Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Nov. 3, 2004

Comment: In Search of a Solution

It is in the interests of both Russia and the European Union to solve a
problem knocking at both their doors.

By Nicholas Whyte in Brussels (BCR No 524, 03-Nov-04)

Moldova is soon to become one of the European Union’s newest
neighbours. With the expected entry of Romania in 2007, the EU will
share a long frontier with the poorest country in Europe, which suffers
from an uneasy sense of identity and uncertain borders.

The unrecognised separatist region of Transdniester has been out of the
control of Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, since 1992 and is essentially a
mafia-run fiefdom which survives thanks only to criminal profits and
support from certain circles in Russia and Ukraine – and the security
presence of the 14th Russian Army.

The region is a prime location for money laundering and the production
and illegal export of weapons. Firearms produced in and trafficked from
Transdniester are said to lack serial numbers, making them untraceable
and therefore ideal for organised crime.

In the current situation, such activities can be conducted in and from
Transdniester very easily and with impunity, as international law
enforcement bodies are not allowed there, and international
governmental and non-governmental organisations are unable to operate
normally within its borders.

As a result, it is difficult to provide training for officials or
provide expertise on legislation, awareness-raising campaigns and
witness protection programmes relating to trafficking issues when the
authorities are not recognised internationally and are resistant to
international pressure and intervention.

The civil war in Moldova was relatively mild by post-Soviet standards
when you consider the Georgian civil war, the Armenian-Azerbaijani war
over Nagorny Karabakh, or the decade of implosion in Chechnya. But this
does not make a long-term solution any easier to find.

A Russian attempt to break the deadlock, the so-called Kozak Memorandum
of November 2003, foundered on two issues: the constitutional set-up of
a reunited Moldovan state, and Russia’s continued military presence in
Transdniester.

Russian officials admitted afterwards that their negotiator Dmitry
Kozak – an adviser to President Vladimir Putin – failed to get the
necessary buy-in to the plan from Washington and the EU via the
existing OSCE negotiating mechanism.

However, the EU’s new European Neighbourhood Policy – which is designed
to improve stability and security in areas soon to border on the EU
following its expansion – has raised expectations in Moldova.

The European Commission will shortly be publishing an Action Plan for
the country, which should contain clear benchmarks for the country for
development of democracy, rule of law and human rights. After an
initial period when Chisinau got a relatively good bill of health on
this score, the 2003 local elections and continuing state harassment of
journalists and media indicate a worrying trend.

A regime of visa sanctions against the Transdniestrian leadership,
imposed in early 2003 in frustration with their failure to move the
peace process forward, was intensified in July 2004 in reaction to
Tiraspol’s harassment of Moldovan-language schools.

Tensions also rose in the divided town of Tighina/Bendery in autumn
2004, when Transdniestrian militia seized control of a vital railway
station.

The EU has a clear interest in helping to clean up the serious problems
caused by poverty and endemic crime in Moldova, as both threaten to
bring even greater problems with Romania’s succession in perhaps fewer
than three years’ time.

And whether or not one believes Chisinau’s claims that Transdniestrian
arms are flowing to Caucasian rebels, it surely cannot be in Russia’s
long-term interests to allow the dispute to continue to fester.

At present, international actors are unwilling to invest resources in
Moldova; the painful memory of last year’s botched Kozak plan lingers.

What is needed is a joint EU-Russia effort to find a solution, in the
context of the European Neighbourhood Policy and also of Russian’s 1999
commitment to withdraw its troops and equipment from Moldova, and
specifically from Transdniestria.

The EU’s designated new external relations commissioner, Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, has had some experience of the issue from her time as
Chair-in-office of the OSCE in 2000.

Perhaps Brussels and Moscow will find the necessary time and energy to
resolve this comparatively minor problem soon.

Nicholas Whyte is Europe Programme Director of the International Crisis
Group in Brussels.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
November 3, 2004 Wednesday

Railway traffic through Georgia to be reopened

By Yulia Bagrysheva

MOSCOW

Transport ministers of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan have fully
supported a project of reopening the through traffic on the
Trans-Caucasus railway, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said.

PRIME-TASS quoted him as saying at a news briefing on Wednesday that
Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan would set up an operator
company for the restoration and maintenance of the railway link.

Russian Railways will join the company.

Levitin said bridges would be built at some segments of the railway and
a 200-kilometre stretch of it renovated. A part of the railway is mined
until now, and many bridges are destroyed.

The traffic through Georgia was stopped in August 1992 because of the
Georgian-Abkhazian conflict.

After the end of a military phase of it, Russia and Armenia repeatedly
raised the question of traffic resumption, Levitin said.

The Russian and Georgian presidents signed a statement in Sochi in
March 2003 on Georgian-Abkhazian settlement that in particular
envisions setting up a working group on the restoration of the railway
traffic through Abkhazia.

“The presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia fully support the
idea of restoring the through transport link,” Levitin said.

RIA Novosti
November 03, 2004

RUSSIA, TRANSCAUCASIAN COUNTRIES WANT TO RESTORE RAILROAD OPERATION IN
CAUCASUS

MOSCOW, Nov 3 (RIA Novosti’s Yelena Fyodorova) – Russia, Georgia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan intend to establish an operator company to
restore and service the Transcaucasian railroad, Russian Transportation
Minister Igor Levitin said at a Wednesday press conference in Moscow.

In his words, this decision was made after the talks with the
leadership of three Transcaucasian countries. “Three presidents
confirmed their wish that transportation bodies should suggest a scheme
of an operator company’s establishment,” said Mr. Levitin.

He explained that the political decision on the restoration of a
through railway movement in the Caucasus was difficult to make now,
that’s why it was decided to start from economic issues.

“A scheme of establishing an operator company which will take up the
functions of controlling traffic was proposed,” said Mr. Levitin. He
added that open joint-stock company Russian Railways would join the new
company on the Russian part.

Mr. Levitin said that in many respects, the consent of the
Transcaucasian republics’ presidents to restoration of the through
railway movement was defined by the very important geopolitical
significance of this project. The case is that a project codenamed
Silky Way – the construction of a railway via China, Kazakhstan finally
reaching Turkey – is being realized now.

Mr. Levitin said the volume of transit on the Transcaucasian railroad
in Soviet times was up to 15 million tons of cargoes annually.

Mr. Levitin recalled that movement on the Transcaucasian railroad was
suspended in 1990 due to events in Abkhazia (a self-proclaimed republic
on Georgian territory). As a result of warfare, many sections of the
railroad were damaged, and many sections of the railway bed were not
demined.

“Georgia is to give the Russian side documents on the state of the
railroad on its territory and assess the volume of necessary investment
until the end of November,” said the Transportation minister. Only
after that will Russia make the decision to participate in the
restoration of the railroad, he emphasized.

In the minister’s opinion, the consortium which is being created will
also address the issues of restoration of destroyed sections of the
Transcaucasian railroad. The four states will support this project with
loans. Besides, a banking consortium will be created to finance the
project, said Mr. Levitin.

He said Georgia was interested in integration of a Georgian airline
with a Russian one.

The minister recalled that Aeroflot was considering the issue on the
integration with the Georgian airline.

Mr. Levitin said this issue was complicated with Georgian airlines’
debt for aeronavigation servicing in Russia’s airspace.

Prime-Tass English-language Business Newswire
November 3, 2004

Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan to restore railway traffic

MOSCOW, Nov 3 (Prime-Tass) — Russia, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
have approved restoring through traffic along the Caucasus railway,
Russia’s Transportation Ministry Igor Levitin said at a briefing
Wednesday.

Through traffic was interrupted in August 1992 following the
Georgian-Abkhazia conflict.

The through traffic is to be organized by the national railway
operators of each country, Levitin said

The state-owned company Russian Railways is to act as the operator for
Russia, he added.

Levitin also said that building bridges for some stretches of the
railway might be necessary, as well as relaying 200 kilometers of
track. He did not elaborate. End

RIA OREANDA
Economic News
November 3, 2004 Wednesday

Russian Railways and Armenian Railway Sign Memorandum of Cooperation in
Organization of Railway Communication between Russia and Armenia

Yerevan. The President of JSCO “Russian Railways” Gennady Fadeev and
the General Director of JSC “Armenian Railway” Ararat Khrimyan will
sign the Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of organization of
railway communication between Russia and Armenia, public relations
department of JSCO “Russian Railways” informed.

The Memorandum proclaims intentions of Russian and Armenian parties to
develop cooperation between railways of Russia and Republic of Armenia
in the field of rail transportation, rolling stock, infrastructure,
techniques and corresponding railway equipping.

In particular, the Memorandum speaks about intention to organize rail
transportation between the Russian Federation and Republic of Armenia
with further output on routes of the international transport corridor
“North-South”, increase in volumes of transportations of mutual trade
cargoes between the Russian Federation and Republic of Armenia and
international transit, increase in efficiency and competitiveness of
railway cargo and passenger transportations.

“Railways always were and remain out of politics and borders between
the states, Gennady Fadeev has emphasized after arrival to Yerevan.
Purpose of our visit is arrangement of economic cooperation with
Armenian colleagues in the field of development of the largest Eurasian
transport corridors, in particular, corridor “North-South”.

It is supposed that the parties will charge specially created working
commission of experts of JSCO “Russian Railways” and JSC “Armenian
Railway” with preparation of offers on formation of joint company with
attraction of private capital for organization of transportations
between Russia and Armenia at creation of necessary infrastructure on
railway route Veseloe – Sukhumi – Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
November 3, 2004, Wednesday

HOW DID THE LANDS AROUND KARABAKH COME TO BE OCCUPIED?

SOURCE: Vremya Novostei, November 1, 2004, p. 5

by Vladimir Kazimirov

VLADIMIR KAZIMIROV, EX-HEAD OF THE RUSSIAN MEDIATORSHIP MISSION IN
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: LEADERSHIP OF AZERBAIJAN ALSO SHARES RESPONSIBILITY
FOR ESCALATION OF THE HOSTILITIES

Acting on Azerbaijan’s initiative, the UN General Assembly will discuss
the situation in the Azerbaijani districts beyond Nagorno-Karabakh
occupied by Armenian and Karabakh troops. Official Baku claims that the
occupiers have been into mischief and atrocities there.

Full occupation of 5 districts of Azerbaijan and partial of 2 more
became a result of vicious fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh and around it
between 1992 and 1994.

Azerbaijani diplomacy is now trying to switch the attention from the
cause (status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the problem it is loath to try and
tackle) to an effect (occupied territories). Hence the traditional
figure juggling – over 1,000,000 resettlers (are the bona fide 700,000
to 750,000 too few?) and 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan occupied
(instead of 9%; in fact, even if Nagorno-Karabakh is counted – and it
cannot be regarded as “occupied” – the figure does not amount to 14%).
The problem of the occupied territories has never been solved. Both
sides are uncompromising. No progress at all has been made in a decade
of cease-fire. These days, Baku presents the occupation only as an
outcome of Armenian aggression even though there is more to it than
Azerbaijan admits.

Suspension of hostilities and a transition to peaceful discussion of
moot points would have prevented expansion of the aggression. Not a
single square kilometer of land has occupied been occupied since the
cease-fire accord arranged with Russia’s help in May 1994. I remember
how the conflict raged between 1992 and 1994 and how go-betweens were
doing their best to put out the fire. Russia pestered the warring sides
– directly and via the OSCE Minsk Group – with the proposal of
negotiations. Baku and Yerevan were given a lot of chances to put an
end to the hostilities. It was usually Baku that dismissed the chance
and even went against the already made accords.

A lot of hopes were pinned on the OSCE Minsk Conference. Were it not
for the official Baku’s demand of withdrawal of the Armenians from the
overrun Shusha and Lachin, the conference would have taken place in
June 1992.

Instead of the conference, the OSCE Minsk Group was formed. The one
Baku regularly criticizes nowadays. On Russia’s initiative, the OSCE
Minsk Group urged the warring sides to suspend hostilities for 30 days
in July 1992 and for 60 days two months later. All to no avail. Yerevan
and Stepanakert gave their consent, but it took time to get Baku’s
cooperation. The Armenians overrun the Kelbadzhar district in April
1993. Resolution 822 of the UN Security Council demanded an immediate
suspension of hostilities and withdrawal of all occupiers. Needless to
say, Baku supported Armenian pullout from the occupied districts – but
not at the cost of suspension of hostilities.

With Russia’s help, accords to restrict the hostilities were reached in
June 1993. Moscow suggested an extension of the accord by a month on
July 3. Stepanakert did not object, but acting defense minister of
Azerbaijan Safar Abiyev never bothered to respond to the suggestion.
Battle was joined again, and Agdam fell on July 23. A 5-day cease-fire
was agreed upon with Russia’s help on August 18. When the accord was
broken, Azerbaijanis lost Fizuli and Dzhebrail. The then President of
Azerbaijan Heidar Aliyev admitted that his regular army had regularly
broken the cease-fire accords.

The truce (for 10 days this time) was only resumed on August 31, when
the Armenian troops overrun Kubatly. The Kremlin succeeded in extending
the truce. It lasted 50 days but the Azerbaijanis wrecked it again and
gave the Armenians an excuse to seize all of south-western Azerbaijan.

Russia’s attempts to stop the bloodshed in late 1993 failed. I was
present when Aliyev and Karabakh leader Robert Kocharjan agreed on a
cease-fire as of December 17. Both leaders promised to have the accord
officially enacted, but the documents came from Stepanakert alone –
Baku clearly stalled for time. I managed to persuade Kocharjan to order
an unilateral cease-fire – on the basis of a “gentlemen’s accord”
(after all, everything had been agreed on the level of the president of
Azerbaijan!) – without waiting for the text from Baku. The text from
the capital of Azerbaijan came three days later – absolutely
unacceptable. Everything had to be cancelled. As it turned out later,
Baku used the breathing space to prepare an offensive on a large scale.
On December 30, Stepanakert accepted our suggestion of a truce for the
New Year festivities but Baku did not even respond to it.

Only in May 1994, after murderous losses and facing the threat of a
frontal collapse in the environs of Bardy and Yelakh, the leadership of
Azerbaijan suggested a cease-fire. It ended in the truce that has
already lasted for more than a decade.

This is not a complete list, in fact. Even this abridged version shows,
however, that Baku always relied on sheer strength of arms,
overestimating its capacities and using what breathing space occurred
only to regroup. Neglect of cease-fire accords and peace initiatives on
its part merely extended the war and enabled the Armenians to expand
the occupied territory. It means that at least a part of the blame for
the escalation of hostilities and, therefore, on the expansion of the
occupied territories rests on the authorities of Azerbaijan. The
Armenians are not lily-white either, they should have withdrawn, but it
is not they who are particularly prone to negativism in the attitude
towards peace initiatives.

Unfortunately, Armenian and Azerbaijani young diplomatic services are
way too inexperienced yet, unable to avoid half-truths. It has been
long since Baku began campaigning for an “unconditional” release of the
territories allegedly in accordance with four resolutions of the UN
Security Council dated 1993. In fact, however, the term “unconditional”
is only used in Resolution 853. Resolutions 822, 874, and 884 do not
use the term at all.

And this is why Resolution 884 did not use the term “unconditional”.
The text of the document makes it plain who broke the cease-fire demand
(the major demand in the hostilities and the major demand in all four
resolutions) through the war. It was a must for the release of the
territories in the first place. So, it was transformed from a must into
a matter for bargaining. Neither is Baku worried by its failure to meet
other demands of resolutions of the UN Security Council.

These selective approach cannot be missed. Only whoever does not know
the first thing about the conflict will take Baku’s propagandistic
tricks for real concerns. In fact, settlement of the conflict demands
efforts on both warring sides.

Vladimir Kazimirov, an ambassador, between 1992 and 1996 – head of the
Russian mediator mission, Russian presidential plenipotentiary
representative for Nagorno-Karabakh, participant and co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group.

Moscow Times
Nov. 4, 2004

Railway Venture Aims to Link Up Caucasus

By Lyuba Pronina
Staff Writer

The transportation ministries of Russia, Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan are entertaining ambitious plans to revive through traffic
on the Trans-Caucasus Railway, which was severed by the outbreak of
wars in Abkhazia and Nagorny Karabakh.

“The countries’ presidents, transportation authorities and business
representatives have expressed support for this project, which will
revitalize transport links between our countries,” Transportation
Minister Igor Levitin told reporters in Moscow on Wednesday after
visiting Georgia earlier this week.

Levitin said that a company would be set up to restore and operate the
Trans-Caucasus Railway, which crosses the territory of Georgia and
Armenia and has access to Turkey’s railway network.

Russian Railways, or RZD, will participate in the company from the
Russian side, Levitin said.

The railway, which stretched more than 2,300 kilometers in Soviet
times, connected Black Sea ports with central Russia, operated
passenger services to vacation resorts and handled more than 15 million
tons of transit cargo per year.

“Since 1992, there has been no through traffic from Sochi to Tbilisi
and to Yerevan and Baku. There are no bridges, many parts of the track
are mined. … All of this will have to be restored, about 200
kilometers,” Levitin said. He said that Georgia has promised to provide
information on the condition of the railway later this month.

“At present, transport systems handling Asia-Europe transit bypass the
transport infrastructure of Russia and the Trans-Caucasus. If we don’t
start dealing with this problem, we could lose huge transport flows,”
Levitin said.

Russia and Georgia on Monday signed a memorandum to restore rail
connections from Russia through Abkhazia to Georgia, severed in 1992.

The sides have agreed to set up a working group between Russia, Armenia
and Georgia on resuming rail traffic between Sochi and Tbilisi, the
Transportation Ministry said.

Separately, RZD president Gennady Fadeyev signed an agreement with his
Armenian counterpart, Ararat Khimryan, in Yerevan on Wednesday to set
up a cargo joint venture. The two sides agreed to set up a working
group by Nov. 20 that will produce a business plan for the new company.

The company will be open to outside investors and will help rebuild
infrastructure on the railway line between Veseloye on the
Russia-Abkhaz border, to Sukhumi and on to Yerevan.

Fadeyev and Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan also discussed a
ferry service between Russia’s port of Kavkaz on the Kerch Strait and
the Georgian port of Poti.

Fadeyev said that the Kavkaz-Poti route would reduce shipping times by
seven days and would offer more competitive prices. The cargo turnover
between the two ports could reach 500,000 tons per year, the
Transportation Ministry said.

RZD on Wednesday posted a net profit of 16.6 billion rubles ($577
million) over the first nine months of this year.

ARKA News Agency
Nov. 3, 2004

Armenian president meets chairman of Russian Railways OJSC

Opening of direct railway communication between Armenia and Russia in
economic interests of Russia

NKR President signs a number of laws

Benevolent concert of chamber orchestra Camerton to be held in Yerevan
on November 7

NKR President receives members of `Protestant Solidarity of France and
Armenia’

Exhibition of young artists of applied art opened in Yerevan today

Catholicos of All Armenians receives the members of crew of Cilicia
sailing vessel

Armenia to expand and improve international youth cooperation

President of Russian Railways JSC to arrive in Armenia

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

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIAN RAILWAYS OJSC

YEREVAN, November 03. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian met
the Chairman of Russian Railways OJSC Gennadi Fadeev. As Armenian
President Press Service told ARKA, Kocharian mentioned that the volume
of transport operations in Armenia grows. He added that there must be
undertaken all possible measures in order communications not to remain
obstacle for further economic development.
The side mentioned Russian Railways OJSC and Armenian Railways CJSC
will declare on establishing of a cargo operating JV. He touched upon
details of the initiative. T.M. -0–

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

OPENING OF DIRECT RAILWAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND RUSSIA IN
ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF RUSSIA

YEREVAN, November 03. /ARKA/. Opening of direct railway communication
between Armenia and Russia in economic interests of Russia, as Gennadi
Fadeev, President of Russian Railways said during his meeting with
Armenian PM Andarnik MArgarian, Armenian Government Public and Press
Relations Department reports. He said that during his visit to Yerevan
he plans signing a joint statement with Ararat Khrimyan, Head of
Armenian Railways on establishing of a joint Russian-Armenian cargo
operating company. They also reached agreement on establishing a
working group that will be in charge of financial, economic and other
issues. Later in Fadeev’s words there will be prepared a document on
cooperation in the field of cooperation in sphere of railway
communication between Armenia and Russia.
In his words, Margarian said that stimulation of railway communications
is an important factor in development of trade and economy and
increasing of cargo transportations between Armenia and Russia.
The sides mentioned important role of re-operation of transport
communication in establishing peace in the region and settlement of
regional conflicts. T.M. -0–

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

NKR PRESIDENT SIGNS A NUMBER OF LAWS

STEPANAKERT, November 03. /ARKA/. President of NKR Arkadi Ghukasyan
signed laws on minimal consumer basket and minimal consumer budget, on
legal and social-economic guarantees for deported from Azerbaijani
Republic in 1998-1992 and received NKR citizenship, on encashment
activity, on information freedom.
As NKR President Press Service told ARKA, Ghukasyan also signed law on
amending the law on salary. The laws were passed by NKR Parliament on
October, 2004. T.M. -0–

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

BENEVOLENT CONCERT OF CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CAMERTON TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ON NOVEMBER 7

YEREVAN, November 03. /ARKA/ The benevolent concert of chamber
orchestra Camerton to be held in Yerevan on November 7. As Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund Press Service told ARKA, the concert will be
dedicated to annual TV campaign, all funds received from which will be
directed to construction of highway `North-South’. The concert is
organized by Camerton NGO with support of Center prefecture of Yerevan
and Ashtarak -Kat company.
On the eve of TV campaign the secondary schools of Armenia organized
collection of money for the highway.
The total length of North-South highway that is constructed in NKR
under auspices of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund is circa 170 km. It cost
is USD 25 mln. T.M. -0–

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

NKR PRESIDENT RECEIVES MEMBERS OF `PROTESTANT SOLIDARITY OF FRANCE AND
ARMENIA’

YEREVAN, November 03. /ARKA/. NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan received
members of `Protestant Solidarity of France and Armenia’ (SPFA) headed
by Samuel SAhakyan. As NKR President Information Department told ARKA,
Sahakyan presented to Ghukasyan the main priorities of its activity. He
said that the organization plans implementation of a number of projects
particularly establishing of a children’s library. Arkadi Ghukasyan in
his turn mentioned the importance of implementation of SPFA projects in
NKR especially for popularization of the French language and culture
there.
SPFA implements various humanitarian projects in Armenia since 1990. In
1997 it opened its representation in NKR. T.M. -0–

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

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES THE MEMBERS OF CREW OF CILICIA
SAILING VESSEL

YEREVAN, November 3. /ARKA/. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II
received the members of Cilicia sailing vessel crew. According to the
Press Chancellery of Holy See of St. Echmiadzin, Catholicos highly
appreciated the courage of the Cilicia crew, displayed `during this
long navigation, which kept high the dignity of their Homeland’. He
noted that `the navigation was in the center of attention of all
Armenians, who are grateful and proud of it’.
During the meeting, the members of the crew told the Catholicos about
the memorable meetings and mentioned the hearty welcome rendered to
Cilicia in all countries it visited. They also spoke about the future
plans of the sailors. In the end of the meeting, Garegin II noted that
similar initiatives promote the strengthening of unified spirit and
sense of the Armenian nation. L.V. – 0–

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

EXHIBITION OF YOUNG ARTISTS OF APPLIED ART OPENED IN YEREVAN TODAY

YEREVAN, November 03. /ARKA/. Exhibition of young masters of applied
art opened in Yerevan today. As Lilit Asatryan, Armenian Deputy Culture
and Youth Affairs Minister told, the exhibition aims at encouraging of
creativity of young artists. 4-17 years old 28 graduates of Center of
Armenian Applied Art presented 113 works. She also mentioned that this
is already the forth exhibition of graduates of the Center that
functions around one year. She also said that by the end of 2004 there
will be held another several exhibitions in the frames of `Creation of
global cooperation for development of the Millennium’.
The exhibition is dedicated to International Day of Youth and was
organized by UN Yerevan Office and Armenian Culture and youth Affairs
Ministry.
The exhibition is held in the frames of the 12th meeting of
International Council of Heads of State Bodies on Youth Affairs from
the CIS participated by delegations from Russia, Ukraine, milodaova,
Tajukistan, Belarus and Georgia. T.M. -0–

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

ARMENIA TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH COOPERATION

YEREVAN, November 3. /ARKA/. The RA Government confirms its wish to
expand and improve international youth cooperation, as stated Andranik
Margaryan, the RA Prime Minister, in his message to the participants of
the 12th meeting of Council of Heads of CIS State Institutions for
Youth Affairs, which was read by Lilit Asatryan, the RA Deputy Minister
of Culture and Youth Affairs. The message also says that Armenia is
ready to develop cooperation taking into account the increasing role of
youth on the contemporary stage of society and state development in
general. At that, the cooperation should be based on principles of
equality, through extended contacts between government bodies and NGOs,
which carry out and assist the implementation of state youth policy. `I
believe that cooperation in the sphere of youth is called to promote
the strengthening of mutual understanding and friendship between
peoples and establishment of all-human values ‘, the message states.
As a significant achievement of the Council of Heads of CIS State
Institutions for Youth Affairs, the Prime Minister mentioned the draft
of Agreement of CIS member-countries on cooperation in the area of work
with the youth and project on establishment of inter-branch council on
youth affairs of states-participants of CIS, prepared for approval by
the Council of Presidents of CIS countries.
12th meeting of the International Council of Heads of CIS State
Institutions for Youth Affairs opened today in Yerevan. Delegations
from Russia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Tajikistan, Belarus and Georgia take
part in the current session of the Council in Yerevan. L.V.–0

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

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN RAILWAYS JSC TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, November 3. /ARKA/. The President of Russian Railways JSC
Gennady Fadeev arrives today in Armenia. According to Konstantin
Pashkov, the Head of Public Relations Department of Russian Railways
JSC, in frames of Fadeev’s visit, working meetings are scheduled with
RA President Robert Kocharian and RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
authorities of RA Ministry of Transport and Communications and Armenian
Railways.
To mention, President of OJSC Russian Railways Gennady Fadeev and
Ambassador of Armenia to Russia Armen Smbatyan met on October 21.
During the meeting, the issue of restoration of railway communication
between Armenia and Russia through rehabilitation of Abkhaz railway
sections was discussed. Armenia supported the suggestion of Russian
party regarding restoration of communication. The sides agreed that the
implementation of this problem (restoration of direct communication
with Russia through Georgia) may be implemented by private companies,
unless the territorial and political problems of the region are solved.
During the talks, the sides also discussed issues of creating a direct
railway communication in the North-South international transport
corridor considering the construction of the new line
Kazvin-Resht-Astara. L.V.–0–

THERE IS NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

A1+
03-11-2004

On Wednesday, opposition activist Arshak Sadoyan, using his legitimate
right to attend government sessions, was present at the government’s
extraordinary session, where the fate of ArmenTel Greek-Armenian
company providing telecommunication services was to be decided.

He is convinced the company is involved in many illegal deals.

Even after the session, Sadoyan remained steadfast in his
determination to stage a protest action outside the government
building.

Sadoyan, as always, accused the government of being involved in
illegal deals.

He said he found out two days ago who takes bribes from Greek side for
giving it extra powers to enlarge its monopoly.

In his words, the bribe-taker is `a member of the government whose
sexual orientation is even unclear’.

Justice minister David Harutyunyan speaking at a news conference after
the session declined to comment Sadoyan’s allegations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
11/03/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Bush Wins Re-Election, Reaches Out to Foes
2) Newly Elected ARF Body Reveals Priorities
3) Abkhaz Presidential Contenders Seek Crisis Resolution in Moscow
4) Republicans Boosts Senate Majority
5) Republicans Extend Decade of House Control
6) Terror Fears, Economy Spur US Voters

1) Bush Wins Re-Election, Reaches Out to Foes

WASHINGTON (Reuters)–President Bush won re-election to a second four-year
term
over Democratic Sen. John Kerry on Wednesday and promised deeply divided
Americans he would earn their support and trust.
“A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation,” he
said in
a victory speech in Washington. “When we come together and work together,
there
is no limit to the greatness of America.”
Speaking directly to supporters of Kerry, Bush said: “I will need your
support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can to deserve your
trust.”
Bush clinched victory in a bitter eight-month struggle for the White House
when Kerry ended the suspense of a vote-counting battle in the decisive state
of Ohio and conceded the election. Kerry called Bush and later told supporters
in Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall that “I hope we can begin the healing.”
In a dispute that evoked memories of the prolonged election recount in
Florida
in 2000, delays in counting provisional and absentee ballots in Ohio had
postponed the final outcome of the presidential election for hours.
Ohio’s 20 electoral votes were the final hurdle to Bush capturing an
Electoral
College majority of 270 votes after a divisive campaign that focused on the
war
in Iraq, the battle against global terrorism and the economy.
“I would not give up this fight if there was a chance we could prevail,” an
emotional Kerry said in Boston. “There won’t be enough outstanding votes
for us
to be able to win Ohio, and therefore we cannot win this election.”
Bush begins his second term with the daunting challenges of a worsening
insurgency in Iraq–the aftermath of his decision to invade the country in
2003–and soaring federal budget deficits.
Republicans also celebrated expanded majorities in the House of
Representatives and the Senate in results likely to build the president’s
mandate and ease Bush’s conservative agenda in Congress.
Bush captured a majority of the popular vote, unlike the disputed 2000
election against Democrat Al Gore. With 99 percent of precincts reporting,
Bush
had 51 percent of votes against Kerry’s 48 percent.
Kerry called Bush after meeting with running mate John Edwards and Sen.
Edward
Kennedy, his colleague from Massachusetts in the US Senate.
“Sen. Kerry waged a spirited campaign and he and his supporters can be proud
of their efforts,” Bush said.

“DESPERATE NEED FOR UNITY”

Kerry said he congratulated Bush and they discussed the country’s divisions
and “the desperate need for unity, for finding the common ground, coming
together. Today I hope that we can begin the healing.”
The dispute over uncounted ballots in Ohio had thrown the presidential result
into uncertainty, as Kerry vowed he would not concede until all the
outstanding
provisional and absentee ballots had been counted while Bush claimed victory.
White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card made a predawn appearance before Bush
supporters to say Bush had a “statistically insurmountable” lead in Ohio and
had won a majority of the popular vote.
Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell had estimated as many as
175,000 provisional ballots could be cast, and counties reported as of
Wednesday morning that 135,149 had been issued.
Republicans will hold at least 54 of the 100 Senate seats, three more than
they now have, and widen their slim majority of the 435-member House in the
new
109th Congress, set to convene on Jan. 3.
That will make it easier for Bush to push his conservative agenda through
Congress, potentially making his tax cuts permanent and appointing more
federal
judges including possibly some US Supreme Court justices.
“With a bigger majority, we can do even more exciting things,” said House
Majority leader Tom DeLay, a Republican from Texas.
Stocks soared on news of the win from Bush, with shares of major US drug and
defense companies rising on the expectation those industries would do well
under Bush.
Allies like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister
Silvio
Berlusconi saw Bush’s victory as bolstering the US-declared “war on terror.”
But some disenchanted Europeans urged Bush to heal transatlantic rifts.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush’s biggest ally in the war in Iraq,
said in London the re-election of Bush came at a critical time when the world
must unite to fight terrorism and Europe must rebuild its relationship with
Bush.
“We must be relentless in our war against terrorism,” Blair said. “We should
work with President Bush on this agenda.”
Long voter lines were reported across the United States on Tuesday and few
major voting glitches were recorded in the final act of the long campaign.
With 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House, Bush had captured 29
states with 274 electoral votes. Kerry won 19 states and the District of
Columbia and 252 votes. Bush held a lead of 3.5 million votes over Kerry
nationwide with 99 percent of the precincts reporting.
Still undecided were Iowa and New Mexico, but only Ohio could make either
candidate a winner.

