Month: August 2008

EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE SAYS NAGORNO-KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS MUST BASE ON BASIC PRINCIPLES

Trend News Agency
July 31 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 31 July /Trend News corr. R.Novruzov/ EU Special
Representative say it would be expedient to continue the negotiations
on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of basic principles. EU
Special Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby discussed in
Baku on 31 July with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
the ways to settle Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"We discussed the upcoming meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian
Foreign Ministers to take place in Moscow on 1 August and agreed
that the negotiations must base on basic principles," Semneby said
to journalists after the meeting.

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.

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 at the beginning of August.

Negotiations on peace settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will
be based on Madrid proposals, French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group
Bernard Fassier said to Trend News previously.

In November, 2007, OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs presented in Madrid
the basic principles of peace settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
to Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. Co-chairs believe the Madrid
proposals are just and balanced.

VIC DARCHINYAN VS DIMITRI KIRILOV FINAL QUOTES AND PHOTOS FOR SATURDAY’S TITLE FIGHT

Doghouse Boxing
h08.htm
July 31 2008
Canada

Vic Darchinyan talked a big game in the days leading up to his world
championship showdown with Dimitri Kirilov on Saturday, but can he back
up those challenging and threatening words after his last two outings?

Dimitri "The Baby" Kirilov (29-3-1, 9 KOs) will defend his
International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight against title
against former IBF flyweight champion and knockout artist Vic "Raging
Bull" Darchinyan (29-1-1, 23 KOs) live this Saturday on SHOWTIME
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

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

The telecast will originate from the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma,
Wash., and is promoted by Gotham Boxing, Inc.

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."

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."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GARABAGH CONFLICT EMERGED FROM "ABUSE OF TOLERANCE"

AzerNews weekly
July 30 2008
Azerbaijan

The Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict emerged as a result of Armenians`
abusing Azerbaijanis` tolerance, a senior Azerbaijani lawmaker
has said.

Chairwoman of the Milli Majlis (parliament) commission on human rights
Rabiyyat Aslanova`s statement came at her meeting with the Jewish
leader of Los Angeles, Rabbi Abraham Kuper, who heads the Museum of
Tolerance in the Californian city.

She emphasized that throughout Azerbaijan`s history, there has never
been stand-off in the country on religious grounds. Christians and
Jews consider Azerbaijan their homeland.

"Unfortunately, Armenians abused Azerbaijanis` tolerance in the
1980-90s. As a result, the Garabagh conflict flared up," the MP said.

Aslanova said the conflict was instigated by Armenian chauvinists and
clerics. Nonetheless, tolerance is exercised toward Armenians living
in Azerbaijan. Five Armenian Gregorian churches are operating in the
country, of which one is located in the center of the capital Baku.

"We are keeping the Armenian church, as we are not barbarians,"
the lawmaker said.

She said that in contrast to this, Armenians have razed to the
ground the remaining 800 Azerbaijani mosques in their country`s
territory. "Destroying religious centers is nothing but barbarianism."

Armenians have also destroyed cemeteries that belonged to Azerbaijanis,
she said.

Kuper expressed disappointment with the destruction of Azerbaijani
shrines, saying the US public was unaware of the developments. He said
Azerbaijan should therefore work more closely with US NGOs and public,
and invited Aslanova to visit the United States as a first step in that
direction. "We would be happy to organize your visit," Kuper added.

Aslanova said her country stated these undeniable facts in all
international organizations but no result has been achieved yet. "The
world community doesn`t want to hear us," she said.

The commission chair added that holding accountable those who committed
mass killings of Jews was appropriate, referring to the gruesome
developments of the Holocaust. "But justice should be served for the
perpetrators of all crimes in the world," she added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT SUGGESTS UKRAINE INCLUDE ARMENIAN SURB-HACH MONASTERY ON UNESCO LIST

Interfax News Service
July 30 2008
Russia

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has suggested to Ukrainian President
Viktor Yushchenko that he include the Armenian Surb-Hach monastery
in Ukraine on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization) list of world heritage sites.

Sargsyan made this statement at the celebration of the 650th jubilee
of the Armenian monastery located not far from the town of Old Crimea.

Three Armenian cultural properties in Iran have already been added
to the UNESCO list, the president said.

It is remarkable that the celebration of the 1020th anniversary of
Christianization in Ukraine coincided with the 650th jubilee of the
Surb- Hach monastery, an outstanding historical and cultural site,
the Armenian president said.

The celebration of the monastery’s 650th anniversary will be a worthy
stimulus to broaden and deepen the Ukrainian-Armenian relations not
only in the cultural, but also political, economic and other areas,
Sargsyan said.

Sargsyan thanked the Crimean parliamentary speaker and prime minister
for their participation in the restoration of the Surb-Hach monastery,
which has for centuries been a spiritual center for Armenians and a
pilgrimage site in Crimea.

YEREVAN HOPES FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT

Interfax News Service
July 30 2008
Russia

The Armenian authorities are doing everything possible to ensure the
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, the country’s
Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandian said.

"We are doing everything in our power to make sure that the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict is resolved peacefully, and we hope that the problem
will be solved solely by peaceful methods. We attach a great importance
to solution of this conflict and discuss all changes surrounding this
issue with the Nagorno-Karabakh leaders," Nalbandian told a press
conference on Wednesday.

"Today I am going to Moscow where on August 1 I will have a meeting
with Azerabaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov at the proposal
of the co-chairmen of the OSCE (Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe) Minsk Group that mediates the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict," Nalbandian said.

The meeting will focus on "those proposals that were made by the
mediators in Madrid and approved by the Armenian and Azeri presidents
at their meeting in St. Petersburg," he said.

The co-chairmen will hold separate meetings with the Armenian and
Azeri foreign ministers in Moscow, the ministers will meet one-on-one
and in a more extended format, Nalbandian said.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN ARRESTED FOR COUP ATTEMPT HOSPITALIZED

Interfax News Service
July 30 2008
Russia

An Armenian parliamentarian arrested on suspicion of organizing riots
and a coup attempt in Yerevan on March 5 was hospitalized on Wednesday,
an official with the Armenian Justice Ministry told Interfax.

The parliamentarian, Myasnik Malkhasyan, and his colleagues Akop
Akopyan and Sasun Mikayelyan, were arrested following the events that
occurred in Yerevan on March 5, when ten people were killed and over
250 were injured in clashes between the opposition and police.

Malkhasyan and Akopyan have been charged with "mass riots" and
"usurpation of the state power." Mikayelyan has also been charged with
"illegal purchase, storage and possession of weapons."

ARMENIA HOPES TO SIGN 3-YEAR GAS PRICE DEAL WITH RUSSIA IN SEPTEMBER

Interfax News Service
July 30 2008
Russia

Armenia and Russia will sign a natural gas price agreement for the
next three years in September 2008, Armenian Energy and Natural
Resources Minister Armen Movsisian told journalists on Wednesday.

So far the parties are in talks and the price has not been finally
set, he said. According to an agreement with Gazprom, Armenia will
be receiving gas at a price of $110 per 1,000 cubic meters until
December 31, 2008, the minister recalled.

Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) suggests raising the price up to $165 per 1,000
cubic meters in 2009.

The Russian gas giant stated earlier that the gas price for Armenia
will be increased gradually, and the switch to the European price
will be completed, as in Russia, in 2011.

Armenia does not have its own natural gas production, the country’s
energy sector is fully dependent on gas imports. Gazprom is the only
gas supplier to this country. Gas is being delivered by Gazpromexport
(100%-owned by Gazprom) to the Armenian border; at the border gas is
purchased by Armrosgazprom (in which Gazprom owns 72.16%). In 2007,
Russia supplied 2.05 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA CALLS FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION AFTER SEVERAL ARRESTS IN GEORGIA’S JAVAKHETI AREA

Interfax News Service
July 30 2008
Russia

Yerevan hopes for friendly relations with Tbilisi and a peaceful
resolution of the problems in the Georgian area of Samtse-Javakheti,
populated by Armenians, said Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard
Nalbandian.

"Our relations must be based on mutual understanding and friendship. I
am certain that there should not be any unsolvable problems between
our countries," Nalbandian told a press conference on Wednesday,
concerning the aggravated situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti.

"Armenia is closely following the events in Javakheti. Hopefully,
all issues will be settled peacefully," the minister said.

It was reported that in the late hours of July 20 – early hours
of July 21 Georgian special forces and police broke into the house
of the chief of the United Javahk organization, Vaagn Chakhalian,
and arrested him and his family members. Shortly after their arrest
Chakhalian and his relatives were moved to the administrative center
of Samtskhe- Javakheti, Akhaltsikha, and then to Tbilisi. Another
United Javahk member, Aram Batoyan, has also been arrested.

"We attach great importance to our relations with Georgia, and
we will do everything in our power to make them even stronger,"
Nalbandian said.

The minister also said he will visit Georgia on September 13-14.

ARMENIA’S GAS IMPORTS UP NEARLY 3 PERCENT

United Press International
July 30 2008

Armenia increased its natural gas imports from Russia by nearly
3 percent in the first half of 2008, officials from the Armenian
division of Gazprom said.

ArmRosgazprom, the Armenian subsidiary, said Russian natural gas
exports rose 2.8 percent to 98.8 billion cubic feet, RIA Novosti
reported.

The Armenian news agency ARKA also reported Wednesday that overall
gas consumption grew by 6.2 percent during the same six-month period.

Around 7.6 billion cubic feet of that went to supply the energy sector,
the report said.

Armenia has a pricing arrangement with Russia through 2008 to purchase
natural gas at $110 per 1,000 cubic meters. Russian energy giant
Gazprom plans to increase that price to $165 beginning in 2009,
however.

Plans are under way between the two countries to establish a three-year
term for gas prices once the current $110 contract expires.

A WRONG KURDISH WAGER IN KIRKUK

Mideast Mirror
July 30, 2008 Wednesday

The Kurds hard-line position on Kirkuk can only mean more trouble
ahead, says today’s Emirates’ al-Bayan

The Kurds insistence on rejecting the provincial elections law is
motivated by their desire to annex the city of Kirkuk, claims a UAE
daily. However, they need to remember that the city has historically
been a melting pot for all of Iraq’s constituent communities, and
that this fact cannot be eliminated by a political decision.

WIDE GAP: "The fate of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk has recently returned
to the forefront of events, threatening to detonate a major crisis
between Kurds, Arabs, and Turcoman, as well as other Iraqi groups
living in the city," writes the editorial in Wednesday’s UAE daily
al-Bayan.

The Iraqi Parliament’s vote on the provincial elections law –
boycotted by the Kurdish bloc, ratified by the MPs, and then rejected
by [Kurdish] President Jalal Talabani – has exposed the extent of the
gap that still separates the people of Iraq from a united vision of
the country’s future.

Although Iraq has been living in a vortex of continuous violence
since 2003, what has taken place in Kirkuk is extremely dangerous,
given the city’s rich ethnic and sectarian mix. This is a time bomb
that could explode at any minute. Monday’s events in which 27 people
fell victim to a suicide attack amidst a Kurdish demonstration are
no more than a prelude to this great explosion.

The city has some one million inhabitants, a mixture of Turcoman,
Kurds, and Arabs, with an Assyrian, Chaldean, and Armenian minority.

The warnings issued by tens of international organizations regarding
this oil-rich city have not prevented the situation from taking a turn
for the worse. More is likely in the coming days. This is because of
the Kurds’ insistence on annexing the city to Kurdistan Province, which
enjoys a broad degree of independence from the central government.

The problem of Kirkuk cannot be viewed outside the context of Kurdish
aspirations. Since 1991, these aspirations have centred on creating
a political entity that enjoys maximum independence from the central
government. A large part of these aspirations has been achieved since
the fall of the former Iraqi regime in 2003.

However, the current moment of weakness that Iraq is suffering from
does not mean that it is in the Kurds’ – or others’- interest to decide
the fate of one of Mesopotamia’s oldest cities, where the various
ethnic and sectarian groups have mixed for over 5000 years. History
cannot be struck out by a political decision.

One would have supposed that the Kurds would be more aware of this
historical fact than others. They are the one ethnic group that
has suffered more than any other from attempts to disregard it as
a result of the failure to recognize its identity when the region’s
maps were drawn.

The current historical moment may be appropriate for violating the
land of Mesopotamia at the hands of its own people, even before its
enemies violate it. But historical reality must not be absent from
anyone’s mind.

"It would be wrong for one of the Iraqi people’s constituents to wager
on a separate future away from the other constituents, especially
given everyone’s need for solidarity and unity behind the slogan of
reconstructing and rebuilding the new Iraq," concludes the daily.