Author: Emil Lazarian

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 6, 2006 Friday
PRESSURE ON ILHAM ALIYEV IS INCREASING;
Effectiveness of Karabakh talks questioned in Baku
by Sohbet Mamedov
PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV IS URGED TO SEND AN ARMY TO LIBERATE THE
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES; Azerbaijani hawks demand a military solution to
the Karabakh problem. The authorities are coming to see it as the
only option.
Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk group for Karabakh conflict resolution
came to Baku yesterday when the Russian-Georgian relations were at
their all-time low, the crisis fomented by the situation with
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In Azerbaijan itself, dissatisfaction is
mounting concerning the Europeans’ efforts as mediators. Voices in
Baku urge President Ilham Aliyev to send an army to liberate the
occupied territories. Promoters of this solution refer to the lack of
results in the negotiations dragging out for over a decade already
and to sharply-worded statements made by official Yerevan. Telling
Al-Jazeera TV-station the other day, “As I see it, relations between
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will continue their development and we
will form a federation one fine day. As for the relations between
these two countries, let the future generations decide the matter…”
President of Armenia Robert Kocharjan made Azerbaijani hawks happy.
Made on the eve of OSCE Minsk Group chairmen’s arrival, Kocharjan’s
statement added fuel to the fire and strengthened the positions of
the circles in the Azerbaijani establishment that had never believed
in negotiations. Matthew Bryza of the United States, Yuri Merzlyakov
of Russia, Bernard Faciet of France (three chairmen), and OSCE
Chairman’s Envoy Andrzej Kaspcik met with Foreign Minister Elmar
Mamedjarov and Aliyev himself, yesterday. The meetings took place
with anti-Armenian actions of the opposition unfolding in the
streets. Activists of the non-governmental organization Karabakh
Liberation Organization (KLO) undertook to stage a protest action in
front of the Foreign Ministry when the negotiations were taking place
inside. It made a statement demanding no more visits of OSCE Minsk
Group chairmen to the region as pointless and disbandment of the OSCE
Minsk Group itself. KLO leader Akif Nagi said. “Since the UN General
Assembly is discussing conflicts in GUAM countries, Azerbaijan should
demand that the UN force Armenia to fulfill all four resolutions and
that it contemplate sanctions against Armenia. Azerbaijan should
launch a war and liberate the occupied territories all on its own
otherwise.” Practically all parties of the opposition and even some
deputies of the national parliament agree with Nagi.
The possibility of the use of military might as a solution to the
problem is even discussed in official structures of Azerbaijan and
mentioned by Aliyev himself. Azerbaijan has been upping war spending
for years. Defense expenditures in the 2007 budget, will top this
years figure by 26.7%. Already endorsed by the Cabinet, the draft
budget was forwarded to the presidential administration. A source in
the government of Azerbaijan says that sum total of war spending will
reach $900 million ($200 million more than in 2006).
Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, October 3, 2006, p. 6
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian military slam Georgia over restricted transit
RIA Novosti
October 06, 2006
MOSCOW, October 6 (RIA Novosti) – Only 10 percent of the applications
Russia made to Georgia concerning troop and hardware transit through
the country in 2006 were approved by Tbilisi, a high-ranking Russian
military officer said Friday.
Under a bilateral agreement signed in March 2006 in Sochi, Russia
transits its military cargo and personnel through Georgia in support
of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia.
“Only nine out of 88 applications for overflights were approved in
2006,” Colonel-General Alexander Skvortsov, deputy chief of the General
Staff, said, adding the remaining requests were ignored by Tbilisi.
The Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri, about 120 kilometers
(75 miles) from the Armenian capital Yerevan, is part of a joint air
defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was
deployed in Armenia in 1995.
Skvortsov told Russian lawmakers that at the moment the Russian base
in Armenia is being supplied exclusively by air.
“Russia does not use land routes through Georgia, but only air transit
to deliver troops and hardware to the 102nd military base,” he said.
He said the situation is not extremely urgent, because previously
stored supplies allow the base to function normally for now.
But the situation could change in the future if the need for supplies
grows, he said.
Part of the military equipment being removed from Russian bases in
Georgia will be transferred to the Gyumri base when Russia completes
its withdrawal from Akhalkalaki and Batumi by the end of 2008.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

De Gelderlander, Netherland
October 6, 2006
ONDERZOEK – Senator Van Thijn: ‘Armeense zaak escaleert’
DEN HAAG – De vraag of het Armeense volk in 1915 slachtoffer is
geworden van een genocide, wordt ‘van alle kanten te veel op de spits
gedreven’.
Door onze redactie binnenland
Die waarschuwing uit PvdA-Eerste Kamerlid Ed van Thijn, naar
aanleiding van het schrappen van de lijst van Turkse Kamerkandidaten
van PvdA en CDA die weigeren te erkennen dat het genocide was. “Er is
bij mij geen twijfel over het genocideachtige karakter van wat er
toen gebeurde,” aldus Van Thijn. “Maar we kunnen niet generaties lang
leven op basis van haat en wraakgevoelens.”
Ook GroenLinks-leider Femke Halsema maakt bezwaar tegen de eis die
aan Turks-Nederlandse politici wordt gesteld. De kwestie leidt tot
onrust in de Turkse gemeenschap. Vertegenwoordigers waarschuwen dat
hun achterban de verkiezingen kan boycotten, wat vermoedelijk vooral
de PvdA zou treffen.
Uit onderzoek blijkt dat dat niet het geval is. De Turkse kiezer
lijkt voorlopig PvdA (en ook CDA) trouw te blijven, ondanks het
schrappen van Turkse kandidaat-Kamerleden van hun lijst voor de
Kamerverkiezingen van 22 november. Wel is de woede onder Turken nog
steeds groot. Gisteren demonstreerden tientallen Turkse jongeren bij
het PvdA-kantoor in Amsterdam.
Senator Van Thijn denkt dat de lucht geklaard kan worden door een
Turks-Armeense commissie van historici in het leven te roepen. De
Turkse premier Erdogan heeft zich eerder ook in die zin uitgelaten.
Voormalig PvdA-minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Max van der Stoel
steunt het schrappen van de lijst van kandidaten van Turkse komaf die
weigeren de Armeense massamoord te erkennen. “Je kunt niet van de
kandidaten verwachten dat ze erkennen dat er een genocide was. Maar
ze moeten in elk geval blijk geven van hun bewustheid van wat er is
gebeurd.”
De genocide
De moord op honderdduizenden Armeniers vond plaats in 1915.
Tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog koos het Ottomaanse Rijk (nu Turkije)
partij voor Duitsland, waardoor het in oorlog raakte met Rusland.
De Armeniers wilden in die periode hun onafhankelijkheid verwerven.
In het Russische leger streden zeven Armeense brigades mee.
Als represaille werden op 24 april 1915 enkele duizenden leden van de
Armeense elite zonder vorm van proces vermoord in Constantinopel
(Istanbul).
Deze dag wordt door de Armeniers herdacht als het begin van de
volkerenmoord.
Uit angst dat meer Armeniers zich bij de Russen zouden aansluiten,
besloot de Turkse regering tot deportatie van de Armeniers naar de
Syrische woestijn. Deze deportatie liep (waarschijnlijk doelbewust)
uit de hand en resulteerde in de volkerenmoord.
In mei 1918 werd het onafhankelijke Armenie gesticht. Dit rijk vocht
aan de zijde van de geallieerden. De noordoostelijke provincies van
het Ottomaanse Rijk werden aan Armenie toegevoegd. In 1920 vocht
Armenie met Turkije de Turks-Armeense Oorlog uit. Met de overgave van
de Ottomanen werden de grenzen van het nieuwe Armenie bekrachtigd in
het Verdrag van Sevres van 1920. De Ottomanen zagen de samenwerking
van de Armeniers op Ottomaans grondgebied als verraad, te meer omdat
ze eerst hadden verklaard neutraal te blijven in de oorlog.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
“RUSSIA IS ARMENIA’S OUTPOST”
[07:49 pm] 06 October, 2006
Because of the tension in the relations of Russia and
Georgia Armenian businessman suffer heavy losses. In
particular, according to Hrayr Karapetyan, the head of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun faction, they pay 2500 USD more
in order to transport 20 tons of luggages by the Poti
port instead of Verin Lars. What does co-chair of the
Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Committee Vahan
Hovhannisyan do in order for the Russians not to
ignore the interests of Armenia? Asked this question
by “A1+” Hrayr Karapetyan agreed that we must work
upon that issue.
One of the journalists asked to comment on the
announcement of leader of the RF Liberal Democratic
party Vladimir Zhirinovsky according to which Armenia
is the 9th okrug of Russia and its outpost. Member of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Spartak Seyranyan found it
difficult to find a politician in Russia who would
have time to comment on Zhirinovsky’s statements and
said he is not going to do it either. Nevertheless, he
wasn’t able to resist the temptation of saying “I
would say that Russia is our outpost in the North; now
let them comment on my words”.
As for the information about Hrayr Karapetyan having
appropriated 5 million USD, he advised the journalists
to turn to the Office of the RA Public Prosecutor and
learn whether a criminal case has ever been initiated
against him. “It is a fairy tale”, Mr. Karapetyan
added.

************************************************** **************************
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Telephone: (818) 500-1918
Facsimile: (818) 246-7353
[email protected]
************************************* ***************************************
PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: October 5, 2006
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
BOB COLLINS TO BE HONORED AT ANCA-WR ANNUAL BANQUET
GLENDALE, CA – Supporters and friends of the Armenian National
Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR) gathered on September
29, 2006 at the home of Hovig and Aida Dimejian for the organization’s
traditional Banquet Kickoff Party. Community leaders, organizational
representatives, activists and benefactors were among over 100 people
in attendance.
“This year’s ANCA-WR Annual Banquet promises to be another sell out
event,” commented Aida Dimejian, Chairwoman of the Banquet Committee
and a member of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors. “The attendees
will witness, first hand, all of the remarkable accomplishments
our organization achieves for the benefit of our community,” the
chairwoman added.
Mr. and Mrs. Dimejian, who graciously hosted the event, welcomed
guests to their home and thanked those in attendance. Top donors at the
banquet kick-off event included philanthropists and long-time ANCA-WR
supporters, who pledged to sponsor tables at the Annual Banquet.
Attendees were also updated on the details of the annual gala, which
will be held on November 12, 2006 at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown,
Los Angeles.
ANCA-WR Chairman Steven Dadaian announced that Bob Collins, Chief
Instructional Officer for Secondary Education for the Los Angeles
Unified School District will be this year’s recipient for the Man
of the Year Award. This prestigious award is granted to individuals
who have made remarkable contributions in advancing the concerns of
Armenian Americans and the community as a whole.
The ANCA-WR will honor Mr. Collins for his leading role in implementing
the Armenian Genocide curriculum in the Los Angeles Unified School
District. His efforts in bringing a full and accurate human rights
education to the almost one million students in the Los Angeles
Unified School District distinguish him as a community leader.
“Bob Collins is an exceptional educational leader,” commented ANCA-WR
Chairman Steve Dadaian. “His bold steps are allowing hundreds of
thousands of our fellow Americans to learn about the Armenian Genocide
and why crimes against humanity represent a grave danger to us all,”
the ANCA-WR Chairman added.
Due to limited space, the event is expected to sell-out shortly.
Those interested in attending the banquet may contact the ANCA-WR
office at (818) 500-1918 to reserve a table or individuals tickets.
The ANCA is the largest and most influential Armenian American
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the United
States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA actively
advances the concerns of the Armenian-American community on a broad
range of issues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Billionaire Investor Retreats From G.M. Alliance
By NICK BUNKLEY
New York Times
October 6, 2006
DETROIT, Oct. 6 — Jerome B. York, an adviser to the billionaire
investor Kirk Kerkorian, resigned from the board of General Motors
today, and condemned the company’s management and its ability to
overhaul the company in his letter of resignation.
After Mr. York informed G.M. that he was quitting, Mr. Kerkorian said
he no longer wanted to increase his stake in the company beyond the
9.9 percent he has now.
The moves came two days after talks collapsed among General Motors,
Renault and Nissan over a global alliance — talks that Mr. Kerkorian
instigated and that he pushed the reluctant management of General
Motors into joining.
Investors bid General Motors stock down sharply on today’s news, with
the shares trading as much as 7 percent lower early in the afternoon
on the New York Stock Exchange. The market reaction cut the value of
Mr. Kerkorian’s 56 million G.M. shares by more than $100 million.
Mr. York, in his letter to G.M., said he reached the conclusion that
the company’s other directors were not willing to challenge executives
on the company’s strategies. He said the company was being too timid
in confronting its problems.
“I have grave reservations concerning the ability of the company’s
current business model to successfully compete in the marketplace
with those of the Asian producers,” Mr. York wrote in the letter,
a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times.
General Motors spokesmen did not immediately return calls this
afternoon seeking comment. Mr. York criticized G.M. for not obtaining
an independent analysis of an alliance’s potential value before
backing out of the talks on Wednesday. But he attributed his decision
to resign primarily to the environment in the boardroom, rather than
the company’s reluctance to more fully pursue the alliance proposal.
G.M., which lost $10.6 billion last year but posted an operating profit
in the second quarter of this year, insists that its own turnaround
plan is gaining traction and that it would not be helped and might
be hindered by an alliance.
Rick Wagoner, the chief executive of the company, has said it would not
benefit from a deal with Renault and Nissan as much as its prospective
partners would, and wanted billions of dollars paid up front to General
Motors in compensation. That demand apparently killed the talks.
Analysts suggested that Mr. Kerkorian may now be preparing to wage a
proxy fight against G.M.’s management. If Mr. York, a longtime adviser
to Mr. Kerkorian, remained on the board, he would be restricted in
the part he could play in any hostile moves Mr. Kerkorian made.
A week ago, Mr. Kerkorian said that he was interested in buying 6
million to 12 million more G.M. shares, increasing his stake in the
company to about 12 percent. He backed off that statement today in a
regulatory filing, but noted that his investment company, Tracinda
Corporation, “will continue to review their investment in General
Motors,” and may decide to buy or sell additional shares based on
the company’s performance and other factors.
Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian-populated Akhalkalaki was the only city where Saakashvili’s party lost
Regnum, Russia
Oct 6 2006
The city of Akhalkalaki (whose Armenian population totals 95%),
where four voting stations functioned, was probably the only urban
Georgian settlement, where the ruling United National Movement Party
was defeated, Akhalkalaki mayor Nairi Iritsyan, elected in 2002,
informed REGNUM correspondent.
“According to preliminary assessments, candidates from the Industry
Will Save Georgia Party nominated by the United Javakh Movement won
the Akhalkalaki municipal elections. 60% of voters who participated
in the elections supported majoritarians. Our success is the result
of the last several years of work,” the mayor accounted.
As REGNUM was informed by the former mayor who was candidate at the
local elections, 1,829 voters of over 7,000 registered have taken part
in the Akhalkalaki municipal elections. According to data provided by
the staff office of Nairi Iritsyan, statistics on the city elections
show: 532 voters participated in elections according party lists, of
which 289 voted for Industrialists and 219 – for the United National
Movement (UNM). At voting on majority lists, 174 residents voted for
the UNM representative and 350 – for Industrialists.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006
Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry Appreciates Today`s Consultations
between Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia with a Careful
Optimism
Source: Trend
Author: E. Husseynov
06.10.2006
Azerbaijan`s Foreign Ministry appreciates the consolations between
the Heads of the Foreign Offices of Azerbaijan and Armenia being held
in Moscow today with a careful optimism, Tahir Taghizadeh, Chief of
the Press and Information Policy Department of Azerbaijan`s Foreign
Office told Trend today.
According to him, the discussions in Moscow started with the separate
meetings between Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and
his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanyan with Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Ivanov, and then continued by the meetings with the
Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group. Then, the mediators and the
Foreign Ministers held common “long and wide discussions”. “During
the meetings, all the issues that are at the table of negotiations
now were in the limelight of the discussion. “New approaches” were
considered as well”, told Mr. Taghizadeh.
As results of the discussions, it was decided to hold the next
meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in
Paris on October 24, 2006.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 6 2006
Turkish Candidate Forced to Recognize Alleged Armenian Genocide
By Basri Dogan, Cihan News Agency, Amsterdam
Friday, October 06, 2006
zaman.com
Nebahat Albayrak, in second position on the list of the main opposition
Labour Party (PvdA) candidates, has recognized the so-called Armenian
genocide.
After the main Dutch parties removed three Turkish candidates from
their electoral lists, Albayrak said she backed the parliamentary
motion describing the deaths as genocide, in an interview with the
analysis magazine HP/De Tijd, adding that the form of its occurrence
needs to be investigated.
Albayrak, who has served in the parliament since 1998, in her previous
statements said the jurists would determine the use of “genocide”
in response to the Armenian Diaspora’s claims, and avoided using the
definition in her interviews.
The media strongly criticized Albayrak for being indecisive.
Meanwhile, Turkish candidates Ayhan Tonca , Osman Elmaci (CDA)
and Erdinc Sacan (PvdA) were removed from the election list for the
general elections.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers to meet in Paris once again
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006
[ 06 Oct. 2006 19:06 ]
Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan
Oskanyan had one-by-one meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov and OSCE MG co-chairs in the Ministry building in Moscow today.
Then the ministers negotiated in the presence of the co-chairs.
Azerbaijan FM Press and Information Policy chief Tahir Tagizadeh
told the APA that the ministers discussed all main principles of
the Nagorno Garabagh conflict solution and co-chairs’ new proposals.
Mammadyarov positively evaluated the negotiation.
The ministers agreed to meet in Paris on October 24. /APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress