Author: Emil Lazarian

THEY KILL PEOPLE IN MOVIES TOO
A1+
[03:08 pm] 04 September, 2006
“Public order is preserved better in Armenia than in a number of
countries which are a lighthouse for Armenia in this respect”, said
Vladimir Pryakhin, the head of the OSCE Yerevan office in an interview
with “A1+”.
How can we say that human rights are protected in Armenia if innocent
people become victims of criminal activities? Asked this question,
Vladimir Pryakhin notes that he is sorry for that, “but not a single
country is insured against such criminal activities, even the most
developed ones”.
RA Ombudsman Armen Haroutyunyan is of the same opinion. Of course
he does not think that the protection of human rights is at the same
level in Armenia as in developed countries. Nevertheless, according
to him, even the citizens of Western countries become victims of
criminal activities.
“Don’t you see what they show in movies?” Armen Haroutyunyan stated.
And still, there is one thing Armen Haroutyunyan is convinced in:
there is still much to be done in the sphere of the protection of
human rights in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BACK CORRIDORS: ROUND 2 FOR THE MARCH 2003 MOTION
by Ayla Ganioglu
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 4 2006
Opinions
Lebanon troop deployment motion, set to start tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.,
will be round two for the March 1, 2003 motion on sending troops
to Iraq.
The Bush administration, which got a negative response to the 2003
motion, must be expecting a positive response this time around.
Before it came to power, the ruling Justice and Development (AK)
Party promised the U.S., behind closed doors, to support its Iraq
operation. But this promise turned out to be empty, as around 100
deputies from the AK Party voted against the motion that would have
allowed the U.S. to open a front on Turkish soil for its Iraq invasion.
The rejection of the motion strained Turkish-U.S. relations.
The motion regarding Turkey’s contribution to the international
peacekeeping force to be deployed in Lebanon, following Israeli attacks
in July and last month’s cease-fire, will be voted on tomorrow. This
vote will be a critical turning point for Turkish-U.S. relations.
This vote, in fact, seems to be significant for relations between
the AK Party and Bush administration, rather than for U.S.-Turkish
relations. Speculations in the backrooms indicate that if Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants a successful visit to the U.S. in
October, the motion should be passed. The speculations also indicate
that Erdogan’s eagerness to send Turkish troops to Lebanon since
the very beginning of the debates is an attempt to mend the damaged
relations with the U.S. following the 2003 resolution.
While these debates are going on behind closed doors, Democratic Left
Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer was the first figure to speak openly
on the issue. “The AK Party took power having promised to serve the
interests of global forces,” said Sezer. “It considers the support
of these forces essential for its staying in power. In this regard,
the AK Party wants to send troops to Lebanon to get foreign support
so it can stay in power.”
The second round of the March 2003 motion will take place tomorrow. If
the motion on Lebanon is passed, Turkey will open its bases and ports
to foreign armed forces, although it didn’t do that three years
ago. The most important part of the motion seems to be this. Will
the AK Party government be able to block the use of these bases and
ports for other countries (maybe Iran and Syria) as well in the future?
Armenians’ approach
Before the arrival of Turkish troops, AK Party Sakarya Deputy Suleyman
Gunduz traveled to Lebanon. Going there as a member of the “Ground
Doctors group” following the declaration of the cease-fire, Gunduz
tried to assess its problems regarding health and made promises to send
medicine and other medical supplies. Following his arrival in Turkey,
Gunduz started to meet with the Health Ministry and civil groups,
trying to obtain these supplies.
Gunduz said that around 1 million internally displaced people are in
public buildings and face grave health problems. He also said that
epidemics may break out in the country and there are very serious
problems in importing medicines and medical supplies. Gunduz pointed
to the problems in finding a number of medicines and particularly
antibiotics.
In northern Beirut, Gunduz came across Turkish-speaking
Armenians. After having a close dialogue with these Armenians, most
of whom migrated there from Turkey, Gunduz argued that the Armenians
won’t oppose Turkish troops’ taking part in the international
peacekeeping force.
“The area that I stayed in was predominantly populated by Armenians,”
said Gunduz. “None of them objected to us. Around 90 percent of the
Armenians that I spoke to were immigrants from Turkey. The area is
also one where the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia
(ASALA – an Armenian terrorist group that killed a number of Turkish
diplomats) originated from.
While I was there, the issue of Turkey’s sending troops to Lebanon
wasn’t certain yet. But I think the Armenians there won’t oppose the
Turkish troops.”
News agencies reported last week that a group of Armenians demonstrated
against Turkish troops in Beirut, though not very many.
However, Gunduz is making plans to improve the dialogue he established
with Lebanese Armenians in the coming years. Arguing that there are
thousands of people in Turkey who came from Armenia to work, Gunduz
said that he will make a project regarding diaspora Armenians if he is
able to stay in politics following the next elections. “I will propose
developing friendship between Turkey and diaspora Armenians and not
passing on a historical mistake to the generations to come,” said
Gunduz. “I will also suggest that the problem be resolved within the
citizenship framework.” Under Gunduz’s proposal, diaspora Armenians
who have migrated from Turkey will be given the chance to become
Turkish citizens.
Turkish friend of PKK envoy
One of the figures who views with suspicion the new model of fighting
terrorism through the U.S and Turkey’s appointing Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK) envoys is CHP deputy head and former diplomat Onur Oymen.
Oymen argues that the aim of appointing envoys is a political
solution. “The U.S. doesn’t want the elimination of PKK through the
full use of force,” said Oymen. “It isn’t moving militarily against the
PKK and doesn’t want Turkey to do that. If there had been a military
fight, a liaison officer would be appointed. But an envoy seeks a
political solution. It doesn’t matter is the envoy is a military
man. If the military man appointed is retired, his task is political.”
Former Gen. Joseph Ralston, the U.S.-appointed PKK envoy, is a figure
Oymen knows very well.
“Ralston is my friend,” Oymen said. “While I was serving as the
permanent representative to NATO (1997-2002), he was the Supreme
Allied commander Europe. He’s a very good soldier. He used to say that
he has warm feeling for Turkey. But this is one thing, and being an
envoy is another.”
Oymen argued that it’s not important that the U.S. administration
announced Ralston won’t meet with the terrorist group. He said that in
diplomacy this is called indirect or proxy negotiation. According to
Oymen, the process will unfold as follows: “Ralston won’t travel
to Mt. Kandil in northern Iraq to meet with PKK leader Murat
Karayilan. Ralston will meet with the Iraqi government. The Iraqi
government will talk to [Kurdish region leader Massoud] Barzani,
and Barzani will communicate the demands to the PKK. This is called
proxy negotiation. The PKK will be told to lay down its arms and
a threatening message will be sent. The PKK, meanwhile, will draw
up a list of demands, including a general amnesty and political
participation. The U.S. will put pressure on Turkey to accept the
PKK’s demands.”
Oymen argued that if Turkey resists the PKK demands, the U.S. will
say in the end that they did their best but Turkey didn’t help at all.
“So the U.S. will protect itself from blame,” Oymen said.
As for the other option, the deputy said, “If Turkey accepts these
demands, we can’t know what the consequences will be.”
As an example of the model of political efforts against terrorism,
Oymen referred to the U.S.
appointment of former Senator George Mitchell as an envoy for the
negotiations between the IRA and the British government.
Oymen pointed to how the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed
responsibility for the latest terrorist attacks in southern Turkish
tourist resorts, arguing that reaching an agreement with the PKK
won’t end terrorism.
“They will say that a splinter group established the TAK, ending the
PKK’s responsibility for terrorist attacks,” Oymen argued. “On the
one hand, Turkey will make concessions to the PKK to end terrorism,
and on the other, terrorism will continue under different names.”
Key words
In an interview with daily Sabah, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
was very angered by a question on an alleged secret plan for the
elimination of PKK forces, and said that asking such a question
amounted to treason.
Erdogan’s attitude indicated that the government will stay silent about
the model-in-preparation of fighting terrorism through envoys. But
some key words will signal the stage that the new model is here. The
most important key word, in this regard, is cease-fire.
If the terrorist PKK declares a cease-fire, this will mean that the
first stage in the talks through envoys was successfully completed. The
PKK cease-fire will likely be for a limited time, with set dates.
If the terrorist group declares a cease-fire for an indefinite period,
that means the process is about to be concluded. We should assume
that the AK Party won’t remain silent anymore in this case.
If the government passes a secret or open amnesty law in the coming
months, that means the talks are at a critical stage, which can be
considered the most difficult stage for the government.
The amnesty model suggested back in 1993 by then President Turgut
Ozal to Ahmet Turk, now Democratic Society Party (DTP) head, was very
comprehensive. According to Turk, Ozal suggested that the terrorist
group members submit a petition including the crimes they committed
in a sealed envelope and these petitions would be destroyed if they
didn’t commit any more crimes in the next five years.
Right now the AK Party government sees an amnesty as impossible. Under
the “secret plan” Sabah published, the AK Party doesn’t consider an
amnesty possible for the time being but will allow the administrative
ranks of the terrorist group to silently return to Turkey. These
administrators will then go to northern countries.
We’ll see whether the key words will work this time.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO SEEK INTL RECOGNITION – PRESIDENT
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
September 2, 2006 Saturday 8:36 PM MSK
Nagorno-Karabakh has a “supertask” of achieving international
recognition for its de facto independence, the president of the
Armenian-speaking enclave, which is marking the 15th anniversary of
its breaking away from Azerbaijan, announced on Saturday.
“Independence does not in any way mean that all the difficulties have
been overcome. Nagorno-Karabakh faces two supertasks: first of all,
to achieve peace, and, in this context, an agreement with Azerbaijan on
the settlement of the conflict; and, secondly, to achieve international
recognition for the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I believe that we are
in a position to carry out both tasks,” Arkady Gukasian told reporters
in the regional capital Stepanakert.
“We have achieved our goal of winning the war, we have built and are
building up a state. We have realized that we have not been wrong
because the proclamation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was the
only salvation for Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said.
He also said “there are no Nostradamuses to give an exact answer to
the question whether there will be a war or not” but argued there
were no political, economic or psychological reasons for war today.
“I am absolutely sure that the resumption of hostilities would not
be in the interests of the international community today,” he said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN ATHLETES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE “CAUCASUS CITIES CUP”
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 12:45
About 20 Armenian athletes will participate in the “Caucasus Cities
Cup” international athletics championship to be held September 12-14
in Sochi. The final composition of the team is not known so far,
but the team will comprise sportsmen from Yerevan, Kapan, Vanadzor,
Artashat and Gyumri and four trainers.
RA state athletics trainer Narine Shahbazyan told “Armenpress” that
Sochi was chosen as an alternative to South Caucasian countries,
since sportsmen of some country always refuse to participate in the
tournament. For instance, for the first time the championship was
held in Armenia, and Azerbaijani athletes refused to arrive.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Israel plans for war with Iran and Syria
Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv, and Sarah Baxter, New York

The Sunday Times/UK
September 03, 2006
THREATENED by a potentially nuclear-armed Tehran, Israel is preparing
for a possible war with both Iran and Syria, according to Israeli
political and military sources.
The conflict with Hezbollah has led to a strategic rethink in
Israel. A key conclusion is that too much attention has been paid to
Palestinian militants in Gaza and the West Bank instead of the two
biggest state sponsors of terrorism in the region, who pose a far
greater danger to Israel’s existence, defence insiders say.

`The challenge from Iran and Syria is now top of the Israeli defence
agenda, higher than the Palestinian one,’ said an Israeli defence
source. Shortly before the war in Lebanon Major-General Eliezer
Shkedi, the commander of the air force, was placed in charge of the
`Iranian front’, a new position in the Israeli Defence Forces. His job
will be to command any future strikes on Iran and Syria.

The Israeli defence establishment believes that Iran’s pursuit of a
nuclear programme means war is likely to become unavoidable.

`In the past we prepared for a possible military strike against Iran’s
nuclear facilities,’ said one insider, `but Iran’s growing confidence
after the war in Lebanon means we have to prepare for a full-scale
war, in which Syria will be an important player.’

A new infantry brigade has been formed named Kfir (lion cub), which
will be the largest in the Israeli army. `It is a partial solution for
the challenge of the Syrian commando brigades, which are considered
better than Hezbollah’s,’ a military source said.

There has been grave concern in Israel over a military pact signed in
Tehran on June 15 between Iran and Syria, which the Iranian defence
minister described as a `mutual front against Israeli threats’. Israel
has not had to fight against more than one army since 1973.

During the war in Lebanon, Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, the Iranian
founder of Hezbollah, warned: `If the Americans attack Iran, Iran will
attack Tel Aviv with missiles.’

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in
London, both Iran and Syria have ballistic missiles that can cover
most of Israel, including Tel Aviv. An emergency budget has now been
assigned to building modern shelters.

`The ineptness of the Israeli Defence Forces against Hezbollah has
raised the Iranians’ confidence,’ said a leading defence analyst.

In Washington, the military hawks believe that an airstrike against
Iranian nuclear bunkers remains a more straightforward, if risky,
operation than chasing Hezbollah fighters and their mobile rocket
launchers in Lebanon.

`Fixed targets are hopelessly vulnerable to precision bombing, and
with stealth bombers even a robust air defence system doesn’t make
much difference,’ said Richard Perle, a leading neoconservative.

The option of an eventual attack remains on the table after President
George Bush warned on Friday that Iran must not be allowed to develop
nuclear weapons.

While the American State Department favours engaging with President
Bashar Assad of Syria in the hope of detaching him from the Iranian
alliance, hawks believe Israel missed a golden opportunity to strike
at Syria during the Hezbollah conflict.

`If they had acted against Syria during this last kerfuffle, the war
might have ended more quickly and better,’ Perle added. `Syrian
military installations are sitting ducks and the Syrian air force
could have been destroyed on the ground in a couple of days.’ Assad
set off alarm bells in Israel when he said during the war in Lebanon:
`If we do not obtain the occupied Golan Heights by peaceful means, the
resistance option is there.’
During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the Syrian army briefly captured the
Israeli strategic post on top of Mount Hermon on the Golan Heights.
Some Israeli analysts believe Syria will try again to take this post,
which overlooks the Syrian capital, Damascus.
As a result of the change in the defence priorities, the budget for
the Israeli forces in the West Bank and Gaza is to be reduced.

The Israelis are integrating three elite brigades that performed well
during the Lebanon war under one headquarters, so they can work
together on deep cross-border operations in Iran and Syria.

Advocates of political engagement believe a war with Syria could
unleash Islamic fundamentalist terror in what has hitherto been a
stable dictatorship. Some voices in the Pentagon are not impressed by
that argument.

