Author: Emil Lazarian

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

AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA WILL NOT PRESIDE AT GS OF TRACECA INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION
Today, Azerbaijan
April 4 2006
The reason of it was that the sides were against each-other during
election of the Secretary General.
APA was informed about it by the TRACECA national secretary in
Azerbaijan Akif Mustafayev.
Mr.Mustafayev said that the previous date of the 5th conference of the
TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission to be held in Sofia (Bulgaria)
was changed. This conference initially planned to be held early in
April was assigned on May 2.
The Azerbaijani delegation will leave for Sofia on April 29. The reason
why the conference’s date was changed was that in April, series of
official and holiday events would take place in Bulgaria which would
host the conference and preside over the organization next year.
According to Mr.Mustafayev, a meeting of the TRACECA national
secretaries will be held on May 1 and agenda of the conference will
be reviewed there for the last time.
“Reports will be given at the conference and we also plan to
deliver a speech there. Besides, execution of the decisions adopted
at the 4th conference will be reviewed. Approval of the TRACECA
development strategy to 2015, reformation of the organization into
an international organization, projects planned for 2006 will be
discussed and the general secretary and chairman will be elected”,
the national secretary stressed.
TRACECA is currently chaired by Azerbaijan. Next year the chairman
will be Bulgaria.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJANI ARMY OFFICER RAMIL SAFAROV’S TRIAL TO START AT 16.30 BY BAKU TIME TODAY
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 4 2006
The trial of Azerbaijani Army officer Ramil Safarov, who is indicted
for murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, will be held in
Budapest, Hungary, at 13.30 by local time (16.30 by Baku time).
Lawyer Adil Ismayilov, who represents Safarov’s family, told APA that
the parties will address the trial. Ramil Safarov will also address
the court with his last statement. “I met Ramil Safarov yesterday,
he is ready to address the court,” Ismayilov said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CEASEFIRE BREACHES KILL ONE, INJURE ANOTHER
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 4 2006
Baku, April 3, AssA-Irada
The ceasefire breaches on the frontline by Armenia have intensified
over the past day.
An Azerbaijani soldier was killed and another heavily wounded during
a ceasefire violation in the partially-occupied Fuzuli District on
Sunday evening.
In another attack, the Armenian troops, from their positions in the
northwestern Gazakh District, subjected the Azeri positions on the
opposite to sustained machine and sub-machine gunfire, according to
the accounts of local residents.
Some of the bullets shot by Armenians hit a residential house in the
Alkhanli village of Fuzuli.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

US OFFICIAL DENIES PRO-ARMENIA BIAS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 4 2006
Baku, April 3, AssA-Irada
The allocation of more financial assistance to Armenia than Azerbaijan
does not imply that the United States favors this country on the issue
of settling the long-standing Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict,
said the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza visiting Baku.
Washington backs Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and solving the
dispute on the basis of the United Nations resolutions, said Bryza.
“The UN Security Council resolutions represent worldwide laws and we
support them. We are interested in the continuation of peace talks.
The key issue here is for the sides to reach agreement that would
benefit both of them,” the American official added.
Commenting on the operation of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh
republic’s office in the U.S., Bryza said this is in line with American
laws. He said American laws do not ban the opening of any entity’s
representation in his country despite certain restrictions.
“We allow any given organization to operate in the United States and
forbid this only if it runs counter to our laws. There is nothing
illegal about the activity of an organization from the Garabagh region
in the U.S. We see nothing illegal in the activity of the Cyprus Turks’
community there either. But personally, I have not held any officially
meetings with the Upper Garabagh representatives.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS OPENS IN FRENCH CITY OF GAP
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
PARIS, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Edvard Nalbandian,
the Ambassador of Armenia to France, and the President of the Council
General of the state of Alpes opened an Armenian tufa-built khachkar
(cross stone) dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims, on the central square of the city of Gap on April 2. In his
speech Ambassador Nalbandian emphasized the necessity of constantly
remembering and condemning the crime conducted against the mankind. “A
man lost his memory has no future. A people lost its memory has
no history. And the mankind without memory will lose its mankind
face,” the Ambassador of Armenia mentioned. The event was followed
by a solemn reception at the Mayor’s Office, during which memory
medal of the honorary citizen of the city of Gap was given to the
Ambassador of Armenia. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, deputies, senators,
heads of local self-government bodies, statesmen and politicians,
hundreds of representatives of the Armenian community arrived from
neighboring regions were present at the ceremony. There are about 5
dozens of monuments dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims in the territory of France which, together with adoption of
the law concerning recognition of the Genocide, are accepted both as
recognition and condemnation of the Genocide by the people of France
and as display of solidarity towards the Armenian people.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA’S INVESTMENT IN ARMENIA ANNOUNCED
RosBusinessConsulting Database
April 4, 2006 Tuesday 2:12 am, EST
Russia invested $67.57m in Armenia in 2005, $51.48m of which was
direct investment. According to data Armenia’s National Statistics
Service has provided the ARKA news agency, this accounts for 16.88
percent of Armenia’s total foreign investment, and for 2.11 percent
of its direct investment.
Some 75.26 percent ($50.85m) of Russia’s investment went to the
metallurgy sector, $10.03m was invested in construction, and $13.22m
in wholesale and agency trade.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUNGARIAN COURT TO ISSUE VERDICT APRIL 13 ON AZERBAIJANI CHARGED WITH KILLING ARMENIAN
Palma Benczenleitner
AP Worldstream
Apr 04, 2006
A verdict will be issued April 13 in the case of an Azerbaijani officer
accused of murdering an Armenian classmate at a NATO training course
in Hungary, a court said Tuesday.
Lt. Ramil Safarov of Azerbaijan has confessed to using an ax in
February 2004 to hack Lt. Gurgen Markarian of Armenia to death,
authorities said, in a dormitory that was being used by participants
of a NATO Partnership for Peace English language course in Budapest.
At the time, police said the murder was committed with “unusual
cruelty” and that Safarov had tried, unsuccessfully, to enter the
room of another Armenian with the intention of killing him.
Police said that Safarov confessed to the killing, claiming that the
long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia was at the root
of his act.
The two neighboring, former Soviet republics remain at odds over
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave within
Azerbaijan.
At Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors asked that Safarov be sentenced to
life in prison, with a 30-year minimum before any parole hearings.
The Budapest City Court rejected a defense request for a new expert
opinion to determine Safarov’s mental health. Four earlier examinations
already declared him mentally stable and accountable for his actions.
“(Safarov’s) actions were not guided by hatred, but by the trauma
which remains,” said his lawyer Gyorgy Magyar, referring to the feud
between the two countries.
The court said Safarov would make his final statement on April 13,
the day of his sentencing.
Armenian-backed forces drove Azerbaijan’s army out of the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s.
A 1994 cease-fire ended the six-year war that killed 30,000 people
and left about 1 million homeless and the enclave is now under the
control of ethnic Armenians.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress