Month: November 2006

INDONESIA TO SUPPORT ALWAYS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Nov 2 2006
As Embassy of Azerbaijan to Indonesia informed, October 31, Ambassador,
Ibrahim Hajiyev, met with chairman of House of Representatives of
Indonesia, Agung Laksono.
At the meeting, during which development of relations between
our countries were discussed, Ambassador, I. Hajiyev, told about
Azerbaijani-Indonesian work group created in Milli Mejlis after
Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. Ambassador proposed to create
similar group in Indonesian parliament. He stressed importance of
mutual visits of representatives and delegations of parliaments from
within the point of view of contacts enlargement between legislation
structures of both countries. I. Hajiyev underlined that successes
achieved in the field of development of democracy and economy in our
country represent the result of policy of President, Ilham Aliyev.
Having focused on increasing authority of our Republic at
international area, leading role of Azerbaijan in energetic and
transport projects Baku-Tbilisi-Jeykhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum,
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Bak u and functioning of transport corridor
East-West and North-South, Ibrahim Hajiyev told about military
aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, outrages committed by
Armenian militants on occupied territories, including fires, talks
held by the leadership of our country on regulation of conflict.
Diplomat extended gratitude for support of Indonesia related to
regulation of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorni Garabagh conflict within
the frames of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani diplomat congratulated his interlocutor on occasion of
gaining membership to UN Security Council by Indonesia for 2007-2008,
hoping that this country will make more efforts for regulation of
frozen conflicts including Nagorni-Garabagh one.
A. Laksono told about structure he heads. He stressed significance
of mutual visits, having promised that in Indonesian parliament there
will be created work group connected with Azerbaijan.
Chairman of the House of Representatives of Indonesia declared that
his country will always support territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
s/vis.pl?s=001&p=0055&n=002032&g=
–B oundary_(ID_9PedU3ytZ0SsAmAa/b96OA)–

SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT POSSIBLE ONLY IN THE FRAME OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 2 2006
FM of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov on November 1 met Francesco
Bascone, Ambassador of Italy to the OSCE, foreign ministry’s press
service reported.
F. Bascone expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of the country’s
governmental structures with the OSCE Baku Office, interested in
views of the Foreign Minister about the current processes connected
to the negotiations for settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.
Speaking of the works done for resolution to the conflict, Minister
Mammadyarov said it is possible only in the frame of territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. It also stipulates the highest self-government
status for Nagorno Karabakh within Azerbaijan, stressing necessity of
ensuring peaceful co-existence of the Armenian community in region. The
Minister said that first the Armenian armed forces should be withdrawn
from the occupied territories which are to be restored, the refugees
and internally displaced persons return to their homelands, then the
communications be opened.
Noting the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are the citizens of
Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov said the governments of Republic is
interested in development of this area as a part of the country.
F. Bascone stressed necessity to reach agreement on major principles
for settlement of conflict, to follow with the further mutual trust
building processes.
The sides had comprehensive exchange of views on a number of questions
of mutual interest.

ARMENIANS ASSESS QUALITIES FOR POLITICIANS
Angus Reid Global Scan, Canada
Nov 2 2006
– Adults in Armenia believe people running for public office
should hold specific features, according to a poll by the Gallup
Organization. 31 per cent of respondents believe parliamentary
candidates should be honest and impartial.
A democratic world outlook is second on the list with 30 per cent,
followed by education with 28 per cent, taking care of people with
19 per cent, keeping promises with eight per cent, and patriotism
also with eight per cent.
Armenian president Robert Kocharyan was re-elected to a new four-year
term in March 2003 in an election marred by fraud allegations. Next
year, Armenia will hold a presidential ballot and renew the 131-member
National Assembly.
Kocharyan is ineligible for a new term in office. Current defence
minister Serge Sarkisian and current foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
have been mentioned as possible presidential candidates.
Last month, Oskanian discussed the current state of democracy in the
former Soviet Republic, saying, “Everyone must realize that we simply
have no more room for holding bad elections, because this time the
damage to our people would be not only moral but also material.”
The poll was conducted with the support of the Armenian Sociological
Association, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the
International Republican Institute.
Polling Data
What is the most important feature for a parliamentary candidate?
(Several answers allowed)
Honesty 31%
Impartiality 31%
Democratic world outlook 30%
Education 28%
Taking care of the people 19%
Keeping promises 8%
Patriotism 8%
Morality 6%
Professionalism 6%
Inflexible will 2%
Source: Gallup Organization / Armenian Sociological Association /
U.S. Agency for International Development / International Republican
Institute Methodology: Interviews with 1,200 Armenian adults, conducted
in early August 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

IRAQ WILL BE CHOP-CHOPED TO PIECES SOON
Iran Zamin – Persian Journal
Persian Journal, Iran
Nov 2 2006
The city of Baghdad soon will be called city of Baghe Dad
On October 12th, 2006 Baghdad passed federalism law in their
parliament, which means Iraq is divided on three independent autonomous
regions. One is Kurdistan region, second is Sunni Sect region, and
last is the Shiite Sect region. According to present time, these
three regions are in a state of clash with one another and certainly
in recent future they won’t collaborate with one another, as a matter
of fact, the three regions will clash with one another and Middle East
region will be drag further in bloodbath. In this deadly formula of
Iraq federalism, clerics in Iran will annex the Shiite Sect region
of Iraq forthwith, and the city of Baghdad will be called city of
Baghe Dad which used to be called Baghe Dad under Iran’s domain.
There is a current available statistics that from time of US invasion
of Iraq, there are well over 600,000 people have died in Iraq and
the number is on rise which is due to religious and ethnic conflict.
According to the statistics only 31% of people died in Iraq as a
result of US invasion of Iraq. The large portion of the number is
contributed to conflict between the Shiite and Sunni Sects.
Currently, everyday there is news that there are about 30 dead
bodies found in Iraq which is because of vengeance of Shiite and
Sunni Sects. This vengeance of Shiite and Sunni Sects will never end;
as long as, these Machiavellian clerics cunning fox who are sitting in
Iran and knowing the fact that as long as there is a war in the region
they will remain as a brute ruler in the Middle East with intention
and blue print of exporting their fanatic revolution to the world.
These cunning foxes are the only source of contributor of conflicts
between the Shiite and Sunni Sects in Iraq. There is no doubt in
anyone’s mind after reading “Countdown to Crisis” published 2005
by Kenneth R. Timmerman that how the clerics in Iran are throwing
money around like a sugar daddy to terrorist organizations in order
to prolong their theology kingdom in Iran. Most importantly, there
are documented satellite images which are shown how Revolutionary
Guards from Qods unit were crossing Iran boarder and were walking on
Iraq’s territory and given away weapons to insurgents to wage holy
war against the Sunni Sect.
Now to make the matter worst in this deadly formula of the Shiite and
Sunni conflict, the Baghdad parliament passed federalism law, which
means all for our own self-interest and ignore each other. Thus,
the Shiite and Sunni Sects will take sharp turn and deep dive in
bloodbath conflict and it is non stop, it is a one way train and
heading on collision without any doubt, and in this conflict there
will be blood rage, and the both sides, the Shiite and Sunni Sects
will need a state as “mean of provider of vengeance machines”, the
clerics from Iran will have no option but to publicly to embrace
the Shiite brother and sister Muslims of Iraq, the clerics in Iran
publicly will declare that the clerics have religious duty to support
children of Imam Ali and Fatmeh, who is daughter of Prophet Muhammad
peace upon Him, the clerics will remind Iranian and Iraqi Shiite
people about the Karbala saga where Imam Hussien was martyred in the
hands of Shimr under command of Yezed Sunni. The Sunni Muslims will
be in real predicament and in desperate need of support of a strong
state in order to stand-up for itself, and the Sunni Muslims will be
dissolve among Sunni nations at high cost.
There is one more variable on this equation which is going to be
harmful for the Middle East region stability, which is the Kurdistan
region in Iraq. The Kurds in Iraq will declare their independence
and want to cherish their new found nation with neighbor Kurds, and
the Iraqi Kurds will call upon other Kurdish people to join them. The
Kurds will chant of independence in Iraq out loud so the other Kurds
could hear them, this chant of independence will motivate other Kurds
to join Iraqi Kurds and calling for unification of Kurdistan, which
will spread quickly in countries like Iran, Turkey, and Syria.
Obviously, the clerics in Iran have an expansion agenda and will
suppress any opposition voice without any second thought. Turkey will
be left with a monumental tragedy on their hands.
>>From one hand Turkey wants to join European Union and from another
hand there will be voice of Kurdistan independence, Turkey will try
not to have second Armenia dilemma. Turkey will react swiftly toward
Kurdistan independence and will use extreme force in order to shut
anyone’s mouth who speaks Mede or more accurately “Iranian language”.
The last country will be Syria which won’t act any differently than
Iran and Turkey. Syria will use force and deception and will shut
anyone’s mouth who speak of Kurdistan independence.
Iran, Turkey and Syria will use extreme force and deception to stop
anyone from expanding Kurdistan country outside of Iraq region, sadly
this Kurdish movement will claim innocent people’s life. Coming to
the final stage of the deadly Baghdad federalism formula what will
be so interestingly, there is a good possibility which is pending on
horizon of what appeared to the Iraqi Kurdish people to have their
own country, the clerics in Iran will invade their new found country
and will become part of the clerics’ kingdom, and no one will have
this courage to speak against nuclear mullahs.
All these killing never would happen, actually, it would come to an
immediate end, and it is not too late, if the Western nations decided
to support Iranian people to oust the clerics from Iran, also in this
humanitarian and progressive formula of ousting the clerics from Iran,
Iranian people should add to their humanitarian and progressive formula
Crown Prince Reza PAHLAVI Heir to Throne of Iran, we Iranian people
will go far further in our cause of liberation of Iran.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES, EU REPS DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO ARMENIAN NPP
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 2 2006
YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. Armenia and EU representatives discussed
issues related to the Armenian NPP, Minister of Commerce and Economic
Development Karen Chsmarityan reported.
He said that during the seventh sitting of Armenia-EU committee held
on October 25, the issues of the country’s energy sector development,
particularly the further operation of the Armenian NPP as well as the
problem of search of alternative energy sources, and the program on
the NPP closure, proposed by Armenia.
Chshmarityan said that the EU has not withdrawn its proposals on
giving Armenia EUR 100mln to close the power plant provided that
other donor will appear. At the same time, the minister reported
that he has no information about specific donors. At the same time,
he pointed out that the European Union plans to organize a conference
for potential investors toward this end.

ARMENIA NEEDS LAWS TO REGULATE ACTIVITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Nov 2 2006
YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. Armenia needs laws that will regulate
the activity of local government bodies, Vahan Movsisyan, president
of the Union of Community Financiers (UCF) reported at the round
table on the topic “Role of Local Government Bodies in Encouraging
Economic Development”.
He said that the activity of local authorities in Armenia is not
systematized and regulated.
Movsisyan pointed out that private entrepreneurship can successfully
develop in those communities where stability of the system of
infrastructures is ensured. “The principal element of our support is
expected to bring the existing infrastructures to the level that will
be attractive for business,” he said.
Besides this, it is necessary to create certain ways to influence
representatives of the business environment. “This influence can
be exerted by provision of certain tax breaks for local government
bodies. In this case, the profit from business should be regarded as
the income of the given community,” he said.
In this relation, the UCF president pointed out that there is lack
of mid- and long-term development programs in communities. On their
basis, the government’s and donors’ support could be obtained.
“It is important to begin a simultaneous work on elaboration of the
relevant laws and search of funds.

“DARK SIDES” OF A320 CRASH: WHO WILL BE LEFT “HOLDING THE BAG”
Regnum, Russia
Nov 2 2006
“The crash of Armavia’s Airbus A320 near Sochi on May 3, 2006 was
caused by the failure of the plane’s navigation system,” a reliable
source from the air circles of France has told REGNUM.
It says that “on the night of the crash, there was almost zero
visibility in the area, and the pilot was guided exclusively by the
commands of the controller and the parameters of the sensors.”
“During the landing, many passengers – due to their national
peculiarity – began calling their relatives on their mobile phones
in order to tell them that they were already arriving. The calls,
first, disturbed and, then – during the second approach – upset the
navigation system. The experts note that it was exactly after the
second turn that something strange began to happen to the plane and
the crew and the crash followed right afterwards.”
The source says that “the investigation is being dragged on because
the sides are searching for the ‘scapegoat,’ and the Armavia company
will certainly be the one – even though it is not guilty.”
“There are four concerned parties to this tragic story – Russia,
Airbus, Armavia and the re-insurer. The insurance contract says that
the beneficiary party is Airbus, but it also has a proviso that the
party responsible for a crash should recompense the re-insurer’s
indemnity expenses. In this particular case, Airbus may be the guilty
side and may be doing its best to conceal the information about
the failure of the A320,” says the source. It notes that “the point
is not that Airbus has no money to pay the indemnity. Simply, the
problems of such big companies are usually a matter of international –
presidential-level – politics.” The source notes that “exactly at that
time Airbus was preparing to sell 150 planes to China (the relevant
agreement was reached during the Chinese leader’s visit to France)
and the company was very much worried lest there might be a top-level
scandal.”
“In fact, Airbus has ensured its immunity, while Russia will never take
the blame for something it did not do. Meanwhile, the re-insurer wants
his money back. The only way-out for the sides is to leave somebody
‘holding the bag’ and Armavia will be the one. That’s exactly why the
Armenian side was minimally involved in the investigation. Armenia was
not provided with all decoded data under the pretext that it might
give publicity to secret information,” says the source. “There was
one more fact left. It was Armavia’s second plane – an absolute copy
of the crashed one, the plane that could be used for so-called bed
tests and where one had ‘suddenly’ found the technical documentation
of the crashed A320,” says the source. To remind, the second A320
burned down in a servicing hangar of the Belgian airport, with no
tests ever conducted.
Asked if it was possible to test another air liner of the same
configuration, the source said that one should consider the fact that
the company got the plane from “third-rate” countries. There is one
more interesting circumstance: the black boxes were found only after
the fire in the hangar in Belgium.
The source notes that there are many “dark sides” in this story.
“But the darkest side is the insurance of Armavia’s plane. As you
may know, at first, part of Armavia belonged to Sibir Airlines. Their
insurer was a Russian company who insured Armavia’s aviation risks for
twice as much as on the market and used quite a strange reinsurance
scheme. The risks were, first, given to the Malakut reinsurance broker
(Russia), who gave them further to the United Brokers company. Only
then the risks were reinsured on the British market,” says the
source. “The point is not even why they used two brokers, but that
50% of the money disappeared somewhere between Malakut and United
Brokers,” says the source. “In fact, their objective was to pump
out as much money from Armenia as possible. But the strangest thing
is that Armavia’s owner and re-insurer (Grand company) have changed
but the scheme and the tariffs are the same. We can only guess who
is receiving all this money,” wonders the source.
In fact, this version explains why Armavia’s owner has decided to
get rid of the company’s shares.

ARBITERS OF MORALITY
Vinay Lal
Times of India, India
Nov 2 2006
The French have long believed in themselves as one of the supreme
arbiters of the moral history of humanity, as exercising a unique
civilising mission on less fortunate parts of the world, and the
ardour with which they cling to an exalted vision of themselves as
moral legislators has clearly not diminished over the years.
On October 12, the French assembly approved legislation that would make
it a crime in France to deny that the mass killings of Armenians which
took place between 1915-17 in Ottoman Turkey constitute ‘genocide’.
The senate vote is still awaited, but following in the wake of
legislation from 2001 under which the mass killings of Armenians
are recognised as genocide, the present legislation seems headed
for approval.
France has nearly 5,00,000 Armenians, more than any other country in
western Europe, and it would be idle to pretend that politicians do
not court minorities.
However, Turks too number over 3,00,000 in France, and one can be
certain that the recent legislation will aggravate their mood of
discontent.
Whatever the appeals to the Armenian-French constituency, this
legislation must clearly be located within the vortex of a more
complex geopolitics.
Among the considerations that weigh most heavily, one must number the
strained relations between Turkey and the European Union, suspected
alienation of Muslim minorities from the dominant European cultures
amidst which they find themselves, growing tensions within the Muslim
ummah, and the wave of Islamophobia which has swept Europe.
The Bill will doubtless convey to Turks the message that they have
not yet attained that state of enlightenment which might warrant
their admission into the EU.
Among the critics of the French legislation is the Turkish writer
Orhan Pamuk, who admitted in an interview that Turkey should be held
responsible for the genocide.
He was put on trial for insulting the nation and denigrating
“Turkishness”, but immense pressure, largely from the EU, contributed
to his acquittal by the court.
It is altogether likely that the Bill may have been partly motivated
by the desire to strengthen the hand of Turkish secularists and
‘moderate Muslims’, such as Pamuk, who are viewed as being locked in
battle with Muslim extremists and nationalist hardliners.
Pamuk nonetheless has criticised the French legislation as an attempt
to stifle freedom of speech and as a betrayal of the ideals championed
by France.
In Pamuk’s critique, framed very much by the parameters of western
liberal thought, when two or more interpretations vie for attention
the more sound position always prevails.
In 1972, France passed a law which makes it a crime to deny the
Holocaust. Though the Holocaust is far from being the only genocide
in a violence-filled century, it occupies in the West a singular
status as furnishing the paradigmatic instance of genocide and crimes
against humanity.
The obsession with the Holocaust has, so to speak, obscured the
recognition of other equally horrific atrocities. Socialist legislator
Christophe Masse, in his defence of the Bill, described it as helping
to “ease the unhealthy rivalry that exists among victims of genocides
and that is fuelled by their inequality before the law”.
Ironically, this, the only defence of the legislation of any merit
that one might invoke, is also the one that will be categorically
rejected in Europe and the Anglo-American world, and even adduced as
an expression of support for anti-Semitism.
Whatever else might be permitted in the West, any interpretation of the
Holocaust which merely questions its canonical status as the ultimate
form of victimhood opens itself to vicious attack and ridicule.
That a genocide of Armenians took place under Ottoman Turks is beyond
question. Succeeding Turkish governments have not only fudged the
numbers, but claim, astoundingly, that Armenians died mainly on
account of war, disease, and hunger.
In Turkey, the admission of an Armenian genocide can lead to criminal
prosecution. However, not only is there overwhelming evidence to
establish that the death of Armenians was the consequence of a
deliberate policy, but the Turkish government at the conclusion of
WWI itself court-martialled the Young Turks by whose orders a genocide
was perpetrated.
As Peter Balakian has so amply demonstrated, the government-appointed
commission of inquiry gathered insurmountable evidence of the massacres
and it became part of the official record.
If the Turkish government of that day set an example to the world in
creating the model for war crimes trials, the present government has
unfortunately chosen to make a foolish spectacle of itself by its
denial of the genocide. But what of France?
The history of French colonial rule in Algeria, Indo-China, Haiti,
the Ivory Coast, Congo Brazzaville, and elsewhere is littered with
corpses of colonised people.
The assassinations of Algerians settled in France remain unpunished
more than four decades after Algeria’s declaration of independence, and
it is no more shocking that the French National Assembly in February
2005 passed a law requiring schoolchildren to be taught “the positive
role of the French presence overseas, notably in North Africa”.
As the unrest of recent years suggests, France’s treatment of its
own North African minorities leaves much to be desired.
If France wished to be daring, it might consider enacting legislation
that would make it an offence to deny French colonial atrocities.
That is exceedingly unlikely. Colonising nations can be stripped of
their colonial possessions, but they find it exceedingly difficult
to shed their past and their habits of evasion of responsibility.
The passage of the recent legislation on the Armenian question, far
from signifying any enlightened view, is the most decisive indicator
of France’s inability to own up to its wretched colonial past.
The writer teaches history at UCLA.
how/282560.cms

SHARJAH-BASED AIR ARABIA LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ARMENIAN CAPITAL
Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
Nov 2 2006
Dubai: Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia is to fly direct from
Sharjah to Yerevan, Armenia, which is one of the latest additions to
the Middle East carrier’s destinations portfolio.
Yerevan is the fifth new destination announced by Air Arabia in the
last few weeks and promises to attract many travellers as it is only
three hours away from Sharjah airport and therefore a very convenient
attraction for nature-inspired weekend breaks.
Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and has 1.2 million inhabitants,
which is 40 per cent of Armenia’s total population and makes it the
most animated city in the country.
As a tourist destination, Yerevan will provide UAE travellers the
possibility to walk in a green city, visit numerous monuments from
the former Soviet Union era, shop in traditional boutiques and markets
and discover the beauty of the snow-capped Mount Ararat.
“Yerevan is a unique destination for us as it is still uncharted
territory for many residents and travellers. We are very proud to
bring our passengers the opportunity to discover historical cities
and learn more about destinations that are out of the ordinary,”
said Adel Ali, CEO of Air Arabia.

CHIEFS OF GENERAL STAFFS OF ARMED FORCES OF CSTO COUNTRIES TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS IN MOSCOW
ArmRadio.am
02.11.2006 10:27
Working consultations of Chief of General Staffs of Armed Forces
of CSTO member states will be held in Moscow today. The Armenian
delegation is headed by Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces
of the Republic of Armenia, RA First Deputy Defense Minister,
Colonel-General Mickael Harutynyan. The agenda of the consultations
includes CSTO coalition army building by 2010, the format of the
mechanism of cooperation of the CSTO joint Staff and General Staffs
of member countries, military-technical cooperation, joint training
of specialists.