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RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: IRAQI CONFLICT CAN BE SETTLED ONLY THROUGH COMBINED EFFORTS MARCH 25. The Iraqi conflict can be settled only through combined efforts, Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov said in his interview to the Armenian Public Television. Undoubtedly, the diplomat said, this war can become the beginning of formation of new relations because of a simple reason that the military action affects the geopolitical situation established due to the efforts of the international community after the World War II. A new model of international security is currently worked out, and the question is whether it will base on the triumph of the International Law or of the military force, Ambassador Dryukov said. He added that the recent developments once more showed the importance of the U.N. and its Security Council, though the USA's acts played a definite role in the fall of the above organizations' authority. Anatoly Dryukov pointed out that the best way out of the situation is stoppage of the military actions and a peaceful settlement of the Iraqi conflict. Regarding the possible aftermaths of the military actions against Iraq, Ambassador Dryukov said it is the USA and its supporters that are responsible for it. A real threat of humanitarian, ecological and economic disaster is evident today.
The USA's acts also threaten the efforts aimed at combating
terrorism, as disputes have aroused between the USA amd Europe, which
naturally, can become a favorable ground for terrorist acts, Russian
Ambassador to Armenia said.
DEFENSE MINISTRY OF ARMENIA REFUTES INFORMATION THAT USA NEGOTIATE
WITH YEREVAN FOR LEASE OF MILITARY AIRDROME
MARCH 25. The Defense Ministry of Armenia categorically refutes the information spread by a number of Armenian newspapers that the USA negotiates with Armenia for lease of a military airdrome. Press Secretary of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, Colonel Seyran Shakhsouvaryan told ARMINFO that such information does not correspond to reality. Neither written nor oral appeals for lease of the airdrome ("Shirak" in Giumri) have been received from the USA, Press Secretary Shakhsouvaryan said.
It should be noted that earlier Press Secretary of the Armenian
Foreign Ministry Dzyunik Aghajanyan also said that the USA did not
applied for lease of the airdrome.
AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER ABOUT TURKISH PRESIDENT'S
CONGRATULATION TO ROBERT KOCHARIAN
MARCH 2. ARMINFO-TURAN. Turkish President Ahmed Necet Sezer's congratulation sent to Robert Kocharian on his re-election as Armenian President causes at least perplexity. This opinion has been expressed today by Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev.
Probably, this is a diplomatic protocol, but even in this case it is
difficult to explain Ankara's actions. At first, Kocharian was
involved in occupation of Azerbaijani lands and massacre of thousands
of civilians. Secondly, Robert Kocharian always occupied anti-
Turkish position and initiated recognition of the so-called Armenian
genocide by world community. And at last, majority of world countries
stated that presidential elections in Armenia fell short of
international democratic standards. Guliyev said that he has informed
Turkish Ambassador in Baku about his position.-
ANKARA'S POSITION TO ARMENIA REMAINS UNCHANGED AND SEZER'S
CONGRATULATION TO KOCHARIAN "ORDINARY DIPLOMATIC PROTOCOL," SAYS
TURKISH AMBASSADOR
MARCH 25. ARMINFO-TURAN Ahmed Unal Cevikez, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan, called congratulation send by Turkish President Ahmed Necet Sezer to Robert Kocharian on his re-election as Armenian President an "ordinary diplomatic protocol." Turkish Ambassador told journalists that Sezer's letter of congratulation is of no political importance. Ambassador noted that though there are no diplomatic relationships between Ankara and Yerevan, Turkey recognized Armenia as an independent state. Turkish diplomat said that Sezer's congratulation should not be interpreted as change of Turkey's position to Armenia. He added that Ankara's position remains unchanged: "Ankara refuses to establish diplomatic relationships with Yerevan, until Armenia frees occupied Azerbaijani lands," said Turkish Ambassador.
Turkish parliament Deputy Ilyas Chakir, representative of Justice and
Revival party, expressed the similar opinion. He also stated that
Turkey's position to the Armenian- Azerbaijani conflict did not
change and said that Sezer's letter of congratulation will not exert
a negative influence on the relationships between Ankara and
Baku.
FAMOUS RUSSIAN POLITICIAN CONGRATULATES ROBERT KOCHARIAN ON
RE-ELECTION PRESIDENT
MARCH 25. The famous Russian politician, Chairman of the Russian party self-determination of working class Levon Chakhmakhchian congratulated Robert Kocharian on his reelection for the second term.
He wished Robert Kocharian further successes in issue of
consolidation of the society, development of the republic,
strengthening of fraternal relations and cooperation between Russia
and Armenia. "You may always rely on our support in your responsible
activity", the politician said in his letter.
40 ARMENIAN FAMILIES FROM IRAQ ARRIVED IN ARMENIA BEFORE WAR
MARCH 25. Forty Armenian families from Iraq arrived
in Armenia before the military operations, the orientalist, former
Ambassador of Armenia to Syria David Hovhannessian stated at the
seminar "The influence of the conflict in Iraq on international
relations and specifically on the Caucasian region and Armenia" held
at the Caucasian Institute of Mass Media. He reported the information
that several hundred Armenian families left Iraq doe other countries,
primarily Syria and Lebanon. According to Hovhannissian, the Armenian
community in Iraq, which numbers 15-20 thousand people (unverified
information) has a high education level and plays its role in the
country's state and public structures. There are nine Armenian
churches, benevolent organizations, schools and libraries in Iraq.
Hovhannissian welcomed the Armenian Government's decision to take
measures to receive Armenian refugees from Iraq, calling it "belated
as usual."
BAD GRAPES HARVEST TO TELL ON BRANDY OUTPUT: PIERRE LARETCHE
MARCH 25. The Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) intends to purchase 15,000 tons of grapes this year, but the bad harvest will result in a deficit on the local market and cause a reduction in output of brandy in Armenia, the YBC press service reports. During his recent meeting with Minister of Agriculture of Armenia David Zadoyan, YBC President and Director General expressed his concerned over the fact that frosts killed the greater part of the grapes harvest in the Ararat valley. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 70% of the harvest has been killed this year. YBC specialists believe that the domestic market's demand for grapes will not be covered this year, and deficit during the next few years will, in turn, endanger the production of Armenian brandy, one of the main export products. Laretche said that the preservation of vineyards is a compulsory condition for production of Armenian brandy, as it must be made of Armenian grapes, in conformity with the requirements of the State Standards Committee of Armenia. He stressed the importance of measures to render immediate assistance to vine-growers, to prevent the lopping off the frost-damaged vines. The planting of new vineyards will solve the problem of grapes deficit only in the remote future, and the YBC President emphasized the need for urgent measures, which will allow the Armenian vine-growers to receive assistance under the WB's assistance program, considering the situation in Armenia. Last year, the YBC, the major purchaser of grapes in Armenia, purchased about 10,000 tons of grapes. AN ARMENIAN KILLED AND ANOTHER WOUNDED IN CHELYABINSK ON MARCH 24 MARCH 25. A 31-year-old resident of Armenia was taken to hospital in Chelyabinsk yesterday with a knife-wound in chest. Referring to the Press-Service of the City Department of the Interior of the Chelyabinsk region, the Ural-Press-Inform agency reports that another Armenian man at the age of 40 was found death with a cranial wound in the same flat. The investigation showed that the men received the wounds as a result of a drunk quarrel. The officers of the Criminal Investigation Office of the Regional Department of the Interior have detained a third participant of the feast. HEADLINES OF 25 MARCH
GEORGIA ASKS ARMENIA TO REDOUBLE ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES
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