IRAN NEEDS TO FIND SOME $30 BLN FOR EXPORT OF GAS TO WORLD MARKETS
YEREVAN, JULY 20. ARMINFO. Iran needs to find $30 bln to export its
gas to world markets. General Director of the national company of
export of Iranian gas Rukuddin Javadi said, Iran.ru informs.
During the seminar “Energy development and cooperation” Javadi said,
now Iran exports 10 bln cubic meters of gas to Turkey per a day, and
the export of Iranian gas to UAE will begin in 2005, and in 2006 to
Armenia and Nakhichevan. Since 2009 Iran will start the export of
liquified natural gas to the markets of Europe, Asia, and first of
all, to China and India. He added that according to the last
statistical data, gas production level in Iran totals in average 313
mln cubic meters per a day, and till the end of the 4th program of the
economic development this level will reach 586 mln cubic meter per a
day.

ARMENIA’S PREMIER MEETS WITH AMBASSADOR OF GERMANY TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JULY 20. ARMINFO. Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik
Margarian today met with Germany’s Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia Hans-Wulf Bartels, who is completing his
diplomatic mission in the republic.
Arminfo was informed in the press office of the government, during the
meeting the prime minister has highly assessed the activities of the
german diplomat in Armenia, his contribution to the development of
Armenian-German political and economic relations. The prime minister
has stressed the necessity of further deepening of the relations of
Armenia and Germany as one of the important members of the European
Union. Andranik Margarian has also mentioned that despite the
achievement there are still probabilities which have not been used
fully, in particular, in the plan of bilateral economic relations,
establishment of joint ventures, increase of the volume of trade
turnover.
In his turn, the ambassador mentioned with satisfaction the effective
visit of the prime minister of Armenia to Germany in June of the
current year and expressed hope that it will attache an additional
stimulus to the development of economic relations between two
countries. At the end of the meeting the prime minister wished the
German diplomat a success in his further activities.

FORTHCOMING REFORMS OF ELECTORAL LEGISLATION OF ARMENIA MUST AIM TO
ENSURE ELECTORAL ADMINISTRATION: GAREGIN AZARIAN
YEREVAN, JULY 20. ARMINFO. The forthcoming reforms of the electoral
legislation of Armenia must aim to ensure electoral administration for
conducting free and fair elections. Chairman of the Central Electoral
Commission of Armenia Garegin Azarian told ARMINFO.
According to him, CEC has prepared a whole package of proposals
concerning the reformation of the Electoral Code of Armenia and if the
National Assembly wants to hear the opinion of the CEC when discussing
the package of reforms of the Electoral Code, then he is ready to
introduce the deputies with his considerations. Azarian thinks that it
is necessary to supply all the electoral districts with computers, and
negotiations is being conducting with OSCE concerning this
problem. Retraining of members of local and regional electoral
committees is necessary, the head of the Central Electoral Commission
of Armenia thinks, and not the political parties, but the power must
appoint the members of the electoral committees. Garegin Azarian is
surprised with the fact that no political party of the country except
the party “New times”, headed by Aram Karapetian, has not expressed a
desire yet to meet and discuss with them the changes in the Electoral
Code.
Concerning the proposals of the Venice Commission of the Council of
Europe concerning the reforms of the electoral system in Armenia
Garegin Azarian informed that he knows them and agree with them almost
100% except the sentence to take a finger-print from the electors.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU TO TRY TO DISCREDIT MINSK GROUP
Azg/am
21 July 2004
Azeri Authorities and Mass Media Criticize Co-Chairs’ Last Visit
Both official Baku and the Azeri press are obviously displeased with
Yuri Merzliakov and Steven Mann, Russian and American Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group. After the negotiations with Mamediarov, foreign
minister, Abiev, defense minister and Aliyev, President, in the course
of the press conference Steven Mann refused to call Armenia aggressor
and Yuri Merzliakov characterized the four formula of the UN Security
Council as “a decision adopted in another reality.”
“We have no judicial plenipotentiaries that would help to decide which
of the sides in conflict has undertaken a fair position,” said the
American diplomat in reply to the question “Do you accept that the
Azeri territories are occupied and who is the occupant?” The Co-Chairs
were in the region on July11-17. The new about this visit was the
fact that the mediators met with the political figures, deputies, NGO
representatives in Baku, Stepanakert and Yerevan, besides the
officials of the sides in conflict.
The Azeri Defense Minister told the Co- Chairs that Nagorno Karabagh
conflict can’t be settled unless the Azeri occupied territories are
liberated. Abiev said that UN Security Council’s four formulae should
be applied and OSCE should take the relevant decision.
Mann contradicted the statement made by Abiev and said that the
Nagorno Karabagh conflict shouldn’t be settled by OSCE. “The Nagorno
Karabagh conflict can be settled by Armenia and Azerbaijan only, while
the Minsk Group can only contribute to that.”
Merzliakov contradicted Abiev too. “We try to find the peaceful
solution to the conflict and help the sides to make the decision. The
four formulae of the UN Security Council were made in the conditions
of other reality and today they can’t be carried out. The deadline of
the commitments has expired and it’s time to find a new variant of
settlement,” said the Russian diplomat.
The UN Security Council has adopted four formulae on Nagorno Karabagh:
# 822, 853, 874 and 884, that clearly state that “the local Armenian
forces” should leave the occupied Azeri territories. Abiev, on his
turn, didn’t agree with Mann and Merzliakov and emphasized that the UN
commitments were complied in Yugoslavia and Iraq and he hoped that the
time will come when the abovementioned four formula will be applied
for the Nagorno Karabagh settlement. President Ilham Aliyev stated
once again that the activities of the Minsk Group had no results.
Aliyev spares no efforts to compromise the Minsk Group, denying the
achievements of the group in the conflict’s settlement. This can mean
that Baku tries to transfer the Nagorno Karabagh conflict settlement
to another framework, for example, to the EU.
The position of the united Europe, particularly that of France, is
worth mentioning. Henry Jackelen said: “If this format (OSCE Minsk
Group) yields no results the mediator’s plenipotentiaries can be
passed to the EU. But I must remind that neither the EU nor the UN
didn’t express readiness to undertake the responsibility.”
Indeed, the EU hasn’t expressed readiness to undertake a mediator’s
role in Karabagh, but, on the other hand, Brussels is discussing the
possibility to participate in the Karabagh settlement. Javier Solana,
the EU Responsible for Foreign Policy Issues, said this after the
meeting with Ilham Aliyev, last May.
The positions of Baku and Brussels concerning Karabagh settlement are
quite close today. Thus, Baku demands the withdrawal of the Armenian
forces from the Azeri regions, the EU demands the same. Azerbaijan
accepts the stage-by-stage version of the settlement, so the EU does.
One shouldn’t exclude that the EU “New Neighbors” initiative (Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia) will become the means to make Brussels feel
more confident in the Caucasus. Solana said: “New Neighbors”
initiative that is suggested to these countries can help the EU
participate in Karabagh settlement on a new level.
The possible involvement of the EU in the settlement process is not
desirable for Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh for other reasons
too. Thus, Solana accepts not only the stage-by-stage settlement of
the problem but also Turkey’ participation in the process.
Besides, Brussels doesn’t find the territorial integrity and the right
for self-determination primary issues. They consider the South
Caucasus a united economic area, where democracy, human rights
protection should be primary issues. The EU care neither for the
basic essence of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict nor for the results of
the war. To be more correct, the results of the Karabagh war are
important for other reasons: the Armenian forces should be withdrawn
from the regions they control against the probable agreement of
Azerbaijan to stop the blockade of Armenia.
Henry Jackelen stated in Stepanakert and Baku that the possibility of
a new war is bigger unless the issue of “the occupied territories”
isn’t solved. While the simple logics prompt that the current
cease-fire is conditioned by the security chain created by the
Armenian armed forces. And on the contrary, in case the Armenian
forces retreat the possibility of a war grows.
By Tatoul Hakobian

CILICIA’S FIRST MOORING SUCCESSFUL
Azg/am
21 July 2004
The Armenian “Cilicia” has moored in the most honorable place of the
Sochi harbor in “Morskoj Vokzal” and attracts the attention of Sochi
dwellers. Poti-Sochi voyage that took place on July 14-16 was a hard
one. Hmayak Tarakhchian, deputy chairman of the Marine Research Club,
Head of the Shore Coordination Headquarter, the tension was a natural,
a ship of this kind is on the sea for the first time. On the first day
of the voyage the weather was nasty, the wind was strong and waves
were huge. The seasickness was a great problem for the sailors but the
guys came over it. The sailors had to change the canvas
constantly. The two steering oars were broken, but the sailors used
the spare ones.
On July 17 after the document checking, the sailors met with the
Armenian community representatives. The Armenian community cared for
the staying expenditure of the crew. At present they solve the problem
of the engine and the steering oars.
“Cilicia” will stay in Sochi for two days and he will leave for the
next harbor on July 22. If the weather allows the sailors will be able
to land in Tuapse on their way to Noworosiysk. Otherwise they will
leave for Noworosiysk straightforwardly.
There are 17 sailors on the ship at present. Some of them will stay on
the ship only for the half of the way, but other members of the club
are unlikely to join the voyage, as Hmayak Tarakhchian said that 12
sailors are enough for navigating the ship. As for Zori Balayan, he
feels fine and doesn’tthink of coming back.
Glory to brave Armenian sailors! Bon voyage!
By Tamar Minasian

TURKEY TO DECLINE PRESIDENCY AT OSCE?
Abdullah Gul Explains
Azg/am
21 July 2004
Arminfo, citing Anatolu news agency, informs that the Turkish deputy
prime minister and foreign affairs minister Abdullah Gul officially
stated that Ankara declines the OSCE presidency term of 2007. Gul
refuted all the rumors that Armenia is the cause of this decision.
On June 14 Vartan Oskanian, foreign affairs minister of Armenia,
declared at Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies
that Armenia will veto Turkey’s presidency at the OSCE because of the
policy Ankara adopted against Armenia. “The OSCE presiding country has
to have relations with allmember states”, Oskanian declares.
Meanwhile Gul explains the refusal saying that the 2007 is the year of
Turkey’ s presidential elections and they cannot effectively preside
at the OSCE asa result. Gul’s excuse seems strange as far as the
Turkish officials were well aware of the elections in their country
while running for the OSCE presidency.
The foreign affairs minister of Cyprus said earlier that Turkey
refused the presidency as considered the probability of veto from
Armenia.
The USA State Department spokesman Richard Baucher declared: “Turkish
diplomats in the OSCE informed that Ankara turned down its candidacy
as theTurkish government will have other problems to consider in
2007. They said that won’t be able to run a decent tenure, and we
respect their decision”.

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
July 20 2004
Turkish Prime Minister Seeks France’s Support Ahead Of Summit

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started a three-day
visit to France aimed at gaining support for Ankara’s bid to join the
European Union. RFE/RL reports that Turkish officials attach great
importance to this visit, noting that opposition to Ankara’s goal of
EU membership remains high in France.
20 July 2004 — Before leaving Ankara yesterday, Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear his visit would focus on
his country’s efforts to join the 25-member European bloc.
Although Ankara applied for entry into the EU in 1987, it was granted
candidate status only in 1999. And five years later, accession talks
have yet to start — a delay mainly due to European concerns about
Turkey’s poor human rights record.
The European Commission in October will review reforms implemented by
Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party since it came
to power two years ago. Ankara hopes a positive assessment will
prompt EU leaders to set a date for accession talks when they meet in
December.
Before boarding a plane for Paris, Erdogan said, “I will explain [to
French leaders] what steps Turkey has [already] made on its way
toward the EU…and reiterate its commitment to bringing its
legislation in line with EU laws.”
Erdogan, who is traveling with several ministers and a large business
delegation, met today with French President Jacques Chirac at the
Elysee Palace. No details of the talks were immediately available.
Addressing journalists after meeting his French counterpart
Jean-Pierre Raffarin yesterday, the Turkish leader said he is
counting on support from Paris when EU leaders meet in December to
decide whether to open entry talks with Ankara. “We talked at length
with the [French] prime minister about the EU summit next December
and we hope all the support France has lent us on the European issue
— notably through the intermediary of President Jacques Chirac —
will continue in the future,” Erdogan said.
Yet France, where Turkey’s accession into Europe has largely
dominated the recent campaign for EU parliamentary elections, remains
divided over the issue.
The Paris-based left-wing “Liberation” daily noted today that Turkey,
which has already secured the support of most European capitals, sees
France as the biggest obstacle remaining on its road to Brussels.
With the notable exception of the Greens, all French political
parties have either voiced opposition to Ankara’s entry into the
European bloc, or refused to take a firm stance on the issue.
The strongest opposition comes from right-wing nationalist groups and
the moderate, center-right Union for the French Democracy party. They
say they are concerned at the prospect of nearly 70 million Muslims
joining the EU and claim neither history nor geography justifies
Turkey’s claim.
The opposition Socialist Party generally supports Ankara’s membership
bid and hails the significant reforms made by Erdogan’s government.
But it believes conditions have still not been met for Turkey to join
the bloc and cautions against hasty decisions. The Socialist Party
also says a precondition for Ankara’s bid should be its recognition
of the killing of hundreds of thousands of Ottoman Armenians during
World War I as genocide.
Even in Chirac’s Union for a Popular Majority (UMP) party there is no
consensus on the issue. Three months ago, the top UMP leadership said
it was opposed to Turkey’s becoming a EU member. The move then forced
Chirac — a longtime advocate of Ankara’s accession — to cautiously
enter the fray.
“I am convinced Turkey is destined to become a member of Europe. But
I am also convinced that its entry into the [European] Union will be
possible only under certain conditions that, as of today, are still
not met,” Chirac said.
In an interview with Marc Tronchot of France’s Europe 1 private radio
station, the French foreign minister today gave a similarly cautious
assessment. While praising Turkey’s efforts to meet conditions
required to join the EU, Michel Barnier warned against Ankara being
overly optimistic.
“We have to tell the truth: Turkey is not going to join the European
Union tomorrow morning. Turkey has still a long way to go before it
happens. Yet, it has been on this road for some time, preparing
itself and making progress,” Barnier said. He made it clear his
remarks were also meant to reassure those in France who believe
Turkey is not ready to join the bloc.
Talking to reporters on his way to Paris, Erdogan yesterday
acknowledged that Ankara’s membership bid may be heavily influenced
by European public opinion. “At [last month’s] NATO summit in
Istanbul, Chirac in person told me that 60 to 70 percent of France’s
public opinion was in favor of Turkey’s joining the EU,” he said.
The Turkish leader added that he hoped France’s political leaders
would eventually heed their voters’ opinion and voice support for
Ankara’s EU bid.
(Turkish TV, Anadolu, “Liberation,” Europe 1)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Statesman, India
July 20 2004
Putin Criticised As 15th Journalist Killed
The Times, London
MOSCOW, July 20. – The voice at the end of the telephone line was
muffled but menacing. `You should be careful what you write,’ the man
said, without giving his name. `Something could happen to you as you
walk on the street.’ Then the line went dead. The threat, made to The
Times several weeks ago, was most likely a hoax from one of the
desperate, disillusioned or mentally disturbed individuals often
calling foreign reporters’ offices here.
But it seems suddenly chilling after the gangland-style killing of
Paul Khlebnikov, editor of Forbes magazine’s Russian edition, on 9
July and the murder of Pail Peloyan, an Armenian reporter, at the
weekend.
It also emerged last week that a reporter in St Petersburg, Mr Maxim
Maximov, had been missing since 1 July. The three cases have not only
sent a chill through a press corps, but have also exposed the dark
side of President Putin’s Russia and raised questions about its
future direction.
The UN ranks Russia the world’s 57th-best country to live in, but an
international media watchdog rates it as one of the ten worst places
to be a journalist – alongside Iraq, Cuba, Zimbabwe and the West
Bank.
The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists says that Khlebnikov –
an American citizen – was the fifteenth journalist to be killed in
connection with his work in Russia since Mr Putin took power. Many
human rights groups and reporters accuse Mr Putin of indirectly
encouraging such attacks through his own crackdown on the independent
media.
Mr Putin made clear his personal disdain for reporters at a news
conference in 2002, when he suggested that a French reporter
questioning the Chechnya war should come to Moscow to be circumcised
`so you’ll have nothing growing back afterwards’.

ArmenPress
July 20 2004
KOCHARIAN RECEIVES OUTGOING FINNISH AMBASSADOR
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today Finland’s ambassador to Armenia, Timo Lahelma, who is
ending his diplomatic tenure in Armenia. Kocharian’s press office
said possibilities for boosting bilateral ties were discussed during
the meeting. Kocharian was said to underscore the necessity of
developing the appropriate legislation for stepping up business and
trade contacts.
Thanking for the assistance he received during his tenure, Timo
Lahelma pointed out that he is leaving Armenia with rich impressions
and good memories. Kocharian wished the diplomat success in future
activity.

ArmenPress
July 20 2004
ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES OUTGOING GERMAN AMBASSADOR
YEREVAN, JULY 20, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Andranik
Margarian commended today the outgoing German ambassador Hans Wulf
Bartels for his heavy contributions to further development of
bilateral political and economic relations and underscored closer
ties with one of the most influential member of the European Union.
Margarian also noted that despite the evident progress, the available
potential is not used at full extent, particulalry, in trade,
establishment of joint ventures and other areas.
Ambassador Bartels expressed hope that the prime minister’s recent
visit to Germany for participating in a German-Armenian business
conference would serve as an additional impetus to deepening ties.