Author: Chavushian

October 16, 2006

PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Contact: Maggie Mead
Tel: 510-987-9125
Fax: 510-208-3576
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

American University of Armenia Reception in Boca Raton

BOCA RATON, FL – The American University of Armenia (AUA) will be continuing
its 15th anniversary year celebrations with a fundraiser reception on
Thursday November 30, 2006, in Boca Raton, Florida. The reception will
feature University President Dr. Haroutune Armenian and Mrs. Armenian, who
recently climbed to the peak of Mt Ararat. They will meet with the community
to recall AUA’s achievements and explain the exciting opportunities and
challenges ahead.

AUA offers young Armenians graduate education equal to that of the highest
quality US university masters degree programs without ever leaving Yerevan.
Many of the more than 1528 AUA graduates today occupy positions of
leadership in Armenia’s government, judiciary, business, health care and
education sectors. Nearly 90% have remained in Armenia, attracting
investment and jobs which often require English speaking, western educated
professionals.

For many students, AUA is a chance to join the global economy and transform
Armenia to a respected regional center of learning, engagement and
leadership. By providing teaching, research, and public services, AUA in its
15th year serves Armenia and the region and provides a positive model in the
transition to a market economy and democratic governance. Moreover,
following a rigorous review process that relatively few universities can
satisfy, AUA is on track to become the first overseas academic institution
accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, more commonly
known as WASC.

Today, through the continuing generosity of organizations like the AGBU and
concerned individuals, AUA’s educational excellence is being extended across
Armenia. The Turpanjian Rural Development and Adult Education Program seeks
to expand the benefits of AUA across all of Armenia and Karabagh through a
unique economic development project that combines adult education with
direct assistance in business development. The program will have a
transforming effect on the health and well being of Armenians in many areas
previously overlooked.

AUA is now constructing a new, state of the art, academic facility, the
Paramaz Avedisian Building. To meet the growing needs of AUA’s student body
and faculty, and to reflect the increased enrollment anticipated for its new
role as an accredited American university, the Avedisian Building will add
modern classrooms, laboratories, lecture halls, conference and seminar
rooms, an auditorium, a cafe with a terrace, and even an art gallery. The
expansion will permit enrollment to more than double in critical fields of
political science and law, public health, business, engineering and computer
science, and advanced English language studies, as well as expanded academic
and professional programs and conferences. Through individual donations,
nearly $8 million has been raised of this $13 million project.

The November 30 reception will be held at 7:00 PM at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.,
2 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Florida 33432. The $75 admission donation
includes a catered reception. RSVPs and checks (payable to AUAC) may be sent
to attorney Paul Ghougasian, 2300 Glades Road, Suite 370 W, Boca Raton,
Florida 33431, Telephone 561-391-4700 ([email protected]). Additional
information is available from the event organizers, Manny Kouyoumdjian of
Oppenheimer at 561-416-8627 ([email protected]), or Paul
Ghougasian, P.A. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by
law.

Further information about the American University of Armenia is available at
its website, , or through its Oakland office at (510) 987-9452

OSCE: AZERBAIJANI SIDE’S ACCUSATIONS OF INTENTIONAL ARSONS GROUNDLESS

Regnum, Russia
Oct 15 2006

Fires which have recurred in some Nagorno Karabakh areas for the
last months were caused by natural climatic reasons, OSCE Yerevan
office head, ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin stated during his meeting
with Armenian National Security Council secretary, defense minister
Serge Sargsyan.

As REGNUM was informed by the defense ministry spokesman Colonel Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, Vladimir Pryakhin presented outcomes of monitoring
carried out recently by international organizations and mediated by
the OSCE.

It was ascertained that fires which have been engulfing several Nagorno
Karabakh areas for the last months have natural climatic causes,
and the Azerbaijani side’s accusations of intentional arsons were
groundless. According to the conclusion of international environmental
protection organizations, a powerful fire-prevention system has to
be created in the zone.

