From: [email protected]
Subject: Report: Armenian, Azerbaijani foreign ministers to meet on NK talks
Report: Armenian, Azerbaijani foreign ministers to meet on
Nagorno-Karabakh talks
.c The Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) – The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan were
scheduled to meet Monday for talks on the latest efforts to resolve
the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, news agencies reported.
Ethnic Armenian forces seized the mountainous enclave during a war in
the 1990s that killed thousands and displaced millions. A tense
cease-fire has held since 1994 and efforts to finally resolve its
status have repeatedly failed.
The two foreign ministers were expected to lay the groundwork for a
meeting of the countries’ two presidents later this week, Interfax
news agency reported.
The return of refugees, withdrawal from some territories and
introducing peacekeeping forces are among the issues being discussed.
Presidents Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharian of Armenia
were slated to meet on Friday in Kazan on the sidelines of a meeting
of leaders from several former Soviet republics.
08/22/05 03:38 EDT

Georgian president calls for “integration” of Caucasus economies
Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
22 Aug 05

Excerpt from report by Georgian TV station Rustavi-2 on 22 August
[Presenter] Georgia and Armenia have no political problems in their
relations. This was the main message delivered at the end of talks
between the two presidents which Mikheil Saakashvili and Robert
Kocharyan held at the Armenian president’s Sevan residence. The two
leaders said that this was a friendly meeting at which they discussed
a range of issues, including the situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti
[region in southern Georgia with a large ethnic Armenian
population]. [Passage omitted]
[Saakashvili, speaking to journalists] It is very important that
integration of our economies takes place. In general, I believe that
the economies of all three countries of the Transcaucasus should
integrate. All the conditions are in place for this to happen in the
case of the Armenian and Georgian economies.
This year, for the first time, large numbers of Armenian holidaymakers
have been visiting our Black Sea coast. I think that this trend will
grow quickly.
A very interesting business association has been set up. Business
people are working with each other. I think that, separately, we will
find it hard to get stronger economically. Together, we can do much
more.
That is why many political issues – [changes thought] There are no
political problems between Georgia and Armenia. Furthermore, we are
actively cooperating, which has already had an effect on business, on
the atmosphere and on all aspects of relations between the two
countries.
[Kocharyan, speaking to journalists in Russian] What we are doing with
Georgia, the fact that we are building not only official but also
friendly relations, is a good sign, a very good sign. We very much
hope that relations between the presidents will bring about a
transformation in relations between ordinary people. [Passage omitted]

Belarusian unit takes part in CIS air defence exercise in Russia
Belapan news agency, Minsk
22 Aug 05
Units of Belarus’s 15th Anti-aircraft Missile Brigade, based in
Fanipal, Minsk Region, are taking part in the third stage of a CIS
integrated air defence system exercise that started at Russia’s
Ashuluk training ground in Astrakhan Region on 22 August, the
Belarusian news agency Belapan reported today.
The drill, which also involves Armenian, Russian and Tajik units, is
supervised by the Russian air force commander-in-chief, Gen Vladimir
Mikhaylov, the news agency added.
The first phase of the exercise was held at Russia’s Telemba training
ground in Chita Region between 24 June and 10 July, and the next stage
took place in Kazakhstan on 5-12 August.
