Armenia: Challenges and responses
Serj Sargsian

Yerkir/arm

Defense Minister and Secretary of Armenian President’s National Security
Council
Dear readers,

Between January 31 and February 5, 2005, you had an opportunity to
address your questions on the Yerkir’s website to SERJ SARGSIAN,
Defense Minister and Secretary of Armenian President’s National
Security Council. Below are the answers to your questions. See the
full version of the interview in Armenian.

Thank you for your active participation: Spartak Seyranian,
editor-in-chief of “Yerkir” Weekly.

Partev Kolanjian, USA – Mr. Minister, could the Karabakh war resume?

Serj Sargsian – A risk of resuming the war should never be ruled
out, and generally a defense minister should never rule out such
a risk. But I think that the risk of war would be more realistic
should the Azerbaijani army be more capable than the Armenian army,
and also if the Azeris think that the international community will
consider their step as positive.

Suren Soghomonyan – As the Chairman of The National Security Council,
what is your attitude to the centralization of one-third of population
in Yerevan. What practical solutions could you suggest?

Serj Sargsian – I am concerned over the current situation and I
think it does not contribute to the country’s security and normal
development. Under the present situation it is hard to suggest
practical solutions for redistributing the population of the country.

I don’t want to comment on the previous mistakes of Soviet
Armeniaâ~@~Ys Leadership which resulted to concentration of more then
the third of our population in the Capital. But, I also think that
the world urbanization trends have played their role in this. Now
distributing our population within the country evenly should be
our goal.

It should be noted also that due to social and economic development
in most countries the world urbanization trends are decreasing, and
since we are determined to develop our country, we hope that this
process will take place here too, so eventually the population will
be distributed adequately for the good of our nation.

Gevork – Do you think the Diaspora would eventually participate,
to the defense of Armenia? This question is naturally leading to the
issue of dual citizenship, what are your thoughts on this?

Serj Sargsian – I have always supported the idea of dual citizenship. A
country that has a Diaspora should have such an institution. I am
for the dual citizenship but I am also for the equality of rights
and obligations for all citizens. I believe that any Armenian has
the right to become a citizen of the Republic of Armenia by equally
sharing the rights and obligations its citizenship.

This is important: the parity principle of rights and obligations
stemming from the Constitution should be maintained in all cases. These
issues can be regulated by a law on dual citizenship. However, I must
say that this issue does not depend only on us. It also depends on
countries where our compatriots live. There are countries which do
not allow dual citizenship. As a statesman, I am interested in this
issue and would do everything to find a solution.

See the full version of the interview in Armenian.

–Boundary_(ID_xsCrNs2EbXXqlqPZxLwO4A)–

Turkish businessman favours economic ties with Armenia

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
14 Feb 05

[Presenter] The co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business
Development Council, Kaan Soyak, is against the proposal that the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict should be a precondition
for the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. Turkey’s position is
that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict is Azerbaijan’s problem. The
Armenian genocide is also on the agenda of the opening of the
border. Touching upon the Armenian genocide, Soyak said that Turks
have begun speaking of it in the last two or three years. The main
aim of Kaan Soyak’s visit to Yerevan is to discuss a joint programme
on the development of economic relations, which will be implemented
with the assistance of the Eurasia Foundation.

[Correspondent over video of meeting] The Azerbaijani embassy in
Ankara does not like the co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business
Development Council, Kaan Soyak. The reason is that this organization
has been taking a liberal position on Armenia and Turkish-Armenian
relations. As Soyak noted, both sides [Azerbaijan and Turkey] are
against the reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border and want Turkey’s
foreign policy to depend on Azerbaijan. There are failures in the
political field, but the economic sphere is yielding positive results.

[Kaan Soyak speaking in Turkish with Armenian voice-over] The commodity
turnover between Armenia and Turkey is approaching 110-120bn dollars
today. Before the establishment of the Council [in 1997], the commodity
turnover was less than 60m dollars. You have a great diaspora and I
hope that we can cooperate with Armenia and the Armenian diaspora. In
connection with my work, I have participated in Turkish-American,
Turkish-Russian and Turkish-British business meetings, but I must
say that Turkish-Armenian business relations are the best example
of cooperation.

[Correspondent] The Turkish businessman noted that their organization
has prepared a programme on protecting Armenian monuments in Turkey.

