Norwegian FM: ‘CE is not capable of resolving Upper Garabagh conflict’
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 14 2004
The Upper Garabagh conflict settlement depends on a mutual agreement
of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Norwegian Foreign Minister, chairman of the
Council of Europe’s (CE) Ministerial Committee, Ian Peterson visiting
Baku said during his meeting with Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
The Council of Europe is not capable of solving the Upper Garabagh
conflict but can act as a mediator, he said.
Afterwards, the parties discussed issues related to fulfillment
of Azerbaijan’s commitments to the CE and fighting international
terrorism.
In a meeting with Speaker Alasgarov the parties focused on the Garabagh
conflict and the Azerbaijani-CE relations. Alasgarov underlined that
Azerbaijan binds hopes with the Council of Europe with regard to the
conflict resolution.
Alasgarov emphasized that Azerbaijan has joined over 40 conventions
and passed 100 laws.
Peterson said in reply that adopting decisions does not mean fulfilling
commitments, as their execution is important. As for the Upper Garabagh
conflict, Peterson said he supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk
Group in this area.*

BSEC Parliamentary Assembly meets in Baku
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 14 2004
The 24th two-day meeting of the Committee on Legal and Political
Issues of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization (PABSEC) started in Baku on Wednesday.
Representatives from all BSEC member states, except Armenia and
Moldova, participated in the meeting focusing on issues of stability
and security in the region.
In his opening remarks, head of the Bulgarian delegation Borislav
Ralchev said that security is a priority issue in the Black Sea
region and that the ongoing conflicts in the region affect external
developments. Ralchev pointed out the need for assistance in fighting
organized terrorism and maintaining regional peace and stability.
The Milli Majlis (parliament) Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov focused on the
problems caused by the conflicts ongoing in regions. He underlined that
terrorism poses a threat to the world community in the globalization
period and that the territory of Upper Garabagh has turned into an
uncontrolled zone and center of separatism and terrorism as a result
of Armenia’s policy of invasion.
“Every state that supports terrorism directly or indirectly must be
held accountable,” Alasgarov added.*

President, Norwegian FM discuss Azerbaijan-CE co-op
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 14 2004
President Ilham Aliyev and Norwegian Foreign Minister, chairman of
the Council of Europe (CE) Ministerial Committee Ian Peterson visiting
Baku bilateral relations, the Azerbaijan-CE cooperation and the Upper
Garabagh conflict on Wednesday, the President’s Office said.
Aliyev emphasized the fair position of Azerbaijan which supports a
broad discussion of the conflict settlement.
“When we proposed to appoint the PACE rapporteur on Upper Garabagh,
Armenia opposed it, “which shows that this country is not interested in
conveying the essence of the conflict to the international community”,
he said.

President calls on Azerbaijani people to unite
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 14 2004
President Ilham Aliyev returned home from his official visit to Romania
late on Tuesday. Aliyev told journalists at the Heydar Aliyev Airport
that he is satisfied with the results of the visit. “The documents
signed will be a favorable legal base for future cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Romania,” he stressed.
President Aliyev and his Romanian counterpart Ion Iliyesku discussed
the issue on settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Upper Garabagh. Aliyev regarded Iliyesku’s statement, “Romania backs
the solution of the conflict within the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan”, as very important.
President Aliyev recalled that several heads of state have issued
similar statements over the recent years.
“This once again shows that there should be no double standards. All
issues should be considered only under international legal norms and
certainly, Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity should be restored. The
earlier Armenia understands this, the better.”
President Aliyev said that a mechanism should be set up for
implementation of the decisions passed by the UN and OSCE. Expressing
his disappointment with the fact that no sanctions have been imposed
on Armenia yet, Aliyev said: “The conflict can be settled soon if
international legal mechanisms are set up and applied.”
Commenting on a report on the Upper Garabagh conflict by Terry
Davis, the former rapporteur on Upper Garabagh of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), President Aliyev said it
was impartial and contained realities. The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
will be discussed at the PACE session in January, he noted.
Aliyev voiced his confidence that the report would confirm the
occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia and emphasize the need
for imposing sanctions on Armenia.
The President stated that Azerbaijan calls on the Council of Europe
to give a political assessment of the conflict.
“We will achieve our goals when each Azerbaijani citizen – the
President, parliament members and the press, unite to denounce Armenia
as an aggressor,” he added.*

Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Oct 13 2004
ARMENIA: DUAL CITIZENSHIP DEBATE
Is a proposed relaxation of citizenship laws a benefit or a danger
for Armenia?
By Tigran Avetisian in Yerevan
With parliament soon likely to remove the clause from the Armenian
constitution banning dual citizenship, people here are debating
what its introduction would mean for the country and the millions of
Armenians worldwide.
The introduction of dual citizenship could potentially lead to a
radical change in the relationship between the Armenian state and the
millions of Armenians who live outside it, from Georgia and Russia
to the USA and Uruguay.
On different calculations, the official population of Armenia is no
more than three million, while between seven and ten million Armenians
live elsewhere in the world.
The issue of what sort of status diaspora Armenians should be given
has divided the country since it regained independence in 1991. The
constitution of 1995 explicitly outlawed the idea of dual citizenship
but the administration of Robert Kocharian, president since 1998,
is much warmer towards the concept.
Supporters of dual citizenship argue that its introduction would
enable the Armenian diaspora to render assistance more effectively,
increase foreign investment into the country and in bring expatriate
Armenians psychologically closer to their historical motherland.
Madlen Minasian, US citizen and director of communications for the
Kafeschian charity, said that dual citizenship would inspire many
diaspora Armenians like herself, who want to pay back a “debt to
the motherland”.
Minasian is not worried about the technical details of the arrangement,
saying “As for military service it is a fairly broad concept. This
issue should be sorted out by the authorities. People can pay their
debt to the homeland by working in the social or other spheres.
“The main thing in passing a law on dual citizenship is the inspiration
factor. Thanks to this, the majority of our compatriots living abroad
will make a contribution to developing the motherland.”
The nationalist Dashnaktsutiun party, which is a member of the
coalition presently in power in Armenia, is the strongest advocate
of the plan.
Dashnaktsutiun is one of the traditional Armenian parties, which was
established at the end of the nineteenth century outside Armenia and
remained active in the diaspora throughout the period of Soviet rule.
It was only able to start functioning again in 1991.
“The lifting of the prohibition on dual citizenship remains one of the
most important issues today in the draft of constitutional changes,”
Armen Rustamian, one of the leaders of Dashnaktsutiun, told IWPR.
Opponents of the idea say that it is fraught with unforeseen
consequences and could surrender sovereignty to people in other states.
Stepan Grigorian, spokesperson for Armat, a political science research
centre founded by former officials in the Ter-Petrosian administration,
warned, “Dual citizenship cannot be partial or half-and-half, as the
present government insists. This makes no sense. Citizenship means
having the right to vote and being elected and the danger of this, is
that as a result, the government of Armenia could be influenced
from abroad.”
Grigorian argued that by allowing dual citizenship, Armenia could
endanger some parts of the Armenian diaspora, “In Georgia, for example,
Armenians would come to be seen as a fifth column, as a potential
factor of instability.”
The analyst also pointed out that dual citizenship was only possible
where a bilateral agreement could be struck with another country. But
this can be problematic.
For example, Russia, which has probably the largest Armenian population
outside Armenia, allows dual citizenship, but President Vladimir
Putin suspended its effect in 2001.
“This is a very typical example,” said Grigorian, “Russia and
Turkmenistan have an agreement on dual citizenship, but it was quickly
suspended when problems arose in areas such as military service,
and the disclosure of and punishment for criminal offences.”
Tigran Torosian, pro-government deputy speaker of parliament, is
one of the strongest supporters of the plans and says that Armenians
should not be intimidated by them.
“Of course, this does not mean that an individual with dual citizenship
should have all the same rights as a citizen living in the Republic
of Armenia, particularly regarding the right to vote and the right
to be elected,” he said. Precise definitions should be codified by
additional changes to the constitution or by law, he added.
Political scientist, Vardan Pogosian, the deputy chair of the National
Democratic Party, proposes a flexible arrangement that sets residence
in Armenia as the primary criterion for receiving citizenship.
“Let the Armenian diaspora receive dual citizenship, but with regard
to political rights, those who do not permanently reside in Armenia
should be differentiated from those who do. For those who do decide
to live here and make Armenia their home, it would be simply immoral
to deprive them of their right to vote and be elected,” he said.
Pogosian said that this would have to be tightly controlled, “A
large number of Armenians live abroad. And if around 10 million
foreign Armenians were to receive full Armenian citizenship, then
this would mean that special restrictions would need to be imposed
during government elections. Eligibility to vote on the competence
of the government would apply only to residents of Armenia.”
Legal expert Hrair Tovmasian said he doubted that diaspora Armenian
businessmen would see their status change much under a change of law,
as they felt well protected already in Armenia and the authorities
tried to keep up good relations with them.
The exception, he said, is the right of property ownership, which
does not extend to foreigners.
Analyst Stepan Grigorian finally pointed out that dual citizenship is
a two-way process and will not work without reciprocal steps from other
countries. In the Armenian case this could lead to renewed emigration,
he warned.
“Even to suggest that we sign a dual citizenship agreement with some
country, it must be understood that it should not be asymmetrical,”
Grigorian said. “So, if a French citizen can become an Armenian
citizen as well, then an Armenian citizen should be able to become
a French citizen. Well, what do you think, in which direction would
the flow of people start to go then?’
Tigran Avetisian is a journalist with Aravot newspaper in Yerevan

ARMENIA REGISTERS JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
ArmenPress
Oct 13 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian justice minister David
Harutunian said today that Jehovah’s Witnesses organization was
officially registered after it brought its statutes in line with
law requirements.
In response to fears that after registration the organization, viewed
by many Armenians with suspicion, will continue activities running
counter to law, the minister said registration is the first stage
and it does not give it right to breach laws. “If the organization
violates laws later all measures stipulated by legislation will be
applied against it,” he said. The minister said the organization had
been denied registration as its statutes and `forms of preaching’
were not in conformity with Armenia’s law on religious organizations.
The organization registration certificate was issued by the state
registry of legal entities on 8 October and was signed by the
deputy justice minister Tigran Mukuchian. The registration covers
the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activity across the whole of the country.
Registering the Jehovah’s Witnesses was a key demand of the Council
of Europe.

ARMENIAN STUDENTS PROTEST AGAINST SENDING TROOPS TO IRAQ
ArmenPress
Oct 13 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Some Armenian youth organizations
voiced today their protest against a decision to send a 50-member
non-combat platoon to Iraq to join US-led coalition forces for post-war
reconstruction of that country, saying it would pose a serious risk
to local Armenians. The protest was announced by Nikol Aghbalian
student organization, closely affiliated with Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, a member of the ruling coalition.
A statement issued by the organization says the news about sending an
Armenian contingent to Iraq has already spoiled relations between the
20,000- strong Armenian community and Arabs, though Armenia said it
would send to Iraq doctors, sappers and truck drivers. The statement
says Iraqis look at this decision as “treachery” of Armenians.
One of the leaders of the organization, who was present at an Armenian
youth gathering in Lebanon recently, said Armenian participants from
Iraq held that Arabs’ attitude towards local Armenians has changed.
“Armenia’s emergence in the US-led coalition puts at higher risks the
lives of Iraqi Armenians and draws the interest of Islamic terrorists
to Armenia,” the statement says. It was signed by representatives of
29 youth organizations, who will send it to the president.

EUROTERM STARTS PRODUCTION OF GAS WATER HEATER
ArmenPress
Oct 13 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Andranik
Margarian paid a visit on Tuesday to Euroterm company that has launched
production of gas water heaters together with a South Korean Lote
company. A company representative said water heaters will be first sold
at domestic markets and later to CIS and Middle East countries. The
South Korean company has invested $500,000 in the manufacturing of
heaters and a little more was invested by the Armenian company.
The deal followed a 12 month sale of South Korean company’s products
in Armenia by Euroterm. The company assembles daily 50 heaters from
parts brought from Korea, later they will be manufactured here.

MCA DELEGATION TO COME TO ARMENIA TO SPECIFY AID PROPOSALS
ArmenPress
Oct 13 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian finance and economy
minister Vartan Khachatrian revealed Tuesday that his government did
not submit its proposals to the Millennium Challenges Account (MCA),
a U.S. government agency, established to handle a scheme designed to
promote economic and political reform in low-income countries. The
minister said the proposals would be submitted before the end of
the year.
Khachatrian headed a government delegation that was in the USA from
October 2 to October 5 to meet with senior officials of the MCA.
Armenia is among other 15 countries which have qualified for the
assistance. Khachatrian said the MCA funds to these 16 countries for
the first year will be around $1 billion and $1.5 billion for the
second year. He said some other countries included in the list have
also postponed submission of their proposals to the MCA.
According to Khachatrian, MCA executives would not reveal any
information about the volume of the aid Armenia may anticipate and
did not set any specific dates, saying the aid will be released as
soon as the country submit well-developed proposals.
Khachatrian said an MCA delegation is due in Armenia very soon to
most likely help the government to develop well-grounded proposals
that would meet MCA requirements.
Earlier Armenian officials said the Armenian government will ask
for as much as $900 million in MCA funds for the next three years
to spend the money on reconstructing the country’s irrigation and
drinking water infrastructure, but Khachatrian said that Armenia may
hope for $100-$120 million worth funds for the first year.

Armenia not to take part in military operations in Iraq – minister
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 12, 2004 Tuesday
YEREVAN, October 12 — Armenia will not send servicemen to Iraq. “It
did not and will not take part in military operations” in that country,
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan told the public television.
“It is a matter of a humanitarian action, not a military one,” he
said, referring to the Armenian intention to send medics, sappers
and drivers to Iraq.
In contrast to other regional countries, Armenia did not welcome
the operation in Iraq from the very beginning, the minister said.
“Humanitarian participation is quite a different thing, and it can
be discussed in light of the interests of the Armenian community and
the people of Iraq,” he said.
Armenia is fighting against international terrorism through affiliation
to international conventions, strengthening of borders and prevention
of terrorists’ transit via its territory, Oskanyan said.