Month: May 2008

GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION FORMED IN CONNECTION WITH 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF NKR’S DECLARATION TO BE CELEBRATED SEPTEMBER 2

DeFacto Agency
May 21 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 21.05.08. DE FACTO. In connection with the 17th anniversary
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s declaration the NKR government
has established a governmental commission.

According to the information DE FACTO received at the NKR government’s
Press Office, the composition of the commission headed by Armo
Tsaturian, vice Premier, NKR Minister of Agriculture, has also been
approved.

The Stepanakert city hall and regional administration have been
commissioned to form corresponding city and regional commissions within
ten days and present the festivities’ program to the governmental
commission till June 15.

IRAN’S MOBILE OPERATOR SIGNS ROAMING AGREEMENT WITH KARABAKH TELECOM OPERATING IN AZERBAIJANI OCCUPIED LANDS

Today.Az
45153.html
May 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Mobile operator of Iran Telecommunications Kish Company has signed a
roaming agreement, contradicting the international norms, with Karabakh
Telecom operating in the occupied Azerbaijan’s territory Karabakh.

APA reports that Nagorno Karabakh is shown as Armenia’s territory on
the official website of the company.

Besides, Gemini network LTD producing phone cards (GeMobile) in
Lithuania also made it available to phone to Nagorno Karabakh and
other occupied regions of Azerbaijan. European subscribers can contact
Nagorno Karabakh and the occupied regions of Azerbaijan through these
phone cards.

The website (;country=99&am p;rage=rrice)
of this company also shows Nagorno Karabakh as Armenian territory.

The situation is the same in Russian company Telekomtrade
(). The company allows to phone from
Russia to the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The company’s website
also shows Nagorno Karabakh as Armenia’s territory.

Press secretary for Iranian embassy in Azerbaijan Majid Feyzullahi
Kish said the Telecommunications Company was a private organization.

"I suppose the company did it because of the lack of information,
not on purpose," he said.

Azerbaijani ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Iran
Abbasali Hasanov said they would investigate the cooperation between
Telecommunications Kish Company and Karabakh Telecom.

First secretary of Lithuania’s Embassy in Azerbaijan Viliyes Samuela
told APA that he would inform his country’s Foreign Ministry about it.

He said Lithuania’s policy in connection with Azerbaijan had not
changed.

"It is a private company. It may have happened mistakenly and due to
the lack of information," he said.

Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Khazar Ibrahim said that
relevant instructions would be given to Azerbaijan’s diplomatic
missions in these countries.

ICRC: "OUR REPRESENTATIVES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THE ARMENIAN CITIZENS, DETAINED IN AZERBAIJAN"

Today.Az
s/politics/45145.html
May 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross have
not yet been allowed to see four Armenian citizens, detained in the
Nakhchivan direction of the front line.

According to the Yerevan delegation of the Red Cross, the committee
was informed about detainment of four Armenian citizens in Nakhchivan
on the night of April 29 from their families.

"After getting this information, in line with usual practice, the
Red Cross made efforts to see these persons to assess their detention
conditions and ensure possible exchange of family news with relations.

Unfortunately, they have not yet been allowed to see these persons,
but attempts to organize such visits continue", said the Yerevan
delegation of the Red Cross.

TOBACCO CORPORATIONS KILL IGNORANT RUSSIANS WITH ‘LIGHT CIGARETTES’

Pravda
May 21 2008
Russia

According to the World Health Organization, Russia has the largest
number of smokers after China, India and Indonesia.

Russia has the largest number of male smokers in the world (70.2
percent). This is actually the limit, since others will not start
smoking because of their education, principles, state of health and
other reasons. That said, tobacco producers have found new customers
in Russia – women and children. The nation has already witnessed
an increasing number of smoking women: from 15.5 percent in 2001 to
23.2 percent in 2007. The new target audience for light cigarettes
is women aged between 14 and 40.

Unfortunately, under the influence of advertising most Russians
think that light cigarettes are less harmful. The Levada Center
public opinion poll showed that 24.4 percent of respondents consider
that light cigarettes cause less damage to health than ordinary
cigarettes. Moreover, this illusion is much more popular among smokers
– 34 percent of smokers agree with this statement.

"However, the usage of such terms as "light cigarettes" or "cigarettes
with low tar content" and other deluding statements is banned in
46 countries," said Dmitry Yanin, the Chairman of the Board of the
International Consumer Society of Russia. Among these countries are
EU nations, China, India, Iran, Turkey, Thailand, Israel, Canada,
Australia, Norway, Switzerland, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Uruguay,
Chili and Panama. Armenia and Ukraine have also introduced the ban
on the usage of the term "light".

International scientific data showed that light cigarettes are not
less harmful than other types and they are as addictive as ordinary
cigarettes. In 2001 the US National Cancer Institute published the
analysis of in-house documents of producers which showed that tobacco
producers hide the truth about light cigarettes.

The level of tar and nicotine is measured with the help of "smoking
devices". Light cigarettes are not less harmful, for the apparatuses
used to measure the level of tar and nicotine give wrong readings. In
light cigarettes filter paper has small vent holes. When inhaling
air is tested with a device, the air gets through these holes and
triggers smoke formation.

But people smoke cigarettes in another way, differently from that used
with smoking devices. A smoker pressures vent holes with fingers or
lips during smoking.

Thus, the measurements taken by the above-mentioned devices show a
lower level of tar and nicotine and the level of tar, nicotine and
carbon oxide measure by ISO/FTC methods and indicated on cigarette
packs are unreliable. This is the conclusion made by the WHO Scientific
Consulting Committee on Smoking Production Regulation and the Canadian
Ministry Consulting Council on Tobacco Control.

Addiction to nicotine is another argument against light and low
tar cigarettes. Smokers become addicted to nicotine. The depth and
frequency of inhalations changes to make up the lack of nicotine caused
by the smoke rarefaction. To satisfy this addiction smokers take more
light cigarettes every day, and inhale deeper and more often than they
do when smoking ordinary cigarettes. The smoke from one light or low
tar cigarette inhaled by a man or a woman may contain two or three
times more tar and nicotine in comparison with the smoke inhaled by
"the smoking device". The same attitude is taken by Russian scientists
of oncology.

The Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection currently works
on a legal opportunity to ban the use of such terms as "light",
"super light", "ultra light", "mild flavour and delicate odour",
because the usage of unreliable information violates the law on
protection of consumer rights.

THE GENOCIDE DEBATE

Toronto Star

May 21 2008
Canada

The decision to remove a book from the reading list of a new
high-school course on genocide smacks of bowing to pressure from a
well-organized community.

A committee of Toronto public school board staff and university
academics recommended removing Barbara Coloroso’s book, Extraordinary
Evil: A Brief History of Genocide, from the Grade 11 course after
the board received complaints from seven Turkish Canadian groups and
a 1,200-name petition. Coloroso’s examples of genocide include the
killing of 1 million Armenians in Turkey in 1915.

The review committee concluded that Coloroso’s book was "not a good
example of rigorous historical scholarship." But the complaints the
board received went far beyond the scholarly merits of the book and
into Turkey’s view that what happened in 1915 wasn’t a genocide at all,
even though Canada and other countries have labelled it as such.

To its credit, the review committee did not back off including the
Armenian genocide in the course content, although it noted that
students should be made aware of conflicting opinions.

The review committee’s decision to delist Coloroso’s book has been
appealed to a panel of trustees, who could recommend reopening
this issue to allow the full school board to vote on it. In the
circumstances, that seems appropriate.

CHAIRMAN OF TURKISH HISTORY ORGANIZATION: "IF ARMENIANS BELIEVE THEMSELVES, LET THEM UNVEIL DASHNAK ARCHIVES IN BOSTON"

Azeri Press Agency
May 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Ankara. Mayis Alizadeh-APA. Chairman of Turkish History Organization,
the center of government policy against the so-called "Armenian
genocide" claims, Professor Yusuf Halachoglu interviewed by APA

-You told "Hurriyet" newspaper on May 20 that you might give $20
million to Armenians for unveiling of Dashnak archives in Boston. What
leads you to make such statement?

-Dashnak Party was the main Armenian organization in Anatolia in that
time. Therefore unveiling of Dashnak archives will make clear all
essences of the events. Armenians claimed that they had no financial
resources to unveil the archives and to research the documents. We
told them that we might support them financially on condition that
the archives would be opened and materials would be qualified under
our control. However it is impossible for Armenians to accept it,
because they know that such event didn’t take place and they try to
use it only. I made this proposal to prevent it.

-Dashnaks spread terrorism over Azerbaijan after Anatolia. Everybody
knows that Dashnaks committed genocide in Baku on March 31, 1918. Are
there any materials on it in archives in Boston?

There are probably such materials. Why did Dashnaks carry their
archives to Boston, the US? The Republic of Armenia was established
and they could carry these materials there. Armenian archives till
1923 were remained closed. They could carry these archives to Russia
as well. States telling lies about archives of Ottoman Empire should
be clever. Everybody should know that archives of Ottoman Empire are
open and Armenian archives remained close.

-Rajab Tayyip Erdogan’s letter on it was not replied positively on
May 8, 2005.

You know reasons why they did not reply to letter. What will they
discuss with us? Which documents will they show? If they believe in
themselves, they should open archives of Dashnaks.

-Your another initiative – discussions within the framework of Vienna
platform remained unsuccessful for unilateral claims of Armenians.

Armenians stated that they could conduct discussions after approval
of so-called genocide. What will we discuss after its approval?!

FAREWELL VISIT OF THE AMBASSADOR OF LATVIA TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA
May 21 2008
Armenia

On May 20 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of
Armenia Mr Tigran Torosyan received the Ambassador of Latvia to the
Republic of Armenia Mr Aivars Vovers on the occasion of the completion
of his diplomatic mission.

The NA President thanked the ambassador for his long-term and effective
work and for the contribution to Armenian-Latvian relations and wished
him success in his further career. Noting that during his tenure
relations between two countries deepened, the inter-parliamentary
cooperation developed through the international structures, Mr
Torosyan expressed his conviction that there were opportunities and
perspectives for the further development of the relations. The head
of the parliament noted that the European integration for Armenia was
one of the priorities of the foreign policy, in this aspect stressing
the Latvian experience.

The Ambassador of Latvia to the Republic of Armenia Mr Aivars Vovers
thanked the NA President for the effective cooperation, noting that
during 6-7 years of his tenure Armenia recorded considerable successes
of development in different spheres. The Ambassador highlighted the
last report of the European Commission on Armenia which was the
most positive when compared with Georgia and Azerbaijan. Highly
assessing the present level of bilateral relations and recording
the achievements, Mr Vovers expressed conviction that there was
great potential of cooperation, in particular, in the trade-economic
sphere. Speaking about the years of his tenure in Armenia Mr Vovers
said that they were bright and important working years, and he made
many friends.

During the meeting the sides also touched upon other issues of
bilateral interest.

HIKMET HAJI-ZADE: "TO BE OUR TRUE FRIEND RUSSIA SHOULD REJECT SUPPORT OF ARMENIAN AGGRESSION IN KARABAKH"

Today.Az
politics/45136.html
May 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with famous political scientist Hikmet Haji-zade.

-How do you assess current state of Azerbaijani-Russian relations?

Though a definite "calm and business-like tone" is observed in our
relations from exterior, unfortunately, this is a deceptive impression.

Russia continues to support Armenian aggressors and put pressure
on Azerbaijan in different issue. For example, Russia demands from
Azerbaijan to stop economic and political support to Georgia and
weaken ties with the West and Turkey. On the whole, the situation
is far from being ideal. Merely, unlike Georgie, Azerbaijan does not
present offenses and claims towards Russia on the international arena
and I think this policy is correct.

-Can we count on the cardinal closing of ties between Azerbaijan and
Russia under the new President Dmitri Medvedev?

-The cardinal closing of ties between our countries can occur only when
Russia rejects the support of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan,
which will also promote the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Yet,
it is not likely to occur soon. The Russian elite and society are
at present in euphoria about the Putin policy in such issues and
oil funds, the smallest part of which go to Russian budget officers
and pensioners.

-But will Russia benefit more from relations with Azerbaijan or
Armenia?

-Everything depends on what Russia considers to be profitable for
it. If following the USSR collapse Russia would have intended to become
a democratic national state (as Turkey did following the collapse of
the Osman empire) Azerbaijan would be a more favorable partner than
Armenia. Unfortunately, the nostalgia about the empire have dominated
other feelings and intentions and now, instead of learning to produce
ars, Russia again prepares its old rockets. Russia does not want to
maintain friendship, cooperate or trade, but it wants to rule! But
it will not attain it, as world has changed and it is not so strong
as previously.

-What do you think about the arguments, used by CSTO secretary general
Nikolay Bordyuzha, who spoke of prospects, our country would have
following its return to this organization?

-Nikolay Bordyuzha, speaking about the advantages of the CSTO, has not
made a single comment about the Karabakh conflict. And it is not clear
how we will cooperate in the sphere of security with such a member of
the organization as Armenia, and Russia, by the way, which supports
its aggression. Bordyuzha mentioned such spheres of interaction within
the organization as a combat with drugs, illegal migration, cooperation
in combat with calamities, but he said nothing of the main point!

In his interview he had mentioned the word "NATO" several times, it
seems that Russia is anxious about both Georgian membership in this
organization and expanding cooperation of Azerbaijan with NATO. But
who is to be blamed for the attempt of our countries and Ukraine to
escape from Russia’s pressing influence? I want to hope that the new
president of Russia will think over this issue.

-By the way, let’s talk again about the new president of Russia. A
number of analysts and political scientists noted following Medvedev’s
being elected the President, that the Korean will start rejecting
its empire ambition, stop hopping for restoration of its influence
on the whole territory of the former USSR and support separatists,
concentrating on the resolution of social internal problems. But
now we observe intensification of the Crimea tatars in Ukraine,
conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, raising of the Lezgiun
issue in Azerbaijan. Does it mean that Medvedev, in fact, fulfills
functions of a representative, leaving the power to the Prime Minister
of Russia Putin?

-I also hope that Medvedev will change Russia’s aggressive empire
policy and I want to hope that if he decides to do it, he will not
be alone, he will be supported by the world society; the currently
silent liberals within the Russian government; and, by the way,
a part of the militaristic elite of Russia can not disagree that
Putin has caused Russia to quarrel with the remaining world and
that it is time to moderate the intentions and deal with the urgent
internal problems. Thus, it will be much easier for Medvedev that it
may initially seem.

-Do you agree that the resolution of the UN General Assembly on support
of right of refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes in
Abkhazia adds to the optimism of the Azerbaijani and Georgian sides,
striving for the peaceful resolution of existing conflicts both in
South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as Nagorno Karabakh?

-Yes, I agree with it. Both Azerbaijan and Georgia should increase
efforts in this direction. We should inform the world society about
injustice to our peoples and the UN is an important tribune for
execution of this task. I consider that most, reading this statement,
will say that the UN is only a talking ship and everything depending
on super states, which care only about their pockets.

But today it is not like this. Not completely like this. Beginning
from late 20th century, the community of the countries-voters for the
government are becoming stronger and control their elite and public
opinion usually contains more morals than the pragmatic policy of the
governments. Each year the demand of voters for conduction of fair
and moral internal and external policy become more effective. And we
should appeal not only to super states and elite but also to world
democratic society.

-Then why don’t the GUAM countries develop a plan on private support
of separatism in Russia in a response to Russia’s actions towards
the GUAM member-states?

-This is a difficult question. Initially GUAM countries seem not so
strong to revenge Russia this way. But on the other side, if we recall
the recent history, for example, the Chechen war, we have witnessed
that in the mid 1990s both Azerbaijan and Georgia under Schevarnadze
supported the Chechen fights for independence. Thousands of Chechens
and Dudayev’s representatives came in Baku. Schevarnadze helped
them even more. But in the result, Russia suppressed the Chechen
rebellion and putting a pressure on Azerbaijan, made it reject the
active support of Chechens. It is unpleasant to recall it, considering
the Azerbaijani-Russian relations.

But who is to be blamed for it? Today Russian politicians, before
speaking about our eternal friendship, should see the root of the
problem. To become out true friend, Russia should reject its support
to the Armenian aggression in Karabakh.

PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO TAKE PART IN THE EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS OF PARLIAMENTS

National Assembly of RA
May 21 2008
Armenia

The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Mr
Tigran Torosyan will leave for Strasbourg to take part at the European
Conference of Presidents of Parliaments. On May 22-23 in Strasbourg
the themes – "Parliaments and Civil Society" and "National Parliaments
and the Council of Europe: Promoting the core values of democracy,
human rights and rule of law" will be debated.

Within the framework of the conference the President of the
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Mr Tigran Torosyan
will have meetings with the PACE President Mr Luis Maria de Puig,
Secretary General Mr Terry Davis and the President of the House of
Representatives Mr Marios Garoyian and Marshal of the Polish Senate
Mr Bogdan Borusewicz.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MOSCOW BELIEVES IT IS TOO EARLY FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO PARTICIPATE IN NEGOTIATIONS

Trend News Agency
May 21 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 May /Trend News corr M. Aliyev/ Russian
co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group which is engaged in settling
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict believes that is too early for
Nagorno-Karabakh to participate in the negotiations.

"After the basic principles of conflict settlement are approved,
nothing will prevent representatives of the region from participation
in development of the agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh," Russian co-chair
of the Minks Group Yuri Merzlyakov said to Trend News in a telephone
conversation from Moscow on 20 May.

"Nagorno-Karabakh must independently participate in the negotiations
on peaceful settling of the conflict with Azerbaijan," Bako
Sahakyan, President of so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic, said to
Vedomosti. "There is the main side of the conflict – independent
Nagorno-Karabakh republic having the same priorities as other
countries," Sahakyan said.

In its turn, official Baku rejects negotiating with the Armenian
community of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"From the early start, the talks on the settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were held with Armenia as an aggressor
country, but not with those who are populated in Nagorno-Karabakh
to serve as a screen," Khazar Ibrahim, the spokesman for the Foreign
Ministry of Azerbaijan said to TrendNews earlier.

The first meeting of the Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov
with the Armenian foreign minister Artur Nalbandyan was held in May
after which the meeting of the presidents was announced to be possible.

The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to meet with
the new President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan for the first time in
St Petersburg on 6 June within the informal summit of the CIS head
of states.

According to Merzlyakov, the new president of Armenia is well-informed
of the process with Nagorno-Karabakh. "I think, the meeting will be
very businesslike if all sides are constructive and they are ready to
discuss basic principles of the settlement of the conflict," he said.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.