Author: Boshkezenian Garik

NEWS ON SITUATION ON CONTACT-LINE OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES OFTEN ARTIFICIALLY TENSE THE SITUATION, ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS

ArmInfo
2007-09-11 14:03:00

News on allegedly activated conflicts on the contact-line of Armenian
and Azerbaijani armed forces often aims to artificially tense the
situation, Armenian Defense Minister Mikael Haroutunyan told ArmInfo,
Tuesday.

"Quite on the contrary, the number of conflicts has decreased almost
by 40%. Everything is clear. There is a constant tension. The nerves
are on the stretch on both parties and isolated shots are made from
time to time. But all this is in the usual regime. There is no tension
of the situation," the minister said.

YEREVAN HOSTS TORCH OF THE EAST FESTIVAL

ARMENPRESS
Sep 10, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: An international art festival,
known as the Torch of the East, was kicked off today in Yerevan. Its
motto is "To See Ararat Mount." This festival was started 15 years ago
and was held in India, Japan, Korea, USA, Thailand and other countries.

Apart from a display of paintings the event includes also several
cultural-educational programs.

Razmik Hajikian, a co-chairman of this year’s festival, told a news
conference today that one of the objectives of the festival in Armenia
is to show in one display as many paintings of Armenian and foreign
painters as possible.

The Armenian festival will feature 145 painters from 99 countries,
including 20 Armenian painters, 30 from Japan and 10 from the USA.

As part of the festival a course of ceramics will be organized
for children of a specialized school in Yerevan for children with
impaired vision.

On September 21 the Children Picture Gallery of Armenia will host an
exhibition of children paintings from the participating countries. The
main event of the festival, the Torch of the East Exhibition, will
also open on the same day. The festival is being organized by Los
Angeles-Yerevan Sister Towns Association.

ARMENIAN FORCES VIOLATE CEASEFIRE YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Azeri Press Agency
[ 11 Sep 2007 11:44 ]

Armenian Armed Forces continue violating the ceasefire, Azerbaijan
Defense Ministry’s press service told the APA.

The enemy fired on the positions of Azerbaijani Armed Forces from
their positions in Kuropatkino village of Khojavand region and unnamed
heights in Aghdam and Fuzuli regions with machine and submachine guns
on September 10 and 11. The enemy was silenced by response fire. No
casualties were reported.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CONTINUES LEADING ROLE IN OUTREACH TO JEWISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

KarabakhOpen
Armenian Assembly of America
10-09-2007 13:03:19

Boston, MA – The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater
Boston credited the Armenian Assembly of America yesterday for raising
public awareness of the Armenian Genocide, which led the organization
to formally recognize the events of 1915 and to successfully encourage
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to do the same.

During the JCRC’s annual meeting in Boston, Executive Director Nancy
K. Kaufman thanked the Armenian Assembly and the ADL for "being such
bold and courageous partners for change." Kaufman personally recognized
ADL New England Regional Director Andrew H. Tarsy and Armenian Assembly
Public Affairs Chair Anthony Barsamian who were present at the meeting.

"At the request of the Armenian Assembly of America, JCRC took a
public position on this over two years ago at the time of the 90th
anniversary of that genocide when we issued a statement that said: ‘The
Armenian Genocide represented a failure of the international community
to intervene against the worst possible crime, the destruction of
people. We must never forget the Armenian Genocide and maintain our
guard against those who deny its occurrence,’" Kaufman said.

"I want to thank all of you who answered our call and signed the
statement in support of the ADL Regional Board who passed a bold and
unprecedented resolution calling on their National office to change
their position on this issue," Kaufman continued.

The ADL reversed its longstanding policy and acknowledged the
Armenian Genocide last month, following repeated calls by members
of the Armenian, Jewish and other communities, to persuade the human
rights group to change its position. Prior to this, two members of the
ADL Board, Stewart Cohen, a former chairman of the Polaroid Corp. and
Boston City Council member Mike Ross, both stepped down after Tarsy
was fired for breaking rank with national ADL policy and acknowledging
the Armenian Genocide.

Following Tarsy’s departure, Kaufman sent a letter to some 40 prominent
Jewish leaders in Massachusetts, urging them to pressure the ADL to
recognize the genocide and support Tarsy.

"I have never gotten such unanimous support for any position by the
JCRC as I have in the last few days on this one," Kaufman told the
Boston Globe last month. "It doesn’t matter where people are on the
political spectrum – left, right, middle – people are really standing
behind this because it strikes at the core of what it means to be a
Jew and never again means never again."

In 2005, Assembly leaders met with their JCRC counterparts to
encourage the organization to publicly acknowledge the events of
1915 as genocide. As a result of that meeting, the JCRC released a
statement in April 2005, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.

"It has been our privilege to work with leading Jewish-American
organizations, including the JCRC and Nancy Kaufman, within broader
human rights coalitions," said Barsamian. "We are pleased that our two
communities are now working together, like never before, to support
each other on Holocaust and Armenian Genocide affirmation and to
fight denial together at every turn."

Barsamian said that the Assembly is calling on the ADL to follow up
on its new policy by supporting the Armenian Genocide resolutions
pending in the House of Representatives and Senate.

To date, the following Jewish-American organizations support the
Armenian Genocide resolution: American Federation of Jews from Central
Europe (New York, NY), American Jewish World Service (New York, NY),
Center for Russian Jewry with Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (New
York, NY), Jewish Social Policy Action Network (Philadelphia, PA),
Jewish War Veterans of the USA (Washington, DC), Jewish World Watch
(Encino, CA), Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Wyncote, PA)
and The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring (New York, NY).

The Armenian Assembly has always been mindful of all other instances
of man’s inhumanity to man, and for that reason, was among the first
organizations to support the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
project in Washington.

JCRC works to promote a society that reflects the best of American and
Jewish values — in Greater Boston, Israel and around the world —
by convening and mobilizing the Jewish community. Through advocacy,
organizing, service and partnerships, JCRC pursues social justice,
ensures a vibrant Jewish community, and builds a network of support
for Israel.

The ADL is one of the oldest and most influential Jewish organizations
in the United States and has been working to combat anti-Semitism
and bigotry for more than 90 years.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.

CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: WE RECOGNIZE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 6 2007

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is making an official
visit to Croatia, Foreign Ministry’s press center told the APA.

Azerbaijani FM had a one-on-one and larger-format meeting with Croatian
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ms.

Colinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Four drafts agreement were considered,
bilateral, regional and international issues were debated.

Croatian official stressed necessity of strengthening the high level
political relations through economic relations. Elmar Mammadyarov
stressed significance of humanitarian relations. The sides debated
cooperation opportunities between the Diplomatic Academies.

Following this, Azerbaijani and Croatian foreign ministers gave a
joint press conference. Croatian diplomat said that they recognize
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and underlined that they support
a peaceful solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict within the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani FM also met with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic today.

The situation in the Balkans as well as economic and political issues
were discussed, and views were exchanged on studying experiences
regarding relations with the European Union and NATO. Minister
Mammadyarov continues official visit to Croatia.

NO CHANGES ON THE NEGOTIATION FRONT
Lilit Poghosyan

Hayots Ashkharh daily
Sept 7 2007
Armenia

Yesterday Foreign Minister VARDAN OSKANYAN convened a press conference
with the purpose of summing up the results of the meeting held
in Brussels

The Foreign Minister refuted the sensational information according
to which Migel Ankhel Moratinos, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Spanish
Foreign Minister, had announced that it was time to give up the Minsk
Group format and find a new format for the talks, since "the parties
are not satisfied with the existing formats".

"I don’t know what Mr. Moratinos means. He has made that statement,
but he doesn’t seem to have opened the brackets. It is difficult to
make any comments unless we know what exactly he meant," V. Oskanyan
stated with hesitation. He assured that the Armenian side does not,
in any case, share the viewpoint that the process of the Minsk Group
has exhausted itself and that it is necessary to adopt radically new
approaches in order to move forward with the negotiations. Moreover,
"I strictly doubt that Mr. Moratinos meant that it was necessary to
break off the Minsk Group negotiation process."

As confirmed by V. Oskanyan, the extraordinary meeting that took
place in Brussels did not absolutely introduce a new emphasis or
a fresh note with regard to this particular issue. "I don’t have
much to say at this point. My meeting with the Co-Chairs was not
previously planned. You are aware that out meeting had already taken
place in Paris a few months before, and the Co-Chairs were to have a
meeting Mr. Mamedyarov. The meeting was held, and there was probably a
necessity to have another meeting with me, and I accepted their offer.

Judging by the information reported to me as an outcome of the meeting
with Mr. Mamedyarov, there is nothing new in terms of contents, i.e. we
have no progress after the Presidents’ St. Petersburg meeting. The
only agreement which was achieved is the Co-Chairs’ regional visit
expected at the beginning of next week."

Besides, the Co-Chairs may also visit Karabakh to meet the
newly-elected NKR President.

V. Oskanyan sticks to the opinion the only thing required for achieving
a breakthrough in the negotiations is "for Azerbaijan to make bold
steps." Even in a situation when the Azerbaijani party, in the person
of Foreign Minister Mamedyarov, has ruled out the possibility of
"bold steps", saying that Armenia must not anticipate an unexpected
change of attitude by the Azerbaijani side.

With regard to the Azeri diplomat’s provocative statement that the
Armenian side has taken a "pause" after the St. Petersburg meeting
and deliberately lays obstacles towards achieving the resolution of
the problem, this information does not simply correspond to reality.

That’s to say, it is an obviously false statement, characteristic
to Azerbaijan.

In the estimation of the speaker, the negotiation process pursues
its regular course. It is a different matter that "there is some
disagreement around certain issues. And if Azerbaijan continues to
persist in its extremist attitudes, the process will not, certainly,
move forward. And if they make bold steps by following the spirit
of compromise, I think the document gives them a serious opportunity
for the peaceful settlement of the issue."

Are the Co-Chairs aware of Mr. Aliev’s long-range programs aimed
at carrying out "anti-terrorist actions" in Azerbaijan, and what is
their attitude towards this regular manifestation of blackmail tactics?

Our question made it clear that the topic had not been absolutely
touched upon during the Brussels meeting.

In response to another question, V. Oskanyan assured that the Co-Chairs
use absolutely no pressure against the parties, especially against
the Armenian side, likewise last year and the year before.

"The Co-Chairs are not in the habit of using pressure in general.

They are mediators and have their own methods of persuading people.

Sometimes they prove successful, and sometimes they do not."

The most important thing is that, "they always act within the
frameworks of logic. They listen to the parties’ attitudes, often
containing contradictory viewpoints, but they know how to distinguish
things in between: what to take off the whole stuff and what to put
on the table. The closer your proposal to the logic, the more the
Co-Chairs’ approaches are in harmony with your attitude. In that
regards, we have no specific complaint against the Co-Chairs. I
believe that they carry out their mission as mediators in a proper
manner. Anyway, we do not feel pressures by the third parties, at
least as far as the Armenian side is concerned."

The Foreign Minister also stated that no issue regarding the
replacement of the Co-Chairs is included in the agenda, at least for
the time being. The conversation is about the US Co-Chair Matthew
Bryza, who, as some people believe, has lost his reputation as an
impartial Co-Chair by getting married to a Turkish woman and has to be
replaced by someone else not fettered by the bonds of a Turkish family.

OVER 52.3 BILLION DRAMS ALLOCATED FROM STATE BUDGET TO SOCIAL SECTOR IN 2006

Noyan Tapan
Sep 6, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2006, the social sector
was financed from the RA state budget in the amount of over 52.3
bln drams. The execution index made 94.3%. The deviation is mainly
conditioned by savings and by the low execution indices of a credit
program and a grant program implemented with the assistance of the
World Bank. Expenditures on the social sector increased by 18.5% or 8.2
bln drams as compared with 2005. The RA deputy minister of finance and
economy, chief treasurer Atom Janjughazian stated this at the September
5 joint sitting of the RA National Assembly standing committees.

According to him, pension allocations amounted to 16.6 bln drams
in 2006.

The execution index made 98.3% as a result of savings.

Expenditures on state benefits for the population made 25.5 bln
drams, ensuring 95.5% fulfilment of the program and exceeding by
15.6% the 2005 index. 24.2% of the indicated sum was allocated for
poverty family benefits and one-off monetary aid, which made up 99.8%
of the program. Out of 181,907 families registered in the family
vulnerability assessment system in 2006, 130,190 families or 71.6%
of registered ones received the right for family benefits. 9,561
families or 5.2% of registered ones received urgent assistance. About
4,200 vulnerable families received one-off monetary aid in connection
with birth of a baby, and 14,220 families – in connection with their
children becoming first-formers.

In 2006, the social allocations on social security measures were spent
on financing 35 social programs, amounting to 4.8 bln drams or 98.9%
of the envisaged sum. Expenditures on other social programs made
over 4.2 bln drams or by 27.6% less than the programmed index. The
low execution index was conditioned by the low execution index of
the credit program on management of the social protection sector,
which was implemented with WB assistance.

AZERI LEADER SAYS MILITARY SPENDING TO INCREASE FURTHER

ITV
4 Sep 07
Baku

[Presenter] President Ilham Aliyev today chaired a meeting on problems
facing our compatriots who had to flee their homes due to the military
aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan.

[Correspondent] Nagornyy Karabakh will never be granted
independence. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh
will be resolved within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity and the rights of refugees and displaced persons will be
ensured. Speaking at the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said that
a million of our compatriots had to flee their homes as a result of
Armenia’s military aggression against Azerbaijan.

Ethnic cleansing has been carried out on our territory. Peace talks are
continuing despite the fact that this injustice has been continuing
for many years. The success of the Prague process will support a
peaceful solution to the conflict.

The president stressed that Azerbaijan’s international image had
also been boosted in the past few years. He said that the country’s
military potential had been increasing, therefore, if the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict was not resolved peacefully, the Baku government
might resort to other means.

Azerbaijan can liberate its lands using any method. The president said
that the dragging out of the resolution of the conflict could result
in greater complications. Armenia should understand this, he said.

The president said that the Azerbaijani government had taken serious
measures to resolve problems facing refugees and displaced persons. All
tent camps will be closed down by the end of this year, he said.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that at the moment Azerbaijan is making
every effort to resolve problems facing refugees and displaced
persons. On the other hand, army building is also a priority issue
for the country.

[Ilham Aliyev] We have increased military spending manifold over the
past few years. In the 2007 state budget, military spending stands
at 1bn dollars. The 2008 budget is on the agenda. It is expected to
be submitted soon. I have issued instructions to increase military
spending.

Although 1bn dollars is already a large sum – I can say that we are
at the forefront among the CIS countries – but we are at war, our
territory is under occupation, therefore, we can spend any amount of
money on this sphere.

PARTICIPATION OF RA POLICE DELEGATION IN CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS SITTING STILL DISCUSSED

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.09.2007 16:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Participation of RA police delegation in the CIS
Interior Ministers’ sitting is under discussion, the police’s press
office told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The sitting opens in Baku on September 5. The participants will discuss
joint struggle against organized crime, drug traffic, illegal migration
and prospects of further cooperation, APA reports.

BAKU SHOULD OPEN BORDERS WITH ARMENIA, AZERI GREENS PARTY LEADER SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.09.2007 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mais Gulaliyev, the chairman of Greens Party of
Azerbaijan said his country should open borders and establish economic
and diplomatic relations with Armenia. He said the party has carried
out geopolitical researches over the region and worked out proposals
on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Gulaliyev said the package of proposals basically stipulates
economical, public-political ways to solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. The document analyzes the Azerbaijani economy and oil
revenues of the country. It also maintains the analysis of positions
and interests of international financial institutes, foreign countries,
and international organizations on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The chairman of Greens Party ruled out armed solution to the
conflict. It is unreal and can benefit only the Azerbaijani opposition
desiring replacement in power.

"The opposition understands it cannot come to power through elections
in the near future. Forces aspired to power spare no effort to make
the government use armed interference and achieve replacement this way.

In case war breaks out, the international organizations will press
for resignation of the state leadership. Even NATO forces will strike
blows on Azerbaijan without delay," the party leader said.

"The Karabakh problem should be resolved only in a peaceable way, which
passes through the fulfillment of all commitments by Azerbaijan. We
described the government’s commitments to the Azerbaijani people,
opposition, non-governmental organizations and international
organizations in the package of proposals. After fulfillment of
all obligations and consolidation of economy Azerbaijan should take
Armenia out of the economic blockade and make this country economically
dependent," he said, Trend news agency reports.