Author: Emil Lazarian

OTE SEEKS BUYER OF ITS ARMENTEL SHARES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The OTE company (Greece) announced
that following the negotiations with the Armenian government, it is
looking for a buyer to purchase 90% of its shares in the ArmenTel
company. According to the AFX news agency, it is not for the first
time that OTE is trying to leave Armenia where it previously has
serious problems. It was also noted that HSBC Holding has assumed
the role of OTE’s financial advisor. According to some information,
a number of large Russian companies have expressed an intention to
acquire ArmenTel’s shares and thus enter the Armenian telecommunication
market. To recap, in 1997 OTE acquired 90% of the shares of ArmenTEl
that previously had a monopoly in Armenia’s telecommunication
sector. The remaining 10% of shares are the Armenian government’s
property.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN GAS TO GET INTO ARMENIA TILL END OF THE YEAR

Regnum, Russia
April 5 2006

“Iranian gas will begin to get into Armenia till the end of the current
year,” Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gegam Garibjanyan
is quoted as saying by a REGNUM correspondent at opening ceremony of
“Iran. Armenian Look” International Scientific-Practical Conference
at Russian-Armenian (Slavic) State University in Yerevan.

According to him, several agreements, including one on construction
of Iran-Armenia pipeline, signed during visit of Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan to Iran in December 2005, are priorities for the
republic. Also, Gegam Garibjanyan mentioned similarity of approaches
of Armenia and Iran to problems, which appears with neighboring
countries. “Despite nearly 10-year-long war with Iraq, Iran carries
out diplomatic policy with the country, not using experience of
military solution of problems,” stressed the deputy head of the
Armenian foreign ministry.

According to Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Iran
to Armenia Ali-Reza Hagigian, Iran emphasizes its relations with
Armenia in context of regional peace and economic development. In
its turn, Rector of the Armenian Slavic University Armen Darbinyan
mentioned importance of the opened conference, adding Armenia would
not forget Iranian humanitarian aid rendered during difficult years
of the economic blockade. Armenian scientists and analysts presented
their reports at the conference.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAHMUD MAMMADGULIYEV: “WE WILL TRY TO RETAIN BOUND TARIFFS ON STRATEGIC GOODS IN CURRENT FORM DURING ADMISSION TO WTO”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 5 2006

Azerbaijan’s admission tot eh World Trade Organization (WTO) depends
on negotiations conducted by the republic and all talks held in this
direction are progress. Journalists were given this explanation
by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, head of the delegation
representing Azerbaijan in WTO Mahmud Mammadguliyev (APA).

Mr.Mammadguliyev said that nest talks on admission to WTO may be held
in Geneva city of Switzerland at the end of this year.

Mr.Mammadguliyev speaking about the last meeting of the Working Group
held from March 27 to April 1 said that negotiations were held in
three directions – bilateral, multilateral on agricultural issues,
and on preparation to the next meeting of the Working Group: “The
requirements set for Azerbaijan during negotiations were related mainly
to improvement of the legislation in the fields of standardization,
customs, taxes and trade. Our partners are concerned about lack of
progress in this question. We have a plan to solve these problems
at least within two years. Besides, we must make some concessions
and maybe, we will do it. These concessions may be advantageous for
Azerbaijan, too. The main question is the status which Azerbaijan will
be granted when being admitted to the Organization”. According to the
Deputy Minister, the Azerbaijani party is interested in admission to
WTO as a developing country. So, 10% concessions are provided for
the WTO member-countries with this status in internal bounties in
the agricultural field: “Malaysia supported Azerbaijan’s admission
with this status, other partners – both the USA and European Union
countries fell into silence. Most likely, with silence they expressed
their consent”.

The head of the delegation said that negotiations are currently held
with the USA, European Union countries, Canada, Turkey and Japan,
and Norway is expected to join these talks.

It should be noted that one of the requirements set by WTO for
Azerbaijan was reduction of bound tariffs. After admission to the
Organization, maximal level of bound tariffs will be determined.

There two types of bound tariffs in Azerbaijan – applied level
and determined maximal level. The maximal level is not used in
Azerbaijan. When a danger for the market emerges, this opportunity
is used. Very liberal bound tariffs (not exceeding 15%) are applied
in Azerbaijan. In the current proposals, the partners claim that
existing bound tariffs are high and want their reduction. “We will try
to retain bound tariffs on strategic goods, and some agricultural and
industrial sectors in the current form”, – Mr.Mammadguliyev stressed.

Regarding Armenia’s influence on Azerbaijan’s admission to WTO,
the Deputy Minister added that Armenia assumed a WTO commitment
not to impede Azerbaijan’s membership in the Organization. Besides,
Mr.Mammadguliyev commenting Armenia’s situation in the Organization
said that Armenia does not agree to the opportunities gained in WTO:
“They want to have more opportunities, what is inconsistent with the
WTO’s principles and that is why, this problem is not solved in a
positive way. Azerbaijan does not hold any negotiations with Armenia
at preparatory meetings and no talks are possible with that country”.

THE AZERI EDGE: WITH OIL, QUESTIONABLE ELECTIONS, AND A RISING ISLAMIC PRESENCE, AZERBAIJAN MAY BE AT CROSSROADS
by Peter Church
04/05/2006 12:00:00 AM

The Weekly Standard
April 5 2006

IN NOVEMBER 2005, Azerbaijan held parliamentary elections. Voter
participation was down 20 percent from the 2000 elections, and
President Ilham Aliev’s party won overwhelmingly in what was regarded
by international observers as a questionable, if not fraudulent,
election. The small but increasingly visible Islamic Party of
Azerbaijan was again barred from running, as in past elections. The
opposition bloc lost again, as it has in every election over the past
12 years.

Dodgy elections in an impoverished, oil-rich, quasi-dictatorial
former-Soviet republic isn’t exactly big news. But seen against a
backdrop of the recently opened BTC oil pipeline, an almost 20 year
conflict with neighboring Armenia, an antagonistic southern neighbor
in Iran, an unsettled dispute to the north in Chechnya, and a rising
Islamic revival, Azerbaijan is actually standing in the middle of
some powerful geopolitical tectonic plates. The West would do well
to pay more attention to the goings on there.

I ARRIVED IN AZERBAIJAN at the end of last November, just in
time to take measure of post-election claims of fraud, opposition
demonstrations, and the mounting frustration with the political system
that is fueling an Islamic revival. I was surprised when the customs
agent in Baku asked me if I was a terrorist. I’d arrived from Kabul
wearing a beard and learned later that Azeris often refer to Salafis
as sakkaliar, or “bearded people.” As an ultra-strict sect of Sunni
Islam, Salafism in Azerbaijan is on the rise.

After 70 years of Soviet rule, when religious practice was driven
underground, Islam

is experiencing a revival in Azerbaijan. Almost 94 percent of
Azerbaijan’s 8 million inhabitants are culturally Muslim, with about
70 percent of those being Shia. If religious practice waned under
Soviet-enforced secularization, today, according to a 2004 survey
sponsored by the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy, almost 97
percent of Azeri Muslims call themselves “believers.” Nearly a quarter
of Azeris support governance by sharia (with higher proportions
reported along the borders in the north and south) and nearly 30
percent apply Islamic codes to their family lives.

Even in Baku, where secularization imposed by Soviet fiat has been
replaced by the secularizing effect of attracting foreign investment,
Salafis are gaining in-roads. Amidst the city’s new five-star hotels,
downtown shops displaying designer Italian suits, bars catering to the
oil men, and the $40-a-night girls, the Salafis count up to 20,000
adherents. Mosques in Baku typically attract about 300 worshipers
for Friday prayers. But Abu Bakr Mosque, the town’s Salafi mosque,
attracts some 5,000 worshipers.

THIS RISE OF A VISIBLE SALAFI PRESENCE in Azeri society are
complicated, but they are explained in part by a combination of
geographical and historical forces. And it has been pushed along
by the fighting between Azeris and Armenians that erupted over the
disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region when the Soviet empire began to
buckle in 1987, along with the persistent conflict in Chechnya.

(The fact that Nagorno-Karabakh was home to a concentration of
Armenians in Azeri territory is the vestige of the 1828 Treaty of
Turkmenchay between Iran and Russia, which historically, along with
Turkey, have had the greatest influence over Azeri fortunes.

Azerbaijan’s first attempt at independence was short-lived, lasting two
years between the 1917 collapse of czarist Russia and the invasion
of the Red Army in 1920. Also a result of the 1828 treaty, today
some 16 million Azeris live in northern Iran–almost a quarter of
Iran’s population.)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE DOES NOT COMMENT ON POSSIBILITY OF GREEK OTE SELLING ARMENTEL

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.04.2006 02:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Ministry of Justice does not comment
on the reports that OTE Greek company considers the possibilities of
selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds, Spokesperson of the Armenian
Ministry of Justice Ara Saghatelyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Today media reported that OTE Greek telecommunication group considers
the possibilities of selling 90% shares of ArmenTel it holds. “After
consultations with the Armenian Government the OTE announced that it
has began consideration of opportunities for selling 90% shares of
ArmenTel it holds,” the OTE release says.

HSBC Bank is the consultant in the deal, the group added. The OTE
bought 90% of shares of ArmenTel Armenian company in the end of 1997,
also acquiring monopoly for telecommunication services for 15 years.

