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October
1 - 5 |
In the wake of the unprecedented terrorist
attacks against the United States, Azerbaijan is using the situation
to seek the repeal of restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan. While
most regional countries rushed to offer assistance to the United States
in the campaign to eliminate suspected terrorist bases in Afghanistan,
some observers believe that Azerbaijan has made its cooperation with
the United States conditional on the repeal of Section 907.
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress
in 1992 and repeatedly upheld in both the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives, does not preclude American assistance from reaching
Azerbaijan's needy or facilitating U.S. companies' engagement in that
country. In fact, in recent years, the U.S. has provided Azerbaijan
with over $250 million in various assistance. Special carve-outs to
the provision allow organizations like the Export-Import Bank and
Trade and Development Agency to support U.S. oil companies engaged
in the Caspian energy projects.
However, Section 907 serves as an important notice to the government
of Heydar Aliyev that the United States disapproves of Azerbaijan's
intransigence in the Karabagh peace process and its continued effort
to seek a military solution to the 13-year old conflict. Azerbaijan
could overcome the restrictions placed by the U.S. law, by lifting
its ongoing blockade of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. The Azerbaijani
government has repeatedly rebuffed Armenian offers of economic collaboration
and confidence building measures in the conflict area. Observers believe
that a rash repeal of Section 907 could shatter the precarious regional
balance established since the 1994 cease-fire in Karabagh, and can
have dangerous implications for the region where the United States
has important interests. For years, the Azerbaijani government curried
favor with Islamic radicals, striving to win their military backing
in the Karabagh conflict. This policy has allowed groups like Osama
Bin Laden's Al Qaeda to establish in Azerbaijan what has been described
as an international hub to run terrorist operations against American
and Western interests throughout the region.
Some Azerbaijani pundits have urged their government to begin a new
military campaign against Karabagh Armenians, while the world's attention
is focused on Afghanistan. Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev
said during his visit to Ankara this week that Turkey would provide
Azerbaijan with "personnel and equipment" should the Azeris
launch a new war against Karabagh. Azerbaijan and Turkey are expected
to sign a bilateral military agreement by the end of this year that
would provide Turkish assistance in modernization of the Azerbaijani
armed forces. Turkey has been training Azeri officers since the early
1990s and for the past few years has been running all of Azerbaijan's
military academies. Even while Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
is calling for peace and stability in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan and
hard-line groups in Turkey continue their efforts to draw Ankara into
the Karabagh conflict.
Armenian and Nagorno Karabagh leaders have repeatedly warned Azeri
officials against provoking a new war that would have detrimental
effects for the region generally and Azerbaijan specifically. Ariel
Cohen, area specialist at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation,
told a leading local daily recently that the ongoing Azeri obsession
with the new war was "a bad ideaŻ A war would not be in Azerbaijan's
interest.. and would deal a serious blow to regional energy projects"
he said. |
October
1 - 5 |
An anthology of Armenian literature
recently published by the Turkish government is said to be the first
book of its kind to appear in Turkey since the Armenian Genocide.
Turkish Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay, who authored the book's
preface, called the publication a "valuable insight into the
culture and history of the Armenian literature." It is not yet
known if the book includes works by Armenian writers executed by the
Ottoman government in 1915. The Turkish government has also recently
established an Institute for Armenian Research, which has so far focused
on ways to improve Turkey's genocide denial tactics. The heightened
interest in Armenian matters comes in the aftermath of discussion
and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide in several parliaments of
leading Western countries. At the same time, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
summoned the Vatican's ambassador to again express Ankara's displeasure
with Pope John Paul II's affirmation of the Genocide during his visit
to Armenia last week. The Vatican also announced this week the beatification
of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, leader of the Armenian Catholic community
martyred in the 1915 genocide. |
October
1 - 5 |
The Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR)
this week inaugurated two sections of a new highway constructed with
funds collected by the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund in telethons held
in 1999 and 2000. The 30 kilometers of roads cost $3.3 million to
construct and will connect the Mardakert and Askeran and Martuni and
Hadrut districts, respectively. They will eventually be linked by
a 170-kilometer highway that will stretch from the north to the south
of the republic's rugged terrain. Vahan Ter-Ghevondian, the Executive
Director of the Fund said that tenders for the construction of an
additional 33 kilometers will be held later this year. The total cost
of the highway is estimated at $25 million, to be raised at future
telethons.
Nagorno Karabagh President Arkady Ghoukasian underlined the importance
of the road for developing the local economy. It is also a testament
to NKR's desire to establish peace with Azerbaijan and eventually
withdraw from the "buffer zone" it now controls. (Existing
paved roads connecting most NKR districts pass through that zone.)
Gagik Harutiunian, Chairman of Armenia's Constitutional Court, who
is also Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, noted
the importance of Diaspora participation in construction of the roads.
He said some 200,000 Armenians around the world helped build the Goris-
Stepanakert highway in 1995-99, which now links Armenia and Karabagh
by one of the best roads in the region. He urged even greater participation
in the construction of the north-south Karabagh highway. |
October
1 - 5 |
The American University of Armenia
(AUA) this week celebrated its tenth anniversary. On September 21,
1991, the day when Armenians voted for independence in the popular
referendum, AUA accepted the first class of 101 students. Since then,
902 students have completed their graduate studies at AUA in diverse
fields that include international relations, law, business, information
technologies and engineering. While some of the students continue
their studies abroad, about 650 work in Armenia's public and private
sectors. In addition to academic programs, AUA also includes several
research centers and think tanks, and, according to its current President
Harutiun Armenian, is becoming a regional education center. Since
its establishment, AUA has been assisted by the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU), a U.S.-based charity, and the University of California
educational system. AUA has also received direct U.S. government assistance
through a congressional earmark. This week, President Robert Kocharian
awarded AGBU President Louise Simone with Armenia's highest civilian
decoration, the Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots. Haroutiun Armenian and
AUA's former President Mihran Agbabian were each awarded the Medal
of Movses Khorenatsi, given for significant contributions in education
and science. |
October
1 - 5 |
Armenian officials continued to insist
this week that a decision by the country's communications monopoly
to introduce a per-minute billing system for local phone calls was
not valid. The new system was officially introduced September 1 amid
widespread public dissatisfaction. Transportation and Communications
Minister Andranik Manukian said that the government still hopes Armentel's
decision, which he charged was made in violation of the contract,
will be cancelled. He also threatened to take the company to court,
should it try to enforce the per-minute billing. Ninety percent of
Armentel is owned by the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization,
with the rest controlled by the government. |
October
1 - 5 |
Main economic indices were up in August
compared to previous months and solidified Armenia's economic gains
this year over 2000 figures, Armenia's National Statistics Service
reported last month. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.7
percent in January-August of this year, when compared to the same
period last year. Armenia's economic growth picked up in August and
grew by 19.5 percent over July figures. A continuing surge in the
construction sector (up 12.5% so far this year) and better showing
in agriculture (up nearly 8%) contributed to the growth. In January-August,
the negative trade balance continued to decrease, with exports up
by 12 percent and imports down 3.4 percent. A modest growth in incomes,
16.7 percent in the private and 5.5 percent in the public sectors,
was also reported, while consumer price index remained mostly stable. |
| October 2 |
The leader of the Armenian Democratic
Liberal (ADL) party (Ramkavar-Azatakan), Ruben Mirzakhanian, pledges
his party's full support for the candidacy of President Robert Kocharian
in the presidential elections slated for 2003. Last month, the president
announced his intention to seek a second term. |
| October 4 |
Officials close to President Kocharian
confirm reports that the government has approved the "temporary
use" of $4 million in proceeds from the country's privatization
efforts to pay for a shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia. The government
plans to repay the $4 million to the Armenian treasury with a new
loan from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Interstate
Bank. The payment for the nuclear fuel is essential to restart the
Medzamor plant which has been shut down since July for maintenance. |
October
5 - 12 |
President Robert Kocharian continued
to permit the U.S. use of Armenia's airspace, which Armenia offered
shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks. According to Radio
Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Azerbaijan is the only Caucasus state
not to have publicly made such an offer. The U.S. needs over flight
rights in the Caucasus to support the ongoing military operation against
terrorist bases in Afghanistan. Defense Minister Serge Sargsian said
this week that the U.S. has not yet requested the use of the Armenian
airspace for strikes against targets in Afghanistan. He added "if
we do receive [such a request] we will almost certainly give our permission."
Having just returned from a visit to Tajikistan, Sargsian said it
was unlikely that Armenian forces would directly participate in the
anti-terrorist campaign, but that Armenia could provide some military
aid.
Also this week, the Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in
support of the U.S.-led operation, noting that American officials
"presented Armenia with the investigative evidenceŻ pertaining
to the complicity of the Al Qaeda organization to the terrorist acts
of September 11." Al Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden are
known to be based in Afghanistan and prior to attacks in New York
and Washington have reportedly planned and executed a series of terrorist
attacks against U.S. interests throughout the region. Al Qaeda and
affiliated groups are known to support what they perceive as "Islamic
causes" or conflicts pitting Muslim and non-Muslim peoples. They
had earlier provided military assistance for Azerbaijan's war effort
against Nagorno Karabagh. |
October
5 - 12 |
Ministers of Defense and National
Security of Azerbaijan, Safar Abiyev and Namik Abbasov, have again
stated that they see a need for military operations in order to gain
control of Nagorno Karabagh. Azerbaijani media has stressed the urgency
of launching the war now, while the international community is pre-occupied
with Afghanistan. Last week, they received the blessing of the Azerbaijani
Muslim leader, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, who told a local
TV channel that if control over Karabagh cannot be gained peacefully,
Armenian forces there "should be destroyed." Azerbaijani
military have time and again said that all they need is an order from
the President. However, when pressed for details, Abiyev's press secretary
said that, since Azerbaijan believes that Karabagh is part of its
territory, such an operation should be launched by the Interior Ministry
and only then joined by regular military. Interior Minister Ramil
Usubov has lately been one of the most restrained Azerbaijani officials
in terms of militarist rhetoric. President Heydar Aliyev's son and
successor Ilham commented on the confusing and contradictory comments
by Azeri officials, saying that it "would be wrong to make this
move in the present situation." In addition to familial responsibilities,
Aliyev Jr. divides his time among three positions: first vice-president
of the state oil company, deputy chairman of his father's ruling party
and head of the Azeri parliament's propaganda team.
Meanwhile, some twenty Azerbaijani journalists, the largest such group
to date, made a five-day visit to Armenia and the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic this week, meeting with senior officials, civic and religious
leaders. When asked by Armenian journalists if they were apprehensive
about visiting after the public beating of a Karabagh Armenian human
rights activist, during his visit to Baku earlier this month, one
of the delegation members said that the "fact that we arrived
means that we are certain that we are visiting civilized people here."
Defense Minister Serge Sargsian, who met the group, again stressed
that Armenians would never initiate new fighting. "But if it
begins, then the Armenian side will be able to end it soon."
All Armenian and NKR officials stressed their hope that the visit,
organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), will help dispel misunderstandings and facilitate mutual confidence-building. |
October
5 - 12 |
Member of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC), former Armenian Foreign Minister Aleksandr Arzumanian,
said in an interview this week that the fact of the Armenian Genocide
cannot be negotiated. Another TARC member, Chairman of the Armenian
Assembly of America Van Krikorian, told RFE/RL the sides were discussing
the whole range of consequences of the Armenian Genocide. Meeting
with academics, politicians and media, during their most recent meeting
in Istanbul, Armenian members of TARC tried to gauge the public opinion
in Turkey. "The first thing that needs to be done is to identify
issues that divide us" said Krikorian. He also mentioned that
the number of Armenian participants in TARC may increase by one or
two by the next meeting that will take place in New York next month.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the German Parliament Antje Vollmer visited
the Genocide memorial to lay a wreath "on behalf of Bundestag
and all German people. We know that it was the first genocide in the
modern historyŻ We never want to forget it, and we hope to build a
future and new century without such violence." Also last week,
the Armenian News Network Groong publicized a statement made by several
dozen Jewish scholars and civic and religious leaders reaffirming
the Armenian Genocide. The statement, signed both by Israelis and
members of the Jewish Diaspora, noted in particular: "As Jews,
we share many similarities with the Armenian people. We were both
victims of genocide during the twentieth century and have survived
despite those who would deny our right to exist." |
October
5 - 12 |
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian told
Armenian parliamentarians this week that the Armenian Government was
"seriously concerned" about the recent escalation of fighting
in Abkhazia. Over the past week the fighting claimed lives of over
a dozen ethnic Armenian residents in the area along the Black Sea
coast that effectively broke away from Georgia following the 1992-93
war. Galust Sahakian, leader of Unity, parliament's largest faction,
urged the government to "take certain steps" to ensure the
security of the local Armenian population, while the head of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction Aghvan Vardanian said that
the parliament should consider sending a fact-finding group to the
region.
Forces backing Abkhaz independence routed Georgian government troops
in 1993 and have since remained outside of control of the Tbilisi
authorities. Russian-led United Nations' peace-keeping forces have
divided the warring sides and helped maintain relative calm in the
area. Following bilateral negotiations, Abkhaz authorities allowed
for a partial return of the ethnic Georgian population to Abkhazia.
Since then, Georgian guerilla forces, reportedly backed by the government,
have fought a low-intensity war, targeting Abkhaz forces, as well
as peacekeepers and the local civilian population. Abkhazia's population
remains ethnically diverse. In addition to Abkhaz, there is a large
Russian, Armenian and Georgian presence. According to the 1989 census,
the Armenian community in Abkhazia numbered 80,000 and was one of
the largest ethnic groups in the area. Following years of fighting
and economic privations, between 35-40,000 Armenians remain in Abkhazia
today, according to a member of the Georgian Parliament Van Baybourtian.
The recent arrival of Chechen guerilla forces in Abkhazia dramatically
escalated the fighting. Media reports suggest that a group of several
hundred Chechens, who earlier retreated from Russian-controlled Chechnya
into Georgia, crossed into Abkhazia and joined the local Georgian
guerillas. It is in not yet clear if the Georgian government has approved
of this move, but a senior member of the Georgian parliament suggested
the country's powerful Interior Ministry facilitated transportation
of Chechen forces. Earlier this week a combined Chechen-Georgian guerilla
force entered at least two villages with large Armenian populations
and brutally murdered local residents. About the same time, a helicopter
carrying five UN observers was shot down in the area killing all on
board. Abkhaz forces have since mobilized additional units and are
said to have imprisoned some of the guerillas, including Chechens,
and surrounded the rest. They also claim that in addition to Georgians
and Chechens, the group includes some Azeris and Arabs.
The Georgian government said it will send forces to the area "to
protect the local population" and another group of Chechen fighters
are said to have arrived in recent days. Russia, whom Georgians accuse
of providing air support to Abkhaz in the recent fighting, has sent
troops to beef up the entire length of its border with Georgia. The
Armenian government has been careful not to blame either side for
the killings of Armenians, while UN officials blamed both sides for
the unrest. Oskanian urged "caution and vigilance" and said
that "we should not allow other interested parties to drive a
wedge between Armenia and Georgia." He also said the government
was in contact with both Georgian and Abkhaz officials to clarify
the situation. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze is expected
to visit Armenia later this month. |
| October 8 |
In a statement released by the Foreign
Ministry, Armenia pledges its support for the previous day's launching
of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan. Armenia also formally
grants overflight permission to any U.S. military aircraft involved
in the Afghan operations. The statement adds that Armenia stands ready
to assist the United States-led campaign and stresses that the military
strikes in Afghanistan are necessary to combat the threat of international
terrorism. Romanian President Ion Iliescu postpones his planned visit
to Armenia in the wake of the launching of the campaign, promising
to visit Yerevan later in the month. |
| October 10 |
A ten-day national census is launched
to provide an accurate determination of the country's population.
The first census since the Soviet 1989 national census, the $3 million
effort is financed largely by the international community. Armenia
has suffered significant emigration as a result of the crippling economic
effects of Azerbaijani and Turkish blockades. |
| October 11 |
In comments to a group of Azerbaijani
journalists visiting Yerevan, Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian declares
that Armenia will act as a "guarantor of security for Nagorno
Karabagh." Sarkisian adds that although Armenia's annual defense
budget is only $70 million, or roughly half that of Azerbaijan's,
the Armenian military is highly trained and combat ready. |
October
11-12 |
Tavush District Governor Armen Goularian
presents his agricultural cooperation proposal to a group of visiting
Azerbaijani journalists. According to Goularian's proposal, Armenia
and Azerbaijan would cooperate in developing 10,000 unused hectares
of arable land along the 300-kilometer Tavush border area. The neighboring
Armenian and Azerbaijani districts would jointly develop the land,
share its water resources and establish new measures of economic and
environmental cooperation. Azerbaijani officials, however, have consistently
rejected such proposed cooperative initiatives, insisting that any
cooperation can only follow a settlement to the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. |
October
12 - 19 |
Secretary of State Colin Powell Tuesday
urged Members of Congress to remove the restrictions put in place
by Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in order to "reward
Azerbaijan for their cooperation in the war on terrorism." In
a letter sent to Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Ranking Member Senator Jesse Helms
(R-NC), Secretary Powell said the U.S. urgently needs to help the
Azeri intelligence and law enforcement agencies and work with the
Azeri financial authorities to "track and disrupt assets of the
terror network (Al Qaeda)." Secretary Powell told the senators
that the Administration wanted help in passing legislation that would
give it "a national security interest waiver" -- authority
to temporarily lift the ban on aid in the interest of U.S. national
security. Senator Helms favors repealing the ban on aid; Senator Biden's
views on the topic have not been made public.
Armenian Assembly of America Board of Directors Chairman Van Krikorian
said the organization would oppose the repeal or a blanket waiver
but could be flexible and creative about eradicating terrorism in
Azerbaijan. "We are opposed to a blanket waiver and we are opposed
to repeal," he said. Krikorian said that Aliyev's government
welcomed 1,000 Islamic fundamentalist Afghan freedom fighters into
his country in 1993. They were engaged in fighting the Armenians in
Nagorno Karabagh. 'There's no question that terrorists with whom the
United States and others are at war operate in Azerbaijan. Since 1993,
these terrorists have been fighting against Nagorno Karabagh,' he
said. 'We are concerned... [that] any waiver of Section 907... not
reward the same people who invited those Al Qaeda terrorists into
the country, that is the existing government.'
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani reaction to the U.S. retaliation for the September
11 bombings has been mixed. While its leadership has expressed general
solidarity, the Azerbaijani press reports opposition to the policy
pursued by the U.S. and one leading daily wrote that some Azeris "interpret
the [U.S.-led military] operations as a fight against Azerbaijan."
Leader of the Azeri Muslims Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukhur Pashazade
said last week he was opposed to "any military operations in
Afghanistan," adding that the U.S. fight against terrorists is
"turning into destruction of cities, villages and civilians."
Observers worry that repeal of Section 907 would embolden Azerbaijan
and make its position in the Karabagh conflict even more intransigent.
President Heydar Aliyev threatened again this week that Azerbaijan
could pursue a military option, should it consider the outcome of
peace talks unsatisfactory. There has been no progress in the peace
process for months, after Azerbaijan reneged on a tentative framework
agreement for settlement reached in negotiations with Armenia earlier
this year. Aliyev's statement was the third such threat made by him
this year and comes just days after the U.S. Ambassador in Azerbaijan
Ross Wilson urged government officials to be more cautious in their
rhetoric. |
October
12 - 19 |
In his address to the General Assembly
of UNESCO this week, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian urged the Turkish
government to cooperate in the restoration and preservation of the
many Armenian monuments now located on Turkish territory. He specifically
mentioned ruins of the medieval Armenian capital of Ani, near the
Armenian-Turkish border, and the monastery on the island of Aghtamar,
located on Lake Van. Since the 1915 Genocide, most cultural and historical
monuments of Western Armenia have either been destroyed or neglected.
For years, the Turkish government has tried to erase any signs of
Armenian historical presence in the area and advertised popular tourist
sites, such as Ani and Aghtamar, with no mention of their Armenian
origin. |
October
12 - 19 |
Defense Minister Serge Sargsian arrived
in China this week for several days of talks on military and political
cooperation. Sargsian met with China's Vice-President Hu Jintao and
Defense Minister Chi Haotian, and the officials agreed to expand bilateral
cooperation. Armenia's late Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsian helped
initiate bilateral military contacts when he visited China in October
1998. Since then, the two countries have cooperated on a limited scale
in military procurement and training of Armenian personnel in the
Chinese military academy. China and Armenia also cooperate in the
chemical industry and recently established a joint scientific center
in the Chinese province of Xinjiang. Sargsian also plans to visit
Shanghai, China's largest city, to study ways to expand economic ties. |
October
12 - 19 |
The ITERA Corporation said this week
it will "gradually" begin to reduce supplies of natural
gas to Georgia and Armenia. The company has exclusive rights to supply
the fuel, which is produced by Russia's monopoly Gazprom. ITERA cited
growing debts for supplies as the reason for the move. The Armenian
government said the new debts accumulated over the past months as
Armenia has been importing twice as much gas as last year.
The government was forced to import more gas since it had also run
into difficulty in purchasing fuel for its other major producer of
electricity, the Metsamor nuclear power plant. Energy Minister Karen
Galstian announced this week that nuclear fuel purchased in Russia
has already arrived in Armenia and the plant will come back online
early next month. Since its reactivation in the mid-1990s, Metsamor
has provided over 40 percent of Armenia's electricity. This year's
refueling of the plant has been delayed since August due to Russia's
Atomic Energy Ministry's demand for a $4 million advance payment on
the $13.8 million worth of deliveries.
One Armenian daily argued that the Russian companies' moves were a
case of "inter-state blackmail." By threatening to halt
gas supplies, ITERA was acting together with another Russian company,
the state-owned electricity monopoly RAO UES, which is trying to take
control of Armenia's electricity distribution networks. Western donors,
such as the World Bank, had objected in the past to Russian companies'
participation in networks' privatization on the grounds that they
have a poor profit record. The Armenian government has been attempting
to privatize the utility to stop the "huge financial losses."
President Robert Kocharian last week criticized energy officials for
the losses and said he would set up a special supervisory body to
eradicate rampant corruption in the distribution networks. |
October
12 - 19 |
Abkhaz officials claimed this week
that a combined Chechen-Georgian force suffered significant casualties
and is now retreating towards Georgian territory following days of
fighting. The group, said to number several hundred mostly Chechen
fighters, entered Abkhazia two weeks ago. It briefly captured several
villages, killing over a dozen residents, most of them ethnic Armenians,
and shot down a UN helicopter. This week, Armenia reiterated its concern
over the developments, with Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian expressing
hope that "the problem will not develop as much as to require
Armenia's involvement." Abkhazia, in Soviet times an autonomous
republic within Georgia, became de-facto independent following a short,
but bloody, conflict with Tbilisi in 1992-93. Russian-led forces,
acting under a United Nations' mandate, have since patrolled much
of the area that divides rival forces.
Meanwhile, analysts pondered over reasons why Chechens joined the
Abkhazia fight, which is miles away from the war-ravaged Chechnya.
The same group was previously known to be based in the border areas
of north-eastern Georgia. One writer suggested that following September
11 events, the Georgian government came under increased pressure from
the international community to deal with the force, known to have
ties with international terrorists. Officials in the Georgian capital
were also reportedly exasperated with kidnappings of foreigners for
ransom that have become rampant throughout the country and are widely
blamed on the Chechens. Unable to disarm the group, the Georgian authorities
are said to have tried to "solve the problem," by pushing
the group further away from central Georgia. Chechens were also said
to have been lured by potential "spoils of war" from Abkhazia's
tourism earnings. |
| October 15 |
Interior Ministry departmental chief
Mushegh Saghatelian is arrested by police in Yerevan and charged with
perjury, using false documents, and other lesser offenses related
to his efforts to fabricate evidence and testimony against President
Kocharian and Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian in the October 1999
attack on the parliament. Officials allege that the Interior Ministry
official attempted to coerce and bribe potential witnesses into providing
false evidence to the investigator officials handling the case. |
| October 16 |
In his formal address to the Paris
meeting of the UNESCO General Conference, Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanian calls on Turkey to cooperate with Armenia in the protection
of historical Armenian monuments in eastern Turkey, specifically citing
the Armenian churches, monuments and monasteries of the city of Ani. |
October
17-18 |
President Kocharian charges that
Yerevan municipal authorities, led by former Mayor Albert Bazeyan,
intentionally underreported revenue from the sale and rent of municipal
land and facilities and pocketed the difference. According to Kocharian,
reported profits from such municipal deals in 2000 were only 5 million
drams (about $9100) while the profits for the first nine months of
this year alone totaled more than 800 million drams, a significant
discrepancy revealing the extent of the alleged corruption. Former
Yerevan Mayor Bazeyan, having resigned his position in January, now
heads the recently formed Hanrapetutiun (Republic) opposition political
party, one of most vocal advocates for impeaching the president. |
| October 19 |
World Bank officials announce that
it will release the second $15 million tranche of its loan package
to Armenia within the next month. The World Bank loan covers Armenia's
state budget deficit and was recently delayed by the unexpected 17
percent shortfall in tax revenue collection for the first nine months
of the year. The third tranche of this loan is contingent on Armenia's
successful completion of its planned privatization of the country's
four energy distribution network facilities. |
| October 20 |
President Kocharian presides over
a swearing in ceremony for the chairman and six remaining members
of the economic arbitration court. Created earlier this year by the
parliament, the court is empowered to oversee the resolution of commercial
disputes involving the public and private sectors. |
| October 22 |
Prime Minister Andranik Markarian
flies to France to undergo an emergency non-surgical heart procedure,
confirming earlier rumors of health problems. The prime minister already
underwent one major heart operation in 1999. In his absence, Industrial
Infrastructure Minister David Zadoyan is handling the premier's duties. |
October
23 - 24 |
Arriving in Yerevan for a two-day
state visit, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze briefs the Armenian
government on the situation in the Armenian-populated villages of
Abkhazia which were recently attacked by a joint Georgian-Chechen
guerrilla force. According to news reports, 30-40 ethnic Armenians
have been killed in the attacks. Meeting with President Kocharian,
Shevardnadze also discusses Georgia's desire for the complete withdrawal
of Russian forces from their base in the Armenian- populated southern
Georgian region of Javakhetia. The Georgian president assures the
Armenian officials that his government remains committed to earlier
promises of economic development and aid for the impoverished Armenian
community there and welcomes Armenian offers of assistance for Javakhetia.
The Georgian president concludes his visit by signing a new bilateral
treaty on friendship, mutual security and cooperation that commits
both nations to refuse to enter into any alliance considered as threatening
to the other country. |
October
23 - 24 |
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian
meets with U.S. officials during a visit to Washington and discusses
the course of relations between Armenia and Turkey, the situation
in the Caucasus and the U.S. campaign against international terrorism.
The foreign minister echoes concerns raised earlier in a letter by
President Kocharian to President Bush that U.S. Congressional efforts
to greatly weaken the ban on aid to the Government of Azerbaijan,
known as Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, will encourage Azerbaijan
to resume its military campaign. Oskanian expresses his hope that
the Congress will include additional precautions in the language that
will provide some security guarantees for Nagorno Karabgh. Section
907 was imposed on Azerbaijan for its offensive uses of force and
blockades of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. |
October
19 - 26 |
President Robert Kocharian said Thursday
he was satisfied with a compromise deal reached by U.S. Senators on
October 24, which gives U.S. President George W. Bush temporary power
to partially change existing restrictions on American assistance to
Azerbaijan in the interest of the ongoing counter-terrorist operations.
U.S. Secretary of State Collin Powell requested the measure in a letter
to Senate leaders last week. Kocharian, who commented on the U.S.
action during a meeting with journalists from former Soviet republics,
said that the waiver in its current form would not negatively affect
the regional balance of forces or lessen chances for a Karabagh settlement.
In a parallel measure, the Senate approved $4.6 million in military
assistance to Armenia.
Prior to the Senate vote, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met with
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to discuss the anti-terrorist
campaign and ways in which Armenia can assist in the U.S.-led effort.
Armenia was one of the first countries to offer assistance to the
U.S., sharing intelligence and allowing American aircraft the use
of Armenia's airspace and bases for refueling. Azerbaijan, meanwhile,
reportedly tied its cooperation with the U.S. to repeal of Section
907, which restricts U.S. assistance until that country ceases its
blockades against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh and takes demonstrable
steps towards peace. Upon his return to Armenia, Oskanian issued a
statement expressing satisfaction that the U.S. "did not cave
in" to Azerbaijan's demands. He added that, most importantly,
the year-long waiver takes into account the Karabagh peace process
and specifically prohibits any U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan
that could be used against Armenia. Oskanian also expressed the hope
that additional precautions would be built into the waiver.
Azerbaijan, which has lobbied for repeal of Section 907 for years,
had a muted reaction to the Senate action. In a phone conversation
with Armitage, President Heydar Aliyev reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction
with the substance of the amendments. A leading Azerbaijani daily
complained that the measure "essentially forces Azerbaijan to
settle the Karabagh conflict by exclusively peaceful means."
Commenting on the vote, Speaker of the National Assembly Armen Khachatrian
said that the fact that the U.S. Congress had to make changes to Section
907 in order to secure Azerbaijan's cooperation in the anti-terrorist
campaign does not speak well of Azerbaijan's authorities. It is also
an indication that the international terrorist network has become
entrenched in Azerbaijan, he said. Khachatrian was alluding to Azerbaijan's
long-standing cooperation with Islamic radicals, recruited by the
Aliyev regime to fight against Karabagh Armenians. Most of over 1,000
Afghani fighters, hired by Azerbaijan in 1993 to fight in Karabagh,
came from the Islamic Party of Afghanistan (later part of the Taliban
movement). |
October
19 - 26 |
President Heydar Aliyev resorted
to renewed war threats this week in a continued effort to gain political
leverage at the expense of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. Azerbaijani
tactics have so far led to a deadlock in negotiations, which are mediated
by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Meeting with the Chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Organization Adrian
Severin, Aliyev lambasted the efforts of France, Russia and the United
States, which lead the international mediation effort. He said that
unless the OSCE delivers a peace proposal that complies with his interests,
Azerbaijan "will have to start a war." The statement coincided
with a warning issued by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem that
some Caucasus conflicts may reignite. "Some people have the idea
that this is the right moment to profit, to settle accounts,"
Cem told a conference in Brussels, shortly after his visit to Azerbaijan.
In an unusually strong reaction to the ultimatum, Armenian Defense
Minister Serge Sargsian said the next day that another military campaign
initiated by Azerbaijan "would mark the beginning of Azerbaijan's
final defeat." President Robert Kocharian, while stressing that
Armenia only sees a peaceful solution to the conflict, endorsed Sargsian's
remarks, saying the entire Armenian leadership shared this view. Nagorno
Karabagh President Arkady Ghoukasian said that any renewed aggression
from Azerbaijan would be met with a decisive rebuff. He also repeated
that fighting cannot resolve the conflict.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed U.S. Envoy for Nagorno Karabagh Rudolf
Perina made his first introductory visit to the region this week.
In Azerbaijan, he surprised local journalists by confirming the existence
of the "Paris principles," a framework agreement reached
by Aliyev and Kocharian in negotiations held in France and the United
States earlier this year. Aliyev has since reneged on this agreement
and subsequently denied that it ever existed. Perina warned against
any party trying to use the complicated international situation to
settle old scores. He said that a new visit by OSCE mediators to the
region planned for next month would give a fresh boost to the peace
process. |
October
19 - 26 |
Georgian President Edouard Shevardnadze
and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian discussed bilateral
relations between the two neighboring countries and signed a new comprehensive
treaty on "Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security"
during Shevardnadze's official visit to Armenia this week. Both Presidents
said the new agreement opened "serious prospects" for strengthening
bilateral cooperation in all areas. In particular, the treaty includes
a clause that obliges both parties to refrain from joining alliances
considered hostile to either country. The clause is important, because
of increasing concerns that Georgia may be pressured by Turkey and
Azerbaijan into joining such an alliance. Shevardnadze insisted that
"no treaty signed by Georgian leaders will ever be against Armenian
interests." At the same time, despite close military cooperation
with Russia, Armenia has repeatedly voiced concern over some Russian
moves, such as the imposition of a visa regime, that hurt Georgia.
Both countries receive most of their natural gas from Russia and have
been subjected to periodic pressure on that account.
Armenian officials have also expressed repeated concerns about the
status of Armenian communities throughout Georgia. Earlier this month,
an estimated 16 ethnic Armenian civilians were killed when fighting
briefly resumed in Abkhazia. Kocharian repeated Armenia's interest
in the settlement of the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict, and resumption
of railway traffic through Abkhazia, in particular. Shevardnadze,
in turn, pointed to what he termed "serious differences"
between that conflict and the one in Nagorno Karabagh. He added that
the international community recognizes these differences and proceeds
accordingly. While in Armenia, Shevardnadze renewed his offer to establish
a "Caucasus Security Pact." He said that Turkey would have
to play an important role in any such pact and said he "looks
with hope" to the activities of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation
Commission.
Shevardnadze's visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Tsitsernakaberd
created a negative reaction in neighboring Azerbaijan, where commentators
accused Shevardnadze of a "lack of sensitivity to Azerbaijani
interests" in spite of "repeated Azerbaijani concessions
on energy transportation issues." |
October
19 - 26 |
Armenia's Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian flew to France this week for a medical examination and doctors
recommended that he remain in the hospital for at least several days.
Markarian, who is 50-years old and underwent a heart operation two
years ago, was said to be in a good condition, but in need of "urgent
treatment." Meanwhile, government spokeswoman Mary Harutiunian
dismissed speculation that Markarian may resign due to his health
problems. She added that he is expected back at work next week. Prior
to leaving for France, Markarian appointed Minister for Industrial
Infrastructure David Zadoyan as acting Prime Minister. |
October
19 - 26 |
Armenia's Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) grew by nearly ten percent during the first three quarters of
the year, the National Statistics Service reported this week and President
Robert Kocharian called it the largest economic expansion since Armenia
became independent a decade ago. Growth was strongest in the construction
and agriculture sectors, where annual gains were at 17.4 and 11.8
percent respectively. Armenia exported 11.6 percent more products
than a year ago, while imports (mostly fuel) decreased by 2.3 percent.
Kocharian told a government session on Thursday that he was hopeful
that the robust growth will continue in spite of the worldwide recession.
He again stressed the importance of internal political stability for
Armenia's economy to maintain the current progress. At the same time,
Kocharian criticized energy and government revenue officials for shortfalls
in collection of payments and taxes and urged them to "rectify
shortcomings" in coming months. |
October
19 - 26 |
The Armenian government remains resolute
in opposing the introduction of per-minute charges for local telephone
communications, President Robert Kocharian told journalists Thursday.
Transport and Communications Minister Andranik Manukian repeated on
Wednesday that the policy introduced by the country's communications
monopoly Armentel as of September 1 is not valid. The government,
which holds a minority stake in Armentel, and the company have failed
to reach an agreement on a new tariff system earlier this year. Speaking
during the cabinet's weekly question and answer session in Parliament,
Manukian warned that the government would consider any disconnection
of telephone service due to non-payments as a "gross violation"
of contract and basis for suspension of Armentel's license. The Armenian
government refuses to authorize the per-minute payment system contending
that the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), which holds
ninety percent of Armentel's shares, has not fulfilled its investment
obligations. |
| October 26 |
In a public rally organized jointly
by the opposition Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, the People's Party
of Armenia, and the National Unity Party, between 10,000 and 15,000
demonstrators demand the resignation of President Kocharian. The opposition
organizers announce plans to step up their effort to gather signatures
on a parliamentary petition seeking to convene impeachment proceedings. |
| October 30 |
A special cabinet meeting approves
the government's draft 2002 state budget, allowing it to be presented
to the parliament the next day, as required by law. The state budget
sets revenues at 214.3 billion drams ($380 million), an increase form
the 2001 budget's 193 billion level, and sets expenditures at 257.7
billion, roughly the same level as this year, once again reflecting
a budget deficit. |
| October 31 |
U.S. President George Bush telephones
Armenian President Kocharian and conveys his appreciation for Armenian
support of the international campaign against terrorism. The two presidents
also discuss the status of the mediation effort seeking a resolution
of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict. President Kocharian also welcomes
Romanian President Ion Iliescu to Yerevan for discussions on economic
and trade cooperation. |
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