CHINA JOINS REGIONAL ANTI-MONEY-LAUNDERING EFFORT – RUSSIAN PAPER

Kommersant, Moscow
9 Dec 04

Text of report by Vadim Visloguzov headlined: “Russia to teach its
neighbours how to fight against dirty money”, published in Russian
newspaper Kommersant on 9 December:

The first plenary session of the Eurasia Group, set up to counteract
the legalization of the proceeds of crime and financial terrorism, was
held in Moscow’s President Hotel yesterday. Having expended a lot of
effort creating its own “mini-FATF” (Financial Action Task Force),
Russia is not averse to spending 1m dollars on teaching its CIS
neighbours the basic methods of fighting against dirty money.

The idea of creating a regional agency of the FATF (Financial Action
Task Force – the group that elaborates financial measures to combat
money-laundering) with its headquarters in Moscow was suggested by
Rosfinmonitoring (Federal Service for Financial Monitoring) chief
Viktor Zubkov back in September last year. Similar regional groups
have now been set up by countries in Europe, southern Africa, South
America, the Pacific region, and the Caribbean.

In October this year Moscow’s organizational efforts were crowned with
success. In addition to Russia, the Eurasia Group (EAG) members are
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and –
strangely enough – China. The other community countries are not so far
in any hurry to join the EAG. Officially this is attributed to the
fact that Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Moldova are
members of another FATF structure – Moneyval (Evaluation of Anti-Money
Laundering Measures) (which unites European countries not yet admitted
to the FATF). Unofficially, the actual founders of the FATF – the G-7
countries – do not want Russia’s influence in the post-Soviet area to
be too greatly reinforced. On the other hand, China’s involvement with
the CIS countries’ financial intelligence community follows from the
fact that China aspires to FATF membership and, under the existing
rules, has to belong to some regional anti-money-laundering
organization at the time of admission.

Yesterday saw the first plenary session of the FATF Eurasia
Group. More out of custom than necessity, the financial intelligence
chiefs held it behind closed doors. The issues decided were mainly of
an organizational character. In the absence of other takers, Russia
took responsibility for financing the EAG’s activity: 1m dollars will
be allocated for the purpose out of the federal budget.

Obviously, Russia is not going to help its neighbours entirely out of
altruistic considerations. According to Rosfinmonitoring’s
information, every year 17m citizens of CIS countries cross Russia’s
semipermeable borders in both directions, carrying millions of dollars
“in their bags”. Moscow’s aim is to gain control of these money
flows. Most CIS countries, however, do not yet have either their own
financial intelligence services or special “antimoney-laundering”
legislation. Viktor Zubkov, now also chair of the EAG, complains that
Rosfinmonitoring often simply has no-one to make contact with in CIS
countries. So, as he particularly stressed yesterday, the 1m dollars
will go mainly on technical assistance to EAG countries in setting up
their own antimoney-laundering systems.

It was also decided yesterday to include Germany, Moldova, and Japan
among the organization’s observers. Judging by Viktor Zubkov’s
statements yesterday, though, there are no plans to expand the group’s
still extremely modest list of full members. “We are open to anyone
who wants to join, but I see no necessity to expand the EAG,” he
commented. In addition yesterday, three working groups were set up –
covering legal questions, the methodology of fighting
money-laundering, and technical support for the process – to take on
the practical work of implementing FATF recommendations.

The next EAG session will be held next April in Beijing.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“NOBODY WILL SUCCEED IN INCITING THE ERKRAPAH VOLUNTEERS UNION AGAINST
THE PEOPLE,” MANVEL GRIGORIAN ASSURES

YEREVAN, December 11 (Noyan Tapan). “I assure you all on behalf of my
friends that we have remained true to the behests and ideas of
sparapet Vazgen Sargsian and will not abandon our cause: to serve our
people and state.” Lieutenant-general Manvel Grigorian, chairman of
the “Erkrapah” volunteers union board and the RA Deputy Minister of
Defence, stated this at the sixth congress of the union on December
11. “Nobody will be able to incite us against the people, nobody will
succeed in this,” M.Grigorian noted. He also assured of the Armenian
army’s fighting efficiency and pointed out that the level of its
training and technical fitting out gives a full guarantee of Armenia’s
security in the region. M. Grigorian also touched upon the issue of
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. According to him, the
issue of the territories under control of the Armenian side should be
discussed by diplomats: “If the matter concerns these territories’
defence, we are ready to take up arms again and defend them.” He
called on the union members to be united in the name of protection of
interests of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

GRETA SARGSIAN CALLS ON THE EVU TO PREVENT POSSIBLE SPLIT IN ORGANIZATION

YEREVAN, December 11 (Noyan Tapan). “You all are my sons, I love you
and take pride that you exist and should exist. If there are you, this
means Armenia also exists.” These were the welcoming words to the
sixth congress of the “Erkrapah” volunteers union by Greta Sargsian,
mother of the union’s founder and former Armenian Prime Minister
Vazgen Sargsian who was assassinated during the terrorist act at the
RA National Assembly in 1999. As regards the recent talks about a
possible split in the union, Greta Sargsian stated: “I am convinced
this will not happen. This is just a desire of those who sit
“upstairs.” She reminded the congress participants about the
atmosphere of trust when the union had been founded: “The most
important thing is your spirit, without which the victory would not
have been possible. Then, during the war, the powerful of this world
respected us and did not call us aggressors. But now Armenia has lost
its face because of talentless policies of the illegitimate
authorities of the country.” She called on the union members to forgo
their personal ambitions in the name of interests of Homeland and the
people: ” On behalf of your mothers I demand and appeal: you have no
right to split this powerful organization to your enemies’
delight. Vazgen Sargsian put a lot of effort into founding the EVU and
I think there will be no split!” Greta Sargsian declared. She reminded
the volunteers about the responsibility they bear before their late
friends and called for unity in the name of solving the existing
problems such as creating an atmosphere of trust in the society, the
struggle for an independent economic development, as well as the
preservation of science and arts, both now in a sad state.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED NOT IN US AND EUROPE, WE SOLVE
PROBLEMS.

YEREVAN, December 11 (Noyan Tapan). “The “Erkrapah” volunteers union
is not an artificial union: we are united by a joint struggle and the
EVU membership certificates with Vazgen Sargsian’s signature.” The RA
Prime Minister and member of the union board Andranik Margarian stated
this at the opening ceremony of the sixth congress of the EVU on
December 11. According to him, the recent frequent talks about a
possible split in the union are exaggerated. “There have been such
talks since 1999, however, nothing has happened,” Prime Minister
noted. Speaking about the situation formed around the Karabakh
conflict settlement, in particular the issue of the territories under
control of the Armenian side, A. Margarian underlined: “The problems
are solved not in the US and Europe. We do solve the problems. 15
years ago we stated that we would not give, and even if we give, then
only on conditions that suit us.” The salutatory address of the RA
President Robert Kocharian was read at the congress. In particular it
was noted in the address that the Erkrapah Volunteers Union was
founded at a difficult for Armenia time, it has always been with the
people and played a serious role in the society. Levon Mkrtchian, head
of the ARF faction, and Mher Shahgeldian, chairman of the NA standing
committee and vice chairman of the “Orinats Erkir” party, made speeces
of welcome on behalf of the ARF and “Orinats Erkir” parties.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada)
December 8, 2004 Wednesday FINAL EDITION

Jurors convict man of slayings
by Carri Geer Thevenot

Jurors deliberated less than an hour Tuesday before convicting a
man of first-degree murder and robbery charges in the beating deaths
of two elderly women at a downtown Las Vegas jewelry store.

The panel is scheduled to return to court this afternoon to start
hearing evidence in the trial’s penalty phase. Prosecutors are
seeking a death sentence for the defendant, 46-year-old Avetis
Archanian.

‘We’re pleased that a guilty verdict came back,’ said John Del Prado,
whose mother and grandmother died in the attack. ‘The evidence was
very strong against him, and the detectives were positive that he was
the one who committed this horrible crime.’

Del Prado said he plans to testify during the penalty phase in
District Judge Donald Mosley’s courtroom.

As for the sentence Del Prado would like Archanian to receive, he
said only, ‘It’s in the jury’s hands.’

‘As brutal as he was with my mother and my grandmother — he showed
them no mercy, and he deserves whatever he gets,’ he said.

The Del Prado family has operated the World Merchants-Importers store
in downtown Las Vegas since 1975. Archanian had been hired as a
part-time jewelry repairman several weeks before the killings.

District Attorney David Roger argued that Archanian was the man
captured on a surveillance video in the store on the morning of the
crimes.

Roger said Archanian used a hammer and ring sizer to bludgeon Juana
Quiroga, 86, and her 68-year-old daughter, Elisa Del Prado, before
the store opened on Sept. 2, 2003. Quiroga died at the scene, and her
daughter died from her injuries in March.

During his closing argument Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Greg
Knapp placed all of the physical evidence in a line before the jury.

‘This trail leads to one place: right to this man here,’ the
prosecutor said, pointing to Archanian.

Roger said the evidence indicated that the victims knew their killer.
The surveillance video showed Elisa Del Prado allowing a man to enter
the store and walk into the jewelry repair room.

A short time later, Quiroga is observed on the video rushing to the
room, then trying to scurry back out. The assailant then drags her
down from behind.

Roger said the killer showed knowledge of the store’s merchandise as
he went through the jewelry cases and chose the most expensive items
to steal.

Las Vegas homicide detectives interviewed Archanian at the scene and
allowed him to leave. Archanian told the detectives he arrived at the
store at 10 a.m., when it was scheduled to open, and saw the bodies.

Knapp said the killer removed a videotape from a surveillance system
in the store, assuming he was removing the video evidence.

‘But he was wrong because they had a secret recording device that
worked off of a hard drive that he didn’t know about,’ Knapp told the
jury.

Roger said it was no coincidence that the man on the video was the
same size as Archanian, had his receding hairline and was wearing
similar shoes and clothing.

The prosecutor said Elisa Del Prado’s blood was found on Archanian’s
shirt and in his vehicle, and Quiroga’s blood was found on a pair of
pants hidden in Archanian’s residence. Some $250,000 in jewelry
stolen from the store was recovered from Archanian’s vehicle.

‘Ladies and gentleman, this is not a difficult case,’ Roger told the
jury.

Defense attorney Mace Yampolsky said his client is Armenian and moved
to the United States from the former Soviet Union in 1977. The
attorney described Archanian as a helping and caring person who had
no prior criminal record.

Archanian wore headphones Tuesday as he listened to closing arguments
with the aid of an Armenian interpreter.

Yampolsky, wearing an American flag tie, offered jurors little to
refute the physical evidence against his client.

‘DNA is not infallible,’ he argued.

The attorney questioned why Archanian had spots of blood on the tops
of his shoes but none on the bottoms. Authorities determined that the
blood on Archanian’s shoes came from a woman, but they did not have a
large enough sample to determine her identity.

Yampolsky said the defendant’s wife, sister and brother attended
Tuesday’s proceedings. The attorney said he plans to present
testimony during the penalty phase from Archanian’s relatives ‘to
really say what he means to them.’

Grethel Jerbic, Elisa Del Prado’s daughter, said members of her
family want to thank those who stood beside them in their time of
need.

‘We thank them for their love, prayers and support,’ she said.

Azeri minister says crude oil allowed to Georgia without limits

ANS TV, Baku
12 Dec 04

Presenter Some freight railway cars detained on the Azerbaijani border
were allowed to enter Georgia overnight. The Boyuk Kasik railway
station has said that 370 railway cars carrying crude oil were allowed
through. Now, 320 cars with other goods are being held at the station.

Correspondent over video of the Boyuk Kasik station It is already two
days that the transit railway cars carrying crude oil via Azerbaijan
have been allowed to enter Georgia without any restrictions, Ziya
Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s minister of communication, has said. He said
that on receiving appropriate instructions from the State Customs
Committee, the railway cars carrying crude oil were allowed to enter
Georgia and from there on to go to Europe via the Black Sea without
any problems. But Mammadov said that some goods, especially the oil
products, are being checked carefully.

Mammadov Mainly oil products and other goods, flour, are being
inspected. In general, the inspection of all goods transported through
Azerbaijan has been stepped up to prevent them from being delivered to
Armenia via Georgia in future.

Correspondent Mammadov said that strict measures should be taken on
the borders so that goods are not redirected to Armenia from
Georgia. This process will continue until the Karabakh problem is
resolved in line with official Baku’s interests, end of quote.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri president’s speech at 7 December government session – full text

Azarbaycan, Baku
12 Dec 04

The year of 2004 was very successful in all spheres, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev has said in his speech at a government session
summing up the results of the outgoing year. As a result of correct
policy, the country “is already turning into a significant power
centre” and has become “the leading country of the region”, he
added. Praising the establishment of good relations with all
countries, Ilham Aliyev noted that serious steps had been taken to
improve ties with the neighbouring states. Speaking highly about
Azerbaijan’s economic potential, Ilham Aliyev announced an increase in
military spending by “nearly 30 per cent”. He said that no changes
will be made in Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. The following is text of Aliyev’s speech
at the expanded session of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 7 December
2004, published by Azarbaycan newspaper on 8 December; subheadings
have been inserted editorially:

The year of 2004 is coming to an end. In general, it was a successful
year. Today, at an expanded session of the Cabinet of Ministers, we
will sum up the results of this year, examine the events that have
taken place, hear reports about the work done this year and hold an
exchange of views.

Successful foreign policy

In 2004, Azerbaijan was more confident and more successful in all
spheres. In foreign policy, our country’s integration into the
international community was more intensive and the protection of our
national interests was at a high level. We successfully developed
mutual relations with all countries. Especially, I can note that we
took serious steps to develop ties with our neighbours. Our relations
with them have expanded on the basis of bilateral, regional as well as
multilateral cooperation. This is very important to us. Azerbaijan is
already turning into a very significant power centre in the
region. Our positions in the region are strengthening. Regional
projects are being implemented which will help more rapidly and
successfully develop and protect our national interests.

Azerbaijan has also made success in the work with international
organizations. We can say that our positions in the international
organizations have strengthened. Our activities in the EU, the Council
of Europe and the UN were very successful. I believe that the steps
taken towards a settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict has had a positive impact on the negotiations. The
talks are already being held in the format that suit us and
Azerbaijan’s just position is better understood by international
organizations, and as a result, we can say that positive aspects have
been strengthened during the talks.

Azerbaijan has clearly voiced its stance which remains unchanged.
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity cannot be a subject of the
negotiations: it must be restored and the occupying forces must
withdraw from the occupied territory. Only on the basis of this
principle there can be talk of a peace accord. This is our strict and
unchanged position and it is very pleasant that the world understands
this position and we can say that this is the main principle in the
negotiations.

Some accuse us of taking hostile and attacking position. But this is
natural because our country is a side that has sustained losses in
this conflict and at the present time, if one can put it, we are
waging a “cold war”. I can say that we are waging this war very
efficiently. We are doing our best to put pressure on Armenia in all
directions. We have increased our propagating activities in the
international organizations and in the bilateral format at peace talks
with Armenia . All this, I think, will allow us to achieve our
goal. That is to say, the international law should be observed, the
occupying forces must pull out from our land and Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity must be restored. The negotiations are
currently being held between the foreign ministers. If necessary, the
presidents will join the negotiations as well. I would like to note
again that the principles of the negotiations have remained
unchanged. I believe that we will continue strengthening our efforts
in the future as well.

As you know, we have also done tremendous work to open Azerbaijan’s
embassies in other countries. New embassies have opened in many
countries and more detailed information about Azerbaijan will be
released to the attention of the international community. At the same
time, we should always strengthen our economic and military
potential. Work is under way in this sphere as well.

Military spending will increase by nearly 30 per cent

In 2004, we also carried out a major work to develop our army and
strengthen its infrastructure. Our army is being modernized and
equipped with new modern technology. We are focusing our attention on
this, and my numerous visits to military units and meetings there
prove that our army is strengthening day by day and is able to resolve
all its tasks. We are determined to continue our efforts in this
field.

As you know, while making additions to the state budget this year,
above all, we increased the funds allocated to the army. Next year, we
will increase the funds allocated to the army nearly by 30 per
cent. If necessary, over the next years, we will increase it by 50,
100 or 200 per cent. Azerbaijan’s economic potential will allow this
and no-one, in particular, Armenia, which occupied our land, can
compete with us. Armenia’s current budget is only 500m dollars,
whereas the amount of the sum planned for the army in Azerbaijan is
about 250m dollars. Until we liberate our land from the invaders, we
will increase our funds and will always continue keeping our army at
the high level.

No dependence on foreign countries

Economic and financial potential is obviously needed to do all this,
and we are building it. We all know very well that the economic
reforms launched by our national leader ex-president Heydar Aliyev
since he came to power in 1993 and which are being carried out
successfully yielded successful results and strengthened our financial
base. The GDP grew by 90 per cent in 1995-2003. Foreign trade
increased by 200 per cent. An average salary grew six times and
pensions 8 times. Thanks to all financial sources, 22bn dollars were
invested in Azerbaijan’s economy. The successful economic reforms have
allowed us both to cover the country’s needs properly and to allocate
larger funds for the army. In general, economic potential is the main
requirement for pursuing an independent policy.

Today Azerbaijan is fully pursuing an independent policy, does not
depend on anybody or any country and is pursuing a policy aimed at the
interests of the Azerbaijani people alone. I am confident that the
policy of strengthening Azerbaijan’s statehood fully meets the
interests of the Azerbaijani people. I would like to add that if we
have not had our economic potential, we might also have begged and
asked other countries and circles for assistance, like Armenia
does. Relying on our own potential and force, our national leader,
Heydar Aliyev, extricated the country from anarchy, crisis and
economic collapse and brought it to today’s path of progress.

Successful domestic policy

These positive factors in the economy have even more strengthened in
2004. The GDP increased by approximately 10 per cent, money income of
the population increased by nearly 20 per cent, the average salary by
26 per cent and today it is 478,000 manats 98 dollars . For the first
time, the average salary in Azerbaijan is already nearly 100
dollars. The next year, this sum will be bigger and will grow in the
future.

Foreign trade increased by 40 per cent and the country’s currency
reserves today stand at 1.8bn dollars. All this shows that 2004 was a
successful year for us. Of course, this success had good reasons. As I
noted before, the strong economic base set up by Heydar Aliyev and the
beneficial economic climate have been created in Azerbaijan for the
future development. We used these opportunities in 2004 effectively
and managed to achieve these economic results.

Structural reforms were carried out and, as is known, new ministries
were set up in 2004. The Communications and Information Technologies
Ministry was set up in the beginning of the year. You know that
information technologies is profoundly important in the world today,
as it has great potential and prospects. Azerbaijan should also keep
up with this process. We should take measures in this sphere as
well. The Agriculture Ministry has been reorganized. I am sure that
this will speed up the development in the sphere of agriculture. The
number of people engaged in agriculture in Azerbaijan is large. The
conditions created for them as well as the establishment of the
Aqrolizinq Agriculture Leasing joint-stock association will help bring
plenty of machinery. About 250bn manats 50m dollars are to be
allocated in the next two years for this purpose and this will allow
us to provide farmers with equipment. This amount is not enough to
fully provide them with equipment, we will not confine ourselves to
the 250bn manats and will increase this sum in order to resolve the
problem with machinery.

I signed a decree on setting up the Ministry of Industry and Energy
yesterday 6 December . This ministry will carry out major tasks as
well. Like in the past, the industrial potential is currently enormous
in Azerbaijan. We have paid less attention to this sphere until
recently, but we must take effective measures and attract investments
to boost our industrial potential. New jobs will open in the
industrial complex as well.

The Azarsu Azerbaijani Water joint-stock association has been set
up. A free-for-all in the water supply system will be eliminated. The
steps taken in this system allow us to say that a strictly-managed
system is going to be created there. Unfortunately, up to now, there
has no been strict discipline there and nobody knew what was going on
there.

Market economy will grow, major projects will be developed

Azerbaijan is faithful to the principles of market economy and we
highly value these principles. Aid to entrepreneurs will definitely be
continued. At numerous meetings with businessmen this year, I have
clearly expressed my support to them. I confirm this support today as
well. The share of the private sector in the GDP is 74 per
cent. According to reports, this figure will be 77 per cent next
year. This figure should grow in the future. However, saying this, we
should also take into account the fact that the oil industry which is
the main sector in Azerbaijan’s economy is in the state monopoly. If
we get the oil factor out of the GDP, we will see that the share of
business, that is the private sector, is even larger.

The sum of the loans allocated to entrepreneurs this year stands at
100bn manats 20m dollars . We will increase this amount twice next
year and businessmen will receive the loans to the tune of 200bn
manats 40m dollars as most of them need these funds. That is to say,
it is impossible to start business without funds. It is true, there
are some people and structures which use their own funds to invest in
business. But the overwhelming majority has no funds and the state
should render its assistance, and it does so.

Over the past 10 months, the figure of investments in fixed assets has
been 43 per cent. Foreign investments grew by 48 per cent and totalled
4bn dollars. The oil sector, which is the most important industry in
Azerbaijan today and in the future, achieved successes this year. All
the projects and programmes started jointly with foreign partners are
being implemented. Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy is developing
successfully. The launch of the construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline proves that we are making progress in this field. Azerbaijan
is successfully and timely implementing the projects which are
important to the world and, above all, to Azerbaijan itself. This will
help increase our economic potential, expand our financial potential
and fully put into operation Azerbaijan’s oil potential.

At the same time, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic
SOCAR has its own projects which have already been discussed. I reckon
that work will be done in the next year to implement new projects and
therefore, the SOCAR will be able to increase the extraction of oil
and gas. We are fully satisfied with the work in this
sphere. Azerbaijan has proved that it is a very reliable partner and
is a proper place for foreign investments.

When marking the 10th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy this
year, we stated that this strategy, this policy and strict line will
be continued. Azerbaijan’s oil potential will serve the Azerbaijani
people and will continue to bring more currency reserves to Azerbaijan
and to its treasury in the future as well.

Regions will develop, new jobs will open, social welfare will improve

The programme for the development of regions has been adopted. It can
be described as a new direction in our work in the economic sphere. It
is true that this field has always been in the focus of the attention,
but the main parameters of this programme were identified this year in
the form of a complex system. Our work in this system was
efficient. There has been liveliness in our regions now: tremendous
work, including renovation and the development, is under way.

New jobs is a very pleasant process and most of them opened in the
regions. All the efforts to open new jobs lead to achievements. Over
the past year, more than 110,000 new jobs, these figures change
quickly, have opened. This process is so rapid that we have to correct
these figures every month. Anyway, according to latest information,
over 110,000 jobs opened, and 110,000 new jobs in one year for 8m
population is a big success. I can even say that this result has never
been registered in the world. This proves that all our plans and
programmes are based on realistic aspects. Simply, one should organize
work correctly, approach tasks with success and confidence in order to
implement all programmes.

Social tasks were carried out properly. Salaries, pensions and other
social allowances were increased and paid timely. A minimum wage
increased as well. At the beginning of the year, it was 45,000 manats
about 10 dollars , later on, it became 60,000 12 dollars and now
100,000 20 dollars . From 1 January it will be 125,000 manats 25
dollars . This shows that the growth is continuing. Of course, 125,000
manats is not a big sum, and we understand this very well. But the
fact is that this figure increased more than twice. The growth of the
minimum salary and, in general, the improvement of the Azerbaijani
people’s well-being is very important to us. I would like to add that
well-being of the Azerbaijani people should improve on a yearly basis.

Our attention to the social sphere will continue in the future as
well. The improvement of conditions has been especially planned for
those in need – refugees and forced migrants. Relevant decrees were
issued in this field and are currently being fulfilled. New towns are
being built on the territory of Agdam District freed from the
occupation, and residents in Barda District who live in the most
difficult conditions – in refugee camps and wagons – will move to new
houses. All conditions will be created for them. We are already well
experienced in this field. On the instruction of our people’s national
leader, Heydar Aliyev, the first revenues of the State Oil Fund will
go to creating conditions for refugees and displaced persons. Like in
all other spheres, we are continuing this policy in this field as
well.

There is a comprehensive plan of activities for 2005. The state budget
for 2005 has already been adopted and everyone is aware of our
work. Economic forecasts have also been made and they are quite
optimistic. According to the forecasts, the growth of the GDP will be
14 per cent. The growth of budget revenues will be 25 per cent and of
the average salary 22 per cent. Imports will grow by 70 per cent and
foreign trade by 53 per cent. Investments, including foreign
investments, will total 4.5bn dollars. All this is a forecast. But we
already know that we can fulfil them exceeding all expectations. I
hope that this forecast will be put into practice and we will make
bigger success.

In order to implement all this, we should organize our work
effectively. Of course, we have certain problems in the country. We
are continuing work to reduce poverty and unemployment. Our society is
concerned about other problems either. We are aware of them and are
trying to resolve them.

Of course, tremendous work was done in one year and in five years. But
if we go back 10 years ago, we can clearly see in what state
Azerbaijan was at that time and how things are now. Azerbaijan was the
most undeveloped country in the region and in the post-Soviet
area. Its economy was in collapse, the territory was occupied and
civil confrontation was under way inside the country. We can say that
Azerbaijan was being destroyed from both outside and inside the
country. Today Azerbaijan is the leading country of the region. It is
not only us who say this, but all international financial bodies and
the international community have stated this. Azerbaijan has turned
into a powerful centre in the region and can be an example for other
countries.

Political stability must be preserved

In order to strengthen all these positive factors, stability, peace
and order in the country will be of great importance along with other
factors. We have achieved this. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev’s
determination, far-reaching policy and bravery, stability and peace
have been established in the country. Illegal armed groups that were
controlling the country were eliminated. All of them do not exist now
and will never come back. We need stability, peace and order and we
will have them in order to continue our success in the future and to
implement all our plans. No-one in our society doubts this. It is the
duty of those who govern Azerbaijan to maintain this stability. We
should make sure that from now on the Azerbaijani people live in the
conditions of peace and safety and well-being of the people improve
further. Azerbaijan’s positions should strengthen in the world and, in
other words, our motherland will continue to develop and thrive.

I think we will hear reports and hold an exchange of views in this
sitting. I have delivered my general view about the results of
2004. There is probably a need for the more detailed discussion.

I am giving the floor to First Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of
the State Commission for Refugees and Forced Migrants Ali Hasanov.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iraqi official defends move to re-integrate Saddam army soldiers

Al-Sharq al-Awsat, London
11 Dec 04

Text of report on an interview with Paruska Nuri Shawes, secretary
general of the Iraqi Defence Ministry, by Ra’d Kamil in Baghdad; date
not given, headlined “Iraqi forces started to use aircraft to watch
the borders and oil pipelines. Iraqi Defence Ministry’s
secretary-general to Al-Sharq al-Awsat: we are building a new,
balanced, national, denominational army”, carried by London-based
newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat on 11 December

Paruska Nuri Shawes, the secretary general of the Iraqi Defence
Ministry, has reported that his ministry has started to use
reconnaissance aircraft to watch the border areas and the oil
pipelines so as to prevent the illegal border crossings and stop the
attacks on oil pipelines. He added that the ministry is preparing to
use helicopters for the same purpose.

Shawes said in an interview with Al-Sharq al-Awsat that his ministry
is building a new and balanced Iraqi army “which represents all the
Iraqi people’s components” so that not 90 per cent of its officers are
Sunnis and 90 per cent of its soldiers Shi’is like the army under
Saddam Husayn’s regime.

He said: “We have received the help of the brothers in the United Arab
Emirates who trained our pilots to fly the Iraqi reconnaissance
aircraft that take photographs from the air and send them to the
centre. They started operations before two weeks to watch the borders
and were able to take successful photographs of the areas on the Iraqi
borders where there were movements.”

He added: “We are about to develop our work by using some helicopters
that the Iraqi army has been trained to fly so as to watch any
movement in the border areas.” He pointed out that there are “areas
between one country and another where these two countries’ forces
cannot cross according to the international agreements known to
all. But the border areas can be photographed from a long distance by
reconnaissance aircraft. This is what we are doing now and these
aircraft are watching the Iraqi oil pipelines and the movements in the
border areas.”

Asked about the possibility of recruiting members of the dissolved
Iraqi army, Shawes said: “We have absorbed many of the good officers
in the former army whose hands were not tainted by crimes against the
people.” He added: “To avoid what happened in the former army, there
should be a balance between the Iraqi people’s components in the new
army.”

He pointed out that the “Sunnis comprised 90 per cent of the officers
in the former army while the Shi’is represented 90 per cent of its
soldiers. This shows that there was no balance between the people’s
various components. There should be a Shi’i, a Sunni, a Kurd, an
Assyrian, a Chaldaean, an Armenian, and a Turkoman so that every
citizen in Iraq feels that he is not isolated from this army and that
the latter represents him. We take care that where the commander is a
Shi’i then his aides are a Sunni and a Kurd. All the Iraqis should
form an indivisible unit. We have to consider that the one who comes
to us and expresses a desire to enlist in this army should be given
his chance.”

The Iraqi Defence Ministry official went on to say: “Regarding the
rights of the dissolved army’s soldiers, we are paying them emergency
grants and we have proposed to the cabinet to keep them. Moreover, the
Health Ministry has absorbed the former army’s military medical cadres
and the Industry and Works Ministries have absorbed the engineering
cadres.” He added: “There are only between 7,000 and 7,500 former army
elements who are included in the deba’thification decision.” He
asserted that the “doors of appointment have not been closed before
them but we feel that the Iraqi people’s sons whose relatives were
killed in the uprising and in Al-Anfal operation or buried in mass
graves will not be happy with us if we appoint those involved in these
actions commanders in the new Iraqi army.”

Shawes defended the security role of the Iraqi National Guards and
said the number of Guards’ victims since its establishment till now
“is commensurate with the responsibilities they were given.” He added
that the National Guards elements “are being targeted because they are
defending the Iraqi people and their aspirations. This gives us the
honour of confronting those who do not wish Iraq well.”

Regarding reports that there are problems between the National Guards
and the Iraqi police force, he said: “This is an allegation made by
the enemies in an attempt to belittle the Iraqi security forces. This
is untrue and does not exist because there is coordination between the
Defence and Interior Ministries. We are also vying with each other in
devotion and sacrifices.” He pointed out however that there “are some
personal conducts and joint committees have been formed to limit them
because we are eager that such problems should not occur in the new
Iraq.” He said the National Guards, the Rapid Intervention Forces, and
the Mechanized Brigade come under the new Iraqi army “and we have
chosen the National Guards to help the police force. Though their
training is military, the Guards join the Iraqi police force to
maintain internal security.”

Asked for his opinion about enlisting women in the new Iraqi army,
Shawes said: “Though there are physical differences, it is society
that has put certain restrictions on the woman to prevent her from
playing her real role, either in the army or the factory. We have to
give the woman the chance because work in the army is one of the
important sectors in life. We can say from experience that a woman
enrolled in the army can carry out a heroic action just like her
brother the man.”

About his vision of Iraq’s future, especially after the elections that
are scheduled to be held on 30 January 2005, Shawes said: “Iraq is
going to be in a better position than it is now because the state’s
foundations have been established and its institutions have started to
function on the track planned for them. The Iraqi people have felt
this and have started to realize that they can change the authority
through the ballot boxes without any pressures from any human
being. But we are now facing a terrorist situation and we have the
responsibility of establishing a capable army and effective security
forces so that our people in Iraq can have security and stability.”

Lowell Sun (Lowell, MA)
December 6, 2004 Monday

‘It’s a family tradition’

NANCYE TUTTLE, Sun Staff

Tradition, tradition …

Tevye, the milkman, sang of its significance in the popular musical
Fiddler on the Roof.

And at this time of year, families draw on their own traditions to
make the holidays special and truly memorable for every member.

It may be as simple as trooping into the woods to chop down the
Christmas tree or decorating cookies for a family celebration or
savoring the same festive dinner each Christmas Eve.

Whatever it is, traditions are important for solidifying family ties
and creating memories to last a lifetime.

Traditions often are food-centered and faith-based. That’s the case
in Sara Bogosian’s family.

“Christmas is a very special time of year for our family, filled with
many age old traditions because of our multi-cultural, multi-lingual
backgrounds,” says Bogosian of Lowell.

Her parents were 100 percent Armenian, but Sara and her mother before
her were born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. So they blend several
different cultures’ holiday traditions.

The real Armenian Christmas, primarily a religious celebration, is
based on the Julian calendar and celebrated on Jan. 6. Bogosian and
her family celebrate on both Dec. 25 and Jan. 6.

“On Christmas Eve, our immediate family gets together with cousins,
aunts, uncles and friends. We go to Christmas Mass and then come home
to a dinner filled with Argentinian and Armenian cuisine,” she said.

Besides dinner, there are traditional desserts, including an Armenian
Christmas pudding called Anoshaboor.

“It is a pudding made of whole grain wheat, apricots, yellow raisins,
pistachio nuts, walnuts, filberts, sugar, rose water, almonds and
pomegranate seeds. The pudding is placed in a large bowl and
decorated with the almonds in the shape of a big star to represent
the star that shone on Christmas night,” said Bogosian.

Music also plays a big part in the family celebration, with a carol
sing around the piano.

Before going to bed, each member celebrates the Argentinian custom of
putting their shoes out at the front door for the Three Wise Men who
come bearing gifts. In the morning, the shoes are filled with candies
and little gifts.

Even though Bogosian’s children are now 21 and 24 and a niece is 18,
Santa still gets his due.

“Every Christmas Eve, we still put out a long note to Santa, along
with milk, cookies and carrots and celery for the reindeer. Amazingly
enough, Santa, in spite of his busy schedule, always seems to write
us back, mentioning every member of the family. Before we begin to
open our gifts on Christmas morning, we read the note from Santa out
loud. It is a funny, and sometimes emotional way to start off the
gift giving,” said Bogosian.

Christine and Bruce Brown’s holiday traditions focus on food as well.
And the famous cookie tray is a major focal point, says Chris, who
directs the Center for the Arts at UMass Lowell

“Most of our holiday traditions are food-related. In the 18 years
since we’ve lived in Lowell, we’ve always welcomed many of the Brown
family on Christmas Eve. It’s a large family and they come from all
over,” says Chris.

The evening always starts with a big, sit-down dinner of roasted loin
of pork, tiny roasted potatoes and Bruce’s mother’s special pork
sauce recipe.

“We eat by candlelight, and then go into the living room for a
gift-opening respite,” says Chris.

Following gifts, they retreat to the dining room again for the
fabulous cookie tray.

“This is something I inherited from Bruce’s mother when we got
married. We always have a big discussion on what will be on the
tray,” she said.

There are usually eight varieties, but painted cutouts, coconut
macaroons, almond spritz, and triple orange frosted brownies are
always on the tray, Brown says.

On Christmas Day, Chris, Bruce and their son Ethan, now a sophomore
at University of Michigan, traditionally walk down the stairs holding
hands to see if Santa came. After breakfast with a sour cream coffee
cake that Bruce always bakes, they open stockings and enjoy an “orgy
of Christmas present opening.”

Then they travel to a brother’s home in Newton for Christmas dinner,
always a traditional turkey with more cookies. During the day, they
all help put together a jigsaw puzzle.

“It’s always a new one, set up on a card table and everyone helps put
it together,” says Chris.

Retirees Chet and Carole Babineau of Pepperell have a few happy
traditions that they enjoy sharing with their family.

“Christmas services on Christmas Eve, no longer a midnight Mass, but
we like to go Christmas Eve and hope it is [snow] flurrying as we
leave. That really sets the mood,” said Chet.

They have stockings at their house for the five grandchildren who
live next door. “We invite the little tykes up to our house later in
the day so they can retrieve what Santa has left in their stockings
that Nana hangs on the mantel,” he said.

After Christmas, they celebrate New Year’s with a bang with their
Texas grandchildren.

“It’s a ban-up time in Texas, as they can set off fireworks. The
street looks and smells like a combat zone after the display. This is
our second Christmas with the family there,” said Chet.

Nancye Tuttle’s e-mail address is [email protected].

GRAPHIC: Every Christmas, Christine Brown of Lowell creates ‘the
fabulous cookie tray’ for members of her extended family a custom she
took over from her mother-in-law. sun file photo

The Virginian-Pilot(Norfolk, Va.)
December 5, 2004 Sunday The Virginian-Pilot Edition

>From tolerance to hatred in a crumbling empire

BIRDS WITHOUT WINGS
LOUIS De BERNIERES
Knopf. 554 Pages. $25.95.

By RAY LOCKER

THE FIRST SIGN that life in the village of Eskibahce wasn’t as
tranquil as it seemed came when its residents dragged the wife of its
leading citizen into the town square and tried to stone her to death
for adultery.

A few weeks later, they stood by when the local drunk assaulted the
town’s Armenian shopkeeper, all the while shouting ethnic slurs at
him.

In “Birds Without Wings,” author Louis de Bernieres, whose previous
novel was the best seller “Corelli’s Mandolin,” has used this town on
the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as the setting for his account of
the final days of the Ottoman Empire and the upheaval that
accompanied the creation of modern Turkey. He shows how easily people
can cross the delicate line between diversity and tolerance to casual
cruelty and rabid hatred when prodded by the twin evils of
nationalism and religious intolerance.

Here, de Bernieres is working familiar territory, often too familiar.
His books deal with ordinary people pushed by currents unleashed by
crackpots and misguided visionaries, be they communist
revolutionaries, fascist dictators or fanatic nationalists.

His first three novels, a trilogy about the Andean village of
Cochadebajo, channeled the magical realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez,
while “Corelli’s Mandolin” bared the soul of the Greek island of
Cephalonia during its occupation by German and Italian invaders in
World War II. All showed people trying to keep their lives together
while the zealots around them exploited human differences for their
own gain.

A sort of prequel to “Corelli’s Mandolin” – the books share some
common characters – “Birds Without Wings” is set in the crumbling,
polyglot Ottoman Empire. The Muslims, Greek Christians and Armenians
of Eskibahce live in peace, aware of their differences but content to
either gloss over or accommodate them without outside agitation.

But, as it always does in de Bernieres’ novels, war stirs the
village’s inner demons. Young Muslim men are drafted, while their
Christian neighbors are shunted aside. The town’s Armenians are
forced from their homes and driven east on a genocidal death march.
The empire’s Muslim rulers peddle a shallow jihad to keep their
power, stripping away what had been a shared sense of nationhood and
community and stirring what de Bernieres calls “the hell’s broth of
religious and nationalist hatred.”

As a result, thousands of Ottoman soldiers, as well as those from
Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand, died in the trenches at
Gallipoli, one of the war’s most violent and senseless battles. Here,
de Bernieres writes powerfully of the savagery of war, as soldiers
die almost as often from the disease of the battlefield as from being
shot, bombed or gassed.

Unfortunately, de Bernieres’ powerful prose serves a book that reads
almost more like a history than a novel. Unlike “Corelli’s Mandolin,
which was supported by a long-running love story, “Birds Without
Wings” has many different stories but little that pulls them
together. De Bernieres has said he writes his novels in pieces and
then puts them together later. Here, some of the pieces must have
fallen on the floor during construction.

That lack of focus ultimately keeps “Birds Without Wings” from
reaching his usual high standard. At times, he also seems to repeat
himself: “Corelli’s Mandolin” had an Italian officer who liked music;
so does “Birds Without Wings.”

De Bernieres tells all of this with the rich prose and vivid
descriptions that are his gift, but he often uses them to push a
story we keep thinking will get somewhere but never quite does.