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BESIDES BILATERAL COOPERATION, TRANSCAUCASIAN COUNTRIES NEED TO CARRY ON TRILATERAL DIALOGUE

OCTOBER 24. Along with the development of bilateral relations, the countries of the South Caucasus need to carry on a trilateral strategic dialogue, Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, who is on an official visit to Armenia, said at Yerevan State University. According to him, the international community view the South Caucasus as a single whole, and with gaining independence the South Caucasian countries have been in need for regional cooperation. the Armenian-Georgian cooperation is impossible to view out of the regional context, Shevardnadze said. According to him, any attempt to consider the cooperation out of the regional context encounters resistance, and this very geopolitical rule applies to the South Caucasus. He pointed out that the Transcaucasian states have the right to view the region as part of the South-Eastern Europe. Shevardnadze also stressed that the "Russian factor" plays an important role in the region. As regards the prospects of the Armenian-Georgian cooperation in the regional context, Shevardnadze particularly pointed out the possibility of transit of energy sources from Iran via Georgia to European countries. In his turn, Armenian President Robert Kocharian pointed out that despite the lack of diplomatic relations, Armenia and Turkey are in trade relations via Georgia's territory. According to him, Armenia's trade turnover with Turkey is 3%-5% of the total foreign trade turnover.

FRENCH PHYSICIANS RECOMMEND PRIME MINISTER OF ARMENIA TO START IMMEDIATE TREATMENT

OCTOBER 24. The French physicians recommended the Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margaryan to start immediate medical cure. As ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the government of Armenia, Andranik Margaryan underwent the operation for improvement of work of heart without surgical intervention. Now the physicians assess the state of the premier of Armenia as stable, but a limited mobility has been recommended for avoiding complication.

NAIRI HUNANIAN'S LAWYER ON HUNGER-STRIKE

OCTOBER 24. Benjamin Minassian, the lawyer of Nairi Hunanian, requested the court today to increase his salary twice. According to the lawyer, who is defending Nairi Hunanian under the state order, he is overloaded with work, as he was not given enough time to examine the materials of the case before. Now, he has to work 15 hours a day, simultaneously working in court and studying the materials of the case. Minassian also informed the court of his being in plight. "I have no money for transport and food. I keep my family on borrowed money," the lawyer said. In response, the court promised to clarify everything and take necessary measures. Interestingly, Aghasi Atabekian, who represented the interests of the defendant Hamlet Stepanian, also complained of being poorly paid. It is to be noted that lawyers working under the state order receive 1,500 AMD (less than US $3) daily.

YOUNG CELLIST OF ARMENIAN DESCENT REPRESENTS RUSSIA ON TOUR TO GERMANY

OCTOBER 24. The violoncellist Aryem Ordiyants participated in a tour of young Russian musicians in Germany, the "Moskovskiye Novosti" (Moscow News) newspaper reported. Four Russian musicians gave concerts in Aahen, Keln, Dusseldorf, Hagen, Oberhaus. The tour was possible due to the support of Vladimir Spivakov's International fund. According to the newspaper, the organization of concerts has recently been popular in Germany, and the funds raised are spent on the organization of schoolchildren's meetings with art workers. The Russian musicians concerts also contributed to the development of this idea, the newspaper writes. The German Jehud Menukhin's fund and the "Lev Kopelyev Forum" also rendered assistance in the implementation of the project.

"MISS ARMENIA-2001" CONTEST TO BE BETTER THAN ALL PREVIOUS ONES, ORGANIZERS FORESEE

OCTOBER 24. The organizers of the forthcoming "Miss Armenia-2001" contest fixed for Oct 24 promise that the present contest will be better than all the previous ones. The contest is known to have been held in Armenia since 1996, with an interval in 1999 because of terrorist acts in the Armenian parliament. The organizer and permanent chairman of all the contests held was the artistic director of the Armenian State Chamber Theatre Ara Ernjakyan. However, the "Miss Armenia" agency headed by Deputy Minster of Culture on Youth and Sport Affairs Karen Aristakesyan with the assistance of the "Alfavel" producing center and the Council of directors of the Moscow weekly newspaper "Sobesednik" assumed responsibility for this year's contest. Ara Yernjakyan refused to cooperate with them and stated recently that "he was deprived of his 'favorite child' and of the belief in the fact that it is not useless to organize anything in Armenia." "We thanked Yernjakyan for the idea of holding such performances. His name is mentioned in our booklet for several times, and preserving the traditions established by him, we used the video clip about the previous contests, and who said that all the 'Miss Armenia' contests belong to him," Aristakessyan said. As regards the author's rights, the deputy minister said the relevant law does not apply to the contest, but it applies to the topic, and the topic greatly differs from the previous ones. In the course of today's press-conference Karen Aristakessyan stated that his headed agency organized the contests in accordance with the Armenian government's decision, and "Yernjakyan did not have it." All 22 contest participants from all the Armenian regions, who meet international standards ( age 17-24, height 170 centimeters and more with the 90x60x90 parameters), concluded a contract with the agency for a term of 1 year. As for a winner of "Miss Armenia 2001" contest, she will take part in "Miss Europe" contest scheduled for Dec 29 2001 in Lebanon (the contest is likely to be held in Grecce because of the situation in the Near East). The agency provides all the expenses for the license for participation in Miss Europe ($400), as well as for the tickets and the girls' accommodation. Aristakesyan said that this point is also provided for by the contract, and this is also a new thing. He also said immediately after "Miss Armenia-2001" contest the agency will start preparations for next contest, and the establishment of "Miss Armenia-2001" regional agencies in all the regions of the country will become the first step towards it. This will, indeed, faciliate the contest arrangement next year. Participating in the press-conference were the member of "Miss Armenia-2001" contest, the vice president of "MIss Europe" contest, Alexander Rouv, the president of "MIss Slovakia" contest, Jozef Oklamchak, the chairman of the Council of directors of the weekly newspaper "Sobesednik," Levon Hairapetyan and the director of the "Alfavel" producing center, Levon Abrahamyan.

11TH OPEN BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARMENIA TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN OCT 27-28

OCTOBER 24. The 11th open bridge championship of Armenia for pairs will be held in Yerevan Oct 27-28. As chairman of the Bridge Federation of Armenia Artyom Baloyan has told ARMINFO, 10 pairs will take part in the companionship, including Georgian bridge-players. No cash prizes are envisaged.

USA INTENDS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS GENOCIDE

OCTOBER 24. The USA intends to actively participate in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and will make every effort toward progress, the newly appointed co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Rudolpho Perina, who arrived in Yerevan on a fact-finding visit, told reporters today. According to him, Washington does not want the negotiations to come into the deadlock, as it will affect the development of the entire region. After the tragic events in the USA the international community entered a new epoch, and in this connection there are both positive and negative possibilities of the Karabakh settlement. Washington is concerned with the establishment of stability in the south Caucasus for an effective struggle against international terrorism, the American diplomat said. Since the Armenian and Azerbaijanian leaders met in Key-West, considerable progress has been observed in the negotiating process. this process needs to be maintained and brought to its logical conclusion, Perina said. According to him, the negotiating parties cannot be said to have come into a deadlock. Rather, the pause in the settlement process is accounted for by the impending settlement of the conflict. The American diplomat is quite optimistic about the further settlement of the Karabakh problem and thinks that it is difficult but possible to solve. He also reported that at the end of the week the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen are to meet in Lisbon and discuss the general situation in the region. On November 3-8 they are to visit Armenia, Azerbaijan and the NKR. Perina did not inform the journalists of the possible proposals for the Karabakh settlement from the OSCe Minsk Group.

ABOLITION OF 907TH AMENDMENT WILL NOT AFFECT PROCESS OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT

OCTOBER 24. The abolition of the 907th amendment will not affect the process of the Karabakh settlement. The new chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group from the USA Rudolf Perina expressed such opinion during the meeting with journalists. According to him, the mentioned amendment may be stopped temporarily, because of the international situation. The American diplomat mentioned that the abolition of the amendment proceeds from the national interests of the U.S. security and Azerbaijan's involvement in the anti-terroristic coalition.he assured that the assistance to Azerbaijan by the USA will not assist the emergence of hostilities in the region and are only directed to struggle against international terrorism and Osama bin Laden. "The USA will not support neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan in the event of military solution of the Karabakh conflict", Perina mentioned. The American diplomat thinks that the abolition of the 907th amendment will allow the USA to render assistance Armenia too. Besides, it will improve the American-Azeri and American-Armenian relations.

AZERBAIJAN THREATENS WITH NEW WAR IN KARABAKH

OCTOBER 24. Azeri President Haydar Aliev delivered an ultimatum to the OSCE Minsk Group for Karabakh Tuesday saying "unless it takes up a position of principle" in the Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan will unleash a "war to liberate its occupied territories." According to Russian media, Aliev made this statement during his meeting with chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Adrian Severin. Aliev blamed Yerevan for adopting "non-constructive position," and the OSCE for closing its eyes on this. At the same time, he said Azerbaijan's cooperation with the OSCE has given positive results in the cause of deepening reforms and developing democracy in the country. Severin stressed the OSCE's role in the development of democracy and pluralism in the country and said it's the process of democratization of society that can promote the settlement of conflicts like that in Karabakh. The OSCE PA delegation headed by Severin are paying a visit to Baku within the framework of its fact-finding mission to the South Caucasus and will leave Baku for Tbilisi Oct 24 to later go to Yerevan. At the same time, Armenia's President Robert Kocharyan said Tuesday the principal difference in the approaches of Yerevan and Baku to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict hinders the development of economic cooperation in the South Caucasus. He said Azerbaijan agrees to talk about economic cooperation only after the final resolution of the conflict and Armenia can only regret about this.-0-

CE EXPERTS CONCLUDE POLITICAL PRISONERS DO EXIST IN AZERBAIJAN

STRASBOURG/24.10.01/TURAN: In a report on cases of alleged political prisoners in Armenia and Azerbaijan made public today, independent experts appointed by Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer confirmed the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. As regards Armenia, none of the cases submitted to the experts concerned political prisoners, press service of the Council of Europe told TURAN. The experts, Professor Stefan Trechsel, Professor Evert Alkema and Mr Alexander Arabadjiev, are eminent human rights specialists. To reach their conclusions, they first had to determine objective criteria to identify what is a "political prisoner". As concerns Azerbaijan, with respect to which a substantial amount of cases were submitted, they examined selected pilot cases, on the understanding that in those cases identified as political prisoners, their conclusions would apply to all other similar cases. The text of the report in full will soon be available, the same source reports. "One political prisoner is one too many. This problem should not exist in a Council of Europe member State" recalled Mr Schwimmer, General Secretary of the Council of Europe. "Although several political prisoners have been released so far, obviously others still remain imprisoned despite the Council of Europe's repeated calls. The Azerbaijan authorities must fully honour their commitment to release or to grant a new trial to political prisoners", he added. The Council of Europe stands ready to provide further assistance to Azerbaijan in this matter. * Azerbaijan during accession to the Council of Europe in January 2001 has undertaken to release or reconsider cases of convicts who are found political prisoners by human rights defenders. This applies in particular to Iskender Hamidov, Alikram Gummatov and Ragim Gaziyev.