REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESS

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000516

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-MLOGSDON AND
SRUEDY, EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, EUR, EUR/ACE, EUR/SNEC,
EUR/SE

E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC PGOV PREL KPAO AM
SUBJECT: REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESS
CONFERENCE OF AMBASSADOR JOHN ORDWAY



1. SUMMARY: All mass media widely covered Ambassador
John Ordway's press conference held on February 27. TV
reports were mainly accurate and factual. The printed
press, however, carried some comments on the
Ambassador's answers regarding the murder of the
Armenian officer in Budapest and the Karabakh peace
process. The following is the summary of those
articles. END SUMMARY

DELAY WILL NOT BRING ANY BENEFIT. U.S. WILL DO
EVERYTHING TO PREVENT RESUMPTION OF WAR

2.Oppositionist Armenian daily HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK
(02/28) wrote: "Ambassador Ordway mentioned that the
likelihood of a resumption of military action is very
low and they (the U.S.) will do everything to make sure
this does not happen. Mr. Ordway assured several times
during the press conference that they don't see
preparations on either side for breaking the cease-
fire." "As to the militaristic statements recently
heard from Azerbaijan, the West, as it became clear
from the US Ambassador's words, does not take them
seriously. According to John Ordway, if we study the
situation over a period of several years, we can see
that sometimes these threats and statements were made
more frequently. At the same time, Ambassador Ordway
mentioned numerous times during the conference that
such statements were made on both sides." Commenting
on Kocharian-Aliyev meetings the newspaper wrote:
"Ordway expressed hope that those meetings would
continue in the future and would take place both as
special meetings and within the framework of
international events. It can be concluded from this
that there are no talks about concrete meetings."

POSSIBILITY OF ROSE REVOLUTION DOES NOT REFER TO ANY
CONCRETE COUNTRY


3. Centrist Armenian language daily AZG (02/28) wrote:
"The monthly press conference with US Ambassador John
Ordway almost became a discussion on the situation in
the region." Commenting on the recent statements made
by Azeri President Aliyev on starting the negotiation
process (on Nagorno Karabakh) from zero the newspaper
said: "However, the Ambassador does not think that
Azerbaijan's intention to start negotiations from zero
implies moving the process to the battle field." "As
to the militaristic statements, the Ambassador is sure
- as opposed to the journalists' insistency - that
similar statements were also made in Armenia, and one
can be convinced of that by reading the local press."
As to the negotiation process the newspaper wrote:
"The Ambassador mentioned that he saw indications from
both sides on their readiness to restart the
negotiations, being committed to the previous
principles. In spite of journalists' insistent
efforts, John Ordway did not reveal what those
indications were."

NEGOTIATION PROCESS WOULD BE ENCOURAGED


4. Dashnak-affiliated HAYOTS ASHKHAR (02/28) wrote:
"In spite of all the attempts by the Azeri side to deny
the existence of the Paris and Key West principles, the
Ambassador actually confirmed that there were such
principles." "The Ambassador stated that there is no
need to pay attention to militaristic statements, which
according to him, are made not only in Azerbaijan but
also in Armenia. When asked to bring a single concrete
example the Ambassador tried to avoid this answer and
suggested reading the (Armenian) press." "In
connection with the murder of the Armenian officer in
Budapest the Ambassador expressed regret but refused to
predict what kind of impact this might have on the
negotiation process." "At the same time the Ambassador
does not think that Azerbaijan should be left out of
further NATO programs because of the crime committed in
Budapest. It turned out that it is still `too early to
draw conclusions as to the motives of this murder.' It
is not new that politics implies double standards. But
at least in this case one does not have to be that
duplicitous."


ORDWAY