Month: October 2006

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR SETTLEMENT OF KARABAKH CONFLICT MAY ORIGINATE ONLY IN 2009-2010: RPA MEMBER

ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

New opportunities for settlement of Karabakh conflict many originate
only in 2009-2010. Everything depends on the forces to come to power
in Armenia, Nagorny Karabakh and Azerbaijan in that period of time,
said Armen Ashotyan, MP representing the Republican Party of Armenia.

The party is in the ruling parliamentary coalition.

He said that the international community, at least they in the
Council of Europe, are aware that the possibilities of the conflict’s
settlement in the current year have been exhausted. Any progress in
the period of pre-election campaigns in Armenia and Azerbaijan are
not expected either.

Armen Ashotyan thinks that if South Ossetia or Abkhazia are returned
under protectorate of Georgia, they in Azerbaijan may fall into
a regular hysteria regarding Nagorny Karabakh. In the case with
Kosovo, the world community does not think it a precedent for other
conflicts. However, if Georgia returns one of its former autonomous
regions, we may face an application of dual standards with respect
to Karabakh by international community.

Armen Ashotyan said the new Constitution of NKR can become a
good calling card for Karabakh as it testifies to higher level of
democracy than that in Azerbaijan. He added that if NKR President
Arkady Ghouakssyan runs for a third term, it will not be a violation
of democratic norms given the problem of security of NKR.

As regards the issue of frozen conflicts put on the agenda of UN
General Assembly, Armen Ashotyan said it was not a defeat of Armenia’s
foreign policy. "The voting was not against Armenia but Russia as a
serious player in the region. Our only omission was that we failed
to separate the Karabakh problem from others," he said.

"Given the last curtsy of Azerbaijan to Russia, I’d like to warn the
public of the danger of statements by a number of political figures,
who think it necessary orientating at the West in the settlement of
Karabakh conflict," A. Ashotyan said for conclusion.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF RA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: MP FORECASTS

ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

Shavarsh Kocharyan, MP, says that Vardan Oskanyan, Foreign Minister
of RA, may participate in the Presidential Election in Armenia in
2008. Sh. Kocharyan told ArmInfo correspondent that Government will
try to play out two scenarios of the Presidential Election.

According to the first, ‘a certain power’ gains parliamentary majority
and promotes their candidate to the Presidential position.

This candidate "known to everyone" will guarantee the Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan personal security after the Election and
will also guarantee a secure conditions for him to leave the country.

There is no space for Vardan Oskanyan in this scenario.

In the second scenario, Robert Kocharyan takes the position of the
Prime Minister. Then he would certainly need an obedient and manageable
President. Vardan Oskanyan is a perfect match to take up this role.

SOUTH CAUCASUS FACES SERIOUS CHALLENGES: REPUBLICAN PARTY

ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

"South Caucasian Region faces serious challenges coming from intentions
of Russia, USA and European Union, the main geopolitical players in
the region, to strengthen their influence", said Armen Ashotyan, MP of
the Republican Party included in the parliamentary ruling coalition,
at the press conference in ‘Pastark’ club today.

He said that the most acute problem for Armenia in the geopolitical
development of the region is tension of Georgian-Russian relations.

Cause of the tension is that the neighboring country (Georgia)
fulfils orders of third parties "Russia, by its force, can attempt
to take political revenge in Georgia like it was in Ukraine.

Anyway, if Georgia ever joins the NATO, Armenia will appear in the
middle of Georgian-Turkish-NATO alliance", said the MP. A. Ashotyan
said that communication, energy and state independence issues become
of priority for Armenia in that situation. He added that Russia will
try to stop gas supplies to Caucasus because after gas crisis in
Ukraine it has to take measures to demonstrate to European Community
the image of Ukraine as a secure exporter of energy carriers.

The MP said that Russia can put up gas prices for Georgia. Georgia
in its turn will increase prices of gas transit via its territory to
Armenia. "Georgia will start to receive gas supplies from Azerbaijan
in 2007. Armenia should speed up the construction of the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline. This will be a key guarantee of Armenia’s independence
in the energy sphere", concluded A. Ashotyan.

TURKEY HOPES FRANCE WILL NOT PASS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
11 Oct 06

Ankara, 11 October: "We hope that French authorities will reject the
draft law (criminalizing denial of so-called Armenian genocide),"
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday
[11 October].

In his weekly press conference, Tan noted that French government has
launched some initiatives to counter the draft law, stating that it
was a positive development.

"(French) government has undertaken some initiatives against this
bill," he stressed.

On the other hand, a delegation headed by Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the
Chairman of the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
(TOBB), met representatives of French Economy & Social Labour Council
in Paris this morning.

Sources quoted Hisarciklioglu as saying in the meeting that the
bill was against freedom of expression, stressing that it would harm
relations between the two countries.

After holding talks in Paris, TOBB delegation left France for Turkey.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKISH ASSEMBLY SUBCOMMITTEE CONSIDERING BILL AGAINST FRANCE, ARMENIAN "LIES"

Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
11 Oct 06

Ankara, 11 October: Turkish Parliamentary Justice Commission has sent
the draft laws on criminalizing "lies on so-called Armenian genocide"
and "denials of Algerian genocide by France" to a sub-commission on
Wednesday [11 October].

According to the bill submitted to the sub-commission, any verbal
or written claims of Armenian genocide by Turks will receive a jail
term of 1 year up to 3 years. If the claims are made overseas, the
penalty then may be increased to 4 years in prison.

The other bill envisages to declare 8 May the day to commemorate
French genocide of Algerians. Those who deny the Algerian genocide
by the French will receive a jail sentence of 1 year up to 3 years.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RAILWAY COUNCIL OF CIS, BALTIC STATES MEETS IN ARMENIAN CAPITAL

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
11 Oct 06

Yerevan, 11 October: A session of the railway council of the CIS and
Baltic states opened in Yerevan today.

Opening the session, the chairman of the council and the head of
Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin, said that under the council’s
auspices, the railways of its member countries have made great progress
in establishing an intergovernmental informational-computing system,
Mediamax has said.

Besides, Vladimir Yakunin noted that the council played an important
role in ensuring cooperation among the railway administrations [of
the member countries].

Speaking about the Armenian railway, Yakunin described it as the oldest
system in the former Soviet Union. He recalled that the decision to
set up the Armenian railway was adopted in 1895.

The session of the council will last till 13 October. About 133
representatives from 15 countries are taking part in the session.

RUSSIA HAS JUST OVER 2,000 SERVICEMEN LEFT IN GEORGIA – COMMANDER

Interfax News Agency, Russia
11 Oct 06

Moscow, 11 October: Over 2,000 servicemen remain at Russian
military bases located in Georgia’s Batumi and Akhalkalaki and at
the headquarters in Tbilisi, Russian Ground Troops Commander-in-Chief
Army Gen Aleksey Maslov said.

"The bulk of the personnel have been removed, but 2,032 servicemen
and over 3,000 family members remain in Georgia. Some 400 servicemen
will be removed from the headquarters before the end of the year, all
troops will be pulled out from Batumi in 2007 and from Akhalkalaki
by the end of 2008 [as received; in actual fact the withdrawal from
Akhalkalaki is expected to be completed in 2007 and from Batumi in
2008]," Maslov told Interfax-AVN.

The personnel and military hardware being removed form Georgia will
be re-assigned to the 202nd military base in Armenia and to other
bases in Russia.

"For these purposes, we have worked out distribution plans for
officers, warrant officers and privates, as well as for armaments,
military hardware and materiel," he stressed.

Moreover, the Defence Ministry keeps the list of names of all Russian
servicemen in Transcaucasia and their family members who serve in
Georgia and have no apartment of their own.

"Specific measures are being taken to solve this problem. It is
necessary to provide housing to 452 people in 2006-2007," Maslov noted.

He stressed that 156 servicemen have already received apartments this
year, and 105 more servicemen will get them before the end of 2006.

"Another 247 servicemen are to be provided with housing in 2007,"
he said.

Maslov noted that Russian forces stationed on the Georgian territory
are preparing the hardware and materiel for the withdrawal.

"They are also naturally engaged in maintaining routine activity of
our military facilities," he said.

Serbia make Armenia pay penalty
Wednesday, 11 October 2006

Serbia continue to set the pace in UEFA EURO 2008′
qualifying Group A after comfortably defeating ten-man
Armenia in Belgrade.

Penalty miss
After a first-half penalty miss by Marko Panteliæ, the
home side rallied in the second period and another
spot-kick, this time converted by Dejan Stankoviæ, and
headers from Danko Lazoviæ and Nikola Zigiæ either
side of Rafael Nazaryan’s dismissal preserved Serbia’s
perfect home record since becoming an independent
nation. Serbia’s four games have reaped ten points,
two more than second-placed Finland, while Armenia are
being kept off the foot of the table by Azerbaijan.

Packs shuffled
Both coaches shuffled their packs following their
games on Saturday, when Serbia defeated Belgium and
Armenia held Finland, and unsurprisingly it was the
home side who enjoyed all of the early dominance with
Zigiæ going close inside the opening 45 seconds. The
tall striker was involved again in the 12th minute,
winning a penalty after being felled by Robert
Arzumanyan. Panteliæ was assigned spot-kick duties but
could only blast his effort over the bar.

Second-half goals
The Hertha BSC Berlin striker nearly made amends three
minutes later, only for a fine shot from range to
cannon to safety off the post. Serbia had to wait
until the 54th minute to finally get the better of
goalkeeper Gevorg Kasparov after he became the second
Armenian to foul Zigiæ in the area. Stankoviæ made no
mistake with the penalty, slotting it into the bottom
left-hand corner. Lazoviæ made the game safe when
heading in Ivica Dragutinoviæ’s 62nd-minute cross,
before Zigiæ scored the goal his performance deserved
deep into added time.

uefa.com

Prime Minister: Threatening about Genocide is Alarming

Reformatorisch Dagblad (Dutch daily newspaper)
11 october 2006

From political editor

The Hague – According to Dutch Prime Minister Mr. Balkenende it is "very
worrisome" that people in and outside Turkey are being threatened or
prosecuted, if they recognise the Armenian Genocide.

The Prime Minister said so Tuesday answering VVD Member of Parliament van
Baalen in a parliamentary EU debate about ³the State of the Union². Van
Baalen wants that the Dutch government demands Turkey, that Dutch citizens
of Turkish origin, who speak out about the Genocide, get off free, "If that
will not be the case, we take a gloomy view of the negotiations with Turkey
in the next ten to fifteen years².

Answering the Christian Union Faction leader Rouvoet the Prime Minister
said, he is still bringing the Rouvoet Motion into practice. This Motion of
December 2004 called upon the government, to ³continuously and explicitly
raise the recognition of the Armenian Genocide". Turkey ³should be honest
about her past and come to terms with it², Balkenende argued.

The negotiations with Turkey for accession are a classical example of how it
should not be done, van der Staaij of SGP said. His colleague Rouvoet
wondered how it is possible that Turkey still can have the EU negotiations
so much her own way. To the opinion of the parliament the negotiation
negotiations have to stop if Turkey does not allow Cypriot ships and
airplanes.

The Minister said that countries that want to become a EU member, from now
on will have to meet all criteria. Only then a date can be set for the
actual accession. ³Not the moment should be crucial, but the quality and
endurance", said Bot. That way citizens will keep faith in de enlargement of
the EU.

French MPs pass ‘genocide’ bill

BBC
October 12, 2006

The French parliament has adopted a bill making it a crime to deny
that Armenians suffered "genocide" at the hands of the Turks,
infuriating Turkey.

The bill, which would make genocide denial punishable by a year in
jail and a 45,000-euro ($56,400) fine, will now be passed to the
Senate and president.

Turkey has threatened to retaliate with economic sanctions against France.

Armenia says Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people systematically in
1915 – a claim strongly denied by Turkey.