Meanwhile, hearsay that spread in Armenia lately said Megafon Russian
company may buy ArmenTel.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN DIPLOMAT: EUROPE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE TOO DEPENDENT

17:56 04/04/2006

Perspectives of the Iranian nuclear problem, place and role of Iran
in regional and international security, as well as influence of power
centers on events around Iran, became discussion issues between Deputy
Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Ali Akbar Jouhar and several Armenian
experts at Noravank Scientific-Educational Center.

As a REGNUM correspondent informs, the Iranian diplomat rather fully
presented matter and process of Iranian nuclear problems’ development,
unambiguously stating that from the very beginning and till present,
Iran has been openly cooperating with IAEA experts.

“They visited all the facilities they wanted, and stressed in
all their reports, Iran did not change peaceful character of
its nuclear program,” mentioned Jouhar. “When we realized, the
international community just ignores our interests – was Iranian
‘nuclear dossier’ worth to be considered by UN Security Council? –
we decided to continue our research under IAEA auspices,” said the
Iranian diplomat. Ali Akbar Jouhar counted those main arguments,
used by certain countries against Iran and its nuclear program:
“The USA maintain, that a state, which has big reserves of energy
carriers, does not need nuclear power engineering.

Second, they doubt of our intentions, reasoning from fact, we have not
timely presented our report for IAEA. Third, Americans speak about
possibility of developing by Iran its nuclear weapon as time goes
by.” “All these arguments do not stand up to criticism – how may a
developing state does not need science and development of new energy
possibilities? Second, today, number of states is not IAEA member
at all; the fact did not prevent them to develop both atomic science
and finally their own nuclear weapon. At the same time, in contrast
to Iran, they did not develop atomic science by themselves, using
their own potential, but they received everything ‘in boxes’. Now,
Israel possesses more then 200 nuclear-tipped warheads, not being
IAEA member,” he stressed.

According to the deputy ambassador of Iran to Armenia, aim of Iran’s
opponents in the question is to hamper Iran’s development, and
weakening of this key country of region. “At present, there are four
main points in Euro-Asian continent – Central Asia, Caucasus, Persian
Gulf – Iraq, and Middle East.” “Iran always played stabilizing role in
region, and without powerful and stable Iran crisis’s in Afghanistan
and Iraq, unstable situation in Caucasus and Central Asia would have
spread to the whole region, and have destabilized international
situation on the whole”, believes the Iranian diplomat. “Iran was
victim of Hussein regime, although it disputed American military
invasion; it was victim of Taliban regime and al Qaeda, established
with active participation of USA. “How has it turned out, Iran is
now considered in Western policy as terrorist state?” asked Ali
Akbar Jouhar himself. According to him, tasks of geopolitical scale
are pursued by such position of Western states, including ones of
hampering international positions and influence of China and Russia.

“We enabled Europe to solve the problem, fully cooperating with us,
but Europe turned out to be too dependent and uncoordinated. Now,
those countries, which somehow relied on Europe, may really evaluate
its weight and abilities,” he stated. Mentioning Russian position,
Ali Akbar Jouhar stressed, Iranian side expected somewhat more from
Moscow, while UN Security Council was resolving. “Of course, Russia
and China played positive role in the process, some work was done by
them, and resolution became different one, comparing with USA initial
draft. But we expected more”, he stated.

Mentioning perspectives of establishing of joint consortium with
Russian side to enrich uranium, Jouhar informed, talks on the problem
continue. “President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated at UNO, Iranian
side is ready to found international consortium in its territory with
participation of western companies,” he reminded.

“Iran and Russia have to evaluate and realize themselves their role and
interests in international scene, as well as that positive role, played
by Iran to secure stability and security in region,” he stated. “Now,
our relations with Russia and China develop in positive direction,
and these both countries insist on solution of Iranian nuclear problem
in the framework of IAEA,” reminded the Iranian diplomat.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO GENOCIDE HELD IN UN WITH EFFORTS OF AMBASSADORS OF ARMENIA AND RWANDA AND ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006

PRAGUE, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The conference on
the theme “Genocide: Yesterday and Today: With What Lessons We Enter
21th Century” organized at the UN with efforts of the Ambassadors of
Armenia and Rwanda and the Armenian General Benevolent Union finished
late the last week. “It must still be estimated as a regular discussion
held at the UN, this wasn’t held under the UN patronage. The UN gave
only the hall, though UN secretary general Kofi Annan’s assistant
for policy participated in the discussions as well,” Professor Vahakn
Dadrian, the Director of the Genocides Researches Center of the Zoryan
Institute, presented the Armenian veiwpoints at the discussions said
to Radio Liberty. Responding the question what a goal the UN has,
giving place to such discussions, Vahakn Dadrian said that the UN is
not a scientific center, but is a political body, so the main goal
is prevention of future genocides. “The goal is to study the first
and last genocides of the 20th century, to take lessons of them to
prevent future genocides,” Vahakn Dadrian mentioned. Radio Liberty
also informs that among a number of historians and researchers of
genocides, Professor Dadrian arrived in Prague to participate in the
conference concerning the Armenian Genocide organized in the Senate
of Czechia on April 4.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROSECUTOR ASKED THE COURT 30 YEAR OF IMPRISONMENT FOR AZERBAIJANI ARMY OFFICER RAMIL SAFAROV

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 4 2006

Today in Budapest Court process of Azerbaijani Army Officer Ramil
Safarov’s trial, who was accused in killing Armenian officer Gurgen
Margarian, was continued. Belgium-Azerbaijan House leader Bulent
Gurjam attending the Budapest Court process has informed APA.

The sides addressed the Court, the prosecutor said that all the claims
in the Criminal Case have been confirmed. According to him, Ramil
Safarov was conscious while committing the crime. He asked the Court
for Ramil Safarov to be imprisoned for 30 years imprisonment. A break
was announced then. After the break defendant addressed the meeting,
Ramil Safarov addressed the Court with his last statement.

It should be noted that the process launched at 16.30 by the local time
(by Baku time).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN’S AND TURKEY’S PRESIDENTS DISCUSSED NG ISSUE

Azerbaijan Press Agency
April 4 2006

President of Turkey Ahmad Nejdat Sezar, who is visiting Azerbaijan,
met in private with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev today (APA).

After that, meeting of the large delegations of the two countries
were held.

Addressing the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev said the two brotherly
countries are cooperating in all spheres, and the political dialogue is
in high level. Commercial, economical and cultural relations between
the two countries are also expanding.

Mr. Nejdat Sezar said that the volume of the trade turnover between
the two countries was $550 million in 2004 and $795 million last
year. The trade turnover will be reached to $1 billion this year. The
Turkish President also said that Turkish businessmen have invested
$4.5 billion in Azerbaijan. Oil sector shares $2.5 billion if this
investments. Mr.Nejdat Sezar expressed interest in deepening the
cooperation in energy sphere and added that TPAO plans to implement
new projects in this field.

The two Presidents gave a briefing later on. The Azerbaijani President
said he attaches great importance to Turkish President’s visit to our
country. Stressing that there exists the highest level of relations
between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Mr. Aliyev noted that future prospects
were discussed in today’s meeting.

“At the same time, we talked about the international relations and
regional cooperation. Both countries are carrying out great energy
projects that are important for the world. The new energy corridors
will represent new opportunities,” the Azerbaijani President stressed.

Aliyev also noted that in today’s meeting, they discussed
Gars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway project. “Our views do not differ
regarding this issue,” he said.

Aliyev also said that he and Nejdat Sezar exchanged views on the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict. Aliyev emphasized that Turkey is always
with Azerbaijan, and added the brotherly country supports Azerbaijan
regarding this issue.

“Azerbaijan’s stance remains unchanged. This conflict can be solved
only within the international law norms and through protection of
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,” the Azerbaijani President
underscored.

The Turkish President expressed his delight in visiting Azerbaijan.

He said that he discussed all the issues of mutual interest with
Ilham Aliyev.

“We considered it expedient to deepen relations between the two
countries. Turkey supports all steps taken by Azerbaijan on the way
of economic development,” Nejdat Sezar emphasized.

He also noted that he and Aliyev discussed the issue of settling the
Nagorno Garabagh conflict and stressed that Turkey supports Azerbaijan
in solving this problem.

Nejdat Sezar highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s support for the Turkish
Republic of North Cyprus.

“The cooperation relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan can be a
model for all countries in the region,” he underlined.

The Turkish President also said that he invited President Aliyev to
the opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline scheduled
for May.

RA FM TO DISCUSS NK CONFLICT SETTLEMENT IN THE COURSE OF HIS VISIT TO MOSCOW

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 4 2006

“The most important issue of the forthcoming talks’ agenda will
be the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement”, stated an official
representative of the RF MFA Mikhail Kamynin in an interview with
RIA Novosti speaking about RA FM Vardan Oskanyan’s visit to Moscow
scheduled for April 5 – 7.

According to Mikhail Kamynin, Russia is “for continuation of the
Armenian-Azeri dialogue at various levels, first of all between
the two countries’ Presidents”. “We proceed from the fact that the
conflict’s participants should find a mutually acceptable solution”,
stated the official representative of the RF MFA.

In Mikhail Kamynin’s words, the issues of coordinating the two
countries’ MFAs efforts on improvement of the situation in Caucasus,
settlement of the conflicts, establishment of atmosphere of trust
are in the focus of the forthcoming Armenian-Russian talks’ attention.

To note, the Armenian Foreign Minister’s working visit will be held
within the frames of the Year of Armenia in Russia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress