AZERBAIJAN AVOIDS ESTABLISHING DIRECT TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION WITH THE FRONTIER REGIONS OF ARMENIA, DECLARES THE PM OF ARMENIA

02.08.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. In accordance with the agreement with the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, it was planned to establish direct telephone communication between the frontier regions of Armenia and Azerbaijan for a quicker settlement of mutually beneficial tasks, declared the Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik Margarian at the meeting with the head of the OSCE Yerevan office, Ambassador Roy Reeve.
As was reported to MEDIAMAX in the press service of the government of Armenia, Margarian said that up to now Azerbaijan avoids carrying out this agreement. Ambassador Reeve promised to assist in this matter through cooperation with the OSCE office in Baku, which has recently opened.
While discussing the perspectives of cooperation, Prime Minister Margarian suggested the OSCE mission in Armenia assist in the solution of the question of safe joint use of the Johazi storage pool in Tavush region border by the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides. Margarian noted that the settlement of this problem is vital for the villages located near the storage pool.
The OSCE office in Yerevan deals with large programs in the sphere of human rights and democracy, as well as works out and realizes anti-corruption programs, said Ambassador Reeve. An international anti-corruption working group is set up. Ambassador Reeve suggested establishing a joint working group with the Government of Armenia. In his opinion, this will considerably raise the rating of Armenia in the world community and will allow applying the Armenian experience of struggle against corruption in other countries.
Mr. Reeve welcomed the plans of the Government of Armenia to create an anti-corruption program and noted that the bill “About civil service”, worked out by the government, is one of concrete steps in this direction.
Premier Margarian considered acceptable the proposal of the OSCE and on behalf of the government expressed readiness for cooperation in the matter of joint working out and realization of the program for the struggle against corruption. -0-