tuesday as part of the so-called `Visit to Arstakh’ mission.
The GLO, in a statement, warned that it will launch continuous
actions to demand closure of the British embassy in Baku if the
British MP’s visits to the occupied land are not stopped.
Several members of the GLO youth council painted the monument to
British soldiers in black last night.
Cox paid her first visit to Upper Garabagh in 1989, during the
initial stage of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2005
Council of Europe not to assist in holding vote at Garabagh
constituency

Baku, September 15, AssA-Irada
The Council of Europe will not assist in the organization of voting
at the Khankandi district constituency in Upper Garabagh, which
allows ethnic Armenian citizens of Azerbaijan to vote in the November
parliament elections.
Azerbaijan’s central election commission (CEC) earlier requested CE
to assist in preparation of voter lists and other technical matters
related to the constituency, head of the CE office in Azerbaijan Mats
Lindberg said.
Lindberg told reporters on Thursday that the organization will not be
able to provide assistance, as the CEC appealed to the CE `at the
last moment’ and there is not enough time for this. However, the
Council of Europe office in Baku will try to provide a precise
response to the commission’s appeal, he added.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 16 2005
Turkish Amb. says Turkey, Armenia should forge ties
Baku, September 15, AssA-Irada
Turkey and Armenia are neighboring countries and should forge ties.
There is a need for a dialogue on the issue, Turkish ambassador to
Azerbaijan Turan Morali has said.
`The visit by any Turkish group to Armenia is normal. Relations must
be established between our countries. Turkish and Armenian people
can’t live without any ties for a long period’, Morali said.
The Turkish diplomat added that he is not aware of any specific group
of people that will visit Armenia.*

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| 19:39:31 | 15-09-2005 | Official |
KOCHARYAN MET U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
Today Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans.
In the course of the meeting the American diplomat thanked the Government
and people of Armenia for assistance to victims of Katrina hurricane. The
interlocutors discussed the process of introduction of changes to the
Constitution of Armenia as well. Thereupon J. Evans noted reforms will open
new development opportunities to Armenia.
Besides, the parties discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

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| 18:59:09 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |
USAID ISSUED STATEMENT ON ELECTRIC NETWORKS OF ARMENIA
The USAID Statement issued on the Electric Network of Armenia says, “It has
been reported that Midland Resources Holding (MRH) has recently requested
permission from the Government of Armenia and the Public Services Regulatory
Commission (PSRC), as required by Armenian laws and regulations, to sell its
shares of Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA).
The PSRC took aggressive steps to seek clarification of this issue in early
August. USAID notes that these steps fall squarely within the mandate of the
PSRC, as the regulating body tasked with implementing relevant Armenian
laws.
A transparent and robust decision-making process, managed by a strong
regulator, is key to protecting the interests of energy consumers. USAID is
happy to continue assistance to the PSRC and others to ensure the design and
implementation of such a process.
USAID will continue to observe, with interest, the process currently
underway to evaluate and respond to MRH’s request.”

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| 21:07:09 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |
ARMENIA REFORMS OSCE
OSCE member-states held discussions dedicated to the OSCE reformation. The
Armenian delegation headed by Deputy FM Armen Bayburdyan took part in the
discussions.
The member-states presented their position on the report on raising the OSCE
efficiency worked out by a group of diplomats and political figures.
The report touches upon the principal issues such as OSCE legislation, legal
status of the organization, efficiency of the structures and OSCE field
missions.
Armenia’s position is as follows: the RA is interested in raising the
efficiency, role and authority of the OSCE and considers that preserving a
standards base and fulfilling the commitments to the CoE it is essential to
adapt the OSCE to the realities and challenges of the 21st century. Upon
completion of the discussions it was decided to form a working group, which
will elaborate a package of proposals for presenting them at the meeting of
the OSCE FMs to be held this December in Ljubljana.

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| 18:56:06 | 15-09-2005 | Politics |
NKR PARLIAMENT PASSED LAWS
The recurrent sitting of the NKR National Assembly was held on September 14.
The agenda consisted of 20 items.
According to a report of the NKR parliament’s press service, the deputies
approved the draft bills `On Consular Service’ and `On International
Treaties’ submitted by Foreign Minister Arman Melikyan.
When commenting on the possibility of joining of the International Crisis
Group (ICG) to the Karabakh conflict settlement process Arman Melikyan said
that the proposals made by the ICG maintain some elements negative for the
Karabakh party. The MInsiter also pointed out to the fact that in the report
issued by the Group the Karabakh conflict is presented as a conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan.
At that the NKR FM noted that the ICG respects the sovereignty of Nagorno
Karabakh and its aspiration for international recognition.
Arman Melikyan also informed that in the near future Karabakh will express
attitude to the report.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress