ARMENIA TO DO ITS BEST TO GET PILOTS RELEASED IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Arminfo
26 Nov 04
Yerevan, 26 November: The Armenian government will do everything in its power
to secure a fair decision by relevant bodies of Equatorial Guinea concerning
the Armenian citizens, the Armenian Foreign Ministry says in a statement.
(Passage omitted: reported details)
The Foreign Ministry says in its statement that the Armenian pilots’ lawyer
is going to appeal against the unfair sentence to the Supreme Court of
Equatorial Guinea and if necessary, to international judicial bodies. An Armenian
delegation, which is currently in Malabo and has repeatedly visited the capital of
Equatorial Guinea to take all the necessary measures, will remain in this
country to discuss with the country’s authorities the possibility of handing over
the pilots to Armenia.
“We are absolutely sure that the pilots have nothing to do with any actions
aimed at the authorities of Equatorial Guinea, and the court has not produced
any conclusive proof either,” the Foreign Ministry says in its statement.
We should recall that on 8 March of this year, the authorities in Equatorial
Guinea arrested a large group of people, which among other foreigners,
included six Armenian pilots. The Armenian pilots were charged with complicity in the
organization of a coup d’etat in that country and are now facing imprisonment
for up to 26 years. The Armenian pilots are flatly denying the accusations.

SOUTH CAUCASUS – IS PRIORITY REGION FOR NATO, SYMON LUNN BELIEVES
BAKU, NOVEMBER 26. ARMINFO-TURAN: One of the priorities of NATO is
protection and safety provision to the NATO member-states and the
countries which are under transition period, state the secretary
general of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Symon Lunn responding the
question of TURAN correspondent on priorities of the Alliance in the
South Caucasus.
Lunn noted that the South Caucasian region is priority for NATO and,
first of all, due to geographic situation. According to him, the
processes going on in the region may affect every country NATO-member.
“Global threats cause trouble in all countries”, Lunn noted. According
to him, one of the prior tasks for NATO is help in elimination of
this threat and providing of stability in the countries living under
transition period.
Responding the question on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Lunn
noted that the conflict can be solved only with agreements of both
sides. “Here, first of all we must take into account the security
questions. Both sides must work intensively with each other so that
to be able to regulate the conflict on mutually acceptable terms”,
Lunn said but he admitted that it is a long process.
“It seems that the other sides also may help in searching the ways
for the resolution of the conflict”, Secretary General said. According
to him, NATO does not take direct part in settlement of the conflict.
Responding the question on democratization in the countries of
South Caucasus. S. Lunn said that NATO followed the events but it
is difficult yet to give any concrete assessment. Speaking about
nuclear programs of Iran, he said that UN dealt in the question. But
some members of NATO, USA, Great Britain, France “very seriously”
treat the nuclear programs of Iran.

AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT AND ITALIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS KARABAKH PROBLEM
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26. ARMINFO. Azerbaijan’s position is in settlement
of Karabakh conflict only in conformity with the norms of the
International Law. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said during
his meeting with Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Margherita Boniver,
Thursday, Azerbaijani Mass Media reports.
He also said that the conflict makes a severe blow on the peace and
security in the region. The sides discussed the bilateral relations,
development of Azerbaijan’s relations with the EU and the official
visit of President Aliyev to Italy planned for February of 2005. The
same day, Deputy Minister Boniver met Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur
Rasizade. The latter stated that Italy must take into account that
Azerbaijan is a country “subjected to aggression.” Rasizade mentioned
the statement of Margherita Boniver during her visit to Yerevan that
Italy will refrain itself from voting on the issue “of the situation
in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan” at the UN General Assembly
session, pointing out that Azerbaijan unlike Armenia is a country
“suffering aggression, forced immigration of peaceful residents,
occupation of its lands, and these realities must be, first of all,
taken into account when discussing the issue.”

Deputy Head Of Armenian CEC Calls Absurd Accusation Of Falsification
Of Voting In Favor Of Victor Yanukovich
YEREVAN ,NOVEMBER 26, ARMINFO. Deputy Head of Armenian CEC, one of
the CIS observers over the second round of presidential election
in the Ukraine, Hamlet Abrahamyan called absurd the accusation of
falsification of the voting in favor of Victor Yanukovich.
Talking to ARMINFO, Friday, Abrahamyan said that together with
Secretary of the 10th election district of Armenia Karen Gasparyan,
he visited 15 polling stations in the town of Kharkov and a polling
station in the village of Mazepa in 70 km from Kharkov. He said
that the election was well-organized, no violations were observed in
the course of the pre-election campaign and no ballot-stuffing was
registered. However, colossal tension was permanently observed in the
course of the voting. The Ukrainian public is split into 2 incompatible
camps i.e. supporters of Victor Yanukovich and Victor Yushenko. It is
Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma who is able to avert the deep crisis.
As regards permanent accusations by OSCE, EU and US observers of
election rigging, Hamlet Abrahamyan said that Yushenko won at 16
of 25 election districts wherein Yanukovich received just 3-5% of
votes. So, why Victor Yanukovich, who allegedly used the so-called
administrative resource and won due to the densely populated districts,
did not take advantage of the so-called administrative resource at
the above 16 districts either. The Ukraine is a powerful developed
country in Europe and the scenarios like those in Georgia will not
be effective there, Abrahamyan said.

CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN SECTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE WILL BE STARTED
ON 30 NOVEMBER, 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26. ARMINFO. Construction of the Armenian section
of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline will be started on 30 November, 2004,
Director General of ArmRosgazprom CJSC Karen Karapetyan told ARMINFO.
He said that the construction of the gas pipeline is of great strategic
importance from the point of view of energy safety of Armenia and
diversification of the sources of natural gas. Karapetyan said that the
CJSC Yerevan TPP will order the necessary volumes of gas pledging to
pay in terms of electricity. As regards ArmRosgazprom, he said that
the company will come out as an operator of gas supply. Karapetyan
added that CJSC AromRosgazprom will also participate in a tender for
subcontract works on the Armenian section.
It should be noted that the client of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
construction is CJSC High-voltage Power Transmission Lines with an
Iranian company “Sanir” being its contractor. To note, on September 8,
2004, a contract on financing of the project of construction of the
Meghri-Kajaran section was signed in Yerevan. Under the contract,
Iran will issue a $30 mln credit to Armenia for construction of the
Armenian section of the gas pipe-line Iran-Armenia under 5% annual
interest for 7.5 years. The agreement on supply of Iranian natural
gas to Armenia and on construction of the gas pipeline was signed on
May 13, 2004. The sides intend to construct the gas pipeline within 2
years and to put it into exploitation by Jan 1, 2007. In conformity
with the agreement, within 20 years Iran will supply 36 bln cubic
meters of natural gas to Armenia.

AZERBAIJAN NOT TO TAKE PART IN ROSE ROTH WORKSHOP IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27. ARMINFO. Azerbaijan will not take part in the
Rose Roth workshop in Yerevan, the head of the Azeri delegation to
NATO PA Ziyafet Askerov said at the Rose Roth workshop in Baku.
This is Baku’s reaction to “the refusal of Armenian MPs to take
part in the Baku Rose Roth.” “This case has once again shown that
Armenia’s position is far from being constructive,” Aleskerov said
noting that Azerbaijan and NATO PA guaranteed the security of the
Armenian delegates in Baku. “We wanted them to take part in the
workshop for if the Karabakh problem was discussed we would want to
listen to their views too.”
Askerov regrets that the Armenians’ actions were just a show. “They
have taken part in all the Baku events by other international
organizations but they have never talked about security.” “30,000
Armenians live in Baku at present in absolute safety. Azerbaijan
respects the rights of people of all nationalities. By their
allegations the Armenians sought to damage Azerbaijan’s relations
with NATO PA but they will not achieve that.”
NATO PA Secretary General Simon Lunn regrets that the Armenian side
has refused to take part in the workshop. He says that NATO PA and
Azerbaijan have created all the necessary conditions for them but
they preferred not to come. “We are truly disappointed,” says Lunn.
To remind, the Armenian MPs refused to go to Baku because it did not
receive security guarantees from the hosts.

30,000 ARMENIANS LIVE IN BAKU
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27. ARMINFO. There are 30,000 Armenians in Baku,
reports local Zerkalo newspaper referring to UN HCR Rutt Lubbers.
He highly commended Azerbaijan who “has created conditions for
Armenians to live in its territory even though the Karabakh conflict
is not over.” He said that while meeting with Azeri President Ilham
Aliev they discuss the Karabakh problem and Aliev said that “unless
the conflict is settled peacefully Azerbaijan will return its lands
by military force.”

GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION FOR CELEBRATION OF 1,600th ANNIVERSARY OF CREATIONS
OF ARMENIAN ALPHABET HOLDS FIRST SITTING
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27. ARMINFO. The governmental commission for
celebration of the 1,600th anniversary of creation of the Armenian
alphabet, headed by Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margarian,
held its first sitting Saturday.
ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the Armenian government,
during the sitting the members of the commission stressed the necessity
of giving the holiday a national nature. They also considered necessary
to hold festivities within the whole year and complete them in Oct
of 2005. The members of the commission decided to establish a task
group attached to the commission, which will elaborate a full Program
of festivities. Andranik Margarian instructed the participants of the
sitting to submit for consideration of the commission the project of
the aforementioned Program till Dec 15, 2004.

AS A RESULT OF “WISE” FOREIGN POLICY OF LAST YEARS ARMENIA REMAINED WITHOUT ALLIES, ARAM MANUKIAN THINKS
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27. ARMINFO. “As a result of the “wise” foreign
policy of the incumbent authorities of Armenia, our country was
deprived of all the allies on the international arena”, Deputy Chairman
of the board of formerly ruling party of Armenia, Armenian National
Movement, Aram Manukian stated during the meeting with journalists
at the club Azdak.
According to him, Armenia’s role as a player in political processes in
the region has minimized, and the settlement of the Karabakh problem
absolutely does not depend on the authorities of the country. “Thanks
to the consecutive activity of the incumbent Armenian leadership,
the keys of the settlement of the Karabakh problem are outside the
country. Today the reality is the absence of any serious allies on the
international arena. As far back as the years of war the border with
Turkey was open, we even imported grain and other strategic products
through the territory of Turkey. We entirely lost the sympathy of
the Arab world”, Aram Manukian said.
“In all this situation the statements of representatives of the power
are inexplicable that Armenia will live in the conditions of blockade
100 more years very quietly, and we don’t give a damn about the opinion
of the international community”, one of the leaders of ANM added.

RUSSIA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING IN THE INTERESTS OF ARMENIA RECENTLY,
REPRESENTATIVE OF FORMER REGIME THINKS
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27. ARMINFO. “Russia has not done anything in the
interests of Armenia in the course of few years,” deputy chairman of
the former ruling party, Pan Armenian National Movement, Aram Manukian
told reporters today.
In the words of Manukian, he does not have anti-Russian positions. He
said he is merely reacting to the recent policy by Russia towards
Armenia. “It’s enough to recall that no one country, including
Russia, opposed the inclusion of so called occupied territories into
UN General Assembly 59th session agenda. Russia will soon control
all strategically important fields of Armenian economy. However,
it is insulting that even after that it does not support Armenia,”
he said. Aram Manukian thinks that Russia dictates its will on other
countries with the help of truncheon. “One call from Russian president
Vladimir Putin was enough for the head of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan
and Kirgizia to congratulate Viktor Yanukovich with the victory in
elections,” he said. -A-
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress