ARPI VARDANIAN: “AAA SHOULD CONTINUE ITS ACTIVITY UNTIL US RECOGNIZES
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. “The Armenian Assembly of America has
carried out active and compassionate work years running in order to
achieve the US government’s official and final recognition of the
Armenian Genocide and to avoid making it a political issue by the US
government as the fact remains,” Arpi Vardanian, Armenian Regional
Director of AAA, declared in her interview to Noyan Tapan’s
correspondent. She emphasized that the problem of genocides has become
much more urgent and received wide publicity during the recent 10-15
years. A number of genocides occured during 50-60 years in the world,
including the Jewish Holocaust, the genocides in Ruanda and Cambodia,
and these events changed the position of the international community.”
By the way, 20-30 years ago nobody was engaged and interested in
problems of genocide,” Vardanian mentioned. At the same time,
according to her, unless the Armenians had begun their activity aimed
at the Genocide recognition some decades ago today they would have
been be left out of this process. “Some changes gradually happen, even
some influential newspapers have begun to use the word “genocide” and
not “massacres” or “tragedy.” There are facts about the Genocide in
archives of the US and many other countries and it can’t be hidden but
the most painful is the fact the problem became a political one and
this hampers the issue of recognition,” Arpi Vardanian emphasized. She
said that the content of US President George Bush’s April 24
traditional address to the American Armenian community isn’t known to
her but according to her, some events may have a positive impact on
the President’s 2005 speech. Among these events Arpi Vardanian
attached special importance to US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans’
statement on recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which was a great
progress in the process of Genocide recognition. Besides, according to
her, the positive response of the International Center for
Transitional Justice on the applicability of the United Nations
convention on the preventation and punishment of the crime of genocide
to events which occurred during the early 20-th century was also a
very great event. Arpi Vardanian also attached special imortance to
the initiative of J.Knolenberg and F.Pallone, Co-chairmen of the
Commission on Armenian Issues of the House of Representatives of US
Congress, saying that nearly 130 congressmen have already joined the
initiative. “The AAA should also continue working with the community
in order to make the latter active in this issue, as well as with
congressmen and US President George Bush’s administration until the US
recognizes the Armenian Genocide,” A.Vardanian said.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
April 11, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian

BRYAN ARDOUNY APPOINTED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly of America is pleased to
announce that former Acting Executive Director Bryan Ardouny has
returned to the organization as its Executive Director.

In his new position, Ardouny will work with the Assembly’s Boards of
Trustees and Directors to implement the organization’s programs via
its offices in Washington, Los Angeles, Boston, Yerevan and
Stepanakert and the Assembly’s grassroots network across the country.
Shortly after his departure in 2002, Ardouny was elected to the
Assembly’s Board of Directors where his extensive knowledge of
congressional relations and the inner workings of Washington helped
advance the Assembly’s legislative agenda.

“We’re extremely delighted that Bryan is assuming this post and are
confident that under his leadership, the Assembly will grow even
stronger as a leading advocate of issues facing our community and
homeland,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian.

“As a recent Member of the Board of Directors, Bryan displayed
outstanding commitment, energy and experience required to effectively
lead this organization into the future,” added Anthony Barsamian,
Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Ardouny succeeds Ross Vartian, who is completing his second tour with
the Assembly. Vartian will continue to work for the Assembly and
assume the responsibilities of Director of Communications and
Leadership Development.

Congressmen Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ),
Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, recall
working closely with Ardouny at the Assembly. “Bryan is a unique
advocate with the kind of credibility that is a credit to the Assembly
and the Armenian-American community at large. He is effective,
well-liked, and we’re glad to have him back in Washington.”

During his tenure as Acting Executive Director, Ardouny led a major
Assembly campaign to reverse the Bush Administration’s decision to add
Armenia to a list of countries that require non-immigrant male
nationals, age 16 and older, to register with the U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Services (INS). Considering Armenia’s strong
diplomatic relations with the United States, the news of Armenia’s
inclusion on such a list sent shock waves through the
Armenian-American community. Its reversal – the result of
around-the-clock consultations between Ardouny, other Assembly leaders
and state and federal officials – signified a major victory for the
community.

In 2000, Ardouny led the Assembly’s congressional efforts in
successfully navigating a genocide resolution through the House
International Relations Committee and to the House floor, despite
strong opposition from the Turkish lobby and the Administration. The
resolution, spearheaded by Congressmen George Radanovich (R-CA) and
former House Minority Whip David Bonior (D-MI), was scheduled for a
vote, but killed at the last minute due to a direct request from
President Clinton to Speaker Dennis Hastert after the terrorist attack
on the U.S.S. Cole.

Ardouny was also instrumental in pushing back attempts in the House
and Senate to repeal Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. The
congressional victories, in 1998 and 1999, respectively, served a
major blow to Azerbaijan’s and Turkey’s lobbying efforts against
Armenia.

“I am excited and eager to resume working with the Assembly’s
dedicated and hard-working leaders and professional staff members,”
said Ardouny. “Together we will work to strengthen and expand this
organization as we continue to promote the U.S./ Armenia and
U.S./Karabakh relationships.”

Prior to joining the Assembly, Ardouny served as legislative counsel
to Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Member Rep. Michael
Bilirakis (R-FL). While there, he handled a wide variety of foreign
policy issues and served as the staff liaison to the Congressional
Caucus on Hellenic Issues, as well as the Armenian Caucus. Most
recently, Ardouny served as Executive Director of the
Armenian-American Political Action Committee (ARMENPAC).

Ardouny is married to Mary Ellen Sprenkel and has two sons.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

###

NR#2005-039

Photograph available on the Assembly Web site at the following link:

Caption: L to R: Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny with Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).

WE ALL WILL WIN IF WE ACTUALLY CONSIDER KARABAKH AS INALIENABLE PART
OF ARMENIA: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

YEREVAN, APRIL 11. ARMINFO. “We will all win if we actually consider
Karabakh as an inalienable part of Armenia,” Armenia’s President
Robert Kocharyan said during his meeting with Yerevan State University
students today when asked about the mainland Armenians negative
attitude toward their Karabakh compatriots this particularly referring
to officials of Karabakh origin and on the bad treatment of Karabakh
Armenians to mainland Armenia soldiers serving in Karabakh.

The former problem seems to be tending towards resolution while the
latter part is not a problem at all, says Kocharyan noting that
anecdotes have appeared of late this being a good proof of a problem’s
alleviation. Kocharyan notes that except Defence Minister Serzh
Sargsyan and he there are few Karabakh Armenians in the Armenian
government. But he personally considers himself as much mainland as
Karabakh Armenian. “I have never separated myself from Armenia. It was
I who initiated the Dec 1 1989 decision on reunification [of Armenia
and Karabakh],” says Kocharyan noting that the problem of treatment
towards people from “other territories” is typical of other countries
too.

ARMENIA’S PRESIDENT NOT TO TAKE PART IN DANCE ROUND ARAGATS MOUNTAIN

YEREVAN, APRIL 11. ARMINFO. President of Armenia Robert Kocharian does
not plan to take part in the dance round Aragats mountain on May
28. He stated during the meeting with students and lecturers of the
economic faculty of the Yerevan State University.

According to him, the idea itself to organize a round-dance around
Aragats is courageous and sudden, but the initiative in the beginning
aroused negative attitude. “But later, after thinking a little I came
to a conclusion if to fulfill, not making people take part, a
beautiful event may be, which will symbolize the unity of Armenia”,
the president said. Answering the question whether he plans to take
part in the round-dance, the president said “as a man I’d like to take
part, but as a president cannot to do that, as it may become an
occasion for speculations by the opposition”.

RUSSIAN CINEMATOGRAPHERS TO NOT APPROVE FINANCING ARMENIAN PROJECT
“BECAUSE OF THEIR PESSIMISTIC AND TRAGIC NATURE”

YEREVAN, APRIL 11. ARMINFO. Russian cinematographers do not approve
financing Armenian film-projects because of pessimistic and tragic
nature of presented scenario, stated chief of cinematography
department of Russian federal agency on culture and cinematography
Sergey Lazaruk at today’s meeting with students of State theatrical
university.

He noted that Russian government allotted $85 mln for film-industry in
2005. These funds will be directed to production of 130 full-length,
470 documentary, 118 animation and 4 full-length animation
films. Lazaruk said that Armenian producers also proposed to finance
shootings, however no film was approved yet because of bad
scenario. Meanwhile, the Russian quest noted that the Agency finances
some projects proposed by Georgian, Azeri and some CIS countries’
producers.

“Generally, Russian cinematographers know Armenian production owing to
its old films, but their present-day production is unknown”, Lazaruk
noted.

OPENING OF WEEK OF RUSSIAN FILMS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 11. ARMINFO. Opening of week of Russian film took place
in Yerevan Apr 11.

According to “Alfael” president Levon Abrahamyan, “My stepbrother
Frankenstein”, “Ours”, “Driver for Eva”, “Butterflies’ plays”,
“Father”, as well as “The night is bright” film by Roman Balayan will
be demonstrated. These films dedicated to war subject of both the last
and the present years have gained the greatest number of audience
sympathies, as well as prizes of various international festivals.

Chief of cinematography department of Russia’s federal agency for
cinematography Sergey Lazarchuk noted that touring performances of the
Great Theatre, theatre of Obraztsov, as well as the ITAR-TASS
exhibition dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Victory in GWW will be
organized within the framework of the Year of Russia in Armenia.

PRESS RELEASE

April 11, 2005

American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576

Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]

Armenian Parliamentarians Discuss Constitutional Reforms

YEREVAN — The American University of Armenia (AUA) held a law conference on
March 31 on Armenia’s pending constitutional reforms. Sponsored by the AUA
Law Department and Legal Research Center, the event featured two speakers
from the National Assembly who discussed some of the proposed constitutional
changes and who engaged the audience in a debate of the merits of several
proposed changes.

Lusine Abovian, constitutional law specialist of Armenia’s Legislative
Strengthening Program, & Members of Parliament Arshak Sadoyan and Grigor
Ghonjeyan, agreed that the amendments to the Constitution are based on the
need to harmonize Armenia’s fundamental laws with the democratic principles
accepted throughout the world. The focus of the discussion was to raise
public awareness of Armenia’s constitutional reforms, to examine suggested
draft laws of amendments, to review interpretations of proposed changes to
the constitution, and to clarify the authors’ positions on certain
provisions of the suggested amendments.

According to Arshak Sadoyan, constitutional amendments are necessary `to
reflect the state, historical and modern developments of the Armenian nation
and to foster the best structures and procedures for the consolidation of
the state, to eliminate the deficiencies in the government’s structure, and
to respond to the universal achievements and modern developments of the
Armenian nation.’

`Contemporary constitutional practice, the current problems of social
relations and democracy, the need to further improve the governing system,
the legal commitments assumed by joining the Council of Europe, problems of
fostering the human rights’ protection guarantees, call for constitutional
amendments’ stated Mr. Grigor Ghonjeyan. `It is necessary to streamline the
functional authority of various state power institutes, ensure the
counterbalance of checks and balances as well as balance the relations
between the President, the National Assembly and the Judiciary’.

The Conference was free and open to the public. Students, professors from
several local universities, representatives from international and local
NGOs, and the news media participated in the discussion.

The American University of Armenia offers a Master’s Degree in Law and in
Comparative Legal Studies. The programs feature a strong focus on business
and international law, with special emphasis on legal and institutional
reforms in the former Soviet republics.

———————————————————————–

AUA is registered as a non-profit educational organization in both Armenia
and the United States and is affiliated with the Regents of the University
of California. The University receives major support from the AGBU and
offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs.
For more information about AUA, visit

Picture: Arshak Sadoyan, Member of Armenia’s Parliament, calls for
constitutional reforms during AUA conference.

Another farce in neighboring country

Edotorial

Yerkir/arm
8 April 05

In its March 29 issue, the Baku-based newspaper Zerkalo said that a
new organization, called Western Azerbaijani Liberation Front, has
been established.

Its chairman Rizvan Talibov has said his organization is neither
pro-governmental nor opposition, and that its only goal is to have the
international community finally recognize the rights of the “western”
Azeris over the territories of the Republic of Armenia, and the Azeris
who had fled Armenia in 1988 could return to their homes.

Talibov has also noted that although many of his organization’s
members are well-know politicians and businessmen they would not be
actively involved in the parliamentary elections due this fall. Thus,
the azeris who have announced themselves as owners of the present
Armenia, are trying to destruct the international community and the
Azerbijani public from the hot political issues of the fall.

This is, however, not the only incident of the Azerbaijani cynicism. A
branch of the Karabakh International Foundation was established in
Baku, according to Zerkalo.

Furthermore, in its March 31 issue, Zerkalo wrote that a seminar was
organized by the so-called Karabakh Liberation Organization and the
so-called Khojalu Genocide Organization to discuss “the genocide of
the Azerbaijani people perpetrated by the Dashnak government of
Armenia in March of 1918.” Speaking in the seminar, the KLO leader,
Akif Nagi, said that such discussions should be held more frequently
in Azerbaijan so that the international community and public realize
that the Armenians committed a crime in 1918.

One thing is quite clear; the Azerbaijani authorities are attempting
to kill two birds with one stone: deceive its own people, and distract
the international community from the Armenian Cause on the eve of the
Genocide’s 90th anniversary and alleviate the Turkish brothers’ crime
with a formula “we did it but you did it too.”

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472 USA

Press Contact:
Jason Sohigian, Deputy Director
Tel: (617) 926-8733
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
April 11, 2005

ATP Launches `Trees of Hope’ Campaign For 90th Anniversary of Armenian
Genocide

WATERTOWN, MA–This month, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) announced the launch
of its `Trees of Hope’ campaign in observance of the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.

`ATP is inviting Armenians all over the world to join us as we remember the
past and embrace the future by planting Trees of Hope all across the
Armenian Homeland,’ stated ATP Executive Director Jeff Masarjian. `These
memorial trees are not only an inspiring way to honor our lost ancestors but
also a very practical way to preserve the precious Armenian
Homeland–restoring its environmental integrity and scenic beauty.’

ATP’s inaugural planting for the 2005 season will begin with 90,000 trees,
symbolizing the 90 years that have passed since the first genocide in modern
history. `Our goal is to grow many thousands of Trees of Hope to maturity in
time for the milestone 100th anniversary commemoration,’ added Mr.
Masarjian. `With a thriving Armenian landscape in 2015, it will be evident
that the Armenian Spirit is alive and well with all the life, beauty, and
hope of Nature.’

Given the importance of breaking ground during this year’s planting season,
the Trees of Hope initiative is supported by a comprehensive campaign
designed to reach the widest audience possible. The community-based campaign
includes print advertising, direct mail, satellite television and local
radio, as well as promotion on the Web. It also extends to broadcast media
in Armenia to help raise awareness of ATP and generate enthusiasm among
local communities who will directly benefit from the Trees of Hope program,
both environmentally and economically.

Those who adopt Trees of Hope may participate with gifts in a range starting
from $15, which covers the propagating, planting, and caretaking of one
tree. In addition to a single commemorative tree, they can adopt a four-tree
cluster, an eight-tree grove, a 35-tree arbor, or pledge a 100-tree woodland
or 335-tree forest. Participants also can opt to receive a personalized
Trees of Hope certificate as a keepsake.

`The Trees of Hope campaign gives every Armenian an opportunity to make a
gesture of remembrance that is also a pledge to Armenia’s future,’ noted ATP
Advisory Board Member Nancy Kricorian. `Traditionally an Armenian’s sense of
identity is rooted in a place–a village, a town, a community–and through
the deep roots these trees will put down in Armenian soil, we are making a
commitment to our ancestors and to the generations who will follow.’

