Armenian-Azerbaijani trade must continue, says Yerevan paper
Iravunk web site, Yerevan
20 Jul 04
No amount of threats or blockades can settle disputes in trade and
business relations, an Armenian paper has said, accusing Azerbaijan of
malice and “fascist-revanchist ravings”. Despite the various
embargoes, annual trade turnover between the countries has been
estimated at 40m US dollars. Both sides must learn to live together
and develop relations “in a European way”, the paper concludes. The
following is an excerpt from Leonid Nersesyan’s report posted on
Armenian newspaper Iravunk’s web site on 20 July, headlined “Armenian
brandy to Baku; Azerbaijani petrol to Yerevan”, subheadings inserted
editorially:
There was a scandalous press conference of the workers of Azerbaijani
Railways in Baku the other day, where direct accusations were made
against Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov. The leaders of the
communications industry protested from the platform at the smuggling
out of the country of millions of tonnes of Azerbaijani petroleum
products to Armenia. Passage omitted
Trade yields 40m US dollars
This incident and others like it (more about them later) speak for
themselves: no embargoes and blockades can totally prevent the
development of Armenian-Azerbaijani trade and economic relations,
whose annual turnover, according to some reports, is approaching 40m
US dollars. This is making the powers-that-be on the Abseron peninsula
nervous, as they believe that only Armenia and the unrecognized
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic are suffering from their tough refusal to
cooperate in the business and economic field with the Armenians. In
the opinion of international experts, the South Caucasus, in
conditions of a growing process of globalization, is being seen as a
single, economically indivisible region, whose general development is
directly linked with the integration of all the states here. So
business relations between their compatriots and Armenian businessmen,
regardless of the will of the Azeri leaders, must sooner or later be
made official. But for the moment a veil is being drawn over these
relations – at different levels and in various forms. At the same
time, trade between the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians carries on
smoothly, yet again confirming the simple truth that money talks and
has no nationality. One could give the example of the visit to Yerevan
by a whole detachment of dealers from the Iranian province of South
Azerbaijan who are moving freely without hindrance. They are having a
perfectly good time and, apart from dealing in buying and selling,
some of the “guests” also have time for recreation.
Incidentally, one should not be surprised that things are peaceful at
the moment, but it is hard to believe what happened at the beginning
of the ’90s, when guns were rumbling on the fronts of Karabakh and all
over was a smell of burning. According to unofficial sources, even
during this tense period in Yerevan Azerbaijani businessmen were
arriving incognito and, reliably protected by stern Armenian partners,
they bought up wholesale from local supply depots and exported to
Baku, Ganca and Naxcivan whatever took their fancy – especially high
quality Armenian footwear, which was highly regarded at the time in
the USSR and relatively cheap.
Without focusing too much attention on the moral aspect of these
contacts and deals during war time, which became forerunners of the
current business plans of the sides divided by the conflict, we will
name just some of them. For example, on the trade counters of Armenian
towns then and now one could buy all kinds of goods from the former
international republic: Beta and Azerbaijan tea, caviar of a doubtful
quality, balyk cured fillet of sturgeon , nar sarab pomegranate sauce
, petrol and diesel fuel (you could get the latter even at the height
of the fighting!) and. washing powder with the deadly name of
Sumqayit.
In turn, in Baku, as before, the local elite still partakes of
Armenian brandy, mineral water, fruit juices and the people still
cadge Armenian cigarettes and wear Armenian-made shoes. When
diplomatic relations are established between the neighbouring
countries, the volume and range of trade exchange will considerably
increase, and that means the dividends of the two sides will increase
100 per cent from this mutually advantageous business cooperation. It
is now up to Azerbaijan, which is at the moment opposed to the
development of economic partnership with Armenia, to ensure that this
issue is solved positively. Instead, the neighbouring leaders from
time to time try to “intimidate” the peoples of Armenia and Nagornyy
Karabakh with astronomical figures of their own oil deposits. The fact
that this is just bluff is backed up by international experts, who
estimate that supplies of “black gold” in the world will generally run
dry by 2030 – 2040. Thus, the age of oil as a lever in the hands of
politicians is coming to an end.
Threats and blockades cannot settle disputes
So, the Azerbaijani side must finally realize that, it is easier to
settle disputes through the development of world trade and many-sided
business partnership than by setting up blockades, making
“threatening” statements, sabre-rattling and breeding cut-throats like
Azeri officer jailed in Budapest, charged with killing Armenian
officer Ramil Safarov. Alas, up till now such a realistic approach has
not been taken on board by official Baku. Armenia, on the other hand,
looks at things in a more sober manner and believes that common sense
will prevail.
One way or another Armenia and Azerbaijan have to live together and
develop relations, including economic. Our countries are members of
the Council of Europe and, consequently, it is time we started
thinking in a European way and not indulging in caveman-like malice,
perpetual retribution and fascist-revanchist ravings. We must take out
some conclusions from our own recent history, when the attempt by the
Azerbaijanis to solve the Karabakh problem by military means and the
Turkish method of genocide of the Armenians backfired on
Azerbaijan. Currently Armenia and Azerbaijan have already become
involved in international multilateral economic projects within the
framework of the CIS, Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and
TRACECA Silk Road transport corridor . A common “Caucasian home” may
be “erected” if not today, then tomorrow, and what will those
gentlemen on the Abseron peninsula with their anti-Armenian idee-fixe
be saying then?

Armenian opposition leader meets US congressmen in Washington
Aravot web site, Yerevan
29 Jul 04
Text of report by Armenian newspaper Aravot web site on 29 July
The chairman of the People’s Party of Armenia PPA , Stepan Demirchyan,
who is at present in the USA, has held a number of important meetings
with politicians and state officials, representatives of the Armenian
Assembly of America and several congressmen, including Frank Pallone.
The PPA leader met representatives of the Armenian community in Boston.

CUSTOMS COMMITTEE REFUTES ACCUSATIONS OF “ROYAL ARMENIA”
YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The RA State Customs Committee
refutes the accusations of the “Royal Armenia” company that as if
customs workers refuse to draw up 91 tons, 800 kilograms of
unproccessed coffee imported by the company to the country without any
grounds. Gevorg Nersisian, a lawyer of the committee, said on July 30
that in case of the presentation of corresponding documents by the
“Royal Armenia” company, the indicated number of coffee will be
regisered. As for the fulfillment of court rulings satisfying the
claims of the company against the Customs Committee, according to
G. Nersisian, they are ready to fulfill these decisions, if the
company presents the documents confirming the expenditures of cargo
unloading or trans-shipment of the volume of cargoes in Poti port
(which aren’t mentioned in the court rulings). To recap, on July 27,
representatives of the company stated that customs workers from time
to time set customs costs for foodstuffs and coffee imported by them
to the country higher by 50-100% than their real customs cost. At the
same time, they set customs costs for the same goods imported by other
companies at least twice as less than the goods imported by the “Royal
Armenia” company. It should be also mentioned that the court instances
have already satisfied three claims submitted by this company in this
connection up to day.

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN THANKS ARMENIAN DIPLOMATS FOR ACTIVE CONTRIBUTION
TO INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF NKR
STEPANAKERT, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). As part of celebrations of the
10th anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on July 30 NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian
received a delegation of the Armenian MFA led by Minister Vardan
Oskanian as well as workers of the central staff of the NKR Ministry
of Foreign Affairs led by Minister Ashot Ghulian. The delegation also
included Armenia’s ambassadors to a number of foreign states. The
meeting was attended also by permanent representatives of the NKR
abroad. According to the Head Information Department attached to the
NKR President, during the meeting Vardan Oskanian expressed his
gratitude to the NKR leadership for the invitation to take part in the
ceremonial events in connection with the jubilee of the Karabakh
foreign-policy department. He pointed out that during the jubilee
celebrations a consultation on topical issues of Armenia’s and
Karabakh’s foreign policies took place, which proved useful in terms
of exchanging opinions and in terms of prospects for further
development and deepening of cooperation between the ministries of the
two Armenian republics. Ghoukassian thanked the Armenian diplomats for
their active contribution to the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh’s
problem, pointing out the importance of solving tasks facing the
Armenian people through combined efforts of Karabakh, Armenia and the
Armenian Diaspora. In this connection, the NKR head stressed the need
for more frequent conduct of meetings between the workers of the two
foreign-policy departments. A ceremony of signing the Protocol on
Cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh took place in conclusion.

MAJOR TASK OF ARMENIAN DIPLOMACY REMAINS NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT, NKR AND RA FOREIGN MINISTERS STRESS
STEPANAKERT, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). Urgent matters were discussed and
clarified at the joint consultation between the NKR Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the RA diplomatic corps staged in Stepanakert in
the framework of the events dated do the 10th anniversary of the
Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Ministry. The outcome of the consultation was
the memorandum on partnership signed by the two parties, the NKR
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ashot Gulian revealed at a joint press
conference on July 30. The results of the consultation were summed up
at the press conference. The current major objective of the Armenian
diplomacy the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ministers
of Foreign Affairs of the two countries stressed. The current
negotiations process cannot be considered a dead-end, an opinion often
expressed by various political experts, the RA minister of Foreign
Affairs Vardan Oskanian said. The involvement of the Nagorno Karabakh
party in negotiations is a must, Mr. Ashot Gulian believes. The
trilateral format gives an opportunity to settle a mutually profitable
agreement, he said. There is no tangible difference in stances assumed
by parties in the conflict, no stable points of contiguity can be
observed, the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs said. Commenting on the
question whether the principle of compulsion on the part of
international organization can be used, Mr. Oskanian replied that the
negotiations haven’t reached that stage yet. The two ministers also
touched upon the issue of Armenian-Azerbaijan border incidents that
have become more frequent of late, stressing that the initiative to
violate the cease-fire belongs to the Azeri side.

HACHIKIAN TRAVELS TO SOUTHLAND TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ANCA
LOS ANGELES, CA, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The Chairman of the Armenian
National Committee of America Ken Hachikian joined the San Fernando
Valley and Burbank ANC chapters for two separate, but equally
successful, fundraising events on July 12th and 13th, the Armenian
National Committee of America Western Region reports. The two local
ANC chapters, in cooperation of the ANCA-Western Region office,
sponsored the events to raise money to expand and enhance the ANCA’s
effort to advance Armenian issues in Congress, the White House, and
among think tanks in Washington, DC. Speaking to the attendees at each
event, Ken Hachikian highlighted the recent accomplishments of the
ANCA. Notably, he highlighted the passage of H.R. 193, which marks the
15th Anniversary of the U.S. adoption of the U.N. Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. Hachikian reminded the
audience that this pivotal first step towards the passing of a
resolution that will ultimately gain recognition of the Armenian
Genocide would not have been possible without the efforts of local ANC
chapters and the dedication of thousands of ANC activists. Stressing
the many challenges that lie ahead for Armenia and the Armenian
Diaspora, Hachikian called attention to the significance of grassroots
activism and urged supporters to continue their advocacy on behalf of
the Armenian Cause. The San Fernando Valley ANC’s event, which was
held in Encino, attracted over 60 ANCA supporters and raised over
$10,000. The Burbank ANC event raised in excess of $6,000 for the
ANCA.

HOMENETMEN CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
NORTHEAST GLENDALE, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). Homenetmen Glendale Ararat
Chapter held a 25th anniversary celebration 27 July at Glandale High
School. The event included live cultural music, dancing and sporting
events. It lasted from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and by midafternoon,
organizers said more than 1,000 people had walked through the
entrance.The event was for the community but it also was a chance to
bring past and current membership together to see how the organization
has grown. “We wanted to create an environment in which the membership
would see each other and create a momentum for the 25th anniversary
gala in October,” Glendale News Press LATimes.com quoted anniversary
celebration organizer Armen Abrahamian as saying. This year, the
anniversary has already included reunions of past members and
volunteers. The chapter, the largest of its kind in the Western United
States, is celebrating 25 years of providing a place for
Armenian-American boys and girls – many from south Glendale – to get
involved in scouting and athletic activities. Homenetmen, also known
as the Armenian General Athletic Union & Scouts, is a global
organization founded in 1918. The mission for the local chapter has
remained the same since it started 25 years ago, when it started out
of small homes and rented space in Glendale. “I think we’ve done a
good job with educating kids while being able to give them enough to
do to help them not get into trouble,” Abrahamian said. Many members
are now in their 50s, and mentoring a new generation at 3347 N. San
Fernando Road. “This place is a second home for us,” said Andre
Pashai, a longtime member who is now coaching the basketball team that
Homenetmen officials said will represent Glendale this year in the
Pan-Armenian Games in Armenia. “It is a great idea,” said Narek
Shahmoradian, 13, who plays tennis and basketball. “It will stop kids
from getting into spraying graffiti on walls and getting into gangs.
It makes the community better.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANIZATION OF IRAN SET TERRITORY OF CLOISTER OF
ST. THADDEUS AS HISTORICAL MONUMENT
TEHRAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The cultural heritage organization of
the Islamic Republic of Iran set the territory of the cloister of
St. Thaddeus as a historical monument, as well as set the order of
protection of the territory and architectural standards. The Public
Relations Department of the Embassy of Iran in Armenia reported,
quoting IRNA News Agency, The cloister of St. Thaddeus has unique
importance for the Armenian nation of the whole world, and every year
numerous Armenians and believers of other Christian confessions go on
a pilgrimage to the cloister and hold religious ceremonies these
days. According to the report of the Information Center of the
cultural heritage organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, “each
step, which will damage the appearance aand foundation of the church,
will destroy its general and natural image, as well as the building of
temporary and permanent construction, any interference into the
historiacal image of the church, including reconstruction, widening,
repairs and renewal is prohibited without the permission of the
cultural heritage organization.” The cloister of St. Thaddeus, which
is one of the most important and famous churches of Iran, is situated
in the north-east of the Chaldran Valley, and in terms of its
construction view is like the Mother See Cathedral of Echmiadzin. The
current building of the church consists of two parts: old and new. The
sector with black stones was constructed in 1329, and the new sector
was completely constructed of white stone due to Abbas Mirza King in
1820.

FUND FOR ARMENIAN RELIEF IMPLEMENTS “HUMANITARIAN AID TO NAGORNO
KARABAKH” PROGRAM AT EXPENSE OF $15 MLN ALLOCATED BY USAID
YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
should implement the “Humanitarian Aid to Nagorno Karabakh” program of
large-scale construction and restoration at the expense of $15 mln
allocated by USAID starting in 2003 during five years. Levon
Lachikian, the Spokesman of FAR, told NT’s correspondent that FAR
offices have already been opened in Artsakh within the framework of
the program, and the entities, where construction work should be
carried out, are being selected and studied now. The program involves
water systems, the educational, health and other spheres.

HRANT SHAHINIAN’S MEMORIAL PLAQUE OPENED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, July 30 (Noyan Tapan). The prominent Armenian athlete, many
times Olympic, world and European champion, skillful sport manager
Hrant Shahinian would have been 80 years old on July 30. Although he
died still seven years ago, he is remembered by many as a wonderful
man and specialist. The opening of the memorial plaque in the house of
Shahinian in Yerevan’s Charents street was intended to immortalize
that memory. The Chairman of the government-affiliated Sport
Committee, Armenian NOC President Ishkhan Zakarian, Sport Committee
Vice-Chairman Mikael Ispirian, Yerevan Vice-Mayor Grigor Mirzoyan,
well-known sportsman recognized as the best sportsman of Armenia in
the 20th century Albert Azarian made speeches at the event.
H. Shahinian’s widow made a speech of appreciation and gave her thanks
for the event. The author of the memorial plaque is architect Tigran
Barseghian, the sculptor is Gagik Stepanian.