Month: October 2006

ARMENIAN EMBASSY COUNSELOR SAYS KARS-AKHALKALAK-TBILISI-BAKU FRUITLESS FOR REGION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006

Construction of Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway line is aimed at
restrictive policy and is economically inefficient, Yuri Petrosian,
counselor of Armenia’s embassy in Georgia told APA bureau.

But, he considers restoration of through-Abkhazia railway line
(joining Russia and Armenia) as a pragmatic project.

Petrosian said that Kars-Baku project is political project and planned
to discriminate Armenia and this factor is known to most international
organizations and leading countries.

"The existing Kars-Gumru-Tbilisi railway is not in use. Some
South Caucasian states aspire to construction of an inefficient,
discriminating and useless project. The funds can be used for more
actual projects," he said.

He said that restoration of the railway through Abkhazia to Russia
requires $150-200m and some two years and this project is beneficial
for all parties. This project can Georgia’s transportation expenses
by 30% and ensure Armenia’s way-out to Russia.
From: Baghdasarian

VICE-PRESIDENT OF OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY VISITS AZERBAIJAN TODAY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006

Oleg Bilorus, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly vise-president and Ukraine
representative to the organization visits Azerbaijan today, Bahar
Muradova, the head of Azerbaijani delegation to OCSE PA told the APA.

She said that Bilorus plans to meet with Azerbaijani delegation member
and the parliament speaker Ogtay Asadov, National Academy of Science
president Mahmud Kerimov and Foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov. He
will also visit refugee settlements, sightseeing of Baku and one of
the oil mines.

Bahar Muradova also said that the sides will discuss the cooperation
of Azerbaijan and Ukraine within OSCE PA and GUAM.

"Oleg Bilorus’ position as OSCE Parliamentary Assembly official can
influence some problems. We want to win his support in the settlement
of Nagorno Garabagh conflict," she said.

ARMENIA: ARMTV HOPES FOR A NATIONAL FINAL PROCEDURE IN DECEMBER

oikotimes.org, Greece
Oct 25 2006

Fotis Konstantopoulos reporting from Athens (Greece)
source: ARMTV, – photo: oikotimes resources

Two semifinals and a final

Armenia hopes to hold two semifinals and a final, ARMTV told today.

The news coming after ARMTV’s statement on oikotimes that everything
will be based on the quality and quantity of the submitted songs.

ARMTV wishes everything to go well and have a national final in
mid-December therefore been the first country to select an entry
through a national final and not Albania. Armenian broadcaster seems
to make plans to announce details next week.

This is what we have been reporting

ARMTV’s primay channel broadcasted this week announced the
broadcaster’s invitation to composers to submit songs up
to mid-November. The composers have the usual rules for their
submissions. The overall number of submissions will determine ARMTV’s
final decision to conduct a national or an internal selection. The
quality of the submitted songs will also be a key factor on the above
decision. Still the option of choosing an artist with a suggested
song from the Armenian National Music Awards is open.

6634

NATIONAL FINAL FOR ARMENIA

esctoday.com, Netherlands
Oct 25 2006

Officials at ARMTV, the national broadcaster of Armenia, have told
esctoday.com that they plan to hold a national final to select their
Eurovision Song Contest entry for 2007. The process will consist
of two semifinals and a national final. They are now in the final
process of deciding the rules and the format, and an announcement
will be made next week.

Armenia will be competing at the Eurovision Song Contest for the second
time in 2007 after a successful debut this year. They finished sixth
in the semifinal and eighth in the final in Athens with Without your
love sung by Andre.

Speaking to esctoday.com this morning, ARMTV said "We hope to hold
a national final this time. We are finalising the plans now and we
will announce the details next week. We hope to have a three phase
selection, with two semifinals and a final. This is our second time
at the competition and interest will be higher now. We really want
to make a national final with information about the lives of the
participants. We want to do this for the viewers, to get them involved
in selecting their song".

If the plans go ahead, the selection will take place in December. It
is likely that this year’s first Eurovision Song Contest entry to be
selected will be from Armenia, and not as expected, from Albania.

The shows will not be broadcast on the Internet due to technological
issues. We were told "We want all shows to be broadcast live, but
they will not be available on the Internet. We hope that maybe for
2008 it will be possible".

Under current rules, Armenia are assured of a place in the final of
the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007 after finishing in sixth place
in Athens.

"ZERKALO": "PUNISHMENT FOR GENOCIDE" – EXPENSIVE PLEASURE

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006

Turkish Government established sanctions to be applied against
France in connection with the law providing for punishment for denial
"Armenian genocide" adopted by the Parliament of France. According to
APA, official Ankara decided to freeze all bilateral relations with
the official Paris, first of all, political and military relations.

Within the decision French companies will be deprived of the right
of the involvement in defence and energy projects in Turkey.

First of all, French companies won’t be involved in projects relating
construction of atomic power stations. Furthermore, it is decided to
keep away French companies from the mentioned tenders declared by the
General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces: – "Eurocopter" French company
made a proposal relating purchase of 12 helicopters for gendarmerie
in the tender. This proposal won’t be reviewed.

– French company won’t be allowed to tender which to be held in
connection with the purchase of 54 helicopters considered for various
purposes of Turkish armed forces.

– The project relating purchase of modern submarines for naval forces
won’t take into consideration French companies’ proposal.

– The proposal of GIAT, French company involved in the tender for
the purchase of tanks for land forces will be rejected.

vis.pl?s=001&p=0056&n=001045&g=

–Bou ndary_(ID_HdlYZuHsuty94U1c3LXKJA)–

FRENCH AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT CRITICIZED IN TURKEY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006

"Ambassador of France to Armenia Henri Cuny’s remarks on the issue
of Turkish borders are not wise," Dr. Sedat Lachiner, Director of
Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization, stated,
APA ‘s Turkey reports.

He said all countries have their own control on their own borders.

This kind of claims badly affects Turkish public opinion and undermine
the credibility of the EU and France in Turkey.

"Most of the people now in Turkey consider France as hostile country
and see the French support for the Armenians as the religious
solidarity" Dr. Laciner added. Similarly Dr. Mehmet Ozcan, another
Turkish expert, said that Turkey sincerely seeks to develop good
relations with Armenia and air borders have been open between Turkey
and Armenia. But no improvement was seen in relations because of
Armenia. According to Mr. Ozcan, Armenia does not want to develop
relations with Turkey.

"Armenia aims to increase the tension to get the Western support
against Turkey. They do not recognize Turkey’s national borders and
they do expect open borders. If Turkey does not recognize France’s
national borders and occupies an EU member state, will France keep
its borders with Turkey open?" he said.

Henri Cuny, Ambassador of France to Armenia, said when meeting with
Armenian students in Armenia that once Turkey joins the EU, the issue
of its borders will be decided not by itself but by the central EU
headquarters in Brussels.

"This is the order. And entering the EU suggests open borders. The
question is, when this is to happen", said Cuny.

ARMENIAN POLITOLOGIST: MEDIATORS’ PRINCIPAL GOAL – TO PREVENT FROM RESUMPTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2006

The Karabakh conflict cannot be settled without the Nagorno-Karabakh’s
participation in the settlement process, an independent politologist
Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated at a press conference at the Pastark
Club October 25.

According to Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan, sooner or later the
Azeri party will have to sit at the negotiating tale with the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s leadership, like in 1993 – 1995. In the
politologist’s opinion, the OSCE Minsk group, Europe and super-powers
are obviously more interested in the conflict’s conservation and
not its solution. "The conflict should not be resumed – that is the
mediators’ first goal", the politologist believes. "The NKR’s status
is of no peculiar interest to the mediators". In his opinion, the
Europe’s economy is not ready to rebuff a new blow: the resumption
of the hostilities in the Karabakh conflict zone will result in rise
of the fuel prices.

While commenting on the idea of the conduct of a repeated referendum
on the determination of the NKR’s status, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan
noted in case the Armenian party agreed to the proposal it would
unintentionally cast doubts on a referendum held in Karabakh December
10, 1991. In the politologist’s words, the proposal may be acceptable
for the Armenian party only in case it is held on the territory of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic without taking into consideration
Azerbaijan’s Constitution. "We all know the answer given by the
Artsakh people", Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan noted.

Answering a question why discussing the options of the mutual
compromises on the Karabakh conflict’s settlement the matter, as
a rule, concerns the liberated territories, the issue of the North
Artsakh being ignored, Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan regretfully mentioned
the community unions’ passiveness.

PELOSI PLEDGES TO SUPPORT CONGRESSIONAL ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 25 2006

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a longtime supporter of
Armenian American issues who is expected to become Speaker if the
Democrats win a majority in the House this November, pledged today
to support Armenian Genocide legislation next year during the 110th
session of Congress.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the ANCA, in a
statement released to Harut Sassounian, Publisher of the California
Courier, Congresswoman Pelosi stated that: "I have supported
legislation, including H.Res.316, which would properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide. It is imperative that the United States recognize
this atrocity and move to renew our commitment to eliminate genocide
whenever and wherever it exists".

Sassounian’s weekly column appears internationally in more than a
dozen newspapers, as well as in the widely read Huffington Post.

"Nancy Pelosi’s powerful words and principled actions underscore
the stark difference between her and Dennis Hastert, who, during his
tenure as Speaker has consistently prevented a bipartisan majority
from voting in favor of U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide,"
said ANCA (Ho. He. Dashnaktsutyan Washington-ee Hai Tahd-ee Krasenyag)
Executive Director Aram Hamparian).

Congresswoman Pelosi’s statement is consistent with her past record of
energetic and principled support for U.S. recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, dating back nearly 20 years. Since her election to the House
in 1986, she has worked closely with the Bay Area Armenian National
Committee, enjoying warm relations with the Armenian American community
in the greater Bay Area.

"The principled stand of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi comes
as no surprise, and we’re proud that she confirmed it again today,"
said Bay Area ANC Chairwoman Roxanne Makasdjian.

Speaking at a Capitol Hill observance in April of 2005, the
California Congresswoman countered those who have cited Turkey’s
strategic position as reason to oppose Armenian Genocide legislation,
stressing that: "First at the time of the Iron Curtain, [they cited]
the strategic location of Turkey, after that it was the Gulf War and
Turkey’s strategic location . . . Turkey’s strategic location is not
a license to kill."

In May of 2001, during her remarks at the ANCA’s annual Capitol Hill
Armenian Genocide observance, Congresswoman Pelosi noted that: "The
sad thing about that tragedy is that it is a tragedy twice. Once in
the course of the Genocide and secondly in the fact that we cannot get
the United States to pass a resolution memorializing and acknowledging
the terrible things that happened then . . . This Armenian Genocide
is a challenge to the conscience of our country and the conscience
of the world. We will not rest until we have recognition of it."

Speaking on the House floor in April of 2001, she reminded her
colleagues that: "Our alliance with Turkey should not deter us from
learning the lessons of past mistakes. If we ignore the lessons of the
Armenian Genocide, we are destined to repeat those same mistakes. The
horrible conflicts in Sudan, Sierra Leone and East Timor remind us
that we must do more to prevent the systematic slaughter of innocent
people. We must learn from the past and never forget the victims of
the Armenian genocide."

In April of 1999, in a statement on the House floor, the Congresswoman
stressed: "As we enter the Third Millennium of the Christian Era,
it behooves us to remember. If we ignore the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide, then we are destined to continue our stumblings through
the long, dark tunnel of endless ethnic-cleansings, genocides,
and holocausts.

Let us, then, remember to remember."

In remarks marking the Armenian Genocide on the House floor in April
of 1998, she explained that: "On April 24, 1915, the rulers of the
Ottoman Empire set out to annihilate the Armenian minority. Over the
course of the next eight years, the Turkish government systematically
murdered 1.5 million Armenians and deported 500,000. By the end of
1923, the entire Armenian population of Anatolia and Western Armenia
was either murdered or deported . . . While a growing number of
Americans come to understand the horror of this episode in history,
the perpetrators continue their denial."

In his most recent column, Sassounian criticized the current
Speaker as someone who "not only has broken his pledge repeatedly,
but has actively blocked the Armenian Genocide resolution from being
brought to a floor vote." He stressed that, "On Nov. 7, members of
the Armenian American community should vote for all those [House]
candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, who are supportive
of Armenian issues. In the case of equally supportive candidates in
a particular race, the preference should be given to the one who is a
Democrat in order to secure a Democratic majority in the House, helping
make Congresswoman Pelosi the next Speaker, which will enable her to
schedule a long overdue vote on the Armenian Genocide resolution."

ABDULVAHABOV: "I INFORMED AZERBAIJAN AND USSR KGB ABOUT ARMENIANS PLAN"

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006

Court of Grave Crimes today continued the trial of the gang led by
Haji Mammadov, former high ranking official of the Interior Ministry
Crime Investigation Department.

26 members of the gang stand trial presided by Judge Ali Seyfaliyev.

Defendant Ibrahim Bagirov answered lawyer Adil Ismayilov’s questions
on the murder of criminalist Rovshan Aliyev.

He said that he planned to meet with Haji Mammadov that day, but they
could not meet, APA reports.

Then Agil Huseynov, deputy chairman of International Bank Sebayel
branch gave free testimony and found himself innocent. He said that
he gave a credit illegally by Elchin Aliyev’s order.

The third defendant Hussain Abdulvahabov gave testimony about his
visit to Azerbaijani.

"I brought my family to Azerbaijan because of the war in Chechnya. My
brother Sidek Abdulvahabov also lived here. I wanted to go back to
Chechnya, but the border was closed. I always wanted to work in favour
of Azerbaijan. I informed USSR and Azerbaijan KGB (State Security
Committee) about Armenian’s plan to occupy Nagorno Karabakh a year
before the war," he said.

Abdulvahabov accused the court of a loyal attitude to Haji Mammadov.

"Haji blames me in his testimonies. But the court does not let me to
clarify the accusations," he said.

The trial will continue with Abdulvahabov’s testimony in the second
half of the day.

URL:

"ECHO": ARMENIA INVOLVES UNESCO WITH SCANDAL

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006

How will Paris respond to Yerevan’s demands?

Unique experience of cultural development of Azerbaijan as crossroad
of cultures and civilizations gains world’s recognition. Festival on
"Azerbaijan: crossroad of civilizations and cultures" was held in
Paris. And as UNESCO chief, Koitoro Mazura, declared during the event,
UNESCO highly values contribution of Azerbaijan in preservation of
world cultural heritage.

"Trend" informs referring to ITAR-TASS, head of international
organization stressed reforms carried out in the country in the field
of education, work on restoration of Great Silk Way, creation of World
Mugam Center. "I’m totally satisfied with the way of development of
our relationship", Koitoro Mazura said. – It is a good example of
cooperation. He emphasized that he intends to visit Baku again.

Azerbaijani projects concerning humanitarian field was presented
by UNESCO Good Will Ambassador, Mekhriban Aliyeva. She told about
program on defense of children, support of refugees, instilling of
tolerance in society. "Our country shares unique values, – first lady
of Azerbaijan underlined. – We know where we are going".

Within the frames of festival gala concert, photo exhibition, many
other events were held. However, against the background of this event
Armenia attempted to involve UNESCO with "cemetery scandal", which
Yerevan strongly supports. Accordingly to "Azg" newspaper, delegation
of parliament members of different countries, formed on initiative
of Ambassador of Armenia to UNESCO, Charles Aznavour, met with Mr.

Koitoro Mazura and transmitted request to carry out international
investigations in "Old Juga", that is, Julfa, where allegedly Armenian
historical cultural monuments were destroyed. We don’t know the
attitude of UNESCO to such request, however, following mass media,
Azerbaijan is preparing well-grounded respond accordingly to which
there was no "khachkar" on Azerbaijani territories.

But Armenia continues to make efforts concerning its initiative with
further plans.

Members of "Aznavour’s initiative group" handed to Mr. Mazura signed
memorandum with recommendations for Azerbaijan. Particularly,
authors of document demand…to build …Christian monument on
the place of "Armenian cemetery". Now it reminds imitation of
"international concern", but in Paris everything ran seriously. And
to all appearances Yerevan is convinced that if Lower chamber of
French parliament adopted scandal law "on genocide of Armenians",
then international organizations headquarters of which are situated
in Paris are obliged to do likewise.

–Boundary_(ID_C0qEUwzSvWjhuFGPiZcefQ)- –