`If Syria spirals into chaos, at least they’ll be taking on each other
rather than heading for Jerusalem,’ said one insider.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 2 2006

PACE Ad Hoc Committee on Nagorno-Karabakh to meet in October

Source: Trend
Author: A.Ismayilova

02.09.2006

Samed Seyidov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation at the PACE,
told Trend that a meeting of the PACE Ad Hoc Committee on
Nagorno-Karabakh will be held in October 2006.
Seyidov said that the agenda of the meeting will include an issue on
the first visit of the Ad Hoc Committee representatives to
Azerbaijan. They will discuss an issue on a tour of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh by Rassel Johnston, the head of the Ad
Hoc Committee. The visit is to take place by the end of 2006.
He stressed that the PACE autumn session will not discuss issues
directly concerning Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani delegation will put
forward an issue on fires in the Occupied Territory of Azerbaijan.
The issue on fires will also be raised at special meetings and
gatherings of the Committee, Seyidov added.
PACE reporters, Andreas Herkel and Tony Lloyd will visit Baku in
November. They will produce a report of their visit and submit it to
the Monitoring Committee.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICANEWS RELEASE
1 AMERICAN AVENUE
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
TELEPHONE (+374 10) 464700
FAX (+374 10) 464742
E-MAIL: [email protected]
September 1, 2006
There has been a great deal of media commentary in recent days about an
alleged tape that the U.S. Ambassador is said to have conveyed to President
Kocharian implicating a government minister for corruption. We are unaware
of the existence of any such tape, and have not conveyed any tape to the
President. We have a continuing dialogue with Armenian government officials
at many levels on the well-known problem of official corruption. When we
become aware of credible allegations of corruption, we of course convey this
information to appropriate Armenian officials at a high level. We strongly
urge Armenian officials to investigate and prosecute corruption allegations,
and especially those involving government ministers or other senior
officials. Armenia cannot develop into a fully successful democratic and
economically sound state without assurance of integrity at all levels of
government.

Ottawa Recorder, Canada
Sept 2 2006

Turks conflicted about U.N. in Lebanon
2006/9
By SELCAN HACAOGLU, Associated Press Writer 33 minutes ago
ANKARA, Turkey – Some Turks see participating in the Lebanon
peacekeeping force as a chance to reassert Turkish influence in the
region, decades after their Ottoman Empire ruled across southeastern
Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
But others see a more dangerous outcome if they send troops to help
enforce a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah militants: a
Mideast quagmire that could engage Turkish troops in hostile fire
with fellow Muslims.
“However, such a risk taken under these unstable conditions will draw
Turkey into the line of fire, and I don`t even want to think of the
consequences,” he added.
The lawmakers were expected to vote on the resolution Tuesday – the
day U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is to arrive in Ankara. The
government has yet to determine the number of peacekeepers it would
send, but it was expected to range between 500-1,000.
Europe, the U.S. and Israel are eager to see peacekeepers from Turkey
– NATO `s only Muslim member and one of the few Muslim nations with
ties to Israel – in the hope it could avert the impression the U.N.
force is primarily Christian and European.
The Ottoman Turks – who began conquering nearby lands with the
decline of the Arab empire in the 14th century – added Lebanon and
Syria to their domain in 1516. By the 19th century, however, the
Ottoman Empire was unable to stop Western interest in the oil-rich
Middle East and regional desires for independence. After World War I,
France and Britain divided what remained of the empire into
protectorates: today`s Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan.
“Turkey has an obligation as a regional power and the old guardian of
the Middle East to exert its positive influence on developments,”
editor in chief Ilnur Cevik wrote in The New Anatolian.
“It would be treason to our history, our future and the high
interests of our people to stay away,” Erdogan told the nation in a
televised address Thursday, playing on the emotional outpouring of
support in Turkey for the Lebanese people.
The government is also aware that responding to the international
call for help could boost Ankara`s efforts to join the European Union
.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso highlighted
Turkey`s “strategic role” in the U.N. force Wednesday, praising the
“significant reforms” Ankara has made on democracy and the economy,
according to Turkey`s state-owned Anatolia news agency.
“No good can come of this deployment for Turkey,” said Michael Rubin
of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative Washington think
tank. “There is no real peace between Hezbollah and Israel. Does
Turkey really want to be in the middle of it?”
Rubin said joining the U.N. mission would have little meaning other
than being “a triumph for Erdogan`s neo-Ottomanism.” He also warned
that any confrontation with Hezbollah could pit Turkey against Iran ,
a key backer of Hezbollah with which it now has cordial relations.
“Such an unwanted development would amount to an undeclared war
against Iran,” said Nihat Ali Ozcan, an analyst with the Economic
Policy Research Institute in Ankara.
And then there is the potential for fierce opposition at home.
Many Turks fear their soldiers could end up facing hostile fire with
fellow Muslims. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who serves in a
figurehead role but has enormous influence in the country, has
already spoken out against such a mission.
“It is not our responsibility to protect the interests of other
countries,” he said last week.
Lebanon`s Armenians, who make up about 4 percent of the country`s
population, have also come out against Turkish participation – a
reminder that some in the region have not completely shed bitter
memories of Ottoman rule.
Armenians accuse the Ottoman Turks of killing 1.5 million ethnic
Armenians in 1915 in what they call a campaign of genocide. But
Turkey vehemently denies any systematic genocide, insists the number
of dead is significantly inflated and says most died from disease and
hunger when they fled or were deported to Syria and Lebanon during
World War I.
An estimated 120,000 ethnic Armenians live in the country today –
some 50,000 in Beirut alone.
The spiritual leader of Lebanon`s Armenians, Catholicos Aram I, has
released a statement calling Turkish participation in the
peacekeeping mission “morally unacceptable,” and also warning Annan
against the deployment.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 2 2006

SETTLEMENT OF THE ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN, NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT –
MAJOR PROBLEM FOR AZERBAIJAN
GREAT BRITAIN SHOWS SERIOUS INTEREST IN SETTLEMENT OF THE QUESTION
[September 02, 2006, 13:52:41]
On September 1, Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, colonel-general Safar
Abiyev has met with the ambassador of the United Kingdom of the Great
Britain and Northern Ireland to the country Lawrence Bristow, press
service of the Ministry told.
Ambassador L. Bristow, speaking of the purpose of the meeting, has
noted: `After visit of the Duke of York, Prince Andrew to Azerbaijan,
interest of the Great Britain to Azerbaijan has increased. He has
noted that settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is the major problem for Azerbaijan. We hope that this
conflict will shortly find solution. The United Kingdom now takes big
interest in resolution to this question.
Colonel-general Safar Abiyev has noted: `Azerbaijan cooperates with
the Great Britain both in the frame of the NATO’s `Individual
Partnership Program” , and in a bilateral format. We know that the
Great Britain also is interested in settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan gives great
value to expansion of cooperation with the Great Britain.
Having ascertained, that Azerbaijan makes efforts for the peace
resolution of conflict, the Minister said: `Armenia takes of a
destructive position, therefore, elimination of the problem is
delayed. Armenia does not carry out requirements of 4 Resolutions of
Security Council of the United Nations in connection with the given
conflict, and the world community does not exert to Armenia any
pressure for the quick withdrawal of its armies from the occupied
territories. Azerbaijan will never reconcile that its lands were
under the Armenian occupation. `Using all political, economic means,
including the military way, we shall release our lands’, Abiyev
stressed.
Ambassador L. Bristow has noted: `We well understand, what factors
define the today’s policy of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has the right to
release its lands. At the same time, the Azerbaijan state should
carry out this policy in the balanced form. The given policy should
form harmonious economic, political development of Azerbaijan and, at
last, promote peaceful clearing of its lands. `My 3-years supervision
on Southern Caucasus allow come to such a conclusion, that the
Armenian society has undergone pressure of external forces’.
Safar Abiyev has emphasized: `We consider, that the present policy
pursued by the Armenian state will lead to its full breakdown. It is
impossible to forget history. It has been for thirteen years as the
Azerbaijani lands are under occupation of Armenia. But Armenia should
not forget, that present territory of the Armenian state is former
Azerbaijani land’.
The Ambassador, estimating military-political conditions on Southern
Caucasus, has noted: `Turkey is one of the leading states of NATO.
The economic base of Azerbaijan is strong and harmoniously develops
in all branches. In what position there will be Armenia in 10-15
years?’
Then, colonel-general Safar Abiyev and Mr. L. Bristow had
comprehensive exchange of views on present military-political
conditions on Southern Caucasus, historical roots of
Arm3enian-Turkish and Armenian-Azerbaijani conflicts. He has noted,
that delay of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict represents greater threat for large economic projects
carried out in Azerbaijan.
Therefore, the European states participating in the mentioned
projects, including the Great Britain, should demand from the
Armenian state – the aggressor to refuse the claims and as soon as
possible to withdraw armies from the Azerbaijani territories.
The guest, having emphasized, that Azerbaijan is on a correct way in
the question of settlement of the conflict, has expressed confidence
that its just cause would shortly win. `Today, there is no factor
interfering economic development of Azerbaijan. Injustice concerning
Azerbaijan should be as soon as possible eliminated’, he underlined.
Minister of Defense, having noted, that shares his views, has told:
`The European states should understand this, we together should put
for this effort.
The sides also focused developments of questions of the Azeri-British
military cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Israel buys German nuclear-capable submarines