Soyak also stated that he is in favour of opening the border as soon
as possible and invited the members of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation – Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD] to Turkey in order to open up
a dialogue on urgent issues. The ARFD is a serious and experienced
party and if they agree, I am ready to make every effort to start
the dialogue, Soyak said.

The Turkish businessman also has a special position on the issue
of genocide.

[Kaan Soyak] Our organization is not dealing with the issue of
genocide, but I believe that the Turkish people has the right to know
the historical truth. Our organization will do its best to make the
historical truth known to the Turkish people.

[Correspondent] Kaan Soyak is making constructive proposals against
the background of Turkey’s policy of denying the genocide.

Ayk-Aram Nahapetyan and Armen Andreasyan, “Aylur”.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE

February 14, 2005

Russia’s Lavrov to Visit Armenia

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will arrive in Armenia on
a two-day official visit on 16 February. The visit takes place in
the framework of intensive political dialogue between Armenia and
Russia and aims at deepening cooperation between the two countries
in foreign policy and other areas.

During this first official visit to Armenia, Minister Lavrov will meet
with Armenia’s authorities to discuss current agenda of the strategic
partnership between the two countries and a broad spectrum of issues
related to the prospects of this partnership in political, economic,
science and education, and culture areas.

Agenda of the discussions will also address the issue of strengthening
cooperation between Armenia and Russia in the framework of
international organizations, as well as functioning and reform of
CIS structures.

The parties will also explore the current stage of Nagorno Karabagh
conflict regulation, issues related to fostering mutual confidence
and cooperation in the South Caucasus.

They will also discuss matters related to President Putin’s forthcoming
visit to Armenia.

Armenian leader condemns Beirut terror attack, sends condolences

Regnum, Moscow
15 Feb 05

15 February: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has sent condolences
to Lebanese President Emile Lahhud over the killing of former prime
minister Rafik Hariri.

The press service of the Armenian president told Regnum news agency
that the message reads: “It was painful to hear about the killing
of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister and outstanding
political figure, who has made an invaluable contribution to the
strengthening of Lebanon’s statehood, as well as to the development
of Armenian-Lebanese relations. The terror attack, to which Hariri
fell victim, is a harsh challenge not only to Lebanon, but also to
all nations in the region. I strongly condemn this terror attack and
express deep condolences to you, to the friendly people of Lebanon and
to the relatives of Rafik Hariri on behalf of the people of Armenia
and on my own behalf.”

[Passage omitted: Armenian president expressing sympathy to Hariri’s
spouse and background of terror attack in Beirut]

Everest Northern Wall 2005 International Non-Commercial Expedition

Everestnews.com
14 Feb 2005
Green line is 2004 route, red line is proposed 2005 route

On top of the highest peak in the world, climbers will lift banners against
terrorism and in favor of peace when they summit Mt. Everest in a climb
dedicated to the 60th anniversary of Victory in World War II.
This Russian Expedition, called the “Everest Northern Wall 2005
International Non-Commercial Investment Project”, will begin with departure
from Moscow on March 1 with Everest ascent beyond base camp to be March
24-June 1. The team of 39 climbers will approach the mountain from the
center of the Northern wall.

In anticipation of the Everest expedition, a Peace March-Memory March was
held September 19-November 3 of 2004. Those participating in the march
visited all the regions of the Northern Caucasus and almost all points of
tension. They covered over 10,000 km. and carried with them the Banner of
Peace donated by heirs of M. Yegorov and M. Kantaria, prominent heroes of
World War II.
The banner, delivered to the Everest climbers, will be part of the mission
for peace represented by the summit of Everest. The expedition will receive
live international coverage on both radio and television when banners are
lifted to peace and victory on Everest’s peak.
The expedition is looking for additional sponsors, if interested please
e-mail
# Name Sport rank Position City Note
“Everest Northern Wall 2005 International Expedition”
1 Vladimir I. Prikhodko 1 Head of the expedition Moscow , RUSSIA
Team 1, the center of the Northern Wall of Everest
2 Kazbek B. Khamitsayev Master of Sports Chief Coach of the expedition
Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA
3 Alexander L. Zelensky Master Candidate Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA
Candidate
4 Yuri V. Proyaev Master Candidate Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
5 Eugeni V. Gudenko Master Candidate Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
6 Alexander P. Glazov Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
7 Serguei V. Yegorin Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
8 William T. Gagiyev 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
9 Anatoli D. Abisalov 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
10 Vitali V. Ivanov Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
11 Igor O. Bondarenko Master of Sports Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
12 Dmitri N. Zhirnov 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
13 Alexander V. Rodin 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
14 Maxim N. Akulov 1 Climber Vladikavkaz, RUSSIA Candidate
15 Alexander N. Yakovenko Master of Sports Climber Moscow , RUSSIA Candidate
16 Nikolai A. Totmyanin Master of Sports Climber St. Petersburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
17 Alexei V. Bolotov Master of Sports Climber Yekaterinburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
18 Eugeni M. Vinogradsky Honored Master of Sports Climber Yeketrinburg ,
RUSSIA Candidate
19 Valeri N. Pershin Honored Master of Sports Climber Yeketrinburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
20 Sergei V. Borisov Int’l Master of Sports Climber Yeketrinburg , RUSSIA
Candidate
21 Victor I. Igolkin Master of Sports Climber Magnitogorsk , RUSSIA Member
22 Yuri V. Oleinikov Master of Sports Climber Magnitogorsk , RUSSIA Member
23 Gennadi P. Kiriyevsky Master of Sports Climber Magnitogorsk , RUSSIA
Candidate
24 Sergei G. Bogomolov Honored Master of Sports Climber Saratov , RUSSIA
Member
25 Sergei I. Bershov Honored Master of Sports Climber Kharkov , UKRAINE
Candidate
26 Alexei V. Raspopov Master Candidate Climber Almaty , KAZAKHSTAN Candidate
27 Giya O. Tortladze Master of Sports Climber Tbilisi , GEORGIA Candidate
28 Fabricio Zangrilli Climber USA Candidate
29 Robertson Hemish Climber AUSTRALIA Candidate
30 Peter G. Leonov Master of Sports Climber Makhachkala, RUSSIA Candidate
31Chad Kellogg Climber USAMember
Team 2, the North-Eastern Crest
31 Valri G. Rogozin Master Candidate Climber Magnitogorsk, RUSSIA Candidate
32 Igor K. Korenugin Master Candidate Climber Voronezh, RUSSIA Candidate
33 Victor Ye. Perevalov 1 Climber Moscow, RUSSIA Candidate
34 Gaik D. Tonoyan Int’l Master of Sports Climber Yerevan , ARMENIA Member
35 Tigran N. Nersesyants Master Candidate Climber Yerevan, ARMENIA Member
36 Leo A. Sarkisov Honored Master of Sports Climber Tbilisi, GEORGIA Member
37 Mikhail Ye. Melnikov Int’l Master of Sports Climber Minsk , BELORUSSIA
Member
38 Alexander G. Maximenya Master of Sports Climber Minsk, BELORUSSIA Member
39 Nikolai F. Zhilin Master of Sports Climber Yekaterinburg, RUSSIA Member
Support Team

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:

PRESS RELEASE

February 13, 2005

Minister Oskanian Attended 41st Munich Conference on Security Policy

On 12 February, Minister Oskanian participated in the 41st Munich
Conference of Security Policy. The keynote speakers at the Conference
were Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, Horst Koehler, Germany’s
President, Gerhard Schroeder Chancellor, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO
Secretary General, Donald Rumsfeld, US Defense Secretary and others.

This important international forum stressed the need for conflict
resolution through dialogue. In this framework, the participants
referred to the Middle East peace process and shift of priorities
due to the changes in US Administration.

More than 250 high-ranking officials and politicians attending the
Conference also reflected on the future of NATO and its leadership
in the context of foreign policy and security doctrines currently
taking shape in Europe and discussed the impact of developments in
the Ukraine and Georgia on integration processes taking place in the
post-Soviet space.

In the outskirts of the Conference, Minister Oskanian had bilateral
meetings and discussions with Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, Jaap de
Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary General, Antanas Valionis, Lithuania’s
Foreign Minister, Bernd Mutzelburg, Director General, Foreign Policy
and Security Advisor, Federal Chancellery, Federal Republic of Germany,
Dr. Michael Schaefer, Germany’s Foreign Office Political Director.

European Council calls for religious reforms in Turkey

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Feb 15 2005

The Turkish government is opposed to the European Council report on
issues of the Kurdish question being covered in the weak groups
section and to Jewish animosity in Turkey.

February 15— A report prepared by the European Council on religion in
Turkey has called on Ankara to implement a series of reforms to bring
the country’s standards into line with those of Europe.

The report said that the identity cards issued to all Turkish
citizens at birth should have the religion section removed and that
schools should abolish compulsory religious classes.
It also warned that it was the best to not force the religious
classes, especially if they were only to focus on the teaching of
Islam.
The report also said that although the rights of religious
minorities were covered under the Lausanne Treaty, further freedoms
should be granted and warned that the public and the media in Turkey
held an attitude that looked down upon minorities.
In Turkey’s schools books, especially those referring to the
Armenians and Greeks, had humiliating and slanderous statements in
them, the report said, adding that Turkey should see these elements
of society as being part of its cultural wealth.
The report also cited instances of some people being attacked
for being Jewish and that some parts of the Turkish media made
anti-Semitic statements.
Referring to the issue of the Kurdish question the report said
that many of Turkey’s 10 to 15 million Kurds who had lived in south
eastern Turkey had moved either to urban areas or left the region due
to the armed conflict between the state and the terrorist group the
PKK. It said that there were now problems being faced by those
citizens trying to return to their home villages. The report said
that some of these persons had been killed by the state village
guards when they had tried to return to homes which was occupied by
the village guards.

–Boundary_(ID_mhsaA3UxVvrAIs+Im1iIQg)–

Armenia’s Strong Public Expenditure Management Qualifies For British Debt Relief Offer

ArmenPress
Feb 15 2005

Yerevan, February 15, Armenpress: The British Embassy in Armenia
has confirmed today that the Government of the United Kingdom has
offered to pay 10% of Armenia’s World Bank debt repayments until
2015. The British Department for International Development (DFID)
will pay the money into a World Bank trust fund. The International
Development Association (the World Bank agency which provides funding
on concessional terms to the poorest developing countries) will in
turn reduce the repayments which Armenia makes over the next ten years.

The British Government have offered this financial help in recognition
of the difficulties which low income countries face in trying to
reduce poverty while at the same time service their international
debt. The objective is to free additional resources to enable Armenia
to achieve its development goals. Armenia is one of five countries to
benefit in this way, all chosen in recognition that they have sound
public expenditure policies in place which will ensure that the money
saved will be targeted towards poverty reduction. The other countries
are Mongolia, Vietnam, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Following a meeting with Economy and Finance Minister Vartan
Khachatrian the British Ambassador, Thorda Abbott-Watt, said “I am
pleased that my Government has felt able to make this gesture, which
recognizes and rewards strong economic management. The money which
will be released will help Armenia increase investment in spheres such
as health, education and social support and raise living standards
more quickly.”

Armenia is due to repay the World Bank US$ 8 million, US$ 11 million
and US$ 12 million in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. The United
Kingdom contribution will be 10% of this – US$800,000, US$1.1million
and US$1.2million. Over the ten years of the initiative (until 2015),
the total United Kingdom contribution will be just under US$20 million.

Lebanese officers visit breakaway Karabakh

Muxalifat, Baku
12 Feb 05

Excerpt from report by Etina Yusifli in Azerbaijani newspaper Muxalifat
on 12 February headlined “Lebanese officers training Karabakh Armenians
to fight” and subheaded “A spy satellite of US Central Intelligence
Agency is monitoring Nagornyy Karabakh”

The armed forces of Nagornyy Karabakh have been on high alert
since 2 February. On 2 February the army command in Xankandi
[Stepanakert] ordered the strengthening of fortifications along the
front-line with Azerbaijan and the checking of mine fields and defence
installations. Nagornyy Karabakh’s air defence forces have also been
put on alert.

Armenian army officers Musheg Hovanesyan from the third army corps
in Vanadzor and Maj Andranik Gulyan and Col Suren Nikolosyan from
the fifth cops in Nubarashen have been in Xankandi since 2 February.

A Lebanese army delegation is also visiting Nagornyy Karabakh. The
delegation includes two officers, reports say. The delegation, which
first visited Yerevan and then Xankandi, is familiarizing itself with
“the military build-up and the current state of Nagornyy Karabakh’s
defence army”.

According to different sources, the main aim of the delegation is to
make sure that Karabakh Armenians could study at Beirut’s military
academy.

[Passage omitted: speculation on other issues that may be discussed]

Note: According to military expert Naim Quliyev, Armenia bought
76 tanks, 89 armoured personnel carriers, 102 infantry fighting
vehicles, six fighters, three bombers and a fighter-bomber jet as
well as 117 artillery guns and 67 rocket artillery guns from Belarus
and Moldavia in 2002-03. This is in violation of the Flank Agreement
to the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE)Treaty.

[Passage omitted: expert claims Russia paid for arms, reported details]

Honda to use DNC to reach out to minorities
By Hans Nichols

The Hill, DC
Feb 15 2005

Rep. Mike Honda plans to use his new high-profile role as a vice
chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to tap the
Asian-American community for more than $5 million and cultivate new
immigrant communities for his party, all while serving as a “bridge”
between Chairman Howard Dean and House Democrats.
File photo
Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), new DNC vice chairman

Honda bested Alvaro Cifuentes, the outgoing DNC Hispanic Caucus
chairman, for the one remaining DNC executive slot available to a
male. In the campaign, Honda earned endorsements from two of his
onetime rivals, fellow Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Nelson Diaz, a
Puerto Rican political operative.

Honda’s election to the executive committee also marked a victory for
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who offered an early
endorsement for the third-term Californian and then redoubled her
efforts on his behalf once it became clear that Dean had secured the
chairmanship.

That reenergized effort by Pelosi to insinuate herself into a DNC
process she had mostly skirted led party strategists and delegates to
conclude that the House’s top Democrat wanted a trusted loyalist on
an executive committee chaired by Dean.

Both Pelosi’s office and Honda downplayed any suggestion that Honda
was intended to be a check on Dean’s power. But that view was
widespread among Democratic strategists, both by backers of
Cifuentes’s candidacy and by nonaligned operatives.

Honda said that he understood that he would spend much of his time
acting as a liaison between Dean and elected lawmakers in part
because he owed his election to the support he received from his
House colleagues, particularly Hispanics and African-Americans.

“The fact that other members of Congress were very helpful and they
called their delegates … that the Hispanic members, the
African-American members went to work for me and they all went to
their base really worked in the end, that interconnectivity helped my
candidacy,” said Honda. “That’s why I’ll be a bridge.”

He said that he did not expect any friction between Dean and Pelosi
to arise but that, if it did, he would serve as a mediator.

“I think Pelosi and Dean have their personal relationship. I am
committed to making sure that I do my part, in communicating what the
DNC is doing to my colleagues,” Honda said.

Despite Honda’s fluent Spanish, some prominent Hispanics said his
election would complicate the Democrats’ efforts to stanch the flow
of Hispanic voters to the Republican Party.

“The fact that that position is not held by a Hispanic makes it more
difficult to reach out. Fortunately, Congressman Honda does speak
Spanish,” said the leader of the Puerto Rican Senate, Kenneth
McClintock, a strong Cifuentes backer.

Honda said that he would be aggressive in reaching out to the
Hispanic community, though he admitted he was “concerned” by recent
Republican gains among Hispanic voters.

“It concerns me that they are working so hard,” Honda said. “We have
to make sure that our message is clear. If you look at their actions,
and their words, there’s a disconnect.”

In addition to focusing on Hispanic outreach, Honda, who is
Japanese-American, said that he plans to scour the Asian-American
business community, especially on the West Coast, for donations.

The DNC should raise more than the $5 million it raked from
Asian-Americans last cycle, Honda said, adding that it was “hard to
say” what the ceiling was because “we haven’t really energized that
community.”

Honda said he also will target other communities: “I want to look at
developing new groups, like the Ethiopians and the Armenians, and
connecting these folks with our party.”

Pelosi will meet with Honda today when she stops by the Asian Pacific
Islander American caucus retreat. Honda chairs that group, giving him
one of the most demanding briefs in the Democratic caucus.

“All the hats that I wear, they have the same ends — increasing the
visibility and raising the profile of [the minority] community,”
Honda said.

“Mike has the proven experience of working with the many
constituencies that are critical to the future success of our
Democratic Party, and will be a bridge-builder between the important
communities we rely on to secure progress and victory,” Pelosi said
in a statement. “Mike knows what it takes to restore Democrats to
majority status, and is prepared to take on that challenge with his
typical enthusiasm and resolve.”

–Boundary_(ID_XAhzp9ZEx+3iorON0mlmNA)–