MEETING WITH ANDRZEJ KASPRZYK
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
28 Jan 05
On January 24 foreign minister of the Republic of Nagorni Karabakh
Arman Melikian met with the personal representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk at the permanent representation of
NKR in Armenia. During the meeting they discussed the visit of the
OSCE delegation to NKR on January 30. Andrzej Kasprzyk told Arman
Melikian that besides the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen the delegation
would also involve experts from the Minsk Group member countries
Russia, France and the USA, as well as representatives from Germany,
Sweden, Finland and Italy. The members of the meeting pointed out the
importance of clarifying the plans of holding the briefing of the NKR
foreign minister in Stepanakert and the works of the monitoring
mission. In the name of the NKR authorities Arman Melikian said
necessary conditions for normal work of the monitoring mission would
be provided. *** On January 26 NKR vice foreign minister Masis
Mayilian met with the assistants of the personal representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office. During the meeting the coordinator of the
Tbilisi office Imre Palatinus introduced the newly appointed field
assistant of the personal representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Torsten Ahren (Sweden). Emphasizing the normal
working relationships between the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
the OSCE mission in Stepanakert Masis Mayilian wished their further
development. The vice foreign minister said the MFA is willing to
continue assisting to the works of the OSCE mission in NKR. The
participants of the meeting discussed also the visit of the OSCE
experts mission to Nagorni Karabakh on January 30.
AA.
28-01-2005

KARABAKH FORCED OUT OF TALKS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
28 Jan 05
– Mr. President, recently there has been certain fuss about the
problem of Nagorni Karabakh (Baku’s undertaking at the UN, Atkinson’s
report at the PACE, the upcoming visit of the OSCE mission to
investigate the situation in the territories controlled by Nagorni
Karabakh, the statement of the assistant of the US secretary of
state). In this context how well is the anxiety of certain political
scientists grounded that the Armenian side is yielding in the
negotiation process? – First, I want to clarify that two Armenian
sides have been involved in the conflict: Nagorni Karabakh and
Armenia. As the Karabakh side has been artificially isolated from the
talks, it would not be correct to give an assessment to its diplomatic
activities. As to Armenia, the regular meetings of the foreign
minister of Armenia with the foreign minister of Azerbaijan are
useful, indeed. But they cannot replace the complete negotiation
process with the full participation of Nagorni Karabakh. We must not
forget that the question of Nagorni Karabakh was raised by the people
of Nagorni Karabakh and it refers to the status of Nagorni
Karabakh. The rest is the consequences of the war imposed on us by
Azerbaijan, a country which does not recognize the right of the people
of Nagorni Karabakh for self-determination and therefore does not wish
to discuss the question of the status of Nagorni Karabakh. I think the
anxiety of political scientists, as you said, are motivated by the
latter consequence. – Do you think Yerevan and Stepanakert make enough
effort for preventing unfavourable formulations concerning Nagorni
Karabakh in international organizations? – The appearance of
unfavourable wording in documents of European organizations due to
Azerbaijan is also, in my opinion, caused by the absence of the
Karabakh party in the discussions of our problem in international
organizations. Talks and debates on the Karabakh issue mainly going on
between two countries, Armenia and Azerbaijan, of course, suppose
occasional occurrenceof similar wording is. And it is not the degree
of efforts made that matters but the conceptual approach towards
principles and mechanisms of regulation. â=80` How possible is it that
the attempts of Baku to carry the issue of Nagorni Karabakh to other
international organizations will be a success and what will the
involvement of other organizations in the resolution of the problem
result in? Why, in your opinion, the format of the OSCE Minsk Group
does not appeal to Azerbaijan? – The Azerbaijani side is busy with
persuading as many international organizations as possible to adopt
various documents in which Armenia wouldbe presented as an aggressor
country, and Karabakh as an uncontrollable territory. Baku’s
behaviour starts from its perception of the nature of the conflict as
aggression by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Therefore Baku does not want
to make concessions. Many countries that member international
organizations have no relationships with the resolution of the country
(and these are the majority) therefore Baku’s tactics may produce
temporary political dividends.What is more, the procedure of decision
making at the UN allows the Baku authorities to do that. As to the
co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, the representatives of Russia,
the USA and France who mediate the process of negotiations, I am sure
they are well-aware of the motives of the confrontation, as well as
the circumstances which brought about the military and political
status quo in the conflict area, making Azerbaijan discontent. These
circumstances are not favourable for Azerbaijan, as you
understand. Therefore the Azerbaijani authorities seek to get reed of
the OSCE Minsk Group mediation which endorses the necessity of
compromise in the peaceful settlement of the conflict and does not
interrupt relationships with NKR. – In your opinion, isn’t it high
time for Yerevan to put directly the question of participation of
Nagorni Karabakh in Negotiations? – First, the question is not
addressed correctly. Second, through ultimatums the conflict cannot be
settled peacefully. And indeed it cannot be solved without the full
participation of the Karabakh party. – The recent developments testify
to the increasing closeness of Russian-Turkish relationships. Do you
have anxiety that close relationships between Moscow and Ankara may
have a negative impact on the settlement of the conflict of Nagorni
Karabakh? â=80` In my opinion, Russia has clearly stated its
standpoint. As it is known, its standpoint is that the conflict
parties must solve the problem themselves, and Moscow may only support
them and act as guarantor of agreements achieved. Apparently, this
standpoint sets out from the interests of Russia and we may suppose
that it will keep to this position in the future too. Although,
nothing should be excluded. At least, Turkey which absolutely supports
Azerbaijan in the Karabakh problem will in my opinion try to influence
Russia for the latter to exercise pressure on Armenia and Nagorni
Karabakh. – What is the standpoint of Stepanakert in the question of
the future status of Nagorni Karabakh? â=80` The standpoint of the
Nagorni Karabakh authorities is based on the position of our
people.Our position is that security and prosperity of our people are
impossible under the Azerbaijani rule. Only the equal relationships of
two subjects of the international law may be concerned. The Republic
of Nagorni Karabakh has already demonstrated to the world that the
level of democratic reforms in our country is higher than in
Azerbaijan, and the NKR economy, culture and the social sphere develop
at high rates in independence from Baku, which would be impossible if
Nagorni Karabakh were within the Azerbaijani state. The numerous
foreign guests of NKR, including your colleagues, journalists confirm
this fact. Moreover, Azerbaijan, which imposed cruel blockade and then
war on us, did not and does not hide its intentions to force out or
exterminate the Armenian population from Karabakh. Hardly anyone can
accuse us of the fact that we defended our right to live in our
historical homeland with weapons in our hands. We acquired our
independence at the price of irreparable losses and therefore we will
never give in.
REGNUM.
28-01-2005

EASTERN DIOCESE READIES PREPARATIONS FOR GENOCIDE 90TH ANNIVERSARY
REMEMBRANCE
YEREVAN, January 28 (Noyan Tapan). The law “On Parties,” in essence,
froze the desperate situation formed in this sphere and closes the way
to formation of new political forces. Vigen Khachatrian, a member of
the “Club of Political Dispute,” declared this during the discussion
of the amendments to the law “On Parties” organized on January 27 in
the club. According to him, under the formed conditions when really
the parliament and parties don’t form the executive power and aren’t
able to control it effectively the amendment introduced to the law
gives new levers for control over the parties to the executive power.
Khachatrian also said that this “innovation” will contribute to
strengthening of monopoly positions of pro-governmental parties.
According to him, the amendments introduced to the law are really
aimed at limitation of political competition as the most important
condition of modern democracy. “Not encouraging but hampering
principles are the basis of the amendments.” In Khachatrian’s opinion,
the main provision of the Constitution, according to which the parties
are free to be formed and contribute to formation of political life of
the country, should be fixed and developed in the law. According to
another proposal of the speaker, they should introduce additions to
the law taking into consideration the demand of Article 7 of the
Constitution, according to which the structure and work of the parties
can’t contradict the democratic principles. According to Vigen
Khachatrian, the law badly reflects the mechanisms that will provide
fulfilment of the constitutional demand regarding publicity of
financial activity of parties. Samvel Nikoyan, an MP, a member of the
“Republican Party of Armenia” faction, and Stepan Zakarian, an MP, a
member of the “Ardarutiun” (“Justice”) faction, made reports during
the discussion.

MOST LIKELY EUROPEAN COURT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO BEGIN EXAMINATION OF
SUIT OF LAND FUND SHAHUMIAN-GETASHEN
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28. ARMINFO. Most likely, this year the European
Court for human rights will start consideration of the suit of the
land charitable fund Shahumian-Getashen on invalidating a number of
clauses of the European convention on defence of main freedoms and
human rights. ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
According to the resource, the claim of the fund was registered in the
secretariat of the European Court. The land charitable fund
Shahumian-Getashen, speaking on behalf of the residents of the
Armenians villages of Shahumian and Getashen districts, displaced as a
result of the policy of the authorities of Azerbaijan on expulsion of
Armenians during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict from 1991-1992, at the
end of 2004 appealed to the European Court for human rights to receive
a material and moral satisfaction for the violated rights for easy use
and protection of property of the displaced population. Now the
aforementioned territories are under the control of Azerbaijani armed
forces, where Armenian populated areas, the property of the Armenians
are destroyed, and the program of resettlement of Azerbaijan is being
implemented. The fund expects from the court to recognize violated the
1st clause of the 1st protocol of the European Convention for defence
of main freedoms and human rights.
The clause says that every natural person or legal entity has the
right easily to use his property. Besides, the fund expects that the
court will recognize violated the 8th clause of the convention,
according to the first point of which “everybody has the right for
respect of his personal and family life, apartment and
correspondence”. Besides the fund demands to oblige Azerbaijan for
material and moral compensation for infringement of the rights.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA DOES ITS BEST TO PROTECT NAGORNY KARABAKH: NKR PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28. ARMINFO. Armenia is doing its best to protect
Nagorny Karabakh. One thing is when issues are raised by Karabakh
representatives the other thing is when they are presented by Armenia,
says Karabakh’s President Arkady Ghoukassyan.
In this context our opportunities are enlarging and if Karabakh is
involved in the talks it will be able to defend its position
itself. Ghoukassyan notes that the Armenian army is the key guarantor
of the security of the Karabakh people and state. “If we have a fully
fledged structure this is our army. I am sure that having a strong
army we will have future. The situation is so that so far the regional
problems have been settled by the army. May this not be the case in
the future and we can settle our problems in political ways.”

ARRESTED LEADER OF ARMENIAN ARYANS GOES ON HUNGER STRIKE
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28. ARMINFO. The recently arrested leader of the
Armenian-Aryan Order party Armen Avetissyan has gone on hunger strike.
The reason is that Avetissyan has been placed in the same cell with
criminals who used violence against him. Avetissyan’s lawyer Melania
Arustamyan and an ombudsman representative are now in the cell to
inquire into the situation.
Thursday MPs Viktor Dallakyan and Manuk Gasparyan asked Yerevan’s
Prosecutor Hrach Badalyan to change the measure of restriction against
Avetissyan.
To remind, Avetissyan was arrested for kindling ethnic, racial and
religious strife.

AZERI STANCE ON KARABAKH CONFLICT “UNCHANGED”, PRESIDENT TELLS OSCE MISSION
Turan news agency
28 Jan 05
BAKU
President Ilham Aliyev today received the co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group and the fact-finding mission which will investigate
settlement on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.
Welcoming the guests Aliyev expressed his hope that the mission’s work
will be effective. He also noted the significance of the new format of
the talks on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, which are now
being held between the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers.
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan’s position on settlement of the conflict
remains unchanged. The conflict must be resolved only and only on the
basis of international legal norms – the principles of territorial
integrity and inviolability of state borders, Aliyev said.
He said that the illegal settlement of Armenians on the occupied
territories is one of the major difficulties on the way to achieving a
lasting peace. Aliyev said he was certain that the mission’s scrutiny
of the real situation on the occupied land would facilitate the end of
Armenia’s illegal activities on those territories.
The Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Yuriy Merzlyakov,
thanked Aliyev for Azerbaijan’s professional preparation of the
documents presented to the mission. “This is all very important for
the mission to accomplish the work on the occupied territories around
Nagornyy Karabakh,” the Russian diplomat said.
Saying that the OSCE Minsk Group intends to intensify its activities,
Merzlyakov hoped that successful results would be attained as a result
of the sides’ serious mutual efforts in peaceful negotiations.

THEME OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO BE INCLUDED INTO TURKISH SCHOOL HISTORY
TEETBOOKS, BUT “IN LIGHT OF HISTORICAL TRUTH”
YEREVAN, January 27 (Noyan Tapan). The “Consumer Expo Food Expo” first
Armenian-Georgian-Turkish joint exhibition scheduled for late February
or early May 2005 in Tbilisi was postponed for indefinite
time. Rafayel Kakoyan, Director of “Expo Service” center, informed a
Noyan Tapan correspondent that holding of the exhibition was postponed
by the request of the co-organizer “Ekspres danismanlik reklam
orgsnizasyon” Turkish company because of Armenian-Turkish political
disagreements. To recap, the organization of the exhibition had
already been postponed for technical reasons, at first it was planned
to hold it in December 2004.

FRANCE INTERESTED IN RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT WITHIN SHORTEST
TERM
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28. ARMINFO. France is interested in resolution of
the Karabakh problem within the shortest term and is ready to do
everything possible for it, French co-chairman of OSCE Minsk Group on
settlement of Karabakh conflict, Bernard Fassier says at a
press-conference in Baku.
Fassier says,
adding that French-Armenian friendship is well-known, while still much
is not known about French-Azerbaijani friendship. In this connection,
he brought several examples confirming the existence of
French-Azerbaijani friendship. At the same time, Bernard Fassier says
that Minks Group and its co-chairs cannot solve the problem instead of
Azerbaijan and Armenia, they can only contribute to establishment of a
dialogue between the governments of the two states. The OSCE Minsk
group is accused of doing nothing for 10 years, it is wrong, he
says. The co-chairmen cannot say anything concerning liberation of any
region of Azerbaijan this year, it is the governments that are to make
such decisions. The French diplomat says that together with his US and
Russian colleagues, he will meet the leadership of Azerbaijan
today. As regards the resolution of PACE on Karabakh, he says that the
document was not adopted by European states, but by their parliaments.
The diplomat says he was appointed to the post of OSCE MG co-chairman
by the French Government on January 1, 2005. He told that he served in
the Armed Forces as an officer for 25 years and than started his
diplomatic service. He has been engaged in diplomacy for some 20
years. The guest notes that he was in Baku yet in the Soviet period of
time, this visit to Azerbaijan is the first in the period of the
country’s independence. He is well-informed of the South Caucasus and
Karabakh problem as since joining the French Foreign Service in 1987
he has held the position of Vice Director for the USSR (1987-1990),
and has worked for the French Embassies in Switzerland (1990-1993) and
Georgia (1993-1997). Senior Deputy High Representative and Head of the
Rule of Law unit Ambassador Bernard Fassier joined the OHR in August
2002. Ambassador Fassier’s most recent appointment was as the French
Ambassador to Belarus (1997-2002). Fassier says he held posts which
to some extent prepared him for his current position. During his work
in Georgia, he coordinated distribution of humanitarian aid by the EU
for the South Caucasian states.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARUYR HAIRIKIAN REQUIRES FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY OF ARMENIA STEPS ON
CANCELLATION OF MOSCOW AND KARS TREATIES OF 1921
YEREVAN, JANUARY 28. ARMINFO. Leader of the party Self-determination
unity Paruyr Hairikian demanded from the Ministry of foreign affairs
of Armenia to cancel the Moscow and Kars Treaties of 1921 signed by
Soviet Russia and Turkey.
During the news conference he reminded that in 1921 he Soviet Russia
“gifted” Turkey a number of native Armenian lands – Karsa, Ardahan,
Bitlis, and Nakhichevan and Nagorny Karabakh were transferred to
Azerbaijan. “Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Erdogan states that the
Armenians have the right not to admit the Kars and Moscow Treaties,
but Vardan Oskanian declares that Armenia does not consist in the
revision of the Kars and Moscow Treaties. Erdogan more cares of
Armenia than the Armenians themselves”, Hairikian stated, requiring
form the foreign political office of Armenia to start the process of
revision of the aforementioned Treaties.