AP
8/25/2006 10:00:00 AM GMT
Israel purchased two German-made Dolphin submarines, called U212s,
capable of carrying nuclear heads, the Associated Press reported.

The new submarines, built at a cost of $1.3 billion with Germany
paying one-third of the bill, have diesel-electric propulsion systems
that allow them to remain underwater for longer periods of time than
the three nuclear arms-capable submarines already in Israel’s fleet,
the Jerusalem Post reported.

According to Jane’s Defense Weekly, the U212s can carry a crew of 35,
have a range of 4,500 kilometers and can launch cruise missiles
carrying nuclear warheads.

The German defense ministry said the sale agreement between Israel and
the manufacturers, Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG, was signed on July
6, and that the subs would be operational shortly.

Military experts believe that Israel’s purchase of nuclear-capable
submarines sends a clear message to Iran, which is facing growing
international pressure over its nuclear program.

David Menashri, an Israeli expert on Iran, claimed that Tehran is
clearly determined to obtain nuclear weapons and “the purchase of
additional Dolphin submarines by Israel is a small footnote in this
context.”

Iran, which unlike Israel is a signatory to the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), insists that its nuclear program is
for the peaceful generation of electricity.

The latest submarines would allow Israel to carry out a first strike
at the time it chooses and also provide it with crucial second-strike
capabilities, said Paul Beaver, a London-based independent defense
analyst.

Israel already have the that capability in the form of the Jericho-1
and Jericho-2 nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, which are buried so
far underground they would survive a nuclear strike, he said.

The Dolphin submarine is also one of the best deterrents, Beaver said,
adding that the technology on the subs makes them undetectable and
gives them defensive capabilities in the event of an attack.

“They are very well-built, very well-prepared, lots of interesting
equipment, one of the best conventional submarines available,” Beaver
said. “We are talking about a third string of deterrence
capabilities.”

Israel maintains a policy of ambiguity concerning its nuclear program,
neither admitting nor denying that it does posses nuclear
weapons. However, it’s believed to have the world’s sixth-largest
stockpile of atomic arms, including hundreds of warheads.

Members of two opposition parties in Germany criticized the
submarines’ sale, which which was concluded amid Israel’s deadly
offensive in Lebanon, where more than 1,200 civilians died.

Winfried Nachtwei, national security spokesman for the Greens, said
that the sale was wrong because Germany didn’t obtain any guarantees
that the submarines would not be used to carry nuclear weapons.

“This red line should not be crossed,” Nachtwei told the newspaper
Taz.

“Otherwise it is a complete renunciation of Germany’s policy of
non-proliferation,’ he added.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress