“The Important Is To Neutralize The Root Of The Evil”

“THE IMPORTANT IS TO NEUTRALIZE THE ROOT OF THE EVIL”
Margaret Yesayan

Aravot.am
12 April 06

The leader of “Republic” party Aram Sargsian assures.

Mr. Sargsian, the most important event of last days is the gas
price and refreshment of the project “Estate instead of debt”. The
PM Andranik Margarian marked that bargain successful, you, as the
former Prime Minister of Armenia how do mark this bargain?

– I think that ‘Estate instead of debt” and “Estate instead of gas”
solve other problems in reality which can be formulated in this way;
“Everything instead of post”. It’s obvious that the authority of
Armenia delivers the last blow to the possibilities of the energetic
security of the country. The problem isn’t in becoming Russia’s
vassal, the problem refers to the state and State system of the
country. The property of the country mustn’t be sold either to Russia
or other country, then to speak of independence and profits. These
authorities overpassed themselves and the deadlock proves it. There
is no reasonable explanation for the circumstance that the government
sells its suspicious strategic partner those resources, which would
form profitable and stable guarantees for the energetic security
of Armenia. I don’t know, I can simply guess, instead of which the
president of the state devote the property of the country to another
country and then boasts hypocritically, did you see what I did, I saved
your pocket money. But there is a question, why did the Caucasian
tiger become a frightened cat at once? I think that this bargain is
only the circle of those unsuccessful bargains, which starts from
ArmenTel and won’t be over until Armenia has a piece of land.

– Factually you are against the bargain, but what do you suggest
instead, again revolution?

– If there is another way for Armenia and Yerevan not to be devoted
to the foreigners and the future of Armenians and Armenia not to be
sold day by day.

Suggest yourself; I’ll join to you. I think you are sure that the
country can be empties but it won’t be disappeared. The gas price
will be raised in price in three years, what mechanisms will be
formed in those three years. No empire will subdue its interests to
the interests of another, especially to an “outpost” country.

This is axiomatic. Though axioms aren’t proved but the complete failure
of “Estate instead of debt” project can serve as the axiomatic proof.

– Then what does the opposition suggest?

– Opposition and authority succeed each other in civil countries,
which fill posts by the free election of the people for serving people
and achieving their projects. The authority in our country considers
the opposition its enemy.

Unfortunately we can simply be against to all these. But
tomorrow… Our party is designing a project about the law of
nationalization, because when a law exists about privatization and
anti-state system the best version for avoiding of its abuses is the
adoption of a balanced law about nationalization, which will allow
to consider invalid all illegal bargains irrespective Who, When and
What has privatized.

– You have proposals on the NK conflict settlement. Have you got
any reply?

– Nothing. Never mind. It is spoken of mutual concessions. We are
agree.

Mutual concession suggests mutual profits. Where is it? And the profit
of Azerbaijan is obvious in the proposed versions. And as it is a fast
period I’d like to cite Matthew’s word’s “Good tree can’t give bad
fruits, neither the bad tree can give good fruits. Every tree which
doesn’t give good fruit is cut and thrown into fire.” It’s rather
severe but fair judgment. Will we be able to neutralize the root
of evil, if we are we’ll be able to provide for profitable result
and if we aren’t the Armenian land will be emptied, we’ll loose the
current state.

Georgia Ratifies Agreements On Pullout Of Russia Military Bases

GEORGIA RATIFIES AGREEMENTS ON PULLOUT OF RUSSIA MILITARY BASES
Editor: Luan Shanglin

Xinhua, China
April 13 2006

2006-04-14 03:46:13

MOSCOW, April 13 (Xinhua) — Georgia’s parliament ratified Thursday
the agreements on the pullout of Russian military bases from the
Caucasus Mountain nation and transit of Russian military cargoes on
the country’s territory.

In the accord signed by Russian and Georgian officials in the Black
Sea resort of Sochi on March 31, the two sides agreed to complete the
phased withdrawal of the Russian bases and other military installations
in Georgia by the end of 2008, Russian newsagencies said.

The first document envisions the gradual withdrawal of the Russian
bases and military facilities during 2008. The Russian base in
Akhalkalaki will be closed in 2007 and in Batumi in 2008. Russian
servicemen will deal with pulling out hardware and other property.

The second agreement determines the procedure of transit of military
cargoes of the Russian Defense Ministry via the territory of Georgia
and the personnel, including servicemen of the 102nd military base
in Gyumri (Armenia).

The agreement on transit is effective within five years and it may
be extended if necessary. Both sides have the right to annual the
agreement if “any point of the agreement is violated or the movement
of hardware and cargoes poses a threat to security and interests of
Georgia, and its population,” Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Meraba
Antadze said.

In his words, both agreements are effective. “This point was included
in the agreement on the insistence of Georgia because it was not
ruled out that the State Duma may delay the ratification of these
agreements. Under this point, Russia obliged to comply with the
agreement when it was signed,” the Georgian diplomat stressed.

Russia inherited four military bases in Georgia from the Soviet Union
and has withdrawn two of them. It struck a deal with Georgiain May
last year to pull out the remaining two bases by the end of 2008.

Nearly 3,000 Russian servicemen are deployed in the Akhalkalakiand
Batumi bases.

www.chinaview.cn

Iran Expanding Ties With Central Asian States To Counterbalance USGe

IRAN EXPANDING TIES WITH CENTRAL ASIAN STATES TO COUNTERBALANCE US GEOPOLITICAL PRESSURE
Joshua Kucera

EurasiaNet, NY
April 13 2006

In an effort to counter US attempts to geopolitically isolate Iran,
officials in Tehran are trying to implement an ambitious program
centering on trade and infrastructure investment in Central Asia and
the Caucasus, two Iranian experts say.

Tehran is focusing most of its attention on areas with which Iran has
strong cultural and historical ties, such as Tajikistan and western
Afghanistan. But the strategy also involves other countries in the
former Soviet Union, including Uzbekistan and Armenia. Tehran’s aim is
to create a diffuse patchwork of regional ties and institutions that
can serve as a counterweight to US geopolitical pressure, according
to two Iranian academics, Mohsen Milani of the University of South
Florida, and Abbas Maleki of the International Institute for Caspian
Studies in Tehran. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The two outlined the Iranian countermoves at an April 5 talk in
Washington, sponsored by the Central Asia Caucasus Institute at Johns
Hopkins University.

Iran’s preferred mode of investment is via massive infrastructure
projects. For instance, Iran is building the Anzab tunnel that will
connect the northern and southern parts of Tajikistan, and will
eventually provide a road corridor from China through Central Asia
to the Persian Gulf. It is also constructing the Sangtudinskaya-II
hydroelectric plant in Tajikistan as part of a total $700 million
investment in electricity in that country. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

Iran is also among the leading donors to the reconstruction of
Afghanistan. It pledged $560 million at the Tokyo donors’ conference in
2002 – all of which is expected to be disbursed by the end of 2006 –
and promised another $100 million at the London conference held last
January. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

In 2005, Iran completed the $43 million, 125-km road from the
Dougharoun region of Iran to Herat, and has announced that it will
build a 176-km railroad from Iran to Herat. It is also improving its
own railroad infrastructure with the aim of attracting cargo from
Russia, China and Central Asia via Iran to ports in the Persian Gulf.

In 2004, Iran completed the 1000-km Bafq-Mashhad railroad, which cut
two days off the rail journey from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf.

Tehran has steadily increased trade in recent years with its regional
neighbors, in particular Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In addition,
Iran is working with Armenia to build a natural gas pipeline. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Speaking at length about the Iranian-Afghan relationship, Milani
noted that the growing volume of Iranian-Afghan trade – rising from
$120 million in 2002 to $250 million last year – is enabling Tehran
and Kabul to sweep political differences under the rug. Milani is
publishing a paper in the upcoming issue of the Middle East Journal
on Iran-Afghanistan relations.

Iran still hosts more than a million Afghan refugees and is the
destination of a significant amount of Afghanistan’s opium output.

Tehran also is concerned about the Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration program in Afghanistan, believing that it is sapping
the power of Iran-friendly Dari-speaking militias. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In addition, Afghan President Hamid
Karzai has engaged in what Milani characterized a “Pashtunization”
of the Afghan government, marginalizing Dari speakers, as well as
representatives of other ethnic groups in Afghanistan. [For background
see related Eurasia Insight article].

Iran is now a major source of consumer goods in Afghanistan, and
Iran-friendly power centers in Kabul are emerging, in particular the
parliament, which is led by Speaker Yunus Qanooni, an ethnic Tajik.

Maleki pointed out that Tehran also is keeping quiet about many
sources of controversy in Central Asia, in particular the 2005 Andijan
massacre in Uzbekistan, and the continuing US military presence in
Kyrgyzstan. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. At the
same time, Iran is active in the Economic Cooperation Organization,
a trade and investment group that includes all the Central Asian
countries plus Iran, Turkey and Pakistan.

Tehran is also an observer to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
a regional security group that aims to provide a counterweight to
US power in Central Asia. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].

Editor’s Note: Joshua Kucera is a Washington, DC,-based freelance
writer who specializes in security issues in Central Asia, the Caucasus
and the Middle East.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU: Terry Davis: “Absence Of Peace Agreement Damages Both Sides”

TERRY DAVIS: “ABSENCE OF PEACE AGREEMENT DAMAGES BOTH SIDES”

Today, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Absence of a peace agreement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict damages
both Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.

“Unless the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia come to a definite
agreement, it will damage both nations, including people residing in
Nagorno Karabakh,” Terry Davis, the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe, said in an interview with a correspondent of Trend in
Strasbourg.

Thought the OSCE is authorized in mediation mission in the peace
talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, it does not mean the CE has no
intention to back the peace dialogue.

Touching the peaceable resolution of the conflict, the CE Secretary
General said that while entering the CE both Azerbaijan and Armenia
undertook a responsibility on the resolution of Karabakh conflict,
which envisages peaceable resolution of the conflict. “The armed
resolution of the conflict is the worst scenario of all,” he stressed.

URL:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://www.today.az/news/politics/25131.html

BAKU: Congressman Kolbe:”Repeal Of Section 907 Might Be Discussed Du

CONGRESSMAN KOLBE: “REPEAL OF SECTION 907 MIGHT BE DISCUSSED DURING AZERI PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO WASHINGTON”

Today, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

The repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act can be discussed
in the course of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit
to the United States, Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AR), the chairman of
the sub-committee on foreign assignments, stated to a news conference
in Baku on 13 April.

During the visit the Azerbaijani President will have an opportunity
for meetings the Congressmen, while final resolution on the repeal
of the section will depend on the Committee on foreign assignments.

Section 907 can also be fully repealed until the resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Moreover, the key point is not repeal of
Section 907, but is that it has been waived for 5 years in succession.

Concerning the reasons for non-inclusion of Azerbaijan in the
program “Millennium Challenges” Mr Kolbe said that while selecting
the claimants the key attention was paid to “quality of government
in the country” and level of corruption (on the base of data by
international organizations).

According to Trend, Congressman noted the steps taken in Azerbaijan
in this direction and his impatience for the time when Azerbaijan
will meet the necessary requirements. Until it occurs, the United
States intends to assist Azerbaijan in the military sector, in the
development of democracy and health.

Mr Kolbe said that during short stay in Baku he held meetings at the
Foreign Ministry, parliament, non-governmental organizations, and
representatives of the Armed Forces and peacekeeping contingent in
Iraq. He expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for an important role
in fighting with the international terror and peacemaking operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan.

URL:

http://www.today.az/news/politics/25130.html

BAKU: PACE Reporter:”International Support To Refugees And Displaced

PACE REPORTER: “INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO REFUGES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS SHOULD CONTINUE”

Today, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia are CE members and their rights have
to be considered, the Latvian reporter, Boris Chilevia told during
his speech at the PACE spring session.

According to Trend, presenting his report on refuges and displaced
persons in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia (# 10 835), Chilevia said,
“I have decided to present some data gathered by the international
organizations, including UN commissariat on refuges.” Adding that
“the problem of refuges and displaced persons is not problem of these
persons but of all the 3 states.”

He said that some success has been observed in the living conditions of
refuges. “We often saying that the international donors are growing
weary, but continuation of humanitarian aid is very important,”
he said.

Despite there are such structures as State Oil Foundation supporting
the refuges, the international aid should not be suspended.

He stressed the necessity to prepare the medium and long term programs
for integration of refuges and displaced persons.

Governments should apply the maximum effort to return the refuges
back home, “however, the return should be voluntary,” he said.

Eventually, the reporter mentioned the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
saying that the talks are in impasse now. “Nobody can solve the
conflict except the opposing sides. Thus, I urge the 2 governments
to continue the dialog with the CE support,” he concluded.

URL:

http://www.today.az/news/politics/25129.html

BAKU: Azerbaijan People Can Unite In Need – Ramil Safarov

AZERBAIJAN PEOPLE CAN UNITE IN NEED – RAMIL SAFAROV
Author: V. Sharifov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Two Armenian officers who were participating at the courses with me
have offended me and the national flag, Ramil Safarov said at his
court hearing in Budapest in his interview to ANS.

“They have offended me several times, when they were drunk, but I
did tolerate that, what I could not tolerate is when they offended
the national flag, even despite I was in abroad and was representing
my country here, ” he said.

He said that this was not intended murder. ” I want to notice that
even 12 Hungarian experts couldn’t come to the single decision on
the issue,” he added.

He said that this case again showed that Azerbaijan people can unite
when in need.

“From the first moments of my incarceration all embassy staff
including the ambassador cared about me and were asking to improve
my conditions and satisfy my moral needs. This how the state cares
about its citizens. I am also grateful to my lawyer, Adil Ismayilov
who was supporting me actively, despite he couldn’t participate in
the process as my advocate, still his precious advices helped a lot
to my Hungarian defenders,” he concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU: Exchange Of Fire In Gazakh Region

EXCHANGE OF FIRE IN GAZAKH REGION

Baku Today, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Turan

Yesterday there was exchange of gunfire between Armenian and
Azerbaijani military units on the western border.

The Defense Ministry’s press office reported that at 8:26 p.m.

Armenian troops from Voskevan village in Noemberian region opened
fire at Azerbaijani army positions in Gushchu Ayrym village of the
Gazakh region.

At 11:35 p.m. Armenian troops fired on Azerbaijani positions in the
Gedabek region from the Armenian Krasnoselsk region.

At midnight Armenian troops fired at Azerbaijani positions in Mazamli
and Gyzyl Hajily villages of the Gazakh region. An hour later the
Mazamli region was again fired on. The Azerbaijani side returned fire,
casualties are not reported.

Relations Between Armenia, Hungary Develop On New Level: Leader OfAr

RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA, HUNGARY DEVELOP ON NEW LEVEL: LEADER OF ARMENIAN CHURCH GAREGIN II

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 13 2006

YEREVAN, April 13. /ARKA/. The relations between Armenia and Hungary
develop on a new level in compliance with historically formed links
between the two people. Leader of the Armenian Church, Catholicos
Garegin II stated in Echmiadzin during the meeting with Hungarian
Ambassador to Armenia (Residency in Moscow) Arpad Sekey.

The Press Service of the Center of the Armenian Church in Echmiadzin
reported that the Catholicos congratulated the Ambassador on his new
post and gave him his patriarchal blessing. He also pointed out with
satisfaction the fact of careful and benevolent attitude of Hungarian
authorities toward Hungary’s Armenian community.

In his turn, the Ambassador expressed gratitude for the reception by
the Leader of the Armenian Church. Sekey also presented the political
and religious situation in Hungary to the Catholicos. They also
emphasized the importance of the role and mission of the Armenian
Apostolic Church in the life of the Armenian people, and touched upon
the church’s activities and interchurch relations.

BAKU: Appeal Will Be Issued On Ramil Safarov Sentence – Adil Ismayil

APPEAL WILL BE ISSUED ON RAMIL SAFAROV SENTENCE – ADIL ISMAYILOV
Author: P. Kesamanski

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Ramil Safarov` s sentence is not fair, his attorney, Adil Safarov
told ANS.

Ramil Safarov has been sentenced by Judge, Andras Vaskuty for life
with possibility to appeal only after 30 years.

Ramil Safarov, has been sent to NATO Partnership for peace courses
of English to Hungary. Several days before the end of course, he
has murdered Armenian officer- Gurgen Markaryan. He justified the
murder claiming that the victim has offended the Azerbaijani flag
and Azerbaijan people.

Both Safarov and his lawyer decided to appeal the court` s decision.