Author: Emil Lazarian

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006
2nd congress of world Azeris – holiday of all Turkic world
Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev
17.03.2006
The 2nd congress of world Azerbaijanis, held in Baku on Thursday,
came as the holiday of the all Turkic world, Trend reports quoting
Akkan Suver, the head of the Marmara group, as saying at a news
conference on Friday.
“The delegates arrived from different countries have one problem –
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenians must think of the words
voiced by President Ilham Aliyev in regard to them,” Suver stressed.
He also noted that Azerbaijani President called on Armenians to stop
the aggressive policy, adhere to the norms of international law and
common sense. “If Armenia does not consider these words, it will face
with grave consequences,” Suver underlined. He said that Aliyev taught
Armenians a lesson of ethics.
“Azerbaijan turned into leader in Eurasia as a result of the policy
persuaded by Aliyev,” he stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Peter Semneby: “European Union is ready to send peacekeepers to the conflict zone”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006
[ 17 Mar. 2006 20:55 ]
The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Peter Semneby held a news conference on the conclusions of his visit
to Azerbaijan (APA).
Mr.Semneby said that during his visit, he had talks with Azerbaijan’s
President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Arthur Rasizade, head of
President’s Executive Office Ramiz Mehdiyev, deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov as well as opposition leaders Ali Karimli, Isa Gambar,
Sardar Jalaloglu, Lala Shovkhat and Eldar Namazov.
Saying that he will fulfil the mission of his ancestor Heike Talvitie,
Mr.Semneby said he will focus on the settlement of frozen conflicts
in the region. According to the diplomat, the EU can support settling
conflict though observation, sending peacekeepers and renovation works.
“Talvitie’s office was in Finland but mine is in Brussels-near the
European Union organizations. This will ensure to attach more attention
to the South Caucasus,” he said.
Stressing that the EU’s interest in the South Caucasus is growing,
Semneby explained this interest by two Black Sea states recently
becoming members of the European Union.
“The European Union is negotiating with Turkey, Turkey borders on
the three Southern Caucasus countries”.
Peter Semneby said that there are opportunities for the settlement
of Nagorno Garabagh conflict in the current year.
“The main point is achievement of the agreement, changes are necessary
in the sides’ position. Common interests can be found in the settlement
of all conflicts”.
He said that the European Union is ready to station its peacekeeping
forces in the region. Peter Semneby said that The European
Union-Azerbaijan talks held in Brussels on March 7 were not fruitless.
“Talks held in Brussels were not unsuccessful, they are ordinary
talks. It was known in advance that the third round of the talks will
be held in order to come to any agreement”.
Diplomat added that the cooperation plan has not been agreed on with
all of the three Southern Caucasus countries. /APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kenyan government denies links to suspected Armenian mercenaries
The Standard, Nairobi
17 Mar 06
Text of report by Biketi Kikechi and Ayub Savula entitled “Mutua
denies govt link to Armenians” published by Kenyan newspaper The
Standard on 17 March
The government yesterday said it had nothing to do with the business
two alleged mercenaries are doing in the country.
Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua said a company owned by Artur
Sargaryan and Artur Margaryan, known as Brother Link Ltd, was
registered in their names on 1 December 2005.
“They were later issued with class H type immigration investors
permits on 23 January 2006,” said Mutua.
He said the government could not explain any relations they may be
having with a Narc activist.
“Ask the activist, but you cannot expect the government to answer
questions for a person who is not its employee,” Said Mutua.
He, however, said the two brothers could be having other companies,
among them Kensington Holdings Ltd, where Ms Winfred Wangui Mwai is
also a director.
Mutua said it appeared the Armenians had been meeting several people
in the country, such as Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and others.
“As we speak here, they are at the police station recording a statement
on allegations that they are mercenaries, “said Mutua.
However, Artur Margaryan was at the time addressing journalists at
a press conference in KTN offices.
Mutua said the police would be particularly interested in the pictures
and CCTV footage the Armenians claim they have. He said there was
nothing wrong with businessmen or any other people holding a press
conference at the airport VIP lounge.
He did not explain why they were using GK [Government of Kenya]
vehicles, covering their car number plates nor the kind of business
they did in the country.
Elsewhere, the government said the two men would record a statement
with the police. Office of the President Assistant Minister Joseph
Kingi and Internal Security Permanent Secretary Cyrus Gituai [said]
the men were already under investigation.
“Give the government time to carry out investigations. We are
investigating whether they are mercenaries or not,” Kingi said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey has less than two years to meet EU’s accession criteria
17.03.2006 15:02
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Noting the slowing pace of reform in Turkey, the
European Parliament has called upon the Turkish government to take
immediate steps to ends its discriminatory and repressive policies,
European Armenian Federation reported.
In its recently adopted resolution on the “Commission’s 2005
Enlargement Strategy Report,” the Parliament also called on the
European Commission to define the geographical boundaries of the
European Union.
In the section of the report dedicated to Turkey, the European
Parliament states that the priorities outlined in the Accession
Partnership have to be accomplished in the first phase of the
negotiations.” and “notes with satisfaction that the Commission now
supports this view as well by stating that those criteria have to be
fulfilled within one or two years.”
Based on these considerations, the Parliament therefore called upon
Turkey “to present as soon as possible a plan, including a timetable
and specific measures, to meet these deadlines,” and urged the
Commission and the Council “to make the progress of the negotiations
conditional on the timely accomplishment of those priorities.”
This demand comes in reaction to the slowing down of Turkey’s reforms,
which were noted in the resolution. The Parliament also formally asked
Turkey “to remove all existing legislative and practical obstacles
to full enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms by all Turkish
citizens, notably freedom of expression, religious freedom, cultural
rights, rights of minorities.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

State protecting duo, says ODM
By David Ochami & Benson Amollo
Kenya Times, Kenya
March 16 2006
ORANGE Democratic Movement (ODM) yesterday released details of what it
claimed demonstrate deeper Government involvement in the activities and
protection of the two Armenians associated with mercenary activities.
The dossier, released by Emuhaya MP Kenneth Marende, is based on
statements taken by Nairobi deputy PCIO Isaiah Osugo from Langata
MP Raila Odinga and his Mwingi North counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka on
Wednesday and private investigations.
But Government spokesman Alfred Mutua denied this and said the
Armenians are innocent investors who will be investigated if need
arises.
Mutua said at his weekly press briefings that the Government is
undertaking comprehensive investigations into all the allegations
and would interview more people alongside Kalonzo and Raila.
He confirmed that the two brothers were issued with permits to invest
in Kenya in December 2005.
“The two individuals do not and have never worked for the Government
of Kenya nor undertaken any business with or for the government of
Kenya,” said Mutua.
ODM claims State House was sucked into a conspiracy with the foreigners
late December last year who were then secretly offered full security
details.
The two, Artur Sargysyan and Artur Margary are alleged to have been
involved in the raid at the KTN studio at I&M Building, and the
Standard printing press at Likoni Road, industrial area, on March 2.
Marende’s statement, read in the presence of Odinga and Musyoka,
also demonstrated that more other foreigners, among them Tanzanians,
including a woman identified only as Shifana, have been hired by the
Government to do its dirty work.
The Tanzanians are identified only as Robert and Julius.
The statement also indicated that the role the police had played in
their protection and concealment of facts goes higher into State House.
Apart from protection, Marende said that 13 cars and other state
largesse have been placed at the foreigners’ disposal.
It reinforces ODM’s allegations that Monday’s press conference at
the JKIA where the foreigners claimed Odinga and Musyoka had sought
their help to bring down the Kibaki regime was stage managed by the
government to hide its role in the saga and divert attention from
the Anglo Leasing corruption.
Marende claimed the Armenians, two Tanzanians and the woman were
issued police certificates and guns by a CID officer, which they used
to plan the raids on the Standard.
They surveyed the Standard’s I&M Building and the newspaper’s press
in Nairobi’s Industrial area before making the attack.
Mr Margaryan commanded the March 2 raids which, according to the
statement also involved the Tanzanians and Ms Shifana, who then carried
away computers in cars registered as: KAQ 010W, KAU 838Y (white Lexus)
and KAP 448Z , a blue Mitsubishi and KAR 453H, a green Toyota Prado.
The blue Mitsubishi pick up was later used to ferry the foreigners to
Runda and later transport the vandalised computers to KICC on March 3.
The MP also said that the following cars have been availed to the
foreigners:
– KAH980M, a blue Mercedes Benz 320.
-KAS 501S also a Mercedes Benz.
-KAQ010W and KAU 838Y, both white Lexus
-KAT 333J, a red Mitsubishi lancer.
-KAJ 333P, a white Volvo.
-KAR453H, a green Toyota Prado.
-KAU 801P a grey Landrover Discovery.
-KAT 285Y, a blue Peugoet 406 saloon car.
-GK A333G, a grey met Mercedes Benz.
-GK A222H a white Subaru.
-KAS 847F, a blue Mercedes Benz
-KAQ 215J, a blue Subaru and
-KAP 448Z, a blue Mitsubishi.
The ODM also claimed that the foreigners were driven to the JKIA
press conference in a GK car registered as GK A333G and left in a
KAQ 215 Subaru. ODM then claimed that the foreigners are protected
by presidential guards. “…Two officers from the presidential
escort unit (have been)…deployed as bodyguard and driver to the
foreigners.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Death toll rises to five in Turkish army helicopter crash
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
16 Mar 06
Erzincan, 16 March: Non-commissioned Officer Fatih Ayhan, who was
injured in helicopter crash in eastern city of Erzincan, died in
hospital, raising the death toll to five it was reported on Thursday
[16 March].
Col Omer Bora, Lt-Col Suat Coskunalp, Capt Yusuf Ziya Erten and Lt
Rafet Ozsoy died when the helicopter crashed.
Capt Cemal Kamaci, who was injured in the helicopter crash, is
receiving treatment in hospital.
Erzican Governor Ali Gungor earlier said the military helicopter
crashed after striking high voltage power lines on the highway between
Erzincan and Erzurum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Michuki questioned as ‘Armenian’ plot thickens
By Andrew Teyie
Standard, Kenya
March 17 2006
Internal Security Minister John Michuki yesterday appeared before the
Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Administration of Justice and
Legal Affairs to explain why the Government raided the Standard Group.
He is said to have claimed the Government raided the Group two weeks
ago because the media group runs a propaganda unit.
Michuki further claimed that the Group intended to publish a series
of stories linking key government officials to the Al-Qaeda terrorist
group, sources close to the Committee said.
“It was a government action. The Standard Group has a propaganda
unit which wanted to run stories that key government officials have
Al-Qaeda links,” a source close to the committee said of Michuki.
Michuki and CID Director Joseph Kamau assembled an elite police unit
code-named Kanga to raid the Standard Group at I&M towers and Likoni
Printing Press two weeks ago in contravention of the law.
They switched off KTN and dismantled the printing press. They then
went ahead to burn the day’s edition of The Standard, which had rolled
off the press before carting away computers and accessories.
Before then, they terrorised and robbed staff, who were on duty.
Later, Michuki blurted out: “If you rattle a snake, you must be
prepared to be bitten.” He stated that the Standard Group was engaged
in subversive activities.
Internal Security Permanent Secretary Cyrus Gituai accompanied Michuki
to the Committee hearings at Continental House. Kabete MP Paul Muite
chairs the committee. Members, who attended yesterday’s proceedings
were Amina Abdala and Muchiri Gachara.
According to sources, Michuki claimed that the Group had also lined
up stories on the Akiwumi Tribal Clashes report. The stories, Michuki
reportedly told the Committee, were to portray key government officials
as organisers of the clashes.
The source said the Committee was told: “They (Standard Group) wanted
to publish stories on the Akiwumi report claiming that the current
government was involved in the clashes.”
The source said Michuki pleaded with the Committee to understand
government actions.
Speaking after the meeting, Committee chairman Muite stated that
they have summoned Police Commissioner Major-General Hussein Ali,
Kamau and President Kibaki’s Strategic Advisor Stanley Murage.
Muite said Ali, Kamau and Murage would appear before them on Monday.
“We want to know whether Murage attended the planning committee on
the eve of the raid,” stated Muite.
Muite stated that they would get to the bottom of the issue.
“The Committee put to him all questions and as a result we now want
Ali and Kamau to tell us their side of the story. We want to get
to the bottom of it instead of bandying allegations in the media,”
stated Muite.
Michuki is said to have told the Committee that the raid was carried
out by Kenyans and was sanctioned by the Government. It is unclear
why they had to be hooded and why they had to carry out the raid in
contravention of the law.
Michuki reportedly insisted that those who raided the Standard were
not mercenaries. He is said to have assured the Committee that the
Government is investigating the mercenaries claims and any links such
people may have to a certain Narc activist.
Late yesterday evening, Michuki sent a statement to newsrooms
confirming that the mercenaries claims were under “active” government
investigations.
“The Government should be given an opportunity to carefully investigate
the matter devoid of political interference,” the statement said
in part.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UConn Advance, CT
March 17 2006
Coming to Campus
– March 20, 2006
Coming to Campus is a section announcing visiting speakers of note.
The Hon. Masis Mayilian, Deputy Foreign Minister of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, will give a public lecture on
“Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as a Factor of Peace and Stability in
the Region of South Caucasus” on Thursday, March 23, from 3 to 4 pm,
at the Alumni Center.
A reception will follow.
Since 1993, Mayilian has held various positions in the Nagorno-Karabakh
Ministry: head of the Desk of International Organizations, head of the
Department of International Organizations, advisor to the Minister,
and head of the Political Department.
In 1993, he was appointed a member of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
delegation at the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement.
In 2001, by resolution of the Republic’s government, Mayilian was
appointed as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He holds the diplomatic rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary.
The talk is funded by the Norian bequest to the University, which
supports a program of Armenian Studies activities to honor the legacy
of Alice Norian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT ALIYEV: “ARMENIA WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RIVAL WITH AZERBAIJAN”
Today, Azerbaijan
March 16 2006
Armenia will never be able rival with Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev stated on March 16 to an opening ceremony of the 2nd
Congress of the World Azerbaijanis.
Azerbaijan strengthens its power mint year by year and this year
its military budget is $600m. “I have charged recently to make equal
the military budget of Azerbaijan to public budget of Armenia in the
near future,” President said. “Armenia will never be able to rival
with Azerbaijan.”
According to Trend, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan should reconsider
its participation in peace talks on Nagorno Karabakh conflict
resolution if it founds Armenia violating the peace process and
showing unconstructive approach.
“The 12-year peace talks yielded no results, while it is unknown how
long will they continue. We are loyal to peace talks, but our patience
expires when we face with unconstructive position by Armenia. If
Azerbaijan sees the negotiation process to be of imitation character,
it will refuse from participation in it,” he stressed.
“Azerbaijan neither within 10 nor 100 years allow the annexation
of Nagorno Karabakh. Any peace agreement is out question without
repatriation of internally displaced persons,” he assured.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN: SLIM CHANCE FOR PEACE?
Fariz Ismailzade
A EurasiaNet Commentary
EurasiaNet, NY
March 16 2006
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia could not hide their disappointment
following the failure of a presidential summit in France in February
to achieve a breakthrough in Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks. With
discussions stalled and cease-fire violations by both sides
increasingly frequent, Azerbaijan has stepped up threats to use
military force to regain the territory.
Following his February 10-11 summit with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, Azerbaijani chief executive Ilham Aliyev resorted to
bellicose rhetoric, telling local journalists that “[i]t is time
that Azerbaijan re-considers the negotiation course and views other
options.” He also paid a visit to the cease-fire line in the Ter-Ter
region, wearing a military uniform while touring the trenches. The
uniform was taken as a sign of support for Azerbaijanis’ increasingly
widespread pro-military sentiments.
President Kocharian responded in kind, declaring that “if the peace
process does not produce any results, Armenia will recognize the
independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,” various media outlets reported.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, meanwhile, stated that
Azerbaijan’s threats will not change Armenia’s position on Karabakh.
“Azerbaijan will not dare to start a war,” Oskanian told Armenia’s
Shant TV recently. “Azerbaijan is not ready for a war.”
Even so, it appears that Azerbaijan is embarking on a military
build-up. On March 16, Aliyev called for Azerbaijan’s military budget
within the next few years to equal “the total budget of Armenia,”
the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reported.
Some Azerbaijani media outlets, however, argue that both sides are
posturing to gain an advantage at the negotiation table. “Armenia and
Azerbaijan’s military officials continue to shoot militaristic threats
into the air,” commented Baku’s pro-opposition Russian-language
daily Zerkalo on March 11. For all the militant rhetoric, Baku’s
desire to negotiate does not appear at an end. At a conference of
the Azerbaijani Diaspora in Baku on March 16, Aliyev affirmed that
Azerbaijan would continue with Karabakh peace talks “as long as we
feel that there is a chance for a political settlement . .
. But if we see that the process turns into a simulation, we shall
quit [them],” ITAR-TASS reported. Aliyev went on to add that granting
Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous status within the confines of Azerbaijan
is “possible,” but stressed that “we shall never agree to the loss
of our territories.”
International mediators appear to be increasingly concerned that time
is running out for a peaceful settlement of the 18-year-conflict. On
March 7, the Russian, French and American co-chairs of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk Group, which facilitates
Karabakh negotiations, reassembled in Washington to assess the peace
process. The group has urged the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders to
not give up on negotiations. The Minsk Group meeting coincided with
a summit between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Washington that also reportedly
included discussion of a resolution for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Local observers believe Washington is employing a carrots-and-stick
strategy to keep Azerbaijan at the negotiating table. The stick, they
say, comes in the form of the US State Department’s annual report
on human rights, a document that harshly criticized Azerbaijan’s
observance of voting rights in the 2005 parliamentary elections, as
well as law enforcement officers’ use of torture and arbitrary arrest.
Rumors are also swirling in Baku that President Aliyev could be invited
to Washington to meet with US President George W. Bush in late spring,
provided a breakthrough in Karabakh talks occurs by then. “It is not
excluded that the United States may use an invitation to Washington
as an incentive to get certain concessions from Ilham Aliyev,”
commented Tabib Huseynov, an independent expert on Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The US government has not given any indication that such
a visit is under consideration, however.
The present aim of US diplomacy seems to be keeping the channels of
communication open. Speaking at a March 14 press conference in Baku,
US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs
Daniel Fried acknowledged that Washington was “disappointed with
the results of the Rambouillet [France] talks,” but added that “the
negotiation process is going on and we hope that the conflict will
be solved in 2006.” Steven Mann, the US co-chair of the Minsk Group,
who arrived in Baku a day earlier, stated that “the spring of 2006
is an important period for the Nagorno-Karabakh talks.”
US officials have clearly intimated that Azerbaijan’s economic
interests would be best served by a negotiated Karabakh settlement.
“The sides who want war should first ask what would Azerbaijan’s
strategic borders be if war starts?” ANS TV reported Mann as saying.
“What will be the situation in the energy sphere and the investment
flow? I know the Azerbaijani people very well and don’t believe that
the Azerbaijani people would want war again.”
Fried held talks in Yerevan on March 15-16 and was scheduled to travel
to Ankara, Turkey, on March 16 for further discussions on the Karabakh
peace process.
Editor’s Note: Fariz Ismailzade is a freelance analyst on Caucasus
politics and economics. He has received his master’s degree from
Washington University in St. Louis and is a regular correspondent
for various international media outlets.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress