AMBASSADORS JOIN HEADS OF UN AGENCIES FOR A HELICOPTER TRIP TO
REFUGEE-POPULATED REMOTE AREAS OF ARMENIA

Azg/arm
26 Feb 05

Yesterday, a MI-28 helicopter took a senior-level delegation of
Ambassadors and heads of UN Agencies to Syunik marz, the most remote
province of Armenia, to visit refugees and project sites. Ambassadors
and senior officers from France, Untied States, United Kingdom, India,
Germany, Poland, Italy, OSCE, European Commission, USAID, Armenia
Social Investment Fund as well as the UN Resident Coordinator, and
Representatives of UNHCR and UNICEF accepted the invitation of the
Governor of Syunik and visited Meghri, Vardanidzor and Goris
communities.

Members of the diplomatic corps visited sites where the United Nations
have on-going programmes. The Governor and UN Agencies also discussed
future joint programmes including reconstruction of the school in
Vardanidzor, construction of a refugee hostel in Goris and expansion
of child-centred health and education initiatives. Local authorities
confirmed that they are fully committed to support all new initiatives
with both human and financial resources.

Ms. Lise Grande, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia, summarised the
trip: “Last year all of the UN Agencies working in Armenia developed
an unprecedented joint five-year plan. The UN is committed working
under the leadership of the Government to reduce economic, social and
political inequality in the country. By visiting refugee-populated
communities in Syunik marz and by showing how the whole UN family is
working together to find solutions, we hope to encourage other donor
missions to help with our efforts in impoverished and remote
communities. We are confident that the international community
represented in Armenia will support proposals aimed at alleviating
hardship of the people we visited today.”

The number of registered refugees in Syunik is 9,505, of which 77
percent reside in urban areas and 23 percent in rural
areas. Approximately 50 percent of refugees in the marz live in
Kapan. The most heavily refugee-populated communities are Aldara,
where 85.4 percent of the population are refugees, Khalaj where they
are 73.7 percent, Gomaran, where they are 73.5 percent and Yegheg,
Vorotan, Vardanidzor, Nyuvadi, Lehvaz, and Toruniq where they are more
than 40 percent. The unemployment rate in Syunik is 1.7 times higher
than the national average. Basic health indicators, such as incidences
of anaemia and stunting, are significantly higher in Syunik marz than
in other parts of the country. School attendance rates in refugee
communities are also notably lower than national averages.

ISSUE ON ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS MAY BE DISCUSSED AT REGULAR SITTING
OF TURKISH NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

ANKARA, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO. An issue on Armenian-Turkey relations
may be discussed at the regular sitting of the National Security
Council of Turkey.

According to the Turkish mass media, referring to some local
observers, Turkey should not be a hostage of Azerbaijan in relations
with Armenia, but is to be guided by its own interests. In their
opinion, when the border with Armenia is opened, Turkey may play far
bigger part in the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. -r-

PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE AND SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF IRAN’S PRESIDENT
DISCUSS PROJECT OF CONSTRUCTION OF GAS PIPE-LINE FROM IRAN TO EUROPE
THROUGH ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

KIEV, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO-RBC. President of the Ukraine Victor
Yushchenko and Special Representative of Iran’s President for issues
of Caspian Sea and CIS countries Mehdi Safari discussed in Kiev the
issues of construction of gas pipe-line from Iran to Europe through
the territory of the Ukraine. Safari informed journalists in Iran’s
Embassy in the Ukraine. According to Safari, already next week the
Ukrainian-Iranian subcommission for energy issues, headed by Deputy
Minister of Fuel and Energy, during its this sitting in Kiev will
discuss the feasibility study of the project of construction of this
gas pipe-line. As Safari mentioned, earlier th Ukraine “did not have
serious attitude to the project of construction of this gas
pipe-line”, and after the coming of Victor Yushchenko to power “the
negotiations on the construction of the gas pipe-line were
continued”. It is envisioned that the gas pipe-line will pass from
Iran through the territory of Armenia, Georgia, Russia and the
Ukraine.

At the same time Safari added that the first section of the gas
pipe-line to Armenia will be built by the end of 2006. At the
beginning of February Deputy Chairman of the Board of the ukrainian
company “Oil and gas of the Ukraine” Alexander Kisilyev informed that
the company is examining the issue of construction of the gas
pipe-line through which gas will be supplied from Iran to Armenia.To
remind, earlier Iran envisaged to provide only Armenia with gas.

OPTIMAL STATUS FOR NAGORNY KARABAKH IS INDEPENDENCE IN NEAR FUTURE AND
PART OF ARMENIA IN LONG-TERM PROSPECT

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26. ARMINFO. The optimal status for Nagorny Karabakh
is independence in the near future and part of Armenia in the
long-term prospect, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan says in his
interview to the readers of Golos Armenii.

As long as there is no practical solution to the Karabakh conflict the
talk about stalemate in the negotiating process is
inevitable. International experience says that such conflicts are not
settled quickly. They require painstaking and consistent work –
“that’s exactly what we are doing.” The talks are resumed now and “we
are hoping for some result.”

Kocharyan says that there is some incorrect understanding of Nagorny
Karabakh’s involvement in the negotiating process – this process is
much wider than just coordinating meetings of the Armenian and NKR
presidents. This is systematic visits by Minsk Group and their
meetings with NKR leaders. This is the most pithy part of the
talks. NKR is an active party to the whole process. Kocharyan notes
that during his meetings with Ilham Aliev he represents NKR’s
interests as well. “If course we will seek to get Nagorny Karabakh
involved in this format and I believe that we will do that,” says
Kocharyan noting that this requires healthy pragmatism in approaching
the negotiating technologies. Azerbaijan is too sensitive to
conditionalities. NKR’s more active involvement in the process will
certainly increase settlement chances, says Kocharyan.

ARMENOPHOBIA IS STATE POLICY IN AZERBAIJAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26. ARMINFO. Armenophobia has been made a state
policy in Azerbaijan, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan says in his
interview to the readers of Golos Armenii.

Azeri society’s reaction to the outrageous murder of an Armenian
officer by his Azeri counterpart in Budapest is result of this
policy. Moreover Armenians and Azeris are much different in their
world outlook and cultural traditions. There could never be anything
like Sumqayit in Armenia. This is our force rather than weakness – so
one better stop comparing Armenia with Azerbaijan, says Kocharyan.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ECONOMIC POTENTIALS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN IS
ONE OF BAKU’S PROPAGANDA ARGUMENTS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26. ARMINFO. The difference between the economic
potentials of Armenia and Azerbaijan has been one of the propaganda
arguments of Baku since 1989, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan
says in an interview to the readers of Golos Armenii.

It was this conviction that pushed Azerbaijan to start war against
Nagorny Karabakh in 1992. It’s enough to see the Azeri press and to
listen to what their officials say to understand this. The result is
known. Today economic potential is not just how much oil one produces
but how effective his economy is. In this aspect Armenia is certainly
ahead of Azerbaijan, says Kocharyan.

TURKS “NOTICE GENOCIDE” IN OTHER COUNTRY PAYING NO ATTENTION TO
1.5 MLN KILLED IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO. At Feb 24 session of the Great National
Assembly of Turkey, hearings on Hocali events were held. The 525th newspaper
reports that in his speech an MP representing the Right Way Party from Igdir
Dursun Akdemir informed those present of “the genocide in Hocali with 7,000
residents.”

According to the source, the MP said that 1,500 people had been killed and
condemned the leading world Mass Media for silence in this connection. He
also presented photos confirming the “fact of the genocide.” “There are no
Azerbaijanis in Armenia at present. Meanwhile, thousands of Armenians live
in Azerbaijan. Infringing all the legal norms, Armenia has occupied the
Azerbaijani lands. The genocide committed by Armenians must be known by the
whole world. I assure you that Armenian will choke with the blood they
poured.” In his turn, an MP representing the Party Justice and Development
from Ankara Khaluk Ipek also characterized the “acts of Armenians in Hocali
as brutality.” “Armenians together with the Russian soldiers of the 366th
regiment attacked Hocali from three directions and became killing the
innocent people firing at them and then left in direction of Aghdam. This
brutality must receive a legal assessment. One should not forget that
Armenia ignoring the decisions of OSCE and UN still occupies 20 percent of
Azerbaijan’s territory.” For conclusion, the Turkish Parliament adopted a
“document condemning the genocide in Hocali.”

TURKISH AND AMERICAN DIPLOMATS DISCUSS PROBLEM OF NAGORNY KARABAKH IN
WASHINGTON TO DETERMINE COMMON INTERESTS

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO. Turkish and American diplomats discuss
the problem of Nagorny Karabakh in Washington. According to the 525th
newspaper, within the framework of a dialogue on strategic issues
between the two states, Turkey and the USA have arrived at an
agreement to establish a forum on Russia, South Caucasus and Central
Asia.

According to the agreement, Head of the Department for Russia,
Caucasus and Central Asia of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Halil
Akinchi met with one of the heads of the US Department of State for
Europe and Eurasia Laura Kennedy in Washington. The sides discussed
the situation in Georgia, Russia and in the South Caucasus, settlement
of Karabakh conflict, Turkish-Armenian ties, as well as energy
corridor. The discussions aimed determination of common interests of
the USA and Turkey, assistance in settlement of conflicts, energy
problems as well as cooperation in the sphere of political and
economic reforms. Turkish and American diplomats will continue their
discussion in Ankara after a time.

70TH JUBILEE OF WELL-KNOWN PUBLICIST AND PUBLIC WORKER ZORY BALAYAN
CEREMONIALLY MARKED IN NAGORNY KARABAKH REPUBLIC

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO. The 70th Jubilee of the well-known
publicist and public worker Zory Balayan was ceremonially marked in
Nagorny Karabakh Republic.

According to ARMINFO’s correspondent to Stepanakert, NKR President
Arkady Ghoukassyan and other officials and public representatives
attending the jubilee evening party. The congratulation message of
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was read out. In his speech, Zory
Balayan touched upon the problems of the world; globalization and its
possible influence on the region as well as the role of oil factor in
the process of Karabakh conflict’s settlement. Speaking of the
Karabakh National Liberation Movement, Balayan said: “God forbid! If
someone thinks that the sacrifices were in vain, if we doubt that we
have achieved our goal, there will be no forgiveness for us.”

ANCA URGES WHITE HOUSE TO PUT END OT TURKEY’S SHAMEFUL DENIAL OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25. ARMINFO. Armenian National Committee of America
has urged the Georgia Bush administration to be decisive in putting an
end to Turkey’s shameful policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide,
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikyan said in a meeting with US Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparyan says that being in the US at
present Evans is well informed of his country’s national policy on
Armenia and the region. He says that ANCA appreciates Evans’
statements on the Armenian Genocide and considers the fact that this
position reflects the new level of the White Houses’ and whole
American people’s understanding of the problem.