PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 1) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 1) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected]
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June 10, 2004

National Citizens’ Initiative Considers Karabagh Conflict

Yerevan — The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a
specialized policy meeting on “Resolving Karabagh: The Current Stage
of the Search.” In view of a history rich in diverse approaches and
scenarios, negotiations in various formats, and peace prospects and
inclinations, the roundtable brought together competent policy makers,
public figures, relevant experts, and academic circles, together with
representatives of the mass media and NGO communities, to examine
conflict resolution and its peculiarities in the Karabagh case.

What does the decade-old cease-fire promise, is a mutually acceptable
solution feasible in the foreseeable future, do the authorities
representing Armenian national interests enjoy a broad public mandate
in and for peace talks, might an unfavorable arrangement be imposed
on the Armenians? These and other issues critical to the future of
Karabagh and the entire Armenian nation forged the day’s agenda.

Raffi Hovannisian, founder of NCI and the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies (ACNIS), opened the discussion. “The
nationwide quest for Artsakh and its liberty has come to symbolize
a broader commitment to Armenia’s sovereignty, democracy, and vital
interests. To what extent, over the past 16 years, have we remained
faithful to and worthy of these high concepts, widely shared precepts,
and our fallen compatriots?,” he queried.

“We assemble today to contemplate the political, strategic, diplomatic,
and legal components of Artsakh’s struggle. As always, we will endeavor
to assess conflict and its resolution through the tri-prism of state,
nation, and citizen and in light of the permanent challenges of
identity and security,” Hovannisian said.

In a paper on “The Karabagh Challenge: Deadlock or New Departure
Point?,” Karabagh presidential adviser Manvel Sargsian focused on
the changes in approach to the Karabagh conflict which have created a
new situation characterized by the unprecedented activity of European
structures. “The European organizations that have taken the initiative
from the OSCE Minsk Group seek to find a solution based on humanitarian
approaches such as human rights and legitimacy,” he maintained.

General Arkadiy Ter-Tadevosian, chairman of the Armenian Defense-Sport
Association, covered regional stability and security in his address
on “Military Balance as the Principal Guarantee for Peace in the
Region.” “To preserve the equilibrium, we need not only to enhance
the combat-readiness and mobility of the armed forces to correspond
to 21st-century benchmarks, but also to strengthen bilateral
politico-military cooperation with all friendly countries, actively
cooperating at the same time within the multilateral frameworks of
the CIS and NATO’s Partnership for Peace
program,” the general summarized.

The first session concluded with an intervention by Aram G. Sargsian,
former adviser to the Armenian president and current member of the
Armenian parliament’s Standing Commission on Foreign Affairs, on “The
Evolution of Scenarios for Regulation of the Karabagh Conflict.” He
opined that Armenia should officially recognize the legal authenticity
of the documents adopted by Mountainous Karabagh in its secession
from Soviet Azerbaijan. “The solution should be moved to the arena of
international law, and a legal case obviating Azerbaijani arguments
presented, as political solutions lead to gridlock,” he asserted.

Law and philosophy professor Alexander Manasian addressed “The
Legal Foundations for Solving the Karabagh Question” to open the
afternoon session. The Karabagh problem should not be an object of
political speculations, he stated. It should instead be under constant
state guidance for the working out of a clear-cut and comprehensive
program. “Though our position is considerably strong from the viewpoint
of international law, it is the Azerbaijani party that always acts as
winner on the diplomatic and propaganda fronts, since we lag behind
in anti-propaganda activities for want of an integrated conception
of general approaches to the problem.”

Armen Aghayan, political secretary of the “Protection of Liberated
Territories” public organization, offered a special comment on the
Arax River area as a matter pivotal for conflict resolution in and
around Karabagh. “A successful outcome of the issue’s solution turns
on which party will supervise the four regions adjacent to the Arax.”

The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views and
policy recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists
in attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by former prime minister
Khosrov Haroutiunian of the Christian Democratic Union; Hovhannes
Hovhannisian of the Liberal Progressive Party; former defense minister
Vazgen Manoukian of the National Democratic Union; Grigor Haroutiunian
and Ruzanna Khachatrian of the People’s Party of Armenia; Shavarsh
Kocharian of the National Democratic Party; former minister of state
Hrach Hakobian; Colonel Gegham Haroutiunian of the Republic Party;
Giro Manoyan of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation; Mushegh Lalayan
of the Republican Party; Petros Makeyan of the Democratic Fatherland
Party; former presidential adviser Levon Zourabian; Vardan Khachatrian,
theology professor at Yerevan State University; YSU international
affairs lecturer Aram Haroutiunian; Tamar Gevorgian of the United
Labor Party; American University international relations professor
Khachik Derghoukassian; and many others.

ACNIS analyst Hovsep Khurshudian closed the seminar, concentrating in
particular on the concern raised during the seminar about a potential
Armenia-Azerbaijan strategic imbalance in favor of the latter as a
result of its oil trade. “We do not use even the resources we have–not
only economic and military resources but also political, juridical,
public-relations and, most importantly, democratic ones,” he concluded.

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit
association founded in 2001 by former minister of foreign affairs
Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the
purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the
state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National
Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which
includes individual citizens and representatives of various public,
scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law
and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy,
Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the
vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.

For further information, please call (3741) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03;
fax (3741) 52-48-46; e-mail [email protected]; or visit

Armenia has no money to close nuclear power plant

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
June 10 2004

RBC, 10.06.2004, Yerevan 09:20:50. — The Armenian Nuclear Power
Plant will work until alternative sources of energy are found,
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markarian told reporters today.
According to him, a lot of money is required for closing the nuclear
power plant. “Unfortunately, we do not have such a sum,” the Prime
Minister added. Markarian underlined that the international community
did not provide Armenia with adequate financing. “An amount of EUR100m
is being considered, but this sum is insufficient for closing the
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant and developing alternative sources of
energy,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

According to Markarian, Armenian energy experts are studying every
possible source of energy. Additionally, they are developing programs
of reconstruction of the existing thermoelectric and hydroelectric
power plants to support Armenia’s independence in the energy sector,
the ARKA news agency reported.

As reported earlier, the EU plans to provide EUR100m for Armenia for
the development of alternative sources of energy, after an exact
date is set for closing the nuclear power plant, which was put in
use in 1980. The power plant was stopped in 1989 and was put back in
operation in 1995. The power plant generates about 40 percent of all
electrical power in Armenia on average. Experts reckon the nuclear
power plant can remain in operation until 2018.

Azeris remain hopeful of US Congress

Azer News, Azerbaijan
June 10 2004

The Azerbaijani community is skeptical about the unbiased standpoint
of the US Congress and the observation of the principle of justice
in its decisions. The reason is the great influence of lobbing at
the Congress. Everyone can guess what the notion of “lobbing” means.

People understand well that lobbing doesn’t mean only the issuing of
statements and bulletins and the release of audio and video materials
in order to express an opinion. Of course, while reading this article,
every Azerbaijani reader first remembers Armenian lobbing at the US
Congress that by various means managed to get some Congressmen on
their side.

In fact, just and honest people, who take an unbiased position rather
than protecting their own personal interests, are also represented
at the Congress. The recent steps to balance the “lobby” at the
US Congress have raised hopes in the Azerbaijani community. It was
initiated to establish the US-Azerbaijani friendship group at the
Congress during the visit of a US delegation headed by the Congress’s
Armed Services Committee chairman Curt Weldon to Baku. The US
delegation held a series of meetings with Azerbaijani state officials
and was received by President Ilham Aliyev. The US Congressmen’s
meeting with Defense Minister, Colonel General Safar Abiyev drew the
public’s great attention. Recalling that President Aliyev presented
the NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation plan to the NATO Secretary General
in Brussels last week, Abiyev said the President had reaffirmed
Azerbaijan’s commitment to cooperate with the US to fight international
terrorism. Touching upon the Upper Garabagh conflict, General Abiyev
emphasized that Armenia had ignored the UN Security Council’s four
resolutions on an unconditional withdrawal of Armenian military
forces from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan and the international
community had not recognized Armenia as an aggressor.Weldon said he
had come to Baku to hold talks on expanding the military cooperation
between the US and Azerbaijan. He said that during a recent visit to
Moscow, he reminded Russian officials of Azerbaijan’s tremendous role
in security issues. “The US will continue relations with Azerbaijan
as its strategic ally”, he said. With regard to the Upper Garabagh
conflict, Weldon said he supports the stepping up of the efforts
of his country in this respect. Several members of the US Congress
attending the meeting expressed their appreciation to the Azerbaijani
side for supporting the US in combating international terrorism and
confidence that an extensive cooperation with the US is in store for
Azerbaijan. The public also appreciated the reports on the discussions
on the Garabagh conflict to be held by the American-Turkish Assembly
Association (ATAA) jointly with the US-Turkish group represented
at the US Congress this fall. A delegation led by ATAA President
Ercumend Gilinc, who arrived in Baku on June 6, are holding serious
meetings. The visitors met with Nazim Ibrahimov, the chairman of the
State Committee on Azerbaijanis Living Abroad, on Monday to discuss
issues related to mutual cooperation. The visitors will also meet
with high-ranking government officials and give a news conference on
the results of the visit on Wednesday. Established in the late 1970s,
the ATAA is the biggest Turkish Diaspora active in the United States
and the world. The aim of the Association, which has 57 branches
in the United States and Canada, is to expand US-Turkish relations
and provide the American community with authentic information about
Turkey. The Azerbaijani public still hopes that the US Congress will
take a fair and principled position towards Baku and Yerevan. A saying
in the East reads that when hope is lost it is difficult to recover it.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 10 2004

AZERBAIJAN ENHANCE RELATIONS WITH VATICAN
[June 10, 2004, 11:52:30]

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic Elmar Mammadyarov
met with apostolic nuncio of Vatican to Georgia and Azerbaijan Claudio
Gugerotti on June 9.

During the meeting, Minister stressed that Azerbaijan stands for
strengthening relations and business ties with Vatican.

Claudio Gugerotti highly rated the friendly relations between the
countries and noted that Vatican attaches great significance to
cooperation with Azerbaijan in all spheres. He reported that the aim
of his visit to Azerbaijan is the familiarization with the construction
of Catholic Church in Baku.

Then, E. Mammadyarov updated the guest on the Azerbaijan-Armenia,
Nagorny Karabakh problem and activity of international organizations
in this direction.

Radical group protest peace envoys’ visits to Azerbaijan

Azer News, Azerbaijan
June 10 2004

The Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has issued a statement
protesting against the visit of Goran Lennmarker, the special envoy
of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly chairman, to Upper Garabagh without
prior permission from Baku.

The statement accuses Lennmarker’s step of being consistent with the
pro-Armenian standpoint of the organization that he represents. It
also stresses that the self-proclaimed regime in Upper Garabagh is
braced to hold “elections” and adopt a “constitution” because of the
inefficient policy of the Azerbaijani government.

“The GLO considers that there is no need for the international
organizations, which have for 16 years remained indifferent to
the violation of the Azerbaijani people’s rights, shown disrespect
to Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and taken a
pro-Armenian standpoint, to function in Azerbaijan,” the statement
underlines. The GLO also states that it has announced Lennmarker,
Terry Davis and other “peace envoys” persona non grata for Azerbaijan
and will attempt to prevent their visits to the country.

Armenia to increase its military budget in 2005

Interfax
June 10 2004

Yerevan. (Interfax-AVN) – Armenia’s military budget will be increased
in 2005, Defense Minister Serzhik Sarkisyan told Interfax on Wednesday.

“Not naming any specific figures, I can say for sure that Armenia’s
military budget will be increased,” he said.

Speaking about the NATO conference on military training scheduled to
take place in Baku next week, Sarkisyan said Armenian servicemen will
attend the gathering.

There are currently no obstacles to Armenia’s participation in the
conference, Sarkisyan said. “Armenia will only accept full-fledged
participation in NATO training in Azerbaijan, not participation with
observer status,” he said.

Speaking about this week’s exchange of fire on the Armenian-
Azerbaijani border, Sarkisyan said that “such cases sometimes occur.
Azerbaijan often tries to push its positions forward, and Armenia
curbs such attempts.”

President wraps up visit to central regions

Azer News, Azerbaijan
June 10 2004

On Tuesday, President Ilham Aliyev toured Mingachevir and Yevlakh,
central Azerbaijan where he examined the implementation of the State
Program on Socio-economic Development of the Regions. In Yevlakh,
he attended the opening of a new avenue named after national leader
Heydar Aliyev on Tuesday.

Speaking before the region’s residents at the Heydar Aliyev Square
after the inaugural ceremony, the President instructed the Yevlakh
authorities to pay attention to the problems of the region’s residents,
entrepreneurs and farmers. Touching upon the conflict over Upper
Garabagh, Aliyev said Azerbaijan aspires to a peaceful settlement
and that the problem will be resolved even if Armenia stands opposed.

He said the key principle of Azerbaijan’s domestic policy is to
develop the regions and eliminate unemployment. President Aliyev also
visited the tractor repair plant and toured the construction sites of
the Yevlakh stadium and a pump station on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
Main Export Pipeline. After visiting Yevlakh, President Aliyev
went to Mingachevir. In his statement at the inaugural ceremony of
a newly-built settlement for 412 internally displaced persons, he
said that in time all refugees will be provided with shelter. The
President then toured the State Regional Power Station, which
supplies 60% of Azerbaijan’s electricity, and the Kur riverside Rowing
Sports Center. He said that after the IDPs currently living on the
Sports Center are relocated, it will be renovated to international
standards. In a meeting at the Mingachevir Executive Authority,
President Aliyev expressed his satisfaction with the city’s overall
development and the private sector.

MONITORING TO BE HELD IN TROOPS CONTACT LINE
[June 10, 2004, 14:45:10]

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 10 2004

According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense, under
the mandate of personal representative of the OSCE acting Chairman,
a monitoring of the armed forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan and
the Republic of Armenian in the contact line – Garakhanbeyli village
of Fizuli province of Azerbaijan – is scheduled for 10th of June.

On the Azerbaijan side, the monitoring will be held by personal
representative of the OSCE acting Chairman Andzei Kaspshik, and his
field assistants Jorgen Schmidt and Imre Palatinus.

On the opposite side the job will be done by field assistants of the
OSCE acting Chairman Kenneth Pickles and Miroslav Wimetal.

Armenian NPP to start mothballing program

Interfax
June 10 2004

Yerevan. (Interfax) – The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant will have
a program ready to mothball the station by the end of 2004, the
country’s Trade and Economic Development Minister Karen Jshmartain
said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The topic was discussed during the fifth meeting of the EU-Armenia
Cooperation Committee in Brussels on June 4, he said.

The meeting decided to set up a working group of power engineers on
closing the nuclear power plant. The working group should review all
the financial and technical aspects of mothballing the station and
present their own program, Jshmartain said.

The European Union has not set any concrete timeframe for closing the
NPP without replacing its capacity with other sources. A project to
build an Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was discussed as an alternative
to the NPP, but the volume of gas would not be enough to replace the
energy capacity of the NPP, Jshmartain said.

The committee also discussed a project put forth by Armenia to build
a new NPP in Armenia to replace the old one.

The EU confirmed that it is ready to extend Armenia 100 million
euros to close the NPP and replace its capacity, although Armenian
specialists think that at least $1 billion is needed for this.

The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, which has two reactors with a total
capacity of 815 megawatts, was closed in 1988 due to political and
economic reasons. The NPP’s second reactor was restarted at a capacity
of 407.5 megawatts in 1995.

ZAO Inter RAO EES, a subsidiary of Russia’s Unified Energy System,
and Armenia signed a contract in September 2003 to hand over trust
management of the NPP to Inter RAO EES.

The Armenian NPP generated 1.9 billion kilowatt hours of electricity
in 2003, or 36% of the total generation of electricity in Armenia.

The first meeting of the EU-Armenia Cooperation Committee took place in
2000 in Brussels. The committee was set up by a partnership agreement
signed on April 22, 1996.

Trilateral transport consortium may be based in Baku

Azer News, Azerbaijan
June 10 2004

The Azerbaijan State Railway Office told AssA-Irada that the
headquaters of the Azerbaijan-Russia-Iran consortium on the
Gazvin-Rasht-Astara railway may be based in Baku. The railway will
be part of the North-South transport corridor.

Working groups from the three countries are expected to establish the
consortium’s charter fund and work schedule by July 1. The location of
the entity’s headquarters may be determined in a meeting scheduled for
July in Baku. Funds totaling $15 million are required for Azerbaijan
to join the North-South transport corridor. The funds will be spent
on the construction of a 6-km railway connecting Azerbaijan with Iran
and a railway bridge over the Astarachay River.

Construction of the Tehran-Baku railway, which is to link up with
Russia’s railroads, may commence early in 2005. According to the
initial appraisal, $102 million is required for the implementation of
the project, under which 340 kilometers of railway lines in Iran and
Azerbaijan will be built and upgraded. Armenia may enter the project
on the construction of a new railway linking Russia, Azerbaijan and
Iran within the North-South international transport corridor. This
opinion was revealed by Vice Speaker of the Armenian parliament Vaan
Ovannisian, the co-chair of the Armenian-Russian inter-parliamentary
commission. Ovannisian said that along with Azerbaijan, India and
Oman are participating in the project. “It is common knowledge that
Azerbaijan is trying to make Armenia withdraw from all transport
and economic programs of regional importance. However, at present,
our partners Russia, Iran and India don’t plan to do so and Armenia
is likely to enter the program,” he noted.