EBRD president arrives in Armenia
RosBusinessConsulting Database
May 18, 2004 Tuesday
Jean Lemierre, the President of the EBRD, arrived in Armenia today
in the course of his Caucasus tour, Yerevany-based EBRD affiliate
reported. Lemierre is to meet Armenian President Robert Kocharian,
Prime Minister Andranik Mrakarian, Armenian bankers and entrepreneurs.
The visit follows a new EBRD initiative to support some of its poorest
countries it operates in – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – where more than 50 percent of
the population live in poverty.
Lemierre will highlight the goals of this early transition country
(ETC) initiative in the context of the three countries with the
objective of stimulating market activity by financing more and smaller
projects, mobilizing more investment, and encouraging ongoing economic
reforms. He is supposed to express the Bank’s readiness to take more
risk. The EBRD will aim to support more private-sector development,
particularly focused on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The EBRD has invested about EUR700m across Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan, in projects ranging from banking to infrastructure and
energy to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

Putin Supports Embattled Armenian President
BY Clarence Hall The Moscow News
Moscow News (Russia)
May 19, 2004
On Saturday, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan wrapped up his
three-day official visit that gave the beleaguered Caucasus president
the first good news he had had in months
The meeting began as all such meetings do, with the two presidents
praising cooperation between the two countries. Robert Kocharyan
was especially pleased with last year’s 34% of trade growth seen
between Armenia and Russia, as well as Russian businessmen’s continued
investment in his country.
According to experts in Russian-Armenian affairs, the pleasantries
ceased as soon as the presidents moved behind closed doors, where
the real discussion, the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, began.
On May 13 the final signatures were placed by Iran and Armenia on a
project to build an oil pipeline from Iran to Armenia with possible
plans to extend the shipping network to Georgia, Ukraine, and even
Europe. The United States was the first country to criticize the plan
and went as far as to threaten economic sanctions against Armenia
should it finalize the deal with the Islamic republic.
Russia, too, disapproved of the plan, but for different reasons:
If a second gas supplier appeared from the East, Russia would lose
its gas-supply monopoly to Europe. In early March such fears seemed
to be validated, as Armenia’s Energy Minister, Armen Movsisyan, said,
“After the ‘Blue Stream’ project is realized, building long-distance
sea gas pipelines will no longer be a fantasy.”
Experts say that the Armenian administration was able to convince
President Putin before the trip. “The negotiations for building the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline took place over 12 years, and that the treaty
was even signed is a huge accomplishment – not just economically,
but politically as well,” says Alexander Iskandaryan, provost at the
CIS Caucasus Institute. He says that the very fact that the treaty was
signed between Armenia and Iran shows that Moscow had given consent
to the deal.
Putin’s support for the pipeline can also be viewed as political
support for Kocharyan. The Armenian opposition has for the past few
months been pressing for significant political changes in the country,
including the resignation of the current government. PACE and OSCE
have both criticized Kocharyan’s heavy-handed approach, while Russia
has remained altogether silent on the issue.
“We have many opportunities to work together better, more effectively,”
President Putin said about Russian-Armenian relations. It is clear
what Russia has done for Armenia – but as for now only the Russian
government knows what Armenia will do for it. Sell it more Armenian
cognac perhaps? MN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU offers help to seek solution to Nagorno-Karabakh problem
Associated Press Worldstream
May 18, 2004 Tuesday
BRUSSELS, Belgium — European Commission President Romano Prodi on
Tuesday offered to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia to find a
solution to the decade-long feud over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
After meeting with Prodi, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev said he
welcomed EU involvement to boost the efforts of the “Minsk Group”
of negotiators from the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe.
“The European Union must take a more active stance,” said Aliev.
Nagorno-Karabakh is an ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan and
has been under control of an internationally unrecognized ethnic
Armenian government backed by forces who also occupy parts of
Azerbaijan adjoining the enclave.
Because of the dispute over the enclave’s final status, the
Armenia-Azerbaijan border is closed. Failure to resolve the issue is
seen as having discouraged investment in both countries because of
concern that another war over the enclave could erupt.
Prodi said a breakthrough is needed as quickly as possible.
“I expressed my will to be at the disposal of the two nations,” said
Prodi, insisting his offer was not targeted against the Minsk Group.
“We don’t want to disturb their work, but simply push them because it
has been so many years that there are no results,” he told reporters.
rac-pa< From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. citizen killed in Armenian capital
Associated Press Worldstream
May 18, 2004 Tuesday
YEREVAN, Armenia — A U.S. citizen was stabbed to death in the Armenian
capital, officials said Tuesday.
Armenian police said the victim’s body was found in downtown Yerevan
on Monday night with signs of beating and three stab wounds.
The U.S. Embassy identified the victim as Joshua Haglund. An Embassy
spokeswoman who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the victim
had taught at Yerevan’s Linguistics University, under the aegis of
the U.S. Department of State’s English Language Fellow program.
“We are shocked and saddened by his death,” she said.
She said she had no information on Haglund’s age or hometown.
An official with the Armenian Prosecutor General’s office, who asked
not be named, said that the killing had “personal motives” and voiced
hope that perpetrators could be quickly found.

Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc.
State Department
May 18, 2004
Environmental Security Initiative Launched in Southern Caucasus;
Workshops held May 10-18 in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan
Eliminating environmental problems helps to ease political tensions:
that is the basic idea behind a new initiative launched in the
Southern Caucasus region by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations Environmental
Program (UNEP) and the UN Development Program (UNDP).
Following is an OSCE press release on the initiative and the events
marking its launch May 10-18 in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan:
(begin text)
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Secretariat
18 May 2004
Press Release
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH INITIATIVE IN SOUTHERN CAUCASUS ON
LINK BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY
BAKU, 18 May 2004 — An initiative focusing on the links between
environmental problems and security was launched this week with
national events in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Through the Environmental Security Initiative, the OSCE, the United
Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the UN Development
Programme (UNDP) aim to identify cases in which environmental
degradation may pose threats to human security and contribute to
instability, and suggest action to deal with them.
The initiative began on 10 May in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with
two days of consultations among government officials,
non-governmental organizations and local and international experts.
They discussed key environmental risk factors that have the potential
to hamper security in Armenia.
The workshops continued on 14 and 15 May in Tbilisi, Georgia. They
focused on the role of environmental security in economic growth and
poverty reduction in Georgia, both greatly dependent on the quality
and quantity of existing natural resources in the country.
Concluding the series, a workshop in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 17 and 18
May focused on principal environmental concerns with security
implications in the country, including trans-boundary water pollution
and freshwater quality as well as contamination of the Caspian Sea
and deforestation.
The main idea behind the Environment and Security Initiative,
launched in 2002, is that eliminating environmental problems helps to
ease political tensions. In order to achieve this, the Initiative
seeks to:
Raise awareness of environmental risks and their impact on security;
Engage with government and non-government groups to identify both
risks posed by environmental change and opportunities for
trans-boundary co-operation to promote sustainable development, peace
and stability;
Map risks, as well as needs and opportunities, for environmental
co-operation to improve sustainable resource management, crisis
prevention and peace promotion;
Develop and implement projects to reduce risks identified.
National consultations are considered to be a key element of the
Initiative as they generate information on specific problems that can
then be addressed through individual projects.
For further information, please contact:
Gohar Avagyan, Senior Press and Public Information Assistant, Office
in Yerevan, 60 Zarobyan (former Plekhanov) Str., 375009, Yerevan,
Armenia. Tel.: 1 54 10 62, 1 54 58 45. Fax: 1 56 11 38. E-mail:
[email protected]
Press and Public Information Office, Mission to Georgia, Krtsanisi
Governmental Residence No. 5, Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel.: 32 24 42 01.
Fax: 32 24 42 03. E-mail: [email protected]
Ulvi Akhundlu, Media and Political Assistant, Office in Baku, 4
Magomayev Lane 2nd floor Icheri Sheher 37004, Baku, Azerbaijan. Tel.:
12 97 23 73. Fax: 12 97 23 77. E-mail: [email protected]
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs,
U.S. Department of State.)

ARKA News Agency
May 18, 2004
The U.S. will follow development of political situation in Armenia
The USA State Department report: RA Government policy pursued in the
area of human right in Armenia is still not satisfactory
“Golden Apricot” International Cinema Festival to be held in Yerevan
on 30 June – 4 July 2004
********************************************************************
THE U.S. WILL FOLLOW DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, May, 18. /ARKA/. The U.S. will follow development of
political situation in Armenia, the U.S. Department of State
Coordinator on Assistance to European and Eurasian Countries,
Co-Chairman of Armenian-American Working Group on Economic
Cooperation Carlos Pasqual stated today. According to him, it is
determined with the process of realization of program “Millennium
Challenges” that is based on 6 basic indicators – continuation of
fight against corruption, provision of political freedoms, protection
of civil freedoms, productive administration, establishment of law
priority, freedom of speech. He said that existing political
situation already affected the process of inclusion of Armenia in the
program. L.D. –0–
********************************************************************
THE USA STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT: RA GOVERNMENT POLICY PURSUED IN THE
AREA OF HUMAN RIGHT IN ARMENIA IS STILL NOT SATISFACTORY
YEREVAN, May, 18. /ARKA/. The RA Government policy pursued in the
area of human right in Armenia is still not satisfactory, according
to the report on Encouragement of Human Rights and Democracy: the
Activities of the USA, published on May 17 by the US State
Department. According to the report, notwithstanding some
improvements in some areas, serious problems still exist. According
to the report, the RA President Kocharian, was reelected through
legally disputable elections in 2003 and the elections were violated
by many serious blunders, as a consequence of which the elections
were not in line with international standards. Some workers of
law-enforcement structures infringed human rights. Information about
unjustified arrests was received. And one of the main problems is
their detention for a long time before court hearings. According to
the report, reforms of penitentiary system were conducted in Armenia,
but the conditions of detention of the arrested were not
satisfactory. The Executive power exerted pressure on judges, and
some of them were corrupted. Mass Media was also under pressure, and
limitations were put on the right to assemblies, associations and
preaching. There was a problem of social violence against women.
There was a problem of trafficking in human, for the settlement of
which the Government took some measures.
According to the report, the US Strategy on human rights and
democracy issues is still focused on fundamental issues, including
the necessity in elections in line with international standards,
development of civic society, observance of the human rights and law,
judiciary reforms, observance of right to freedom to be exercised by
mass media, as well as observance of the right to free assemblies,
preaching, increasing the transparency of the Government and struggle
against trafficking in human. The aid of the USA for the
implementation of this strategy made $ 22,4 mln in 2003, about $12,2
mln. of which were assigned for financing programs on education and
exchange on the US territory.
The report on Encouragement of Human Rights and Democracy: the
Activities of the USA and required by the Congress, states of the
efforts of the USA to encourage human rights and democracy processes
in 92 countries. It supplements the annual reports on human rights of
the US State Department in separate countries.
“We make long -term and important investments in democracy, -as
written by Colin Powell, the US State Secretary, in the preface of
the report – we work with NGOs, religious groups, opposition parties,
minorities, and trade unions movements for the development of dynamic
civic societies”. A.H. -0–
********************************************************************
“GOLDEN APRICOT” INTERNATIONAL CINEMA FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ON 30 JUNE – 4 JULY 2004
YEREVAN, May 18. /ARKA/. From 30 June thru 4 July 2004 “Golden
Apricot” International Cinema Festival will be held in Yerevan. The
purpose of the Festival is stimulating Armenian producers to reveal
new creative forces in the cinema and video art, to demonstrate
Armenian films in the frames of joint programs on the Festival. As
told by Harutyun Khachatryan, Film Director, representatives of 16
countries to take part in the Festival. Among the invited will be
Atom Egoyan (Canada), Robert Gedikian and Serge Avedikian (France),
Arthur Aristakesyan and Alexei Muratov (Russia), Yervand Janikian
(Italy). 55 films of 5 categories – full fiction, short fiction,
documentary, animation and debut will participate in the competition.
During 5 days 80 films, including beyond the competition, will be
shown. In the frames of ou-of-competition program the spectators also
will be able to watch retrospective films devoted to Charles
Aznavour’s 80th anniversary and Sergei Parajanov, as well as there
will be demonstration of new Russian, Swedish, German, Bulgarian and
Italian films under slogan “Yerevan Premiers”. The Armenian cinema
should be taken beyond Armenia as this is the art that can easily
present the country.
The festival is sponsored by Union of Manufacturers and Entrepreneurs
of Armenia that involved in seeking sponsors among businessmen. T.M.
-0–
********************************************************************

ARKA News Agency
May 17, 2004
Armavia Airlines opens new flight Yerevan-Teheran
Regional seminar “Access to Information and Knowledge as Effective
Way of Sustainable Development” to take place in Yerevan
Karabakh Internet sites are among the most readable in the world
The Ministries of Culture of Armenia and NKR sign an agreement on
co-operation
Sergei Ivanov, the acting Minister of Defence of RF to arrive in
Yerevan with two day visit on May 20
*********************************************************************
ARMAVIA AIRLINES OPENS NEW FLIGHT YEREVAN-TEHERAN
YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. Armavia Airlines opened new regular flight
Yerevan-Teheran. Till June 10, the flights will made once a week on
Saturdays and since June 10 – twice a week on Saturdays and
Wednesdays. “New flights establish direct air communication between
two economic and political centers of South Caucasus and Near East.
The flight will allow decreasing of costs and to make transportation
from one country to another more comfortable. Thus, the company
contributes to creation of transport infrastructure and future growth
of trade-economic and socio-cultural relations of Armenian and Iran”,
press release states.
Since 15 April 2003 the flight operated by Armenian Airlines
transferred to Armavia.
68% of actions of Armavia belong to Aviafin OJSC (the company is
registered in Armenia: the company is own by physical entities,
Russian citizens), while the remaining 32% to MIKA Armenia Trading.
The company is closely cooperates with Siberia airline in the frames
of close cooperation agreement based on which the parties generate
income from passenger transportations. L.D. -0–
*********************************************************************
REGIONAL SEMINAR “ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE AS EFFECTIVE
WAY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. Regional seminar “Access to Information and
Knowledge as Effective Way of Sustainable Development” will take
place in Yerevan on May 18, Bioecomed NGO told ARKA. Co-organizers of
the seminar are representation of British Council to Armenia, UNESCO
and OSCE. The basic goal of the seminar is increase of
familiarization of academy societies of South Caucasus on information
resources accessible in World Network, namely science resources,
resources for teaching and education and others. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
KARABAKH INTERNET SITES ARE AMONG THE MOST READABLE IN THE WORLD
YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. Karabakh Internet sites are among the most
readable in the world, Director of CJSC Karabakh-Telecom Ralph
Eirikian stated in his report “Karabakh in the Internet” in the
frames of the seminar “Eurointegration as a Guarantee of Peace and
Sustainable Development”. Among the best sites he called sites of NKR
MFA, Artsakhworld and the site of Karabakh-Telecom.
The organizers of the seminar devoted to the 10th anniversary since
the armistice in the region of Karabakh conflict are Helsinki-92
Karabakh Committee and European Integration (Armenia) NGO supported
with NKR and RA standing committees on foreign relations, as well as
NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A package of suggestions was worked out in the course of the
round-table discussions and submitted to NKR Government. L.D. -0–
*********************************************************************
THE MINISTRIES OF CULTURE OF ARMENIA AND NKR SIGN AN AGREEMENT ON
CO-OPERATION
YEREVAN, May, 17. /ARKA/. The Ministries of Culture of Armenia and
NKR signed an agreement on co-operation. According to the RA Ministry
of Culture, Youth and Sport, the co-operation to be in different
areas. In particular, joint performances of theatre, musical,
ethnographic and dance groups are encouraged, as well as their
participation in foreign festivals, holding a film week and joint
film shootings. Besides, the agreement stipulates exhibitions
exchange, organization of culture days, as well as inclusion of
groups from NKR into programs on Culture Days in Armenia in foreign
countries. Besides, the agreement provides for co-operation and
exchange of information between the museums, libraries and archives
of two countries, and enrichment of the library fund of NKR.
According to the press release, the RA Ministry of Culture, Youth and
Sport will render its help to Stepanakert State Dramatic theatre
after V. Papazyan in staging new performances. Besides, NKR to be
supported in conducting research and restoration of historical and
cultural monuments, as well as in publication of the corresponding
literature on methodology.
The agreement was signed by Hovik Hovhannisyan, the RA Minister of
Culture, Youth and Sport, and Armen Sargsyan, NKR Minister of
Education, Culture and Sport. A.H.–0–
*********************************************************************
SERGEI IVANOV, THE ACTING MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF RF TO ARRIVE IN
YEREVAN WITH TWO DAY VISIT ON MAY 20
YEREVAN, May 17. /ARKA/. Sergei Ivanov, the acting Minister of
Defence of RF to arrive in Yerevan with two day visit on May 20.
According to the RA Ministry of Defence Press Service Department,
Ivanov to meet the RA President Robert Kocharian and RA Minister of
Defence Serge Sargsyan, as well as to visit the memorial monument to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. A.H. –0–
*********************************************************************

Armenian leader urges European bank to expand cooperation
Mediamax news agency
19 May 04
Yerevan, 19 May: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received President
of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development [EBRD] Jean
Lemierre in Yerevan today.
Kocharyan noted that cooperation between Armenia and the EBRD was not
very expanded and spoke in favour of greater involvement on the part
of the EBRD in the economic development in Armenia.
Jean Lemierre said in turn that drawing up further assistance
programmes in Armenia, the EBRD would focus mainly on programmes of
assistance to small and medium-sized businesses.
They also discussed issues relating to the activities of Armenia’s
banking system and stressed the importance of forming an initial
mortgage market.

Head of Azeri PACE delegation says Karabakh talks to go on – Armenian paper
Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
19 May 04
The head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE), Samed Seidov, comments on the Karabakh
issue. He underlines Azerbaijan’s commitment to the peace process,
which he believes has not yet been exhausted. Following is the text
of a Naira Zograbyan report by the Armenian newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak
on 19 May
[Aykakan Zhamanak correspondent] Mr Seidov, the Armenian and Azeri
president met 16 or 17 times. How much do those meetings promote to
peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue?
[Samed Seidov] These talks between the two presidents continue,
the presidents continue to negotiate and I am sure they are still
necessary. As for their promotion to move settlement of the issue
from a zero state, I think that only the presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan can answer this question. You know that the OSCE Minsk
Group is working in the direction of the Karabakh issue settlement,
and unfortunately I should say that the Minsk Group is not active in
drawing out new proposals and submitting them to the parties. For this
reason the Azerbaijani party thinks that the talks between Armenia
and Azerbaijan should continue.
[Correspondent] Mr Seidov, it is obvious that the Karabakh issue
may be settled only by means of compromises. What is the limit of
compromises which Azerbaijan will never cross?
[Seidov] Certainly, that limit is the international norm on territorial
integrity. Azerbaijan will never agree to lose Karabakh.
[Correspondent] But one should not also forget another international
norm – the right of nations to self-determination.
[Seidov] Armenia used its right on self-determination having gained a
firm hold of its territory. We think that the Karabakh conflict should
be settled only within the framework of the territorial integrity
principle. If we act according to your logic, it is not ruled out
that tomorrow the Armenian Diaspora, let us say, of Krasnodar or
Georgia will raise a problem about self-determination. I think
it is not serious. Finally, one should admit that the conflict is
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Of course, there are still European
countries which do not know all the details of the Karabakh conflict,
for this reason Armenia can submit to them that the conflict is between
Azerbaijan and Karabakh. But reality is different. Both Armenia and
Azerbaijan understand very well that the conflict is between Armenia
and Azerbaijan because the Armenian troops occupied Azerbaijani
territories. Finally these territories will be undoubtedly liberated.
[Correspondent] How do you imagine liberation of the territories?
[Seidov] We still prefer peaceful talks and a peaceful settlement
to the conflict. We hope that Armenia is also for a peaceful
settlement. The Azerbaijani party thinks that the resource of peaceful
talks should be used to the end. But naturally Azerbaijan will never
agree to the territories remaining occupied forever.
[Correspondent] You speak of a peaceful settlement of the issue, but
some top officials of Azerbaijan, including President Ilham Aliyev,
make open statements about the settlement of the Karabakh issue by war.
[Seidov] The talks continue, and I think that both Armenia and
Azerbaijan need them so that peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
issue becomes possible. Today let us still talk about the peaceful
methods of settling of the conflict. Azerbaijan still thinks that
the potential of a peaceful settlement to the conflict has not been
exhausted yet, but it is not inexhaustible either.
[Correspondent] Mr Seidov, let us again touch on the announcement
of the Azerbaijani party on peaceful settlement of the issue. Do
you think that the murder of the Armenian officer in Budapest is a
normal pre-condition in the sense of promoting a peaceful settlement
of the issue?
[Seidov] You should not speak of this event so much, this is just
an incident, a bad incident, which by the way happened because
the conflict has not been settled yet. It is strange for me that a
representative of the Armenian delegation in Strasbourg Armen Rustamyan
made a speech and spoke about the genetic incompatibility of the
Armenians and Azeris. How can one speak about such incompatibility in
the 21st century? I accept what happened is a big tragedy, but it is
unacceptable to politicize it and speak about genetic incompatibility,
because the next step is fascism.
[Correspondent] Let us again touch on the bellicose statements of the
Azerbaijani party. Why is Azerbaijan sure that it will win if the issue
is transferred from the field of peace to the field of battle actions?
[Seidov] I repeat once again, we should negotiate as the peaceful
methods of the negotiations have not been exhausted yet. As for
the rest of the options for settlement of the conflict, let us talk
about them when it is registered that the negotiating process has
been exhausted.

Level of Armenian-Russian presidents’ meeting assessed – Armenian paper
Aravot, Yerevan
19 May 04
Text of a Naira Mamikonyan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot
headlined “Two sides of the visit” on 19 May
The visit of the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to Moscow had
two sides to it. One is, how did Russian officials including Russian
President Vladimir Putin receive him? The next are the arrangements
made on certain issues during the discussions in the course of the
visit. By the way, according to our sources, both may be compared
with each other because of their low level.
Reception of [Robert] Kocharyan went around all the accepted
protocol norms. Last week quoting the Rosiyskaya Gazeta newspaper,
Armenian press stressed that Kocharyan was received in Moscow not as
a president of the strategic partner country. In particular, Shant
TV [an Armenian private TV channel] showed how Robert Kocharyan was
received in the Novo-Ogarevo private house of the Russian president.
The fact is that Kocharyan had to wait for the Russian president for
several minutes at the entrance, during which TV operators of Russian
television asked him to stay out of the way and not to become an
obstacle to filming Putin. Then according to our source, when Putin
was noticed at the door, one of the body guards of the latter gave a
hint to Kocharyan, a hand up, saying not to come up to Putin. “Even
the meetings at the president’s house have their “protocol”. As for
the fact that Putin was late, any break of protocol may be explained,
but one thing is evident, if there is a “protocol” part, it should be
kept, another option is evidence of an attitude towards the president
of a country,” our source said.
Traditional briefing of the two countries presidents with journalists
is one of the indicators of the level of a reception, which was not
observed either.
The leader of the parliamentary group Republican Party of Armenia
Galust Saakyan comments on this. According to him, “there is political
speculation about this”. Asked about if it is normal that our president
had to wait for Russian president’s reception for several minutes,
Galust Saakyan replied: “These are just stories.”
As for other details of the meeting, it is only known that as a
result of the meeting the Armenian party agreed to give 45 per cent
more shares of Hayrusgazard [Armrosgazprom] to Russian Gazprom. Some
people assess it as compensation for signing a contract on Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline construction. As Nezavisimaya Gazeta says, “Moscow was
also against” this programme. “Construction of the gas pipeline, via
which Iranian gas will enter Armenia, and further via Georgian Poti
and Ukranian Ilichevsk to Europe, means that Russia loses a monopoly
over gas export to the European market.”
In Armenia, representative of the Armat [root] centre Ara Saakyan
comments on the above mentioned deal: “Today’s authorities imagine
the Armenian-Russian relations with the level of giving something
to Russia. The Armenian authorities give as much they suppose to
gain. But here the mistake is that superpowers always think about
getting much and giving less, and such small countries as Armenia
are finally satisfied with giving much and getting less.”
According to Saakyan, “Robert Kocharyan is making the foreign policy of
Armenia serve the settlement of domestic problems, for the preservation
of his power.” In this context, one may understand why Kocharyan
resigned himself to a shameful reception as well as to giving one more
establishment to Russia. Meanwhile Saakyan denied the existence of
such a bargain. “There is not such a problem and Kocharyan’s visit
to Moscow was not connected with it. There is no sale of shares,
moreover it has nothing in common with domestic political problems.”