Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
March 9, 2006
Supreme Spiritual Council Discusses Armenian Diocese of Georgia
On March 7, a meeting of the Supreme Spiritual Council was convened in the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, under the presidency of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, with the
participation of the members of the Supreme Spiritual Council residing in
Armenia.
During the meeting, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia, presented a report regarding the pastoral,
spiritual and church-building activities within the diocese.  He
particularly noted that the renovations of the church of Saint Gevork
(diocesan headquarters) and the church of Holy Etchmiadzin (in Tbilisi) are
planned for this year, the architectural drawings for which will soon be
completed.  His Grace happily reported on the spiritual reawakening within
the diocese, underlining the need for new clergymen to be assigned,
specifically to the vicarage in Javakhk.  He also noted that the
applications to Georgian state authorities have yet to be resolved,
regarding granting of appropriate legal standing to the diocese and the
return of six historic Armenian churches.  His Grace also stated that
certain mass media agencies within Georgia continue with anti-Armenian
announcements and commentaries, which create an atmosphere of intolerance
and tension.
In response to a query from the Supreme Spiritual Council, Bishop Vazgen
confirmed that the Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, with their
decision of February 6, 2006, announced the creation of a new diocese within
the Republic of Armenia entitled Tashir-Agarak, subject to the bishop of the
Diocese of Dmanisi in Georgia, `…with the intent of reestablishing its
historic diocese’.
The Supreme Spiritual Council expressed disappointment that the Georgian
Orthodox Church did not inform the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin regarding
the creation of a new diocese located in the northern region of the Republic
of Armenia; and further, that their Synod is creating a new diocese in a
region where the Georgian Church has no faithful; while the rights of
hundreds of thousands of faithful Armenians living in Georgia to have the
Armenian Diocese granted appropriate legal standing and historic Armenian
churches returned are being ignored and disregarded.
The Supreme Spiritual Council received the report of the Primate of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia with appreciation and satisfaction, and
commended his successful implementation of his mission, exhorting him to
enthusiastically continue his efforts aimed towards the enrichment of the
Armenian Diocese of Georgia and the strengthening of the centuries-old
fraternal relations between the Armenian and Georgian people and Churches.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 3-9, 2006
HIGHLIGHTS:
“PRESS CLUB+”: NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
AND ARMENIA’S PLACE IN THE REGION
2005 REPORT OF US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
REGULATION BODIES GIVE ACCOUNT
“PRESS CLUB+”: NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC UNION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
AND ARMENIA’S PLACE IN THE REGION
On March 7 the first issue of “Press Club+” talk show cycle went on “Yerkir
Media” TV evening air (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, February 17-23, 2006).
The guests of Aram Abrahamian, program host, Chief Editor of “Aravot” daily,
were the leaders of National Democratic Union. The experts invited were
representatives of media and NGOs. The TV discussion was on the amendments
to RA Constitution, adopted at November 27, 2005 referendum, within the
context of separation of power braches, and Armenia’s place in the South
Caucasus, possibilities of developing regional cooperation.
It is planned that next Tuesday, March 14 at 21.00 the representatives of
“Orinats Yerkir” party will share their views on hot issues at “Press
Club+”.
2005 REPORT OF US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
On March 8 US Department of State released its report on human rights
practices in 2005 in different countries of the world, prepared by the
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

Referring to the situation of freedom of speech and press in Armenia, US
Department of State notes in particular “while the law provides for freedom
of speech and of the press, the government partially limited freedom of
speech” and “there were incidents of violence, intimidation, and
self-censorship in the press”.
According to the authors of the report, private print media actively
expressed various views, “but no newspaper was completely independent of the
patronage from economic or political interest groups or individuals”.
Because of low newspaper circulation, most people in Armenia relied on
broadcast media for information, which, similarly to print media, are mainly
private. “In the capital and regional cities, private television stations
offered generally independent news coverage of good technical quality.”
Alongside this, the report emphasizes, that the substantive quality of TV
and radio news reporting varied due to self-censorship by journalists and
the stations’ dependence on patronage. The major broadcast media “generally
kept to progovernment lines”. “Economic pressure on broadcast media was more
common than outright political pressure, including authorities requesting
bribes, and advertising revenues used to influence programming.”
The report runs that senior officials of RA President’s office “continued to
provide policy guidance” to First Channel of Public Television of Armenia.
While its coverage was mainly factual, First Channel avoided editorial
commentary or criticism of the government.
