From: nahabed@ntmtv.UUCP (Roupen Nahabedian)
Subject: -->>> News - Armenia <<<-- Jan. 23, 93 
Originator: nahabed@nmtvs296
Keywords: Armenia 
Reply-To: nahabed@ntmtv.UUCP (Roupen Nahabedian)
Organization: Northern Telecom Incorporated
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 04:36:57 GMT

P L E A S E make a hard copy of the news available to an Azerbaijani near you!
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HEADLINE: LEADERS ARRIVE;Ter-Petrosyan backs CIS charter
HEADLINE: Lachin corridor attacked again
HEADLINE: ARMENIA; Energy crisis affects Armenia's foreign
          language broadcasts
HEADLINE: AZERBAIJAN;Nakhichevan leader congratulates Clinton and
          appeals for aid
HEADLINE: AZERBAIJAN;Talks on exchanging POWs in balance
HEADLINE: AZERBAIJAN;Russian troops encounter difficulties with
          Azerbaijani authorities
HEADLINE: 7 former Soviet republics recast commonwealth charter
HEADLINE: Armenia  envoy 
HEADLINE: Pipeline explosion cuts off gas supplies to  Armenia 
HEADLINE: PRESS BRIEFING BY SERGEI YASTRZHEMBSKI, RF [Russian] FOREIGN MINISTER


HEADLINE: LEADERS ARRIVE;Ter-Petrosyan backs CIS charter
SOURCE: World Service 1902 gmt 21 Jan 93

 BODY:   "The CIS charter is a document that should have been
signed long ago,"Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan told
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow , upon his arrival in Minsk. "I do
not see any political ruses in the charter," he said. Asked
whether he saw any advantage for  Armenia  in membership of the
CIS,he replied, "If we saw no advantage, we wouldn't be taking
part."

HEADLINE: Lachin corridor attacked again

 BODY:   An Azerbaijani offensive against the southern part of
the Lachin corridor on 20th January was reported the same day by
Armenpress via ITAR-TASS news agency,Moscow, World Service (in
English 1126 gmt). Nonetheless, the corridor remained open.
AzerTAc the same day reported via the same source and at the same
time that Azerbaijani forces were fighting to regain parts of
Azerbaijani territory seized by the Armenians. Interfax news
agency, Moscow (in English 0456 gmt 21Jan 93) reported a denial
by the Azerbaijani authorities that three of their aircraft had
been shot down on the 19th (for a report of the destruction
of three aircraft by the Armenian side, see SU/1592 C1/1 [2]). For
their part, Armenian Radio, Yerevan, external (1630 gmt 20 Jan
93) reported a denial by the Karabakh authorities that
Azerbaijani troops had gained Srkhavend, Kichan andnearby areas
of Mardakertskiy rayon. (See SU/1592 C1/1 [2] and SU/1591 C1/1
[1]for earlier and conflicting claims about the status of these
areas.)    Interfax news agency, Moscow (in English 1620 gmt 21
Jan 93) reported that five people were killed and 12 wounded when
Azerbaijani planes scored a direct hit on a hospital at Arachadzor
in Mardakertskiy rayon on the 20th. One of the attacking planes, a
MiG-21, was reportedly brought down by Armenian defence forces. It
was also reported that the same day an Azerbaijani MiG-25 was
shotdown over Vardenisskiy rayon in eastern  Armenia.  The pilot
was killed.Armenian Radio, Yerevan (1400 gmt 21 Jan 93) reported
a protest by the Armenian Foreign Ministry concerning the
"violation of  Armenia's  air space". TURAN newsagency, Baku (in
English 1330 gmt 21 Jan 93) reported Azerbaijani successes in the
"north of  Karabakh" . The same report said 25 Armenians had been
killed in fighting in the Lachin corridor.

HEADLINE:  ARMENIA; Energy crisis affects  Armenia's  foreign
language broadcasts 
SOURCE: Radio Yerevan, external in English  2340 gmt 19 Jan 93

 BODY:   (Excerpts from poorly received report) During the first 
two weeks of the newyear the eight language programmes
of the Araks informative radio agency were dropped 
because of the energy crisis in the republic... Our
radio agency broadcasts news in eight languages every day. It is
endowed by a number of translators, including English, Spanish,
French, Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish and in Persian, who work very
hard in order to prepare the newscasts. But,unfortunately, the
energy crisis in our country was [words indistinct] news cast in
Turkish is not being broadcast now because of the technical
problems. The English newscast is being read and recorded only
by the light of two candles. The Spanish and the French bulletins
are sometimes being left unrecorded, but we have determined to
continue our work no matter under what conditions we [words
indistinct]. We have to work regardless of those obstacles that
may get on our way. [Words indistinct] regarding the fact that
English is understood by most of our listeners, we would like to
apologize to you and promise that in a few days' time our
programmes will reach you without disturbance.

HEADLINE: AZERBAIJAN;Nakhichevan leader congratulates Clinton and
appeals for aid 
SOURCE: Azerbaijani Radio, Baku 1700 gmt 20 Jan 93
 BODY:   (Text) Geydar Aliyev, chairman of the Nakhichevan

Autonomous Republic [NAR]Supreme Assembly, has conveyed a
congratulatory telegram and a letter to Bill Clinton on the eve of
the day he assumes his duties as the new US president.    The
telegram says: I wish to inform you that I hope that you will use
the opportunities at your disposal to help successfully resolve
the problems which are linked with armed disputes in various parts
of the world and which concernthe future of millions of people. I
also hope that you will [words indistinct] towards Azerbaijan,
which is an independent republic, and the NAR, which is part of
Azerbaijan.    Aliyev appealed to Bill Clinton in his letter to
move to provide humanitarian aid to the NAR, which has been
blockaded by  Armenia  for more than eight months. Aliyev said
that the NAR had had great difficulty in providing the needed
materials - including provisions, electricity, and fuel - to its
people.He noted: I believe that Azerbaijani President Abulfaz
Elchibey, who is tryingto resolve the NAR's social and economic
problems, will appreciate your efforts.Mr President, I am
convinced that your help at this difficult time for the NAR will
serve as convincing confirmation of the auspicious and careful US
approach towards our region. It will be appreciated.

HEADLINE: AZERBAIJAN;Talks on exchanging POWs in balance
SOURCE: Mayak radio, Moscow 2330 gmt 19 Jan 93

 BODY:   (Text) Baku keeps insisting that the meeting of
representatives of the defence ministries of  Armenia  and
Azerbaijan on the issues of exchanging POWs should take place in
Tbilisi, Armen Dulyan, head of the press centre of the Armenian
Defence Ministry, told an Interfax correspondent. We have agreed
to this. There are no guarantees, however, that the meeting will
take place even in Tbilisi since the Azerbaijani side keeps
putting forward new unsubstantiated conditions.    [Note: Mayak
radio, Moscow (1500 gmt 20 Jan 93) reported that the
Azerbaijani president was setting up a state committee for
Azerbaijani hostages and prisoners.]

HEADLINE: AZERBAIJAN;Russian troops encounter difficulties with
Azerbaijani authorities 
SOURCE: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, World Service 0912 gmt 20 Jan 93

BODY:   (Text) A train with petrol intended for a group of Russian
troops in the Transcaucasus has been detained at the border
of Azerbaijan and Georgia. As was reported today [20th January] to
an ITAR-TASS correspondent in
the directorate of petroleum oils and lubricants of this group of
troops, the authorities in Azerbaijan are afraid that more than 30
fuel tanks might be redirected to Armenia  by Russian troops.
Ivan Samoylenko, a senior officer of the directorate, in refuting
this explained that units of the Russian army deployed on Georgian
territory have been forced to use the emergency supply and "dozens
of tonnes have been lost through the seizure of fuel by Georgian
guerrillas". Because of the shortage ofpetrol there has been a
maximum reduction in motor transport traffic and rigid monitoring
of petrol consumption has been established.    [Note: ITAR-TASS
news agency, Moscow, World Service (1007 gmt 21 Jan 93)reported
that the departure of Russian border troops withdrawing
from Azerbaijani territory was being impeded in various ways, with
a particularly "alarming situation" near the town of Lenkoran,
where the Azerbaijanis were not allowing the removal of personal
belongings by Russian servicemen.]

HEADLINE: 7 former Soviet republics recast commonwealth charter
BYLINE: Associated PressDATELINE: MINSK, Belarus

 BODY:   Russia and six other former Soviet republics left a
reluctant Ukraine behind Friday and forged a new commonwealth that
strengthens economic ties but weakens military and political
links.    Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk declared that
Ukraine remains a member ofthe Commonwealth of Independent
States, but said it was too soon to sign the new commonwealth
charter. Ukraine, along with Russia and Belarus, founded
the Commonwealth as the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991.
The leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and  Armenia  signed the new charter.
Moldova and Turkmenistan did not sign.    During the summit,
Russia and Ukraine also apparently failed to resolve differences
over how to control the 176 long-range nuclear missiles based
on Ukrainian soil.    Ukrainian lawmakers have objected to closer
Commonwealth ties, fearing theformer republic's long-sought
independence would be imperiled, and the country would again be
under Russia's domination.    Noting the importance of the
economic ties between the commonwealth states,Kravchuk hinted
Ukraine might eventually sign. "The time will come and
Ukraine will make a decision," he said. TERMS: RUSSIA; AGREEMENT;
UKRAINE; ECONOMY; RELATION

HEADLINE:  Armenia  envoy 
BODY:    PARIS (Reuter) - The singer
Charles Aznavour won French government backing for a mission to
send food and medicines to  Armenia,  the land of his ancestors,
which is caught up in a war with Azerbaijan. The Foreign
Minister, Roland Dumas, promised to seek Turkey's help in assuring
transit of the supplies.

HEADLINE: Pipeline explosion cuts off gas supplies to  Armenia
DATELINE: MOSCOW 

BODY:    Armenia  was largely paralyzed Saturday
after an explosion in neighboring Georgia damaged the pipeline
that supplies the republic with natural gas, the Russian state
news agency Itar-Tass said.     In the Armenian capital Yerevan
the metro was shut down, most telephone lines were dead,
newspapers were not published, radio stations stopped broadcasting
and residents shivered without heating in 14 degree F
winter temperatures.     The explosion, in the Marneouli region of
southern Georgia, crippled the natural gas pipeline Friday night.
Itar-Tass said the pipeline would take atleast two weeks to
repair.     The main Yerevan electrical generating station shut
down for lack of gas,and only a hydroelectric plant north east of
the capitol was still supplying electricity for vital services
such as the city's bread factories and hospitals.     The
Armenian economy is close to collapse with most industries shut
down forlack of electricity and raw materials, and bread is
rationed.     It is the second year that  Armenia  has faced a
severe energy crisis caused by a blockade by neighboring
Azerbaijan, through which most of  Armenia's energy supplies used
to flow.     The two Caucasian republics have been fighting an
undeclared war over the disputed Nagorno  Karabakh  enclave for
over four years, and both have blockaded parts of the other's
territory.      Armenia  had been receiving steady supplies of
Russian natural gas througha pipeline running through Georgia,
but these have become sporadic in the past two years and have
several times been cut off because of unrest in Georgia.
Meanwhile efforts to resolve the  Armenia -Azerbaijan conflict
were underway again.     Mario Rafaelli, a mediator for the
Conference of Security and Cooperation in Europe, was in the
Azerbaijani capital Baku Saturday, the independent Interfaxnews
agency said.     There have been virtually no negotiations
between the two republics since last summer when fighting
intensified in the disputed territory.

HEADLINE: PRESS BRIEFING BY SERGEI YASTRZHEMBSKI, RF FOREIGN
MINISTRY SPOKESMAN(1)22 JANUARY    

...Yastrzhembski: We should
separate the Caucasus as the geographic notion and the Caucasus as
a geo-political notion, which do not coincide. The situation
in North Ossetia, Ingushevia, etc. is not the concern of the RF
Foreign Ministry.This is the territory of the Russian Federation,
and you must be well aware whose domain this is, who now
represents Russia in these regions.  As for the remaining part of
the Caucasus -- if you include Georgia,  Armenia  here --
naturally the Foreign Ministry has a concept for these relations.
I have just talked about the Russian-Georgian relations. I could
say much about the Russian-Armenian relations, but this is not
the subject of our briefing today. We must be extra-careful here
because there are too many intricate problems involved inthis
issue.
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