Armenian party intends to pass bill condemning “genocide” in Azerbaijan

Arminfo
1 Mar 05

YEREVAN

The faction of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun
[ARFD] intends to put up for debate by the National Assembly a draft
law condemning the genocide of Armenians in the Azerbaijani town of
Sumqayit in 1988, the head of the ARFD faction, Levon Lazarian, told
the National Assembly today.

The adoption of such a law is topical against the backdrop of
Azerbaijan’s intensifying propaganda, which is trying to divert the
international community’s attention from the Armenian genocide in
Ottoman Turkey in the early 20th century and in Azerbaijan in the late
20th century to “the alleged genocide of Azerbaijanis in Xocali”, he
said. This policy of Azerbaijan is mainly dictated by Turkey,
Lazarian noted.

The adoption of this law will familiarize the international community
with the real essence of the developments in 1988-90, he stressed.

Lazarian recalled that the massacre of Armenians, which started in
Sumqayit, continued in Shaumyan [Azerbaijan’s Goranboy District] and
Getashen [Caykand in Azerbaijan’s Xanlar District]. It is precisely
Azerbaijan’s policy with regard to the Armenians living there that
prompted the population of Nagornyy Karabakh to stand up for their
motherland and start a national liberation st ruggle.

In turn, a representative of the Republican Party, Gagik Melikyan,
called on the international community to denounce the Armenian
genocide in Ottoman Turkey and in the Azerbaijani town of Sumqayit in
order to prevent similar crimes against humanity in the future. The
fact that the organizers of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey in
the early 20th century were not punished served as a prerequisite for
committing similar crimes against other nations in the 20th century,
the Armenian genocide in Sumqayit and the murder of a sleeping
Armenian officer by an Azerbaijani serviceman in Budapest.

The deputy chairman of the Orinats Yerkir [Law-Governed Country] Party
and head of the commission on defence, national security and interior
issues, Mger Shakhgeldyan, and a member of the opposition Justice
bloc, Grant Khachatryan, made statements condemning the Armenian
genocide in Sumqayit.

Armenian MPs staged a march to the Tsitsernakabert memorial to the
victims of the Armenian genocide on the anniversary of the Sumqayit
massacre.

OSCE reps in Armenia to discuss election law

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
3 Mar 05

Representatives of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights have arrived in Armenia on a two-day visit. They met
National Assembly Chairman Artur Bagdasaryan today.

The goal of the visit is to discuss the progress of reforms in
Armenia’s Electoral Code conducted on the basis of mutual
recommendations and presented by this structure and to draw the
attention of the Armenian authorities and experts to Armenia’s
Electoral Code and practical work carried out to meet Council of
Europe standards and Armenia’s commitment to the OSCE to ensure the
conduct of democratic elections.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU GOING TO NORMALIZE ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

A1+
03-03-2005

It is not clear yet when the European Commission will establish an
embassy in the Republic of Armenia, European Commission Delegation in
Georgia and Armenia Charge d’Affaires Mr. Jacques Vantom stated during
today’s press conference held in the EU Yerevan Office.

`The approach of the Eurocommission is as follows: an Ambassador, who
will assume the office in the states of the region, will be
appointed’, Mr.Vantom said and added that `in future European
Commission will possibly establish an embassy in Armenia’.

When commenting on the role of the EU in the Armenian-Turkish
relations Mr. Vantom said that the normalizing of the
Turkish-Armenian relations is marked in the EU reports as an
obligation.

He also noted that the EU-Turkey relations should be perceived in a
wide context and assured that `it could be useful for Armenia’.

When answering the question how Azerbaijan and Armenia could
simultaneously become members of EU New Neighborhood policy with the
hostilities available between the nations Mr. Vantom said that `the EU
proposed assistance to the OSCE Minsk Group on this issue’.

As for the EU’s intentions to stop the work of the Armenian NPP
Mr.Vantom reiterated that the EU is ready to allocate 100 million
euros for suspension of the NPP functioning and finding alternative
energy sources.

MONUMENT TO ADMIRAL ISAKOV TO BE ERECTED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 2. ARMINFO. Secretary of the National Security Council
at Armenia’s President, Defence Minister Serje Sargsyan met today with
the Chairman of CIS Executive Committee, Executive Secretary Vladimir
Rushaylo.

Minister’s press-secretary, colonel Seyran Shakhsuvaryan informed
ARMINFO that a number of issues concerning the cooperation of CIS
countries and their Defence Ministries, as well as the joint Air-Raid
system were discussed during the meeting. The parties also discussed a
program of actions within the framework of celebrating the 60th
anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic war. Sargsyan presented
in details the festive program and stressed that a monument to admiral
Isakov will be opened on Isakov avenue on May 9. Monuments to marshals
Babadjanyan and Khudyakov will be erected within the nearest three
years, too.

LEADER OF TURKISH OPPOSITION: “THE EU IS TRYING TO MAKE ‘GENOCIDE’
RECOGNITION A PRECONDITION FOR OUR ACCESSION TALKS”

YEREVAN, MARCH 2. ARMINFO. Addressing his party’s parliamentary group
meeting yesterday, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal evaluated recent domestic and foreign developments.

Touching on the so-called Armenian genocide issue, Baykal said that
the European Union was trying to make recognizing the “genocide” a
precondition for Turkey’s EU membership, “The EU is trying to make it
a condition for Ankara to recognize the ‘genocide’ before we can begin
our accession talks,” he said. Baykal criticized what he called the
government’s inaction on the issue. “We’ll soon bring up the issue in
Parliament,” he stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ON MARCH 3 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS OF GEORGIA TO HOLD
ACTION OF RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND GEORGIAN CHURCHES

TBILISI, FEBRUARY 2. ARMINFO. National Council of youth organizations
of Georgia and Unity of Georgian Armenians “Nor Serund” (New
Generation) will hold a joint peaceful action on March 3 aimed at
peaceful settlement of the problem between Armenian and Georgian
churches in Georgia. Organizers of the action informed ARMINFO.

POSITION OF US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA JOHN EVANS IN ISSUE OF KARABAKH
AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY BASED ON PRINCIPLES OF
JUSTICE: ARMENIAN MP

YEREVAN, MARCH 2. ARMINFO. “I welcome the position of US Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans in the issue of Karabakh and the Armenian Genocide
in Ottoman Turkey as it is based on the principles of justice.” Head
of the Parliamentary fraction of ARF Dashnaktsutyun party, ex-deputy
foreign minister of Armenia, Levon Lazarian informs of it ARMINFO.

In his words, on the one hand, the atmosphere of the meeting wherein
the Ambassador expressed his position contributed to any person to
expressing his personal point of view. On the other hand, it is
necessary to take into account another fact as well, that is, John
Evans made his statement taking into account his post, Lazarian
says. “In this aspect, any one his personal opinions remains the
statement by US Ambassador to Armenia and is a serious and important
statement in spite of the fact that the US Department of State made
its official position different from that of John Evans,” he says. In
this connection, he points out that a tendency towards “correction” of
statements of US officials on Karabakh by the Department of State has
been observed recently (the statement by the former Assistance of US
Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones is meant – ed.). Lazarian thinks
that on the one hand it can testify to the level of independence of
official representative of Washington in their statements, on the
other hand, it contains definite tendencies taking into account that
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in ottoman Turkey will
be marked in April, including at US Congress.

It should be noted that speaking at California University Berkeley
recently, US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans stated that despite the
USA’s adherence to the policy of territorial integrity of states,
everyone admitted that it was impossible to return Karabakh to
Azerbaijan. He also characterized the events in Ottoman Turkey at the
beginning of the last century as Genocide of Armenians. He stated that
despite the officials of the White House avoided the term “genocide,”
none of the officials of the USA had ever denied this fact.

Ukrainian interior minister cancels visit to Belarus

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
3 Mar 05

Minsk, 3 March: The signature of a Belarusian-Ukrainian statement on
improving cooperation in combating crime that was scheduled for today
has been postponed. An ITAR-TASS correspondent learnt this at the
Belarusian Interior Ministry’s press service.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko has not arrived in Minsk
with a delegation of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. “We have not
found out the reason for the visit’s cancellation so far,” the press
service said, adding that on the evening of the previous day there was
full confidence that Yuriy Lutsenko would lead the delegation of
Ukrainian law-enforcement officers. The two countries’ interior
ministers were expected to have a meeting and sign the joint
statement.

The delegation of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry was invited to Minsk
for participation in the festivities dedicated to the 88th anniversary
of the Belarusian police. Invitations to attend the festivities had
been sent to the leadership of the interior ministries of Latvia,
Lithuania, Russia, and police chiefs of Armenia and Poland.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE THROUGH DIRECT TALKS ONLY

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
03 March 05

The press conference of the NKR foreign minister Arman Melikian in
Yerevan evoked lively reaction in Armenian press. Several foreign mass
media and news agencies also responded to the press conference. Here
are certain details of the press conference. `Reuter’ The NKR National
Assembly informed that they are going to make a statement on
recognition of independence of NKR. Do you think it is real or not?
What concessions is NK willing to make? `First of all, the NKR NA
addressed the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the parliaments of
other countries of the world appealing to them to recognize the
independence of NKR. As to the possible compromises on the part of
Karabakh, these can be made only through negotiations. Today we do not
negotiate directly with the Republic of Azerbaijan and it is early to
speak about any compromises.’ Newspaper ` Azg’ In your opinion is
Karabakh party in the talks and if yes, howis the participation of
Karabakh expressed? During your press conference in Stepanakert you
said that the Karabakh party was actually left out of the talks. Was
itby the fault of the Republic of Armenia? `I see no need to look for
the guilty. There is a certain situation. At on time the present
format of talks used to contain certain logic. I cannot tell either
that NKR was left out of the talks. We are informed on how the talks
are carried out between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And during the press
conference in Stepanakert I said that the settlement of the problem
can be achieved only by direct talks between NKR and Azerbaijan and I
can confirm this once again.’ `De Facto’ Whatpositive points do you
see in the PACE resolution on Nagorni Karabakh? `This interesting
question is raised often. Of course, there are negative points for us
in the resolutionbut there is a new approach: the Azerbaijani
authorities are called upon to start a direct dialogue with the NKR
authorities. In certain sense this testifiesto the rightness of the
viewpoint that bilateral negotiations between Azerbaijan and NKR may,
in fact, be effective.’ `Mediamax’ Yousaid you are informed on the
negotiations going on between Armenia and Azerbaijan. To what extent
is the Karabakh party satisfied with the content of the `Prague
process’, to what extent is it acceptable for NK? `On the whole, today
technical problems are concerned. I repeat that the settlement of the
issue is, in our opinion, inthe direct negotiations between Azerbaijan
and NKR. It is NKR that can assume responsibility for both the
problems of territories and refugees, and theseare the primary
problems that interest Azerbaijan.’ `BBC Azerbaijani’ A dangerous
tendency for the Armenian party is arising: the world is gradually
forgetting about the cause of the conflict and speaking about its
consequences. What steps are taken in this direction? Azerbaijan is
carrying on a powerful campaign propagating the consequences. We
announce that we are going to do excavations in the vicinity of
Shushi, and Azerbaijan is going to lodge complaint with different
international organizations. `I do not know anything about the
excavations. As to the problem of causes and consequences of the
conflict, we have our approach to this question. We start from the
fact that there was Soviet Azerbaijan which was divided into two
states after the collapse of the Soviet Union; one of these was
NKR. Then the war began, which was also the consequence of
Azerbaijan’s not recognizing the independence of NKR, that is to say,
we have the cause of the war. Then Azerbaijan lost the war, and we, as
the result of the war, have today’s picture. We may make a clear
distinction; theprimary problem is that of the status which was not
recognized by Azerbaijan at thetime and resulted in the war, and we
have the problem of consequences of the war which is a real topic for
negotiations to be discussed by the parties for achieving a mutual
understanding.’ `H1′ What obstructs direct negotiations between NK and
Azerbaijan? Why definitely was this press conference organized? `NKR –
Azerbaijan negotiations will begin when Azerbaijan wishes to
participate in them and realizes their necessity. So far Azerbaijan
has been trying to accuse Armenia of aggression. Those people who took
part in or witnessed the military actions are well aware of what heavy
burden is laid over the shoulders of the people of NKR. As to the
problem of today’s press conference, it isjust the first acquaintance
with you the journalists. `Francepress’ What definite steps are made
in the direction of international recognition of NKR? `Thefirst step
was made inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry works
onthe legislation on foreign policy. We have already drafted several
bills, such as the bills on NKR international contracts, diplomatic
and consular services,as well as we are going to join several
international conventions, which are also directed at the solution of
the conflict. The bill on NKR citizenship was drafted and soon will be
offered for discussion, which we consider important for several
reasons. From the ideological point of view we emphasize the article
which refers to all the Armenians of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We
think that in certain sense and directly NKR is responsible for all
the Armenians who became refugees. The law provides for the right of
these Armenians to become citizens of NKR. As a recognized or not
recognized country NKR has all the legal and moral bases for defending
the rights of these people when solving their problems with
Azerbaijan. The bill is ready, details of technical characterare
discussed presently. In the upcoming month the bill will be offered
for discussion’ `Noyan Tapan’ Recently minister V. Oskanian said that
NK and not Armenia is to make a request for sending a fact-finding
group to the regions of Getashen and Shahumian, because Armenia has no
relation to this. Is NKR going to make such a step, and won’t this be
the first step in involvement of NK in the negotiations? `I consider
the mentioned problem in a larger context, which does not exclude the
possibility of such a step. Now we are only discussing this
step. After coming to a decision we shall decide on whether to act in
this or in a larger context. Thus, the adoption of the problem of NKR
citizenship in this case is a larger context than the question of
Getashen and Shahumian, which includes your question as well.’ `Noyan
Tapan’ You spoke about the prospects of NKR to join international
conventions. In what way can NK join those conventions? Which
conventions are concerned? `The fact of not being recognized does not
prevent us from joining international conventions. A convention isan
international law, and if we make that law an internal one, it means
we have already joined the law. We shall also inform the international
community onthis. Whether accepted or not is not our problem in this
sense. Two of the conventions, the Vienna conventions on diplomatic
and consular relationships, will be offered to the National Assembly
for discussion next week.’ `Arminfo’ How would you comment on the news
about forming a coalition of not recognized countries? `I cannot
comment on it because we do not have such a point on the agenda.’
`Liberty’ What developments may take place in the process of
regulation of the NK conflict? `Let us start with the report of David
Atkinson, what consequences it may give rise to. Indeed, it has both
positive and negativepoints. I emphasized one: I tend to think that
the international community is coming to the idea that bilateral
negotiations may prove effective. It is a problem that cannot be
settled in a single day. In our turn we must show that we are willing
to participate in the talks, we are able to express opinions on the
problems discussed, which may be powerful enough to maintain
peace. This isalso a process, and we must view everything in the
framework of the process.’ A1+ In your opinion, how will the upcoming
elections in NKR pass? Will they be as democratic as or even more
democratic than the elections in Armenia in 2003? `We want the
elections to be democratic. We shall do our best for them to be
transparent and fair. As fair as we want them to be. You know that
recently elections to the local authorities took place in NKR, and
both the government and the opposition were satisfied with their
transparency and results. This is a vivid fact. We shall try to
conduct the next elections on a higher level.

AA.
03-03-2005

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY IS NO MORE AZERBAIJAN’S `HOSTAGE’?

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
03 March 05

The society in Karabakh holds the opinion that Azerbaijan and Turkey
cannot have controversies in foreign policy. This opinion formed due
to Ankara’s support of Baku’s standpoint in the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. However, it would not be correct to argue that
everything is smooth in the Turkish-Azerbaijani relationships, as well
as in reference to our conflict with Azerbaijan. Still Abulfaz
Elchibey was disappointed with Turkey’s policy on Armenia and Nagorni
Karabakh, who relied on the military assistance of Ankara in the war
provoked by him in 1992. However, Elchibey’s hopes did not come
true. Moreover, to Baku’s surprise, although defending Azerbaijan in
the question of Karabakh, Ankara let the Baku authorities know that
they were interested in establishing normal relationships with
Armenia. Thus, in the same year of 1992 the foreign minister of Turkey
then Hikmet Chetin announced that Ankara was willing to set up
diplomatic relationships with Yerevan at the condition that the latter
showed `good will’ towards Azerbaijan. This `good will’ was, in
Turkey’s opinion, withdrawal of Karabakh forces backed by Armenia from
Shushi and Lachin yet holding control over the rest of the territory
of Nagorni Karabakh. The administration of the former president of
Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian could not take such a step. Instead, in
order to show that Yerevan was willing to setup diplomatic
relationships with Ankara Levon Ter-Petrossian stood up against the
claim of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation on the necessity of
recognition of the Republic of Nagorni Karabakh by Armenia. In answer
to this Turkey agreed to supply 100 thousand tons of grain to Armenia,
as well as secretly signed an agreement with Armenia on supply of
electricity. However, this agreement was not brought to being. The
reason was the reaction of Baku which, nevertheless, learned about the
secret Turkish-Armenian agreement called`protocol on electric
energy’. The Azerbaijani foreign minister then Tofik Kasumov evaluated
the Turkish-Armenian agreement as a stab in the back. In addition to
this, the Turkish opposition heavily criticized the policy of official
Ankara. Asa result in November 1992 Turkish authorities had to annul
the `protocol on electric energy’. There is another interesting
fact. At the beginning of April 1993 when the Karabakh forces set foot
on the region of Kelbajar, the Azerbaijani president Abulfaz Elchibey
turned to Ankara with the request of evacuating the civilians of the
region by Turkish helicopters. However, the prime ministerof Turkey
Suleiman Demirel refused to help Azerbaijan fearing direct involvement
of his country in the conflict, as well as confrontation with
Moscow. The only thing Ankara could do at that time was to forbid
shipment of humanitarian aid through the airspace of Turkey. In the
following years too, there were controversies in the
Turkish-Azerbaijani relationships. This kind of behaviour on the part
of Turkey is described first of all by the fact that regulation ofthe
Turkish-Armenian relationships would play a significant role in more
effective penetration of Turkey into Azerbaijan, and later the newly
independent countries of Central Asia. Besides, later the West
appealed to Turkey to normalize relationships with Armenia as a
condition for Turkey’s membership to the European Union. After the
election of Ahmet Nejet Sezer president of Turkeythe
Turkish-Azerbaijani relationships took a real test. The actions of the
new head of the Turkish state showed that he aimed to take his country
out of the situation of Azerbaijan’s `political hostage’, in which it
appeared because of the Nagorni Karabakh conflict and the striving to
build the oil pipeline which would become the main export route of the
Caspian oil to the West through Azerbaijan. These two issues were
closely interwoven in the Turkish =80` Azerbaijani relationships,
because Heidar Aliev hoped that in answer to the choice of the route
Baku-Tbilisi-Geihan (Turkey) Ankara would lobby the ideas of
military-political and economic pressure on Armenia aiming to make
Yerevan surrender in the Karabakh issue, and second, would get
Turkey’s support in passing power in Azerbaijan to his son Ilham
Aliev. The former Turkish president Suleiman Demirel tended to conduct
just the same policy which greatly determined the friendly
relationships between the leaders of the two states. However, as it
was mentioned above, the Turkish policy of not accepting Armenia did
not correspond to the interests of the West, first of all
Washington. In this reference it is interesting to know the opinion of
one of the leading American experts on Turkey and Iran Graham Fuller
representing the `RAND Corporation’.In his article entitled `Grand
Geopolitics for New Turkey’ Mr. Fuller mentioned that in its Caucasian
policy Turkey should face Armenia. According to the author of the
article, today Armenia is Russia’s hostage because of its fear of
Turkish blockade and its dependence on Moscow in the questions of its
security. Therefore, the American political scientist advised Turkey
to improve its relationships with Europe, which would relieve
Armenia’s fears providing itself with an alternative way to Europe and
will offer new opportunities for the settlement of the Karabakh
issue. Ahmet Nejet Sezer and his government could not but take into
consideration the moods of the West. But how to explain Turkey’s
liberation from the pressure of alliance with Azerbaijan? The chance
arose after Heidar Aliev, according to Ankara, gave too weak a
reaction to the recognition of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey
by France in January 2001. `If Aliev can negotiate with its own enemy
Armenia through Turkey’s enemy France,why cannot Turkey do the same?’
asked famous Turkish publicist Fatih Altaili in the influential
Turkish newspaper `Hyuriet’. The relationships of the two countries
deteriorated after Ilham Aliev took the office in Azerbaijan. First
the Azerbaijani president was discontent with Turkey’s announcement
about their willingness to set up diplomatic relationships with
Armenia and opening joint check pointsat the Turkish-Armenian
border. In answer to this Ilham Aliev aroused the anger of Turkish
authorities endorsing the variant of settlement of the issue of Cyprus
which did not favour Ankara. Then, for the aim of repayment of the
accrued debts Turkey arrested Azerbaijani ships. At the same time
under the guise of struggle against tax avoidance biased checking of
the activity of a number of Turkish companies working in this country
was launched. After this historians got into a fight. Thus, doctor of
history Farid Alekperov announced in his article that the alliance
between Lenin and Ataturk put an end to the independent state of
Azerbaijan in 1918-1920. The former foreign political adviser Vafa
Guluzadeh also accused Turkey of betrayal in those years. The
Azerbaijani journalists also did not abstain from making
accusations. For example, Elmira Akhundova in her article `Dispelled
Illusions’ literally stated, `The senior brother Turk showed the
entire world that he places his personal interests above
everything. And he will never give up his interests, even if he owes
his junior blood brother after lasting separation=80¦ So it is high
time to realize that we have no `brothers’ abroad. There are
companions, mutually favourable interests, not more. And all the
judgements about a `unified nation’ are a mere romantic veil for their
striving to present the desirable instead of the real.’ And in one of
the May 2004 issues of the newspaper `Zerkalo’ ofBaku wrote the
following. `Once again it should be emphasized that an open
anti-Turkish campaign was launched in Azerbaijan,’ states the
newspaper, =80=9Cit should be predicted that sooner of later it will
provoke the negative attitude of the political circles of Turkey. If
the number of people involved in the Turkish authorities interested in
breaking relationships with Azerbaijan grows, it may turn into a
disaster for us.’ `There is an impression that the Turkish prime
minister R. Erdoghan and the president of Azerbaijan are not `on
brotherly terms’ at all, ‘ supposed famous Azerbaijani journalist Rauf
Mirkadirov. Although recently the Turkish – Azerbaijani relationships
seem to have ameliorated, it does not mean that all the obstructions
in these relationships have been eliminated, including in the foreign
political sphere. At least because after on Azerbaijan will again
demand from Turkey not to establish any relationships with Armenia,
which does not correspond to the interests of Turkey for the following
reasons: a) the vacuum in the Turkish – Armenian relationships hinders
Ankara’s plans of military-political and economic penetration into the
entire South Caucasus; b) the unequivocal endorsement of Baku’s
standpoint in the Karabakh issue does not allow Turkey (because of the
counteraction of Yerevan and Baku) to play one of the important roles
in the mediating mission for the settlementof the problem of Nagorni
Karabakh, which would strengthen the influence of Turkey in the
region; c) the absence of normal Turkish – Armenian relationships
inevitably results in the growing military cooperation between Armenia
and Russia, which is perceived by Turkey as a direct threat to its
security; d) internal confrontation between Ankara and Yerevan favours
the regional opponent of Turkey – Islamic Iran; e) the above mentioned
circumstances contradict to the regional interests of the strategic
ally of Ankara, Washington which seeks to oust Russia from the South
Caucasus and prevent Iranian influence there. Summing up, we may
suppose that the development of Turkish – Azerbaijani relationships
will go on according to the Turkish plan. Most probably this
circumstance will come forth after the opening of the pipeline Baku –
Tbilisi =80` Geihan this year. Probably later we shall witness
dissatisfaction of the Baku authorities with the Azerbaijani policies
of Turkey.

ALEXANDER GRIGORIAN.
03-03-2005