Asbarez.com news room 07-19.2000

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1. House Urges Albright to Step Up Artsax Peace Effort

WASHINGTON--In a report adopted in conjunction with the House Foreign Aid bill last week, Members of the House of Representatives urged Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to step up US efforts to resolve the Nagorno Artsax conflict and called for a review of the needs of those displaced during the conflict, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

 

Specifically, House Report # 106-720 expressed concern that "the important Office of Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Artsax and NIS Regional Conflicts within the US State Department has often lacked timely support from the Department of State." As such, the House has recommended that Secretary Albright 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 report further called on Secretary Albright to release the remainder of the $20 million obligated to victims of the Nagorno Artsax conflict in 1998 and provide a written report about the needs of displaced persons in the region within 15 days of the enactment of the bill.

 

The House passed H.R. 4811, the fiscal year 2001 foreign aid bill, last week, allocating $740 million to for the Independent States of the former Soviet Union (IS). The legislation stipulates that a minimum of 12.5% of that sum - roughly $92.5 million - be earmarked for Armenia. The bill also maintained restrictions on US aid to Azerbaijan, first adopted as Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ), John Edward Porter (R-Ill.) and Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.) each spoke in support of provisions dealing with Armenia in debate leading up to the passage of the legislation.

 

Portions of House Report # 106-720 accompanying the foreign aid bill follow.

 

Southern Caucasus Region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, And Georgia And Victims Of The Nagorno-Artsax Conflict

 

Again this year, the Committee designates as a high priority US assistance to the victims of the Nagorno-Artsax conflict, both those residing in and displaced from Nagorno-Artsax. With regard to the former, the Committee directs, without further delay, that the remainder of the $20,000,000 in humanitarian assistance initially provided in the fiscal year 1998 Act be released for obligation. With regard to the latter, the Committee requests the Secretary of State to report in writing to the Committee within 15 days of the enactment of this bill on the amounts of assistance provided by the United States, other bilateral donors, and international organizations to such displaced persons in 1998 and 1999, the estimates for 2000, and the projections for 2001, the gap between requirements and projected donor totals in 2001, and measures taken by the United States to meet its share of any projected gap in 2001 between requirements and projected resources for such displaced persons.

 

Support Of Peaceful Resolution Of South Caucasus Conflicts

 

The Committee reiterates themes included in its last three reports: The extent and timing of United States and multilateral assistance, other than humanitarian assistance, to the government of any country in the Caucasus region should be proportional to its willingness to cooperate with the Minsk Group and other efforts to resolve regional conflicts.

 

In furtherance of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Artsax conflict, and in support of the confidence building measures discussed at NATO and OSCE summits, the Committee strongly supports confidence-building measures among the parties to the conflict. Such measures could include strengthening compliance with the cease-fire, studying post-conflict regional development such as water management, transportation routes and infrastructure, establishing a youth exchange program and other collaborative and humanitarian initiatives to foster greater understanding among the parties and reduce hostilities.

 

The Committee remains concerned that the important Office of Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Artsax and NIS Regional Conflicts within the US State Department has often lacked timely support from the Department of State. Given the lack of progress in settling the conflicts in Nagorno-Artsax and Abkhazia, the Committee again 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. The Secretary is further urged to remain engaged in the regional peace process.

 

The Committee has been apprised that on May 18, 2000, the Minsk Group convened a meeting of 19 international organizations to assess their ability to respond effectively and efficiently to a peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This ``reference group'' agreed that, if peace could be achieved, hundreds of millions of dollars would become available for reconstruction and resettlement. The reference group is preparing to send a needs assessment team to the region to develop an accurate technical analysis of the funding requirements in the event of a peace settlement.

 

The Committee has included renewed authority for the President to provide humanitarian assistance to the region, notwithstanding the restrictions of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. The bill language is unchanged from last year. This exemption allows for direct assistance by American NGOs to refugees and displaced persons throughout the region, including those in Nagorno-Artsax. The Committee understands that humanitarian assistance may include a broad range of activities and partnerships with United States hospitals and universities in maternal and children's health, eldercare, basic education and environmental health. The Committee also reiterates the statement contained in prior year reports on this bill that its actions regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan are not meant to express a view on the political status of Nagorno-Artsax.

 

Armenia

 

The Committee recommends continuation of current law providing that not less than a fixed percentage of the funds appropriated under this heading is allocated for Armenia. For 2001, the percentage is 12.5 or one-eighth. The Committee intends that a significant part of the assistance for Armenia continue to support small enterprises and housing in the 1988 earthquake zone. The Committee is aware of the work of the Armenian Technology Group in assisting the Armenian private sector in a seed multiplication program. The Committee supports the expansion of these efforts in additional countries in the Central Asia region.

 

Georgia

 

The Committee recommends continuation of current law providing that not less than a fixed percentage of the funds appropriated under this heading is allocated for Georgia. For 2001, the percentage is 12.5 or one-eighth. The Committee intends that that a significant part of the assistance for Georgia continue to be provided for technical security assistance for border and export control.

 

Azerbaijan

 

The Committee recommends renewing the current one-year waiver of section 907 for activities in support of democracy in Azerbaijan and for activities in support of American business in Azerbaijan by the Trade and Development Agency, the Export-Import Bank, OPIC, and the US Foreign Commercial and Agricultural Services. It also includes humanitarian assistance in the waiver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. 80th Anniversary of Sevres Treaty to be Marked

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--As reported earlier, a group of influential Armenian academicians issued a letter to prime minister Andranik Markarian urging him to mark the 80th anniversary of the Treaty of Sevres.

 

The government information and public relations department told Armenpress that taking into account the above-mentioned letter, the prime minister Andranik Markarian gave instructions to the Yerevan City Hall to rename a street in the capital after the best friend of Armenian people, former US president Woodrow Wilson, who was one of the initiators of the Treaty of Sevres.

 

The prime minister also ordered the Armenian National Academy of Science to hold a scientific conference and clarify the whole process of this event, in addition to marking the anniversary of this diplomatic and political milestone.

 

The Treaty of Sevres was signed by France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Czechoslovakia and Turkey. The document also recognized Armenia's independence.

 

The academicians argued that the Sevres Treaty was not properly recognized under Soviet rule, but now, with an independent Armenia, the political and strategic importance of the treaty can be utilized within a political context for Armenia.

 

"We believe that the government of Armenia must, both on a state-sponsored and national level, mark the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Sevres treaty, which aside from its historic significance, has political importance and can benefit our country in strengthening its position internationally," the academicians noted.

 

The treaty, drawn up by US president Woodrow Wilson and signed by the superpowers at the time, envisioned a 162,000 square kilometer area as Armenia, and included almost all of historic Armenia, Artsax, Akhalkalak and Nakhichevan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Meets with Leaders

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner participated in the official ceremony of the opening of the OSCE Yerevan Office, Monday. In a later joint press conference, Ferrero-Waldner described the office's work and its cooperation with Armenian authorities as excellent. She explained that the OSCE office is trying to keep the comprehensive security concept within the frames of political, military and humanitarian aspects.

 

Ferrero-Waldner stated she had come to the region to facilitate the Artsax peace process. In her opinion, now is a good political moment to seize. In her message, the OSCE Ferrero-Waldner stressed that the economic development of Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as that of the entire region is possible only if an ultimate resolution to the conflict is found, which can be best achieved through compromises, and this process may require much courage and effort. But most importantly, she said, "you should look to the future of your country and your children."

 

Ferrero-Waldner expressed satisfaction with the policies of President Robert Kocharian, who, as she said, showed his political will to resolve the conflict. The OSCE official hoped that President Aliyev would demonstrate the same political will. "I have noticed certain progress in Armenia and I hope the Azeri side will follow suit," she emphasized.

 

Recently, Ferrero-Waldner had an intensive meeting with Haydar Aliyev in Vienna. She is well aware of the elements of settlement available to the Azeri president, as well as the viewpoints of Armenia and Nagorno-Artsax. "I'll try to be an active and effective go-between in mediating a peaceful solution to the problem," said Ferrero-Waldner, stressing that the OSCE will not, in any way, ask for a solution unwelcome to any of the sides, but it will be up to the parties of the conflict to agree on a settlement scheme acceptable to all.

 

In this regard, she attached high importance to the direct contacts between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, who have already agreed upon several components of a peace plan during their talks. She refrained from naming these components, explaining that it was a confidential matter.

 

Ferrero-Waldner called upon the countries and peoples to develop and implement joint projects to build mutual confidence. Such may be water sharing projects, or, for example, possibilities of some communications in the security field at the borders. As the best example of confidence building measure the OSCE official referred to Monday's release of four prisoners of war from Nagorno Artsax and two from Armenia, describing it as a fine gesture and an excellent message she would take to Azerbaijan.

 

Ferrero-Waldner hailed the recent voting of the PACE in favor of Armenia's admission to the Council of Europe. "The development of democratic institutions is a way that will lead your country to prosperity, well-being of people and economic, market society, and in this sense your membership in the Council of Europe will be a positive step forward and will also contribute to the establishment of peace in the region," she commented. Yet, she added, Armenia still needs to accomplish reforms, specifically in its judicial system. She stated she hopes the country will cope with all the arising difficulties in a year's time.

 

For his part, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said that to become a member of this prestigious pan-European organization Armenia pledged to meet all the requirements set to it within one or two years. "In a year Armenia will have a much stronger democracy than it has today. As a member of the Council of Europe we have a closer deadline to become a full-fledged democratic state," the minister underscored.

 

Armenian President Robert Kocharian also held a meeting Monday with Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The sides stressed the need for steps aimed at strengthening the confidence between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Ferrero-Waldner pointed out the usefulness of the two countries' cooperation in implementing various economic programs. President Kocharian agreed that the creation of an atmosphere of mutual confidence will allow any conflict to be settled much easier.

 

The president pointed out the importance of a regional security system to build stability in the region. President Kocharian holds the opinion that such a system will allow the countries of the region to resolve numerous current problems, settle conflicts, established a long-lasting peace and think about development.

 

Benita Ferrero-Waldner offered Kocharian an invitation to pay an official visit to Austria.

 

Artsax president Arkady Ghoukassian also re-confirmed his interest in settling the conflict by peaceful means during a telephone conversation with Ferrero-Waldner Monday.

 

Ferrero-Waldner was quoted by Ghoukassian's press office as expressing regret that she could not meet personally with him. She said her first visit to the region as the head of the OSCE was a fact-finding one. She also expressed hope that her meetings with Armenia and Azeri key officials would be fruitful. Ferrero-Waldner stressed, in particular, the role of Artsax in the peaceful solution of the conflict.

 

Referring to the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs pledges to promote economic development in the region, the two sides emphasized the economic factor for reaching long-lasting peace and stability. In reply to the OSCE head request, the Ghoukassian issued the release of four Azeri prisoners of war as a good gesture will.

 

Meanwhile, Azeri President Haydar Aliyev told Ferrero-Waldner Tuesday it was time to speed up efforts to solve the dispute over Nagorno-Artsax.

 

``I think that the OSCE ought to activate its work and be more responsive. At the same time I will continue my meetings with Armenian President Robert Kocharian,'' the Azeri leader told Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

 

Austria currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the organization that has been mediating in negotiations over the territory, populated by ethnic Armenians but administered by neighboring Azerbaijan.

 

Azeri Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev said Ferrero-Waldner had made no new proposals to settle the conflict.

 

``The OSCE has brought no new proposals, although there are some elements that need to be carefully looked at,'' Guliyev said after his talks with the OSCE head without elaborating.

 

Ferrero-Waldner welcomed the hand-over of six Azeri prisoners of war on Tuesday, flown to Baku airport aboard a UN aircraft. She said the meetings between the two leaders of the former Soviet republics had helped the process.

 

``I think that there is some hope for a settlement as there is political will on both sides,'' she said during the half-hour meeting with the leader of the Caspian Sea state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Iran and Armenia Agree on Construction of Gas Pipeline

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--A trilateral meeting regarding the Medzamor nuclear power Plant took place between the European Commission, Iran and Armenia in Yerevan July 14. The meeting was organized within the framework of the European Commission-Armenia Working group. The meeting was hosted by the government of Armenia and chaired by energy minister Karen Galustian, with the participation of deputy ministers Adeli and Rah Gozal from Iran and ambassador Elio Germano and Cornelis Wittebrood from the European Commission.

 

The parties stressed the situation in the Armenia's energy sector and agreed on the need to supply Armenia with Iranian natural gas because of the recent shut-down of the Medzamor nuclear power plant. This supply should be achieved through an urgent construction of a gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia.

 

The European Commission accepted to consider this strategic infrastructure in the framework of its regional program "Interstate Oil and Gas Transportation in Europe."

 

The trilateral meeting discussed a comprehensive program of action on institutional, commercial and financial issues related to this pipeline.

 

It was agreed to structure its construction and management through a Protocol annexed to the INOGATE Umbrella Agreement and to the sponsoring promotion of this pipeline towards the private sector and the IFIS.

 

In this perspective the European Commission agreed to organize a "sponsoring conference" within the framework of INOGATE and Medzamor Working group before the end of 2000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Hrair Hovagimian Named Honorary Citizen of Yerevan

YEREVAN (Armenpress)--A well-known heart surgeon Hrayr Hovagimian, an Armenian American, was awarded the medal and certificate of Honorable Citizen of Yerevan by Yerevan mayor Albert Bazeyan.

 

The Mayor said the services rendered to Armenia by the surgeon were hard to overestimate. "Being a US citizen, Hovagimian could work and live in the US, but he thought it would be more benefitial for him to go to his ancestors' land to help people with heart problems and save the lives of many of them," said the mayor.

 

Hovagimian and his team did about 2,600 of the most complicated operations in Yerevan's Nork Marash hospital over the last seven years. His patients included people from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Iran and other countries.

 

"I am happy for being helpful to my compatriots," said the 47 year old surgeon upon receiving the medal. Hovagimian is dividing his duties between Yerevan and Portland in the US, where he also works at a local clinic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Oct. 27 Victims' Relatives Protest Acquittals

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)--The Military Prosecutor's decisions dismissing the charges previously brought against the five individuals accused in the October 27 case are groundless and testify to the fact that pressure is exerted on the investigation body, says a statement made on Monday by the relatives of the victims of October 27, 1999 shooting. Among the killed statesmen's relatives are Rima Demirchian, Greta Sargsyan, Anahit Bakhshian, Artsvik Miroyan, Larisa Petrossian, Silva Abramian, Armine Armenakian, and Arshaluis Kotanian.

 

According to them, the decisions dismissing the charges against Aleksan Harutiunian, Harutiun Harutiunian, Nairi Badalian, Mushegh Movsissian, and Artur Hakobian are historical documents testifying to the fact that "as a result of execution of a political order the persons who committed a most grave crime are avoiding punishment." The authors of the statement point out that the attempt to charge only immediate perpetrators was observed in the forecast statements of some political figures during the first days after the tragic events. They add that despite the "irrefutable proofs obtained during the preliminary investigation" that Harutiunian, A. Harutiunian, Badalian, and Movsissian were involved in the crime, at the final stage of the investigation these "forecasts" turned into an imperative demand that the persecution of the aforementioned persons be stopped.

 

The statement contains the excerpts of the evidence against the former accused, with excerpts that confirm their guilt. In particular, the authors of the statement express bewilderment over the fact that a decision was made dismissing the criminal case instituted in connection with the discovery of a rocket-launcher with a barrel diameter of 15 mm as well as of a hand-made device with a 5.5-mm. caliber on December 16, 1999. The victims' relatives are also bewildered over the fact that Mushegh Movsissian's purchase and possession of firearms and ammunition is formulated as "an insignificant deed."

 

Under the circumstances, the relatives of the victims of the October 27 terrorist acts appeal to the people "to safeguard the power that belongs to them, and make a proper assessment of the criminal insinuations of the people who use this power in their own interests."

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Re-Training Courses for Diaspora Teachers Re-Opened

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Around seventy positions are allotted each year to young Armenians from the Diaspora in Armenia's higher education establishments. After completing their education in Armenia, they return to their communities to teach the Armenian language and history, making their contribution to the maintenance of Armenian identity within the Diaspora.

 

However, after working for some time, these devoted teachers need retraining. After a significant break the Armenian education and science ministry in a collaboration with All-Armenian Hayastan Fund and Armenian foreign ministry have restored this tradition.

 

This year around 25 teachers from Diaspora have arrived in Armenia to receive re-training courses which are organized by the Armenian Pedagogical Institute in a new, specially furnished center called Spyurk.

 

The official opening of the courses took place on Monday, with education and science minister Edward Ghazarian welcoming the participants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Six Azeri POW's Released By Armenian Authorities

YEREVAN (Armenpress)—Six Azeri POW's, released yesterday in a good will gesture by the Armenian and Artsax authorities, left for home today. Four of them had been captured in Artsax and the two in Armenia. The Armenian authorities expect the Azeri authorities to demonstrate a similar good will gesture.

 

Rufat Ghambarov, Mubarik Aliyev, Nail Rajabov and Dmitriy Kolesov, who is Russian by ethnicity, spoke to reporters before departing. Despite the POW's bad Russian it became clear that they all were captured during military service. They also said they had been kept in normal conditions during their captivity.

 

"These are the last POW's we are giving back to Azerbaijan, there are no more Azeri POW's in Artsax," Karen Mirzoyan, the Artsax representative in Yerevan told reporters at the Zvartnots airport. He said they have information proving that Armenian POW's are still kept in Azerbaijan.

 

"We hope that this good will gesture will help to draw the international community's attention to this issue, to place pressure on Azerbaijan so that it allows international human rights organizations to inspect Azeri camps to identify Armenian POW's," said Mirzoyan.

 

He said that data on twelve Armenian POW's reportedly kept in Azerbaijan had been presented to Azeri authorities and "we expect them to be more active in their search."

 

The officials in Baku say they have two Armenian POW's. But some sources say there more than that, as well as about 900 hostages. There are still 4 Azeri POW's and one civilian kept in Armenia. The Armenian side is willing to give them back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Prime Minister Makes New Appointments

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)—By Minister Andranik Margarian's order, Ashot Yesayan has been appointed first Deputy Minister of Social Welfare. Simultaneously, Yesayan was relieved of his post of Deputy Minister of Social Welfare. The Public Relations Department told Noyan Tapan that Arayik Petrossian was appointed Deputy Minister of Social Welfare. Areg Galstian was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy. Samvel Baloyan was relieved of his duties as Deputy Minister of Nature Protection and Artashes Ziroyan took his position.