SOROS CONFERENCE GOES AHEAD IN UKRAINE’S CRIMEA AFTER PRESIDENT INTERVENES
UNIAN news agency, Kiev
30 Mar 04
An international conference attended by financier George Soros has
opened in Crimea as planned a day after it was reported that the
proposed venue had withdrawn permission for the event. President
Leonid Kuchma reportedly issued an order for the conference to go
ahead in the Livadiya palace. On his arrival in Crimea on 29 March,
Soros said that Kuchma’s administration was behind the problems with
the venue. His comments came after allegations that the Ukrainian
government is waging a smear campaign in the media against Soros, a
prominent critic of the Ukrainian government. The following is the
text of a report by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN:
Simferopol, 30 March: An international conference on human rights has
opened in the Livadiya palace (in Yalta) with the well-known US
financier and philanthropist George Soros in attendance, the director
of the programme “Integration of deported Crimean Tatars, Armenians,
Greeks and Germans into Ukrainian society” (which is funded by Soros’s
Renaissance Foundation), Oleh Smyrnov, has told journalists. He said
that in the early hours of 30 March President Leonid Kuchma issued an
order on making the palace available to hold the conference.
More than 100 people are taking part including representatives of the
authorities, the deputy heads of the Crimean Council of Ministers,
Edip Hafarov and Volomymyr Kazarin, as well as representatives of
NGOs.
The schedule for Soros’s visit to Crimea today includes working
meetings with representatives of NGOs and of Crimea’s ethnic groups,
including Crimean Tatars at the Hasprynskyy library in Simferopol.
Soros will talk to journalists before flying to Kiev today.
(Smyrnov said on 29 March that the administration of the Livadiya
palace had withdrawn permission to hold the conference on a
“ridiculous pretext” even though the venue had already been paid
for. He said that a civil-defence exercise was held at the palace on
29 March, after which civil-defence services closed the palace to the
public until 1 April.)

ARMENIAN MPS CONDEMN 28 MARCH OPPOSITION RALLY
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
29 Mar 04
(Presenter) Armenia’s political forces have expressed their attitude
towards the recent events in Gyumri (opposition rally on 28
March). Members of the ruling political coalition demand that the
leadership ensure law and order and prevent actions which pose a
threat to political stability and the constitution.
(Correspondent over video of parliament session) Meetings, rallies and
marches – all the political forces represented in the Armenian
National Assembly believe that these forms of political events are
acceptable in the world policy. The parliamentarians are concerned
over the Armenian version of these events. The opposition’s struggle
is understandable when constitutional law and order are preserved in
the country. But the opposition’s recent actions brought about
undesirable results. (Vaan Ovanesyan, deputy speaker of the Armenian
parliament, captioned) We learned that disorder had taken place in
Gyumri. The people who ensured the security of the organizers of the
rally attacked people. They broke posters and expressed their
dissatisfaction with those who did not share their political
views. This is an impermissible action and I think that police should
ensure that similar actions are not repeated in the future.
We also held various rallies and meetings. Not all the people agreed
with us, with our views. But nobody issued orders to attack those who
did not agree with us. This is impermissible. Negotiations, relations
and discussions – we are always ready to resolve problems by these
means.
(Correspondent) Armenia’s pressing problems must be discussed and
resolved in the hall of the National Assembly, during sessions, and
they must not become a subject of rallies. Given the conditions when
Azerbaijan has started anti-Armenian hysteria, the events in Gyumri,
the opposition’s calls are threatening the country’s stability and
security.
(Mger Shakhgeldyan, chairman of the standing parliamentary commission
on defence and security, representative of the Orinats Yerkir
parliamentary faction, captioned) The Azerbaijani leadership’s
bellicose statements, its rejection of the Key West and Paris
agreements (on Nagornyy Karabakh), dissatisfaction with the work of
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and also growing financial assistance
to the army make it clear that Azerbaijan is attempting to preserve
today’s peace by any means, using force (as heard). These
(Azerbaijan’s) statements confirm this. Armenia’s domestic stability
and security are extremely important in this connection.
(Correspondent) MPs confirm that domestic political problems have to
be resolved with a concerted effort, taking into consideration
national interests.
Nune Aleksanyan, Aylur.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION INEVITABLE – OPPOSITION LEADER
Mediamax news agency
30 Mar 04
YEREVAN
“The overthrow of the regime of Armenia’s illegitimate president
Robert Kocharyan is inevitable,” Albert Bazeyan, the chairman of the
Republic Party and leader of the radical opposition, said in Yerevan
today.
Addressing a briefing at the Armenian National Assembly today, Bazeyan
stated the opposition’s resolve to obtain the holding of early “free
and fair” presidential election.
“Although the power will formally go to the speaker of parliament or
the head of the government after the president leaves, diarchy will be
established in the country until the new election is held and the main
levers will be in the opposition’s hands,” he said.

ARMENIA, UN BODY SIGN MEMO ON FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFICKING
Mediamax news agency
30 Mar 04
YEREVAN
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and the permanent
representative of the UNDP, Lise Grande, signed a programme of
cooperation to combat trafficking in Yerevan today.
The programme envisages measures aimed at developing the institutional
capacity of national bodies, stepping up control on the borders,
bringing back victims of trafficking and reintegrating them into
society and so on, the Armenian Foreign Ministry press service told
Mediamax news agency.

Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
March 30, 2004
NK AGAIN CONFIRMS
The NK authorities confirm their willingness to receive the
international monitoring group and prove the falsehood of the
accusations on the part of Azerbaijan whose representatives keep
insisting that the territory of the region serves for illegal transit
of narcotics. NKR vice foreign minister of Masis Mayilian told the
Stepanakert reporter of the news agency “Regnum” that the government
of the republic is willing to provide necessary conditions for the
international monitoring group to work in all the parts of the
republic. “The members of the group must be truly independent
international experts who will be ready for conducting an unbiased
survey,” mentioned M. Mayilian. The vice minister denied the claims of
official Baku that Nagorni Karabakh and the nearby areas under the
control of the Karabakh party have been turned into a transit area of
which the drug dealers of the southern route make successful use.
Masis Mayilian reminded that in spite of the wishes of Baku, in the
strategic account of the US State Department on drugs control Nagorni
Karabakh is not mentioned at all, whereas it is stated once again that
the territory of Azerbaijan is one of the main international transit
routes of narcotics. “The NKR authorities are greatly responsible for
the situation in the republic and the nearby territories under its
control. For preventing the groundless and openly hostile accusations
of Baku the NKR authorities have for a great number of times in the
recent years applied to the UN, PACE, OSCE and other influential
international organizations, as well as the corresponding body of the
US State Department with the request to send an independent monitoring
group to Nagorni Karabakh to get acquainted with the situation on the
spot,” mentioned Mayilian. By the way, during the meeting of the UN
Office on Drugs and Crime Control held in Vienna one of the
suggestions discussed was the necessity of inviting a group of experts
of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as experts of the
Interpol and other international organizations to study the situation
in a number of countries, including Nagorni Karabakh in relation with
narcotics. According to the UNODC, the claims of Azerbaijan that the
territory of Nagorni Karabakh is allegedly used for transit of drugs
were not confirmed by the UN. In answer to the question whether Baku
has proofs to this, the UN department on drugs and crimes gave a
negative answer.
AA

ARMENIAN PAPER LOOKS AT REASONS FOR US OFFICIAL’S VISIT TO REGION
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
30 Mar 04
The US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage arrived in Baku on
26 March after his visit to Yerevan. But although it may seem strange,
until 29 March there was little information from Baku about a visit by
a top official of the White House. By the way we think that the main
goal of his visit to the CIS three capitals (Kiev, Yerevan, Baku) was
Baku. Let us note that a visit by such a senior official as Richard
Armitage to the region is quite an exceptional case. As a rule it
means that the White House wants to see firsthand what is happening
here rather than rely on information given to the Washington
administration by the American embassies in these countries. The last
visit by the US Deputy Secretary of State to Armenia was in October
1999. It was by Strobe Talbott. The visit was connected with prospects
for the Karabakh conflict settlement.
We think that the current situation is slightly different. The US
assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs,
Elizabeth Jones, said on the eve of the visit that the Karabakh issue
would be one of the main topics at talks. But then she made a small,
but significant point: “Washington wants to find out about the
priorities of a new head of Azerbaijani state and its government.” An
interesting statement. “What are Ilham Aliyev’s plans?”, in all
probability this question is on the White House agenda.
Probably Ilham Aliyev’s aggressive statements made recently caused
certain anxiety in Washington. Let us remind you of the Azerbaijani
president’s statements. He said that he does not intend to settle the
Karabakh problem, he does not want to make compromises, he is
displeased with the Minsk Group activities, Turkey must not open its
border to Armenia, and finally, in spite of the obligation, taken by
Azerbaijan when it joined the European Union, about an exclusively
peaceful settlement of the problem, “peaceful talks may not continue
forever”.
All this could not but prick up White House administration’s ears,
which is hoping to gain progress in Armenian-Turkish relations and
find a solution to the Karabakh conflict during this year. In all
probability in the White House they are displeased with Ilham Aliyev’s
statements which shock the world community to some extent.
(Passage omitted: Armenian servicemen barred from attending
Baku-hosted Nato conference, Armenian officer killed in Budapest and
recap of recent remarks by Azeri officials and of an interview given
to the Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho by the leader of the Helsinki
Association, Mikael Daniyelyan)

TAJIKISTAN URGES UNITED EFFORTS AGAINST TERRORISM
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
30 Mar 04
DUSHANBE
Confronted with increasing threats of terrorism, countries of the
Central Asian region should unite efforts and work out a clear action
programme in line with both bilateral and regional agreements, the
secretary of the Security Council of Tajikistan, Amirqul Azimov, said
in an interview with an ITAR-TASS correspondent commenting on the
latest events in neighbouring Uzbekistan today.
“We are deeply shocked at the actions of the terrorists who
jeopardized peace and stability in the region. We sympathize with the
innocent victims of those madmen. We also realize that if neighbours
have troubles we cannot sleep (peacefully) in our house (either),”
Azimov said.
“We cannot consider that if this happened in Uzbekistan, then
Uzbekistan itself has to tackle the problem,” he added.
At the same time, Azimov says the latest terrorist acts showed that we
are becoming “the clamp” (Russian: fiksator) of these kind of
events. (In fact), efficient proactive measures are needed, (he says).
It is necessary to use more effectively the mechanisms of such
regional structures as the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty
Organization of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
and Russia) and the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and
others.
Azimov says it is time to proceed from the tactics of combating
terrorists to the destruction of terrorism itself, and for this it is
necessary to identify its (terrorism’s) nature and the reason for
(its) emergence.

KYRGYZ PRESIDENT, CIS SECURITY CHIEF DISCUSS COLLABORATION
AKIpress news agency web site
30 Mar 04
BISHKEK
Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev met Nikolay Bordyuzha, the
secretary-general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO
of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia),
in Bishkek today.
The secretary-general informed the Kyrgyz president of the work done
by the organization and of the process of preparations for a regular
session of the Collective Security Council. An exchange of views on
the Kyrgyz Republic’s ideas about the CSTO’s practical activities was
held during the talks.
The Kyrgyz president said the CSTO began its first practical
activities in Kyrgyzstan in 1999-2000, proving to everybody that
collaboration within this organization is a must.
Kyrgyzstan is accurately honouring all its commitments before this
organization, the president said. The fully-fledged aviation component
of the CSTO’s rapid-reaction forces (Russian air base in Kant), which
is now operating, is a glaring example of this.
The president praised efforts by the CSTO to boost collaboration with
such organizations as the Eurasian Economic Community (members are
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan) and the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
(Passage to end omitted: Nikolay Bordyuzha met Kyrgyz Speaker Abdygany
Erkebayev yesterday)

ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN CONCERNED ABOUT DOMESTIC POLITICAL SITUATION
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
29 Mar 04
(Presenter) Armenian entrepreneurs issued a statement today. They
noted that the recent political events posed a threat to the county’s
development. (President of the Armenian Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs Arsen Kazaryan, captioned) Only political stability can
create an opportunity to implement economic programmes. We are sure
that the reconstruction of factories and the construction of new ones
are possible only in the conditions of domestic political
stability. The Karabakh problem cannot be settled in Armenia’s favour
without stable economic growth. Only political stability can ensure
the implementation of planned economic programmes. We express our
readiness to stand in defence of the state and people and to prevent
any political steps aimed at the destabilization of the country’s
positions in the region and the world.
(Correspondent) Armenian entrepreneurs made this statement today at
the end of their working meeting. They announced that the ongoing
domestic political events should not destroy the country’s developing
economic system. The businessmen noted that they did not think that
after a power change their businesses could be nationalized or
privatized. They are mainly concerned about the country’s image in the
eyes of foreign investors, which depends on political stability inside
the country.
(Passage omitted: reiteration of previous ideas)
Hermine Bagdasaryan, Aylur.

RUSSIA PUSHES ARMENIA INTO MILITARY CONFLICT IN KARABAKH – AZERI ANALYST
Sarq, Baku
30 Mar 04
Reportedly, Armenia has declared military mobilization at a time of
mounting domestic tension.
Ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters and the radical
opposition have joined their efforts to carry out a “velvet
revolution” in Armenia. The USA and UK are said to be interested in
such changes. This is possible, experts say, but depends on whether
the USA and Europe manage to weaken Russia’s grip on internal
processes in Armenia. The president of the Caspian Research Foundation
and political analyst (and former presidential aide), Vafa Quluzada,
said that the course of events will eventually determine that. As a
result of domestic processes, Armenia will try to amend its
pro-Russian policy. For Armenia’s pro-Russian policy to change, first
of all the Armenian leadership needs to be replaced.
“For as long as (Armenian President Robert) Kocharyan stays in office,
Armenia will remain Russia’s slave,” Quluzada said. However, some
forces are interested in the “velvet revolution” in Armenia. “Should
the revolution take place and democrats come to power, the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict will be resolved automatically. Because the
Armenians need neither Karabakh, nor our occupied districts. They have
told me in private conversations that Russia is behind the conflict
and is exploiting it.”
The idea of “Greater Armenia” has lost its significance, Quluzada
said. “The entire world knows that Armenia is an aggressor, and
attitudes to an aggressor are well-known. The Armenians themselves
realize that.” This is an ideology created during the (Russian) tsar
empire. The times have changed and those ideas no longer work, he
said.
Reports about Armenia’s military mobilization are purposefully being
disseminated by the Russian reactionary forces. “Russia wants to
create there a false militaristic atmosphere. Undoubtedly, Russia
would love to see Armenia attack Azerbaijan and the war to resume as a
result. But the Armenians will not do that. Armenia has weakened too
much and the Armenian army is in a state of anarchy. If the Armenians
give them a pretext (for a war in Karabakh), the Russians will wage it
themselves. However, the Armenians do not want a war.”
As to foreign participation and interest in Armenia’s “velvet
revolution”, Quluzada said: “Certainly, both the USA and the UK want
to see democratic forces come to power in Armenia. Russia opposes
that, and the subsequent course of events will show the true
capabilities of the West.”
(Passage omitted: “Velvet revolutions” in Ukraine and Belarus)