Month: October 2006

Associated Press Worldstream
September 28, 2006 Thursday 8:54 PM GMT

Armenian, Russian forces conduct joint anti-terror exercise

Armenian and Russian special forces conducted a joint exercise
Thursday simulating a response to terrorists who seized a nuclear
power plant.

The exercise’s scenario envisaged a group of terrorists taking
hostages and locking themselves up in the Armenian nuclear power
plant’s control room. A joint force made up of Russian and Armenian
special forces quickly disarmed the terrorists and freed hostages.

The exercise was held under the auspices of the Anti-Terror Center of
the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose alliance of the
former Soviet nations. It was attended by observers from the United
States, Britain, France, Germany and other nations.

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part B (Russia)
September 28, 2006 Thursday

RUSSIAN OFFICERS ARRESTED IN GEORGIA;
Moscow condemns it as a provocation

by Viktor Volodin

Official Tbilisi foments a new scandal in Russian-Georgian relations;
The Georgian patrol police laid siege to the territory surrounding
the headquarters of the Russian Army Group in the Caucasus yesterday
– all of a sudden, and without so much as a warning. They demanded to
see two Russian officers who they said were wanted for questioning.

The Georgian patrol police laid siege to the territory surrounding
the headquarters of the Russian Army Group in the Caucasus yesterday
– all of a sudden, and without so much as a warning. The police began
checking the ID of everyone leaving the building. They demanded to
see two Russian officers who they said were wanted for questioning at
the Interior Ministry of Georgia.

The authorities came up with an explanation soon that they had
exposed "a conspiracy" of the Russian military.

Arrest of four Russian officers by the Georgian police became public
knowledge in the evening. Embassy of the Russian Federation asked for
an explanation and Georgian secret services promptly obliged by going
public. Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili called a press conference
to announce that the Department of Counter-Intelligence had detained
four officers of the GRU (army intelligence) of the Russian General
Staff and 12 Georgians recruited by the GRU.

Merabishvili called Colonel Alexander Savva of the GRU, arrested in
Tbilisi earlier, the chief of the spy ring. Three other officers were
detained – Lieutenant Colonel Dmitri Kazantsev in Tbilisi and Colonel
Alexander Zavgorodtsev and Major Alexander Barantsev in Batumi. "We
want Konstantin Pugachin, who has taken refuge at the headquarters of
the Russian Army Group in the Caucasus in Tbilisi," the minister
said. "The network exposed in Georgia was run by Anatoly Ivanovich
Sinitsyn who is currently in Yerevan, Armenia." Georgian security
structures threaten to leave the headquarters under siege until
Pugachin is turned over to them.

"Special operation to uproot the network continues," Merabishvili
announced and proceeded to identify four "collaborators" by names.
All four men were arrested for "compilation of sensitive information"
and "planning of provocations." "We’ve kept them under surveillance
for a long time and compiled heaps of materials. These people
displayed interest in military objects, defense capacity of the
country, programs of integration into NATO, energy security issues,
parties of the opposition and non-governmental organizations, Defense
Ministry’s procurement plans, and ports," Merabishvili said.
Well-informed sources in the republican Interior Ministry had said
even before the press conference that the Russian officers were
suspected of clandestine arms deals.

There is no need to "push" the Russian troops out of Georgia with the
help of dubious counter-intelligence actions. Under the
Russian-Georgian accords, the Russian military will leave Georgia in
2008. The headquarters of the Russian Army Group in the Caucasus will
be closed as well. Russian Chief of the General Staff General of the
Army Yuri Baluyevsky branded the arrests made in Georgia "lawlessness
on the part of Defense Minister Irakly Okruashvili and his inner
circle." "The Russian Foreign Ministry and we are taking steps to
resolve the crisis," Baluyevsky said.

A diplomatic note from the Russian Embassy, delivered to the Georgian
Foreign Ministry, condemns the actions of the Georgian security
structures as a provocation and blames Georgia. "The Embassy and the
command of the Russian Army Group in the Caucasus appealed to the
Georgian Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, and Defense Ministry to
be told the arrested officers’ whereabouts – with nothing to show for
it. The Embassy insists on an immediate release of the four officers
of the Russian Army and removal of cordons around the headquarters of
the Russian Army Group in the Caucasus," the protest note stated.

Russian Foreign Ministry regards the steps taken by Tbilisi as "a
confirmation of the anti-Russian policy off the Georgian
administration." Grigori Karasin, State Secretary and Deputy Foreign
Minister, protested to Georgian Ambassador Irakly Chubinishvili.
Mikhail Grishankov, Senior Deputy Chairman of the Security Committee
of the Duma, harbors doubts concerning the charges of espionage
pressed against the Russian officers. "What espionage are they
talking about. Whatever is to be known about Georgia is long since
known. The GRU is not interested in Georgia," Grishankov said.
(Before election to the Duma, Grishankov was a senior officer of the
Chelyabinsk Regional Directorate of the Federal Security Service.)

Source: Vremya Novostei, September 28, 2006, p. 1

Translated by A. Ignatkin

RIA Novosti, Russia
September 28, 2006

No plans to expand Russian base in Armenia – general staff

YEREVAN, September 28 (RIA Novosti) – There are no plans to increase
the number of personnel and military equipment at a Russian base in
Armenia, the country’s chief of the general staff said Thursday.

The Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri, about 120 kilometers (75
miles) from the Armenian capital Yerevan, is part of a joint air
defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was
deployed in Armenia in 1995.

"We are not planning the expansion of the Russian base in Armenia,"
Mikael Arutyunyan said, adding that the base will be equipped with
modern weaponry instead, and the level of combat training improved to
ensure the base fulfills its mission.

The base operates under the authority of the Russian group of forces
in the South Caucasus, and is equipped with S-300 (SA-10 Grumble) air
defense systems, MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters and 5,000 personnel.

Part of the military equipment from Russian bases in Georgia will be
transferred to the base in Gyumri by the end of 2008.

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 (0)2 732 70 26
Tel/Fax : +32 (0)2 732 70 27

PRESS RELEASE
29 septembre 2006
Contact: Varténie ECHO
Tel/Fax : +32 (0)2 732 70 27

EP/TURKEY: RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE ESSENTIAL TO ACCESSION – ARMENIAN
BLOCKADE VIOLATING NEGOTIATIONS

— Eurlings: `there is no accession without an acknowledgement of the

Armenian genocide’ —

The European parliament adopted on Wednesday 27 September a
resolution on `Turkey’s progress towards accession’ by 429 votes in
favour, 71
against and 125 abstentions. The report in a highly critical tone
demonstrates the sharp degradation of relations between Turkey and
the
European Union and the unfavourable situation of the negotiation
process.

As for the Armenian genocide, the European Parliament maintained the
position by recalling that "although the recognition of the Armenian
genocide as such does not formally constitute one of the Copenhagen
criteria, it is essential that a country towards accession faces and
recognizes its past". In fact, this was the only point underlined by
the rapporteur, Mr. Eurlings who, at the end of the vote, emphasised
by "Let’s be clear: even if the recognition of the Armenian genocide
is not formally a condition of membership, Turkey cannot join the
Union without recognizing its past’.

However, on this question, the European Parliament rejected by 320
votes against 283 and 40 abstentions paragraph 49 that had already
been
adopted by the Committee of Foreign Affairs and which places the
recognition of the Armenian genocide as a precondition to accession.

`We deeply thank those who – among all groups – have done everything
in order to maintain the formulation which constituted only a recall
of the European parliament former positions’ declared the chairperson

of the European Armenian Federation, Hilda Tchoboian. `The rejection
of this paragraph is purely linked to the current situation and was
imposed by Turkey with the expedience of the chancelleries of the
European Countries. We note however that the impact of this
suppression
was restrained by the declarations of the rapporteur on this very
subject’ continued Hilda Tchoboian.

In addition, the Federation regrets the lack of awareness which led
the European Parliament – in line with the socialist group proposal –

`to take note of Turkey’s proposal to establish a bilateral committee

of experts which should be held under the auspices of the United
Nations’ in order to pronounce judgment on the Armenian genocide. The

Federation reminds that the experts of the UN Sub-Committee on Human
Rights have in 1985 already acknowledged without any ambiguity the
Armenian genocide.

`The European parliament resolution is a real disavowal of the
Turkey’s aggressive policy since it considers that the blockade of
Armenia
explicitly violates the conditions of membership of this country’,
continued Hilda Tchoboian. `Now, we are waiting for the European
executive to consider this issue with the same determination as the
Cypriot
issue, concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

The Federation notes with satisfaction that the Armenian genocide and

the blockade forced by Turkey – as is the question of the Cyprus
occupation and the capacity of the Union to absorb members constitute
the
core of the European preoccupations regarding Turkey’s controversial
application.
From: Baghdasarian

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
September 28, 2006 Thursday 10:03 PM EST

Chirac begins first visit to Armenia

French President Jacques Chirac will begin the first-ever three-day
state visit to Armenia on Friday and will participate in the opening
of France Square in Yerevan.

Chirac will have one-on-one talks with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan, which are to be followed by a joint press conference.

On Saturday a gala concert will be held in central Republic Square in
Yerevan, which will mark the beginning of the Year of Armenia in
France.

Chirac is also to visit the memorial to the victims of 1915 genocide
in the Ottoman Empire, and St. Echmiadzin where he will meet
Catholicos Garegin the Second.

This is the first visit of the French head of state to Armenia.
Chirac is accompanied by Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy,
Transport Minister Dominique Perben, Minister of State Christian
Jacob, Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres.

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 28, 2006 Thursday

Armenian govt to allocate more land plots for Russian jet fighters

Tigran Liloyan

YEREVAN, September 28

The Armenian government will allocate additional land plots for the
deployment and servicing of MiG-29 jet fighters which are part of the
Russian military base in Armenia.

A building or a land plot for a nursery school, intended for the
children of Russian servicemen will also be allocated, according to
the agreement signed on Thursday by the intergovernmental commission
on the handover of land plots and immovable property for the
deployment and functioning of the Russian military base

The parties have coordinated the settlement procedure and the payment
of the expenses related to the presence of the base in Armenia.

Head of the Armenian part of the commission, First Deputy Defense
Minister, army chief of staff Col Gen Mikhail Arutyunyan said the
commission’s work is aimed toward the settlement of issues within the
framework of bilateral military cooperation, such as the welfare and
housing conditions of the Russian servicemen. A squadron of MiGs is
deployed at the airfield in Yerevan, who cover the republic’s air
space together with air defense units. It is for these planes that
land plots will be allocated, Arutyunyan.

According to Igor Gromyko, an adviser with the Russian Embassy in
Armenia, who co-chairs the commission for Russia, “the session has
passed in the spirit of traditional mutual understanding between two
allies.”

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 28, 2006 Thursday

CIS security services hold antiterror exercises in Armenia

by Vladimir Zainetdinov, Tigran Liloyan

Security services of the CIS and Collective Security Treaty
Organisation (CSTO) countries began on Thursday an active phase of
operative-strategic command and staff exercises Atom –
Antiterrror-2006 at the Armyanskaya nuclear power plant on Thursday.

The exercises are the sixth over six years of existence of the CIS
Antioterrorist Centre (ATC).

ATC chief Colonel-General Boris Mylnikov told ITAR-TASS that Atom –
Antiterror-2006 operative-strategic exercises were a drill of
planning and conducting the search to reveal and destroy sabotage
groups that infiltrated the territory of Armenia and seized a nuclear
power plant in the settlement of Metsamor located 40 kilometres from
the capital Yerevan.

Workers of the Armenian National Security Service and the Russian
Federal Security Service’s Special Task Centre will act as a
16-member terrorist group that secretly moves in Armenia. They are
searched for in different parts of the country, but still manage to
infiltrate the grounds of the nuclear power plant and seize a train
that moves its personnel.

Personnel are not just hostages to the terrorists, who want to force
the plant’s workers to act to criminal orders.

“These are the first exercises of this scale of anti-terrorist units
of CIS security services that are being held jointly with the allied
headquarters of the CSTO and Armenian army units that are a part of
the CSTO Collective Rapid Deployment Forces,” Mylnikov said.

The Armenian National Security Service and antiterrorist units of the
FSB Special Task Centre will play a main role in the exercises. When
“terrorists” are spotted, the Armenian army’s motorised infantry
battalion of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces in the
Trans-Caucasus and two companies of special forces will go into
action. The exercises will also involve Mi-8 helicopter gunships and
Su-25 assault planes, Mylnikov said.

Special task units of the Armenian National Security Service and the
Russian Federal Security Service’s crack groups Vympel will free the
imaginary hostages.

Security services of the CIS countries except for Azerbaijan,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan take part in the exercises.

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 28, 2006 Thursday

Russia’s reply to Georgian demarche must be well-considered-Gustov

by Lyudmila Yeremakova

Russia must take harsh, well considered measures in response to the
detention of Russian military in Georgia, the chairman of the
Federation Council’s CIS affairs committee, Vadim Gustov, said on
Thursday.

He described Georgia’s latest demarche as another link in the chain
of events that may eventually lead to Georgia’s admission to NATO.

Georgia hopes that its unceremonious policy would earn it more
authority with NATO, Gustov said, adding he would not rule out that
Georgia might be number one target of US policies of making CIS
members break off with Russia.

As for the peacekeepers, Gustov recalled that “there are
well-established procedures of their presence in the region, there is
the CIS mandate and recognition by the OSCE.”

Should Russian troops be pulled out, “a long and sanguinary war will
flare up in the Caucasus that may cause destruction not in Georgia’s
territory only.”

The FC’s CIS affairs committee chief would like the other CIS
countries, including Armenia, to take the correct position on the
issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Daily News
September 28, 2006 Thursday

MEPS CALL FOR MORE REFORMS FOR PROGRESS IN EU TALKS

The European Parliament warned Turkey in a non-binding report
yesterday that it must speed up far-reaching reforms if it wanted to
become a member of the European Union.

European parliamentarians adopted the highly critical, nonbinding
report by 429 votes in favor to 71 against with 125 abstentions,
accusing Ankara of failing to live up to commitments it made to win
the green light from EU leaders to start talks on joining the bloc,
which began last October.

"The European Parliament … regrets the slowing down of the reform
process," the report said, adding that Turkey had shown "insufficient
progress" in the areas of freedom of expression, religious and
minority rights, women’s rights and the rule of law since the start
of accession talks 11 months ago.

In a move likely to please Ankara, the European Parliament deleted a
controversial clause that would have sought to make recognition by
Turkey of an alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the late
Ottoman Empire a pre-condition for full membership.

But the report still called on Turkey to "acknowledge the Armenian
genocide" before it can join the EU, with European parliamentarians
saying it was "indispensable" for Turkey to come to terms with and
recognize its past. They also urged Turkey to establish diplomatic
relations with Armenia and open the land border with its eastern
neighbor

Another clause in the critical report referring to alleged genocides
of other communities in Anatolia, namely the Pontus Greeks and the
Assyrians, was added to the one on the alleged Armenian genocide.

On Cyprus, the report demanded that Turkey fulfill its obligation to
open its ports and airports to traffic from EU-member Greek Cyprus
under an extended customs agreement. Ankara has refused to do so
unless the EU fulfils a pledge to end the economic isolation of
Turkish Cypriot North Cyprus. Brussels rejects this approach.

The report’s author, Dutch parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings, told the
European Parliament that it was "fair but tough" and urged Ankara to
see it as a "motivation to speed up reforms."

"I’m sorrowed that I had to draft such a damning report but the ball
is now firmly in Turkey’s court," Eurlings was quoted as saying at a
news conference.

In earlier reactions, Economy Minister Ali Babacan, who is also
Turkey’s chief EU negotiator, played down the report’s significance.

"We assess this report as a foreign assessment, an alternative view
which must be taken into account but it shouldn’t have too much
importance attached to it," he was quoted as saying.

Ankara is also awaiting a progress report from the EU’s executive
arm, the European Commission. The report on Turkey will be released
on Nov. 8.

Xinhua News Agency
September 28, 2006 Thursday 11:00 AM EST

Turkey expresses concerns over Netherlands’ approach on Armenian
genocide

A Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman on Thursday expressed concerns
over Netherlands’ approach on a "so-called Armenian genocide" in
early 20th century, Turkey’s semi-official Anatolia news agency
reported.

"We are deeply worried about the one-sided approach of our ally
Netherlands’ political parties on so-called Armenian genocide as this
puts a limit on the freedom of expression," Namik Tan was quoted as
saying.

Tan’s comment came after three Turkish-origin candidates were removed
from their party lists in the Netherlands for the Nov. 22 early
parliamentary elections because they refused to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide.

Ruling out the possibility that his country would accept allegations
on Armenian genocide as historical reality, Tan stressed that Turkey
had opened all its archives, including military ones, so that the
incidents of 1915 can be studied from a scientific perspective.

Tan also recalled that the Turkish government had proposed the
Armenian side to establish a joint history commission over the issue.

Turkey, a country seeking European Union (EU) membership, has always
refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia on the basis
that Armenia claims up to 1.5 million Armenians died as a result of
systematic genocide during the Turkish Ottoman period between 1915
and 1923.

Some European Parliament (EP) members characterized the removal of
the three Turkish candidates as a violation of the freedom of
expression, Turkish Zaman daily newspaper reported.

On Wednesday, the EP approved a report on Turkey’s progress towards
accession to the EU, in which the lawmakers dropped their demand that
Turkey must acknowledge the Armenian genocide before it can join the
bloc and called on Turkey to speed up its reform process.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress