Greater Tulsa Reporter Newspapers, OK
Feb 23 2005

New Magazine Helps Russian-American Business Ties
By TATYANA NYBORG
Contributing Writer

The second issue of the new magazine, Russian-American Business, was
recently published in Norman. It is a unique magazine with a goal to
improve the business relationship between the United States and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), an independent union of the
former Soviet republics. The magazine is distributed in the United
States, Russia, the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The owners of the magazine, Olga and Valery Tarasova, have also
published the Russian-language newspaper, The Russian American, for
several years.

American businesses have a great opportunity to sell their products
to the CIS. Many advanced or simply good quality American products
are still not well known there, but could be sold successfully. For
example, `cowboy’ style leather jackets, boots and jeans, some brands
of cosmetics, fashionable jewelry, updated equipment for
manufacturing and even cake mixes are examples. The list can include
hundreds of such products.

`More mid-level and small businesses in the United States have begun
to develop interests of working with Russia,’ Olga says. `About 80
percent of the participants of a recent oil and gas trade show in
Oklahoma City told us that they were interested in partnerships with
CIS companies. The most important change affecting commercial
relationships between Russia and the United States is, of course, the
development of truly free markets in the former Soviet countries.’

Another great opportunity for American business owners is to buy
unique and original goods from CIS countries such as interior decor,
furniture, jewelry and souvenirs. Production and shipping of everyday
use items such as gloves, bed sets, towels, etc. can also be cheaper
than the same products from China or India because of the low cost of
labor in the CIS. Olga says, `The Russian American Newspaper was
frequently contacted by companies from Russia, who asked for help in
finding business partners in the United States. The companies that
contacted us were among the leaders in their respective fields in
Russia, the best Russian watch factory and a renowned jewelry
producer, to name a few. We realized that there existed a market
niche and began to publish the Russian-American Business magazine.’

Olga continues, `Now, there is a great interest for developing
business with the United States in the CIS countries. We know that
from our talks with the leaders of Russia’s State Congress and the
Federation Council, with regional governors, whom we interview for
the magazine. We know that also – and perhaps most importantly – from our
discussions with business owners and entrepreneurs who come to the
United States in search of commercial opportunities.’

Through the Russian-American Business magazine, different companies
found business partners. Olga adds, `not long ago, we received a
letter from the head of a large science research institute in
Armenia, Dr. Evrik Afrikian: After a publication in the
Russian-American Business, we received several offers from American
companies to start joint ventures. The Russian-American Business
helped find a distributor for the Russian clock factory, Chaika. The
same can be said about the unique Russian jewelry producer Severnaya
Chern.’

When asked what advantages Russia has over China and India, Olga
says, `According to the views of the experts, the trends of today’s
world economy are such that there are four
very-interesting-for-investment markets; India, China, Brazil, and
Russia. Russia is by no means at the end of the interest scale, I
must add. Last week I met with the owner of a large company in
Oklahoma City who told me that, of late, there has developed an
increased interest in investing into Russian energy companies. `My
clients, who have an extra $250,000 to $2 million, are at ease in
investing the money in Russian companies,’ he told me. The
reason – very high annual profits. One must also not forget Russia’s
cultural richness. People that start to do business with Russia
frequently fall in love with that country.’

The United States is the leading foreign investor in Russia’s
economy. Official data from 2003 give the total investment figure as
2.4 billon dollars. United States companies also invested
considerable amounts in the economies of Uzbekistan, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Byelorussia.

Some of the businessmen in the United States are troubled by the
political situation in Russia. They think that the sale of the Yukos
energy company, in addition to some other factors, show the lack of
stability in Russia. The response by Nikolay Sofinskiy, Consul
General of the Russian Federation in Houston, is `I can tell that the
economic and political climate in Russia today is unquestionably
better than it was 15 years ago. There are problems, but problems
exist everywhere. Sure, there is some risk, maybe a greater risk than
in other places, but there are also unique opportunities that do not
exist anywhere else in the world. `He, who does not run a few risks,
does not win.’

For more information call Olga Tarasova at 405-579-3411 or
405-701-3801.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 23 2005

CHAIR OF PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION MEETS WITH NEWLY APPOINTED
AMBASSADOR OF MOROCCO
[February 23, 2005, 21:11:11]

Chair of the Milli Majlis Standing Commission on International and
Interparliamentary Relations Samad Seyidov met with newly appointed
Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the Kingdom of
Morocco to Azerbaijan Abdullah Zagur, February 23.

Samad Seyidov informed the Ambassador about activities of the
Azerbaijani parliament, and the role legislative bodies play in
realization of democratic reforms in the country.

He also dwelt on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh, its causes and bitter consequences, noting the
importance of international cooperation for fair resolution of the
problem.

Ambassador Abdullah Zagur, for his part, noted the Kingdom of Morocco
stands for peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem on the
base of the principle of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

He added that his country welcomed both organization of reciprocal
visits of the two countries delegations, and commonness of their
positions on several issues while being debated at international
organizations.

The parties also exchanged views on the other issues of mutual
interest.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 23 2005

KINGDOM OF MOROCCO ADHERENTS FOR SOLUTION CONFLICTS OVER
NAGORNO-KARABAKH ON THE BASE OF PRINCIPLE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
[February 23, 2005, 21:11:16]

As reported AzerTAj, on February 23 speaker of the Azerbaijani
Parliament Murtuz Aleskerov has received the newly appointed
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco Abdullah Zagur.

Murtuz Aleskerov congratulated the Ambassador on the new appointment
and said that Azerbaijan is having committments on expanding a
relations with the all countries, including with Kingdom of Morocco.
In 1994 the national leader of Azerbaijanis Heydar Aliyev visiting
the capital of Morocco for participation in the work of ICT Summit
and held a talks here which were forming a base for expanding of
relations. Now in the Azerbaijani Parliament are functioning a
friendsip group with Parliament of Morocco, said speaker.

Head of Milli Mailis has informed the Ambassador on political,
economics and social reforms, activity on perfection of legislation.
He said that Azerbaijan is rapidly integrated into European
structures. Speaker also touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, its causes and bitter consequences.
He expressed a hope that Morocco will support a stance on restoration
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Ambassador Abdullah Zagur noted that the Kingdom of Morocco also have
commitment to developing a relations with Azerbaijan which after
gained an independence had been a great achievements. He said that at
the United Nation’s discussion of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem
Morocco is gave a support for Azerbaijani stance and his country
adherent for peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem on
the base of the principle of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Murtuz Aleskerov for his part invited a members of Parliament of
Morocco visiting Azerbaijan.

ArmenPress
Feb 23 2005

KOCHARIAN CONDOLES VICTIMS OF IRANIAN EARTHQUAKE

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert
Kocharian sent a message of condolences to his Iranian counterpart
Mohammad Khatami to convey his sympathies in connection with the
devastating earthquake that hit the country’s south-eastern parts.
“I learned about the earthquake that took lives of hundreds of
people with great pain. I offer on behalf of Armenians and myself our
condolences to you and the friendly people of Iran,” Kocharian’s
message reads.
An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit southeastern
Iran at 05:55 hours local time (0225 GMT) on Tuesday, killing,
according to the latest reports, about 700 people and injuring
thousands of others.
A killer earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 on the Richter scale
flattened the historical city of Bam in the same province on December
26, 2003, killing over 30,000 people and injuring thousands more.

ArmenPress
Feb 23 2005

KLO ACCUSES AZERI JOURNALISTS OF ADVERTISING KARABAGH ARMENIANS

BAKU, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: The Karabagh Liberation
Organization (KLO), an extremist group in Azerbaijan, has accused a
leading journalists Eynulla Fatullayev of advertising in favor of
Karabagh separatists. The KLO criticism followed an interview by
Fatullayev to Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 22 February.
Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of the Monitor magazine and prominent
journalist, spent 11 days in Nagorno Karabagh, visiting places in the
occupied districts of Nagorno Karabagh, talking to Armenians and even
Azerbaijanis there. She said to the daily she came back with pleasant
impressions.
She traveled to Karabagh from Yerevan on February 12 , visiting
Stepanakert, Shushi, Lachin and Agdam and actually was the first
Azerbaijani to visit Agdam after the truce. “I was treated well in
Agdam and Shushi , but the attitude towards me was aggressive in
Lachin. The Armenians living there attacked me, saying that this is
their land and wondered about the aim of my visit. However, my
security was arranged very well. I asked them who they are and they
said they are refugees from villages of Agdara District, which is
under Azerbaijani control. There are also Armenians from Yevlakh and
Baku in Lachin,” she said.
She also interviewed Karabagh leader Arkady Ghukasian and the
mayor of Stepanakert and met met some Azerbaijanis in Askeran, where
a dozen of them are still living.
She said Armenian journalists were keen on her views about the
ongoing processes in Karabagh. “I said that the switch from the
police regime to a semi-civil society had taken place in Karabagh and
free polls were held, the opposition won, the media was free and
there was political rivalry. Political freedom is stronger there than
in Armenia. At all meetings, they wondered about public opinion in
Azerbaijan. My impression of the meetings with the Karabagh political
leadership is that they are ready for horizontal relations with
Azerbaijan,” she said. “My observation is that they (Karabagh people)
hate the Azerbaijani authorities, not our people,” she said.

ArmenPress
Feb 23 2005

NEW JUSTICE COMPOUND INAUGURATED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: A five-storey compound that will
house a court of review and Armenian economic court was inaugurated
today. The compound has 23 court rooms and six pre-trial rooms for
suspects. The building was built as part of an extensive reform of
Armenian judiciary, funded by a World Bank credit. Some $1.418
million were spent to build the new compound.
It conforms to all internationally accepted standards and is
divided into three security zones: an open zone for public, a
restricted zone for judges and court personnel and a prohibited zone
for suspects and indicted persons.
Speaking at the ceremony justice minister David Harutunian said:
“Today the Armenian society has the right to fair justice
administration and the new compound is a component to ensure the
independence of judiciary from executive power and there is a
political will to do it.”
World Bank Resident Representatives, Roger Robinson, said the
compound is the biggest building in Armenia, build on the Bank’s
funds. “The main objective of the judiciary reform is to make it
transparent and effective,” he said.

ArmenPress
Feb 23 2005

GREECE PLEDGES NEW FUNDS TO HELP BUILD POOL AND REPAIR ROADS IN
ARMENIA

VANADZOR, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: The interior ministry of Greece
has pledged 110,000 euros to Armenia’s second largest town of Gyumri
to help it build a covered swimming pool. The rest of the money,
about 300,000 euros will be raised by the municipality and
all-Armenian Hayastan Fund.
The Greece ministry was also instrumental in helping to build a
similar pool in Vanadzor, releasing a 134,000 euro assistance.
Construction in Gyumri is expected to kick off this April and will be
over in 2006 March.
Greece has also pledged 75,000 euro support to help renovate water
supply systems in two villages in the province of Lori, Akhtala and
Yaghda and to repair a community road.

ArmenPress
Feb 23 2005

UNDP SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO BUILD AN INFORMATION SOCIETY IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, ARMENPRESS: The Office of the Minister for
Coordination of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure
Operations of the Republic of Armenia and the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) launched the Support to Information
Society and Democratic Governance program. A press release from UNDP
Armenia Office said Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and UN Resident
Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Lise Grande signed a
document marking the official start of the program.
The aim of the program is to promote participatory policymaking by
establishing interactive e-governance systems countrywide and helping
to lay the ground for an information society; fostering civil society
monitoring of the implementation of the National Strategy on
Anti-Corruption and promoting private sector involvement in
anti-corruption initiatives; and introducing legislative and policy
frameworks for lobbying and promoting lobbying practices among the
Parliament, private sector, and civil society.
Under the first component of this program, an Information Society
Strategy will be developed. In addition, the e-Governance System for
Territorial Administration created by UNDP will be expanded to cover
several towns and large villages, bringing e-governance technologies
and online public services closer to the community level. Under the
second component, the unique participatory methodology developed by
UNDP during 2004 will be used by civil society networks to monitor
anti-corruption initiatives in the health and education sectors.
Appropriate legislation on lobbying will also be developed and
international lobbying practices will be introduced.
Lise Grande noted in her speech: “Through this innovative program,
ordinary citizens, including people in remote rural areas, will be
able to actively participate in public affairs through e-systems and
e-services. Under the leadership of the Government, we will also be
supporting efforts to develop legislation on lobbying, which will
help to formalize relations between the private and public sectors.”
Hovik Abrahamyan announced that 70 large rural communities will
receive technical assistance from UNDP. As part of its on-going
program with the Ministry aimed at supporting fiscal
decentralization, UNDP will provide computer equipment for these
communities as well as training for municipal finance officers.
The two-year project is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC), and UNDP’s Democratic Governance
Thematic Trust Fund.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Feb 22 2005

TURKEY AND IRAN TO CONSUME ARMENIAN POWER

MOSCOW, February 22 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian UES (United Energy
Systems) Company plans electricity supplies to Turkey and Iran, UES
chairman of the board Anatoli Chubais has said.

“We are thinking of expanding the export of Armenian generating
capacity. Today electricity is exported from Armenia to Georgia and
we are thinking of a more complex arrangement of Armenian electricity
supply to Turkey and Iran”, Mr. Chubais said.

The UES manages a set of generating facilities in Armenia. It keeps
in trust management 100 percent of the Armenian nuclear power plant.
As part of its debt repayment for the Russian nuclear fuel, the UES
has received the property set of the Sevan-Razdan cascade and manages
the Razdan heat and power plant.

According to Mr. Chubais, the UES priority project in Armenia is the
fifth unit of the Razdan facility. He has called “realization of the
Razdan agreements concluded with the Armenian government” as the
target goal on the fifth unit.

The UES investments in building the fifth unit will come up to 120
million euros.

“This project (fifth unit) is linked to the Iranian gas pipeline
project, which is of interest to Armenia, power holding and Gazprom.
I don’t rule out that jointly with Gazprom we’ll build up a scheme of
participation in the gas pipeline project. If we do, we are ready to
make investments”, Mr.Chubais noted.

He also confirmed that the UES has received a proposal from the
British company Midland Resource Holding Ltd. on selling to the UES a
package of assets of the Armenian Electricity Grids, which the
British company has in management, of which some news agencies
earlier reported.

“I confirm having received the proposal. We are studying it. Whatever
decision is taken, it has to be coordinated with the leadership of
Armenia at the political level”, Mr. Chubais added.

European Report
February 23, 2005

EU/ARMENIA: OFFICIALS MEET FOR EXPLORATORY TALKS ON PARTNERSHIP

For the first time high-ranking Armenian officials met
representatives from EU institutions and civil society in Brussels on
February 21 for a round table discussion of a future European
Neighbourhood Policy for Armenia.

In July 2004, the EU’s Council of Ministers endorsed the inclusion of
Armenia in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), based on a
recommendation of the European Commission. Along with Armenia, two
other Southern Caucasus countries were invited into the ENP:
Azerbaijan and Georgia. This instable region was identified by the
EU’s December 2003 European Security Strategy for close monitoring by
the EU. The ENP objective is to share the benefits of the enlarged EU
with its neighbouring countries but distinct from full EU membership,
thus avoiding hard political and economic divisions across the
continent. Transformations for Armenia involve economic integration,
political cooperation and societal reforms.

Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia all have so-called Partnership and
Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) with the EU. But offering them ENP
status will mean a significantly enhanced partnership with the EU.
The Commission will prepare country reports to be presented to the
European Council in spring 2005. Armenia’s report is being developed
and due by mid-March. The reports will, in turn, eventually lead to
an action plan for each country, tailored to fit its needs and
interests for a three-to-five year period.

How far are the partners willing to go?

The outcome of the round table couldn’t have been clearer about
Armenia’s part. “Entering the ENP is very valuable to us,” said Armen
Baiburdian, deputy foreign minister of Armenia. He added: “The aim is
to bring Armenia to a European-level developed country, with EU
institutions and EU values…to join the EU family.” He stressed the
progress Armenia has made since 1999, when Armenia signed its
European Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The latter is a
first-stage relationship between the EU and Eastern Europe and
Central Asia.

In Armenia, 24 working groups have been set up to comply to PCA
implementation along with the appointment and training of around 150
government officials with the support the EU-funded project know as
AEPLAC.

Alona Bruce, deputy to the director of the Open Society Institute in
Brussels, emphasised the value of civil society’s contribution to the
EU’s country reports and action plans. Michael Emerson, senior
research fellow at the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy
Studies welcomed Armenia’s future ENP, but said the country still has
a number of standards to reach. These concern conflict resolution
with Azerbaijan; economic, social and judicial transformations; and
better communication with Armenia’s neighbours of Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Russia. Regarding Armenia’s economy, for instance, Daniel
Gros, CEPS’ director, said the country’s exports to the EU are still
very low – only 10 % of its gross domestic product.