Bilateral Jealousy Hinders development of Political-Economic Relations
Azg/am
24 July 2004
On July 22 Georgian Foreign Minister in his interview to the
journalists in the airport before leaving for Tbilisi, said that the
two countries should act as a united region in the relations with the
EU.
The official Yerevan is likely to be concerned about the position
Georgia has undertaken in the relations with EU. Tbilisi authorities
spare no efforts for emphasizing their country’s importance among the
three Caucasian countries, their devotion to Europe.
Salome Zurabishvili’s statement is likely to please the Armenian
side. In the airport Vartan Oskanian explained what it means “to act
as united region.” “It is really desirable, as the European
structures want that too. Unfortunately, there are problems in our
region and Azerbaijan is the only obstacle for being united. But we
will try to coordinate our cooperation with Georgia inthe best way. If
Azerbaijan wishes, it can join us”, Oskanian said.
Zurabishvili met with RA President, RA Prime Minister and RA NA
Chairman, besides meeting with her colleague. She evaluates her first
visit to Armenia positively. “We are determined to deepen our economic
relations. The political relations are very good, but they need to be
deepened too,” Zurabishvili said.
Vartan Oskanian also evaluates the visit of Georgian Foreign Minister
to Armenia positively.
There are two main blocks in our relations: business cooperation,
economic issues that will be discussed more thoroughly during the
visit of RA prime Minister to Tbilisi in the course of the
inter-governmental sitting. Duringthis visit we were more concentrated
on the conceptual issues, projects and programs. Regional issues,
general processes of our cooperation were touched upon. We discussed
railroad, gas pipeline, oil pipeline and transportation, transit
programs in general, as well as the Armenian-Georgian cooperation
within the framework of TRANSECA. There are certain agreements, but
according to the foreign minister, at present, there are no results
yet. We agreed to deepen cooperation and coordinate our activities in
other issues, particularly, in the European direction,” Oskanian said.
On June 14 Yerevan, Baku and Tbilisi joined “Larger Europe. New
Neighbors” EU initiative that envisages new level of relations between
the Caucasian countries and the EU. As we stated already, Tbilisi
tries to leave behind its two neighbors. Supposedly, Yerevan is
concerned about Georgia-NATO relations. The three Caucasian countries
cooperate with NATO on equal level within the framework of
“Partnership for Peace” program. The probable fast entry of Georgia to
NATO, the Georgian authorities often talk about, may cause dividing
lines in the Caucasus.
The integration into the European structures will be discussed during
the meeting of Zurabishvili with Andranik Margarian. “Emphasizing
Armenia=80=99 and Georgia ‘s determination in the European integration
issues, the sides pointed out the big possibilities for cooperation,
especially, taking into account the involvement of the Caucasian
countries into “New Neighbors” EU program,” writes the pres release of
RA President’s Press Office.
Robert Kocharian and Salome Zurabishvili stated that the level of the
bilateral economic relations doesn’t keep in line with the real
possibilities and intentions of the two countries. Kocharian
emphasized the importance of the economic cooperation issues and
intergovernmental committee’s activities. Let’s remind that RA Prime
Minister will leave for Georgia on July 25-27. Kocharian emphasized
“the high level of the Armenian-Georgian relations that are based on
mutual trust and friendship of the two peoples” during the meeting
with Zurabishvili.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Armenian-Georgian relations are
called friendly, there are many complicated issues in the
Tbilisi-Yerevan relations. The existence of a common border causes
some complications in the relations, as usual. In this respect, the
Armenian-Georgian relations can be no exceptionto the rule. On the
other hand, the relations between the two peoples lack mutual
trust. The lack of trust in the relations of the two countries is
conditioned by different, sometimes contradicting vectors in their
foreign policies. Very often Georgia is considered as a territory
divided in many parts that hinder the Armenian-Russian relations. In
its turn, Georgia considers Armenia as “Russia’s backdoor” and the
Russian soldiers located in Armenia as destabilizing factor for the
whole region.
Many other issues existing between Armenia and Georgia can be pointed
out. The most undesirable one among them is the mutual mistrust of
the common Armenian and Georgian towards each other. No one tried to
hold a poll to find out how much the Armenians mistrust the Georgians,
but a year ago, as a result of a poll, the Georgians found out that
they mistrust the Armenians most of all among their neighbors.
By Tatoul Hakobian

ARMENIA’S FM MEETS WITH THAI MPs
YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
met today with members of the Thailand-Armenian friendship group of
the Thai parliament.
The sides discussed the prospects and the ways of development of
Armenian-Thai parliamentary ties as well as the practical aspect of
Armenian-Thai cooperation. Oskanyan said that the visit will give a
new quality to Armenian-Thai friendly relations.

4,453 CASES OF LEASE OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY RECORDED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. A total of 4,453 cases of lease of
immovable property were recorded in Armenia in the first half of 2004,
a 61.8% increase as against the first half of 2003, and a 28.4%
increase as against the second half of 2003.
The press service of the RA State Registry of Immovable Property
reported that 39.1% of the deals were effected by legal entities. In
the first half of 2004, 344 flats, 133 private houses, 1,292 social
facilities and 138 production facilities, as well as one garage and
2,534 land units, were rented in Armenia.

55.5% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF DEALS WITH IMMOVABLE PROPERTY RECORDED
YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. A total of 45,953 deals with immovable
property were recorded in Armenia in the first half of 2004, which is
8.8% more than in the corresponding period of 2003.
According to the information reported by the RA State Registry of
Immovable Property, 19,061 deals (41.5%) were alienation, 16.7%
primary registration, 9.7% lease, 7.6% pledge, 0.5% privatization,
8.3% inheritance, and 15.7% other types. As against the first half of
2003, a 40.1% increase in the number of alienation transactions, which
influence the market most of all, was recorded in the first half of
2004, and a 3.2% increase as against the second half of 2003. In the
first half of 2004, 39.6% of alienation deals were recorded in
Yerevan. During the period under review, 67.3% of 6,613
purchase-and-sale deals involved flats. As against the corresponding
period of last year this index increased by 15.7%, and decreased by
17.7% as against the second half of 2003.

10 TO 30MLN. USD TO BE INVESTED IN “DVIN” HOTEL
YEREVAN, JULY 23. ARMINFO. 10 to 30mln. USD are to be invested in the
Yerevan “Dvin” hotel during the first five years, the representative
of the “Caucasian Communication Group” CJSC, which purchased the hotel
this summer, Andreas Ghukasyan told a press conference.
He accounted for the difference of the cost of the investment program
by possible fluctuations of prices for building materials during this
period. Ghukasyan pointed out that a five-star hotel complex will be
constructed on the basis of the “Dvin” hotel. He pointed out that a
specialized operators will be engaged in external management of the
hotel. According to the project, 200 rooms are to be designed instead
of the current 289. The work is to get under way this year, and the
contractor will be selected as a result of a tender. Since 2001 the
hotel has not regularly worked.
Meanwhile, the confrontation between the hotel personnel and its new
owners goes on. Ghukasyan reported that by January 1, 2004, the
hotel’s debts had amounted to 417mln. AMD (about 800,000 USD), arrears
of wages totaling 138mln. AMD. However, Ghukasyan said that 70mln. AMD
of this sum are also groundlessly claimed to be arrears of wages, but
the new owners are not going to pay them. It is noteworthy that 111
hotel staff members applied to courts and most of the claims were
satisfied. According to Ghukasyan, the former management was
deliberately accumulating arrears of wages, and the new owners intend
to appeal the court verdicts. Seventy-nine staff members have already
been dismissed. Ghukasyan reported that the “Caucasian Communication
Group” CJSC is an Armenian resident and was founded by individuals who
are Russian and Armenian citizens.

AZERBAIJANIS RALLY AGAINST ARMENIA IN MOSCOW
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO-TURAN. Representatives of the Azerbaijani
Diaspora in Moscow held a rally yesterday in “Teatralnaya” square on
the occasion of “the 11th anniversary of Azerbaijani Aghdam region’s
occupation by Armenia.”
According to TURAN, the action was initiated by the Movement for
Azerbaijan. The rally participants demanded that OSCE Minsk Group
refuses from double standards as well as fulfillment of the four
relations of the UN Security Council on release of the occupied
territories of Azerbaijani. They also urged for Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan’s “transfer to the international court for
organization of ethnic purge in Karabakh.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’s GREENS DEMAND PUNISHMENT OF OFFICIALS
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO. A number of Armenian environmental
organizations demand that the current and former mayors of Yerevan,
former chief architect, as well as Government officials, who
contributed to mass destruction of green zones in Yerevan, be held
responsible.
At his press conference, the representative of the Social Ecological
Party of Armenia Armen Dovlatyan stated that environmental
organizations demand that the RA Government and Yerevan Municipality
put an end to all illegal and “Legal’ allotments of lands for
construction in Yerevan’s green zones. They also demand the
restoration of the greenery destroyed as a result of construction.
According to Dovlatyan, the forests in Nork are deliberately being
destroyed for the purpose of further construction there. He said that
some of the forests are no longer under the jurisdiction of the
“ArmForest” CJSC, as construction is not allowed in territories under
the jurisdiction of the “ArmForest” CJSC. Dovlatyan stated that over
1,500 of 2,000 hectares of Yerevan’s green zones have been
destroyed. He stressed that over 1,000 hectares were destroyed in
1995-2003. “If the destruction of Yerevan’s green zones continues, the
capital will turn from semi-desert into a desert, which will affect
the population’s health,” he said.

A NUMBER OF ARMENIAN ECOLOGICAL NGOs COMPLAIN OF ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION
OVER YEREVAN’S GREEN AREAS
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO. A number of Armenian ecological NGOs are
collecting signatures to apply to court with facts of illegal
construction over Yerevan’s green areas.
The leader of Social-Ecological Party of Armenia Armen Dovlatyan says
that the claim will be filed as soon as 5,000-10,000 signatures are
collected. A number of political forces among them Justice bloc,
Communist Party, Ramkavar Azatakan, Liberal Progressive Party,
National Democratic Bloc have agreed to join the action. Dovlatyan
says that in court the facts will be qualified as high treason.
He says that the NGOs are also going to apply to foreign embassies in
Armenia particularly he embassies of Canada and Switzerland so that
they prevent the construction projects carried out by their respective
citizens at the detriment of Yerevan’s green zones. Particularly, the
Armenian office of Frank Mueller i planning to carry out some
construction in the Dalma orchards while some Canadian has launched a
construction project in the area of the Victory Park. Also building
in Dalma are businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan, football player Khoren
Hovhannissyan, Armenian-Italian company Renco-Armenia.
Building in the Victory Park are Territorial Administration and
Infrastructure Coordination Hovik Abrahamyan, Center community prefect
Gagik Beglaryan and many other officials.
Dovlatyan says that if necessary the NGOs are ready to ask European
structures particularly the European Parliament’s Ecological
Commission to hold a monitoring in Armenia. “We have repeatedly
offered cooperation to the government but have received no response,”
says Dovlatyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA UNPREDICTABLE: VAHAN KHACHATRYAN
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO. The political situation in Armenia is
chaotic and unpredictable, therefore it has no prospects, the ex-mayor
of Yerevan, member of the “Armat’ public and political organization
Vahan Khachatryan told a press conference. The “Armat” organization
was founded by representatives of the former ruling party, Armenian
National Movement (ANM).
According to Khachatryan, the country’s authorities have no long-term
development program (the ones available are only a cover for the
international community), and their actions are aimed personal
enrichment. Corruption in all spheres, arbitrary rule in economy and
election system may not even me mentioned, as last year’s presidential
and parliamentary elections, dispersion of peaceful demonstration and
other acts of disgrace are still fresh in the people’s memory. In the
current situation everything depends on the opposition, the “Justice”
bloc and the “National Unity” party, on their commitment to the
principles proclaimed by them. In this context, September must give
answers to the questions as to whether the opposition return to
Parliament, resume rallies and so on. Khachatryan pointed out that
boycotting the Parliament means boycotting trips abroad (except for
OSCE sessions), and returning to Parliament means putting up with
election rigging,, political arrests, etc.. Political life in Armenia
is unfortunately full of criminal, and the authorities do not bear any
responsibility to society because they are illegal, so everything
depends on the opposition, Khachatryan said. He pointed out that all
the talks about a third force have been invented by the authorities to
“shatter” the opposition’s unity.
Khachatryan strongly disagrees with the opinion that the foundations
for corruption, election rigging and other unlawful acts were laid
under the ANM. “We were fully open, acted publicly. The incumbent
authorities tried to slander and condemn us, but nothing was
proved. Our real blunder was allowing the former party officials to
come to power,” Khachatryan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVED NEWS HEAD OF OSCE BAKU OFFICE
YEREVAN, JULY 24. ARMINFO-TURAN: President Ilham Aliyev received the
newly appointed head of the OSCE Baku Office ambassador Maurizio
Pavesi yesterday.
Head of Azerbaijan said that the Republic attaches great significance
to cooperation with OSCE.
Touching upon the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Ilham
Aliyev said that OSCE Minsk Group is engaged in resolution of the
conflict. However hitherto it has failed in finding solution to the
problem. Aliyev underlined that the conflict jeopardizes stability and
security in the region and it should be settled only in the frame of
international laws and principles.
Speaking about democratization process in the country, Aliyev dwelt on
the active cooperation with the international
organizations. “Azerbaijan has fully implemented its obligations
before the Council of Europe”, – he added.
In his turn Maurizio Pavesi expressed confidence that this cooperation
would further continue and he personally would make his contribution
to the existing relations between Azerbaijan and the Organization.–