ATP Founder Carolyn Mugar pointed out that `By planting these memorial trees
in Armenia, we are helping to put hope and pride on the Armenian horizon for
both its struggling citizens and its worldwide diaspora. Through this and
other tree-planting initiatives, we also hope that our efforts may serve as
an inspiration for other developing nations or recent survivors of genocide
now in the process of healing and rebuilding.’

`It is our vision that one day the images of uprooted Armenian victims on a
death march through the Syrian desert will be replaced by images of an
Armenian Homeland flourishing with bounty and firmly rooted in opportunity.
Not because we have forgotten the past, but because we now are able to
redeem it. We urge Armenians everywhere to take a few moments of their time
to share in this positive expression of remembrance,’ emphasized Ms. Mugar.

Participation in the Trees of Hope campaign, under the leadership of ATP, is
easy. Donations can be made by mail, phone, or online. For additional
information, call (617) 926-8733 or go to

Russian paper analyses Putin’s meeting with separatist leaders

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow
7 Apr 05

The clandestine meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and
the leaders of the two unrecognized republic’s of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia last week was an unprecedented event and will have
interesting consequences for relations with Georgia, the Russian
newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. According to an Abkhaz official,
the leaders discussed the peaceful settlement of the conflicts between
the two separatist republics and Georgia, of which they are legally
part. Tbilisi said news of the meeting came as no great surprise and
was symptomatic of Moscow’s ambivalent attitude towards its southern
neighbour. The following is the text of the report by the Russian
newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta on 7 April. Subheadings have been added
editorially:

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin received the president of
Abkhazia, Sergey Bagapsh, and president of South Ossetia, Eduard
Kokoiti, at his Bocharov Ruchey residence in Sochi last Tuesday [5
April]. It was an entirely closed, effectively secret meeting: Its
participants declined to confirm or deny the very fact of the
tripartite talks.

Hushed-up talks

As Nezavisimaya Gazeta managed to ascertain, the meeting with the
unrecognized republics’ leaders was held in the second half of the day
virtually immediately after the completion of the Russian president’s
conversation with [EU High Representative for Common Foreign and
Security Policy] Javier Solana. However, there were no official
reports on the issue: Even employees of the leading news agencies were
asked to leave the residence. The duration of the meeting, let alone
the agenda of the talks, remained a mystery. No mention of the evening
event could be seen on the Kremlin’s official website the following
day. Nor did we manage to obtain any comments on the issue from the
presidential press service.

The presidents of the unrecognized republics themselves avoided making
any comments. The telephones of Bagapsh and Kokoiti suddenly “went out
of service” and remained out of service for a long time. Having said
that, some details of the Sochi meeting did surface yesterday,
although, as the Abkhaz president’s press secretary Kristian Bzhania
told Nezavisimaya Gazeta on the phone, “the very fact of Vladimir
Putin’s talks with Sergey Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoiti, indeed, was not
initially published”.

“It had been agreed that it would be an entirely closed meeting – no
comments and no coverage. Unfortunately, the information was somehow
leaked. Basically, we have to justify our actions now; we had to
disseminate a short official commentary on Wednesday [6 April],”
Bagapsh’s press secretary told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. According to him,
the meeting with Putin “was not planned in advance”. Negotiations
between the Abkhaz and South Ossetian presidents took place in Sochi
on Tuesday [5 April]. Bagapsh and Kokoiti were unexpectedly invited to
Bocharov Ruchey in the second half of the day,” Kristian Bzhania
said. He also read out the text of the official commentary released by
the Abkhaz president’s press service, according to which “prospects
for the peaceful settlement of the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-South
Ossetian conflicts and issues of socioeconomic support for Russian
Federation citizens residing in Abkhazia were discussed during the
meeting”. The commentary also stated that “republic of Abkhazia leader
Sergey Bagapsh highly values the results of the meeting”. Bagapsh’s
spokesman attributed the brevity of the commentary to the fact that
Abkhazia “does not want to expose the Russian side” and hinted that “a
relevant request” had been received from Russia.

As regards South Ossetia, it did not comment in any way on the Sochi
meeting and has not even confirmed that the meeting took place.

Unprecedented event

It was an unprecedented event in Moscow’s relations with the
unrecognized republics. Admittedly, Putin met absolutely publicly with
the then Abkhaz president, Raul Khadzhimba, in Sochi last autumn. Back
then, however, everything happened sort-of spontaneously: Abkhaz World
War II veterans invited the Russian president to their meeting, and
Khadzhimba happened to be there “by chance”.

There were no “chances” this time around. Statements that Putin’s
meeting with the leaders of the unrecognized republics, which legally
are part of Georgia, was “unplanned” do not fully correspond to
reality. It was prepared in advance. Abkhazia’s foreign minister,
Sergey Shamba, made a chance remark to this effect in his interview
with Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Speaking about a hypothetical meeting
between incumbent Abkhaz leader Sergey Bagapsh and Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili, Shamba stated: “This kind of meeting, in addition
attended by South Ossetia’s president, Eduard Kokoiti, could have been
held in Sochi the other day, mediated by Russian Federation President
Vladimir Putin. Unfortunately, Tbilisi did not express any interest
in this opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Tbilisi showed heightened interest in the 5 April
negotiations between the Russian president and the leaders of Abkhaz
and South Ossetian separatists in Tbilisi. As Nezavisimaya Gazeta was
told at the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “the country’s
foreign policy department will present Moscow with an extremely sharp
protest note as early as Wednesday night [6 April].” Georgian
Minister of State for Conflict Settlement Giorgi Khaindrava also
expressed official Tbilisi’s standpoint on the meeting before his
departure to Geneva to attend a Georgian-Abkhaz meeting under the
auspices of the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary-General for
Georgia. “The very fact of the Russian president’s meeting with the
separatist leaders is nothing sensational for us,” he stated. “We have
repeatedly seen that Russia, on the one hand, sort of supports
Georgia’s territorial integrity and even pledges its friendship to
Georgia, but, on the other hand, supports separatist movements in
every possible way. The only new thing is that this is now done at
the highest, presidential level.”

Interesting consequences

All the indications are that the Sochi meeting will have interesting
consequences. Having said that, these consequences can already be
seen: On Tuesday evening, the Georgian authorities banned the flight
of a Russian A-50 radar surveillance military plane through the
country’s airspace. The plane was heading for Armenia to take part in
a major exercise held by the Russian air force. The Russian military
interpreted Tbilisi’s actions as unfriendly. However, President
Saakashvili immediately stated harshly that he “does not quite
understand” the Russian side’s complaints. “Georgia is a country of
the law. Everything is regulated within legal boundaries and,
naturally, we cannot allow foreign aircraft to fly over our country
whenever they want,” he said when commenting on the incident over the
Russian military plane. He then linked it to the problem of Russian
military bases in Georgia. According to Saakashvili, these kinds of
situations will recur in Russian-Georgian relations until a specific
decision to withdraw the bases has been made. “Negotiations are
currently under way between Georgia and Russia on the dates and terms
for the withdrawal of the Russian military bases still stationed on
Georgian territory. The Russian military have stayed in Georgia for
around 200 years without any legal grounds. It is probably more than
enough. It is now time to move on to a more civilized form of
relations. We are discussing with Russia how to achieve a civilized
solution to the military bases problem. We suggested its
stage-by-stage withdrawal and offered it various transit rights, but
everything has to be done in a package. The first round of
negotiations took place on 3 April; the second round will take place
from 7 to 8 April, and I hope that we will soon get some clarity on
the issue.” The Georgian leader implied that the exact dates for the
liquidation of the Batumi and Akhalkalaki bases would soon be
announced. Nobody in Tbilisi doubts that the bases will be withdrawn.