2005 EXPECTED TO BE A BREAK THROUGH

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
12 April 05

The break through mentioned in the title is expected in the social and
economic sphere, building and reconstruction works, in education and
culture, as well as other spheres of life. The Armenians living in all
parts of the world realize the necessity of fundamental reconstruction
of the Armenian fortress Shushi and the adjacent villages freed from
captivity lasting for over 70 years. Trying to find out what plans
were brought into being in the year 2004 we talked to the head of the
regional administration of Shushi Vladimir Kassian. Nikolay
Baghdassarian: `Mr. Kassian, at our last meeting which tookplace about
a year ago you cited the saying from the past century `The one who
will rule Shushi will rule entire Karabakh’. However, you immediately
added that ruling is not enough; one must nurture it by all
means. Then you expressed anxiety about the slow rate of
reconstruction of Shushi.’ Vladimir Kassian: `You know, in any case it
is more useful to give a realistic picture of the state of things.
Well, would you believe me if I had told you (or tell you now) that
everything is excellent? On the other hand, everything is not so very
bad. Let us casta glance in retrospect. We all remember how Shushi was
destroyed after the liberation. We also remember that due to bad
control the people who settledin Shushi in a disorderly manner added
to the destruction. Not a single house had remained intact in the
village of Karin Tak, closely situated to Shushi. The same sad picture
was in all the other places of the region. Now very few houses remain
which need reconstruction. And this is the result of large-scale
building, construction of new high voltage electric conduits and other
infrastructures in the region on state budget, as well as charity
means. Atpresent almost all the communities (except Kirsavan) are
supplied with gas, the densely populated center of the town has been
gasified too. In the region special attention is paid to the problem
of housing of the families of killed azatamartiks, the disabled of
war, the veterans of war and families having many children. Detached
houses are built for the families of the mentioned categories, as well
as the new settlers. In 2004 the organization `Country and Culture’
reconstructed the surgical department of the regional hospital. The
obstetric, surgical, therapeutic, paediatric departments, the
policlinic and the emergency department operated normally. The medical
staff has a new therapist and obstetrician. The dental clinic also
operated effectively; despite work overload it satisfies the demands
of the population. Unfortunately, the question of repairing the
buildings of medical stations and maternity wards in villages still
remainson the agenda.’ N.B.: `You gave general information. Would
yougive numbers characterizing the social and economic situation in
the region in 2004?’ V.K.: ` First of all, I would like to mention
that the year was significant for thefact that all the payments were
done in time, all the institutions, organizations received the
additional payments from the state budget by 100 per cent. Last year
we provided 122 per cent of income of the budget of the community.
However, the consolidated budget was implemented by 95.3 per cent, the
state budget – by 89.7 per cent. The reasons are both subjective and
objective. In particular, the building companies working in the
region, being registered in other places of the republic, accordingly
pay taxes the community where they are registered. This is a problem,
and already steps are taken at solving it. In 2004 190.8 million drams
was provided from the state budget for the repair of Ghazanchetsots
Street, central heating of the building of the regional
administration, repair of the plumbing in Ghondaghsazian Street,
construction of the new cultural center in the village of Lisagor,
housing, sanitation, gasifying, etc. Means were provided for
preparing all the schools for winter, the heating installations of the
schools after Abovian and Muratsan were repaired enabling the normal
operation of the central heating. The reconstruction of the former
high-rise hotel is carried out. Roadworks on Ghazanchetsots Street
will be completed very soon.’ N. B.: `Mr. Kassian, the implementation
of the programme of social security and resettlement in the region
and, particularly, the considerable progress in small business in the
town of Shushi mark progress, positive tendencies. What is the picture
like in these spheres?’ V.K.: `Before answering the question I would
like to point out a reassuring fact: against the previous years the
number of people who wish to have flats in Shushi rose considerably in
2004. This is the thing we had long waited for. Some peoplesay, prices
for realty rose in the capital, and Shushi is within reach of hand and
therefore people face towards Shushi. Well, let it be so. However, as
a result the regional center will be inhabited very quickly, the
ruined buildings will be reconstructed and the town will look like a
town. Besides, some inhabitantsof Shushi, who seemed to be passive in
the course of privatization of houses, recently have become more
active; some people reconstruct buildings on their own means, others
expect the government to cover at least part of expenses. In 2004 the
relevant department of the regional administration received 61
applications for privatization of flats, 63 for repair of roofs of
detached houses, 25 applications for re-settling, 4 applications for
loans, 57 applications requesting for land. These facts are
encouraging. On the other hand, they ascertain that day by day the
region and especially the regional center expect more means for
building and reconstruction. In 2005 300 million drams were provided
from the state budget for building, more than to any other region in
the republic. Besides, 25 million drams was provided from the state
budget for gasification of flats and construction of two
medium-pressure gas pipelines, 118 million drams for preservation of
schools, 12 million drams for building three houses for the programmes
of the department of migration, refugees and re-settlement. Against
2005 state subsidies to budget-financed institutions grew
significantly (according to the data on 2004, in the region there are
47 budget-financed institutions, 9 industrial cooperative societies,
25 limited and 5 state closed joint stock companies, 24 sole
proprietors, etc.). The realty market is developing. In 2004 117
persons received license for ownership, 38 persons took out a
lease. The state registration in the communities of Hin Shen, Mets
Shen, Karin Tak has been completed. This comes to prove that there is
progress, and the subsidies from the state budget in the current year
reassure that the year 2005 to be a break through.’ N.B.: `And the
last question. It refers to the main branch of economy – agriculture.’
V.K.: `The question is clear. I should add that it refers to the
everyday anxieties of the villagers. As well as the problems the
solution of which is impossible without government intervention, and
their postponement may be fatal. There is always much work to do in
the villages. The total area of farming land is 923 hectares: 828
hectares of grain, 62 hectares of potatoes, and 33 hectares of
vegetable. However, year by year the crop yield declines. There are no
means for fertilizers. By the way, in 2005 800 million drams were
provided to the fund for development of small business. The loans
provided on these means will be aimed at developing business in the
villages. However, the farmer has nothing to pawn. This question must
be solved immediately in order to direct the loans to the villagers
mainly.’

NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN.
12-04-2005

AFP World News
International, Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Turkey goes on the offensive against Armenian genocide campaign
Sibel Utku Bila

ANKARA – Turkey urged Armenia Wednesday to agree to a joint study of the
massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire and appealed for
international support for the proposal in a bid to blunt a damaging
international campaign to have the killings recognized as genocide.

Turkey fears that the 90th anniversary of the beginning of the alleged
genocide on April 24 could trigger an outpouring of sympathy for the
Armenians and cloud its image at a time when it is bidding to join the
European Union.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul disclosed at a special parliamentary session
that Ankara had formally proposed to Armenia the creation of a joint
commission to study the genocide allegations as a first step towards
normalizing relations between the two estranged neighbors.
The proposal was outlined in a recent letter by Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Gul said.

“We informed them that if our proposal is accepted, we are ready to
negotiate with Armenia on how the commission will be established and how it
will work and that such an initiative will serve to normalize relations
between the two countries.

“I repeat this appeal once again… Turkey is ready to face its history,
Turkey has no problem with its history,” Gul said.
Ankara has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Yerevan since the
former Soviet republic gained independence in 1991 because of Armenian
efforts to secure international condemnation of the World War I massacres
as genocide.

In 1993, Turkey shut its border with Armenia in a show of solidarity with
its close ally Azerbaijan, which was at war with Armenia over the
Nagorny-Karabakh enclave, dealing a heavy economic blow on the impoverished
nation.
Gul urged the international community to press Yerevan to accept Turkey’s
proposal.
The mass killings and deportations of Armenians during World War I is one
of the most controversial episodes in Turkish history.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen perished in orchestrated
killings between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of
modern Turkey, was falling apart.

Ankara argues that 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed in
what was civil strife during World War I when the Armenians rose against
their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.

The killings have already been acknowledged as genocide by a number of
countries, including France, Canada and Switzerland.
Some EU politicans are also pressing Turkey to address the genocide claims
in what Ankara sees a politically-motivated campaign to impede its EU
membership bid.

The Turkish parliament Wednesday lent support to the government’s proposal
for a joint study of the allegations by Turkish and Armenian historians in
a declaration read out amid applause.

“This proposal should be considered an initiative for peace,” the
declaration said. “Nations who sincerely want Turkish-Armenian relations to
improve are expected to support this proposal.”

MPs also signed a letter to the British parliament urging it to publicly
concede that a popular book on the Armenian massacres, written upon the
request of British war propaganda agencies during World War I, was part of
British “disinformation campaign” against the Ottomans at the time.

The book, titled “Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-1916”
and known as “The Blue Book,” still serves as a major source for genocide
allegations despite the fact that even one of its authors later admitted it
was part of war propaganda, the letter said.

© 2005 AFP. All rights reserved.

Armenian opposition plans to unite

Apr 13 2005 7:37PM

YEREVAN. April 13 (Interfax) – The Armenian opposition plans to unite
in its struggle to change the country’s authorities, leader of the
Justice opposition coalition Stepan Demirchian said on Wednesday.

“The struggle for democracy requires unification. We can see that
various political forces are prepared for cooperation,” Demirchian
told a forum “For Democracy,” which was organized by the Justice
coalition.

The forum was attended by representatives of different political
forces.

Demirchian noted that the opposition will do everything possible to
ensure a peaceful transfer of power. “We advocate civilized methods of
settling the situation,” he said.

VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA TO PARIS TO TAKE PLACE IN NEAREST
FUTURE, VARTAN OSKANIAN STATES

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Working visit of Robert Kocharian,
the RA President to Paris will take place, Vartan Oskanian, the RA
Foreign Minister stated at the April 13 press-conference. According to
him, discussion of possible terms of the visit is already going on,
and it is rather possible that the visit will to take place
soon. Concerning some statements about today’s closeness of the
positions of the conflicting parties on the issue of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict, the Minister stated: “Approaches of choice and
discussion of themes are common among the parties, there are no
contradictions here but proposed ways are different.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ABU DHABI ARMENIANS PLAN TO JOINTLY COMMEMORATE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

DUBAI, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. For the first time in many years the
Armenians of Abu Dhabi have agreed on a united program for Genocide
commemoration, involving the Embassy, the Council of Armenian
Community and the Armenian Cultural Association, “Azad-Hye” newspaper
of Dubai reported. This year coincides with the 90th Anniversary of
the Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks. Thus on Sunday morning,
24th April, Armenian Genocide Commemoration will take place in
St. Andrew’s Church Hall, in Abu Dhabi Church Area. Mr. Aghvan
Vartanian (specially invited from Armenia) will deliver a lecture,
analyzing the event that led to the planning of the first genocide of
the 20th century, which is still waiting for formal recognition from
the perpetuating Turkish authorities and their modern-day heirs. The
National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, under the baton of Maestro Aram
Gharabekian, as well as the students of the Armenian Community Weekly
School will present a cultural program. On the same day, the Embassy
of Armenia in Abu Dhabi would be opening a condolences book for the
memory of the one million and half victims of the Armenian
Genocide. Armenians and foreigners are invited to record their
thoughts on this significant event in the modern Armenian history.

Paper says Azerbaijan, NATO disagree on military standards

Ayna, Baku
13 Apr 05

Excerpt from C. Sumarinli report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ayna on 13
April headlined “Discord between Azerbaijan and NATO” and subheaded
“Official Baku insists on preserving part of Soviet standards in army
building”

“Official Baku does not agree with some of the reforms in the
Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP] with NATO. The Azerbaijani
leadership wants to preserve some peculiarities of the military
standards of the former USSR and Russia in army building,” a source in
the [Azerbaijani] Ministry of Defence told Ayna on conditions of
anonymity.

Thus, the Azerbaijani leadership insists on preserving Soviet
standards mainly in military training, staff management, disciplinary
regulations and other legal documents. There have also been divergent
views between Baku and Brussels on the unification of relevant defence
entities and development of democratic civic control mechanisms in the
army as part of the IPAP.

As far as we know, this is the reason both sides have been delaying
the approval of the IPAP, which envisages bringing the Azerbaijani
army into conformity with NATO standards. Consultations are under way
in this regard, in which the parties are trying to eliminate
disagreements, a source in the Foreign Ministry said.

Earlier, the press service of the Ministry of Defence indirectly
confirmed that there is disagreement between Azerbaijan and
NATO. I. Verdiyev from the press service told Ayna that useful
features of Soviet standards would be preserved in the process of
shifting to NATO standards.

Experts believe that Baku’s current position in relation to NATO is
dangerous in terms of Azerbaijan’s strategic interests. Discord
between NATO and Azerbaijan in army building may deal a serious blow
to the defence area of our country, a source from the Doktrina centre
of military research of journalists said.

“The bulk of Azerbaijan’s military legislation has been copied from
military documents of the former USSR and Russia. This is why there is
a strange situation in military units now. Some units prefer NATO
standards and some prefer Soviet standards. In some units, however,
daily disciplinary regulations are defined at the discretion of the
unit commander and do not correspond to any standards. It means that
if war starts, the command of one military unit will not be understood
by the other,” Doktrina experts said. They also noted that the main
documents of action being used in the Azerbaijani armed forces are
characterized as temporary.

Official Baku’s stand is creating obstacles to Azerbaijan’s
integration into NATO and Euratlantic entities, while Armenia, which
keeps our lands under occupation, is increasing its chances, the
experts said.

[Passage omitted: details of Armenia’s cooperation with NATO]

The final version of Azerbaijan’s national security concept and
military doctrine will be ready in summer, the Azerbaijani
presidential aide on military issues, Vahid Aliyev, said a while ago.

“We are developing a security concept and military doctrine on the
president’s instruction taking into account in the first place
international experience and Azerbaijan’s interests,” he
stressed. German, US and British specialists have also been involved
in developing a military doctrine reflecting Azerbaijan’s
military-political strategy in the region, he said.

Ayna has learnt that the adoption of Azerbaijan’s national security
concept and military doctrine may be delayed, because official Baku is
still hesitating to make a strategic choice and also because this
choice is the guideline of the doctrine and national security concept.

Report: Russian Orthodox Patriarch hopes new pope will improve ties between
churches
AP Worldstream
Apr 13, 2005

The patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church said he hopes the new
pope will seek to improve relations between the two churches after
centuries of division, according to an interview with an Italian
newspaper published Wednesday.

Relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox
Church have been strained, with the Russians accusing the Holy See of
using Eastern Rite congregations to win converts on its traditional
territory. The Vatican rejects the accusation, but the tension
prevented Pope John Paul II from fulfilling his desire to visit
Russia.

Eastern Rite churches follow many Orthodox traditions, but are loyal
to the Vatican.

“I regret the fact that serious problems remain between our two
churches,” Patriarch Alexy II told Corriere della Sera, when asked if
he regretted the fact that the pope never made the trip. Alexy was
strongly opposed to the visit.

He told Corriere that a meeting between the two churches’ leaders
should only occur once mutual relations were bolstered.

“Instead, in the case of the dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church,
there is no such positive dynamics, unfortunately,” he said.

The Polish John Paul, the first Slavic pope, saw a visit to Russia as
a chance to promote greater Christian unity, a millennium after the
Great Schism divided Christianity between eastern and western
branches. He visited several ex-Soviet republics including Kazakhstan,
Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine.

Alexy expressed his “most sincere respect” for the late pope and
praised him for reinvigorating the Catholic church at a difficult
time. He said that while many problems between the two churches
emerged when John Paul was elected, “it would be a mistake to reduce
all the differences exclusively to the personality or the nationality
of the pontiff.”

He called on the new pope, who will be elected in a conclave starting
Monday, to change the Vatican’s stance.

“I believe that the Catholic side must show the will to begin the not
easy and detailed work to radically change its policy in Russia and
the Commonwealth of Independent States,” a loose alliance of several
former Soviet Republics, he said.

“First of all, it must give up proselytizing,” Alexy was quoted as
saying.

The Vatican rejects accusations that it seeks converts among the
Orthodox, but Catholics have sought to recover properties that
belonged to them before the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.

“I sincerely hope the next Holy Father of the Roman Catholic Church
will contribute to developing relations with the Russian Orthodox
Church in a positive direction, will prove it has wisdom and the
necessary tact,” Alexy told the newspaper.

UZBEKISTAN GOV’T SELLING INTEREST IN FOUR POWER PLANTS

Asia Pulse
Apr 13, 2005

TASHKENT, April 13 Asia Pulse – The government is selling blocking-off
interest in four power plants. The authorities want over US$150
million while experts doubt that foreign investors will be interested.

The Syrdarja Thermoelectric Power Plant is the largest in Central Asia
(3,000 megawatt). It produces almost one third of all electricity
generated in Uzbekistan. The Mubarak Thermoelectric Power Plant
generates 420 million kilowatt-hours a year, Tashkent 155.8 million,
Ferghana 560 million. All four power plants belong to the state.

A spokesman for FINAM (financial consultant of the government of
Uzbekistan) says that the authorities put up 39.23 per cent in
Mubarak, 38 per cent in Tashkent, 39 per cent in Ferghana, and 39 per
cent in Syrdarja plant for sale. The initial price was set at
$123.581 million, $11.144 million, $6.156 million, and $14.197
million.

Applicants have until May 15 to buy the documents concerning the
future contest and submit applications until June 15. This information
was confirmed by Mokhor Valiyev, assistant to the general director of
the Bureau of Individual Privatization.

According to Valiyev, the authorities do not intend to sell their
interest in the power plants in the next two years. Still, should some
strategic investor come up offering a fair price, the Bureau will
certainly consider the offer. Valiyev and Nikolai Fomintsev, Director
of the Department of Strategies and Business Development of FINAM, did
not say exactly whom the authorities of Uzbekistan expected to attract
as potential buyers. Fomintsev merely said that the circle of
claimants “is pretty clear” – a number of major Russian and foreign
companies. Fomintsev even said that some of them had already
approached FINAM.

Andrei Zubkov, an analyst with Trust Bank, assumes that the future
contest is oriented toward Russian companies first and foremost since
the authorities of Uzbekistan made FINAM their financial
consultant. The Russian Joint Energy Systems is already present in
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan where construction of a hydroelectric power
plant is about to be completed. Practically all of the energy industry
of Armenia belongs to the Russian Joint Energy Systems too.

Sources at its PR Department admit that the developments in Uzbekistan
are being viewed with interest indeed but decline comment on the
possibility of the holding’s participation in the contest.

Christian Drepper of E.ON PR Department claims that the company has
concentrated on development in Central Asia and Italy. “I’m afraid
that Uzbekistan is not exactly in the focus of our attention,” he
said. Spokesmen for Enel and AES declined comment.

Experts say that Uzbekistan wants a fair and reasonable price for the
power plants. “The cost of the power plants is roughly equal to the
cost of Russian assets,” to quote Aleksei Minayev, an analyst with
Rye, Man & Gor Securities.

All the same, Uzbekistan may encounter difficulties finding investors.
Alexander Yakubov of CenterInvest says that the assets are pretty old,
and the solvent demand for electricity in Uzbekistan is fairly
low. “That’s a difficult market. Order should be restored there
first,” Yakubov said. “I do not think that many investors will be
interested.” Zubkov added that export of electricity from Uzbekistan
is impossible and that too is a factor disheartening potential
investors.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pakistan, Azerbaijan offer mutual support in territorial disputes

AP Worldstream
Apr 13, 2005

Pakistan’s prime minister and the visiting Azerbaijani president on
Wednesday lent support to each other in territorial disputes their
governments have with other nations over Kashmir and Nagorno-Karabakh.

After talks in Islamabad, President Ilham Aliev told reporters that
Azerbaijan backed Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir, and Prime Minister
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan would continue to support Azerbaijan on the
issue of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India and the neighbors have
fought two out of three wars over it since they gained independence
from Britain in 1947. Both countries claim the Himalayan region in its
entirety.

Azerbaijan has said that it is not ready for any compromise with
neighboring Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, saying the land held by
ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 war is Azerbaijani territory and
cannot be the subject of bargaining.

“We think that the issues need to be resolved to reflect the views and
aspirations of the people of these regions,” Aziz said.

Earlier, the two countries signed six agreements to enhance ties in
culture, education, finance, communication and information technology.

On Tuesday, Aliev held talks with Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez
Musharraf. The Azerbaijani leader is due to leave Pakistan on
Thursday.

PILGRIMAGE TO NORAVANK

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
13 April 05

On the occasion of the 1600th anniversary of invention of the Armenian
alphabet the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth organized a pilgrimage
to Saint Noravank which is located on a picturesque hill near the
tributary of the river Arpa, Gnishkajur. For centuries Noravank has
been a center of Armenian culture, learning and especially
architecture. The monastery always stood up for national unity and
liberation struggle; it was a pillar of the Armenian Apostolic
Church. Supported by the NKR Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport
30 representatives of 8 youth organizations of Artsakh participated in
the pilgrimage too. The head of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church Parghev Martirossian Archbishop Parghev Martirossian
also participated in the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage was aimed at
bringing together the youth, drawing their attention to spiritual,
cultural and national values. There was a great number of young people
from Armenia and Javakhq. The Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II
gave his blessing to the pilgrims. A solemn mass was held, thousands
of candles were lit, Armenian songs and music sounded around the
monastery till late in the evening.

LAURA GRIGORIAN.
13-04-2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress