Author: Emil Lazarian

DONATION OF FOUNDATION TO NKR GOVERNMENT
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
Armenia Foundation bought 500 copies of the film “Welcome to Nagorno
Karabakh” in three languages. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary
of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic the foundation gave
200 copies to the NKR government. The foundation will give the other
300 copies to its benefactors, who contribute to the programs of the
foundation in Artsakh.
Armenia Foundation, Department of Public Relations
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNO KARABAKH AND AZERBAIJAN CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
Tatul Hakobyan
“Radiolur”
31.08.2006 13:52
On September 2 Nagorno Karabakh will celebrate the 15th anniversary
of declaration of independence. Although the international community
does not intend to recognize the second Armenian state de jure,
i.e. legally. De facto it has been already recognized. Even in case
Nagorno Karabakh is not recognized in the coming 15 years, this will
not devalue the historical decision adopted September 2, 1991.
August 19-21 the attempt to dethrone the President of the Soviet
Union Mikhail Gorbacjev failed. It seems that the above-mentioned
circumstance is not immediacy linked to the remote regions of the
empire in decline, particularly to Azerbaijan, the part of which
Nagorno Karabakh comprised then.
August 19 Azerbaijani leader of that time Ayaz Mutalibov was on a
visit to Iran. Learning about the coup in Moscow, Mutalibov expressed
his conformity to the rebels. His Adviser Vafa Guluzadeh retrieves
that he was advising Mutalibov to refuse from comments on the Moscow
events before his return to Baku.
The Azerbaijani leader, however, did not follow the advice and did
not refuse from criticizing Gorbachev’s policy.
A few days later, however, the attempt of the coup in Moscow failed and
the rebels were arrested. The failed rebellion, however, accelerated
the unevitable collapse of the Soviet Union.
August 30 in a special session the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan
adopted the declaration of independence within the borders of the
1918-1920 Democratic or Musavat Republic of Azerbaijan. September
2 the Regional Council of Nagorno Karabakh and the District Council
of Shahumyan held a joint sitting in Stepanakert, during which the
declaration of independence within the borders of Nagorno Karabakh
and Shahumyan regions.
September 8 Mutalibov was elected the President of Azerbaijan. Only 12
percent of the voters in Nagorno Karabakh, i.e. only the Azerbaijanis,
participated in the elections.
>>From the legal perspective Azerbaijan seceded from the Soviet
Union on the same basis that Nagorno-Karabakh seceded from
Azerbaijan. Besides, on August 30 the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan
adopted the Declaration of Independence within the borders of
1918-1920 Musavat Republic of Azerbaijan. Therefore, today’s Azerbaijan
considers itself the successor of the Musavat Republic. And it deserves
attention that in 1918-1920 Nagorno Karabakh did not comprise part of
Azerbaijan. Moreover, the League of Nations never recognized Azerbaijan
de jure, considering the fact that the Musavats were laying claims
on disputable Armenian territories, particularly Karabakh.
Nevertheless, if the League of Nations refused to recognize Nagorno
Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, then the Soviet or Bolshevik Russia
divided not only Karabakh but also other Armenian territories between
Azerbaijan and Turkey.
Actually, with the establishment of the Soviet Union we lost not only
our statehood, but also what is the most important – the original
Armenian lands.
On September 2, 1991 one of the segments separated from the Armenian
people the Artsakhi Armenians – corrected one of the crimes of
Bolshevik Russia and Ottoman Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WILL GHUKASYAN RUN A THIRD TERM?
Lragir.am
31 Aug 06
In an interview with the Azat Artsakh Newspaper Arkady Ghukasyan
touched upon the problem of the third term as well. In answer to the
question of a reader he said: “If you remember my election campaign,
you must know that I promised to promote the adoption of the NKR
Constitution. The basic law of the country, the constitution, is
adopted by people, not the president. And all through my presidency
I did not let people doubt that I guarantee the rule of law. I think
the presidential, parliamentary and local elections held earlier in
NKR assured people that they do elect the president, the members of
parliament or mayor.
By the way, you should know that certain international organizations,
influenced by Azerbaijan, react nervously to elections of different
level in NKR. In other words, many wish Karabakh did not hold elections
at all. But this is not our way. We are building a democratic society,
which is impossible without free and fair elections.
We need the Constitution, and nobody doubts. Moreover, we are a little
late with the adoption. The world does not stay in the same place,
and we must react adequately to the challenges of the civilization. We
must establish and confirm our right for freedom and independence,
our readiness to develop the best traditions of the international
community.
For me, so far I have never expressed likelihood to run a third term.
I think it is wrong when some people view the adoption of the basic
law of the country in the context of a third term. For NKR and its
people need the Constitution, not Ghukassian, including in terms
of international recognition. Even if we suppose that in case the
Constitution is adopted it will give me a chance to run a third term,
a number of important issues will occur, including my wish and,
most importantly, the wish of people.
Independent from all, till the last day of my presidency I will do
everything to settle the problems our country is facing. Certainly,
there will be people who will evaluate every initiative of mine
as populism, as an attempt to appeal to people. But it would be
impossible to do nothing until the end of the term because of these
people. Especially that large-scale programs are on the agenda we
have been attending to for a number of years now.
Besides, sooner of later we had to adopt the Constitution, either
during Ghukassian’s office or someone else’s office. By your logic,
a president during whose office a Constitution is adopted is doomed to
such doubts. Does this mean that we should not adopt the Constitution
at all? I would also like to emphasize that the necessity of adoption
of the basic law of the country is set down in the political platforms
of all the political parties and movements in NKR as well. And it
is normal because it proceeds from the logic of development of our
statehood.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI ANALYST: KASPRZYK HAS NEVER GIVEN OBJECTIVE INFORMATION CONCERNING AZERBAIJAN
Regnum, Russia
Aug. 30, 2006
Fires in territories, bordering to Nagorno Karabakh, have been
lasting for about two months. Recently, the personal envoy of the OSCE
chairman-in-office Andrzej Kasprzyk monitored the territory in order to
clarify causes of the fires. According to the diplomat, “hot weather,
which has early set in, and strong winds are reason, which caused fact
that area in contact line’s zone, enveloped in fires, turned out to be
considerably bigger, comparing with ones in previous years.” Requested
by a REGNUM correspondent, Political Innovations and Technologies
Center Chairman Mubariz Ahmedoglu commented on arisen situation.
REGNUM: Mr. Ahmedoglu, personal envoy of the OSCE chairman-in-office
Andrzej Kasprzyk stated that fires in territories, bordering to
Nagorno Karabakh, were not caused by Armenians, as the Azerbaijani
side maintains, but they were caused by heat, wind, and other natural
phenomena. To what extent, in your opinion, his words correspond
with reality?
When the fires began, the weather was not hot. If they had been
lasting for 15 last days, i.e. when the weather was really hot,
his words could be considered seriously. The matter concerns other
thing here. Armenians realizes very good; they should return Agdam,
Fizuli, and other occupied areas to Azerbaijan; that is why, they
committed arsons. As for Kasprzyk…It is worth mentioning, he has
never given objective information concerning Azerbaijan. Even during
his stay at the fire line, he succeeded in not making notes of shots
from the Armenian side.
REGNUM: Let’s ignore Kasprzyk’s words. Finally, Armenian officials and
mass media went much further, maintaining that the fires were made
by Azeri soldiers, who shot fire-bullets at territories, controlled
by Armenian servicemen…
No Azeri would set fire to native land under any circumstances. It is
enough to remind old parable in order to prove absurdity of Armenian
statements. Two women came to King Solomon, each of them maintaining,
she was mother of baby. The King ordered to bring the baby and
pronounced sentence. The child should be cut up in two parts in
order to give each woman one part, because none of them could prove
its right on the child. One of the women stayed absolutely calm,
while the other one fell to the king’s foots, crying and refusing
her claims on the child. The wise king ordered to hand over the baby
to the woman, who immediately refused her mother right in order to
rescue the child. Probably, no further commentaries are necessary.

ARMENIA NOT TO SEND PEACEKEEPERS TO LEBANON
by Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 30, 2006 Wednesday 06:20 AM EST
The Armenian president’s spokesman said that Armenia is not going
yet to send its peacekeepers to Lebanon.
“At present, Armenia is not going to send its contingent for a
peacekeeping mission in the area of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict,”
the president’s press secretary Viktor Sogomonyan told reporterson
Wedbesday.
He cited as a reason uncertainty of the mandate of peacekeepers
in Lebanon.
Besides, Armenia is concerned about the interests of the Armenian
community of 130,000 in Lebanon.
The presence of peacekeepers from Armenia could prove of negative
consequences for the Armenian diaspora in this country, Sogomonyan
said.
“We are interested in the establishment of peace in Lebanon,” Armenian
Deputy Foreign Minister Gegan Garibdhzanyan said last week.
He said that the republic had its peacekeepers “who are efficiently
fulfilling their mission in Kosovo and Iraq”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI PRESIDENT ISSUED ORDER REGARDING 125 ANNIVERSARY OF IRAVAN STATE DRAMATIC THEATRE
Author: S.Aliyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006
The President of Azerbaijan issued an order on 125th jubilee of Iravan
State Dramatic Theatre of Azerbaijan. As it was stated in the order,
Irevan Theatre that takes an important role in the development of the
national theatre is one of the oldest cultural centers in the Caucasus.
Starting its activity at the beginning of 1882, this cultural center
has written shiny pages in the theatre history if Azerbaijan.
Besides, it was stated in the order that by receiving the state status
in 1928, that takes the name of popular dramatist Jafar Jabarli is
closely related to several masters.
It is stared in the order that Iravan Theatre did its best to
introduce cultural heritage of Azerbaijan to tens of thousand of
Azerbaijani people who leaved in historical Azerbaijani territories
that were included in the territory of Armenia SSR in result of false
determination of borders during the Soviet Union.
Iravan Theatre was forced to fully stop its activity in result of
Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in result of which
Azerbaijani people were drown out from their native lands. Iravan
Theatre that has been locating in Baku since 1988 differs with its
own performances and attracts the people loving theatre with its
creative successes.
Taking into consideration the role of the theatre in the cultural
and political life of Azerbaijan, the president ordered that the
Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Education Ministry,
Azerbaijan National academy of Sciences and Azerbaijan Union of Theatre
Workers should prepare and carry out a plan of measures dedicated to
125 anniversary of Iravan Theatre, and the Cabinet of Ministers of
Azerbaijan should fulfill all issues arising from the order.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARTIES IN NK CONFLICT WILL COMPROMISE – US CO-CHAIRMAN OF OSCE MG
Author: À.Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
The parties in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will compromise as this is
the only way to solve the problem. There may be no military solution,
said Matthew Bryza, U.S. Co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group, Trend
reports with reference to ANS TV Channel.
Bryza added that the Co-Chairmen delivered the parties new principles
that might be called “road map”. These are the best offers, said
Bryza, and the Co-Chairmen is waiting for proposals from Presidents
and Societies.
The U.S. diplomat informed the journalists of the forthcoming meeting
in Europe between Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia and
suggested both the parties display their constructive opinions he
has seen during his visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
–Boundary_(ID_vL3HyXISaTPEEKa6dCP6OQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GERMANY ALWAYS WILLING TO ASSIST IN SETTLING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
Germany upholds the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem,
said Peer C. Stanchina, the new German Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
He said Germany’s position that has been maintained for many years
is already known to the Azeri Government.
“We, as well as Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, are committed to peaceful
discussions and we consider it unacceptable to use force to solve
the conflict”, said the German diplomat.
The Ambassador said Germany is always willing to assist in settling
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RAMIL SAFAROV’S FAMILY LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SUBSTITUTED
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
Lawyer Adil Ismayilov, legal representative of Azerbaijani Army
officer Ramil Safarov was substituted. Ramil Safarov was sentenced
to life in jail for murdering Armenian Army officer Gurgen Markaryan.
Parliamentarian Zahid Oruj, member of the Coordination Board to Defend
Ramil Safarov’s rights told the APA. The Coordination Board was not
satisfied with his activity. He said the Board came to agreement with
other lawyer to represent Safarov’s family.
“This lawyer is very professional and patriotic. We will not name
him as it might harm the process,” he said.
The Bar said they will sign a contract with the new lawyer soon.
Ikram Shirinov will defend Ramil Safarov in the Court of Appeal, APA
reports. But the lawyer said he has not received an official appeal
for defending Safarov in the Court of Appeal. He was only asked to
analyze Hungarian legislation and to give an expert opinion.
“There is not any official agreement. I am getting acquainted with
Hungarian laws. It is early to give any opinion,” Shirinov said.

SERIOUS OBSTACLES STILL REMAIN IN REGULATION OF NK CONFLICT – OSCE CHAIRMAN
Author: P.Kasamanski
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
Belgian representatives of OSCE makes all efforts for the solution
of unsettled conflicts: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan
and Armenia, confrontation in Moldova and South Osetia in Georgia,
the Chairman of OSCE, Belgian Foreign Minister Karl de Guht said in
his interview with Russian newspaper “Novie Izvestiye”, Trend reports.
“I arrived in these Countries, met with their heads and leaders and
offered them all possible services. However, it is impossible to
resolve these conflicts only through efforts of the OSCE Chairman.
The success depends on the determination and efforts of conflicting
areas to make a decision that could ensure peace and security,”
he emphasized.
According to the Chairman of OSCE this year, the sides might appear
as a “window” for the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
However, during the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents
in Paris and Bucharest, it was not possible to achieve.
“Serious obstacles still remain, and both Presidents should demonstrate
wisdom and boldness. The Belgian representatives, together with the
Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group, will to their best to promote this
process,” he underlined.
Speaking about the Georgian-Osetia conflict, Guht called for all sides
to return to the table of talks and stay away from any one-sided
action that may worsen the situation. “Recently, a conference of
donors was held in Brussels. The countries participating at the
conference promised to allocate more than 10 million Euros for the
restoration of economy in conflict area of Georgian-Osetia. We hope
that the support at the Conference may establish confidence between
sides.” Guht concluded.