By Roland Eggleston
Lisbon, 1 December 1996 (RFE/RL) - Diplomats at the European security conference say France is expected to succeed Finland as co-chairman of the deadlocked negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh.

Finland steps down this week after 20 months as co-chairman with Russia. Diplomats said Russia made clear it preferred France over the other candidates, the United States and Germany. The other members of the 11-nation negotiating group are also expected to support France.

Hungary announced today it was leaving

HIGHLIGHTS
The Presidential inauguration went ahead, as planned, on 11 November.

A follow-up to the CIS Conference, involving a consultation-meeting with Armenian NGOs sponsored by IOM and UNHCR, was held in Yerevan from 13-14 November.

A resolution from the European Parliament on 14 November called for new elections in those districts where violations had occurred in the Presidential election.

The Constitutional Court s decision on 23 November on the Presidential election case, declared the election valid.

The Donors Meeting, at the Mid-Term

HIGHLIGHTS
Interest in the Presidential election process, results and aftermath by the OSCE and other bodies continued during October.

USAID declared its winterisation - kerosene heating programme, this being vital for the low-morale, education sector, and certain vulnerable beneficiaries.

Wheat shipments for monetisation continued to arrive under the USA and German assistance programmes, to help meet the country's continuing food requirements.

The variety of health assistance activities is an indication of the range of continuing humanitarian needs in that sector.

What are farmers doing, ploughing and sowing away amid the ruins? How can tender green shoots of wheat be growing in the war-ravaged earth of the southern Caucasus?
While political negotiations to resolve the crisis involving Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorny Karabakh follow their course, the inhabitants of the areas affected by the conflict continue to live in extremely difficult conditions. A severe drought over the summer has further exacerbated the food problems they are facing.

Working together with the American Red

This report includes: A) Burundi, Rwanda, Zaire and Tanzania B) Liberia C) Afghanistan D) CIS: Armenia
From D. Morton, Acting for Director, Operational Policy and Support Division. For information regarding resources, donors are requested to contact Mr. F. Strippoli/Mr. M. Crosthwaite, WFP Rome (Ph. 39 6 5228 2504 or 5228 2004). Transmission problems should be reported by fax to 39 6 5228 2837.

D. COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES

1. Armenia

a) Protests in Yerevan over result of presidential elections leave many injured and two people killed; state of emergency declared.

THE CAUCASUS -- ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA: EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE
appeal no. 01.32/96 situation report no. 4 period covered: July - August 1996
Presidential elections in Armenia, a possible end to the "no war/no peace" stalemates in Georgia, and continuing economic progress in Azerbaijan indicate an ongoing positive trend in the Caucasus. However, optimism must be tempered with reality, and the vast majority of Caucasus residents are faced with yet another winter of unlit, cold apartments when the annual blackout season begins

Baku, 2 September 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Today is the fifth anniversary of the declaration of the "Nagorno-Karabakh republic" by separatist Armenians in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's government last month issued a warning that any involvement by the Erevan government in celebrations marking the anniversary will be viewed by Baku with contempt.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an enclave in Azerbaijan on its border with Armenia. The enclave's Armenian majority has been seeking to break away from Azerbaijan since 1988.

Separatist leaders proclaimed the "Nagorno-Karabakh

Baku, 28 August 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Senior representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia have departed their countries for talks in Germany this week on the political future of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to confirmed reports.
International diplomats declined to be quoted on the record about the meeting. Interfax news agency quotes Azerbaijan State Foreign Policy Adviser Vafa Galuzade as saying his government considers the talks to be of great importance.

The Armenian president's press service in Yerevan said that Armenia will be represented by chief adviser Zhirair

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TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

ARDZINBA REITERATES READINESS TO MEET WITH SHEVARDNADZE.
Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba, responding on 20 August to his Georgian counterpart Eduard Shevardnadze's call for a resumption of talks on resolving Abkhazia's future status, reiterated his readiness for a face-to-face meeting if there is a real chance of reaching a settlement, but insisted that there could be no revision of the principles outlined in the UN-mediated statement of April 1994 on repatriation, AFP and ITAR-TASS reported. The most recent