RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND CYPRUS HAVE BIG POTENTIAL

Cyprus Bridge for Armenia’s Integration to Europe

Azg/am
21 Oct 2004

Demetris Christofias, chairman of the House of Representatives of
Cyprus, paid an official visit to Yerevan on the invitation of Artur
Baghdasarian, chairman of RA National Assembly, on October 18-20. On
October 19, Artur Baghdasarian and Demetris Cristofias signed a
memorandum at RA parliament. Both sides assessed the meeting effective
from the viewpoint of developing the relations and strategic
cooperation. Baghdasarian believes that the relations between Armenia
and Cyprus have entered a new stage after the mutual visits of the
parliamentary delegations of the states. Today Armenia and Cyprus are
political partners that have no contradictions in any sphere and in
all the spheres they have big potential for cooperation. It was
envisaged to deepen cooperation in political, economic, cultural,
educational spheres.

Today, the Republic of Cyprus undertakes the role of a bridge between
the EU and the Republic of Armenia, Christofias assured. He finds the
cooperation of both countries in the international structures a
priority line, emphasizing the support Armenia renders to Cyprus in
CE, at the same time. Cyprus will support us also within the framework
of “Enlarged Europe: New Neighbors” program. As for Turkey’s
membership to EU, Greek statesman said that the policy of Cyprus
concerning this issue remained unchanged, as Turkey is an occupant
country and had occupied the 32% of Cyprus’ territory. Besides, for
becoming an EU member, Turkey has many problems to solve, including
the human rights and the basic freedom issues. Turkey should recognize
the Republic of Cyprus. Christofias said that these issues will be put
before Turkey till December, if this country wants to become the
member of EU. According to the personal opinionof Christofias, to
reach this aim, Turkey should recognize the Genocide of the Armenians
in 1915 as well.

Christofias believes that the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
can be reached in peaceful way only, taking into account the interests
of RA and other countries of the region. He also thinks that the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh issue will greatly weaken Turkey’s
influence in the international developments.

Emphasizing the importance of the cooperation between Armenia and
Cyprus, Christofias assured that the Cyprus authorities spare no
efforts to preserve Melkonian Educational Institute, as that is a
center for the Armenian community in Cyprus and an integral part of
the country’s culture.

Besides all the other factors, Christofias feels himself as in his own
motherland, also for the reason that Armenia is the only country where
the word “Cyprus” is pronounced in the same way as in Greek.

By Nana Petrosian

British parliament delegation arrives in Nagornyy Karabakh – Armenian agency

Mediamax news agency
20 Oct 04

YEREVAN

A delegation of the British parliament headed by a member of the House
of Commons, Gordon Marsden, arrived on a one-day fact-finding visit to
the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic (NKR) today.

Today, the British parliamentarians will be received by NKR President
Arkadiy Gukasyan and National Assembly Chairman Oleg Yesayan,
Mediamax’s correspondent reports from Stepanakert Xankandi .

The British delegation is also scheduled to meet representatives of
Nagornyy Karabakh NGOs.

Azeri paper urges authorities to respond to British MP’s Karabakh visit

Yeni Musavat, Baku
20 Oct 04

Text of Qasqay report by Azerbaijani newspaper Yeni Musavat on 20
October headlined “English finger”

The love of the deputy speaker of the British House of Lords, Baroness
Caroline Cox, for Armenia is not new to anyone. When Baroness Caroline
Cox feels bored in Blighty, she heads for Stepanakert to admire the
fog-shrouded mountains of Susa Shusha . And it never occurred to the
Azerbaijani authorities over so many years to pull the plug on such
visits or say to the British authorities “Hands off Karabakh!”. It is
clear why they can’t prevent the visits – because Cox goes to Karabakh
via Armenia. But if the Azerbaijani authorities cannot throw a woman
out of Karabakh, let alone the Armenians, what is there left to talk
about?

The Aliyevs’ family of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev business
relations with the English are known. It is no secret that BP, which
serves the interests of this country, has staked on Ilham Aliyev. But
if they are friends, they should be able to listen to each other. The
authorities, for instance, carefully observe their commitments to BP.

However, in addition to the fact that Cox is strengthening relations
with the Karabakh separatists, the number of people who have jumped on
her bandwagon is also rising. According to reports, this time Cox was
accompanied by four other members of parliament on her trip to
Karabakh.

Last week the Azerbaijani foreign minister said a list of foreign
companies working in Karabakh was being compiled. To be more exact,
this transpired after his “sweet accent” was translated in our Azeri
reference to the fact that he does not speak good Azeri . Of course,
it is understandable that these companies are too big, that they are
hiding in the Karabakh mountains and that there is no way the
authorities can cope with them. But how about saying a few words to a
group of pro-Armenian Britons at the British embassy in Baku? They the
Azerbaijani authorities almost deported the Norwegian ambassador from
the country after he refused to remain tight-lipped about the October
post-election violence last year. Or is it too difficult a task for
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is fluent in English, to send
a note to the embassy?

Let’s wait and see what Mammadyarov says. Of course, if we understand
what he says.

Top Iranian energy official warns Europe of dangers of low gas prices

IRNA web site, Tehran
20 Oct 04

Brussels, 20 October: The current high oil prices resulting partly
form insufficient supplies should signal a warning to gas consumers,
particularly in the European Union, warned Nezhad-Hoseynian, deputy
minister for international relations in Iran’s Oil Ministry.

Speaking at an international energy conference in Brussels Wednesday
20 October , he noted that in the past few years low oil prices
hampered investment in production projects which resulted in the
current undesirable situation.

“The same scenario can happen to natural gas, given the current low
gas sales prices,” said Nezhad-Hoseynian.

“Energy transit in Eurasia: challenges and perspectives” is the theme
of the 2-day conference which started on Tuesday.

The conference, organized by the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) has
brought together representatives of governments, businesses and
academic community from Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East to
discuss the existing legal framework for energy transit and future
perspectives for ensuring unimpeded flows of energy.

The Brussels-based ECT was formed in early 1990s to help maintain
energy security in Europe. It has been signed or acceded to by
fifty-one states.

Nezhad-Hoseynian stated that gas pricing mechanisms have always been a
controversial issue between suppliers and customers.

He said Iran has the potential to export natural gas both to the EU
markets and the emerging markets with huge demands such as India,
Pakistan, China and even Japan.

“Iran the biggest natural gas producer and consumer in the Middle
East, with the second largest proven natural gas and oil reserves, is
emerging as a major supplier of natural gas to the world,” he said.

Nezhad-Hoseynian said Iran has plans to increase oil production
capacity from the present 4.2m b/d to around 6m b/d in 2015 in order
to maintain its current share in OPEC’s production.

The Islamic Republic also has plans to increase its gas production
capacity from 130bn cm/y to 300bn cm/y in the next ten years and to
400bn cm/y in the next 20 years.

Iran is planning to invest some 100 billion dollars in oil and gas by
the year 2015. During the past seven years, Iran has invested more
than 46 billion dollars in this sector, 65 per cent of which have come
from foreign investors.

He noted that Iran is exporting gas to Turkey and very soon the
Islamic Republic will start exports to Armenia and Naxcivan and the
UAE.

Armenia’s GDP 10-per-cent up in nine months of 2004

Mediamax news agency
20 Oct 04

YEREVAN

Armenia’s GDP growth in January-September 2004 amounted to 10.2 per
cent compared to the same period last year.

The GDP totalled 1,242.6bn drams 2.4bn dollars during the said period,
Mediamax was told at the National Statistics Service of Armenia today.

Industrial output totalled 377,635m drams 0.73bn dollars in Armenia in
January-September 2004, which is 1.6 per cent more compared to the
same period last year.

Armenian, Cyprus Speakers urge Turkey to improve relations with neighbours

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
19 Oct 04

Presenter Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan and the president of the
House of Representatives of Cyprus, Dhimitrios Khristofias, signed a
memorandum today.

Bagdasaryan At the meeting, we focused on developing political and
economic ties between Armenia and Cyprus.

Correspondent over video of Bagdasaryan and Khristofias The president
of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Dhimitrios Khristofias,
feels at home in Armenia. He believes that the reason is not only
similarities between the countries’ historical past but also the fact
that only Armenians pronounce his country’s name like Cypriots.

Dhimitrios Khristofias, in Greek with Armenian voice-over As a member
of the European Union, Cyprus could be conducive to Armenia’s
integration into Europe.

Correspondent Armenia and Cyprus are in close cooperation at the
international level. Both countries share the same position towards
Turkey’s aspiration to become a member of the European Union.

Dhimitrios Khristofias Although Turkey is an occupying country, some
forces want to see it in the EU. Before admission to the EU, Turkey
should tackle several issues, i.e. recognize all EU member countries
and deal with human rights issues.

Bagdasaryan If this country wants to join the EU, it should first
improve relations with its neighbours.

Correspondent Dhimitrios Khristofias said that Turkey should recognize
the Armenian genocide if it aspires to EU membership, which could
facilitate Turkey’s admission to this organization.

