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AZERBAIJAN TO FURTHER NEGOTIATE WITH ARMENIA, VILAYAT GULIEV SAID

JANUARY 22. The Azeri part has repeatedly pointed out nonexistence of the Paris principles, adding that it is on the basis of these mythical principles that the Karabakh conflict is still unsolved, Azeri Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliev told journalists, commenting upon French President Jacques Chirak's statement on settlement of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of the above principles in 2002. It should be noted that in his message to the Armenian president, Jacques Chirak expressed hope that the dialogue will lead to political agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the Paris principles of the Karabakh conflict's settlement. Guliev stated that 2001 became the year of dialogue of the Armenian-Azeri conflict's settlement. He said in 2001 Azeri President Heidar Aliev conducted negotiations with his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan in France (twice) and in Key West. "We do not avoid dialogues," Azeri foreign minister said, pointing out the Azeri part's readiness to continue the dialogue with Armenia.

OSCE NEW HEAD TO VISIT SOUTH CAUCASUS

JANUARY 22. The OSCE new acting Chairman, Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama is expected to make a working visit to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia at the end of February or at the beginning of March, the OSCE Baku office said. According to the Baku sources, the Portuguese foreign minister officially took up his duties of the OSCE chairman in Jan 2002. Over the last three weeks that country managed to show its intention of activating the OSCE's role in the solution of problems of the European region. Jaime Gama had already visited Azerbaijan July 2001. Besides conducting the bilateral negotiations, the foreign ministers of the two countries also discussed issues concerning Portugal's forthcoming chairmanship in the OSCE. The Portuguese foreign minister said due to his new appointment, he will do his best to reach the final solution of the Karabakh conflict. Jaime Gama called one of directions of the OSCE's activities an intention of intensifying the Azeri and Armenian presidents' meetings.

I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE NOT WANTING AZERBAIJAN TO HAVE POLITICAL PRISONERS, PITER SCHIDER SAID

JANUARY 22. The term of appointment of President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Lord Russel Johnston expired at the PACE winter session in Strassbourg. Russel Johnston, who was appointed head of this organization in 1999, will be replaced with a 61-years-old socialist from Austria, Piter Schider. It should be noted that the 22th president of this prestigious organization is a journalist by profession. According to the Baku mass media, scarcely had Piter Schider took his new office, when he held a press-conference for mass media representatives accredited at the PACE winter session. Touching upon the issue of political prisoners in Karabakh to be discussed Jan 24, Mr. Schider stated in a delicate way: "I understand the people, who do not want Azerbaijan to have political prisoners, very well." At the same time the president expressed confidence that "a right decision will be made" concerning the persons arousing concern of the PACE members.

25 PEOPLE DIED FROM FIRES IN ARMENIA IN 2001

JANUARY 22. 25 people died from fires in Armenia in 2001, including 2 children (age 3 and 6). Another 13 were old single people. 17 people of the total number of fire victims died in Yerevan. The number of those died as a result of fires in 2000 is 9 people, Deputy Head of the Department of the State Fire Prevention Service of the Armenian Ministry of the Interior, Lt. Colonel of the Interior Pavel Gezalyan told ARMINFO. He said 1,290 cases of fires were registered in the country in 2001 against the previous year's 1,203. 468 cases of 1,290 fires were registered in Yerevan. However, the fire damage decreased in 2001 as compared to that of 2000. Last year the fire damage made 109 mln drams (about $190,000) as against the previous year's 412 mln drams (about $730,000).

"DAVIDOFF" FIRM INTENDS TO OUST "CIGARONNE" COMPANY FROM EUROPEAN MARKETS

JANUARY 22. The Swiss "Davidoff" tobacco-producing firm launched a campaign aimed at ousting the Armenian "Cigaronne" company from the European markets. According to the information reported to ARMINFO by the press service of the "Cigarrone" company, on January 21, in the Netherlands, the first hearing of the claim lodged by the "Davidoff" firm, which considers the design of the boxes produced by "Cigaronne" resemble that of boxes produced by "Davidoff". But, the press service of the Armenian company reported, the main goal of the "Davidoff" company is getting a ban on the sale of the Armenian company's products in Benelux. Local experts believe that if "Davidoff" wins the case, it will take further steps to oust "Cigaronne" from the markets of the European Union. It is to be noted that 75% of the products manufactured by the "Cigaronne" company are sold outside Armenia. In 2001, the production volume increased by 30%, and the production is expected to be expanded this year. Last year the company paid 80mln. AMD as taxes.

ARMENIAN HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS NOT IN HURRY TO DECLARE THEIR INCOMES

JANUARY 22. It is for the first time that the Armenian hIgh ranking officials are to submit declarations of their property and incomes Feb 1, 2002. However, no one has submitted any declaration so far. The Law on declaration of property and incomes of high ranking officials came into force Jan 1, 2002. The declarations should be submitted to the Armenian Ministry of State Revenues. At present no declarations have been submitted, in spite of the fact that relevant forms were approved last week and are distributed, Head of the Property Declaring Department of the Ministry of State Revenues Hovhannes Zhamkochyan told ARMINFO. He said there are about 3,000 high ranking officials in Armenia, including the president, the prime minister, the parliamentary speaker, the government members, deputy ministers, deputies, judges and heads of communities. Close relatives of high ranking officials are to submit declarations as well. Taking into account the above relatives, the number of the people, who are to submit declarations of their property and incomes, makes 10-12,000. In case of untimely submission of declarations, the Law stipulates penalties at the amount of 50,000 drams (about $88). The Law also stipulates the order of verifying the reliability of information submitted, however, this order has not been introduced by the government so far. Information on incomes and property of high ranking officials should be publicized through mass media in the middle of the year.

RUSSIAN FFS DIRECTOR NOT AGAINST PRESENCE OF AMERICAN MILITARY IN CENTRAL ASIA DURING ANTITERRORIST OPERATION

JANUARY 22. Director of the Russian Federal Frontier Service (FFS), Colonel-General Konstantin Totsky, who arrived in Yerevan on a one-day working visit today, commented on the presence of NATO troops in Central Asia. According to him, it is only possible during the antiterrorist operation against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. "I personally do not see any need for further military presence, and nobody has yet explained to the world why western bombers should stay in the aforementioned region after the antiterrorist operation," the Russian general said. At the same time, speaking of the consolidation of NATO's positions in Azerbaijan and Georgia, Totsky pointed out that if the matter concerns only technical assistance, the Russian FFS "has no questions". In particular, he cited the example of Tajikistan, to whose frontier guards the USA deliberately rendered assistance worth a total of 7mln. USD. "When assistance is rendered to national frontier troops of the CIS member countries, which enables them to safeguard their borders more effectively, I am only glad and have no questions," Totsky said.