Azeri Speaker censures US congressmen for Armenian bias

ANS TV, Baku
12 Jan 05

[Presenter] A meeting between Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov and
a delegation of the German Marshall Fund of the United States at the
Milli Maclis [parliament] today focused on the Karabakh problem.

[Correspondent, over video of the meeting] Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov
told the meeting with the delegation of the German Marshall Fund of
the United States that 20 per cent of our lands had been occupied as a
result of Armenia’s aggression and over 1m people had become
refugees. Alasgarov said that Azerbaijan supported a peaceful solution
to the conflict that would be in line with international legal norms
and also criticized the work of the OSCE Minsk Group. He said that
being a co-chairman of the Minsk Group, the USA should try to reach a
fair solution to the conflict and step up its activity. The speaker
also sent a message to some pro-Armenian congressmen.

[Alasgarov addressing the delegation members] Let the congressmen
supporting Armenia’s interests know that Armenia is trying to expand
its territory by all possible means at the expense of Azerbaijani
lands and that it has committed aggression against Azerbaijan.

[Correspondent] The head of the delegation, [Senior Transatlantic
Fellow at the German Marshall Fund] Ronald Asmus, said that a new
project launched by the German Marshall Fund was aimed at
disseminating information about Azerbaijan in the USA.

[Asmus, speaking in English with Azeri voice-over, captioned] We aim
to gain insight into Azerbaijan’s current problems and exchange
opinions with [Azerbaijani] MPs and government members over this.

[Correspondent] Ronald Asmus promised to collect documentary evidence
about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and submit it to US
congressmen. The US Congress is planning to hold hearings on Nagornyy
Karabakh.

Afat Telmanqizi, Azar Qarayev, ANS.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 7-13, 2005

HIGHLIGHTS:

THE QUESTIONABLE GIGAHERTZES

ONLY ONE OF NEARLY 40 FREQUENCIES REMAINS UNWANTED

JOURNALIST’S POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTED

PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HUMANITARIAN LAW

THE QUESTIONABLE GIGAHERTZES

On January 12, 2005 the National Commission on Television and Radio
announced broadcast licensing competitions for frequency diapasons of
2300-2400 MHz and 2500-2700 MHz of Yerevan. The deadline for the bids in the
competitions is on April 11, 2005. The bids will be considered by the
National Commission on April 22.

The frequencies presented for the competition have a pre-history of their
own. In September last year the press questioned the legitimacy of the
launch of the so-called “supersystem”, owned by “A UP” company that got an
opportunity to rebroadcast 50 TV channels in GHz diapason. The permission
for re-broadcasting was issued by the Republican Telecommunications Center
of the RA Ministry of Transportation and Communication. On its behalf, the
National Commission on Television and Radio insisted to license these
frequencies by competition (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, September
17-23, 2004).

The dispute progressed into litigation: the suit of NCTR contained a demand
to annul the permission, issued to “A UP” company by the Republican
Telecommunications Center. On December 2 the court of primary jurisdiction
of Center and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan approved the reconciliation
agreement between NCTR, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication,
Republican Telecommunications Center and “A UP” LLC. According to the
agreement signed, the Ministry and the Republican Telecommunications Center,
as one of its subdivisions, refused from claiming the 2300-27000 MHz
diapason and annulled their previous resolutions on the broadcasting
activities of “A UP”. The right to the diapason was stipulated to belong to
NCTR that assumed a commitment of announcing a competition for it.

As noted above, the applicants and winners for these frequencies will be
determined in spring. Yet, notably, the “supersystem” is being advertised on
Armenian TV air, with particular intensity on New Year’s Eve. The viewers
are informed how, even today, one can watch several dozens of channels.

ONLY ONE OF NEARLY 40 FREQUENCIES REMAINS UNWANTED

On December 27, 2004 the National Commission on Television and Radio
considered the bids submitted to the broadcast licensing competitions
announced on September 16. As it has been reported, five vacant UHFs in a
number of Armenian cities were put on the competitions: 22nd in
Yeghegnadzor, 22nd in Spitak, 26th in Dilijan, 33rd in Gyumri and 36th in
Vardenis (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 10-16, 2004).

Three frequencies received one application each: 22nd in Yeghegnadzor was
claimed by “Dzori Kanch” LLC, 33rd in Gyumri – “CHAP” LLC, and 36th in
Vardenis – “SAMELON” LLC. The 22nd frequency of Spitak is contested by three
LLCs – “Anna ev Karen”, “Medea Soft”, “Alik-Arman”. The competition for 26th
frequency of Dilijan was annulled because of absence of bidders.

At the same session of December 27 NCTR made a decision of granting several
vacant frequencies in various regions of the country to the Public Radio of
Armenia for its programs. Another set of vacant frequencies was granted to
the Public Television of Armenia – for broadcasting the programs of the
First Channel and the youth channel “Nor Alik”.

On December 28 the National Commission considered the bids submitted for
other broadcast licensing competitions, announced on September 17. As it has
been reported, the competitions presented the 30th UHF in Artashat , two FMs
in Yerevan (100.6 and 101.1 MHz), as well as two FM-packages in a number of
Armenian cities. The first package includes eight frequencies, the second –
twenty frequencies (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 17-23,
2004).

The only bidder for the 30th frequency in Artashat was “Telelex” TV company.

“MS Explorer” LLC filed applications for the two FMs in the capital. It
should be noted that its founders are “A1+” TV company (deprived of air
since April 2002) and Center “Cooperation for Democracy” NGO. Besides “MS
Explorer”, the 100.6 MHz of Yerevan is claimed by “Avrora” radio, and 101.1
MHz – by “Avtoradio”.

The package of 8 FMs got only one application – from
“ArRadioIntercontinental”. The package of 20 FMs is claimed by “Van” radio
station and Radio “HAY”.

The results of all the competitions will be announced by the National
Commission on February 14, 2005.

JOURNALIST’S POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTED

On December 24, 2004, “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily published a report that on
December 23 the Chief Editor of the newspaper Nikol Pashinian addressed a
letter to the RA General Prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepian. By this address the
Chief Editor petitioned the Prosecutor to institute criminal proceedings on
the illegitimate stoppage of power supply in the flat of “Haikakan Zhamanak”
correspondent Avetis Babajanian, who resides in Armavir. In the opinion of
the newspaper, the reason for the power supply interruption of the
journalist’s flat was his article “Cold and Dark Days of Armavir” (“Haikakan
Zhamanak” of December 18). The publication was critical of the activities of
“Musaler”, the Armavir branch of “Electric Networks of Armenia” CJSC. It
told, in particular, about the periodical power supply interruptions in
dozens of villages of the region that started after the appointment of the
new director of “Musaler”. On December 23 the newspaper noted that the power
supply of Avetis Babajanian’s flat was interrupted on the command of
“Musaler” director.

As Avetis Babajanian informed YPC, the power supply of his flat was resumed
on December 24. The journalist also noted that criminal proceedings on the
incident were instituted basing on the letter of “Haikakan Zhamanak” Editor,
which, as he learned from unofficial sources, were stopped due to absence of
corpus delicti.

PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HUMANITARIAN LAW

The “News” section of YPC web-site () features a presentation
article on the Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law, published by “Medecins
Sans Frontieres” international humanitarian organization.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
____________________________________________
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
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Tel.: (+ 374 1) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
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Sydney Morning Herald , Australia
Jan 13 2005

Bring down the dictator
January 14, 2005

Page Tools

“The last one to dodge the train is the band leader.” Daron Malakian
(right) settles the issue the old way.

Sex, drugs, rock’n’roll … and politics. Daron Malakian – sorry,
System of a Down – likes it with the lot. Kelsey Munro has attitude
with hers.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN
Hordern Pavilion, Driver Avenue, Moore Park
January 25, 7pm
$66.40
Bookings 9266 4800
They will also play the Big Day Out on January 26. Win tickets to the
sold-out event in next week’s Metro

You couldn’t have predicted System of a Down’s success. Mixing
intelligent, experimental, heavy music with a generous dose of
left-wing politics is not a proven recipe for chart success.

But their 2001 album Toxicity sold more than 4 million copies,
propelled by the furiously tight smash hit Chop Suey! The four
Armenian-Americans went from being an underground Californian band to
international success.

Live, they have a bone-buzzing intensity and frenetic
teenage-boy-laden mosh pits, but this is not easy music. How did they
get so big?

“We just stuck to our guns,” says guitarist and chief songwriter
Daron Malakian.

The band has had a dogged policy of non-compromise since their
formation in the mid-’90s. A buzz built around the quartet throughout
the Californian scene on the strength of their live sound and a
three-song demo that circulated among fans. System’s ferocious,
precise sound got pushed to bigger and bigger audiences. But not even
the band expected the mainstream to embrace Toxicity.

Advertisement
Advertisement”Yes, I’m very surprised that the world has grabbed onto
it the way it has because it was an experiment for us,” Malakian
says. “We’re lucky because we are a very artsy-fartsy band, and
people get it.”

Malakian is putting the finishing touches on two new studio albums.
He says he’s not a perfectionist: “I just want it to be right, I
don’t nitpick at shit. I get the production credit on the record, and
I get to be the [AC/DC guitarist] Malcolm Young of System of a Down.”

He laughs uproariously.

“I respect those people. You look at Slayer and you see Kerry King. I
look at Slayer and I see [songwriter-guitarist] Jeff Hanneman.”

He says this as though everyone would know what he means – that he
respects the behind-the-scenes musicmakers in bands over those showy
frontmen.

By his own reckoning, Malakian writes about 95 per cent of System’s
music, including the lyrics. He bristles slightly at the suggestion
that his band is a dictatorship.

“It’s a democracy, everyone respects the way the band works, I don’t
step over anybody,” he says. “I really don’t want to sound like I’m
discrediting my band members here because I’m not. It’s really how
System works. Serj [Tankian] writes songs but not in bulk the way I
write songs … It works as a team.”

All of the band – singer Tankian, bass player Shavo Odadjian and
drummer John Dolmayan – share Malakian’s eclectic taste in music,
ranging from Slayer to the Doors.

Frontman Tankian co-founded the activist group Axis of Justice with
Audioslave’s Tom Morello, which has worked for causes such as
homeless people and voting issues in the US. Some of System’s songs
have anti-war themes.

But Malakian is uncomfortable with System being tagged a “political”
band.

“We just sing about what the world, about what’s around us,” he says.
“We have political songs and we have songs about, y’know,
psycho-groupie-cocaine crazy.

“Somebody asked me, ‘Are you guys about sex, drugs, rock’n’roll,
politics, having a good time?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ We’re not about a
history lesson, like, ‘You gotta learn all about the Armenian
genocide’ or all about politics. We’re not only about that and we’re
not only about sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, we’re like a f—ed-up
mutation of all that shit.”

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 13 2005

Azerbaijan among mostly unfree countries, says report

The US Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal have included
Azerbaijan into the list of mostly unfree countries. In their 2004
Index of Economic Freedom based on a 5-point scale, Azerbaijan’s
standing was at 3.38, which makes it 103rd in the world out of 155
countries indicated.

A similar report issued in 2003 placed Azerbaijan 106th, with a 3.39
rating.
Topping the list is Hong Kong, while Singapore and Luxembourg were
rated second and third respectively. Former Soviet Union republic
Estonia was rated fourth. The United States, which has topped a list
of 10 for the past 11 years, was downgraded to 12th place. Ireland,
New Zealand, Great Britain, Denmark, Iceland, Australia and Chile
were placed ahead of the US.

The report placed Armenia 42nd with a 2.28 rating, while Russia
124th. Iran, Cuba, Laos, Turkmenistan, Zimbabwe, Libya, Myanmar and
North Korea (155th) were indicated as the most economically unfree
countries.
The rating of countries was determined based on trade policy,
interference of the government, financial policy, foreign
investments, wages and pricing, and property rights.

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:

Armenia Aids Tsunami Victims

Minister Oskanian announced today¹s decision by the Armenian government to
provide short and long-term assistance to victims of the South East Asian
tsunami disaster.

After having received the necessary information from the governments of the
countries affected by the catastrophe, at the cabinet meeting of Thursday,
January 13, the government determined to allocate $50,000 to provide Sri
Lanka with blankets and mobile generators, per their request. In addition,
the Armenian government will provide aid in the same amount to Indonesia,
whose government has requested medical and educational personnel and
materials.

Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baibourtian, who recently concluded his term
as Armenia¹s ambassador to India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Nepal, said, ³We
are calling for volunteers from Armenia and the Diaspora who are ready and
willing to offer their professional services to those who have suffered so
much. Those in the health and mental health fields are sorely needed and can
be of great help in offering post-traumatic assistance. Armenia has been the
recipient of such largesse and Armenians are eager to do their share in this
recovery effort.”

The Foreign Ministry is working with the appropriate Armenian agencies to
transport the materials and the personnel. Deputy Minister Baibourtian also
explained that the Foreign Ministry is cooperating with the Armenian
communities of Australia, India and Thailand to provide additional support.

The Indonesians have lost schools and therefore are in need of teaching
materials and stationery supplies. The Armenian government will work with
the Armenian community of Australia to procure such resources and make them
available.

The Armenian-Indian community, too, has mobilized its resources and provided
services to the tsunami victims of India. The Armenian government has worked
with the Indian-Armenian community and the Chairperson of the Armenian
Church Committee in Calcutta, Mrs. Sonia John, in order to provide this
internal assistance, given the Indian government¹s principled position not
to accept foreign assistance. The Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth sent the
equivalent of $210,000 to the Prime Minister¹s National Relief Fund. In
addition, the Armenian Government has offered that post-traumatic
rehabilitation be made available at the Red Cross Hospital in Yerevan.

Finally, in Thailand, through the leadership and generosity of Armenia¹s
Honorary Consul in Bangkok, Mr. Bob Kevorkian, monetary assistance and
housing construction has been offered to Thailand¹s tsunami victims.

Armenian president signs law on fight against financing of terrorism

Arminfo
12 Jan 05

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan signed a law on the fight against
money laundering and financing of terrorism on 11 January, the
presidential press service told Arminfo news agency today.

We should recall that this document envisages a simplified regime for
deals with private individuals working outside Armenia if the volume
of the deal exceeds 5m drams (about 10,000 US dollars). The limit for
foreigners to buy real estate, which is not subject to control, is
fixed at 50m drams (about 100,000 dollars). The document requires a
report about the origin of the sum if larger sums are used in a
deal. Moreover, the law also contains a provision that the bank
deposits opened by Armenian citizens in the republic’s banking system
before 1 July 2005 will not be regarded as doubtful deals.

The law envisages the establishment of a single financial monitoring
centre under the Central Bank, which will collect information from all
the financial sectors and analyse financial flows in order to reveal
dangerous phenomena and the extent to which deals are doubtful. For
the first time in the country’s legislation, this document clarifies
concepts like “financing of terrorism” and “doubtful deals” and offers
real mechanisms to fight them.

At the same time, the law establishes principles of collecting
information whose special feature is to clarify demands to financial
flows from offshore countries.

We should point out that in December 2004, the chairman of the Central
Bank of Armenia, Tigran Sarkisyan, pointed out that no cases of money
laundering or financing of terrorism have been registered in the
Armenian banking system, but there are doubtful deals investigated by
the Prosecutor-General’s Office.

Armenian minister predicts intense diplomatic activity in 2005

Arminfo
12 Jan 05

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan predicts intense diplomatic
activity in the country in 2005, he told a news conference today.

He said that in 2005 traditional bilateral relations would be
continued and, moreover, the list of friendly countries would be
extended. Visits to new countries have been planned. Armenia intends
to take part in global issues, in the struggle against terrorism, and
in the reforms of the UN and OSCE.

The year 2005 will be marked by the launch of an individual programme
of cooperation with the EU within the framework of the New Neighbours
policy.

A corresponding EU report on Armenia is expected to be ready by
March. A programme of individual cooperation with NATO is being
drafted. It is expected to be ready by April-May.

At the forthcoming summit of the Council of Europe Armenia will be
presented as a country which has implemented its commitments and it
will at the same time assume new commitments, the minister noted.

“I think that this summit can become a turning point for us, in this
sense, we have completed the first and are entering into the second
stage of democratic processes,” the minister noted, adding that a UN
summit will also be held in autumn.

The year 2005 will see changes in the Karabakh issue as well. “We are
entering into the second Prague stage, which will differ qualitatively
from the previous one,” the minister noted.

He also spoke about Turkey’s integration into Europe and noted the
need for efforts to open the Armenian-Turkish border and recognize the
Armenian genocide.

“Inconsistent” foreign policy damages Azeri-Turkish ties – opposition daily

Azadliq, Baku
13 Jan 05

Text of Xayal Sahinoglu report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 13
January headlined “Relations between Baku and Ankara have become cool”
and subheaded “Fuad Mustafayev: ‘Relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan have cooled because the foreign policy priorities have not
been set correctly'”

As a result of the foreign policy conducted by the incumbent regime,
Azerbaijan is about to lose Turkey as its strategic ally. To recap,
relations between the two sides began to deteriorate in the wake of
[Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev’s certain irresponsible statement
on the Cyprus problem. This trend was confirmed once again when
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not discuss the
Karabakh issue with Vladimir Putin on his visit to Russia.

It is a manifestation of the cooling of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations
that Erdogan did not discuss the Karabakh conflict when he visited
Russia, Fuad Mustafayev, deputy chairman of the People’s Front of
Azerbaijan Party [PFAP], said. The authorities are to blame for the
current state of affairs in bilateral relations, Mustafayev said. The
wrong foreign policy of the incumbent regime creates additional
problems for Azerbaijan, he said.

“Relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan’s strategic ally, have cooled
because the foreign policy priorities have not been set
correctly. Over the past few years, Azerbaijan’s foreign policy course
has been uncertain. The authorities suddenly declare Arab countries a
foreign policy priority, but then turn to Central Asia and
Russia. Such a foreign policy is bound to create problems for
Azerbaijan. It is the result of this policy that the Turkish prime
minister did not discuss with Russia, which is an interested party, a
very important issue for the region,” he said.

Mustafayev also linked the inconsistency of the authorities’ foreign
policy with the emergence of the issue of reopening the
Turkish-Armenian border on the agenda of the Moscow talks. “If the
authorities take populist steps trying to take advantage of the
problem instead of steadily defending our interests in settling the
Karabakh conflict, we have no right to hope that some country would
defend our interests. Although the Azerbaijani people may want Turkey
to demonstrate that it is Azerbaijan’s friend in the Karabakh
conflict, the authorities’ foreign policy does not allow this to
happen.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV’S STATEMENTS ON KARABAKH PROBLEM REFLECT RUSSIA’S
OFFICIAL POSITION: AZERI POLITOLOGIST

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13. ARMINFO. People like Vladimir Kazimirov speak on
behalf of the official Kremlin, says ex FM of Azerbaijan Tofik
Zulfugarov. “His statements show his incompetence,” he adds.

“Armenia insists that Nagorny Karabakh be given independence which
would break Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. So Armenia must be
pressured. It is very rough now because it feels Russia’s backing,”
says Zulfugarov.

He says that in early 90s both parties said that the key to the
problem is in Moscow who does not however want it to be solved as this
problem is a lever for it to pressure both Azerbaijan and Armenia. “It
is playing into Moscow’s hands to constantly delay the conflict
settlement. That’s exactly what Kazimirov is proposing,” says
Zulfugarov.

The head of the Azeri community of Nagorny Karabakh Nizami Bahmanov
says that “Kazimirov’s statements show that people like him are the
key obstacle to the conflict settlement.” “Late Haydar Aliev told him
repeatedly to stop supporting Armenia. So it is not strange that
Kazimirov is talking such nonsence.”

Bahmanov says that unless the international community tries to settle
the problem Azerbaijan will resort to any means including military
ones. If the talks fail the parties will resume war. “Our patience is
not endless, we want to get back the lands of our ancestors and
diplomats like Kazimirov must know that Karabakh will never be
independent.” “Armenia and the Karabakh Armenians have in fact
suffered a serious social, political and diplomatic defeat. The
Armenian population of the occupied Azeri territories is in dire
state. People are leaving Karabakh on a mass scale.” “Nagorny Karabakh
is our homeland and we will go back there without fail,” says
Bahmanov.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE THREATENS TO COMPLICATE TURKEY’S ENTRY TALKS
WITH EUROPEAN UNION

YEREVAN, JANUARY 13. ARMINFO. The Armenian Genocide issue threatens to
complicate Turkey’s entry talks with the European Union, says
President of Turkish History Institute Yusuf Halacoglu.

Halacoglu, who endorses the mainstream Turkish view of the events and
rejects the genocide claims, says that setting scholars to work
together is all the more important for his country, He says that the
commission would ideally work under the auspices of the United Nations
or another international body to help ensure impartiality and to
encourage all states concerned to open up their archives to the
panel. Halacoglu met with Turkish Minister Abdullah Gul Wednesday and
said he hoped for official Turkish backing for the commission.