He also aired these views at a meeting with the prime minister. He
spoke in favour of a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh problem. He
said that apart from Armenia, other regional countries’ interests
should also be taken into consideration in this issue.

KARABAKH LEADER THANKS US ARMENIANS FOR SUPPORT

Artsakh State TV, Stepanakert
20 Oct 04

On 19 October, the president of the NKR (Nagornyy Karabakh Republic),
Arkadiy Gukasyan, received a delegation of the Armenian Assembly of
America led by the deputy chairperson of the board of trustees, Mrs
Anni Totah. Arpi Vartanyan, director of the assembly’s offices in
Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh, was also present at the meeting. During
the meeting, members of the delegation shared their impression of the
visit with the NKR president. The delegation travelled to Stepanakert
, Shushi (, Gandzasar and some other villages in the NKR.

The guests noticed progress in all spheres of life in Nagornyy
Karabakh and the authorities’ efforts to overcome the consequences of
the war and rebuild destroyed infrastructure and economy of the
republic. At the same time, they said that there are still many
unresolved problems in the provinces in comparison with Stepanakert
where no traces of war have remained. In connection with this they
expressed readiness to use the potential of their organization to
assist Artsakh (Nagornyy Karabakh). The members of the delegation
underlined that people and officials in the NKR were open-minded and
ready to accept any new idea.

They also touched upon the reconstruction of Shushi. Arkadiy Gukasyan
noted that the Karabakh authorities are working in that direction and
have prepared several programmes to revive the town as an all-Armenian
educational, cultural and health resort centre. However, Gukasyan
said, Nagornyy Karabakh is not able to resolve this problem on its own
and the only option here is to join efforts of the entire Armenian
diaspora.

At the request of the delegation, Gukasyan briefed them on the current
stage and the prospects of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
settlement. The president underlined the importance of restoring a
real negotiation format within the OSCE Minsk Group with Nagornyy
Karabakh involved in it as a full party to the talks. Only in this
case, he said, will it be possible to find a constructive solution to
the problem.

Finally, Gukasyan expressed his appreciation for the active lobbyist
activities of the assembly thanks to which the US government provides
annual humanitarian assistance to the NKR; the USA is now the only
country in the world that provides official assistance to Nagornyy
Karabakh. Gukasyan noted that programmes carried out with these
financial resources had a positive impact on the life in the
republic. Although humanitarian programmes which the assembly is
carrying out in Artsakh are very important, the NKR needs mutually
beneficial business cooperation, Gukasyan said.

(Video shows Gukasyan’s meeting with the assembly’s delegation)

RUSSIA HOSTS COMMAND-POST TRAINING FOR SEVEN CIS STATES’ AIR DEFENCES

Channel One TV, Moscow
19 Oct 04

(Presenter) Over 1,500 servicemen and more than 70 aircraft from seven
CIS countries are taking part in command-post training of the combined
air defence system of the commonwealth states, which started
today. Our correspondent Sergey Zenin watched from the central command
post of the Russian air force.

(Correspondent) Those who work here see no sunlight for days on
end. Having passed a multistage vetting procedure, they descend to a
depth of 60 metres in a lift, watched closely by dozens of video
cameras. Behind this door is the central command post of the Russian
air force.

On duty here are officers who have been entrusted with keeping the air
space of a vast country secure. Today though, the area of their
responsibility is even wider: on screen are Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – the CIS countries
taking part in a joint command-post exercise with Russia. Over 1,500
servicemen and dozens of combat aircraft are involved.

(Aytech Bizhev, deputy chairman of the CIS air defence coordinating
committee) We have known each other for a long time, and we developed
our plan together, so we are pleased with our colleagues.

(Correspondent) While we were filming, 23 aircraft were in the
skies. Some of them played the part of air space trespassers, others,
that of foreign aircraft that had accidentally veered off course. The
main forces’ task was to accompany the stray ones to the borders of
CIS countries, and to force the trespassers to land.

The command-post training will last for 48 hours. In that period,
fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters of the CIS counties will make for
than 70 sorties. Vast and very important work to strengthen the air
borders of commonwealth states will be done.

ENVOY TO TURKEY: US UNEASY ABOUT KURDISH EFFORTS TO CHANGE KIRKUK DEMOGRAPHY

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
20 Oct 04

Kayseri, 20 October: US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman said on
Wednesday (20 October) that also the United States felt uneasy about
Kurdish groups’ attempts to change demographic structure in Kirkuk,
Iraq, by settling their families in the city.

Speaking at a conference held in the Erciyes University in central
city of Kayseri on “2004 Presidential Elections in the United States”,
Edelman said that there would not be serious changes in Turkey-US
relations following the presidential elections in the United
States. Stressing that the United States had been supporting Turkey’s
EU process since 1963, Edelman said that there could be a difference
between the two candidates (President George W. Bush and John Kerry)
about a resolution like the draft on so-called Armenian genocide. He
said that the candidates, sometimes, could not fulfil their promises
when they came to the power. He highlighted strategic importance of
Turkey-US relations.

Edelman said he believed that the Turkish government, the Iraqi heads
of state and government and the United States were in favour of
preserving Iraqi’s political unity and territorial integrity.

When asked, “who will be bombed next?” Edelman said that there had
been very sound relations between Turkey and the United States, and
any attack on Turkey would be out of question. Referring to the
relations between the Turkish prime minister and the US president,
Edelman said that those relations were further consolidated during
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington DC and
President George W. Bush’s visit to Turkey for NATO summit.

He said that Turkey and the United States had been working together to
find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER, EU’S REHN, GERMANY’S FISCHER ADDRESS CONFERENCE

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
20 Oct 04

Istanbul, 20 October: Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday (20 October): “Turkey will
continue deepening its democracy on the basis of European
values. Actually, these universal values conform to Turkish people’s
traditional and moral values.”

Speaking at a conference organized by the European Parliament
Greens/EFA (European Freedoms Alliance) Group in Istanbul on “Turkey
in the EU: A Common Future”, Gul said: “Some political movements in
political history of Europe made decisive contributions to economic
and social development. Those contributions also affected the
universal politics positively. I consider the Greens Group one of the
most dynamic political powers of today’s Europe and world politics.”

“In the past, disagreements, misunderstandings, tension and
discussions were dominant over our relations with members of the
European Freedoms Alliance. Now, our relations have changed into
mutual understanding, confidence and cooperation. I believe that such
a change is necessary and beneficial in regard to the common future of
Turkey and Europe and their interests,” he said.

Referring to the economic and political reforms made by the (ruling)
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in its two-year political
power, Gul said: “A peaceful foreign policy has been accompanying
those political and economic reforms. Everyone is aware of Turkey’s
initiatives to prevent the war in Iraq, its efforts to reach a
compromise between Azerbaijan and Armenia, its priority to urgent
solution of Israeli-Palestinian dispute, and its courageous efforts to
find a solution to the Cyprus issue.” (passage omitted)

“Turkey-EU integration process should progress steadily towards the
target of full membership without any delay. Therefore, the decision
to be made at the EU summit on 17 December is of great importance as
regards to setting the route of Turkey-EU integration process,” he
said. (passage omitted)

Turkey’s EU membership will open new horizons for both Turkey and the
EU and bring forth new challenges, Olli Rehn, new commissioner of the
EU, said on Wednesday. He also said that Turkey’s accession to the EU
was one of the most important items of the union’s agenda.

Stressing that Turkey had made a series of very meaningful reforms
since 1999, Rehn listed some of those reforms as annulment of death
penalty, broadcast in Kurdish and the other languages and the new
penal code. There are still steps to be taken in fundamental freedoms,
minority rights, trade unions and human rights, but the most important
thing is that reforms should be sustainable in Turkey, he said.

The European Commission said in its progress report for Turkey that if
political criteria were violated, entry talks could be suspended, Rehn
said and noted that it was envisaged by the EU constitution and was
valid for all other candidate states. “Entry talks could last for the
next ten years. Opening of entry talks and Turkey’s ongoing efforts
will lead to a macro-economic stability in Turkey. Turkey’s dynamic
population will support Europe’s ageing population. We are about to
open a new page in the EU integration process. Turkey’s EU accession
process will be tough and complicated. However, the target at the end
of this path is quite meaningful,” he said.

Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said on Wednesday
that if the EU made a positive decision on 17 December and opened
entry talks with Turkey, it should put forward a clear perspective.

Fischer also said that Turkey’s modernization had integrated with
Europe’s perspective since foundation of modern Republic of
Turkey. The German government had always advocated the perspective
that Turkey belonged to the EU, he said.

Stressing that Turkey had recorded an unbelievable progress, Fischer
said: “I would like to ask our Turkish partners not to comment on
decisions of the EU against them. This is a learning process. This is
a process to understand implementation of reforms. I propose Turkey to
wait for decision of the EU Council on 17 December. In that case, we
will have taken the first step of our Bosphorus dream.”

Highlighting strategic importance of the Middle East and Mediterranean
for Europe’s security, Fischer said that the EU countries should
realize the importance of Turkey’s desire to become a member of the
EU. (passage omitted)