Author: Emil Lazarian

YEREVAN AND BAKU AGREED TO CONTINUE DIRECT CONSULTATIONS
Gayane Movsesyan
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006
According to the international mediators, the main obstacle to the
settlement is the lack of confidence between the parties.
The central goal of the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs’ visit to the
Karabakh conflict region has been achieved: an arrangement on the
resumption of the direct consultations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
on the principal issues of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
has been reached. The RA and AR FMs’ current meeting will be held
in Moscow October 6. After that, in 7 – 10 days, the two countries’
FMs may hold another round of consultations with the mediators’
participation. Only after that the mediators may put forward a
proposal on the organization of a meeting of the Presidents Robert
Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, the OSCE MG Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), Matthew Bryza (the U. S.) and Bernard Fassier (France)
stated yesterday in the course of a press conference held in Yerevan
on the outcomes of a meeting with RA President Robert Kocharyan,
with whom they had discussed the issues referring to the present
stage of the Karabakh talks. The OSCE Chair-in-Office’s Personal
Representative Andrzey Kasprzyk>>> also participated in the meeting.
At the press conference the Minsk group Russian Co-Chair Yuri
Merzlyakov stated an addition had been written to a basic
principle presented by the mediators to the conflict parties this
May. Y. Merzlyakov refused to go into detail, alluding to the
negotiation process’s confidentiality.
In the U. S. Co-Chair Mathew Bryza’s words, “the basic principles is
the best thing the mediators could offer, however, it does not mean
they are agreements”.
The Co-Chairs underscored they had elaborated a common view on the
necessity to activate efforts to achieve the conflict’s settlement,
as they have been convinced of the readiness of Yerevan and Baku
to search for the ways of advance. Yet the mediators noted great
breakthrough could hardly be achieved in the near future. There are
some difficulties, and the principal one is the lack of confidence
between the conflict parties.
In this connection the OSCE Chair-in-Office’s Personal Representative
Andrzey Kasprzyk pointed out frequent cease-fire violations in
the conflict zone that resulted in victims from both parties. “The
cease-fire should be strengthened”, A. Kasprzyk stated. Answering
the journalists’ questions, the French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier
categorically refuted the Azeri mass media’s information that being in
Baku the day before he had allegedly spoken against Nagorno Karabakh’s
return to the negotiating table. Matthew Bryza also refuted some
publications in the Baku mass media. In part, he allegedly said
the GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) countries’
initiative to discuss the issue on the protracted conflicts on the
countries’ territory at the U. N. would be useful for the process
of the Karabakh conflict settlement. However, Bryza actually said,
“the GUAM countries are not represented at the OSCE MG and the MG
co-chair countries hope the proposals they have offered are aimed at
the achievement of the conflicts’ just settlement”.
Today the Co-Chairs will leave for Stepanakert to hold consultations
with the NKR President Arkady Ghoukasyan and other authorities of
the Republic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI DELEGATION WILL ASK CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF COE QUESTIONS REGARDING NK
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 4 2006
The meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe will
take place in the Spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE) that will be held in Strasburg, the member
of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE, MP Ganira Pashayeva told Trend.
She stressed that after the speech by the Head of the Committee,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, he will be asked questions.
The Azerbaijani side has also prepared its questions. Pashayeva
emphasized that despite the fact that Russia is the co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group and Chairman of the Committee of Ministers and
states that it recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,
the TV channels of this Country presents the head of the separatist
regime Arkadi Kukasyan as the president of fictitious Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic. “My questions will deal with this problem,” she stressed.
In addition, she said that the Chairman of the Committee will also
be presented questions regarding the non-implementation of the PACE
Resolution No. 14/16 containing the necessity of returning Azerbaijani
refugees to their land occupied by Armenian Armed Forces.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

U.S. CONGRESSMEN CALLED ON GEORGE BUSH TO EXPAND ENGAGEMENT WITH KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 13:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 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.
As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from the NKR Representative Office
in the U.S., 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.”
“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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONFERENCE ON PROSPECTS OF NATO-SOUTH CAUCASUS COOPERATION TO BE HELD IN TBILISI
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.10.2006 13:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 10 the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and
the International Center of Conflicts and Talks of Georgia will hold
an international conference titled “Prospects of cooperation between
NATO and South Caucasian states”. The conference will be attended by
Georgian government members, representatives of political parties,
NGOs, media and experts. FNF Head of South-Caucasus-Project Wolfgang
John, ICCT project director Giorgi Khutsishvili, NATO PA member Elke
Hoff, Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava and Georgia’s
Republican Party expert on foreign policy Ivliane Khaindtava will
give reports, said Trend news agency.

POWER SUPPLY HALTED BECAUSE OF LIGHTNING
A1+
[03:30 pm] 04 October, 2006
The residents of several districts of Yerevan have serious concerns
about the possible resumption of periodical cessation of power supply,
especially taking into account the fact that the Nuclear power station
has ceased its work for 45 days. Power supply was halted in Ajapnyak,
Nor Norq, Arabkir and Kentron.
The situation lasted up to 10 hours.
According to press secretary of “Armenian electricity supply network”
Zara Torikyan, the reason was the weather: the strong wind and the
rain damaged the overhead cables which were rather old. According
to the press secretary, the cables are being repaired. By the way,
in several districts were power supply wasn’t halted, the residents
themselves switched off the safety devices.
Zara Torikyan informed “A1+” that the situation lasted
only a few hours, and the results of the incident were soon
eliminated. Nevertheless, the building in Buzand 1/3 was deprived of
electricity for ten solid hours.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE-LED TEAM STARTS MISSION TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SOUTHERN CAUCASUS FIRES
Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Oct 4 2006
BAKU, 3 October 2006 – An OSCE-led team of international experts,
backed by a United Nations General Assembly resolution, began an
11-day mission today to assess the environmental impact of fires in
and around Nagorno-Karabakh.
Bernard Snoy, the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental
Activities, heads the Environmental Assessment Mission, which
includes United Nations, Council of Europe and European Union and
NASA specialists and other local and international experts. Other
OSCE officials will also participate.
“The mandate of the Mission is to assess the short-term and long-term
impact of the fires on the environment in the fire-affected territories
and to make recommendations on how to counteract those consequences,”
said Mr. Snoy. “We will make recommendations for a future environmental
operation that would, among others, prevent the reoccurrence of
such fires.”
“It is significant that this team draws on specialist knowledge from
several international organizations as well as local expertise,”
he added.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/285)
last month that called on the United Nations Environment Programme
in particular to work with the OSCE. The resolution asked the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office to provide a report to the United Nations General
Assembly by 30 April 2007.
The UN resolution said the General Assembly was seriously concerned by
the fires and said they had inflicted widespread environmental damage.
To ensure the assessment is as comprehensive as possible, the Mission
will examine and assess fire-affected areas along both sides of the
Line of Contact, Mr. Snoy said.

POPE BENEDICT’S TRIP TO TURKEY ON TRACK.
Wanted in Rome, Italy
Oct 4 2006
Preparations for Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to Turkey at the
end of November are going ahead despite a series of security issues,
according to Vatican authorities. On 3 October, the Turkish press
printed a message from Al Qaeda threatening any Muslims who play host
to the pope in Turkey, including state authorities. On the same day,
a Turkish national flying from Tirana in Albania to Istanbul hijacked
the plane and demanded that it land in Italy so he could deliver a
letter to the pope, sparking fears of a terrorist attack. After the
plane landed safely in Brindisi, the man was found to be unarmed and
is thought to have been trying to enlist the pope’s help to avoid
national service in Turkey. A Christian convert, the man said he did
not want to fight in a Muslim army.
The incidents follow the pope’s speech at the university of Regensburg
on a trip to Bavaria on 12 September in which he quoted a 14th-century
orthodox Christian emperor saying the prophet Muhammed had brought the
world only “evil and inhuman” things, causing widespread outrage across
the Muslim world. The pope subsequently apologized for the upset.
The last pope, John Paul II, was shot four times on 13 May 1981 by
a Turkish national in St Peter’s Square. His would-be assassin, Ali
Agca, has warned the current pope not to make the trip to Turkey,
which is currently scheduled from 28 November until 1 December.
Turkey’s population is 98 per cent Muslim, with a 100,000-strong
Christian community as well as orthodox Armenians and Jews making up
the remaining two per cent. Membership negotiations with the country’s
government for entry into the European Union began in October 2005.
d_n=2304
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FREEDOMS ARE POLITICAL CRITERIA TURKEY SHOULD FULFILL, KRETSCHMER
Turkish Press
Oct 4 2006
ANKARA – Freedom of expression, religious freedoms, and
civilian-military relations are political criteria that Turkey should
fulfil, as all other member states had done, said Hansjoerg Kretschmer,
the head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Turkey.
Appearing on a live broadcast on Turkish private NTV channel,
Kretschmer underlined importance of progress in political criteria,
and said that Turkey has to do more.
Kretschmer noted that EU`s stance towards civilian-military relations
is obvious, and he expressed his views about this matter in a meeting
held by the Turkish Economic & Social Studies Foundation (TESEV),
when commenting on yesterday`s remarks of Chief of General Staff
Gen. Yasar Buyukanit at the War Academies.
Recalling Buyukanit`s words that “the army has a different role in
Turkey”, Kretschmer said, “there are two different positions and
views. And the commanders said that the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces)
is different from the armies in the EU. We will see if it changes
within the negotiation process.
Civilian-military relations are important in the EU process, and it
should be solved. I think that it is possible.”
Kretschmer expressed belief that Turkey will fulfill all required
criteria, adding, “I am hopeful and optimistic. I think that Turkey
will be successful at the end of the process.”
On the so-called Armenian genocide allegations, Kretschmer said that
it is not one of the accession criteria but it can be effective within
the general framework of the accession process.
Kretschmer noted that Turkish government is determined and willing
to make more reforms.
Commenting on the views that the EU is trying to divide Turkey,
Kretschmer said, “it is even impossible to talk about Turkey`s
division. Political criteria are for the best interest of Turkey and
Turkish people.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MP PASHAYEVA PREPARED 2 WRITTEN APPEAL CONCERNING ARMENIAN AGGRESSION TO SUBMIT TO COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF COE
Author: J. Shakhverdiyev
TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 4 2006
MP Ganira Pashayeva, a member of the Azerbaijani delegation to the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has prepared
two written appeals concerning Armenia`s aggression policy for further
submission to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe,
the MP told Trend herself today.
She pointed out that one of the two appeals is connected with the
frequent violations of the cease fire regime by Armenian Force. “The
appeal speaks about the fact that Armenia does not observe the
cease fire regime signed in 1994, as well as the resolutions of PACE
and UN Security Council. The appeal also points out that Armenians
also subject even the population of its non-occupied territories of
Azerbaijan”, pointed out Mrs. Pashayeva.
She told that the appeal includes the statistics where it is pointed
out that 36 local residents killed, 65 wounded and 41 captured, and
only 31 out of them have freed. “Even after the cease fire regime was
announced, Armenians has continued to explode houses and communications
on the territories of the contact line”, the MP told.
According to Mrs. Pashayeva, the violation of the cease fire regime
has been linked with the announcements of Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan with the participation of Armenia`s Defense Minister Serg
Sarkisyan at the military training of Armenian separatists in 2006.
The second appeal is connected with the Armenian aggression policy
as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE ON STREAM EARLY 2007
Tehran Times
Oct 4 2006
TEHRAN – The project of Iran’s gas conveyance pipeline to Armenia will
come on stream early 2007, Reza Kasaiizadeh, the 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 told Iranian Students News Agency
(ISNA).
Shifting to Iran-Turkey gas pipeline, he said that Iran’s gas export
to Turkey was resumed on October 2, after parts of the pipeline which
were damaged by last Thursday’s explosion were repaired.
“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 presently exports 20 million cu. m. of gas to
Turkey per day.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress