Author: Antonian Lara

OFFICIAL BAKU HOPES THAT NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING REGULATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT MAY LEAD TO CERTAIN RESULTS WITHIN UNCHANGED POSITION OF AZERBAIJAN
Author: S. Agayeva

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 29 2006

"I hope that the negotiations regarding the regulation of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict may lead to certain results within the
unchanged position of Azerbaijan", the Head of the International
Relations Department of the Executive Apparat of the Azerbaijani
President, Novruz Mammadov briefed the media on November 29, commenting
on the recent Minsk meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev and Armenia Robert Kocharyan, Trend reports.

Mammadov called the recent negotiations as "very significant", but
refrained from speaking on the details of the meeting.

According to the Department Head, over the long years of the
negotiation process, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has
taken all possible steps for the solution of the conflict, and the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan has always been the key aspect
of the negotiations.

Mammadov said that the present talks also took place within the
principles of territorial integrity.

In addition, he said that the date of the next meeting has not been
defined.

ANS TV, Azerbaijan
Nov 23 2006

RUSSIA MAY SPUR SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT – AZERI EXPERT

[Presenter] Baku has agreed to participate in the next round of talks
on the Nagornyy Karabakh resolution at the level of the Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents.

[Passage omitted: work under way to set the exact date of the
presidents’ meeting]

[Correspondent over video of Tahir Tagizada, spokesman for the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry] The head of the press and information
policy department of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Tahir
Tagizada, has told ANS that the conflicting sides and the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chairs are now working to set the exact date of the meeting.
Touching on the co-chairs’ Baku consultations, Tagizada said that the
talks were constructive and the mediators expressed their intention
to draw the positions of the conflicting sides closer. The co-chairs
expressed their hope that during their meeting due in Minsk the
presidents will make a step forward in the resolution principles
confirmed at the last session of the G8 countries. Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan
will have their third meeting this year.

[Passage omitted: Minsk Group was set up in Minsk 14 years ago]

Numerous experts think that it seems realistic now that the
conflicting sides may reach an agreement in this city after 14 years.

[Political expert Rasim Musabayov, speaking in Baku street] Russia,
Paris and the USA naturally approach the issue with jealousy. Russia
would not like this [agreement] to be announced in the USA or Paris,
and likewise they would not want it to be declared in Moscow. Maybe,
from this standpoint the best venue for announcing the agreement
acceptable for everybody is Minsk.

[Correspondent] On the other hand, the regional situation is
completely different now. Russia, which plays an important role in
the resolution of the conflict, has to pursue a different policy now.
Political expert Musabayov thinks that the success of the talks
mainly depends on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position.

[Musabayov] Neither [French President] Jacques Chirac, [US President
George] Bush nor [US Secretary of State] Condoleezza Rice will be
there. That is to say, it is up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin
to spur the process to some extent and reach a certain result. One
can ask whether Russia will want this. It did not want this so far.
In exchange for progress [in the talks], it wanted Azerbaijan to meet
its interests to the proportions which were completely inadmissible.
The situation has changed now. Worsening Georgian-Russian relations
and the existence of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict leads to the
complete loss of communication between Russia and Armenia.

[Correspondent] The expert thinks that Baku’s recent serious
intentions regarding the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
construction may also impact Russia’s stance on the conflict. The
point is that, if the project materializes, this will be the third
project out of Moscow’s sphere of influence.

[Musabayov] It will take NATO and Turkish forces 10 hours to reach
the Caspian Sea coast by that railway. Of course, Russia does not
want this. In this case, there is a chance that Russia may think it
over, use its reputation and opportunities and urge Armenians to give
up their false claims. Otherwise, there is no chance.

[Correspondent] The co-chairs have stated that the conflicting sides
are now discussing two principal issues. One of them is the use of
Lacin and Kalbacar districts as a transit corridor and the second is
the conduct of a referendum to define Nagornyy Karabakh’s status.
Baku and Yerevan still differ on the referendum. Armenia insists on
the conduct of the referendum maximum in five years, whereas
Azerbaijan thinks the voting is possible at an international level
with the participation of foreign experts only after Baku gives its
consent. The participation of Azerbaijanis displaced from occupied
territories in the referendum is one of the main conditions put
forward by Baku.

Ayaz Nizamioglu, Ramin Yaqubov, ANS.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 23 2006

LEADER OF RAMKAVAR-AZATAKAN PARTY CONFIRMED ITS PARTICIPATION IN
FORTHCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Leader of the Armenian Ramkavar- Azatakan Party Harutyun Arakelyan
has confirmed his decision to run for the Armenian Parliament under
majority system in spring 2007.

At today’s press-conference, H.Arakelyan said that his candidacy will
be represented in the 9th constituency of Yerevan. He hopes first and
foremost for the support of his friends living in that district, as
he also was born and grew up there. He is not troubled by MP Vladimir
Badalyan’s possible nomination from this district. H.Arakelyan
emphasized that he materially assesses his chances of victory and
will not make a tragedy of his defeat. According to him, under the
majority system 3-4 members of the Ramkavar-Azatakan Party are going
to run for Parliament. He noted that many Armenian politicians who
state about a great number of followers, would dream about such
partisans the Ramkavar-Azatakan has. He stressed that their party
will remain in politics for 25 years at least and will never be
ashamed of its words and actions.

Public Television, Armenia
Nov 23 2006

ARMENIAN, CYPRIOT LEADERS DISCUSS TIES

[Presenter] The Armenian president has started an official visit to
the Republic of Cyprus. A ceremony to meet the Armenian president was
held at the Cypriot president’s residence after which Robert
Kocharyan and Tasos Papadhopoulos held one-to-one talks.

[Correspondent, from Cyprus] An official ceremony to meet the
Armenian president was held at the Cypriot president’s residence this
morning. Robert Kocharyan paid tribute to the memory of the first
Cypriot president, Archbishop Makarios, and laid a wreath at his
monument.

The Armenian-Cypriot talks started with the presidents’ one-to-one
talks. Then, they were joined by the two countries’ delegations. The
delegations include officials from the spheres of tourism and
banking. These are the main trends of prospects for the development
of Armenian-Cypriot relations.

The presidents will also discuss integration into Europe. As a member
of the European Union, Cyprus can help Armenia within the framework
of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The presidents also discussed
ways to boost bilateral relations. The Armenian and Cypriot
governments have signed an agreement on cooperation in the fight
against organized crime.

The presidents will soon hold a news conference.

TURKEY WILL RECOGNIZE OR WILL COLLAPSE

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 22 2006

Kiro Manoyan, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, in charge of Hay Dat and political
affairs, stated November 22 in Yerevan that the U.S. House or the
Senate have adopted three resolutions in the past 30 years condemning
the Armenian genocide, however the U.S. government has always avoided
using the word genocide to refer to the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

Matthew Bryza, the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, a
high-ranking State Department official, stated they are against
that the U.S. Congress adopt a new resolution, but the Democrats are
majority in the Congress, and it is possible that such a resolution
will be adopted, stated Kiro Manoyan. Like the previous three, the
fourth resolution will be a mere tool for pressure on Turkey.

Kiro Manoyan notices that the U.S. government is not doubting the fact
of the genocide but it does not speak about it not to exercise pressure
on Turkey. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Armenia Richard Hoagland
doubted the fact of the genocide. "This is Hoagland’s fault," stated
Kiro Manoyan, who thinks that the best solution of this problem
would be appointing another person ambassador to Armenia. Or at
least announce clearly that the United States does not doubt there
was a genocide.

The U.K., which is closer to the political line of the United States,
is against adopting resolutions on the Armenian genocide. Kiro
Manoyan thinks that the U.K. also does not want to exercise pressure
on Turkey because it views Turkey as bridging dialogues between the
civilizations. But "Turkey became a Turkish Republic, dismissing
the question of the genocide, and founded this republic on this
purification acknowledging their guilt, and will continue living with
this feeling until it collapses one day," stated Kiro Manoyan.

DARCHINYAN SET FOR WORLD TITLE DEFENCE

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
The West Australian, Australia
The Age, Australia
Nov 22 2006

Australia’s dual world flyweight boxing champion Vic Darchinyan may
have to forgo some Christmas cheer, with a mandatory defence against
former world champion, Victor Burgos mooted for early January.

IBF and IBO champion Darchinyan returned earlier this week from the
country of his birth, Armenia, where he took a break following the
successful defence of his titles against Filipino Glenn Donaire in
Las Vegas last month.

According to Darchinyan, his next fight could well be in the same
city on January 7 on a proposed Don King promotion.

His American promoter Gary Shaw has told Darchinyan his next bout
will be against leading IBF contender Burgos.

The 32-year-old Mexican formerly held the IBF light flyweight world
title.

While his overall record includes 14 losses alongside 39 wins and
three draws, Burgos has suffered just one defeat in his last 12
contests stretching over six years.

Darchinyan revealed he had a special incentive to win his next contest
as the IBO would present him with a ring if he made a fifth successful
defence of its title.

The 30-year-old southpaw has already earned a ring from the IBF after
making three victorious defences of that title, though he has yet to
collect it.

He was still waiting to hear whether his appeal over the official
result of his fight against Donaire was successful.

The contest was declared a technical decision victory for Darchinyan
after Donaire was unable to continue beyond the sixth round due to
a jaw injury the referee deemed caused by a head clash.

Darchinyan was adamant there was no such contact and has lobbied
for the result to be amended to a KO, which would be the 21st of his
unbeaten professional log of 27 fights.

Meanwhile veteran Shannan Taylor today announced he would fight Nonoy
Gonzales for the vacant IBF Australasian middleweight title at Fairy
Meadow on December 15.

Taylor said he was more focused than for his last fight where he
suffered a shock loss to Canadian Ian MacKillop back in July, when
he was distracted by promotional problems outside the ring.

He said he planned to move back to light middleweight and fight
MacKillop in a re-match next February, provided he defeated Gonzales,
who has lost his last seven bouts.

Taylor, who will also promote the December 15 show, said the undercard
would include world ranked Nedal Hussein and unbeaten rising stars
Daniel Geale and Lenny Zappavigna.

DELEGATION OF UNION OF WRITERS OF ARMENIA TO PARTICIPATE IN CULTURAL CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ISPAHAN

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 20 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. On November 20, a group of Armenian
writers headed by Chairman of the Union of Writers of Armenia, Levon
Ananian will leave for Iran on a seven-day visit within the framework
of the Glance at the Future Armenian-Iranian literary-cultural
cooperation program. As L.Ananian said at the press conference
convened at the Union of Writers of Armenia the same day, in 2004,
the Iranian writers for the first time visited Armenia and some days
later they parted from their Armenian partners "with registration of
many creative plans." Two years have passed and the Iranian government
invited Armenian writers and intellectuals to Ispahan on a reciprocal
visit, to take part in the conference under the title Literary Bridges.

L.Ananian said that the Armenian delegation is not leaving for Iran
empty-handed: 30 titles of books were translated from Persian into
Armenian in Armenia over the past 15 years. These books represent
almost all genres of 20th century’s and modern Iranian literature.

In the words of Reza Atoufi, Director of the Center for Iranian Culture
in Armenia, there are two reasons for holding the conference especially
in Ispahan: first, Yerevan and Ispahan are sister cities, and second,
Ispahan has been announced cultural capital of the Islamic world.

Ana sayfa
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Turkish Defense Minister’s words prompt French official to leave salon

Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, speaking at the opening of the 8th
Defense Industry Trade Fair, reportedly provoked French Military
Attache Lieutenant Jean Claude Gaey to leave the salon where Gonul
was speaking.

The French Military Attache Gaey was reportedly reacting in anger
to words spoken by Gonul which appeared to cast doubt on whether
French military officers had been invited to the trade fair: "We
were all upset by the parliamentary approval of the Amernian bill
in France. But we will of course continue our relations with France
in NATO and on other international platforms. We will come together
at other meetings too. The French Defense Minister is a valuable
government member. But the French Defense Minister has not been
formally invited here. We sent invitations to other countries."

When a reported noted afterwards to Minister Gonul that the official
list of invitees included the French Defense Minister, Gonul responded
"I don’t know about the list you are holding; but when looked at the
list of people sitting to watch the cinevision, I was relieved not
to see the French in row 21. We don’t want to do the wrong thing."

French Attache Gaey commented to reporters after leaving the salon
in the wake of Gonul’s speech: "An invitation came to me from the
retired General who heads the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. But
after hearing the minister’s words, I realized that staying here for
meetings was useless. Which is why I am leaving."

Earlier this week, General Ilker Basbug of the Turkish Land Force
asserted during celebrations for the founding of Northern Cyprus
that for now, Turkish and French formal military relations had been
"shelved."

TURKEY’S GUL ON WAR ON TERRORISM, SEPARATISM; ARMENIAN CLAIMS

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 14 2006

["FM Gul: ‘One of the Most Important Problems and Threats Is
Separatism’" – AA Headline]

ANKARA (A.A) -14.11.2006 -"One of the most important problems and
threats against Turkey is separatism. The fight against terrorism
is our priority duty," said Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Parliamentary Planning & Budget Commission over the
budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the year 2007, Gul said,
"since we predicted current situation in Iraq, we held the meeting
of neighbouring countries with Iraq. The world should appreciate
Turkey’s initiatives to this end. We attach great importance to Iraq’s
territorial integrity and political unity.

Protection of these are of vital importance for Iraqi people. If Iraq
is separated, it will lead to a new unbelievable dark era."

Recalling that the Iraqi prime minister would pay a visit to Turkey
in the coming days, Gul said that all those issues would be taken up
in detail during the visit.

Referring to the issue of PKK terrorism, Gul said, "one of the most
important problems and threats against Turkey is separatism. Our
government has been doing everything in its power in the fight
against terrorism. Unfortunately, the northern part of Iraq has become
shelter for the terrorist organization. Our government has displayed
a determined attitude against it. We attach great importance to the
United States’ appointing a special envoy. We consider the fight
against terrorism our priority duty. Therefore, we do not need a
coordinator. However, we have appointed Edip Baser to head the Turkish
delegation and to attend the meetings among Turkey, the United States
and Iraq."

Upon a question about presence of several maps separating Turkey,
Gul said, "these are nothing but worthless rags."

Describing the Armenian issue as one of the most important problems
of Turkey in the next decade, Gul said that they would launch all
necessary initiatives.

Later, budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was approved.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected]

Jazz Singer Datevik Hovanesian to Perform Live at Annual Gala, Telethon 2006

Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region is proud to
announce that world renowned jazz singer Datevik Hovanesian and her
quartet will perform during Armenia Fund’s Annual Gala welcoming
President Ghoukasian of Nagorno Karabakh, as well as during the 9th
Annual International Telethon, which will be held on Thanksgiving
Day, November 23, 2006. The sold out Annual Gala will be held at the
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at the California Plaza on Sunday, November
19, 2006 at 7pm. Datevik and her jazz quartet join Armenia Fund’s
international effort to help raise critically needed funds for the
Hadrut Regional Development in Nagorno Karabakh.

Datevik was born in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia and comes from
a family of musicians. Her mother is Ophelia Hambartsumian, the
renowned diva of Armenian Folk and her father, Norair Hovanesian,
is an expert kamancha (folk string instrument) player.

Datevik made her first recording at the age of 11 with Harold Arlen’s
song "It’s Only a Paper Moon." Thereafter, music and song became
her focal point and her life’s raison d’etre. While continuing
her musical education in the field of choir director, Datevik also
embarked on performance tours in Europe, the United States, Asia,
and Africa. She juggled participation in well-known jazz festivals
with solo performances, movies, and teaching. By 1979 this rising
song star had earned the title of "The First Lady of Jazz" in the
Soviet Union, which she maintained for nine consecutive years.

It was during that time that her solo albums – "Day Dream", "Concerto
for Voice & Orchestra", and "Doors" – were recorded.

In 1990, she was introduced to Mr. Pierre Sprey, president of
Mapleshade Record Productions. That meeting marked the beginning of
her musical career in the United States. Mr. Sprey opened the doors
of his studio to Datevik and facilitated for a recording session
with the wonderful and very talented pianist Larry Willis and his
quartet – the result of which was a beautiful album "Ballads from
the Sea". Asked about her experience, Datevik states, "I consider my
Mapleshade studio experience with the magical music of Larry Willis
as one of the unforgettable highlights of my life".

Some of Datevik’s biggest accomplishments of her career and most
important contribution to Armenian music have been in the last 16
years. Datevik has introduced a new genre of music called Ethnic Jazz,
by combining Armenian folk music and traditional jazz music. She
has accomplished this notably through the introduction of Komitas,
Sayat Nova, and Armenian traditional songs, in the medium of jazz,
to the new generation of Armenians and to people of all nationalities
and various backgrounds. Datevik is truly a cultural Ambassador
of Armenia. She has extensively traveled all over the world and
participated at prestigious jazz festivals. Since Datevik extensively
works with non-Armenian musicians, she has had the distinct opportunity
to introduce them to Armenian music and culture. Notable American,
Russian, and Australian musicians have adopted this type of music in
their compositions and concerts.

Her latest music CDs that include Armenian ethnic jazz music are
"Listen to My Heart" and "Stage to Stage". When asked about Datevik,
legendary jazz producer George Avakian said, "The finest new voice I
have heard in a quarter of century". Internationally known composer,
arranger and pianist Michel Legrand added, "Listen to the Heart of
Armenia, listen to Datevik".

Armenia Fund’s 9th Annual International Telethon will be held on
Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2006 from 8am – 8pm PST. The live
telethon will feature guest appearances of celebrities and community
leaders, renowned Armenian performers, as well as Armenia Fund’s
long time donors and supporters. Proceeds from the Telethon will be
geared towards the fight against rural poverty — which includes
the reconstruction of a regional hospital with 5 new ambulances, the
construction of local village schools, waterways for irrigation and
drinking water purposes, and a comprehensive agricultural development
plan. The 12 hour live program will be webcasted on
on the day of the Telethon.

For further broadcast information, please visit

Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian
and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. Since 1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $160 million
in development aid to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund,
Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of "Hayastan" All-Armenian
Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698