Erdogan: Opening Of Borders Depends On Armenia’s Attitude

Anadolu Agency
10/29/2004

BAKU – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday,
“Turkey has been defending from the very beginning that a solution
should be found to the Upper Karabakh dispute under territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan from the very beginning. Meanwhile, opening
of borders between Turkey and Armenia depends on Armenia’s attitude.”

In an interview with Azerbaijani Three Points newspaper, Prime Minister
Erdogan said, “there are some obstacles in front of normalization of
Turkey-Armenia relations and opening of borders. Ignorance of official
borders by Armenia, Armenia’s efforts for recognition of so-called
Armenian genocide, and long-standing historical problems between
Turkey and Armenia have been affecting our relations negatively.”

“Armenia’s maintaining its occupying policy against all resolutions of
the UN for Upper Karabakh also has a negative impact on our bilateral
relations. In order to normalize those relations, Armenia should
set good neighborly relations with Turkey and the other regional
countries,” he said.

-TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS-

“There have been historic cultural and social relations between Turkey
and Azerbaijan. Our bilateral relations have reached to a perfect level
in only 14 years after Azerbaijan acquired its independence,” he said.

Prime Minister Erdogan noted that the bilateral relations would
further improve after the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline
project was put into force, adding, “other energy projects will bring
our relations to the level of strategic partnership.”

Referring to Turkish-Azeri economic relations, Erdogan said that
“although political relations between the two countries are excellent,
economic ties are not at a satisfactory level.”

“The annual trade volume between Turkey and Azerbaijan is only
about 430 million U.S. dollars. This is not an amount that makes us
happy. There need to be progress made in the areas of customs and
taxation as well as banking between the two countries.”

-TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS-

Referring to Turkey’s EU membership process, Prime Minister Erdogan
said, “we expect the EU to make a decision at its summit on December
17th to open entry talks with Turkey. In that case, accession
negotiations will start in 2005. The negotiation process will be
difficult and take a long time. The process will entail us to work
hard. The process also requires adequate financial source.”

“We are planning to fulfil entry talks in 2010 and reach our target of
EU full membership. Turkey’s membership will have positive impacts in
economy, politics and culture in Europe. Turkey will make a valuable
contribution to the EU in energy. Also, the EU’s influence in the
Islam world will increase with membership of Turkey,” Prime Minister
Erdogan added.

Eurasia Insight Armenia Facing Instability Ahead – Report

Posted October 29, 2004 © Eurasianet

Armenia faces instability unless it takes quick steps to improve
relations with its neighbors, and fosters the rule-of-law at home,
according to a new study that examines the Caucasus nationâ~@~Ys
political and economic prospects. The report, prepared by
the International Crisis Group, urges Armenia to approach the
Nagorno-Karabakh peace process “realistically.” It adds that President
Robert Kocharianâ~@~Ys administration should “supplement economic
success with robust democratization.”

The report, titled Armenia: Internal Instability Ahead, says
the stalemated Karabakh peace process “looms over all aspects of
Armeniaâ~@~Ys political life and compounds its instability.” [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. A lasting Karabakh
settlement is needed to secure Armeniaâ~@~Ys long-term economic
security, the report maintains. Yet, Armenian leaders have little room
for diplomatic maneuver in their negotiations with their Azerbaijani
counterparts, it adds. Yerevan is under heavy popular pressure,
especially from the Armenian Diaspora, to make no concessions on
Karabakhâ~@~Ys independence from Baku. [For background see the Eurasia
Insight archive].

“The [Karabakh] issue previously helped unify Armeniaâ~@~Ys political
elite, but ultimately, it may polarize popular opinion and society,”
the report says. While nearly all Armenians believe that the country
should defend Karabakhâ~@~Ys interests during peace negotiations, a
growing number in Yerevan seem to feel the territoryâ~@~Ys priorities
have already eclipsed Armeniaâ~@~Ys own needs, including regional
economic integration. The Karabakh issue, at the same time, has
become so politically sensitive that Armenian officials are afraid
of disturbing the status quo. The report cites a poll conducted in
August 2004, which shows that almost 50 percent of Armenians believe
war with Azerbaijan is the countryâ~@~Ys most serious threat in
the coming five years. “Today, the issue is perceived as dangerous,
if not suicidal for Armenian politicians,” the report said.

The Karabakh dilemma threatens to upend Armeniaâ~@~Ys economic
development, which is the key to long-term security. Over the past
decade, the country has experienced “substantial macroeconomic
growth,” with GDP now rising at a 10-percent annual rate, the report
says. Growth has been unevenly distributed, however, with per capita
income still standing at only $80 per month. The lack of a Karabakh
settlement may bring economic progress to a halt, the report stresses.
“The Southern Caucasus badly needs economic integration to sustain
its nascent growth,” the report states. “Yerevan is excluded from
participation in all major regional trade and East-West pipeline
projects, mostly as a consequence of the unresolved conflict.”

The report indicates that achieving a Karabakh breakthrough
will require a reevaluation of Yerevanâ~@~Ys current negotiating
stance. “Despite rhetoric, Armenians acknowledge they share many
experiences and interests with other Caucasian nations,” the report
says. “They know the future can improve only if old relations with
Azerbaijan â~@~S which means addressing the Nagorno-Karabakh issue
realistically â~@~S and Georgia are renewed,” the report says.

Complicating efforts to promote economic growth is the “frozen” state
of domestic politics, in which Kocharianâ~@~Ys opponents maintain a
boycott of parliament. [For additional information see the Eurasia
Insight archive]. The report characterizes Armenia as internally
unstable “because many basic safeguards of a participatory democracy
do not function. … Elections have been invariably rigged, causing
political unrest and violence.”

The presidential and parliamentary elections of 2003, widely condemned
for widespread irregularities, led to a sharp increase in domestic
political tension. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. Opposition leaders refused to recognize the voting results
and pursued a popular-protest strategy, leading to a confrontation
in April between pro-Kocharian police and opposition demonstrators
in Yerevan. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. Though the popular protests have abated, the political
atmosphere remains polarized.

The report places the main burden for fostering domestic tranquility
on the Kocharian administration. Incumbent authorityâ~@~Ys apparent
desire to monopolize political power is distracting from efforts
to improve living standards, it adds. “Corruption and violations
of democratic procedure have disillusioned a population, half
of which still lives below the poverty line,” the report says.
“Good governance is perhaps the most important element for fighting
poverty and achieving sustainable development.”

Events in Armenia may take a violent turn unless Kocharian takes
quick steps to redress his opponentsâ~@~Y grievances. “The number
of persons ready to act outside the law to advance political aims is
likely to grow if the government continues to repress peaceful protests
violently and to rig elections â~@~S especially should a charismatic
[opposition] leader appear on the scene.”

–Boundary_(ID_Y4bS6aPzTW+ax/ahQ30lag)–

October 29, 2004

45th Plenary Meeting
Fourth Report of the General Committee (A/59/250/Add.3)

Statement by H.E. Mr. Armen MARTIROSYAN, Ambassador, Permanent
Representative of the Republic of Armenia to the United Nations

Mr. President,

We are facing a situation today when an attempt is being made to introduce a
new agenda item, using procedural loopholes, under the guise of being urgent
with no factual evidence to prove it.

The General Committee, despite the obvious objection by a number of
Committee members to the inclusion of that item, based on valid concerns for
the integrity of the peace process, was forced to take a vote at the demand
of Azerbaijan, thus breaking several decades of consensus tradition in the
General Committee.

Distinguished representatives who spoke in the Committee in favor of
Azerbaijan’s proposal, all representing the OIC, supported the request based
on their membership in that respected organization. However, I would like to
emphasize that the Nagorno Karabagh conflict has no religious connotation.
Attempts by Azerbaijan to artificially add a religious dimension to a
political conflict are inadmissible and dangerous.

My country has always believed in and acted in the spirit of the dialogue
among civilizations. As one of the oldest Christian nations, we have made
our modest contribution to the promotion of this dialogue by strengthening
our centuries-old friendly ties with many Muslim nations.

We are thankful to those OIC members who drew their judgment based on the
specificities of the situation. I would like to appeal to the OIC members
present in this Assembly Hall to consider the issue on its substance, roots
and causes rather than religious affiliations.

Mr. President,

Let me highlight several key points that I believe are crucial in the
consideration of this issue.

First, there is no urgent situation, which justifies the Azerbaijani request
to include of a new item in the agenda of this GA Session. The Explanatory
Memorandum attached to the Azerbaijani request does not provide ANY factual
information of ANY kind, and certainly not of an “urgent character.”

On the contrary: The reasons offered to justify the request are totally
fabricated and misrepresent the actual situation on the ground.

The former autonomous region of Nagorno Karabagh has always been and
continues to be Armenian-populated. So, there is no change in the
demographic situation there. As far as the so-called “settlements” are
concerned, there is NO official policy of ANY kind by ANY official body to
settle the territories that came under the control of local Armenian forces.
None.

This conflict created refugees on BOTH sides. Before the conflict began,
according to the last Soviet Azerbaijani census, there were over 400,000
Armenians living in Azerbaijan’s major cities, far from where the fighting
took place. They were all forcibly driven out of their homes and became
refugees. There are NO Armenians in Azerbaijan today. THEY are the ones who
became refugees and were given the chance to return to Nagorno Karabagh
proper, and ONLY Karabagh, which has always been overwhelmingly Armenian.

The Azerbaijani Government can make all sorts of accusations, can try to
make use of the word “settlement,” which has been loaded with some
connotations transposed from other conflicts, but they are alone in this
exercise. No observers, rapporteurs, officials, no one who has been to the
region has raised the issue of illegal settlements.

Mr. President,

As for the territories surrounding Nagorno Karabagh, they have come under
the control of Nagorno Karabagh Armenians as a result of the war unleashed
by Azerbaijan in an attempt to stifle the peaceful drive of the people of
Nagorno Karabagh for self-determination. Today Azerbaijan tries to
self-victimize itself in the eyes of the international community, yet it is
a victim of the aggressive policies and actions carried out by its OWN
Government. Nagorno Karabagh people responded to this military onslaught the
same way as any other people would — they defended their lives, their
families, their homes and their land.

At present, those territories serve as a buffer zone between Nagorno
Karabagh and Azerbaijan since the conflict has not been settled yet. There
is a 10-year self-maintained ceasefire holding without a single peacekeeper
on the ground separating the conflicting forces. The ceasefire is holding
because of the military balance, an indispensable component of which are
territories. There is regular monthly monitoring by the Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and his team. His reports are
presented to the broad OSCE membership. No incident or event of an urgent
character that would “constitute dangerous developments” has been observed
or reported.

Moreover, there are dual track negotiations ongoing between the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the foreign ministers. The most recent
presidential meeting was held a month ago, and clearly there were no
dangerous developments or urgent events, which in any way impacted the
negotiations.

Mr. President,

The Nagorno Karabagh peace process has picked up some speed over the last
year. The package of issues under discussion covers the status of Nagorno
Karabagh, security arrangements, territories, refugees and IDPs,
communications and lifting of the blockade. None of these tough, complex
problems can be considered and finally resolved individually and separate
from the package. The experience of the peace negotiations within the Minsk
Group from 1992 to 1997 explicitly demonstrated that it is impossible to
reach a final agreement on the issues of mutual withdrawal from the
territories and return of refugees and IDPs unless there is a clear
understanding on the final status of NK and the security guarantees.

Mr. President,

The current attempts by Azerbaijan mount to the creation of parallel
processes, which would be damaging to the prospects for peace and resolution
to this conflict. Armenia is committed to the negotiations within the Minsk
Group and stands ready to work constructively with the Co-Chairs towards a
comprehensive solution to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. At the same time, I
am authorized to state that if Azerbaijan separates individual components
from the comprehensive package, then they should negotiate those components
directly with Nagorno Karabagh. And this would be in accordance with the
very Security Council resolutions that Azerbaijan tends to refer selectively
without itself complying with their provisions.

While one could understand some of the concerns expressed, the proposed
action is totally unacceptable. Instead of creating duplication, we shall
make the maximum use of the existing mechanisms by, inter alia, sending a
verification team in order to put these charges to rest once and for all.
Meanwhile, by presenting allegations Azerbaijan creates every obstacle to
the teams attempting to visit the region and assess the situation on the
ground.

I would ask all member states to take action against the request by
Azerbaijan to include this new agenda item, as there is no factually correct
information provided to convince that the issue deserves an urgent
consideration.

Mr. President,

Two days ago, while concluding the meeting of the General Committee, you
announced that the agenda item would be considered under the cluster
“Maintenance of International Peace and Security.” Therefore, this is
exactly the perspective from which we need to look at this issue and make
our judgment on.

The argument of urgency was brought up for the inclusion of a new agenda
item, yet there was no factual justification presented. During the last
several days we heard the argument that this is a procedural issue. Yet this
so-called “procedural” issue may endanger the peace process threatening the
relative peace and stability in the region, as explicitly acknowledged by
several delegations. Facing this potential danger I cannot but pose a
question to this Assembly: Who is going to bear the responsibility for the
possible implications of such so-called “procedural” decisions?

Thank you, Mr. President.
END

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU making efforts for release of jailed Azeri opposition leaders – envoy

Yeni Musavat, Baku
29 Oct 04

Musavat on 29 October headlined “The EU is making efforts to release
leaders” and subheaded “Heikki Talvitie, who arrived in Baku yesterday,
said this at a meeting with party leaders”

The EU special representative in the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie,
arrived in Baku yesterday [28 October]. On the first day of his visit,
Talvitie met leaders of political parties: the chairman of the Musavat
Party, Isa Qambar; the chairman of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan
Party (“reformers”), Ali Karimli; the chairman of the Azarbaycan Milli
Istiqlal Party, Etibar Mammadov; and the acting secretary-general of
the Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Akif Sahbazov. Leaders of the
Social Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Justice Party and
the Islamic Party also attended the meeting held at the French embassy.

We have learnt that the meeting discussed the current situation
in the country. The sides exchanged views on the Karabakh problem,
the situation with democracy, freedom of the press, human rights,
election prisoners [opposition members arrested in post-election riots
in October 2003], political prisoners, as well as preparations for the
municipal elections [on 17 December 2004] and EU-Azerbaijan relations.

Commenting on the election prisoners, including seven opposition
leaders sentenced to prison terms a few days ago, Mr Talvitie spoke
about their [EU] efforts to settle this issue in the near future.

Pressure group urges NATO to stop inviting Armenians to Azeri events

Assa-Irada
29 Oct 04

Baku, 28 October: The Karabakh Liberation Organization [KLO] appealed
to NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer today. In making
attempts to attend Baku-hosted NATO events, Armenia has been trying
to impede Azerbaijani-NATO relations and create confrontation and
tension in this country, the appeal reads. It says that the presence
at any event in Azerbaijan of representatives of Armenia, which
committed the Xocali genocide [massacre in Karabakh town in 1992],
killed thousands of Azerbaijanis and holds a lot of our compatriots
in captivity, is inadmissible.

The KLO regards the Armenians’ presence at the events in Azerbaijan
as an offence to the entire Azerbaijani people and the spirit of
the martyrs. Given the aforesaid, the KLO demands that NATO end the
practice of inviting Armenia to Baku-hosted events.

NATO secretary general, Armenian leadership to discuss cooperation

29.10.2004 12:11:00 GMT 

Yerevan. (Interfax) – NATO General Secretary Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
will meet with the Armenian administration in Yerevan to discuss the
development of Armenian-NATO cooperation, NATO Assistant Secretary
General for Public Diplomacy Jean Fournet told reporters in Yerevan
on Thursday.

Among the issues to be addressed during this visit are issues relating
to the development and intensification of Armenia’s participation in
the NATO Partnership for Peace program, Fournet said.

Scheffer is scheduled to visit Yerevan on November 5.

Fournet recalled that NATO has declared the Southern Caucasus an
area of its strategic interests and said NATO’s relations with the
countries of this region are currently experiencing a rise.

NATO is currently suggesting to its partners developing plans for
individuals cooperation with the Alliance, which will help each of
these countries be involved in cooperation with NATO to the degree to
which the administrations of these countries will want to be involved
in it, Fournet said.

In addition, he said that a NATO office on liaison with the countries
of the Southern Caucasus will be appointed in the near future.

The NATO secretary general has previously appointed its official
representative in the Southern Caucasus.

The Armenian administration has recently expressed an interest in
developing its cooperation with NATO. Armenia believes cooperation
with the Alliance cannot hurt its military and strategic cooperation
with Russia.

–Boundary_(ID_gAam4+VToPCmO5YFBgNU6A)–

Defence chief says sending peacekeepers to Iraq Armenia’s task

Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
28 Oct 04

Text of unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak
on 28 October headlined “Actually, we have become independent”

Does the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Deputy Defence
Minister Mikael Arutyunyan, not think that the dispatch of Armenian
peacekeepers to Iraq might endanger the security of the Armenian
community in Iraq?

In response to this question of our correspondent yesterday, the deputy
minister said: “Do you think that there are no Georgian or Azerbaijani
communities in Iraq? Of course, there are. But both Azerbaijan and
Georgia think of increasing their presence in Iraq. The point is not
that we fulfil someone’s desire by sending troops to Iraq, we solve
our own tasks. Otherwise, let’s surround our country with a fortress
and say that we cannot step out of this boundary.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATIONAL DATA BASE ON PROPERTY TAX BEING DEVELOPED

ArmenPress
28 Oct. 2004

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS: A national data base that will
compromise information on all property taxes across the country’s
communities will be ready by the end of the year. The data base,
developed in the last five-six years, will be kept in computer files
of the state taxation service.

Arthur Manukian, head of the taxation service division, said this
information will serve as the benchmark data for finance and economy
ministry when deciding the volume of subsidies to each community.

He said each of the provinces will have its own data base. Until now
only the province of Lori has enough equipment and experts to run
the data base. He said data bases of other provinces will be ready
by the end of the year.

CRD / TI ARMENIA NEWS

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact:
Sarah Tyler (Berlin, Germany)
Transparency International
Tel: +49-30-3438 2019
Fax: +49-30-3470 3912
[email protected]

Nara Arzumanyan
Center for Regional Development/ Transparency International Armenia
Tel/Fax: +374 1 585 578
[email protected]

INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS, EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRANSPARENT
DECISION-MAKING NEEDED TO TACKLE CORRUPTION IN ARMENIA, SAYS
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL REPORT

Yerevan/Berlin, 29 October 2004 — A new report The National Integrity
Systems TI Country Study Report – Armenia 2003 has been published today
by Transparency International (TI) and TI’s national chapter in Armenia,
the Center for Regional Development (CRD)/TI Armenia. TI is the leading
global non-governmental organisation devoted to combating corruption.

The TI study assessed the effectiveness of the Armenian National
Integrity System (NIS), which is comprised of key institutions that
contribute to the fight against corruption. None of the institutions
evaluated are functioning effectively in Armenia, according to the
report. Among the key systemic factors influencing the NIS in Armenia
are the absence of political will, the lack of independence and autonomy
of institutions, the weak legal framework and poor law enforcement, the
lack of administrative and human capacity, the low level of public
participation in the policy-making, etc.

“It is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of Government
anti-corruption activities in Armenia”, said report co-author and CRD/TI
Armenia chairwoman Amalia Kostanyan, “though in the last year certain
steps (such as adoption of the Anti-Corruption Strategy Program,
establishment of the Anti-Corruption Council and Monitoring Commission,
joining GRECO, etc.) have been taken by state authorities”. Political
will to combat corruption implies not only the adoption of the National
Anti-Corruption Program… but also evident intolerance towards
everyone’s illegal and immoral behaviour irrespective of position and
income, Kostanyan continued.

Most Armenians are still sceptical about commitment of the Government to
fight corruption. Only 22% of respondents of the phone survey conducted
by the CRD/TI Armenia in February 2004 believed that the adoption of the
Anti-Corruption Strategy demonstrated political will to combat
corruption. The view of experts is similar: Armenia received a score of
3.1 against a clean score of 10 in the TI Corruption Perceptions Index
2004, published on 20 October. According to the index, which is based on
the views of business people and country analysts, corruption is a
serious problem in Armenia.

“Ongoing reforms appear to be of declarative nature only and are
perceived as driven by donors”, as the report stated, “to turn this
around local ownership of anti-corruption reforms must be combined with
more effective donor assistance”.

The report calls for the promotion of law enforcement, along with the
improvement of existing legislation. Armenia also needs greater checks
and balances to curb the power of the President compared with the
legislature, and greater independence of the judiciary, prosecutors, and
police, as well as more transparency in the decision-making process.

The report emphasises the need to promote free and fair elections, by
strengthening the party system, making electoral commissions more
accountable to the public, and giving more rights to proxies and
observers. Improving institutional capacity is another priority. “The
success of the reform process is largely determined by the broad support
of the country’s population, which can be promoted by enhancing public
awareness and education”, according to the report. The role of
professional and independent media and, specifically, investigative
journalism, is also crucial for success in the fight against corruption.

A revised National Anti-Corruption Strategy and its Action Plan should
include the reforms cited above. Best practices of anti-corruption
measures all over the world should be reviewed to identify those most
applicable to Armenia.

The National Integrity Systems TI Country Study Report – Armenia 2003
was authored by Amalia Kostanyan, Chairwoman at CRD/TI Armenia, and
Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Public Policy Expert at CRD/TI Armenia. The report
was prepared under the auspices of a programme developed by the TI
Secretariat together with Professor Alan Doig and Stephanie McIvor of
the Teesside Business School in the United Kingdom. It is the latest in
a series of TI country study reports on national integrity systems.

The National Integrity Systems TI Country Study Report – Armenia 2003
and other country study reports in English can be downloaded at:

The National Integrity Systems TI Country Study Report – Armenia 2003
publications in English and Armenian can be downloaded at:

—

site/eng/default.htm

President visits Armenian produce exhibition

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
28 Oct 04

[Presenter] The Armprodexpo exhibition opened in Armenia today. Food
and drink of all kinds produced in Armenia are being exhibited at
the exhibition.

[Correspondent over video of President Robert Kocharyan attending
exhibition] More than 60 companies are represented at the Armprodexpo
international exhibition this year. This is the fourth year that the
exhibition has gathered Armenian and foreign specialists in the food
industry to show the results of their work, assess each other’s work
and search for partners.

The exhibition is an opportunity for the president to assess the
situation and potential of this sphere. He browsed through the sections
and tasted and praised the Armenian goods, except the cigarettes.