Month: September 2008

THE US TO ASK FOR EXTRA OIL DELIVERIES, BUT TO REFUSE THE RIGHT OF COERCIVE RETURN OF KARABAKH TO AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan Business Center
Sept 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney, current Vice
President of the United States is going to visit Azerbaijan, Georgia,
Ukraine and Italy.

The White House Official Representative informed that the visit is
linked with the latest events on South Caucasus and mostly in Georgia
and consultations to be held with the US allies for peace-supporting
and democracy.

Mr. Cheney to hold consultations with the Azerbaijani Government for
discussing the situation in the region and other matters concerning
relations between the countries and expressing the gratitude for
Azerbaijani participation in antiterrorist operations in Afghanistan
and Iraq. The parties are expected to discuss the peaceful settlement
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, aid in export and transit of energy
carriers to the US and Europe.

"Azerbaijan, Central Asia and Caspian region are able to export extra
power to the world markets and the US jointly with the other countries
are ready to assist to realize the possibilities Azerbaijan has,"
the White House Official Representative said.

A NEW POLITICAL TERM STARTING WITH EID AL-FITR

Today’s Zaman
Sept 1 2008
Turkey

The new legislative term political actors are readying for will begin
with a first in Turkey’s republican history. For the first time,
Parliament’s Oct. 1 return to session will coincide with Eid al-Fitr.

The opening will be held on the festival day, as per the Constitution;
however, whether the president will give a speech at the opening is
not yet clear. Parliament may have a break through the end of the
festival — it’s an official holiday — after the opening session. If
Parliament decides not to take a break, the president may deliver
his opening speech.

A friend of mine who is an experienced politician hopes that the
new term starting with the festival will be of free crises, saying,
"If everyone is able to renew themselves by learning lessons from
the past, politics may refocus on its real mission: the generation
of solutions to the existing problems."

Noting that the opposition parties — particularly the main opposition
— seem unable to renew themselves, Bekir Bozdag, a leading Justice
and Development Party (AK Party) figure, underlines that those
accustomed to relying upon irresolution have little chance to adopt
solution-oriented politics.

Political actors are making their calculations for the new term and the
upcoming local elections in early 2009. The AK Party, whose success
in the July 22 elections was undermined by the closure case against
it, is eager to secure another victory in the local elections. The
leading AK Party names who say that this will not be an ordinary
victory attach great importance to local elections for the sake of
Turkey’s normalization and the provision of uninterrupted services
until the general elections. They have a clear goal: to exceed the
47 percent of votes in the July 22 elections by one or two points
and to win the local government seats in Diyarbakır, Izmir, Tunceli
and Cankaya. Such a victory would allow the AK Party to expand the
sphere of politics in Turkey and give the message to the outer world
that it is a ruling party with strong popular support.

AK Party figures who note that a strong message would also contribute
to greater economic stability in a relatively shorter time view this
goal as part of preparation for the general elections that will be
held either in 2011 or 2012. The ruling party attaches importance to
the local elections and political stability to reduce inflation rate
to one-digit figures, create employment opportunities and to raise
per capita income to $10,000.

A leftist friend of mine who notes that the political left will taste a
bitter defeat in the elections, says: "For a new leftist movement that
will focus on the generation of solutions, the [Republican People’s
Party] CHP should taste a defeat. Otherwise, the emergence of a leftist
party against the political right will be postponed all the time and,
as usual, Turkey will pay for the lack of a strong opposition."

There is no visible sign that the CHP, which lost impact because of
its tense relations with the army, universities and the judiciary,
will develop a new style of politics in the new term. Its recent
reaction to proposals by Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan and the
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) shows that it will stick to its
former political line.

The MHP keeps stressing that Turkey needs normalize in an attempt to
expand its sphere of supporters. However the party, which succeeded
in implementing this policy until March 14, failed to pass the test
during the closure case against the AK Party. Proposals voiced by
MHP leader Devlet Bahceli — who said the AK Party should change its
leader or clone itself — met with serious reaction by the party’s
support base and deputies. Some leading names even assert that Bahceli
will restrict the party’s sphere of influence with his proposals.

The MHP has prepared a nine-article package to address the developments
that negatively affected the party’s image. Though it seems sincere in
its proposals, the AK Party is taking a cautious approach toward the
MHP’s attempts, considering that the cooperation between the AK Party
and the MHP in regards to the constitutional amendments brought the
former to the brink of closure. For this reason, the new proposals
by the MHP are being met with suspicion. Skeptics view the package
as a new plot.

However the MHP, which is not plotting, is developing a set of
policies in an attempt to ensure normalization in Turkey and prevent
a probable election defeat. The Democratic Society Party (DTP) will
probably encounter difficult times in the new term. The DTP will have
difficulty maintaining its support base because of the discussions that
took place during the Ergenekon case process. The DTP will have to deal
with the closure case and is uncomfortable with the recently escalated
terror. The party does not want to lose the Diyarbakır Municipality to
the AK Party, but is having trouble because of the lack of a coherent
approach vis-a-vis the terror issue and the Ergenekon case.

Gul’s second year in the presidential palace has begun

President Abdullah Gul, who has completed his first year in the office,
gave important messages at the start of the second year. Gul, who was
elected president following bitter discussions, rendered opposition
against his presidency ineffective because of his good performance.

President Gul, whose difference from his predecessors Demirel and
Sezer was pretty visible, demonstrated that he paid attention to
transparency when he decided to post documentaries on Ataturk on the
presidency’s official Web site.

During his term so far, Gul has hosted 19 heads of state and paid
21 visits to 17 countries. His scheduled visit to Yerevan in the
first week of his second year in the office is significant in many
respects. This visit will carry a number of messages, including that
Yerevan should pursue a policy independent of the Armenian diaspora
and that both countries need to seek resolution of the bilateral
dialogue problems.

Mrs. Paksut and YARSAV Chair Eminagaoglu

Ankara, which had been quiet and silent for a while, was rocked by two
scandals. The interrogation of Ferda Paksut, the wife of Constitutional
Court Deputy Chairman Osman Paksut, as "suspect" in connection with
the Ergenekon case reminded of some serious allegations regarding
to the AK Party closure case. The second scandal concerns Union of
Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV) Chairman Omer Faruk Eminagaoglu,
who allegedly dodged the obligatory military service by using a fake
health report declaring him unfit to serve.

These two scandals are particularly important because the major actors
in these scandals have affiliations with legal institutions.

The active role Ferda Paksut played during the closure case process
undermines the impartial status of her husband. In fact, Osman Paksut
contradicted the image of an honest lawyer when he denied a bilateral
meeting with Gen. Ä°lker BaÅ~_bug.

Many are now saying Eminagaoglu should complete his military service
and that Paksut should resign.

–Boundary_(ID_8FPLEX9LVjjAlJAUcQecOA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GORAN LENMARKER HOLDS MEETINGS IN MILLI MAJLIS

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev-APA. Milli Majlis Speaker Ogtay Asadov
met on Monday with Special Representative of OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly on Nagorno Karabakh conflict Goran Lenmarker. Press Service
of the Parliament told APA the Speaker noted that OSCE Minsk Group
should increase its efforts toward the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. "Support for separatism in different regions of the world and
consistent policy in this field cause double standards and violation
of territorial integrity of the countries".

The Speaker noted that ethnic conflicts and separatism should be
evaluated in time and on site and principles of the international
law should be observed. "Unfortunately we face with other realities
today. Despite all these, Azerbaijan advocates for peaceful solution of
all regional problems, including Nagorno Karabakh within the principle
of territorial integrity and not by use of force. We express regret
over the last developments in the South Caucasus and prove our position
once again".

Lenmarker has especially underlined importance of his meetings in
Azerbaijan. Socio-political situation in the South Caucasus, ways
of solutions to the regional conflicts and other issues of mutual
interest have been discussed at the meeting. Lenmarker has also met
with the head of Azerbaijani delegation to OSCE PA Bahar Muradova.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL SCIENTISTS AND POLITICIANS REACT TO ABDULLAH GUL’S VISIT TO YEREVAN – OPINION POLL

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elnur Mammadli-APA. Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to
Armenia was specified. Azerbaijani politicians and political scientists
have different opinions on this issue.

"Abdullah Gul visits Armenia at the Russia’s proposal because Armenia
is not independent and can’t invite Gul to Armenia at his own. Russia
reached some agreements with Turkey and according to these agreements
Russia creates some opportunities for Turkey in Caucasus", said
Political Scientist Vafa Guluzadeh while commenting to APA on Turkish
President Abdullah Gul’s planned visit to Armenia. He said Russia
intended to increase its influence on Turkey. "To tell the truth,
Russia wants to separate Turkey from the West and to establish new
block in the Caucasus and to lead it. Russia needs in the straits and
wants to cooperate with Turkey in this field. The Caucasian platform
has no other meanings".

Political Scientist Rasim Musabeyov said it was inexpedient to
confuse over this visit. He said Azerbaijani side made specifications
over this visit and Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia was not able to
change anything. "It is not changing of Turkey’s position. If their
any initiative doesn’t succeed it will damage only Turkey’s personal
image. Turkey’s population, army and governing elite will never allow
to give away Azerbaijan’s interests to the Armenian claims".

Political Scientist Ilgar Mammadov said new situation was created in
the region after Georgia’s breaking off relations with Russia. Earlier
Georgia was the only gate for Armenia to Russia. Now when this
gate was shut Armenia sees its development only through the Iranian
border. "Therefore Turkish leadership wants to use this situation and
to force Armenian leaders to leave their territorial claims against
Azerbaijan and Turkey and instead of this to take advantage from the
wide regional cooperation. The main goal of Gul’s visit is that".

Deputy Executive Secretary of New Azerbaijan Party and member of the
Parliament Mubariz Gurbanli said he had no authority to evaluate Gul’s
visit and wouldn’t like to answer this question. "Azerbaijan and Turkey
are fraternal and ally countries and we do not have to concern over
any visit of Turkish President, because our friendship and brotherhood
are perpetual". Gurbanli said it was impossible to say anything before
how Gul’s visit will effect on Nagorno Karabakh problem.

Chairman of the All Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev
condemned Gul’s visit to Yerevan. Hasanguliyev said Turkey might agree
this issue with Azerbaijan. "However in any case Turkey shouldn’t
make such proposal because at first Armenians accuse Turkey in such
crime against mankind as genocide.

In exchange for it they invite to watch football together. It does not
become a friendly country to do it. I think Turkish people will express
their attitude towards this in the next elections. I am sure present
authorities of Turkey will face reproach for their acts," he said.

Chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Karimli said Turkey
being an independent state determined its foreign policy itself. He
considers that Abdullah Gul’s visit contradicted the principles
declared by Turkey before.

"Turkey always said the country’s attitude towards Armenia will not
change unless Armenia takes off its hands from Nagorno Karabakh and
retracts its territorial and genocide claims against Turkey. Armenia
has not retracted its claims and I think Turkey’s changing its policy
it not right," he said.

Chairman of Great Establishment Party Fazil Gazanfaroglu said Gul’s
visit coincided with the tension in the region and it was difficult to
express unambiguous position. Despite this he underlined that Turkey
was a great state and had its own interests.

"Since Azerbaijan is at war with Armenia it is impossible and
undesirable for our country to establish relations with Armenia under
these circumstances. We should allow Turkey to achieve realization
of its initiatives and have influence on Armenia. The visit aims at
this," he said.

Chairman of Umid (Hope) Party Igbal Agazadeh also said that Turkey
determined its foreign policy itself. He said Azerbaijan and Turkey had
demonstrated unique policy against the background of Armenia-Azerbaijan
relations up to now.

"There were no sharp differences in the policy with respect to
Armenia. they always coordinated their policy. The reason of Abdullah
Gul’s action should be clarified to Azerbaijan. It should be explained
how it complies with Azerbaijan’s interests. Azerbaijani and Turkish
community may protest against it," he said.

Chairwoman of Azer-Turk Union Tenzile Rustemkhanli said after
Armenians’ claims Turkish President’s visit to Yerevan was not
right. Rustemkhanli said Turkey had great problems with Armenia and
added that the visit had been planned long before.

"The forces, who protested to it, are in prison now. This visit was not
a surprise. Armenia shows Turkey’s lands on its map. The visit on the
presidential visit can not be considered right unless these problems
are solved. The state program of Turkey writes that no relations can be
established in Armenia unless Azerbaijani territories are liberated,"
she said.

Chairman of Musavat Party Isa Gambar did not take a stance on the
issue and advised to ask one of his assistants. Chairman of the party
assembly Sulheddin Akbar condemned Gul’s visit to Yerevan. He said
Turkey’s warming its relations with Russia and Armenia should be
regarded as giving a hand to an aggressor.

"This is a wrong step. Armenia’s blockade has strengthened as Georgia
cut off diplomatic relations with Russia. Turkey takes contrary
position and gives a hand to Armenia when it is favorable time to
increase pressures on Armenia.This visit contradicts Azerbaijan’s
interests," he said.

Director of Ataturk Center in Azerbaijan, head of Azerbaijan-Turkey
interparliamentary friendship group Nizami Jafarov did not want to
express severe attitude toward this at the moment.

"Turkey is a great state, it has its own state policy. I am sure that
Turkey will not change its strategic position and never renounce
its way of restoration of Azerbaijan’s violated rights. Abdullah
Gul’s any visit to Armenia will not contradict common position of
Turkey. Presidents of all states may meet one another. Turkey can
make tactical changes in these processes. The conflict has lasted
long and such efforts can be made to solve it," he said.

Jafarov said that the visit could also be regarded as Armenia’s
getting out of crisis.

"But Dashnasutyun made a statement protesting against this meeting. I
regard this effort of Gul as quick solution of problems," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA-TURKEY FOOTBALL MATCH AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF VIOLATED STRATEGIC BALANCE IN CAUCASUS – ANALYSIS

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 1 2008
Azerbaijan

For the first time in the history of Armenia a Turkish President will
visit the country

Though Abdullah Gul’s visit to Armenia aims at watching football
match, this visit has more political weight. For the first time in the
history of Armenia a Turkish President will visit the country. What
makes this visit inevitable? Official reason is to watch a football
match, unofficial reason – Turkey’s intention to show its interest
in the regulation of the relations with Armenia.

Outcomes of Russia-Georgia military confrontation violated strategic
balance in the Caucasus. The strategic balance formed in the Caucasus
with the participation of all the players of the world and region
policy after the collapse of the USSR changed in favor of Russia. This
is a great danger for Turkey – one of the main players of the ongoing
processes in the region.

The reality is that the West and its main player in the region Ankara
may lose levers of influence in the South Caucasus. If Russia forms
levers of full influence over Georgia, it will mean Turkey’s extrusion
from the South Caucasus. Therefore Ankara is going to review all
the alternatives to protect its strategic interests in the region,
as well as the alternative of regulating the relations with Armenia.

Besides, the European Union is laying down the extension of Ankara –
Yerevan relations as an indirect condition. The European Union, which
once used Cyprus card against Turkey, now exerts pressure on Ankara
in terms of Armenia. Unfortunately, it seems that Ankara will step
back with respect to Armenia like in Cyprus issue.

Opening borders with Armenia is one of the chewed topics of the
Turkey’s agenda and even serious political and economic circles are
speaking about its possibility. If Ankara restores at least border
trade it will stop mouth of the United States and European Union,
which insist in establishing civil relations with Yerevan, and internal
pressure groups as well.

Recently pro-government research centers in Turkey use the thesis that
if Turkey opens borders with Armenia it will strength it weakened
power in the South Caucasus. Supporters of this thesis think that
by blockading Armenia Turkey increases its dependence on Russia. "In
contrary, widening of political and economic relations with Armenia
can weaken its dependence on Russia and increase Turkey’s influence
in the South Caucasian countries", they said. It seems Turkey’s
initiative of the Caucasian Stability Pact also bases on this thesis.

Ankara is not cautious in the issues related to relations with Armenia
unlike previous period.

a) Intensifying negotiations between the Turkish and Armenian foreign
ministries, b) Ankara’s non-rejecting of this fact, but justifying it,
c) Prime Minister Erdogan’s statement "establishing direct relations
with Armenia is possible and our initiative aims close cooperation
of five countries" d) and at last Abdullah Gul’s consent to visit
Yerevan to watch Armenia-Turkey match have a such meaning.

"Russia’s success in the influential war in the South Caucasus and
European energy market caused serious changes in the Turkey’s foreign
policy. Ankara made relations with Armenia one of its priorities".

Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s visit to Yerevan is realized
under the dictation of complicated political situation. Will Ankara
reach its goal with such gestures? It depends on the development of
regional processes rather than Turkey and Armenia. It is doubtless
that Turkish-Armenian approach will cause negative reaction in
Azerbaijan. Ankara’s gestures to Armenia means de-facto refusal of
three terms put forward for establishing relations with Armenia. One of
these terms relates with Azerbaijan – Armenian withdrawal from occupied
Nagorno Karabakh and nearby regions. Is it really that Turkey refuses
these terms? Turkish officials have to make clear this question.

KAZAKH OIL AND GAS WORRIES

New Europe

Se pt 1 2008
Belgium

Georgian conflict may jeopardise Caucasus energy corridor

The latest events in the Caucasus jeopardise many of Kazakhstan’s
plans with respect to transportation of its strategic goods – oil and
gas – by the southern route. The Caucasian corridor that Kazakhstan
considered until recently, as an alternative transport route may
prove the most unreliable.

Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with Azerbaijan to transport its
crude to the world markets by the Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan oil pipeline
(BTC). Long before the conflict broke out, when speaking about the
transit potential of the Caucasus, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev
said that the future of such major oil and gas project as the BTC
would depend on stability in that region.

The first alarming news that the world media reported two weeks ago
was a fire in the BTC. The pumping of crude from Baku was stopped. The
Turkish media reported that a Kurdish terrorist organisation took
the responsibility for the explosion on the BTC.

While the Azeri leader referred to Nagorno Karabakh when he raised the
stability issue, the Georgia-A bkha – zia-Ossetia situation was no less
worrisome. Georgian Economic Development Minister Ekaterina Sharashidze
told a press-conference in Tbilisi that "We cannot disregard the
attempts of the Russian aviation to bomb the oil and gas pipelines."

Although the Kazakh crude is not yet transported by the BTC, many
Kazakh experts predict that the latest developments will make the
owners of crude think hard about using the other directions to
transport their crude.

During a teleconference in Astana, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim
Masimov directed the ministry of energy and mineral resources and
the national oil and gas company KazMunaiGas (KMG) to consider
re-orientation of exports of crude from the Caucasian corridor
to the internal market. According to KazMunaiGas President Serik
Burkitbaev, about one million tonnes of crude could be pulled out
from the Caucasian corridor.

Commenting on the words of the KMG leader, a Kazakh oil expert
told New Europe that "one million tonnes of crude is not big enough
volume for us to regret." However, such a situation is not good for
Azerbaijan and Georgia who are going to lose profits from transit of
crude through their territories, he said.

He also doubted that with the current high prices for crude, oil
companies would be willing to send about one million tonnes of
crude to the internal market. "If the northern direction, that is
through Russia, is fully packed (the expansion of the Caspian Pipeline
Consortium being on hold), these volumes are most likely to go either
to China, or through Iran," the expert concluded.

In spite of the distance, the Kazakh oil companies have been seriously
concerned over the events in Northern Ossetia and Georgia. As is
known, last year the national company KazMunaiGas became the 100
percent owner of the Batumi port on the Black Sea. The information
agencies have reported bombing damages to another Georgian port on
the Black Sea, Poti.

At a government meeting, Burkitbaev said that although the Batumi
port did not suffer as a result of the situation at the Caucasus,
the concerns were still there. The Batumi port did not suffer like the
Poti port did. But we have removed all the bulk carriers and tankers
that were in the loading area. However, the concerns are still there.

As New Europe wrote earlier, with the purchase of the terminal in
Batumi, Kazakhstan had plans to transport its crude through it and
through the Azeri-Georgian oil pipeline Baku-Supsa, to a refinery
in the Romanian port of Constanca. As the 75 percent owner of the
oil concern Rompetrol, the Kazakh national company nurtured ambitious
plans to enter the European market. Now, in the light of the situation
in Georgia, these plans are also under a threat of frustration.

"Kazakhstan can still deliver its crude to Romania by the Russian
oil pipeline Atyrau-Samara. However, we are not losing hope that
by the time of the big Kazakh oil, the situation in the Caucuses,
in particular, in Georgia, will normalise," the Kazakh oil expert
told New Europe.

ARMENIA PUTS THREE NAMES FORWARD FOR THIRD MOBILE LICENCE

TeleGeography
m/cu/article.php?article_id=24831&email=html
S ept 1 2008
DC

Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has shortlisted
three companies – France Telecom’s Orange, Tele2 of Sweden and
Ireland-based Blackrock Communications – for the country’s third mobile
operating licence. The Transport and Communication Ministry Press
Secretary Susanna Tonoyan told local online news portal ArmInfo that
the companies must now submit formal bids within the next 40 days and
the winner of the auction will be announced after the bids have been
assessed. Besides cellular services, the third licensee will also be
granted rights to provide internet access and, in future, WiLL-based
fixed telephony services. The Ministry said 17 companies initially
requested bidding documents, although only six actually submitted bids:
Orange, Blackrock and Tele2, plus V-Tel, Auroratel and PJ Engineering.

The winning bidder will compete head-to-head with Armenia’s two
incumbent mobile operators, ArmenTel (Beeline), which is majority
owned by Russia’s VimpelCom, and K-Telecom, which trades under the
brand name VivaCell and which is majority owned by Russia’s MTS). In
July this year the PSRC announced its timetable for the award of the
third licence. At the time the head of the PSRC’s telecoms division,
Gevorg Gevorgian, said prospective wireless operators would have
to offer to pay at least EUR10 million (USD16 million) for the
GSM-900/1800 licence and invest a minimum EUR200 million in their
network to launch the service.

AZERBAIJAN BELIEVES EUROPE WILL NEVER ACCEPT OCCUPATION FACT OF AZERBAIJAN LANDS: FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency
Sept 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 1 September /corr. Trend News L.Abdulazimov /
Azerbaijan believes that Europe will never accept the fact of
occupation of the Azerbaijan lands.

"The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be settled exceptionally within
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and Europe will never accept
the fact of the occupation of the Azerbaijan lands," said the Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, during the meeting with the
OSCE PA Special Representative for Nagorno-Karabakh, Goran Lenmarker,
on 1 September.

The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan described the protracted conflicts
as threat for the safety of region and realizable projects, the press
center of foreign Minister told TrendNews. In order to establish
sustainable peace in the region, it needs to settle the conflicts
existing in the region on the basis of the international principles,
the Minister said.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT IS KEY PROBLEM IN SOUTH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES’ COOPERATION: OSCE PA SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE (VIDEO)

Trend News Agency
Sept 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 1 September /Trend News corr. I.Alizade/ The OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Special Representative for Nagorno-Karabakh
said the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is the key obstacle for
closer cooperation amongst South Caucasus countries. "Settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may become the beginning of closer
cooperation amongst South Caucasus countries," OSCE PA Special
Representative for Nagorno-Karabakh Goran Lenmarker said to journalists
in Baku on 1 September.

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 conflict is the only obstacle for cooperation amongst the
three countries. Efforts and endeavours must be made to settle
the conflict," said Lenmarker. According to him, settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is important in terms of repatriation
of IDPs to their land and establishment of stability in the region.

During his today’s visit to Baku Lenmarker discussed the situation
in Georgia. "The position of such a leading country as Azerbaijan is
important for OSCE," he said. He negotiated with Azerbaijani President,
Parliamentary Speaker and Foreign Minister in Baku.

GORAN LENMARKER SAYS HE VISITS AZERBAIJAN TO LEARN BAKU’S REACTION TO THE GEORGIAN EVENTS

Azeri Press Agency
Sept 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva-APA. "I have visited Azerbaijan to meet the
Head of State, Speaker of the Parliament and Foreign Minister and
to learn Azerbaijan’s position on the Georgian events", said Goran
Lenmarker, Special Representative of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, who is on a visit in Baku, APA reports.

Lenmarker said it was necessary to learn Azerbaijan’s position because
it was one of the most important countries of the region. "I think
cooperation in the region should be extended".

The OSCE PA representative said Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict complicated
this cooperation. "We hope the conflict will be solved soon because
there is a large number of refugees and IDPs".

He said it was early to evaluate Georgian developments and added that
it needed to extend cooperation to avoid such crisis.

Lenmarker reminded about his 2005 report on Nagorno Karabakh and
said he didn’t think to make a new one. He thinks that international
organizations can help to the solution to Armenian-Azerbaijani
conflict. "All things depend on the two countries and their leaders".

The OSCE PA representative said he was satisfied with the meetings
between Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders.