Turkish Press
April 12 2005

Press Review

YASAR YAKIS BLASTS FALSEHOODS IN GERMAN GREENS’ `GENOCIDE’ BILL

Speaking at a press conference following his meeting with Fritz Kuhn,
the foreign policy spokesperson of the Greens in Germany, Parliament
European Union Harmonization Commission head Yasar Yakis said that a
draft bill prepared by the Greens on the so-called Armenian genocide
was rife with falsehoods, adding that the measure could harm
relations between Germany and Turkey. /Turkiye/

Baku Today
April 12 2005

Azerbaijan among countries with tense conflicts, says report

12/04/2005 18:37

The International Crisis Group, engaged in observing conflicts and
conducting monitoring in the media around the world, has included
Azerbaijan in the list of countries with complicated conflicts due to
frequent ceasefire breaches by Armenia on the frontline over the past
few months.

The monthly report refers to Azerbaijan’s press reports on frequent
ceasefire violations.

Armenian military units breached ceasefire 48 times over the past
month, which is a record high since 1994 when an agreement on
ceasefire was signed.

Conflicts in Pakistan, Libya and Taiwan became complicated in March.
The situation in Kyrgyzstan is stabilizing, according to the
organization’s experts.
The report suggests that no major changes have taken place in Iraq,
Iran, Afghanistan, Kashmir and Kosovo.

EurasiaNet Organization
April 12 2005

NAGORNO KARABAKH TALKS: PRELUDE TO PEACE?
Samvel Martirosyan 4/12/05

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh are
growing in the run-up to an upcoming summit meeting to discuss new
proposals from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe for an end to the 17-year conflict over the disputed region.

For the past month, skirmishes on the ceasefire line between Armenian
and Azerbaijani forces have been reported almost every day. The
exchange of gunfire has brought the highest casualty rate since the
1994 ceasefire agreement that ended the three-year war between
Armenia and Azerbaijan over the territory. In March, at least six
servicemen were killed in the exchanges. Three Azerbaijani soldiers
have also been taken prisoner by Armenian forces, and the Armenian
defense ministry reported on April 7 that an Armenian soldier was now
held by Azerbaijan.

The clashes come as both sides state that they are ready to make
serious compromises to resolve the conflict. Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov are scheduled to meet on April 15 in London as a
precursor to a possible meeting between Armenian President Robert
Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of
a May 16 Council of Europe summit in Warsaw.

“We have never questioned the need for compromises in the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” Armenian President Robert
Kocharian was quoted as saying by the news agency Mediamax at an
April 11 meeting with students at Yerevan State University. “We have
to understand that compromises in the settlement are inevitable. But
we had better not speak about their possible scale today.”

The extent of those compromises, Kocharian said, depended on
Armenia’s domestic political and economic situation and the position
taken by the international community on a resolution to the crisis.
Azerbaijan has charged that the ruckus over the skirmishes is a
negotiating tactic staged by Armenia to strengthen their position at
the London meeting, as well as to shore up popular support for
President Robert Kocharian’s government.

“[The Armenians] have to sit at the negotiating table and have their
final say,” Azerbaijani Parliamentary Deputy Speaker Ziyafat Asgarov
stated on April 6, the Baku-based Space TV reported. “I believe that
they are trying to avoid having their say and deliberately violating
the cease-fire to give the international community the impression
that stability is being disrupted.”

Speaking at the Armenian parliament’s March 29-31 hearings on
Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sarkissian charged
that attempts by Azerbaijani forces in the territory to take better
positions had reduced the distance between Armenian and Azerbaijani
troops to a mere 35-50 meters in some places. “Where do we want to
lead the people, what do we want – a new war? . . . Can war last for
eternity?” the Armenian news service ArmInfo quoted Sarkissian, a
former commander of Armenian forces in Karabakh, as saying on April
7. “This is an option too, though. [W]hen people make such a
decision, then the defense minister will also have to assume this
position.”

In Armenia, Russian news outlets have added to the tensions with
reports that cite Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as saying that
“[t]he war may start at any moment.” Azerbaijani media outlets have
not carried the remarks.

The OSCE has also expressed concern over the growing Nagorno Karabakh
tensions. “Aggressive statements must stop and the sides must do
their best to establish an atmosphere of mutual trust,” OSCE Acting
Chairman and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel stated during a
March 30 trip to Yerevan. During his stay in the Armenian capital,
Rupel met with the de facto president of Nagorno Karabakh, Arkadi
Ghukasian, and told reporters that, despite the ceasefire violations,
chances were strong that negotiations between Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Nagorno Karabakh would open by the end of summer.

The participation of Nagorno Karabakh representatives in the talks
would be a first for the OSCE-brokered peace process – and a move
long opposed by Azerbaijan. The OSCE appears to hold strong hopes
that Baku will yield on this point. “There are some details for which
solutions are impossible without the participation of Nagorno
Karabakh,” OSCE Minsk Group Chairman Russian Ambassador Yuri
Merzlyakov told the Azerbaijani news agency APA in a recent
interview.

Meanwhile, both sides stress that they are ready to talk peace.

Sarkissian has stated that the Armenian government would agree to a
referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh to be held in the
territory under the auspices of the OSCE and United Nations, and also
agree to negotiations over the status of the seven Azerbaijani
regions currently occupied by Armenian forces. The defense minister
presented the fact that Armenia has not to date recognized
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence as a third concession made to
Azerbaijan, though the chances appear to be slim that Baku would
acknowledge it as such.

Increasingly, Yerevan appears to be focusing its peace overtures on
the seven regions bordering Karabakh that are currently occupied by
Armenian forces. “I think such a pragmatic approach by the Armenian
side may become a pledge of success,” Sarkissian told parliament.
Armenia, however, he said, would not return the regions to Azerbaijan
without “strict guarantees of security and non-resumption of war,
guaranteed by the international community, separate countries and
organizations.”

The statements could be seen as a quid pro quo for Azerbaijani
concessions to Armenian demands on Karabakh itself. Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian has indicated that Yerevan sees the two
issues as separate. “We will not concede Nagorno Karabagh; we will
not concede the security of Nagorno Karabagh population; and will not
admit a status of enclave for Nagorno Karabagh,” Oskanian told
parliament. ” All this does not mean that the option territories for
status cannot be discussed.”

Speaking at the parliamentary hearings in Yerevan, Vladimir
Kazimirov, a key architect of the 1994 ceasefire and Russia’s former
envoy to the OSCE Minsk Group, the body charged with overseeing the
Karabakh peace talks, pushed the Kocharian government to drop its
traditional insistence on a package peace deal, terming the strategy
“not realistic.” Given differences between the two sides, he argued,
a gradual approach is the only way to peace.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has indicated that it would agree to a
step-by-step withdrawal from the seven occupied territories, but
cautioned that the ceasefire must hold during the talks in London.
“Regular violations of the ceasefire carry the aim of increasing
tensions. Armenia wants to receive [from this] a postponement [of
talks], citing the tense situation. But losing time is not
advantageous to either of the sides,” Deputy Foreign Minister Araz
Azimov was quoted as saying by the Baku-based newspaper Zerkalo on
April 8.

Editor’s Note: Samvel Martirosyan is a Yerevan-based journalist and
political analyst.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
April 12 2005

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER KHURSHID
MAHMOOD KASURI
[April 12, 2005, 16:34:03]

On April 12, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received at his
residence in Islamabad /Hotel Marriott/ Foreign Minister of Pakistan
Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri. Recalling the President Pervez Musharraf’s
visit to Baku, the Azerbaijani leader noted it had played a great
role in deepening of relations between the two countries and
enhancing bilateral cooperation in political, economic and other
spheres.

Expressing satisfaction with mutual support with respect to the
Kashmir and Nagorno-Karabakh problems, the parties underlined the
importance – under condition of globalization – of developing a
special mechanism of conflicts’ resolution by international
organizations, the United Nations in particular.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to Pakistan for the
support of the UN’s resolution on illegal settling the occupied
Azerbaijani territories by ethnic Armenians.

The parties agreed the two counties’ trade turnover did not
correspond to the level of their political relations, and stressed
the necessity of organization of business forums and reciprocal
visits by businessmen to this end.

President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri
exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues, as
well.

Daily Nexus (Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, Student Newspaper)
April 12 2005

Finance Board Questions Leg Council Actions

By Kaitlin Pike – Staff Writer

After giving away the remaining $200 in its Spring quarter budget
Monday afternoon, Associated Students Finance Board members debated
A.S. Legislative Council’s actions last week, which many thought
violated the autonomy of the board.

The board gave $50 each to the Chinese American Association for its
culture show, the UCSB Dance Team for Saturday’s benefit performance
and the Raices de Mi Tierra for a cultural show. It also granted the
Armenian Organization Sisterhood $20 for an event commemorating the
Armenian genocide. The Alpha Kappa Delta Phi sorority received $30
for its Phoenix Scholarship Charity Ball. The Indian Undergraduate
Student Association (INDUS) was the only group who did not receive
funding. The board allocated $700 to INDUS last week, but the group
asked Monday for any possible amount of additional funding for its
`Visions of India’ show.

At last week’s meeting, board members originally allocated $1,300 to
Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) fraternity’s Fight Night event. But after the
PIKE representative left the meeting, the board debated its initial
decision, and decreased the fraternity’s grant to $1,001. Several
members at last week’s meeting said they disapproved of how the money
would be used.

A.S. Leg Council overruled the revision last Wednesday, granting PIKE
the $1,300 that Finance Board had initially given them.

During Finance Board’s remark period Monday, members debated whether
Leg Council should have infringed upon the board’s autonomy in this
instance.

Finance Board Chair Bill Shiebler said Leg Council’s decision was
unnecessary and disregarded the expertise of the board.

`I think it’s too bad Leg Council doled out another $299 of our
budget,’ Shiebler said. `I think Finance Board is the most
knowledgeable in financial matters.’

Shiebler also said council members based their decision on the
opinions of other council members who either did not attend the
meeting or left the meeting early. The board decided to decrease its
funding of Fight Night because of its extravagant budget, which
included limousines for `ring girls,’ and not strictly because the
event inadvertently promoted sexual discrimination, he said.

Off-Campus Rep Adam Graff said neither reason, whether it was because
of sexual discrimination or an excessive budget, justified the
board’s action in lowering PIKE’s funding. Graff said PIKE only asked
Finance Board to partially fund its insurance costs and the cost of
renting the Thunderdome, but it did not ask for any item the board
might find objectionable.

`The justification they gave for changing the funding after the fact
was insufficient and illogical,’ he said. `Be it sexual
discrimination or extravagant budget… neither is sufficient to
warrant [the board] taking this action because it’s not germane to
the funding of the event.’

Even though the board is out of money for the quarter, members said
they would continue to meet for the remainder of the school year to
advise student groups about financing events.

RIA Novosti, Russia
April 12 2005

NEW GENERATION NUCLEAR POWER PLANT MAY BE BUILT IN ARMENIA, IF FUNDS
ARE ALLOTTED

YEREVAN, April 12 (RIA Novosti) – Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
admitted that a new modern technology nuclear power plant can be
built in Armenia, while meeting with students of Yerevan State
University.

“The only currently operating nuclear power plant in Armenia will be
stopped with time. Talks with the EU on this problem are under way,”
the president said.

Speaking on the prospects for the energy sector, the head of state
noted that the development of alternative power is vital today.

In particular, the construction of a hydropower plant on the Arax
river is a major project in the hydro energy sector. Besides, about
70 small hydro plants are being built, Kocharyan said.

Also, the president said that late 2005 will witness the start of the
reconstruction of the Yerevan thermoelectric power station, which
will make it possible to save fuel.

The construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is expected to
start this month, which Kocharyan believes “will become a guarantor
of safety and stability of Armenia’s energy system.”

The Armenian nuclear power plant was put into operation in 1980 and
stopped in March 1989. Then it was again activated in 1995, when an
acute energy crisis occurred in the country.

Equipped with a VVER-440 Russian first-generation reactor, the
plant’s second unit produces the average of 30-40% of the total
Armenian energy. Experts estimate the plant is able to operate until
2016.

In September 2003 the nuclear power plant was handed over to the
INTER RAO UES close corporation, an affiliate of RAO UES of Russia
and the Rosenergoatom concern, for trust management for five years.

The European Union insists on conserving the plant and is ready to
allocate 100 million euros for that purpose. However, according to
Armenian experts’ estimates, at least a billion euros is necessary to
develop alternative energy generating capacities in the country.

Turkish Press
April 12 2005

Press Scan

ERDOGAN STRONGLY CRITICISES EUROPE

CUMHURIYET- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is currently in
Norway, said that there were some people who tried to divide Turkey
and that the west was manipulating certain concepts. Erdogan also
gave the message that a letter would be sent to 11 countries which
took the Blue Book (which covers Armenian claims of genocide) as
reference, asking them to apologise from Turkey. Erdogan also
stressed that there was no concept like Kurdish minority in Turkey.
”We should also make a distinction between the concepts of PKK and
Kurd,” he said.

UNION GENERALE ARMENIENNE DE BIENFAISANCE
ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION

Le génocide des Arméniens fait toujours l’objet d’un négationnisme d’état
Pourquoi ?

Une conférence au Mémorial de la Shoah, en partenariat avec l’UGAB.

Jeudi 14 avril, 19 heures. Auditorium Edmond J. Safra. Mémorial de la
Shoah, 17 rue Geoffroy Lasnier, 75004 Paris. Tél. : 01 42 77 44 72

Perpétré il y a quatre-vingt-dix ans par l’Empire ottoman, le Génocide
des Arméniens fait toujours l’objet d’un négationnisme
d’Etat. Pourquoi en est-il ainsi ?

Une question à laquelle tentent de répondre les historiens réunis par
le Mémorial de la Shoah et l’Union Générale Arménienne de
Bienfaisance.

Animée par Yves Ternon, docteur en histoire à l’Université de Paris
IV-Sorbonne, Raymond Kevorkian, historien, directeur de recherche,
conservateur de la bibliothèque Nubar, et Hans-Lukas Kieser,
historien, enseignant à l’Université de Zurich, cette conférence
s’inscrit dans le cadre du programme du 90ème anniversaire du Génocide
arménien coordonné par le Conseil de Coordination des Organisations
Arméniennes de France (CCAF).

La participation est limitée à 50 inscriptions. L’entrée est
gratuite. Il est néanmoins nécessaire de retirer un billet à l’accueil
du Mémorial.

Pour s’inscrire en ligne :

;itemId=3D275

Le Mémorial de la Shoah a ouvert ses portes au public en janvier 2005.
Centre de ressources, première archive d’Europe sur la Shoah, le
Mémorial est aussi un « musée de la vigilance » conçu pour apprendre,
comprendre et ressentir, parce qu’il est nécessaire de construire
encore et toujours « un rempart contre l’oubli, contre un retour de la
haine et le mépris de l’homme », selon les mots d’Eric de Rothschild,
président du Mémorial.

L’Union Générale Arménienne de Bienfaisance (UGAB) est la principale
organisation arménienne à but non lucratif dans le monde. Fondée en
1906 pour promouvoir et préserver l’identité et le patrimoine
arméniens, elle touche par ses activités culturelles, éducatives et
humanitaires environ 400 000 Arméniens dans 23 pays.

UGAB-France
11, square Alboni
75016 Paris – Tél. : 01 45 20 03 18 – Fax : 01 40 50 88 09 –
Email : [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
Assistant Director of Communications and Public Relations
Jason Mollica
Niagara University
PO Box 2039
Niagara University, NY 14109

Phone: 716-286-8584
Fax: 716-286-8581
Niagara University graduate Nerses Krikorian (class of 1943) will be
presented with an honorary doctor of science degree at the 2005 Niagara
University undergraduate commencement ceremony.

Krikorian was born in 1921 to Hachig and Lucia, as they began their
flight to freedom in Canada, as exiled Armenians, during the genocide by
the Turks at the decline of the Ottoman Empire. His mother and father
carried their possessions in two suitcases, walking most of the way to
Greece. The family remained in Athens for six weeks, while awaiting
passage to Marseilles, France, aboard a steamship. From there, they
traveled on to Cherbourg, then to Canada, where Krik’s father’s oldest
brother lived. The journey was complete, sort of. The family stayed in
St. Catharines, Ontario, in 1924, before finally settling in Niagara
Falls, N.Y., in 1925.

Yerevan Press Club of Armenia presents “MediaDialogue” Web Site as a
Regional Information Hub project.

As a part of the project web site is maintained,
featuring the most interesting publications from the press of Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey on issues of mutual concern. The latest
updates on the site are weekly delivered to the subscribers.
***************************************************************************

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CONFLICTS
===========================================================================
CO-CHAIRMEN WILL ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO OSKANIAN AND MAMEDIAROV IN LONDON
———————————————— —————————-
Source: “Azg” newspaper (Armenia) [April 09, 2005]
Author: Tatul Hakobian

4 Main Issues of Kocharian-Aliev Meeting Are Clarified

On April 15, a meeting of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen with Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, held separately, will take place
in London. Based on the information “Azg” received from diplomatic
channels, the mediators will address several questions to Vartan
Oskanian and Elmar Mamedov for clarifying the positions of Baku and
Yerevan.

On April 5, Russian Co-chairman Yury Merzlakov stated that a package
of proposals will be presented to the parties in London. The
Co-chairman did not provide any other details, however, it should be
mentioned that the parties to the conflict will face the demand for
making concessions. Armenian diplomatic circles do not confirm
Merzlakov’s statement about presenting a package of proposals to the
conflicting sides.

Official Yerevan also does not confirm the statements of Baku about an
agreement reached for the meeting between Oskanian and Mamediarov in
London. The day before, Mamediarov and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov again confirmed the fact that the meeting will take place.

Press secretary of RA Foreign Ministry Hamlet Gasparian in the
conversation with “Azg” was uncertain about the question why
Azerbaijan constantly discusses the same point, which is not even
agreed upon. Moreover, one of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen Yury
Merzlakov also stated that separate meetings of the mediators with the
Foreign Ministers of both countries will be held in London.

Gasparian noted that it is useless argument and the Armenian side is
not willing to participate in such disputes.

According to the publications in the Azerbaijani press, deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov stated that in the issue of Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict settlement, there are “main elements” whose resolution is an
inalienable part of settlement process. As Azimov holds, “the main
elements” are eliminating the consequences of the conflict,
i.e. withdrawal of Armenian forces from the territories controlled by
Karabagh troops, restoration of infrastructures, return of the
refugees, creation of ties and settlement of political issues.

Azimov stated that Baku keeps insisting on the return of the 7
regions. On the other hand, Azerbaijan refers to the stage-by-stage
option as unacceptable, considering the problem of “simultaneous
liberation of the territories”. In other words, Baku is not against
Armenia’s gradual withdrawal from the security belt. As for the
concessions to be made by Azerbaijan to this effect, the Azerbaijani
press remains silent.

By the way, agenda issues are clarified for the regular meeting of the
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Based on the information by
“Azg”, there are 4 of them and they are related to Karabagh status,
elimination of the conflict consequences: security belt, guarantees,
return of the refugees.

The venue for the regular meeting is already mentioned. It might be
Moscow or Warsaw. On May 8-9, events devoted to the 60-year
anniversary of victory over the fascism will be held in the Russian
capital. Unofficial CIS summit will also be held. On May 16-17,
Council of Europe summit will be held in Warsaw. Apparently, Kocharian
and Aliev will conduct negotiations in the capital of Poland.

}

==========================================================================
ECONOMY
===========================================================================
“COORDINATED POLICY” OR MAKING MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF THE STATE. THIS
TIME IT WAS MADE AT TURKISH CREDIT
—————————————————————————-
Sour ce: “Kwiris Palitra” Weekly (Georgia) [April 10, 2005]
Author: Khatuna Paychadze

Tbilisi is still engaged in investigating the details about the
Turkish credit of 50 million dollars received 12 years ago. It was
another case of breaking passions over the decision by the government
commission “to write off” the debt amounting to 25 million dollars
from “Bread Products Corporation” joint stock company. The President
of the company was Anzor Burdjanadze 12 years back, father of the
Chairman of Georgian Parliament, Nino Burdjanadze. The Commission made
a decision to return the money to the Turkish side from Georgian state
budget. The opposition was quick to accuse the government in
patronizing the Burdjanadze family – the state gives millions to the
powerful clan as a “gift”. “Kwiris Palitra” newspaper attempted to
find out the real state of affairs and the attitude of Anzor
Burdjanadze to the Turkish credit of 25 million USD.

On February 12, 1993 an agreement was made between Turkish
“Export-CreditBank” and Georgian “Export-ImportBank” in accordance to
which the Turkish side allocated a 50 million dollar credit to Georgia
for three years. In accordance with the decision of the Georgian
government back then, the credit was distributed among the following
organizations: “Coca Cola” limited liability company, “Rustavcement”,
“Aragvi” joint stock company, “Geva” limited liability company,
Shulaver factory on wool processing and production, Ministry of Trade
and Material Resources, Ministry of Transport and Communication
(currently both Ministries are annulled or restructured and renamed),
“Bread Products Corporation” joint stock company.

In 1996, an agreement was made between Georgian Ministry of Finance
and “United Georgian Bank” (legal successor of “Export-ImportBank”),
imposing on the Ministry the obligation for covering the dept in
question.

This fact immediately provoked serious disagreement. A special state
commission was set up to exercise control over the process of
distributing and paying off the credit. It was then that the “Bread
Products Corporation”, headed by Anzor Burdjanadze came into
spotlight. The tastiest morsel of the Turkish credit (11 million
dollars) fell into the share of this organization. The corporation
failed to pay this money to Turkey and the debt remained a burden on
the “state”.

The Commission, set up in 1997 for control over the process of
distributing and paying off the credit, decided that since the bread
was sold at the price set by the government and the budget received
the necessary sums got from the sale, “Bread Products Corporation”
should be free of any obligations under the credit agreement. Despite
the fact that the Ministry of Finance agreed with this decision, on
March 10, 2003 it suddenly filed a suit against “Bread Products
Corporation” to the court of Tbilisi. The Ministry stated that the
corporation did not meet any of the obligations under the agreement,
and starting from November 1994 it has not invested a cent in the
budget. Consequently, by 2003 the debt of the corporation surpassed 25
million dollars. The Ministry of Finance demanded that the corporation
pay off the debt.

The Ministry of Finance lost the case in the court since it appeared
to have granted a letter of credit for 5 million USD with a
corresponding obligation at the Turkish bank. The proceedings, started
in times of Edward Shevarnadze, continued after “rose revolution” in
the Supreme Court. It is a paradox that after several sessions of the
court the Ministry of Finance practically ceased to participate in
further hearings. The representatives of the Ministry of Finance,
seemingly interested in winning the proceedings, ceased to attend the
court sessions.

In March 2004, then General Prosecutor Irakly Okruashvili showed
interest in this case and even made a speech on television. His
assistant, Valery Khaburdzania took up the baton in epistolary genre
with the same claim to the Ministry of Finance, Zurab Nogaideli. The
letter stated that the Ministry’s attitude is not adequate for the
Turkish credit situation.

The court proceedings between the Ministry of Finance and “Bread
Products Corporation” joint stock company ended up with the government
commission, headed by Prime-Minister Zurab Nogaideli, adopting a
decision for writing off the debt. Thus, 25 million dollars will be
returned to the Turkish side from the state budget. The opposition
grew furious, whereas father of the Chairman of Parliament, Anzor
Burdjanadze qualified the situation as outright provocation, “For each
accusation on Turkish credit I will apply to the court. First, when
the credit was taken, I was not the Director of the
corporation. Second, the corporation was the only one among the 8
organizations getting a credit not in the form of money. Within the
credit limits, the Turks imported 76 thousand tons of grain and 15
thousand tons of flour. Third, the corporation, as a state
organization, is liquidated since 1996. However, the debt being still
present, it remained in the “air”, ! therefore I turned to the
authorities with the request for writing off the debt… At present,
Burdjanadze family is “discussed”, attempts are made to “hit” Nino –
Speaker of Georgian Parliament”.

“Kwiris Palitra” newspaper turned to the President of National Bank of
Georgia, Roman Gotsiridze, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on
Financial and Budget Issues. He answered to the inquiry of the
newspaper, “Then, the government imposed a responsibility on the
corporation for supplying bread products to the population at a
symbolic price. Naturally, the corporation sustained
losses. Therefore, the damage should be compensated by the
government”. “Then why did the Ministry of Finance file a suit?” the
newspaper asks.

Expert on economic issues, former President of the National Bank,
Dzhavakhishvili holds that the reason is in “latent policy”. “The
Ministry of Finance would not be able to win the case against `Bread
Products Corporation’ joint stock company”. The point is that the
government issued a special decision according to which the
organizations under its jurisdiction, “Corporation” being among them,
were to sell the bread not at market price but symbolically. Thus, the
suits and claims of the Ministry of Finance are logically
groundless. The corporation was not allowed to sell the bread; it was
actually forced to distribute it freely. Where could it have taken the
money? It might have been a coordinated policy – money making. It is
difficult to determine the one responsible for drafting the government
decision; still I do remember Anzor Burdjanadze, invited at government
sessions, stating emotionally that the prices for bread ! cannot be
increased, since the country will be starving. Once I could not help
asking – What is he running:”Bread Products Corporation” or a Social
Security Fund? Burdjanadze was supposed to take professional interest
in getting income and not being an altruist. However, the real state
of affairs was different. The standardized (symbolic price) bread was
scarce and it was practically absent in the regions. The counters
displayed another type of bread next to the “standardized ” type – the
“commercial” one. Back then, there were no other large bread producers
besides the “Corporation”. Huge money was made. Everybody knew about
it but no one spoke out. That’s all about the credit we had from
Turkey”, Mr. Dzhavakhishvili stated to “Kwiris Palitra” newspaper.

}

===========================================================================
NEIGHBOURS
===========================================================================
ARMENIAN TURK EDITOR: ARMENIANS ARE POLITICAL MATERIAL FOR EUROPE
——————————————— ——————————-
Source: “Turkish Daily Newspaper” (Turkey) [April 12, 2005]
Author:

‘Merkel doesn’t aim at recognition of the genocide, she just wants to
prevent Turkey’s EU membership’

A proposal to the German Parliament by Germany’s conservative
opposition alleging that 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the
Ottoman Empire in 1915 is actually intended to prevent Turkey’s
accession to the European Union, Hrant Dink, editor in chief of the
bilingual Armenian-Turkish Agos weekly, has claimed.

Speaking in Frankfurt over the weekend at a meeting concerned with the
actual historic dimension of the Armenian issue, Dink argued that
Europe had played a significant role in the events of 1915, CNN-TURK
TV reported.

“Armenians, even today, are being exploited politically by Europe,”
Dink was quoted as saying by the station.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union
(CSU) submitted the proposal urging the German government to push for
Turkey to “look without reservations at its role regarding the
Armenian people in the past, and, indeed, the present” and to
“champion the freedom of public opinion in Turkey, particularly that
concerning the massacre of Armenians.” CDU leader Angela Merkel is
known for her opposition to Turkey’s EU bid and once proposed a
“privileged partnership” for Turkey instead of full membership.

“Merkel doesn’t aim at recognition of the genocide, she just wants to
prevent Turkey’s EU membership,” Dink said. He went on to say that the
Turkish government is unafraid of pressure from the international
community concerning the allegations of Armenian genocide; however, it
is hesitant in front of its own people as the issue can only be
resolved via human consciousness.

The German opposition’s move came before April 24, the 90th
anniversary of the alleged genocide against Armenians at the hands of
the former Ottoman Empire. The Armenians have stepped up their
campaign for international recognition of the claims as the 90th
anniversary of the alleged genocide approaches.

Turkey denies the Armenian allegations, saying the death count is
inflated and that Armenians were killed or displaced along with many
others as the Ottoman Empire tried to quell civil unrest. }

===========================================================================
INT. STRUCTURES
======================================= ====================================
ARMENIA IS A HALT TO SOUTH CAUCASUS INTEGRATION IN NATO
—————————————————————————-
Source: “Zerkalo” newspaper (Azerbaijan) [April 11, 2005]
Author: J. Sumerinly, M. Mejidly

The experts are confident that simultaneous membership of Baku and
Yerevan in this military bloc is impossible

Armenia’s relations with NATO, as well as bilateral relations with
European countries and USA, will be further developed. However, this
development will not proceed at the expense of Armenia’s cooperation
within Organization for Collective Security Agreement and
Armenian-Russian relations. Secretary of National Defense Council of
RA President, Defense Minister Serj Sargsian stated about it at the
joint press conference with Lithuanian Defense Minister Gediminas
Kirkilas (“Regnum”).

Serj Sargsian gave a negative response to the question if development
of the military technical component in Armenia-NATO relations is
possible, “No, it is not, though our armament of Russian and Soviet
production might have some deficiencies, however, posing that question
in economic or political context would be a mistake”. On his behalf,
Lithuanian Defense Minister stated that Lithuania, as a NATO member,
was ensured not only security but also experienced considerable
economic growth. In his opinion, before accession to NATO Lithuania
had certain fears that the relations with Russia will get worse,
however the fears were not justified. On the contrary, Lithuania
solved all problems with Russia before joining NATO.

According to him, Lithuania activated cooperation with all South
Caucasus countries. To this purpose, an embassy will be opened in
Tbilisi for a military attaché to work there. “We have not come to
Armenia for telling her which structure to join – it is her own
decision. However, Lithuania on its behalf welcomes integration
processes”, Kirkilas stated. After the meeting, the parties signed an
open cooperation agreement.

As “Zerkalo” reports, in the coming days a visit of G. Kirkilas is
expected in Azerbaijan. Though press service of the Defense Ministry
does not provide adequate information, we have the information that
Lithuanian Minister’s visit will proceed along the plane of Azerbaijan
integration in NATO. In the course of the visit, meetings with
President Ilham Aliev, Defense Minister Safar Abiev and Foreign
Minister Elmar Mamediarov are expected.

