ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN MPs INTEND TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS ON RELATIONS
WITH NATO

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 1. ARMINFO. Armenian and Russian MPs are going to
hold consultations to overcome possible misunderstanding over
Armenia’s and Russia’s relations with NATO. Such a decision was made
by the Armenian-Russian interparliamentary cooperation commission.

Russian sources report that in the protocoal of their last meeting the
commissioners say that Armenian-Russian political and military
cooperation is on high level and meets the national interests of both
sides. They say that the Armenian-Russian military alliance is a key
element of regional security and should be developed in future. The
commissioners say that the military-industrial integration of Armenian
and Russian companies should be encouraged for the development of
economic cooperation in the military-technological sphere. The
commissioners have decided to enhance the cooperation of Armenian and
Russian MPs at international organizations with preliminary
consultations on topical issues to be discussed there.

The speaker of Russia’s Council of Federations Sergey Mironov says
that Armenian-Russian interparliamentary relations are on high
level. But the Armenian and Russian MPs should more actively cooperate
at CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and in the framework of Caucasian
Four. Special attention should be given to joint struggle with
terrorism and the Karabakh conflict settlement.

The next meeting of the commission is to be held in Yerevan in May
2005. The key topic is the operation of the companies given by Armenia
to Russia under the Assets Against Debt program.

Azeri spiritual leader hails Islamic organization’s support

MPA news agency
1 Dec 04

BAKU

“The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is the only
international organization that defends Azerbaijan’s position on the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict,” the head of the Spiritual Board of the
Muslims of the Caucasus, Allahsukur Pasazada, has told an OIC meeting
under way in Qatar.

The OIC meeting is being attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev.

Without denying the fact that even within the OIC there are countries
supporting Azerbaijan rather weakly, the sheikh explained this by
their fear of the world’s superpowers.

2ND IRAN-ARMENIA ELECTRICITY LINE TO BE LAUNCHED TODAY

Asia Pulse
Dec 01, 2004

TEHRAN, Dec 1 Asia Pulse – A second line of the Iran-Armenia electricity
network with a capacity of 230 kw is due to be inaugurated today.

Iranian Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf and his Armenian counterpart,
Armen Movsisian, will be attending the inaugural ceremony.

“Electricity exchanges between the two countries will reach a total of 450
megawatts through this project,” the managing director of the Iranian SANIR
Electricity Company said.

Alireza Kadkhodaei said that the project costs US$8.4 million.

He also announced that the two countries` energy ministers are scheduled to
sign an agreement for construction of a third line of the the two countries`
electricity network.

Meanwhile, Iran and Armenia on May 13 signed an agreement to construct a
42-km gas pipeline between the Armenian cities of Megri and Kajaran.

The project is to be inaugurated during an upcoming visit of Energy Minister
Bitaraf in Armenia.

The Iran-Armenia trade volume is expected to reach US$10 billion in the next
20 years with implementation of the above-stated project.

Armenian diplomats still in Equatorial Guinea to get pilots released

Arminfo
30 Nov 04

YEREVAN

After the six Armenian pilots were imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea,
the Armenian delegation is still in that country to discuss the
further fate of the Armenian pilots with the local authorities.

The Armenian delegation has been allowed to visit the pilots, the
press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told Arminfo news
agency. Ambassador Sergey Manaseryan and the deputy head of the
Armenian state protocol service, Gevorg Petrosyan, are having ongoing
negotiations with various representatives of the Equatorial Guinean
leadership, including the secretary-general of the ruling Democratic
Party, Filiberto Ntutumu Nguema. Meetings have been scheduled with the
Equatorial Guinean foreign minister. A statement by the Armenian
government in connection with the review of the case of the Armenian
pilots will be submitted during the meeting. The Armenian delegation
maintains close contact with the pilots’ defence lawyer (?Ponciano
Mbombo Nwo) who intends to appeal against the sentence at the Supreme
Court of Equatorial Guinea.

However, the court has still not provided the written version of the
sentence, only after which it will be possible to appeal to the
Supreme Court.

[Passage omitted: South Africans’ defence lawyers are also waiting for
the sentence in a written form; background to the case]

New body to make sure no freight gets to Armenia via Azerbaijan – TV

ANS TV, Baku
30 Nov 04

[Presenter Aytan Safarova] The Azerbaijani State Customs Committee’s
delegation is in Tbilisi. The delegation is to verify the documents of
the companies which own the freight in the wagons that have been
stopped at the Boyuk Kasik station [on the Georgian-Azerbaijani
border].

[Correspondent] The damage inflicted on the other side by Azerbaijan’s
stricter control over the railway freight heading for Georgia is
around five to six million dollars, (?Irma Stepnadze), the
spokesperson of Georgia’s Department of Railways, has told ANS TV. She
said that the overall amount of losses is still being calculated. The
temporary detention of freight wagons on the border has also inflicted
some losses on Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani State Railway Department
did not disclose the amount but said that since this has to do with
national interests, the losses are not that important.

The Azerbaijani bodies, especially the State Customs Committee,
started to seriously search the wagons from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan
and Russia which head for Georgia through Azerbaijan a month ago. The
Baku government explains this by the subsequent transit of some of the
commodities, particularly of oil, to Armenia. According to documents
signed by the Georgian and Azerbaijani heads of states, commodities
cannot be transited to a third country if this runs counter to
Azerbaijan’s interests. As for the commodities, they include oil,
liquefied gas, grain and flour.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Georgia, Ramiz Hasanov, has said that the
verification of companies by the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee’s
delegation will take until the end of the week.

[Hasanov over telephone] This process will take some time, about three
or four days. Some proposals will be made after that. They are
investigating, verifying documents and figures. There is no proposal
as yet. On the basis of their investigation we will make some
proposals and will take some measures.

When I say investigation I mean that they are checking what are those
companies, what are the amounts and so on.

[Correspondent] Despite suffering losses, the other side does not
protest at the process.

[Hasanov] There is no discontent at all. They understand and we cite
some bilateral agreements. We have the right to do this.

[Correspondent] During the talks the creation of a special body under
the Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia was also discussed. The body is to
include representatives of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee,
Azerbaijani State Railway Department and the State Oil Company of the
Azerbaijani Republic and to oversee that freight transited from
Azerbaijan to Georgia reaches its destination. The Tbilisi government
has already agreed to the creation of the body, Hasanov said. The body
is expected to start working soon.

Ayaz Mirzayev, ANS.

EU draft report lists conditions for starting entry talks with Turkey

Cyprus News Agency, Nicosia
1 Dec 04

Brussels, 30 November: The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European
Parliament approved the draft report of Dutch Member of the European
Parliament Camiel Eurlings on Turkey’s accession course, inviting the
council to open negotiations with Turkey without undue delay,
stressing that the withdrawal of the Turkish forces in Cyprus “is a
necessary step forward on the way to further ease tension” on the
island.

The draft report, which was approved by 50 votes to 18 with six
abstentions, lists all the conditions that have yet to be met. On
Cyprus, the MEPs want to see greater efforts from the Turkish
authorities on the Cyprus issue.

“Whilst respecting the democratic will of the Greek Cypriot
community,” which rejected a UN plan for a settlement in an April
referendum, the Foreign Affairs Committee is disappointed that a
solution has not been found and calls on “the Turkish authorities to
maintain their constructive attitude” in finding “an equitable
solution to be negotiated using as a basis the [UN Secretary-General
Kofi] Annan plan and the principles upon which the EU is founded.”.

The MEPs believe that “a withdrawal of Turkish forces is a necessary
step forward on the way to further ease tension”.

Since membership negotiations would take place between Turkey on one
side and the 25 member states, including Cyprus, on the other, the
MEPs consider that “the opening of negotiations naturally presumes the
recognition of Cyprus by Turkey”.

The idea of offering Turkey a “privileged partnership” rather than
membership of the EU if it does not bring itself into compliance with
the Copenhagen criteria was rejected by the Committee but it may be
put to the vote once again during the December plenary session.

The report urges Turkey to maintain good neighbourly relations and to
abstain from “threats and tension-prone activities.”

At the same time, the MEPs ask Turkey to pursue its efforts at
reconciliation with Armenia and to reopen the border with this
country.

The Committee approved amendments by MEPs Ioannis Kasoulidhis, Charlie
Tannock and Bernd Posselt encouraging Turkey to implement the legal
changes it has approved and their application as regards to education
and radio and television transmissions for non-Muslim minorities
(Greeks, Armenians, Jews and Syrians).

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
Mercoledì, 1 Dicembre 2004

UE:TURCHIA, ANKARA DOVRA’ RISOLVERE ANCHE PROBLEMI MINORANZE ;
SI PRECISANO CONDIZIONI PER OTTENERE AVVIO NEGOZIATO

ANKARA

(ANSA) – ANKARA, 1 DIC – La Turchia, per ottenere la data di
avvio del negoziato di adesione con l’Ue, deve impegnarsi a
risolvere al piu’ presto possibile i problemi ancora aperti con
le sue minoranze etniche e religiose, come curdi, ortodossi ed
aleviti e a normalizzare le sue relazioni con l’Armenia. E’
quanto riportano oggi i quotidiani turchi Cumhuriyet e Milliyet
che fanno riferimento alla bozza di un documento, trapelato a
Bruxelles nei giorni scorsi, che contiene alcune linee guida per
i capi di stato e di governo che il 17 dicembre dovranno
decidere la data di avvio del negoziato con Ankara e le sue
condizioni.

In particolare, per quanto riguarda la questione curda, l’Ue
sembra orientata a chiedere ad Ankara -secondo i due giornali-
“passi piu’ attivi”, e “negoziati con le organizzazioni
curde” al fine di mettere fine al conflitto. Secondo Cumhuriyet
l’Ue si spingerebbe fino a chiedere “un accordo di cessate il
fuoco con il Pkk” (una cosa che -secondo gli analisti-
difficilmente la Turchia potra’ mai accettare).

Per quanto riguarda i cittadini turchi di religione ortodossa
(sono circa 2000), l’Ue chiede ad Ankara di riaprire la scuola
religiosa ortodossa di Hebeliada (un’isola vicino Istanbul)
chiusa da diversi anni e alla cui riapertura si oppongono gli
ambienti islamici ortodossi che hanno influenza sull’attuale
governo turco.

Per gli aleviti, che si considerano una religione separata
dall’islam e che lo stato ed il governo turco continuano ad
assimilare ai musulmani, l’Ue intende chiedere un riconoscimento
della loro identita’ separata, in quanto “minoranza non
musulmana”, con le conseguenze che cio’ comporta.

Quanto ai rapporti con l’Armenia, con cui la Turchia non ha
relazioni diplomatiche e contatti aerei solo 4 volte la
settimana, l’Ue chiede, come misura urgente, l’apertura di un
passaggio di confine ed un avvio di normalizzazione delle
relazioni avvelenate dal rifiuto di Ankara di riconoscere il
“genocidio” degli armeni del 1915 ad opera degli ottomani e
dalle conseguenze della guerra azero-armena del Nagorno
Karabakh, oggi sotto sovranita’ armena.

(ANSA).

Armenian journalist gets political asylum in France

Aravot, Yerevan
30 Nov 04

Text of report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 30 November headlined
“Political asylum for journalist”

30 November: Armenian journalist Vaagn Gukasyan has got a political
asylum in France for 10 years. The problems that Gukasyan has faced
during his journalistic investigation in Armenia are the reason for
this decision. He has been beaten up at the police station, his studio
has been burnt out and interrogations have been accompanied with
lawfulness.

The journalist has telephoned from Paris and said that despite the
opportunity to become a citizen of France, he would return to Armenia
after the regime change.

UN programme aims to eliminate political, social inequality in Armenia

Mediamax news agency
1 Dec 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian government and the United Nations Organization [UNO]
signed a promotion programme for 2005-2009 in Yerevan today.

The resident representative of the UNDP in Armenia, Lise Grande, noted
that the five-year programme covers four directions: economic and
social justice, and democratic and ecological management. The main
objective of the programme is to eliminate economic, social and
political inequality in Armenia.

The general budget of the UNO programmes implemented in Armenia in
2004 totals 10m dollars.

ARKA News Agency
Dec 1 2004

RA Prime Minister and Catholicos discuss church-state relations

RA President Robert Kocharian receives Chairman of National Olympic
Committee of Armenia

First lady of Georgia Sandra Elizabeth Rulofs to arrive in Yerevan
with four-day visit

RA Parliament Deputy elected the Deputy Chairman of PABSEC Committee
on Culture, Education and Social Affairs

********************************************************************

RA PRIME MINISTER AND CATHOLICOS DISCUSS CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian and
Catholicos of All Armenian Garegin II discussed church-state
relations, RA Government press office told ARKA. L.D. –0–

********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN RECEIVES CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC
COMMITTEE OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian receives
Chairman of National Olympic Committee of Armenia Gagik Tsarukian and
the Chairman of State Committee on Physical Training and Sport
Ishkhan Zakarian, President’s press service told ARKA. During the
meeting the parties discussed the program of activities of National
Olympic Committee of Armenia. L.D. –0–

********************************************************************

FIRST LADY OF GEORGIA SANDRA ELIZABETH RULOFS TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN
WITH FOUR-DAY VISIT

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. First lady of Georgia Sandra Elizabeth
Rulofs will arrive in Yerevan with four-day visit, RA President’s
press office told ARKA. First Lady will visit National Oncology
Center, American Rehabilitation Center of Red Cross and will meet
with teaching staff and students of Yerevan State University. Rulofs
will also attend Tsitsernakaberd and lay a wreath to Memorial of
Armenian Genocide. L.D. –0–

********************************************************************

RA PARLIAMENT DEPUTY ELECTED THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF PABSEC COMMITTEE
ON CULTURE, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

YEREVAN, December 1. /ARKA/. RA Parliament Deputy Vladimir Badalian
was elected the deputy chairman of PABSEC Committee on Culture,
Education and Social Affairs, member of Armenian Delegation to
PABSEC, RA NA Deputy Mehak Mkhitarian stated today. According to him,
elections took place on Nov 23-25 in Anatolia during 24th PABSEC
General Assembly. He said that it is very important fact,
demonstrating that Armenia not only participates in the works of the
organization, but is involved in administration process. L.D. –0–