IF ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DOES NOT HOLD REFORMS “FROM ABOVE” TIMELY, THE
SCENARIO OF KYRGHYZIA IS NOT RULED OUT IN ARMENIA: LEADER OF NEW
TIMES PARTY

YEREVAN, MARCH 21. ARMINFO. To drive from power the incumbent
president of Kyrghyzia Askar Akayev, a relevant mechanism has already
been introduced and all the technologies are activated, Leader of new
Times party, political scientist Aram Karapetyan comments on the
situation in Kyrghyzia to ARMINFO.

He says that the recent description of the situation in Kyrghyzia
after two rounds of parliamentary elections as “quiet and calm” does
not correspond to reality as Jalal-Abad has rallied for already a
month, the regional administration “ran” to Bishkek long ago. One
should remember that all the post- Soviet events in Kyrghyzia
starting from the late 80s were especially bloody and the confronting
parties were especially irreconcilable, that is why, one should not
wave away what there happens at present. And the 4 policemen and 6
picketers killed yesterday are evidence of it. External forces
undoubtedly support the opposition, though there is also national
rise. A scenario of driving Akayev from power at the presidential
elections fixed for October is developed, “but in case of a strong
pressure, it is not ruled out that he will be made to leave already
now.” Russia is concerned over only maintenance of its authority and
it has already no time to support anyone, Karapetyan thinks.

He does not rule out repetition of Kyrghyz events in Armenia. If
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan does not hold reforms “from
above” timely, the scenario of Kyrghyzia is not ruled out in Armenia,
the talks of Robert Kocharyan “suits” everyone does not correspond to
reality. At the same time, it is necessary to avoid repetition of
Ukrainian and even more the Georgian scenarios where people far from
national interests have come to power. Revolution must be exclusively
from inside, without interference of external forces, Karapetyan
says.

DESPITE ABUNDANT SNOWFALL “ZVARTNOTS” AIRPORT WORKS IN NORMAL
CONDITIONS

YEREVAN, MARCH 21. ARMINFO. An abundant snowfall started Mar 20 in
Yerevan did not cause faulty in operation of “Zvartnots” international
airport, responsible for public affairs Gevork Abrahamyan told ARMINFO.

In his words, no delay is registered on arrival or departure of
airplanes. “Navigation equipment of the airport allows to fulfill
take-off and landing under 350 m visibility”, Amrahamyan noted. Two
flights of the “Perm airlines” to Kazan and Perm scheduled at 18:00
p.m. are postponed on 3.15 because of the air-carrier, and the flight
to Mineralniye Vodi (“Kavminvodiavia”) are postponed entirely. As
ARMINFO was informed in the press-service of the Armenian national
air-carrier “Armavia” company, 6 of 21 flights scheduled on Mar 21
morning has taken off with little delay.

Armenian deputy speaker says Karabakh’s status most important in talks

Arminfo, Yerevan
21 Mar 05

Yerevan, 21 March: The final version of the report by the special
representative of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly [OSCE PA], Goran
Lennmarker, on Nagornyy Karabakh will be submitted to the Armenian
and Azerbaijani MPs in Vienna by the July session of the OSCE PA in
Washington, the deputy speaker of the Armenian National Assembly and
the head of the Armenian delegation to the OSCE PA, Vaan Ovanesyan,
has told a news conference on the results of the meeting between
Armenian and Azerbaijani MPs in Brussels on 17-18 March.

He said that during the meeting, the deputies of the two countries
would familiarize themselves with the final version of the report and
put forward their suggestions. Vaan Ovanesyan said the Azerbaijani
MPs insisted on holding the meeting in London, but the suggestion
was rejected.

“Perhaps, our Azerbaijani colleagues were hoping that if the meeting
was held in London, it would be attended by the author of the PACE
[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe] resolution on
Nagornyy Karabakh, David Atkinson, because they are trying to include
some parts of his report in the document being prepared by Goran
Lennmarker,” the deputy speaker said.

He added that after Goran Lennmarker’s report on Nagornyy Karabakh, the
OSCE PA could adopt a resolution which, just as all the other documents
of international parliamentary organizations, will be of a consultative
nature. At the same time, the head of the Armenian delegation said
if the OSCE PA document is similar to the PACE resolution on Nagornyy
Karabakh, it may have bitter ramifications for the Armenian side.

“One negative document may remain without implications for us, but
not two,” he stressed.

The deputy speaker expressed his confidence that Goran Lennmarker’s
report would contain a provision saying that the issue of Nagornyy
Karabakh’s status is of priority importance in the Nagornyy Karabakh
settlement process, while all the other problems, including the issue
of territories controlled by the Armenian side, are derivatives.

What’s coming up

DetNews.com, MI
Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Detroit Armenian Women’s Club’s 75th anniversary benefit luncheon is
11:30 a.m. April 16 at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield
Hills. The event will feature antique gowns from the ’40s, ’50s and
’60s, entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets are $45. Information:
(248) 855-0605.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FORUM ON KARABAKH PROBLEM DECIDES TO DEVELOP ACTION PROGRAM

YEREVAN, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN. “The Karabakh problem is unduly
politicized, unsuccessful negotiations are continuing, making
it possible for Azerbaijan to falsify the history,” chairman of
the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sargsian said at the March 18
forum on the Karabakh problem. According to him, as a result of this,
Nagorno Karabakh is considered an “occupied territory”, the Armenians
of Karabakh living in their cradle are qualified as “secessionists”,
while the Armenian people and the Armenian statehood as “aggressors
and invaders”. The speaker noted that in recent years the essence of
the Karabakh problem has been distorted at international instances,
and at various discussions it is presented as just a territorial
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The forum , which was
organized by the steering committee “For Defence of NKR” and attended
by representatives of the public and a number of political forces,
adopted a resolution on behalf of the Armenian public. It is noted
in the resolution that certain high-ranking officials continue to
assert with a dangerous and unreasonable optimism that “nothing has
happened, there is no threat to Artsakh.” “The Armenian public does
not share such a dangerous position,” the document says. The forum
participants demand that a summary documemt (diplomatic note) on the
essence of the problem and the state position on it be presented on
the official level to the international community and the intermediary
states and organizations. The historical and legal bases, as well as
unquestionable arguments for the NKR formation in accordance with the
norms of international law and its independence from Azerbaijan should
be laid out in the document. The forum participants also considered
it necessary, for ensuring the participation of the whole Armenian
people in the solution of the Karabakh problem, to develop a concept
and implement an action program, for which purpose a center should
be set up to coordinate the program implementation. The RA National
Assembly is proposed it should recognize the NKR’s total independence
based on the legal and international norms.

Azerbaijan may consider attracting foreign forces for guarding of BTC

Today.Az

22 March 2005 [03:53] – Today.Az

“If for guard of oil BTC gigeline the necessity of attracting
international party arises, then we may consider this issue”.

Agency Trend reports, the Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev stated
to journalists in Beijing.

“Azerbaijan took obligations on undertaking measures for guarding of
oil pipeline at its territory. We shall accomplish this obligation
and no danger to oil pipeline have been represented hitherto on the
territory of Azerbaijan. I presume, there will no be any threat in
future”, – the state head told.

I.Aliyev thinks, in future BTC oil pipeline may attract some forces,
which keep hostile position towards Azerbaijan.

“You know, to what extent Armenia is alarmed with successful
construction of BTC pipeline, and it displays this concern at all
levels. Thus, we are to undertake definite measures”, – the President
said and underlined, Azerbaijan is able to solve special issues of
security at corresponding level.

Azerbaijan has no right to guarantee Karabakh’s security – Armenian minister

Arminfo
21 Mar 05

Yerevan, 21 March: Nagornyy Karabakh gained independence in line
with all the laws and constitutions that were valid in that period,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in an interview with
Armenian Public TV.

He said that apart from this, Nagornyy Karabakh declared its
independence on the territory which had never been part of Azerbaijan
because when the Azerbaijani state was founded for the first time in
1918, Nagornyy Karabakh was not an integral part of it.

Another important component, which is passed over in silence
for unknown reasons, is the violation of the people’s right to
self-determination in the context of human rights violations, because
when the people of Karabakh attempted to declare their independence,
Azerbaijan decided to resolve this problem by exterminating a
whole people. For this reason, today Azerbaijan does not have the
moral right to give any security guarantees to the Karabakh people.
Azerbaijan has already lost this right in the context of human rights,
the Armenian foreign minister said.

OSCE report to have positive influence on peace process – Armenian minister

Arminfo
21 Mar 05

Yerevan, 21 March: The OSCE factfinding mission’s report on the
liberated territories will have a positive influence on the peaceful
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan has said in an interview with Armenian Public TV.

He said that owing to the activities of the OSCE mission, Azerbaijan’s
arguments remained unconsidered. At the same time, it became obvious
that the problem of refugees is a mutual issue, however, Azerbaijan has
always stated that there is only the problem of Azerbaijani refugees.

Actually, the OSCE mission proved that despite the insignificant
number of people on these territories, most of them are Armenian
refugees from Azerbaijan.

All this allowed Armenia to demand a similar mission in the territories
they were ousted from – Shaumyan District, northern Mardakert and
eastern Martuni. This issue is becoming pressing and will militate
against Azerbaijan. However, this problem will not hinder the
negotiations, the Armenian foreign minister said.

Everything will depend on Azerbaijan’s further steps since it has
realized very well that there is the problem of Armenian refugees.
Azerbaijan tried to raise this problem with the UN, but failed and
then an OSCE mission was invited and here is the outcome. Everything
will depend on how Azerbaijan is trying to politically speculate
on all these issues. Armenia’s position on this matter is obvious,
if the issue goes to the UN, Azerbaijan will deal not with Armenia,
but with Nagornyy Karabakh, Oskanyan thinks.

[Passage omitted: Other details]

Defence minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] calls on Azerbaijan to end “provocation”

Arminfo, Yerevan
21 Mar 05

Stepanakert , 21 March: The defence minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic [NKR], Seyran Oganyan, has called on Azerbaijan to stop
provocations.

“We support a peaceable solution to the Karabakh conflict and call
on the Azerbaijani leadership to take appropriate actions to reduce
tension on the front line. Neither we nor the Azerbaijani people need
all this,” Oganyan told journalists in Stepanakert , commenting on
the current situation on the contact line between the armed forces
of Nagornyy Karabakh and Azerbaijan.

The minister said that the Azerbaijani side is creating tension on the
contact line in order to bring its positions closer [to the contact
line]. However, the Karabakh defence army is taking necessary actions
to ensure security on the contact line, he noted.

“The defence capability of our formations and units is at an
appropriate level and we are ready to ensure the security of our
country and nation,” Oganyan said.

He also said that since 1994 Azerbaijan has been trying to mislead
the international community by its anti-Armenian statements.

LEBANON ASKS ARMENIA TO SEND ARMENIAN MILITARY ENGINEERS TO THE COUNTRY

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 21, 2005, Monday

The Lebanese ambassador asked Serj Sargsyan, Armenian Defense Minister
and Secretary of the Security Council, to send Armenian military
engineers to Lebanon. The parties also discussed issues linked with
regional security and anti-terrorist effort.

Armenia has an international training center of military engineers
sponsored by the US. At present a group of Armenian military engineers
operate in Iraq as members of the coalition force.

Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, March 17, 2005, p. 3

Translated by Alexander Dubovoi