Month: August 2008

NAGORNO-KARABAKH TALKS CONSTRUCTIVE: OSCE MINSK GROUP’S CO-CHAIRS

Trend News Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia, Moscow, 1 August /Trend News corr. R.Agayev/ OSCE Minsk Group’s
co-chairs believe negotiations on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict which took place between Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers in Moscow on 1 August were constructive.

"We go forward and do our utmost. Now I cannot say whether it is a
progress or not, but the negotiations are constructive and it is a
very important advancement," U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
said at a briefing on 1 August.

"I can only cite the words of the foreign ministers. They said the
meeting was constructive. We, co-chairs, think both ministers were
satisfied with the results of the meeting," OSCE Minsk Group’s Russian
co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian
counterpart Edward Nalbandyan met in Moscow on 1 August to discuss
basic principles of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict settlement.

According to Merzlyakov, the press differently treats the Minsk
Group. "One cannot say we are inactive, since that was the third
meeting of the ministers within recent three months. The Presidents
also met, we paid a visit to the region. One could not be more active,"
he said.

"I think the quantity will be transformed into quality. That will
happen. But it is most difficult to foretell the time, so we will not,"
said Merzlyakov.

Minsk Group’s French co-chair Bernard Fassier said intensity of
the work is confirmed by the fact that ministers are holding the
discussions on the basis of Minsk Group’s last-year proposals made
in Madrid.

Matthew Bryza said the mood is constructive and that means the sides
are approaching to peace. "A compromise is possible, should the sides
show the political will. The two countries’ ministers and Presidents
normally treat each other and the negotiations are underway," 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.

AZERI CBANK URGES W. UNION HALT OVER KARABAKH
By Lada Yevgrashina

Reuters
Aug 1 2008
UK

BAKU, Aug 1, (Reuters) – Azerbaijan’s central bank has called on local
banks to halt operations with the world’s top payment transfer company,
Western Union (WU.N: Quote, Profile, Research), because it works in
the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh area.

According to the text of a central bank letter to local banks, the
text of which was seen by Reuters, the recommendation also applied to
another payment services company, MoneyGram (MGI.N: Quote, Profile,
Research).

"All 42 banks who are members of the Azerbaijan Banks Association (ABA)
support the central bank’s decision as it is based on the national
interests of Azerbaijan," ABA head Eldar Ismailov told Reuters.

Karabakh, an Armenian-populated region of Azerbaijan, broke away after
a war soon after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and is backed by
Armenia. Azerbaijan views its return as a priority.

"Despite all requests from Azerbaijan, Western Union and MoneyGram
have continued to do money transfers in occupied Azeri territories,"
the central bank letter said.

"The central bank has recommended to banks working in Azerbaijan that
they stop using these systems for money transfers," it added.

The news came as foreign ministers from Armenia and Azerbaijan
met in Moscow on Friday to seek a peace deal on the conflict in
Nagorno-Karabakh.

A ceasefire was agreed in 1994, but Nagorno-Karabakh and a vast
surrounding area are under separatist control.

Western Union and MoneyGram have no offices in Azerbaijan but their
transfer systems have been operational there since 1990s.

A representative of the International Bank of Azerbaijan told Reuters
that the country’s banking system won’t suffer big losses as a result
of halting operations with Western Union and MoneyGram.

"I think the losses that Western Union and MoneyGram will suffer from
not having operations in Azerbaijan will force them to reconsider
the situation in favour of Azerbaijan," the representative said.

Western Union and MoneyGram could not be immediately reached for
comment. (Reporting by Lada Yevgrashina, writing by Toni Vorobyova)

PETER SEMNEBY: "WE HOPE THAT AZERBAIJAN WILL DO ITS BEST TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE ELECTION"

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva – APA. Special representative of the European
Union for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby held a press conference on
the outcomes of his visit to Azerbaijan, APA reports. Peter Semneby
said the main aim of his visit was to study the state of preparation
for the elections in the country. The special representative said
he had met with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Elmar Mammadyarov,
Interior Minister Ramil Usubov and the representatives of a number of
NGOs and noted that the election was a good opportunity for laying the
foundation of democratic development and creating political culture
in the countries, which have newly chosen the way of democracy.

"We attach great importance to the cooperation with Azerbaijan. At
the meetings with officials it was stated that Azerbaijani side also
attached great significance to this cooperation. Positive assessment of
the elections by the international mission is very important", he said.

Peter Semneby said negative processes in the countries had influence
on the elections, but he did not want to comment beforehand.

"We hope that Azerbaijan will do its best to achieve positive
assessment of the election", he said.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh problem, Peter Semneby noted
that EU supported the efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia towards the
settlement of the conflict.

"It is good that the two presidents met after a long break in June
this year. Though no agreement was reached, it is important for the
sides to make a step forward", he said.

The special representative said high-level meetings in the field of
energy would take place between EU and Azerbaijan.

PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA MAY MEET BY OCTOBER 15

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Moscow – APA. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov did
not rule out the next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
by October 15.

APA reports quoting Novosti-Armeniya agency that Elmar Mammadyarov
said the presidents’ meeting depended on the talks between the foreign
ministers."If we feel that we have found a common platform, there is
nothing impossible," he said,

The minister said the meeting his Armenian counterpart was constructive
and productive. Edward Nalbandian underlined that they had reached an
agreement on continuing the negotiations basing on Madrid proposals. He
said the next meeting of the ministers might take place within the
framework of UN General Assembly session late in September.

"Today we felt how important such meetings are. It is possible that
we will meet before the General Assembly", he said.

AZERBAIJAN BLOCKS WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM TRANSFERS

MarketWatch
Aug 1 2008

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AFP) — Azerbaijan has suspended the activities of
money transfer companies Western Union Co. because they operate in
the breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh, the central bank said Friday.

"Transfers and reception of money under these systems have been
completely suspended in all banks of Azerbaijan," the statement said.

"This is in connection with the possibility of receiving transfers
through Western Union and MoneyGram on the territory of Nagorno
Karabakh."

Azerbaijan strongly opposes companies operating in Nagorno Karabakh.

Backed by Armenia, ethnic Armenian forces took control of Nagorno
Karabakh during a war in the early 1990s that killed thousands and
forced nearly a million people on both sides to flee their homes.

A ceasefire was signed between the two former Soviet republics,
Armenia and Azerbaijan, in 1994 but the dispute remains unresolved
after more than a decade of negotiations.

TERRITORY EXCHANGE BETWEEN BAKU, YEREVAN NOT ON AGENDA: AZERBAIJAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia, Moscow, 1 August /Trend News corr. R.Agayev/ Exchange of
territories is not on agenda of the peace negotiations on settlement of
Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "Exchange of territories
is not on agenda at the moment," Azerbaijan’s Minister for Foreign
Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov said at a briefing in Moscow on 1 August,
commenting on the consultations with his Armenian counterpart Edward
Nalbandyan.

Exchange of territories between Azerbaijan and Armenia in order to
settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was again exaggerated by media
in the region. Experts said exchange of territories would improve
the trust and would promote achievement of stable peace between
the countries.

Exchange of territories was suggested for the first time by American
analyst Paul Goble in mid 90s.

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.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BREAK-THROUGH IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS NOT TO COME SOON: MINISTER

Trend News Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia, Moscow, 1 August /Trend News corr. R.Agayev/ There
is understanding between Azerbaijan and Armenia regarding peace
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but a break-through will
not come soon, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said
at a briefing in Moscow on 1 August.

Mammadyarov and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandyan
met in Moscow on 1 August to discuss basic principles of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict settlement.

"We discussed how to overpass the stumbling blocks in settlement of
the conflict," said Mammadyarov.

According to Azerbaijani Minister, negotiations were intensive and
useful. The sides agreed to continue the talks.

According to Armenian Foreign Minister Nalbandyan, next meeting
between the ministers may take place in New-York within the session
of the UN General Assembly, or earlier.

Nalbandyan said the negotiations were constructive. "We keep on
discussing to bring together our positions. Understanding is the main
thing between the sides. The more it is, the better," said Nalbandyan.

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.

AZERBAIJANI BANKS DISCUSS FURTHER PRESSURE UPON WESTERN UNION AND MONEYGRAM AFTER BAN FOR OPERATIONS WITH THEM

Azerbaijan Business Center
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Association of Banks of Azerbaijan is
conducting consultations with its member banks’ heads on the subject
of further steps in respect to international payment systems Western
Union and Moneygram, carrying out money transfers to Azerbaijan’s
territories occupied by Armenia.

ABA president Eldar Ismaylov said that domestic banks are debating
further moves towards the above-listed systems that violated
international law and international banking legislation.

"Earlier the taken measures led to the fact that Russia’s Vneshtorgbank
(VTB) closed a branch of its subsidiary VTB Armenia in Khankendi. The
same measures should be taken in respect to Western Union and
Moneygram," Islmaylov said.

VTB links the situation with the fact that by the moment of acquisition
of Savings Bank of Armenia the latter already had a Khankendi-based
branch that has been closed recently.

At the same time it is not important who raised earlier the issue
of illegal activity of payment systems – the National Bank (NB) of
Azerbaijan or banking community. It is our civil duty to suspend
operations with organizations failing to observe legal rights of
Azerbaijan," Ismaylov said.

On July 29 Rufat Aslanli, deputy chairman of board of the NB, sent
out a letter to banks in which it prescribes to stop immediately
since July 30 co-operation with money transfer systems Western Union
and Moneygram. He explained such prescription with the fact that
the NB set a demand to these systems and bodies controlling them on
compulsory stoppage of any money transfers to occupied territories
of Azerbaijan. Otherwise, it obliged to ban use of these systems
to all commercial banks of the country. All the domestic bans were
informed of that on June 20, 2008, but despite all the Azerbaijan’s
requirements, Western Union and Moneygram continued money transfers
to occupied territory of Azerbaijan.

AZERBAIJANI, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET WITH RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Russia, Moscow, 1 August /Trend News corr. R.Agayev/ Azerbaijani and
Armenian Foreign Ministers discussed at Russian Foreign Ministry the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenia’s Edward
Nalbandyan met with the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Russian Federation Andrey Denisov in Moscow on 1 August.

They discussed the state and prospects of negotiations on
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Russian Foreign Ministry
reported.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was also discussed today at the meeting
between Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers.

The work over settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, suggested
by both countries’ presidents in St. Petersburg in June, will be
the basis for negotiations between Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministers in Moscow.

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.

DARCHINYAN PROMISES SHOWTIME HIGHLIGHT REEL KNOCKOUT

SecondsOut
Aug 1 2008

Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan

Former flyweight world champion Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan has
talked a big game in the days leading up to his junior bantamweight
world championship showdown with Dimitri Kirilov on Saturday night
at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, but can he back
up those challenging and threatening words after his last two outings?

Dimitri "The Baby" Kirilov 29-3-1 (9) will defend his IBF junior
bantamweight title against former IBF flyweight champion and knockout
artist Vic Darchinyan 29-1-1 (23) live this Saturday on Showtime
Championship Boxing at 9pm ET / PT delayed on the west coast.

Here’s what the fighters had to say just two days before they battle
in the ring:

DIMITRI KIRILOV

"Darchinyan has a very unorthodox style, but it makes no difference. I
will fight the way I always have. I will use my boxing skills and
strategy to keep him off me.

"It does not matter how much power he has or he says he has. I’ve been
in the ring with big punchers before. Whatever Vic Darchinyan has,
it’s not enough to beat me.

"Freddie (Roach, his trainer) tells me ‘The bigger they punch, the
harder they punch, the harder they fall.’

"I feel very at home in Tacoma and I’m looking forward to defending
my title on Saturday."

Kirilov says ‘No Trespassing’ on his title turf: Tom Casino

VIC DARCHINYAN

"Kirilov has never been KO’d before. He’s going to get his first
knockout this Saturday.

"I have not made any changes in my game plan. Against Nonito Donaire, I
just got caught, that’s all. If anything, I am more focused than I ever
was before. My left hand is much stronger. My right hand is faster.

"I never respect my opponents before I fight them. I respect them
only after I knock them out. I help them wake up and help them to
their corner.

"I am here as a proud rep of my home town of Vanadzor, Armenia. I am
also very proud to fight out of Australia.

"I am here to put on another exciting show for Showtime. I am going
to fill up your highlight reel.

"Everyone at the Emerald Queen Casino is going to hear my punches,
lefts and rights. The people come out to watch the KO and that’s what
I am here for.

"Freddie Roach (Kirilov’s trainer) says I am predictable. The only
thing he can predict is that his boy is going to get knocked out."

In the co-feature, U.S. Olympian and undefeated prospect Andre "The
Matrix" Dirrell 15-0 (10) will put his flawless record on the line
against fellow unbeaten Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall 17-0-1 (4)
in a 10-round super middleweight brawl.