Not giving broadcast license to “A1+”, “one of the country’s last
independent television stations”, was, as observers think, politically
motivated for criticizing President Kocharian’s administration. The attempts
of the TV Company to resume air are still unsuccessful, the report notes.
According to US Department of State, foreign media overall freely operate on
the territory of the country. At the same time, for three days beginning on
the day of the constitutional referendum (November 27, 2005), Radio “Free
Europe”/Radio “Liberty” broadcasts were periodically inaudible. The Public
Radio of Armenia (the First Program of which is aired on the same frequency
as the Armenian Service of RFE/RL) explained these disruptions by technical
problems. However, “some observers alleged the disruptions were politically
motivated”, the report says.
Harassment of the journalists is still a problem, the State Department
emphasizes, noting that “there were unconfirmed reports of incidents of
harassment and intimidation of journalists outside the capital”.
In contrast to the previous years, in 2005 “there were no reports of police
beating journalists”. One of the official documents of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs mentioned one case “involving possible violence against a
reporter” still under investigation, “at year’s end the circumstances
surrounding the case were unclear”. The report also refers to a very mild
punishment on the case of assaulting a photo reporter in August 2004 in
Tsaghkadzor.
“There was no official censorship; however, there were continued reports of
intimidation of journalists, and some print journalists continued to
practice self-censorship to avoid problems with the government and because
of pressure from official sources”, the report stresses. US Department of
State concluded that “during the year there were no charges brought against
journalists for libel of a public official”.
REGULATION BODIES GIVE ACCOUNT
In “TV Alik” weekly (review of TV and radio programs) of March 6-12, 2006,
account on the activity of the Council of RA Public TV and Radio Company in
2005 was published. Earlier, in the same weekly (February 27 – March 5,
2006) a report was publicized on the last year work of National Commission
on Television and Radio, the body, regulating private broadcasting. The
accounts are issued in compliance with RA Law “On Television and Radio”.
When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.
You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]
Subscription for the Newsletter is free. To subscribe or unsubscribe from
this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]
Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
375002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
KEVORK HOVNANIAN DONATES $1.5 MILLION TO THE FUND FOR ARMENIAN RELIEF
Prominent philanthropist and businessman Kevork Hovnanian has donated $1.5
Million to the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), an organization he founded in
response to the devastating earthquake in December 1988. He has been
Chairman of the Board of Directors for the past 17 years.
In recognition of his dedication and devotion to the Armenian Homeland, and
his continuing generosity and vision in support of the FAR mission in
Armenia and Karabagh, the FAR Board of Directors unanimously elevated Mr.
Hovnanian to Honorary Chairman and Founder. The Directors elected a new
Chairman Randy Sapah-Gulian.
Kevork Hovnanian is a generous benefactor to many noteworthy causes. His
most recent donation to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center will
create the K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. Among his many charitable
gifts, he built the St. Stepanos Church in Elberon, NJ and gave a midtown
Manhattan townhouse to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to
the United Nations in 1992.
He is the recipient of numerous national and international accolades. His
Holiness Vasken I of blessed memory awarded Mr. Hovnanian with the Holy
See’s highest honor, the St. Gregory the Illuminator medal. In 2001,
Armenia’s President awarded the St. Mesrob Mashtots Medal to Mr. Hovnanian
in recognition of his outstanding services to Armenia and the Armenian
people.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian
Church and President of the FAR Board, said “Our church and nation is
blessed with such a leader who represents the very best of human nature.
Kevork Hovnanian is a dedicated and compassionate Armenian. His latest
contribution is a material sign of his continued commitment to the
charitable mission of FAR and his strong support of the organization’s
financial well-being.”
— 03/09/06
E-mail photo available upon request.
PHOTO CAPTION: FAR’s Honorary Chairman and Founder Kevork Hovnanian with
Chairman Randy Sapah-Gulian.