2) Newly Elected ARF Body Reveals Priorities

YEREVAN (YERKIR)–Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Supreme Body (SB)
representative Armen Rustamian, and SB member and National Assembly’s ARF
faction leader Levon Mkrtchian, held a news conference on Wednesday, following
the organization’s 8th Supreme Convention last weekend.
Rustamian noted that the convention was unique in nature, considering the ARF
is now a partner in the coalition government.
The convention pointed out that a great deal of the priorities included in
the
ruling coalition’s memorandum [drafted at the time of its formation] have not
been fulfilled; Rustamian added that the coalition did succeed, however, in
easing political tension and maintaining stability following elections in
Armenia.
Revealing the convention’s dissatisfaction at the implementation of
government
anti-corruption measures, Rustamian stressed the newly elected ARF Armenia
body
will work to establish reforms to permanently change the country’s direction.
“We have consistently said that the country has been heading in the right
direction since 1998, but we need serious steps to make that course
irreversible,” he said.
To reach that goal, we have decided to continue our presence in the coalition
government,” but added that the ARF “reserves the right to reconsider its
participation in the coalition government in the event of a breach of the
goals
spelled out in the [June 2004] memorandum on its creation,”
The convention underscored the importance of Mountainous Karabagh Republic’s
full participation in peace talks to resolve its conflict with Azerbaijan, and
suggested that the Armenian government work with Georgia to alleviate the
deteriorating socio-economic situation of the mostly Armenian populated region
of Javakhk.
With much talk of Turkey’s aspiration to join the European Union (EU), the
convention concluded that its recognition of the 1915 Genocide and a neutral
stance toward the Karabagh conflict be preconditions to EU accession.
Touching on the issue of sending Armenian troops to Iraq, Rustamian said the
convention concluded the Armenian government be guided by UN resolutions, but
also practice caution so as to prevent Armenian communities of the Middle East
from becoming targets of international terrorism.
Concluding the news conference, Rustamian said the convention also discussed
government’s relations with the opposition, as well as constitutional and the
electoral code reforms. The ARF is pushing for electoral reforms to increase
parliamentary seats contested on the party list basis as opposed to individual
races in single-mandate constituencies.

3) Abkhaz Presidential Contenders Seek Crisis Resolution in Moscow

(Civil Georgia)–After two days of talks with unnamed Russian officials in
Moscow, the two principal contenders for Abkhazia’s presidency Raul Khajimba
and Sergey Bagapsh, returned home on November 3. It is unclear, however, if
there was a breakthrough in the political crisis that erupted after the
disputed October 3 presidential elections in the unrecognized republic.
Pro-government presidential candidate Raul Khajimba said there are
possibilities for an agreement–while opposition candidate Sergey Bagapsh
insisted he has won at the polls.
“Together with Sergey Bagapsh, we discussed possible ways out of the current
crisis in Abkhazia. Moscow’s climate is better for finding a solution,”
Khajimba told Itar-Tass news agency on November 2.
“I feel that options to overcoming the crisis exist. Everything depends on
Sergey Bagapsh and me,” he added. He refrained from specifying details.
Opposition Abkhaz presidential candidate Bagapsh reiterated that he opposes
holding repeat elections, as demanded by Khajimba.
“Elections have been held and the president has already been elected,” he
told
RIA Novosti news agency on November 3.
The Central Election Commission announced Bagapsh the winner with 50.08% of
votes–but Khajimba challenged the decision in the Supreme Court. The latter
rejected Khajimba’s appeal on October 28 and, in turn, confirmed Bagapsh as
president-elect.
But with the subsequent storming of the Supreme Court building by Khajimba’s
supporters, the court reversed its decision and ruled new elections be held.
Russia’s open support of pro-governmental candidate Khajimba, has upset
Georgia. Georgia’s Parliament Chair Nino Burjanadze accused Moscow of
employing
double standards when dealing with conflicts in the Caucasus. She said Moscow
is fighting against separatists on its territory in Chechnya while supporting
separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

4) Republicans Boosts Senate Majority

WASHINGTON (AP) –Republicans toppled Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle,
winning their biggest Senate prize after sweeping the South, including a
Florida seat Wednesday. Alaska remained undecided.
Republicans were assured 54 Senate seats, expanding their current 51-48
margin, with one Democratic-leaning independent.
Daschle, who was elected to the Senate in 1986 and also served eight years in
the House, planned to concede midday in Sioux Falls, SD, according to
congressional sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Labeled an obstructionist by Republicans, Daschle garnered 49 percent of the
vote to 51 percent for his GOP challenger, former Rep. John Thune. With all
precincts reporting, Daschle fell short by about 4,500 votes.
The last time a Senate leader was unseated was in 1952, when Barry Goldwater
of Arizona turned Senate Majority Leader Ernest McFarland out of office.
An Associated Press exit poll showed that South Dakota voters concerned with
moral values and terrorism helped Thune.
Democrats hoped for a defection to ease the pain. Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln
Chafee said he would consider switching parties if President Bush were
re-elected.
”I’m not ruling it out,” Chafee told The Providence Journal. Known for
moderate views that often run counter to the Bush administration, Chafee said
he cast a write-in vote for Bush’s father, George HAW. Bush, in Tuesday’s
election, calling it a ”symbolic protest.”
In Florida, Democrat Betty Castor conceded defeat Wednesday in a tight
contest
with Mel Martinez, a Cuban emigrant who left Bush’s Cabinet to run for the
seat
opened by retiring Sen. Bob Graham, a Democrat. Martinez will be the nation’s
first Cuban-American senator.
Republicans were surprised by their Senate showing, winning competitive races
in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana–where the GOP won
its
first seat since Reconstruction.
Democrats had a nearly insurmountable hurdle to take control of the Senate,
since most of the competitive races were in states where Bush was strong.
In Illinois, state Sen. Barack Obama easily won, making him the only black
member of the new Senate that convenes in January. He cautioned against a GOP
mandate.
”You still need 60 votes in the Senate to make things happen,” Obama said
Wednesday on NBC’s ”Today.” ”The Republicans don’t have 60 votes. My hope
would be that they recognize that, and the Democrats are willing to serve as a
loyal opposition.”
The strengthened Republican Senate probably will mean more votes to confirm
nominees to the Supreme Court in a second Bush term. One Republican winner,
Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, is in line to become chairman of the
Senate
Judiciary Committee, which holds confirmation hearings on court nominees.

5) Republicans Extend Decade of House Control

WASHINGTON (AP)–The power of incumbency and an advantageous GOP redistricting
in Texas swept Republicans to another two years of control over the House of
Representatives.
Virtually all sitting representatives in the 435-member House won
re-election,
leaving Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom DeLay and their GOP
majority firmly in charge.
Republicans were poised to add a few seats as they embark on another term of
House control–the first time the party has achieved 12 consecutive years in
power in the chamber since the dozen years that ended in January 1933..
Republican leaders sought to portray the results as an affirmation of their
priorities in Congress. The vote is ”an endorsement by the American people
that you’re moving in the right direction when it comes to security and safety
and more–on terror, prescription drugs and education,” Senate Majority
Leader
Bill Frist of Tennessee told CNN.
In the House, Democrats knocked off one Republican incumbent–Rep. Philip M.
Crane of Illinois, the party’s longest-serving member–but came nowhere close
to taking the 12 seats they needed to win back control.
Even celebrity didn’t help. Kentucky Democrat Nick Clooney, father of actor
George Clooney and brother of the late singer-actress Rosemary Clooney, lost
his bid for an open seat to Geoff Davis.
By early Wednesday, Republicans had won 228 seats and were leading in five
other races, which could give them at least 233 seats. Democrats had won 199
seats and led in two other contests.
Republicans hold a 227-205 advantage over Democrats in the outgoing House,
plus two vacant seats formerly held by Republicans who have retired and one
independent who sides with Democrats.
A minimum of 218 seats are needed for House control. A final tally for the
House won’t be available for several days. Two Louisiana races headed toward
runoffs with Republican Billy Tauzin III against Democrat Charlie Melancon,
and
GOP candidate Charles Boustany and Democrat Willie Mount. Other races were yet
to be called, including in Pennsylvania, Washington state, New York, Georgia
and Indiana.

6) Terror Fears, Economy Spur US Voters

Poll Finds Americans in Pessimistic Frame of Mind

WASHINGTON (AP)–Fears of terror attacks competed in voters’ minds with
pocketbook concerns, Associated Press exit polls found–and the rival worries
kept Tuesday’s race between President Bush and Democrat John Kerry close.
Overall, the polls indicated that Americans were in a pessimistic frame of
mind.
Majorities of voters said the war in Iraq is going badly and the economy is
not doing well. But three-fourths said they are worried about the possibility
of another terrorist attack, a factor playing to Bush’s strength.
The poll exploring the voters’ frame of mind was conducted among 9,753 people
who had just cast ballots. It was conducted for AP and the television networks
by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International.
“I was really disappointed with both candidates, said Melissa Smith, 40, of
Swift Creek, NC, who said she didn’t finally make up her mind until she filled
out her ballot. “Bush has made some choices for the wrong reasons. But I’m not
sure I think Kerry has the strength to lead us in the right direction.”
Young voters supported Kerry over Bush by more than 15 percentage points, but
the expected surge in their participation this year was not evident. Just
under
10 percent of voters were between age 18 and 24, about the same share of the
electorate as in 2000. But four years ago, they were evenly split between Bush
and Al Gore.
About a fifth of the voters considered themselves born-again Christians, and
they cast ballots for the president by a 4-1 margin. That’s about the same
margin as in 2000, when Christians who described themselves as part of the
religious right said they were for Bush.
Bush fared best among those who said moral values were the most important
issue, and among those who said terrorism–two of the top issues.

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