The Belarusian unit is expected to practise firing S-300 missiles
during the drill, Belapan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN CASE OF FAILURE OF REFERENDUM ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS ARMENIA TO
APPEAR IN VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, PACE CHAIRMAN WARNS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Rene van der
Linden, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Counsil of
Europe, which was on a three-day visit in Armenia, had meetings with
groupings-factions of the RA National Assembly and members of the
Committees. Tigran Torosian, the RA NA Deputy Chairman, the Chairman
of the Ad-hoc Committee on Matters of Integration in European
Structures, briefly presenting the present stage of the constitutional
reforms, mentioned that today, the Constitutional reform is the most
important issue for Armenia both on political arena and within the
context of the obligations undertaken at the CE. He stated that the
final conclusion of the Venice Commission was received on July 21
which has fixed a complete fulfilment of the agreements, except two
points, concerning which there is still something to do. According to
T.Torosian, during the last month, there were meetings with public
organizations, soon there will be discussions with the authors as well
to improve the draft upmost. The NA Chairman considered important and
necessary the implemention of a dialogue among all political forces
around the Constitutional reforms, which is the demand of the
resolution of the Venice Commission and the PACE. T.Torosian mentioned
that the Constitutional reforms are of particular meaning for Armenia
and it is necessary to work in order that no important proposal is
left out. At the same time, he expressed a hope that opportunities to
secure the issue from political speculations and to give solutions to
all problems have not been exhausted yet. Rene van der Linden
mentioned that for Armenia, the referendum of the constitutional
reforms will become a touchstone, and for Azerbaijan, the
parliamentary elections will become a touchstone, as both countries
have not come out of the CE monitoring process. He expressed a hope
that the most important problem for politicians is the country’s
coming out of the monitoring process and implementation of the
obligations undertaken at the CE what is a national obligation. Within
this context, a successful holding of the referendum was attached
importance to; that will support implementation of the political
dialogue what is equally an issue both of authorities and opposition.
The issue of the public awareness around contents problems was also
attached importance to. It was mentioned that the referendum will be
in the center of the attention of the Council of Europe: 40 CE
observers will participate in the referendum, and results will undergo
monitoring. According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by
the RA NA Public Relations Department, Shavarsh Kocharian, Gurgen
Arsenian amd Hmayak Hovhannisian, committee members, presented their
viewpoints around the process of the constitutional reforms. Armen
Rustamian, the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign
Relations, presenting the functions of the Committee to the guests,
mentioned that among the Committee’s activities, a great place is
given to issues of the Eurointegration, implementation of the
obligations undertaken by Armenia at the CE. Touching upon the
relations with neighbors, particularly with Azerbaijan and Turkey, he
mentioned that the two countries carry out a joined policy, proposing
preconditions for settlement of relations, and Armenia stated many
times that it is ready for cooperation without preconditions. As for
the issue of settlement of the relations with neighbors, A.Rustamian
considered important assistance of European structures. The PACE
Chairman once more attached importance to adoption of the
Constitutional reforms, mentioning that the obligations undertaken by
Armenia at the CE can not be considered completed without
constitutional reforms. In this context, Armenia’s involvement in the
“Wider Europe: New Neighbours” program that will become an important
precondition for the economic development, was attached importance
to. Within the framework of the regional cooperation, settlement of
the relations with neighbours was also attached importance to. Rene
van der Linden met with representatives of opposing factions of the
Parliament, “Ardarutiun” (Justice) and “Azgayin Miabanutiun” (National
Unification) as well. Future strategy of the opposition was within the
pivot of the conversation: the issue of participation in the process
of the constitutional reforms. The PACE Chairman assured opposing
deputies to cooperate with the authoritied in the issue of amending
the Constitution, starting a dialogue to reach a common denominator.
He mentioned that both authorities and opposition will equally take
responsibility for final results. He also warned that in the case of
failure of the referendum of the Constitutional reforms, Armenia will
appear in a very hard situation. According to him, both Europe and
whole international community will observe that referendum as the main
ordeal for Armenia on the way of the Eurointegration. According to the
PA Chairman, it also will have a direct influence on the relations of
Armenia and the European Union, the process of the “Wider Europe: New
Neighbors” program. During the meeting, the heads of both opposing
factions touched upon falsifications and violations commited during
the previous elections, mentioning that calling their organizers to
account, today the authorities will take a real step in the direction
of creating an atmosphere of confidence. With its help, according to
him, the risk of the draft constitutional reforms’ failure by the
referendum will decrease. However, realizing the importance of the
issue and listening to the European partners, both factions envisage
to participate in the August 29 sitting. Artashes Geghamian, the
Chairman of the “Azgayin Miabanutiun” (“AM”), expressed anxiety that,
in the case of saying “yes” to the Constitutional reforms, the people
not trusting the authorities will not trust the opposition, either,
and a political chaos will be created in the country. In order to
avoid this situation, he proposed to dissolve the Parliament after
putting the edited variant of the Constitution on the referendum, and
organize, first, parliamentary, then, president’s special elections.
The “AM” agrees to carry out propaganda for the new draft of the
Constitution with this precondition. And Stepan Demirchian, the
Chairman of the “Ardarutiun” faction demands to punish falsificators
(organizers) of the previous elections, correct and clean the
electoral rolls, create an atmosphere of confidence in the country.
Otherwise, according to him, there is no difference if the authorities
violate a good Constitution or a bad one. As for the contents of the
amended variant of the Constitution, according to S.Demirchian, their
approaches are represented in the draft incompletely. At the
Parliament, the PACE Chairman had a meeting with representatives of
the political forces of the coalition and the “People’s Deputy”
grouping as well. According to Galust Sahakian, the head of the RPA
faction, initiating the constitutional reforms, the coalition has also
taken the responsibility for it. He assured that today Armenia in on
the way of system changes, strengthening democracy and the
Eurointegration. Levon Mkrtchian, the head of the ARF faction
emphasized that, having a large number of electors, they also attache
importance to reaching an agreement with the opposition and to the
cooperation issue. He doesn’t agree with those formulations of those
opposing that the rulling parties do not cooperate with them. As an
example of cooperation, he mentioned the calls of the coalition
addressed to the opposition still a year ago to participate in the
discussions on the Electoral Code and constitutional reforms. But,
according to L.Mkrtchian, the opposition is led in its activities with
the tactics “first, change of authorities.” If in future, they succeed
to organize a contents discussion on the Constitutional reforms with
the opposition’s participation, the atmosphere will significantly
change, L.Mkrtchian thinks. Mher Shahgeldian, a member of the “Orinats
Yerkir” (Country of Law) faction shared the PACE Chairman’s opinion
concerning not making the Constitutional reforms a subject of
speculation in the political competition. He considered urgent
solution of problems like separation of powers, fixing of mechanisms
of balance and control, independence of judicial and information
structures by the Constitution.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: “TODAY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INCLINES TO PROTECT
PEOPLES’ RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION”
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Prior to the presidents’ meeting in
Kazan, Azerbaijan’s assessments of the Nagorno Karabakh resolution
process have become more frequent. Specifically, Azerbaijani officials
of varying capacities, have made statements on different occasions,
alleging that the essence of the Prague Process is a stage-by-stage
solution, and that time works in their favor, and that international
public opinion is moving in their direction. On the other hand, they
also say that the negotiations are not productive and that “we must be
prepared for everything,” most probably having in mind a military
solution to the conflict, since Azerbaijan’s military budget has
increased by one-third. RA Foreign Minsiter Vartan Oskanian’s
interpretations of the above-mentioned estimations of the Azerbaijani
party were submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department. The interpretations are the following: “As
a rule, each time Azerbaijan does not achieve what it wants, they
either badmouth the Minsk Group, or express dissatisfaction or
disaffection with the negotiations process, thus creating new
political backdrop for the next stage of the negotiating process.
That’s what they’re trying to do now. As for the Azerbaijani
characterization of the Prague Process, here too, they are talking not
about what is, but about what they would like to see. It is clear to
everyone, including the Azerbaijanis, that Karabakh’s
self-determination is the key issue, which must find expression in the
right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to decide its own future. The
remainder – doing away with the consequences of the conflict, the
issue of territories, return of refugees, etc. – will follow. Of
course, the package solution of the conflict may be implemented in
stages; in this regard, we are prepared to demonstrate flexibility. As
for the time factor, I will repeat that which we all know: time works
to no one’s advantage, because as a result of the unresolved conflict,
Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh all suffer. On the other
hand, an Azerbaijani military budget that is bloated by oil dollars,
doesn’t change anything. First, they can neither seduce nor, worse,
scare us with their oil. Armenia always has the ability to militarily
counter any Azerbaijani military budget. In fact, the advantage that
Armenians have over Azerbaijan is not in military expenditures or
arms, but in the justness of the cause. Armenians believe that the
Nagorno Karabakh cause is just, and in case of war, they will be
fighting for their own homes and land. This is not what the
Azerbaijanis did or would do. It would be better for Azerbaijan to
compete not militarily, but engage in healthy economic and political
competition. And in those realms, today, Azerbaijan is far from
challenging Armenia or even Nagorno Karabakh. As for the position of
the international community, they are assessing the situation more
realistically, and are reckoning with reality and fact. The
international trend regarding conflicts – East Timor, developments
around Kosovo, the Sudan Agreement – all these developments
demonstrate that the international community today is leaning towards
greater respect for the right of peoples to self-determination.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BTA INVEST BANK’S COOPERATION WITH KAZAKHSTANIAN BANK TO PROMOTE
SECURITIZATION OF MORTGAGE LOANS
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The cooperation of BTA Invest Bank
with Turan Alem Bank, a Kazakhstanian bank with a successful
experience in mortgage crediting, will promote the seciritization of
mortgage loans and the organization of these securities’ sale on the
international market. Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
Tigran Sargsian stated this at the presentation of BTA Invest Bank on
August 22. According to him, the competition among commercial banks on
the mortgage market will enable to extend the terms of crediting to 30
years. At present, mortgage credits are provided for the maximum
period of 10 years in Armenia. T. Sargsian said that the RA National
Assembly passed in the first reading the legislative package on
regulation of mortgage market. “Thanks to regulating the legal
relations in this sphere, a favorable environment will be created
first of all for the commercial banks to provide extensive mortgage
loans. Here we also expect the technical and financial assistance of
the German government. It is envisaged that in 2006, it will be
possible to speak about the stabilization of the secondary market,
which in turn will allow to increase the terms of loans,” T. Sargsian
said.

The Sevres bill

Yerkir/arm
19 Aug 05

The Sevres Treaty, signed August 10, 1920, has been a subject of
discussions for years. For decades, the Armenian political thought has
been disputing over this document considered as an achievement by the
First Republic of Armenia.
On the one hand, the Sevres Treaty was declared a document that
recognized the free, independent and united Armenia internationally;
on the other hand, it was seen as a document affirming the West’s
imperialistic claims, and thus having no value. Before the Soviet
totalitarian regime was brought down, Yerevan’s position over the
Treaty was negative; nowadays, the reviving of the Sevres bill has
been included in the foreign policy agenda.
The dire history of the regional and international developments is
known: Kemal’s campaigning was unfolding, the anti-Armenian pact of
Lenin and Kemal was in place, the US Senate voted against the Armenian
mandate, the great powers refused to fulfill many of their
commitments, the Republic of Armenia was forced into Soviet rule, the
Armenian territories were annexed by Kemal’s troops, the Turkish
Republic was declared. All these events led to the Lausanne Treaty of
1923.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian general says release of Azeri captive up to security agency
Arminfo
22 Aug 05
YEREVAN
The situation on the contact line between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
armed forces is currently quiet, the chief of the General Staff and
first deputy defence minister of Armenia, Col-Gen Mikael Arutyunyan,
has told our Arminfo correspondent.
He said there are no abrupt changes on the border. “There are
sometimes minor misunderstandings, but everything is mostly stable,”
Arutyunyan said.
Asked about a captive Azerbaijani warrant officer, Arutyunyan said
Ramil Xudaverdiyev [rendered by Azeri sources as Ramin Xudaverdiyev]
had lost his way and ended up in an area under Armenian control. Asked
when the captive would be handed over to the Azerbaijani side,
Arutyunyan noted that this depends on the Armenian National Security
Service. “He is of no value for us,” he noted.
Xudaverdiyev was taken captive on 3 August 2005.

Turkey and the Kurds
Peace be unto you
Aug 18th 2005 | ANKARA AND DIYARBAKIR
The Economist print edition
The Turkish prime minister paves the way for a deal with the Kurds
WHEN Turkey’s prime minister came to power some 30 months ago, few
expected his mildly Islamic government to resolve the country’s knotty
Kurdish question. But last week, in a landmark speech in Diyarbakir,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the first Turkish leader ever to admit
that Turkey had mishandled its rebellious Kurds. Like all great
nations, declared Mr Erdogan, Turkey needed to face up to its past. He
added that more democracy, not more repression, was the answer to the
Kurds’ long-running grievances.
Mr Erdogan’s visit to the largest city in the mostly Kurdish
south-east followed ground-breaking talks with a group of Turkish
intellectuals, seen by some as mouthpieces for rebels of the outlawed
PKK terrorist group. In these talks, Mr Erdogan pledged that, despite
a renewed spasm of rebel violence, there would be no going back on his
reforms. The Kurdish problem, he said, could not be solved through
purely military means.
The opposition is crying treason. “This will inevitably lead to
bargaining with the PKK,” fumed Deniz Baykal, leader of the Republican
People’s Party. Nationalists within Mr Erdogan’s own Justice and
Development party have also made angry noises. The army has so far
kept silent, even though some retired generals have called for the
reintroduction of emergency rule in the Kurdish provinces.
The Kurds have been only a little less provocative. Embarrassingly few
showed up at Mr Erdogan’s rally. Diyarbakir’s mayor, Osman Baydemir,
later boasted that “we could have bused in a million people had we
wanted.” Orhan Dogan, another Kurdish leader, stoked nationalist fury
when he told a newspaper that Turkey would have to negotiate with the
PKK and that the group’s imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, would
walk free one day. Some Kurds saluted Mr Erdogan for his courage, but
even they insisted that he must match his words with deeds.
There are encouraging signs that he will. Within hours of returning
from Diyarbakir, Mr Erdogan urged media supervisors to allow regional
radio and television stations to broadcast in Kurdish. But more needs
to be done if Turkey’s Kurds are not to be infected by calls for
independence by Iraq’s powerful Kurds next door. Measures to stimulate
the economy of the impoverished Kurdish provinces must be a priority,
as Mr Erdogan has acknowledged. That will necessitate also the return
of hundreds of thousands of Kurds expelled from their villages by the
army during its scorched-earth campaign against the PKK.
Mr Erdogan’s call to put right past mistakes will ring hollow unless
the state compensates the Kurds for their losses. The interior
ministry revealed this week that only 5,239 of a total 104,734 victims
who had applied under a new law for such compensation had been
considered, and only 1,190 were to be paid anything. With the deadline
for applications past, the programme “is a complete fiasco”, declared
Mesut Deger, an opposition Kurdish deputy, who is pressing for an
extension.
Lastly, Mr Erdogan must find a way of giving an amnesty to 5,000
rebels, entrenched in the mountains of south-east Turkey and northern
Iraq, that is acceptable to Turks and Kurds alike. The PKK was
expected this week to announce a suspension of hostilities, to allow
such a deal to be done. Should Mr Erdogan come up with a workable
pardon, vowed Naci Aslan, another opposition Kurdish deputy, “I will
erect his statue, kiss his feet

DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA IS ONLY OPPORTUNITY FOR PROGRESS,
CHAIRMAN OF US DEMOCRATIC PARTY SURE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The development of democracy in
Armenia is the only opportunity for progress, which the US is always
ready to assist. Howard Dean, the Chairman of the US Democratic Party
who is on a visit to Armenia, mentioned this at the August 19 meeting
with Artur Baghdasarian, the RA NA Chairman. According to the
information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA NA Public Relations
Department, he invited the RA NA Chairman to the Congress, within the
framework of his forthcoming visit to the USA, to discuss jointly
further issues of the cooperation. In his turn, A.Baghdasarian
mentioned that the US carries out a great mission in the world in the
issue of strengthening democracy, assists development of political
diversity. He attached importance to the 1.5 bl dollars assistance
allocated to Armenia during the years of independence, which greatly
supported the development of the country. It was mentioned that
Armenia is facing new and inportant reforms and in this sense, it is
very important for the country to be correctly undrestood on the
international arena. Within solution of the regional problems, the
South Caucasian Parliamentary Assembly’s creation was attached
importance to, which, with the means of a parliamentary diplomacy, may
become a good mechanism for discussion of common problems and finding
solutions for them.