Security stepped up at Armenian nuclear plant, president says

Mediamax news agency
16 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today that “the
work to step up security at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is
proceeding”.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said this addressing a meeting of
the council on nuclear power security under the president, Mediamax
reports.

“A number of important measures from the point of view of security
have been carried out at the NPP recently,” the Armenian president
said.

Russian company buys Armenian chemical giant

Mediamax news agency
16 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The [Russian] International Volgaburmash Holding company has become
the new owner of the Nairit closed-type joint-stock company, one of
the giants of the Armenian chemical industry that specializes in the
production of synthetic rubber.

The agreement on the purchase of 100 per cent of the enterprise’s
shares was signed between Volgaburmash and Haykap Bank at the Armenian
Central Bank today, Mediamax reports.

Addressing a briefing after the signing of the agreement, Volgaburmash
representative Mikhail Zavertyaev said that the restoration of
Nairit’s positions on the Russian market of synthetic rubber would
become the priority task for the holding. Due to commercial
confidentiality, Zavertyaev refused to disclose the cost of the deal
on the purchase of Nairit’s shares. He said that Volgaburmash had
drafted a project of reconstruction of the enterprise aimed at
resuming the production of butadiene at Nairit. The project is
estimated at 5m dollars. According to Mikhail Zavertyaev, since 2003
Volgaburmash Holding has invested 3.5m dollars in Nairit.

[Passage omitted: minor details]

Armenian, Russian premiers discuss economic issues in Kyrgyzstan

Mediamax news agency
16 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian and Russian prime ministers, Andranik Markaryan and
Mikhail Fradkov, held a meeting today within the framework of the
session of the council of CIS heads of government in Kyrgyzstan.

Mediamax news agency learned from the Armenian government’s press
service today that Andranik Markaryan and Mikhail Fradkov highly rated
the activities of the Armenian-Russian intergovernment commission on
economic cooperation, stating at the same time that it is necessary to
step up relations between individual ministries.

The heads of the Armenian and Russian governments expressed their
satisfaction with the completion of the process of handing over five
Armenian enterprises to Russia under the property-for-debt
agreement. Andranik Markaryan expressed his confidence that all these
enterprises will be working at full stretch.

Andranik Markaryan and Mikhail Fradkov also discussed Armenia’s
integration into the North-South international transport corridor and
prospects for restoring railway communications via Abkhaz territory.

In this connection, the head of the Armenian government stated
“official Yerevan’s readiness to assist the swift and positive
completion of the Georgian-Russian talks on this problem, as its
settlement is of vital importance to Armenia”.

Andranik Markaryan invited his Russian counterpart to visit Armenia at
any convenient time.

Jailed Armenian gunman commits suicide

Mediamax news agency
16 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Vram Galstyan, one of the executors of the terrorist attack in the
Armenian parliament on 27 October 1999, committed suicide in
Nubarashen jail today.

During the regular morning check Vram Galstyan was alive and was in a
normal state, Mediamax was told at the press service of the Armenian
Ministry of Justice. According to the provided information, he hanged
himself at about 1100 [0600 gmt] using a sheet for this purpose.

Several days ago, Vram Galstyan was moved to a solitary confinement
cell at his own request, the press service of the Ministry of Justice
reported.

Vram Galstyan was the uncle of the terrorists’ ringleader Nairi
Unanyan. On 2 December 2003, the court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork
Marash communities sentenced five executors of the terrorist attack in
the Armenian National Assembly on 27 October 1999 to life
imprisonment. Those were Nairi and Karen Unanyan, Derenik Bedzhanyan,
Vram Galstyan and Eduard Grigoryan.

[Passage omitted: background details]

On 26 November 2003, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan signed a law
on amendments to the Criminal Code adopted by the Armenian National
Assembly.

Under the law, people sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorist
attacks and assassination of political and public figures are not to
be granted amnesty.

The draft law was submitted by the Justice opposition faction and
adopted by the Armenian parliament on 4 November 2003.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish minister denies EU pressure to open Armenian border – Azeri TV

ANS TV, Baku
15 Apr 04

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has dismissed reports about EU
pressure on Turkey to open its border with Armenia. The border will
not be opened unless there is a breakthrough in the Nagornyy Karabakh
talks, Gul said in an interview with Azerbaijan’s commercial ANS
TV. The presenter concluded by saying that the Azerbaijani president’s
visit to Ankara had dispelled concern in Azerbaijan regarding the
Turkish-Armenian relationship. The following is an excerpt from report
by Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 15 April; subheadings inserted
editorially:

[Presenter] Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has expressed his
opinion on arguably the most important aspects of the relationship
between Turkey and Azerbaijan. We will now broadcast the interview for
you.

Azerbaijani-Turkish ties to improve further

[Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, in his office, in Turkish]
Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have a long history. Everyone
in the government before us did their best, and the government before
that too vested a lot of effort into cultivating this
relationship. Hence, friendship with Azerbaijan is something above the
governments.

There has been a lot of important meetings. The late president Heydar
Aliyev has frequently visited Turkey, and we paid visits to Azerbaijan
regularly. Many agreements have been signed, and our political
relations are quite good. However, this does not mean that they
cannot be improved.

We must further improve our relationship and make it stronger. For
that, many economic agreements have to be signed, and many economic
projects have to be implemented. Both the Turkish and Azerbaijani
governments have the will, intention and desire to do so. From this
view, we deem such visits very important.

We are not going to just seat next to each other and have a nice
time. We are having meetings, signing agreements. That is, we are
striving to make our relationship stronger, to take it further. From
this view, I am very hopeful and I believe that we will accomplish
much more.

[Correspondent Qanira Pasayeva] One of the meetings – an expanded
meeting, and you took part in it – has been completed. Which topics
were top of the agenda, and which proved to be the most debatable?

[Gul] There are two issues which we reckon are the most important at
this juncture. One of them is political, including naturally relations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the invasion of Nagornyy Karabakh and
ways to end that occupation. Second, there are economic topics,
concerning the ways to further develop our economic ties and realize
new economic projects. Undoubtedly, democratization and further
integration of our countries into Europe are also on the agenda of the
talks, but those two issues are at the top of the current agenda.

Trilateral meetings on Nagornyy Karabakh

[Correspondent] You said that there were talks on Nagornyy
Karabakh. When you came to office, it seemed that you will spend more
effort trying to resolve the conflict. You even suggested holding
trilateral meetings between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Why did
those meetings not take off and do you think they could be fruitful?

[Gul] No, they did take place and they are continuing. We are indeed
placing great importance on the talks, not only in appearance but also
in essence.

On behalf of our government, I spend a lot of effort on this
issue. When trying to resolve other problems in the world, we cannot
leave this conflict in a frozen condition. We cannot say – let us put
it in a refrigerator and leave it there. We must try hard to resolve
it and for that I paid two visits to Azerbaijan and had three meetings
with Armenian Foreign Minister [Vardan Oskanyan] over this period. I
will continue to have those meetings.

As you put it, let us have a trilateral meeting and Turkey will play
the role of a catalyst. Because resolving this issue peacefully will
benefit everyone.

We are not neglecting this issue.

[Correspondent] But ex-Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, too, tried hard to
do that and he did not succeed. They only had a few meetings and then
there was a statement saying that there was a standstill this
way. What is your opinion?

[Gul] Difficult issues are not resolved by one single meeting. To
resolve difficult and complicated issues, one has to spend a lot of
effort. We must try very hard.

[Correspondent] You have had three meetings with Oskanyan. What is
their standpoint on Nagornyy Karabakh? Did you sense any give and take
attitude?

[Gul] Certainly, everyone has his own viewpoint. Some common ground, a
compromise, has to be reached in this regard. And that has to be a
just solution. >From this view, everyone may have their own
positions, but we must hold meetings and discuss this, not leave the
issue on its own.

[Correspondent] Were you satisfied by meetings with Oskanyan? Did he
have a position suitable for reaching such a common ground?

[Gul] From his view, he also wants the conflict to be resolved. But
naturally based on his standpoint.

[Correspondent] How does he propose to resolve it? Make Nagornyy
Karabakh independent?

[Gul] There are topics that we discuss in private because if we want
to try to resolve the issue, we have to keep something
confidential. But we must be determined and strive to resolve the
conflict.

Take Cyprus, for instance, where an important breakthrough has been
made. Why would that be impossible in this case?

EU stance on Nagornyy Karabakh

[Correspondent] You are also conducting talks with the European
Union. What is their stance on these problems?

[Gul] They are rather aloof from this issue, but we seek to involve
them closer. Because they, too, are members of the OSCE Minsk Group
and the Council of Europe – Azerbaijan and Armenia are there as
well. Therefore, the Caucasus already seems to be part of Europe, and
we must try to turn their attention in this direction.

[Correspondent] The EU is putting pressure on Turkey to open the
border with Armenia. This issue has come into the limelight lately.

[Gul] There is no such thing. To be frank, I lament those reports. All
journalists from Azerbaijan pose us this question whenever we
meet. This makes us a bit uncomfortable because there is no such
thing.

[Correspondent] And it cannot enter the agenda soon?

[Gul] No. There is no such problem.

[Correspondent] What are the conditions under which Turkey could open
its border with Armenia?

[Gul] If this issue is resolved.

[Correspondent] So, only after the Karabakh [conflict is resolved]?

[Gul] When this issue is resolved, when there are breakthroughs in
this regard, when there are mutually acceptable approaches.

Armenian claims

[Correspondent] You have meetings with Oskanyan and discuss not only
Azerbaijan. I mean, the Armenian Constitution contains territorial
claims to Turkey and the Armenian lobby, as well as the Armenian
government, also makes claims about genocide. What do you think about
this?

[Gul] Those issues are all just fictions. While Armenia is grappling
with its own problems, it is only laughable that it might lay a
territorial claim to part of Turkey.

[Correspondent] What about genocide claims?

[Gul] As for the genocide claims, they belong to the Armenian
diaspora, some rich Armenians residing in America. I tell them: then
go and leave in Armenia, if you love it that much. Do not just seat
there and stir things up. I tell them this. I hope that they will see
and realize this themselves.

There have been certain events at the time, but many Turkish lives
were lost as well. Under conditions of war, there can be casualties on
both sides but the Turks have never systematically killed people. Nor
does our history contain anything like that or our religion allows us
to do that. Massacre of civilians, genocide against them – such things
have never occurred in our history. The Turks, the Muslims, have never
done anything like that.

Hence, there may be some slander. We are always ready to reply to
those claims.

[Passage omitted: Turkey sent its envoy to USA to resolve this issue]

[Correspondent] Turkey is also a member of the OSCE Minsk Group. Why
does it not discuss the reasons for the Minsk Group’s failure to
resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh issue by now?

[Gul] Indeed, this issue has to be raised and I am spending a lot of
effort in this regard. During my visits abroad, I tell heads of state
that they are not paying as much attention to this issue as to other
conflicts. This conflict cannot be left in a frozen condition. They
have to pay attention to it and this conflict has to be resolved. We
are trying hard, but of course Azerbaijan has to try hard as well. It
is Azerbaijan’s lands which have been invaded.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan has to become stronger in every sense:
economically, militarily, democratically. To become stronger, the
country not only needs to reinforce its army, it also has to boost its
democracy and its economy. Then it will be better positioned to
defend its rights and interests.

Caucasus policy

[Correspondent] Some of your opponents are heavily criticizing
you. The EU is the priority for the incumbent government, and the
Caucasus policy is too weak, they say.

[Gul] Who are they?

[Correspondent] From the CHP [Republican People’s Party] and
others. Do you think Turkey’s current Caucasus policy is on the
necessary level?

[Gul] Certainly, it is. We place much importance on our Caucasus
policy. Turkey tries to resolve not only the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem, which we have discussed, but also some issues in Georgia. We
are closely watching the developments and are being effective. The
Caucasus is very important for us and the statements from the
opposition are engendered by envy.

[Correspondent] You have visited Georgia. The northeastern part of
Turkey is now well-off and there is a plan to build a railway between
Tbilisi and Kars. It would also connect Turkey and Azerbaijan. It was
talked about for a year but nothing happened.

[Gul] Large resources are needed for that. Not everything can be done
immediately. We also want to do that but we are unable so far to raise
enough funds. But it will be implemented.

[Passage omitted: Speculation on results of the referendum on
reunification in Cyprus]

[Presenter] Prior to Azerbaijani President [Ilham Aliyev’s] visit to
Turkey, there were some points in the Turkish-Armenian relationship
that caused concern in Azerbaijan. Now, those concerns can be
dismissed. It can be said that the positions of Turkey and Azerbaijan
on all issues concur.

Everything is in order, says Armenian defence minister

Golos Armenii, Yerevan
15 Apr 04

Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan has defended the actions of
the law-enforcement agencies in breaking up the opposition rally on
12-13 April. He told Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii that “2,000
people” could not be allowed to disrupt the life of the whole
nation. Accusing the opposition of trying to delude the people,
Sarkisyan said that the rallies showed that they had no organizational
ability. “Everything is in order,” he said, asked to comment on the
current situation. He acknowledged that Armenia’s position in
negotiations on Nagornyy Karabakh would be stronger if there were no
domestic political tension, but insisted that Armenia’s stance
remained unchanged. Sarkisyan said that it was too soon to say whether
or not Armenia would attend the NATO exercises to be held in Baku in
September. Economic, rather than democratic, development is Armenia’s
priority, Sarkisyan said. Text of Ruben Markaryan’s interview with
Sarkisyan in Golos Armenii on 15 April headlined “`Everything is in
order,’ Serzh Sarkisyan”; ellipses as published by the newspaper
throughout, subheadings inserted editorially:

An exclusive interview with Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan.

Everything is in order

[Golos Armenii correspondent] Mr Sarkisyan, the first question is
about the domestic political situation. How do you assess the recent
events, in particular the opposition meetings and dispersal of the
demonstration on Bagramyan Avenue?

[Serzh Sarkisyan] Everything is in order. In order to assess today’s
situation correctly, let us go back several months and recall how the
irreconcilable minority was threatening to announce the time, day and
even hour of the change of power. The authorities took those
statements and threats very calmly, but the opposition opted to worsen
the situation. You know, we reacted calmly to lies, invented
accusations and even personal insults… But that was until they
started talking openly about taking power by force. Then the
authorities took certain measures and we have seen the result… They
threatened to take 100-150,000 people onto the streets. They made
announcements on behalf of the people as though only the radical
opposition are the people’s representatives and all the rest are their
enemies. Today it is obvious that these people do not have any right
to speak on behalf of the people, as they could not get even the
number of voters of one constituency to their rally… Moreover,
either because they were annoyed by this or insulted, they decided to
resort to extreme measures.

Let’s recall the sequence of events: the opposition wanted to hold a
rally on Theatre Square [also known as Freedom Square], they held one,
although it had not actually been authorized. The opposition wanted to
hold a sit-down strike, again no-one stopped them, but, unfortunately,
today’s radicals are the type of people who consider a normal attitude
to be a sign of weakness and become more insolent… And the
opposition decided that 2,000 people could come and disrupt the normal
life of the whole nation. Of course, the law-enforcement structures
had to take steps…

Opposition are deluding people

[Correspondent] The results are evident. But what conclusions may be
drawn from what happened?

[Sarkisyan] Conclusions… First of all, the executive power should
make conclusions. We should look at our work in a new way. You know,
nobody, neither the president nor prime minister nor any minister said
that there is no problem in their sphere and everything is OK. There
are numerous problems. Specifically in my sphere there are many
problems, but we work on the principle: everything is
relative. Otherwise the question will undoubtedly arise: “But who are
the judges?” From this point of view, if we compare 2004 and 2000,
progress is obvious. Moreover, in all spheres. We should try to make
the progress more noticeable, tangible, but at the same time we should
and will put in their place those who are trying to play on the
people’s emotions, who are trying to delude the people, to speak in
their name.

Recently I had the pleasure at the Drama Theatre to hear once more the
marvellous thoughts of Paruyr Sevak, declaimed by actor Artur
Utmazyan. “To delude the people is a crime”, Paruyr Sevak said. You
have to agree with him. It really is a crime to play on the people’s
social problems and say: “You go, we’ll come in and do better.” Who
said that they can do better? Another marvellous poet, Shota
Rustaveli, said: “Everyone thinks he is a strategist when he watches a
battle from the sidelines.”

It seems to them that they can do something. But it is obvious that,
even in organizing rallies, these people do not even have an iota of
organizing ability. All their activity is based on lies and
falsification. They lie, both in the small things and the big. They do
not hesitate to look into the eyes of those who came to support
them. I cannot imagine how, seeing 5-6,000 people who have come to
support them, they can say: “My dear people, thank you that 100,000 of
you have come.” And they do not even blush. What can you make of the
speeches of the opposition leaders in the foreign press, first of all
the Russian? What kind of behaviour is that? They have convinced
themselves that we are leading the people to disaster and now they are
trying to persuade other people of this, our friends as well as
enemies. What is this, if not betrayal? It turns out that they are
aspiring to assure Azerbaijan: “Look, the authorities in Armenia have
neither a basis nor an army. Come and achieve your objectives!”

[Correspondent] The view has been spread that our opposition is acting
in unison with Azerbaijan…

[Sarkisyan] No, certainly there is no direct connection. Here there
may not be two opinions. It is another question if the interests
coincide here. The problem is that these people are unscrupulous.
There is only one slogan for them – the worse it is in Armenia, the
better for them. Azerbaijan is certainly guided by the same slogan,
and not only Azerbaijan…

Armenia’s position on Karabakh unchanged

[Correspondent] By the way, the national security minister of
Azerbaijan has often spoken recently about his secret service in
Armenia. Do you see signs of it?

[Sarkisyan] I think that these statements are first of all made for
local consumption. After all, it is known that the Azerbaijanis like
to boast and not only about this… Sometimes they liberate what seem
to them to be villages, sometimes something else… No serious leader
of a secret service of a serious country will say openly that his
secret service is operating in another country. This childishness ill
befits the leader of a secret service.

[Correspondent] May the domestic political tension negatively affect
the country’s foreign policy objectives, in particular the diplomatic
settlement of the Karabakh conflict?

[Sarkisyan] It is clear that there is no benefit from this
situation. During any talks our positions will be much stronger, if
this type of situation does not arise. It is no secret that the
soundness of any country, especially of a country that is in a state
of “neither war nor peace”, the soundness of any army, mostly depends
on the soundness of its rear. As for the NKR problem, I should say
that in this matter the positions of the Armenian authorities are
strong and unchangeable. There are three known principles: the
impossibility of Artsakh [Karabakh] being subordinate to Azerbaijan;
the impossibility of an enclave status for Artsakh; and security
guarantees. We have neither the desire nor the potential to give up
something more and we shall stand up for our position. It is also
known that today the negotiating process has slowed down at the
initiative of Azerbaijan.

[Correspondent] Recently Azerbaijan’s new foreign minister stated
their principles, that Azerbaijan will not agree to the independence
of Karabakh or its joining Armenia.

[Sarkisyan] These are not new principles. All this has been the
corner-stone of their activity since 1988, and if a new president of
Azerbaijan wants to travel the same road that we travelled since 1988,
that is his problem. I do not understand what it means “to start from
scratch”. From 1988, 1918 or may be to go even further back?

Armenia guarantor of Karabakh’s security

[Correspondent] You talked about the connection between the soundness
of the rear and of the army. What is the situation in the Armenian
armed forces today?

[Sarkisyan] I need a very long time to answer this question. To be
brief, we are implementing the plan for 2004, in particular in
supporting the fighting efficiency of the armed forces. Exercises are
held from time to time, they are more or less objective criteria of
the fighting efficiency of the troops. Recently we held
command-headquarters exercises for the first time. Our objective was
to learn how in the conditions of constant reforms in the economy our
structures were able to adapt to these new conditions in the rear, to
the problems of material supplies, replenishment and fighting
efficiency. The exercises showed that, in spite of problems, the
situation may be considered satisfactory.

[Correspondent] They say in Azerbaijan that in your ministry they are
going to reconsider the military doctrine and, according to the
foreseen changes, if war resumes, the NKR army will pass under the
direct subordination of the Armenian armed forces. What is the state
of the military doctrine? Is there one?

[Sarkisyan] We have a military doctrine. But it does not exist on its
own, it is part of the whole security system. Maybe we need one
general document, the main part of which will be our military
doctrine. But as a rule these tactical problems are not touched on in
military doctrines. But it is clear that Armenia and, in particular,
our army is the guarantor of the Nagornyy Karabakh people’s security,
nobody has nor should they have any illusions about this. The doctrine
may change, it may not change, there may be a doctrine, there may
not… Armenia is the guarantor of Nagornyy Karabakh’s security.

[Correspondent] Are you satisfied with the budget of our armed forces?
They often say that Azerbaijan’s military budget is much larger than
ours.

[Sarkisyan] Really our military budget is almost half that of
Azerbaijan. But I think that the resources given are enough to support
the army’s fighting efficiency and the dynamic of change in the
military budget is acceptable. I do not want to touch on the details,
but the Azerbaijani army is bigger than ours so for this reason
expenditure is also greater. In addition, the president and prime
minister of our republic often find opportunities to settle some of
the armed forces’ problems, which should have been settled from the
military budget.

Too early to say if Armenia will go to NATO exercises in Baku

[Correspondent] The relations of our armed forces with the [CIS]
Collective Security Treaty [CST] are more or less obvious. What can
you say about cooperation with NATO? Will Armenia take part in the
NATO exercises in Baku this autumn?

[Sarkisyan] It is still early to give a final answer, but at the last
stage of planning for the exercises in Kiev we confirmed that as a
fully-fledged member of the Partnership for Peace programme we have
the right and are obliged to take part in the exercises. We shall see
how Azerbaijan will behave in future. As for our relations with NATO,
they are moving forward. We continue to integrate into different NATO
programmes and I think this can only be useful for our armed
forces. Remaining a member of the CST, we shall develop our bilateral
relations with NATO and the countries of the bloc. Our military
cooperation with NATO is also developing normally. I think we do not
have the right to become closed in on ourselves and we shall only gain
from that cooperation.

[Correspondent] To put the question more basically, do you not think
that we are lagging behind Georgia and Azerbaijan in cooperation with
NATO?

[Sarkisyan] If we take into account only the statements of Georgia and
Azerbaijan about their desire to become a member of the bloc, in this
sense they are ahead. Joining NATO is not on our foreign policy agenda
and, for this reason, naturally we do not make this kind of statement,
here everything is clear. As for the level of cooperation, we are not
lagging behind.

Economy the priority

[Correspondent] As secretary of the Security Council, what current
objective of Armenian statehood is the most relevant?

[Sarkisyan] It is difficult to single out one. Nevertheless, I think
the main objective is to ensure high rates of economic development. If
the economy is developing at a high rate, then the country’s budget
will be able to allocate funds to security as well as social problems
and the army. Stable rates of development, this is the most important
today. My words may seem strange, because it is accepted to speak much
about the priority of democracy and human values. But for me it is
almost an axiom: all this first of all depends on economic
development, on the means in your budget, on the wages and pensions of
citizens, on the wages and pensions of the officers of the armed
forces, on the means to ensure security and the development of
democratic institutions. I am sure that if by some miracle we manage
to increase the living standard in Armenia 10 times, in that case
hardly anyone would want to go to rallies. For this reason I think
that all the efforts should be directed at achieving this objective.

No damage to Armenia’s international image from dispersal of rally

[Correspondent] What do you think, may the recent events in Armenia
have a negative affect on the attitude of international organizations
and Western countries towards our country?

[Sarkisyan] I do not think so, because everything was within the
framework of the law. Every day you see on the television the steps
taken by European and US law-enforcement agencies to support public
order. I think that, on the contrary, nobody would have understood us
if 2,000 people had paralysed the life of the whole of Yerevan.

Armenia looks for funds for Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, president says

Mediamax news agency
16 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Yerevan and Tehran have reached an agreement on beginning the
construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline next year.

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said this addressing a meeting of
the council on nuclear power security under the president, Mediamax
reports.

According to the president, the country’s authorities consider this
gas pipeline “as a means to enhance Armenia’s energy security and
diversify natural gas import”.

“At present, Armenia is drawing out different schemes of financing the
construction of this gas pipeline on its territory,” Robert Kocharyan
said.

Armenia not planning to join NATO – foreign minister

Mediamax news agency
16 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in Yerevan today that
“as long as we have not raised the issue of our membership of NATO,
our cooperation with the alliance does not run counter to Armenia’s
strategic relations with Russia and our membership of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization”.

“Contradictions may appear only if Armenia raises the issue of its
membership of NATO, however, we have no plans on that score today. We
are ready to expand relations with NATO, but this does not mean that
Armenia plans to start talks on joining the alliance,” Oskanyan said.

“If Georgia and Azerbaijan become members of NATO, and Armenia does
not, then this will obviously create new dividing lines in the
Caucasus,” Oskanyan said. According to him, “these issues concern not
only us, but also NATO, the USA and Russia, which is why they will be
very cautious and will try to avoid this scenario”.

Azeri daily speculates on arms purchase from Israel, Turkey

Ekho, Baku
16 Apr 04 pp 1,3

Text of R. Orucov and T. Mammadov report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho
on 16 April entitled “Will Israel and Turkey supply weapons to
Azerbaijan?” and subheaded “The Israeli embassy does not confirm this
information”

“Israel and Turkey will sell arms to Azerbaijan,” said a report
circulated yesterday by Israeli ISRAland news agency. “Diplomatic
sources in Ankara say that Israel and Turkey are close to concluding a
major transaction on the sale of arms to Azerbaijan,” the report said.

It was reported that within the framework of the agreement, Israel
would supply technology, component parts, and weapons will be
assembled in Turkey and then supplied to Azerbaijan. Turkey hopes that
this contract will open up a way for new deals on the sale of
Israeli-Turkish weapons to Central Asian states. It is maintained
that during previous attempts to implement similar joint projects in
the sphere of arms sales, a potential client preferred to obtain arms
directly from Israel.

The report is very interesting bearing in mind that nothing of this
kind has been reported before.

To verify this report, our correspondent turned to the Azerbaijani
Defence Ministry spokesman, Ramiz Malikov. His answer was brief: “It
is the first time I hear about this.”

A correspondent of Ekho asked the first secretary of the Azerbaijani
embassy in Turkey, Etibar Mammadov, the same question. “No comments,”
the diplomat said.

In turn, the press attache of the Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan,
Elkhan Polukhov, said that the circulated by his country’s press
“information does not correspond to the facts, it is nonsense. Such
cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan in the military sphere
through Turkey does not exist.”

However, a source in the military circles, who wished to remain
anonymous, has told Ekho that such a multistage system of supplies of
Israeli arms to Azerbaijan is absolutely possible and some facts point
to the actual existence of such a plan. “Simply, the purchase of arms
from abroad or their sale is traditionally referred to as a delicate
issue practically in every country. This is also true for Azerbaijan,
Turkey and Israel.”

For many post-Soviet states, the issue of upgrading the existing
military and technical stocks they inherited from the USSR is very
pressing. “Naturally, Azerbaijan is not an exception and the fact that
this is persistently denied by diplomats is also fully understandable.
But in fact, our country is conducting negotiations on the issue and
the state leadership has issued definite instructions to carry out
active work in this area. This means that all state-of-the-art weapons
that appear in the armament of friendly countries should be tested as
to whether they could be applied in our army,” the source said.

“It is no secret that Azerbaijan and Turkey are in close contacts on
the issue and this has already yielded a positive outcome. Over the
recent years high-level military officials from Turkey and Azerbaijan
have paid reciprocal visits. No country would like undesirable sides
to find out about its plans. Bearing in mind that we are at war with
Armenia, our country does not intend to advertise such issues either.

“Moreover, some Muslim countries react to the word of ‘Israel’ very
alarmingly, especially in the sphere of military cooperation. Our
country’s interest in Israeli weapons is natural as this country
possesses up-to-date types of weapons, military hardware and special
equipment. As for this report, it contains facts showing that definite
work is being conducted. I am sure that there will be important
progress,” the source said.

Armenian opposition plans new rally
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

16.04.2004 08:52:00 GMT

Yerevan. (Interfax) – Opposition groups in Armenia plan to stage a new rally
in the center of the capital city, Yerevan, on Friday to press to have
the government replaced.

The rally will be held even if City Hall does not authorize it, Stepan
Demirchian, the leader of the opposition Justice bloc, has told
Interfax.

“The opposition has not been broken and intends to continue fighting
to have the government in Armenia replaced,” he said.

Confrontation between the opposition, which is demanding the
resignation of President Robert Kocharian, and the authorities has
come to a head over the past few days. The opposition is boycotting
parliament sessions and pressing for a referendum on confidence in the
authorities. It has staged several large rallies. The police dispersed
a rally outside the presidential residence early on April 13. The
authorities have banned all unauthorized mass rallies in Yerevan.