Azeri foreign minister, Austrian president discuss ties, Karabakh
Assa-Irada
9 Sep 05
Baku, 8 September: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met
Austrian President Heinz Fischer in Vienna today. During the meeting,
the minister pointed out the progressive development of relations
between the countries a glaring example of which was recent mutual
visits by senior state officials. He said that presidential visits
could boost ties.
“I hope that your official visit to Azerbaijan will materialize in
2006,” the minister said.
Mammadyarov spoke in detail about the current state of the Nagornyy
Karabakh peace process and Azerbaijan’s position on the process.
The Austrian president thanked for the invitation and said that the
date of the visit would be decided via diplomatic channels.
Mammadyarov also met Austrian Speaker Andreas Khol. He stressed the
importance of developing cooperation between the two parliaments. The
two men exchanged views on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and the
regional situation.

The tip of the anti-Turkish iceberg
The angry row over Cyprus is the least of the obstacles in Turkey’s
way as it struggles to fulfil its 40-year ambition to join the
European mainstream, writes Ian Black
The Guardian/UK
Friday September 9, 2005
It is, for the moment, an obscure diplomatic wrangle being played out
largely behind closed doors in the foreign ministries of Europe and in
Brussels meeting rooms. But the signs are that a serious crisis is
looming over the start of Turkey’s long-awaited talks on joining the
EU.
Turkey’s date with destiny, October 3 – the same day, coincidentally,
that Germany was reunited in 1990 – was set last year when the then
15-member EU was finalising its historic 10-country enlargement.
It has been a very long time coming: Turkey has been a stalwart member
of Nato since 1952 and was first recognised as a potential member of
the European club as long ago as 1963, only a few years after the
creation of the EEC. Britain is a keen advocate of its EU membership,
as is the US. Both see the secular Muslim democracy as a key regional
ally, a beacon for Islamic and Arab countries and proof that a “clash
of civilisations” with the west is not inevitable.
But mounting anti-Turkish feeling in several European countries and
last summer’s shock rejections of the new EU constitution in France
and the Netherlands – part of a wider political and economic malaise –
have created grave doubts. Hence this week’s alarm call by Jack Straw,
Britain’s foreign secretary, who is now in the hot seat of the EU’s
rotating presidency, that it is vital to stick to the October 3 start
date even if, as is widely expected, the actual negotiations drag on
for many years.
The immediate problem is the vexed question of Cyprus, one of last
May’s new entrants. The hope had been that a long-standing UN drive to
reunite the divided island would bear fruit before it joined. But
since it did not (though more because of the Greek than the Turkish
side) and because Ankara is refusing to recognise the Nicosia
government (which for the EU legally represents the entire country),
the launch of accession talks is in jeopardy.
Recognition is extremely difficult because without a comprehensive
peace settlement it would undermine Turkey’s own 30-year military
presence and the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. But by
flaunting its position at this highly delicate moment, Turkey has
given ammunition to its enemies.
Chief amongst these is France, where polls show much of the
anti-Turkish prejudice expressed by the former president and author of
the constitution, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, whose circumlocutions
about “cultural differences” are only slightly less offensive than the
cruder view of another clever Frenchman, Voltaire: the 18th-century
thinker called the Turks “a reminder to Christians to atone for their
sins”.
But there is an even bigger obstacle looming in Germany – assuming
Angela Merkel’s centre-right CDU wins this month’s election: Ms Merkel
wants Turkey – which supplied so many of the gastarbeiter who created
the German economic miracle of the 1960s – to be offered only a
“privileged partnership”, not the full membership that has awaited all
other candidates, from Estonia to Bulgaria, at the end of their
negotiations.
Another key opponent is Austria, where it sometimes seems that Ottoman
janissaries are still besieging Vienna as they did back in the 17th
century. Its chancellor, Wolfgang Schussel, also favours a halfway
house and “open-ended” negotiations for the Turks.
The problem is that offering something different only for Turkey would
appear to prove the resentful charge that the EU is a “Christian club”
and risk a dangerous anti-European, and perhaps fundamentalist,
backlash. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime minister, has warned
that he will “walk away for good” if the talks do not go ahead on
schedule.
If they do start on time, it will be a very big deal indeed: no
country that has begun negotiations on joining the EU has failed
eventually to make the grade.
Although actual membership could be 10 or 15 years away, by then there
will be more than 80 million Turks, probably outnumbering Germans. And
with voting power tied to population size, Ankara will be as important
a player as Berlin, Paris and London – a key reason for the mounting
opposition. Another is the fear of large numbers of poor Turkish
migrant workers flooding western European labour markets, though
restrictions could be imposed for a transition period.
Turkey and its supporters are understandably worried, though they have
a strong case when they argue that the magnet of EU membership has
already generated huge advances under Mr Erdogan’s conservative,
moderate Islamist government.
The country’s old Midnight Express image has faded and torture has
been banned. There are now Kurdish language broadcasts, and the grip
of the powerful military, keepers of the Ataturk flame, has been
weakened. The economy is in good shape after years of crisis and
inflation under the generals. It is an increasingly attractive market
for foreign investment.
Not everything is perfect. Implementation of some new laws has been
patchy, and some worry about minority rights. Until recently there was
greater openness on the ever-neuralgic question of the Armenian
genocide of the first world war. That, however, has faded, and there
is now embarrassment about the case of the internationally renowned
novelist Orhan Pamuk, facing charges of “belittling Turkishness” over
his brave comments about that dark period.
Hectic diplomacy is likely across Europe over the coming days, perhaps
going down to the wire on the eve of October 3. There will be
brinkmanship and haggling over the precise terms of the negotiations,
and attempts to square the circle of Ankara’s non-recognition of
Cyprus. Obscure and complex it may all be, but the stakes are very
high. As Abdullah Gul, the Turkish foreign minister, put it: “The last
100 metres of the marathon should be run very carefully.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THERE ARE NOT ONLY OPPOSITIONISTS AMONG MALICIOUS ABSENTEES FROM
PARLIAMENT
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9. ARMINFO. Although the small session of the
Armenian Parliament is focused on only one issue – about the absence
of 24 deputies from the opposition Justice bloc and the National Unity
party from more than half of the parliamentary votings absent from as
many votings were also a number of businessman deputies.
Gagik Tsarukyan was absent from 171 votings, Mkhitar Varagyan from
125, Tigran Arsakantsyan from 157 ones. But their absence is
considered to have valid reasons as some of them were on mission,
others have health certificates, some asked the speaker to consider
their absence well reasoned. Strangely enough some other businessman
deputies like Levon Sargsyan, Ruben Hayrapetyan and others who could
hardly be seen at any parliamentary session so far are not on the
absentee list.
Meanwhile Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan and his deputy Tigran Torossyan
were absent from 89 votings because of working missions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
| 16:22:04 | 09-09-2005 | Regions |
THERE WILL BE ELECTRICITY IN THE EVENING
The residents of the Alaverdy Sarahart region have been spending the last
three days almost without electricity. According to the residents, they have
electricity for only several hours a day, and they seem to have returned to
the 1990s.
The workers of the Electricity net «Toumanyan» department informed by phone
that there has been an accident, and at present they are trying to eliminate
its result. Most probably the electricity provision will be re-established
in the evening.

A1+
| 15:07:17 | 09-09-2005 | Social |
VIOLATIONS ACCORDING TO THE LAW
While selling areas for state needs the Yerevan authorities do not violate
any laws, claimed the Yerevan mayor Yervand Zakharyan during today’s press
conference.
According to him, they do everything according to the law and corresponding
legislative acts. Yervand Zakharyan claims that the municipality has no
right to interfere with the evaluation of property, and if the resident is
displeased he can appeal the decision. As for the 10% income tax taken from
the compensation, according to the mayor, it is fully legal.
In the areas of North and Main Avenues, 997 contracts have been signed up to
now. 29 of them which are in court cases, do not form even 3%, the mayor
says. Yervand Zakharyan enumerated the names of the people who have brought
about a court case demanding 2000 USD for one square meter. `It is a
groundless demand’, he said, mentioning that the resident have been offered
up to 980 USD. Yervand Zakharyan announced that they have clear-cut programs
of reconstruction which will be realized without taking into account
anybody’s opinion.
As for the report of the RA Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan about the law
violations in the North and Main Avenues areas, Mr. Zakharyan announced, `I
have heard nothing about it. It is the opinion of Mrs. Larissa Alaverdyan’.

GERMANY ALLOCATES 2.2 MLN EUR TO ARMENIA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT
“BIO-DIVERSITY AND NATURE PROTECTION IN SOUTH CAUCASUS REGION”
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9. ARMINFO. German Govenrment has approved 2.2 mln
EUR to Armenia for implementation of a program “Bio-diversity in the
South-West of Armenia” and “Protection of bio-diversity in Javakheti
through transboundary cooperation.”
A relevant agreement was signed today by Ministry of Nature Protection
of Armenia Vardan Ayvazyan and Representative of German KfW bank in
Armenia Karapet Gevorgyan. The programs are designed for 30-50 years
under a regional project “Protection of bio-diversity and nature in
the South Caucasus region.” Minister Aycazyan said the programs aim
prevention of conflict situations at transboundary Armenian-Georgian
territories and planning of joint measures on protection of
environment in Javakhk plateau. Under the projects, a National Park
Arpi will be developed which will embrace Lake Arpi with its drained
basin, brooks and water reservoirs near the villages of Ardenis,
Akhuryan, and those near Stepanavan-Tashir highway. The park will
occupy a territory of 74 ha and will be divided into three protected
zones: reserved territories, on protection of ecological system and on
stable development of the park’s territories.
The territory of the park Arpi is bordering Georgia and Turkey and
located not far from large populated areas in Armenia. Local residents
having mass social and economic problems will be attracted to
implementation of the project of National Park. Some 70 jobs will be
opened for local residents there, the minister said. Under the
projects, scientific research will be carried out for possible
creation of reserved territories in waterlogged areas to protect
water- marsh flora and fauna.
KfW Representative said the regional program was provided to the
Georgian an Azerbaijani parties as well, however Azerbaijan has not
considered it so far; and in Georgia the government has recently
approved the project “Protection of bio-diversity and nature in the
South Caucasus region.” Factually, implementation of the given
ecological program for the South Caucasus has started in Armenia,
Gevorgyan said. He added that one of the most important details of the
project is solution to social problems of the population in bordering
regions, taking into account the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. “Each time when CE member-states propose joint programs to
the South Caucasian three, political motives hinder their
implementation. However, the given program is necessary as nature has
no borders and it must be protected without any political conditional
characters,” Gevorgyan said. The project office will be in Tbilisi for
three years then the head office will be moved to the country that
will show the most successful and effective implementation of the
project. 0.3 mln EUR is allocated to each country for project
coordination under control of KfW.
It should be noted that since 1993 the German Government has allocated
Armenia some 127 mln EUR through the German bank KfW under various
programs in the sphere of energy, finances, water supply and
ecology. 100 mln EUR of the above sum were credits and the remaining
were grants.

BRITISH CHOREOGRAPHIC TROUPE TO PERFORM ON TOUR IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9. ARMINFO. A leading British choreographic troupe Akram Han will arrive in Armenia on tour.
As ARMINFO was informed in British Council, performances will take
place on Sept 13-14 at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Akram
Han is a dancer and choreographer of Indian origin introducing
elements of Indian classic dance “kathak” to European dance.
THERE ARE NOT ONLY OPPOSITIONISTS AMONG MALICIOUS ABSENTEES FROM
PARLIAMENT
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9. ARMINFO. Although the small session of the
Armenian Parliament is focused on only one issue – about the absence
of 24 deputies from the opposition Justice bloc and the National Unity
party from more than half of the parliamentary votings absent from as
many votings were also a number of businessman deputies.
Gagik Tsarukyan was absent from 171 votings, Mkhitar Varagyan from
125, Tigran Arsakantsyan from 157 ones. But their absence is
considered to have valid reasons as some of them were on mission,
others have health certificates, some asked the speaker to consider
their absence well reasoned. Strangely enough some other businessman
deputies like Levon Sargsyan, Ruben Hayrapetyan and others who could
hardly be seen at any parliamentary session so far are not on the
absentee list.
Meanwhile Speaker Artur Bagdassaryan and his deputy Tigran Torossyan
were absent from 89 votings because of working missions.

PUBLICATION OF BOOK BY FIRST AMBASSADOR OF BULGARIA TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8. ARMINFO. “Armenians – fate and migration” book
by the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria
to Armenia Ivan Ivanchev (1999-2003) has been published in Bulgaria.
In a phone talk with ARMINFO’s reporter Ivanchev informed that the
book has been published in Bulgarian and has been already translated
into Russian (500 edition). The Diocese of Bulgaria of the Armenian
Apostolic Church was interested in the book acquiring 315 copies. The
book was given to Armenia’s new ambassador to Bulgaria Sergey
Manasaryan, known Armenian businessman Mikhail Baghdassarov, first
president of Bulgaria Peter Stoyanov (1997-2002) and all the
responsible workers of Bulgarian foreign ministry headed by Solomon
Pasy.
To note, chapters telling about the historical fate of Armenian
people, role of the Armenian Apostolic Church, formation of
present-day features of Armenian people’s psychology and its
mentality, as well as significant and determinant events in ancient
and modern history of Armenia, works of Armenian art and culture have
been included in the book.

FORESTS IN ARZNI AND NUBARASHEN RESTORED
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7. ARMINFO. The Forests Restoration and Development
Fund of Armenian jointly with the Armenian Agricultural Ministry has
elaborated two programs on restoration of forests in Arzni and
Nubarashen. Executive Director of FRDF Vladimir Movsisyan made this
statement at a discussion at the Armenian Government today.
He said design and calculation documents on restoration of forests in
the given zones have already been prepared. Thus, restoration of the
forests in Arzni will require 171 mln 48 thousand AMD, those in
Nubarashen – 92 mln 593 thousand AMD. Movsisyan said construction of a
pumping stations, power substations and electric lines is over. He
said the fund has fulfilled all the programs planned for the first
half of 2005 on the whole. Movsisyan said forests are restored mainly
on the charitable funds. Thus, Yerevan Brandy Company finances a
program on restoration of forests in the community of Jrambar,
Aragatsotn region. The program” implementation will require 8 mln 850
thousand AMD, Movsisyan said. Besides, he said in the first half of
2005, the fund received a 17 mln 760 thousand AMD financial charitable
assistance. He said expenses for the fund’s staff have been
considerably reduced, that is 7 mln 574 thousand AMD instead of the
planed 13 mln 728 thousand AMD. Executive Director said the fund
provided 5 mln AMD to the “Green Country” organization for
beautification of the territories nearing highways.
In his turn, Vice mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan said as of September 5
2005, the proceeds from the auction sale of the funds of Nork forests
were 857 mln 677.5 thousand AMD. 171 mln 400 thousand AMD of the sum
were transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture for financing of
programs of restoration of forests.

Armenian leader welcomes sports complex deal with Russian company
Arminfo
9 Sep 05
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today received the president of
the Russian construction holding BAMO, Murad Muradyan, who has bought
the Karen Demirchyan sports and concert complex. A relevant agreement
was signed today between the management of the holding and the state
property department of the Armenian government.
During the meeting, Kocharyan expressed his satisfaction with the
deal, the presidential press service told Arminfo news agency. In
turn, the new owner of the sports and concert complex assured the head
of state that he will rigorously keep his commitments stipulated by
the deal.
The two parties noted the importance of the fact that the
implementation of the investment programme of the sports and concert
complex will open new opportunities for the development of Armenia’s
cultural and sports life.
It must be remembered that BAMO has bought the sports and concert
complex for 5.7m dollars. The government decided to sell the complex
on 25 August this year.
[Passage omitted: Details of BAMO’s obligations]