ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
57/5 Arshakunyats Street
Yerevan, Armenia 375026
Contact: Bella Avetisyan
Telephone: (374 1) 44-74-01

PRESS RELEASE
October 8, 2004

ATP TO INAUGURATE OHANIAN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER IN KARIN

YEREVAN–Armenia Tree Project (ATP) is planning to inaugurate its
Michael and Virginia Ohanian Environmental Education Center in Karin,
Armenia, on Tuesday, October 12.

The establishment of this ATP educational center is the result of a
generous donation from Mrs. Virginia Ohanian of Belmont,
Massachusetts, in memory of her late husband, the late Michael
Ohanian. Mrs. Ohanian has been a devoted supporter of ATP for many
years.

ATP established its tree nursery in Karin in 1996. As part of ATP’s
expansion of its programs, the organization has added environmental
and forestry education to its mission. Immediately after Mrs. Ohanian
learned about this program, this educational center was proposed and
established on the nursery site.

Already, nursery director Samvel Ghandilyan has taught six sessions of
courses with over 130 students this year at the Ohanian Education
Center. Most of the students have come from the Agricultural Academy,
as well as the local schools in Karin.

Mrs. Ohanian will be present at the inauguration, along with a number
of other ATP’s diasporan supporters traveling with the Armenian
Assembly of America Trustees’ Delegation to Armenia. After a ribbon
cutting and ceremonial tree planting by Mrs. Ohanian and her family,
attendees will be able to meet with ATP staff and tour the nursery,
followed by a luncheon.

The program, which will begin at 12:00 noon, will also include brief
remarks by ATP Executive Director Jeffrey Masarjian, along with a
presentation of the film created this year in celebration of ATP’s
10th anniversary about the backyard reforestation nursery project in
Aygut, Armenia.

In addition to the nursery output and the critical environmental
education lessons provided for a wide range of students, one of the
highlights of the Ohanian Education Center is the Tree of Life–an
8-foot bronze sculpture which includes the names of ATP’s Major Donors
on each leaf.

Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 during Armenia’s darkest and
coldest years with the vision of securing Armenia’s future by
protecting Armenia’s environment. Funded by contributions from
diasporan Armenians, ATP has planted and rejuvenated over 530,000
trees at more than 450 sites ranging from Gyumri to Goris.

For additional information about this event, the Michael and Virginia
Ohanian Environmental Education Center, the Karin Nursery, or other
ATP programs, please contact Bella Avetisyan at [email protected] or
visit

Star of Mysore, India
Oct 9 2004

COURT CLEARS JUMBO’S FLIGHT, MAHOUT GETS PASSPORT

Zoo story

Mysore, Oct. 9 (BRS)- The gift elephant Komala is all set to travel
to Armenia on October 14. That big news may be overshadowed by the
Court’s permission to the mahout accused in a criminal case to
accompany Komala to Armenia.

The surprise packet by the Third Judicial Magistrate First Class
enables Nagaraju, the mahout in the Mysore Zoo to travel to Armenia
along with Komala.

The Mysore Zoo made the necessary preparations for the jumbo’s
journey abroad, following the announcement by President Dr. A.P.J.
Abdul Kalam about gifting an elephant from India to Armenia.

Dropped

One of the mahouts in the Mysore Zoo, Mahadeva, who was to accompany
Komala to Armenia was to be dropped because of his alleged
involvement in the Mysore Zoo twin death of elephants case. Fortune
then smiled on Nagaraju, another mahout in the Mysore Zoo.

Mr. Manoj Kumar, the Zoo Director addressed a letter to Mr. Bipin
Gopalakrishna Police Commissioner, seeking permission to send
Nagaraju to Armenia, while he is facing charges in a criminal case of
taking part in a strike of employees.

Court

However, the Police Commissioner, responding to the letter suggested
to the Director to approach the court because there was no provision
in the Police Department to give permission to an accused.

In the meantime, Nagaraju, the Zoo mahout consulted advocates
Venugopal and Nagaraj. Appearing for his client Nagaraju, in the
court of the Third Judicial Magistrate First Class here, advocate Mr.
Venugopal informed the Court that the President of India had gifted
an elephant to Armenia.

Venugopal further argued that elaborate preparation for sending the
elephant Komala were in final stages, involving lakhs of rupees and
if permission was not granted to the mahout to accompany the elephant
to Armenia, not only these would be a huge loss of money but also it
would be the country’s prestige.

Permission

After hearing the argument, the judge permitted the mahout Nagaraju
to travel to Armenia and be with Komala from Oct. 14 to Dec. 14.

Advocates Mr. Venugopal and Nagaraj appeared for the mahout Nagaraju.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Oct 9 2004

VISIT OF FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN TO ITALY
[October 09, 2004, 13:12:03]

On 6-8 October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov on the invitation of senator of the Veneto region Mr.
Juseppe Gaburro has been with an official visit to Italy.

As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the ministry, the
purpose of visit to Veneto consisted in carrying out of meetings with
business circles of region, giving information on economic
opportunities of Azerbaijan and carrying out discussions in the field
of attraction of the local companies to Azerbaijan.

At the city of Abano Terme, province of Padova, there started a
conference on presentation of Azerbaijan. President of the province,
heads of local law-enforcement bodies, Mayor of Abano city, rector of
the Padova University, other officials attended the meeting held at
the business center with participation of 100 companies. The Chamber
of Commerce of Padova and the Azerbaijan-Italy Chamber of Commerce
just functioning in Italy organized the event.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in his remarks at the conference informed
about important geo-politic and economic situation of Azerbaijan, its
rich natural resources, the successes achieved at macroeconomic
level, large power projects carried out in the country. Having noted,
that development of non-oil sector is a priority question with a view
of branching of economy in Azerbaijan, the Minister has stopped on
the ample opportunities available in the field of agriculture,
manufacture of chemical, textile-knitted wear, food production, in
spheres of tourism, processing of leather, etc. He has emphasized
wide experience of the small and medium companies of Italy in these
spheres, has invited them to Azerbaijan. Then, the Minister has
answered questions of participants of action.

Elmar Mammadyarov has met in Venice Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Veneto region Ms. Marialuisa Coppola. At the meeting, discussed
were the question of establishment of direct communications between
Azerbaijan and Veneto, value of economic experience of Veneto.

At the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of
Vatican Juseppe Loyano, on 7 October, were held discussions on
prospects of development of links, opportunities of opening in Baku
of diplomatic representatives of the State of Vatican, the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh problem, and also exchange of
vies on the international questions, in particular, position in Iraq
and Afghanistan.

The same day, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov has met Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Italy Franco Frattini. The sides have emphasized high
level of relations between Azerbaijan and Italy in political,
economic, humanitarian spheres, value of the further development of
cooperation in the field of economy, in particular, in non-oil
sector. Discussions also concerned meetings and actions, which will
be carried out within the framework of the program of official visit
of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Italy forthcoming in
the first quarter 2005. At the meeting, the sides had exchange of
views concerning peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny
Karabakh conflict on the basis of norms and principles of
international law, and also the general position on the Caucasus.

At the meeting with chairman of the commission of foreign relations
of the Chamber of Deputies of Parliament of Italy Gustavo Selva and
Chairman of the Italian Senate Marcello Pero, discussed were issues
of present state of relations between two countries and
inter-parliamentary ties, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict, global political problems.

Racing Post
October 4, 2004, Monday

ON THE LINE… SARGIS SARGSIAN

SARGIS SARGSIAN has won an impressive 11 of his 16 carpet-court
matches since 2001 and could be a player to follow on this year’s
swing.

The Armenian has failed to fire on hard, clay and grass courts this
season, managing just 14 wins from 37 matches, but he played his best
tennis of this season to reach the last 16 of the US Open in late
August.

Sargsian showed what a great competitor he is at Flushing Meadows
when twice coming back from the brink of defeat – against Paul-Henri
Mathieu and Nicolas Massu – to win in five sets.

Closer inspection of Sargsian’s displays on carpet since 2001 reveal
a player capable of performing well above his present ranking of 45
on this surface.

He was the only player to reach two carpet-court finals last season,
in St Petersburg and Moscow, and in the Kremlin Cup he lowered the
colours of Yevgeny Kafelnikov, one of the finest carpet players of
all time.

Jiri Novak and Rainer Schuttler are other top-class players who had
no answer to Sargsian’s smooth groundstrokes and potent serve on
carpet last term.

The 31-year-old is no spring chicken and before hanging up his racket
he will be keen to add to his sole ATP title, which he captured in
1997 on grass in Rhode Island.

Sargsian has entered this week’s Grand Prix tournament in Lyon and,
providing he stays injury-free, will almost certainly travel to
Russia to play in the Kremlin Cup and St Petersburg Open, in which he
will bid to go one better than last season.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 4, 2004, Monday

YEREVAN COMES OUT OF THE SHADOW

SOURCE: Krasnaya Zvezda, October 1, 2004, p. 4

by Roman Streshnev

In his interview last Wednesday Armenia’s Defense Minister Serzhik
Sarkisyan shed light on some aspects of military policy.

Considerable attention was paid to Armenia’s relations with Russia.
In opinion of Sarkisyan, Russia has always been and is Armenia’s
major strategic ally. At the same time Serzhik Sarkisyan stressed
that all rumors saying Armenia is breaking with Russia and wants to
join NATO don’t comply with reality and labeled them as “political
agitation.” “I’ve never, nor do I now want Armenia to join NATO,” he
noted. It would only be possible to say that Yerevan’s priorities
have altered in case Armenia announced its intention to pull out from
the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and enter NATO.
“Thanks to our involvement in the CSTO, many questions which must
remain undisclosed are being discussed and solved positively,” he
stressed.

Nevertheless, Armenia has been more active at joining various
NATO-led projects. In opinion of Sarkisyan, “activation of
Armenia-NATO relations now is only a wider use of the opportunities
available.” In his words, Armenia’s intention to become a
full-fledged member of the European family is the main goal of
spurring up cooperation with NATO. “We continue deepening our
cooperation with NATO and regard this cooperation as a component of
Armenia’s national security,” Sarkisyan noted.

Serzhik Sarkisyan’s statement that Armenia is obliged to send its
servicemen to Iraq matched the spirit of developing cooperation with
Armenia’s Western partners. “By its minor involvement Armenia must
contribute to the cause of establishing stability in Iraq,” he noted.
The republican parliament must solve this issue. As is planned,
Armenia will send to Iraq more than 30 military drivers, 10 field
engineers, 6 technicians and 3 doctors.

Similar approaches of the Armenian military leaders comply with the
principle of complementariness in foreign policy. Its goal is
extremely simple: enlist the support of Russia, the US and Europe in
all directions significant for Yerevan, the Karabakh problem as well.

The sides involved in the conflict are often announcing their
belligerent statements of late. At the same time Sarkisyan said that
Armenia does not want to resume military actions against Azerbaijan.
In his words, neither is Yerevan interested in ceasing Azerbaijan’s
involvement in NATO-led Partnership for Peace program, which places
some restricting commitments on Baku.

IMPRESSIONS MAGAZINE

September/October /November 2004

THE FUTURE OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN ARMENIA

Story by Impressions Staff

With its Soviet-built nuclear power plant nearing the end of its life and
international pressure to `go green’, Armenia has the opportunity to position
itself at the forefront of environmentally friendly energy production. Matthew
Karanian and Robert Kurkjian explore the wind, water and solar options
available and assess their viability.

During the 1990s, Armenia grappled with how to resolve its energy shortages.
Since then, its nuclear power plant has been restarted, financial and technical
assistance has come from the international community, natural gas imports have
increased and the energy crisis has been mitigated.

The country now relies upon a variety of sources, with nuclear energy accounting
for about 35% of its energy needs, but over the past few years there has been
increased pressure from the European Community to shut the nuclear plant down.

The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is operated by a Russian company and has two
reactors with projected useful lives that will expire in a decade. Only one of
the reactors is operating, and there are many reasons for shutting it down and
keeping the other closed.

The most persuasive of these arguments is that the reactors sit in a seismically
active zone near a densely populated area, and they don’t have a containment
dome that would prevent the release of radiation during an uncontrolled event.

The government has been studying energy issues since Armenia’s independence.
Back in 1996, it projected that alternative sources of energy might be
developed within the next six to eight years.

At that time it was thought that those alternative sources might be enough to
make it possible to shut down the nuclear power plant as early as 2004. Those
alternative sources have not been developed – at least not to the extent
necessary for them to be considered a genuine alternative to nuclear power.

Thermal power plants in Armenia, using a combination of oil and natural gas,
fuel approximately 45% of the country’s needs and hydropower provides the
balance. Strictly speaking, these are alternatives to nuclear power, but the
cleanest, most cutting edge alternative energy sources available today are
solar and wind.

These sources, also referred to as `renewable energy’, are cleaner than
traditional sources, such as coal or oil combustion. Solar and wind power do
have an impact upon our environment, but they don’t pollute the atmosphere
during operation. Instead, the environmental impact is from the perceived
blight upon the landscape created by a field of wind turbines or solar panels.
Wind turbines have also been known to be harmful to birds and can be noisy, but
such environmental problems are relatively insignificant compared to the
problems that are created by nuclear and thermal energy generation.

WIND ENERGY

Armenia doesn’t have a wind stream that is comparable to the Gulf Stream that
exists in the US, but there is nevertheless some wind potential. Armenia is a
mountainous country and strong winds frequently develop on mountain ridges or
in the saddles of mountain passes. Indeed, some of these local wind currents
are legendary.

According to fable, the stones of Armenia’s hot Ararat Plain were cooled by a
unique airflow pattern. 1700 years ago, that swept down from the northern
mountains and from the Lake Sevan region. The wind supposedly made life a bit
more comfortable for an embattled man named Gregory, who was confined to a
prison there. This man would later become a Saint, and the wind pattern has
since been known as the Saint Gregory Wind.

At present, it is estimated that the economically viable capacity for wind
energy is approximately equal to that of nuclear, about 500 MW, but wind energy
development in Armenia is in its infancy.

As part of a project funded by Gerard Cafesjian, an Armenian- American
philanthropist, engineers are studying the economic viability of wind-generated
electricity in Armenia. Testing is ongoing, but if wind power proves to be
feasible, then Armenia could add wind-generated electricity to its portfolio of
energy sources.

Windmills – actually large wind turbines – are sleek and aerodynamic. They are
made of aluminum, steel or plastic and often operate in large fields. A
wind-generated electricity project in Palm Springs, California, for example,
uses a field of 7,500 windmills. It’s too costly to use one windmill to
generate electricity for commercial purposes, but a single windmill can power a
mechanical pump, which is how they are sometimes used in the US and places with
extensive rural areas – Argentina, for example, has an estimated 320,000 solo
windmills in operation.

Armenia has large tracts of rural areas, but one of the legacies of Soviet
industrialisation is that nearly every place in Armenia has access to the
electricity grid, so a remote location that might otherwise need to generate
its own energy simply doesn’t need to. The future for wind power in Armenia,
therefore, is in large wind farms that generate electricity that is then added
to the grid. The Armenian government hopes one day to be able to generate as
much as 10% of its electricity in this way.

HYDRO POWER

Hydro power generates approximately 20% of Armenia’s energy needs. Although this
form of power generation does not emit atmospheric pollution, there can be
significant environmental impacts. The greatest impacts are on water quality
and quantity, and changes to the surrounding environment. This is usually due
to the construction of dams, which causes flooding above the dam, and decreases
the water flow downstream.

Lake Sevan’s waters have been used for decades to generate electricity, but at a
cost to the lake’s ecosystem. The increased out-flow of the lake’s water for use
in hydroelectric generation has contributed to the lake’s deterioration by
reducing its volume by roughly 40%, increasing the water temperature and
impacting the fishing industry.

SOLAR ENERGY

Energy from the sun is typically more affordable than wind power for individual
residences. Solar is particularly economical for heating water, and actually
beats many energy alternatives, though widespread implementation could take
decades to achieve. Solar energy generation capacity in Armenia is currently
around 650 MW, but estimates for future capacity are as high as 3,500 MW.

Dr Artak Hambarian, Director of the Engineering Research Center (ERC) at the
American University of Armenia (AUA), has been researching solar energy and its
applications for years. He estimates that it could take a business 20 or 30
years to earn enough savings in energy costs to pay for its investment in solar
panels that are used to create electricity.

For nearly a decade, the ERC has been engaged in a variety of solar energy
related projects. Its project of perhaps greatest national significance is its
Solar Monitoring Station (SMS), which collects solar radiation data to assist
with evaluating and developing solar energy devices.

Based on data from the SMS, engineers have calculated that one square metre of
land in Yerevan receives about 1,700 kWh of sun power annually. It is said that
Yerevan is sunny for 300 days each year, and at this rate there is a great
incentive for people to install solar panels on the roofs of their homes in
order to heat water. Additional solar data collectors are proposed for
installation at several locations around the country to further research the
applications of solar energy.

Limited practical applications of solar energy have proven cost- effective for
the AUA in recent years. The university is supplied with hot water and with
heating and cooling by a project that engineers from ERC are working on. The
project is known as DESODEC – the `Design and Installation of a Solar Driven
Desiccant Cooling Demonstration System.’

They have a solar water heater on the roof of the University’s six-floor
building, and the solar heater, together with the Desiccant Evaporative Cooling
system, provide the University with heat in the winter, and cooling in the
summer.

A solar photovoltaic system, also installed on the roof, provides electricity to
the system that makes the university building independent from the electricity
grid, and which serves to back-up the university internet servers. The DESODEC
is the first solar driven combined system in the former Soviet Union, and one
of a handful in the world.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM ALTERNATIVE ENERGY?

The thermal, nuclear and hydro facilities that Armenia inherited from the Soviet
Union now generate so much electricity that Armenia has been able to sell some
of it to the Republic of Georgia. But if Armenia were to halt its nuclear
program, could wind and solar generated power be sold commercially, at a
profit? How would the cost of producing wind or solar energy compare with the
cost of the existing nuclear energy production in Armenia? According to energy
consultant Serge Adamian, it is not meaningful to compare the nuclear example
with solar or wind sources because Armenia isn’t paying for the nuclear power
plant. It was already there when the country gained independence, so comparing
wind and nuclear energy is therefore the `wrong paradigm,’ he says. Armenia’s
nuclear power plant is nearing the end of its productive life, and there are
other serious issues to consider, such as waste disposal and safety. Analysts
expect that the plant will be shut down within a decade, and there is not a
high probability of a new one being built.

All of this means that alternative sources may not be fully exploitable today,
but they will represent a far more practical solution if and when Armenia
scraps nuclear power. Over time, Adamian says, wind and solar production will
attract more support from the government and from others. Iran’s support in
2004 for a wind farm on Lake Sevan’s south-eastern shore is one such example.

The continued development and installation of alternative energy resources will
also lessen Armenia’s reliance on imported fossil fuel. Air quality in Armenia
will improve and there will be a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions – two
peripheral but significant advantages.

With an appropriate and comprehensive strategy, Armenia has an opportunity to
enter the international renewable energy market. In contrast to other
established industrial markets, the renewable energy industry has not yet
matured worldwide, which could provide an opportunity for Armenia’s scientists,
its manufacturing industry, and associated businesses. The people of Armenia
ultimately stand to benefit.

THE STONE GARDEN GUIDE TO ARMENIA, WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY TWO INSIDERS

The photographers and authors of this story -Robert Kurkjian and Matthew
Karanian – have travelled extensively in Armenia and have just released a new
book on the region, The Stone Garden Guide: Armenia and Karabagh (ISBN
09672120-8-1).

The guidebook highlights conservation efforts in Armenia, including attempts to
adopt renewable energy technologies, and Robert Glenn Ketchum – a renowned
conservationist and environmental photographer – contributes a Foreword.
Splendid photography, detailed colour maps, and the insider perspective of its
authors all combine to make it a unique offering.

Kurkjian and Karanian have been publishing books and photography on Armenia
since 1999, when they released the coffee table photo book Out of Stone. They
published Edge of Time: Traveling in Armenia and Karabagh in 2001, and then
released a second edition a year later. The Stone Garden Guide: Armenia and
Karabagh is available by mail order from More information on the
book is available at

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part A (Russia)
October 5, 2004, Tuesday

“DEMOCRACY MUST BE DIGESTIBLE”

SOURCE: Izvestia, October 5, 2004, p. 1

by Natalia Ratiani

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RAOUL KHADZHIMBA, FAVORITE FOR ABKHAZIAN
PRESIDENCY

“I voted for independence of our state and for its future,” candidate
for president of Abkhazia Raoul Khadzhimba said at the polling
station, last Sunday. Exit-polls indicate that Khadzhimba came in
first. Here is an exclusive interview with Raoul Khadzhimba.

Question: What tasks will the new president of Abkhazia find himself
facing first and foremost?

Raoul Khadzhimba: Recognition of our sovereignty is the foremost
task. Abkhazia may be small as countries go, but it is a state. I
already said and repeat it again that return to Georgian jurisdiction
is out of the question. We were a part of Georgia once. Enough is
enough. Neither is absorption by Russia on the agenda. But associated
relations Abkhazia means to develop with Russia are quite possible
between two independent and recognized states. History of
civilization knows examples when states fell apart in a decent and
civilized manner and produced several independent states. The Czech
Republic and Slovakia are such an example, or the states formed on
the ruins of former Yugoslavia.

I refuse to understand why this turn of events cannot be applied to
the Caucasus. Why must Georgia insist on remaining the only one and
integral state? Why not develop neighborly relations with the state
that was a part of Georgia for only 60 short years? Can Georgia still
be unable to grasp that solutions to the problem of Abkhazia
currently discussed in Tbilisi are impossible?

Question: What do you think is Georgia’s worst misunderstanding with
regard to Abkhazia and what is Russia’s?

Raoul Khadzhimba: Georgia goes on insisting that Abkhazia is a part
of its territory. We joined the Russian Empire on our own volition in
1810. Georgia did so before us. How could it forget about Abkhazia
then? This is the worst misunderstanding cherished by Georgia. As for
Russia, there was a period when it erroneously though that if it was
to take something back, it should take back absolutely everything.
I.e. all of Georgia along with Abkhazia. Hence Moscow’s attempts to
promote the leader of Georgia who would turn to Russia. Still, the
whole history of the Russian-Georgian relations should have taught
Moscow that Georgia turns to face it only when it finds it rewarding.
As I see it, Abkhazia and Armenia are what Russia should be first and
foremost interested in nowadays. Still, it requires that Russia
formulates its policy with regard to these countries.

Question: If you are elected the president, what will be your first
moves in the sphere of domestic politics?

Raoul Khadzhimba: I will decree a reorganization of law enforcement
agencies. What has been done these past 11 years aims at
fortification of external security. We concentrated on prevention of
another conflict. Time has come to pay attention to internal security
as well. I’m not saying that we need a reduction in this or that
ministry or structure. The Interior Ministry, prosecutor’s office,
court – all of that are necessary attributes of every state. But
everybody should mind his own business. It’s a height of absurdity
when the prosecutor’s office has the right to suggest legislative
initiatives. And this is what we have in Abkhazia nowadays. The new
legislative foundation has to be created. Every structure should
observe the law within the framework of its own jurisdiction.

Question: What legislative initiatives did the prosecutor’s office
suggest?

Raoul Khadzhimba: Had at least one of them been normal, we would not
be facing so many problems. Even the Constitution does not specify
the arrangement of forces between the parliament and executive branch
of the government. The prime minister is appointed by the president
and answers to the president alone. This is wrong. It is the
parliament that should endorse the premier and be responsible for the
government. As things stand, nobody wields the power to disband the
parliament. The parliament interprets the very laws it itself passes.
It is an absurdity too.

Question: Do you mean that the Constitution has to be amended?

Raoul Khadzhimba: Order should be restored everywhere. Every branch
of the government should be responsible for its own sphere.

Question: Do you expect the people to support you?

Raoul Khadzhimba: I think they will.

Question: Your opponent Sergei Bagapsh claims readiness to cooperate
with you, given a chance. What kind of relations with the opposition
do you intend to build? What if the opposition decided to form a grey
Cabinet?

Raoul Khadzhimba: I do not think it will go that far. We are a small
state where everybody knows everybody. Whatever positive ideas the
opposition comes up with will be accepted. But democracy must be
“digestible” for society. When there is too much by way of democracy,
it is not all that great.

Question: But the opposition claims that the election is not
legitimate, that it is invalidated by numerous violations and black
PR…

Raoul Khadzhimba: Whoever spent these days in Abkhazia knows that the
election was at a maximum transparent. It only proves its democratic
nature. I regard statements made by the opposition as another
indication of democracy.

Translated by A. Ignatkin

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part A (Russia)
October 5, 2004, Tuesday

SIMMONS: WE ARE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN THE CAUCASUS AND
CENTRAL ASIA WITH RUSSIA[]

SOURCE: Izvestia, October 5, 2004, p. 1

by Andrei Lebedev

NATO’s attention is glued to the Caucasus and Central Asia. Brussels
appointed Robert Simmons its representative in these regions, not
long ago. Simmons is an assistant to NATO general secretary for
cooperation and partnership in security sphere. Will the Alliance try
a more active role on Russia’s southern borders?

Question: Mr. Simmons, why would NATO institute a new position?

Robert Simmons: Our partners may be divided into three groups:
Western Europe (Sweden, Austria, Finland), the Balkan States, and
countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.

These countries are our partners of old. The focus of relations of
partnership shifted eastward with NATO expansion. General secretary
offered the new position to me soon after the NATO summit in Istanbul
where the decision to establish the post was made.

Question: But Brussels did not institute a similar post for West
European partners…

Robert Simmons: This is not where a great deal of assistance is
needed. These countries have extensive defense programs of their own.
Moreover, they themselves may contribute greatly to the Alliance’s
operations – say, in the Balkans. As for countries of the Caucasus
and Central Asia, we want them to be able to appeal to NATO for
consultations in security matters. Moreover, we are prepared to share
our knowledge and experience in military reforms. We also hope that
given time, these countries will up tactical compatibility of their
armies with NATO armies. It is necessary, for example, for successful
participation in international peacekeeping operations.

The NATO summit in Istanbul agreed that close relations with
countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia would benefit the Alliance
as such, and that a special instrument was needed for that because of
the distance to these countries. So, I was given the task of
explaining to these partners of ours – and particularly their defense
ministries – the potential benefits and rewards of cooperation with
the Alliance.

Question: These countries are participants of NATO’s Partnership for
Peace Program, and you still have to explain something to them?

Robert Simmons: Cooperation between the Alliance and various
countries is at different stages for a number of reasons. Individual
plans that are expected to help our partners with the military
reforms are a relatively new instrument of this cooperation. All
three republics of the Caucasus and Uzbekistan have expressed their
willingness to sign these individual plans so far. I’d say that
Kazakhstan is quite interested too. Other countries do not turn the
idea down either, but they have to be explained benefits of the new
form of cooperation over and over again.

Question: Does the Alliance intend to play the role of mediator in
the conflicts in the regions in question?

Robert Simmons: No, we see our role elsewhere. Let the OSCE handle
conflict settlement. Sure, we have our opinion on the conflicts, and
we will make it known in the dialogue – including that within the
framework of the Russia – NATO Council. All the same, we intend to
concentrate on individual work with our partners.

Question: All the same, NATO does not abandon international functions
either. One of them failed not long ago. I’m talking about the
international exercise that was to be run on the territory of
Azerbaijan…

Robert Simmons: We hope that international exercises will continue.
In fact, the Council of Euroatlantic Partnership has an inviolable
principle – all its participants are entitled to participation in
joint functions. In this particular case, the authorities of
Azerbaijan did not display readiness to have Armenia participate in
the international exercise that had already taken so much by way of
preparations. Well, we made our stand on the matter known to the
authorities of Azerbaijan.

Question: Does it mean that you will no longer plan any new exercise
involving the military of these two countries?

Robert Simmons: Why? I’d say that Azerbaijan was not prepared to have
the Armenian military on its territory. It is not as though it was
not ready for participation in an international function as such. Had
the exercise been planned on the territory of some third countries,
they would not have been any problem. Other exercise are being
planned and will be planned yet.

Question: You mentioned the readiness to discuss your activities in
the region within the framework of the Russia – NATO Council…

Robert Simmons: We are not going to discuss matters of our
“individual” cooperation with our partners. After all, that is a
subject of bilateral relations. At the same time, we are prepared to
discuss the situation in the regions the way we already discussed the
situation in Georgia and South – Izvestia Ossetia.

Question: Is it possible for the Russia – NATO Council to discuss
some specific recommendations or plans of joint actions aimed at
settlement of local conflicts?

Robert Simmons: Had NATO or Russia found it expedient, and had
Georgia which is not a member of the Council agreed… Neither Russia
nor the Alliance have put forth a suggestion like that. Brussels does
not intend to – at least at this point – because this is not
something truly pressing for the time being.

Question: NATO is not the only military-political organization with
its own interests in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Do you plan any
contacts or cooperation with the Organization of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty?

Robert Simmons: I do not – as NATO representative. In this capacity,
I mean. But Kazakhstan, chairman of the Organization of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty, presented the structure to the latest
meeting of the Council of Euro-Atlantic Partnership and the idea of
close interaction was put forth. We have not discussed it thoroughly
yet.

Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd , UK
Evening Mail
October 5, 2004

WHAT’S ON: REVIEWS: MASTERFUL MUSICIANS ON SHOW

by DIANE PARKES

BIRMINGHAM’S Symphony Orchestra celebrated the centenary of the birth
of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak with a rousing performance of his
Symphony No 7.

Pushed firmly into the background by Dvorak’s more popular works,
this evening gave this piece a well-deserved airing.

It shows Dvorak’s deep connection with the traditional music of his
homeland but reveals his success in fusing it with the symphonic
expectations of his time. Dvorak’s mastery of musical form was also
celebrated in his Carnival Overture. In less than ten minutes it took
the audience through a whirl of emotions, catching the party
atmosphere of the carnival.

Sandwiched inbetween was Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Here Armenian
soloist Sergei Khacatrian showed incredible mastery of the piece –
the maturity of his performance belying his teenage years. The CBSO,
under the baton of visiting conductor Walter Weller, proved a more
than able counter to the soloist.

And its lively performance of the two Dvorak pieces hopefully
convinced us there is a lot more to this composer than the New World
Symphony.

Xinhua General News Service
October 6, 2004 Wednesday 3:00 AM EST

Armenia squad for World Cup qualifiers against Finland

HELSINKI

Armenia’s French coach Bernard Casoni named Wednesday his 22-man
squad for this month’s World Cup Soccer European Zone Group One
qualifiers away to Finland and at home to the Czech Republic.

Midfielder Hamlet Mkhitaryan and striker Armen Shakhgeldyan were
recalled after a lengthy absence, while Albert Sarkisyan was also
included though the midfielder is suspended for the first match
against the Finns in Tampere on October 9 but can return to face the
Czechs in Yerevan four days later.

But Armenia will miss their first choice goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky
due to injury.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Edela Bete (Pyunik Yerevan), Armen Ambartsumyan ( Slavia
Sofia, Bulgaria)

Defenders: Sarkis Hovsepyan, Alexander Tadevosyan (both Pyunik
Yerevan), Arutyun Vardanyan (Aarau, Switzerland), Karen Dokhoyan (
Krylya Sovietov Samara, Russia), Romik Khachatryan (Olympiakos
Nicosia, Cyprus), Artur Mkrtychyan (Darida, Belarus)

Midfielders: Albert Sarkisyan (Alania Vladikavkaz, Russia), Artur
Petrosyan (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Egishe Melikyan ( Metalurg
Donetsk, Ukraine), Aram Voskanyan (Esil-Bogatyr Petropavlovsk,
Kazakhstan), Rafael Nazaryan (Darida, Belarus), Hamlet Mkhitaryan
(MTZ-RIPO Minsk, Belarus), Karen Aleksanyan ( Pyunik Yerevan), David
Grigoryan (Mika Ashtarak)

Forwards: Arman Karamyan (Rapid Vienna, Austria), Andrei Movsesyan
(FC Moscow, Russia), Ara Akopyan (Stal Alchevsk,Ukraine), Galust
Petrosyan, Edgar Manucharyan (both Pyunik Yerevan), Armen
Shakhgeldyan (Mika Ashtarak).