|
|
|
| August 1 |
Armenian President Robert Kocharian
formally signs into law a recently adopted bill overturning the electoral
reforms enacted in December 2000. The new law increases the number
of parliamentary seats based on single-mandate constituencies from
37 to 56, and decreases from 94 to 75 the number of seats elected
on a party-list, or proportional basis. The opposition harshly criticizes
the law and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) condemns it
as a violation of a standing multiparty agreement. The law also alters
the composition of the Central Electoral Commission, reducing its
members from 13 to 9, with three members to be appointed by the president
and the remainder by the six political parties represented in the
parliament. |
| August 1 |
Deputy Minister of Industry and Economic
Development Tigran Davtian announces that the Armenian application
to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) "has overcome the remaining
major hurdles" and that he "expects to formally conclude its six-year
accession talks by the end of next month." Recent talks held in Geneva
reportedly reached important new compromise agreements on the outstanding
issues of agricultural subsidies, customs procedures, and the protection
of intellectual property. Although still subject to parliamentary
ratification and review by the Armenian Constitutional Court, the
agreements are seen as a significant move closer to Armenia's ascension
to the 144-nation trade body. |
| August 2 |
The Armenian Foreign Ministry issues
a statement in response to a critical declaration by the European
Union (EU) questioning the legitimacy of the upcoming presidential
election in Nagorno Karabagh. The Foreign Ministry statement categorizes
the EU criticism as "inappropriate" and defends the right of the Karabagh
population to hold democratic elections "without the positive or negative
assessment of any outside body." Armenia also notes that the EU position
unnecessarily complicates the mediation effort of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). |
August 2 |
International organizations this week
joined Armenians around the world to protest the Israeli government's
plan to confiscate a bulk of the Baron Der property of the Armenian
Church north of Bethlehem while rendering the rest virtually unusable.
Following unsuccessful negotiations with the Israeli Defense Forces
(IDF), the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem launched an appeal in
the Israeli Supreme Court earlier this week to reverse the confiscation
order. A decision of the court is expected by August 12.
The New York-based National Council of the Churches of Christ, which
represents 50 million Americans in 140,000 congregations, sent a letter
to the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon protesting the confiscation
plans and expressed concern that "this violation does not bode well
for other religious minorities residing in Israel." The Special Rapporteur
on Freedom of Religion and vice-president of the United Nations Human
Rights Commission Abdelfattah Amor has also taken up the issue with
the Israeli government.
The 35-acre Baron Der area lies south of Jerusalem with Bethlehem's
Aida Palestinian refugee camp to its south. The Jewish settlement
of Gilo is to its north, and the Rachel's Tomb, one of Judaism's holy
sites, to the east. It includes around 1,600 olive trees, a monastic
building that serves as a religious retreat for the Armenian clergy,
as well as ancient tombs and caves. The olive trees, some of them
500 years old, traditionally supply oil to holy Christian sites such
as the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.
The Armenian Church, whose presence in the Holy Land dates back sixteen
centuries, has owned Baron Der since 1641.
According to press reports, Israeli forces entered the property last
year taking over the monastic building as military headquarters and
building a military road through the area, uprooting some of the olive
trees. It was not until a few weeks ago that Israeli plans to build
a five-meter security wall right through the middle of the property
became public. Local observers suggested that Israeli actions in the
Baron Der area are part of the overall objective to annex the areas
around Rachel's Tomb, which is nominally in the Palestinian territory.
Israelis deny this claim saying that the wall is designed to protect
Jerusalem from Palestinian attacks.
Whatever the true intention, the Baron Der area is likely to lose
any practical use should the present plans for construction of the
wall materialize. The Israeli authorities have promised the Armenian
Foreign Ministry to hold off on construction until the Supreme Court's
verdict is announced next week. But sources close to the Patriarchate
were informed by their Israeli interlocutors that the confiscation
order is irrevocable. |
August 2 |
International mediators from France,
Russia and the United States said meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani
presidential envoys in the Czech Republic earlier this week were "useful
and constructive." For the second time since May, Deputy Foreign Ministers
Tatul Margarian and Araz Azimov met with the mediators at a hotel
outside Prague and then proceeded to the Karlovy Vary resort for "unofficial
discussions." Russia's representative in the talks Nikolai Gribkov
said the mediators were planning to visit the region again by the
end of the year. Prior to the meeting, Azerbaijani president's chief
foreign policy aide Novruz Mammadov said the sides were not in a "good
mood" and he expected no major result from the envoys' meeting. The
"good mood" observed during talks between Presidents Robert Kocharian
and Heydar Aliyev over a year ago faded after the Azerbaijani side
introduced additional demands to the framework document developed
in high-level talks in France and the United States, known as the
Paris Principles.
The rapport between the two Presidents, who have not see each other
for close to a year, has deteriorated further after Aliyev's comments
in the press that reportedly misconstrued the content of last year's
talks in order to instigate internal political tensions in Armenia.
Rasim Musabekov, a veteran Azerbaijani commentator, described Aliyev's
recent statements on agreeing to Nagorno Karabakh's reunification
with Armenia in exchange for a territorial compensation as "preparation
for capitulation." But speaking late last week at a graduation at
the Turkish-run Azerbaijani military academy, Aliyev once again did
not rule out use of military force to gain control over what he termed
are "Armenian-occupied territories." |
August 2 |
Ankara University Professor Hassan
Koni was quoted by the Armenian press this week as predicting that
"communications between the cities of Gyumri and Kars may be resumed
within a year" should political forces allied with the ex-Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem win in the November general elections. Koni said
these forces would strive to integrate Turkey, as well as the Caucasus,
into the European Union. Cem and his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian
held two rounds of talks earlier this year, but failed to reach a
breakthrough before Cem's abrupt resignation from the government.
Koni has also suggested to route the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline via
Armenia, which would be "both politically and economically more expedient."
Koni's comments are somewhat surprising considering that as recently
as last year he referred to Armenia as a "sick man of Caucasus" that
has to "come out of the Cold War syndrome" and drop its national interests
for the sake of normal relations with Turkey. He was further contradicted
by a member of Cem's New Turkey Party Gonal Saray who insisted that
Armenia should first open "a corridor between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan."
Following that step, Saray promises to put pressure on Azerbaijan
to normalize relations with Armenia." An Armenian commentator Mkrtich
Zardarian said last week that the upcoming elections in Turkey would
have little impact on relations with Armenia, as long as there is
no change in the attitudes of the Turkish military. |
August 2 |
The number of tourists visiting Armenia
this year is expected to remain close to last year's record, when
Armenia marked the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity,
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Ara Petrosian said this week.
Nearly 120,000 people visited Armenia last year, up from just 45,000
in 2000. The hotel infrastructure that included just two hotels a
few years ago has now grown to fifteen and more are in construction.
Petrosian said that hotel owners were satisfied with the level of
bookings so far this year, as many of them had to reduce their rates
due to the growing competition in the sector. Armenia's nascent tourist
industry has been constrained by the shortage of decent and inexpensive
hotels, as well as the poor quality of the national airlines. Hovanes
Yeritsian, the Head of the Civil Aviation Administration that oversees
the ailing Armenian Airlines, was replaced this week by Samvel Margharian,
a former pilot and deputy head of the administration. Travel agencies
have also complained that recovering industrial enterprises have had
a negative impact on environmental conditions in some parts of Armenia
and have hurt tourism there. |
August 2 |
Residents of at least two Georgian
districts that lie along the proposed route of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
have begun collecting signatures against the project, according to
press reports. Georgian officials have long viewed the pipeline as
an important source of income, and a possible solution to many of
the country's economic problems. But locals in districts such as Tsalka
and Borjomi in central Georgia, and in Gardabaani, on the border with
Azerbaijan are not convinced the pipeline will benefit them directly.
Opinion polls have shown that many Georgians believe the pipeline
would only prop up the authorities, which are widely seen as corrupt
and inept. Social and environmental non-government organizations have
also criticized plans by the BP-led consortium to tap into billions
in public funds from organizations like the World Bank. Meanwhile,
Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev has ordered a transfer of as much
as $118 million, collected from Western companies in exchange for
their right to prospect for oil in Azerbaijan, to fund the Azerbaijani
portion of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. |
| August 2 |
Improving relations between Azerbaijan
and Russia have apparently forced former Azerbaijani leader Ayaz Mutalibov
(1990-92) to leave Moscow for an undisclosed country, according to
Russian and Azerbaijani press reports this week. Mutalibov fled to
Russia following a coup against him in 1992 and he later received
political asylum in the country. But this week, the Ministry of National
Security (MNS) accused Mutalibov of plans to overthrow the current
Azerbaijani government. Several opposition parties were also involved
in the plot, said the MNS statement. In the past, such accusations
resulted in widespread arrests of opposition activists, and banning
of parties. Meanwhile, for the first time since its independence,
Azerbaijan is taking part in joint military exercises with Russia. |
| August 6 |
In a telephone conversation President
Robert Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Geidar Aliyev agree to
hold a meeting on 14 August in Sadarak, along the Armenian border
with Nakhichevan. The two leaders have met a dozen times since July
1999 in a series of direct talks attempting to resolve the Nagorno
Karabagh conflict. The meetings are separate from, but serve as an
indirect supplement to, the mediation effort of the OSCE. |
| August 7 |
The newly reconstituted Central Electoral
Commission convenes its first meeting and sets presidential elections
for February 19, 2003 and parliamentary elections for May 25, 2003.
The nine-member commission was revamped with new appointments the
previous day and consists of six members appointed by the political
parties with representation in parliament and three members directly
appointed by the president. |
| August 9 |
Yerevan Police Chief Major General
Ashot Gizirian is named the new head of the Interior Ministry's anti-corruption
department. The appointment is controversial as Gizirian was recently
accused of assaulting a parliamentarian while in detention. In addition
to combating corruption, Gizirian will also head the ministry's effort
to fight organized crime, narcotics smuggling and other crimes. |
| August 2 - 9 |
For the first time, a team of U.S.
observers headed to Nagorno Karabakh this week to join other international
representatives monitoring the upcoming presidential elections due
to take place this Sunday, August 11, 2002. The team includes former
U.S. Foreign Service officials with extensive election monitoring
experience. The NKR government has invited a total of one hundred
independent international observers from the United States, France,
Russia, Great Britain, Italy and other countries.
Since its referendum for independence from the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan
in 1990, two presidential, three parliamentary and two local government
elections have been conducted in Nagorno Karabakh, all monitored by
international observers. The most recent parliamentary elections (Summer
2000) were termed the most transparent, free and fair in the entire
South Caucasus region.
The upcoming presidential elections, which will take place three days
before a scheduled meeting between Armenian President Robert Kocharian
and Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliev, have infuriated official Baku,
which still considers Nagorno Karabakh part of its territory. At the
behest of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the European Union (EU)
called the upcoming presidential elections in Nagorno Karabakh "illegitimate".
In response, the Nagorno Karabakh Foreign Ministry said that official
Baku tries to conceal that Azerbaijan is lagging far behind Nagorno
Karabakh in building a democratic state and thus spares no effort
to hinder democratic processes in NK. Nevertheless, EU's statement
said that the elections will not impact the peace process, something
that Secretary General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer repeated
several days later. This view was echoed earlier by the U.S. State
Department in reference to NK local government elections held in September
2001.
The Foreign Ministries of both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh responded
with separate statements saying EU's position on NK elections is inconsistent
with its own declared fundamental democratic values. In its statement,
the NKR Foreign Ministry said, "We are strongly convinced that only
a government established on the basis of free elections has the authority,
granted by the people, to conduct peaceful negotiations and bear the
responsibility before the international community for its commitments." |
| August 2 - 9 |
The newly formed Armenian Central
Electoral Committee (CEC) announced this week that the next presidential
elections will take place February 2003, followed by parliamentary
elections on May 25. The CEC also voted to reelect Artak Sahradian,
who was appointed to the commission by President Robert Kocharian,
as its chairman. According to the latest amendments to the election
code passed last month by the National Assembly and heavily criticized
by the opposition, the President of Armenia appoints three out of
nine members of the CEC. The other two appointees are Artur Poghossian,
who previously served as the advisor to the Civil Service Council
Chairman and Armen Sinanian, former Youth Affairs Department Chief
of Ministry of Culture. Six other CEC members will be appointed by
six major political parties currently represented in the National
Assembly, namely, the Republican Party (HHK), ARF Dashnaktsutyun,
Orinats Yerkir, Communist Party (HKK), National Democratic Union (AZhM)
and the Right and Accord bloc. |
| August 2 - 9 |
An Armenian television report indicated
this week that the United Nations official on freedom of religion
has sent a message to Israeli authorities, requesting information
about the Israeli Army's occupation of the Armenian Patriarchate lands
in Jerusalem and its intention regarding their future disposition.
The unconfirmed report asked that Israel "adhere to international
norms in this situation." Meanwhile, the American Jewish Committee
wrote to the Israeli Minister of Defense on August 5, noting that
the leaders of the Armenian Church "are working with us to strengthen
understanding and mutual respect between our two communities," and
asking that the Minister "be mindful of their concerns within the
context of the compelling needs of safety for all Israelis."
The 35-acre Baron Der property, which includes 1,600 olive trees,
a monastic building and ancient tombs and caves was reported to have
been occupied by Israeli forces last year with the intention of building
a military road through the area. In the past few weeks, they announced
plans to build a five-meter security fence through the middle of the
property, citing the necessity of protecting Jerusalem from Palestinian
attacks. The Azeri on-line newspaper, Echo, quoted the First Secretary
of the Israeli Embassy in Baku, Olga Dolburt, as saying that the Israel
Defence Force "is making a temporary use of the Patriarchate-owned
agricultural lands for erecting the security fence." She added that
the Israeli government is negotiating with the Patriarchate on financial
compensation for temporary use of the land. Armenian Church leaders
would prefer to see the fence built on the perimeter of the property
while the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem has taken the case to
Israel's Supreme Court. An official reply from the Israeli Foreign
Ministry is expected early next week. |
| August 2 - 9 |
In Armenia, a world class international
museum of contemporary art and cultural center moved one step closer
to reality this week with the announcement that the Cafesjian Museum
Foundation has launched the initial phase of repairs to the Cascade,
a Yerevan attraction consisting of an escalator, staircase, fountains
and green space linking the downtown with neighborhoods located on
hills surrounding the city. At the same time, the Republic of Armenia
announced the second in a series of proposed land transfers to the
Foundation for the museum site located at the Cascade's upper terminus.
The Cafesjian Museum Foundation of America, founded by Armenian American
businessman and philanthropist Gerard L. Cafesjian, will contribute
resources for the completion of the museum and Cascade complex, as
well as its art collection. The design for the Yerevan museum is expected
by late next year, with construction planned for 2004. The museum
complex will include an auditorium, retail stores, a restaurant, reception
areas, administrative offices, and collection storage. Among the major
works to be housed in the museum are those by Georges Braque, Marc
Chagall, Jim Dine, Helen Frankenthaler, Archile Gorky, Joan Miro,
and Jasper Johns. Armenian artists represented include Hamalbasian,
Hovespian, Papanian, Vartanian, Vartanyan, and Zadikian. Cafesjian
is also a major supporter of the Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial,
to be built in Washington, DC. |
| August 2 - 9 |
In a marathon session preparatory
to upcoming elections, the Turkish Parliament has overturned a law
criticized as discriminatory against Greek, Armenian, Jewish and other
minorities, and passed in its stead a law, which among other aspects,
allows such groups greater property rights. Deutsche Presse-Agentur
reported that the new law, part of a larger human rights reform package,
is considered vital for Turkey's entry into the European Union. The
European Commission has stressed that the overall reform package needs
to be carefully analyzed in order to fully assess its impact. It noted
that its implementation would be closely monitored. |
| August 13 -14 |
Led by the Socialist Armenia bloc
and the Communist Party of Armenia, several leftist political parties
conclude talks on establishing a unified coalition to participate
in next year's presidential and parliamentary elections. The
new left-wing coalition, which also consists of the Republican Party,
the People's Party of Armenia and the National Accord Party, will
form a "shadow cabinet" to articulate their positions in
opposition to the Kocharian government. Press reports reveal
that Democratic Party of Armenia leader Aram Sarkisian has been named
the "foreign minister" in the new shadow cabinet. Sarkisian
explains that the new leftist bloc will not compete with the existing
coalition of 13 opposition political parties. |
| August 14 |
In their first direct meeting since
November 2001, the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents meet in Sadarak,
a border town between Armenia and Nakhichevan. The presidents hold
talks for four hours and afterwards announce that the talks were "useful
and important." However, with both leaders facing presidential elections
in 2003, domestic considerations dim expectations from the talks. |
| August 15 |
The opposition People's Party of Armenia
(HZhK) issues a statement accusing the Kocharian government of planning
to ensure the reelection of President Robert Kocharian through corrupt
voting practices. The opposition party claims that Prime Minister
Andranik Markarian's pro-government Republican Party (HHK) has prevented
People's Party members from being appointed to the new electoral commissions
empowered to supervise the upcoming presidential, parliamentary and
local elections. According to the amended electoral laws adopted last
month, the electoral commissions comprise members appointed by the
president and parties represented in the parliament. |
| August 15 |
Arriving in Armenia from Nagorno Karabagh,
U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) tells a press conference
in Yerevan that "the prospects are good" for U.S. assistance to Armenia
to remain at the same level as last year. The current proposal includes
$90 million in U.S. economic aid and $3.7 million in military assistance
to Armenia for 2003. Congressman Pallone, who serves as co-chairman
of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, also states that the
presidential election in Nagorno Karabagh, which he observed, was
free and fair and expresses "disappointment" with the European Union's
recent criticism of the election. Pallone adds that the U.S. should
welcome democratic elections in Karabagh and in response to a "Yerkir"
reporter's question on the recently introduced Senate bill recognizing
the Armenian Genocide, affirms his support for the legislation and
notes that the bill "was the best approach at this time." |
| August 9 - 16 |
Incumbent NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian
won a landslide victory in Sunday's elections, receiving 89 percent
of the votes. The Central Electoral Committee (CEC) reported that
76 percent of some 90,000 eligible electors took part in the voting,
which international monitors from the United States, France, Russia,
Great Britain and Italy have called free and fair. The team of U.S.
observers, including former senior U.S. Foreign Service officials,
issued a post-election statement reporting that on the day of elections
they visited 29 polling stations, two regional electoral committees
and the CEC. In their statement, they said, "The elections were free
and transparent. Nagorno Karabakh demonstrated significant progress
in building a democracy. The government made a great effort to conduct
the elections in a democratic manner. The vote proceeded in a calm
atmosphere without any facts of intervention."
U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), who along with his colleague
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) were in Nagorno Karabakh during the election,
told reporters that "The elections reminded me very much of our elections
in the United States. It says a lot about Karabakh and its people.
It shows that the people of Karabakh are a real nation and are willing
to do what's necessary to be Western and democratic." Echoing Pallone's
remarks, Doggett said that the "Vote is a step in the right direction.
Despite many obstacles that the Azeris put in the way of peace, I
hope that this election will encourage Karabakh and Armenia to take
bold steps for peace."
Representatives of the British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG),
an organization that has observed 85 elections in Europe, visited
more than 20 polling stations in Nagorno Karabakh. In their report
issued August 12, they said: "[The NK elections] easily surpassed
the standards of the [Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe] OSCE-organized elections in Bosnia and Kosovo, and other elections
which have been approved by the OSCE and the Council of Europe." In
his interview following the elections, Ghoukasian said that for him
it was of secondary importance who would win the elections. "It was
much more important that these elections contributed to the international
recognition of Karabakh. In the coming years we shall develop further
all the positive economic trends that we see today. I am sure that
we will be successful." President Ghoukasian's inauguration ceremony
is scheduled for September 8. |
| August 9 - 16 |
Speaking to a news conference in Yerevan
this week, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) said he expected
the amount of U.S. government assistance to Armenia to remain unchanged
at about $94 million in the next fiscal year. Pallone, a Co-chair
of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, was visiting Armenia
following his trip to NKR. He said that he hoped the House of Representatives
would follow the Senate lead, where the Appropriations Committee has
already approved a package calling for $90 million in economic assistance
and $3.7 million for military support. Addressing the NKR peace process,
Pallone said that while he welcomed the latest Armenian-Azerbaijani
peace talks, many U.S. lawmakers disagree with the White House's unwavering
support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. "There are many of
us in Congress, including myself, who feel that, practically speaking,
Nagorno Karabakh is a state, and that we would like to see Nagorno
Karabakh either being an independent state that is recognized by the
U.S. or be part of Armenia." Referring to Armenia's new de-mining
program, to be financed by the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon
and launched this September, Pallone said a similar program is already
underway in Karabakh and noted that five percent of the mined areas
have already been cleared. |
| August 9 - 16 |
Armenian President Robert Kocharian
met this week with his Azerbaijani counterpart President Heydar Aliyev
for bilateral talks. Both presidents expressed satisfaction with the
meeting. It was their first since November 2001 and took place on
the border of Armenia and the Azeri exclave Nakhichevan. However,
observers do not expect real progress in the resolution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict before the presidential elections in Armenia and
Azerbaijan due in 2003.
"Our mood is good and we are on the whole satisfied with the course
of the meeting... We hope that this meeting will push forward the
process, which slowed down recently, and that we will be able to move
forward," said Kocharian after the talk. He did not discuss the details
of the meeting.
Aliyev also indicated that the meeting was useful, saying that they
"looked into many variants of the settlement." He told reporters,
"We have analyzed the results of our previous meeting and agreed that
the negotiating potential have not been exhausted."
NKR President Arkady Ghoukasian indicated that he did not expect any
serious results from the meeting. He said that he has lost faith in
Aliyev. "I think that Aliyev is no longer capable of adopting a constructive
position and fostering the conflict's settlement. I think he exhausted
himself," Ghoukasian said.
The meeting was an apparent attempt to revive the negotiations process,
which came to a halt after significant progress was reportedly made
in Paris and later on in Key West last year. It was during those meetings
that the two sides were said to have settled on the main principals
of the final agreement, what has become known as the "Paris principles."
Even further progress was expected to come out of a proposed follow-up
Geneva meeting, but it did not take place.
Unexpectedly, official Baku backtracked on the previously reached
agreements and set additional preconditions, denying the existence
of the Paris principles. In a side development, Aliyev recently told
reporters that he had sought to "change the demography" of Karabakh
by bringing in an Azeri workforce from surrounding regions during
his years as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan
before the collapse of the Soviet Union. |
| August 9 - 16 |
Ten Armenian companies will introduce
Armenian goods to French and other European consumers during an international
trade fair in Marseilles this September. The Armenian products were
selected on the basis of French market demand. They include office
furniture, agricultural products and beverages. French Ambassador
to Armenia Andrew Cuny said that all products included in the fair
are required to meet French and European standards. A total of 20
countries have been invited to participate in the 10-day exhibition. |
| August 9 - 16 |
A team of experts from the German
telecommunications firm Siemens AG has arrived in Yerevan to help
install some $15 million worth of mobile telephone equipment, a move
that will increase both coverage and customers. The ArmenTel communications
monopoly announced this week that the first phase of the project will
begin shortly and will allow the company to serve 100,000 customers.
ArmenTel currently provides service to 50,000 cell phone users. Additional
antennas to improve reception quality will be installed in Gyumri,
Vanadzor and Sevan.
Earlier this week, ArmenTel cut the Internet communication links of
one of Armenia's largest Internet service providers, Arminco, accusing
the company of illegal practices. Scores of Armenian Web sites were
inaccessible to Internet users. Arminco, which is the oldest Internet
firm in Armenia, has denied the allegations. The dispute is the latest
in a series involving ArmenTel's controversial legal monopoly of Armenia's
telecom services. |
| August 17 |
A delegation of several dozen Turkish
businessmen meets in Yerevan with the Armenian Union of Industrialists
and Businessmen. The Turkish and Armenian business leaders discuss
avenues for expanding bilateral trade and commerce and criticize the
blockade of Armenia imposed by successive Turkish governments as a
major obstacle to trade. |
| August 21 |
National Security Ministry officials
confirm reports that four Armenian citizens have been charged with
treason following their arrest earlier in the month on suspicion of
spying for Azerbaijan. The four suspects are members of a Russian-Ukrainian
family who resettled in Armenia after being forced from Azerbaijan
as refugees in the late 1980s. The suspects have reportedly admitted
to proving information on Armenian military positions in southern
Armenia in exchange for money from the Azerbaijani Interior and Defense
Ministries. |
| August 16 - 23 |
The largest delegation of Turkish
businessmen to visit Armenia in recent years wrapped up its meetings
there this week, calling for the shared border to be re-opened, despite
ongoing political differences between the two countries. The group's
spokesperson, a chairman of a regional chamber of commerce, said,
"Our aim is to establish economic and trade links with Armenia so
it is indispensable to open the frontier between the two countries."
However, Turkey's Minister of State Resat Dogru reacted negatively
to the initiative, saying that, "No international organization, including
the European Union, can force Turkey to open its borders with Armenia."
Dogru admitted that some private Turkish businessmen were trading
with Armenia but said that there were "no contacts on a state level."
Turkey blockades Armenia and has said it will not lift it until Armenia
resolves its dispute with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenian-Turkish Business Council member Ashot Sogomonyan said bilateral
trade could reach $400 million if all restrictions were lifted and
border crossings were opened. Official figures indicate that Armenia
currently imports roughly $45 million in building materials, foodstuffs
and clothing from Turkey annually, while Turkey buys about $1.5 million
in Armenian-made leather goods and metals.
More than 30 members of the Turkish delegation traveled to Yerevan
via neighboring Georgia, a circuitous route that took a day versus
the two hours directly across the frontier with Armenia. |
| August 16 - 23 |
The U.S. military attach頩n
Armenia this week described Armenia's contribution to the U.S.' war
on terror in an exclusive interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL). Lieutenant-Colonel Eric von Tersch said that Yerevan not
only opened its airspace to U.S. warplanes but also offered its airfields
for emergency landings. Opening Armenian airspace allowed U.S. warplanes
to avoid dangerous mid-air refueling on their way back to neighboring
Turkey from Afghanistan, he said. "They could fly to Afghanistan,
drop their loads and fly back directly without having to do the dangerous
refueling in the air. If they didn't fly over Armenia, they would
have had to go over Georgia, which would have required the refueling
in the high altitude," said von Tersch. He also said that the Armenian
Government's decision in September 2001 allowed U.S. military aircraft
to carry out emergency landings in Armenia and provide American servicemen
with medical treatment. Von Tersch said, "If a plane got shot up on
its way back from Afghanistan, it could land in Armenian airfields
without clearance and questions. We also had an understanding that
if any of those planes went down in Armenia, the Armenians would provide
security and medical care for the pilots." Von Tersch added that after
the terror attacks of September 11, close to 360 Armenian private
citizens had volunteered to fight in Afghanistan alongside the U.S.
troops. |
| August 16 - 23 |
Armenian aviation sources told RFE/RL
this week that the country's main state-run carrier, Armenian Airlines,
is on the brink of bankruptcy. Plagued with falling revenues and allegations
of corruption, sources expect the airline to file for bankruptcy "in
the very near future." The company currently faces debt exceeding
$20 million, but aviation experts say bankruptcy proceedings can protect
the airline from foreign lawsuits. RFE/RL says the carrier's demise
could lead to the privatization of the industry. |
| August 16 - 23 |
U.S. Ambassador John Ordway joined
a team of international volunteers and Habitat for Humanity Armenia
(HFHA) Tuesday in building a new home for an Oshakan village family.
HFHA is affiliated with the internationally-known charitable organization
which helps needy families build or renovate selected homes in over
80 countries around the world. Volunteers, community members and the
media joined the Ambassador in pouring cement, assembling a roof and
performing masonry tasks. HFHA has led to the completion of over 20
homes in Armenia and plans to complete another 30 by the end of the
year. |
| August 16 - 23 |
Two rapporteurs from the Council of
Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Irena Bielohorska (Slovakia)
and Jerzy Jaskernia (Poland) traveled to Armenia this week to assess
progress in fulfilling its membership obligations. Armenia joined
the Council of Europe in January 2001.
During their visit Bielohorska and Jaskernia met with President Robert
Kocharian, National Assembly Speaker Armen Khachatrian and other senior
officials. They also met with representatives of opposition political
parties, non-traditional religious groups, NGOs and media. President
Kocharian reassured the officials that, "Armenia chose Europe's model
of development and will continue to pursue this policy."
One of the main sticking points between the Armenian Government and
the Council of Europe is Parliament's insistence on exempting the
perpetrators of the 1999 parliamentary massacre from the provisions
of the recently-adopted new Criminal Code that officially abolished
the death penalty in Armenia. Rapporteurs discussed this issue with
the Chairman of the Parliaments' State and Legal Committee Victor
Dallakian and relatives of government officials killed in the shooting.
They also met with representatives of the independent A+ television
station that lost a bid in an air frequency tender in April and was
forced off the air. The opposition harshly criticized the decision
of the National Commission on TV and Radio, calling it arbitrary.
Since then, President Robert Kocharian and other top officials have
assured the Council of Europe that A1+ will stand a good chance of
resuming its broadcasts if it bids for another air frequency this
fall.
Regarding military service, Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly's
Committee on Defense and Security Vahan Hovanisian told the officials
that two versions of the bill on alternative military service would
be debated in the National Assembly. Under the current compulsory
conscription laws for Armenian armed forces, members of groups such
as Jehovah Witnesses who refuse to serve in the army, are prosecuted.
During his visit to Armenia last month, PACE Secretary General Walter
Schwimmer said that the country is making steady progress in meeting
the organization's democratic standards, but indicated that more needs
to be done. The rapporteurs will present their findings in a report
on the fulfillment of Armenia's Council of Europe obligations next
month. |
| August 24 - 26 |
In the third attempt by the government
to sell the country's low-voltage national power distribution network,
a UK-registered company offers $37.15 million for an 81.1 percent
controlling share. The company, the offshore-based Midland Resources
Holding group, is the only bidder in the controversial tender, but
has no experience in the energy sector. With strong support from President
Kocharian, the Armenian government formally endorses the bid two days
later despite serious reservations by officials of the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The energy distribution network
is notoriously inefficient and corrupt, and incurred more than $60
million in losses last year. The World Bank has been withholding a
$20 million loan package to bridge half of the Armenian government's
budget deficit until completion of the sale, although World Bank officials
suggest that extension of the loan may still be suspended. Although
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was expected
to acquire the remaining minority share in the energy network, officials
state that it is no longer interested. According to the terms of the
deal, the Midland Resources Holding group's bid will be reduced by
the network's $25 million of debt, meaning it will have to pay only
$12.15 million for the 81.1 percent controlling share of the national
network. This is substantially less than the Armenian Energy Ministry's
original $250 million estimated value of the distribution network. |
| August 26 - 29 |
Prominent leaders from sixteen of
the country's main opposition political parties hold three days of
private meetings in an attempt to coordinate plans to oppose incumbent
President Kocharian in the February 2003 election. According to Albert
Bazeyan, a leading member of the Republican Party, the opposition
is preparing to release a joint declaration, but has still not resolved
its differences on selecting a sole candidate to oppose the president.
Former Prime Minister Aram Sarkisian is actively seeking the opposition's
endorsement as their candidate, but other opposition figures are also
seeking to run. |
|
|
|
|
|