Los Angeles Times , CA
Dec 13 2004
Worshipers End Wandering
After 30 years of fundraising, a small Armenian congregation in the
Coachella Valley is about to complete its own church.
By Barbara E. Hernandez, Special to The Times
PALM DESERT – The smell of incense permeated the church as Father
Stepanos Dingilian, wearing a silver-and-blue robe, presided over the
service. After the choir sang haunting hymns in Armenian, Dingilian,
speaking English, gave a sermon about faith.
The message seemed appropriate. After nearly 30 years of saving and
start-and-stop efforts, the small congregation of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of the Desert is finally going to have a home of its
own, Riverside County’s only Armenian church.

“This was a test for us,” said parish council member Alice Safoyan,
78. “We learned the hard way how to do it.”
For years the congregation met at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church –
where Dingilian presided as visiting priest – but the church’s 50
registered families will soon leave St. Margaret’s behind.
After almost three decades of dinners, galas and open pleas for
money, the congregation’s meeting hall is finished and the church is
being built.
Final permits must be obtained before the meeting hall in Rancho
Mirage can be used for the congregation’s first service Dec. 19, said
George Kirkjan, chairman of the parish council. A dedication and
fundraiser weekend for the church building is scheduled Jan. 29 and
30.
Kirkjan, 69, a date grower originally from Los Angeles, spent the
last 27 years in the desert and has long looked forward to the
opening of an Armenian church.
“At the beginning, we had big ideas but not a lot of money raised,”
he said.
Over the years, the congregation raised $1.3 million, but there’s
still some work to do – to the tune of $1 million more to finish the
church, which is modeled on the larger St. Hripsime Church at
Echmiadzin in Armenia, built in the 7th century.
The Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert is part of the Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, an Eastern Orthodox
church.
The congregation began using the Episcopal church in 1977 for a
monthly afternoon service during the Coachella Valley’s cooler
months. The practice continued for decades while the parish council
debated building a church. When not meeting at St. Margaret’s,
worshipers drove to Orange County or Los Angeles for services.
Although Southern California’s Armenian population is estimated to be
300,000 to 400,000, only about 120 Armenian families live in the
Coachella Valley, Dingilian said.
It was important to build the meeting hall before the church, members
said, because religious services can be held in a meeting hall, but
some events, such as dinners and receptions, can only rarely be held
in a church.
Hovak Najarian, 73, a member of the church choir and resident
historian, said that after a few years serving on the parish council,
he noticed that some of the initial enthusiasm for building a church
began to dwindle.
“Some of the old-timers had died and nothing was happening,” said
Najarian, who was appointed to the council in 1979. “There were a lot
of people not so sure we should be building a church because of its
upkeep.”
Some said they should continue to have their services at St.
Margaret’s. One member wearily suggested taking everyone on a cruise
with the money that had been raised, he said.
The congregation’s relationship with St. Margaret’s was partly forged
by Najarian, who is also a member of the Episcopal congregation. He
grew up in Florida and, because there were no Armenian churches
around, became an Episcopalian.
“I didn’t grow up with Armenians. The only ones I knew were my
parents,” explained Najarian, a slim man with silver hair and
twinkling blue-gray eyes. “[My parents] came here to have a place to
worship and not be persecuted, and I feel like I almost owe it to
them to keep this going.”
Building the new church, he said, allows him to honor and share his
Armenian heritage.
In 1982, council member Ara Herbekian found and negotiated the
purchase of about five acres in Palm Desert for an Armenian Apostolic
Church, but the recession of the 1980s limited donations and
virtually halted construction.
By 1999, the original land couldn’t be used because the city, citing
traffic concerns, would not allow the project to proceed. The land
was sold for close to $300,000, which helped the parish council
purchase 4.6 acres in Rancho Mirage. Today, that land would sell for
three times the amount, said Shirley Adams, realtor with Tarbell,
Realtors in Indio.
“The timing was perfect,” said council member Rita Walden, 70, of
Indian Wells.
Walden, who heads church fundraising, said raising money helped the
council avoid borrowing.
Mailings to Armenian families across the nation raised $20,000, and
Armenian Americans from the Los Angeles area also contributed to the
church fund.
“Our feeling was that by building the church, it would become the
heart of our Armenian community here,” Walden explained.
At the new meeting hall, landscaping pays homage to many Armenians’
agricultural roots in the Coachella Valley, with date palms and
citrus trees framing the drive.
Although city permits, a new security system and dust control caused
some financial hiccups for the congregation, many believe that the
church building – now little more than a foundation and underground
wiring – could be completed as early as 2006.
“I have no doubt in my mind it will be finished and it will be
beautiful,” Safoyan said.

Global Politician, NY
Dec 13 2004
The Circassian Genocide
12/14/2004
By Antero Leitzinger

The genocide committed against the Circassian nation by Czarist
Russia in the 1800s was the biggest genocide of the nineteenth
century. Yet it has been almost entirely forgotten by later history,
while everyone knows the later Jewish Holocaust and many have heard
about the Armenian genocide. “Rather than of separate, selectively
researched genocides, we should speak of a general genocidal tendency
that affected many – both Muslim and Christian – people on a wide
scene between 1856 and 1956, continuing in post-Soviet Russia until
today”, writes Antero Leitzinger. This article was originally
published in “Turkistan News”.
——————————————————————–
A professor of the university of Munich (München), Karl Friedrich
Neumann (not to be confused with the later Naumann), wrote in 1839 a
book titled “Russland und die Tscherkessen” (published in the
collection “Reisen und Länderbeschreibungen”, vol. 19, in 1840). He
describes, how Russia settled Christians to the parts of Armenia
gained from Persia in 1828 – actually, Neumann had written about the
issue already in 1834. (p. 68-69) Neumann considered this a very
sound policy and predicted, that all Caucasus would become under firm
Russian rule within the next decades. (p. 125) European powers would
not intervene, because it was the destiny of all Europe to rule over
the lands of Turks, Persians, and Hindus. (p. 129-130)
Neumann was no racist, but he certainly advocated colonialism and was
a Russophile in relation to the southern lands. He had a Darwinist
approach many years before Charles Darwin or Herbert Spencer
presented their ideas. This appears to have been more typical to 19th
century German thought than any anti-Armenian sentiments. Neumann
makes it clear in his very first words of the preface: “The European
humanity is selected by divinity as ruler of the earth.”
Although Neumann respected the bravery of Circassians, he anticipated
their destruction by Russia, because in a modern world, there would
be no place for chivalrous “uncivilized” people. Neumann estimated
the total number of Circassians, including the Kabardians and Abkhaz,
at 1.5 million persons, or 300.000 families. (p. 67) Both the Russian
figure of 300.000 persons, and the Circassian figure of four
millions, were exaggerated.
Neumann divided the Circassians into ten tribes: Notketch, Schapsuch,
Abatsech, Pseduch, Ubich, Hatiokech, Kemkuich, Abasech, Lenelnich,
Kubertech (in German transliteration). They formed a loose
confederation very much like old Switzerland, with democratic
majority votes deciding the affairs of villages. Their princes had no
privileges, and were regarded only as military commanders. Women were
more free than anywhere in the Orient. There was no written law, and
death penalties were unknown. Many Circassians were Muslims, but
there were also Christians and pagans, all completely tolerated.
Russian prisoners-of-war were used as slaves, but if they were of
Polish origin, they were regarded as guests. Therefore, Poles
recruited in the Russian army, deserted en masse at every
opportunity, and even Russians often declared themselves to be Poles.
(p. 123) Slavery as such included no shame. Circassians used to sell
their own family members as slaves to Turkey and Persia, and many
went to slavery voluntarily, returning later on back home as rich and
free men. (p. 124) This system could be compared to the Gastarbeiter
emigration from Turkey since the 1960s. We should also remember, that
in those times, slavery or serfdom existed in Romania and Russia as
well.
The Circassians had been fighting against Russia already for forty
years when appealing to the courts of Europe in a “Declaration of
Independence”: “But now we hear to our deepest humiliation, that our
land counts as a part of the Russian empire on all maps published in
Europe… that Russia, finally, declares in the West, that
Circassians are their slaves, horrible bandits…” (p. 140-141)
The fight continued for two more full decades, until a national
Circassian government was set up in Sochi. In 1862, Russia began the
final invasion, annihilation and expulsion, as predicted by Neumann
well in advance.
According to Kemal H. Karpat, “Ottoman population 1830-1914” (Madison
1985), “Beginning in 1862, and continuing through the first decade of
the twentieth century, more than 3 million people of Caucasian stock,
often referred collectively as Cerkes (Circassians), were forced by
the Russians to leave their ancestral lands…” (p. 27)
Salaheddin Bey mentioned, in 1867, a total of 1.008.000 refugees from
the Caucasus and Crimea, of whom 595.000 were initially settled in
the Balkans. (p. 27) Half a million followed by 1879, and another
half a million until 1914. (p. 69) Most of them were Circassians,
although there were Crimean Tatars, Chechens, and other Muslim people
among them. Hundreds of thousands Circassians perished on their way.
Neumann’s estimate of 1.5 million Circassians corresponds to 1/30
ethnic Russians, or 1/3 Czechs, or 3/4 Slovaks. (p. 66) According to
Neumann, there were over two million Armenians in the world. (p. 69)
Now, according to the Soviet census of 1989, the number of Russians
has increased to 145 millions, whereof 1/30 would be almost five
millions. There are 10 million Czechs and 5 million Slovaks, which
would lead us to assume that there should be over 3 million
Circassians. Armenia alone has a population of over 3 million
Armenians, despite of the past ordeals; 2 million Armenians live
elsewhere. The number of Czechs, Slovaks, and Armenians has more than
doubled in 150 years, while the number of Russians has tripled; but
where are the missing millions of Circassians?
“The Encyclopaedia Britannica”, 11th edition (Cambridge 1911),
divided the Armenian population equally between Russia and Turkey
(little over a million in each empire), and numbered 216.950
Circassians (including Abkhaz etc.) in Russia. Again we must
conclude, that about 1.5 million Circassians had been massacred or
deported. This disaster exceeded both absolutely and proportionally
whatever fell upon Armenians in 1915. Was it intentional? Yes. Was it
ideological? Yes. The conquest and Christian colonization of the
Middle East was expected not only by Germans, but by most Europeans
during the 19th century, and the expulsion of Muslims from Europe was
considered a historical necessity. Russia had practicized massacres
and mass deportations in the Crimea and Caucasus, and “ethnically
cleansed” Circassia specially in 1862-1864. During that period,
Panslavists like Mikhail Katkov provided the Russian public with
nationalistic excuses for what had started as imperial ambition
(“Third Rome”) and strategic interests (“Access to sea”).
A vicious cycle was created and increased the stakes at both
frontiers: the Caucasus, and the Balkans. Circassian refugees settled
in the Balkans were provoked to commit the “Bulgarian atrocities”,
that inspired some of the Armenian revolutionaries. After the Balkan
Wars, Muslim refugees were roaming in Anatolia, thus spreading
terror, and hostility. This was exploited by Russia, at the cost of
many innocent Armenians. The massacres of 1915 were a tip of the
iceberg – the part best visible for Europeans, who had been actively
seeking and expecting horror news to justify anti-Muslim prejudice,
and to prevent interventions on behalf of Turkey, as had happened in
the Crimean War of the 1850s.
Was it a genocide? That depends on the definition. Rather than of
separate, selectively researched genocides, we should speak of a
general genocidal tendency that affected many – both Muslim and
Christian – people on a wide scene between 1856 and 1956, continuing
in post-Soviet Russia until today.
The article was originally written in October 2000.
Antero Leitzinger is a political historian and a researcher for the
Finnish Directorate of Immigration. He wrote several books on Turkey,
the Middle East and the Caucasus.

Local democracy in Georgia: Council of Europe supports launch of national
forum for local government bodies
Strasbourg, 13.12.2004 – The Council of Europe is supporting the launch of a
forum that will defend the interests of local government bodies in Georgia,
and seek to build a culture of partnership between local and national
authorities. The National Association of Local Self-Government Units of
Georgia will be established on Friday 17 December, when delegates from all
parts of the country will meet in the capital, Tbilisi, to choose a
President for the new organisation. The Association will then be represented
in the Georgian delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe.
The event, which is taking place at the Griboedov Theatre on Rustaveli
Avenue, will begin with speeches from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili and the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary
Committee for Regional Policy, Local Self-Government and High Mountainous
Regions, Vano Khukhunaishvili.
Other speakers will include the President of the Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities of Europe, Giovanni Di Stasi, the First Counsellor of
the European Commission Delegation to Georgia and Armenia, Jacques Vantomme
and the President of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional
Authorities, Halvdan Skard.
Following the opening ceremony, the three presidential contenders will make
brief presentations before delegates vote for the candidate of their choice.
A press conference will take place at 5 pm at the Griboedov Theatre.
For more information please contact:
Olivier Terrien, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council
of Europe
Tel: + 33 3 88 41 22 47 ; Mobile: + 33 6 61 14 89 00 ; Fax: + 33 3 88 41 27
51/37 47 ;
E-mail: [email protected]
Varlam Tchkuaseli, Steering Group on the National Association of Local
Self-Government Units of Georgia ; Tel: + 995 32 223635 ; Mobile: + 995 99
212713 ; Fax: + 995 32 223635 ;
E-mail: [email protected]
ED086b04

CHINA JOINS REGIONAL ANTI-MONEY-LAUNDERING EFFORT – RUSSIAN PAPER
Kommersant, Moscow
9 Dec 04
Text of report by Vadim Visloguzov headlined: “Russia to teach its
neighbours how to fight against dirty money”, published in Russian
newspaper Kommersant on 9 December:
The first plenary session of the Eurasia Group, set up to counteract
the legalization of the proceeds of crime and financial terrorism, was
held in Moscow’s President Hotel yesterday. Having expended a lot of
effort creating its own “mini-FATF” (Financial Action Task Force),
Russia is not averse to spending 1m dollars on teaching its CIS
neighbours the basic methods of fighting against dirty money.
The idea of creating a regional agency of the FATF (Financial Action
Task Force – the group that elaborates financial measures to combat
money-laundering) with its headquarters in Moscow was suggested by
Rosfinmonitoring (Federal Service for Financial Monitoring) chief
Viktor Zubkov back in September last year. Similar regional groups
have now been set up by countries in Europe, southern Africa, South
America, the Pacific region, and the Caribbean.
In October this year Moscow’s organizational efforts were crowned with
success. In addition to Russia, the Eurasia Group (EAG) members are
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and –
strangely enough – China. The other community countries are not so far
in any hurry to join the EAG. Officially this is attributed to the
fact that Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and Moldova are
members of another FATF structure – Moneyval (Evaluation of Anti-Money
Laundering Measures) (which unites European countries not yet admitted
to the FATF). Unofficially, the actual founders of the FATF – the G-7
countries – do not want Russia’s influence in the post-Soviet area to
be too greatly reinforced. On the other hand, China’s involvement with
the CIS countries’ financial intelligence community follows from the
fact that China aspires to FATF membership and, under the existing
rules, has to belong to some regional anti-money-laundering
organization at the time of admission.
Yesterday saw the first plenary session of the FATF Eurasia
Group. More out of custom than necessity, the financial intelligence
chiefs held it behind closed doors. The issues decided were mainly of
an organizational character. In the absence of other takers, Russia
took responsibility for financing the EAG’s activity: 1m dollars will
be allocated for the purpose out of the federal budget.
Obviously, Russia is not going to help its neighbours entirely out of
altruistic considerations. According to Rosfinmonitoring’s
information, every year 17m citizens of CIS countries cross Russia’s
semipermeable borders in both directions, carrying millions of dollars
“in their bags”. Moscow’s aim is to gain control of these money
flows. Most CIS countries, however, do not yet have either their own
financial intelligence services or special “antimoney-laundering”
legislation. Viktor Zubkov, now also chair of the EAG, complains that
Rosfinmonitoring often simply has no-one to make contact with in CIS
countries. So, as he particularly stressed yesterday, the 1m dollars
will go mainly on technical assistance to EAG countries in setting up
their own antimoney-laundering systems.
It was also decided yesterday to include Germany, Moldova, and Japan
among the organization’s observers. Judging by Viktor Zubkov’s
statements yesterday, though, there are no plans to expand the group’s
still extremely modest list of full members. “We are open to anyone
who wants to join, but I see no necessity to expand the EAG,” he
commented. In addition yesterday, three working groups were set up –
covering legal questions, the methodology of fighting
money-laundering, and technical support for the process – to take on
the practical work of implementing FATF recommendations.
The next EAG session will be held next April in Beijing.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“NOBODY WILL SUCCEED IN INCITING THE ERKRAPAH VOLUNTEERS UNION AGAINST
THE PEOPLE,” MANVEL GRIGORIAN ASSURES
YEREVAN, December 11 (Noyan Tapan). “I assure you all on behalf of my
friends that we have remained true to the behests and ideas of
sparapet Vazgen Sargsian and will not abandon our cause: to serve our
people and state.” Lieutenant-general Manvel Grigorian, chairman of
the “Erkrapah” volunteers union board and the RA Deputy Minister of
Defence, stated this at the sixth congress of the union on December
11. “Nobody will be able to incite us against the people, nobody will
succeed in this,” M.Grigorian noted. He also assured of the Armenian
army’s fighting efficiency and pointed out that the level of its
training and technical fitting out gives a full guarantee of Armenia’s
security in the region. M. Grigorian also touched upon the issue of
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. According to him, the
issue of the territories under control of the Armenian side should be
discussed by diplomats: “If the matter concerns these territories’
defence, we are ready to take up arms again and defend them.” He
called on the union members to be united in the name of protection of
interests of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

GRETA SARGSIAN CALLS ON THE EVU TO PREVENT POSSIBLE SPLIT IN ORGANIZATION
YEREVAN, December 11 (Noyan Tapan). “You all are my sons, I love you
and take pride that you exist and should exist. If there are you, this
means Armenia also exists.” These were the welcoming words to the
sixth congress of the “Erkrapah” volunteers union by Greta Sargsian,
mother of the union’s founder and former Armenian Prime Minister
Vazgen Sargsian who was assassinated during the terrorist act at the
RA National Assembly in 1999. As regards the recent talks about a
possible split in the union, Greta Sargsian stated: “I am convinced
this will not happen. This is just a desire of those who sit
“upstairs.” She reminded the congress participants about the
atmosphere of trust when the union had been founded: “The most
important thing is your spirit, without which the victory would not
have been possible. Then, during the war, the powerful of this world
respected us and did not call us aggressors. But now Armenia has lost
its face because of talentless policies of the illegitimate
authorities of the country.” She called on the union members to forgo
their personal ambitions in the name of interests of Homeland and the
people: ” On behalf of your mothers I demand and appeal: you have no
right to split this powerful organization to your enemies’
delight. Vazgen Sargsian put a lot of effort into founding the EVU and
I think there will be no split!” Greta Sargsian declared. She reminded
the volunteers about the responsibility they bear before their late
friends and called for unity in the name of solving the existing
problems such as creating an atmosphere of trust in the society, the
struggle for an independent economic development, as well as the
preservation of science and arts, both now in a sad state.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED NOT IN US AND EUROPE, WE SOLVE
PROBLEMS.
YEREVAN, December 11 (Noyan Tapan). “The “Erkrapah” volunteers union
is not an artificial union: we are united by a joint struggle and the
EVU membership certificates with Vazgen Sargsian’s signature.” The RA
Prime Minister and member of the union board Andranik Margarian stated
this at the opening ceremony of the sixth congress of the EVU on
December 11. According to him, the recent frequent talks about a
possible split in the union are exaggerated. “There have been such
talks since 1999, however, nothing has happened,” Prime Minister
noted. Speaking about the situation formed around the Karabakh
conflict settlement, in particular the issue of the territories under
control of the Armenian side, A. Margarian underlined: “The problems
are solved not in the US and Europe. We do solve the problems. 15
years ago we stated that we would not give, and even if we give, then
only on conditions that suit us.” The salutatory address of the RA
President Robert Kocharian was read at the congress. In particular it
was noted in the address that the Erkrapah Volunteers Union was
founded at a difficult for Armenia time, it has always been with the
people and played a serious role in the society. Levon Mkrtchian, head
of the ARF faction, and Mher Shahgeldian, chairman of the NA standing
committee and vice chairman of the “Orinats Erkir” party, made speeces
of welcome on behalf of the ARF and “Orinats Erkir” parties.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada)
December 8, 2004 Wednesday FINAL EDITION
Jurors convict man of slayings
by Carri Geer Thevenot
Jurors deliberated less than an hour Tuesday before convicting a
man of first-degree murder and robbery charges in the beating deaths
of two elderly women at a downtown Las Vegas jewelry store.
The panel is scheduled to return to court this afternoon to start
hearing evidence in the trial’s penalty phase. Prosecutors are
seeking a death sentence for the defendant, 46-year-old Avetis
Archanian.
‘We’re pleased that a guilty verdict came back,’ said John Del Prado,
whose mother and grandmother died in the attack. ‘The evidence was
very strong against him, and the detectives were positive that he was
the one who committed this horrible crime.’
Del Prado said he plans to testify during the penalty phase in
District Judge Donald Mosley’s courtroom.
As for the sentence Del Prado would like Archanian to receive, he
said only, ‘It’s in the jury’s hands.’
‘As brutal as he was with my mother and my grandmother — he showed
them no mercy, and he deserves whatever he gets,’ he said.
The Del Prado family has operated the World Merchants-Importers store
in downtown Las Vegas since 1975. Archanian had been hired as a
part-time jewelry repairman several weeks before the killings.
District Attorney David Roger argued that Archanian was the man
captured on a surveillance video in the store on the morning of the
crimes.
Roger said Archanian used a hammer and ring sizer to bludgeon Juana
Quiroga, 86, and her 68-year-old daughter, Elisa Del Prado, before
the store opened on Sept. 2, 2003. Quiroga died at the scene, and her
daughter died from her injuries in March.
During his closing argument Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Greg
Knapp placed all of the physical evidence in a line before the jury.
‘This trail leads to one place: right to this man here,’ the
prosecutor said, pointing to Archanian.
Roger said the evidence indicated that the victims knew their killer.
The surveillance video showed Elisa Del Prado allowing a man to enter
the store and walk into the jewelry repair room.
A short time later, Quiroga is observed on the video rushing to the
room, then trying to scurry back out. The assailant then drags her
down from behind.
Roger said the killer showed knowledge of the store’s merchandise as
he went through the jewelry cases and chose the most expensive items
to steal.
Las Vegas homicide detectives interviewed Archanian at the scene and
allowed him to leave. Archanian told the detectives he arrived at the
store at 10 a.m., when it was scheduled to open, and saw the bodies.
Knapp said the killer removed a videotape from a surveillance system
in the store, assuming he was removing the video evidence.
‘But he was wrong because they had a secret recording device that
worked off of a hard drive that he didn’t know about,’ Knapp told the
jury.
Roger said it was no coincidence that the man on the video was the
same size as Archanian, had his receding hairline and was wearing
similar shoes and clothing.
The prosecutor said Elisa Del Prado’s blood was found on Archanian’s
shirt and in his vehicle, and Quiroga’s blood was found on a pair of
pants hidden in Archanian’s residence. Some $250,000 in jewelry
stolen from the store was recovered from Archanian’s vehicle.
‘Ladies and gentleman, this is not a difficult case,’ Roger told the
jury.
Defense attorney Mace Yampolsky said his client is Armenian and moved
to the United States from the former Soviet Union in 1977. The
attorney described Archanian as a helping and caring person who had
no prior criminal record.
Archanian wore headphones Tuesday as he listened to closing arguments
with the aid of an Armenian interpreter.
Yampolsky, wearing an American flag tie, offered jurors little to
refute the physical evidence against his client.
‘DNA is not infallible,’ he argued.
The attorney questioned why Archanian had spots of blood on the tops
of his shoes but none on the bottoms. Authorities determined that the
blood on Archanian’s shoes came from a woman, but they did not have a
large enough sample to determine her identity.
Yampolsky said the defendant’s wife, sister and brother attended
Tuesday’s proceedings. The attorney said he plans to present
testimony during the penalty phase from Archanian’s relatives ‘to
really say what he means to them.’
Grethel Jerbic, Elisa Del Prado’s daughter, said members of her
family want to thank those who stood beside them in their time of
need.
‘We thank them for their love, prayers and support,’ she said.

Azeri minister says crude oil allowed to Georgia without limits
ANS TV, Baku
12 Dec 04
Presenter Some freight railway cars detained on the Azerbaijani border
were allowed to enter Georgia overnight. The Boyuk Kasik railway
station has said that 370 railway cars carrying crude oil were allowed
through. Now, 320 cars with other goods are being held at the station.
Correspondent over video of the Boyuk Kasik station It is already two
days that the transit railway cars carrying crude oil via Azerbaijan
have been allowed to enter Georgia without any restrictions, Ziya
Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s minister of communication, has said. He said
that on receiving appropriate instructions from the State Customs
Committee, the railway cars carrying crude oil were allowed to enter
Georgia and from there on to go to Europe via the Black Sea without
any problems. But Mammadov said that some goods, especially the oil
products, are being checked carefully.
Mammadov Mainly oil products and other goods, flour, are being
inspected. In general, the inspection of all goods transported through
Azerbaijan has been stepped up to prevent them from being delivered to
Armenia via Georgia in future.
Correspondent Mammadov said that strict measures should be taken on
the borders so that goods are not redirected to Armenia from
Georgia. This process will continue until the Karabakh problem is
resolved in line with official Baku’s interests, end of quote.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri president’s speech at 7 December government session – full text
Azarbaycan, Baku
12 Dec 04
The year of 2004 was very successful in all spheres, Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev has said in his speech at a government session
summing up the results of the outgoing year. As a result of correct
policy, the country “is already turning into a significant power
centre” and has become “the leading country of the region”, he
added. Praising the establishment of good relations with all
countries, Ilham Aliyev noted that serious steps had been taken to
improve ties with the neighbouring states. Speaking highly about
Azerbaijan’s economic potential, Ilham Aliyev announced an increase in
military spending by “nearly 30 per cent”. He said that no changes
will be made in Azerbaijan’s position on the settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. The following is text of Aliyev’s speech
at the expanded session of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 7 December
2004, published by Azarbaycan newspaper on 8 December; subheadings
have been inserted editorially:
The year of 2004 is coming to an end. In general, it was a successful
year. Today, at an expanded session of the Cabinet of Ministers, we
will sum up the results of this year, examine the events that have
taken place, hear reports about the work done this year and hold an
exchange of views.
Successful foreign policy
In 2004, Azerbaijan was more confident and more successful in all
spheres. In foreign policy, our country’s integration into the
international community was more intensive and the protection of our
national interests was at a high level. We successfully developed
mutual relations with all countries. Especially, I can note that we
took serious steps to develop ties with our neighbours. Our relations
with them have expanded on the basis of bilateral, regional as well as
multilateral cooperation. This is very important to us. Azerbaijan is
already turning into a very significant power centre in the
region. Our positions in the region are strengthening. Regional
projects are being implemented which will help more rapidly and
successfully develop and protect our national interests.
Azerbaijan has also made success in the work with international
organizations. We can say that our positions in the international
organizations have strengthened. Our activities in the EU, the Council
of Europe and the UN were very successful. I believe that the steps
taken towards a settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict has had a positive impact on the negotiations. The
talks are already being held in the format that suit us and
Azerbaijan’s just position is better understood by international
organizations, and as a result, we can say that positive aspects have
been strengthened during the talks.
Azerbaijan has clearly voiced its stance which remains unchanged.
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity cannot be a subject of the
negotiations: it must be restored and the occupying forces must
withdraw from the occupied territory. Only on the basis of this
principle there can be talk of a peace accord. This is our strict and
unchanged position and it is very pleasant that the world understands
this position and we can say that this is the main principle in the
negotiations.
Some accuse us of taking hostile and attacking position. But this is
natural because our country is a side that has sustained losses in
this conflict and at the present time, if one can put it, we are
waging a “cold war”. I can say that we are waging this war very
efficiently. We are doing our best to put pressure on Armenia in all
directions. We have increased our propagating activities in the
international organizations and in the bilateral format at peace talks
with Armenia . All this, I think, will allow us to achieve our
goal. That is to say, the international law should be observed, the
occupying forces must pull out from our land and Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity must be restored. The negotiations are
currently being held between the foreign ministers. If necessary, the
presidents will join the negotiations as well. I would like to note
again that the principles of the negotiations have remained
unchanged. I believe that we will continue strengthening our efforts
in the future as well.
As you know, we have also done tremendous work to open Azerbaijan’s
embassies in other countries. New embassies have opened in many
countries and more detailed information about Azerbaijan will be
released to the attention of the international community. At the same
time, we should always strengthen our economic and military
potential. Work is under way in this sphere as well.
Military spending will increase by nearly 30 per cent
In 2004, we also carried out a major work to develop our army and
strengthen its infrastructure. Our army is being modernized and
equipped with new modern technology. We are focusing our attention on
this, and my numerous visits to military units and meetings there
prove that our army is strengthening day by day and is able to resolve
all its tasks. We are determined to continue our efforts in this
field.
As you know, while making additions to the state budget this year,
above all, we increased the funds allocated to the army. Next year, we
will increase the funds allocated to the army nearly by 30 per
cent. If necessary, over the next years, we will increase it by 50,
100 or 200 per cent. Azerbaijan’s economic potential will allow this
and no-one, in particular, Armenia, which occupied our land, can
compete with us. Armenia’s current budget is only 500m dollars,
whereas the amount of the sum planned for the army in Azerbaijan is
about 250m dollars. Until we liberate our land from the invaders, we
will increase our funds and will always continue keeping our army at
the high level.
No dependence on foreign countries
Economic and financial potential is obviously needed to do all this,
and we are building it. We all know very well that the economic
reforms launched by our national leader ex-president Heydar Aliyev
since he came to power in 1993 and which are being carried out
successfully yielded successful results and strengthened our financial
base. The GDP grew by 90 per cent in 1995-2003. Foreign trade
increased by 200 per cent. An average salary grew six times and
pensions 8 times. Thanks to all financial sources, 22bn dollars were
invested in Azerbaijan’s economy. The successful economic reforms have
allowed us both to cover the country’s needs properly and to allocate
larger funds for the army. In general, economic potential is the main
requirement for pursuing an independent policy.
Today Azerbaijan is fully pursuing an independent policy, does not
depend on anybody or any country and is pursuing a policy aimed at the
interests of the Azerbaijani people alone. I am confident that the
policy of strengthening Azerbaijan’s statehood fully meets the
interests of the Azerbaijani people. I would like to add that if we
have not had our economic potential, we might also have begged and
asked other countries and circles for assistance, like Armenia
does. Relying on our own potential and force, our national leader,
Heydar Aliyev, extricated the country from anarchy, crisis and
economic collapse and brought it to today’s path of progress.
Successful domestic policy
These positive factors in the economy have even more strengthened in
2004. The GDP increased by approximately 10 per cent, money income of
the population increased by nearly 20 per cent, the average salary by
26 per cent and today it is 478,000 manats 98 dollars . For the first
time, the average salary in Azerbaijan is already nearly 100
dollars. The next year, this sum will be bigger and will grow in the
future.
Foreign trade increased by 40 per cent and the country’s currency
reserves today stand at 1.8bn dollars. All this shows that 2004 was a
successful year for us. Of course, this success had good reasons. As I
noted before, the strong economic base set up by Heydar Aliyev and the
beneficial economic climate have been created in Azerbaijan for the
future development. We used these opportunities in 2004 effectively
and managed to achieve these economic results.
Structural reforms were carried out and, as is known, new ministries
were set up in 2004. The Communications and Information Technologies
Ministry was set up in the beginning of the year. You know that
information technologies is profoundly important in the world today,
as it has great potential and prospects. Azerbaijan should also keep
up with this process. We should take measures in this sphere as
well. The Agriculture Ministry has been reorganized. I am sure that
this will speed up the development in the sphere of agriculture. The
number of people engaged in agriculture in Azerbaijan is large. The
conditions created for them as well as the establishment of the
Aqrolizinq Agriculture Leasing joint-stock association will help bring
plenty of machinery. About 250bn manats 50m dollars are to be
allocated in the next two years for this purpose and this will allow
us to provide farmers with equipment. This amount is not enough to
fully provide them with equipment, we will not confine ourselves to
the 250bn manats and will increase this sum in order to resolve the
problem with machinery.
I signed a decree on setting up the Ministry of Industry and Energy
yesterday 6 December . This ministry will carry out major tasks as
well. Like in the past, the industrial potential is currently enormous
in Azerbaijan. We have paid less attention to this sphere until
recently, but we must take effective measures and attract investments
to boost our industrial potential. New jobs will open in the
industrial complex as well.
The Azarsu Azerbaijani Water joint-stock association has been set
up. A free-for-all in the water supply system will be eliminated. The
steps taken in this system allow us to say that a strictly-managed
system is going to be created there. Unfortunately, up to now, there
has no been strict discipline there and nobody knew what was going on
there.
Market economy will grow, major projects will be developed
Azerbaijan is faithful to the principles of market economy and we
highly value these principles. Aid to entrepreneurs will definitely be
continued. At numerous meetings with businessmen this year, I have
clearly expressed my support to them. I confirm this support today as
well. The share of the private sector in the GDP is 74 per
cent. According to reports, this figure will be 77 per cent next
year. This figure should grow in the future. However, saying this, we
should also take into account the fact that the oil industry which is
the main sector in Azerbaijan’s economy is in the state monopoly. If
we get the oil factor out of the GDP, we will see that the share of
business, that is the private sector, is even larger.
The sum of the loans allocated to entrepreneurs this year stands at
100bn manats 20m dollars . We will increase this amount twice next
year and businessmen will receive the loans to the tune of 200bn
manats 40m dollars as most of them need these funds. That is to say,
it is impossible to start business without funds. It is true, there
are some people and structures which use their own funds to invest in
business. But the overwhelming majority has no funds and the state
should render its assistance, and it does so.
Over the past 10 months, the figure of investments in fixed assets has
been 43 per cent. Foreign investments grew by 48 per cent and totalled
4bn dollars. The oil sector, which is the most important industry in
Azerbaijan today and in the future, achieved successes this year. All
the projects and programmes started jointly with foreign partners are
being implemented. Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy is developing
successfully. The launch of the construction of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline proves that we are making progress in this field. Azerbaijan
is successfully and timely implementing the projects which are
important to the world and, above all, to Azerbaijan itself. This will
help increase our economic potential, expand our financial potential
and fully put into operation Azerbaijan’s oil potential.
At the same time, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic
SOCAR has its own projects which have already been discussed. I reckon
that work will be done in the next year to implement new projects and
therefore, the SOCAR will be able to increase the extraction of oil
and gas. We are fully satisfied with the work in this
sphere. Azerbaijan has proved that it is a very reliable partner and
is a proper place for foreign investments.
When marking the 10th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev’s oil strategy this
year, we stated that this strategy, this policy and strict line will
be continued. Azerbaijan’s oil potential will serve the Azerbaijani
people and will continue to bring more currency reserves to Azerbaijan
and to its treasury in the future as well.
Regions will develop, new jobs will open, social welfare will improve
The programme for the development of regions has been adopted. It can
be described as a new direction in our work in the economic sphere. It
is true that this field has always been in the focus of the attention,
but the main parameters of this programme were identified this year in
the form of a complex system. Our work in this system was
efficient. There has been liveliness in our regions now: tremendous
work, including renovation and the development, is under way.
New jobs is a very pleasant process and most of them opened in the
regions. All the efforts to open new jobs lead to achievements. Over
the past year, more than 110,000 new jobs, these figures change
quickly, have opened. This process is so rapid that we have to correct
these figures every month. Anyway, according to latest information,
over 110,000 jobs opened, and 110,000 new jobs in one year for 8m
population is a big success. I can even say that this result has never
been registered in the world. This proves that all our plans and
programmes are based on realistic aspects. Simply, one should organize
work correctly, approach tasks with success and confidence in order to
implement all programmes.
Social tasks were carried out properly. Salaries, pensions and other
social allowances were increased and paid timely. A minimum wage
increased as well. At the beginning of the year, it was 45,000 manats
about 10 dollars , later on, it became 60,000 12 dollars and now
100,000 20 dollars . From 1 January it will be 125,000 manats 25
dollars . This shows that the growth is continuing. Of course, 125,000
manats is not a big sum, and we understand this very well. But the
fact is that this figure increased more than twice. The growth of the
minimum salary and, in general, the improvement of the Azerbaijani
people’s well-being is very important to us. I would like to add that
well-being of the Azerbaijani people should improve on a yearly basis.
Our attention to the social sphere will continue in the future as
well. The improvement of conditions has been especially planned for
those in need – refugees and forced migrants. Relevant decrees were
issued in this field and are currently being fulfilled. New towns are
being built on the territory of Agdam District freed from the
occupation, and residents in Barda District who live in the most
difficult conditions – in refugee camps and wagons – will move to new
houses. All conditions will be created for them. We are already well
experienced in this field. On the instruction of our people’s national
leader, Heydar Aliyev, the first revenues of the State Oil Fund will
go to creating conditions for refugees and displaced persons. Like in
all other spheres, we are continuing this policy in this field as
well.
There is a comprehensive plan of activities for 2005. The state budget
for 2005 has already been adopted and everyone is aware of our
work. Economic forecasts have also been made and they are quite
optimistic. According to the forecasts, the growth of the GDP will be
14 per cent. The growth of budget revenues will be 25 per cent and of
the average salary 22 per cent. Imports will grow by 70 per cent and
foreign trade by 53 per cent. Investments, including foreign
investments, will total 4.5bn dollars. All this is a forecast. But we
already know that we can fulfil them exceeding all expectations. I
hope that this forecast will be put into practice and we will make
bigger success.
In order to implement all this, we should organize our work
effectively. Of course, we have certain problems in the country. We
are continuing work to reduce poverty and unemployment. Our society is
concerned about other problems either. We are aware of them and are
trying to resolve them.
Of course, tremendous work was done in one year and in five years. But
if we go back 10 years ago, we can clearly see in what state
Azerbaijan was at that time and how things are now. Azerbaijan was the
most undeveloped country in the region and in the post-Soviet
area. Its economy was in collapse, the territory was occupied and
civil confrontation was under way inside the country. We can say that
Azerbaijan was being destroyed from both outside and inside the
country. Today Azerbaijan is the leading country of the region. It is
not only us who say this, but all international financial bodies and
the international community have stated this. Azerbaijan has turned
into a powerful centre in the region and can be an example for other
countries.
Political stability must be preserved
In order to strengthen all these positive factors, stability, peace
and order in the country will be of great importance along with other
factors. We have achieved this. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev’s
determination, far-reaching policy and bravery, stability and peace
have been established in the country. Illegal armed groups that were
controlling the country were eliminated. All of them do not exist now
and will never come back. We need stability, peace and order and we
will have them in order to continue our success in the future and to
implement all our plans. No-one in our society doubts this. It is the
duty of those who govern Azerbaijan to maintain this stability. We
should make sure that from now on the Azerbaijani people live in the
conditions of peace and safety and well-being of the people improve
further. Azerbaijan’s positions should strengthen in the world and, in
other words, our motherland will continue to develop and thrive.
I think we will hear reports and hold an exchange of views in this
sitting. I have delivered my general view about the results of
2004. There is probably a need for the more detailed discussion.
I am giving the floor to First Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of
the State Commission for Refugees and Forced Migrants Ali Hasanov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress