Author: Boshkezenian Garik

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 15 2005
Prague talks may assist in conflict settlement – President

Baku, March 14, AssA-Irada
Baku believes that the `Prague talks’ will assist in settling the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh and talks are
underway on the level of the two countries’ foreign ministers,
President Ilham Aliyev said in a meeting with the Turkish Deputy
Foreign Minister Ahmed Uzumcu on Monday.
Uzumcu said Turkey is in political consultations with the Foreign
Ministry of Azerbaijan on a peace resolution of the Garabagh
conflict.
On the same day, President Aliyev received the Director of
Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee Border Service Bolat
Zakiyev.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey via JTW, Turkey
March 15 2005
The Ball is in Brussels’s Court
Abdulhamit Bilici
Columnist Abdulhamit Bilici comments on Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul’s current official visit to Britain and Turkey’s European Union
membership bid. A summary of his column is as follows:
`British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who received our Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday in London, said that Turkey was quite
ready to sign the protocol extending its Customs Union with present
EU members to all the new states. `The ball is now in Brussels’
court,’ Straw said at a joint press conference following his meeting
with Gul. For his part, Gul stressed that preparations to start
membership negotiations with the EU in October were on track. Asked
whether Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos could put increased
pressure on Brussels to slow down Turkey’s EU process, Straw said
that Britain has no wish to deal with any further problems on the
Cyprus issue now, because it is high time for Ankara and Brussels to
focus on the start of negotiations. Prior to his visit to the
country, Gul was hoping to get London’s support for ending the
isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, because Britain will this July
take over the EU term presidency from the current president,
Luxembourg. Gul yesterday said that he hoped positive steps would
soon be taken on the issue.
Gul yesterday was first interviewed by a Financial Times reporter,
then had lunch with prominent representatives of British finance
circles. Later he addressed members of the London office of
Bloomberg, the information technology giant, where he called on
British businessmen to participate in the privatizations of big
companies in Turkey. Gul was then asked many questions by these
businessmen covering a variety of subjects, including such sensitive
ones as the Armenian problem and the ruling Justice and Development
Party’s (AKP) Islamic roots.
`What would happen if an independent Kurdish state were established
in northern Iraq?’ asked one businessman. `This would plunge the
region into greater chaos,’ Gul warned. `All ethnic groups must see
themselves as Iraqis. We don’t want any further turmoil in the
region. What would Arabs say to such a division? Not only Turks but
also all regional countries want to protect Iraq’s territorial
integrity.’
Gul also delivered a speech at the London School of Economics. It was
quite interesting that he was asked many more questions about the
heavy-handed police action last week to control a women’s rights
demonstration on the eve of the government’s talks with top EU
officials, rather than Turkey’s current reforms. Gul stressed that a
full investigation on the incident was underway whose findings would
be announced in a few days. Because of a demonstration by a radical
leftist group in front of the school, Gul had to leave the building
by the back door.’

Ultimate-Guitar.Com
March 14 2005
System Of A Down Update

Date: 2005-03-14 Artist: System Of A Down Category: General Music
News

Fans of the massive Armenian American metal quartet System Of A Down
now have another taster of the new album, after an audience recording
of two new live tracks, Holy Mountain and Kill Rock And Roll from the
Australian Big Day Out Festival, leaked onto the internet
(killrockandroll.tk).

The first taste fans had of the new album was in January when a
studio recording of the new song Cigaro appeared on the internet.
System Of A Down’s new album Mesmerize is due for release on May
17th, with the second part of the album Hypnotize, coming sometime
later this year. The first single from the new album B.Y.O.B. (Bring
Your Own Bombs) was due for release March 8th, but the release date
was for some reason pushed back. Apparently, a live version of this
track exists somewhere on the internet as well, however this remains
to be confirmed.
Fans of the band can expect good things from the nwe album, Kerrang!
magazine said, after a reporter was allowed to listen to a 6 track
sample. Kill Rock N Roll and BYOB were two songs from that CD.
Kerrang! have said the sample CD gave strong indictations that this
album promises to be the bands best yet.
