Azeri defence minister offers military cooperation to Belgium
Bilik Dunyasi news agency
22 Nov 04
Baku, 22 November: “Armenia, which has occupied part of Azerbaijan’s
territory, has violated the provisions of NATO’s Partnership for Peace
programme and it is necessary to discuss this issue at the alliance,”
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev has told a meeting with the
chief of the General [Defence] Staff of Belgium, Gen August Van Daele.
“By entering NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme, Armenia assumed
the responsibility not to make territorial claims to neighbouring
countries. I think it is time to discuss this issue at NATO,”
Abiyev noted.
Armenia’s destructive position on the resolution of the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem and the passivity of the OSCE Minsk Group were also
discussed during the meeting.
Agreeing to Abiyev’s opinion, Van Daele said that it was necessary
to increase the activity of the European Union in the settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict.
The parties also exchanged views on the conformity of the Azerbaijani
armed forces to NATO standards.
“Azerbaijan’s objective is to comply with these standards as much as
possible,” Abiyev said, coming up with an initiative to sign a treaty
on military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belgium.
Gen Van Daele said that the leadership of his country would be
immediately informed of this initiative.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NIKOL PASHINYAN’S CAR EXPLODED
A1 Plus | 21:21:37 | 22-11-2004 | Social |
At 8:40 PM “Niva” car of Nikol Pashinyan, Editor-in-Chief of “The
Armenian Times” Daily exploded near the editorial office. At the
moment the crew is extinguishing the fire.
According to the daily employees, they heard the burst and going
out saw the burning car. Fortunately, there was no one in the car
and nearby.
Nikol Pashinyan didn’t want to comment on the accident. “Everything
is clear to me”, he said adding he will appear with a statement.

CHECHEN SEPARATIST SPOKESMAN DISMISSES REPORT OF TIES WITH BIN-LADIN
Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency web site
20 Nov 04
A leading Chechen separatist spokesman has refuted a US defence agency
report alleging links between Usamah Bin-Ladin and the Chechens
back in 1998. Movladi Udugov says that the report that Al-Qa’idah
training camps were being set up in Chechnya, Ingushetia and other
republics is “a tissue of lies and a crude provocation”, and that
the Americans are using such false reports to prepare for further
interference in the North Caucasus. The following is the text of the
report by Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency web site on 20 November headlined
“Report on ties between Bin-Ladin and Chechnya a tissue of lies”;
subheadings inserted editorially:
US report says Al-Qa’idah camps “being set up” in North Caucasus
Some Russian and American information sources reported yesterday
(19 November) that a certain non-governmental organization, Judicial
Watch, had apparently gained access to a report prepared in October
1998 by the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). The DIA report
claims that Usamah Bin-Ladin had established close ties with the
Chechens back in 1998. He was allegedly operating in mediation with
(late rebel field commander in Chechnya) Khattab and the leader of
the Islamic Path party, Movladi Udugov. It is claimed that Khattab
and nine other of Bin-Ladin’s associates had been sent to the North
Caucasus to set up a new Al-Qa’idah training base. As a result
of their efforts, Bin-Ladin’s organization had apparently set up
training camps in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabarda-Balkaria,
Karachay and Adygeya. Organizational and financial support was also
given to friendly groups operating in Crimea, Azerbaijan, Tatarstan,
Bashkortostan, Central Asia, as well as in Moscow and St Petersburg.
It is also claimed that Bin-Ladin had allegedly met Movladi Udugov
in Afghanistan on a number of occasions, and had focused particular
attention on the military training of ethnic Russians, Ukrainians and
Ossetians, who had converted to Islam, for the preparation of terrorist
acts. Al-Qa’idah’s main strike was expected to be directed against the
Americans and other representatives of the West, Israelis, Russians
(especially Cossacks), Serbs, Chinese, Armenians and disloyal Muslims.
Separatist spokesman rubbishes report
The head of the external sub-committee of the Information Committee of
the State Defence Council – Majlis ul-Shura of the Chechen Republic
of Ichkeria, Movladi Udugov described the story of the report about
ties between Bin-Ladin and Chechnya as a tissue of lies.
“This is a tissue of lies and a crude provocation. It is a simple
matter to expose this falsification. In the first place, Islamic Path
has never been a party, but was simply a pre-election association of
my supporters in 1997. It existed for a few weeks and was dissolved
immediately after the elections in accordance with the law. In 1998
this organization simply did not exist.
“Second, I did not travel outside Chechnya until December 1999 (not
counting trips to Moscow for talks, to the hajj in 1997, together
with (Chechen rebel) President (Aslan) Maskhadov, and to Poland, also
with Maskhadov). Therefore, there could not have been in principle
any meetings, especially with Bin-Ladin, either in Afghanistan or
anywhere else. Perhaps he himself went to Mecca, Moscow or Warsaw.
“Third, an elementary analysis of the text of the so-called ‘report’
shows that it had simply been copied from many ‘operational reports ‘
of the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service). The mention of Cossacks
is particularly touching.
“Fourth, this is not the first nonsense of this kind. One has only
to recall the false claims about Chechen detachments in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Iraq. As is known, up to now neither the Russians, the
Americans nor the British have come up with a single fact to support
their claims in this regard. It is nothing but a lot of nonsense. There
has not been a single living or dead Chechen there.
“Fifth, there have never been any Al-Qa’idah training camps in Chechnya
or anywhere else. If there were, then perhaps someone would indicate
specific geographical addresses rather than throw away general
claims. The only training centre in Serzhen-Yurt, which was run by
amir Khattab, was an official unit of the CRI armed forces. Khattab
himself was appointed the head of the training centre immediately
after the first war by an order of the commander-in-chief of the CRI
armed forces, (Aslan) Maskhadov.
“Therefore, my estimation of this false report is that it is a tissue
of lies from beginning to end. And there is one other observation. I
get the impression that the emergence of such ‘reports,’ is not
very much to Moscow’s liking. The Americans, with the help of such
outbursts of disinformation, are creating preconditions for future
direct interference in the North Caucasus,” Movladi Udugov pointed
out in his comments.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Nov 22 2004
DUE TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF HEYDAR ALIYEV’S OIL STRATEGY,
AZERBAIJAN BECOMES STRONGER FROM YEAR TO YEAR, IMPROVES WELFARE OF
ITS PEOPLE AND OCCUPIES FIRMER PLACE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AT SOLEMN CEREMONY ON
THE 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF “OIL ROCKS”
[November 22, 2004, 23:14:11]
Dear oilmen!
Dear friends!
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
I congratulate all of you on the 55th anniversary of “Oil Rocks”
with best wishes for your good health, happiness and successful
activities. This is really great and remarkable event. 55 years ago,
oil was for the first time extracted in the open sea. Of course,
every Azerbaijani is well aware of this fact and is proud of it. As
early as XIX century, certain activities were initiated to explore
oil fields, but the first oil gushed out here in 1949. Since then,
oil industry of Azerbaijan has been rapidly developed, and today the
country is recognized in the world as an oil country.
As an independent country, Azerbaijan is successfully using its oil
potential. Had not practical steps been taken since 1949, large-scale
development of the Caspian fields initiated and relevant infrastructure
created, Azerbaijan would face serious difficulties in realization of
these activities today. Particularly, the infrastructure created in
1970s, which was modern for those times, continues to serve Azerbaijan
even today. It was during those years that drilling rigs, platforms
and other important units operating for the future of our country were
constructed. Of course, it was our national leader Heydar Aliyev who
initiated all these activities. It reaffirms – I said it more than
once, and want to say now – that a leader who loves his people and
works selflessly for their future will bring benefit irrespective of
political system. Today’s Azerbaijan is a product of Heydar Aliyev.
We remember well early 1990s as well. At that time, Azerbaijan
experienced severe crisis not only in oil but also in other fields.
If the “Contract of the Century” initiated by Heydar Aliyev at that
both politically and economically hard times had not been signed
despite all the pressures and threats, no development in oil or any
other sector of the economy would be possible today. Because, the
economy of Azerbaijan was then, is today and will be in the future
based on the oil factor; And this factor will play a key role in not
only the country’s economy but also its whole life for many years
to come.
Azerbaijan was a very risky place. There were the very few number of
potential investors in the Azerbaijan’s economy and country appeared
to be in a very difficult situation: economic crisis on the one hand,
occupation of its territories and civil confrontation on the other.
It was only as a result of Heydar Aliyev’s activities that it became
possible to persuade foreign investors, attract them and move the
country out of this complicated situation.
It has been 10 years since the “Contract of the Century”. Over these
10 years, ous country has been strengthened, its economy developed,
social problems are being tackled. Azerbaijan has managed to hold a
firm position in the world, and Azerbaijan is known throughout the
world as a very reliable and serious partner. Otherwise, if it were
not belief in Azerbaijan’s today and tomorrow, no billions of foreign
investments would be made in the country. These investments allow us
to develop not only oil sector but also other fields of the economy.
Azerbaijan is today one of the most dynamically developing countries
not only in the region but also in the world. The world’s largest
energy projects are now being implemented in Azerbaijan even though
some formerly were rather skeptical about them. The Baku-Baku-Tbilisi
oil pipeline, which once was called by some just a legend, today has
turned today into reality due to realization of the Heydar Aliyev’s
oil strategy. It is an issue of paramount importance for Azerbaijan,
future of our country and strengthening of its position in the
international arena. The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline will turn
out country into gas exporter, as well. Today, European consumers are
also among those who are waiting for the natural gas from Azerbaijan.
This project is being successfully implemented, as well, and we will
mark the putting the gas pipeline into commission in 2006.
A very powerful oil infrastructure has been created in Azerbaijan in
the past years. The drilling rigs, other objects of the infrastructure
will serve the people of Azerbaijan for decades to come.
Of course, we are craving for development all spheres of the economy.
The greater part of the work in oil sector has already been completed,
and our main task today is to develop the non-oil sector. The works
in this direction and its results are evident. Suffice it to say that
over 110 thousand jobs were open in the past year in Azerbaijan, 70
thousand of which are permanent. In a word, the step taken in 1994
has had a very positive impact on our country, and I am sure will
continue to do so.
The extra funds going into our treasury will allow to reach sooner
implementation of the social programs – rise in salaries and wages,
pensions and other social payments. After the presidential elections
I said the people of Azerbaijan would live better from year to year.
All the programs I declared have been implemented. I am sure that
all the promises made before the elections including opening of 600
thousand jobs, development of the Azerbaijan economy, development of
regions and as a result improvement of the people’s welfare will be
kept. This is the most important task of mine as a president, and I
am sure that we will reach the goal.
Today, I want to touch upon the activities of the oil sector as a
whole. In particular, I would like to mark the work of the State Oil
Company of Azerbaijan. The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan has worked
hard to realize the oil strategy initiated by Heydar Aliyev. The huge
work has been done in all spheres including both cooperation with
foreign companies and its own projects on oil fields development.
While familiarizing myself with the situation in the Oil Rocks, I have
made certain of ongoing development. Despite, oil has been produced
here for 55 years, and the largest production volumes left in the
past, it nevertheless, has increased in the past years. Today, I also
familiarized with oilmen’s living conditions. I saw new buildings,
repaired old ones, and that social issues are on the focus of
attention, the oilmen’s salaries are quite high. They are at least
three times more as compared with average salaries in Azerbaijan.
I am very happy and proud spending a part of my life among oilmen
working for the State Oil Company. These years are very valuable and
dear to me, because I need the experience, knowledge and friends I
found then even today. In this high post of president, I consider
myself a representative of oilmen.
Dear friends, today is really a great holiday, a remarkable,
historical event. I am sure the Oil Rocks will serve the people
of Azerbaijan for many years to come. Of course the volume of oil
produced here is not large enough, but all know well that no a large
oil or gas project is possible in Azerbaijan without the Oil Rocks.
That is why we should know that the significance of the Oil Rocks
must remain on the same level.
I would like to touch one more question. The State Oil Company
advanced certain proposals concerning increase in production of both
oil and gas. Of course, we need large financial resources, and we
will do find them. I am sure if we start working at these projects
from the next year, we will manage to increase oil and gas production
in Azerbaijan in a short period.
Azerbaijan is being strengthened improving its economic situation
from year to year. The country’s place in the international arena is
getting firmer, as well. We are also taking measures for resolution
of our hardest problem, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. As you know, Azerbaijan put the issue on the agenda of
many international events. The report and draft resolution prepared
by the Council of Europe reflect reality i.e. reveal Armenia as an
aggressor. The issue concerning the situation in the occupied lands
put on the agenda of the United Nations was a hard blow to Armenia.
Armenia was the only country to vote “against”. We will continue our
efforts to reach fair solution to the problem for the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan to be restored, our compatriots – refugees
and IDPs returned to their homes.
Please, accept once again my heartfelt congratulations on this
wonderful jubilee, and best wishes for good health, happiness and
new successes in and victories.

PA asks US pressure on Israel to withdraw
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Jerusalem Post
Nov 22 2004
Palestinian leaders on Monday asked for Washington’s help in holding
elections to choose a successor to Yasser Arafat and called for the
establishment of an independent Palestinian state in 2005.
The Palestinian demands were made during a meeting in Jericho between
outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell and a number of senior
Palestinian officials.
The Palestinian team was headed by PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
Mazen) and included Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, acting Palestinian
Authority Chairman Rouhi Fattouh, Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath,
Minister of Negotiations Saeb Erekat and Finance Minister Salam Fayyad.
It was Powell’s first visit to the region in 18 months, and Palestinian
officials expressed hope it would lead to the resumption of normal
ties with Washington in the post-Arafat era.
“We hope this visit marks the beginning of a new chapter in our
relations,” said one official. “We’re aware that without the US we
would not be able to move ahead with the peace process.”
The official said Jericho was chosen for security reasons, expressing
hope that future meetings would be held in the Muakta compound in
Ramallah.
The 60-minute meeting focused on preparations for the chairmanship
of the PA, sated for January 9.
Erekat told The Jerusalem Post after the meeting that he was encouraged
by Washington’s position vis a vis the elections. “The position
of the US Administration is encouraging because it is determined
to enable the Palestinians to hold free and democratic elections,”
he added. “The US is also determined to revive the peace process.”
Erekat said the PA was still waiting for Israel’s formal approval to
allow Jerusalem’s Arab residents to participate in the elections. He
said five voting centers would be opened at the Armenian Quarter in
the Old City, Salah Eddin Street, A-Tur (Mount of Olives), Shufat
and Bet Hanina.
Qurei expressed fear during the meeting that Israel’s planned
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip was part of a ploy designed to thwart
the road map plan for peace in the Middle East. He said the withdrawal
should be coordinated with the PA in advance.
“At the meeting with Powell we also discussed various issues, such as
the need to remove Israeli army checkpoints and release Palestinians
prisoners from Israeli jail,” he said. “The American side listened
to our demands and reacted positively.”
Describing the meeting as “vital and positive,” Shaath urged the US to
put pressure on Israel to withdraw its troops to their pre-September
28, 2000 positions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to facilitate the
voting process.
“We also discussed the need to halt settlement construction and the
building of the separation wall,” he added.
Shaath emphasized the importance of abiding by the 2005 deadline set
by the road map to establish a Palestinian state.
Powell, who also visited the offices of the Palestinian Central
Elections Committee in Jericho, said Washington is prepared to assist
the Palestinians in holding the elections.
“I think this moment of opportunity should not be lost,” he said.
“What I’ve heard today is that the Palestinians are committed to
reform. I think we can make a pretty good case that this is the time
to assist the Palestinians as they go forward.”
He said his talks with the Palestinian leaders also dealt with security
issues and funds needed for a well-organized election.
Abbas and Qurei later went to the PA’s central prison in Jericho,
where they met with Ahmed Saadat, Secretary-General of the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who is accused of masterminding
the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi, and Fuad Shobaki,
a senior Arafat aide implicated in the attempt to smuggle the Karine
A weapons ship in 2001.
In Gaza City, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar lashed out at the US, accusing
it of being biased to Israel. “We must warn against US policy in
the Middle East,” he said. “The US has an agenda that is different
from ours. Their intentions will be tested according to the extent
of pressure they put on Israel. We fear that Powell’s visit is aimed
at covering up for future Israeli crimes.”
Zahar also rejected any attempt to disarm Hamas, saying his movement
would not give up the armed struggle against Israel. He pledged,
however, to work with the PA to hold the elections on time.

Turkish journey: End of the road
BBC News
Nov 22 2004
The BBC’s Istanbul correspondent Jonny Dymond is exploring Turkish
life across the vast country as it lobbies the European Union to open
membership talks.
He sent the last in a series of reports from the town of Kars, near
the Armenian border.
I woke up in my hotel in Kars – an establishment unlikely to make the
Best Hotels in Eastern Turkey guide – to find news from England on
the television.
The town of Kars lies near Turkey’s border with Armenia
A correspondent in London was explaining to a presenter, who appeared
to be doing her best to restrain her incredulity, that the British
government had announced plans to ban smoking in public spaces.
The words of the correspondent, who was on a telephone line, were
illustrated by file footage of people smoking in London.
Many of them were sitting outside, and a disproportionate number were
blonde, gaily enjoying a cigarette whilst sipping mineral water or
having a glass of wine. London life looked suspiciously like a
Mediterranean holiday.
Rarely had I felt so far from home. Kars is very, very cold. No one
is sitting outside. And, this being Turkey, everyone smokes. In case
you are wondering, there are precious few blondes knocking about
either.
Click here to see Jonny Dymond’s route across Turkey
Kars has attracted a little more attention than usual in the past
couple of years because Turkey’s most internationally famous
novelist, Orhan Pamuk, used it as the setting for his latest novel,
Snow.
A question of identity
In the book, Kars – a forgotten city in the country’s north-west
corner on the border with Armenia – plays host to Islamist
terrorists, Kurdish nationalists and secular Republicans.
Over the space of three days, in which the city is cut off from the
outside world by snow, they pronounce, denounce, launch a coup and
generally shed some light on that ridiculously complicated question
of Turkey’s identity.
I freely admit that Snow had drawn me to Kars. I ran into a French
journalist on my final night there. I asked her why she had come.
“The closed Armenian border, of course,” she said. Ah yes. That too.
The money left Kars in the 1960s, drawn west
The city was once part of the Russian empire and, immediately after
World War I, became an independent republic – the South East
Caucasian Republic. It happily gave itself up to the Turkish Republic
when that came along in 1923.
It was also, a while ago now, rich. It was a trading city, and the
houses of Russian and Armenian merchants can still be seen, their
fine construction and exterior decoration incongruous amongst the
drab concrete buildings that now dominate the city.
Many of these houses were pulled down in the 1960s – the government
either not interested in the history of the town, or only too happy
for it to be eradicated.
Glorious past
The current owner of Huryurt (“Free Land”), one of three local
papers, fondly remembers a time when balls and concerts were a
regular event in the city.
In one corner of the newspaper’s office sits a 150-year-old printing
press that until last year had been used to crank out the 400 copies
that the paper prints every day.
Erol Huryurt showed me one of the earliest papers, framed on the
wall. “This evening” went the headline. The short article was a call
to a dance to be held in the city centre.
“All the night will be full of surprises. So we would advise you not
to miss it”.
Newspaper owner Erol Huryurt
But the money left Kars in the 1960s, drawn west. Kars was cut off,
its airport closed, its trade to the east ended by the presence of
the Soviet Union.
And now, with the border to Armenia shut once again, the life of the
city is still draining away.
The shops are shabby, the goods careworn before purchase. Into the
chill air chimneys puff smoke that in the evening hangs in the cold
deserted streets. Groups of men stand idly on the roadside, looking
lost and defeated.
Unemployment is something around 50%.
The mayor is doing his best. When we talked he showed me picture
after picture of the cultural festivals he had arranged.
He has high hopes of a film festival to be held in January – a
curiosity this, a film festival in a city that currently has no
cinema. It’s all good clean fun.
But you have to wonder how many Slovak dance troupes and Circassian
marching bands a town can take until it cries out “No more!”
Facing east
Kars hopes for the best from Europe, but its eyes are still firmly to
the east. In the early 1990s, when the Soviet Union collapsed, a wave
of Turkophilia swept Turkey – it was to lead a new Turkic Union of
the east, it would resume its rightful place as the pre-eminent
regional power.
The dream died pretty quickly when it became clear that the old
Turkic states had more in common with Moscow than they did with each
other, but it lives to some degree in Kars.
Today Kars lives in the shadow of its past
Erol’s son Erdil does not go misty-eyed over the balls and dances of
the past. Over lunch in what seemed to be Kars’ only decent
restaurant, he talks of an unlikely future when the city might become
the capital of the Caucasus.
The mayor’s brother, Alican, joined us.
Alican, a businessman, was not so interested in wild talk of leading
the Caucasus. Instead he, and nearly everyone in Kars, just wants the
border with Armenia reopened, so trade can restart, and life can
return to the dying city.
As with so many changes in Turkey, all eyes are on Europe to do
something to sort out the problem.
I drove out to Ani, once a city of 100,000 that was said to have
rivalled Constantinople in its glory, now a place of wonder where you
can stumble for hours amongst the stunning remains of ruined 10th-
and 11th-Century churches and mosques.
>>From inside the first ever mosque to be built in Turkey I peered down
at the river that separates the country from Armenia, and at the
ruined bridge which once carried travellers on the Silk Road on their
way West.
I had reached the end – the end of Turkey, and the end of the long
haul from West to East.
It was a fitting finale to the journey: Turkey’s eastern border,
perhaps to be Europe’s new eastern frontier, ancient churches and
mosques rising like tombstones out of the long wild grass.

A highly dubious result
The Economist
Nov 22 2004
>>From The Economist Global Agenda
A huge protest has gathered in Ukraine’s capital amid signs that the
expected winner of its presidential election, Viktor Yushchenko, was
robbed of victory by ballot fraud. Will the authorities crush the
protest or is a revolution—of the “velvet” or the blood-soaked
variety—in prospect?
ACCORDING to the exit polls, Ukraine’s pro-western opposition leader,
Viktor Yushchenko, was heading for clear victory in the final round
of the country’s presidential election, held on Sunday November 21st.
They showed Mr Yushchenko on 54%, compared with 43% for Viktor
Yanukovich, currently Ukraine’s prime minister, whose bid for the
presidency is backed by the outgoing president, Leonid Kuchma, and
Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin. Yet as voting continued overnight,
the opposition leader’s apparent walkover somehow turned into a
narrow win for the official candidate. On Monday, the Ukrainian
electoral commission said that, with over 99% of votes counted, Mr
Yanukovich had an unassailable lead of almost three points.
Ukraine’s election
Nov 19th 2004
Ukraine’s presidential election
Nov 4th 2004
Ukraine, Belarus and Russia
Oct 28th 2004
Ukraine’s presidential election
Oct 28th 2004
Ukraine’s presidential vote
Aug 12th 2004
Russia, Ukraine
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe reports from
its independent electoral observation mission in Ukraine. The EU
issues statements on the elections and gives information on foreign
relations. See also the US State Department. “Governments on the WWW”
provides a comprehensive resource on the government and politics of
Ukraine, including the previous election results.
Elections and debt relief for Iraq Nov 22nd 2004
The falling dollar Nov 22nd 2004
Yukos under siege Nov 19th 2004
Bush’s cabinet reshuffle Nov 18th 2004
The Buttonwood column Nov 16th 2004
About Global Agenda
Fearing a repeat of the widespread irregularities seen in the first
round of voting last month, thousands of Mr Yushchenko’s supporters,
dressed in orange, his campaign colour, gathered in sub-zero
temperatures in the main square of the capital, Kiev, on Sunday
night. They called on the government to recognise his victory, and by
Monday morning, as the country’s electoral commission began issuing
tallies showing Mr Yanukovich in the lead, their numbers had swollen
to perhaps 50,000. “Remain where you are,” the opposition leader told
his followers, promising that tens of thousands more protesters were
on their way, “on carts, cars, planes and trains”, to demonstrate
against the alleged defrauding of the election. Many protesters began
to pitch tents along Kiev’s main avenue. “Our action is only
beginning,” said Mr Yushchenko. By the evening, their numbers were
said to have risen above 100,000.
Western observers immediately denounced the election. Senator Richard
Lugar, a Republican sent by President George Bush to monitor voting,
accused the Ukrainian government of supporting a “concerted and
forceful programme of election-day fraud and abuse”. The European
Union said all 25 member countries would be summoning their Ukrainian
ambassadors to register a formal protest. But Mr Yanukovich’s
campaign manager, Serhiy Tyhypko, insisted that his man had won,
arguing that the exit polls were not reliable. Mr Putin congratulated
Mr Yanukovich on his victory.
All through the campaign, Ukraine’s news media have been highly
skewed towards Mr Yanukovich, barely giving the opposition leader a
mention. Ahead of the first round of voting, the official candidate’s
supporters were accused of intimidating electoral officials to try to
swing the vote his way. Mr Yushchenko even accused them of being
behind an attempt to poison him, which has left his face bloated and
scarred. In Sunday’s run-off, suspicions centred on possible
fraudulent multiple voting in the Russian-speaking east of the
country, where support for Mr Yanukovich is strongest. According to
the official electoral figures, turnouts there were implausibly high,
at up to 96%.
Mr Yanukovich had some strong cards to play in the election campaign:
he recently awarded big increases in pensions and public-sector pay;
and the Ukrainian economy is booming, helped by a bumper grain
harvest and rising exports of steel and chemicals. Nevertheless, even
some in Mr Yanukovich’s eastern power base have grown sick of his
regime and the oligarchic business clans that prop it up.
Foreign observers have been taking a close interest in Ukraine’s
election, not just because it is one of eastern Europe’s largest
countries, with 49m people, but because the outcome could have
important consequences for the whole region. Mr Yushchenko presented
himself as a pro-western, free-market reformer who will seek
membership of the EU and the American-led NATO defence alliance,
while cleaning up corruption and enforcing the rule of law. Mr
Yanukovich, in contrast, stood for deepening Ukraine’s close links
with Russia. If Mr Yushchenko had gained the presidency and led
Ukraine towards becoming a westernised democracy with European-style
prosperity, voters in Russia and elsewhere in eastern Europe might
have begun to demand the same.
A win by Mr Yushchenko would have been a huge blow to Mr Putin, who
twice visited Ukraine during the election campaign to back Mr
Yanukovich (while denying this was the purpose of his trips). The
Russian president’s attempts to exert control over former Soviet
states would be greatly diminished if the second-largest of them were
to escape from his grip and join the West.
So what now? Much depends on the determination of Mr Yushchenko’s
supporters. Already, there is talk of a general strike. The city
councils of Kiev and another big city, Lviv, have refused to
recognise the official result of the election. Will there now be a
crescendo of protests and civil disobedience until they reach a point
where Mr Yanukovich has no option but to step aside? After all,
something rather similar happened last year in another former Soviet
state, Georgia, where people power forced its then president, Edward
Shevardnadze, to resign following dodgy parliamentary elections.
Mr Shevardnadze was forced to quit after it became doubtful if
Georgia’s armed forces would obey any order to crush the protesters.
The question is whether Ukraine’s security forces would react in the
same way: on Monday night, they issued a statement promising that any
lawlessness would be put down “quickly and firmly”.
Though Mr Yushchenko is now hoping for a Georgian-style bloodless
revolution, there are also some less promising precedents among the
former Soviet states: only two months ago, Belarus’s president,
Alexander Lukashenka, “won” a rigged referendum to allow him to run
for re-election. The EU is said to be planning to tighten its
sanctions against his government but so far there is no sign that he
will be dislodged from power. Azerbaijan and Armenia both held flawed
elections last year: in Azerbaijan, there were riots after the son of
the incumbent president won amid widespread intimidation and bribery,
but these were violently put down; and in Armenia, voters reacted
with quiet despair at the re-election of their president amid reports
of ballot-stuffing. If Ukraine follows these precedents, hopes for
change there will be dashed.
–Boundary_(ID_F/8Wh8ME2zAhqGCbBEQDVg)–

New Armenian TV Feed Debuts Today
Voice of America
Nov 22 2004
On Monday, Nov. 22, VOA begins a new weekday feed for Armenia TV.
Available Monday through Friday, Armenian TV Magazine covers current
news topics along with insight into the background and implications
of the story.
The 10-minute feed goes to Armenia TV at 0715 UTC (11:15 a.m. in
Armenia). This new weekday edition of Armenian TV Magazine joins VOA’s
30-minute weekend program of the same name. For more information
on the staff or to catch up on programs, visit the webpage at

Sofia Echo, Bulgaria
Nov 22 2004
Double Dutch in Bulgaria
Koos Schouten
FIRST of all, I have to mention Martin Petrov who plays football for
Wolfsburg, the current leaders of the German Bundesliga.
A German TV commentator named him the “Celebration King” of German
football after he scored his fifth goal in two matches, bring his
total to eight for the season. ‘Marto’ as the Wolfs fans call him has
now officially become their most popular player. (Who’s surprised?).
Any opponent of the Bulgarian National Team better beware the man
from Vratsa will definitely appear in front of your goal and know no
hesitation.
On a different note:
“After a series by visits by Bulgarian politicians to Turkey,
organisations of Bulgarian emigrants in that country came to Bulgaria
to enquire about alternatives to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
(MRF) for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. More than 85 per
cent of the Bulgarian emigrants to Turkey, who voted for the MRF in
previous elections, are not satisfied with what the movement has done
for them during its three-year term so far as junior coalition
partner in the ruling majority. This is one of the results in a
survey by Turkkan’s organisation. (Sega).”
This doesn’t surprise me at all, it has been proven in many countries
that minority parties representing religious and/or ethnic groups are
rarely successful. In my opinion, it makes much more sense for the
Bulgarian emigrants in Turkey, but also elsewhere in the world to
seek representation by leading parties that represents their
political views. In this new era of a United Europe, voters should
aim to develop a broader view in politics and not just worry about
their ethnicity.
For Bulgarian Turks, Muslims, Armenians and Roma to be represented by
minority parties will only push them further into the minority
corner. Parties such as the MRF only serve their leaders and can be
used only as whipping boys in coalition governments where they are
treated with respect only when their vote is needed.
Charity:
Last Saturday Night there was a charity Pub Quiz in JJ Murphy’s Irish
Pub for the benefit of the ONE LIFE Charity for Children with Cancer
and other Life shortening diseases. There were some 125 participants
in the pub and a pleasant evening was had by all. The organisers of
this event were also responsible for the bike ride a few weeks ago
from Sofia to Plovdiv. Although the charity events were well
attended, the average donation was less then 20 leva per person. I
believe that this is way too low considering that almost all were
expats.
Just to reassure you, the funds collected are all used for charity
and the accounts are audited by KPMG’s Gilbert McCall.
So, if you feel that you financially underachieved at either of these
events or even worse did not attend, please call Laura Thomas on
0888-546555 and she will send a volunteer to your office or residence
to collect your donation.
Politics:
It warmed my heart that after months of bickering the parties of the
right are finally getting their act together and will present the
Bulgarian voters with a real choice. I understand that there will be
two more meetings before Christmas and that by that time they will
once again present a United Front.
Although Mr. Gotta’ Yellow Army has brought some highly capable
people such as Milen Velchev into the lime light, they never remotely
lived up to their promises.

Saakashvili Outlines Priorities at Party Congress
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Nov 22 2004
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on November 22, while
speaking at the first congress of the ruling National Movement –
Democrats party, that Georgia’s key priorities include reintegration
of the country, development of democratic principles and establishment
of good relations with all the neighbor countries, including Russia.
“We have to return Abkhazia and reintegrate Georgia. Georgia will be
uniform and free, only when we hang the most beautiful five-cross flag
on the Roki pass [breakaway South Ossetia] and river Psou [breakaway
Abkhazia],” President Saakashvili said.
“Each citizen should know, that Georgia’s reintegration has not
occurred yet. This process is extremely difficulties and requires
victim. It is important to restore [territorial] integrity and this
may cost our lives,” the President added.
He said, the Georgian authorities are ready to establish good relations
with all the neighbor states, including Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan
and Armenia.
“However, everybody should know that we are ready to compromise,
but not at the expense of our integrity and independence,” he added.
In the President’s opinion, Georgia will be completely free when not
a single foreign soldier remains on its land.
Mikheil Saakashvili also emphasized on supremacy of law, civil
consciousness and integration of all nationalities living in the
country in the political life.
“In order to achieve success in terms of development, one should
base on the following two criteria – professionalism and devotion
to Georgia. Nationality has no sense regarding these two criteria,”
Saakashvili said.
“We declare war against poverty and we will win in this war by all
means. We will return Georgia, our main slogan will be “Let’s Return
Georgia,” the President added.
–Boundary_(ID_mPZlu3a+TIPvc6NN3CV7WQ)–