Month: September 2006

RUSSIANS COMPLETE TAKEOVER OF ARMENIAN POWER GRID
By Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 26 2006

After months of negotiations Russia’s national electricity company
completed late Tuesday its controversial purchase of Armenia’s power
distribution network that will boost the already strong Russian
presence in the Armenian energy sector.

The shares in the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA) were
formally transferred to an offshore-registered subsidiary of the
state-controlled RAO Unified Energy Systems (UES) in the presence of
Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian and other senior Armenian officials.

The high-profile ceremony took place in Yerevan one year after the
announcement of the $73 million deal. The Armenian government agreed
to ENA’s sale in September 2005 on the condition that the Russians
assume the investment commitments and liabilities of the network’s
previous owner, the British-registered Midland Resources Holding.

Alexei Rapoport, the UES vice-chairman present at the ceremony, said
the Russian giant will invest $20 million in ENA during the first
year of its operations. He said the deal was initiated by the Armenian
government and emphasized Sarkisian’s personal role in the process.

It is still not clear why the transfer of shares has taken so long.

The Russians were reportedly having second thoughts about the takeover
after a former Armenian Energy Ministry official implicated the ENA
management in large-scale fraud. In a bombshell February interview
with two Armenian newspapers, Felix Tadevosian, alleged that an
official audit of ENA found that Midland has grossly inflated its
capital investments in the network and ran up more debts than was
previously thought. ENA strongly denied the allegations.

The Russian takeover of ENA was first made public and presented in
June 2005 as a "management contract" signed by UES and Midland. The
legality of the deal was seriously questioned by the World Bank
and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). But the
Western donors acquiesced when Midland and UES decided two months
later to formalize the sale of ENA and seek the Armenian authorities’
formal approval of the deal.

UES already controls, in one way or another, several major power
plants that provide 80 percent of Armenia’s electricity, including
the nuclear power station at Metsamor.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN TRADE MORE ACCUSATIONS AT UN
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 26 2006

Armenia and Azerbaijan have failed to hold potentially crucial
peace talks in New York, accusing each other instead of hampering
international efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The foreign ministers of the two South Caucasus foes sounded
pessimistic about a near-term solution to the dispute as they
addressed the ongoing 61st session of the UN General Assembly late
Monday. Armenia’s Vartan Oskanian said Azerbaijan is reluctant to
accept international mediators’ most recent peace proposals, while
his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov accused Yerevan of
avoiding further direct negotiations with Baku.

Oskanian and Mammadyarov were expected to meet on the sidelines of the
Assembly session and try to kickstart the peace process that ran into
trouble earlier this year. Officials have said that the talks could
pave the way for another, potentially decisive Armenian-Azerbaijani
summit on Karabakh.

However, the two men failed to come face to face on Monday and were
not scheduled to do so on Tuesday. Oskanian was only due to meet
separately with the American, French and Russian co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group in New York.

Oskanian and other Armenian officials have said that the planned
meeting of the foreign ministers was called into question by the
General Assembly’s decision earlier this month to discuss the conflicts
in Karabakh and elsewhere in the former Soviet Union. The issue was
included on the assembly agenda at the urging of Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Moldova and Ukraine. Armenia has long resisted UN involvement in the
Karabakh peace process, insisting that the Minsk Group remain the
sole mediating body.

"It is difficult to hope for the breakthrough in the negotiations
when Armenia rejects face-to-face meetings and refuses to take a
constructive approach to solve existing problems," Mammadyarov said in
his speech. He charged that the Armenians are defying international
norms by insisting on international recognition of the Karabakh
Armenians’ right to self-determination.

Oskanian strongly denied this, arguing that Yerevan has largely
accepted the Minsk Group’s current peace plan that would allow the
predominantly Armenian population of Karabakh to determine the disputed
region’s status in a referendum. "One cannot blame us for thinking
that Azerbaijan is not ready or interested in a negotiated peace,"
he said. "Yet having rejected the other two compromise solutions
that have been proposed over the last 8 years, they do not want to
be accused of rejecting the peace plan on the table today.

"Therefore, they are using every means available – from state violence
to international maneuvers – to try to bring the Armenians to do
the rejecting. But Armenia is on record: we have agreed to each of
the basic principles in the document that’s on the table today,"
added Oskanian.

Azerbaijan’s position on the Minsk Group plan remains unclear, with
top aides to President Ilham Aliev regularly lambasting the mediators
for their refusal to push for a restoration of Azerbaijani control
over Karabakh. Mammadyarov noted in that regard that agreement on
Karabakh’s status requires the "consent of both the Azerbaijani
and Armenian communities of Nagorno-Karabakh," but made it clear
that Baku is ready to consider only ways of ensuring its "self-rule
within Azerbaijan." He also demanded Armenian withdrawal from "all
the occupied territories of Azerbaijan."

Armenian officials insist that under the proposed peace deal, residents
of Karabakh will be asked to vote for the region’s independence,
reunification with Armenia or return under Azerbaijani rule. The
mediators have stopped short of publicly confirming this, saying
only that practical modalities of the referendum would be decided
"through further negotiations."

MEDIA GROUPS SEE CONTINUED GOVERNMENT GRIP ON BROADCASTING
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 26 2006

Armenia’s leading media associations brushed aside on Tuesday a
government bill which is designed to make a powerful body regulating
broadcasting more independent of President Robert Kocharian.

The bill stems from one of the recently enacted amendments to the
Armenian constitution which stipulates that the Armenian television
and radio stations must be regulated by an "independent" state body.

The existing National Commission on Television and Radio (HRAH),
which has the exclusive authority to issue and revoke broadcasting
licenses, has until now been single-handedly formed by Kocharian and
is widely believed to be controlled by him. Under the government bill
in question, the Armenian parliament and president would each appoint
four of its eight members for a six-year term. The current members
of the HRAH would be allowed to complete their tenures defined by
the existing Armenian law on television and radio.

The commission would also be required to "substantiate in a proper
manner" the distribution and withdrawal of television and radio
frequencies.

Justice Minister David Harutiunian, who presented the draft law to the
National Assembly, said these changes would help to reduce government
influence on to private broadcasters. Virtually all of them are loyal
to Armenia’s leadership at present.

The only TV channel that frequently broadcast criticism of the
government, A1+, was controversially pulled off the air by the HRAH
in April 2002. Its repeated attempts to resume broadcasts have since
been blocked by the regulatory body headed by a former senior member
of the presidential administration. Domestic and international media
watchdogs view this as a vivid indication of the government’s tight
grip on the Armenian electronic media.

In a joint statement, the Yerevan Press Club, the Armenian Union of
Journalists and three other groups said the proposed changes do not
ensure the HRAH’s independence and therefore "cause serious concerns
regarding freedom of speech and a fair and objective regulation of
the market for television and radio broadcasting." They argued in
particular that it would take years before the composition of the HRAH
changes significantly. They suggested that the new commission have
16 members, half of whom would be appointed by the parliament at once.

The signatories complained that the legal amendments were drafted
by the government "hastily" and without consultation with local
journalists and organizations defending their interests. They urged the
parliament to delay the debate on the bill pending "public hearings"
on the issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAMMADYAROV: AZERBAIJAN’S POSITION ON THE SOLUTION OF NK CONFLICT BASES ON RELEVANT UN RESOLUTIONS AND OSCE DECISIONS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2006

"The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan recently has
become a subject of urgent consideration by the General Assembly due to
the massive fires registered in those territories," Elmar Mammadyarov,
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister said in the General Debate of the 61st
Session of the UN General Assembly.

"The Assembly adopted without a vote resolution stressing the necessity
to conduct an urgent environmental operation with a view of suppressing
the fires, overcoming the detrimental impact and rehabilitating the
affected territories. The resolution has two-fold purpose. On one hand,
it envisages a number of practical steps, including the assessment of
the short- and long-term impact of the fires on the environment as a
step in preparation for the environmental operation, counteracting to
the environmental degradation of the region and rehabilitation of the
fire-affected part of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. On the
other hand, it serves as an unprecedented example for engaging parties
to the conflict, Armenia and Azerbaijan, into a joint environmental
operation to be carried out directly in the fire-affected zone.

Implementation of resolution will contribute to establishment of
atmosphere of trust and confidence and will give positive impetus to
the negotiation process. Sadly, this is the only positive development
so far, and cannot be attributed to the overall situation around the
settlement process," the Minister underlined.

Mr.Mammadyarov also mentioned that no substantial progress has been
witnessed in the solution of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict.

"The parties and mediators accepted the stage-by-stage approach in
the settlement process as the only possible option. The status of
self-rule for the population of the occupied Nagorno Garabagh region
cannot be defined today. It should be elaborated through peaceful,
democratic and legal process with direct participation and consent
of both Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the Nagorno Garabagh
region. To that end, the occupying forces have to withdraw from the
occupied territories and necessary conditions have to be in place
to allow secure and dignified return of the Azerbaijani displaced
persons to Nagorno Garabagh region and surrounding territories of
Azerbaijan. Our position based on relevant resolutions of the UN
Security Council and OSCE decisions, which unequivocally demand
unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces from all occupied
territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan," he said.

Elmar Mammadyarov reproached Armenia for propagating by all means
the separatist regime established under its control in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan and spreading myths and legends about the
historical past and alleged democratic and economic achievements of
the regime and said it has to take a number of steps for establishing
normal relations with its neighbors. The Minister also mentioned that
Azerbaijan as a newly elected member of the Human Rights Council once
again reiterates its readiness to cooperate with other Member States.

Mammadyarov stressed the recent growth in Azerbaijan economy. "The
year 2006 has marked a historic event for the region and beyond,
which is the official inauguration of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
(BTC) main oil export pipeline. At the same time we actively pursue
development of trans-regional infrastructure projects, in particular
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad that has been recognized as an important
part of East-West and North-South transportation corridor."

The Minister also said that GUAM Member-States’ interests coincide
with UN interests. He touched upon peaceful solution of the Lebanon
conflict, UN reforms and Azerbaijan’s economic achievements.

PLATVOET: PROGRESS CAN BE ACHIEVED IN FINDING MISSING PERSONS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2006

"We can achieve progress in finding the persons missing as a result of
the conflicts in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia," said Leo Platvoet,
PACE rapporteur on prisoners of war and missing persons, APA’s Europe
bureau reports.

Mr.Platvoet said he believes progress will be achieved in the solution
of the problem on missing persons after his visit in Nagorno Garabagh
and Abkhazia.

"I arrived at a conclusion during my visit in Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan
in June that the interested sides want to deal with this issue in
terms of humanitarian sphere not politics," the rapporteur underlined.

Platvoet’s report on missing persons in the South Caucasus will be
discussed at January session of PACE.

OSKANIAN: "WE HAVE AGREED TO EACH OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON THE SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT"

Today, Azerbaijan
URL:
Sept 26 2006

One cannot blame Armenia for thinking that Azerbaijan is not ready
or interested in a negotiated peace, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian stated at the 61st session of the UN General Assembly.

"Yet, having rejected the other two compromise solutions that have
been proposed over the last 8 years, they do not want to be accused
of rejecting the peace plan on the table today. Therefore, they are
using every means available to try to bring the Armenians to do the
rejecting. But Armenia is on record: we have agreed to each of the
basic principles in the document that’s on the table today. Yet, in
order to give this or any document a chance, Azerbaijan can’t think,
or pretend to think, that there is still a military option. There
isn’t. The military option is a tried and failed option. Compromise
and realism are the only real options. Garabagh succeeded in ensuring
its self-defense, it proceeded to set up self-governance mechanisms,
and it controls its borders and its economy. Formalizing this process
is a necessary step toward stability in our region," Oskanian stressed.

Armenian Minister said he is closely following Kosovo peace process
stressing that this can be a precedent for the solution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, APA reports.

He said Azerbaijan’s intention to patronize "Nagorno Karabakh
population" cannot be understood and is unacceptable.

EP REPORT ON TURKEY TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2006

(Zaman) – The controversial report on Turkey’s progress towards
accession to the E.U. will be discussed in the European Parliament
(EP) General Assembly on Tuesday, reports Trend.

The draft report prepared by Dutch rapporteur Camiel Eurlings is
at the top of today’s agenda of the EP General Assembly, which will
convene in Strasbourg this afternoon.

The provision, which makes the recognition of the so-called Armenian
genocide a precondition for Turkey’s E.U. membership, is expected to
be removed from the draft with motions. Certain amendments are also
expected to be made on the Cyprus issue in favor of Turkey.

The report also asserts that Turkey had committed genocide against
the Pontus Greeks and Assyrians.

Voting on the report is to take place on Wednesday.

TURKEY’S STRATEGIC BLUNDER
By Dr Fereydun Hilmi

Kurdish Media, UK
Sept 26 2006

At the end of the First World War, Kamal Attaturk was able to save
the rump of the Ottoman Empire from British and French occupation.

His springboard point was Anatolia where he was able to persuade the
Kurds in north Kurdistan to join forces with him and reject British
intrigues among them aimed at chipping away further land from what
had remained of the great sick empire.

The British duped the Kurds by first encouraging them to seek
independence and supporting the idea and pouring much money into
Slemanî and the Kurdish parts of Iraq. For nearly 4 years they carried
on establishing a Kurdish administration andarmy and trained them to
protect their areas simply because they were unable to send an army
to do so as a result of their economic troubles and losses in the
occupation of southern and middle Iraq. Kurdistan’s mountains reminded
them of their disadters in Afghanistan and India; in Particular the
difficulties of fighting locals in places like the Khyber Pass.

Therefore they wanted to achieve the same result and prevent the
Turks form reclaiming land which had belonged to the Ottoman Empire
administratively but not subjugated by Turkish army forces. Most of
Kurdistan was ruled by Kurdish proxies with local armed men until
the British arrived in Kifri. Once the local chief Sheikh Mahmud
heard of this he invited the British to come to Slemanî in what he
considered was a card to play against the Ottomans so that he might
have bargained with it.

The British who were aware of this insisted that he should work for
his upkeep and support but his natural instinct was anti-British and
pro-Turkish. Yet Attaturk ignored his approaches and tried instead to
use him in his struggle to save as much of what he considered to be his
national homeland as possible. Sheikh Mahmud and the rest of the Mosul
Wilayet ended up as a juicy bite for the British colonial stomach.

The British who were really only interested in the oil-rich areas
of the Mosul Wilayet easily sacrificed the Kurds of Anatolia and
signed agreements with Turkey exchanging the Mosul Wilayet which they
had sneakily occupied during the armistice just after the war had
stopped. And with that Turkey was cocooned into a hard nationalistic
shell which it was to remain in for nearly a hundred years.

Britain was a tired and economically warn out power who had suffered
along with its French ally greatly at the hands of the Germans. It
was probably as weak and tired as the Turks if not more. Yet, today
Turkey is a third world country while Britain is a super power with a
thriving economy and English is the standard language throughout the
world. Britain and now the United States have fingers in every pie
all around the world while Turkey remained isolated and lacking all
forms of influence in even the closest nations right on its borders.

People five thousand miles away from Britain speak English as a second
language who once spoke Turkish instead.

The Ottoman Empire lasted some six centuries reaching the height of
civilization and scientific progress and many nations such as Kurds,
Armenians, Greeks, Arabs, Albanians and others from the Middle and
Far East, Asia and African nations served to advance its culture and
power throughout a huge chunk of the world and enrich the central
power house at Istanbul. The Turkish people were truly a minority who
started as fighting tribes, adopted Islam and Middle Eastern Culture as
a result of which Anatolia became the home of a huge thriving empire.

All that disappeared because of Attaturk’s Xenophobic attitude towards
all the nations that had helped his race reach the positions they
had. Proof of this lies in the fact that once the Kurds, Armenians,
Greeks and Arabs were alienated Turkey became and remained a poor
mediocre and backward state unable to sustain itself without iys
subservient position within NATO.

Yet, Turkey had a great opportunity throughout the twentieth century
to occupy a better position among these nations than does Britain
and the west. We must remember that the nations surrounding Turkey
practice the same religion, are of a mixture of local races, share
the geography as well as six centuries of togetherness as parts of
the Ottoman Empire. But despite the fact that they shared none of
those characteristics with Britain and the latter’s great physical
distance, it was the west who captured the hearts and minds of the
Middle East nations, not by having their interests at heart but via
many sly and devious methods including tying them up with economic
contracts the greatest benefits of which return to the west.

Western culture has also begun to despise eastern and oriental cultures
to such an extent that they are now treating Islam (the main culture
of some 1.5 billion people) as their grand enemy. This is not just
a feeling or a suspicion but a fact which nobody can deny today.

Unfortunately all that Turkey is offering is more subservience to the
will of its sponsors and denial of its geopolitical position and more
and more copycat culture from the west.

There are those who have been brainwashed into thinking that
civilization and technical progress can only come from the west. If
the Americans or the western nations do not invent it then it is not
possible. Some would even link Japanese and Chinese technology to what
they must have copied from the west easily and conveniently forgetting
that China and the Middle East were the main source of all scientific,
logical and technological advancement in the world.

Science and Technology do not have a nationality or a race while oil,
gas and other natural resources do. Turkey gave up its position as
the most modern capital of eastern culture and became a follower of
the west rather than the leader of the east. It has been struggling
to enter the European and Christian world believing that it is now
destined to exist on the periphery not realizing that it would have
to be and remain a fringe nation deprived of major progress.

In the beginning of the twentieth century my father, uncle and many
other Kurds and Iraqis were educated in Istanbul. I know that their
education was superb and my father also a scientist had a magnificent
command of mathematics and physics. In true ancient Greek style,
they were taught not just science but philosophy, history the arts
and everything worth learning. I was educated in the UK and although
the British education system is superior to many I had to learn all
those other subjects by my self.

Attaturk’s Turkey became isolated from its natural and geopolitical
environment while all around it the British and French were forming
alliances with what should have been Turkey’s historic allies until
all that was left was a small part of Cyprus only because they were
Turks. This deprived Turkey of mutual exchange of wealth, knowledge,
know-how and all other forms of economic ties with the erstwhile
members of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey’s policies towards the Kurds were Britain’s best protection
against the rejuvenation of the nation and the wall which kept it
from Iraq, Syria and the previously united nations of the Ottoman
Empire. Instead of behaving like a sour grape and sulking with hatred
Turkey should have done the exact opposite by revising its old policies
and trying to mend fences – it should have been doing all it could
to keep the borders soft and temporary. It should have extended its
hands to all its Muslim and Middle-Eastern brothers to form a new
alliance (a commonwealth of ex-Ottoman nations) – not alienate them
and isolate itself.

Kurdistan should have been a great ally and a strategic depth for
Turkey and not a sore wound in its side. Yet the Kurd’s struggle has
not stopped for one day simply to gain equality as citizens of the
country. For some reason it seems the Turkish mind does not work as
efficiently on its own and needs the inspiration of the other nations
around them. I believe that the Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Armenians and
optionally Greeks can reclaim the ground by making a complete change
of policy starting from Turkey.

Below I will state a suggestion which I hope the Turkish leadership
will read.

1. Turkey should pass a law completely banning racism in the country
2. Offer the Kurds all rights in the Turkish state and concentrate
on the region which is wealthy as well as lacking of investment
and development.

3. Keep foreign investments in Turkey and in Kurdistan to the minimum

4. Be humane enough to admit mistakes of the Ottomans towards the
Armenians and stop discrimination and persecution against all the
citizens of Turkey 5. Offer a friendly apology for maltreating the
Ottoman nations and promise a new era of brotherhood and equality. It
would be a great gesture of good will if the name of the nation was
changed to a more representative name covering its multinational
nature.

6. Establish the best possible ties with its neighbours, Iran,
a yet-to-be-liberated Iraq and in particular the Kurdish part.

7. Abandon the application to become an unloved and unwanted little
step-brother if Europe. Thus firmly, proudly and unapologetically
placing its foot in Asia 8. Establish the best possible ties with the
Arabs 9. Abandon NATO because its ties with that imperial organisation
preclude it from re-establishing itself as a major Asiatic power.

10. Seek economic contracts with all former members of the Ottoman
Empire 11. Establish universities for the education of African, Asian,
Arab and other citizens of the world who do not have the opportunity
to get western or even local education.

12. Form close ties with Iran which is surviving very well without
any NATOI and EU links.

13. Form the best possible links with the rich and progressive South
American Nations.

14. Completely wrench itself away from supporting the aggressive
and war-like actions of Israel and the Americans 15. Reposition the
political attitude of the country towards the greater good of the
nations of the region and in this way offer Turkey’s own vision of
the Middle East.

It is by far better for Turkey and the Middle East to be masters
of their own decisions than lackeys and sycophantic extras on the
backside of someone else.

The present Government of Turkey seems to have a mindset close to
the above analysis but seems too timid in going all the way. I have
written about Turkish society today in the past on KurdishMedia.com,
in particular about the lack of scientific and technological
advancement evident from the lack of world-renounced inventions,
scientific breakthroughs, music or cultural products. However I am
now offering the above ideas which I believe will return Turkey and
the surrounding nations to their rightful and influential old glory.

All the relevant and necessary requirements and active factors are
available. All we need are the will of a great statesman and the
courage of the nations to follow and endure the painful but sure and
rewarding path.

–Boundary_(ID_B5Z+wrea1lkykJPHwLaL5A)–

EU: PARLIAMENT DISCUSSES CONTROVERSIAL TURKEY REPORT

AKI, Italy
Sept 26 2006

Strasbourg, 26 Sept. (AKI) – A full session of the 732 member European
Parliament is on Tuesday due to discuss a controversial report on
Turkey – an EU candidate country – prepared by Conservative Dutch MEP
Camiel Eurlings. A controversial provision, making recognition of the
killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during and after World War I
a precondition for Turkey’s EU membership, is expected to be removed
from the draft, Turkey’s Cihan news agency reported. The parliament
is due to vote on the report on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s session – to be attended by EU enlargement commissioner Olli
Rehn – is also expected to make other amendments easing recommendations
on the issue of Turkey’s recognition of EU member state Cyprus, Cihan
said. The report warns the Turkish government that its continuing
refusal to allow Greek Cypriot ships and planes to enter its ports and
airspace and implement reforms could stall its membership negotiations
with the European Union.

The report – adopted by the European parliament’s influential foreign
affairs committee on 5 September – harshly criticises Turkey for
its slow pace of reform on rights, freedom of expression, and the
role of the security forces. It urged the country to "reinvigorate"
implementation of reforms, especially in the areas of freedom of
expression, women’s rights, religious freedom, trade union rights,
torture and ill-treatment of prisoners.

Turkey’s foreign ministry criticised the report as "lacking commonsense
and objectivity," and said it would not improve the country’s ties
with the EU. After protracted negotiations, Turkey began accession
talks with the EU last October. The talks do not lead automatically
to membership, which in any event is not expected before 2015.

AZERBAIJANI INTERIOR TROOPS’ SPECIAL FORCES SUITABLE FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN NK

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2006

Commander of Interior Troops Zakir Hasanov: I advocate public and
democratic control on the Army

The APA interviewed Commander of Interior Troops, General Lieutenant
Zakir Hasanov.

-Azerbaijan has professional Interior Troops who are ready to fulfill
errands given by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The main thing is that
our military personnel know their duties very well and ready to fulfill
them. The Interior Troops’ officers are mastering experiences of both
military body and law enforcement bodies. We are working on this issue.

-What countries and international organizations do the Interior Troops
cooperate with?

-We have been closely cooperating with Turkey’s Gendarmerie since
1997. Under the protocol, Turkey supports equipping, training of
personnel of the Interior Troops. Our Troops meet modern standards by
the assistance of the Turkish Gendarmerie. We are also cooperating
with China, Italy, Russia, U.S., Germany, Romania as well as with
NATO and FIEP. We conduct joint trainings.

Our main task is to conform the Interior Troops to European standards.

-The assessment mission from the Association of the European and
Mediterranean Police Forces and Gendarmeries with Military Status
(FIEP) has visited Azerbaijan recently. What do you expect from the
talks. Whendou think the Interior Troops will become FIEP member?

-The FIEP assessment group familiarized with the service,
professionalism and social condition of the Interior Troops. They
get a certain idea of the Troops. The assessment group is preparing
a report for the member countries. This report will be discussed at
the FIEP secretariat and the decision on membership will be discussed
at the meeting of FIEP authorities.

-Are there any plans on increase of defense expenditure?

– The logistics of the Interior Troops is in high level. Great majority
of social problems have been solved in the past two years thanks to
the head of state’s and Interior Minister Ramil Usubov’s care. The
personnel, in particular soldiers of the Troops have been ensured
wide opportunities today. All the military units and military camps
meet modern standards. We opened a hostel for officers in Baku in the
past one year. The construction of hostels in Sheki and Guba is about
to be completed. We also established a holiday-resort for officers
in Nabran. 136 billion manats (AZM) have been allocated for us from
the budget. Our budget is increasing every year. We are planning to
implement social programs in 2007-2008.

-Some countries benefit from the opportunities of Interior Troops and
similar bodies in solving problems like the Nagorno Garabagh problem.

How do you assess the Interior Troops’ preparation for operation
against the separatist forces in Garabagh?

-Besides, the separatist regime, there are Armenian Armed Forces in
Nagorno Garabagh. If there were only separatist forces, the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict could have been solved in a short period of time.

It is not so difficult to neutralize a small gangster. We had to
resist large-scale forces of Armenia and their supporters. They have
been supplied with heavy weapons and therefore, they can be defeated
by large-scale military operations. However, the Interior Troops
are prepared to interfere in this armed conflict any time. We have
high professionalism, equipment and first of all high spirit in our
military personnel. We will also undertake responsibilities if the war
starts. These responsibilities can be neutralization and disarmament of
gangsters in the liberated territories, patrol services or organizing
diversions behind the enemy to support our Army’s attack in mountainous
areas and so on. Our operation regiments can be involved in the battles
together with the Army. The special forces of Interior Troops are
being trained to be suitable for military operations in very Garabagh.

-However, the special forces are said to be used as riot squads to
suppress rallies and unrests most of all.

-These forces are used to fight both armed crimes and preserve
public order. Their professionalism is always on focus. Our special
forces are cooperating with Turkish Gendarmerie. Our officers attend
training courses in Turkey. As coming to rallies, The Interior Troops
do not engage in politics, their function is to defend our state from
criminal and outlaw attempts. We participate only in preventing mass
unrests. The practice shows some outlaw forces organize mass unrests.

We are ready to fulfill our duty. I am convinced that no outlaw force
can violate stability in Azerbaijan today!

-The Military Prosecutor’s Office says there is a high level corruption
in the Armed Forces. Is there such a problem in the Interior Troops?

-I am not informed of the processes in other bodies. There should be
a strong control to prevent corruption. No officer or ensign of the
Interior Troops has been called to account for corruption or bribery
since 2002. The Troops are being overseen by the Interior Ministry
and several other bodies. The officers of the Prosecutor’s Office
regularly visit our military units. Corruption is unacceptable in a
military body.

-The Council of Europe is also concerned over events contrary to
the Regulations of Armed Forces. What actions are taken to remove
such events?

– Legal framework prevents contrary to the Army’s Regulations. If
there is a right behavior to a soldier, there will be no problem. We
need to cooperate with parents. Our body is open to parents. We invite
parents of soldier to the military units every weekend, and I attend
these meetings too. We advocate public and democratic control on the
Army. Then the problems will be removed. Since, we are integrating
into Europe, this control is necessary.

-Do the parents complain of something?

-The complaints are due to leave and permission of soldiers to go
home for a short-term. Taking into account possible events, we cannot
allow soldiers to the city as they do not know the city well. They are
from province. We allow them in groups and take leave in accordance
with legislation. We rarely receive complaints on relationships
among soldiers.

-What about the establishment of the peacekeeping party in the
Interior Troops?

-A peacekeeping party is to be established in the Interior Troops
in the framework of the cooperation program with NATO. Preliminary
measures have been implemented for this. The officers have been
trained, staff meeting NATO standards has been established. The
party has been supplied with weapons and equipment. There remains
some measures to be implemented regarding purchasing of communication
facilities that are used in NATO forces. This problem will be addressed
in the context of mutual relations, and the peacekeeping party will
be ready early in 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress