CONFERENCE FOR MEDICAL AND SOCIAL EXPERTS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
28 Sept 04

Recently cooperation between the RA Work and Social Ministry and
the NKR Ministry of Social Security has been rather active. The
evidence to this is organization of joint seminars, consultations. On
September 23-24 a conference was held in Stepanakert, which was
organized by the RA Agency of Medical-Social Expertise and the two
ministries. At the conference experts of the sphere both from NKR
and Armenia were present. The two-day conference aimed to share
methodic, organizational, professional skills with their Karabakh
colleagues, exchange approaches in medical-social expertise, and
render practical aid. On the first day the specialists arrived from
Armenia presented the structure of the RA Agency of Medical-Social
Expertise, aims, model of management, the legal acts used during the
expertise, contemporary methods of rehabilitation of the disabled,
peculiarities of medical-social expertise in case of tuberculosis and
childhood diseases. The head of the RA Agency Misha Vanian was also
present at the seminar. He said this was the second meeting with the
NKR specialists in the sphere of medical-social expertise, and the
first was in 2001. â^À^ÜAs to our cooperation, we invite our Artsakh
colleagues to take part in the analysis of the annual report, who will
naturally take part in the discussions of the existing problems in the
sphere and we gladly share our experience with them. Our agency has
been operating for two years now and as in Karabakh it is only being
created, we have come to help our colleagues,â^À^Ý mentioned M. Vanian.

ANAHIT DANIELIAN. 28-09-2004

Kocharian Aide Blames Britain For “Anti-Armenian” Report On Karabakh
By Ruzanna Stepanian and Emil Danielyan 28/09/2004 11:26

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Sept 28 2004

A national security adviser to President Robert Kocharian linked on
Monday a Council of Europe report accusing Armenia of illegally
annexing Nagorno-Karabakh with Britain’s policy in the region which
he denounced as oil-driven and pro-Azerbaijani.

Garnik Isagulian claimed that the report’s findings, rejected by
official Yerevan, were greatly influenced by the British nationality
of Terry Davis, its author and the new secretary general of the
Council of Europe.

“British Petroleum’s influence on British foreign policy is very
obvious,” Isagulian told reporters, referring to BP’s pivotal role in
the multibillion-dollar Azerbaijani oil projects. “They are solely
concerned with controlling oil reserves. This is what English policy
is all about. Only Baku’s oil matters to the British.”

The document in question was meant to serve as the basis for a
resolution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be adopted by the
organization’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). The 45-nation assembly
chose Davis as its chief Karabakh rapporteur long before he was
elected to head the Strasbourg-based human rights organization last
June.

“Considerable parts of the territory of Azerbaijan are still occupied
by forces from Armenia, and separatist forces are still in control of
the Nagorno-Karabakh region,” reads the draft resolution submitted by
Davis to a key PACE committee earlier this month. It effectively
accuses Armenia of illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territory as
well as ethnic cleansing.

“The Assembly reaffirms that independence and secession of a regional
territory from a state may only be achieved through a lawful and
peaceful process based on democratic support by the inhabitants of
such territory, and not in the wake of an armed conflict leading to
ethnic expulsion and the de facto annexation of such territory to
another state,” says the draft resolution. “The Assembly reiterates
that the occupation of foreign territory by a member state
constitutes a grave violation of that state’s obligations as a member
of the Council of Europe.”

The proposed wording is largely in tune with Azerbaijan’s
long-standing allegations about Armenian “military aggression.”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev repeated in a speech at UN General
Assembly in New York late last week. Aliev charged that the Armenians
are intent on “consolidating the results of the aggression.”

The Davis report was rejected as “unacceptable” by Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian last week. The Armenian members of the PACE also
criticized it. One of them, deputy parliament speaker, Tigran
Torosian, plays down the document’s significance saying that it will
have no legal force because the PACE has appointed a new Karabakh
rapporteur, David Atkinson.

Atkinson is expected to present his version of a Karabakh resolution
at the PACE session in January. Isagulian contradicted Torosian when
he claimed that it is unlikely to differ markedly from Davis’s draft.
“We need a rapporteur who would represent a state with a neutral
position on the issue,” he said.

The presidential aide went on to predict that the Council of Europe
can have little impact on the Karabakh peace process because it is
spearheaded by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe. “Azerbaijan has realized very well that the
Karabakh problem has been solved within the Minsk Group framework,”
he said, apparently alluding to its peace proposals reportedly
upholding the disputed region’s independence from Baku.

Davis, on the other hand, indicated his support for the restoration
of Azerbaijan’s control over Karabakh by advising the Armenians to
look into “positive experiences of autonomous regions as a source of
inspiration.”

The report drafted by the Council of Europe chief also suggests that
the conflicting parties turn to the Hague-based International Court
of Justice if the long-running peace talks sponsored by the Minsk
Group remain lead nowhere. It says the court could rule on “whether
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan … has lawfully been violated
by Armenia in order to protect a right to secession by the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh.”

ARTSAKH IS PRICELESS

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
28 Sept 04

Recently OSCE cochairman Stephen Mann has stated that the meeting
of the mediators with the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in
Astana were aimed to reveal the presence of political will in the
two leaders. The American cochairman expressed the opinion that
regional development passes by Armenia. Pipelines, roads, railways
are built, and Armenia misses the chance of benefiting from the
economic integration in the entire region. As it would be expected
the reaction to the statement of Mr. Mann did not wait long. On the
same day foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian gave a press
conference and announced that Armenia cannot be frightened or worried
by stating that Armenia remains outside the implementation of oil
and gas and transport projects. According to the foreign minister
of Armenia, we have proved to the world that without railways and
pipelines Armenia is able to not only survive but even develop going
on to in the next hundred years as well. And to connect the question
of status of Nagorni Karabakh to some oil or gas pipeline and turn it
into an object of trade is simply impossible for, as Vardan Oskanian
emphasized, “Nagorni Karabakh is priceless and is not an object to
be sold, therefore we do not accept the argument that by defending
its interest the Armenian side loses the opportunity to take part in
large regional programs.” In reference to the construction of the
railway, the Georgian-Turkish agreement and other projects passing
by Armenia the foreign minister thinks that it is a mistake. “Whoever
connects these questions to the problem of Nagorni Karabakh, I state
that there can be no relation between these as Artsakh is priceless,”
said Mr. Oskanian. Making use of the meeting with the representatives
of the mass media, the foreign minister of Armenia also summed
up the results of the four meetings of the foreign ministers of
Armenia and Azerbaijan. Although presenting details of procedure
rather than content, he informed that the preliminary stage of the
process of talks was concluded by the Kocharian-Aliev meeting in
Astana and the four meetings of the foreign ministers in Prague. Now
the negotiation parties have taken a so-called “time out” to think
for a while and then enter the second round of negotiations between
the foreign ministers. According to Mr. Oskanian, the second round
will be on a higher level in terms of quality and will be closer to
the settlement of the problem than the first one. “At the beginning
of the second round the presidents will say what they will do on the
content basis of the talks between the foreign ministers. Those might
be changed, accepted or refused.” During the press conference the
former PACE reporter Terry Davis report on Karabakh was also touched
upon. Mr. Oskanian characterized the report as unacceptable because
it reflected the personal position of the reporter. “It is the opinion
of one person and is a subjective opinion; it is not possible to agree
with it as the picture is not presented truly,” said Vardan Oskanian.
Although the new reporter, British member of parliament David Atkinson
is not of better disposition towards Armenia and Artsakh judging by,
according to Vardan Oskanian, his numerous statements made before
his appointment, Vardan Oskanian, nevertheless, hopes that the new
reporter will be maximally unbiased in preparing his report. Of course,
the Armenian party should contribute to this directly. “Therefore it
is necessary to try to explain, present the situation as objectively
as possible in order for the report not to affect the process of
negotiations. Today this is our problem,” announced Vardan Oskanian.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN. 28-09-2004

Georgian and Armenian banks sign agreement

The Messenger, Georgia (messenger.com.ge)
Sept 28 2004

The Central Bank of Armenia and the National Bank of Georgia have
signed an agreement to cooperate in the sphere of supervision of the
activities of credit organizations, Prime News reports.

The president of the NBG Irakli Managadze told journalists that close
cooperation of central banks of the region is very important given
current globalization. “This cooperation will promote development of
the banking and financial sectors of both countries,” Managadze said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IranMania
Sept 28 2004

Gazprom to take part in Iran gas pipeline project

IranMania.com

LONDON, Sep 28 (IranMania) – Inter-parliamentary commission of
Russia- Armenia in economic cooperation is to consider next month
the participation of Gazprom firm in construction of the gas pipeline
between Iran and Armenia.

An informed source in Armenian government told Interfax News Agency
that the Russian Gazprom company intends to offer its cooperation
for construction of 41 kilometers of the pipeline in the Armenian
territory.

According to the aforementioned source the expenditure of construction
is around $30 mln which will be financed by a loan from Iranian Bank of
`Export promotion`.

Interfax News Agency said Iran and Armenia signed an agreement on May
2004 to establish a consortium to provide gas for Armenia. According
to the agreement Iran will provide 36 bln cubic meters of gas for
Armenia in 20 years period.

Meanwhile, it is possible that the agreement be renewed for another 5
years and the amount of gas be increased to 47 bln cubic meters. The
construction work in Iran side started in mid-July and in Armenia
side will start by the end of October.

Armenian leader, Chinese premier discuss economic cooperation

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
28 Sep 04

[Presenter] The strengthening of Armenian-Chinese business
relations was discussed in Beijing this morning at a meeting between
representatives of the two countries’ trade and industrial spheres.

President Robert Kocharyan today visited one of China’s historical
and cultural sites, the Forbidden City. He also visited the Kung
Fu centre where the centre’s sportsmen demonstrated their national
sports exercises to the Armenian delegation.

[Correspondent Lilit Setrakyan] Robert Kocharyan’s state visit to
China is continuing. The official part of the visit is scheduled to
take place in the Chinese capital of Beijing. After the meeting with
the Chinese president yesterday, the Armenian president will meet
representatives of China’s business and legislative circles today.

Robert Kocharyan and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao discussed
issues of economic cooperation. Wen Jiabao said that China is ready to
invest in the Armenian economy and establish contact with its South
Caucasus partner. Robert Kocharyan also stressed that the Armenian
side is interested in speeding up Armenian-Chinese economic relations.

The Armenian delegation led by the president will leave for Shanghai
this evening.

NKR President’s Meeting

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
28 Sept 04

On September 23 at the permanent representation of NKR in Armenia NKR
president Arkady Ghukassian met with the special delegate of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office in Azerbaijan and Armenia, representative on the
Karabakh conflict Philip Dimitrow. During the meeting they discussed
the process of conflict regulation and the prospective steps in
this direction. Mr. Dimitrow pointed out the interest of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office in the peaceful settlement of the confrontation
and emphasized the importance of accelerating the process. The
NKR president especially pointed out the problems of the country’s
status and its security. Mr. Ghukassian believes that the settlement
of the conflict is impossible without consideration of the interests
of the people of NKR. And in the end the president of NK assured that
the Karabakh side is willing to solve the problems through practical
dialogue. At the meeting were also present NKR foreign minister Ashot
Ghulian and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

AA. 28-09-2004

Russian nuclear power station holds accident drill

ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
28 Sep 04

Yekaterinburg, 28 September: Wide-ranging exercises on dealing with
an emergency started at 0800 [0400 gmt] today at the Beloyarskaya
nuclear power plant near Yekaterinburg, the plant’s spokesman,
Marianna Bakanova, told ITAR-TASS.

The exercise is organized by the Rosenergoatom company which operates
the plant. Over 500 people are taking part in the drill observed by
officials from the USA, France, China, Ukraine and Armenia.

Management and personnel of the plant are taking part in the drill
along with experts from the emergency and crisis centre of the
Rosenergoatom concern and technical support centres for nuclear
power stations (OPAS) [Russ: okazaniye pomoshchi atomnym stantsiyam]
as well as some hardware and forces invited for the purpose from the
Russian Emergencies and Defence Ministries.

Operational cooperation and the exchange of information when dealing
with a possible emergency at the plant are to be improved during the
drill. The work of special communication equipment and hardware will
be checked as well.

One BN-600 reactor is operating at the plant now. It is the most
powerful fast neutron reactor in the world. Experts from Rosenergoatom
have plans to use nuclear waste that is being brought to Russia in
such reactors.

The third unit of the station is expected to be in service for 30
years and is to be closed by 2010. The fourth power unit with an
800 MW BN-800 reactor is being built at the plant at present and is
expected to be finished in 2009.

Russia’s Gazprom set to participate in Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project

A1+ web site
28 Sep 04

The Russian and Armenian interparliamentary commission for
economic issues is planning to discuss involvement of Russia’s
Gazprom company in the building of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline in
mid-October. Sources close to Gazprom report that the company wants
to participate in the construction of the Armenian section of the
gas pipeline from Megri to Yerevan via Kadzharan.

The building cost of the gas pipeline across the Armenian territory
will amount to 30m dollars, and this money has already been allocated
from the Export Development Bank of Iran. Thus, Gazprom’s participation
in the gas pipeline project has become real.

CHINESE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTS – SEPT 28, 2004

Asia Pulse
Sep 28, 2004

BEIJING, Sept 28 Asia Pulse – Highlights of today’s newspapers:

PEOPLE’S DAILY:

– Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Monday that China is
ready to make joint efforts with Armenia to raise bilateral relations
to a new level. He made the remark in talks with visiting Armenian
President Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, who is on his first state
visit to China as president.

– Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said that the people of northwest China’s
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region should devote themselves to building
a new type of relations between different ethnic groups during his
visit in the region on Monday. “The various ethnic groups in the region
should get together and develop a new type of socialist relationship
of an equal, friendly and mutually beneficial nature,” said Wen, who
returned Saturday after concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

CHINA YOUTH DAILY:

– China successfully launched its 20th recoverable satellite for
scientific and technological experiments from the Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Center, in northwestern China’s deserts, at 16:00 Monday.

ECONOMIC DAILY:

– Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said that the people of northwest China’s
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region should devote themselves to building
a new type of relations between different ethnic groups during his
visit in the region on Monday. “The various ethnic groups in the region
should get together and develop a new type of socialist relationship
of an equal, friendly and mutually beneficial nature,” said Wen, who
returned Saturday after concluding his visit to Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

– A grand reception was held Monday at the Great Hall of the People for
foreign experts working in China, on the eve of the 55th anniversary of
the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Vice Premier
Huang Ju delivered a speech at the reception. He said that since
the founding of the PRC, and especially since China instituted the
reform and opening-up policy, China has made great achievement. The
annual economic growth rate has averaged 9.4% over the past 25 years,
he said, adding that the living standard of the Chinese has continued
to improve.

CHINA DAILY:

– With a bumper harvest in sight for this year, China is sowing the
seeds for a fruitful 2005, planning its acreage of wheat – the nation’s
second most important crop after rice – by 666,600 hectares. The
added area is expected to increase China’s wheat production by at
least 3.5 million tons, said Xiaobing, an official with the Ministry
of Agriculture.

GUANGMING DAILY:

– Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Monday that China is
ready to make joint efforts with Armenia to raise bilateral relations
to a new level. He made the remark in talks with visiting Armenian
President Robert Sedrakovich Kocharyan, who is on his first state
visit to China as president.

– China successfully launched its 20th recoverable satellite for
scientific and technological experiments from the Jiuquan Satellite
Launch Center, in northwestern China’s deserts, at 16:00 Monday.

ECONOMIC INFORMATION DAILY:

– China’s township businesses have reported a total of 2,744.7
billion yuan (US$332.3 billion) of added value in January-to-August
this year, up 12.82% on a yearly basis. According to figures released
by the Township Enterprise Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture,
main indicators such as industrial added value, operational income,
export value of products for delivery, benefit and taxation have all
shown a coordinated and stable upward trend.

CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL:

– The additional stock issue scheme of Shanghai-listed Baoshan Steel
(600019) was adopted at its general meeting of shareholders on
September 27.

– The central bank’s monetary policy committee suggests appropriate
regulation over fluidity in the financial system.