baku Today

Eurasia

Secessionist leaders in former Soviet regions to strengthen ties

AFP 19/03/2005 00:49

MOSCOW, March 18 (AFP) – Four breakaway regions in former Soviet republics
plan to conclude a mutual support pact, one of their leaders said Friday.

“We intend to reach a mutual support agreement,” Sergei Bagapsh, leader of
Georgia’s rebellious Abkhazia region, was quoted as saying by the ITAR-TASS
news agency during a visit to Moscow.

Bagapsh said he would soon meet with his counterparts Eduard Kokoity of
South Ossetia (Georgia), Arkady Gukasyan of Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan),
and Igor Smirnov of Transdniestr (Moldova).

The Russian media has suggested the leaders of the four regions met secretly
here on Wednesday and would do so again in April in the Abkhazian town of
Sukhumi.

Moscow has been accused of encouraging the two Georgian secession movements,
and has supplied peacekeepers after they beat back troops from Tbilisi in
wars after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Russian troops intervened to stop fighting that broke out in Transdniestr in
1992, and have never left.

Fighting also broke out in Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave in
Azerbaijan, as the Soviet Union was collapsing. It has remained in Armenian
hands since a 1994 ceasefire.

Copyright 2005 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information
contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France
Presse.

AZG Armenian Daily #049
19/03/2005

Telecommunication

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF KH-TELECOM TO GUARANTEE HIGH-QUALITY CONNECTION

No Promise Concerning Fees

Karabakh-Telecom, mobile phone operator that won the contest last year, is
already importing its equipments to Armenia. Ralf Yeriqian, executive
director of the company, answers our questions concerning the future
activities of KH-Telecom.

– What’s the connection between Karabakh-Telecom and KH-Telecom? People
think it’s the same company. Do the companies belong to one owner?

– The owner of the company operating in Nagorno Karabakh is Pier Fetush but
he is only a shareholder of KH-Telecom. The other shareholders are also
Lebanese.

– Are there Armenians among them?

– No

– Are you only the executive director?

– Yes. I am not the owner.

– What will be the company’s investment program in Armenia?

– We have an investment program. I will not go into details but can say that
we are ready to satisfy all demands.

– How many subscribers will your company have the most?

– The whole territory of Armenia will go under the company’s coverage
despite the fact if there is our subscriber in a given area or if there is a
settlement at all.

– Do you see it possible that ArmenTel subscribers will trade it with
KH-Telecom as soon as it starts operating?

– Everything is possible in a competitive market. It’s possible that they
will turn to us but the opposite is also likely.

– Are you going to promise better conditions to the consumers?

– What we can promise is the best modern service. Let’s wait a little till
we set out and you will see the results. Hopefully we can fulfill our
promise.

– Can your future subscribers expect a high-quality connection and available
fees?

– I should say yes to the high-quality connection. But concerning the fees I
can give neither a positive nor a negative answer. I cannot say anything
definite before our contract with ArmenTel is signed and we know the terms
of our agreement. But we guarantee a high-quality connection. The equipments
we transported lately are not all. They will keep on arriving.

– Do you mean there will be no difficulty with getting through from the
first try or with losing connection amid conversation?

– There will be no such problem. We imported the newest equipment from
Alcatel.

– There is an opinion that the Armenia’s political elite has a hand in
Karabakh-Telecom and KH-Telecom.

– I told you they are two separate companies. I told you also who the owners
of Karabakh-Telecom and KH-Telecom are. They are Lebanese. No Armenian
politician has a share in the company.

– Let’s return to KH-Telecom’s talks with ArmenTel. What’s the Transport and
Telecommunications Ministry’s stance in this issue?

– The Ministry is a regulator in this issue. We have turned to the Ministry
and are sure that it takes necessary steps to come out of this situation.

– So, do you consider realistic minister’s statement that the second
operator will start its activities from May?

– I hope so, or perhaps it will set out sooner.

By Ara Martirosian

Azerbaijan News Service
March 18 2005

AZERBAIJAN SATISFIED WITH THE FINAL REPORT OF OSCE FACT-FINDING
MISSION
2005-03-18 20:00

About 16 000 Armenians have been settled in Azerbaijani territories
occupied by Armenia. This fact has officially been affirmed. The
final report of OSCE’s mission that held monitoring of illegal
settlement of Armenians in occupied Azerbaijani territories shows the
number of settled Armenians as follows: 8000-11000 men in
Lachin,1500-2000 in Kelbedjer,1000 in Agdam,1000 in Zengilan,1500 in
Qubadli,10 in Fizuli and 100 persons in Djabrail.But these figures
don’t reflect the reality. According to Araz Azimov, special
representative of the president of the Azerbaijan Republic, the
separatist regime in Daqliq Qarabaq tried to hinder the work of
monitoring group of OSCE making such excuses as the roads are in bad
condition and are mined. Besides the mission noticed closed, but
newly repaired houses. Araz Azimov, special representative of
Azerbaijani president on Daqliq Qarabaq issue, Armenian side removed
the residents beforehand. Though the separatist regime in Daqliq
Qarabaq more that once denied settlement program of Armenians in
occupied Azerbaijani lands in state level, some facts in the report
of the mission confirms that the settlement program is realized in
high level. It is noted in the report that changes in infrastructure
in residential areas are made not in individual but state level. The
letter of OSCE co-chairmen was sent to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan as well as copy of the report. In their letter, OSCE
co-chairmen called to stop Armenian settlement in occupied
Azerbaijani lands, expedite the talks, discuss the settlement problem
and prevent the changes to be made in demographic structure of the
region. Co-chairmen also called the sides to help the concerned
communities to come to contact to preserve cultural legacy, hly
places including cemeteries in the regions damaged as the result of
conflict. At the same time OSCE co-chairmen proposed donor
organizations to allocate money to move Armenians settled in occupied
Azerbaijani lands back to their homes. Official Baku’s further steps
to prevent settlement program will be based on this proposal of the
co-chairmen. According to Araz Azimov, illegal settlement of
Armenians in occupied Azerbaijani lands will be discussed in 59th and
60th sessions of OSCE General Assembly.

PanArmenian News
March 18 2005

OSCE MINSK GROUP FACT-FINDING MISSION PRESENTED ITS REPORT TO OSCE
PERMANENT COUNCIL

18.03.2005 03:58

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group Fact-Finding Mission has
officially presented its report on the settling the territories
adjacent to Nagorno Karabakh to the OSCE Permanent Council, IA Regnum
reports. On this occasion the Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a
statement, which says in part, `Armenia appreciates the diligent,
hard work of the Minsk Group co-chairs and the members of the
Mission. We believe that their detailed, first-hand, objective report
clearly describes the situation on the ground in the region. Armenia
is pleased that it was able to facilitate the mission. Armenia also
wishes to thank the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh for their
logistical and practical contributions to the success of the Mission.
Armenia believes that the most important accomplishment of the Fact
Finding Mission Report is that it has laid to rest Azerbaijan’s
charges.’ The Fact Finding Mission Report affirms the following: a.
`Overall settlement is quite limited.’ `There is no clear organized
resettlement, no non-voluntary resettlement, no recruitment.’ b. The
co-chairs say, `The mission did not determine that such settlement
has resulted from a deliberate policy by the government of Armenia.’
The Report says, `The Fact-Finding Mission has seen no evidence of
direct involvement by the authorities of Armenia in the territories.’
c. Those settlers who have found refuge in these territories are
primarily from regions of Azerbaijan: `The Fact-Finding Mission has
concluded that the overwhelming majority of settlers are displaced
persons from various parts of Azerbaijan, notably, from Shahumian and
Getashen – now under Azerbaijani control.’ In light of these
conclusions, we note that the total number of settlers is
insignificant given that there are over 400,000 Armenian refugees as
a result of the conflict. Without those living in Lachin, then the
total number of settlers is indeed negligible. The co-chairs have
noted that `Lachin has been treated as a separate case in previous
negotiations.’ This is because Lachin is Nagorno Karabakh’s
humanitarian and security corridor. Without it, Nagorno Karabakh
would remain an isolated enclave. It is because of Lachin’s political
and geographic reality and security dimension, that it is viewed
differently in the negotiation process. Furthermore, the co-chairs
state: `…most settlers interviewed by the Fact Finding Mission
expressed a desire to return to the areas from which they fled…’
However, their old homes, in areas which were formerly
Armenian-populated, are today under Azerbaijani control, and their
homes have been appropriated by Azerbaijanis. According to the United
Nations Economic and Social Council Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights `The Committee is concerned about the illegal
occupation by refugees and internally displaced persons of properties
belonging to Armenians and other ethnic minorities.’ Armenia, at the
request of the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh, has requested that
the OSCE Permanent Council mandate a fact-finding mission for a
similarly transparent assessment of those regions which were formerly
largely-Armenian populated, and are today under Azerbaijan’s control:
the Northern Martakert and Eastern Martuni regions of Nagorno
Karabakh, and Shahumian. This process of the Fact Finding Mission
began because Azerbaijan claimed there was intentional, massive,
coordinated settlement policy, which would harm the negotiation
process. Armenia agreed to facilitate a fact-finding mission and
Azerbaijan agreed in return not to take any action on its UN
resolution and suspend the initiative.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanArmenian News
March 18 2005

EVENTS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE 90-TH ANNIVERSARY TO BE HELD IN
KALININGRAD RUSSIAN TOWN

18.03.2005 05:04

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ April 23-24 on the initiative of the Armenian
regional national-cultural autonomy of the Kaliningrad Oblast,
Russia, events dedicated to the 90-th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide will be held in Kaliningrad, Nairi newspaper issued in
Kalingrad reports. An exhibition of Armenian painter Gagik Parsamian
will open in the Historical Art Museum April 23. On April 24 people
will lay wreaths to the Armenian Khach Kar and participate in a
commemoration evening to the Armenian Genocide victims.

ArmenPress
March 18 2005

RUSSIA REMAINS THE BIGGEST MARKET FOR ARMENIAN LITERATURE OUTSIDE
ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, ARMENPRESS: Vahan Khachatrian, the president of
the Armenian Association of Publishers, said to Armenpress that the
biggest demand for Armenian language literature is in Russia that has
the biggest Armenian community worldwide.
He was back from a book fair in Russia in which some 50 Armenian
publishing houses showcased their products. The majority of books
taken by Armenian publishers to Moscow were though in Russian.
Khachatrian said the Armenian Association has developed a two-year
cooperation program with Russian publishers. He added a delegation of
Russian publishers is likely to visit Yerevan in summer to sign a
range of agreements.

PanArmenian News
March 18 2005

TURKISH PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS GENOCIDE WITH ARMENIAN DIASPORA

18.03.2005 04:12

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Grand National Assembly of Turkey has decided
to put an end to speculations on the Genocide issue and invited
leaders of the Armenian Diaspora of Turkey to participate in the
discussions on the topic to be held April 5. Representatives of the
Armenian Diaspora Etienne Makhchupian and Grant Dink will also take
part in the debates.

PanArmenian News
March 18 2005

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS RECOMMEND EXPEDITING NEGOTIATIONS ON
POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

18.03.2005 04:04

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group on Nagorno
Karabakh conflict recommend expediting the negotiations on the
political settlement of the conflict, the joint statement issued this
Thursday in Vienna and addressed to the OSCE Permanent Council
regarding the outcomes of the fact-finding mission on settling the
territories bordering with Nagorno Karabakh, says, IA Regnum
reported. `The Co-Chairs call not to encourage any settlement of the
seized territories, expedite the negotiations on the political
settlement in order to consider the problem of the migrants and not
to allow changes in the demographic structure of the region’, the
statement runs. `To make the return of the forced migrants possible
the Co-Chairs call the appropriate international organizations to
assess material and financial needs in the region. In order to
preserve cultural heritage in the regions suffered from the conflict
the Co-Chairs earnestly call conflicting parties to work out
practical measures to consolidate trust with the corresponding
communities thus forming a basis for peaceful settlement’, the
mediators note. `Taking into account the consequences of the present
situation for the further settlement of the Karabakh conflict the
Co-Chairs reserve to themselves the possibility of further
examination in favor of the Minsk peaceful process including the
fulfillment of the above-mentioned recommendations’, the statement
says. The Co-Chairs also expressed gratitude to the governments of
Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as the Nagorno Karabakh leadership for
cooperation with the missionaries.

PanArmenian News
March 18 2005

NKR FOREIGN MINISTRY REFUTED REPORTS ON MEETING OF ABKHAZIAN,
KARABAKH, SOUTH OSSETIAN AND PREDINESTROVIAN PRESIDENTS

18.03.2005 07:18

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The NKR foreign ministry refuted the reports on the
formal meeting of the Presidents of Abkhazia, Nagorno Karabakh and
South Ossetia Sergey Bagapsh, Arkady Ghukasian and Eduard Koykota
allegedly held in Moscow, Arminfo agency reports. Karabakh Foreign
Minister Arman Melikian stated that the agenda of the NKR foreign
policy does not provide for any meeting of the Abkhazian, Karabakh,
South Ossetian and Pridnestrovian Presidents.

PanArmenian News
March 18 2005

GERMANY SHOULD PRESS TURKEY TO ACKNOWLEDGE PAST, RESOLUTION OF GERMAN
CONSERVATIVE PARTIES SAYS

18.03.2005 07:04

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Christian Democratic and Christian Socialist
parties of Germany protesting against Turkey’s EU membership have
launched a campaign to prevent this process, IA Regnum reports. The
parties have adopted a resolution on the occasion of the 90-th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which is to be submitted to the
parliament. The resolution notes that Germany being an ally to the
Ottoman Empire during the First World War was aware of the outraging
plans for elimination and exiles of Armenians. The document stresses
that `Turkey as the successor of the Ottoman Empire keep on denying
the reality. Such position conflicts with the EU principles on
reconciliation and forgiveness.’ `Germany should press Turkey to
acknowledge the past and establish normal relations with Armenia’,
the resolution runs.