Author: Ekmekjian Janet

TURKEY URGES FRANCE TO BLOCK ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL
Agence France Presse — English
May 10, 2006 Wednesday
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called
on France to block a French parliamentary bill that would make it a
punishable offence to deny that the World War I massacres of Armenians
were genocide, and warned that such a move would hurt bilateral ties.
“Ties between Turkey and France are not ordinary relations. They go
back to the 19th century and French firms currently rank first among
companies investing in Turkey,” Erdogan told reporters here.
“I believe the French parliament will probably not insert the so-called
Armenian genocide like a virus between two countries that have such
important ties. I believe common sense will prevail,” he added.
Erdogan was speaking before his departure to Vienna to attend the
EU-Latin American (EU-LAC) summit on Thursday, where he said he
expected to meet French leaders to discuss the issue.
Turkey, which categorically denies the Armenians were the victims of a
genocide, is warily watching the developments in the French National
Assembly and announced Monday that it had called back its ambassador
to Paris for consultations.
If approved, the bill would provide for one year in prison and a
45,000-euro (57,000-dollar) fine for any person who denies that the
1915-1917 massacres of Armenians were genocide.
The bill, which follows a 2001 French law officially recognising the
massacres as genocide, was proposed by members of the opposition
Socialist Party (PS) and will have its first reading before the
Assembly on May 18.
Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917, as the Ottoman Empire,
modern Turkey’s predecessor, was falling apart.
Turkey rejects the claims, saying 300,000 Armenians and at least
as many Turks died in civil strife when the Armenians took up arms
for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with Russian troops
invading Ottoman soil.

AZERI, ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN STRASBOURG ON 18-19 MAY
Turan news agency
9 May 06
Baku, 9 May: The Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers will
meet on 18-19 May in Strasbourg, Elmar Mammadyarov of Azerbaijan has
told reporters.
Mammadyarov confirmed Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s
statement that the two would meet in Strasbourg to discuss the
possibility of holding a meeting between the presidents of the two
countries in June. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk will also join
the talks to be held between Oskanyan and Mammadyarov.

Regnum, Russia
May 9 2006
`Why do they ignore in Aliyev something they revile Lukashenko for?’:
Azeri press digest
Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the US
Commenting on the official visit of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to
Washington, Deputy Spokesman of the US Department of State Adam Ereli
said on April 25 that Azerbaijan is an important country for the US.
He said that the two countries have lots of mutual interests: human
rights, democratic development, energy security, regional stability,
fight with terrorism. The protection of human rights and democracy
continues to be the key topic of the US-Azeri dialogue, Ereli said.
He refuted the remark by one of the journalist that the invitation of
the president of Azerbaijan to Washington proves that the US closes
its eyes on the human rights and democracy problems in that country.
He said that the US has all the above goals, but also has its own
principles. (Turan)
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev spoke at the Council on Foreign
Relations of Carnegie Foundation on April 26. Turan reports him as
saying that the Karabakh conflict can be resolved only in line with
the international law and in the framework of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. Aliyev confirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to
provide Nagorno Karabakh with a high European-model autonomy. He said
that Armenia must stop its hostile policy towards its dynamically
developing neighbor. Azerbaijan wants the problem to be solved by
peace. `However, patience of the Azeri people may end one day,’
Aliyev noted. Concerning Iran, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan wants the
problem to be solved by peace. He explained that Azerbaijan and Iran
have an agreement forbidding them to use their territories against
each other. Asked if Azerbaijan may become a bone of contention
between the US and Russia, Aliyev said that should there be
contention between the US and Russia, Azerbaijan’s territory cannot
be an object for it.
During his visit to the US President Aliyev said that his country
would not take part in any anti-Iranian actions. `Azerbaijan
advocates peaceful resolution of problems in the region and it has an
agreement with Iran that the sides should not use their territories
for military actions against each other,’ Aliyev said. At the same
time, he noted that Baku gives strategic importance to its relations
with the US, and the two countries enjoy mutual understanding in
security and economy. (Real Azerbaijan)
The White House meeting of the US and Azeri presidents George Bush
and Ilham Aliyev will allow the two countries to establish closer
relations based on promotion of democracy, enhancement of security
and diversification of energy sources, Trend reports White House
Press Secretary Scott McClellan as saying. He called Azerbaijan a key
ally and valuable partner of the US in a strategically important
region. He also said that Bush is going to use this meeting to
confirm the US’ aspiration to help Azerbaijan to take necessary
measures to ensure bigger democratic freedoms for its people. The US
is ready to discuss its possible assistance in this matter.
US President George Bush and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev met in
Washington on April 28. In a joint statement after their 45-minute
meeting, they said that they had discussed regional security issues,
joint anti-terror efforts, situation over Iran, the Armenian-Azeri
conflict and energy security problems. Bush said that the US welcomed
Azerbaijan’s involvement in the anti-terror coalition. He also noted
that Aliyev and he are unanimous that the Iranian problem should be
solved by diplomatic means. Bush said that Azerbaijan plays an
important role in the region’s energy security. Aliyev highly
appreciated the US’ support in the development and transportation of
Azerbaijan’s energy resources to the world markets. (Trend)
On April 28, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said that
President Aliyev’s Washington talks were `very useful.’ He said that
the US wants to know Azerbaijan’s position on the Iranian problem.
`We say: Iran is our neighbor, a home to many Azeris. Via Iran we
carry cargoes to Nakhichevan, who also gets Iranian gas. That’s why
we say that we don’t want a war in Iran,’ Mamedyarov said. He said
that Tehran did not ask Baku about mediation in its conflict with
Washington. There is no need for such mediation for the time being.
`But if the sides wish, it will not be a problem for us,’ Mamedyarov
said. (Echo)
Asked by Turan: `Was the problem of Azerbaijan’s occupied borderline
territories discussed in Washington?’, Mamedyarov said that Baku
wants the Karabakh conflict to be resolved fully and quickly. He said
that, as an OSCE MG co-chair, the US is doing big work towards this
end.
Echo says: `Shortly before the Aliyev-Bush talks, the US media came
about a conclusion that was hardly comforting for those wanting war
in Iran: the Azeri president has refused to help the US in case of
its possible war against Iran. True, there is comforting news too –
Azerbaijan has given hope that there will be no oil crisis.’
The Christian Science Monitor says that despite being small
Azerbaijan’s international diplomacy is rather `heavy-weight.’ The
visit of the Azeri president is part of the Bush administration’s
actions to support its key region against the background of growing
conflict with Iran.
Concerning the Iranian problem, AP says that President Bush first
sought support in the matter from the Chinese leader who was in
Washington shortly before President Aliyev. Althouth, Bush failed
with Beijing, who does not want to act against its key oil supplier
Iran. Azerbaijan is Iran’s neighbor, and this time Bush pinned hopes
on Baku. But Aliyev too said that Azerbaijan will not take part in
any operation against Iran, says AP.
Echo points out interesting fact: shortly after President Aliyev’s
clear statement that Baku wants the Iranian problem to be solved by
peace, the US media covering the visit began speaking about democracy
problems in Azerbaijan. Human Rights Watch even urged Bush to exert
pressure on Aliyev. Bush must have ignored this urge. Well-known US
analyst Ariel Cohen believes that the US is improving its relations
with all Iran’s neighbors. In case economic or other sanctions are
applied against Iran, the US should cooperate with Azerbaijan more
tightly than Iran.
Commenting on Aliyev’s statements about Azerbaijan’s refusal to take
part in any actions against Iran, Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan
Afshar Suleimani told the press on April 28: `I would like to remind
you that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran is obvious, and
if the US demands that Aliyev take actions against Iran (though I
think it won’t), Azerbaijan will naturally give a `no’ answer. I am
absolutely sure it will. I believe that during the Washington talks
Aliyev can force Bush to think this situation over. Why? Because
Aliyev is the president of the leading country of the South Caucasus,
and he certainly knows about the level of Azeri-Iranian relations,
about the region’s problems and can make Bush aware of the ones he is
not very much aware of. And Bush will have to be satisfied with this
information as it will give him a deeper insight into the situation.’
(ANS)
In his turn, the deputy executive secretary of the ruling Yeni
Azerbaycan party, MP Mubariz Gurbanli says to Echo that he agrees
with the position President Aliyev expressed in Washington. `I
approve of and support such a policy. We believe that the president
is conducting a very pragmatic, correct and useful policy. Our
foreign policy is well-balanced. Azerbaijan’s interests are superior
to any other interests. Azerbaijan is trying to protect them. We keep
up our contacts with the US, Russia, Turkey, Iran and other
neighboring countries, except Armenia. And we build our relations in
such a way as to be able to protect Azerbaijan’s interests in any
situation. That’s why the president’s statements and the general
success of his visit to the US have shown once again that Azerbaijan
is the leader in the region and continues to be well-balanced in its
policies.’
Zerkalo notes: `Despite all the troubles, Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the
US is an important milestone in the history of the Azeri diplomacy,
in general, and the Azeri-US relations, in particular. What real
fruits it will bear we will see in the near future. Well, already now
it is clear that they in the White House wanted the Azeri president
to be their guest because they wanted something from him. Nothing is
done for nothing in life and especially in politics. So, let’s seize
the opportunity…’
Zerkalo continues: `It’s time to sum up some results. First, no
agreemenst were signed during Aliyev’s visit. This proves that the
visit was not planned. And this proves that there was some high
urgency in such a tete-a-tete meeting. Second, if there was such an
urgency, the sides must have reached some unofficial `gentlemen
agreements.’ So, now it is very important to find out the extent of
coincidence of the sides’ real rather than declared goals. There are
certain indirect signs that the sides have reached some specific
`gentleman agreements.’ These agreements may have well been reached
long before, for example, during the shuttle voyages of US
high-raking emissaries to Baku or during Azeri FM Elmar Mamedyarov’s
Washington talks with Condoleezza Rice. And the official visit of the
Azeri president was necessary for ratifying these agreements by `a
strong friendly handshake.’ Whether anybody likes it or not, we have
witnessed such `a handshake.’ At least, during the briefing following
the tete-a-tete meeting, Bush aptly bypassed all the sharp questions
and congratulated Aliyev on the coming wedding of his daughter. One
makes no such compliments in public when there are no `gentlemen
agreements.’ Third, after Aliyev’s Washington visit, we can be sure
that the `Prague process’ will be continued.’
Commenting on Aliyev’s visit to the US, The Economist compares two
cases of electoral fraud (with political arrests before and beating
of protesters after) and two mustached post-Soviet leaders. The one
who is balder Alexander Lukashenko was censured by the US both before
and after senseless presidential election in Belarus last month. The
other Ilham Aliyev, whose supporters got all the seats in the Azeri
parliament in absurd elections last year, will get this week
something he has craved for a long time – a meeting with US President
George Bush in America. But, in this particular case, the hospitality
of the US President is a mistake. There are two reasons why. The
first one is a moral one. Aliyev got his post from his father in
2003. The Aliyevs have ruled Azerbaijan almost throughout its
post-Soviet history, just like Lukashenko in Belarus. Aliyev Junior
protects human rights in word but violates them in action, and
probably as much as in Belarus. Azerbaijan is the world’s most
corrupt state. Although, the question is not so much if there is
moral reason for Aliyev’s visit as if there is political sense in it.
And there is obviously no sense. Why do they ignore in Aliyev
something they revile Lukashenko for? Because Belarus is a poor
Slavonic state with no sea, while Azerbaijan is a Muslim state with
oil rich shore in the Caspian Sea and a border with Iran. US Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has begun visiting Azerbaijan suspiciously
often and people have begun to rumor that Azerbaijan may be useful
for the US’ military operations. In the north Azerbaijan borders on
Russia, which makes is a part of the West-Kremlin fight for sway in
the post-Soviet area. Oil and geographical situation make Azerbaijan
much too important for the US to risk to cause the Azeri president’s
estrangement. The Azeri opposition is too weak and disintegrated to
offer real alternative. Unfortunately, Aliyev has already proved its
ability to feign liberal instincts, to reasonably explain abuses and
to keep promising progress. Aliyev is too intolerant to opposition
and too tolerant to corruption and inequality. Oil dollars will make
Azerbaijan’s position even stronger. But such public recognition may
prove bad not only for Azerbaijan but, in the long run, for America
itself – for Aliyev has one more thing in common with Lukashenko:
they will not rule for ever. If Aliyev is compelled to move in the
right direction, Azerbaijan may well become a prospering and
democratic Muslim state one day. Otherwise, America will get in an
unstable region a rich Muslim country, disappointed with democracy
and the West and receptive to other ideas.
Commenting on Aliyev’s visit to Washington, Haaretz daily (Israel)
says: `The corrupt leader of Azerbaijan has got the long-awaited
invitation from Washington. The Americans have simply understood that
they should either clench their teeth and try closing their eyes on
Azerbaijan’s reluctance to hold any reforms and negligence of the
principles of democratization, or allow it to go under Vladimir
Putin’s sway. The Americans have been forced to make a similar choice
with one more dictator – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The
American frankness has also disappeared from the US’ statements on
Russia. Reports and speeches praise freedom and progress, while US
top officials are trying hard to point out that Russia is committed
to cooperation, is firm and influential. US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, expert in Soviet studies, rules out any possibility
of a new Cold War in a new form. What are you talking about, I was
there, and this is already is a different story, she says. In her
contacts with Russian politicians she is based on the `realism’ of
Bush Senior: to improve relations between big powers at the expense
of liberalism. They simply have no choice.’
Politics
The head of the social-political department of the Azeri president’s
staff Ali Gasanov regrets that the Azeri opposition leaders show
negative attitude to Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the US. He says that it
does them no credit to show opposition to the country’s statehood and
national interests: `To be in opposition to a person, political
party, authorities, idea is a normal thing, but to oppose to
statehood and national interests is an unworthy thing to do. The key
reason they have stayed in opposition for many years is that they
position runs counter to the interests of their state, statehood and
people. The invitation of the Azeri president to the US and the
establishment of excellent relations with a superpower like the US
serve the interests of every citizen of our country, even if he is in
opposition. Unfortunately, they in the opposition do not think so.’
(525th Daily)
`In its last years’ reports Human Rights Watch has shown an
increasingly biased attitude, including towards Azerbaijan,’ says the
head of the social-political department of the Azeri president’s
staff Ali Gasanov. `For example, we all perfectly know what is going
on in Armenia, particularly, what is going on between the local
government and opposition,’ says Gasanov reminding that not very long
ago `all the key oppositionists’ were shot down in the parliament (he
means the terrorist act in the Armenian parliament Oct 27 1999, when
shot down were Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Parliament Speaker
Karen Demirchyan, vice speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan,
Minister for Operational Issues Leonard Petrossyan, MPs Armenak
Armenakyan, Henrik Abrahamyan and Mikayel Kotanyan – REGNUM). But
despite this all, in some aspects Human Rights Watch ranks Armenia
higher than the other two South Caucasian states. `The Azeri
authorities have already made their remarks about this to the HRW
officials visiting Baku,’ says Gasanov. At the same time, he notes
that Washington’s foreign policy is based on the positions of
governmental rather than non-governmental organizations like HRW.
`Still, that organization does have an influence on the public
opinion in the US, and we would not like the American people to get
biased information about the situation in Azerbaijan,’ says Gasanov.
(525th Daily)
In Azerbaijan, some provisions of the law on the freedom of assembly
will restrict human rights, says Azeri MP, the chairwoman of the
parliamentary commission on human rights Rabiyat Aslanova. `The law
has points restricting human rights and contradicting the European
Convention on Human Rights,’ she says. The Azeri Parliament is
presently considering amendments to the laws on the freedom of
assembly, on the status of internal troops and on the police, which
allow the police when dispersing rallies to use not only water-jets
and rubber bullets but also electric shock and specially trained
dogs. (525th Daily)
Freedom House has issued a report on the pre-electoral and internal
political situation, political prisoners, freedom of speech, human
rights, the judiciary and the living standard in Azerbaijan. The
report says that despite certain progress, the situation is still
unsatisfactory: the rights of candidates are still violated and
little is done to prevent this, human rights are still infringed,
courts still pass unfair and ordered verdicts. At the same time, the
report notes that the living standard in the country is improving.
(Turan)
About Iran
`The anti-Azeri statements made by the Iranian authorities on the eve
of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to the US were an attempt of
pressure,’ political scientist Vafa Guluzade says as a comment on the
statements of Iranian National Security Secretary Ali Larijani that
Iran may strike the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline if the US starts
a war against that country and that US anti-Iranian intelligence
groups are acting in Azerbaijan. Guluzade says that Iran is trying to
get President Aliyev to raise the issue of Iranian-American-Azeri
relations during his meeting with President Bush. If the US starts a
war against Iran, Azerbaijan will suffer the most. And now the US’
key concern is how to strike Iran so as not to let it to
counter-strike.
In his turn, political scientist Ilgar Mamedov says that this is due
to growing propaganda war. `That’s why the sides are making
increasingly sharp statements. The Iranian DM’s visit to Baku was
followed by anti-Azeri threats from Iran – exactly now when President
Aliyev is going to the US. Iran is a dangerous neighbor, that’s why
it made such statements before Aliyev’s visit,’ Mamedov said. `The
start of military actions will put Azerbaijan in a hard situation. If
in exchange for involvement in the anti-Iranian coalition, the US
promises support in the Karabakh problem, the Azeri authorities will
be forced to take this step, otherwise, the public will reproach
them. However, this will make Azerbaijan an enemy to a dangerous
neighbor, Iran. If Azerbaijan supports Iran, it will become an arena
of military actions. If it stays neural, both sides will start
actively pressuring it into decision,’ says Mamedov.
Ambassador of Iran to Baku Afshat Suleimani thinks that the US has
lowered its tone of late: they have already understood what mistake
they are risking to make. Suleimani hopes that Aliyev will explain to
Bush the significance of Iran and the general situation in the
region. `But, as we all remember, before its invasion in Iraq, the
Bush administration also said that it was committed to solve the
problem of Iraqi mass destruction weapon by diplomatic means,’ says
Suleimani. (Azeri-Press)

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
ORDI NATIONS IN ANTELIAS
His Holiness Aram I will preside over several ordinations in the
Catholicosate of Cilicia during the coming few weeks. The agenda of the
ordinations will be as follows:
– Sunday, May 14th: Ordination of celibate priests,
– Sunday, May 21st: Ordination of acolytes and sub-deacons,
– Sunday, May 28th: Ordination of deacons,
– Sunday, June 4th: Consecration of bishops.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

IT IS DIFFICULT TODAY TO BE INDEPENDENT MEDIA, KAPAN MAYOR FINDS
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
KAPAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. At the beginning of the May 3 meeting of
marz correspondents of mass media and republican information means
acting in the city of Kapan with Kapan Mayor Armen Karapetian,
those present respected with one-minute silence the memory of
victims of the accident of the plane implementing the Yerevan-Sochi
flight. The meeting was organized on the occasion of the International
Day of Freedom of Press. Congratulating mass media representatives,
A.Karapetian mentioned that it is difficult today to be an independent
mass media. The Mayor expressed satisfaction that however, there are
journalists with free way of thinking who does everything for the
information field in Armenia is improved and strengtened.

LITHUANIA’S ADAMKUS URGES TO SOLVE ‘FROZEN CONFLICTS’ IN EASTERN EUROPE
Delfi website, Vilnius
3 May 06
[Unatributted report: “Lithuanian President Urges To Solve ‘Frozen
Conflicts,’ Which Hinder Democratic Changes”]
President Valdas Adamkus thinks that one of the biggest hardships
for countries that have chosen the path of democratic reforms is
‘frozen conflicts.’
“‘Frozen’ conflicts are obvious threats, which raise fear and impede
economic development in entire regions. It is necessary to find fast
and peaceful solutions to those conflicts, because the union of law and
democracy cannot coexist with conflicts and isolation,” Adamkus said
in his greeting to participants of the Forum of Intellectuals at the
Vilnius Conference, called Common Vision for a Common Neighbourhood.
According to the president, ‘frozen conflicts’ also impede cooperation
of activities in the region.
“It is hard to imagine that democracy would be established in regions
where there is no cooperation of institutions or if they lack the
essence of cooperation. The engine behind European and transatlantic
cooperation should be cooperation, not competition,” the Lithuanian
head of state noted.
According to him, this was proven by the experience of the Vilnius
10, which, in 2000, united the efforts of new European democracies
to join Euro-Atlantic institutions. Adamkus said that today all of
those countries are firmly determined to support the development of
regional cooperation and the ‘open door’ policy.
The president also stressed the necessity of raising the goals and
values of the state above narrow pragmatic interests.
“Today I would like to wish the countries that are striving for
European and transatlantic integration: set your domestic and foreign
policy goals and secure support of the majority for those goals,”
Adamkus noted.
After noting that today the Eastern Europe seems determined to be
integrated into European and transatlantic institutions, Adamkus said
that at the same time he saw “wavering, looking back, and attempts
to look for the alleged ‘third way,’ whatever that third way might be.”
“In the European Union we also hear voices talking about the alleged
‘burnout of expansion.’ Those voices see Europe as a fortress or a
closed club,” the Lithuanian head of state noted.
However, he said he did not think that it was necessary to concentrate
on these questions, because European cooperation in the future would
be cooperation between democracies trying to expand freedom to move,
to trade, and to exchange ideas.
The president said that globalization did not leave the option of
living in seclusion, and it would find ways of punishing those that
would decide to build walls against democracy. According to Adamkus,
non-democratic states would be forced to face globalization challenges
alone.
After admitting that sometimes it is difficult to balance interests
with values (although it was necessary to make sure that they were not
contradicting one another), Adamkus said that today it was necessary to
agree on an ambitious agenda – the East European neighbourhood vision.
“Vision that would obligate us to create united and free Europe,
which would be united by economic integration and common values. I
believe that your determination, good will, and effort will help us
achieve that,” Adamkus said, in addressing intellectuals.
Representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia,
the United States, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, and
Ukraine are participating in the Intellectuals Forum, which is being
held in Vilnius on Wednesday. They are discussing democratic changes
of recent years and their future prospects in the Eastern Europe.

LARGE FRAGMENTS OF A-320 PLANE FOUND AT BLACK SEA BOTTOM
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 22:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Large fragments of A-320 plane are found at Black
Sea bottom by means of a deep-water device. “The device is controlled
from the board of Captain Beklemischev ship. Exact coordinates will
be determined within a few hours and deep-water special equipment
will be delivered to that place,” said a participant of the search
operation. In his words, all objects found are identified as A-320
fragments. “It is not ruled out that exactly in those parts of
the crashed plane flight recorders are situated,” the source said,
reports RIA Novosti.

NKR PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES AND RELATIVES OF VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 02:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NKR Parliamentary Speaker Ashot Gulyan condoled
families and relatives of victims of the crash of Armavia air company’s
A-320 airbus performing Yerevan-Sochi flight. “We got the news on the
catastrophe with deep sorrow. On behalf of the NKR Parliament and me
in person I condole with the families of the victims, wishing patience
and stable spirit,” the message of the NKR Speaker says. By a decree
of NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian May 5 is declared a mourning day
in Nagorno Karabakh.

ARMENIAN DRAM APPRECIATES BY 0.5% AGAINST US DOLLAR IN APRIL 2006 COMPARED WITH SAME MONTH OF 2005
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. In parallel with a 0.3% price growth on
the Armenian consumer market in April on March 2006, the Armenian drams
appreciated 0.2% against the US dollar. According to the RA National
Statistical Service, the increase in consumer prices and the settlement
exchange rate of the Armenian dram made 3.1% and 0.1% respectively
in April 2006 on December 2005. During the same period of last year,
a 7.9% decline in the exchange rate was registered along with a 2.8%
growth in consumer prices. The average settlement exchange rate of the
Armenian dram against the US dollar made 449.99 drams in April 2006,
which exceeds the respective index of last year by 0.5% (447.89 drams).

TBILISI IS STILL TAKING POKES AT RUSSIA
by Viktor Ruchkin
Source: Krasnaya zvezda, April 28, 2006, p. 1
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
May 3, 2006 Wednesday
RUSSIAN ARMY HAS PROBLEMS CONCERNING SAFE WITHDRAWAL OF THEIR TROOPS
AND AMMUNITION FROM GEORGIA; Tbilisi will not help Russia to withdraw
its army and military equipment from Georgia. Georgia Akhalkalakskiy
region citizens blocked the highway protesting against troops
withdrawal. Georgia Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili
remarked that Georgian authorities guarantee that no protest meetings
would be conducted by citizens against the base withdrawal from
Akhalkalaki. Georgia Minister of Foreign Affairs Gela Bezhuashvili
stated the other day that relationships between Russia and Georgia
are far not of good neighbors.
It was clear from the very beginning that Tbilisi would not take care
of safe withdrawal of Russian army from Georgia. (…) Not much time
has passed until this was proved.
Last Wednesday tens of Georgia Akhalkalakskiy region citizens blocked
the highway and made it impossible for communication troops cars,
belonging to Russian 62nd military base, to go to Armenia. That
was the way they voiced their protest against withdrawal of Russian
troops. Most of the citizens served at the Russian military base,
and now they will have no means of living. As is known, the group
of local citizens had a meeting with the base command and told them,
that until Georgia solves all the existent problems, namely the problem
of the safe life of the Armenians living in the region and employing
them, they would not allow Russian military equipment and ammunition
to leave the region. “If necessary, we will make all citizens of
Samtskhe-Dzhavakheti region take part in this action of protest”,
stressed the people.
The base command appealed to the local police command and Ministry of
Internal Affairs with a request to take care of the safe withdrawal
of military equipment. However, Georgian authorities refused to take
any measures saying this was not their responsibility. Moreover,
Georgia Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili stated, that
the Russian side would be responsible for any problems or difficulties
when withdrawing the bases. Only after Russian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs reminded Georgia about its responsibilities according to the
signed agreement and expressed hope about Georgian authorities taking
measures in Akhalkalaki, Tbilisi agreed to act accordingly.
Namely, Vano Merabishvili remarked that Georgian authorities guarantee
that no protest meetings would be conducted by citizens against the
base withdrawal from Akhalkalaki. He is also convinced that in every
region there would be people capable of performing such actions for
destabilization of Georgia. As for the named above incident, he said
that about 20-25 people were making that performance for Russian TV
channels in Akhalkalaki as a protest against withdrawal of military
equipment from the base. The “actors” of that performance are citizens
serving at the Russian base in Akhalkalaki, and Vano Merabishvili
wants to believe that Moscow have nothing to do with this performance.
It goes without saying that Tbilisi sees Moscow in everything that
causes policy development problems for Georgia. Georgia Minister
of Foreign Affairs Gela Bezhuashvili stated the other day that
relationships between Russia and Georgia are far not of good
neighbors. It is possible to understand from his words that it is
Moscow who is to be blamed for it. When he was characterizing the
situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia he said: “We have a number of
facts proving that Russia follows the policy of annexation concerning
Georgia”. However, the head of Georgia Foreign Policy Department
didn’t mention any of those facts, but took pokes at Russia.