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1) ARF Reps Attend Socialist International Council, Women’s Bureau
2) Paris Rally to Demand Vote on Turkey’s EU Accession
3) Kocharian Inspects Armenian Frontline Troops
4) No Armenian Electricity to Nakhichevan

1) ARF Reps Attend Socialist International Council, Women’s Bureau

YEREVAN (ARF press office)–Representatives of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) participated in Socialist International’s (SI) Council
meeting
in Johannesburg, South Africa, hosted by the African National Congress (ANC).
On November 15 and 16, leaders and delegates from 100 member parties and
organizations from 70 countries, gathered to discuss the Council’s main theme,
“The Progressive Agenda: priorities for our movement today.”
The gathering of the Council, SI’s highest decision-making body during the
inter-Congress period, underlined the commitment of SI to address the concerns
of the African people and SI’s strong presence in the continent.
Representing the sole party from the South Caucasus, ARF Bureau member and
the
organization’s representative in Socialist International Mario Nalbandian, and
ARF Armenia member Maria Titizian, also participated in the three panel
debates. Titizian partook in Socialist International Women’s Bureau meeting:
“Women Speak out on The UN Millennium Development Goals,” which took place
November 12 and 13.
The Women’s Bureau addressed UN development goals, its effects on the
eradication of poverty and hunger, and examined means to developing global
partnerships. At the heart of discussions was the dire need to promote gender
equality and empower women to occupy center stage in the development of the
human race. The meeting also reviewed increases in gender-based violence–from
sexual abuse to systematic rape, forced pregnancies, and continuous violation
of women’s rights. Titizian had the opportunity to present ARF Armenia’s
political and social undertakings to empower the women of that country.
On the eve of the Council, SI’s leadership conducted a working meeting with
the President of the Republic of South Africa and of the ANC, Thabo Mbeki, to
discuss SI’s Africa priorities, evaluate the outcome of US elections, and
review current Mid East developments.
The plenary session of the Council opened with SI President António
Guterres’s
address that defined certain tasks and priorities for social democracy.
On Monday, November 15, in the afternoon and on Tuesday, November 16, in the
morning, the panel discussions took place with a broad representation of
participants. On each subject addressed by the panels, the Council agreed on
specific resolutions reflecting the outcome of the debates. The Council also
addressed the urgent and critical developments in the Middle East and the
serious situation in Côte d’Ivoire.
The SI Secretary General gave a report on the activities of Socialist
International and presented an outline of the organization’s work for the
forthcoming months.
“Our task, as we adjourn here today, is to return to our towns and cities, to
our countries, and to our regions–to pursue with ever greater vigor and
confidence the program of progressive action we have deliberated on,” stressed
ANC Secretary General of the Kgalema Motlanthe in closing the meeting.
On the sidelines of the Council, the ARF representatives were both able to
hold numerous meetings with members of various organizations to review issues
of concern to Armenia and Armenians.

2) Paris Rally to Demand Vote on Turkey’s EU Accession

PARIS–French-Armenians will hold a rally Wednesday at the Palais Bourbon,
home
to the French National Assembly, to demand that the country’s Parliament vote
on Turkey’s accession to the European Union.
The rally has the support of the French-Armenian Coordinating Council and is
being organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, the Armenian
Democratic League (Ramgavar party), and the Hai Tahd Committee of France.
The National Assembly on October 14 had discussed the issue of Turkish
accession–but did not hold a vote, despite the demand of a large number of
political parties and parliamentarians to do so.
The French government, particularly President Jacques Chirac, opposed such a
vote, fearing that a majority of the Assembly, including Chirac’s own party
members, might reject Turkish accession. That result would have undermined
Chirac’s authority and likely isolated France within Europe.
The French-Armenian rally on Wednesday is scheduled for exactly a month
before
the European Union’s December 17 summit, which will set the date on when
the EU
would begin formal accession talks with Turkey.
At the rally, scores of French parliamentarians are expected to cast symbolic
votes as a sign of protest against the denial of their right to vote in the
National Assembly regarding Turkish accession. They will also demand that in
the next month a formal vote actually be held in the Assembly.
The vast majority of French voters are opposed to Turkey’s accession to the
European Union, and rally organizers hope to put pressure on President Chirac
to heed public opinion.
They are also seeking to make Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian genocide a
precondition for Turkish entry into the EU.

3) Kocharian Inspects Armenian Frontline Troops

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–President Robert Kocharian conducted a four-day
inspection of
Armenian troops stationed along the volatile frontline with Azerbaijan,
ordering their commanders to further boost their combat-readiness, his office
revealed on Tuesday.
A statement by the presidential press service said Kocharian, accompanied by
Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian, visited “a number of frontier army bases”
from November 9-12.
“The purpose of the visit was to take a close look at the combat and
technical
readiness of the units, the implementation of training programs and social
conditions of the personnel,” the statement said. It added that Kocharian
inspected Armenian defense fortifications and inaugurated a new “army barracks
complex.”
There was no word on the precise location of the Armenian army positions
visited.
The statement did say that while Kocharian was largely satisfied with what he
saw, he urged top army commanders “not to content themselves with the achieved
results” and to continue to strengthen their troops.

4) No Armenian Electricity to Nakhichevan

BAKU (Combined Sources)Armenia’s proposal to provide electricity to the
Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan was skimmed over during a ministerial
conference on energy cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the
Caspian region, held in Baku on November 13.
Energy and fuel ministers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran,
Kazakhstan,
Kirghizstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine, joined representatives of
the European Commission, international financial structures, and the TRACECA
program to examine potential for cooperation.
Pointing to the importance of expanding collaboration utilizing the Caspian’s
hydrocarbon resources, Hugues Mingarelli of the EU Directorate General for
External Relations noted that with the addition of 10 new states to the union,
the organization’s borders have moved much closer to the countries of the
Caspian and Black Sea regions.
In presenting Armenia’s energy potential, energy ministry official Levon
Vartanian offered to supply electricity to the historically Armenian region of
Nakhichevan, which was forcibly attached to Soviet Azerbaijan in 1921, and
subsequently cleansed of its entire Armenian population. An exclave of
Azerbaijan, Nakhichevan borders Iran and Turkey on the south and Armenia on
the
north.

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ARMENIA THIS WEEK
Monday, November 15, 2004

In this issue:

U.S.-Armenian security cooperation

Millennium Challenge program

Azeri propaganda and military build-up

Economist on Armenian Genocide and Turkey

ARMENIA CONFIRMS PLEDGE TO U.S. AMID FRESH ANTI-ARMENIAN TERRORISM IN IRAQ

Armenian leaders reaffirmed their commitment to contribute to the
U.S.-led forces in Iraq despite anti-Armenian terrorism in Iraq,
significant domestic opposition and delays associated with rotation of
the U.S.-allied forces out of Iraq. Last week, a car bomb went off
outside the Armenian school in Baghdad. While no casualties were
reported, the school which has 200 students has been closed
indefinitely. Iraqi Armenian community leaders have appealed to the
Armenian government against sending servicemen that would be seen as
helping U.S. forces, fearing new, more deadly attacks. While sharing
these concerns, Armenian officials argued that Armenia could not expect
to benefit from stability accorded by the U.S., without contributing to
it even in modest ways.

Peacekeeping and other cooperation issues were high on the agenda of
Armenia’s Chief of General Staff General Mikael Harutiunian who just
completed a week-long visit to the United States. Gen. Harutiunian held
talks with the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Richard
Myers and other Department of Defense officials. He also visited the
National Defense University in Washington, DC, the U.S. Joint Forces
Command and NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia,
U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida and the state of Kansas whose
National Guard is cooperating with the Armenian military. During the
visit, the U.S. awarded Gen. Harutiunian with the Legion of Merit, a
prestigious U.S. medal given to foreign officials and officers who have
made a significant contribution to bilateral relations.

Earlier this year, the Armenian government made a decision to send a
military transportation company, engineers and medics to Iraq, a move
that must receive parliamentary endorsement. In an interview last week,
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian said that the government has not yet
requested parliamentary approval due to recently announced changes in
the Polish-led international division where the Armenian unit is due to
serve. Poland, which after the U.S. and Britain has the third largest
force in Iraq, is planning to scale back its deployment, while Hungarian
forces, which are part of the Polish-led division, are due to be fully
withdrawn. (Sources: Armenia This Week 8-2, 10-4; Armenian Embassy in
U.S. 11-9; R&I Report 11-4; Nezavisimaya Gazeta 11-11; RFE/RL Arm.
Report 11-11)

ARMENIA’S MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE AID ELIGIBILITY RENEWED

The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) last week renewed
Armenia’s eligibility to receive Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 funds under the
performance-based foreign assistance program. Armenia and Georgia remain
the only former Soviet countries eligible and their governments’ reform
efforts are considered sufficiently advanced to qualify under MCC rules.

None of the $1 billion slated for FY 2004 have been disbursed since
Armenia and fourteen other countries were first selected last May.
Armenia’s Finance Ministry submitted a draft of its proposal to the MCC
last month and is currently updating it with input from non-government
experts. MCC’s Stephen Groff, who was in Yerevan this Monday, said the
Corporation urges all eligible countries to take their time and prepare
quality proposals. (Sources: ; Armenia This Week 5-7,
9-20; Noyan Tapan 11-15)

NO PROGRESS ON NK, AS AZERBAIJAN DUE TO STEP UP “INFORMATION WAR”

Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian this week expressed pessimism over
the potential progress in talks with Azerbaijan on the future status of
Karabakh. He said that Azerbaijan’s refusal to negotiate directly with
Karabakh’s duly elected leadership or to work towards building mutual
confidence in the region might present insurmountable obstacles for the
peace process. Last week, Azerbaijan again declined Armenia’s offer to
sell electricity to Nakhichevan, the Azeri-controlled exclave
experiencing severe energy shortages. Instead, Azerbaijan is stepping up
what its officials have described as “information war” over Karabakh.

Benefiting from high oil prices, Azerbaijan is also increasing its
military spending, budgeting close to $250 million for defense next
year. Armenia’s defense budget for 2005 is projected at just under $100
million. Karabakh Army Commander General Seyran Ohanian said this week
that while the Azeri army was continuing to improve and was hiring
outside advisors, NKR had the necessary capability to monitor and
balance these efforts and, should it become necessary, undertake
operations across the Line of Contact.

Azeri officials last week dismissed U.S., French and Russian criticism
of its efforts to force a debate on the Karabakh conflict in the United
Nations’ General Assembly (UN GA) with support from Turkey, Pakistan and
other members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Meeting
last week with Ambassadors of OIC states accredited in Baku, Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev thanked them for their support against Armenia.
Aliyev is also reaching out to African countries to win their support.
According to an investigative report in an independent Azeri news
magazine, Aliyev, following unexpected rendezvous’ with Presidents of
Djibouti and Gambia, last month hosted the Ivory Coast’s embattled
President Laurent Gbagbo. According to the magazine’s sources, Gbagbo
flew into Baku to discuss arms purchases there in circumvention of UN
sanctions.

Aliyev’s Yeni Azerbaycan Party and Parliament member Samed Seyidov,
speaking in Washington last week, attempted to justify his government’s
tactics by claiming that Azeris displaced in the Karabakh war were
“pushing” his government to be more aggressive. He then repeated his
government’s propaganda figure of “1 million” displaced and presented a
fictitious map showing Azerbaijan’s entire territory covered in refugee
camps.

In fact, Azerbaijan’s own statistics show that the number of its
internally displaced (IDPs) is well below half a million. Tens of
thousands of them were long kept in squalid conditions to be showcased
to visiting foreign delegations. U.S. officials have urged the Azeri
government to “allow IDPs to leave squalid camps, integrate locally, and
begin building a new life.” Finally last month, the Azeri Deputy Prime
Minister Ali Hassanov announced that the five remaining IDP camps are
due to be closed next year. (Sources: Armenia This Week 6-17-03, 6-14,
7-19, 11-1; Azerbaijan Central Election Committee Oct. 03; Monitor
10-23; Regnum.ru 10-29; Day.az 10-30; U.S. Mission to OSCE 11-4; Arminfo
11-8, 9, 12, 13, 15; Azertag.com 11-10; R&I Report 11-5; RFE/RL Armenia
Report 11-15)

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The Economist
November 11, 2004

Human rights in Turkey

Haunted by the past

A human-rights commission embarrasses the government

ANKARA – “HAPPY is he who calls himself a Turk!” That breezy slogan,
emblazoned on mountainsides and offices from the Aegean to the
Euphrates, was devised by Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey,
as he set about forging a fresh identity for his people. The idea was
that former subjects of the Ottoman empire – whose native language might
be Arabic, Albanian or Kurdish-would find a new togetherness as citizens
of a unitary republic. And in case people hesitated to embrace the joys
of Turkishness, there were harsh penalties for those who asserted any
other sort of identity.

For most of the past 80 years, these principles have been sacrosanct.
But if Turkey is to have any hope of joining the European Union, some
taboo topics of history, identity and language must be discussed openly,
without fear of prosecution. In a burst of zeal three years ago, the
government-led by former Islamists-set up a panel to take a broad look
at questions of human rights and identity, and to suggest how things
could be improved. But Turkey’s masters got more than they expected. The
board’s report, released this month, said things that were almost
unsayable, triggering a sharp backlash.

For example, the report implies that if the Lausanne treaty of 1923-the
basis of the Turkish state and its foreign relations-had been fully
implemented, bloodshed between Turks and Kurds might have been avoided.
To justify this argument, which is explosive in Turkey, however mild it
might seem elsewhere, the report cites article 39 of the treaty, which
allows Turkish nationals to use “any language they wish in commerce, in
public and private meetings and all types of press and publication.”

It also says that articles which supposedly protect non-Muslim
minorities have been read too narrowly: as well as covering Jews,
Armenians and Greeks, these articles should have been applied, for
example, to Syrian Orthodox Christians. More controversially still, it
suggests replacing the term “Turk” with a more inclusive word to cover
all ethnicities and faiths, such as “Turkiyeli”-“of Turkey”.

It was more than some Turks could bear. Even as Ibrahim Kaboglu, the
jurist who heads the board, was reading the report at a press
conference, a fellow member snatched it and tore it into shreds. Both Mr
Kaboglu and Baskin Oran, a political scientist who wrote the report,
have been bombarded with threatening phone calls and mail. “Fraternal
blood will be spilled,” warned one. Another called for a military coup.
Prosecutors in Ankara are investigating claims that both academics may
have committed treason. Ilker Basbug, a top general, has joined the
fray, saying Turkey’s unity should not be tampered with. The government,
frightened by the reaction, has washed its hands of the report and
denied commissioning it.

It is possible, though unlikely, says Husnu Ondul, a human-rights
lawyer, that the two authors may be prosecuted under an article of the
new penal code approved in September, which provides for up to ten
years’ jail for those who engage in unspecified “activities” against the
“national interest”. What might such activities be? In a footnote, the
law deems “anti-national” anyone who advocates withdrawing Turkish
troops from Cyprus, or terming “genocide” the killing of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians in 1915. If the aim was to stifle discussion of
this second issue, it failed: at a conference in Venice last month,
historians from all countries involved took a broader, more cool-headed
look at the 1915 tragedy than would be possible in Turkey-now or, it
seems, any time soon. And what about the 100,000 Turkish-Cypriots who
voted (vainly) in April for a UN plan that would have removed most
Turkish troops from Cyprus: was that a crime?

Witness Against Thatcher’s Son Recants

By RODRIGO ANGUE NGEUMA MBA
.c The Associated Press

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea (AP) – The prime witness in an alleged coup
plot in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea repudiated his confession Tuesday,
saying it was coerced by interrogators who threatened him with death.

Equatorial Guinea now intends to seek the extradition of the most
prominent figure in the case – Mark Thatcher, the 51-year-old son of
former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a legal official
close to the prosecution told The Associated Press.

Thatcher is charged as an alleged bankroller in the plot, defense
attorney Fabian Nsue Nguema told reporters.

However, no new charges were announced in court Tuesday, when the coup
trial resumed after a two-month break. Thatcher’s lawyer maintains his
innocence.

Equatorial Guinea already has charged 19 Africans and Armenians as
alleged mercenaries in the purported conspiracy to overthrow the
regime of President Teodoro Obiang. The government claims Thatcher and
other, mostly British financiers intended to install an exiled
opposition figure, Severo Moto, as the figurehead leader of Africa’s
No. 3 oil-producing nation.

Attorney General Jose Olo Obono closed arguments Tuesday by renewing
his request for the death penalty against his own top witness, South
African arms dealer Nick du Toit.

Du Toit is accused of leading an advance team for the alleged plot,
foiled in March when South African intelligence exposed the alleged
conspiracy, leading to the arrests of scores of suspected mercenaries
here and at a stopover point in Zimbabwe.

Former British special forces member Simon Mann – accused by
Equatorial Guinea of being a go-between connecting bankrollers to
mercenaries – was convicted by Zimbabwe in September with 67 others on
weapons and other charges.

Du Toit, testifying in shackles throughout the trial, has outlined
alleged details of the plot and meetings with Mann, Thatcher and
others.

He has insisted his 18 co-defendants here knew nothing of any plot.

On Tuesday, he testified his confession was coerced.

Police interrogators “threatened to kill me if I did not maintain the
account of attempted coup d’etat,” du Toit said.

“If anyone has evidence of a coup attempt, they should show the
evidence,” du Toit added.

His co-defendants, all of whom denied knowledge of a plot, showed the
court what they said were scars of torture when the trial opened in
August.

Thatcher was arrested at his home in South Africa in August as the
trial was in its first weeks. Prosecutors suspended it soon after,
saying they wanted to review emerging evidence that linked Thatcher
and others to the case.

Information Minister Alfonso Nsue Mokuy referred questions about new
charges or Thatcher’s extradition to Obono, the attorney
general. Calls to Obono’s phone went unanswered.

Thatcher attorney Allan Bruce Brand in Cape Town, South Africa,
declined comment.

Equatorial Guinea’s legal team claims it has evidence connecting
Thatcher to the alleged plot, including an aircraft leased by a
company in which he allegedly had a joint venture.

The aircraft was used to fly Moto and some financiers from the Canary
Islands to Bamako, Mali, on March 7, allegedly positioning them for
the coup, the legal official close to the government said.

Seven other people besides Thatcher have been newly charged, Nguema
told reporters. He said they include exiled opposition figures.

Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Nafi Diouf in Dakar,
Senegal, and Terry Leonard in Johannesburg, South Africa, contributed
to this report.

11/16/04 15:25 EST

US plans prompt Iran to improve relations with Azerbaijan – Baku paper

Ayna, Baku
16 Nov 04

Text of Sumarinli report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ayna on 16 November
headlined “The US threat brings Iran and Azerbaijan closer” and
subheaded “Tehran’s objective is to eliminate the possibility of
Americans using Azerbaijan’s territory against Iran”

The US choice of Iran as the next target after Iraq has prompted
Tehran to review its foreign policy priorities. Experts reckon that
this is the reason behind Iran’s efforts at rebuilding bilateral
relations with neighbouring countries. This mainly means resolving the
existing problems with Azerbaijan and Turkey and turning the two
countries into Iran’s partners in the resolution of certain issues.

Azerbaijan is regarded as the main transit country for US strikes
against Tehran. Recent reports in local and Western mass media about
stationing mobile American forces in Azerbaijan were bound to irritate
Tehran.

Some experts do not rule out that Iran may soon display a “warmer
attitude” to Azerbaijan regarding the Karabakh issue. This probably is
the only way for Iran to turn Azerbaijan into its ally. However,
nobody has any doubts about the longevity of such an “attitude”.

There was a telephone conversation between Iranian President Sayyid
Mohammad Khatami and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev last
week [on 13 November]. Khatami congratulated Aliyev on the holiday of
Ramadan [Id al-Fitr], the president’s press service has
reported. Bilateral relations have thrived in recent years in all
spheres, the sides noted during the meeting. The presidents described
the existing political dialogue between the countries as satisfactory
and said that effective steps were taken to implement economic
projects.

The visit of Khatami to Baku has given “strong” impetus to
Azerbaijan-Iran relations, Aliyev said. Khatami, in turn, confirmed
that he invites Aliyev to pay an official visit to Iran. Khatami hoped
that the visit will take place soon and congratulated Aliyev on the
opening of the Azerbaijani consulate in Tabriz. Aliyev thanked Khatami
and the sides discussed some other topics of mutual interest.

On the next day [14 November], Lt-Gen Elcin Quliyev, head of
Azerbaijan’s State Border Service, received the Iranian ambassador to
Azerbaijan, Afshar Soleymani. IRNA news agency reports that the
ambassador informed Quliyev of Tehran’s willingness to expand
cooperation with Azerbaijan in border regions. Soleymani advocated
facilitation of Iranian and Azeri nationals’ movement through the two
countries’ borders, the agency said. “We welcome any activity which
suits the interests of both countries,” Soleymani said. He also
thanked the Azerbaijani State Border Service for preventing smuggling
to Iran.

In turn, Quliyev said that Baku is ready to expand border cooperation
with Iran. During the conversation the sides touched on illegal border
crossings and smuggling.

IAGS Energy Security
Institute for the Analysis of Global Security
Nov 16 2004

A strategic approach to pipeline security

The most important infrastructure project in the Caucasus,
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline, is about to be completed.
Next year, the 1,000 mile long $3 billion pipeline, passing through
the territories of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, will be able to
export up to 1 million barrels a day of crude oil from the
Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli offshore oil fields in the Caspian Sea
(reserves of 4.3 billion barrels) to the Western markets. Along with
the currently existing Baku-Supsa (Georgian port on the Black sea)
oil pipeline, BTC will be a valuable tool for reducing Western
dependence on Middle Eastern energy and will serve as a geopolitical
binder of the Caucasus to the Europe.

Aside from BTC, a consortium of Western energy companies has already
started the construction of the South Caucasus Gas Pipeline, which
will enable the export of natural gas from the large gas field of
`Shah Deniz’ in the Caspian sea through Azerbaijan and Georgia to the
Turkish city of Erzurum. It will be $1 billion worth, 425 mile long
pipeline and will have the capacity to export up to 7 billion cubic
meters of gas (if upgraded even double that volume).

Given the unstable nature of the Caucasus, much has been said about
the threats to these pipelines. Indeed, most of the statements have
been valid. Located in a troublesome part of the world, Azerbaijan
and Georgia face major threats of terror on a daily basis. Some of
these threats are related to international terrorism (both Azerbaijan
and Georgia are members of the US-led war on terror). International
terror groups such as PKK and Al-Qaida have threatened to destroy oil
pipelines, should their political demands not be met. Additionally,
the unresolved conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Chechnya, South Osetia
and Abkhazia as well as the presence of criminal gangs in the
Northern Caucasus increase the risk of attacks on the pipelines.
Although both pipelines will be buried underground, recent history
shows that this does not secure pipelines from petty thieves and
minor explosions.

Thus far the host countries of the pipelines along with the Western
energy companies have taken responsibility for the protection of the
critical energy infrastructure. Yet, it is clear that by sole
attention to the military aspects of the pipeline protection it will
be impossible to guarantee their full protection. The host countries
can upgrade their pipeline protection units and patrol teams and
purchase the most advanced technology in the world, yet experts argue
that it is also vital that the communities along which the pipelines
will pass be involved in the protection process.

BTC and South Caucasus Gas Pipeline pass through rural communities
where thousands of people have been living for centuries. Shepherds
move their herds and children pass the pipeline on the way to their
schools. Farmers irrigate the land and villagers hurry to their
relatives across the village. And all of these happen on a daily
basis. The majority of residents of the communities along the
pipelines are excited about the projects. Some of them have been
employed directly or indirectly in the construction process. Others
have big hopes and expectations that the pipelines will bring much
desired social and economic improvements to their empowered areas. In
some villages, the construction of the pipelines has already brought
in some social investment as well, such as the repair of the local
schools and hospitals, installation of the water and sewerage lines
as well as mobilization and creation of community groups and
associations. It is imperative that the communities see the economic
and social benefit of the pipelines and that these benefits trickle
down to ordinary households. This would significantly reduce the risk
of social unrest, a major threat to the pipelines.

More than 70 years of Soviet rule and centralized economy have
created a mentality in which ordinary people do not feel
responsibility for public property. Absence of initiative and
mobilization skills at the grassroots level discourages people from
joining their resources to help protect the pipeline. This, in turn,
creates perhaps the most dangerous threat to the pipelines- lack of a
feeling of ownership among the people.

In many ways, BTC and South Caucasus Gas Pipeline will become a test
for a new method of protection of critical energy infrastructure.
Traditional methods of utilizing high-tech hardware and military
units to safeguard the pipelines often do not yield desired results.
It is the involvement of the communities into the decision making and
protection process that can ensure the long-term safety of the
pipelines. Feeling ownership over the pipelines and being sure about
the positive impact to their communities can encourage people to take
an active role in the protection of the pipeline and serve as a
support resource to the government’s para-military protection units.
The resources of ordinary people should not be underestimated in this
case.

Fariz Ismailzade is a Baku based analyst focusing on Caucasus
politics and economics.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

di-ve.com, Malta

Leo Brincat to attend Political Affairs meeting at the Council of
Europe

by Ronald Mizzi, di-ve news ([email protected])

VALLETTA, Malta (di-ve news)—November 16, 2004 – 1855CET–MLP main
spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Leo Brincat, today left for Paris to
attend a Political Affairs meeting of the Council of Europe. Above
all, the meeting will discuss proposals for a near future round-table
about the political situation in Chechnya.

The meeting will also discuss the Third Summit of the Council of
Europe that will be held next year marking the 60-year anniversary
since the end of the Second World War.

The summit coincides also with the 15-year anniversary since the
democratic transition in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the situation in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, and the fight against totalitarianism, are
also on the agenda.

As from last October, Brincat started acting as a member of the
External Relations sub-committee of the Political Affairs Committee
within the Council of Europe. The Committee is responsible of
relations with countries that are not members of the Council and with
organizations such as the EU, UN and OSCE.

The Xinhua News Agency.
November 15, 2004 Monday 10:00 PM EST

China’s export to Armenia in September

BEIJING, November 15 (CEIS) – China’s export to Armenia reached
1,033,000 US dollars in September, and the export in January-
September reached 7,228,000 US dollars, up 112.8 percent year on
year.

Following is a table showing China’s export to Armenia from
January to September 2004, released by the General Administration of

Customs:
(Unit: 1,000 U.S. dollars)

Current Cumulative % Change y-o-y
month total (cumulative total)
2004

January 250 250 94.5

February 334 584 70.6

March 1,007 1,592 37.0

April 1,311 2,902 101.7

May 392 3,295 66.6

June 685 3,979 78.1

July 827 4,806 98.0

August 1,389 6,195 101.4

September 1,033 7,228 112.8

Estonian president pledges to help Armenia’s EU ties

Mediamax news agency
15 Nov 04

YEREVAN

Estonian President Arnold Ruutel said in Yerevan today that his
country’s membership of the European Union “is creating fresh
prerequisites for developing relations with Armenia”.

Arnold Ruutel told a briefing in Yerevan that “if we can be useful to
Armenia, then Estonia is ready to offer any possible help”, Mediamax
news agency reports.

In turn, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said that Estonia’s
membership of the EU sets up “a fresh vector of cooperation”.

He recalled that the South Caucasus countries were incorporated into
the EU’s Wider Europe: New Neighbourhood programme in June this
year. “It is important for us that the new relations be filled with
specific content,” Robert Kocharyan said. He said that Estonia could
play its role in this process.

The Xinhua News Agency.
November 15, 2004 Monday

China’s import from Armenia in September

BEIJING, November 15 (CEIS) – China’s import from Armenia reached
1,958,000 US dollars in January-September, up 183.9 percent year on
year.

Following is a table showing China’s import from Armenia from
January to September 2004, released by the General Administration of

Customs:
(Unit: 1,000 U.S. dollars)

Current Cumulative % Change y-o-y (
month total cumulative total

2004
January – – -100.0

February – – -100.0

March – – -100.0

April 1 1 -99.8

May – 1 -99.8

June 772 773 172.3

July 481 1,254 339.1

August 704 1,958 585.7

September – 1,958 183.9

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS TO AMOUNT TO $260-280 MILLION IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR

Azg/arm
16 Nov 04

Recently, the UNDP and RA Trade and Economic Development Ministry
represented World’s Investments Report 2004 at Armenian Development
Agency. Touching upon the report, Liz Grande, the UN representative,
informed that it is already the third year that the foreign
investments have decreased in the entire world, amounting to $560
billion. Moreover, the biggest decrease is fixed in the EU countries
and the North America, amounting to $110 billion. While in Armenia, as
well as in the region as a whole, the investments have increased in
the same period.

Tigran Davtian, RA Trade and Economic Deputy Minister, emphasized that
the growth of the foreign investments in Armenia is taking place on
the background of the decrease of the world’s investments. In the
first half of this year the foreign investments have increased by
about 40 % and they will amount to $260-280 million as it was
envisaged for the end of the year. Deputy Minister stated that a
number of large investment programs will be carried out in
November-December of this year. He also reminded that last year the
investments made in Armenia amounted to $230 million.

Afterwards, they informed that the investments’ structure has been
changed. At present they have increased in the real sector of the
economy, in the light industry, mine industry, construction and in
other fields, too. The biggest investments in Armenia are made by
Greece, Argentina, the US and France. The local investments have
increased as well.

Tigran Davtian didn’t want to compare the investments made in Armenia
and Azerbaijan, saying that in Azerbaijan the investments are made in
one sphere only. As for Georgia, after the political changes the
interest of the foreign investors to this country has increased. The
deputy minister welcomed this phenomenon, saying for the most of the
foreign investors Armenia is considered a small market and that would
be beneficial to offer them the Georgian marketas well. While the
activization of Armenian-Georgian economic relations inspire with hope
that in future it will be possible to establish an Armenian-Georgian
regional market, Tigran Davtian stated.

By Ara Martirosian