The OSCE Mission on ecological situation’s evaluation performed
the monitoring in the border zone between Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijan. The mission is comprised of representatives of the USA,
Germany, Macedonia, Switzerland, Italy, France, Moldova, and Estonia,
as well as experts from Nagorno Karabakh, and Azerbaijan. According
to the Nagorno Karabakh Emergency directorate, the main damage was
inflicted on grain crops on the area of 2,064 hectares. The whole
damage caused by the fires totaled 3.5bln of drams.

DIVIDE AND RUE – HOW THE BARBED PROBLEM OF CYPRUS IS AGAIN A SNAG FOR EUROPE
By Vincent Boland and Kerin Hope

FT
October 16 2006 03:00

In a bleakly efficient-looking laboratory at the United Nations
compound in Nicosia, a team of forensic scientists is helping to lay
the ghosts of Cyprus’s five-decade-old conflict to rest. Their work
on the divided Mediterranean island, identifying the victims of a war
that at various times has involved Cypriots, Turks, Greeks, Britons
and all manner of international peacemakers, takes place within the
buffer zone that has split it in two since 1974.

Thirty-two years after the Turkish army invaded Cyprus to prevent the
island’s unification with Greece, this initiative is today the only
substantive one involving co-operation between the Greek Cypriot and
Turkish Cypriot authorities. Along with the array of human bones spread
out on the lab tables, that is a stark reminder of how unfinished
this conflict is.

But this long-forgotten war is set to return to the political
forefront. Its -resolution to the satisfaction of the European Union –
extremely unlikely – is looming as a precondition for Turkey’s further
steps towards integration with the 25-strong bloc.

While a row between the Turkish and French last week over recognition
of the 1915 massacres of Armenians as "genocide" has put another
formidable obstacle in the way of Turkey joining the EU, Cyprus poses
a much more immediate difficulty. It is possible that, by the end of
this year, the problem will derail the admission of Turkey as a member
– the EU’s most ambitious and controversial geo-strategic project.

Olli Rehn, the EU enlargement commissioner, warned this year of
a looming "train crash" between Turkey and Brussels, because of
disagreements over fundamental issues. These ranged from reform of
the Turkish penal code – which seems relatively easy to solve or work
around – to the question of Cyprus, no closer to resolution than it
was three decades ago.

The risks are huge. Were Turkey’s EU bid to collapse, "the EU’s overall
foreign policy credibility risks serious damage", according to Kirsty
Hughes, author of a much-noted Friends of Europe report on the issue
last month. In Turkey, it could halt the country’s cultural march
westward, which began 80 years ago under the rule of Kemal Ataturk,
and instead empower Islamist and nationalist political forces.

The continuing separation of Cyprus’s two communities by a 180km-long
"Green Line" – drawn on a map by a British commander using a green
pen – still confounds and preoccupies its protagonists. A solution
to the split is a task for the UN, a fact that is accepted by all
parties. But that job has been made more complicated by the EU,
which began membership talks with Turkey last October, after having
admitted Cyprus as a member in 2004.

Many EU diplomats now accept that it was a mistake to allow Cyprus to
join at that stage – particularly because of the influence the Greek
Cypriot government has thus gained over the negotiations with Turkey.

For many years after 1974, Turkey and Greece, historical enemies but
fellow Nato members, engaged in their own cold war over Cyprus, while
the island’s political leaders held endless, fruitless talks. This
glacial approach was unfrozen in 2003 with the reactivation of a
minutely detailed UN settlement proposal backed by Turkey, Greece,
the EU and the US. The deal was put to a referendum on the island in
the spring of 2004. It was backed overwhelmingly by Turkish Cypriots
but was rejected equally decisively by Greek Cypriots.

The EU, which had banked on its acceptance by both sides and had
committed to admitting Cyprus regardless of the result, found itself
importing a divided island as a member. The island is officially
known as the Republic of Cyprus, whose internationally recognised
government is a Greek Cypriot administration. But the Turkish Cypriot
part declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983,
recognised only by Ankara.

