From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Jun 10 2002 - 11:42:29 EDT
CASPIAN NEWS AGENCY
CNA all-inclusive newsline
/14:24 10.06.2002/ Talks between Russia and Georgia on framework agreement renew
Tbilisi, June 10, 2002. (CNA). The Russian delegation led by Chairman of Duma
Council Committee on CIS Affairs Boris Pastukhov arrives in Tbilisi today, Civil
Georgia reports.
Russian delegation will renew talks with the Georgian side concerning the framework
agreement between Georgian and Russia. The talks were suspended in April because of
the incident in Georgian controlled Kodori gorge, breakaway Abkhazia, when the
Russian troops landed in the gorge without notification Georgian side.
Foreign Affairs Minister Irakli Menagarishvili leads the Georgian delegation on the
talks.
Georgian and Russian sides signed a framework agreement about friendship, peaceful
relationship and cooperation on November 3, 1994. Georgian Parliament ratified the
document but Russian Duma Council failed to reciprocate.
At the moment new agreement is being drafted by the Georgian and Russian sides.
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/14:22 10.06.2002/ Russia and Kazakhstan inked oil and gas transit pact
Moscow, June 10, 2002. (CNA). Russia and Kazakhstan signed long-term agreements on
transit of Kazakh oil and natural gas via Russian territory to West Europe. The
presidents of the both states welcomed this agreement terming it as a critical step
of increased cooperation, the Associated press reports.
The agreement fopresees transportation of 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas through
Russian pipelines in the first few years and increase it to up to 50 bcm in the
future.
"The agreements fully serve the interests of Kazakhstan and Russia," Putin said on
the sidelines of an Asian security summit in St. Petersburg. "They insure a
guaranteed route for Kazakh oil exports and also help Russia strengthen its status
as a transit country."
Kazakhstan plans to boost its gas production more than fivefold to 50 bcm a year by
2005 when it starts developing the giant Kashagan offshore Caspian gas field.
The oil transit agreement will be valid for 15 years and can be extended.
"Kazakhstan will benefit by getting access to global markets and Russia will reap
the transit dividends," Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said. "These
agreements bring relations between Kazakhstan and Russia to a new level."
______
/14:17 10.06.2002/ Turkish military delegation visiting Georgia
Tbilisi, June 10, 2002. (CNA). Today the delegation of the General Staff of the
Turkish armed forces stareted its two day visit to Georgia. The Turkish delegation,
led by General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, will hold
meetings with the Georgian Defense Minister, Chief of General Staff. It is planned
that during the meeting the protocol on bilateral cooperation between the Georgian
and Turkish Armed Forces will be signed.
______
/14:07 10.06.2002/ Russian-Azeri Caspian Sea deal postponed
Baku, June 10, 2002. (CNA). Necessary documents are not ready yet for signing the
Russia and Azerbaijan bilateral accord on dividing the oil-rich Caspian Sea, the
Azeri President Heidar Aliyev said in Baku before his departure to St Peteresburg
where he had a days talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The agreement will be signed at another suitable time," said Aliyev.
This deal is similar to the one signed by Russia and Kazakhstan in the northern
half of the sea less than a month ago.
Experts say the new bilateral deal between Russia and Azerbaijan will further
isolate Iran and Turkmenistan, who could be forced to soften their positions on the
Caspian Sea. The Caspian is believed to hold as much oil as the North Sea.
Talks in April on a broader deal among the five Caspian littoral states --
Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan -- failed to reach a
solution.
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/12:41 10.06.2002/ Armenia and Turkey to hold secret talks
Ankara, June 10, 2002. (CNA). Turkish and Armenian diplomats are scheduled to hold
secret weeklong talks that will last until June 17 in a central European city, the
Turkish Daily News has learnt.
The Turkish side is being represented by Ertan Tezgor of the Foreign Ministry as
the Armenian side is led by Karen Mirzoyan of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Middle
Eastern Department, according to the information received by the TDN.
Sources said either Vienna or Geneva could be the venue for the meeting.
The meeting is being regarded as a preparatory gathering for an upcoming meeting
between Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan,
which is expected to be held in Istanbul on June 25 on the sidelines of Black Sea
Economic Cooperation meeting.
The two sides agreed not to leak the latest contacts to the press, however reliable
TDN sources made the information available.
The two countries held such a meeting in Ankara last month again with the
participation of the same officials .
Foreign Minister Cem and Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanyan met in Reykjavik, on
the sidelines of a foreign ministerial meeting of NATO.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Vilayet Guliyev, Cem and Oskanyan had a trilateral
meeting and after the three foreign ministers' meeting, a tete-a-tete meeting was
held between Cem and Oskanyan.
As the May 14 meeting was being prepared, Mirzoyan arrived in Ankara and met with
Tezgor to lay the ground work for the Cem-Oskanyan meeting held in Reykjavik.
Armenian diaspora still presses that the recognition of the so-called Armenian
genocide, however, the Armenian people and the government reportedly are4 pushing
for improved ties between Yerevan and Ankara.
Turkey and Armenia do not have diplomatic relations but according to a decision
taken by the National Security Council in December 2000, Ankara paved the way for
forming diplomatic contacts with Yerevan.
Emphasis was put on improving trade relations and cultural contacts initially.
Observers say the new political environment in the aftermath of September 11
attacks created a golden opportunity for the two states to break the historical
barriers.
Foreign policy analysts comment that Ankara and Yerevan share similar views as they
both support effective fight against international terrorist networks.
Armenia permitted the use of its airspace for U.S. jets leaving Incirlik for
Afghanistan upon the request of President George W. Bush.
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