Month: November 2006

TALKS WITH LEADER OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH SEPARATISTS IN LOS ANGELES CONTRADICTS U.S. POSITION – AZERBAIJANI CONSUL GENERAL
Author: A.Mammadova
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 9 2006
Elin Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani Consul General in Los-Angeles,
appealed to the Chairman of the World Affairs Council in Los-Angeles,
Kurtis Mack, Trend reports.
Suleymanov decided to write a letter to the Council following the
resolution by the Council on a meeting with the head of the separatist
regime of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkadiy Ghoukassian.
“I appreciate the great work done by the World Affairs Council to
promote interest in international affairs. Therefore, given your
organization’s prominent role in Los Angeles area, I was both surprised
and disappointed to learn that the Council is planning an event for the
so-called ‘president’ of the unrecognized ‘Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,”
the appeal says.
As you are well aware, the separatist Armenian regime established
on Azerbaijan’s territories occupied by Armenia is not recognized by
any single state, including the United States and even Armenia itself.
The facts of occupation and ethnic cleansing are well -documented
and recognized by the international community and the United States
Government. There are several UN Security Council resolutions calling
for the withdrawal of Armenian troops, and the United States is a
co-mediator between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, the “elections” held by the single -ethnicity Armenian
separatist regime, including those involving Mr. Ghoukassian, have
never been recognized and, in fact, have been condemned by the
international community, he emphasized.
The Consul General stressed that since Mr. Ghoukassian can speak only
on behalf of the Armenian separatists based in Nagorno-Karabakh, not
for the entire population of the occupied territories, and because the
Nagorno-Karabakh region is a universally accepted part of Azerbaijan,
he strongly urges to indicate the unrecognized nature of both the
speaker and the entity he claims to represent in your announcement. As
noted earlier, otherwise, it is misleading and, among other things,
contradicts the U.S. official position.
Furthermore, it would be only fair to provide representatives of the
Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh an opportunity to express
their views in the near future as well.

PARIS COURT REJECTS LAWSUIT AGAINST TURKISH CONSUL GENERAL
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 9 2006
The Paris Court of Appeals has rejected a lawsuit filed against Aydin
Sezgin, Turkish Consul General to Paris, by an Armenian group for
openly denying the alleged Armenian genocide on the embassy’s website.
The court of appeals upheld on Wednesday the decision previously taken
by a Paris court. The Paris 17th District Court, where the case was
first seen, ruled in 2004 that Sezgin could not be tried due to his
diplomatic immunity. Armenians later took the case to the Supreme
Court of Appeals.
The court’s decision was welcomed by Michel Jeol, lawyer for Consul
General Sezgin.
The lawsuit against Sezgin was delayed twice last month because of
problems with the court’s computer system.
Sources say that the case is merely a ploy by Armenians to keep
pressure in favor of the bill that calls for penalizing those who
deny the so-called Armenian Genocide on the agenda.
Aydin Sezgin’s lawyer had demanded the dismissal of the case on the
grounds of Sezgin’s diplomatic immunity based on the Vienna Convention.

NKR PRESIDENT HELD MEETINGS IN THE U. S.
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Arkady Ghoukassian, who is
in the U. S. on an official visit to prepare an annual TV marathon
to be held in Los Angeles November 23 under the aegis of Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund, met with the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) President Berge Setrakian.
According to the information DE FACTO received at the NKR President’s
administration, the interlocutors had discussed a number of issues
referring to the AGBU programs and cooperation outlooks being
implemented in the Nagorno-Karabakh. Berge Setrakian stated the Union
would go on expanding the programs aimed at the Karabakh villages’
restoration and various cultural and education programs’ financing.
Arkady Ghoukassian also met with the leadership and members of the
U. S. Eastern coast Union of Armenian Jewelers. Having presented the
situation in the NKR, the President mentioned considerable success
achieved in the Republic’s post-war restoration and the development
of economy. Arkady Ghoukassian underscored the Armenian Diaspora’s
important contribution to the process.
In the course of the meetings the NKR President urged those present to
actively participate in the forthcoming marathon. The funds received
will be targeted at the restoration of the infrastructure of the
Republic’s Hadrut region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EC ISSUES WEAK REPORT ON TURKEY, FAILS TO ADDRESS ARMENIAN ISSUE
Financial Mirror, Cyprus
Nov 9 2006
The European Commission released its regular report on Turkey in
Brussels on Wednesday.
The political dimension of the negotiation process has been removed
from this document and is now included in a second report, entitled,
“Enlargement strategy and the and Main Challenges 2006-2007.”
In their report, the Commission alleges that “Turkey continues to
sufficiently fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria,” and that “in
2006, Turkey has continued to make progress in reforms,” pointing out,
however, that “the pace has slowed down.” Taking note of Turkey’s
infringement of the Ankara protocol, the Commission decided that
“it will make relevant recommendations prior to the December European
Council regarding whether Turkey has failed to fulfil its obligations.”
The document also addressed, for the first time, the EU executive
body’s linkage between the possible future enlargement and the
implementation of constitutional reforms within the EU institutions.
Regarding the Armenian issues, the regular report failed to denounce
the denial campaign waged by Turkey, both on its own territory and
throughout the Union. Previous mentions of the Genocide in previous
reports – characterized euphemistically as “tragic events” – were
not reflected in this new document.
On freedom of speech, only Article 301 of the Turkish penal code was
mentioned. The Commission failed to denounce the other provisions
of Turkish law aimed at freedom of speech, especially Article 305,
which penalizes the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
Finally, in the technical chapters related to the Acquis Communautaire,
the illegal blockade of Armenia is described using the dismissive
terminology, “closed border.”
The European Armenian Federation is troubled by the Commission’s
failure to fairly and meaningfully address Armenian issues,
particularly the issue of Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide.
“The Commission’s report, most notably it failure to challenge
Turkey’s many restrictions of freedom of speech, represents a true
setback in terms of the credibility of this European institution,
particularly in light of its eagerness to criticize France for its
law penalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide,” stated Hilda
Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.
The Federation announced that the European citizens it represents
expect the Commission to fairly and honestly perform its task of
accurately assessing Turkey’s progress, without bowing to political
pressures.
Otherwise, European public opinion will turn against the Commission’s
double standards,” added Tchoboian.
The Federation also denounces the arrogance of the Turkish leaders
who attempt to force Europe to abandon its values. “The talks over
Turkey’s candidacy have devolved from a negotiation into a race to
see which side can walk away from European values,” she concluded .

Great Britain is Prepared to Assist OSCE Minsk Group in Nagorno-Karabakh Situation
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 9 2006
Great Britain is prepared to assist the OSCE Minsk Group with regards
to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the Special Envoy of Great Britain for
South Caucasus, Bryan Fall, stated on 8 November in Yerevan during
the meeting with the Armenian Defense Minister, Serj Sarkisyan,
Trend reports with reference to News-Armenia.
“Fall informed the Armenian Minister that Great Britain was
prepared to assist the OSCE Minsk Group to peacefully resolve the
Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the Press Secretary
of the Armenian Defense Minister, Colonel Seyran Shakhsuvaryan,
informed News-Armenia quoting Fall.
According to him, the negotiators discussed the meeting of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian Defense Ministers held on 20 October in the
Ijevan-Gazakh section of the Azerbaijani-Armenian Defense Ministers
pointing out the benefits of the mutual meetings between both parties
in maintaining the ceasefire regime.
During the meeting, Fall also remarked upon the fact that the
conference “South Caucasus: perception and challenges” organized by
the British Center “Wilson Park” for the first time in this region,
is held in Armenia.
The participants of the 3-day conference which began on 7 November
discussed the problems and possibilities of South Caucasus, as well
as the tasks of the government and entrepreneurs in developing the
economy and stimulating the investments.

THIRD MOBILE OPERATOR TO APPEAR IN ARMENIA BY 2009
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 9 2006
(ARKA) – The third mobile telecommunications operator will appear
in Armenia by 2009, Andranik Manukyan told reporters Wednesday. He
explained that the government has made a commitment that it will not
grant a license to a new operator until 2009.
“The Armenian market of mobile communications is so small that two
operators fully share it,” the minister said.
The Russian VimpelCom OJSC (Beeline brand) signed an agreement
with the Greek Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE)
on purchasing 90% shares of the Armenian ArmenTel Company for EUR
341.9mln, reports Trend.
According to the report by VimpelCom, the company will take the debts
and liabilities of ArmenTel for about EUR 40mln.
ArmenTel Company is one of the two mobile operators in Armenia. It has
the biggest number of subscribers in Armenia. The company holds 40%
of the mobile communications market of Armenia.
In July 1, 2005, the second mobile operator K-Telecom of VivaCell
brand entered the Armenian market of mobile communications.

RENEWED PUSH FOR GENOCIDE BILL
By Lisa Friedman, Washington Bureau
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Nov 9 2006
WASHINGTON – The e-mail early Wednesday from the Armenian National
Committee of America was positively enthusiastic.
“It’s just past 1:30 a.m. on election night and I’m wide awake,”
Chairman Ken Hachikian wrote to the organization’s members as news
networks projected the Democratic Party takeover in the U.S. House.
Hachikian and others said they now see a hopeful future for passage
of Armenian issues in Congress, including a hotly disputed resolution
officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
“Our chances are excellent,” agreed Bryan Ardouny, executive director
of the Armenian Assembly for America.
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, passed the
House Foreign Relations Committee this year, but Republican Speaker
Dennis Hastert blocked it from a full House vote.
As recently as last week, Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi, D-San
Francisco, expressed support for the bill.
“I think the prospects for passage of the genocide resolution just
got much, much better,” Schiff said.
Armenians contend that the Ottoman Empire began an orchestrated
slaughter in 1915 in which about 1.5 million Armenians were killed.
Turkey denies that it was a genocide, saying about 300,000 were killed
and noting that Armenians sided with invading Russian troops in the
aftermath of World War I and took up arms against Turks.
Bural Gengiz, president of the American Turkish Association of
America, said he believes Pelosi will consider Turkey’s alliance
with the U.S. and its position as a NATO ally when the genocide issue
next arises.
Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora, who co-sponsored the Armenian genocide
resolution but did not push GOP leaders to bring it to the floor,
was circumspect about predicting the bill’s future.
“There will clearly be a discussion on that,” Dreier said.

ILKHAM ALIYEV VISITS BRUSSELS, MOSCOW
Dmitry Butrin
Kommersant, Russia
Nov 9 2006
Today Russian President Vladimir Putin will suggest to Azerbaijani
President Ilkham Aliyev, who is visiting Moscow after a trip to
Brussels to meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso, that he decide whether Azerbaijan intends to continue with its
“strategic partnership” with Russia. If Azerbaijan responds positively,
Moscow will request Baku’s cooperation in Russia’s struggle with
Georgia and will offer Russian arms and investment by UES Russia and
RusAlum in return.
President Aliyev’s visit to Europe unnerved the Kremlin chiefly
because of Azerbaijan’s projected defense spending for 2007: the
country will spend $1 billion on the military next year, up from $600
million currently. Russia fears that this could be a preliminary step
towards membership in NATO. If Azerbaijan joins neighboring Georgia
in a NATO bid, the ex-Soviet Caucasus could end up hosting NATO and
American military bases as the West seeks to control Iran.
In an effort to forestall the possibility of NATO bases near its
southern border, Russia is attempting to lure Azerbaijan back to its
own camp with promises of increased sales of cut-rate Russian-made
weapons. Russia has been curtailing its arms trade with Azerbaijan,
fearing to fan the flames of Azerbaijan’s long-standing feud with
neighboring Armenia.
Russia is also focusing on Azerbaijan in an attempt to create a
unified front within the CIS against the Kremlin’s latest enemy,
Georgia. Moscow is seeking to impose an energy blockade on Georgia
in the winter of 2006-2007, while Azerbaijan last winter stepped
in with emergency supplies of electrical energy and gas when Russia
interrupted deliveries to Georgia. In 2007, Gazprom is threatening
to raise the price of gas for Georgia from $110 to $230 per thousand
cubic meters. According to unofficial sources, the same proposal
has been made for Azerbaijan as well, angering President Aliyev. The
country currently pays $95-100 per thousand cubic meters for the 1.5
billion cubic meters of gas that it imports from Russia annually.
Other proposals from the Kremlin are more palatable: according to
Kommersant’s sources, Vladimir Putin will offer President Aliyev
investment by the company RusAlum to the tune of a $1 billion aluminum
plant in Azerbaijan. Mr. Putin will also mention interest on the
part of the Russian company UES Energy in investing in Azerbaijan’s
energy sector.
Technically, Mr. Aliyev’s trip to Europe before coming to Moscow puts
Mr. Putin in the position of asking rather than dictating with regard
to his Azerbaijani colleague. Mr. Aliyev demonstrated in Brussels
that his trip to Europe was more about energy than military matters,
though he met with the NATO leadership. After his meeting with Mr.
Barroso, Mr. Aliyev announced agreements between Azerbaijan and
the EU to guarantee energy supplies from the Caspian region and
negotiations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine on a project to deliver
oil to Eastern Europe. President Aliyev has held similar talks with
Belarus, a project that cannot be interpreted as pro-Russian.
With regard to the “anti-Georgia bloc,” the Azerbaijani president
announced yesterday in Brussels that he hopes that relations between
Russia and Georgia improve, since Azerbaijan “is building strategic
partnerships with both countries.” That stance is hardly likely to
appeal to Vladimir Putin, meaning that today’s meeting promises to
be tense.

ASIAN GAMES TORCH IN ESFAHAN
Peninsula On-line, Qatar
Nov 9 2006
A man astride a horse carries the 15th Asian Games torch in Mashad,
Iran.
Esfahan ~U The 15th Doha Asian Games Torch Relay left the Holy City
of Mashad, Iran, and reached the 2006 Cultural Capital of the Islamic
world, the ancient Iranian city of Esfahan.
A bright and clear, sunny day greeted the Flame Plane as it touched
down at Esfahan Shahid Beheshti International Airport yesterday.
H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay
Ambassador, was welcomed by girls and boys dressed in brightly coloured
traditional outfits as he walked down the steps from the aircraft.
Sheikh Joaan was welcomed by the dignitaries from the province of
Esfahan, Governor, Dr Mourteza Saghaian Nejad; Mayor, Dr. Sayaid
Morteza Saghaiannejari; together with the Secretary-General of
Physical Education, Behrouz Momtakhabi and representatives from
the Iranian Olympic Committee; President Dr Reza Gharakhanlou and
Secretary General Ali Kafashian.
The Torch Relay started the day with a reading from the Koran at
Monar-e-Jonban, the Shaking Minarets.
First Torch-bearer, the city Mayor, Bakhtiari, stood under the famous
minarets which both shake in harmony if one is vibrated by someone
inside. Once the shaking began, the Relay was off on its six hour,
40km route through the city. Bakhtiari ran across a small footpath
then exchanged the Flame with Momtakhabi. The Relay continued on
along the Atashgah Boulevard before crossing the 186m Marnan Bridge,
built in 1636CE by the Armenian administrator, Khaje Sarfaraz.
After a loop up to Sofeh Park, taking in the beautiful Armenian Vank
Church, the Torch Route hugged the banks of the Ziyande River:
Three more bridges were crossed, the Khagou Bridge, built during the
Safavid Dynasty; the Sharestan Bridge, the oldest bridge in Esfahan and
the Siospol Bridge, a unique construction with 33 spectacular arches.
Some of the alternative modes of transport used in the Esfahan leg
of the Relay included grass skiers, a first for the 2006 Relay,
kayaks on the Ziyande River – the kayaks escorting the Flame showing
their commitment to the day by capsizing to show the Torch Relay
logo emblazoned on their bottoms – and a horse and carriage along
Charbagh Street.
As dusk fell on the city, the Flame arrived on horseback at the UNESCO
World Heritage Site and second largest city square in the world,
the Naghsh-I Jahan Square.
Overlooked by the breathtaking Shah and Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosques on
the southern and eastern sides of the square, the Flame was handed
to Ahmad Reza Kiani and Ali Malekpour who were joined by taekwondo
world champion and Athens 2004 gold medallist, Hadi Saee.
Saee, Malekpour and Kiani walked along 76 metres of beautiful,
hand-woven Persian carpet to the Torch Relay celebration site.
Together they ignited the cauldron which initiated the performance of
a traditional Iranian song sung in three languages; Arabic, English
and Farsi, and a performance from a twirling dance troupe.
Today, the Flame travels to its last stop in Iran, the capital city
Tehran, which hosted the 1974 Asian Games.
From: Baghdasarian

FINAL DATE OF THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS’ VISIT TO NAGORNO-KARABAKH REGION TO BE AGREED
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 9 2006
The final date of the next visit of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group to the region of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been agreed
yet, the Russian co-chair of the Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov informed
Trend, commenting on the information regarding the visit of mediators
at the end of November.
We have not agreed upon the final date of the visit, and therefore,
I can not to say something exactly. The date and route of the visit
will be specified on November 14 in Brussels where the co-chairs
will conduct consultations with the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers, Merzlyakov said.
The Russian diplomat also stressed that the co-chairs of the Minsk
Group have not worked out a common position regarding the referendum on
the changes to the Constitution scheduled to tale place on December
10 in Nagorno-Karabakh. “Yet we have not met and considered this
question. It will take place in Brussels,” Merzlyakov concluded.