Azeris in Moscow protest occupation of Zangilan District
Assa Irada, Azerbaijan
28 Oct. 2004
The Movement for Azerbaijan held a rally in Moscow on Thursday on the
11th year-anniversary of occupation of Azerbaijan’s Zangilan District
by Armenia.
About 500 Azerbaijanis took part in the protest action, demanding
that the Azerbaijani lands occupied by Armenia be liberated and the
international community end a double standard in its position on
the issue.
The participants of the rally also protested against the international
youth forum scheduled in Upper Garabagh for November.
Earlier, the Movement for Azerbaijan held rallies on central squares
of Moscow and outside the Armenian embassy protesting occupation of
Azerbaijani lands.*
From: Baghdasarian

Upper Garabagh status priority for Armenia in talks
Assa Irada, Azerbaijan
28 Oct. 2004
Determination of the Upper Garabagh status is a priority for Armenia
in the talks over the conflict settlement, the Armenian Foreign
Ministry press spokesman Gamlet Gasparian said in a statement. Armenia
considers all other issues exclusively in view of the future status
of Upper Garabagh.
“Other issues raised by Azerbaijan, including the problem on refugees,
displaced persons and territories, should be discussed directly with
Upper Garabagh. Armenia is interested only in the final resolution
of the Upper Garabagh problem and applies this approach to its
participation in the negotiations.”
Commenting on the statement by the Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov that in Astana the Armenian President took a time-out
to analyze the results of the meetings held, Gasparian said the
decision to take a break in the talks was made jointly by the Azeri
and Armenian leaders.
“We have not received a reply yet on the issues Armenia is interested
in”, Gasparian added.*

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY REACTS TO UN COMMITTEE’S DECISION
ArmenPress
29 Oct. 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Hamlet Gasparian, a spokesman for
Armenian foreign affairs ministry was asked by Armenpress News Agency
to comment on the UN General Committee’s decision to recommend the
inclusion of an item on the situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan on the General Assembly’s session.
Gasparian said: “Indeed, this issue has been raised at the UN General
Committee. While it has not enjoyed any significant support, it has
received 9 pro and 14 abstained votes from 28 member states. The
countries that voted in support of the issue included mostly members
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Ukraine.
We view Azerbaijan’s move as yet another attempt to divert the
attention of the international community from the core issue of the
conflict, i.e. the status of Nagorno Karabagh.
We should also note that in a statement made on behalf of OSCE Minsk
Group, France’s representative stated that the UN General Assembly is
not an appropriate forum for discussing this issue. He further noted
that Azerbaijan’s move to introduce a new item on the negotiations
agenda might have a detrimental impact on the peaceful regulation
process.”

RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND KARABAGH NEED TO BE FORMALIZED, PRESIDENT SAYS
ArmenPress
29 Oct. 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian had today
a working meeting with members of the Armenian and Nagorno Karabagh
governments. Kocharian was quoted by his press office as saying that
” relations between the two governments need to be formalized and
coordinated.
According to Kocharian, “some problems must be solved so as to
ensure more coordinated meetings not only between the presidents,
prime ministers, but also between other government members and heads
of departments.”
Kocharian also noted that Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh are in the same
economic field, “therefore all reforms carried out in both must be
reconciled and harmonized to avoid controversies.” The parties have
agreed to set up a joint team to make cooperation more purposeful
and effective.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA COLLECT MORE TAXES THAN PROJECTED
ArmenPress
29 Oct. 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian tax authorities collected
176.3 billion drams in the first nine months of the year, 1 percent
more than projected. Tax revenues have increased almost 20 percent
against the same time span of last year.
The finance and economy ministry said in a press release that one of
the reasons behind higher rate of tax collection was the weaker US
dollar against the national currency Dram. It said the US Dollar’s
has a significant impact on the budget, connected with a big ratio of
incomes received from the sale of imported goods. The ministry said
some progress was observed in collection of direct taxes. It said
some 40.7 percent of tax revenues, 82.8 billion drams, came from VAT,
of which nearly 57 billion drams were levied on the border and the
rest from the domestic turnover of goods and services.
The volume of collected VAT over the same time of last year grew
by 6.5 billion drams or 8.5 percent. Revenues from excise taxes
constituted 29.8 billion drams, accounting for 16.9 percent of all
tax revenues. Some 19.7 billion drams came from goods subject to
excise taxes, of which 11 billion from petrol imports and almost 7.3
billion from import of cigarettes. Excise taxes from domestically
manufactured goods made 10.1 billion drams, of which 5. billion were
from cigarette sale. The growth in excise taxes collection against
the same time of last year stood at 6.8 percent or 1.9 billion drams.
Revenues from income taxes made 14.6 billion drams, a 26.3 percent
growth against last year’s nine months, coming mostly from higher
payroll taxes. Profit taxes made 21.8 billion drams, an 88.6 percent
or 10.2 billion growth against last year.
Also 8.5 billion drams came as customs duties, 18 percent more than
in last year’s nine months. Other revenues came from simplified taxes
and other areas of entrepreneurship.

JIVAN GASPARIAN WANTS TO FOUND SCHOOL TO TEACH DUDUK
ArmenPress
29 Oct. 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: A Russian-Armenian Unibank made
today a generous donation to support world famous duduk player
Jivan Gasparian’s idea to build a school where he will teach this
old Armenian wind instruments to young boys. Gasparian said also
$12,000 were donated by a London-based businessman of Armenian origin,
Vatche Manukian.
“I am not thinking about going from door to door to ask for money
for the school, instead I will advertise the school in a hope of new
donations,” Jivan Gasparian said, adding that according to preliminary
estimations he will need some $200,000 to realize his dream.
The two-storey building will have a concert school on the ground
floor and classes in the first one.
Gasparian said he will fly soon to the USA to record his music for
another film. His music was recorded for around two dozen American
and European films.

Armenia’s speaker defends party colleagues, stresses fight against corruption
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
28 Oct 04
Armenian National Assembly Chairman Artur Bagdasaryan has said
that parliament is leading the fight against corruption in
the executive authorities. Answering questions from readers of
Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii, Bagdasaryan defended his party’s
personnel policy, backing the science and culture ministers who are
members of the coalition government from his Law-Governed Country
Party. Bagdasaryan said that he had no plans at present to stand in
the next presidential elections. He also said that parliament would
have a thorough discussion on sending troops to Iraq. The following
is an excerpt from Lana Mshetsyan and Tigran Mirzoyan’s “hot line”
interview in Golos Armenii on 28 October headlined “An Armenian studies
magazine will be published,’ Armenian National Assembly Chairman Artur
Bagdasaryan said, answering questions from the Golos Armenii hot line”;
subheadings inserted editorially:
Areg Pogosyan, engineer Predictions have appeared recently in the
media that name you alongside the justice minister David Arutyunyan ,
prosecutor-general Aram Tamazyan and defence minister Serzh Sarkisyan
as the most likely contenders in the next presidential elections. What
do you think of these predictions?
No plans to run for president
Artur Bagdasaryan At present I do not have such plans. I am
philosophical about these predictions.
Passage omitted: cooperation needed in parliament to legislate on
compensation for lost investments in the USSR-era Savings Bank;
Bagdasaryan keen to see more young people in politics
Armenian parties lack sufficient professionals
Bagrat Israelyan, teacher Do you think that the personnel policy based
on the coalition principle has justified itself, or should preference
in appointments be given after all to professional qualities?
Bagdasaryan I don’t think it’s correct to oppose the political and
professional principles in the appointment of personnel when it
is a question of political posts, while other structures of power
are apolitical according to the law on state service. Throughout
the civilized world personnel policy is conducted on the coalition
principle. Not local big shots but professional politicians should be
engaged in politics. Unfortunately, not all parties in Armenia have
sufficient personnel potential. This also concerns the Law-Governed
Country Party Orinats Yerkir . Our party is young and, I think,
in time we will have sufficient professional personnel.
Parliament is fighting corruption
Liana Manukyan, musician Why is parliament passive in the fight
against corruption? If you do not agree with this viewpoint, give
specific examples as the basis for your position.
Artur Bagdasaryan I think that it is precisely parliament that is
fighting corruption, because it is no secret that corruption lies
within the executive authorities. Our Audit Chamber is our main
instrument. For instance, last year for the first time in 15 years
parliament did not approve the government’s privatization programme,
because it is not clear to us how a territory of 4,000 sq.m. in the
city centre can be sold for 21,000 US dollars.
Parliament to have thorough discussion on sending troops to Iraq
Karlen Gabriyelyan, construction engineer What do you think of the
prospect of our military being sent to Iraq? Are you not afraid that
this may turn into a threat to the security of our country?
Bagdasaryan The Armenian parliament should thoroughly discuss this
issue when the National Assembly gets the official document. In giving
legal and political assessments we should strictly base ourselves on
this document.
Passage omitted: Bagdasaryan prefers political and psychological
literature
New rules to punish MPs for failing to attend parliament sittings
Mikhail Avetisov, pensioner Parliament sittings take place in an
almost empty hall. Why do the deputies not attend? And what are you
going to do to bring the opposition back to parliament? Why, when they
are not working in parliament and not fulfilling their obligations,
do the opposition (and not only opposition) deputies get their salary
from the taxpayers’ pocket?
Bagdasaryan The question is correct. There are a certain number of
deputies who do not want to take part in the work of parliament at
all. This is very bad. But these deputies were elected and we cannot do
anything about it. As for deputies who are absent without good reason,
we have already discussed this. Soon corrections will be made to the
sitting regulations, according to which a deputy who does not attend
sittings without good reason will be punished financially.
Passage omitted: Bagdasaryan advises refugees to approach his adviser
to solve their problems; Yerevan residents complain about illegal
construction of Thailand’s consulate; Bagdasaryan says he often
meets veterans
Justice minister cannot personally resolve all problems in legal system
Grigoriy Kazaryan, pensioner The judicial system of Armenia is one
the most corrupt in the republic. The latest famous statements of
the Prosecutor-General’s Office are evidence of this. This is one of
the reasons for the population’s emigration. Do you not think that
Justice Minister David Arutyunyan cannot (or may be does not want) to
correct the situation and should retire? Why is your party called the
Law-Governed Country Party when none of its members fights for justice?
Bagdasaryan We are fighting for justice and many examples are evidence
of this. As for the judicial system, I agree that corruption in this
sphere is very high. There is corruption in the law-enforcement
agencies as well. It is necessary to fight this very negative
phenomenon. As for Justice Minister David Arutyunyan, I do not
think that he personally should settle all the problems connected
with the judicial system, that is, to be responsible for all the
judicial sins. Judicial and legal reform has been conducted in our
country, certain specific reforms will be conducted in 2005. I hope
the situation will gradually change for the better, but for this
social legislation should be improved and the living standards of
population should be raised.
Passage omitted: Bagdasaryan stresses his support for science, will
support publication of an Armenian studies journal; says health
council is working within the law
Defends education and culture ministers
Yervand Manasaryan, professor The ministers who are Law-Governed
Country Party appointees figure constantly in scandals: the science
minister Sergo Yeritsyan does not deal with science, the culture
minister Ovik Oveyan moved from a stupid personnel policy in the circus
to a stupid personnel policy in the choreography school, then in the
Chamber Theatre… ellipses as published What’s next? Surely society
shouldn’t have only to suffer from your personnel idiosyncrasies? Do
you at least know how many people are suffering from the actions of
Law-Governed Country Party appointees in more humble posts?
Bagdasaryan We’ll begin by saying that first of all the Armenian
Academy of Sciences should deal with issues of science. I support this
approach. The ministry is called the Ministry of Education and Science,
but does not in reality have the authority to deal with issues related
to science and we should expand the functions of the Armenian Academy
of Sciences.
As for the minister of culture, he is a very famous cultural figure,
the author of many books and screenplays, a dramatist. All his family
are closely linked with the world of the arts, of creativity. As for
the examples listed, these are in many instances artificial scandals,
which play into someone’s hands… ellipses as published
I cannot agree with the questioner. In many other ministries the
situation is much more complex than in those mentioned. I acknowledge
that there are problems, but no more than in other ministries.
It should not be forgotten that science and culture are the spheres
of individuals, bright, outstanding individuals. So it is not at all
simple to get to grips with things here and one should not rush to
draw conclusions and make accusations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian and Karabakh leadership hold meeting on boosting cooperation
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
29 Oct 04
President Robert Kocharyan held a working meeting today. The members
of the Armenian and Nagornyy Karabakh governments took part in the
session. The president noted that during various meetings with the
president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic NKR, Arkadiy Gukasyan ,
he came to the conclusion that there is a need to improve cooperation
between the executive authorities of Armenia and the NKR.
Robert Kocharyan said that definite solutions are needed which will
allow contacts not only at the level of presidents and prime ministers
and that also the ministries and departments must work jointly.
The president also noted that Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh are in
the same economic area and the reforms carried out in this sphere
must be balanced.
The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Arkadiy Gukasyan,
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and Artsakh Karabakh Prime
Minister Anushavan Daniyelyan presented their proposals.
Following the results of the session, it was decided to set up a
commission on coordination of joint work, which will make cooperation
between Armenia and the NKR more effective and expedient, and at the
same time to step up mutual visits and contacts.
Video shows the meeting

German Greens to visit Turkey on 1 November
ddp news agency
29 Oct 04
Text of report by German news agency ddp on 29 October entitled
“High-ranking Greens delegation going to Turkey”
Berlin: On Monday 1 November top representatives of the Greens
will go to Turkey for a five-day informational visit. In Ankara the
eight-member delegation will meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the Greens Bundestag
Group announced in Berlin on Friday. In addition, the delegation
will talk with representatives of human rights organizations in the
Turkish capital.
In Istanbul, talks with representatives of the Armenian Patriarchate
and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are also on the agenda. Furthermore,
meetings with representatives of the German-Turkish Industrial and
Trade Chamber are planned. At the conclusion of the visit, Deputy
Bundestag Group Chairman Winfried Nachtwei and Greens leader Claudia
Roth will go to the province of Sirnak in eastern Turkey. There,
German armoured personnel carriers have reportedly been used against
Kurds. Roth announced some days ago that she intends to acquaint
herself with the situation by visiting the area personally.
In addition to Nachtwei and Roth, the talks in Turkey will also
be attended by Bundestag Group Chairwomen Krista Sager and Katrin
Goering-Eckardt, Parliamentary Manager Ekin Deligoz, European affairs
expert Rainder Steenblock, Greens Chairman Reinhard Buetikofer, and
Marieluise Beck, the Federal Government’s commissioner for integration.

OSCE rep says Azerbaijan, Armenia concerned about frequent truce violation
Ekspress, Baku,
29 Oct 04
Text of report by Alakbar Raufoglu in Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress
on 29 October headlined “Who opens fire?” and subheaded “For the time
being, Kasprzyk cannot find culprits”
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has asked the OSCE chairman-in-office
Solomon Pasi that the OSCE’s special mission express its attitude
to the situation on the front line between the Azerbaijani and
Armenian armed forces, the personal representative of the OSCE
chairman-in-office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, told Ekspress newspaper
yesterday. He said that the conflicting countries “are seriously
concerned” about frequent cease-fire violations over the past several
weeks.
The co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group are also concerned about
the tension. “The situation is clear: attempts are being made to
violate the cease-fire during the “time out” taken in the talks, but
there is a need to put an end to this. All this also casts doubt on
the OSCE’s mediation mission,” Kasprzyk said.
Kasprzyk is preparing a report on the situation on the front line. He
said that reports on the situation by the co-chairmen are mainly
based on information provided by his mission.
“However, our investigation has not yielded any specific results
on which side violates the cease-fire , and, in fact, there is no
special situation. Both sides are observing the cease-fire with great
responsibility. There have always been some cases of instability
which are not ruled out in the future either,” he added.
Kasprzyk also said that cooperation on the issue was continued with
the envoys of the co-chairing countries in Yerevan and Baku, adding
that his report would be submitted to the mediators in the near future.
“Anyway, no-one can justify attempts to disrupt stability. Tension
on the front line can have a negative impact on the efforts to come
to compromises at the peace talks,” Kasprzyk said.
Incidentally, another OSCE monitoring was held yesterday on the
contact line between the Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces in
the village of Balacafarli of Qazax District northwestern Azerbaijan
. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry press service reports that the
monitoring held by representatives of the OSCE and local executive
bodies passed off without incidents.