The republic’s entry to the EU boosted the position of the Greek
Cypriots and especially of their president, Tassos Papadopoulos,
who has threatened to veto every aspect of Ankara’s EU negotiations.

Turkey, for its part, accuses the EU of reneging on pledges to
end the economic and political isolation of the TRNC after the
2004 referendum. Ankara has refused to extend its EU agreements to
cover Cyprus, which the bloc says it should do by the end of this
year. If it does not do so, opponents of Turkish EU membership such
as France and Austria (and, of course, Cyprus) could insist that the
negotiations be ended – the "train crash" scenario – or suspended,
which would be the equivalent of driving the train into a siding.

Diplomats say the choice facing the Turkish government, as it heads
towards a general election next year, is between refusing to make
further compromises on Cyprus and keeping its EU negotiations on track.

Finland, holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, has tabled a
compromise that may break the immediate negotiating deadlock, but
even the modest proposals it makes may be too much for such entrenched
protagonists as Turkey and Mr Papadopoulos.

Failure to move, however, would ensure that the TRNC remains a legal,
diplomatic and economic black hole, technically inside the EU but
for practical purposes outside it. It is hard to describe a part of
the world that has year-round sunshine and a vaguely holiday-island
ambience as miserable. But this ersatz republic, a state caught in
a seventies time-warp, is close to it.

Its 190,000 people have a standard of living roughly half that of
the 600,000 Greek Cypriots. The TRNC survives on tourism, income from
fee-paying universities attended mostly by Muslim students from around
the world, and subsidies from Turkey that run to roughly $400m (£216m,
â~B¬320m) a year. Organised crime is rising, according to diplomats.

Nearly two-thirds of the workforce is employed by the state, which pays
more than private enterprise and therefore undermines it. "This is our
number one problem, even more than our isolation," says Erdil Nami,
head of the TRNC chamber of commerce. A fall this year in tourism
revenue and in the number of students attending the universities may
point to a longer-term downward trend. The daily flight to Ankara one
recent lunchtime was nearly empty; a year ago it would have been full.

Turkish Cypriots seem unable to help themselves, dependent as they
are on the actions of Turkey, the Greek Cypriots, the UN and the
EU, and they have an enormous sense of victimhood, beginning with
the collapse in 1963 of a power-sharing agreement with their Greek
co-islanders. Emine Erk, a Turkish Cypriot human rights lawyer, says:
"Where we are today is the inevitable outcome of developments since
1963."

The Greek Cypriots insist thatthey bear no ill-will towards their
Turkish counterparts. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, director of EU-Turkey
affairs for the Greek Cypriot government, says: "Our problem is
not with the Turkish Cypriots. It is with Turkey and its interests
vis-a-vis Cyprus."

In particular, the Greek Cypriots are suspicious of the aims of
the Turkish military, which maintains some 35,000 troops (including
dependants) on bases in the TRNC, just 100km from Turkey’s southern
flank.

They also want Turkish "settlers" – migrants from Turkey who moved
to the island after 1974 – to leave. Ms Kozakou-Marcoullis estimates
their number to be "at least 160,000". Mete Hatay, the author of a 2005
report on the issue for the Peace Research Institute of Oslo, estimates
that there are only about 35,000, including children born in the TRNC.

Both sides in Cyprus agree that the solution to their division must
be a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, though the discrepancy over
"settler" numbers shows how difficult this will be to achieve. In
the meantime, it is the TRNC that suffers disproportionately from the
status quo, and from a growing sense of resignation among residents
and even their political leaders.

Mehmet Ali Talat, president of the TRNC, says: "Is there anything
happening on the ground that could move the situation forward? I’m
afraid not." Mustafa Akinci, a politician and longtime voice for
rapprochement with the Greek Cypriots, is even bleaker. The failure
over many years to end the division of Cyprus makes partition seem its
final and inevitable fate, he argues. "The passage of time doesn’t
help either side," he says. "All Cypriots have to be wise enough to
see this."

Limited co-operation – such as the UN forensics project to identify
the missing – may not only heal the emotional trauma of conflict but
also be a model for further progress.

Some 2,000 remain missing from the war years. In a month of work,
the scientists have assembled the remains of at least 23 people
recovered from a mass grave. Laid out on the tables at the unit –
skulls here, femurs there, ribs, hands and other parts next to them –
the bones await examination and DNA testing.

The families of the missing are clinging to the hope of recovering
their loved ones but "they don’t expect miracles," says Luis
Fondebrider, the UN team’s Argentine leader.

Although the prevailing pessimism makes co-operation on accounting for
the missing from the Cyprus conflict all the more important, amid the
gloom, there is an occasional optimistic gesture. On Ledra Street in
Nicosia, the Turkish Cypriot authorities have built a footbridge that
would reunite what was once the city’s premier shopping precinct,
divided by the Green Line. They await its completion by the Greek
Cypriots from the other side. A sign in four languages on the bridge
says: "Due to open soon".

Quite how soon, nobody knows.

–Boundary_(ID_Wz9EPnJH2nKfaRNiZly2yw)–

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 13, 2006 Friday

TBILISI WOULDN’T LET GO

by Oleg Gorupai

GEORGIA DOES NOT HONOR THE MILITARY SHIPMENTS TRANSIT ACCORD WITH
RUSSIA; Georgia is making life as hard as possible for the Russian
Army Group in the Caucasus.

This Monday, Georgia introduced new rules for transit of shipments
and personnel of the Russian 102nd Military Base across its
territory. The 102nd Military Base of the Russian Army Group in the
Caucasus is located in Gyumri, Armenia, and may therefore be reached
only via Georgia. Tbilisi’s latest decision concerns transit of
military shipments, base personnel, and family members. The Georgian
Defense Ministry wouldn’t say exactly what changes have been
introduced. Its officers only say that the Russian Defense Ministry
is not supposed to approach the Georgian Defense Ministry on all
involved issues.

The Russian Duma ratified the accords "On organization of transit of
Russian military shipments and personnel via Georgia" and "On
withdrawal of Russian military bases and other objects of the Russian
Army Group in the Caucasus from the territory of Georgia", last week.
The parliament of Georgia ratified the documents too. The Georgian
side apparently feels that it is entitled to unilateral amendment of
the accords after their ratification by signatories’ and national
legislatures. It may complicate the process of withdrawal from
Georgia.

As a matter of fact, Georgia has been doing its best to prevent
transit and withdrawal of Russian bases from its territory even
before these latest developments. Under the terms of the existing
accords, border and customs control of Russian shipments and
personnel follows procedures stipulated by the Georgian legislation
but Georgia in the meantime is not supposed to require any customs
duties or taxes. Even so, the Georgian authorities did try to collect
customs duties and taxes in the episodes when big landing ships of
the Russian Navy sailed into the Batumi port to evacuate Russian
military hardware. They even demanded a duty on the Russian armored
vehicles withdrawn from the territory of Georgia on their own nearly
hysterical insistence. Similarly outrageous episodes occur when
military convoys bring food and fuel to Russian military bases.

The situation with Russian military transit to the 102nd Military
Base in Armenia is no better. In 2005, the Russian Defense Ministry
forwarded to Georgia 270 requests for permission for Russian planes
to flyover Georgia en route to Armenia. Only 80 permits were given,
not one of them after March. Eighty-eight permits were required in
2006. Georgia granted only nine of them. In other words, Georgia has
all but blocked transit without so much as an explanation. Air
transit is all that is left Russia at this point. Transit by
railroads and highways is permitted by the existing accords too, but
Georgia has put an end to it.

Colonel General Alexander Skvortsov, Deputy Chief of the General
Staff, does not think that Georgia may be counted on to honor the
transit accords. "As for the accords, the situation is such that
nothing may be guaranteed. Ratification of the accord put it into
effect. In theory, Russia may officially demand that Georgia honor
it. Still, I cannot give you any guarantees with regard to what
Georgia will or won’t do," Skvortsov told the Duma. He added that the
Defense Ministry is looking for a roundabout ways of reaching the
base in Armenia.

Sergei Ivanov, Defense Minister and Deputy Premier, maintains
meanwhile that the base withdrawal accord will be carried out.
According to Ivanov, the last Russian soldier will leave the
territory of Georgia in late 2008. As a matter of fact, Russia is
actively evacuating merchandise from the 62nd Military Base in
Akhalkalaki. More than 50% has already been evacuated but all of that
cannot be done overnight. Merchandise has to be prepared for
evacuation. It means that specialists and technicians should go to
Akhalkalaki to do whatever is necessary.

This is apparently what Georgia is out to prevent from happening.
Tbilisi may even launch another round of the visa blockade of Russian
servicemen the way it already did earlier this year. Count on the
Georgian authorities to invent excuses to prevent the coming of the
specialists who are supposed to prepare military hardware of the 62nd
Military Base for withdrawal. Food and fuel convoys to objects of the
Russian Army Group in the Caucasus will certainly encounter
difficulties again.

The "withdrawal accord" also stipulates establishment of the
Russian-Georgian counter-terrorism center. Georgian Defense Minister
Gela Bezhuashvili in the meantime says that the center cannot be
established because of the state the relations between Tbilisi and
Moscow are in. It means that official Tbilisi would stop at nothing
to make life hard for servicemen of the Russian Army Group in the
Caucasus carrying out the withdrawal. Shortly speaking, Georgia
refuses to honor its commitments under the accord. Bezhuashvili is
not telling the truth when he says that the document in question only
stipulates Russian-Georgian consultations on the matter. Article 20
of the Accord states that "the signatories pledge to prepare for the
signing of an accord on establishment of the Russian-Georgian
counter-terrorism center, a document in accordance with which a part
of the personnel, materiel, and infrastructure of the Russian
military base in Batumi agreed upon by the signatories will be used
in the interests of the center."

Ivanov says in the meantime that the Georgian leadership knows what
should be done to normalize the relations with Russia. "We will judge
by deeds, not rhetoric," Ivanov said.

Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, October 10, 2006, p. 3

Agence France Presse — English
October 13, 2006 Friday

Greece congratulates Turkish Nobel laureate, extends invitation

Greece on Friday congratulated Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk for
winning this year’s Nobel prize for literature, praising his
"excellent" work and extending an invitation for a visit.

"The award of this top-ranking award constitutes recognition of your
excellent literary work," Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said
in a letter to the Turkish writer.

"It would be a great joy and an honour to (see you) visit Greece
soon," she added.

A political dissident whose statements have repeatedly riled the
Turkish establismhment, Pamuk faced prosecution in his home country
last year after telling a Swiss newspaper that 30,000 Kurds and one
million Armenians had been killed during World War I under the
Ottoman Turks.

The Greek parliament in 1996 approved a resolution condemning the
Armenian massacre as genocide.

Turkey counters that 300,000 Armenians, and at least as many Turks,
died in civil strife when Armenians took up arms for independence and
sided with invading Russian troops as the Ottoman Empire fell apart
during World War I.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turkey Proud of Pamuk Who Recently Stood Trial for Statements on Genocide
13.10.2006 17:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkish officials and writing elite
of Turkey said they are proud of Orhan Pamuk. `We
congratulate Orhan Pamuk with the Nobel Prize awarding
and wish him every success in his career. The Turkish
public has for a long time waited to see a Turkish
writer awarded with Nobel Prize,’ says the statement
of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, reports RFE/RL.

It should be noted that not long ago Pamuk had to
stand trial for insulting Turkishness. The accusation
was brought over his statement on the Armenian
Genocide. In an interview with a Swiss newspaper Pamuk
said that `a million of Armenians and 30 thousand
Kurds were slaughtered in the Ottoman Empire.’

ARMENIA HAS SUFFICIENT RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPMENT: ARMENIAN FM

ARMINFO News Agency
October 11, 2006 Wednesday

Having no Azeri oil and Georgian transit corridor, Armenia still
has a number of resources that allow it to successfully develop,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan says in an interview to
Hayastani Hanarapetoutyun daily.

He says that Armenia has internal resources, which it does not yet
use in full. The first resource is developing democracy, conducting
political reforms, fighting corruption, restoring mutual confidence
between the state and the people, creating equal economic opportunities
for all. The second resource is Diaspora. Here too Armenia has much to
do yet, first of all, it must adopt a law on dual citizenship. Oskanyan
hopes that this problem will be resolved very soon. The third resource
is the international resource – investments.

The stabler Armenia the bigger foreign investing, says Oskanyan.

OFFICE OF THE NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC IN THE USA
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: (202) 315-3339
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site:

PRESS RELEASE
October 3, 2006

NEARLY 80 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE U.S. PRESIDENT TO EXPAND
RELATIONS WITH INDEPENDENT ARTSAKH

Washington, DC – To mark the 15th Anniversary of Artsakh’s
Independence, Members of Congress joined the Co-Chairs of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), in sending a letter to President Bush
urging him "to recognize the 15th anniversary of the independence of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic [Artsakh]" and calling the President’s
attention to Artsakh’s "efforts in furthering their democracy and
creating an independent state."

Nagorno Karabakh’s decision to establish a sovereign state came as a
continuation of the national liberation movement that began
immediately after Joseph Stalin awarded administrative control over
Karabakh to Soviet Azerbaijan in 1921. After suffering from over 70
years of discrimination and oppression by Azerbaijan and the Soviet
regime, the people of Artsakh stepped up their struggle for freedom
and democracy by establishing the independent Nagorno Karabakh
Republic, Artsakh.

The congressional letter, signed by 77 members and sent to the White
House on September 29, highlights a long history of U.S support to
Nagorno Karabakh and the will of the people of Artsakh to build a
democratic and economically viable country. The letter also notes
the continuation of Azerbaijan’s destructive policy, which threatens
peace and stability in the region and "goes against U.S. interests."
Most importantly, the congressional letter advocates for expansion
of U.S. political and economic engagement with Nagorno Karabakh.

The letter said in part: "As we work towards peace, the United
States can and must expand its engagement with the lawfully and
democratically established Nagorno Karabakh Republic. These ties
should not be dictated by outside forces but rather should be guided
by the shared values of our two nations. […] We should build on this
success by investing in developmental and good governance programs
that will strengthen Nagorno-Karabakh’s economy, democratic
institutions, and promote even greater cooperation on a range of
regional and security issues." (The full text of the letter is
provided at the end of the release.)

Despite the overwhelming challenges of the past 15 years, Artsakh
has registered impressive achievements: successful defense of its
freedom against Azerbaijani military aggression, nearly complete
restoration of its war-devastated economy, continued strengthening
of its democracy, unprecedented economic growth and constructive
partnership with the international community to bring about lasting
peace and stability to the South Caucasus.

"Everyday, we are advancing in building a country of our dreams – a
free, democratic and prosperous Artsakh. Fifteen years of
independent statehood have proved the righteousness of the historic
path chosen on September 2, 1991. Throughout these years, the people
of Artsakh have been truly blessed to enjoy the political and
economic support of the U.S. Congress. We are deeply thankful to the
American people for their generous economic assistance that helped
restore dozens of war-torn villages, drinking water supplies and
medical facilities," said NKR Representative in the United States
Vardan Barseghian.

Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), who co-chairs the Armenian Caucus,
said: "The United States stands for freedom and democracy, values
that have vividly triumphed in Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, without
any international support. I am proud to support this nation as it
works to achieve formal international recognition of its
well-deserved independence. The U.S. economic assistance to Nagorno
Karabakh should be continued."

"Time and again, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have demonstrated
their firm commitment to values of liberty and peace. They have also
worked hard to establish a developing democracy and growing market
economy. The United States should expand its political and economic
engagement with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic," echoed fellow
Armenian Caucus Co-chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).

Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone also thanked their colleagues,
the co-signers of this congressional letter to President Bush, for
supporting this critical initiative. "In its quest for freedom and
its efforts to strengthen its democracy and develop its economy,
Nagorno Karabakh enjoys a broad-based congressional support. Our
collective aim was to convey this message to President Bush as the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic celebrates the 15th Anniversary of
Independence," the congressmen said.

This congressional effort enjoyed strong support of the two
Armenian-American advocacy groups in Washington, DC.

"The Armenian Assembly commends Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone
for their initiative and leadership in urging the U.S. to strengthen
relations with Karabakh as it celebrates 15 years of independence,"
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "As we mark this
special occasion, we are reminded of the accomplishments the people
of Karabakh have already achieved. The Assembly will continue to
work with its friends in Congress and the Administration to advocate
for Karabakh’s right to self-determination."

"We want to thank Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone and all those
who joined with the Armenian Caucus in marking this milestone of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s continued contribution to the growth of
democracy, economic development, and the prospects for an equitable
and lasting peace in the Caucasus," said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian.

On behalf of the NKR Government, Barseghian thanked the Armenian
Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee of America
for their effective work on Capitol Hill.

"We are also grateful to our congressional friends for their
continued support of Nagorno Karabakh on our path towards freedom,
democracy and prosperity — universal values that have been guiding
Artsakh since independence," said Representative Barseghian.

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

* * *
(The following is the full text of the congressional letter sent to
President George W. Bush on September 29, 2006. To request a PDF
copy of the congressional letter, please write to [email protected])

September 29, 2006
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write to recognize the 15th anniversary of the independence of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and to call your attention to their
ongoing efforts in furthering their democracy and creating an
independent state.

The United States has a long history of supporting
Nagorno-Karabakh’s democracy and its right to live in freedom and
peace. Since 1992, our government has taken part in international
efforts to reach a sustainable resolution to the conflict between
Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan. A durable cease-fire has been in
place since 1994, bringing relative stability to the region.
However, a comprehensive peace agreement has not been reached and
the continued standoff could lead to yet another cycle of violence.

The democratically elected leaders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
have repeatedly offered to implement mutual confidence-building
measures, for which the U.S. government has continued to allocate
funding. These leaders have consistently demonstrated a willingness
to make difficult compromises in the interest of a lasting peace.
However, in contrast, Azerbaijan has rejected confidence-building
measures and demonstrated a consistent pattern of inflexibility in
the negotiating process.

To further destabilize the region, Azerbaijan continues to maintain
a blockade of both Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia and regularly
threatens a new wave of violence against Nagorno-Karabakh. We have
every reason to believe this threat is realistic given their rapidly
increasing military budget. An arms race or new violence in the
South Caucasus region goes specifically against U.S. interests in
the region. The key to preventing this outcome is for the United
States to send a clear message to Azerbaijan that we will not
tolerate renewed aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh.

Earlier this year, we were pleased with Assistant Secretary of State
Dan Fried’s statement that, "the will of the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh has to be respected." We wholeheartedly share this
view and hope that you will build upon this constructive approach to
a long-term settlement. Our interest is in working, in a manner
consistent with fundamental democratic principle, to bring a durable
resolution, acceptable to all parties, to the region. As the
world’s greatest force for freedom, we should always champion values
of liberty, democracy, and peace.

As we work towards peace, the United States can and must expand its
engagement with the lawfully and democratically established
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. These ties should not be dictated by
outside forces but rather should be guided by the shared values of
our two nations. Our decision in 1988 to aid Nagorno-Karabakh has
become one of the most effective assistance efforts anywhere in the
world, providing thousands of people with housing, water, and
healthcare needs. We should build on this success by investing in
developmental and good governance programs that will strengthen
Nagorno-Karabakh’s economy, democratic institutions, and promote
even greater cooperation on a range of regional and security issues.

Mr. President, as we mark the 15th anniversary of independence of
Nagorno-Karabakh, we urge you to join with us in celebrating this
nation’s courageous choice for freedom, its strong commitment to
democratic values, and its sincere desire to work toward lasting
peace.
We appreciate your consideration of our concerns.

Sincerely,
[signed]

Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Joseph Baca (D-CA), Charles Bass (R-NH),
Melissa Bean (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis
(R-FL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Loi Capps (D-CA), Dennis Cardoza
(D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry Costello
(D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah
(D-PA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Charles Gonzalez
(D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rush Holt
(D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Steve Israel (D-NY), Jesse Jackson
(D-IL), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dale Kildee
(D-MI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), James Langevin
(D-RI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander Levin (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA),
Nita Lowey (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY),
Edward Markey (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI),
James McGovern (D-MA), Howard McKeon (R-CA), Michael McNulty (D-NY),
Martin Meehan (D-MA), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Candice
Miller (R-MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Devin
Nunes (R-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne
(D-NJ), Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Michael
Rogers (R-MI), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA),
Bobby Rush (D-IL), Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam
Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Chris Shays
(R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Robert Simmons (R-CT), Hilda Solis
(D-CA), Mark Souder (R-IN), Fortney Stark (D-CA), Ted Strickland
(D-OH), John Sweeney (R-NY), John Tierney (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen
(D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Frank Wolf
(R-VA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Albert Wynn (D-MD)

* * *
This material is distributed by the Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the USA on behalf of the Government of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. The NKR Office is registered with the U.S.
Government under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Additional
information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington,
D.C.

IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE TO GO ON STREAM IN EARLY 2007

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Oct 5 2006

Tehran, Oct 5, IRNA
Iran-Armenia-Gas pipeline
A pipeline to transfer Iranian gas to Armenia is to go on stream
in early 2007, Reza Kasaiizadeh, managing director of the National
Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), said here on Wednesday.

"First, Iran will export 3 million cu. m. of gas per day to Armenia.

The figure will gradually reach 10 million cu. m. of gas per day,
according to the schedule," he was quoted by Tehran Times as saying
on Thursday.

Shifting to the Iran-Turkey gas pipeline, he said that exports of
Iranian gas to Turkey resumed on October 2 after they were disrupted
by an explosion last Thursday which damaged a partion of the pipeline.

"The explosion was the first of a kind occurred at Iran’s border.

NIGC is pursuing plans to increase security in border regions in
order to prevent such events in future," he added.

He also said that Iran currently exports 20 million cu. m. of gas to
Turkey per day.

DAVIT RSTAKIAN’S SUPPORTERS LEFT OUT OF ELECTORAL ROLLS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2006

AKHALKALAK, OCTOBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Names of many
electors have been left out of electoral rolls at electoral districts
of village of Baraleti, Akhalkalak region. According to the A-Info
agency, the majority of these electors are relatives and supporters
of Davit Rstakian, parliament deputy candidate, member of Board of
Samtskhe-Javakhk Armenian NGOs.

People having been left out of electoral rolls applied to the regional
electoral commission, but its chairman said that he cannot change
the electoral rolls.

It is noteworthy that electoral rolls were corrected in Akhalkalak
region about two months ago by the Regional Police. By the way,
according to A-Info, at that time the Chief of the Regional Police
was Aram Poghosov who has been currently registered as a candidate by
the proportional system in Akhalkalak region by the United National
Movement Party.