As experts hold, NATO’s “conquest” of the South Caucasus will be put
to life in 2005. Thus, the scheme will be based on the experience of
Baltic countries. At present, the program of assisting the region will
involve, alongside the NATO old-timers – Great Britain, Germany and
Turkey – the Baltic states as well. As a reminder, starting from May
last year, the Baltic states were resolute to solve the problems of
South Caucasus countries and their integration in NATO. They are also
willing to help the South Caucasus countries in setting up border
services.

Based on the information we have, a special format is planned for each
country of the region to strengthen NATO positions in the Caucasus. In
case of successful implementation of IPAP plan by Azerbaijan and
Georgia, accession to MAP organization will be quite
facilitated. Besides, establishment of a “College of Regional Defense”
is planned in the South Caucasus. The experts think that the main
intention is setting up of radar stations and stationing of “AVAKS”
planes for defending the air corridor.

According to other experts, starting from 2005 NATO has developed its
relations with South Caucasus countries, using the experience of
cooperation with the Baltic states. “Armenia is a `halt’ to South
Caucasus integration in NATO”, military expert, colonel-lieutenant in
reserve Uzeyir Djafarov stated to “Zerkalo”. In his opinion, if
Armenia had friendly relations with the countries of the region and
was clever in choosing its strategic allies, all the three countries
of the South Caucasus would reach more tangible results on the way to
NATO integration. U. Djafarov also noted that Georgia is most active
in NATO integration for now. Thus, official Tbilisi is interested in
holding necessary reforms for reaching the stated objective.

“In this issue, it is difficult to draw a parallel between Georgia and
Azerbaijan, whereas Armenia’s cooperation with NATO is still at
initial stage. If the level of NATO integration is conditionally
placed in 100-point scale, Georgia may score all 100 points,
Azerbaijan – 40, Armenia – 20”, U. Djafarov holds. The expert also
mentioned the destructive role of Mountainous Karabagh conflict on the
way to NATO integration. “Azerbaijan and Armenia are accepted as
members in various international organizations by agreement, however
NATO integration is another matter. It is difficult to make any
predictions about Armenia’s accession to NATO. Armenia, using the
factor of Karabagh conflict, creates obstacles on the way of
Azerbaijan integration in NATO”, U. Djafarov stated.

“If not for the Karabagh conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia would be
more developed. In this case, Azerbaijan would have no political
problems for becoming member of this structure, and Armenia would be
free from Russian `patronage’ and able to make its own decisions”,
U. Djafarov emphasized.

On his behalf, the President of Azerbaijan-NATO Partnership
Association, Sulheddin Akber stated about the necessity of changing
the regional geopolitical balance in favor of Azerbaijan. According to
S. Akber, at present the Caspian, Azerbaijan in particular, gradually
acquires strategic importance for USA and NATO in particular. He
accused the Azerbaijani authorities of incompetence in making the
right strategic choice.

“In 1997, Armenia signed military political alliance with Russia,
based on which it agreed to the stationing of Russian military bases
on its territory for 25 years. In this respect, Azerbaijan, for
changing the geo-strategic balance in the region at its advantage, had
to intensify relations with NATO and USA. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is
on the wrong path”, S. Akber stated. According to the expert,
Azerbaijan should turn to NATO with the request for accession in this
structure. “This idea is also favored by US. In case of NATO
membership, we will get still larger international support. The
country, with some of its lands occupied, needs strong military
political support, and Azerbaijan, using NATO mechanisms, may
favorably strengthen its positions on international arena”, S. Akber
noted.

On his behalf, Director of the Center of Democratic Civil Control over
Azerbaijani Armed Forces, resigned major Alekber Mamedov stated that
Armenia’s intention for NATO and US cooperation may impede
Azerbaijan’s progress on international arena. “The NATO member
countries do not distinguish among the South Caucasus
countries. However, in the issue of cooperation with the West, the
South Caucasus countries are rivals. We should not lose our chance in
this struggle. Azerbaijani will in any case preserve its leadership in
the region”, A. Mamedov stated.

According to the expert, Armenia’s military cooperation with USA and
NATO may result in delay of Karabagh conflict settlement. “The point
is that as a result of this cooperation, Armenia will considerably
strengthen its positions in the opinion of the West. Besides, Armenia
will attract the attention of the international community, which means
improvement of the welfare of the Armenian people. If Armenia takes
this path, it will leave Georgia and Azerbaijan behind, therefore our
country should impede Armenia-US military cooperation of by all
means”, A. Mamedov emphasized. }