Author: Emil Lazarian

NKR MFA: KARABAKH NOT DRUG TRANSIT WAY

Yerkir
14.04.2006 12:32

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The other day FM of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Grigory Petrosyan and Head of the NKR Police Department Armen Isagulov
sent a letter to Anne W. Patterson, US Assistant Secretary of Bureau
for International Narcotics, reports the Press Service of the NKR MFA.

The letter specifically says, “Appreciating and welcoming the
contribution of the United Stated in establishment of genuine
democratic principles in the international relations, as well as
consistent efforts of US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, aimed at
resolution of the NK conflict, we want to call your attention to an
issue of high importance to the NKR authorities.

In 2006, as different from previous years the State Department’s
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report mentions NK as a
transit territory for drugs. We do not have doubts that the information
is provided by Azerbaijan, which has made adulteration and discredit
of the Armenian party its state policy. We express categorical
disagreement over such a respected Report utilizing unconfirmed data.

Thereupon we assure you with all responsibility that Nagorno Karabakh
is not a transit way for drugs not only due to absence of a developed
transport and communication system owing to continued blockade by
Azerbaijan, but also as a result of efficient preventive work of NKR
law-enforcement bodies.”

The letter further cites facts, evidencing the aforementioned
arguments. Specifically, the authors of the letter write, “The
Office of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
which regularly monitors the cease-fire regime, can confirm absence
of any criminal facts and actions here.”

They also draw attention that the OSCE fact-finding mission, composed
of over 30 diplomats and experts, accompanied by the OSCE MG co-chairs,
visited NK in January-February 2005. “The detailed monitoring contains
no mentioning of such negative facts.

On behalf of NKR authorities again expressing readiness to receive
a special monitoring group, composed of experts, who can provide
an independent conclusion, the letter authors frankly believe that
“the US State Department will have an opportunity to make sure at
the scene that the above-stated is true and stop alarm over issues
that can more complicate the peace process and postpone prospects
of peace and stability.” Copies of the letter are sent to US State
Secretary Condoleezza Rice, US co-chair of the OSCE MG Steven Mann,
National Drug Control Policy Director John Walters.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIANS WELCOME HUNGARIAN COURT’S RULING

Armenpress
Apr 14 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian political parties have welcomed
today the ruling of an Hungarian court that sentenced Ramil Safarov, an
Azerbaijani army lieutenant to life imprisonment for killing Armenian
Lieutenant Gurgen Margarian, 26, in “premeditated, malicious and an
unusually cruel” way.

Gurgen Margarian was killed in February 2004 while he slept in a
dormitory used by participants in a NATO Partnership for Peace English
language course. The Hungarian court ruled that he will be eligible for
parole in 30 years. Levon Mkrtchian from the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) said the court’s verdict ‘is of political and moral
significance’ for the Armenian side.

Alexan Karapetian from the opposition National Unity party said
Armenians hope that the murderer will serve his full term in an
Hungarian prison and will not be extradited to Azerbaijan where
he was declared the Man of the Year. Judge Andras Vaskuti of the
Budapest district court ruled that “Compassion and remorse were
completely missing from (Safarov’s) testimony,” Judge Vaskuti said
upon announcing the verdict. “During the whole case we waited for
him to be at least a bit sorry for the Armenian soldier he killed
brutally and for (Margarian’s) family.”

Safarov’s lawyer, Gyorgy Magyar, said they would immediately appeal
the verdict, adding that it was yet unclear whether his client would
serve his sentence in Hungary or be extradited to Azerbaijan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRAN EXPANDING TIES WITH CENTRAL ASIAN STATES TO COUNTERBALANCE US GEOPOLITICAL PRESSURE
Joshua Kucera

EurasiaNet, NY
April 13 2006

In an effort to counter US attempts to geopolitically isolate Iran,
officials in Tehran are trying to implement an ambitious program
centering on trade and infrastructure investment in Central Asia and
the Caucasus, two Iranian experts say.

Tehran is focusing most of its attention on areas with which Iran has
strong cultural and historical ties, such as Tajikistan and western
Afghanistan. But the strategy also involves other countries in the
former Soviet Union, including Uzbekistan and Armenia. Tehran’s aim is
to create a diffuse patchwork of regional ties and institutions that
can serve as a counterweight to US geopolitical pressure, according
to two Iranian academics, Mohsen Milani of the University of South
Florida, and Abbas Maleki of the International Institute for Caspian
Studies in Tehran. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

The two outlined the Iranian countermoves at an April 5 talk in
Washington, sponsored by the Central Asia Caucasus Institute at Johns
Hopkins University.

Iran’s preferred mode of investment is via massive infrastructure
projects. For instance, Iran is building the Anzab tunnel that will
connect the northern and southern parts of Tajikistan, and will
eventually provide a road corridor from China through Central Asia
to the Persian Gulf. It is also constructing the Sangtudinskaya-II
hydroelectric plant in Tajikistan as part of a total $700 million
investment in electricity in that country. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

Iran is also among the leading donors to the reconstruction of
Afghanistan. It pledged $560 million at the Tokyo donors’ conference in
2002 – all of which is expected to be disbursed by the end of 2006 –
and promised another $100 million at the London conference held last
January. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

In 2005, Iran completed the $43 million, 125-km road from the
Dougharoun region of Iran to Herat, and has announced that it will
build a 176-km railroad from Iran to Herat. It is also improving its
own railroad infrastructure with the aim of attracting cargo from
Russia, China and Central Asia via Iran to ports in the Persian Gulf.

In 2004, Iran completed the 1000-km Bafq-Mashhad railroad, which cut
two days off the rail journey from Central Asia to the Persian Gulf.

Tehran has steadily increased trade in recent years with its regional
neighbors, in particular Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In addition,
Iran is working with Armenia to build a natural gas pipeline. [For
background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Speaking at length about the Iranian-Afghan relationship, Milani
noted that the growing volume of Iranian-Afghan trade – rising from
$120 million in 2002 to $250 million last year – is enabling Tehran
and Kabul to sweep political differences under the rug. Milani is
publishing a paper in the upcoming issue of the Middle East Journal
on Iran-Afghanistan relations.

Iran still hosts more than a million Afghan refugees and is the
destination of a significant amount of Afghanistan’s opium output.

Tehran also is concerned about the Disarmament, Demobilization and
Reintegration program in Afghanistan, believing that it is sapping
the power of Iran-friendly Dari-speaking militias. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In addition, Afghan President Hamid
Karzai has engaged in what Milani characterized a “Pashtunization”
of the Afghan government, marginalizing Dari speakers, as well as
representatives of other ethnic groups in Afghanistan. [For background
see related Eurasia Insight article].

Iran is now a major source of consumer goods in Afghanistan, and
Iran-friendly power centers in Kabul are emerging, in particular the
parliament, which is led by Speaker Yunus Qanooni, an ethnic Tajik.

Maleki pointed out that Tehran also is keeping quiet about many
sources of controversy in Central Asia, in particular the 2005 Andijan
massacre in Uzbekistan, and the continuing US military presence in
Kyrgyzstan. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. At the
same time, Iran is active in the Economic Cooperation Organization,
a trade and investment group that includes all the Central Asian
countries plus Iran, Turkey and Pakistan.

Tehran is also an observer to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
a regional security group that aims to provide a counterweight to
US power in Central Asia. [For background see the Eurasia Insight
archive].

Editor’s Note: Joshua Kucera is a Washington, DC,-based freelance
writer who specializes in security issues in Central Asia, the Caucasus
and the Middle East.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TERRY DAVIS: “ABSENCE OF PEACE AGREEMENT DAMAGES BOTH SIDES”

Today, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Absence of a peace agreement on Nagorno Karabakh conflict damages
both Armenian and Azerbaijani sides.

“Unless the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia come to a definite
agreement, it will damage both nations, including people residing in
Nagorno Karabakh,” Terry Davis, the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe, said in an interview with a correspondent of Trend in
Strasbourg.

Thought the OSCE is authorized in mediation mission in the peace
talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, it does not mean the CE has no
intention to back the peace dialogue.

Touching the peaceable resolution of the conflict, the CE Secretary
General said that while entering the CE both Azerbaijan and Armenia
undertook a responsibility on the resolution of Karabakh conflict,
which envisages peaceable resolution of the conflict. “The armed
resolution of the conflict is the worst scenario of all,” he stressed.

URL:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN PEOPLE CAN UNITE IN NEED – RAMIL SAFAROV
Author: V. Sharifov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Two Armenian officers who were participating at the courses with me
have offended me and the national flag, Ramil Safarov said at his
court hearing in Budapest in his interview to ANS.

“They have offended me several times, when they were drunk, but I
did tolerate that, what I could not tolerate is when they offended
the national flag, even despite I was in abroad and was representing
my country here, ” he said.

He said that this was not intended murder. ” I want to notice that
even 12 Hungarian experts couldn’t come to the single decision on
the issue,” he added.

He said that this case again showed that Azerbaijan people can unite
when in need.

“From the first moments of my incarceration all embassy staff
including the ambassador cared about me and were asking to improve
my conditions and satisfy my moral needs. This how the state cares
about its citizens. I am also grateful to my lawyer, Adil Ismayilov
who was supporting me actively, despite he couldn’t participate in
the process as my advocate, still his precious advices helped a lot
to my Hungarian defenders,” he concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE OFFICE TO HELP RENOVATE ARMENIAN POLICE TRAINING CENTRE

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

April 13 2006

YEREVAN, 13 April 2006 – The OSCE Office in Yerevan has signed an
agreement to help renovate all six buildings of the Armenian Police
Training Centre for non-commissioned officers.

Visiting the Centre today, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the
OSCE Office, said: “Non-commissioned police officers are the ones
who work closest with ordinary citizens, so improving their learning
environment and bringing the curriculum into line with international
standards will help enhance the relationship with the community.

Co-operation with the training Centre is part of the ongoing activities
of the Office to assist democratic reform of the Armenian Police”.

Ambassador Pryakhin visited the Centre together with Major-General
Ararat Mahtesyan, the First Deputy Head of the Armenian Police,
and Anthony Godfrey, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy
in Armenia.

The renovation is part of a police assistance programme, launched
by the OSCE Office in 2003. It includes the refurbishment of the
police training Centre, made possible with financial contributions
from the governments of Belgium, Sweden and the United States, the
development of a curriculum in line with international standards and
the introduction of a community-policing model in one of the police
districts of Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTER SLAMS ARMENIA OVER ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

The Azeri Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyn Baghirov
said on Friday that Armenia’s actions hurting the environment in the
occupied Azeri land once again prove the true gist of its hostile
policy against Azerbaijan.

This includes felling of trees and pollution of water basins and rivers
going through the occupied territories. The ongoing preparation of
documents in several languages concerning the issue will be completed
soon. The data will be made public both in and outside the country,
the minister told a news conference Friday. The trees are felled in
the preserve located in the Zangilan district as well as in other
Armenia-occupied territories, for their further exports to Italy,
France, Greece and Iran.

The timber is used for various purposes, including furniture production
and shipbuilding. A prompt response center is operating under the Azeri
ecology ministry to track down the dire impact on the environment and
natural resources in the occupied areas. It has prepared two reports
and a plan of action to address the problem. The center has plenty
of materials at its disposal proving Armenia’s destructive influence
on these territories.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI DIPLOMAT ACCUSES WESTERN GROUP OF ILLEGAL MILITARY TRAINING

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

Baku, April 12, AssA-Irada
The international Halo Trust organization is engaged in providing
military training and illegal mine clearance activities on occupied
Azerbaijani territory, an Azeri diplomat has said.

“Halo Trust, which is registered in the US and Great Britain, was set
up by retired officers and its members provide military training to
Garabagh Armenians,” the first secretary of the Azerbaijani embassy
to Belgium, Fuad Humbatov, said.

Humbatov said the organization has called Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity into question through its statements and activities.

The diplomat said Halo Trust was earlier driven out of Russia due to
its illegal activities, pledging that its operation in Upper Garabagh
would be suspended as well.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI OFFICER JAILED IN HUNGARY FOR BRUTAL KILLING OF ARMENIAN

Agence France Presse — English
April 13, 2006 Thursday 4:08 PM GMT

An Azerbaijani military officer who hacked to death an Armenian
lieutenant while attending a NATO-sponsored training course in Budapest
was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Judge Andras Vaskuti of the Budapest district court ruled that Ramil
Safarov, now 29 and an Azerbaijani army lieutenant, killed Armenian
Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian, 26, in a “premeditated, malicious and
an unusually cruel” way by nearly decapitating him with axe while
the victim was sleeping.

Safarov was also found guilty of planning the murder of another
Armenian, which he did not carry out.

“The crime was convicted in a malicious way because (Safarov) murdered
the victim solely because of his Armenian origin,” Vaskuti said,
as he detailed how Safarov had also stubbed out a lit cigarette on
the victim’s body after committing the crime.

Safarov will be eligible for parole in 30 years, according to the
ruling. Defence lawyers launched an appeal immediately after the
verdict was read out.

The brutal killing, which took place on February 19, 2004, inflamed
simmering ethnic tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, two former
Soviet republics which are fighting over control of the disputed
region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenia had attributed the murder to “anti-Armenian hysteria” fanned
by the Baku government, while Azerbaijani officials countered that
the killer was himself a refugee from the conflict with Armenia and
that the victim had taunted him over the conflict.

The two young officers had been studying on an English-language course
in the Hungarian capital as part of the NATO alliance’s Partnership
for Peace programme, of which both Armenia and Azerbaijan are members.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a six-year war over Karabakh that claimed
around 25,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

It ended in a tense ceasefire in 1994 with Armenian forces in control
of most of the enclave and seven surrounding regions, but Karabakh’s
status remains unresolved and tensions are still at boiling point.

Azeri authorities had said several of the defendant’s relatives were
killed and his family had to flee its home in the city of Jebrail when
it was taken by Armenian forces. They now live in squalid conditions
in a student dormitory in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku.

Since the end of military hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh, all ties
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, neighbours in the volatile Caucasus
region, have been severed. The border is now a heavily-militarised
front line peppered with land mines.

For almost a decade, Western powers have been leading fruitless
efforts to tease out a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict,
but summits including the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents have
not led to progress.

Most recently, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said in March that
talks over the disputed region, hosted by French President Jacques
Chirac earlier this year, were at a “dead end” and signaled that the
oil-rich state should prepare for war.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PACE URGES CE TO HELP AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, GEORGIA WITH REFUGEES
by Yuri Ulyanovsky

ITAR-TASS News Agency
April 13, 2006 Thursday 01:06 PM EST

Deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
believe that problems of refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia impede socio-economic and political development
of these countries. Besides humanitarian aid the international
community should also intensify assistance to them in fulfilling
development tasks, satisfying the local population needs so that to
give refugees hope for the future, the PACE believes. At the same time
the authorities of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan should maximally
use their internal potentials during periods when the volume of
international donations reduces.

The Assembly noted the appearance of a number of signs testifying to
the integration of refugees and displaced persons in the life of the
society of the three given republics and called on the authorities of
these countries to intensify policy in this sphere. In a resolution
adopted by the PACE deputies on Thursday they also urged member states
of the Council of Europe to render financial assistance to Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia in their efforts to settle the problems of refugees
and displaced persons, as well as to continue supplying humanitarian
aid and assist them in conflict settlement.

The Assembly’s resolution contains an appeal to intensify the
interregional dialogue by taking measures of confidence building and
organising regular consultations between the state agencies responsible
for the solution of refugee problems. The PACE believes that the
legislations of the corresponding countries should be reconsidered
in order to guarantee refugees and displaced persons equal rights
with the local population.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress