OSCE CO-CHAIRS INTEND TO ATTACH THE UN SUPREME COMMISSAR ON CAUSE OF REFUGEES
Azg/arm
9 Feb 05
After the OSCE monitoring group accomplished its mission in Nagorno
Karabakh, Yuri Merzlyakov, an OSCE co-chair, stated at a Stepanakert
meeting with refugees from all over Karabakh: “The task of OSCE
co-chairs is to support the negotiation process. We cannot solve it
instead of the conflicting sides as every suggestion by the co-chairs
uncoordinated with the sides will be turned down by one of the side
as it was in the past. We do everything to bring positions closer and
to somehow break the silence to start the talks. For that reason it
is unbecoming to expect that the co-chairs will find a magic solution
mutually acceptable for both sides. There is no such solution as all
the variants have already been considered. What we can do now is to
pick up elements and adjust them in a way that will bring solution
to at least few aspects of the issue, if it is impossible to give a
final and overall solution to it. Solution that will grant the two
peoples if not to reconcile then to trust and not to see evil in each
otherâ~@~Ys steps the least”.
The issue of refugees was commented by Merzlyakov as integral part
of the conflictâ~@~Ys future settlement. He was suspicious over the
possibility of returning to the former settlements. “I cannot imagine a
situation if, say, Azeris call Armenians to return to Shahumian. Would
you go if they invite?”, he asked the audience.
“There must be proper conditions for people to return. It must be
certain where they are returning to. As far as there are no such
conditions, I think all the calls are simply a propaganda or a
self-deceit or they are lying to others”, the Russian co-chair stated.
The Minsk group co-chairs decided to turn to the UN Supreme Commissar
on Cause of Refugees as the issue is under his jurisdiction. “The
sides should apply to the Department of UN Supreme Commissar on
Cause of Refugees having agreed on the circle of issues and on the
conditions of support”, he said.
Bernard Fassie, the French co-chair, agreed with such a decision
noting that he still sees no solution the refugee issue.
Emphasizing the neutral stance of Minsk group co-chairmanship, Yuri
Merzlyakov said that it is unfair to condemn them of not showing
sympathy to one of the sides and of hiding emotions. They are not
judges and cannot say who is right and who is wrong. The Russian
diplomat confessed that he has a great desire to quit the work after
each such meeting. “But the Bible verse saying â~@~XBlessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of Godâ~@~Y holds me back
from a final decision” Merzlyakov said.
Speaking of the present stage of the talks, Merzlyakov said that the
most important is that there is a talk process and it continues. He
expressed hope the resuming Prague process will work out concrete
agreements on separate issues and they will be filed in one document.
By Kim Gabrielian
–Boundary_(ID_37NXR2DwydUOmSIpLuqYKQ)–

TURKEY APPEARS IN DEADLOCK
Azg/arm
9 Feb 05
They Want to Characterize Battle in Khojalu as Genocide
Bjulent Arinc, speaker of Turkish National Assembly, pays an
official visit to Baku. He met with Mortuz Aleskerov, Speaker of
Azeri Meli Mejlis, on February 7. The sides touched upon the issue
of â~@~Xthe massacresâ~@~Y carried out by the Armenians against
the Azeris. According to the February 8 issue of the Turkish Radical
newspaper, Aleskerov characterized the battle in Khojalu that took
place in 1992 as a genocide carried out by the Armenians and demanded
from Arinc that the Turkish National Assembly should take a relevant
decision.
According to Sabah, in response, Arinc assured that “the Turkish
parliamentarians will include the issue of the genocide in
the agenda in the course of February 26 sitting, on the day of
the massacre.” Meanwhile, the Azeri parliamentarians suggested
Arinc to establish “a museum of victims” combining the efforts of
Azerbaijan and Turkey. Arinc stated that Turkey will participate in
this initiative. He also condemned Armenia for occupying over 20%
of Azerbaijan.
Combining their efforts, Turkey and Azerbaijan try to hinder the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. Even if Azerbaijan characterizes the battles
in Khojalu as â~@~Xgenocideâ~@~Y, it will not help to achieve
the desired results in the process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
settlement. If Azerbaijan and Turkey try to set off the issue of
Khojalu battles against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
it will become clear for the international community that Turkey is
in deadlock.
Azerbaijan fails to convince even the Turkish-speaking states of
the Middle East that the battles in Khojalu were a genocide. But,
even if Turkey and Azerbaijan manage to convince them in this issue
they will not be able to deny that the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by the international community is unavoidable. So, it will
become for the Turkish-speaking states also that Turkey is at a loss.
By Hakob Chakrian
–Boundary_(ID_gdi1rIvOG53fvDID5FolhA)–

Tajik, Russian top brass mull upcoming collective security drills
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
8 Feb 05
Dushanbe, 8 February: Tajik Defence Minister Sherali Khayrulloyev
and Commander of Volga-Urals Military District Vladimir Boldyrev
discussed today preparations for command and staff exercises within
the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
[members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
and Russia].
The Rubezh-2005 exercises of the CSTO’s rapid-deployment forces will
be held on Tajik territory in April 2005. Divisions of armed forces
of Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will participate in
the exercises, a source at the Tajik Defence Ministry’s press service
has told an ITAR-TASS correspondent.
The main aim of the upcoming exercises is “to drill interaction
and to enhance the readiness of the CSTO member states to counter
international terrorism and other threats,” the source stressed.
The two also discussed issues relating to the fitting out of the
Russian military base in Tajikistan, which is being set up on the
basis of the [Russian] 201st Motor-Rifle Division.

PanArmenian News
Feb 8 2005
BUSH ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED $55 MILLION AID TO ARMENIA IN FY 2006
08.02.2005 14:40
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Assembly of America has welcomed the
positive components of the Bush Administration’s Armenia-related
foreign aid allocations of the just-released FY 2006 budget, and
especially the parity it established in security aid to Armenia and
Azerbaijan and the reference to humanitarian assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh. The draft bill provides for $5 million each to Armenia and
Azerbaijan in Foreign Military Financing and $750,000 each for
International Military Education and Training. At the same time the
Bush Administration asked for $55 million in economic assistance to
Armenia in FY 2006 – down from last fiscal year’s request of $62
million. Later the US Senate had approved “not less than” $75 million
in economic aid to Armenia. In the words of Assembly Board of
Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, the organization is determined
to advocate to Congress for increased funding. Details of the Bush
Administration’s FY 2006 Budget described Armenia as “one of the
leading performers in Eurasia in economic and political reform,” and
said it was for this reason that “Armenia was one of the two
countries in the region deemed eligible to receive grants from the
Millennium Challenge Account.”

ARKA News Agency
Feb 8 2005
RA Foreign Minister is ready to start negotiations with his Azeri
colleague at any convenient case
Armenian-Iranian relations are not directed against Azerbaijan – IRI
Ambassador to AR
E-Armenia Foundation starts 2nd stage of Armenia Development Gateway
program
Presentation of a book “History, Activity and Prospects of OSCE” to
take place in Yerevan on February 9
*********************************************************************
RA FOREIGN MINISTER IS READY TO START NEGOTIATIONS WITH HIS AZERI
COLLEAGUE AT ANY CONVENIENT CASE
YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met
in Yerevan with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairman Yuri Merzlyako (Russia)
and Bernard Fasye (France) and Assistant of Steven Mann (USA)
Elizabeth Ruid, RA MFA told ARKA. The parties discussed
organizational issues and exchanged views on possibility of
organization of the meeting of foreign ministers in Prague format.
Oskanian expressed readiness to start negotiations with his Azeri
colleague at any convenient case.
Note according to statements of Azeri mass media, regular Prague
meeting of RA and AR foreign ministers is scheduled for March 2. L.D.
–0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIAN-IRANIAN RELATIONS ARE NOT DIRECTED AGAINST AZERBAIJAN – IRI
AMBASSADOR TO AR
YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Armenian-Iranian relations are not
directed against Azerbaijan, according to Trend News Agency it was
stated today by Iranian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to Iran Afshar Suleimani. According to him, Azerbaijan is “the
closest neighbor and friend” for Iran. “Our relations are much closer
that Iranian-Armenian and it is related to common history, culture
and religion”. Iranian part has always tried that Iranian-Armenian
relations did not negatively affect Iranian-Azeri relations, the
diplomat stated.
Talking about the visit of the Chairman of Security Council of
Armenia Serge Sargsian in Iran, he stated that it has the character
of discussions of cooperation and cannot make any damage to
Azerbaijan. L.D. –0
*********************************************************************
E-ARMENIA FOUNDATION STARTS 2ND STAGE OF ARMENIA DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY
PROGRAM
YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. E-Armenia Foundation started 2nd stage
of Armenia Development Gateway program, foundation told ARKA. Give
stage is financed by Development Gateway Foundation. Priorities of
first six-months period of present stage of the program are
development of content part of the portal (communities webguide,
education center) and of functional opportunities as well as
initiative of electronic development, namely localization of DG
market structure: in Armenian and issue of BIT@E
() magazine in Russian and English. The goal of
the program is to assist to electronic development and to represent
potential of Armenia in the field of IT. At this stage staff members
will cooperate with beneficiaries of the program including
representatives of communities (divisions State, Society,
International, Privatization, IT and Diaspora). Personnel will
cooperate will all interested structures for expanding of
beneficiaries’ network and provision of the full information on
opportunities of Armenian development.
E-Armenia Foundation realized Armenian Development Gateway program in
Armenia.
Note issue of BIT@E IT bulletin is made together by ARKA News Agency
and E-Armenia Foundation. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
PRESENTATION OF A BOOK “HISTORY, ACTIVITY AND PROSPECTS OF OSCE” TO
TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN ON FEBRUARY 9
YEREVAN, February 8. /ARKA/. Presentation of a book “History,
Activity and Prospects of OSCE” will take place in Yerevan on
February 9. The book was published at the initiative of OSCE and is
devoted to the 5th anniversary of OSCE activity in Armenia.
RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian, representatives of
diplomatic organizations, administration of Universities as well as
students will participate in the grand presentation of the book. A.H.
-0–
*********************************************************************

RECURRENT DEPORTATION OF ARMENIAN CITIZENS STAYING IN RUSSIA
ILLEGALLY HELD IN KRASNODAR
PanArmenian News
Feb 8 2005
08.02.2005 19:02
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recurrent deportation of Armenian citizens
being in Russia on illegal basis was held in Krasnodar, reported the
Yerkramas, the newspaper of the Armenians of the south of Russia. 9
Armenian citizens were deported to the fatherland from the Krasnodar
airport. Each of them was in Russia not having an official permission
for that. By a court decision they are denied entry to Russia for the
coming 5 years. There are 3 days for registering after arrival in
Russia. Failing to fulfill this condition threatens a not very big
fine – 500 rubles. However there is another preventive measure – fine
and administrative eviction for a term of 1-5 years. At that when
making decisions Russian courts are guided by a respective federal
law and administrative code.

EU plans special envoy to help end Moldova strife
By Sebastian Alison
BRUSSELS, Feb 8 (Reuters) – The European Union plans to appoint a
special envoy to Moldova to help end a frozen conflict in the breakaway
Dnestr region as EU interest in the tiny ex-Soviet state picks up,
diplomats said on Tuesday.
The move signals Brussels’ desire to bring about an end to the disputed
Russian military presence in Europe’s poorest country before Moldova’s
neighbour Romania joins the EU in 2007.
“There is no doubt that there is an increase in interest and attention
in Moldova,” Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy
chief Javier Solana, told Reuters. “The role of the European Union
can only be useful.”
The Dnestr region — a mainly Russian-speaking sliver of land between
the Dnestr river and Ukraine which calls itself the “Pridnestrovian
Moldavian Republic” — broke away from Moldova, which has a
Romanian-speaking majority, in 1990 as the Soviet Union was collapsing.
The two sides fought a war in 1992. Russian troops intervened to help
end the fighting and have remained there since to uphold the truce,
despite a pledge to withdraw them.
EU diplomats say political agreement has been reached to appoint an EU
Special Representative and a formal announcement is expected within
a few days. The envoy could take up the post soon after Moldovan
parliamentary elections on March 6.
The EU has no formal role so far in the Dnestr conflict, which is
under mediation by Russia, Ukraine, the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe, the Moldovan government and the Dnestr
leadership.
The naming of an envoy comes as Moldova prepares to open a separate
mission to the EU for the first time. The EU’s executive Commission
will also open a permanent mission in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau,
later this year.
INCREASED EU DIPLOMACY
Following the bloc’s eastward expansion last May, when 10 mainly
ex-communist countries in central and eastern Europe joined, the EU
has stepped up diplomatic activities in several former Soviet states
which are now neighbours.
Moscow views the policy with suspicion, seeing the region — Ukraine,
Belarus, Moldova and the Caucasus republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia — as its “near abroad.” The EU says they are the “common
neighbourhood” of Brussels and Moscow.
Diplomatic tensions came to the fore last year when the EU mediated
in a dispute over the Ukrainian presidential election which led the
Supreme Court to overturn the victory of the Moscow-backed candidate,
Viktor Yanukovich, for vote-rigging.
Western-leaning Viktor Yushchenko won a re-run in December after
lengthy mediation by Solana and the presidents of EU states Poland
and Lithuania. Yushchenko has already said he intends to move Kiev
towards EU membership.
Diplomats said Yushchenko could be willing to close Ukraine’s border
with the breakaway Dnestr region to put pressure on the Russians to
reach a settlement.
An EU diplomat said closer ties with Chisinau were a priority because
Moldova would have an EU frontier from 2007. By one estimate, 600,000
Moldovans hold Romanian passports, which will give them EU citizenship
when Bucharest joins, he said.
Moldova’s communist President Vladimir Voronin was elected in 2001
vowing to take Chisinau closer to Russia. But he changed direction
and is steering the country ever closer to the EU.
02/08/05 10:48 ET

OSCE experts complete mission in breakaway Karabakh – Azeri official
Turan news agency
8 Feb 05
Baku, 8 February: The OSCE mission looking into facts of Armenia’s
settling the occupied Azerbaijani territories has completed the first
part of its work, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov
has told journalists while commenting on the mission’s journey to
the occupied territories.
On the next stage the mission is expected to analyse the collected
material and prepare a report. “We expect this to be done in the near
future, and the prepared report will then be submitted to a meeting
of the OSCE Minsk Group and then to the OSCE Permanent Council,”
Azimov said.
He expressed his confidence that the facts provided to the mission
by the Azerbaijani side had been confirmed. Namely, the mission
received material from open and other sources about Armenia’s settling
20,000-23,000 people in the occupied territories. But even if the
mission discovers half or a third of this figure, this will confirm
the fact of illegal settlement anyway, Azimov said.
He went on to say that under the 1949 Geneva Convention the occupier
has no right to settle and change the demographic situation in the
captured territories. He also described as illegitimate Armenia’s
argument that the areas are being settled by the Armenians who were
deported from Baku, Ganca and Sumqayit. He stressed that international
humanitarian law unequivocally bans settlement of anyone who did not
live in the occupied territories before, regardless of their origin.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
From: Baghdasarian

Crime down in breakaway Karabakh in 2004
Artsakh Public TV, Stepanakert
8 Feb 05
[Presenter over video of meeting] The board of the NKR [Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic] police held a meeting on 8 February. The NKR
president, Arkadiy Gukasyan, and a delegation of the police of the
Republic of Armenia led by Lt-Gen Hayk Arutyunyan also attended
the meeting.
The meeting was dedicated to the results of 2004. The deputy head of
the NKR police, Maj-Gen Arshavir Garamyan, presented a report on the
results of the police’s work in 2004. According to his information,
in 2004 the total number of crimes committed in the NKR was 518,
while 605 crimes were committed in 2003. The number of crimes went
down in all regions of the NKR, except Hadrut District. The number
of thefts and car accidents increased, while the number of criminal
offences decreased.
The NKR president, Arkadiy Gukasyan, delivered a speech. In his speech,
President Gukasyan, in particular, said:
[Gukasyan] People’s trust in the authorities to a great extent depends
on the effective work of the police, because the police are in the
first line of contact with the public. People should perceive every
single policeman as a defender of their rights. However, sometimes
citizens have to be protected from police.
The presidential administration responded to some cases and you know
that some of them have been punished. We will continue to thoroughly
follow the work of the police.
I think that there are serious drawbacks in the registration of
crimes. I have a feeling that the police register the crimes that
are very likely to be solved. This is why I am not satisfied with
the solving of crimes. We have to pay special attention to preventive
activities. In this context, the police should build ties with schools
and the mass media, because some tendencies are alarming. Special
stress has to be put on the personnel policy. We need reforms.
You have to think first and foremost about the country’s interests. I
am very much satisfied with the level of cooperation between the NKR
and Armenian police.

Iran and the Caucasus
Alex Vatanka
Jane’s Information Group
Richard Giragosian
Abt Associates, Inc.
Russia and Eurasia Program
Caucasus Initiative
Monday, February 14, 2005
2:00-4:00 p.m.
B1-C Conference Room
Despite the renewed focus on Iran in recent months, there has been little
attention devoted to the Iranian bid for regional influence in the South
Caucasus. Although not as threatening as the proliferation issue nor as
problematic as Iran’s relationship with Russia, there has been a significant
and steady drive by the Iranian regime for greater influence among its
northern neighbors Azerbaijan and Armenia. This trend, as well as the recent
visit to Tehran by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the launch of the
long delayed Iran-Armenia natural gas pipeline, will be discussed by two
prominent analysts. The engagement by the Bush Administration and the
European Union to manage the Iranian challenge and the implications for
security in the Caucasus will also be examined.
Alex Vatanka is an editor and analyst with the Jane’s Information Group in
London, overseeing “Jane’s Sentinel Russia and CIS Security Assessment”
series, and is Jane’s resident expert on Iran. Responsible for monitoring
and identifying significant developments in international security, Vatanka
regularly authors articles on international affairs issues for “Jane’s
Intelligence Review” and “Jane’s Defense Weekly” and is interviewed by
broadcast news media worldwide. His most recent publication was “Iran:
Brinkmanship,” in “The World Today,” a publication of the Royal Institute of
International Affairs.
Richard Giragosian, a Washington-based analyst with Abt Associates, Inc., is
a regular contributor to Jane’s Information Group as well as other
publications including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). He has
also published articles in The Journal of Slavic Military Studies,
Transitions Online, the Asia Times Online and the Harvard International
Review, among others, and has contributed chapters to three books dealing
with the South Caucasus. He is also a guest lecturer for the U.S. Army’s
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center & School at Fort Bragg. For nine
years, Giragosian served as a Professional Staff Member of the Joint
Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress.
PLEASE RSVP TO ANASTASIA HANDY BY FEBRUARY 11:
EMAIL: [email protected], TEL: (202) 775-7322
Anastasia Handy
Research Assistant
Russia and Eurasia Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Phone: (202) 775-7322
Fax: (202) 775-3199