Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 28, 2004
Georgian Ambassador’s Letter to the UN Security Council over Abkhazia
New York, 26 October 2004
Dear Mr. President,
I have the honour to write to you and, through you, to draw attention
of the Security Council to the recent developments in the conflict
resolution process in Abkhazia, Georgia.
In doing so, I should like to express my sincere gratitude to the
Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan and his Special Representative Ms.
Heidi Tagliavini for their tireless efforts to bring about a
comprehensive political settlement of the protracted conflict in my
country.
The latest events in Abkhazia barely leave us grounds for optimism, and
I think that this situation is objectively reflected in the report of
the Secretary-General. Indeed, the UN-led peace process in the region
has reached its critical juncture.
Ardzinba’s ethnocratic regime has always sought to thwart the peace
process. His no-compromise policy is bringing our peaceful efforts to
naught and could ultimately damage the peace talks beyond repair. In
this context holding of the illegitimate and self-styled presidential
elections by the Abkhaz separatists on October 3, is yet another
attempt to imbue legality to the demographic changes resulting from the
conflict. It is being done in flagrant disregard of the position of the
international community manifested in the Security Council numerous
resolutions and Presidential Statements to affirm illegitimacy of the
elections when 300 000 Georgian population are forcibly driven out of
the region. By the same virtue, the elections fail to sustain even
scant semblance of democracy putting aside its violation of
international law in the environment where violence and human rights
violations constitute routine of life.
Against this background, the Ministry of the Russian Federation, which
praised the elections in a statement of October 4, 2004, as “calm and
democratic”, appeared to be the only dissenter in the international
community. With tension in the region at its height fuelled by the
presence of the terrorist groups known as Confederation of Mountain
Peoples, best known by their notorious commander Shamil Basayev, the
situation is anything but calm (clarification: Shamil Basayev served as
a Deputy Defense Minister of the separatist regime in 1990’s.).
Moreover, the presence of foreign terrorist groups of the Confederation
highlights the acute problem of the illegal influx of arms and armed
groups through the unilaterally open Abkhazia section of the
Russian-Georgian border. Especially in the aftermath of the tragedy in
Beslan, the Russia’s border policy comes at odds with the real needs
and interest of combating terrorism and ensuring security. Otherwise
one can not explain of closure of the only legally operating checkpoint
in Zemo Larsi, while two other illegal checkpoints with the
secessionist regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia
remain opened. At the end these measures affect not potential
terrorists but ordinary, law-abiding people from Georgia, Russia and
Armenia, whose interests are mainly harmed by the unpredictability of
the border crossing regime. Numerous protests of Georgia on this
matter remain unheeded.
The escalation of the situation in the region was preceded by
unprecedented in breadth involvement and interference of certain
political circles in Russia in Abkhazia, Georgia; President Putin
himself in display of Russia’s support publicly met one of the
“candidates for President of Abkhazia”. Russian political and
pop-artists have been mobilized to support the Kremlin favorite.
The “electoral campaign” unfolded in milieu of reopening of a railway
link between Moscow and Sokhumi after 12 years remaining dysfunctional.
The event protested by Georgia as infringement upon its sovereignty and
violation of international law attested to the level of damage caused
to the UN-led peace process by the broken commitments – President
Putin’s formula that implementation of economic projects in the region
must be synchronized with the return of refugees and IDP’s is either
completely ignored or cynically countered with the contention that they
have already returned in Gali district. Those, who attempt to
capitalize on spontaneous returnees, enduring almost everyday violence
and intimidation, are deliberately mistaking organized return in safety
and dignity for its antithesis.
Mr. President, notwithstanding this complex development, the Government
of Georgia is committed to resume negotiations for the settlement of
the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, with any leader who will succeed Mr.
Ardzinba. However, the progress in this matter would require from the
Abkhaz side to master the requisite political will for the constructive
engagement in the negotiations, in particular on so called Boden
document on “Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences
between Tbilisi and Sokhumi” as well as allow for establishment of the
Human Rights Office branch in Gali, address the problem of teaching of
Georgian children in their native language and consent on deployment of
the UNOMIG civilian police component in Gali district, which as pointed
out in the Secretary-General’s report is implemented only on Georgian
side where it receives “good cooperation”.
The same extends to the Russian side, which has to overcome its own
bias in favor of the secessionists and take into account the interests
of the peace process as a whole, in particular interest of thousands of
refugees and IDP’s, instead of vehemently protecting and advancing of
the interests of Abkhazs at any cost and at every international fora.
In this respect, the attitudes instilled through the Russian media are
both dangerous and alarming – overwhelming majority of them depict
Abkhazia as a region of the Russian Federation inhabited by Russian
citizens and Russia as duty-bound to protect them by all means against
the Georgian “aggressors” including use of military force and
mercenaries, interference in the “election process” for installing
local political leaders loyal to Moscow, etc. For many in Russia these
actions are appropriate modus operandi in carrying out the role of the
mediator in the conflicts.
Mr. President, in finalizing, I should like to go back to the point
with which I started this letter – the substantial progress in the UN
led peace process is contingent upon willingness of all its
participants to honor their commitments and to engage into constructive
negotiations with the genuine aim of resolving conflict. In the absence
of this, the Security Council resolutions are bound to become mere
exhortations of good intentions by a supreme organ of the UN,
implementation of which depends on the political whim of the Abkhaz
side (why not if the Abkhaz side is almost convinced that intransigence
will always go unabated).
Mr. President, all would agree that present status-quo in the process
of the conflict resolution in Abkhazia, Georgia, is untenable and
therefore resolute steps are required to overcome the present
stalemate. Otherwise, and I can not but ring an alarm here, the more
this “frozen” conflict remains unresolved, the more difficult it
becomes to find a compromise for long-lasting peace.
The Security Council has both authority and, I hope, willingness to
take lead in reinvigorating the UN led peace process. Therefore, we
wholeheartedly invite the Security Council to foster its involvement in
the conflict-resolution process in Abkhazia, Georgia. One of the steps
that the Security Council could make at this stage, we think, would be
field visit to Georgia – particularly to Sokhumi -to learn firsthand
the reality on the ground and try to come out of stalemate in the
conflict-resolution process.
I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter
circulated as a document of the Security Council.
Sincerely,
Revaz Adamia
Ambassador, Permanent Representative

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: George Shirinian
DATE: October 28, 2004
Tel: 416-250-9807
Babayan Foundation Support for Zoryan Institute Surpasses $40,000
Toronto, Canada – For the fifth year in a row, the Levon Perouz
Babayan Foundation continues to make a significant contribution in
support of the Zoryan Institute. Over the course of the five years,
the Babayan Foundation has provided over $40,000 to assist Zoryan in
fulfilling its mission, with an emphasis on its innovative Genocide
and Human Rights University Program.
Mr. Haig Selian, the President of the Babayan Foundation, said,
“The Zoryan Institute goes beyond meeting our basic criteria of
being a non-political Armenian cultural and educational organization
in Ontario. The fundamental nature of their work, dealing with our
modern history, especially the Genocide, its impact on our identity,
and our experience in the Diaspora, are all conducted at the highest
academic level. We see that they engage world renowned scholars,
specialized in their respective fields, to conduct their University
Program. We are very happy to see a program such as this bring a
unique perspective to the teaching of modern Armenian history to
senior and talented students from around the world. This is what
propels our board to support to continue its mission. In short,
there is not another organization like it.”
The Levon Perouz Babayan Foundation was established in Toronto by
Mrs. Perouz Babayan, in 1971. The Foundation’s mission is to provide
financial support to Armenian religious, language, cultural and
charitable organizations within the Province of Ontario.
Levon Babayan was born in Bursa, Turkey and arrived in Canada in the
mid-1890s. He established himself in the rug business in Toronto and
married Perouz Benlian, who came to Canada from England. She was born
in Kayseri, Turkey. The business was very successful and the Babayan
name was held in great esteem in Canadian high society, which was
remarkable at a time when immigrants were not readily embraced by
the establishment.
The Babayans could be described as the patriarch and matriarch of the
early Armenian community in Toronto. They were always helpful towards
those less fortunate than themselves by providing employment in their
business. When the Genocide took place, they were instrumental in
arranging the passage and admission into Canada of some 120 Armenian
orphans, the Georgetown Boys, who were so named after the location
of the orphanage in Ontario. Mr. Babayan kept close touch with the
orphans and visited their foster homes periodically, to make sure
that the youngsters were well cared for. Mrs. Babayan was active in
organizing, with the help of the Canadian Red Cross, fund raising
in the streets of downtown Toronto to aid Armenian refugees in the
various camps in Egypt, Greece, and other countries in the Middle East.
The Babayans prospered over the years and when Mrs. Babayan passed
on in 1975, she bequeathed substantial assets to the Foundation. The
Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees: Haig Selian,
Ani Eudemishlian, Gregory Kasparian, Mgrditch Meras, and Ara Selyan.
The Foundation began supporting Zoryan with general operating funds
in 2000. However, in 2002, an additional sum was added specifically
for the Genocide and Human Rights University Program, totaling to
date $42,000.
Gregory Kasparian, Trustee, whose father was also associated with the
Georgetown Boys, explained the motivation of the Trustees to begin
their support of Zoryan. “We were regularly witnessing cases of denial
of the Armenian Genocide and saw the need for an organization that
could inform the public about what happened during the Genocide and
why it happened. We saw in Zoryan an organization that is dedicated,
scholarly, well researched, dispassionate, and sound, which gave it
the expertise and credibility to confront denial.”
Mr. Barry Papazian, Legal Advisor to the Zoryan Institute, expressed
his deep gratitude to the Trustees of the Babayan Foundation. “Apart
from the financial boost, it gives tremendous encouragement and
motivation to the directors, scholars, volunteers, and staff at Zoryan
when a venerable organization like the Babayan Foundation provides
such staunch support.”
The Zoryan Institute is the first diasporan center devoted to the
research and documentation of contemporary issues related to the
history, politics, society, and culture of Armenia, the Diaspora and
the Armenian Genocide, with offices in Cambridge, MA and Toronto,
Canada.

Little Red top talent
By BEN JACOBS
The Ithaca Journal
28 Oct. 2004
Journal Staff
IRINA PERESS/Journal Staff
Ithaca High seventh-grader Lucy Mehrabyan, shown here in a match
earlier this year, won the Section IV singles state qualifier last
weekend. Saturday, she begins the state tournament in Manlius.
ITHACA — Ithaca High girls’ tennis coach Amy Rogers knew she had
something special when seventh-grader Lucy Mehrabyan joined the team
this year. Everybody else in Section IV found out just how special
very quickly.
“From the first few matches, everybody in our class was talking about
her,” Rogers said. “Her reputation preceded her and she was the one
person that really stood out.”
Now, Mehrabyan has a chance to showcase her talents for the rest of
the state. The 12-year-old from Armenia earned the top seed from
Section IV in the state tennis tournament by defeating Binghamton
junior Carly Smith 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1 in the final of the Section IV
Qualifier at the Binghamton Tennis Center on Saturday.
“I didn’t think I would get this far,” Mehrabyan said Tuesday during a
practice for the state tournament with Rogers at Reis Tennis Center. “I
just wanted to play my best, not to win so many things.”
On her way to qualifying for states, Mehrabyan avenged her only two
losses of the season. She lost to Binghamton’s Maria Kent during the
regular season, but defeated Kent in the second round of the qualifier.
Mehrabyan lost to Smith in the sectional semifinals nine days before
beating her in the qualifier.
The state tournament begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with the first two
rounds at the Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius. The third and fourth
rounds are on Sunday, with the semifinals and finals on Monday.
“I think there are very good players in states. I think if I fight
to every point like I have done, I think I can win a couple rounds,”
Mehrabyan said. “I hope to get by a couple rounds, that’s all. I hope
I will win, but I don’t think I will.”
Don’t let Mehrabyan’s modesty trick you into thinking she’s not
capable of rising to meet this challenge.
“I think she’s really ready to have a higher level of competition,”
Rogers said. “She’s been the leader in the region throughout the
entire season, and now she’s ready for a greater challenge.”
All season, Mehrabyan demonstrated that she not only has special
talent for her age, but also that she’s mature beyond her years.
“It’s just an incredible experience for the whole team to have the
leader be so young and to be so far ahead of the rest of the team,”
Rogers said. “She’s 12 years old and she’s the youngest (member of
the Little Red), but she’s not only this amazing athlete and this
amazing tennis player, but she’s also incredibly mature as well.
“She’s really a true leader in every respect.”
Mehrabyan demonstrated that leadership in dealing with her biggest
obstacle this season. She hurt her wrist in the first match of the
year, and it eventually became a sprain that has forced her to change
her game.
“It took away my power and I worry that when I hit a normal shot,
I’ll hurt it again,” Mehrabyan said. “I hit a little differently now
and it affects my game a lot, I think.”
In order to make it through the season without damaging her wrist,
Mehrabyan had to sit out two matches. She picked matches that she
felt the team could win without her presence.
Mehrabyan wasn’t able to practice before the sectional tournament
because of her wrist, but Rogers said she began to look more like
herself at the state qualifier, where she again had to deal with
some adversity.
“She played in a very difficult environment. We were in Binghamton
and the fans were all against her and her opponent was visibly angry
and yet Lucy was just completely composed,” Rogers said. “It’s hard
to believe she’s really 12 when you watch her play.”
Mehrabyan began playing tennis at age 5 on red clay courts in Armenia
because her father, Surik, wanted to make sure his young daughter got
some exercise. She didn’t even like the game at first, but that changed
two-and-a-half years ago when her family moved to Newport News, Va.
“There, I played year-round almost every day,” Mehrabyan said. “I
played around people who played just like me, but they were much
older and I got better from that.”
Her family moved again last August when Surik got a job at Cornell
University, and Lucy had to adjust to moving away from a tennis hotbed.
“I got a little angry because there was only my family to practice
with (at first), but this year there were many opportunities,” she
said. “I like it better here (now). I guess as time passed, I got
used to where I live and I started liking this place better.”
With her great success in seventh grade, you might be wondering how
good Mehrabyan will be when she’s a senior on the Ithaca tennis team.
She hopes you never find out.
“I hope to become a professional tennis player at age 16. I hope it
will turn out that way,” Mehrabyan said. “I wanted to turn pro when I
came to America two-and-a-half years ago. I got inspired by my coach in
Newport News, Virginia and I wanted to become a pro from that day on.”
Rogers would not be at all surprised if it happens.
“It’s amazing that she’s 12 years old and she’s playing at this level.
I think when we all watch her, we forget her age just because she
not only plays at such a high level, but she also is so composed,”
Rogers said.
“She just has this incredible temperament for the game. She already
has the mental toughness, and that piece is harder to teach than any
other part of tennis.”

ARF TO HOLD GENERAL MEETING OCTOBER 29
ArmenPress
28 Oct. 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
one of the three members of the ruling coalition, will convene its
general meeting on October 29. A senior member of the party Vahan
Hovhanesian, who is also deputy parliament speaker, said the convention
will discuss an array of domestic and foreign policy issues.
He said journalists will not be allowed to attend it, as “the
convention usually goes with heated debates which we would not like
others to see.” He said a statement will be made upon the convention’s
conclusions.

ARMENIAN TRADE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER TO OPEN A BRANCH IN CHINA
ArmenPress
28 Oct. 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Trade and Industry Chamber
(TIC) has reached an agreement with the respective structure in
China to open a representation in Shanghai, the chairman of TIC told
Armenpress, mentioning that the representation will do marketing for
Armenian products in China.
In his words, a free economic zone is being established in Shanghai
and infrastructures are developed. The industry and trade chambers
of the two countries have also reached an agreement to establish
infrastructures which will promote Chinese export to Armenia.
On the sidelines of Chinese TIC delegation’s visit to Armenian,
possibilities for establishing joint ventures will be discussed, M.
Sarkisian said. China also intends to use Armenia for distributing
its goods throughout CIS.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIA REQUESTS MORE ELECTRICITY FROM ARMENIA
ArmenPress
28 Oct. 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Georgia’s energy ministry said
Wednesday evening that it has asked the Russian-Armenian HayRusGazArd
venture to increase by 100 megawatt the volume of electricity, it
exports to Georgia through Armenia-located Alaverdi electricity lines.
A spokeswoman for HayRusGazArd, Shushan Sardarian, told Armenpress
that the Georgian United Distributing Energy Company signed a contract
with HayRusGazArd on October 14 for purchase of 500,000 kilowatt of
electricity daily at 2.5 US cents per one kilowatt/h. The contract
is valid until 2005 march 1.
Another Armenian company, the International Energy Corporation,
sells electricity to Georgian Telasi company at 2.6 US cents.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 27, 2004, Wednesday
09:51:43 Central European Time
Austrian police find 28 Chinese crammed into van
Innsbruck, Austria
Police said on Wednesday they discovered 28 Chinese crammed into a
van in a “particularly unscrupulous” case of human trafficking. An
announcement quoted by the teletext service of Austrian ORF television
said the discovery was made on a highway near the town of Hall
in Tyrol. The Chinese were believed to have been transported from
Nuremberg, Germany, and were to have been smuggled into Italy. Police
said the driver of the vehicle, a 28-year-old unemployed Czech citizen,
was arrested. They were still looking for accomplices. The Chinese
would be sent back to Germany during the day. In Eastern Austria,
the Directorate of Security in Lower Austria province meanwhile
said that 59 refugees and migrants had been stopped on Monday and
Tuesday for illegally crossing the borders. The majority of 31 were
Russian citizens, the statement said. There were also nine Georgians,
seven Armenians, six Mongolians, two Moldavians, and one person each
from the Ukraine, Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as one stateless
person. dpa qu jm

Olympic champs on target in final
The Nation (Thailand)
October 28, 2004, Thursday
[SHOOTING] Two-time Olympics gold medallist Maria Grozdeva of Bulgaria
showed her class in the womens air pistol event, while two other Athens
champions were below par as the ISSF World Cup final started yesterday
at the Hua Mark Shooting Range.
The 32-year-old from Sofia produced a solid final score of 691.6 to
walk away with the first gold medal of the meet and extended her
brilliant performance with the air pistol following her wins in the
Sydney and Athens Olympics.
While Grozdeva, who had to be content with the silver in the Bangkok
World Cup in February, lived up to expectations, this years Summer
Olympics gold medallists Wang Yifu of China and Matthew Emmons of the
US did not even make it into the top three positions.
Veteran Yifu shot only 584 in the mens air pistol qualification round
and ended the final with only 683.8 for sixth position. He failed to
repeat his form in Athens and the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona where he
won the gold.
New Jersey-based Emmons, whose solid 703.3 scoreline propelled him to
the mens rifle prone gold medal in Athens, was not at his best in the
same category after firing 668.6 to finish fifth.
With a perfect score of 600 in the preliminary round, Olympic silver
medallist Christian Lusch of Germany left all competitors behind in the
final with 702.1 to snatch the gold medal in the mens rifle prone
event. He beat two Belarussians, Yury Shcherbatsevich and Sergei
Martyynov, who finished second and third.
Russian Mikhail Nestruev made amends for his loss to Wang Yifu in
Athens when he took the silver to win the mens air pistol gold.
Armenias Norayr Bakhtamyan, unable to maintain his lead in the
qualification, took the silver, followed by Russian Vladimir
Gontcharov.
Jakkrit Panichpatikum, the only Thai eligible for the meet, was no
match for the elite shooters as he scored only 580 to finish ninth in
the field of 10 in the qualification round, which saw his aim of making
the final cut fall through.
In the concurrent SEASA Shooting Championships exclusive only to
regional participants, Vietnamese shooters took the lions share of gold
medals by winning two of four gold on offer yesterday.
Lerpong Amsa-ngiamThe Nation

ARKA News Agency
28 Oct. 2004
Nagorno Karabakh strictly goes along the way of democracy – Arkady
Gukasian
RA NA Speaker and WB Regional Director to South Caucasus discuss
cooperation issues
Delegation of Vitebsk department of Belarus trade-industrial chamber
visits Armenia
In Q3 2004 international organizations provided Armenia $4 million 229
thousand for realization of programs of Social Investments Fund
RA Foreign Minister leaves for Tbilisi for participation in the sitting
of BSEC Foreign Ministers Council
***********************************************************************
NAGORNO KARABAKH STRICTLY GOES ALONG THE WAY OF DEMOCRACY – ARKADY
GUKASIAN
STEPANAKERT, October 28. /ARKA/. Nagorno Karabakh strictly goes along
the way of democracy, NKR President Arkady Gukasian stated during the
meeting with the delegation of political figures and experts from USA
and Europe. Delegation is headed with the President of German Fund of
US Marshall Craig Kennedy and the Head of Project of Transition
Democracies, Chairman of NATO Committee to US Senate Bruce Jackson. The
President once again confirmed the readiness of Karabakh party to
discuss existing problems with Azeri party and the same time stressed
that official Baku should demonstrate constructive position.
Talking about NKR goals Gukasian said “despite of serious damage caused
by war, lasting blockage and absence of assistance of international
community, we managed to achieve serious progress in the issue of
creation of civil society”, he said. L.D. –0–
***********************************************************************
RA NA SPEAKER AND WB REGIONAL DIRECTOR TO SOUTH CAUCASUS DISCUSS
COOPERATION ISSUES
YEREVAN, October 28. /ARKA/. RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian and WB
Regional Director to South Caucasus Donna Dowsett-Coirolo discussed
cooperation issues, RA NA told ARKA. The parties discussed process and
development of WB-NA cooperation. Dowsett-Coirolo noted that WB has
good cooperation with RA Parliament, which assists productivity and
effectiveness of their works.
Baghdasarian expressed satisfaction with realized programs in the
sphere of education, healthcare and social sphere and stressed the
importance of control over their realization.
Talking about future realization of WB programs in Armenia the Speaker
stressed the importance of making an accent on regional programs,
assistance to creation of middle class. L.D. –0–
***********************************************************************
DELEGATION OF VITEBSK DEPARTMENT OF BELARUS TRADE-INDUSTRIAL CHAMBER
VISITS ARMENIA
YEREVAN, October 28. /ARKA/. Delegation of Vitebsk department of
Belarus trade-industrial chamber visits Armenia on the invitation of
trade-industrial chamber of Kotayk region. Belarus Embassy to Armenia
told ARKA that the base for give visit was establishment of contacts
and signing of the agreement on cooperation between TICs of Vitebsk
region and Kotayk region. The goal of the visit is provision of
products of Vitebsk companies, conduction of negotiations with
administration of Armenian companies. During the meetings the parties
considered issues of organization of supplies of Armenian products in
Belarus and other possible variants of Armenian-Belarus trade-economic
cooperation. L.D. –0–
***********************************************************************
IN Q3 2004 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDED ARMENIA $4 MILLION 229
THOUSAND FOR REALIZATION OF PROGRAMS OF SOCIAL INVESTMENTS FUND
YEREVAN, October 28. /ARKA/. In Q3 2004 international organizations
provided Armenia $4 million 229 thousand for realization of programs of
social investments fund, RA Government press office told ARKA that it
was stated by SIF Director Executive Ashot Kirakosian at the regular
sitting of the Fund. According to him, the works envisaged in the
frames of the Fund’s programs are fulfilled by 114%, including at the
line of construction – by 111%. Kirakosian said that for realization of
construction works 30 agreements were conducted totaling $1 million
785.7 thousand. L.D. –0–
***********************************************************************
RA FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR TBILISI FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SITTING
OF BSEC FOREIGN MINISTERS COUNCIL
YEREVAN, October 28. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian left
for Tbilisi for participation in the sitting of BSEC Foreign Ministers
Council, RA MFA told ARKA. L.D. –0–
***********************************************************************
From: Baghdasarian

ARKA News Agency
28 Oct. 2004
A.GRIGORIAN: STEPANAKERT TO CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION OF DEMOCRATIC STATE
WITH CONSIDERATION OF THREAT OF RECOMMENCEMENT OF MILITARY ACTIONS
Exclusive interview of Alexander GRIGORIAN, the Head of Chief
Information Department at NKR President, to ARKA News Agency.
ARKA- Mr. Grigorian, recently administration of Azerbaijan more often
uses militarist rhetoric in the issue of Karabakh settlement. How can
you comment these statements, and how do they contribute to search of
necessary compromises in conflict settlement?
A.Grigorian- Azeri party does not want any compromises. Official Baku
hopes that Western community and Russia sooner or later put pressure
upon Yerevan and Stepanakert and help Azerbaijan to return Nagorno
Karabakh in constitutional field of Azerbaijan. This is the explanation
of militarist rhetoric of Baku authorities. This rhetoric has a
character of blackmail and basically addressed to Western community,
which is interested in stable South Caucasus: it means, if you don’t
help to return Karabakh, we will ruin all your plans in the region. The
problem cannot be solved like that. The one can only aggravate the
situation. If Azerbaijan wants this, it is hopeless policy. I don’t
think that even allies of Azerbaijan are happy with this policy.
ARKA- After coming to power, Aliev Junior stated on the necessity to
start negotiations on Karabakh settlement from “zero level”. How strong
is administration of Azerbaijan attached to this principle?
A.Grigorian- If by word of mouth there are some small changes, in
practice everything testifies to unwillingness of Azeri powers to deal
with Karabakh problem themselves. Logic of their behavior is something
as following: if international community recognizes territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan, then why bother looking for some compromises,
which more or less disturb the situation de jure. What about de-facto,
i.e. Nagorno Karabakh as independent, though unrecognized state, then
Baku thinks that similar situation is temporary. It is necessary, Baku
thinks, just to continue the policy on military-political and economic
isolation of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh and wait for creation of
totally new, more favorable for Azerbaijan situation in the region. In
other words, “zero level” is nothing but the unwillingness of Baku to
deal itself with Karabakh problem and its attempt to put it on the
shoulders of mediators.
ARKA- Therefore, negotiations on Karabakh conflict settlement are in
dead end? If yes, then does the situation suit Karabakh party? And
generally speaking: would it be possible in the future the joining of
Karabakh party to Yerevan-Baku dialogue?
A.Grigorian- I will agree with you considering dead-end situation of
negotiating process. Does this situation suit Karabakh? Certainly not.
It is necessary to struggle for juridical distinctness, not only
factual. And we cannot wait for ever, until Azerbaijan decides to talk
to Karabakh. Talk on the base of constructivism. We will continue
construction of our state in correspondence to basic principles of
democracy, but with consideration of threat of recommencement of
military actions. Besides, Nagorno Karabakh already passed ahead of
Azerbaijan in the sphere of democratization of public-political life.
And it is not only my opinion. I suppose that this fact is even
realized in Azerbaijan. It is for this reason they always state against
conduction of elections in NKR and visit of Nagorno Karabakh by
representatives of Western structures.
ARKA- Armenian parties have more than once stated that Karabakh
conflict can be settled only be means of negotiations, on the base of
compromises. What compromises are possible from Karabakh party?
A.Grigorian- Karabakh party is ready to discuss with Azerbaijan all
issues considering thief future relations. Only in the process of
similar dialogue some acceptable compromises can appear.
ARKA- After amnesty of Samvel Babayan, there were no any official
comments considering given fact. Could you mention political motives of
the amnesty and how was this decision to NKR president, considering
organization of murderous assault?
A.Grigorian- The President showed mercy. All other interpretations of
this fact are groundless.
ARKA- Recently the visits of NKR administration abroad became more
often. How can you explain similar activation of Nagorno Karabakh
authorities?
A.Grigorian – Nagorno Karabakh is developing, NKR contacts with the
world are expanding. I want to specially note that the factor of NKR
unacknowledgement for many countries is not a negative irritant in the
view of establishment of cooperation with it. In many respects it is
explained with our achievements in state construction, reforms’ level,
conducted almost in all spheres of life of our republic. We created
favorable tax base for investment in NKR economy. External investors
every day become more confident that they deal with reliable partner.
First of all it considers our compatriots from abroad. Along with that
we expect their more active cooperation with Nagorno Karabakh. We
understand, that many are alarmed with the factor of unsettled conflict
and that investments in the economy of NKR have to deal with risk.
However, the one should not forget that nothing can happen without
certain risk in our region. L.D. –0–