Other confirmed (yet unheard) songs that are due to be relased on the
CD are:
Lost In Hollywood
Violent Pornography
Video Radio
Tentative
Vicinity Of Obscenity
Revenga
Question
Hypnotize
Attack
Mesmerize recently was No. 1 (of 25) of the most anticipated albums
of the year.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 14 2005
OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV TO THE
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA WIDELY COVERED IN MASS MEDIA OF THIS COUNTRY
[March 14, 2005, 17:34:14]
Three-day official visit of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic
Ilham Aliyev to Saudi Arabia on the invitation of the Custodian of
the two Holy Mosques , King of Saudi Arabia Fahd Ibn Abdullah uAbdel
Aziz Al Saud was in the center of attention of mass media of the
Kingdom. Materials about this visit of the newspaper were published
on the first pages under large headings. The press and TV especially
emphasized that visit would stimulate more intensive development of
cooperation between the two countries in political, economic,
cultural and other fields.
The newspaper “Riyadh” in number for March 9 under the headings
`Aliyev highly estimated the role of Emir Abdullah in merits before
the Islam and Moslems’ and `The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and
the President of Azerbaijan have discussed situation in the Islamic
world and prospects of cooperation between two countries’ has
published big materials about meetings of President Ilham Aliyev with
the King of Saudi Arabia Fahd Ibn Abdel Aziz Al Saud and crown prince
Emir Abdullah Ibn Abdel Aziz Al Saud and the negotiations carried out
by them. The newspaper writes, that King was glad to welcome
President Ilham Aliyev in Saudi Arabia and, taking into account his
merits in development of cooperation and friendly relations between
two brotherly countries, has handed over him the highest state award
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the “King Abdel Aziz” Order.
President Ilham Aliyev has handed over the King Fahd Ibn Abdel Aziz
Al Saud the `Istiglal’ Order of the Azerbaijan Republic, having
estimated thus the contribution of King to development of cooperation
between two countries in the field of culture and economy.
In the newspaper it is emphasized that at the meeting between the
President of Azerbaijan and King Fahd, was held wide exchange of
views on the events occurring in the Islamic world and on
international arena, discussed prospects of widespread cooperation
between the brotherly countries.
Giving also appreciable place to meetings of Crown Prince of Emir
Abdullah Ibn Abdel Aziz Al Saud with President Ilham Aliyev in
private and in the expanded structure, the newspaper “Riyadh” marks
that taking into account special merits of Emir in development of
all-round links between our countries, President Ilham Aliyev has
handed over him the highest award of the Azerbaijan Republic – the
“Istiglal’ Order. On negotiations, also was expressed attitude to the
events occurring in the Islamic world and on international arena,
discussed ways of development of the widespread cooperation, serving
to interests of peoples of both countries.
Emphasizing that the management of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gives
great value to visit of President Ilham Aliyev to this friendly and
brotherly country, the newspaper writes that `the high-ranking
responsible persons of the Kingdom took part in negotiations with the
honored guest in the expanded structure, including members of Royal
family: Emir Mushal, Emir Mutab, Emir Sattam, Emir Abdel Aziz Ibn
Fahd, and also Ministers of Justice, Trade and Industry.
Other influential edition “Al Jazeera” gives an appreciable place to
this visit, noting that the meeting of heads of two countries
represents special value for the future ties. The newspaper has
pushed into the foreground the statement of President Ilham Aliyev
that Saudi Arabia consistently supports Azerbaijan, and has
especially emphasized his confidence that this position will continue
and henceforth.
Marking the statement of Emir Abdullah about the bright future of the
Azerbaijan Republic, the newspaper writes that Crown Prince has
wished to President Ilham Aliyev great successes in his efforts in
the field of strengthening of economic power of the country. Having
declared that his country also will support the position of
Azerbaijan, and, having expressed satisfaction with strong relations
between two brotherly and friendly countries, Emir has reminded that
the strong basis of these links has been founded by the national
leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, and has wished his worthy
successor big successes on this responsible way.
Official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Saudi Arabia also was in
the focus of the newspaper issued in London `Ash-Sharg Al Aisat’.
This visit has been covered in the article published under heading
`At the Saudi-Azerbaijan meeting taken place in Riyadh, at the
highest levels were widely discussed the questions connected to
mutual cooperation, last events in the Islamic world and on
international arena’. The newspaper writes: ` President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev highly has estimated the irreplaceable role of Emir
Abdullah in solution of the problems of the Moslems living in all
parts of the world, and Emir Abdullah, in turn, having expressed to
President Ilham Aliyev profound gratitude, has emphasized absolute
confidence in the further expansion and development of relations
between the friendly and brotherly countries’.
Newspaper “Al-Vatan” issued in Riyadh expresses confidence that
official visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Saudi
Arabia will take a special place and will play important role in
development of fruitful cooperation in all spheres. It is marked that
positions of the sides completely coincide in connection with the
events occurring both in the Islamic world, and on international
arena, is emphasized that they completely support each other in these
questions and act from common position.
The newspaper “Riyadh” has published big interview of President Ilham
Aliyev. In the given interview, President Ilham Aliyev in details has
answered the questions connected to economic development in the
country, position in region, the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, position and authority of Azerbaijan on region, and also on
the status of Caspian Sea.
The newspapers have published articles also about meetings and
negotiations of President Ilham Aliyev with the Secretary General of
the Organization of Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,
president of Islamic Bank of Development Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali,
signing of credit agreements with the Islamic Bank of Development and
visiting by President Ilham Aliyev the sacred cities of Mecca and
Medina.

It is indeed political
Saturday, March 12, 2005
TDN editorial by Yusuf KANLI
Yusuf KANLI
It’s difficult for Turks and others who have not been to Armenia and
who have no idea of the components making up Armenian nationalism to
understand Yerevan’s outright rejection of a Turkish proposal for a
genocide study.
For Turks, Britons, Spaniards, Israelis, Arabs and other nationalities,
the concepts of “homeland,” religion, history, national pride and
such, and even the idea of things as simple as the success of the
local soccer team, constitute the bulk of what creates a sense of
belonging to the country and the nation. The love for the homeland
and for the nation and the sense of belonging are the driving elements
that produce a nationalism which is not based on racism or chauvinism.
Don’t we have racial and chauvinistic preoccupations? Unfortunately
we do, and they are among the reasons why we have been struggling for
the past decades to democratize this country and enhance individual
rights and liberties and acquire a higher level of freedom of
expression. Though we sometimes wrongly portray this struggle in
Turkey with the clichéd “Westernization” or “Western vocation of
Turkey” rhetoric, what we have been involved in is indeed just a
fight to preserve our differences while at the same time becoming
a more homogenous society, replacing a concept of nationality that
includes racial connotations with an understanding of constitutional
citizenship, creating a national identity that provides room for
sub-identities, making all citizens of this nation and all parts of
the country equal and thus boosting the perception of belonging to
this state and nation.
Had they not developed a sense of belonging, could the Israelis have
survived thousands of years of rejection and humiliation, many wars,
the Inquisition and a heinous Holocaust in addition to a campaign of
anti-Semitism that still exists in many societies albeit to a much
lesser degree?
But if one looks at Armenia, is there any element that can create
a sense of belonging among Armenians dispersed around the world to
the land-locked state next door to Turkey? Armenia is incapable of
becoming a center of attraction or placing itself at the center of
nationhood for Armenians. It won its independence a decade ago with
over 3.5 million people, fought a foolish war of expansion against
Azerbaijan and occupied a substantial piece of territory — ignoring
all international calls to hand it back to Baku — and now has a
population of barely 1.5 million, while the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh
and adjacent Azerbaijani territories are virtually deserted except
a few settlements.
The “genocide monument” in Yerevan has more importance to Armenians
anywhere in the world than the entire Armenian territory does
because while the country has been unable to become a centerpiece of
nationhood, that monument is its symbol. For Armenians, the alleged
genocide is not a matter for historians; it is the backbone of their
nationhood, and they cannot risk it being challenged.
Therefore, remarks of Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
claiming that the alleged genocide was not a matter for the historians
but a political issue that had to be resolved politically were just
expressions acknowledging this reality.
Oskanyan and other political leaders in Yerevan as well as the Armenian
diaspora, which has successfully transformed the “genocide campaign”
into an international industry, knew better than the Turks that there
is not even one document proving a systematic campaign of genocide
by the Turks against the Armenians. There is nothing more than some
memories, letters and propaganda booklets prepared by the powers
fighting against Turkey in World War I. That’s why the Turkish call
for genocide studies under the auspices of UNESCO received such an
immediate cold shoulder from Yerevan. Armenia simply cannot face the
risk of being stripped of the glue of its nationhood.
–Boundary_(ID_NGZR07S7xA8LCs/6R7sWCQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEGHISHE CHARENTS 108TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY TO BE CELEBRATED ON
MARCH 13
YEREVAN, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. March 13 is Yeghishe Charents’s 108th
birthday. As every year, representatives of the intelligentsia,
students and schoolchildren will visit the memorial complex of
the great poet where Charents’s readings are to be held. As Lilit
Hakobian, the Director of Charents House-Museum informed Noyan
Tapan’s correspondent, an exhibition on the occasion of the poet’s
108th birthday anniversary will be opened at the museum. There is also
desire to celebrate Charents’s birthday in his birth-place Kars this
year. The 40th anniversary of the foundation and the 30th anniversary
of the opening of Yeghishe Charents House-Museum to be celebrated this
year. A number of events will be organized at the museum, as well as
relics: exclusive manuscripts, inscribed books and others will be got
during the year. “We must foster and estimate our values. Charents
is one of the exclusive writers whose works remain modern in all
times. That keeps Charents alive forever, that is to make him the guide
of generations,” the Director of the poet’s House-Museum mentioned.

Azeri president says no risk of “velvet revolution” in country
ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow
12 Mar 05
Baku, 12 March: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said there is
no danger of a “velvet revolution” in his country.
“Revolutions occur where there is a gap and mistrust between the
authorities and people. The situation in Azerbaijan is different,”
Aliyev told journalists on Saturday [12 March].
He cited public opinion polls conducted by independent, including
foreign, funds as saying that “the rating of the authorities and
president of Azerbaijan is at the highest level”.
“The authorities in Azerbaijan serve the people. All our efforts
are aimed at making the country stronger, enhancing its authority,
resolving the Karabakh conflict, strengthening the army and solving
social problems,” the president said.
“I will try to work in a way that will always give me the support of
the people,” he added.

PanArmenian News Analysis
March 10 2005
AKHALKALAKI ARMENIANS DO NOT INTERFERE IN THE DISPUTE CONCERNING
RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES
Armenians of Djavakhq realize that there are no alternatives to the
withdrawal of Russian forces and Armenian – Georgian relations should
not be spoiled for that.
Georgian parliament has started discussions concerning the withdrawal
of Russian military bases from the Republic. Russian and Georgian
parties have to reach agreement before the fixed date, which is May
15. If agreement is not reached in the course of negotiations,
Georgian parliament will announce the presence of Russian military
bases illegal and will order the government to submit a plan of
actions for “liquidating Russian military presence in Georgia”. Thus,
it may form a situation that will threaten the stability and security
of the whole South-Caucasian region. In this case, Armenians will
occur in the most delicate situation since one of the Russian bases
is located in Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki region. The inhabitants
of this region strongly support Russian military presence in Georgia.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently there are three Russian military bases on
the territory of Georgia: the 12th (Batumi), the 62nd (Akhalkalaki)
and the headquarters of Russian forces in Tbilisi. The estimated
number of Russian military contingent in Georgia is three thousand
people. Moscow makes it clear that the withdrawal of bases within the
coming three years is out of question. Not long ago Minister of
Defense Sergey Ivanov stated that the military forces would leave
Georgia only after the establishment of two new bases on the
territory of Russia. Therefore, it is impossible to speak about
concrete dates today. Georgia in its turn insists on the immediate
withdrawal of military bases bringing the example of Lebanon where
the issue of Syrian military presence was solved just in three days.
So, it is obvious that there is a high probability of a conflict.
Georgians are determined to apply all possible means of pressure,
like diplomatic, energetic, sanitary and so on~E It should be
mentioned that Georgians are quite experienced in such kind of
actions. Taking the occasion of non-payment of communal taxes they
once cut of water and electricity supply to Russian bases. By the
way, Russian bases still have some debts, so formally there are
reasons for sanctions. Another method applied is the pressure on
commercial structures providing products to the bases. This method
has been applied also. Tax authorities organized extraordinary
check-ups in firms belonging to Akhalkalaki Armenians who provided
food to Russians. It is very likely that this scenario will be
practiced again. If Russian bases do not receive electricity, gas,
water, products, it will certainly result in adequate sanctions from
Moscow too, because Russia provides gas and electricity to Georgia.
In Tbilisi, they realize that and this is the reason why president
Saakashvili is not as radical as Georgian parliamentarians.
Another form of pressure that may be applied by Georgians is the
restriction of the movement of Russian militaries over the country’s
territory. Last year Georgia ceased to give entry visas to Russian
militaries.
The total number of Russian military staff is three thousand though
it has to be about 4.5 thousand. The base in Akhalkalaki is staffed
worse than Batumi base. The thing is that the command transported
Armenian officers and ensigns from Akhalkalaki to Russia fearing that
during departure weapons may occur in the hands of local residents.
However, the militaries were never replaced.
The tension around Akhalkalaki military base may have a negative
impact on the interests and the security of Djavakhq Armenians.
Yerevan is very much interested in the settlement of the conflict
around bases. It is not a secret that Russian special services
encourage local residents and politically active people to make
radical steps in support of Russian military presence. It is worth
reminding that the head of Armenian “Virq” party functioning in
Armenian populated areas announced two years ago that local Armenians
are ready to protect Russian bases. “If Russians do not wish to
withdraw their forces from Akhalkalaki they will need our help and
our help will be quite enough” said David Rstayan, the head of “Virq”
party. This phrase may be commented differently. In Tbilisi they
think that the revelation of Mr. Rstayan should be understood as an
approval of the fact that Russian special services are going to raise
Armenians in order to fail the fulfillment of obligations concerning
the withdrawal of military bases. However, it is worth mentioning
that currently Djavakhq Armenians do not make such sharp statements.
Although they feel more secure by the presence of Russian forces,
they seem to realize that the withdrawal of Russian forces has no
alternatives and it would be silly to spoil relations with Georgians
because of that.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY JOINS COMMUNITY GROUPS IN URGING PRESIDENT BUSH TO REAFFIRM THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Azg/arm
11 March 05
Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly today joined together with
several major Armenian-American organizations to deliver a singular
message to President Bush – that now is the time to accurately label
the atrocities of 1915 as the Armenian Genocide as articulated
by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and other leading U.S.
officials.
Evans most recently evoked the Armenian Genocide during his first
stateside visit to Armenian communities across the country. During a
series of public exchanges with Armenians last week, Evans said, “The
Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century.”
Community organizations, in turn, sent a letter to President Bush
today asking that he also use the word Genocide to characterize the
forced exile and murder of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks. The
letter was signed by the Armenian Assembly of America, the Armenian
Bar Association, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian
Missionary Association of America, the Armenian National Committee,
the Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, the Eastern Diocese of
the Armenian Church, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church,
the Knights of Vartan, the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of North America and the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of North America and said in part:
“In this the 90th Commemorative Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
we urge that you join President Reagan and so many other leading
public officials in reaffirming the facts of history you have already
proclaimed with the correct name – Armenian Genocide…. Just as
it was when your Administration properly termed the crimes against
humanity in Darfur as genocide, U.S. leadership is once again needed
to provide clarity to the crimes against humanity committed by Ottoman
Turkey against our ancestors under cover of WW I.”
Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian said that he was
encouraged by the spirit of cooperation exhibited by the community.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative for us to unite and strengthen
our voices as we work towards an inevitable, full and irrevocable
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,” Hovnanian said.
Also today, the Assembly sent a letter to Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ), asking for their continued leadership and support to
rally Congress in support of affirmation of the truth.
The Assembly additionally sent a “call to action” to thousands of
its members and activists around the country, encouraging their
involvement in the campaign for formal U.S recognition of the Genocide.
For information on how to get involved, log on to the Assembly Web
site at or send an email to the Assembly’s grassroots
branch ARAMAC at [email protected].
The Armenian Assembly of America 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.
Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of the pan-Armenian letter
to President Bush.
March 2, 2005
President George Bush
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
Ambassador Evans has just completed his first U.S. visit to major
Armenian-American communities to share his initial impressions of
Armenia, U.S. programs there and the even greater role that our
community can play in promoting ever closer U.S./Armenia relations.
During his public exchanges with our communities throughout the United
States, Ambassador Evans also properly and repeatedly characterized
the attempted annihilation of our people by Ottoman Turkey as the
Armenian Genocide. In so doing, the Ambassador accurately labeled the
textbook definition of the crime of genocide that you have carefully
set forth in your successive April 24 statements commenting on this
crime against humanity. In effect, Ambassador Evans succinctly named
the policy you have enunciated in these important declarations.
Mr. President, in this the 90th Commemorative Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, we urge that you join President Ronald Reagan and
so many other leading American public officials in reaffirming the
facts of history you have already proclaimed with the correct name –
Armenian Genocide. Candor on this vital matter will ultimately enhance
U.S./Turkey and U.S./Armenia relationships. Just as it was when your
Administration properly termed the crimes against humanity in Darfur
as genocide, U.S. leadership is once again needed to provide clarity
to the crimes against humanity committed by Ottoman Turkey against
our ancestors under cover of WW I.
Sincerely,
Armenian Assembly of America
Armenian Bar Association
Armenian General Benevolent Union
Armenian Missionary Association of America
Armenian National Committee of America
Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, Inc.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America – East
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America – West
Knights of Vartan
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America – East
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America – West

Armenia trying to hamper talks by mass truce violations – Azeri spokesman
Ayna, Baku
10 Mar 05
Excerpt from report by C. Sumarinli in Azerbaijani newspaper Ayna on
10 March headlined “A military solution to the Karabakh conflict is
becoming a reality” and subheaded “The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry
warns: ‘If the Armenians continue this tension, we will liberate our
lands in a military way'”
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry explains the latest tense situation on
the front line by three reasons. In an interview with Ayna, the head of
the ministry’s press service, Col Ramiz Malikov, said that it is first
of all connected with the resolution adopted at the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], which describes Armenia
as an aggressor and the Karabakh forces as separatist ones. Second,
the planned settlement of Armenians in Nagornyy Karabakh and other
occupied districts at the state level was exposed by the OSCE
fact-finding mission, which gave an impetus to the activity of the
Armenian separatists. Third, one of the main reasons for the increasing
tension on the front line is the violation of single command principles
in the Armenian army. One can feel a lack of discipline, arbitrariness
and the violation of principles of subordination among the Armenian
servicemen in the occupied territories. The latest developments show
that anyone who gets hold of weapons on the Armenian side tries to
open fire at Azerbaijani servicemen.
To recap, the Armenians have been regularly firing on the positions
of the Azerbaijani armed forces since last week. Four Azerbaijani
servicemen were seriously wounded as a result.
[Passage omitted: details of the truce violation]
The Defence Ministry official described as nonsense the reports of
the Armenian newspaper Azg that five districts around Karabakh will
be handed over to Azerbaijan and Karabakh will be temporarily placed
under Armenian administration.
“We demand that they vacate our occupied territories. The will of
our president and people demands this. Nagornyy Karabakh should be
only under Azerbaijani administration. This is the opinion of the
international public as well, because there is no room for separatism
in the 21st century,” Malikov said.
He did not forget to warn the Armenians.
“We want to liberate our lands peacefully and call on the Armenians
to vacate our lands. If the Armenians put armed pressure on us,
they will get the answer they deserve and we will liberate our lands.”
[Passage omitted: minor details]
The increasing tension on the front line can be explained by the
Armenian side’s intention to prevent the negotiations, a source at
the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Ayna. The source said that
at present, the Armenians are trying to learn public opinion about
preparations for war in Armenia and Azerbaijan by exerting armed
pressure.
“Mass truce violations usually occur twice a year. This happens in
March-April or September-October. The Yerevan government is defining
the future outlines of the negotiations by this ‘cease-fire’,” the
source said.
[Passage omitted: reported details]