DEPUTY FM MEETS NATO DELEGATION

ArmenPress
Sept 14 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian deputy foreign affairs
minister Tatul Margarian echoed today foreign minister Vartan Oskanian,
saying the NATO’s Supreme Command decision to cancel Best Cooperative
Effort maneuvers in Azerbaijan was “the loss of an opportunity for
regional cooperation.” He was meeting with a delegation of NATO
Parliamentary Assembly that brought to Armenia parliament members of
12 NATO and OSCE member countries.

Praising NATO for its efforts to help establish stability in the
region, Tatul Margarian, expressed hope that in the long-term
perspective NATO’s principled position will promote formation of
regional cooperation.

Margarian also spoke in detail about Armenia’s relations with its
neighbors, Karabagh conflict regulation process and Armenia’s drive
towards closer integration with Europe.

NATO’s decision was hailed also today by Armenian prime minister
Andranik Margarian, who said that the international community has now
realized the gap between what Azerbaijan’s leadership says and does.
“Azerbaijan has shown its true face,” he added.

The prime minister also referred to Azeri president Aliyev’s words
that his September 16 meeting with Armenian counterpart Robert
Kocharian would have a crucial significance in the Karabagh conflict
regulation. “There have been no crucial actions recently and neither
crucial positions have been voiced so as to have a sweeping effect
on the expected talks between the two presidents,” he said, adding
that the latest events show that even if crucial developments occur
they will not be in favor of Azerbaijan.

AZERI POLITICAL ANALYSTS REACT TO NATO DECISION TO CANCEL PfP EXERCISES

ArmenPress
Sept 14 2004

BAKU, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani political experts reacted
swiftly to the decision of NATO’s Supreme Command to cancel the
exercises, dubbed Cooperative Best Effort 2004 that were scheduled
to start today in Azerbaijan as part of Partnership for Peace program
(PfP) after the official Baku refused entry visas to Armenian officers
to travel to Azerbaijan’s capital.

Last Friday, the Azeri parliament sent a message to NATO Secretary
General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer protesting the inclusion of Armenian
soldiers and warning it could inflame tensions in the region and harm
relations between Azerbaijan and the Atlantic alliance. President
Ilham Aliyev also reportedly opposed the inclusion of the soldiers.

An ex-foreign minister Tofik Zulfugarov argued that NATO’s decision
was “biased” and was taken without taking into account the existing
realities of the region. “Though the decision is an unpleasant event
for Azerbaijan it has prompted decision-makers to once again think
about specific conditions of the region … Azerbaijan is the victim
of Armenia’s aggression and this fact should not be ignored by those
organizations, which are trying to create an illusion that there is
no occupation and no refugees” he was quoted by Turan news agency
as saying.

According to another political analyst, Zardusht Alizade, all the
clamor around the exercises has in fact no relation to patriotism and
struggle for liberation of Karabagh and furthermore, it will sustain
huge damages to Azerbaijan. He said that the arrival of Armenian
officers would have no impact on the Karabagh problem. “Azeris should
not have raised all this noise, it was a stupid and absolutely
non-constructive position.” He said that Azerbaijan has lost all
opportunities to express its positions internationally, implicating
also that the country’s leadership is trying to please Russia to
prove its ability to keep the conflict frozen.

Eldar Namazov, another political analysts, said the refusal of
Azerbaijan to accept Armenian officers was regretful, adding that
its aftereffects will eventually affect Azerbaijan’s image.

According to an independent military observer, Uzeir Jafarov, the
first such incident in the history of PfP exercises is evidence that
NATO will revise Azerbaijan’s participation in its programs.

But according to political analyst Vafa Quluzada, the cancellation
of the exercises will not affect Azerbaijani-NATO relations.
“Azerbaijan and Armenia are at war and this is obvious to NATO that
failed to realize that the Azerbaijani people would not be indifferent
to this,” he said, adding that NATO will respect Azerbaijan even more
and understand that the two countries should not be kept in a state of
war. “NATO enjoys big powers and can play an important role in putting
an end to this aggression against Azerbaijan immediately,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AND CHINESE COOPERATION YIELDS TANGIBLE RESULTS

ArmenPress
Sept 13 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: “Economic cooperation between
Armenia and China is set to go on developing,” Chinese ambassador Zho
Xiulian told reporters on the sidelines of the Chinese Business Day
within Armenia Expo-2 2004. “Economic cooperation between our countries
yield tangible results, especially in the fields of agriculture and
energy,” he said.

Responding to the question of Armenpress on the current pace of
Armenian-Chinese economic relations, the ambassador said that a mixed
commission is working to steer economic cooperation but there are no
visible outcomes yet. According to the ambassador, distance between
the countries and transport difficulties hinder the enlargement of
economic cooperation between the two. He also said that Armenian and
Chinese businessmen know little about each other. However, he said
certain steps are taken in that direction. Chinese business partners
have submitted written information about their companies to Armenian
counterparts. Armenian companies filled out questionnaires and send
them to Chinese side offering cooperation proposals.

According to International Integration Cooperation Center expert
Helena Nazinian, Armenian and Chinese businessmen are attentively
following cooperation opportunities in almost all fields of economy.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STARTS DEBATES ON BANK DEPOSITS COMPENSATION BILL

ArmenPress
Sept 13 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Central Bank governor
Tigran Sarkisian presented today to parliament’s consideration a
government-designed bill on compensating banking deposits of physical
persons, saying the bill calls for creation of the Bank Deposits
Compensating Fund to protect all citizens’ deposits if the bank is
declared bankrupt or insolvent.

The Fund is to collect financial means which will be used for returning
the deposits. Sarkisian said Armenian commercial banks have been
making obligatory payments to the Fund for 12 months already in the
amount of 0.5 percent of their assets’ value, but added that after
the passage of the law, the payment amount will reduce to 0.2 percent.

He said some 480 million drams have been already accumulated on it. The
fund has also received 3.5 million euros from a German KfW bank for the
same purpose. Sarkisian said under the bill the amount of compensation
is 2 million for deposits in Armenian Drams, while deposits in foreign
currency will be compensated in the amounted of 1 million drams. He
explained the difference by the stable growth of drams’ value against
the US Dollar and the volume of the GDP, adding also the amount of
compensations may grow together with the growth of the GDP.

SIXTH ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION COUNCIL HELD IN BRUSSELS

ArmenPress
Sept 14 2004

BRUSSELS. SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign affairs ministry
said that on September 14, the sixth meeting of the European Union
– Armenia Cooperation Council took place in Brussels. Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian lead the Armenian delegation.
Foreign Minister Bernard Bot of the Netherlands, whose country
currently holds the EU presidency, headed the EU delegation.

This annual meeting was the first official one to take place following
Armenia’s inclusion in the European Neighborhood Policy last June. The
agenda included a discussion of that new approach to the Caucasus,
economic and political reforms, energy and regional issues, and
prospects for deeper cooperation.

Armenia’s foreign minister welcomed Armenia’s inclusion (together with
the other two republics of the South Caucasus) in the Neighborhood
Policy, and affirmed Armenia’s readiness to work with the EU to
correctly identify Armenia’s needs and priorities and work together to
benefit from the EU’s experience and resources. The Minister explained
that even as Armenia has embarked on a plan to approximate Armenia’s
legislation to EU standards, Armenia is prepared to go ahead with
additional legislative reforms.

The EU delegation noted Armenia’s successful political and economic
reforms, noting that there must be continuity in order for Armenia
to fulfill its international commitments. The Armenian delegation
commented on Armenia’s high economic growth of the last several years,
and affirmed Armenia’s efforts to sustain such growth in order to
continue to decrease the poverty level. Armenia also reiterated its
intention to obtain Market Economy Status from the EU, in order to
more confidently pursue exports and trade with Europe.

The issue of Armenia’s nuclear power plant and its eventual closure
was also on the EU agenda. Armenia reiterated its commitment to
ensuring the plant’s safety, even as efforts are undertaken to secure
alternative energy sources.

The two sides agreed to explore the possibility of establishing
a subcommittee to deal with issues relating to scientific and
technological research, as well as furthering the established exchange
and collaboration that exists between the two scientific communities.

Regional cooperation, conflict resolution and stability were at the
focus of the discussions. The Armenia-European Union Cooperation
Council also addressed the Nagorno Karabagh resolution process,
as well as the need to positively engage Turkey in regional processes.

The Armenian delegation included deputy ministers of Trade and Economic
Development, Finance and Energy. The European delegation included
the European Union’s Special Representative to the South Caucasus,
Ambassador Heikki Talvitie, and Nicolas Schmit, Minister Delegate
for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Luxembourg, which next holds
the EU Presidency.

AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE HENRY CUNY CLOSES EXHIBITION OF PAINTER ASILVA (PARIS)

ArmenPress
Sept 13 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Dozens of art lovers and reporters
flocked in the Painter’s House of Armenia on Sept 10 to participate
in the closing ceremony of the exhibition of a French Armenian painter
Asilva which ran since September 1.

The ceremonial closing was spearheaded by France’s Ambassador Henry
Cuny. Greeting the reporters, the ambassador said, “I am always
delighted to receive French artists here be them of Armenian descent
or other. I myself am a man of pen and therefore am trying to look
for and understand the roots of artists in their works.”

The ambassador started with comments on Asilva’s Ararat painting.
He said that embodied in the frame of Khor Virap Church, the painting
is recognizable in its abstract lines and has a deep wound which
lays down the underground layout of the painting. A wound, which
symbolizes the colors of Armenia. Let “Ararat” be a strong symbol
today and tomorrow for all those who reside under it.

According to the ambassador, history and geography merge in Asilva’s
painting. There are reflections of Armenia being a land-locked country
and there is a dream to step out of its boundaries. Aren’t the titles
of the painting elements of political speech?

“Despite of all difficulties, Armenia could revive from the times of
“darkness” when it existed only as a nation,” Mr. ambassador said.

Painter Asilva thanked Henry Cuny. The chairman of Armenian Painter’s
House, Karen Adamian, also said a word about the painter’s exhibition.

LONDON TO HOST ARMENIAN ART EXHIBITION

ArmenPress
Sept 14 2004

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: The British capital will host an
exhibition of Armenian artifacts, dating back to 12-18th centuries-
manuscripts, books, icons and other artifacts. It will open on
September 23 and will run until October 15. The opening ceremony is
timed with Armenia’s Independence Day. Armenian ambassador to Great
Britain, Vahe Gabrielian, will attend the opening ceremony.

Caucasus clerical leader opposes Armenian officers’ planned visit

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 13 2004

Caucasus clerical leader Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazada told journalists
on Friday that he opposes the planned visit by Armenian officers to
attend NATO exercises in Baku.

“I do not support their arrival”, he said.

With regard to the protest actions to be conducted by various layers
of the Azerbaijani public in this connection, Pashazada said that
“every citizen has rights and is entitled to using them”.*

Foreign Minister sends protest note to Russia

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 13 2004

Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has sent a note of protest to
Russia with regard to participation of Russian arts figures in
the event arranged in the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh Republic,
Azerbaijan’s land under Armenian occupation.

Mammadyarov presented the note of protest at a reception party
organized on the occasion of completion of Russian Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Nikolay Ryabov’s diplomatic mission in the country.*

Police breaks up radical group’s picket outside Foreign Ministry

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 14 2004

On Monday, the Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) picketed the
Foreign Ministry in protest against the planned visit by Armenian
officers to Baku.

The protesters showed placards “Either Garabagh or death!” and “Down
with Armenians!”.

The police break up the protest action and took some of the radical
group members, who attempted to march towards the Interior Ministry
along Husu Hajiyev Street, to the police precinct. The detainees were
released later.

The GLO will hold another protest action outside the Defense Ministry
on Tuesday.*