Author: Emil Lazarian

AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
March 23 2006
New EU envoy to tackle ‘frozen conflicts’

The newly-appointed European Union envoy on the South Caucasus will
assume new credentials to address conflicts in the region.
Peter Semneby said the organization is interested in a closer
involvement in the resolution of “frozen conflicts” and his mandate
has been expanded with regard to such issues. “I will be closely
following all aspects of the disputes and further prepare
recommendations for the EU leadership,” he told a news conference in
Baku on Friday.
Semneby said the recommendations will outline EU’s further steps and
the organization’s support may involve peacekeeping missions and
rehabilitation of territories. The EU envoy continued that another
change in his mandate will envision transferring the headquarters of
the EU representative from Finland, where the office of his
predecessor, Heikki Talvitie, was located, to Brussels. The measure
will help coordinate the activity of various European organizations,
Semneby said. The Swedish diplomat underscored the EU’s increasing
interest in the region. He reminded that the two S Caucasus states
[Azerbaijan and Georgia] are seeking EU membership, while Turkey,
which is already in talks on the matter, borders on all the three
regional states. Semneby said another reason for EU’s growing
interest is the three countries’ participation in the New
Neighborhood Policy. Talks are underway on preparing relevant Action
Plans in order to ensure these countries’ compliance with European
standards. The upcoming approval of these documents will boost ties
between the EU and regional countries, he added. ‘Chances for peace
accord’ The European Union envoy cited chances for an
Armenia-Azerbaijan accord on Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh this year,
despite the latest unsuccessful round of presidential talks, which
was followed by Azerbaijan’s threats to resort to military action. “I
still hope there are ways of finding a solution to the conflict in
2006. War would not favor any of the sides and no one can be
interested in the resumption of hostilities,” Semneby said. He said,
however, that meeting the “maximum demands” put forth by the
conflicting sides is impossible, which necessitates adjustments in
their positions in order to strike a deal. Semneby said the European
Union is ready to send peacekeepers to the conflict zone, but
Azerbaijan and Armenia should reach an accord first. “The EU may
carry out a peacekeeping mission both independently and in coalition
with other international organizations. But without an agreement, our
views on the issue could be only hypothetical.” The envoy said that
the EU has no intention to meddle in the authority of the mediating
OSCE Minsk Group.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 23 2006
Outlooks For Armenian-Russian Relations
Tbilisi. March 23 (Prime-News) – Present Russian-Armenian relations
were the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Armenian
politicians in the National Media Press Club in Yerevan, Noyan Tapan
says.
The key differences in the Armenian-Russian relations were crave of
Armenia for democracy and intention of the government of Russia to
maintain authoritarian rules in the post soviet countries, Shavarsh
Kocharian, Chairman of the National Democratic Party of Armenia said.
According to him, the Russian party is dissatisfied with the decision
of Armenia to be affiliated to the European Union and is looking for
the controllable puppet regime, similar to one in Byelorussia.
Shavarsh Kocharian says that emotions prevail in majority of social,
as well as political issues in the Armenian-Russian relations.
For example, by 1993, during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Russia
sent Azerbaijan 2 more tanks, 2,5 more armored vehicles, 1,5 more
100-plus gauge artillery, 2 more assault helicopters than usual and
53 jet fighters, while Armenia was sent nothing.
Besides, there were no Russian servicemen fighting on the Armenian
side during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, while the Russian troops
were taking part in the Azerbaijani military operations, Shavarsh
Kocharian claimed.
According to him, suggestion that Armenia was the key military
partner for Russia in the region was a fraud; the radio substation in
Gabalin (Azerbaijan) was several ten times important than the Russian
military bases deployed in Armenia or Georgia.
However, Arman Manukian, member of the managerial group of the
all-national movement of Armenia stressed positive contribution of
the Russian party in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
He spoke about that time political and diplomatic support by Russia
and present lack in the conflict resolution.
`Our strategic partners or member-states of the international
organizations that were doing nothing or were supporting us during
the hostilities, now accuse us of aggression and occupational war.
But it is all because of the present government of Armenia’, Arman
Manukian said.
Moreover, he assured that there were no future prospects for better
relation with Russia.
According to him, growing Russian influence on all branches in
Armenia was a result of `inefficiency and loyalty’ of the Armenian
government.
`Age-old armament it to be transferred from Georgia to Armenia, and
the latter is not even asked its opinion’, Arman Manukian said.
On the other hand Ovanes Ovsanian, Chairman of the Liberal
Progressive party said that the Armenian-Russian relations have not
been developing normally for quite a long time.
`It is evident that the strong Armenian-Russian strategic partnership
was a formality and Russia gloriously continues traditions of the
USSR’, he said.
In particular he expressed his anxiety about the fact that Russian
possesses 80% of energy units in Armenia that surprises even the
Russian politicians; `no country may give up its sovereignty’, they
say.
Arman Karapetian, Chairman of the New Party claimed that the next
government of Armenia will be more close to Russia with regard to
energy, transit routes via Georgia and inflow of the Russian
investments.
Kiro Manoian, Chairman of the Political Committee said that there
were certain positive changes in the Russian-Armenian relations with
regard to defense and energy, however `Russia reminds of old style of
relations and it is unacceptable’.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger, Georgia
March 23 2006
Azeri military budget aspires to reach Armenian state budget
By M. Alkhazashvili
The second convention of Azeri People was held in Baku on March 16.
The convention, which drew Azeris from all over the world, included a
speech by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev, who described an
expanding Azeri military force amid a USD 600 million military budget
for 2006.
“I set as a goal to equalize the Azeri military budget with the whole
Armenian state budget in the near future. Armenia will never be able
to compete with us. Earlier the Armenian leaders consider the fact it
will be better for them,” said President Aliev the news agency Regnum
reports.
The President also spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, blaming
Armenia for the lack of progress over the past 12 years of
negotiations. Azerbaijan is ready for progress, the President stated,
but if Armenia appears to be treating the negotiations as a mere
simulation, then Baku will walk away.
If a new phase of this arms race develops, then Armenia could have
difficulty keeping up. Starting April 10, the price of natural gas
will rise 52.5 percent for the Armenian population and 85.2 percent
for Armenian enterprises.
This spike in prices followed a near doubling of natural gas prices
from Russia, which raised the cost of 1,000 cubic meters from USD 65
to USD 110.
Although Russia and Armenia are still negotiating the price of the
natural gas tariff, a final agreement is expected by March 28-29. The
Armenian side hopes for an USD 80 reduction of the tariff, Regnum
reports.
In a letter to President Putin of Russia and reprinted by Regnum,
Manuk Gasparian of the Armenian National Council explained that
“increasing natural gas price is the political decision,” since it
remains unchanged for Belarus, but is being doubled for the Russian
ally Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006
LEADER OF CANADIAN DIOCESE OF ARMENIAN CHURCH MEETS WITH CANADIAN
PREMIER
YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. Leader of the Canadian diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church Bagrat Galstanyan met with Canadian Premier
Steven Harper on Tuesday, the Press Service of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, Saint Echmiadzin reported. During the meeting Galstanyan
congratulated Harper on the appointment to this post, and thanked him
for the support given during the discussions of Armenians related
issues and, particularly, the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
The bishop stated that he learnt about the political programs of the
Conservative party on a number of social issues with satisfaction,
and expressed readiness to contribute to the development of
inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue in Canada.
Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan handed the written message of the Leader of
the Armenian Apostolic Church Garegin II to the Premier, which
expresses gratitude for the position taken by Harper in terms of the
approval of the bill M-380 on recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Garegin II expressed hope that the relations between the two
countries will become stronger while Harper holds his office.
On April 21, the House of Commons approved the bill M-380 that
recognizes the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and denounces this crime
against humanity. R.O. –0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006
`GASPROM’ EXPRESSES WILLINGNESS TO DISCUSS TERMS OF SIGNING OF THE
NEW AGREEMENT WITH ARMENIA
YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. `Gasprom’ Russian Holding expressed
willingness to discuss terms of signing of the new agreement with
Armenia, according to the RA Minister of Defense and Secretary of the
Council of National Security of Armenia Serge Sargsyan.
`By the commission of the RA President after discussing with the
Prime Minister at the beginning of March I sent a letter to the head
of `Gasprom’ Aleksey Miller with a certain offer and on Friday we
received an answer from him’, he stated.
In his words, as appears from their answer `Gasprom’ is ready to sign
corresponding agreements till the end of the month, which will enable
the population and producers to pay less for the gas then it had been
envisaged.
`I can’t tell how much exactly but I think that rise in price will
affect budgets of the population and producers’, Sargsyan emphasized.
`Gasprom’ Russian holding intends to raise the price for gas imported
to Armenia from $56 to $110 from April 1, 2006. S.P.–0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Athens News Agency, Greece
March 22 2006
Stylianidis to visit Armenia
Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Styliandis will be carrying out a
three-day visit to Armenia beginning on March 28 in order to enhance
bilateral economic and political ties and boost Greece’s
developmental presence in the country, the foreign ministry announced
on Wednesday, following a meeting between Stylianidis and Armenia’s
Ambassador in Athens Vahram Kahzoyan.
The minister’s visit to Erevan follows up a visit by Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan to Athens last November.
“There is an order and commitment from Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis that I will convey during my visit, that Armenia takes
priority in Greece’s developmental policy and that there is a desire
to boost bilateral economic ties,” Styliandis said, noting that this
desire would “sealed” with the first Mixed Ministerial Committee that
will take place after four years.
The minister will be accompanied on the trip by members of the
Armenian community in Greece.
The Armenian side, meanwhile, has prepared a list of priority
projects for funding by Hellenic Aid, which Greece will assess based
on the possibility of providing funding, to what extent they interest
Greece and their added value to Greece’s developmental presence in
the area.
Both Greece and Armenia are member-states of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation pact, while Greece is the only BSEC member that is also a
member of the EU and would like to activate action mechanisms and
initiatives for rapprochement between Black Sea countries and the EU.
ANA-MPA Copyright © 2004-2005 All rights reserved.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse — English
March 23, 2006 Thursday 3:38 AM GMT
102 mined areas in east Armenia: UN
YEREVAN, March 23 2006
Some 102 mine fields dot Armenia’s eastern regions near the border
with Azerbaijan, endangering local inhabitants, UN officials said
after examining the area.
The landmine-littered areas, which had already killed over 160 people
and injured over 230 more, contaminate some 320 square kilometers and
have a negative impact on the lives of over 69,000 locals, the UN
de-mining project’s press release said.
“We are now seeking international donors for de-mining all over the
country. It is an expensive program, it takes seven dollars to
de-mine one square meter. If we get the required means, the program
may be complete in five years,” the project’s spokeswoman Anush
Arutyunyan said.
The landmines in south Armenia had been installed as part of defenses
during a military conflict over Azerbaijan’s mostly-Armenian enclave
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The two sides fought a war in the early 1990s over the territory,
leaving some 30,000 people dead and forcing about a million people to
flee their homes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan News Service
March 23 2006
`ARMENIA WAITS FOR AZERBAIJAN’S NEXT STEP’ V.OSKANYAN 2006-03-23
19:16
Armenia waits for Azerbaijan’s next step. According to the
information given from Armenians’ Regnum agency, Vardan Oskanyan,
foreign minister of Armenia, spoke about it. He stated that official
Iravan did more for solving Daqliq Qarabaq conflict in peace. Now
it’s Azerbaijan’s turn. Oskanyan also touched OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs’ meeting, held in Istanbul. He stated that there were two
variants at present. Either the co-chairs will visit the region or
they will organize the two countries’ next meeting. And Andranik
Markaryan, the prime minister of Armenia, considers that it’s no use
to any country to start the second Qarabaq war. The prime minister
stated that recognition of fictitious Qarabaq regime as an
independent republic depends on the continuation of the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Tahir Tagizade, the head of the Foreign Ministry
information office, thinks the interpretations useless for such
declarations. Nevertheless, Mr. Tagizade stated that Azerbaijan did
the best to solve the conflict in peace. And even neglecting
Armenia’s breaking ceasefire; Azerbaijan is faithful to peace
negotiations. So Tahir Tagizade considers Azerbaijan’s this action as
the best step in the process. Meanwhile, touching to Istanbul
meeting, Mr. Tagizade says that co-chairs will announce the details
of negotiations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TO PAY WORKING VISITS TO U.S., RUSSIA AND SYRIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian will be in the U.S. on a working visit on March
26-31. On March 27, Minister Oskanian with U.S. Secretary of State
Condolezza Rice will take part in the ceremony of signing an agreement
between the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Armenia. A meeting
with OSCE Minsk Group American Co-chairman Steven Mann is to take
place the same day. On March 28, V.Oskanian will have a press
conference at Washington National Press Club. On March 27, Oskanian
will make a speech at a conference dedicated to Armenian issues
organized with joint efforts of the Armenian Assembly of America,
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and the Eastern Diocese of
the Armenian Church, as well as will have meetings with
representatives of the American Armenian community this and the
previous day. On March 29, Minister Oskanian will leave for New York.
On March 30, he will have meetings with UNDP Coordinator Kemal
Dervish, as well as General Assembly Chairman Jan Eliasson. On March
31, V.Oskanian is to meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The
same day Minister Oskanian will make a speech under the title
“Building of Statehood in the Caucasus” at Columbia University. As
Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Departmemt, on April 6-7, Vartan Oskanian is to pay a
working visit to Moscow where he will have meetings with RF Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov and RF Security Council Secretary Igor
Ivanov. On April 7-9, Minister Oskanian will be in Syria on a working
visit where he will meet with President Bashar Asad and Foreign
Minister Valid Muallim. On April 9, Minister Oskanian will take part
in the festivities of the 100th anniversary of foundation of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union and 75th anniversary of foundation
of the Armenian Youth Association, as well as ceremony of opening of
the Gyulbenkian Center in Aleppo.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPRESENTATIVES OF POLITICAL FORCES ARE OF SAME OPINION THAT PROBLEM
OF MOVING ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS ON RIGHT WAY OF DEVELOPMENT
EXISTS

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The discussion
convened on March 22 at the National Press Club with the participation
of representatives of political parties of Armenia was dedicated to
the present state of the Armenian-Russian mutual relations. According
to Shavarsh Kocharian, the Chairman of the National Democratic Party,
the main conflict between the two countries is that the life pushes
Armenia towards democracy, and Russia keeps the function of the
preserver of the authoritarian regime in the post-Soviet
territory. According to him, Russia is dissatisfied with Armenia’s
steps in the direction of the Eurointegration and wants Armenia have
such a controllable authoritarian system, as, for example, Belarus
has. Shavarsh Kocharian finds that in many issues, including the issue
of the Armenian-Russian relations, both society and a considerable
part of the political field often express an emotional approach. A
display of an emotional understanding is also the fact that, according
to the created impression, Russia has always assisted Armenians what
isn’t baseless but there were just opposite situations as well. So, in
spite of stubborn insistences of Azerbaijan, as of 1993, Russia gave
to Azerbaijan twice more tanks, 2.5 times more armoured cars, 1.5
times more guns with bigger than 100 mm calibre, twice more shock
helicopters, and Armenia got no military aircrafts (Su, MIG),
Azerbaijan got 53 ones. There was no case during the process of the
whole Karabakh conflict that Russian detachments struggle on the
Armenian side, and the oppisite has happened: if even we don’t take
into account the “Koltso” operation implemented by the Soviet army and
attacks in the region of Noyemberian, Armenia, then the attacks on
Martakert were directly implemented by the Russian troops. Among the
“legends,” the insistence of Armenia’s being the military advanced
post of Russia was also mentioned: according to Sh.Kocharian, by its
military-strategic meaning, the Gabali radiolocation station placed in
Azerbaijan is few dozens times more important that detachments of
Russian bases existing in Georgia and Armenia. But Aram Manukian, a
member of the Armenian National Movement administration pointed out
the positive role of Russia during the war. He reminded about the
political, diplomatic assistance showed by Russia, what is absent in
the context of solution of the Karabakh issue today. “Our those
strategic partners or those partner countries and organizations which
were silent during the movement and the war or assisted us, today
stated Armenia’s being aggressor, territories’ being captured. This
isn’t the fault of those stating, this the fault of today’s
authorities of Armenia,” the ANM representative finds. Even more,
according to him, “in the relations with Russia, authorities of a day
lost not today’s but tomorrow’s day, tomorrow’s authorities will stand
in front of irreversible processes.” According to Manukian, Russia’s
influence in all the spheres is spread because of Armenian
authorities’ “weakness, tolerance, being not honourable.” The armament
used up in all senses is moved from Georgia to Armenia, without even
asking about the latter’s opinion. According to him, Armenia became
not an advanced post but an attache’, in the sense of economic and
political dictations. Hovhannes Hovhannisian, the Chairman of the
Liberal Progressive Party of Armenia finds that the Armenian-Russian
relations aren’t just newly put on a not normal field. “It appeared
that this Armenian-Russian strategic powerful partnership is just
papers. Russia continues gloriously the Soviet country’s traditions,”
he mentioned. Aram Sargsian, the Chairman of the Democratic party of
Armenia finds that the level of development of the Armenian-Russian
relations will be beneficial for Armenia only and only in the case if
Armenia had its own doctrine in the direction of developing those
relations. He particularly expressed anxiety that the 80% of the
energy system of Armenia is sold to Russia what arises suprise even in
the political circles of Russia: “No country has a right to give its
soveriegn right to another country.” A.Sargsian finds that there are
all factors that Russia creates a huge pole having abilities of raw
materials. Coming out of this, Armenia must form its approach in the
way that it doens’t become a state depending on another country. In
the opinion of Aram Karapetian, the Chairman of the “New Times” (Nor
Zhamanakner) party, in the case of the next authorities, a serious
closing with Russia will take place, in the sense of energy problems,
opening vital roads for Armenia through Georgia and Russian capital’s
entering. Kiro Manoyan, the Chairman of the ARF Hay Dat and political
issues office mentioned that during the last period in the
Armenian-Russian relations there is some movement in the issues of
defence and power-generating materials, “but one thing is clear, there
is attitude reminding of the old days by Russia, what is inadmissible.”
Hrant Khachatrian, the Chairman of the “Constitutional Right” union
has no doubt that the world will be with many poles, and it’s
important for Armenia to exactly orient concomitant to time in which
geographic-political part to be established. It’s also important, he
emphasized, that Armenia and Karabakh are established in the same side
of the geographic-political border.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress