updated
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Aug 27, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency MPA
Baku, 27 August: "Launching anti-terrorist operations in Nagornyy Karabakh is possible," the head of the Civic Unity Party, Iqbal Agazada, has said. He said that an appropriate programme had been worked out and submitted to state bodies for this purpose. Agazada believes that first of all the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia should be closed [for launching these operations]. Anti-terrorist operations would be more effective, and no foreign country would criticize Azerbaijan for these operations if the borders are closed in Zangilan [Zangelan], Qubadli [Kubatly], Lacin [Lachin] and Kalbacar [Kelbedzhar] Districts.
He said that Azerbaijan and the world are concerned for the fact that terrorist groups are currently being organized in Nagornyy Karabakh.
Source: MPA news agency, Baku, in Russian 27 Aug 01
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.
Azerbaijan will never put up with Armenian occupation of Karabakh - Aliyev
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Aug 26, 2001
Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax
Baku, 26 August: Azerbaijan seeks a negotiated solution to its conflict with Armenia but will never put up with the Armenian occupation of Nagornyy Karabakh, Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev said on Sunday [26 August]. "The Azerbaijani lands must be liberated no matter what this costs us," Aliyev said during a meeting with the chief of staff of the Turkish armed forces. "The armed forces of the country must be ready to carry out this task at any moment."
The Turkish chief of staff, Army Gen Huseyin Kivrikoglu, said he thought the Azerbaijani army had "become considerably stronger" over the past few years. "Today's armed forces standards enable Azerbaijan to look into the future confidently and is a secure guarantee of independence of the Azerbaijani Republic," Kivrikoglu said.
Kivrikoglu's visit has been timed to coincide with a graduation ceremony on Saturday at an Azerbaijani higher military school which has trained its first 400 officers in conformity with NATO standards under Turkish guidance.
Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1237 gmt 26 Aug 01
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.
Azeri president tells Turkish army chief Karabakh must return
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Aug 26, 2001
The Russian news agency Interfax reported that Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev said the disputed territory of Nagornyy Karabakh must return to Azerbaijan.
At a meeting on Sunday with visiting Turkish Chief of Staff Gen Huseyn Kivrikoglu, he said Azerbaijan sought a negotiated solution to its conflict with Armenia over Karabakh, but that "The Azerbaijani lands must be liberated no matter what this might cost us".
"The armed forces of the country must be ready to carry out this task at any moment," he said, adding that the Azerbaijani army had "become considerably stronger" in recent years.
Kivrikoglu agreed, saying "The standards of today's armed forces enable Azerbaijan to look to the future confidently, and are a secure guarantee of the independence of the Azerbaijani Republic."
Kivrikoglu arrived on Saturday on a scheduled visit to Azerbaijan's new Higher Military Academy, where 400 officers have been trained "in conformity with NATO standards" under Turkish guidance, Interfax said in a report from Baku.
His visit has caused controversy with Iran, which has protested at the presence of Turkish air force jets in Baku. Turkey has said they are not a show of support for Azerbaijan in its dispute with Iran over the status of the Caspian Sea, but an acrobatics team.
Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1237 gmt 26 Aug 01
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.
Azerbaijan Committed to Peaceful Solution in Nagorno-Karabakh
VOA News
25 Aug 2001 20:00 UTC
Azerbaijan's President Heydar Aliyev says his country is committed to
finding a peaceful solution to its long-standing conflict with Armenia
over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, he says
the country's armed forces must be prepared for force.
Mr. Aliyev made the comment at a graduation ceremony for new army officers
Saturday in Baku.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a bitter war over the mostly
Armenian-populated enclave located in Azerbaijan in the late 1980s and
early 1990s that ended with Armenian forces in control of the province. A
ceasefire was signed back in 1994 but a permanent peace remains elusive,
with land mines and occasional shootings between the sides still claiming
around 200 lives each year.
The latest round of peace talks aimed at ending the conflict broke down in
March.
Copyright 2001 VOA News
Azerbaijan fears renewed fighting over Karabakh enclave
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Aug 25, 2001
Azerbaijan's defence minister warned on Saturday of the possibility of renewed hostilities in the region over the Armenian-speaking enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Minister, Safar Abiyev, was speaking in Baku in talks with the visiting chief of the staff of the Turkish armed forces, Interfax news agency reported from Baku.
"The fact that the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has not been resolved, a large amount of armaments concentrated in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and the tremendous number of refugees pose a threat of resumption of hostilities in the region," Abiyev said.
On other issues raised during the talks, Interfax quoted the Turkish chief of staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu, as calling for "broader Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation not only in the military fields but in other fields as well".
Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1239 gmt 25 Aug 01
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.
Bush Nominates Rudolf Vilem Perina To Be Next US Co-Chair in OSCE Minsk Group
By Harry Tamrazian
The US state department official confirmed that President George W. Bush
on Thursday nominated career US diplomat, a member of the Senior Foreign
Service Rudolf Vilem Perina to be the next special US negotiator for
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Ken Hillas, the deputy special negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and
Eurasian conflicts told RFE/RL on Monday, that Rudolf Vilem Perina, who is
currently serving as the US ambassador in Moldova, will succeed Carey
Cavanaugh in OSCE Minsk Group.
Rudolf Vilem Perina joined the Foreign Service of the Department of State
in 1974, and has specialized in Russian, East European, German and NATO
affairs. He has been assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa (1975-76), the
NATO desk of the State Department (1976-78), the U.S. Embassy in Moscow
(1979-81), the U.S. Mission in Berlin (1981-85), and the U.S. Mission to
NATO in Brussels (1985-87).
Perina has also served as Director for European and Soviet Affairs on the
National Security Council Staff (1987-89), as Deputy Chairman of the U.S.
Delegation to the Vienna Negotiations on Confidence and Security-Building
Measures in Europe (1989-1992), as Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in
Belgrade (1993-96), and as Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
European and Canadian Affairs (1996-97).
Perina earned his B.A. degree at the University of Chicago and did
graduate studies at Columbia University where he received his M.A. and
Ph.D. degrees in European history. He speaks several foreign languages
including Czech, Romanian, Russian, German, and French.
Copyright 2001 RFE/RL
Council of Europe Press Release
Council of Europe Press Service
Tel. +33 3 88 41 25 60
Fax. +33 3 88 41 27 89
E-mail: [email protected]
Council of Europe urges Nagorno-Karabakh to refrain from "elections"
Strasbourg, 24.08.2001 - The 43-nation Council of Europe today called on the
Nagorno-Karabakh de facto authorities to refrain from staging the one-sided
"local self-government elections" in the province, planned for 5 September.
"These so-called 'elections' cannot be legitimate," stressed Council of
Europe Committee of Ministers' Chairman and Liechtenstein Foreign Minister
Ernst Walch, Parliamentary Assembly President Lord Russell-Johnston and
Secretary General Walter Schwimmer. They recalled that following the
1991-1994 armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a substantial part
of the region's population was forced to flee their homes and are still
living as displaced persons in those countries or as refugees abroad.
"It is not in the interest of the Nagorno-Karabakh side to be seen as
undermining efforts to achieve an early and comprehensive settlement of the
conflict by peaceful political means, as foreseen by the commitments that
Armenia and Azerbaijan took upon their accession to the Council of Europe on
25 January 2001", said the Organisation's leaders.
They reaffirmed that the Council of Europe fully supports the negotiating
process being carried out under the OSCE auspices by the "Minsk Conference".
In this framework and in the field of its competences, the Council of Europe
is ready to contribute to the peace process, for instance through the good
offices of its Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission),
they said.
Press Release
Council of Europe Press Service
Ref: 589a01
Contact: Dmitri Marchenkov
Tel: +33 3 88 41 38 44
Fax:+33 3 88 41 27 89
[email protected]
internet: www.coe.int/press
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]
Azeri ex-foreign minister upbeat on Europe's statement on Karabakh polls
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Aug 27, 2001
Tofiq Zulfuqarov: "The results of the elections in Karabakh are of no importance"
The Council of Europe yesterday called on the "de facto" leadership of Nagornyy Karabakh "to give up the idea of holding the unilateral local self-government elections due to take place on 5 September". This appeared in a press release issued by the organization.
[Passage omitted: Quoting Turan news agency on the matter]
Former Foreign Minister Tofiq Zulfuqarov, commenting on this information, expressed his support for the Council of Europe's position of principle: "Of course elections held against a demographic background brought about as a result of ethnic cleansing are illegal." Talking about steps in favour of Azerbaijan behind this statement, Zulfuqarov said that Council of Europe member countries supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity since they understood the existing realities.
It is very likely that ignoring international laws, as has always been the case, the Armenians will try to hold the elections pretending they have not heard about the opinion of the Council of Europe leadership. In such a case could the Nagornyy Karabakh Armenians face any sanctions?
The former minister is sure that the Armenians will not postpone the elections: "But the results of the elections are of no importance." As for sanctions, Zulfuqarov said he did not believe this would happen: "Only Azerbaijan has to apply sanctions."
Source: Yeni Musavat, Baku in Azeri 25 Aug 01 p 9
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.
KARABAKH REACTS TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE PROPOSALS
The Foreign Ministry of the unrecognized government of Karabakh on 24 August
welcomed an officer from the Council of Europe to assist in the peace process
in the region, Mediamax reported. But the same day, the ministry condemned
the council for saying that local elections in Karabakh were illegitimate,
the agency said. Visiting U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff also criticized the
Council of Europe's statement about the "illegitimacy" of voters in Karabakh,
Mediamax reported the same day. PG
ALIEV SAYS BAKU WANTS TALKS BUT IS READY TO FIGHT
President Heidar Aliev on 25 August said that Baku remains committed to a
peaceful solution of the conflict over Karabakh but that the country's
military must be ready to restore the country's territorial integrity "at any
cost," Azerbaijani and Western news agencies reported. The same day,
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiev said that "the transformation of
Armenia into an uncontrolled weapons warehouse, the unsolved
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, and the presence of an enormous number of
refugees creates the threat of renewed fighting in the region," the agencies
reported. PG
RFE/RL TRANSCAUCASIA Newsline 27 August 2001
EURASIA INSIGHT August 26, 2001
PEACE OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH REMAINS ELUSIVE AS THE POPULACES DRIFT FURTHER APART
Seymur Selimov: 8/24/01
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from Transitions Online
BAKU, Azerbaijan--In spite of steps forward taken by Armenian President
Robert Kocharian and his Azeri counterpart Heidar Aliev earlier this
spring, the mood on the ground remains belligerent.
A new round of meetings to end the conflict--stalemated since a May 1994
cease-fire agreement stopped a war that claimed more than 20,000
lives--was originally scheduled for June, but was postponed, mainly
because the populations were deemed unready for compromise. But spurred
on by combative exchanges between leaders in both countries, the stance
of both Azeri politicians and the general population has hardened. That
has made it even more difficult to even broach the issue of concessions
and ignore the increasing demands to act militarily if the situation
remains deadlocked.
Attempts so far to prepare the Azeri population for possible compromises
have met with failure and resistance from across society. Earlier this
year, the Azeri parliament brought up the suggestions made by the "Minsk
Group"--the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
initiative co-chaired by the United States, France, and Russia--and
highlighted possible compromises to be proposed to the population. The
reaction was overwhelmingly negative. The great majority of the
population is clearly not ready to, as they see it, sacrifice their
national interests in the name of peace. In addition, few believe that
any economic benefits from a deal will ever trickle down to them.
"On the whole, the Azeri side has lost 20 percent of its territory. We
have about 1 million refugees. And I don't think that the occupiers will
so simply return our land, because there is not a similar case in
history," says historian Zemfira Guliyeva, echoing many of her peers.
"Maybe it will be possible only under advantageous conditions for the
enemy--of course [they] didn't begin this war in vain. I hope that the
authorities and our people will not accept unfavorable conditions."
Though most Azeris view Armenia as well-armed and ready for action, talk
of a military solution has become more concrete and determined in recent
months. If earlier calls to increase military spending and preparation
came mainly from the opposition in both countries, now such statements
emanate from official circles and even defense ministries. Both sides
boast of their military superiority, with some on both sides of the
front-line believing a "quick, victorious war" is the only solution.
Recently, for example, in a 3 July interview published in the Armenian
newspaper Azg, a reporter asked Defense Minister Mikael Melkonyan if he
agreed with the statement that Karabakh's army is the strongest in the
Transcaucasus. "Armenia's army, yes," he replied. "Our people perceive
the military forces of our country and Karabakh's army as a unified whole
… Armenia is ready to defend Karabakh by force of arms." He also
mentioned Armenia's interest in continuing to host Russian military
bases. And on 6 July, the Mediamax news agency quoted Arkady Ghukasian,
the president of the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, as
saying, "There in Baku they remember our army well and know that in the
case of a resumption of war, Azerbaijan will lose new territories."
ALARM BELLS
Such remarks carry greater weight because they come amid reports--such as
a 4 July article in Azg--that the authorities in Yerevan have prepared a
preliminary draft of a new military doctrine that will be presented to
the public in the near future. Based on Melkonyan's comments, Azeri
analysts believe that the document envisions a larger army, ensures
Karabakh's defense, and foresees wide-ranging military cooperation with
Russia on the basis of the agreement on friendship, collaboration, and
mutual aid signed between the two countries in Moscow in August 2000--all
worrying thoughts. Rasim Musabekov, an independent analyst and advisor to
Isa Qambar, chairman of the opposition Musavat party, calls the new
doctrine "an overt confession of expansionism."
Eldar Namazov, an influential political scientist and former advisor to
President Aliev, has similar thoughts. "Armenia's official policy
includes plans to annex Nagorno-Karabakh and a number of districts on
Azeri territory, so it's no wonder that such a policy is reflected in
more concrete documents," he surmises. "That again points out that
Armenia takes part in aggression against Azerbaijan and doesn't intend to
release the occupied territories, and what's more, intends to defend them
by war." Namazov is one of the authors of a recent "charter" that spells
out ways of resolving the conflict, including starting a new war if
Armenia refuses to withdraw its forces. Many politicians, as well as NGO
representatives, have signed the document, and both President Aliev and
Azeri Foreign Minister Vilayat Quliev have warned in recent days that the
military option is increasing in likelihood if the peace process does not
move forward. Quliev also accused Armenia of violating the cease-fire (in
early July, the Defense Ministry and Azeri media reported that in recent
incidents several Azeri soldiers had been killed and others taken
prisoner at the border). As RFE/RL's Caucasus Report noted, those
comments were made even after a Minsk Group statement in July that
"bellicose rhetoric … only exacerbates tensions and increases the risk of
renewed conflict."
Many Azeris--both analysts and common citizens--even cite Croatia's 1995
cleansing of the Krajina region as a precedent for a country regaining
its territorial integrity. In mid-August of that year, the Croatian Army
quickly overran the self-proclaimed and internationally unrecognized
Republic of Serbian Krajina, expelling the ethnic Serb population who had
rebelled when Croatia declared its independence in 1991. And then, as
Azeris point out, Croatia without great difficulty entered the Council of
Europe and has been developing closer partnerships ever since with NATO
and the European Union.
TOO COZY FOR COMFORT
Armenia's special relationship with Russia also continues to alarm
Azeris. They believe that, instead of playing a constructive role during
recent negotiations in Paris and Key West, the Russians held back and
then afterwards "interfered" in the process, fearing that a settlement
would deprive them of a lynchpin for pressure in the region. Pointing to
the repeated visits of Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vyacheslav
Trubnikov to Armenia, the Azeri political elite say Moscow has pressured
Yerevan to harden its stance toward a compromise while continuing to
funnel arms to Armenia. Those arms, they say, go in a straight line to
the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, purportedly economically weak but with
an already strong army. Namazov, for one, believes that Ghukasian's tough
talk is backed up by a belief that Russia would supply even more weaponry
should a conflict break out. On 9 August, Ashot Shakhnazaryan, Armenian
first deputy industry and trade minister, predicted that Russian
President Vladimir Putin's visit in September would result in weapons
orders from Armenia's military industry.
Azeris are also disenchanted by the attempts--publicized first by Carey
Cavanaugh, the U.S. special negotiator to Nagorno-Karabakh--to involve
Iran in a solution for the conflict. They remember well Tehran's
mediation in 1992, which, they say, did not stop the occupation of the
Shusha district despite a meeting at the time between Azeri and Armenian
heads of state in Iran. And many Azeris believe that Iran intentionally
wants to keep their country weak because a stronger, post-conflict
Azerbaijan would be in a position to more forcefully defend the millions
of ethnic Azeris living in Iran. Conspiracy theories also abound that
Tehran, like Moscow, prefers to cause trouble and provoke Armenia into
re-igniting the conflict because a volatile Caucasus would scare off
Western investors and thus Western governments (whose interest in the
region is seen as being largely economic). Hostility has only intensified
after the latest dispute with Iran over Caspian Sea exploration rights--a
confrontation that included gunboats and military aircraft--and Baku now
views it inadmissible to include Tehran at all.
"I'm surprised that Armenia for now has military help from Russia,
financial assistance from the U.S. and others European countries, and now
doesn't [have to] discuss the 1992 resolutions of the UN Security
Council, but instead thinks about the [future] status of Karabakh's
Armenians," says Ilgar Mamedov, an officer in the reserves, referring to
past UN calls to release the occupied territories. "It is an unjust
relation to the two disputing sides," he adds. Those feelings of inequity
weren't helped much by the 26 July announcement that the U.S. Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations had approved $90
million in 2002 aid for Armenia, while reaffirming the Section 907
restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan.
Not surprisingly, those who fled their homes are among the most defiant.
"I cannot imagine that my native town of Lachin and others districts will
stay under the foot of the enemy. It's not permissible to think about an
exchange of territories," says Ali, a young refugee. "In my opinion, we
need to operate on the principle of fighting fire with fire. The
occupiers must unconditionally release our lands."
Editor's Note: Seymur Selimov is a freelance writer based in Baku and a
regular contributor to TOL.
The above story is reposted with permission from Transitions Online
(TOL). TOL (http://www.tol.cz) is an Internet magazine covering Central
and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the former Soviet Union. If you
aren't already a member, you can fill out the registration form at
<http://www.tol.cz/trialsubscr.html> to receive a free two-month trial
membership. If you're a citizen of a post-communist country, FREE annual
memberships are available at <http://www.tol.cz/trialsubscr2.html>.
Copyright 2001 Eurasia Insight
New Adviser Is Optimistic On Peace In Karabakh
WASHINGTON (RFE/RL)The newly appointed US Assistant Secretary of State for
European Affairs Elizabeth Jones today starts her first official visit to
Ukraine and South Caucasus States of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Speaking to reporters yesterday at the Foreign Press Service in
Washington, Elizabeth Jones said in South Caucasus she will be meeting
with Presidents Aliyev, Kocharian and Shevardnadze, as well as with the
leaders of political and non-governmental organizations in each of those
three countries.
"In the Caucasus, it'll be very important for me to underscore the US
commitment to the sovereignty, independence and stability of the three
states of the Caucasus," assistant Secretary of State said.
The countries of South Caucasus are facing difficulties to make a
successful transition from their past as part of the Soviet Union to the
democratic societies with the free-market economies.
According to Elizabeth Jones, the main goal of US policy in South Caucasus
states is to promote political freedom and building an economic prosperity
for the peoples and the countries of the region."
Elizabeth Jones will also have a meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group in
Vienna, where she will talk about progress that has been made in the
Nagorno-Karabakh discussions.
The State Department official described the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process
as very successful. "There was a lot of progress made at Key West.
There are continuing negotiations, discussions on the basis of the
progress that was made at Key West," Jones said.
The State Department Official urged not to dramatize the absence of final
agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh, saying she is very optimistic on the peace
prospects. "But as to timing, I wouldn't hazard a guess".
According to Elizabeth Jones, the United States is very eager to
facilitate Karabakh negotiations "as much as possible."
"We are extremely pleased with the cooperation, collegiality that we've
gotten in the Minsk Group with our colleagues from France and Russia.
President Chirac and President Putin have been very eager, very helpful,
very forthcoming in the support that they've given to the negotiations,
and we are very hopeful that eventually this negotiation will reach the
kind of success that we all hope for."
The State Department official said that In Ukraine Elizabeth Jones will
participate in the official celebrations of 10th anniversary of
independence, which will take place on Friday.
Wed, 22 Aug 2001 16:24:59 -0700 (PDT)
Copyright 2001 RFE/RL
U.S. CONGRESSMEN VISIT ARMENIA
A U.S. Congressional delegation headed by Adam Schiff met in Yerevan
on 22 August with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister
Andranik Markarian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, and parliament
deputy speaker Gagik Aslanian. Topics discussed included the Armenian
genocide and the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations, the Karabakh
conflict, and Armenian-U.S. relations. Kocharian again expressed his desire
to begin an Armenian-Turkish dialogue at the state level, RFE/RL's Armenian
Service reported. He also predicted that Armenia will become "the best-organized
and most stable country in the region," according to Noyan Tapan. Schiff for his
part expressed reservations over the recently created Armenian-Turkish reconciliation
commission, especially the choice of its Armenian members, RFE/RL's Armenian
Service reported. He said he considers it regrettable that the commission
will not address the issue of the 1915 genocide. LF
U.S. OFFICIAL OPTIMISTIC OVER CHANCES FOR KARABAKH PEACE
Speaking in Washington on 21 August on the eve of a trip to the South Caucasus
and Ukraine, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Elizabeth
Jones said she does not believe that the ongoing search for a solution to
the Karabakh conflict is deadlocked, Noyan Tapan and RFE/RL's Armenian
Service reported. Jones noted that "a lot of progress" was made at the
OSCE-mediated talks in Florida in April, but declined to predict when a
final peace agreement might be signed. She said that the U.S. is eager to
facilitate the peace talks to the maximum degree. She also said the
objective of her upcoming visit to the South Caucasus states is "to
underscore the U.S. commitment" to their sovereignty, independence, and
stability. LF
RFE/RL TRANSCAUCASIA Newsline 23 August 2001
Schiff Discusses Aid, Karabakh Peace Process With Ghoukasian
ANCA-WR Delegation Meets with His Holiness Karekin II.
#########################################################################
HL NOTE: Some or all of the following news articles ignore such basic
facts that:
1) Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was, is, and will remain to be a
legitimate and internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan;
2) Karabakh, and seven other regions are illegally occupied by
armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, the aggressor;
3) Puppet and self-proclaimed (Nagorno) Karabakh Republic ("NKR") is an
illegitimate and criminal entity, not recognized by any international
organization or state;
4) As of 1992, Khankandi has been restored as an official historical name
of the town, that was renamed to Stepanakert by J. Stalin in 1923
#########################################################################
STEPANAKERT-Congressman Adam B. Schiff, who spent his second full day
leading an Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
delegation on an official visit to Armenia, met with Nagorno-Karabakh
officials in Stepanakert Thursday. The delegation was accompanied by ARF
leader, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Commission for Defense,
National Security and Internal Affairs Vahan Hovanessian.
Rep. Schiff spent more than an hour in a meeting with President Arkady
Ghoukasian and Foreign Minister Naira Melkoumian discussing a number of
issues, including the Karabakh Peace Process and current economic and
social prospects in Karabakh. Ghoukasian thanked Rep. Schiff for making
the day-long visit to the republic to learn first-hand the challenges and
the successes which exist in Nagorno-Karabakh.
During the discussions Ghoukasian gave Schiff a detailed outline of the
current status of the Karabakh Peace Process, which he characterized as
"frozen," because of the Azeri president Heydar Aliyev's retreat from a
number of principles previously agreed upon by both Armenia and Azerbaijan
during the Key West talks sponsored by the US government. Ghoukasian added
that Karabakh stood steadfast on its principles and would not compromise
the security of its people under any circumstances.
Melkoumian and Ghoukasian both emphasized the need for more active
cooperation from western governments in the peace process, particularly in
aiding Azerbaijan to come to terms with a number of realities today. At
the same time, Ghoukasian touched on a number of projects, which are
underway in Karabakh as the country moves forward in rebuilding and
stabilizing its internal infrastructure.
The Karabakh President went on to thank the US Representative for his
efforts in the House of Representatives. He urged Rep. Schiff to continue
his work on behalf of the Armenian nation.
Rep. Schiff, in turn, offered his willingness to assist in various ways to
move forward the peace process and to reaffirm Karabakh's right to
self-determination. He went on to indicate that once back in Washington,
he would look into introducing a possible resolution, addressing these
very immediate issues.
Following his meeting with President Ghoukasian, Rep. Schiff met with
leaders of the Karabakh National Assembly, including Speaker Oleg
Yessayan. Accompanying Yessayan to the meeting were a majority of the
chairpersons of the standing committees of the National Assembly. Schiff
and Yessayan touched on a number of issues, including United States aid to
Karabakh, the role of the National Assembly in all facets of the
republic's life, and possible areas of cooperation for the US Congress and
Karabakh National Assembly.
Following a lunch break, Schiff discussed US aid to Nagorno-Karabakh and
the various areas of financial need and lack of resources with Karabakh
Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian. Danielian outlined the need for
targeted and specific aid for Karabakh to be used for projects that have
large-scale effects on the daily lives of Karabakh Armenians.
Particularly, Danielien spoke about the need for a stable and practical
water distribution system in the country's capital, as the lack of regular
water distribution creates problems for the country and its citizens.
The ANCA-WR delegation returned to Yerevan late Thursday to meet with His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, at the Holy See of
Etchmiadzin, where preparations are underway for the upcoming celebrations
of the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's acceptance of Christianity as state
religion.
The Catholicos welcomed the guests offering them a brief presentation on
the history of the church and some of the pivotal periods in its
centuries' long history. The ANCA-WR delegation had an opportunity to tour
the Etchmiadzin complex museums, where some of the world's and the
Armenian church's most valuable and unique artifacts are stored.
In addition to the Rep. Schiff, the ANCA-WR delegation includes, Glendale
City Councilman Rafi Manoukian, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Schiff,
Mannik Khatchatrian, ANCA-WR Board Member Raffi Kradjian and his wife
Aline Kradjian, as well as Angela Achigozian, and ANCA-WR Executive
Director Alex Sardar.
The delegation, led by Rep. Schiff will be in Armenia until the end of the
week.
Copyright 2001 Asbarez Armenian Daily
ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS SYRIA
Following the successful completion on 18 August of the second stage of
Russian-Armenian joint military maneuvers (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 14 August
2001), Serzh Sarkisian flew to Damascus for talks on 20 August with his Syrian
counterpart, First Lieutenant General Mustafa Tlas, and with Chief of Army
General Staff Ali Aslan on the prospects for developing bilateral military
cooperation, according to Noyan Tapan and SANA, as cited by Groong. LF
RFE/RL TRANSCAUCASIA Newsline 22 August 2001
PRESIDENT INCREASES CONCERN FOR REFUGEES
Source:Presidential Administration
16.08.01--BAKU--The President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev signed a decree
on provision of refugees and internally displaced persons with foodstuffs.
The decree says that assistance being rendered to the mentioned category
of Azeri citizens by some international relief organizations should be
stopped. At the same time, the president also ordered the State Oil
Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to monthly pay 906 million manats (starting
this month) to the State Committee on Work With Refugees and IDPs to cover
the needs of some 57,000 refugees and IDPs. The second part of the
document says that the Committee will buy the necessary volumes of
foodstuffs at the expense of the means provided by SOCAR. The decree came
in force since the moment of signing.
By Staff Writers
Copyright ANS
Armenpress: US Experts Recognize De Facto Karabakh State
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HL NOTE: Some or all of the following news articles ignore such basic
facts that:
1) Karabakh region of Azerbaijan was, is, and will remain to be a
legitimate and internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan;
2) Karabakh, and seven other regions are illegally occupied by
armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, the aggressor;
3) Puppet and self-proclaimed (Nagorno) Karabakh Republic ("NKR") is an
illegitimate and criminal entity, not recognized by any international
organization or state;
4) As of 1992, Khankandi has been restored as an official historical name
of the town, that was renamed to Stepanakert by J. Stalin in 1923
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YEREVAN (Armenpress)The US interests in the Caucasus include the security
of Karabakh's de facto independence, however formally remaining within
Azerbaijan.
As reported by the Russian newspaper Komersant the conclusion was made by
Pentagon experts, analyzing the situation of Central Asia, the Caucasus
and neighboring regions.
According to the analysts, the present Karabakh army consisting of 25,000
people, is the most well-trained in the Central Asia and Southern Caucasus
region and can be compared only to the Uzbekistan Army (the Russian, Iran
and Turkish armies were not discussed).
The experts believe that if military activities were to resume in the
region, the Karabakh army will make advances toward the Evlakh-Mingechaur
direction, which will jeopardize the Baku-Tbilisi- Supsa pipeline.
If however, Azerbaijan wins a Karabakh war, Armenia, according to US
analysts, will attempt to occupy Nakhichevan. In this case and according
to 1921 Kars agreement, Turkey and Russia will have to interfere.
The US analysts expressed concern that if the Armenian and Azeri
presidents do not find a solution to the 13-year-old conflict in the near
future, the possibility of a new and a more large-scale war will be high.
Copyright 2001 Armenpress
ARMENIA, RUSSIA STAGE JOINT MANEUVERS
Armenian army troops and Russian forces from the Russian military base in
northern Armenia held three days of joint exercises from 7-10 August,
Noyan Tapan reported. The maneuvers involved some 1,000 Armenian
servicemen, over half of them officers. A second round of exercises was
planned for 13-18 August. Armenian Chief of Army General Staff Lieutenant
General Mikael Harutiunian expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the
first round of maneuvers, which an Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman
told AFP are intended "to see how smoothly our staff could cooperate in
conducting defense operations." LF
RFE/RL Transcaucasia Newsline, August 14, 2001
ARMENIA TAKING "UNPRODUCTIVE POSITION" ON NAGORNY KARABAKH
"Armenia has taken an unproductive position on the issue of Nagorny Karabakh,
stated President Geidar Aliev, meeting with Byelorussian Prime Minister Vladimir
Yermoshin. He said that "Armenia is ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions
demanding immediate withdrawal from the occupied Azerie territories". Aliev
stressed that "CIS states were also indifferent to Karabakh problem".
GLASNOST – MEDIA Daily News Service
http://www.glasnostonline.org/index_eng.htm
August 13, 2001
Azeri party appeals to UN over Armenian families moving to Karabakh
BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Aug 10, 2001
Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency MPA
Baku, 10 August: The Civic Unity Party (CUP) has appealed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, expressing its protest over the moving of Armenian families to Nagornyy Karabakh. The party told MPA that the CUP asked the UN head to express his attitude towards Armenia's actions, which run counter to norms of international law and UN-recognized principles of the inviolability of Azerbaijan's borders. The appeal stresses that Yerevan is continuing its aggressive policy.
Source: MPA news agency, Baku, in Russian 10 Aug 01
/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT REAFFIRMS READINESS TO CONTINUE KARABAKH TALKS
Robert Kocharian told journalists on 9 August during a visit to Yerevan
State University that although his talks last week in Sochi with his
Azerbaijani counterpart Aliev were "difficult," he is nonetheless ready to
continue negotiations on resolving the Karabakh conflict, Caucasus Press
and RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. No date has been set for the next
round of talks between the two presidents. LF
RFE/RL Transcaucasia Newsline, August 10, 2001
News referred from Habarlar-L