Artsakh  Newsletter

VOLUME 5, No. 1

BRIEFLY...

(Continued from page 2)

the Nagorno Karabakh's opposition Communist Party leadership.  The party representatives said that they see positive developments in the economic, social and cultural areas during recent years.  They also presented their ideas for fur

ther economic development, noting the potential of the Karabakh silk factory and the need to establish a technical college, which would train specialists in the production sphere.   They also raised concerns about the conditions in the villages, where there are

still problems with adequate medical treatment and cultural development.  The sides agreed that it would be prudent to introduce a labor code and a law on civil service.   

Line of Contact OSCE Monitoring

Stepanakert, January 9.  Foreign Affairs Minister Ashot Ghulian met with the members of the War and Labor Veterans' Council. He briefed the veterans on the main foreign policy priorities saying that the government actively pursues formal international recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.  Stressing the necessity of inclusion of Nagorno Kara

bakh in the negotiations process Ghulian said, "The meetings between the President of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as between their personal representatives do not constitute a comprehensive negotiations process.  International mediators support this position as they see Nagorno Karabakh as a party to the conflict."  Ghulian also underscored posi

tive developments in the democratization of Nagorno Karabakh.  "The future of Nagorno Karabakh is in the development of its democratic processes.  We have chosen this path intentionally and today we can state that we are far ahead of Azerbaijan in this regard," he said. 

Stepanakert, December 26.  In his press conference to local media, Defense Minister Lieutenant General Seyran Ohanian summarized the results of 2002.  He said that special attention was paid to the improvement of border defense as well as readiness of the commanding staff and engineering corps.  General Ohanian noted that no serious violations of the

cease-fire regime were registered during the past year.  Commenting on the increasingly bellicose Azerbaijani statements, he said, "the Karabakh army is improving itself every year and is ready to rebuff the enemy and carry out successful counteroffensive operations."

Strasbourg, January 21.  Nagorno Karabakh special envoys of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, Tatul Markarian and Araz Azimov briefed Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) on the current state of

the Nagorno Karabakh conflict peace process.  The hearings were also attended by the U.S., French and Russian OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen.  Markarian and Azimov also met for the fourth time in Strasbourg, in a series of meetings

that intend to offset the expected suspension of face-to-face meetings between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents due to upcoming presidential elections in both countries.   

Stepanakert, December 19.  Foreign Affairs Minister Ashot Ghulian met with the representatives of local non-government organizations (NGOs).  He stressed the important role of NGOs in the democratization of society and strengthening the dialogue between the people and the government.  NGO representatives briefed Ghulian on their recent activity and the problems in the NGO sector.  They also discussed ways of establishing contacts with NGOs in Armenia and other countries. 

Stepanakert, January 28.  President Arkady Ghoukasian received the Head of the Stepanakert office of the International Committee of the Red Cross Christopher Mehley.  Mehley introduced his replacement Charlotte Hartford.  Mehley thanked Nagorno Karabakh authorities for their assis

tance to the ICRC mission, saying that he is satisfied with the level of cooperation ICRC receives from different Ministries and state agencies.  Mehley also briefed Ghoukasian on the progress of ICRC's projects, including the landmine awareness campaign and the health care program, adding that his organi

zation will continue its work in 2003.  Ghoukasian said that the authorities and the people highly value ICRC's decade-long effective mission in Nagorno Karabakh and assured Hartford that the government will continue assisting ICRC's activities.