Asbarez News room 07-14-2000 Asbarez.com

[Guest]

1. First EU-Iran-Armenia Meeting Focuses on Gas Pipeline

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan, Armenpress)--The first trilateral meeting between the European Union, Iran and Armenia, held in Yerevan Friday, focused on the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction project. The goal of the meeting was to involve the European Union in discussions on the gas pipeline construction project, Energy Minister Karen Galustian, the head of the Armenian delegation, said.

 

The project, with an estimated cost of $120 million, was launched in 1992. As a result of three years of negotiations, in 1995 Russia's Gazprom and Iran's gas company signed an agreement on the installation of an Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. However, the project was not carried out due to lack of funds, despite Armenia's attempts to obtain financing from the World Bank, the European Bank and Western commercial banks and companies.

 

The EU delegation is led by Head of Unit DG1 of the European Commission's Caucasian Division Cornelis Wittebroot. Iran's delegation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammad Hussein Adel. The Armenian delegation includes Armenia's Ambassador to Iran Gegham Gharibjanian, Energy Ministry officials and heads of energy-related institutes.

 

Earlier that day, President Robert Kocharian met with the Iranian delegation, which emphasized that Iran attaches particular importance to developing political, economic and cultural relations with Armenia.

 

Referring to the prospects of trilateral relations, the sides stressed the need for raising the efficiency of the mutually beneficial programs. Describing cooperation in the sphere of transportation as one of the key trends of bilateral ties, Mohammad Hussein Adel underscored that Iran was extremely interested in prospects of transit shipments via Armenia.

 

The sides also discussed the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction project.

 

Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian also met with Adel. The two leaders praised the current level of relations between Armenia and Iran, stressing the importance of further developing ties. Iran's deputy foreign minister stressed Armenia's significant role for the region and consequently for Iran.

 

The sides also discussed possibilities of further developing economic cooperation between the two countries. In particular, they referred to the potential for developing mutually advantageous cooperation in the sphere of transportation of energy sources. The sides also discussed the possibility of exporting Iranian gas via Armenia to other countries and turning Armenia into a transit countries for the import of goods to Iran. The two officials also discussed prospects of further encouraging trade between the two states.

 

The Iranian deputy foreign minister also met with National Assembly Speaker Armen Khatchatrian, who stressed the importance of giving a new, practical impetus to both political and economic bilateral cooperation.

 

The two sides noted with satisfaction the reported activation of co-operation between the two neighboring countries over the last two months.

 

The two sides agreed that many joint projects being currently realized have international and political significance for the region. Armenia and Iran are important chains of the East-West axis, and they will continue participating in the international integration processes.

 

Mohammad Hossein Adeli welcomed measures taken by the government in Meghri, located on the border with Iran, saying that Iran is very interested in the programs, which may attract many Iranian investors to participate in some ventures, particularly in improving the roads and tourism development.

 

Both sides underscored the importance of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Adeli said that funding for the construction of the Iranian section of the pipeline had been secured and foreign investors were being sought for the project.

 

Prime minister Markarian suggested that Iran make major investments in those Armenian ventures where gas is used as a raw material. He also considered the possibility of building an Iran-Armenia oil pipeline and an oil processing plant in Meghri.

 

Adeli said these proposals may be of interest for Iran, adding that Iran is greatly encouraged by the prospects of transportation of goods through Armenia, which will be promoted after roads are reconstructed and the Kajaran tunnel is built.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Section 907 Maintained in 2001 Foreign Ops

* Armenia to receive $92.5 million in US aid package.

 

WASHINGTON--The House of Representatives Thursday approved the fiscal year 2001 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act which maintains Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, a measure restricting US assistance to Azerbaijan until that country ends its blockade of Armenia.

 

The Foreign Operations Act provides funding for confidence-building measures to resolve the Nagorno-Artsax conflict and also "urges the Secretary of State to move forthwith to appoint a high-level, long-term Special Negotiator to facilitate direct negotiations and any other contacts that will bring peace to the people of the South Caucasus."

 

Furthermore, the measure provides for $740 million in assistance for Independent States of the Former Soviet Union--$99 million less than that account received in FY 2000. Armenia's estimated share is $92.5 million of the IS account total.

 

On the eve of the key vote in the House, Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and John Edward Porter (R-Ill.) joined with Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) in calling for increased US assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Artsax, maintaining the restrictions on US aid to Azerbaijan, and finding an equitable resolution to the Nagorno Artsax conflict, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

 

In speaking about maintaining Section 907, Pallone said that "This law should remain in place, and the Subcommittee was right in resisting efforts to repeal or further modify this important provision - echoing the bipartisan sentiment that has been clearly expressed both here and in the Other Body (the Senate.)"

 

Rep. Knollenberg cited the importance of language in the bill "directing the Administration, without further delay, to release the remainder of the $20 million provided in 1998 for victims of the Nagorno Artsax conflict." The legislation calls on the Secretary of State to report on US and bi-lateral assistance levels to Nagorno Artsax since 1998 and to project additional sums necessary to assist displaced persons within fifteen days of enactment of the bill.

 

In his speech on the House floor, retiring Congressman John Edward Porter spoke forcefully in support of Congressional efforts to encourage credible confidence building measures and to promote a lasting peace in Nagorno Artsax. Rep. Porter called attention to language in the foreign aid bill urging "Secretary of State to move forthwith to appoint a high-level, long-term Special Negotiator to facilitate direct negotiations and any other contacts that will bring peace to the people of the South Caucasus. The Secretary is further urged to remain engaged in the regional peace process."

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. ARS 80th Regional Convention Begins

GLENDALE--The Western Region of the Armenian Relief Society convened its 80th regional convention Thursday at the Glendale Hilton Hotel, with the participation of religious leaders, community and political officials. The meeting will last until Sunday, when a new Regional Executive will be elected.

 

Participating in the opening session of the meeting were Western Prelate Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian, State Senator Adam Schiff (D-Pasadena), Glendale City Councilman Rafi Manoukian, Republican candidate for the 43rd Assembly district Craig Missakian, Democratic candidate for the 43rd Assembly district Dario Frommer, chairmen of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee Hovig Saliba, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region Berdj Karapetian and ARF Central Committee member John Kossakian.

 

Also attending the meeting were ARS Central Executive member Rosine Saghdejian, ARS Western Regional Executive chairwoman Maro Chalian-Read and the ARS legal affairs counsel Yeznig Kazandjian.

 

Welcoming remarks were presented by Regional Executive member Mayda Bezdjian, who compared the ARS to an army of 18,000 members who are proud to mark the organization's 90th anniversary and the Western Region's 80th Regional Convention.

 

Also making welcoming remarks were Sen. Schiff, Councilmember Manoukian, candidates Frommer and Missakian, Western Region chairwoman Chalian-Read and Central Executive representative Saghdejian.

 

All speakers made congratulatory remarks and emphasized the important role of the ARS in its mission to provide the community with youth outreach, as well as social and psychiatric services.

 

In his remarks, Bishop Mardirossian called the Convention an historic event, since the ARS' 90th anniversary also coincides with the 1700th anniversary of Armenia's adoption of Christianity as a state religion.

 

A dinner-dance marking the ARS' 80th Regional Convention is scheduled for this evening at 7 p.m. at the Glendale Hilton Hotel. Admission in $60.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Army Deserters Go on Killing Rampage

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Artsax army and military police declared a state of alert Thursday and began searching all vehicles entering Yerevan. According to a Defense Ministry spokesman, three soldiers deserted from their Army unit in Artsax yesterday. The soldiers fled through the Omar mountains and reached to Kelbajar. The army spokesman said they were armed.

 

The deserters stopped a GAS-24 Russian sedan car, killed two passengers in the car and hijacked the car, setting off towards Armenia. Police tried to stop them at a police check points but without success. When the police tried to chase them, the deserters killed two of them in a shoot-out. The deserters tried to bury the dead policemen, but were interrupted by a car approaching from the opposite direction, and shot the two passengers dead. One of the passengers was the commander of the Aparan Army battalion, which is stationed in Aragatsotn region of Armenia.

 

One of the deserters was injured in the shoot-out. His two comrades abandoned him and fled to the forests. According to the Military Prosecutor's office, the injured soldier is now in hospital. The Army spokesman said that the two others are now hiding in the forest and it is very difficult to disarm and arrest them because they left their army unit heavily armed.

 

The incident didn't prevent the Military commanders of the Armenian Army meeting with servicemen's parents. The purpose of the meeting was to give parents a chance to express their concerns. The meeting in the Armenian Officers' House in Yerevan heard mothers' complaints about the health of their sons. "We are sending healthy boys to the Army, but they come home sick and weakened," one woman said. "My son is in hospital now. Please, be attentive to the health of the soldiers," another woman said.

 

But there were also good words for the army. Some of the mothers praised Army commanders for their work, requesting instead leave for their sons.

 

The commanders gathered today in the Yerevan Officers House generously granted short periods of leave to those soldiers whose mothers gave high marks to their performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. New Area Codes in Armenia to Take Effect Saturday

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--In a press release issued Thursday, ArmenTel announced alterations in Armenia's area code system, which will take effect Saturday, July 15.

 

Almost all major cities, towns and regions of Armenia will be affected by this change, including area codes for cellular phones, which have become commonplace in Armenia.

 

Beginning today, the Yerevan area code will change from 3742 to 3741. The latter was being utilized for cellular phones. That area code will change from 3741 to 3749. Other major cities area codes are as follows: Gumri, from 37469 to 37441; Hrazdan, from 37467 to 37423; Goris, from 37491 to 37484 and Etchmiadzin from 37459 to 37431.

 

The 374 prefix, Armenia's country code, will remain unchanged, while city and regional codes will change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Human Rights Activist From Russia Visits Artsax

STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)—Antoine Arakelian -vice-president of the Russian National Associations Congress, a member of the Expert Council under the Commissioner on Human Rights in the Russian Federation, a human rights activist and public figure, who is on a short working visit to Artsax gave a press conference in Stepanakert Monday.

 

Arakelian arrived in Armenia, then visited Artsax after the Nalchik Seminar dedicated to the problems of founding the institution of regional Commissioner on Human Rights. The Seminar was organized from June 29 to July 2 by St. Petersburg's "Strategy" Center on Humanitarian and Political Studies jointly with the CE Department on Human Rights.

 

The issues of social and economic development, as well as protection of civil rights and, in particular, free speech, were discussed during the press conference. Arakelian noted that the restrictions of freedom of speech in war-time conditions were a natural thing, however, a clear line of imposing those restrictions, with regard to the General Declaration of Human Rights, as well as mechanisms of control by the public and human rights protecting organizations had to be defined.

 

The problems of searching and exchanging prisoners of war and hostages came up as a separate subject for discussion. Arakelian called for close cooperation among all the regional human rights organizations in this matter. He promised his assistance in this issue, underlining that establishing the institution of Commissioner on Human Rights in Armenia and Nagorno Artsax would make it possible to solve such problems in a more efficient manner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Bleyan Demands Legal Case be Dropped .

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—The lower court of Yerevan's Malatsia-Sebastia district continues the trial of the former minister of education of Armenia, former director of the "Mkhitar Sebastatsi" educational complex Ashot Bleyan. Bleyan is charged with abuse of his office and bribery.

 

Six months have passed since the trial started. At a court session held Monday Bleyan submitted two petitions to the court.

 

In his first petition the defendant demanded that the legal proceedings against him to be discontinued, substantiating his demand by the relevant point of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Bleyan stated that all the evidence has been studied and the documents needed for the case have been published. According to Bleyan, "either the incident or the corpus delicti is lacking" in all the accusations brought against him.

 

Bleyan's second petition was the following: referring to article 65.2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Bleyan demanded a confrontation with all the witnesses who had testified against him.

 

At the previous court session the prosecutors filed a petition for the announcement of evidence provided at the preliminary investigation by the witnesses who did not appear in the court. However, Bleyan's lawyer Robert Grigorian pointed out that if the petition was satisfied the equality of the parties would be broken, the trial would end in Bleyan's conviction, which was not the court's goal: to find out the truth. Bleyan confirmed that if the aforementioned petition was satisfied, he would no longer need his lawyer or appear in court.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Armenia to Bridge Europe and Asia

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—A delegation of the Bundestag Commission on Economic Cooperation and Development will be on a visit to the Transcaucasian countries July 10-18. On the threshold of the visit the head of the delegation, Bundestag deputy Peter Weiss agreed to talk with Noyan Tapan.

 

According to Weiss, the peaceful settlement of the Artsax conflict is the most important political issue for the region and a prerequisite for the political stability and economic development. As for the economic programs, he particularly stressed the importance of joint intergovernmental programs, such as the program of "Great Silk Road".

 

The experience of the European Union shows that disputes over national borders make no sense when the borders open for free barter, exchange of services and mutual visits of citizens, and when all the population groups have an opportunity to be involved in the economic welfare, Weiss said. According to Weiss, successful economic relations are the basis for effective cooperation.

 

Peter Weiss finds that the geopolitical position of the South Caucasus necessitates a close cooperation between the countries of the region. This cooperation also requires a dialogue in the sphere of culture and religion. Armenia with its great cultural wealth, which will be impressively reflected in the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the Christianity in Armenia in 2001 "will serve as a good basis for" Armenia to be a bridge between Europe and Asia, Weiss stated.

 

According to Weiss, the Armenian-German economic relations are still to be extended. The Armenian-German cooperation started in 1993 as part of the policy of stimulating developing countries. So far, over 140 million German marks have been invested in Armenia. The cooperation is mainly oriented to the production and transportation of electric energy, communal infrastructure of water supply, a drainage system and assistance to small and medium-sized businesses.

 

Armenia also receives assistance from Germany in the establishment and decentralization of its legal system and development of the local government system, as well as in the sphere of the specialized secondary education. Weiss finds that in the future special importance will be attached to the assistance of small and medium-sized enterprises and stimulation of the establishment of new ones. In the future great importance will also be placed on the development of communities, establishment of communal infrastructure, assistance to water supplying enterprises, drainage system and rubbish collection.

 

Peter Weiss expressed regret over the recent decrease in the amount of barters between Armenia and Germany. According to him, the activities aimed at improving the investment conditions for German companies in Armenia are also important. He pointed out that German investors have always been interested in entering the Armenian market.