# # #

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/09/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) US Official to Meet Armenian, Azeri Leaders about Karabagh 2) Armenian Army Prepared to Defend Itself as Azerbaijan Continues to Violate Cease Fire 3) ANCA Asks Secretary Rice to Explain Reports of Ambassador Evans' Recall 4) Turkish Organizations to Work against Genocide Law in France 1) US Official to Meet Armenian, Azeri Leaders about Karabagh YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)--Dan Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, will visit Azerbaijan and Armenia next week to discuss the results of internationally sponsored peace talks on Karabagh. Fried will be accompanied by Steven Mann, Washington's top Karabagh negotiator. Mann and senior French and Russian diplomats co-chairing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Minsk Group ended a meeting in Washington this week in an attempt to salvage the Karabagh peace process after the unsuccessful meeting of Armenian and Azeri presidents in Rambouillet near Paris last month. The co-chairs were reported to have determined their future steps for resolution of the dispute. Mann said he will give detailed information to the Presidents of the two countries during his visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia later this month with Fried. Fried mentioned the Karabagh conflict on Wednesday as he addressed hearings on US foreign policy organized by a key House of Representatives committee. "We urge the Armenian and Azeri leaderships to seize the moment and help bring the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict to a close," he told the House International Relations Committee. Fried's deputy Matthew Bryza was in Yerevan earlier this week, saying after talks with President Robert Kocharian and other Armenian leaders that the conflicting parties remain "very close" to hammering out a framework peace accord. Bryza said Kocharian and his Azerbaijani counterpart have to make "very tough decisions" to reach a peaceful settlement. The US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish also remains optimistic about negotiations mediated by the Minsk Group, saying that they will lead to positive results in 2006. Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, however, continues to make statements demonstrating Baku's reluctance to compromise. He stated yesterday in Tokyo that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity is not a topic for discussion at the negotiations over the Karabagh conflict regulation, reported the Azertag news agency. According to him, the topics of discussions are the liberation of the occupied territories, ethnic separation, return of refugees, and granting Karabagh a higher degree of autonomy. "All this should be done in compliance with international right and principles. We hope that the conflict will be solved in a peaceful way," said he adding that the international community should play a greater role in the conflict regulation process as the existence of the conflict is the main obstacle for the development of the region. 2) Armenian Army Prepared to Defend Itself as Azerbaijan Continues to Violate Cease Fire YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)--Amid cease fire violations by Azerbaijan, Vice Minister of Defense General Artur Aghabegian said that the Armenian Armed Forces are prepared to suppress Azeri attacks. He added that at this point there is no serious need to talk about the danger of war, but every single soldier knows that Armenia is ready to resist both local skirmishes and if need be, full scale military operations. Aghabegian said that both Armenia and Azerbaijan know that any unforeseen movement along the front line could lead to casualties. He said that Azeri forces may be firing on Armenian positions to disrupt the restructing of trenches. According to him, such incidents have occasionally occured since the 1994 cease fire. The Armenian military reported more frequent cease fire violations in recent days. The defense ministry said Azeri forces on Wednesday continued to open fire on the westernmost sections of the border in the Ijevan and Shorzha regions. On Thursday, Azeri troops shelled Armenian military units in the northeastern Tavush province and in Vayots Dzor on the border with Azerbaijan's enclave Nakhichevan. The Armenian defense ministry denied allegations by Azerbaijan that its positions in Kazah region were shelled by Armenians. A message released by the US embassy in Yerevan on Thursday advised American citizens residing in Armenia to stay away from the section of a highway in the northeastern Tavush region that runs close to the border with Azerbaijan. "The US Embassy has designated this portion of the road off-limits to all US government personnel because it lies too close to the cease fire line between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, a line which has seen numerous cease fire violations over the years," read the message. 3) ANCA Asks Secretary Rice to Explain Reports of Ambassador Evans' Recall --Representative Napolitano Questions Assistant Secretary Fried about Evans WASHINGTON, DCArmenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chairman Ken Hachikian called on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday to address reports that the US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, is being forced from office based on truthful and forthright statements he made last April about the Armenian genocide. In a March 8 letter, Hachikian asked Secretary Rice to comment on published accounts (California Courier, March 9, 2006) that the Ambassador is being recalled, well before the normal end of his term of office, due to his remarks during a series of presentations to Armenian American communities across the country. Speaking last year to an Armenian American gathering at the University of California at Berkeley, Evans said, "I will today call it the Armenian genocide... I informed myself in depth about it. I think we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of discussing this problem. "Today, as someone who has studied it... there's no doubt in my mind [as to] what happened . . . I think it is unbecoming of us, as Americans, to play word games here. I believe in calling things by their name." Referring to the Armenian genocide as "the first genocide of the 20th century," he said: "I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at addressing this issue." Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with a legal advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the events of 1915 were "genocide by definition." Within days after his remarks and the conclusion of a speaking tour of Armenian American communities, Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian genocide were his personal views and did not represent a change in US policy. He subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a reference to the Genocide with the word "tragedy." Later last year, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), in recognition of his honesty and commitment to principle, decided to honor Ambassador Evans with the "Christian A. Herter Award," recognizing creative thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service. Sadly, as Washington Post staff writer Glenn Kessler revealed on June 9, AFSA withdrew its award following pressure from "very serious people from the State Department." In his letter, Hachikian wrote that, "the prospect that a US envoy's posting--and possibly his career--has been cut short due to his honest and accurate description of a genocide is profoundly offensive to American values and US standing abroad--particularly in light of President Bush's call for moral clarity in the conduct of our international affairs." He added that, "if, in fact, punitive measures are being taken against Ambassador Evans, this would represent a tragic retreat from our nation's core values. It would also represent a new low in our government's shameful complicity in the Turkish government's campaign of denial. Not only does the State Department continue to be publicly silent as Turkey criminally prosecutes its writers and citizens for speaking about the Armenian Genocide, it appears the State Department is following Turkey's lead by muzzling and punishing an American diplomat for his speech and his acknowledgment of a genocide that is extensively documented in the State Department's own archives." The ANCA letter also urged Secretary Rice to respond in a timely manner to the series of written questions on this matter submitted on February 16 by Congressman Adam Schiff during her testimony before the House International Relations Committee. Among these questions was a specific request that the Secretary assure the Committee that the Department of State has not taken--and will not take--any punitive action against Ambassador Evans for speaking out about the Armenian genocide. Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA) also submitted a series of questions about the reported recall of Ambassador Evans to a senior State Department official during his testimony before the US House International Relations Committee. As a follow up question, addressed to Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried, the California Congresswoman asked for a clarification of any restrictions placed on State Department officials concerning the use of the word "genocide" when discussing the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians starting in 1915. She also inquired about US policy on the Turkish blockade of Armenia and the proposed Caucasus railroad line circumventing Armenia. Responding to a reporter's question at the State Department briefing, spokesperson Sean McCormack said, "I'm not aware that we have recalled anybody... I believe that he's still serving as ambassador in Armenia." 4) Turkish Organizations to Work against Genocide Law in France (Marmara)--Several Turkish organizations in France are preparing a commission to work against the French Parliament's decisions about the Armenian genocide. The president of the Paris Anadolu Cultural Center said that the over 300 Turkish organizations operating in France, despite differing views, can unite on this one issue. He added that the organizers have nothing against the Armenian people, they are simply trying to "refute Armenian lies." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI MINISTER URGES ARMY TO BE “TWICE AS ACTIVE” AS ARMENIAN
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
8 Mar 06
[Presenter] Defence Minister Col-Gen Safar Abiyev has said that
Azerbaijan will respond appropriately to every gunshot fired by
Armenian troops.
[Safar Abiyev, speaking to microphone] This is an ordinary case.
Shoot-outs take place every day. Truly, the exchanges of fire have
become very intense over the past few days. Azerbaijan and Armenia
have sustained casualties. The Armenians have always been active. We
should be twice as active.
[Private ANS TV reported at 0800 gmt 9 March that soldier Rasim
Akbarov, 19, was heavily wounded in a mine blast in the village of
Yusifcanli in Agdam District on 8 March.]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN’S PRESIDENT URGES JAPAN TO INVEST IN OIL INFRASTRUCTURE
AP Worldstream
Mar 09, 2006
Azerbaijan’s president on Thursday urged Japanese companies to invest
in his nation’s oil infrastructure, saying he hoped the Caucasus
country will soon become a major oil exporter.
President Ilham Aliev, in Tokyo on a four-day trip, told Japanese
Foreign Minister Taro Aso that Azerbaijan had implemented a range of
social and economic policies and had “high expectations” for increased
Japanese investment, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Aliev told Aso he hoped Azerbaijan would soon become a major exporter
of oil and natural gas, according to the statement.
Aso said Tokyo was interested in maintaining strong bilateral
ties because of Azerbaijan’s importance, geopolitically and as an
oil-producing nation.
Aliev was slated to meet Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday.
Azerbaijan is rich in oil and gas reserves. But development of those
reserves has been hindered by conflict with neighboring Armenia over
the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave within
Azerbaijan.
The 18-year dispute, in which at least 30,000 people have been killed
and 1 million made refugees, has affected stability throughout the
strategic and oil-rich Caucasus region.

PROJECTS ON OPERATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM MINES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The scientific research institute
Lernametalurgia has received a lot of orders, most of which are
related to studies on minerals found at small and medium mines. Artur
Ashughian, Head of the Nature Use Economics and Mining Industry
Department of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development,
stated this at the March 7 press conference. He said that research
work at small and medium mines started in 2005. It was noted that
5-7 year projects requiring invsetments of 30-35 mln USD are needed
for the research and operation of such mines. It is envisaged that
the extracted ores will be processed at highly efficent plants to be
built within the framwork of these projects.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA OFFERS BOUNTY FOR AZERI OFFICER’S LIFE
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
A hard-line group has urged the Hungarian court to ensure the security
of an Azeri officer accused of killing an Armenian serviceman at a
NATO course in Budapest in 2004.
The chairman of the Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has sent a
petition to the Budapest City Court and some Hungarian media requesting
security guarantees for Ramil Safarov. “We have repeatedly stated
that when Safarov was committing the killing, his mind was clouded
with revenge for the crimes the Armenian armed forces had unleashed
on peaceful Azerbaijani population. Armenia is trying to affect the
course of legal proceedings.
The chairman of the Armenian Progress Party, Tigran Urikhanyan,
reportedly offered a $125,000 reward to anyone who kills Safarov,”
the GLO said. The appeal termed this as a graphic example of the
Armenian government’s terrorist essence. The Armenian leadership
is even trying to have Safarov killed in the Budapest prison,
therefore, it is necessary to take extra precautions and provide
for his security. Azerbaijan has been left to deal with a terrorist
state, the document said. “Another fact we would like to point out
is the trial of Armenian Lt-Col Pargev Abramian currently underway
in Yerevan. He is charged with dismembering his wife with an axe. The
defense claims that he has committed the crime in a state of emotional
distress,” the GLO said, urging the Hungarian court to be mindful of
these facts when handing down a ruling.

AZERBAIJAN’S STANCE PUTS ARMENIA UNDER PRESSURE
By Ilham Guliyev & Lala Alizada Azernews Staff Writers
AzerNews Weekly, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Azerbaijan and Armenia have exchanged threats after the unsuccessful
round of peace talks, with Azeri officials warning that the country
may resort to military action to settle the more than a decade-long
dispute if the negotiating process continues to yield no fruit.
President Ilham Aliyev has said that Armenia’s non-constructive
position in the ongoing talks on settling Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
conflict prompts Azerbaijan to reconsider its policy. “Azerbaijan is
interested in solving the problem through diplomacy and negotiations.
But the talks carried out so far have produced no results, therefore,
we have to be ready for other options,” Aliyev said during his visit
to the frontline districts in lowland Garabagh last week.
The parties failed to agree upon the issues of principle during the
negotiations held by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian in
the French town of Rambouillet in February, despite high expectations
for a breakthrough in the peace process. The president emphasized
that Armenia’s position shatters the already forlorn hope for
a solution. Certain progress is being achieved, but Yerevan’s
stance ultimately prevents the sides from reaching peace. “Although
opportunities emerged for reaching a peace accord within the Prague
process [the talks mediated by OSCE], the latest talks show that
Armenia is not interested in this. In such case, Azerbaijan should
revisit its policy. We support settling the conflict by diplomatic
means. But we will never come to terms with the separation of
Upper Garabagh from Azerbaijan, and this is my resolute stance. The
conflict must be settled strictly within the country’s territorial
integrity.” Aliyev said that the fact that peace talks with Armenia
have lasted for 12 years is the biggest concession on the part of
Azerbaijan. “Armenia has been pursuing a policy of genocide against
Azerbaijan, which is a crime against humanity. We are the victim side,
and this gives us the right to solve the problem by any means.”
Azerbaijan’s terse stance has apparently frightened Armenia. Its
president Robert Kocharian said that if the Azeri government resolutely
states that time is on its side and threatens with military action, his
country may de-jure recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed
Upper Garabagh republic. “If the peace talks are suspended by either
of the conflicting sides, this will lead to the developments unfolding
according to an undesirable scenario.”
Kocharian said, however, that Armenia is prepared for any eventuality
and disclosed the steps his country would take in case opportunities
for talks are exhausted. The Armenian leader said further that the
next step after the “recognition of Upper Garabagh” would be to
ensure the security of Armenian residents there, to be followed by
the implementation of comprehensive military reinforcement activities
in the seven districts around Garabagh. Kocharian also called on
the Armenian residents of Upper Garabagh not to be concerned over
the ongoing peace talks with Azerbaijan. “You should not worry. If
you see that the Armenian president is backing out of the talks,
then there will be grounds for concerns, as this would mean that he
does not believe in the success of the negotiations or is unable to
complete the process.” Kocharian said that despite the unsuccessful
outcome of the Rambouillet talks, confidence remains for reaching a
general accord. He again put forward the demand to get the Garabagh
Armenians involved in the negotiating process. The stern messages
coming from the conflicting sides have raised concerns of the
international community. US ambassador Reno Harnish said that if no
progress is reached in settling the conflict, several options are
possible, including war. He noted, however, that military action
could prove disastrous for the South Caucasus region. “I have said
on many occasions what tragedies could ensue. You should remember
the deplorable living conditions of the internally displaced persons.
Therefore, we call on the politicians of both countries to find a way
out of the current situation.” Harnish said Kocharian’s statement that
Armenia could recognize Upper Garabagh can heighten tensions between
the parties. “We suggest that the presidents be more flexible in the
negotiations. We think the parties can reach agreement and must try
to do so. The foreign ministers of the two countries must also strive
to reach a negotiated solution,” the US diplomat said.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, in his remarks at a
meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, expressed his concern at the
tough rhetoric of the Azeri side. He alleged that such statements
undermined the achievements already made in the negotiations.
Oskanian said Azerbaijan’s statement that it was waiting for a more
opportune time to resolve the conflict and the calls being voiced for
the resumption of hostilities ran counter to the principles of the
‘Prague process’ of talks, which envisions a stage-by-stage conflict
settlement. He said those principles were quite real and served as a
platform for progress in the talks. In the current situation, great
responsibility rests with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
brokering the conflict resolution. At a meeting of the mediators
due in Washington March 7-8, acceptable ways of continuing peace
talks should be found. The co-chairs should express decisiveness and
urge the parties to the conflict to reach agreement. Meanwhile, the
international community must comprehend that Azerbaijan’s compromises
have limits and it is time for Armenia to take constructive steps
toward reaching peace. However, if the mediators’ attempt proves
futile, this may lead to a failure of the entire Prague process
of talks, which is nearly the only progress in the negotiations
observed in recent years. In this case, Azerbaijan will have to
seek new alternatives and it is likely that the limit of options
will be exhausted, as the conflicting sides have already discussed
all possible alternatives – from exchange of territories to the
stage-by-stage conflict settlement. This could be possibly followed
by the recognition of Upper Garabagh as a party to the conflict or
Armenia’s complete withdrawal from the negotiating process.
Azerbaijan will never accept this, as its territories have been
occupied not by the so-called Upper Garabagh republic but by Armenia.
The talks between Baku and Khankandi could be possible only if Armenia
pulls its military forces out of the conflict zone, suspends economic
assistance to the separatist regime and shuts its borders with Upper
Garabagh. Is war the only option left? Azerbaijan is currently under
intense pressure from the international community, which could lose
the strategic South Caucasus region over just a few years if the
hostilities are resumed. Armenia is risking to face Azerbaijan’s
military machine, which is much stronger than it used to be in
early 1990s. It will be challenging for this country, which has a
considerably weaker economy, to withstand the armament race and the
ensuing offensive. Azerbaijan, in turn, is risking to be deprived of
the West’s support and faces a temporary suspension of major regional
projects in the event of military action. Upper Garabagh, which is
internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has both Azerbaijani
and ethnic Armenian population. It was occupied by Armenia in the early
1990s, along with seven other Azerbaijani districts, after large-scale
hostilities that killed up to 30,000 people and forced over a million
Azeris out of their homes. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but
peace talks have been fruitless so far and refugees remain stranded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GARABAGH MEDIATORS MEET AFTER FRUITLESS TALKS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 9 2006
Baku, March 7, AssA-Irada
The OSCE mediators brokering settlement to the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh on Tuesday continued talks in
Washington started a day earlier.
The meetings of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov
of Russia, Bernard Fassier of France and Steven Mann of the United
States as well as the OSCE chairman’s special envoy Andzhei Kaspshik
come after the fruitless discussions between Presidents Ilham Aliyev
and Robert Kocharian in the French town of Rambouillet in February.
The intermediaries, speaking after a closed-door meeting held on
Monday, said the “Prague process” of peace talks, which envisions a
stage-by-stage conflict resolution, has not been completed yet and
that chances remain for settling the long-standing dispute.
The American co-chair Steven Mann commenting on the results of the
Rambouillet negotiations, said both sides have achieved progress but
a number of serious issues remain to be resolved. He also said it
was important for the parties to accept compromises.
Although no details of the co-chairs’ discussions have been disclosed,
Mann said in an interview with Voice of America prior to the meeting
that the outcomes of the presidential talks held in France would
be discussed. “It is essential that a way to solve the problem is
found. Otherwise, the region may be faced with a humanitarian crisis,”
Mann said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress