Author: Emil Lazarian

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

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 1, 2006 Friday 06:48 AM EST
Russia govt approves accords on military base pullout from Georgia
by Natalia Slavina
MOSCOW, September 1
The Russian government has decided to submit Russian-Georgian accords
on the withdrawal of Russia’s military bases from Georgia to the
president for sending them to parliament’s lower house for the
ratification.
The government’s press service told ITAR-TASS on Friday that the
accords had been approved at a government meeting.
One of them sets the ‘time and procedure of the temporary presence
and withdrawal of Russian military bases and other military
facilities of Trans-Caucuses group of Russian troops from Georgia”.
It stipulates the stay of the bases until December 31, 2008, which is
the time limit of the accord.
Russia’s federal budget slates for the pullout process 836 million
roubles in 2006, 820 million in 2007 and 510 million roubles in 2008.
Other expenditures on the military bases and other facilities in
Georgia are to be covered by budget allocations to the Russian armed
forces.
Another accord, on the transit of military cargoes and personnel
through the territory of Georgia, is aimed at law regulation of
transit problems “for ensuring the functioning of the Russian
military base located on the territory of Armenia”.
The transit will be financed from budget allocations to the Russian
army.
The two documents were signed in Sochi on March 31.

PanARMENIAN.Net
NKR Receives Congratulations on 15th Anniversary
01.09.2006 14:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The NKR leadership received a number of
congratulatory addresses over the 15th anniversary of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic’s proclamation. `I wish the people of Artsakh
peaceful, secure and free future and send my warmest congratulations
on occasion of the 15th anniversary of Artsakh’s independence,’ says
the letter sent by first U.S. Ambassador to Armenia (1993-1995) Harry
J. Gilmore.
`South Ossetia closely watches the process of formation of Karabakh’s
state system and is glad to see the social, political, cultural and
spiritual development of the Artsakh people. We are convinced that
these achievements will multiply and Nagorno Karabakh will enjoy a
fair settlement of the problem on the basis of people’s will,’ says
the message by the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry.
`I sincerely congratulate the brave people of Artsakh, NKR President
and the Government on occasion of the 15th anniversary of independence
of Artsakh and wish all the best,’ said The California Courier editor
Harout Sasounian in his message.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
RA Defense Minister on Karabakh Issue: Living without
Belief and Hope Impossible
01.09.2006 14:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `It’s good when one has hope and it’s good when this
hope is reasonably limited,’ Armenian Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan
told journalists September 1 in the military high school after Monte
Melkonyan when commenting on the process of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement. In his words, it’s impossible to live without
belief and hope, but one should not have big expectations either,
since they may not come true and it may turn tragic.
When touching upon the intention of the chairman of the Caucasus
Muslims Board, Sheik-ul-Islam Haji Allahshukur Pashazade to proclaim
jihad against Armenia, the Minister remarked that `the Sheik has no
connection with the Azeri authorities.’ `Will it have an impact on the
process? Actually he did not say anything precise. He said only that
if the talks do not lead to a fair outcome he will proclaim jihad.
Thus, nothing has happened yet,’ Sargsyan said, reported IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress