PEACE AGREEMENT FOR BETTER FUTURE OF KARABAKH
Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
June 6 2004
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly reporter on Karabakh settlement
Goran Lenmarker will present a report in Edinburg on July 5, which
will include suggestions in reference to the ways of parliamentary
influence of the OSCE Minsk Group on the question of the Karabakh
settlement. Goran Lenmarker stated this in Stepanakert where he
had meetings with the NKR president, parliament leadership, public
organizations and representatives of refugees. During the meeting the
speaker of the Nagorni Karabakh parliament Oleg Yessayan mentioned
that he is satisfied with the fact that along with the OSCE Minsk
Group other European organizations start to occupy with the Karabakh
problem. He emphasized that the parliament of Nagorni Karabakh is
ready to assist comprehensively to the fair and peaceful settlement
of the problem. He emphasized that in Nagorni Karabakh they are
conscious that it is possible to achieve international recognition
only through building democratic statehood in our country. Goran
Lenmarker stated that he does not have much experience in the Karabakh
problem and at the same time he mentioned that he has great experience
in the question of other conflicts, especially the Balkan conflict
regulation. Lenmarker considers the main principles of work the rapid
settlement of the problem, maintenance of the cease-fire and the
admissibility of the decision for all the conflict parties. Lenmarker
mentioned that he does not intend taking the place of the Minsk
Group but he thinks that the parliament may have an important role
in the settlement of the problem. During the meeting the members of
parliament made their observations concerning the settlement. The head
of the NA faction “Dashnaktsutyun” (Armenian Revolutionary Federation)
Vahram Balayan emphasized that not recognizing the independence of
Nagorni Karabakh by the international community is a rough violation
of the rights of the Karabakh people who intend continuing to defend
their statehood. Member of the National Assembly of Nagorni Karabakh
Edward Aghabekian stressed that if “Europe intends settling the
Karabakh conflict in the way it did in the Balkans, then we prefer
the frozen state of the conflict without victims.” In this reference
Goran Lenmarker noticed that Europe has a self-critical attitude
to its policy in the Balkans and considers the reason of failure
hastiness of actions. Edward Aghabekian called the European officials
not to connect the settlement of the conflict to the pipeline or any
means of communication because this conflict was caused by the vital
necessity of self-preservation. In this reference member of the faction
“Democratic Liberal Union” M. Danielian pointed out the necessity
of the fair settlement of the problem emphasizing that the failure
of the Balkan settlement was the unfairness of its principles. Goran
Lenmarker stated that the unfairly settled conflicts take as a rule
a regressive course. During the meeting it was mentioned that the
European Union has completed the process of expanding in the north
and is now facing south, particularly the South Caucasus. In their
turn the members of the National Assembly mentioned that Karabakh has
always been part of the European civilization and sees its development
in northern direction. During the meeting with Karabakh journalists
Goran Lenmarker said that the aim of his visit to Karabakh was to see
the country, meet with the members of parliament, representatives of
the society and to get acquainted with the position of the people of
Karabakh in reference to the Karabakh regulation. Goran Lenmarker
stated that his role is to render parliamentary assistance to the
process of negotiations. According to him, judging by the European
experience, the parliament has huge potential for peaceful settlement
of conflicts. He mentioned that negotiations are governmentâ^À^Ùs
business, and the parliamentarians are to assist to the results of
those negotiations and inform the society. He stated that a peace
agreement must provide good future for the people of Karabakh. By
the way, he emphasized the importance of rapid settlement because as
a result the societies of Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan suffer.
AA.

ROUND TABLE IN MOSCOW PRODUCED NO RESULTS
Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
June 6 2004
Commenting on the results of the round table held in Moscow, NKR
president Arkady Ghukassian mentioned that the parties could not
achieve a mutual understanding. “Practically no agreement was made
on any question. For different reasons Nagorni Karabakh, Armenia and
Azerbaijan refused the initial offers presented by the mediators. But
I think that this is a quite normal phenomenon for this format of
work because there are no traditions of relationships. In particular,
we have been outsiders in these processes for 5 years. I think it
takes time to work out a constructive basis for the negotiations. I
also think that the conference will go on and there may be new
suggestions. In any case Karabakh is for constructive work,” said
Arkady Ghukassian. Answering the question of activation of European
organizations in reference to the Karabakh problem Arkady Ghukassian
particularly mentioned that controversial information is received
from different European organizations. “Therefore we start from
the fact that there is the OSCE Minsk Group which specializes in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. We think that taking into account
its experience and efforts in the negotiations the Minsk Group is a
more prepared organization for the negotiations and therefore there
will hardly be any meaning in looking for new formats,” mentioned
the president of NKR. He emphasized that the Karabakh authorities
welcome the efforts of all the European organizations favouring
the work of the Minsk Group. “It is a different problem that these
organizations are not prepared enough to make any suggestion in
reference to the Karabakh settlement. We think this work needs to
be coordinated because any organization will hardly achieve success
alone,” emphasized Arkady Ghukassian.
AA.

“LIGHT TO ARMENIAN EYES”
Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
June 6 2004
>>From May 17 to June 22 the charity organization “Armenian
Ophthalmologic Project” implements the program “Light to Armenian
Eyes” in Artsakh. We met with a group of ophthalmologists in Martakert
region. The minister of health Zoya Lazarian was there too. “Several
years ago the director of the organization Roger Hovhannissian living
in Los Angeles together with professor Malian arrived in Karabakh
from Yerevan and provided medical equipment to the republic hospital,”
said the minister. “Taking into account the lack of ophthalmologists in
Armenia and especially in Artsakh the organization decided to implement
a charity program involving leading specialists in the both Armenian
republics. The program was brought into being in Armenia and a year
ago receiving Roger Hovhannissian NKR president Arkady Ghukassian
suggesting implementing the program in Artsakh not after finishing
the visits to Armenian regions but in parallel. By the suggestion of
the NKR Ministry of Health the program of medical examination visits
involved not only Stepanakert but also the regions. The group has
already been in Hadrout and Martouni towns and villages, presently it
is in Martakert region. Then they will visit the upper subdistrict of
Askeran, the region of Shoushi, Kashatagh-Berdzor.” According to the
minister, the movable clinic consisting of the equipped surgery and
the theatre will remain in Stepanakert and the patients directed by
the examination groups will be operated on in the capital. “I repeat
that this is a charity action and examination is for everyone and free
of charge. Free operation is only for socially insecure people. And
another circumstance: similar collaboration is a peculiar schooling for
the local specialists. Our young specialists actively participate in
both the examination and operations,” said Zoya Lazarian. “It should
be mentioned that the group headed by doctor Avetissian works in the
region with great work load,” mentioned the director of the Martakert
Medical Union after R. Baziyan Sergey Ohanian. “It would be nice if
such medical examination was held at least once or twice a year. In the
regions (including ours) there is almost no ophthalmologic service and
few people can afford to leave for Stepanakert and Yerevan.” Touching
upon the problems of professional qualification, the minister of
health added that in Stepanakert she had asked Roger Hovhannissian to
work out a sponsored program for young ophthalmologists in Artsakh
to be implemented in Yerevan. “At least in this way we will manage
to fill the gap of professional specialists in our republic,” said
Zoya Lazarian.
NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/15/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Karabagh Tops Talks between Oskanian, Powell 2) EU Includes South Caucasus Countries in Neighborhood Policy 3) Congressmen Schiff, Radanovich Seek Committee Hearing on Armenian Victims Insurance Fairness Act 4) World Bank Extends $24 Million to Support Armenia Reforms 5) Gul Presents Turkey's Vision for Karabagh at Islamic Conference 1) Karabagh Tops Talks between Oskanian, Powell YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia's Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and other top officials on Monday to discuss the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, during Oskanian's visit to Washington. Commenting on the meeting, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher noted that Oskanian and Powell "discussed progress towards settlement of the Mountainous Karabagh conflict." "They also discussed the possibilities for improving relations between Turkey and Armenia and Armenia's prospects for receiving funds under the Millennium Challenge Account," Boucher added. "We also understand that Foreign Minister Oskanian is meeting today with Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Beth Jones, to go into some of these issues in more detail." Oskanian was also due to meet with national security adviser Condoleeza Rice, and senior Pentagon officials. Armenian government officials have rarely held such high-level talks in the US capital in recent year. The meeting comes in advance of the June 21 Prague meeting between Oskanian and Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov. The two men have met twice in recent weeks under the auspices of the OSCE's Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, Russia, and France. They have both issued cautiously optimistic statements, with Mamedyarov saying late last month that the peace talks are "intensifying" after a period of stagnation. Oskanian's trip to Washington follows an unexpected visit to Yerevan on June 3 by Steven Mann, America's chief Karabagh negotiator. 2) EU Includes South Caucasus Countries in Neighborhood Policy BRUSSELS (Armenpress/EurActiv.com)--The European Union (EU) this week formally included Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in its European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). The move does not open the door to EU membershipofficials studiously avoid speculation, saying simply membership is "not on the agenda." However, the new neighborhood initiative could, over the next decades, lead to free trade, substantial aid grants, and extensive political dialogue with the EU. EU foreign ministers hailed the decision--passed by EU's External Relations Council in Luxembourg on June 14--as a "significant step forward in the Union's engagement with this region." The ENP's goal is to create circumstances that will allow Europe and its neighboring countries to "share the benefits of an enlarged EU." Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will be given equal opportunity to develop links with the EU, and be allowed to submit Action Plans aimed at bolstering reforms. The plans, which must last a minimum of three years and promote regional cooperation, will be assessed based on individual merits, and in conformity to general ENP policy. The EU also identified Russia as a key partner in the bloc's new strategy of upgrading political and economic relations with its neighbors. 3) Congressmen Schiff, Radanovich Seek Committee Hearing on Armenian Victims Insurance Fairness Act WASHINGTON, DCCalifornia Congressmen Adam Schiff and George Radanovich have formally requested a committee hearing on the Armenian Victims Insurance Fairness Act (HR 3323). The bill would allow states to require insurance companies to disclose the identity of Genocide-era insurance policy holders. Unable to access necessary documents, many victims and their families are still unable to collect benefits owed to them. The Armenian Bar Association endorsed the legislation in April. "It is important for Congress to speak clearly on this issue so that states are permitted to act if they so choose," Congressmen Schiff and Radanovich wrote in their letter to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Michael G. Oxley, requesting the hearing. "Private settlement negotiations between insurance companies and families have been slow with no final resolutions reached to date. Families should not have to wait any longer for disclosure of policyholder lists." Customarily, a committee hearing on a bill is the first step followed by the committee's votes on the legislation at a later date. 4) World Bank Extends $24 Million to Support Armenia Reforms WASHINGTON, DC-- More than 22 million dollars will be extended to the Armenian Water and Sewage Company to implement its Municipal Water and Wastewater Project. The allocation will come from a Development Credit Agreement between the Government of Armenia and the World Bank's International Development Association, signed on June 14 by Armenia's Ambassador to the US Dr. Arman Kirakossian, and World Bank's Resident Representative in Armenia Roger Robinson. Armenia's water utility has undergone fundamental reforms for more than four years, and the World Bank credit is expected to advance greater reforms. Also signed was a Development Credit Agreement, which will allocate a supplemental $1.75 million to Armenia's ongoing Agricultural Reforms Support Program. During the signing ceremony, Robinson praised the Armenian government for its cooperation in implementing the World Bank programs. Ambassador Kirakossian said that by way of its expertise and financing since the reestablishment of independence in Armenia, the World Bank has helped the Government in its effort to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth. 5) Gul Presents Turkey's Vision for Karabagh at Islamic Conference ISTANBUL (Anadolu Agency)--Speaking at the 31st session of Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul on Monday, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stressed that the Azeri-Armenian conflict still stands as one of the principle obstacles to regional stability, prosperity, and cooperation in the South Caucasus. "The time has come to find a peaceful solution to this conflict [while] maintaining the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. The Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories has to be brought to an end. This is in the interest of the regional countries as well as the international community. Turkey is ready to play its role in settling this issue." Commenting on the Cyprus issue, Gul noted that it is time for the international community to give full backing to the Turkish Cypriots by engaging in direct economic, commercial, social and cultural contact. "The EU and the United States have already taken some steps with a view to putting an end to the isolation of Turkish Cypriots," Gul said, urging the Islamic World to also extend full support to Turkish Cypriot "Muslim Brothers." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Moscow Times
June 16 2004
Gazprom Getting Tough With Ex-Soviet Republics
Combined Reports
Dmitry Beliakov / bloomberg
Ryazanov said Gazprom will gradually raise gas prices for all three
Baltic states.
Gazprom, the world’s largest natural gas producer, said Tuesday it
plans to cut deliveries of the fuel to former Soviet republics by
almost 5 percent this year and gradually raise prices for new
European Union members Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
“We shall start pushing prices up for [the Baltic states] to the
level close to the European Union,” Gazprom deputy CEO Alexander
Ryazanov told a news conference.
He said that Gazprom, which rarely discloses export prices, supplies
the Baltic states at $84 per 1,000 cubic meters. Neighboring Poland
gets gas at about $120 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Gazprom will deliver 49.9 billion cubic meters of gas to the CIS,
Georgia and the Baltics, down from 52.3 bcm last year, he said.
Deliveries to Belarus will rise by 2 percent to 18.5 bcm, and to
Lithuania by 4 percent, to 3.07 bcm.
“There are serious problems in developing cooperation between Gazprom
and the CIS countries because of debts they owe for gas,” Ryazanov
said.
Gazprom says Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova owe $3.25 billion. At the
start of June, the company stopped deliveries to Poland and Germany
through Belarus after a price dispute.
Ryazanov warned that Gazprom might limit deliveries to Georgia, which
has accumulated a $50 million to $60 million debt.
“Georgia is our main headache,” he said.
Production will rise 3.3 percent to 542 bcm, with 291 bcm going to
Russia, he said. It expects to break even on domestic sales and earn
as much as $400 million from them in 2005.
“This is a transitional period, and we’ll look at prices when we get
over this period,” Ryazanov said.
Gazprom will increase transit shipments of gas from Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Georgia and Moldova as much as sixfold to 9.35 bcm this
year, he said. A total of 44.1 bcm from Central Asia will cross
Russian territory, along with 119.2 bcm from Ukraine, 33.1 bcm from
Belarus and 22.1 bcm from Moldova.
“The main problem in delivering Central Asian gas is the lack of a
decent transport infrastructure,” Ryazanov said.
He said Moldova owes Gazprom $1.26 billion, and the company is in
talks with the government on restructuring the debt, including
schemes under which Gazprom will get shares in Moldovan firms.
(Bloomberg, Reuters)

‘We Are Waging a Racial Holy War’
By Maria Danilova
Moscow Times
June 16 2004
The Associated Press — Semyon Tokmakov stretches out his hand and
points to a thick scar he got from assaulting a black U.S. Marine six
years ago. The attack cost him 1 1/2 years in jail, but Tokmakov says
he has no regrets.
“We are waging a racial holy war,” said Tokmakov, 28, an informal
leader among Moscow’s skinheads, whose violence appears to be rising.
Over the last several years, Russia has become a strikingly hostile
place for all those with African, Asian or so-called Caucasian
features — the dark skin and dark hair typical for the peoples of
the mountainous Caucasus region.
The U.S. Marine was badly beaten in 1998 in a Moscow market, one of
several foreigners targeted in recent years. The last few months
have seen an especially shocking series of brutal racial attacks,
such as the stabbing to death of a Guinea-Bissau student in Voronezh,
the killing of an Afghan asylum seeker in Moscow, and the slaying of
a 9-year-old Tajik girl in St. Petersburg.
Ethnic minorities in Moscow complain that beatings and insults are
almost a daily occurrence.
“Racially motivated crimes are growing in number and brutality by the
year,” said Alexander Brod, head of the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights.
According to a two-year study conducted by Brod’s bureau and a few
other groups, there are about 50,000 skinheads in Russia, with Moscow
and St. Petersburg home to about 1,500 each. It said 20 to 30 people
have died in such attacks annually in the past few years, and the
number of such crimes is growing by 30 percent per year.
“When you kill cockroaches, you don’t feel sorry for them, do you?”
Tokmakov said, when asked whether he felt sorry for the slain Tajik
girl.
The growing extremist sentiments are rooted in Russia’s economic
problems, including high unemployment in many regions, and the
collapse of the Soviet Union, which sent hundreds of thousands of
migrants from poorer former Soviet republics to Russia seeking jobs.
“Why have they all come here?” Tokmakov said. “They bring nothing
but drugs and AIDS. Every day they harass and steal our women.”
Political parties and politicians openly played the nationalist card
in the December parliamentary vote, calling for the ouster of migrant
workers and promoting Russia for Russians. Two such political groups,
the Liberal Democratic Party and the Rodina bloc, enjoyed victory in
the election.
Tokmakov said he and his associates had been on the ballot of Rodina
but their names were later crossed out. Party officials have denied
that.
“When there are such economic and other hardships, there are usually
two ways of dealing with it — the first is that of contemplating,
the second is looking for an enemy and blaming him for your problems.
Unfortunately Russia has chosen the second path,” Brod said.
Rafael Arkelov, a 47-year-old Armenian singer who has spent all his
life living in Moscow and for whom Russian is his first language,
has experienced it all.
He was in a grocery store buying a chocolate bar and a bottle of
champagne to visit his friends for a New Year’s celebration when a
man asked him for some change. After Arkelov refused to give him
money, he saw the man approach two youths with shaved heads whom
he identified as skinheads standing nearby and whispered something.
Several minutes later, after Arkelov walked out of the store, he was
jumped from behind.
“They punched me in my eyes, my face, and all of a sudden I couldn’t
see anymore. Then I collapsed to the ground and they started beating
me with their feet,” Arkelov recalled. “If it weren’t for a woman
across the street who screamed ‘What are you doing?’, if it weren’t
for this scream of hers, I think they would have beaten me to death.”
Brod’s study predicted that the number of skinheads could grow to
80,000 to 100,000 within the next two years if authorities don’t
take measures to combat xenophobia. Interior Ministry officials have
said they were closely watching 10,000 suspected members of extremist
groups, but all too often racially motivated attacks are dismissed as
hooliganism. “Racism isn’t unique to Russia, I know it exists in Europe
and America,” Arkelov said. “But unlike Russia, in those countries
it is prosecuted and the state pursues specific policies to combat it.”

Victory for Anand’s team
Leko’s fifth-round win over Anand was not enough
Calcutta Telegraph, India
June 16 2004
Moscow: Former world champion Viswanathan Anand drew his final round
game with world No. 1 Garri Kasparov to ensure victory for the Rest
of the World team against Armenia on Tuesday.
Despite a defeat in the sixth and final round, Rest of the World held
on to their lead, winning the match 18.5-17.5.
Rest of the World began the last round with the cushion of a
two-point lead at 16-14, while Armenia looked for two extra wins,
without defeats.
Playing Kasparov with white pieces, Anand snatched the precious half
point with a comfortable draw. The Sicilian Pelican game between
Anand and Kasparov saw neither player willing to take the risk.
Anand completed the event with two wins, a lone defeat to Peter Leko
and three draws.
Leko’s fine win over the Indian in the fifth and penultimate round
on Monday, however, was not enough for his team.
Anand’s game plan did not succeed in the later stages even as pieces
got exchanged at regular intervals and the players arrived at rook
and pawns end game with equal strength.
The only decisive game of the day came from the Vaganian-Adams game,
wherein the veteran Armenian brought in all his experience in the
Queens Indian game to down the English Grandmaster.
Giving it all, Vaganian went all out on a king-side attack, marshalling
his pieces in quick time. Adams’ decision to hold on to the bishop
against knight backfired as the white knight occupied vital squares.
Holding a vice like grip, Vaganian forced Adams to resign after
38 moves.
Short draws occurred in the Valleo Pons-Leko and Akopian-Svidler games,
where peace was signed in 18 and 16 moves, respectively.

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Meets with Powell, Rice in Washington
Foreign Minister Oskanian is on a two-day working visit to the United
States.
On Monday, June 14, he held two separate meetings with Secretary of
State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice. At
each meeting, the Minister discussed key matters of bilateral interest,
such as expanded trade and deeper economic cooperation, including the
Millennium Challenge Account. They also explored developments in the
Nagorno Karabakh negotiation process, regional matters, including
regional security issues, Armenia’s relations with Turkey, and the
upcoming NATO Summit.
The Minister also met with Mira Rickardel, Assistant to the Secretary
of Defense for Europe and Eurasia, and Assistant Secretary of State
Elizabeth Jones. With each, Minister Oskanian discussed regional
stability and cooperation, as well as the Nagorno Karabakh peace
process and prospects for a resolution.
During his first day, the Minister delivered a talk at the Center
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The audience, a
mix of representatives of official Washington, as well as think
tanks, research centers, press and academia, heard the Minister
assess Armenia’s foreign policy challenges, its security agenda,
the importance of maintaining regional stability and security, and
the significnce of democratic processes and sustained economic growth
to each of these concerns.
On Tuesday, the Minister will meet with members of the US Senate
and Congress, as well as representatives of the media, as well
as Armenian-American organizations. He will leave for Yerevan on
Wednesday.

ARMENIA THIS WEEK
June 14, 2004
ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS U.S.
A delegation led by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is in Washington this
week for two days of high-level meetings with U.S. Administration officials
and members of Congress. On Monday, Oskanian met with the President’s
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, her deputy Stephen Hadley,
Secretary of State Colin Powell, Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth
Jones and Assistant Secretary of Defense Mira Ricardel. The talks focused on
bilateral security cooperation and U.S. economic assistance, as well as the
ongoing Karabakh peace process and Armenia’s relations with Turkey. Meetings
with key members of the Senate and House of Representatives, including
leaders of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, are set for Tuesday.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a leading
Washington-based think tank, Oskanian outlined Armenia’s priorities in three
interconnected areas: internal political stability and democratic
development, sustained economic growth and settlement of regional conflicts.
He noted that Armenia’s selection as one of only sixteen countries worldwide
eligible for additional U.S. aid in the framework of the Millennium
Challenge Account reflects approval of Armenia’s economic and political
reforms. But Oskanian stressed that Armenia’s leaders recognized that more
progress is needed in these two areas.
Last week, the Armenian National Assembly gave preliminary approval to
sending a peacekeeping unit to Iraq. The Parliament voted to ratify
Armenia’s Status of Forces agreement with Kuwait, paving the way for a
deployment of a 30-truck transportation company, military engineers and
medics, via that country to support U.S.-led stabilization operations in
Iraq. Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces’ General Staff General Mikael
Harutiunian said two weeks ago that Armenia’s commitment to contribute to
the U.S.-led effort was unaffected by continued violence in Iraq. According
to U.S. and Armenian officials, the deployment is expected by September.
Also this Wednesday, the Senate will hold hearings on the nomination of John
Evans as the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia. Evans, a decorated veteran of
the foreign service with experience in Eastern Europe and Iran, is expected
to replace Ambassador John Ordway, who is completing his mission in Armenia
later this summer to become Ambassador to Kazakhstan. (Sources: Armenia This
Week 4-30; AAA Press Release 5-7; Federal News Service 6-7; RFE/RL Armenia
Report 6-8; R&I Report 6-14)
POSSIBLE PROGRESS ON KARABAKH SEEN DESPITE CONTINUED AZERI HOSTILITY
The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are discussing a new
approach to resolving the Karabakh conflict, both officials have confirmed.
Following high-level discussions in April and May, Vartan Oskanian and Elmar
Mamediarov are set to resume negotiations in the Czech Republic this
weekend. In an interview last Friday, Mamediarov said that talks are
focusing on developing a new plan that would include elements of the 1997
“step-by-step” proposal and “package” options discussed since then. Speaking
in Washington this Monday, Oskanian confirmed such discussions were
underway.
The 1997 plan called for Armenian withdrawal from areas adjacent to NKR in
exchange for lifting of the Azeri blockades and limited security guarantees,
with the status of Karabakh left to be determined in future talks.
Incorporation of elements of the “package” approach may imply an early Azeri
commitment to the mechanism that would determine Karabakh’s status.
Meanwhile, an almost daily barrage of militant rhetoric by Azeri officials
and media continues unabated. Last week President Ilham Aliyev again made,
by now, customary threats of a new war. The Azeri government said it
launched “criminal investigations” against the Presidents of Armenia and NKR
for their roles in defeating Azerbaijan’s military in the early 1990s. Azeri
peace activists who did not heed Aliyev’s call for an end to all
non-government contacts with ethnic Armenians were again harassed by
government-linked radicals.
More ominously, Azeri military units resumed provocations along the Line of
Contact last week leading to at least one person killed on each side – the
worst instance of a cease-fire violation since last winter. Both then and
now escalations precede preparatory events for NATO’s Cooperative Best
Effort exercises due in Baku this September. Azeri officials now claim that
they would not hinder Armenian participation in the preparatory event set
for June 21. But after similar claims in January, three Armenian officials
were denied visas and barred from boarding a Baku-bound plane.
Lack of good faith and Azerbaijan’s refusals to implement any
confidence-building measures are likely to undermine any progress in talks.
Recently, NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian urged international organizations
to focus on ending what has become known as the information “war” waged by
Azerbaijan before turning to settlement plans. (Sources: Armenia This Week
1-16, 5-21; Azad Azerbaycan 6-2; Noyan Tapan 6-5; Turan 6-10, 12; RFE/RL
6-11, 14; ANS 6-14; R&I Report 6-14)
Visit the Armenia This Week archive dating back to 1997 at
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Armenian Assembly of America
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ISSUE BRIEF: ARMENIA AND NATO SUMMIT IN TURKEY
June 14, 2004
BACKGROUND: President Robert Kocharian is not attending the June 28-29 NATO
Summit in Istanbul, Turkey. Instead, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian is
leading the Armenian delegation. This decision was prompted by continued
aggressive Turkish policies towards Armenia, and does not reflect any
Armenian concerns with NATO.
In the absence of any appreciable progress in relations between Armenia and
Turkey after years of talks, Armenia’s President decided not to attend the
NATO Summit in Turkey in order to call international attention to Turkey’s
continued hostility against Armenia.
– ARMENIA-NATO RELATIONS: In February 2004 Armenia deployed a peacekeeping
platoon to Kosovo, as part of the Greek contingent of the US-led
multinational brigade in KFOR. In Iraq, Armenia is set to deploy a
transportation company, as well as de-mining engineers and medical units. In
June 2003, Armenia hosted the NATO PfP Military Exercise “Co-operative Best
Effort 2003,” with participation of 19 states, including Turkey. Last March,
Armenia ratified the Partnership for Peace Status of Forces Agreement
(SOFA). At the same time, Armenia’s Minister of Defense announced that
Armenia would submit an official application to participate in NATO’s
Individual Partnership Action Plan, the most advanced type of engagement
short of actual membership. Armenia appointed a Military Representative to
NATO on May 1 and an Ambassador, whose sole portfolio will be NATO, will
assume office this summer. The annual meeting of the PfP Political-Military
Committee with Armenia took place at NATO HQ, in April 2004. The meeting,
which was held with all partners, covered Armenia’s participation in the
Planning and Review Process, and approved Armenia’s Partnership Goals for
2004, outlining Armenia’s tasks for the next two-year cycle. Although
neither invited, nor self-invited to join NATO, Armenia will continue to
strengthen its partnership with NATO. Senior U.S. and NATO officials have
repeatedly praised Armenia for strides it has made in the development of
closer relations with the alliance.
– TURKEY’S ARMENIA POLICY: Since Armenia regained its independence in 1991,
Turkey has steadfastly refused to establish diplomatic relations. For over
a decade Turkey has also maintained a land blockade against Armenia, defying
international treaties and U.S. law, as well as ignoring calls by the United
States and European Union to open its border. Turkey links normalization to
Armenian concessions on the Karabakh conflict. Turkey has also provided
military and diplomatic assistance uncritically championing Azerbaijan’s
views on the Karabakh conflict. By introducing the blockade against its
neighbor when it did, Turkey aimed to harm Armenia and assist Azerbaijan in
its war against Karabakh Armenians.
– INTERNATIONAL REACTION TO THE TURKISH BLOCKADE: Turkey’s blockade against
Armenia is not sanctioned by any international entity. In fact, both the
United States and the European Union (EU) have repeatedly called for its
lifting. President George W. Bush said that he looks forward to “Turkey
restoring economic, political, and cultural links with Armenia.” The
European Parliament has called for making normalization of Armenian-Turkish
relations a pre-condition for Turkey’s accession to the EU. Turkey is in
violation of the 1921 Treaty of Moscow and the Treaty of Kars, which
established the current Armenian-Turkish border. According to these
treaties, Turkey is bound to “uninterrupted communication between the two
countries” and “secure the free movement of persons and goods.”
– ARMENIA’S TURKEY POLICY: Despite Turkey’s confrontational policies and
actions, Armenia’s response has been consistent since independence – normal
relations with Turkey without preconditions. Armenia appreciates that its
most direct links to the west are via Turkey, that Turkey’s most direct
access to the southern rim of the former Soviet Union is via Armenia as well
and that an open border will dramatically enhance the economic development
of eastern Turkey and Armenia. Despite Turks’ claims to the contrary,
President Kocharian has stated that Armenia has no territorial claims
against Turkey.
– ARMENIAN-TURKISH TALKS: Direct Armenian-Turkish contacts resumed after
Armenia lifted its objections to holding the 1999 summit of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul and as several
Western governments pledged to seek moderation and engagement from Turkey in
its future relations with Armenia. Officials from the Ecevit government and
the new Turkish government elected in late 2002 and now led by Prime
Minister Tayyib Erdogan promised to re-think Turkish policies, strongly
hinting at a positive change. But more recently, they have again ruled the
lifting of preconditions as “out of the question.”

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
The European Union Commission Reaffirms Armenia’s Inclusion in the New
Neighborhood Initiative
On June 14, the European Union General Affairs and External Relations
Council reaffirmed the Commission’s proposal to include Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan in its New Neighborhood Initiative. This decision means that the
three countries will each develop individual plans for deeper cooperation
with and possible integration into Europe. At the same time, each country’s
advancement will be judged individually, based on its own merits and
accomplishments.
The Council noted that the region is stable and that Europe is interested in
bolstering democracy and prosperity in the region. It also took into
consideration the suggestions of the European Parliament and the EU’s
Special Representative on the South Caucasus to include the three countries
in the New Neighborhood Initiative. The Council noted that this marks an
important step in the EU’s involvement in the region.
The Council also invited the Commision and the representative of the General
Secretary/High Representative to present individual country reports on
matters relating to political cooperation, as well as foreign and security
policy, and taking into consideration individual political and economic
reforms.
The decision must be finalized at the EU Council meeting on June 17-18.
Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vartan Oskanian, welcomed the
Council’s determination and said Armenia awaits the final decision later
this week, and looks forward to an even deeper relationship with the EU,
that brings with it the prospect, if not the promise, of full European
integration.