Garnik Isagulyan Criticizing His Predecessor’s Report
A1+
19-11-2004
Presidential adviser for state security Garnik Isagulyan responded
Friday to the statements made recently by Levon Zurabyan, the republic
former president Levon Ter-Petrossyan adviser, in his report on
Armenian foreign policy.
Commenting on the Levon Zurabyan’s statement that Russia stopped
providing disinterested military assistance to Armenia after the
republic leadership has changed, Garnik Isagulyan said Russia has
never given Armenia disinterested assistance.
Garnik Isagulyan also said Nagorno Karabakh Republic obtained de-facto
independence as a result of vigorous people movement, not thanks to
Armenia’s former authorities.
In his words, after that, former leadership started pursuing erroneous
foreign policy and took a looser stance.
Former presidential adviser listed in his report all diplomatic
achievements reached throughout years of Ter-Petrossyan’s presidency,
among which was Karabakh issue transfer from the UNO to the OSCE
floor and official recognition of Karabakh as full-right side of
negotiations. Besides, the then leadership has managed to convince
Muslims worldwide of non-religious ground of Karabakh conflict.

Armenian Assembly of America
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
Email: [email protected]
CONGRESS AFFIRMS MILITARY ASSISTANCE PARITY FOR ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
Assembly hails leadership of Congressman Knollenberg
Washington, DC – The House of Representatives today approved the
Omnibus Bill for Fiscal Year 2005, providing equal levels of military
assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The spending package, which
allocates $8.75 million in military financing to both countries,
thwarts the Administration’s attempt to provide Azerbaijan a $6
million increase over Armenia by placing the neighboring countries
on equal footing.
“We commend Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), for his
outstanding leadership on the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee
on Appropriations to reinstate U.S. balance and impartiality in
dealing with the Karabakh conflict,” said Assembly Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “We are also very appreciative of Senator
Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the Majority Whip and the Chair of the Senate
Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations, for his efforts
to maintain security assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan
in the Senate version as well.”
“The Assembly welcomes today’s vote and praises our friends in both
chambers for their steadfast support on issues of importance to
the Armenian-American community,” said Assembly Board of Directors
Chairman Anthony Barsamian. He added that had the requested disparity
in military assistance been enacted, U.S. credibility as an impartial
and leading mediator in the ongoing Karabakh peace process would
have been hampered. It would have also potentially undermined the
fragile ten-year cease-fire between the neighboring countries, which
is particularly worrisome given Baku’s recent threats against Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh.
In September, NATO canceled its PfP exercise in Baku due to
Azerbaijan’s barring of Armenia, an active participant in the program.
Azerbaijan’s refusal to honor international commitments is part of an
escalating pattern throughout 2004 of its hostility towards all things
Armenian. By not properly condemning the murder of an Armenian officer
at a NATO event earlier this year, by periodically threatening Armenia
and Karabakh with another military offensive, and by not denouncing
the remarks of its Defense Ministry spokesperson predicting Armenia’s
conquest by Azerbaijan within 25 years, Azerbaijan’s senior leadership
has repeatedly shown their true colors to the international community.
This month, the government of Azerbaijan proposed an ill-conceived
and one-sided U.N. General Assembly resolution that could derail
the Nagoro Karabakh peace process spearheaded by the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Minsk Group
co-chaired by the United States, France and Russia. It is a hostile
declaration against the entire negotiating process, including progress
made in the recent Astana round of negotiations.
For its part, the government of Armenia has repeatedly indicated
its desire to peacefully resolve the conflict, and prior to a full
settlement being achieved, has also offered confidence-building
measures (CBM’s) to bring immediate benefit to all peoples. Azerbaijan
has chosen a different approach – blockade, rejection of CBM’s and
increasingly shrill war rhetoric.
An integral component of U.S.-Armenia relationship is the security
dimension, which has grown considerably since the September 11,
2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Since those seminal
events, the Armenian Government has undertaken a number of security
measures aimed at assisting the war on terrorism, measures which have
been praised by President Bush and other high-ranking U.S. officials.
Over the past few years, Armenia has also strengthened its ties to NATO
by following through on its Partnership for Peace (PfP) commitments,
sent a peacekeeping unit to Kosovo as part of KFOR, and is preparing
to send an Armenian contingent to Iraq to assist in the stabilization
and reconstruction efforts in that country.
The Omnibus spending package also approved “not less than” $75
million in assistance to Armenia, an increase of $13 million over
the Administration’s FY 2005 budget request. An additional $3 million
in humanitarian assistance for Nagorno Karabakh was also allocated.
Under the guidance of Senator McConnell, the Senate, for the first
time, provided an earmark for Karabakh. The United States remains the
only nation in the world that allocates direct humanitarian assistance
to Karabakh.
This April, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and
Caucus member John E. Sweeney (R-NY), along with over 40 of their
congressional colleagues, wrote to Chairman of the House Foreign
Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) urging that
the subcommittee maintain symmetry in levels of any military/security
assistance for Armenia and Azerbaijan. In addition, they requested
“not less than” $75 million in economic assistance for Armenia and
continuing humanitarian assistance for Nagorno Karabakh in FY 2005.
The Assembly strongly supported this initiative by urging Members to
sign on to this letter during its advocacy portion of its National
Conference and via a nationwide Action Alert.
The Senate plans to vote on the spending measure later today.
Once passed by the other chamber, the bill will be sent to President
Bush for his expected signature.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.
NR#2004-101
–Boundary_(ID_YCsFgaKE8nBHPOcbUEoxPg)–

ARKA News Agency
Nov 19 2004
12.9% of questioned Yerevan citizens called the chairman of People’s
Party of Armenia Tigran Karapetian a man of the year
NKR Prime Minister: NKR strives to keep in line with European values
Armenia and UNDP sign memorandum of cooperation on development of
national housing concept to the sum of $30 thou
NKR Foreign Minister: OSCE Minsk group does not give proper
consideration to the legal aspect of the problem
*********************************************************************
12.9% OF QUESTIONED YEREVAN CITIZENS CALLED THE CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLE’S
PARTY OF ARMENIA TIGRAN KARAPETIAN A MAN OF THE YEAR
YEREVAN, November 19. /ARKA/. 12.9% of questioned Yerevan citizens
called the chairman of People’s Party of Armenia Tigran Karapetian a
man of the year, according to the results of telephone poll placed at
the site persons.am conducted on Nov 9-15 among 964 citizens of
Yerevan by Vox Populi Center.
According to the poll, 11.4% of respondents gave this title to RA
President Robert Kocharian, 10.9% – RA PM Andranik Margarian, 9.4% –
RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian, 6.8% – Minister of Defense Serge
Sargsian, 6.3% – gave other answers and 17.8% – could not tell.
Besides, 24.3% think that there is no such person in Armenia.
According to the results of the same poll, 33.4% of respondents
called George Bush a man of 2004 in the world and 16.4% – Vladimir
Putin, 10.2% – Yasir Araffat, 9.5% – Mihail Sahakashvili, 6.8% – Ben
Laden. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
NKR PRIME MINISTER: NKR STRIVES TO KEEP IN LINE WITH EUROPEAN VALUES
STEPANAKERT, November 19. /ARKA/. NKR strives to keep in line with
European values, as stated by NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielyan
at the meeting with the delegation of youth organizations from
Sweden, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro, Hungary, the Ukraine,
Moldova, Georgia and Latvia that arrived in Stepanakert for an
introductory visit. Also representatives of youth organizations of
NKR were present at the meeting. According to ARKA’s reporter in
Stepanakert, greeting guests on behalf of the authorities of NKR,
Danielyan expressed regret for youth organizations of Azerbaijan do
not participate in such an arrangement. He noted that they are ready
to accept them in NKR, however the authorities of Baku avoid direct
contacts and meetings with Karabakh authorities and the public. NKR
Prime Minister told about the priorities of internal and external
politics of the republic, economic programs implemented in NKR, which
according to him are a result of liberal economic politics. A.H.-0–
*********************************************************************
ARMENIA AND UNDP SIGN MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION ON DEVELOPMENT OF
NATIONAL HOUSING CONCEPT TO THE SUM OF $30 THOU
YEREVAN, November 19. /ARKA/. The RA Ministry of Urban Development
and UNDP signed today the memorandum of understanding on cooperation
in developing the national housing concept. According to Lise Grande,
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, the program
to the overall sum of $30 thou will be implemented through
co-financing, where the share of UNDP will make 70%, the rest 30%
will be provided by the RA Ministry of Urban Development. She said
that the program is designed for 4 months and provides for the
development of the concept which will underlie the strategic program
of housing improvement for the most vulnerable strata of the society.
“According to the conducted studies, after the earthquake in 1988 in
Armenia many families remained homeless. Our estimates show that
today there are 13 thou families living in temporary dwellings, which
do not correspond to technical standards”, said Grande.
In his turn, Aram Harutunyan, the RA Minister of Urban Development
noted that, the concept of the housing strategy will allow creating
basis for the implementation of accommodation of the poor. “In
particular, the concept includes two elements – analysis of the
existing housing complex of Armenia and the development of standards
for the housing to be granted to the poor”, said Harutunyan. He noted
that, according to the latest data of the Ministry, there are about
10 thou families in Armenia which remained homeless as a result of
natural or man-caused disasters, however this sphere still requires a
profound study. L.V.–0–
*********************************************************************
NKR FOREIGN MINISTER: OSCE MINSK GROUP DOES NOT GIVE PROPER
CONSIDERATION TO THE LEGAL ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM
STEPANAKERT, November 19. /ARKA/. Given all the efforts to reach the
peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict, the OSCE Minsk group does
not give proper consideration to the legal aspect of the problem. As
the Press Service Department of NKR Foreign Ministry told ARKA, this
was stated by Ashot Ghulyan, the NKR Foreign Minister during his
meting with the delegations of youth organizations from Sweden,
Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia, the Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia,
Georgia and Armenia. He noted that the “judicial base for the
withdrawal of Nagorno Karabakh from Soviet Azerbaijan is so
irreproachable and solid that can only confirm the political
settlement of the conflict”. The Minister noted that the achievement
of comprehensive settlement of the conflict is possible only given
the full participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiation
process. He mentioned the disruptiveness of Azeri position on this
issue and continuing provocations with regard to Nagorno Karabakh.
“The aim of Baku propaganda is to create a word curtain so that the
common Azerbaijani citizens could not have the possibility to
understand how groundless are all charges against Karabakh’, said
Ghulyan. At that the Minister noted that during the meetings with the
authorities and community of Nagorno Karabakh, many foreign political
figures, diplomats, human rights activists and journalists asserted
with satisfaction that the strive of Karabakh to build its state
through strengthening of democratic institutions and human rights
protection fully corresponds to their vision of contemporary way the
world is. L.V.–0–
*********************************************************************

TURKISH MINISTER SAYS PRIVATE AIRLINE ALLOWED TO FLY TO ARMENIA
Anadolu Agency
Nov 20 2004
ANKARA, 20.11.04. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said on
Thursday [18 November] that the Armenian Airlines had not made any
request about flights to Istanbul so far.
Replying to questions of journalists, Yildirim said, “if the Turkish
Airlines (THY) decide to start flights to Armenia, the Armenian
Airlines can start flights to Istanbul. Any land and air border
between Turkey and Armenia are not open. However, a private airlines
company has been allowed to fly to Armenia. In the course of time,
Armenia will see that reaching the world is possible only via Turkey.
Then problems will be resolved.”

Intl conference Vision of Europe opens in Berlin
By Vladimir Smelov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
November 19, 2004 Friday
BERLIN, November 19 — Partakers in the international conference
“Vision of Europe” that opened here on Friday will discuss the
wide range of issues of the EU development and the cooperation of
the EU with Russia and other CIS states. Outstanding politicians,
representatives of business and scientific circles, diplomats and
journalists gathered for the two-day forum that is organised by the
Herbert Quandt Foundation.
Presidents of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan Robert Kocharyan and Askar Akayev
are taking part in the meeting. Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir
Chizhov represents Russia.
According to him, the CIS-EU cooperation and cooperation among the
CIS states “is not a subject for competition.” The diplomat told
Itar-Tass that “interesting processes are going on at various paces
and in various formats in the CIS, they do not contradict each other
and do not lead to confrontation.”
The EU that exists already for 50 years accumulated the big experience
and the CIS as an organisation and the countries that are incorporated
in the commonwealth can use this experience in their integration,
the deputy foreign minister pointed out.
Speaking about the upcoming EU-Russia summit in the Hague he noted
that the implementation of previous agreements reached by both sides
will be discussed at the summit. Rights of ethnic minorities in the
Baltic states will also be discussed at the summit.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran surrounded by countries with `high-risk terrorism`: Report
IRNA, Iran
Nov 19 2004
London, Nov 19, IRNA – Iran is completely surrounded by neighbouring
countries with far higher security problems than itself, according to
the latest annual report by the UK-based Control Risks Group.
Its RiskMap for 2005 identifies Iraq as an `Extreme Security Risk,`
saying that insecurity had reached “unprecedented levels towards the
end of 2004 and looks set to continue.”
Iran was classed as a `Low Security Risk,` but Afghanistan, Saudi
Arabia and the bordering areas of Armenia and Azerbaijan were rated as
`High Security Risk.`
Other neighbouring countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
Russia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates as well as the remainder
of Armenia and Azerbaijan were identified as a `Medium Security Risk.`
Control Risks specializes in forecasting opportunities and trouble
spots for businesses, working with more than 5,300 clients in over
130 countries.
Its definition of Extreme Security Risk is where the severity of
security risks to assets or personnel is likely to make business
operations untenable.
The high level is when there is a probability that foreign companies
will face security problems and requires special measures as state
protection is very limited.
Medium risk is for countries where there is a reasonable possibility of
security problems affecting companies as against low risk, when assets
are deemed to be secure and authorities provide adequate protection.
In judging Iran, Control Risks suggested that the country`s nuclear
programme would continue to dominate international relations in 2005.
It also believed that effective UN sanctions remained unlikely, but
said that this “may force the US or Israel to take decisive action,
possibly involving air strikes against nuclear sites. It ruled out
any full-scale military action, saying this was “not in prospect.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN MEETING WITH GEORGE BUSH
PanArmenian News
Nov 20 2004
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As reported by Regnum news agency, November 19
in the Arkansas capital of Little Rock the meeting of US President
George Bush with Armenian ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian was held.
Besides, the first President of Armenia had conversations with US
ex-Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr., as well as Senator Hillary
Clinton and Eurocommission President Romano Prodi. Before returning to
Yerevan the ex-President will have a number of meetings in Washington
and New York. Levon Ter-Petrosian is in the US within the framework
of the participation in the opening of the Presidential Center of
US 42-nd President Bill Clinton. As reported by Aravot newspaper,
Levon Ter-Petrosian was the only participant out of all the former
and incumbent CIS Presidents. The CNN also mentions the fact of his
participation.

ATLANTIC MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED SCENARIO ON WAR AGAINST IRAN
PanArmenian News
Nov 20 2004
20.11.2004 15:17
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Atlantic Monthly magazine for December 2004
published an extensive article on U.S. policy options regarding Iran.
As reported by the source, at a meeting of the war-game group ret.
Air Force Col. Sam Gardiner presented a war-game scenario, which
suggested using Azerbaijan for special forces and airborne attacks
against Iran, along with major thrusts from Iraq, Persian Gulf, and
additional support action from Afghanistan. It further determined
that air bases in Georgia and Azerbaijan were too small to handle
necessary traffic and suggested they be enlarged, dedicating $700
million for that purpose. These are Azerbaijan air bases in
Baku-Bina, Baku-Kala, Sumgait (Nasosny/Sitalchay), Kara Chala,
Kurdamir, Ganje, Daller, Nakhichevan, Lenkoran, Yevlakh. As it can be
seen, no territories controlled by Armenian forces are mentioned
here. The scenario further suggested: “SECDEF, in coordination with
the Secretary of State, is authorized to begin discussions with
Azerbaijan: – To preposition supplies in Azerbaijan that would
support the global war on terrorism. – To work toward expansion of
air bases in Azerbaijan to increase options for US forces in support
of the global war on terrorism. – To offer limited US assistance to
resolve the issues of Nagorno-Karabakh” Armenia did not figure in war
planning. The recommendations related to Azerbaijan and NK were part
of the initial scenario prepared by Col. Gardiner, however, as
reported by the magazine, they along with other preparations for a
potential war with Iran were turned down by the war game panel as
“detrimental to U.S. interests in Iraq.” In the end the panel
confirmed the conventional Washington wisdom that there is no
attractive military option in Iran, but that the President should
continue to threaten Iran anyway to make progress in negotiations.
The source notes that in the real world, meanwhile, U.S. remains
interested in using Azerbaijan in a potential conflict with Iran and
Azerbaijan conditions that use by America’s help against Armenians.
The original article can be found at
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US Senate OKs trade package for companies, nations
WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) – The Senate gave final congressional
approval on Friday to legislation that eliminates tariffs on a long
list of industrial products and doles out trade benefits to Laos,
Armenia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The package also ends a dispute with the European Union by repealing
the 1916 Anti-Dumping Act, which Brussels had successfully challenged
at the World Trade Organization. However, the United States can still
impose anti-dumping duties on what it deems unfairly traded products
under different legislation.
At the heart of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act
are tariff cuts for hundreds of chemical and industrial products not
made in the United States.
The House of Representatives has already the approved legislation
and President George W. Bush is expected to sign it.
“This bill supports American workers and factories by allowing
manufacturers to save money when they import these products,” said
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican,
during floor debate.
Congress usually passes a similar bill without controversy every two
years. However, lawmakers failed to do that at the end of 2002 and
the bill has been delayed by internal Senate politics ever since then.
The bill also extends normal trade relations to Laos, one of only a
few countries that does not currently enjoy that status. The change
will reduce the average U.S. tariff on Laos products to 2.4 percent
from 45 percent currently.
Russ Feingold and Herbert Kohl, Democratic senators from Wisconsin,
strongly objected to that provision on human rights ground.
Wisconsin is home to a large number of Hmong, a Laotian ethnic group
that helped the United States during the Vietnam War and fled the
country afterward.
The bill also extends permanent normal trade relations to Armenia,
a former Soviet republic. Unlike Laos, it has had normal trade
relations with the United States on an annual renewable basis. However,
Armenia’s recent entry into the WTO requires Washington to make the
status permanent.
Another section allows Bush to waive import duties on hand-knotted
and hand-woven carpet. That provision is aimed at helping Pakistan
and Afghanistan, two allies “in the fight against global terror,”
Grassley said.
The measure also strengthens Bush’s authority to bar imports of looted
Iraqi antiquities.
Archeologists and Iraqi museum curators have bemoaned a sharp increase
in activity by tomb raiders and temple thieves in the chaos that
followed the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
11/19/04 21:42 ET
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Catholics say EU must set conditions for Turkey
By Paul Taylor
BRUSSELS, Nov 19 (Reuters) – Roman Catholic bishops from across the
European Union questioned on Friday whether Turkey was ready to open
EU membership talks and said Brussels should set further human rights
conditions for starting negotiations.
The Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) said
there was no religious obstacle to the overwhelmingly Muslim nation
joining the EU, but Turkey must respect basic rights such as equality
for women and religious freedom.
“Therefore it must be asked whether it is appropriate to open
negotiations with Turkey, whilst fundamental rights including
religious freedom are not fully respected in that state,” they said
in a statement.
The prelates noted that the executive European Commission, in its
report on Turkey’s candidacy last month, had pointed to remaining
shortcomings but not linked the opening of talks to better respect
of those rights.
“The Bishops of COMECE propose that before negotiations… begin with
Turkey, the Turkish government is required to correct shortcomings
with regard to religious freedom and the legal status of minorities
according to the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne 1923,” the
statement said.
They urged EU leaders to include this provision in their decision
at a summit on Dec. 17 on whether and when to open accession talks
with Turkey.
The bishops said the question of starting accession talks with Turkey
was political, not religious.
They rejected wording that would have questioned more fundamentally
whether the EU could admit Turkey.
An initial draft of the statement seen by Reuters said EU leaders
should question “whether the European Union is capable in the medium
term of absorbing such a large country with Turkey’s history and
geostrategic position.”
The Lausanne Treaty recognises Christian Greeks, Armenians and Jews
as minorities with official status in the country.
The treaty does not mention Kurds, Circassians, Arabs or non-Sunni
Alevis as minorities. Human rights groups say the definition should
be widened to include them, but the Turkish government opposes this.
The Roman Catholic church has historically supported European
integration. Bishop Anton Stres of Slovenia noted it had played a
role in mobilising the ‘yes’ vote in referendums on accession in the
10 mainly east European states which joined the EU on May 1.
Asked whether the church would campaign for a ‘yes’ to the EU
constitution despite its failure to obtain a mention of God or
Europe’s Christian heritage, the bishops said the charter enshrines a
permanent dialogue between churches and other religious institutions
and EU institutions.
“We can express ourselves in favour of the pursuit of European
unification,” Stres said.
11/19/04 16:10 ET