Month: October 2006

AZERI DELEGATION WILL ASK CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF COE QUESTIONS REGARDING NK
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 4 2006

The meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will
take place in the Spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) that will be held in Strasburg, the member
of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE, MP Ganira Pashayeva told Trend.

She stressed that after the speech by the Head of the Committee,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, he will be asked questions.

The Azerbaijani side has also prepared its questions. Pashayeva
emphasized that despite the fact that Russia is the co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and
states that it recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
the TV channels of this Country presents the head of the separatist
regime Arkadi Kukasyan as the president of fictitious Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. "My questions will deal with this problem," she stressed.

In addition, she said that the Chairman of the Committee will also
be presented questions regarding the non-implementation of the PACE
Resolution No. 14/16 containing the necessity of returning Azerbaijani
refugees to their land occupied by Armenian Armed Forces.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIANS WITHDRAW FROM THE REGIONS BORDERING WITH AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 4 2006

Armenian government asks Armenian Diaspora organizations to solve
economical problems of villages bordering with Turkey and Azerbaijan,
APA Eastern European bureau reports quoting to Armenian Diaspora
organizations in Europe.

The Diaspora demands to promote democracy in the region.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said Armenian Diaspora
organizations allocated fund for construction of roads, schools and
restoration of irrigation system in over 50 villages. The government
hopes investors will make investment in the region and people will
come back.

The Foreign Minister said there are 159 villages to be reconstructed
each of which needs US $500-700.

In the meeting with The Diaspora organizations on September 31 Armenian
government said they will start economic struggle, because Azerbaijan’s
economic power has increased.

ARMENIA PLANS TO SIGN TWO AVIATION AGREEMENTS WITH USA

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. Armenia is actively working with the
USA to sign two aviation agreements, Head of the RA Civil Aviation
Department Artyem Movsisyan told reporters.

"We are actively working with the USA to sign an interstate agreement
on aviation security and air communication," he said.

According to Movsisyan, the proposals were made by the US Embassy in
Armenia. "The American side is interested in the sphere. Tjhis is a
very important country for us, and we are happy about their activity,"
Movsisyan said.

According to him, the "Armavia" airline is unequivocally interested
in cooperating with American air carriers, considering the existence
of a large Armenian community in the USA.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT HAPPY ABOUT ARMENIAN-SWISS RELATIONS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan,
receiving Tuesday copies of credentials from Lorenzo Amberg, newly
appointed Swiss Ambassador, said he is happy about Armenian-Swiss
relations.

Presidential press service reports that Kocharyan expressed
appreciation of Switzerland’s contribution to the process of
reformation in Armenia.

The ambassador said fast economic growth in Armenia and stable
political situation lays favorable ground for progress.

Amberg said he would make whatever necessary to deepen bilateral
relations between the countries.

CAD HEAD SATISFIED WITH SITUATION IN ARMENIA’S AVIATION

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. Head of the RA Civil Aviation Department
Artyem Movsisyan expressed his satisfaction with the situation in
Armenia’s aviation.

"We have a good air fleet, and technical service is provided by highly
skilled specialists," Movsisyan said.

He stressed that Armenia has a good air-navigation system, which
allowed it to join Eurocontrol.

On the other hand, Movsisyan said that much has still to be done.

This work involves the commercial policy of the "Armavia" airline,
as well as the construction of a new terminal at the "Zvartnots"
airport.

ARMENIAN NPP STOPPED FOR REGULAR REPAIR AND REFUELING

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, October 4. /ARKA/. Armenian Nuclear Power Plant ceased
operating on Sunday because of regular repair and refueling, Gagik
Markosyan, the plant general director, told ARKA News Agency on Monday.

In his words, the plant was stopped for 45 days. Fuel comes from
Russia. "The fuel price remains pegged", Markosyan said without
mentioning it. He said this is a commercial secret.

He said that, within these 45 days, the plant authorities would take
certain measures in cooperation with TACIS EU program and U.S. Energy
Department to enhance its security.

Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was launched in January 1980. The second
407.5-megawatt block is operating now. Speacialists say the plant
can function until 2016.

In 2003, the control over plant’s financial means were handed over
to INTER RAO UES, whose parent company is RAO UES Russia (60%) and
Rosenergoatom (40%).

AZERI MEDIA MISREPRESENTED FASSIER’S WORDS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2006 20:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The only obstacle for continuation of talks and
success in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is the absence
of trust between the peoples, OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair Matthew Bryza
said at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, the goal of the
current visit has been achieved, since there is readiness to resume
talks. "We do not say that we overcame the obstacles but we noticed
the readiness to move forward," Bryza said.

For his part Yuri Merzlyakov underscored that the resumption of
contacts will proceed on the basis of the documents submitted by the
mediators in May 2006.

According to French Co-chair Bernard Fassier, the Bucharest talks
form the foundation of the talks. "I would like to reiterate that
the parties will fail to come to an agreement without mediation," he
said. He also remarked that the Azeri press misrepresented his words
in Baku. "I did not say anything about NKR’s participation in the
talks. In general, media was inaccurate in quoting," Mr Fassier said.

TURKEY ‘CRITICIZED’ JACQUES CHIRAC FOR STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 12:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey criticized French President Jacques Chirac,
who said that Ankara should recognize the Armenian Genocide before
joining the European Union. In an official statement, the Turkish
Foreign Ministry says that these comments were "received with a
profound sadness". "Last year, when the practices of his country at the
time of the colonialism were for the international agenda, President
Chirac said that the historic incidents should be left with the
historians", the statement says. To remind, French President Jacques
Chirac during his first state visit to Armenia said that Turkey should
recognize the Armenian Genocide before becoming EU member. "Any country
increases by recognizing its dramas and its errors," he remarked.

U.S. CONGRESSMEN CALLED ON GEORGE BUSH TO EXPAND ENGAGEMENT WITH KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 13:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The congressional letter, signed by 77 members and
sent to the White House on September 29, highlights a long history
of U.S. support to Nagorno Karabakh and the will of the people of
Artsakh to build a democratic and economically viable country.

As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the NKR Representative Office
in the U.S., the letter also notes the continuation of Azerbaijan’s
destructive policy, which threatens peace and stability in the
region and "goes against U.S. interests." Most importantly, the
congressional letter advocates for expansion of U.S. political and
economic engagement with Nagorno Karabakh.

The letter said in part: "As we work towards peace, the United
States can and must expand its engagement with the lawfully and
democratically established Nagorno Karabakh Republic. These ties
should not be dictated by outside forces but rather should be guided
by the shared values of our two nations. […] We should build on this
success by investing in developmental and good governance programs that
will strengthen Nagorno Karabakh’s economy, democratic institutions,
and promote even greater cooperation on a range of regional and
security issues."

"Everyday, we are advancing in building a country of our dreams – a
free, democratic and prosperous Artsakh. Fifteen years of independent
statehood have proved the righteousness of the historic path chosen
on September 2, 1991. Throughout these years, the people of Artsakh
have been truly blessed to enjoy the political and economic support
of the U.S. Congress.

We are deeply thankful to the American people for their generous
economic assistance that helped restore dozens of war-torn
villages, drinking water supplies and medical facilities," said NKR
Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONFERENCE ON PROSPECTS OF NATO-SOUTH CAUCASUS COOPERATION TO BE HELD IN TBILISI

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 10 the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and
the International Center of Conflicts and Talks of Georgia will hold
an international conference titled "Prospects of cooperation between
NATO and South Caucasian states". The conference will be attended by
Georgian government members, representatives of political parties,
NGOs, media and experts. FNF Head of South-Caucasus-Project Wolfgang
John, ICCT project director Giorgi Khutsishvili, NATO PA member Elke
Hoff, Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava and Georgia’s
Republican Party expert on foreign policy Ivliane Khaindtava will
give reports, said Trend news agency.