US DEFENCE CHIEF SAYS IRAQ ELECTIONS DISCUSSED IN BAKU

Lider TV, Baku
12 Aug 04

(Presenter, over video of Rumsfeld at news conference at Baku’s Heydar
Aliyev airport) US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld’s visit to
Azerbaijan has ended.

At a news conference a short while ago Rumsfeld spoke about the
purpose of his visit to Baku. He said that the USA was in talks with
allied countries in connection with the upcoming presidential
elections in Iraq. Rumsfeld said that he had discussed this subject
during his Baku talks as well.

As for the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Rumsfeld
hoped that this problem would be resolved within the framework of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 12 2004

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF RUSSIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO FOCUS ON ANTI-TERROR
FIGHT
[August 12, 2004, 14:46:27]

AzerTAj Moscow-based correspondent reports that deputy official
representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Boris Malakhov advised
of the main topic for the negotiations to be held in the course of
the visit to the Russian capital by Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov expected on 17-19 August.

B. Malakhov noted the Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Sergey Lavrov
would pay particular attention to the problems of terrorism.
Considering that Russian and Azerbaijan have common stance concerning
the intensification of the com-bat against international terrorism,
the Minister are going to coordinate both counties’ approaches to
further close interaction – practical steps in the fight against all
forms of terrorism, he said.

According to the diplomat, the parties will also exchange views on
issues related to regional and international situation, ways of
reinforcing the central role of the United Nations in the
international arena and intensification of interaction within the
Commonwealth.

Other topics to be touched upon during the talks are deepening the
cooperation of the Russian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers both in
the Caucasus and international arena, coordination of their actions
at the international organizations, implementation of the long-term
program of interstate cooperation in humanitarian sphere adopted in
February 2004, Caspian legal status and conducting the second Caspian
Summit, and finally, settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, B.
Malakhov said.

RELATIVES OF MEMBER OF NATIONAL-DEMOCRATIC UNION LAVRENTY KIRAKOSIAN
DO NOT MAKE DECISION ON APPEALING VERDICT OF APPEALS COURT ON HIS
SENTENCING TO 1.5-YEAR IMPRISONMENT

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). Relatives of Lavrenty Kirakosian,
convicted head of the Baghramian structure of the National-Democratic
Union, haven’t made a decision yet on appealing the verdict of the
Appeals Court on his sentencing to 1.5-year imprisonment. They
reported to NT’s correspondent that they will make a final decision
after consulting with Kirakosian’s lawyer. To recap, on August 10, the
Appeals Court on Criminal and Military Cases presided over by judge
Sevak Hambartsumian didn’t change the verdict of the court of the
first instance of the Armavir region. According to the verdict,
Lavrenty Kirakosian was recognized guilty in the illegal circulation
of drugs and psychotropic matters in especially great amount. The
appeal was submitted by Kirakosian and his lawyer Vardan Zurnachian.

They didn’t agree with the accusation, confirming that the “case is
fabricated” on political causes, and the drug of 59.3 grams discovered
in Kirakosian’s apartment was there “not without the interference” of
policemen. Defendant Lavrenty Kirakosian has been under arrest since
April 21. On August 21, it will be four months since his arrest and he
will get an opportunity to be liberated after 1/3 of the term of his
imprisonment goes by.

IN FIRST HALF OF 2004 HIGHEST INDEX OF VOLUMES OF INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT
REGISTERED IN ARAGATSOTN REGION

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The growth of industrial output
registered in January-June 2004 was especially high in the Aragatsotn
region (59.2%) in comparison with the same period of last year in
seven regions of the republic.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the indicated
volumes were completely provided owing to diamond processing, which
increased 2.4-fold in comparison with last year. In the Armavir region
growth was mainly conditioned by the production of electricity
(2.5-fold growth), partially by the production of the finished
metallic products. In Vayots Dzor a 21.2% growth was conditioned by
the growth of the production of electricity (11.8-fold growth),
foodstuffs and beverages. In Gegharkunik growth made 19.1% due to the
production of medical equipment, precision tools and metallic ore
output. A 18.1% growth of industrial output was registered in Yerevan
during the period under review, which is conditioned by the growth of
the volumes of the production of chemical industry, spinning and
clothing industry, rubber and plastic items, metallurgical industry
and metallic ore, machines and equipment, jewelry production.

PERSONS ACCUSED OF PREPARATION OF TERRORIST ACT SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 9
SENTENCED TO 1-YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR ILLEGAL KEEPING OF WEAPON

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The court of the first instance of
the Kentron and Nork Marash Communities of Yerevan presided over by
judge Pargev Ohanian sentenced Gevorg Mesropian and Artur Mangasarov
living in Moscow to 1-year imprisonment according to the August 3
verdict. The judge presided over on this case reported to NT’s
correspondent that, according to the verdict, the defendants are
accused only of the illegal keeping of weapon, and the court
recognized them guilty of it. To recap, the case was instituted by the
RA Prosecutor General’s Office on the basis of the illegal keeping of
weapon and the preparation of the terrorist act. According to the
statement made by the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, the
investigation brought to light that one of the RA oppositional MPs
with his confederates ordered a terrorist act in early April of
2004. As a result, the actions would have been committed with the
application of weapon that would bring to socially dangerous
consequences. The purpose of all of this is to violate public
security, intimidate the population and fulfill other illegal
demands. It was noticed in the statement of the Prosecutor General’s
Office that MP Smbat Aivazian, a member of the political board of the
“Hanrapetutyun” (“Republic”) Party, is a paymaster of the terrorist
act during the oppositional rally held in Freedom square on April 9.

TRIAL ON CASE OF INCIDENT IN “TRIUMPH” TO START ON AUGUST 16

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The trial on the case of the incident that
took place at the Yerevan “Triumph” cafe on March 12 will start on August 16.
Mnatsakan Martirosian, judge of the court of the first instance of the Kentron
and Nork Marash Communities of Yerevan, who presided over the case, told NT’s
correspondent about it. To recap, there are two defendants on the case. They
are accused of premeditated great damaging to health. Haik Aramian, son of
former RA Minister of Urban Development of RA Ara Aramian, is also among the
defendants. As a result of the incident five people were wounded and received
bodily injuries caused with a sharp subject.

“SYUNIK-ZANGEZUR” FUND FINANCES NUMBER OF PROGRAMS

KAPAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The “Syunik-Zangezur” benevolent fund,
which was established this April, finances a number of programs
implemented in the region, which were impossible to implement many
years because of the absence of the financial means. Surik Kachatrian,
Head of the administration of Syunik, is the Chairman of the
Council. Work on the repairs of a sport school and flat roofs of
tenement houses in Kapan is carried out now, for which the fund
allocated 20 mln drams (about 39,000 dollars) and 40 mln drams,
respectively. The fund allocated 18 mln drams for the overhaul of the
building of the dramatic theater of Goris, as well as 27 mln drams for
the completion of the work on the construction of the
Shorjur-Spandarian mudflow pipeline of Goris. The fund also financed
the work on the repairs of the kindergartens in Sisian and the station
on filtration of potable water in the town of Agarak. In the future
the fund will allocate sums for the construction of the sewerage
system of the town of Meghri.

RESULTS OF COMMAND-STAFF TRAININGS OF NKR DEFENSE ARMY TO BE SUMMED UP
ON AUGUST 12

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The third stage of the command-staff
trainings of the NKR Defense Army was held with the attraction of 100%
of troops through reinforcement on Aghdam firing ground on August
10. The trainigs were held with three stages with the application of
mighty military equipment.

Military sub-units were brought to fighting trim on the first stage
that started on August 3, preparation for defensive actions was held
on the second stage, and troops passed to the offensive on the third
stage. A tactical scheme was put on the third stage, i.e. to destroy
the weapon emplacements of the supposed enemy. Military sub-units,
repulsing an attack of the enemy, undertook counter-attack, occupied
new positions and took soldiers of the enemy prisoner.

It should be mentioned that for the last time such trainings were held
on September 4, 2002. NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian, NKR Prime
Minister Anushavan Danielian, RA Minister of Defense Serge Sargsian,
Colonel-General Mikael Harutiunian, Chief of the General Staff of the
RA Armed Forces, were present at the trainings. Mikael Harutiunian
estimated the fighting trim of the NKR Defense Army as “quite
good”. According to him, the great work on the building of the
engineering-technical constructions has been carried out. The military
review was held at the end of the trainings, during which a number of
military servicemen were awarded with diplomas, as well as with
valuable presents. The results of the trainings will be summed up on
August 12.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES DRAFT LAW “ON MELIORATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS”

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). The RA government approved the draft
law “On Melioration of Agricultural Lands” during the August 12
sitting. It will be submitted to the National Assembly in a set
order. According to the RA government’s press service, by the draft
law relations connected with the melioration of agricultural lands are
regulated with the purpose of the preservation and increase of crop
capacity of lands, protection of soil from making greasy and washing
out, use of barren lands in agriculture.

NEW DEPARTMENTS TO BE ESTABLISHED AT RA MINISTRY OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT

YEREVAN, August 12 (Noyan Tapan). New structural departments will be
established in the staff of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development: the Department of Safety Measures and Public Relations
and Protocol Department.

According to the RA government’s press service, this decision was made
during the August 12 sitting of the RA government.