Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 18 2004

AKKAN SUVER: TURKEY WILL NEVER HAVE LINKS WITH ARMENIA UNTIL OCCUPIED
TERRITORIES ARE RELEASED
[June 18, 2004, 17:01:38]

Chairman of the Millis Majlis Murtuz Alasgarov received a delegation
of Turkey led by President of the Vagf of Strategic and Social Studies
of Marmara Group Akkan Suver.

Warmly greeting the guests, the Chairman noted the historical
friendly and brotherly relations between the two countries have
reached the today’s highest level thanks to special contribution of
nationwide leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. It was
Heydar Aliyev who initiated opening of Ataturk Center in Azerbaijan,
he said. Besides, he continued, due to the efforts by the genial
political figure, leader of the Turkish World, the foundation of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines was
laid. These projects will ensure economic development of our two
countries. Mr. Alasgarov also stressed the importance of the idea
occurred during President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Georgia and lying
in the construction of Turkey – Georgia railroad, as it will connect
Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as Central Asia and China. The intention
to realize such projects indicates that Heydar Aliyev’s political
course is being worthily continued. The Milli Majlis Chairman told
of inter-parliamentary links, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict and Turkey’s part in the problem’s resolution.

President of the Vagf of Strategic and Social Studies of Marmara
Group Akkan Suver noted that the visit’s goal is to participate in the
Scientific-practical conference Latin Alphabet in Azerbaijan, Turkey
and Turkish World devoted to the anniversary of the Heydar Aliyev’s
Decree of June 18 2001 On Improvement of Use of State Language. He
emphasized as well that along with his delegation, deputies of the
Great National Assembly of Turkey and other official had been invited
to the event.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Mr. Akkan Suver noted
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is that of not only Azerbaijan but the
whole Turkish world. Turkey will never have links with Armenia until
the occupied territories are released. We know that Heydar Aliyev’s
biggest dream was to restore territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
and we believe that Ilham Aliyev will make it come true, he said.

An exchange of views on a number of other issues of mutual interest
took place during the meeting, as well.

Present at the meeting were deputy Chairmen of the Milli Majlis
Ziyafat Asgarov, Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, head of the Milli Majlis
Administration Safa Mirzoyev, deputies and Ambassador of Turkey to
Azerbaijan Unal Chevikez

WATT UNDERSTANDS ABELYAN ‘MIND GAME’

sportinglife.com, UK
June 18 2004

Scots boxing legend Jim Watt claims William Abelyan is trying to put
pressure on the judges by hinting he could suffer from a home-town
decision in his challenge for Scott Harrison’s WBO world featherweight
title.

The former WBC lightweight champion will be commentating at ringside
when Harrison defends his title against the American-based Armenian
in front of 6,000 at the Braehead Arena.

However, Watt pointed to Manuel Medina’s points win over Harrison
a year ago when he took the title from the Cambuslang man – before
losing it in the rematch – as proof that the challenger will get a
fair crack of the whip.

He said: “One of the things the Abelyan camp are worrying about is
not getting the verdict if they win.

“But Medina has proved you can come away from Braehead with a verdict
and the official who voted for Scott that night has virtually been
told he’s not welcome back in the country to officiate again – which
is right because Medina won the fight, no question of that.

“But I think it’s a wee bit of gamesmanship from Abelyan’s camp,
maybe trying to put pressure on the judges.

“I saw Bernard Hopkins doing that a couple of weeks ago and it worked
for him so it may be the same thing from Abelyan.”

Watt insists the fear of another loss in front of his own fans and
the repercussions in terms of Harrison’s career, will be a driving
force for the Glaswegian.

He said: “Defeat would be a total disaster for Scott because Abelyan
is the number one contender and he won’t get a rematch.

“If Abelyan leaves town with the title then he doesn’t have to come
back and Scott is back in the queue.

“He’ll have to start facing people like Injin Chi and Juan Manuel
Marquez, who are tougher routes to a title than Abelyan so Scott will
be aware of that.”

Watt admits the assured looking challenger is unlikely to be unnerved
by taking on Harrison in front of his own fans but the former world
champion expects the Cambuslang man to win through in the end.

He said: “I don’t think he’ll be affected by nerves, he seems to have
a fairly cool head so although boxing at home will be a big advantage
for Scott I don’t think it will trouble Abelyan too much.

“I see it as a tough match, Abelyan can box with different styles,
he’s not one dimensional.

“But Scott has all the physical advantages so I don’t expect Abelyan
to stand and trade punches with him.

“But when all’s said and done, if you look through both their records,
Scott’s the one with experience at the top level so, for me, he is
a comfortable favourite and I expect him to win clearly.

“I think it will go the distance but I expect Scott to win and look
good doing it.”

Science and technology in Russia

PRAVDA< Russia
June 18 2004

15:48 2004-06-18

Scientists from the Blagonravov machine-science institute have come
up with an extremely effective metal-rolling and metal-drawing
process. It’s an open secret that metal must be heated prior
to processing because this makes it softer and more pliable. In
a nutshell, this unique method heats up only those small metal
sections, whose shape must be altered. These sections, which measure
only several millimeters in size, are subjected to strong electric
currents; this causes an unusual phenomenon known as “electronic wind”
inside the metal crystal lattice. Metal becomes more pliable as a
result. Meanwhile this waste-free production process, which doesn’t
cause any cracks or scale whatsoever, saves energy.

Besides, electric resistance is reduced during the wire-drawing
process, thus making it possible to turn out thinner wire; substantial
materials, i.e. copper, aluminium (for electric wires and cables),
as well as tungsten (for incandescent-filament lamps) are saved as
a result.

Up to 30 percent of metal is saved during the stainless-steel strip
rolling process; such strips are, among other things, used to make
razor blades. One such metal-rolling mill, which is currently being
assembled for South Korea, will apparently produce an annual economic
effect to the tune of $1 million.

Experts working for the Tomsk agriculture institute have developed
a contraption, which converts organic waste into petroleum. This
project was financed by a group of local companies. Such equipment
has already been tested, and the Kuzbassrazrezugol public company has
bought its experimental version. Leonid Chumazov, a graduate of the
Tomsk university of automated control systems and radio-electronics,
authored this project. According to Chumazov, available foreign
equivalents don’t process all kinds of organic waste; for their own
part, Siberian scientists have patented a gasolene-production process.

This 10-square-meter unit can process up to 50 tons of organic
feedstock every 24 hours. Methane, gasolene or diesel fuel can be
obtained in line with preset parameters. Vladimir Nezamutdinov,
director of the Tomsk agriculture institute’s center for processing
plant-and-animal waste, says this new thermal-electric-chemical
complex is intended to process dung, manure, peat, sawdust and even
garbage. A ton of dry organic waste yields up to 700 kg of petroleum.

Several regional enterprises all over Siberia have already ordered
this unusual invention. The Tomsk agriculture institute will master
its batch production before the year is out.

Omsk has already hosted the fifth international scientific conference
dealing with the history of the Siberian countryside, its modern
state and development prospects. Rural-development problems are seen
as highly important, because the subsequent development of this
vast Russian territory, which has an area of 10 million sq. km.,
is largely linked with farmers. (for comparison, Russia covers an
area of 17 million sq. km. – Ed.)

The conference involved about 300 scientists from 21 Russian cities, as
well as those from Armenia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Poland, Uzbekistan,
Ukraine and Germany. All in all, 120 reports have been heard at
the conference. The delegates examined problems of the Siberian
countryside’s demographic, socio-economic, public-political and
cultural development, as well as land-reclamation, land-cadaster and
land-monitoring aspects, the history of rural populated localities,
the history of local ethnic groups, etc.

A round-table discussion was organized within this conference’s
framework, with its participants discussing national agrarian policies
during Russia’s admission into the World Trade Organization. The next
international conference to examine topical problems of the Siberian
countryside will also be organized in Omsk in 2006.

Tajik president calls for common Eurasian energy market

Interfax
June 18 2004

Astana. (Interfax-Kazakhstan) – The countries in the Eurasian Economic
Community need a common energy market, President Emomali Rakhmonov
told an international forum on Eurasian integration held in Astana
on Friday.

“Our countries are among the richest in energy resources. In
particular, Tajikistan’s rivers alone can provide 520 billion kW
hours per year, of which only 3% is used. This is why an energy
infrastructure needs to be built and various energy, transport and
communication networks commissioned in order to join efforts in
stepping up exports,” he said.

Rakhmonov also called for joint efforts in developing the region’s
farming, not only to ensure food stores for Central Asian countries
but also to improve the Eurasian Economic Community’s positions on
the world market.

The community includes Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan, while Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine have observer status
in it.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 18 2004

UKRAINIAN TELECHANNEL ON POSITION OF THE COUNTRY ON
ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN, NAGORNY KARABAKH CONFLICT
[June 18, 2004, 17:35:49]

In the analytical program “Hour”, prepared by 5th TV-channel of
Ukraine, commented was the objective approach of leadership of the
country to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, which corresponds to the
interests of Azerbaijan.

The commentator of the program “Hour”, popular program in Kiev, has
reminded, that during the state visit of the head of the Azerbaijan
state Ilham Aliyev to Ukraine, President Leonid Kuchma directly
and openly expressed the ideas about occupation by Armenia of the
territories of Azerbaijan, about condition of thousands refugees.
Further, in the program, the historical roots and consequences of
this conflict have been stated. The attention of tele-viewers has
been involved to the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, noting that
such authoritative international organization has failed to achieve
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict
proceeding already more of 15 years. It has been underlined, that owing
to destructive position of the Armenian side, the mediation efforts of
some of the states, including Ukraine, have remained ineffectual at
settlement of the problem. It is also marked that the statement made
by President Leonid Kuchma during official meetings with the President
of Azerbaijan by Ilham Aliyev in Kiev has caused a wide resonance.

The commentator of the program, who has stated then the relations of
the Ukrainian politicians and local press to the given statement,
has presented spectators the objective attitude to problems of
Azerbaijan. Necessity of achievement, at last, practical results has
been marked during negotiations within the framework of the CIS,
and also with assistance of Ukraine. It is underlined, that the
time has come that the international community has adopted strict
measures concerning the Armenia -aggressor and separatists of the
Nagorny Karabakh.

PROGRAM ON QUESTIONS OF SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICTS AND PEACE DISCUSSED
[June 18, 2004, 22:12:37]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 18 2004

In the frame of project “Women for conflict prevention and peace
building in the Southern Caucasus”, the Fund for Development of Women
(UNIFEM) jointly with the Ministry of education of Azerbaijan held
a conference dedicated to teaching at the educational institutions
questions of the program and courses related to settlement of conflict
and peace.

Opening the action, attended by professor and tutor staff of numerous
higher schools, representatives of international organizations,
minister of education Misir Mardanov spoke of importance of the
realized project. In the condition existence of the painful question
for Azerbaijan – Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorny Karabakh conflict, pushing
forward on the agenda a question on peace has great importance. The
program has already been realized in 6 higher schools of the Republic
with participation of 450 students and reached success.

National coordinator of the UNIFEM project Gulshen Pashayeva, senir
technical adviser of the project Patricia McPhilips, Azerbaijan
Commissioner for human rights Elmira Suleymanova and chairperson
of the State Committee for Women Affairs Zahra Guliyeva spoke at
the conference.

Global Watchdog Skeptical About Armenian Anti-Graft Body
By Ruzanna Stepanian 19/06/2004 01:12

Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
June 18 2004

A special body formed recently to coordinate the Armenian government’s
promised fight against endemic corruption is likely to be ineffectual
because of its dependence on the executive branch, a top representative
of the world’s most renowned anti-graft watchdog said Friday.

“What I know about this suggests that it is not an independent body.
We know from the international experience that only independent
bodies can accomplish anything,” Miklos Marschall, Transparency
International’s regional director for Europe and Central Asia,
told RFE/RL.

The Council on Combating Corruption was set up by President
Robert Kocharian on June 2 with the stated aim of overseeing
the implementation of actions stemming from the government’s
anti-corruption strategy unveiled last November. It is headed by
Prime Minister Andranik Markarian and comprises Justice Minister
David Harutiunian, Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian, Central Bank
Chairman Tigran Sarkisian and other high-ranking officials.

Marschall voiced skepticism about the Armenian authorities’ repeated
promises to tackle bribery, favoritism and other rampant corrupt
practices “There is much talk about corruption but you haven’t
seen real cases prosecuted by the appropriate authorities,” he said,
speaking on the sidelines of an international conference on corruption
in the region which was organized by Transparency International.

Marschall argued that if an anti-corruption effort is to be successful
in Armenia it must primarily target the highest echelons of state
power because graft has become an “elite business” in the country
since the Soviet collapse.

No serving senior government officials are known to have been
prosecuted on corruption charges in Armenia in recent years.
According to Kocharian’s anti-corruption aide, Bagrat Yesayan, its
government has finally realized the seriousness of the problem and
is now committed to addressing it in earnest.

The government’s anti-corruption plan contains a long list of mostly
legislative measures which are to be taken in the next three years.
Government critics dismiss the document as a public relations stunt
meant to mislead Western donors. The latter have for years been
pressing Yerevan to take serious action against what they see as a
key obstacle to Armenia’s economic development.

In Transparency International’s most recent global survey of
“corruption perceptions” released last fall, Armenia was ranked 78th
out of 133 countries surveyed, the last one being considered the
most corrupt. Neighboring Azerbaijan and Georgia were rated even more
poorly by the Berlin-based group.

EURASEC A STRONG INCENTIVE TO RESTORE BROKEN TIES, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SAYS

ArmenPress
June 18 2004

ASTANA, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS; Speaking at the session of the Inter-State
Council of the Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC) that opened
in Kazakhstan capital Astana today here, Armenian president Robert
Kocharian said EURASEC is a strong incentive to restore the broken ties
and build a cooperation of quite a new quality. He said the outcome of
this cooperation will be higher economic growth rates of its member
countries and higher living standards of their population. Kocharian
was speaking, as an observer, an international conference here,
titled Eurasian Integration-New Development Trends and Globalization
Challenges.

According to Armenian president, apart from playing a significant
role in political and economic stability of this region, EURASEC
is a weighty component of the regional security. “Having in mind
the diversity of this region, effective models of inter-ethnic and
inter-faith dialogue may be developed here,” he said, adding that no
country can conduct an effective economic policy in isolation.

In a reference to the ongoing political and economic reforms in
Armenia Kocharian said the great majority of problems, typical of
all transitional countries, were surmounted. “Armenia’s economy is
shifting toward dynamic and sustainable development and our focus is
on entrepreneurial initiatives, market mechanisms and competition,”
he said, citing the latest years’ steady economic growth rates of
12 percent.

Kocharian also noted that the conflicts in the South Caucasus remain
major obstacles to development of its countries. “As advocates of
regional cooperation we believe that deeper economic integration
processes will help regulate these conflicts and build stability and
peace,” he said. President Kocharian has arrived in Astana to attend
a summit of heads of states of Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO).

The EURASEC session’s agenda has about 20 items. These include the
coordination of positions at the negotiations for accession to the
World Trade Organization, the implementation of the basic orientations
of the earlier approved fundamentals of the EURASEC cross-border
(cooperation) policy, a draft agreement on cooperation on the markets
of securities, and EURASEC interaction in the development of water
and energy resources in the catchments areas of the Amu-Darya and
Syr-Darya rivers.

PM MEETS ASSEMBLY DELEGATION

ArmenPress
June 18 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS: Prime minister Andranik Margarian
received today an Armenian Assembly Board of Directors delegation,
headed by Chairman Anthony Barsamian that arrived in Yerevan June
17 for a 10-day visit to Armenia, Nagorno Karabagh and Georgia for
high-level meetings with government officials.

Government press office said, delegation members introduced the prime
minister to the goal of their visit. They were eager to learn what
kind of joint projects could be implemented with Georgia and what
kind of relationships are between the two countries.

Also discussed were current developments in Armenia and Nagorno
Karabagh, the future cooperation between the govenrment of Armenia
and the Assembly, US aid to Armenia, particular issues concerning
Armenia’s inclusion in the list of 16 countries eligible to Millennium
Challenges Account and the Assembly’s assistance in that respect.

Margarian introduced the delegation members to recent economic
developments, projects underway and what the government is doing
to meet the requirements of the Millennium Challenges Account, that
is expected to help the government carry out its Poverty Reduction
program.

WE HAVE BUILT FOUNDATIONS OF DEMOCRACY, FM SAYS

ArmenPress
June 18 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
said today the main task set by Armenia is to build a democratic,
economically prospering state, living in peace. Speaking at he first
meeting of the Armenian Assembly of Parliamentary Friendship, uniting
Armenians, elected to various countries’ legislative bodies, Oskanian
said Armenia has progressed in all these directions since restoring
its independence, reaching a point requiring additional efforts to
continue and consolidate the progress.

Oskanian said despite weighty achievements on the road of building
a truly democratic state, Armenia is still half-way from this
destination, having passed only the easiest part of it.

According to the minister, the two-digit economic growth rates of
the recent years is not yet sufficient to have a positive impact on
the lives of all segments of the population. “This means we have to
exercise greater efforts year after year to be able to maintain the
onward trend,” he said.

In a reference to Karabagh problem Oskanian said negotiations go on
to reach a final peace deal with Azerbaijan. “Armenia has entered in
a stage that it needs every kind of assistance. We have built the
foundations on which we have to construct our home of democracy,
economic development and peace,” he said.