Armenia, Iran agree on cooperation
By Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 8, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN, September 8 — The presidents of Armenia and Iran, Robert
Kocharyan and Sayed Mohammad Khatami, signed in Yerevan on Wednesday
the Treaty on the basic principles of cooperation between Armenia and
Iran. They have also adopted the joint statement which describes the
official visit of the Iranian president to Yerevan as “the beginning
of the new stage” in bilateral relations.

“Discussing the latest events in the region and exchanging opinions
on the settlement of the Karabakh crisis, the presidents stressed
the need to resolve the matter peacefully”, the statement says.

The document on the construction of a gas pipeline from Iran to
Armenia and the memorandum on cooperation between the ministries of
energy were also signed.

Addressing a joint news conference, Kocharyan said, “Energy remains a
most important area of bilateral relations. Armenia and Iran intend
to combine their infrastructures which will impart a new quality to
our cooperation in energy and will put it on a regional level”.

Iran and Armenia are linked by “a special relationship” that may
set the example of truly goodneighbourly ties, Khatami said. He
stressed that his country attaches special importance to stability
in the Caucasus. “The security of countries of the region is our
own security, too. The common goals and interests must be held above
differences existing in the Caucasus”, he said.

“Terrorism poses a grave danger to the world today, the Iranian
president said. “Present-day realities are such that terrorist acts
may happen in the West and in the East, in Iran and in America.
Terrorists commit a dual crime, killing innocent people and
discrediting religions that advocate peace and humanism”, he said.

Armenia to send its troops to Iraq
by Maria Kozhushko

RusData Dialine – Russian Press Digest
September 8, 2004 Wednesday

SOURCE: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No 192, p.5

Armenia has become the second, after Ukraine, CIS member country,
which agreed to send its soldiers to Iraq. Armenian servicemen will
join the part of the coalition force under the command of Poland.

The agreement on this was reached during the talks between the
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and his Polish counterpart
Alexander Kwasniewski, as Kocharyan visited Warsaw on Monday. The
sending of the 30 Armenian troops to Iraq is one of the provisions
of a broad agreement between Armenia and Poland on cooperation in
the fields of defense and security.

In the explanations given to press, the Armenian Defense Minister
Serge Sarkisyan said the decision to send troops was made because
“Armenia feels itself a part of Europe.” Another possible reason is
that Iraq has nearly 25,000-people-strong Armenian community.

Agency WPS
The Russian Business Monitor (Russia)
September 8, 2004, Wednesday

THE STATE WILL TRY TO SELL A 25.5% STAKE IN SIBERIAN AIRLINES AGAIN

The state will make another try to sell Siberian Airlines. The
blocking interest in the company is included into the additional
plan of privatization for 2004. Experts say that the stake may be
interesting primarily for managers of Siberian Airlines and large
greenmailers and estimate it at $20-30 million.

Siberian Airlines is Russia’s second largest air company after
Aeroflot. In 2003, it transported 3.4 million passengers. Siberian
Airlines operates 34 Tu-154 airplanes, 12 IL-86s, two Tu-204s and
two Airbus-310s. Siberian Airlines has controlling interest in the
Armenian air company Armavia that operates four A320 airliners. In
2003, revenue of Siberian Airlines according to international
standards amounted to about $370 million and net profit amounted
to $1 million. Russian Federal Property Fund has 25.5% of company’s
shares and 56.8% belong to Natalia Fileva, wife and senior deputy of
company’s General Director Vladislav Filev.

Experts say that management of Siberian Airlines is the main candidate
for the stake. Michael Boboshko, director of the analytical department
of Sovlink company, says that Western investors will hardly risk
investing in a rather closed company like Siberian Airlines. Russian
investors will not participate in the auction because they are
interested in establishment of control. Natalia Zagvozdina from
Renaissance Capital also says that given an owner of controlling
interest other air companies will hardly be interested in a blocking
stake. A source in Aeroflot states, “Business of Siberian Airlines
is stringently controlled by the management and I do not think that
acquisition of a blocking stake will be interesting for Aeroflot.” Last
week it was reported that Aeroflot proposed the Economic Development
and Trade Ministry to reassign state-owned shares in regional air
companies to Aeroflot in exchange for increase of the state interest
in Aeroflot. A spokesperson for Aeroflot refused to say if Siberian
Airlines was among the candidates for takeover.

Boboshko from Sovlink estimates 25.5% of Siberian Airlines shares
at $30 million. Roman Trotsenko, Chair of the Board of Directors of
Industrial Development investment group, says that debts of Siberian
Airlines amount to about $200 million and the state-owned stake may
cost $20 million.

Source: Vedomosti, September 07, 2004

RIA OREANDA
Economic Press Review
September 8, 2004 Wednesday

Armenia to Send Troops to Iraq

Yerevan. Appeared in Russian in Moscow’s NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA
[Independent gazette]. Armenia is the second CIS country after
Ukraine to deploy its troops in Iraq. Armenian peacekeepers will
serve as part of the coalition forced under the command of Poland.
President Robert Kocharian of Armenia and Aleksandr Kwasniewski of
Poland reached an agreement to this effect during Pres. Kocharian’s
visit to Poland. Fifty servicemen of the Armenia contingent will be
sent to Iraq as part of a cooperation agreement between Armenia and
Poland, which the presidents signed in Warsaw. Armenia’s Defense
Minister Serge Sarkisian, who accompanied Pres. Kocharian during his
visit to Poland, told journalists that the government decided to send
troops to Iraq, because “despite of its size and remoteness from
Europe, Armenia feels that it is a part of Europe.”

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITING LITHUANIA

Baltic News Service
September 8, 2004

VILNIUS, Sep 08 — Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian, currently
on a visit to Lithuania, is to discuss bilateral military cooperation
with Lithuanian officials and get acquainted with NATO’s air-policing
functions in the Baltic states.

Sargsian, who arrived in Lithuania on Tuesday evening, will meet
on Wednesday with President Valdas Adamkus, Defense Minister Linas
Linkevicius, Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, parliamentary National
Security and Defense Committee Chairman Alvydas Sadeckas, members of
the committee and Land Forces Commander Brigade General Arvydas Pocius.

According to a press release from the Defense Ministry, the Lithuanian
and Armenian defense ministers will discuss prospects of regional
cooperation, bilateral military ties, NATO enlargement processes and
the course of armed forces reforms.

After the meeting, the two officials will sign a cooperation treaty
on studies of Armenian officers at the Lithuanian War Academy.
Analogous documents have already been signed with Georgian and
Azerbaijani ministries of defense.

On Thursday, Sargsian will go to the Lithuanian First Air Base in
Zokniai to meet with troops of the international contingent performing
the air-policing mission in the three Baltic states.

NATO forces started patrolling the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian
air space since the Baltic states joined the alliance in the end of
March. Danish troops with five F-16 fighters are now guarding the
Baltic air space.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry has taken the initiative to transfer
the Baltic military cooperation experience to countries of the South
Caucasus region.

Lithuania also assists in the training of Armenian officers by offering
a possibility to study at Lithuanian military training institutions
and paying for studies of one Armenian officer at the Baltic Defense
College in the Estonian city Tartu.

Armenia has been participating in the Partnership for Peace program
since 1994.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SEES NORTH CAUCASUS CONFLICT AS THREAT TO SOUTH CAUCASUS

Baltic News Service
September 8, 2004

VILNIUS, Sep 08 — Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sargsian, currently
on a visit in Lithuania, says that the situation in the South Caucasus
region may aggravate due to conflicts in North Caucasus.

“There are a lot of conflicts in South Caucasus as well. Maybe, at
first sight, there is stability, but people living there see that
there are threats to security,” Sargsian said after a meeting with
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus on Wednesday.

There is only a fragile truce between Armenian and Azerbaijani armies
at the front line in Mountain Karabach, the situation at Gerogia’s
border with Abkhasia and South Ossetia.

“Other conflicts might make them detonate. Of course there is a
threat,” the Armenian minister said in Vilnius.

At least 340 hostages including many children were killed in the
terrorist hostage drama in the North Ossetian town of Beslan last
week, which left hundreds injured. About 1,180 adults and children
were held hostage for more than two days in the school.

Sargsian stressed that terrorism had no borders and terrorists did
not choose means any longer.

The Armenian defense minister told journalists that Lithuania-proposed
experience in stabilization of situation in the region was very useful
to his country, though, in the minister’s words, “South Caucasus and
the Baltic region are beyond comparison.”

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry has taken the initiative to transfer
the Baltic military cooperation experience to countries of the South
Caucasus region.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sargsian met with his Lithuanian counterpart,
Linas Linkevicius, and discussed opportunities for bilateral regional
cooperation, NATO enlargement processes and the course of armed
forces reform.

After the meeting, the two officials signed a cooperation treaty on
studies of Armenian officers at the Lithuanian War Academy. Analogous
documents have already been signed with Georgian and Azerbaijani
ministries of defense.

Lithuania assists in the training of Armenian officers by offering
a possibility to study at Lithuanian military training institutions
and paying for studies of one Armenian officer at the Baltic Defense
College in the Estonian city Tartu.

Sargsian’s agenda for Wednesday also include meetings with Foreign
Minister Antanas Valionis, members of the parliament’s National
Security and Defense Committee and chairman Alvydas Sadeckas, as well
as Land Forces Commander Brigadier General Arvydas Pocius.

The Armenian minister, who is to wrap up his visit in Lithuania on
Thursday, will also visit the country’s First Air Base in Zokniai
and meet with troops of the international contingent performing the
air-policing mission in the three Baltic states.

NATO forces have been patrolling the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian
air space since the three Balts joined the alliance in the end of March
this year. A Danish contingent is currently stationed in Zokniai with
its five fighters F-16.

Sargsian was appointed as Armenia’s defense minister in 2000. He also
worked in the position in the 1993-1995 period and later worked as
minister of interior affairs and national security, as well as in
other top-ranking posts in the country’s security structures.

Lithuania and Armenia signed the defense cooperation agreement in 2002.

Armenia has been participating in the Partnership for Peace program
since 1994.

Iran gives Armenia 30-million-dollar loan for gas pipeline

Agence France Presse — English
September 8, 2004 Wednesday 6:06 PM GMT

YEREVAN Sept 8 — Iran has extended a 30-million-dollar
(25-million-euro) loan to Armenia to build a gas pipeline between the
two countries, Armenian President Robert Kotcharian said on Wednesday.

The loan should enable Yerevan to finance the 41 kilometres of the
141-kilometre (88-mile) pipeline that cross Armenian territory,
Kocharian told journalists after a meeting with his Iranian
counterpart, Mohammad Khatami.

The construction contract has been awarded to Iranian company Sanir.

Iran and Armenia signed a contract in May, under which Iran will
supply Armenia with a total of 36 billion cubic metres of gas over
a 20-year period, expected to start in early 2007.

Iran’s Khatami says roots of terror must be examined after Beslan

Agence France Presse — English
September 8, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN Sept 8 — Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Wednesday
reaffirmed his condemnation of the Beslan hostage tragedy but added
that the root causes of terror could be found in the “discrimination”
of peoples.

“Without looking at the roots it is impossible to fight terrorism.

The roots can be found in the same places where security forces impose
a discriminatory policy and people suffer from this,” said Khatami
following talks here with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian.

“Unable to find an adequate response to this fight they (discriminated
people) take harsh steps. This is why when you condemn terrorism you
must also condemn violence,” he added.

Although he did not refer explicitly to any particular region, his
comments appeared to refer to the strife-torn Russian republic of
Chechnya, where Moscow’s troops have been locked in a decade-long
war with rebels amid allegations of human rights violations.

However he also spoke out against the way “certain terrorists want
to present their acts under the mask of religion. They besmirch the
religions that preach peace and humanism.”

Iran’s Khatami condemns war on foreign soil as terrorism
by AVET DEMOURIAN; Associated Press Writer

Associated Press Worldstream
September 8, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN, Armenia — Iranian President Mohammad Khatami suggested
Wednesday that attackers who seized a school in Russia discredited
Islam, and he added that conducting military action in a foreign
country could be a form of terrorism.

Speaking during a visit to Armenia, Khatami condemned terrorists who
use religion a pretext, saying they “commit a double crime: taking
the lives of innocent people and discrediting religions that teach
peace and humanism.”

Khatami was speaking at a new conference with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, who condemned last week’s hostage-taking raid on
a school in Russia. Russian officials have alleged the attackers
include several Arabs and have pointed the finger at rebel leaders
from mostly Muslim Chechnya.

“Today’s realities are such that terrorist acts can be carried out
in the West and in the East, in Iran and in America,” Khatami said,
according to a translation of his comments.

“Terrorism manifests itself in various ways: from explosions on planes
and in apartment buildings to the conduct of military actions on the
territory of a foreign country,” he said. He added that “any person
who places himself above justice can be considered a terrorist.”

Khatami and Kocharian signed a treaty laying out principles for
cooperation between their countries and adopted a joint declaration
calling the Iranian leader’s visit “the beginning of a new stage”
in relations between the neighbors.

Also signed Wednesday was an agreement on financing and contracting for
a gas pipeline linking Iran and the small Caucasus Mountain nation to
its north. The two countries’ energy chiefs also signed a memorandum
on cooperation.

Kocharian said that “energy remains a very important sphere in our
bilateral relations” and said the countries intend to link their
infrastructure to bring energy cooperation “to a new regional level.”

World Cup: Finland beats Armenia 2-0

Associated Press Worldstream
September 8, 2004 Wednesday

YEREVAN, Armenia — Mikael Forsell and Alexei Eremenko Jr. scored a
goal each to lift Finland to a 2-0 victory over Armenia in a World
Cup qualifier Wednesday.

It was the second consecutive win in European Group 1 for Finland
after losing an away opener 2-1 to Romania and beating Andorra 3-0.

Finland controlled the game and Forsell put the visitors on the
scoreboard in the 24th minute, when he fired from the left corner of
the penalty box past Armenian goalkeeper Armen Ambartsumyan into the
left corner of the goal.

The home side came close to equalizing in the 45th minute – its only
clear chance before the interval – but Artur Petrosyan’s header off
a corner kick was blocked by Finland goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Eremenko beat Ambartsumian one-on-one into the left corner to make
it 2-0 in the 68th minute.

Four minutes later, second-half substitute Pehha Lagerblen had a
chance to make it 3-0 when he made his way past three defenders but
his lob over Ambartsumian missed.

Edgar Manucharyan, who came on as a substitute for Albert Sargsyan
in the 54th minute, nearly scored with a solo effort from the center
of the pitch, but his shot from inside the box shaved the right post.

Lineups:

Armenia – Armen Ambartsumian, Yeyshine Melikyan, Karen Dokhoyan, Sargis
Hovsepyan, Artur Lazarian, Romik Khachatryan, Artur Petrosyan, Rafael
Nazaryan (Karen Aleksanyan, 73), Albert Sargsyan (Edgar Manucharyan,
54), Artavazd Karamyan (Davit Grigoryan, 79), Andrey Movsesyan.

Finland – Antti Niemi; Petri Pasanen, Sami Hyypia, Mika Vayrynen,
Mika Nurmela, Mikael Forsell, Jari Litmanen (Pehha Lagerblien, 46),
Joonas Kolkka (Antti Pohja, 85), Toni Kuivasto, Aki Riihilahti,
Alexei Eremenko Jr (Peter Kopteff, 73).

Referee – Paulius Malzinskas, Lithuania.