Artsakh  Newsletter

VOLUME 4, No. 8

Brenda Shaffer, July 26).
Ms. Shaffer is correct in saying that in order to boost economic development and promote regional intergration in the Caucasus, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be settled. The government of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic remains strongly committed to a peaceful settlement and cooperates closely with the OSCE Minsk Group, the international negotiating forum for resolution of this conflict. Regrettably, while trying to maintain a peace-loving image abroad, the Azerbaijani government is regularly threatening to resume military actions.
Perhaps Ms. Shaffer does not

speak or understand the Azeri language, otherwise, she would have noticed the ongoing anti-Armenian propaganda and war calls that the top leadership of Azerbaijan has been making for domestic consumption in their own language. Azerbaijan should come up with a single vision of peace for both domestic and international audiences. Moreover, it should be ready to implement that vision.
However, Ms. Shaffer offers an important conclusion -- that all the "serious issues should be tackled at once" during the negotiations. I cannot agree more: the most serious issue in

Stepanakert, August 6.  The Director of "Doctors Without Borders" (MSF), a French humanitarian organization with programs in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh, Chris Brasher announced that his organization has finished the anti-tuberculosis (TB) program in Nagorno Karabakh.  The program that started in 1997 included supplying Nagorno Karabakh hospitals with

anti-TB medications and training of local staff.  During his separate meetings with President Arkady Ghoukasian and Foreign Minister Naira Melkumian Brasher expressed satisfaction with the level of his organization's cooperation with the government of Nagorno Karabakh.  He also said that MSF is leaving behind a one-year supply of medications and a group of

trained local TB specialists.  Brasher informed that in the future the TB situation in Nagorno Karabakh would be monitored by MSF's Yerevan office with a representative in Stepanakert.  Ghoukasian expressed gratitude to Brasher for MSF's humanitarian assistance to the people of Nagorno Karabakh. 

Stepanakert, August 6.  Armenian Agriculture Minister David Zadoyan and Advisers to Armenian Prime-Minister Slava Avanesian and Ararat Gomtsian arrived in Nagorno Karabakh with a working visit.  They met with President Arkady Ghoukasian, Prime-Minister Anoushavan Danielian and Agriculture Minister Benik Bakhshian and discussed prospects for further cooperation between the respective agricultural agencies and implementation of joint projects.  The Armenian side agreed to lease tractors and other agricultural equipment to the Nagorno Karabakh Agriculture Ministry.  Zadoyan also said that the Armenian side would sponsor training of NK agriculture specialists in Armenia.  Ghoukasian thanked the Armenian officials for their assistance in Nagorno Karabakh's efforts to boost agricultural development.     

East, Karo Kebabjian accompanied the guests.  Shukazian introduced a program, which addressed education problems and the development of a united information network in Nagorno Karabakh.  According to FIT's program, all schools in Nagorno Karabakh would be

Stepanakert, August 14.  President Arkady Ghoukasian met with the Executive Director of the Armenian Fund for Information Technologies (FIT) Garik Shukazian and Lebanese-Armenian art critic Dr. Movses Hergelian.  The NKR Permanent Representative in the Middle

computerized, provided with internet access and linked together in a network.  Ghoukasian expressed readiness to assist in the implementation of the program in Nagorno Karabakh. 

ticipated in the meeting.  They discussed implementation of numerous AGBU-sponsored programs and the future activity of the organization in Nagorno Karabakh.  Ghazarian said that AGBU plans to implement 100

Stepanakert, August 15.  President Arkady Ghoukasian received Representative of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in Armenia Ashot Ghazarian.  Prime Minister Anouchavan Danielian also par

humanitarian projects in Nagorno Karabakh by the year 2006, marking the 100th anniversary of its founding.  Ghoukasian expressed gratitude to the AGBU for its assistance in Nagorno Karabakh's recovery