Armenia, Iran sign agreements on gas pipeline construction

Mediamax news agency
8 Sep 04

Yerevan, 8 September: Two documents on the construction of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline were signed at the end of Armenian-Iranian
talks in Yerevan today.

The documents are an agreement on financing the construction of
the Megri-Kadzharan section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and an
agreement on the contractor for the construction project.

The Armenian and Iranian energy ministers, Armen Movsisyan and
Habibollah Bitaraf [respectively], also signed a memorandum on
cooperation between their ministries.

At a joint news conference with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami,
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said that “the energy sector
remains the most important sphere in the two countries’ relations”. He
went on to add that over the recent years the two sides had accumulated
much experience in this sphere. “Building on that experience,
we intend to join our infrastructures which add a new quality to
our energy cooperation and will take it onto the regional level,”
Kocharyan said.

French Speaker says Karabakh conflict “serious threat” to Caucasus stability

Trend news agency
8 Sep 04

Baku, 8 September, Trend correspondent S. Agayeva: “France is sparing
no effort to settle the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and to resolve
this problem peacefully,” French Senate Speaker Christian Poncelet
said on 8 September addressing a ceremony of opening an exhibition
of Azerbaijani artists in the Senate’s museum within the framework
of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Paris.

Poncelet said that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict posed a serious
threat to stability in the Caucasus and the region. He added that
the Senate supported the intensification of meetings between the
Azerbaijani, Armenian and Georgian speakers initiated by the Senate.

In turn, Aliyev said that France had always supported Azerbaijan in
all issues and hoped that support of this kind would be rendered in
the future as well.

Two Armenian law-enforcement officials arrested on bribe charges

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
7 Sep 04

National Security Service officers have arrested a Dilizhan prosecutor
of the first degree, Gamlet Matevosyan, and an assistant to the
military prosecutor of the Gugark garrison, Garnik Chakhmakhchyan,
for receiving a 800-dollar bribe to protect a defendant who was on
trial for theft. Both men were arrested during the transaction.

A legal case against Matevosyan and Chakhmakhchyan has been handed
to the Prosecutor-General’s Office, the press service of the National
Security Service has said.

[Video shows the two arrested officials and the bribe.]

Iranian president condemns terrorists who hide behind religion

Mediamax news agency
8 Sep 04

Yerevan, 8 September: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami today said in
Yerevan that “terrorism presents the greatest danger to the modern world”.

The Iranian president, who arrived today in Armenia on an official visit, was
speaking at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Robert
Kocharyan. Responding to a Mediamax news agency correspondent, Mohammad Khatami
especially stressed that terrorism did not differentiate between countries and
regions.

“Today’s realities are such that terrorist acts can be committed both in the
West and the East, both in Iran and America,” the Iranian leader said. He is
especially concerned by the fact that “several terrorists are trying to shelter
behind one religion or another”. “They are committing a double crime, taking
away the lives of innocent people and discrediting religions that preach peace
and humanitarianism,” Mohammad Khatami said.

The Iranian president said that the roots of terrorism need to be found and
analysed for the fight against the phenomenon to be effective. Mohammad Khatami
said that sometimes representatives of oppressed peoples, who did not find
appropriate answers, took cruel steps themselves.

“Terrorism shows itself in different ways: from blowing up aeroplanes and
residential blocks to war on the territory of another state,” the Iranian
president said, stressing that “anyone who puts himself above justice can be
considered a terrorist”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeris protest at Russian singers’ concert on Karabakh’s independence day

ANS TV, Baku
7 Sep 04

[Presenter Natavan Babayeva] The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture has
sent a letter of protest to the Russian Ministry of Culture and Mass
Communications with regard to some Russian singers’ participation in
celebrations of Nagornyy Karabakh’s independence day.

[Correspondent, over archive footage of Russian singers] Russian
singers Nadezhda Babkina, Soso Pavliashvili, Katya Lel, Valentina
Legkostupova, Aleksandr Peskov, Irina Otiyeva and the Chay Vdvoyem
band performed their last concert in Azerbaijan some time ago. To
be more precise, this concert was staged in Stepanakert in Nagornyy
Karabakh. But why was it the last concert? The leader of Nagornyy
Karabakh’s Azerbaijani community, Nizami Bahmanov, believes that
nobody invited them to Nagornyy Karabakh.

[Nizami Bahmanov, in his office] Generally speaking, this move has
offended the Azerbaijani people. They received money and sang, but
achieved nothing. If you remember, when a Georgian chess player took
part in a chess tournament there, our chess federation appealed against
this and they [presumably, the Georgian chess federation] offered
official apologies. Let us wait and see. Polad muallim [Azerbaijani
Minister of Culture Polad Bulbuloglu] will probably receive a written
reply from the Russian Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications.

[Passage omitted: MPs say this move damages Russian-Azerbaijani
cultural relations]

[Correspondent] Polad Bulbuloglu, who is accompanying Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev in his French visit, has appealed to the heads
of the public organizations and agencies, as well as legal entities
and individuals, involved in organizing concerts in Azerbaijan. The
appeal strongly condemns the Russian singers’ recent concert in
Nagornyy Karabakh, which is Azerbaijan’s integral part, and insists
that relevant bodies should never invite the aforesaid singers to
our country again.

[Polad Bulbuloglu, on the telephone] Look, these people do not
respect us. They eat our bread here and get money, we offer our
hospitality to them, but on the other hand, they go there via Armenia
and give concerts.

[Correspondent] As a native of Sushi [town in Karabakh], the minister
believes that the Russian singers’ visit to Stepanakert via Armenia
without the authorization of Azerbaijan’s state, public or private
bodies to hold a concert in Nagornyy Karabakh pointed to complete
disrespect for the Azerbaijani people.

[Polad Bulbuloglu] Some of them say that they did not know why they
were going there. Are they kids, do they go to a kindergarten? Any
person living in this world knows that there are big unresolved
problems around Nagornyy Karabakh. If a person describes himself
as a friend of the Azerbaijani people, he should not do things like
this. But if he disrespects us, what can we do in this situation? We
have to show our disrespect too.

[Correspondent] The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture has sent an
official letter of protest to Russian Minister of Culture and Mass
Communications Aleksandr Sokolov over the issue. The Azerbaijani
Foreign Ministry has said that many of the aforesaid Russian
singers have repeatedly visited Azerbaijan and they are well aware
that Azerbaijan and Armenia are at war. They understood quite well
where they were going and why. That is why their visit to Nagornyy
Karabakh without taking Azerbaijan’s sovereignty into account should
be described as disrespect, end quote.

The organizers of Soso Pavliashvili’s planned concert in Baku have
already terminated the reached agreement. But I also regret that the
aforesaid Russian singers will never see Baku again. Only because
they will never see these witnesses of the Karabakh Armenians’
attitude to pieces of art and culture.

[Video showed traces of bullets on sculptures of Azerbaijani composer
Uzeir Hacibayov, singer Bulbul and poetess Natavan brought from Susa
to Baku].

Leyla Hasanova, Sehrac Azadoglu for ANS.

Azeri, French leaders discuss Karabakh, “excellent level” of cooperation

Turan news agency
8 Sep 04

Baku, 8 September: A one-to-one meeting between French President
Jacques Chirac and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, was
held yesterday evening [7 September]. The sides discussed the active
development of bilateral political and economic ties. Chirac said that
contacts between the two countries were at an “excellent level”. To
confirm this, he added that France was Azerbaijan’s third largest
foreign trade partner.

The meeting also addressed issues related to Azerbaijan’s integration
into the EU. The sides particularly spoke about Azerbaijan’s
involvement in the EU’s New Neighbourhood Programme.

The meeting also focused on regional problems and the Karabakh
settlement. Chirac said that Paris supported the continuation of
peace talks on the conflict settlement. As a co-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group, France will continue making efforts in this sphere.

Armenian, Iranian presidents hail ties – TV

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
8 Sep 04

[Presenter] President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Khatami
is on a two-day official visit in Yerevan at the invitation of Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan.

[Correspondent over video of the presidents] After the red carpet
treatment of the official guest outside the presidential place,
Kocharyan and Khatami had a tete-a-tete meeting. The presidents
reviewed the current and the future state of Armenian-Iranian relations
and exchanged views on regional and international issues.

The Armenian and Iranian presidents said that by deepening bilateral
and regional cooperation and bringing together interests of the
regional states, a favourable environment could be created for the
resolution of the existing regional conflicts.

After their private meeting, Khatami and Kocharyan had an expanded
meeting with the participation of the delegations. The presidents
signed an agreement on the principles of cooperation between the
Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Armenia. The sides
also signed agreements on cooperation in the energy, cultural and
customs fields.

[Kocharyan] The scope of our bilateral relations is gradually
expanding. I would like to thank our friends and guests for the job
done. I want to thank you for the significance of the issues on the
agenda and the prevailing mood at our talks.

For us, the energy sector is very important, and we have acquired
enough experience in our cooperation. Based on our experience, we can
now take further serious steps. I am sure that the significance of
these programmes will not be merely limited to bilateral relations
but will become of regional importance.

We have not only covered energy issues but also other issues, like
mutual investment. In particular, we hope to see more investment
flowing into the Armenian economy from Iran. There are certain issues
which could be thrashed out. They include taking certain steps to
establish a free trade regime and develop trade.

Iran is a special country that possesses inner strength, cultural
heritage and opportunities in this region. Establishing lasting and
multilateral relations with this country is extremely important for us.

[Khatami, speaking in Persian with Armenian voice-over] I am glad
to have paid a visit to Armenia and have had a chance to meet
my friend. For us, Armenia is a hard-working country with kind
people. This nation has made a significant contribution to the
world culture. Luckily, along with other ethnicities in Iran with
ancient culture, we have ethnic Armenians as our citizens. They have
played an important role in the country’s independence. Armenia is
Iran’s geographical neighbour and it is our policy to be in friendly
relations with all our neighbours. However, we have special feelings
towards Armenia. Ties between Iran and Armenia are a good example
of good-neighbourly relations. Based on respect for each other’s
independence, our relations have expanded and developed since 1991.

The documents signed today provide us with a good basis for the
further deepening of relations. Armenian-Iranian cooperation serves
to the interests of the two sides and is not against any third party.

PRESS RELEASE
Cafesjian Museum Foundation
15A Nalbandian Street, #8
Yerevan, Armenia
Contact: Madlene Minassian
Tel: 374-1-56-72-62
Fax: 374-1-56-15-89
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Yerevan, Armenia
September 7, 2004

The Cafesjian Museum Foundation Announces Selection of Architect and
Releases Preliminary Design for the Gerard L. Cafesjian Museum of
Contemporary Art.

Architect David Hotson Will Design $25 Million Contemporary Art Museum
in Armenia

Minneapolis, MN and Yerevan, Armenia –The Cafesjian Museum Foundation
has selected New York Architect David Hotson to design the Gerard L.
Cafesjian Museum of Contemporary Art, which will be built in Yerevan,
the capital city of the Republic of Armenia.

David Hotson, Principal of the firm of David Hotson Architect, is known
for the following projects: the design of the United Nations Offices
for the Secretary General; the design of the new facilities for the
media art organization, Eyebeam Atelier, located in West Chelsea
in Manhattan; the design of the residence of architect Santiago
Calatrava; and acting as Principal Architect working with designer
Maya Lin for the Museum of African Art in Manhattan, New York. “To
work in Armenia, a nation with such a powerful history and culture
on such an extraordinary site is an immense opportunity. The design
positions the Cafesjian Museum between the history and the future
of the Armenian Nation. It will beckon to the promise of Armenia’s
future while reflecting on its powerful heritage,” says David Hotson
who has fused many elements of the Armenian culture into his design
for the Museum.

The preliminary design, presented on September 7th of 2004 to a Yerevan
audience, treats the principal Museum building as an extension of the
Cascade, completing an animated pathway linking Tamanyan Park to the
Monument by exterior stairway and interior escalators. The Museum
building will provide a public plaza, ornamental pool, sculpture
courts, a café and an exterior cinema all accessible to passers-by
as well as visitors to the Museum itself. A prominent glass tower,
housing the Cafesjian glass collection, creates a vivid emblem for the
Museum on the skyline and compositionally balances the cinema screen
while preserving the central visual access of the Cascade. The Museum
design organizes major circulation paths to create framed vistas of
important symbolic elements of the surrounding cityscape, such as
the Mother Armenia Monument and Mount Ararat.

^ÓWe have been working with David for over two years and are very
excited to involve him in this project. I am particularly impressed
with his reaction to the site and the surrounding monuments, and
by the way he is using computer design techniques to design spaces
that capture specific views in visual ‘frames’ in surprising places
throughout the museum. David has demonstrated tremendous sensitivity
in his design. Unlike several of the designs that we rejected,
Hotson^Òs design emphasizes materials and construction techniques
readily available in Armenia. This allows us to put more money
and jobs into the Armenian economy. His experience, vision, and
understanding of the opportunity, make him a great choice to design
the museum. His preliminary concept shows tremendous insight.^Ô said
Gerard L. Cafesjian, founder of the Cafesjian Museum Foundation.

Slated for construction in 2004-2006, the museum will house Mr.
Cafesjian’s pre-eminent collection of glass artwork, including
the definitive collection of works by renowned artists Stanislav
Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova. The permanent displays will also
include a broad range of prominent 20th century pieces including both
paintings and sculpture. Additionally, the museum will host a program
of world-class travelling exhibitions.

The Cafesjian Museum Foundation was founded in April 2002 by the
Republic of Armenia and Gerard Cafesjian for the purpose of developing
a world-class international museum of contemporary art and a cultural
center for Yerevan.

President Aliyev starts working visit to France

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2004

Baku, September 7, AssA-Irada

President Ilham Aliyev left for France on September 7.

Aliyev met with his French counterpart Jacques Chirac on Tuesday
evening to discuss issues pertaining to the Upper Garabagh conflict
settlement, Azerbaijan’s integration with the European Union,
bilateral economic cooperation and investments by French companies
in the country, the French Embassy in Baku said.

Following the talks, President Aliyev met with the director of French
International Relations Institute.

On September 8, the President is expected to hold a private meeting
with the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. He will also
meet with the chairman of French Senate and attend an exhibition of
Azerbaijani artists at the Senate Museum.

On September 9, a ceremony on presenting the goodwill ambassador
title to the President’s wife Mehriban Aliyeva will be held at the
UNESCO residence in Paris.

Commenting on President Aliyev’s visit, prominent political scholar
Rasim Musabayov said that before the forthcoming talks in Astana, the
President may clarify certain details in his meeting with President
Chirac.

“Presidents Chirac and Putin of Russia have leverage to influence
the Armenian leadership. The use of the French President’s political
potential may appear productive to President Aliyev, although such
meetings did not yield any results in the past”, Musabayov said.*

NGO Forum blames NATO for breaching principles

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2004

Baku, September 7, AssA-Irada

The National NGO Forum held a news conference in protest against
Armenian officers’ planned visit to Baku to attend NATO military
training under the Partnership for Peace program.

The Forum President Azay Guliyev said the invitation of Armenian
officers to NATO command-staff training in Baku has sparked a
nationwide rage.

This contradicts NATO’s charter and principles saying that there
shouldn’t be any conflict among NATO member states, including partner
countries, Guliyev said.

The Forum states that the participation of the military men from an
invader country in any event organized in Azerbaijan is unacceptable
unless occupied Azerbaijani lands are liberated and about one million
refugees return home.

The Forum intends to hold a series of rallies in protest against
Armenian officers’ visit before September 13.*