Month: March 2007

UAE territory off-limits for anti-Iran strike – president

18:01|27/ 03/ 2007

ABU DHABI, March 27 (RIA Novosti) – Khalifa bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan,
president of the United Arab Emirates, said Tuesday his country will
not allow anyone to use its territory to conduct anti-Iranian
operations.

The Emirates News Agency WAM quoted al-Nuhayyan as saying in an
interview with the Al-Hayat newspaper, published in London, that the
UAE has refused the use of its territory for aggression against any
country, especially against a neighboring Islamic state.

The president said that a recent message delivered by Sheikh Abdallah
bin Zayid, foreign minister of the UAE, to Iran confirmed that the
country was not involved in the conflict between Iran and the U.S.,
and would not allow anyone to use its territory for any military,
reconnaissance or security operations against Iran.

The Al-Hayat newspaper quoted al-Nuhayyan as saying that the UAE had
always called on Iran to act on a flexible and realistic basis, to
respect international law and obey Resolution 1737 to thwart the
escalation of tension in the region.

Last December, in response to Iran’s unwillingness to give up its
nuclear ambitions, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1737,
which provided for sanctions against Iran banning activities involving
uranium enrichment, chemical reprocessing, heavy water-based projects,
and the production of nuclear weapons delivery systems.

Conversely, Al-Nuhayyan said that he has urged the United States and
Western countries to continue seeking diplomatic means to settle the
conflict with Iran and avoid the use of force, which could escalate
into a regional crisis.

The president of the UAE confirmed that his country and other Persian
Gulf nations would like to diversify their energy supplies, including
through nuclear energy, which, he said, should be used for civilian
purposes only.

The latest reports indicate that Russian reconnaissance officers have
obtained information concerning the mobilization of U.S. military
forces near Iran’s borders.

IN CASE OF SERGE SARGSIAN’S APPOINTMENT TO PRIME MINISTER’S POST
EVERYTHING WILL SETTLE, ARAM KARAPETIAN CONSIDERS

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. In case of Defence Minister Serge
Sargsian’s appointment to RA Prime Minister’s post the situation in
the governmental field will become more clear and "everything will
settle," as indeed it was Serge Sargsian who implemented Prime
Minister’s functions before and the role of the late Andranik
Margarian was not so big. Aram Karapetian, Chairman of Nor Zhamanakner
(New Times) Party, expressed such opinion in his interview to Noyan
Tapan correspondent.

In his words, personally heading RPA, Serge Sargsian henceforth will
work more actively in the direction of making majority in the new
parliament. A. Karapetian also said that after the elections
A. Margarian’s role in the governmental pyramid was rather vague.

And the relations between the authorities and opposition, where A.
Margarian played the role of a softening instance, as NZ leader
forecast, will become aggravated for even more henceforth.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

27 March 2007

ARMENIANS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA WELCOME THEIR PRIMATE

Sydney, Australia – At the invitation of the Armenian Community of South
Australia, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and
New Zealand, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian made his first pastoral
visit for the year to the capital city of Adelaide over the weekend of 24-26
March, 2007.

The Archbishop was met at the airport by committee members of the Armenian
Cultural Association of South Australia (ACASC) whose role is to bring
together the small but highly spirited group of Armenians in Adelaide.

On Saturday evening, community members gathered in a suburban community hall
to honour the Primate at a reception and enjoy traditional Armenian
hospitality with bountiful food, laughter, conversation and a cultural
performance. During the evening, Archbishop Baliozian enlightened the
guests on his recent travels abroad firstly accompanying His Holiness
Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians on the
Pontifical Visit to India and his subsequent visit to the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin for the Supreme Spiritual Council Meeting.

On Sunday morning, the faithful congregated at the Chapel of the Christian
Brothers College where the Archbishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church. The sermon of the day focussed on the individual
‘s need for edification of one’s faith and the importance of maintaining a
strong connection to the Armenian Church.

The same evening, Mrs Takouhi Safrazian hosted a dinner at her home when
community members had another opportunity to enjoy the Archbishop’s company
before his departure on Monday.

The Primate returned to his residence in Sydney on Monday, 26 March. He
will next visit the parish of Melbourne to celebrate an Episcopal Mass on
Palm Sunday at St Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.

For information on Armenians in Adelaide contact the President of the ACASC
Mr Gevik Abedian at [email protected] or Honorary Secretary Mr Alec
Balayance at [email protected]

Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Abp Aghan Baliozian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

28 March 2007

PRIMATE SENDS LETTER OF CONDOLENCE ON THE PASSING OF ARMENIA’S PM

Sydney, Australia – As news items poured in Inboxes and faxes arrived early
Monday morning Sydney time announcing the unexpected passing of Prime
Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Andranik Margaryan from a heart attack
at age 56 years, Armenians in Australia too joined in the grief of loss and
mourning of the international community for a devoted Armenian son.

Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
Australia and New Zealand on his arrival from a pastoral visit from Adelaide
the same day, immediately sent a letter of condolence on behalf of the
Diocese, the Armenian communities of the region and the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund Australia Branch to the Government of the Republic of
Armenia offering heartfelt condolences to the nation and the Margaryan
family.

His Eminence had the pleasure of meeting Prime Minister Margaryan on various
occasions during visits to Armenia and was moved by his sincerity of faith
and love for the Armenian Church.

Requiem services will be held in both the Sydney and Melbourne parishes on
Sunday, 1st April following the Divine Liturgy for the repose of the soul of
the late Andranik Margaryan.

May he rest in the eternal peace granted by our Lord.

US and EU back Kosovo independence by May
26.03.2007 – 17:39 CET | By Andrew Rettman

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – The US and EU have backed a UN plan for
"supervised independence" in Kosovo despite Russian and Serb
opposition, with US diplomat Nicholas Burns in Brussels calling for a
new UN security council resolution 30 to 60 days from Monday (26
March).

"The US fully supports the proposals put forward by Martti Ahtisaari,"
the US’ number three man on foreign affairs told experts at a seminar
by think-tank CEPS in the EU capital, a few hours before UN envoy
Martti Ahtisaari submitted his Kosovo blueprint to UN chief Ban Ki
Moon in New York.

( rid=148&zoneid=18&source=&dest=http:// who.mofa.gov.tw/index.asp)

"It’s time to bring a century of peace to the Balkans, to see Kosovo
independent and to see a democratic and strong Serbia," the American
said, with UK foreign secretary Margaret Beckett adding shortly
afterward from London she "welcomes UN special envoy Martti
Ahtisaari’s final settlement proposals."

The Ahtisaari plan envisages giving Pristina its own army, flag and
constitution and the possibility of applying to join international
institutions like the UN and EU, but with thousands of NATO and EU
troops keeping the peace and an EU envoy that can veto some Kosovo
government decisions.

"Independence is the only viable option for a politically stable and
economically viable Kosovo," Mr Ahtisaari’s final recommendation
stated, Reuters reports, in a bold, new tone after months of
negotiations in Vienna, Belgrade and Pristina that avoided using the
painful word "independence."

Speaking to press the same day, EU top diplomat Javier Solana still
remained shy of the term, opting to use the phrase "the work of
president Ahtisaari" instead while expressing his support for the
ex-Finnish president’s ideas.

In terms of a timetable for the solution, the US’ Mr Burns said "we’re
not going to rush to a security council resolution" mentioning "late
April or early May" and "30 to 60 days" down the line as targets to
get all five veto-holding powers in the UN – the US, UK, France,
Russia and China – on board.

The biggest EU foreign policy players back the US line, but some EU
states such as Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus sympathise
with Belgrade. Serbia has denounced the Ahtisaari plan and Russia has
threatened to veto anything unacceptable to its historic ally. China
has been silent so far.

Mr Burns’ statement kicks off a heavy week of Kosovo diplomacy, with
the US talking to NATO states in Brussels on Kosovo for the next two
days, Mr Ahtisaari briefing EU ambassadors on Tuesday and EU foreign
ministers devoting a Friday meeting to the topic.

Almost exactly 8 years ago on 24 March 1999 NATO began a bombing
campaign in Kosovo designed to halt what Mr Burns called Serbian
"ethnic cleansing" against the ethnic Albanians who form 93 percent of
the population. The Serb province has been under UN rule ever since.

Kosovo is US and EU’s top priority The US diplomat said the task of EU
and US foreign policy today is to "produce peace and stability in the
world" adding "our first priority is to be successful in the Balkans,
to complete the revolution that has taken place there since the
1990s."

In terms of handling Serb objections to the move, Mr Burns said he
planned to call moderate Serb president Boris Tadic this week to
explain "we are a friend to Serbia" and guarantee US protection for
ethnic Serb enclaves and holy sites in the region.

The EU approach is similar, with Brussels offering to unfreeze
Belgrade’s EU accession talks despite lack of full cooperation with
the UN on war crimes fugitives and with the new EU envoy in Kosovo to
focus on keeping ethnic Serbs safe.

The US and EU are also reading from the same page on how to handle
Russia, praising Moscow for its help on international problems like
Iran and North Korea but scotching Russian talk of Kosovo independence
as a precedent for rebels in Georgia or Moldova.

"Our second task [in terms of EU-US foreign policy priorities] is to
have good relations with Russia," Mr Burns said. "[But] we certainly
would not support any other trade, or precedent that would link Kosovo
to other problems in Europe."

The American went a bit further than most European diplomats might
dare, saying those countries who "made the biggest sacrifice" in terms
of Kosovo military intervention and post-conflict aid – NATO and EU
states – should take the lead in the region.

Iraq legacy dogs US In an aside on recent Russian complaints the US
has a "unipolar" world view, Mr Burns said assertively "My country
finds itself the most powerful country economically and
militarily…we have a lot of power, but we want to use that power for
good, peacefully."

It was left to CEPS expert and ex-EU ambassador to Russia, Michael
Emerson, to remind Mr Burns that when Bush junior became US president
in 2002, he said "the US doesn’t need allies" before wading into Iraq.

The Iraq adventure – which has seen over 600,000 civilians killed
since 2003 – caused a serious rift between the US and France and
Germany, with many ordinary left-leaning Europeans suddenly seeing the
US with new, post-Cold War eyes as an oil-hungry imperialist not a
force for good.

"Many senior analysts say the [US] language may change a bit, but the
fundamentals remain obstinately constant," Mr Emerson suggested.

"I think there’s a bipartisan consensus in my country – and I’m a
career diplomat not a Republican or a Democrat – there’s a consensus
that America cannot live in the world alone," Mr Burns
replied. "There’s a great distance between those statements and the
reality today."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARTHQUAKE TAKES PLACE IN TURKEY-IRAN BORDER ZONE ON MARCH 26

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Earthquake with the magnitude of 4.1
took place on March 26, at 23:54 in Turkey-Iran border zone, 23 km to
the west of the town of Salmast. Its strength in the epicenter made
5-6. As Noyan Tapan was informed from Seismic Protection National
Service under RA government, at 23:46, an earthquake with the
magnitude of 3.6 had preceded the earthquake.

Haterk needs a bridge

NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
27-03-2007 15:50:13 – KarabakhOpen

The village of Haterk is known for its history and people who are
always ready to defend themselves.

Haterk is situated at 1000 km above sea and 45 km to the west of the
town of Martakert, on the bank of the Tartar River. Mount Mrav is
behind the village. Those who visit Haterk are lucky. There are
villages in Karabakh which have a magnificent scenery. The village of
Haterk looks to the province of Khachen. Therefore, people in this
village have a free thinking and let nobody control their wishes and
thoughts.

It is two hours from Stepanakert to Haterk by car. Not because the
village is high on the mountain side, and it seems that the car cannot
overcome the rocks. But because it is necessary to cross the river
which becomes wild in spring. The way along the bridge is long. The
short way crosses the river in a shallow place, which is impossible
for small cars.

The people of Haterk propose building a bridge in the place of this
crossing. They have invited specialists, sponsors. No one has attended
to this yet. The people of Haterk say the road would become shorter
by 20 km if a bridge were built. And it would be easier to take their
products to the market. Otherwise, the famous cornelian cherry vodka
remains in the cellars. In 1990 a squad of volunteers was set up in
Haterk with a population of 3200. On August 16, 1991 the soldiers of
the squad and the women of the village took hostages 43 servicemen of
the force of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs and demanded to
release the young men from Haterk and Chapar who were imprisoned by
the force of the MIA and transferred to the Azerbaijani force. On
August 18 the members of the Krunk Committee arrived in the village
and mediated the exchange of hostages.

>From June 1992 Haterk and the adjacent villages were shelled from the
emplacements at the villages of Agdaban, Charektar and Nareshtar,
Kelbajar region. On June 5 the foe occupied the village, the houses
were set to fire, about two hundred peaceful people underwent
violence. The artilleries of the Defense Force and the volunteers
managed to stop the advance of the foe in other directions and to
evacuate the population.

On July 20 the squad of Haterk launched an offensive against the foe
concentrated in the village, then retreated and were positioned in the
direction of the villages of Vaghuhas and Cheldran. On February 20,
1993 the Defense Force liberated the village. 44 freedom fighters were
killed.

Now the population of the village is 1600. The school and the nursery
school have been repaired. This year there are three first grades at
school.

Haterk is not one of those villages which could not get round after
occupation and displacement. People here live the way they fight,
creating conditions for their life and leisure. And nobody can do them
harm, especially with Mount Mrav in their back.

From: [email protected]
Subject: Open Rostrum: Problem is not candidates but their aides

OPEN ROSTRUM: Problem is not candidates but their aides

Gagik Avanesyan
Hadrut
27-03-2007 15:44:28 – KarabakhOpen

Over the past 8 years the republic faced up to the same problem for
the second time, and the same persons appeared in the epicenter of the
process in both times. When in 1999-2000 we supported the president in
the confrontation with the minister of defense, we said with pain that
the problem of Samvel Babayan was his aides, the persons around him
who did not want or were afraid of proposing him to move aside and
estimate himself adequately. Now the same people are busy praising the
present government. In addition, they are threatening others who think
otherwise with a dictatorship in case they get real power.

The National Assembly, which is entitled to legislative and
controlling functions, is lobbying the decision of the government, in
fact (I remember that the hasty adoption of the State Budget 2006 was
announced to be a major achievement).

But the most dangerous thing is that the major political forces in
power create legal obstacles for the change of this government.

The more people, the more opinions. The idea of the parliament stems
from the principle â??one person â?? one
voteâ??. In my opinion, the professionalism of a member of
parliament is described by his non-devotion to the ideas of a certain
party or clan, and his ability to be a CITIZEN.

SAMVEL BABAYAN WITHDRAWS HIS CANDIDATURE BEING DISAPPOINTED WITH OPPOSITION

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Dashink Party Chairman Samvel Babayan
withdrew his candidature on March 27 from Syunik electoral district N
37. Member of Party’s Political Board Andranik Tevanian informed Noyan
Tapan correspondent about it the same day.

In the words of another member of Dashink’s Political Board, Gnel
Ghlechian, the Party Chairman took this step because of four main
reasons. In his words, the first reason is that rumors were spread
about allegedly aggravated relations between Samvel Babayan and
Alexander Sargsian (RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian’s brother: NT)
nominated at the same electoral district, so political struggle was
artificially moved to the personal plane.

According to G. Ghlechian’s observations, the second reason is that at
electoral district N 37 the authorities have already put into
operation all administrative and material means depriving the
opposition figures of the possibility to act and to express their
opinion.

The third reason is disappointment with representatives of Syunik
structures of opposition parties who, in G. Ghlechian’s words, had
arranged to cooperate "even if in Syunik region, but made a bargain
with the authorities."

The last reason, as Party’s Political Board member said, is
S. Babayan’s striving for supporting Samvel Haroutiunian nominated at
electoral district N 37 and so, for creating "a united opposition
front."

A1+

SERGE SARGSYAN – MINISTER OF DEFENSE AND PRIME MINSTER
[03:53 pm] 26 March, 2007

Serge Sargsyan will henceforth be the head of the RA Government and
the Defense Minster, verified sources report.

No other changes are expected in the government. Today the NA counters
one difficulty; to convene a sitting in order to affirm the program of
the newly-formed government. Eventually, no program will be drawn as
the government headed by Serge Sargsyan, will continue the
implementation of the coalition’s program. Nevertheless, the RA NA
must affirm the government’s program by May 1 under the RA
Constitution.

Thus, the problem of securing quorum becomes urgent on the eve of the
upcoming elections.