TEMPERS FLARE OVER THE ISSUE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH “SOUVENIR” CURRENCY
Elizabeth Owen 9/07/04

Eurasianet Organization
Sept 7 2004

Over the past month and a half, two souvenir currency notes from
Nagorno-Karabakh have unleashed a storm of accusations and
counter-accusations between Azerbaijani officials and representatives
of the Armenian-controlled, self-styled republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Nagorno-Karabakh “souvinir” 10-dram note

On the surface, the red and green notes, which have no monetary
value, seem harmless enough. One diplomat even compared the notes to
money used for the board game Monopoly. But for those directly
involved in trying to achieve a Karabakh peace settlement — in
particular the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan, along with
Karabakh Armenian leaders — there is nothing about that is taken
lightly about the 1988-94 conflict.

At present, the Karabakh peace talks are deadlocked. Azerbaijan is
adamantly opposed to any political arrangement that leaves Karabakh
outside its jurisdiction. Armenia, meanwhile, will not accept a
settlement that restores any level of Azerbaijani control over the
enclave. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

For Baku, the two-dram and 10-dram notes represent an attempt by the
enclave to burnish its image as an independent entity. “Despite the
fact that this is not real money, we cannot accept this and we
strongly oppose any attempt at creating this currency,” said Fikret
Pashayev, economic counselor at the Azerbaijani embassy in
Washington, DC. “It could create further tension in the region.”

For Armenian leaders in the Karabakh capital of Stepanakert, the bank
notes are seen as an attempt to reinforce their republic’s right to
exist. “Of course, my government is involved in this,” said Vardan
Barseghian, the US representative of the self-declared
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. “We see this as a promotion for
Nagorno-Karabakh.”

The bills are meant not only to reinforce a sense of national
identity, said Barseghian, but, also, to encourage outside investors
and even tourists to venture into the remote, mountainous region.
Among the attractions touted for potential visitors are the 13th
century Gandzasar Monastery, once a residence of the head of the
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church.

Still, for a publicity campaign, details have been scarce. Posing as
currency collectors, correspondents from the Baku-based daily
newspaper Echo found out that the notes had been printed by
Österreichische Staatsdruckerei, the Austrian State Printing House, a
200-year-old company now in private hands. The order was placed by
the Educational Coin Company, a wholesale numismatic firm located in
Highland, New York.

Barseghian characterized the print run as “not very large,” but could
not give an estimate of overall sales. The project, he stressed, “is
more of a souvenir type thing.”

That fact, however, apparently has yet to register with individuals
selling the souvenir currency on the online auction site E-Bay.
Prospective buyers have been told that the drams are already in use
in Nagorno-Karabakh, described as “a breakaway region in Armenia.” In
late August, bidding reached a high of $6.50 for a pair of two-dram
and 10-dram notes.

Azerbaijani diplomats in Washington raised the matter with the US
State Department, Pashayev said, and reportedly received assurances
from US officials that the Educational Coin Company could face “very
severe punishment” if it continued with its promotion and
distribution plans for the Karabakh currency.

Images of the Nagorno-Karabakh currency have been removed from the
Educational Coin Company’s website. David Laties, the company’s
secretary-treasurer, declined all comment on his firm’s deal with
Österreichische Staatsdruckerei. The State Department did not respond
to a request for information on its own role in the affair.

“They [the Educational Coin Co.] need to be careful when they get
involved in something that has a political side,” Pashayev said.
“After all, if some Armenian company tried to print money for Texas,
no one in the United States would support this, either.”

Meanwhile, representatives of Azerbaijan’s embassy to Vienna filed a
complaint with the Austrian government and met with Reinhart
Gausterer, director general of Österreichische Staatsdruckerei, Echo
reported. In a telephone interview from Vienna with EurasiaNet,
Valentin Inzko, head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry’s department
for the South Caucasus, stated that Austria has subsequently allayed
all of Azerbaijan’s concerns.

“Azerbaijan understands that we are not involved in this, and that
our position on Nagorno-Karabakh is unchanged,” Inzko said. “This is
a discussion between two private companies.”

The Azerbaijani response to Nagorno-Karabakh’s currency venture comes
as no surprise, Barseghian stated. “Azerbaijan reacts to everything,”
he said. “They don’t like anything.”

“What’s the big deal?” he went on to say. “The Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic has been developing for the last 15 years. Azerbaijan has no
influence whatsoever on what¹s going on in Karabakh.”

Editor’s Note: Elizabeth Owen is a is a freelance writer specializing
in political issues in the Caucasus.

Ceremony for Donation of Karabian Papers
To be Held Sept. 18 at Madden Library

Fresno State News, CA
Sept 7 2004

A ceremony for the donation of former California Assemblyman Walter
Karabian’s papers to the Central Valley Political Archive of the
Henry Madden Library at California State University, Fresno will be
held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Fresno State.
Karabian, who was born and raised in Fresno, will donate papers from
his 1966-74 state Legislative service.

In addition, panel discussions will be held focusing on Karabian’s
career with an emphasis on his opening the doors of politics to young
Latinos, his commitment to his Armenian heritage and his various
legislative contributions such as the Species Preservation Act, the
ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and the California
Invasion of Privacy Act.

Art Torres, Democratic Party chairman, as well as other former staff
members to Karabian will participate in the panel discussions.

This event is be open to the public and will be held in the Music
Building East Wing, Concert Hall Room M126. Additionally, an exhibit
featuring items from the Karabian Collection will be on display on
the first floor of the Madden Library.

The Karabian papers received at the CVPA measure approximately 30
linear feet and include correspondence, press files, photographs,
campaign material, articles, speeches, memorabilia and other records
documenting Karabian’s legislative and civic activities.

After leaving the Legislature, Karabian has practiced law and is a
partner in the Los Angeles law firm Karns & Karabian.

For more information, contact the Central Valley Political Archive at
(559) 278-8573.

OSCE monitors Armenian-Azeri contact line

Mediamax news agency
7 Sep 04

Yerevan, 7 September: An OSCE mission carried out routine monitoring
today on the contact line between the armed forces of the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic [NKR] and Azerbaijan, in the east of Martuni
[Xocavand] District of the NKR.

A Mediamax special correspondent reported from Stepanakert [Xankandi]
that the monitoring had gone in line with the schedule and no
cease-fire violations had been registered.

>>From the positions of the NKR Defence Army, monitoring was carried
out by field assistants to the personal representative of the OSCE
chairmen-in-office [Andrzej Kasprzyk].

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russia observes minute of silence, people queue to give blood

Channel One TV, Moscow
7 Sep 04

[Presenter Igor Vykhukholev] The whole world is sharing the pain and
bitterness felt by Russia over the inhuman terrorist act committed
in Beslan. Hundreds of thousands of people are bowing their heads to
observe a minute’s silence in memory of the children, their parents
and teachers, against whom the bandits took their barbaric revenge.

[Clock ticks through the minute of silence, video shows Russians around
lit candles, navy taking off their hats, women laying flowers, Russian
Muslims praying, the Russian flag at half mast over the government
building and the Kremlin]

In many places in Russia today, school started with a minute’s silence
in memory of the victims of Beslan.

Sailors of the Pacific Fleet who have returned to Vladivostok
after joint Russian-Japanese exercises remembered those killed in
Beslan. At these manoeuvres, they were developing scenarios for
fighting terrorists.

They dropped the usual festive arrival at port with the traditional
flowers and orchestra and instead the sailors took off their hats
and condolences were read out for the victims of Beslan.

[Viktor Fedorov, captioned as commander of the Pacific Fleet] This is
a most terrible tragedy. We are of course all grieving, the sailors
of the Pacific Fleet. As fathers we feel the pain. Children should
not die, that’s why we are here, the parents. It’s terrible.

[Presenter] A large group of doctors is going to Beslan today headed by
the [Russian] health minister. These are the best professors from the
leading clinics in the capital. They will examine the critical patients
and make a decision about whether they can be transported to Moscow.

As for what’s happening in Beslan, our correspondent Yevgeniy Maslov
has the details.

[Correspondent] The people of the town are holding an improvised
meeting right now in the centre of Beslan. People are arriving at the
central square in front of the house of culture. It is mainly those
who cannot find their close ones, either among the dead or among
the injured. They come carrying photographs and are proposing that
a single coordinating council be set up to gather all information
about the injured in the hospitals and they want a detailed list.

[Presenter] In Volgograd, people are rushing to help the victims. The
seriousness of the injuries means rehabilitation will take a long
time, and, as the doctors are saying, a constant supply of blood
will be needed. Long queues have formed at the city blood donor
centre. Several hundred residents of the town have given blood
today, among them people from the Ossetian, Dagestani and Armenian
communities. Tomorrow, a delegation representing the local ethnic
diasporas will set off for Beslan from Volgograd to support their
compatriots and give the money they have collected. [passage omitted]

We have just received the following footage from the Far East. Queues
have formed at the blood donor centres in Vladivostok. Students and
the town’s residents are rushing to the aid of those who suffered in
Beslan and who are now in hospital. The doctors are promising that
hospitals in the capital will have the blood by tomorrow.

Radio stations in Tajikistan are today starting each hour with “Russia,
we are with you”, and everyone is giving words of support. The day
started with a minute of silence in the schools where the children
of Russian servicemen study. And over 1,000 schoolchildren – from
the young ones to the older ones – at the school for the children of
border guards joined an antiterror rally today.

Prayers are under way in all the mosques of Tatarstan for the souls
of the hostages who were killed in Beslan. [passage omitted]

Sportsmen from the main clubs in Tatarstan have decided to offer
material assistance. All money from matches is to go to a special
support fund. [passage omitted]

Azeri daily wondering about fair Karabakh settlement after Beslan events

Ekho, Baku
7 Sep 04

The brutal terrorist act in North Ossetia compelled Russian President
Vladimir Putin to make an official televised address against the
background of the Russian flag.

It is interesting that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict was also
mentioned in that lengthy speech. Specifically, Putin said: “We will
not allow a repeat of the tragedies of Karabakh and the Dniester
region in North Ossetia” [as published, actually the Russian source
presents his statement as follows: “If we allow ourselves to be
blackmailed and if we give in to panic, we will submerge millions
of people into endless and bloody conflicts like those in Karabakh,
in the Dniester region”].

Naturally, such words might raise questions. Does it mean that Moscow
has started to understand the causes of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
better and that the Kremlin might demonstrate greater activity now
to resolve it fairly?

We failed to get the Russian embassy’s official explanation of this
speech yesterday.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani political scientist Xaladdin Ibrahimli disagrees
with this kind of question.

“Russia cannot be compared to Azerbaijan or Moldova and it is not in
danger of losing its territorial integrity.”

Ibrahimli thinks that Putin mainly pointed to the impossibility of
alienating the North Caucasus from Russia. “With this statement,
he underlined that they will resort to anything in order to maintain
their territorial integrity. Even if the lives of innocent children
are in the hands of terrorists, they will not make compromises. This
is a signal to the Chechen movement – if you plan something even
more brutal, don’t expect any compromises in any case. I personally
understood it this way.”

[Passage omitted: Russian reports of Beslan casualties]

Witness to 1999 Armenian parliament attack dies in USA

Aravot, Yerevan
4 Sep 04

The Aravot [Armenian: morning] newspaper has reported that Roza
Ovannisyan, listed as a witness in the investigation into the 27
October case [attack on the Armenian parliament in 1999] died in the
USA last week.

She worked as a nurse at the [Armenian] National Assembly and
immediately after the 27 October 1999 terrorist attack left for the
USA. The circumstances surrounding her departure were not clear.

A few days prior to her death, Roza Ovannisyan spoke on the telephone
to her son, who is in Yerevan, and they agreed to meet in Moscow. But
the meeting did not take place because just before her departure
Roza Ovannisyan died. Preliminary reports say that she suffered a
heart attack.

Armenian, Polish defence ministers discuss cooperation

PAP news agency
6 Sep 04

Warsaw, 6 September: Security in the Caucasus, Iraq and Afghanistan and
military cooperation dominated Monday’s [6 September] talks in Warsaw between
Armenian and Polish defence ministers Serge Sargsyan and Jerzy Szmajdzinski.

Szmajdzinski described Poland’s experience with NATO and UN peace missions in
the Mideast and the Balkans, both politicians also discussed a defence
cooperation agreement sealed today in the presence of both countries’ presidents.

Sargsyan also announced the inclusion of a 50-strong Armenian military unit
in the Polish led stabilization force in Iraq.

Azeri MPs criticize NATO for inviting Armenian officers to Azerbaijan

ANS TV, Baku
7 Sep 04

[Presenter] Most of the MPs in the Milli Maclis [parliament] today
demanded that the members of the Karabakh Liberation Organization
[KLO] be released. The parliamentarians also protested against NATO
which has invited Armenians to Baku.

[MP Fazail Agamali, chairman of the pro-government Motherland Party]
We are categorically against the planned visit by Armenian officers
who were directly involved in the occupation of Azerbaijan’s lands,
rose to higher ranks in this [Karabakh] war and whose hands are
imbrued with Azerbaijani blood. I would suggest that we appeal to
NATO’s headquarters today and ask them not to allow the Armenian
officers to attend the exercises in view of the serious resentment
within the country.

[MP Qudrat Hasanquliyev, chairman of the pro-government United
Peoples Front of Azerbaijan Party] They [Armenians] expelled more than
200,000 [ethnic] Azerbaijanis [from Armenia] in cold winter days [in
1988-89]. How can we host those Armenians in our five-star hotels and
cater for them today? I think that the Milli Maclis has to express
its position on the issue. We have to appeal to the president and
ask him to express his stance on the issue.

[MP Mais Safarli, leader of the opposition Compatriot Party] If the
Azerbaijani public unanimously says no to the visit of the Armenian
officers today, then under no circumstances can we allow the Armenians
to come. I think that if the Azerbaijani government lets them in,
its reputation within the Azerbaijani people will be ruined completely.

[MP Sahlar Asgarov] [NATO] should give up its plan to turn Azerbaijan
into a social lab by bringing here first two, then four and then 40
Armenian servicemen.

[Passage omitted: MP Karim Karimov from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party
says the sentence on the KLO members has caused public resentment]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri NGOs plan protests against Armenian officers’ visit

Turan news agency
7 Sep 04

Baku, 7 September: The national forum of non-governmental organization,
which is made up of dozens of NGOs, today made a statement on holding
a march on 11 September, Azay Quliyev, the president of the forum,
has told Turan.

The action will be held in protest against Armenian officer’s planned
visit to Baku to attend NATO exercises. The forum appealed to the Baku
city executive authorities to authorize the march that is planned to
be held via the route – the 20 January metro station, Qalaba cinema,
Azizbayov monument and the Elmlar Akademiyasi metro station.

Quliyev said that the NGO forum had urged [the authorities] not to
allow the occupation officers to visit Baku.

Armenia drafts 209 proposals for US-sponsored Millennium Challenge project

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
6 Sep 04

[Presenter] Armenia has prepared 209 proposals which will be submitted
for financing under the Millennium Challenge Account. A session
of the local council of the Millennium Challenge will be held in
Yerevan this week which together with the government and political
organizations will discuss and choose the programmes to be send to
Washington. Most of them fall under social welfare and will be aimed
at reducing poverty in the country.

[Correspondent Hermine Bagdasaryan] The Armenian Finance Ministry has
already got 209 proposals for the reduction of poverty in Armenia
with assistance from Washington. Just 158 out of the 209 proposals
have been estimated at 2bn dollars. The Armenian government will not
submit this figure to the Washington office. It will be discussed in
Yerevan this week at the session of the Millennium Challenge.

[Vardan Khachatryan, Armenian Finance and Economy Minister, speaking
in his office] Various proposals have been made: 50 m dollars for
education, 86 m dollars for health care, 46 m dollars for social
security, 372m dollars for road construction and repair, 87m dollars
for drinking water. We do not know for sure whether our proposals
will be approved or not. If they are to be approved, we shall choose
the most important ones.

[Correspondent] The work which will be carried out in this direction
and expenditure will be controlled from Washington. If everything is
implemented successfully and Armenia is among the ranks of countries
enjoying American assistance, then it will get 760 m dollars in the
next three years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress