Author: Frangulian Shushan

Romanian president wants to expand ties with Azerbaijan

Trend news agency, Baku
14 Jul 06

I am satisfied with the high level of political relations with
Azerbaijan, which was once again proved by Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev’s recent visit to Romania, Romanian President Traian Basescu
said in an exclusive interview with the Azerbaijani news agency Trend
on 14 July.

He said that Romania welcomes the beginning of negotiations between
the European Union and Azerbaijan on the Individual Action Plan, as
well as Azerbaijan’s participation in NATO’s Individual Partnership
Action Plan (IPAP).

"We recognize that economic relations between the two countries do not
correspond to the level of the two countries’ possibilities, and we
consider that the second session of the intergovernmental commission
on technical and scientific cooperation, which was held in Baku in
June, showed the importance of development in this sphere. During
my forthcoming visit to Azerbaijan this autumn, we will discuss the
end results of these efforts, and then we will see which of them
are practicable and deserve our further involvement," Trend quoted
Basescu as saying.

The Romanian president also said that the Black Sea region is a
priority in Romania’s regional policy. He believes that this region
has considerable unused potential. The president stressed that the
security of this region is directly connected with the security of
the European and Euro-Atlantic area, especially taking into account
security and energy risks, he told Trend.

Basescu expressed his confidence that the Black Sea region is more
important to Romania and Azerbaijan, because it provides entrance to
the European and Euro-Atlantic area.

Speaking about the activities of GUAM [a regional alliance of Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova], the Romanian president said that he
welcomes the interest of GUAM countries in solving frozen conflicts
which are sources of instability in the region and threats on borders,
Trend reported. He also said that it is necessary to consider Romania’s
accession to GUAM as well.

The Romanian president also spoke about Azerbaijan’s role in the issue
of providing the energy security of Europe, including Romania. "The
energy security of Europe is a particularly important issue in the
context of the growing demand for new energy resources, and Romania,
as an oil and gas importing country, is interested in new sources
of imports and alternative transport routes," he said. He stressed
that Romania is interested in developing energy cooperation with
Azerbaijan. Romania is analyzing the possibility of signing a bilateral
agreement with Azerbaijan, the president added.

Speaking about the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
the Romanian president said that Romania supports Azerbaijan’s
independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said that
there is no single and universal solution to frozen conflicts. The
conflicts in the Dniester region, Abkhazia and Nagornyy Karabakh
are different. Therefore, their solution also should be different,
Trend quoted Basescu as saying. "We consider that 2006 opens a
unique opportunity for solving the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, and
in this regard, I welcome the positive results of the meeting held
in Bucharest," Basescu said while commenting on the recent meeting
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents in Bucharest.

He added that Romania supports the peaceful settlement of the conflict,
Trend quoted him as saying.

Vardan Oskanyan: We have one way to fight against oil, i.e. to rely upon ourselves

14.07.2006 16:46
Tatul Hakobyan
"Radiolur"

RA Foreign Minister declared that only 1-2 percent of the Diaspora’s
potential is utilized today, since the question of trust still
persists.

Particularly now, when Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been
launched, Armenia faces the challenge of not falling behind Azerbajan
in regard to economic development. What will Armenia suggest in
contrast to Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan?

"We have great internal and international resources, as well as those
of the Diaspora. We are entering a new phase, President’s two tenures
in office are coming to an end, he has no opportunity to ballot for
third term; therefore, the President should change. There was the issue
of continuity of the President’s first and second terms in office,
since there were problems that had to be resolved. Part of these has
been completed, accomplishment of others is still under way, and the
issue of continuity still persists, but we face a greater problem,
i.e. to bring the country to a qualitatively new level. Serious
economic and political reforms have been implemented, and today we
are enjoying the results of this. But altogether these were reforms
of the firs generation. We should undertake reforms of the second
generation. If we manage to do it, believe that the internal economic
recourses will double. Our democratic processes are a resource as
well. Diaspora is the second resource. Today we are utilizing only
1-2 percent of it. Why? Because there exist questions of trust in
the country and abuses," Vardan Oskanyan said.

After the third Armenia-Diaspora conference to be held in September,
the program of development of 50 villages will be launched. Separate
Diaspora structures, communities otr individuals have undertaken
the development of every of the 50 villages. Qualitatively new
Armenia-Diaspora relations will bring about greater investment of the
Diaspora’s potential, the Foreign Minister considers. If the leadership
of Armenia manages to best apply its internal resources and those of
the Diaspora, the third international resource will be added.

"In this case Armenia will become a more reliable partner and
there will be a greater flow of investments. Of course, much has
been done during the past years, but if we connect the issue with
Baku-Ceyhan and the great opportunities of Azerbaijan, we have no
other resources except for the three I mentioned above," the Foreign
Minister underlined. Oskanyan believes that with the next elections
we must be able to bring the country to a qualitatively new level.

"We are not in a disadvantageous position in the relations with our
neighbors. I can say that our position is even advantageous. Today
we are the leaders in this region, and we have achieved this at the
cost of great sacrifices.

All this has been done by applying the smallest percent of our
resources. We have one way to fight against oil: we should rely
upon ourselves and make best use of our resources," Vardan Oskanyan
remarked.

DIASPORA IS CONCERNED ABOUT WEALTH ACCUMULATED IN ARMENIA

Lragir.am
14 July 06

This fall is going to be a rather dynamic period of work for the
foreign ministry of Armenia, said Vardan Oskanyan July 14 at the
Hayeli Club. He hints at both relations with foreign countries and
foreign relations with our compatriots, i.e. the third Armenia-Diaspora
forum. The minister says the forum will differ from the first two by
its economic component. This component refers to the investments of
the Diaspora in rural communities. Vardan Oskanyan says there will
be an arrangement during the forum and 50 border villages will have
sponsors. However, besides investing the Diaspora asks questions
as well. Vardan Oskanyan does not hide that Diasporan investors are
concerned about the wealth that is accumulated in Armenia, and wonder
why it is not invested in Armenian villages.

"If you propose us sponsoring 50 villages, they say, we would like
to see if the Armenian businessmen are engaged as well.

Fortunately, we are starting to learn to give. The foundation is the
vivid example, different charity programs are also evidence to this,
and my consultations, preliminary, with our businessmen connected
with these rural projects are quite encouraging and reassuring,"
says Vardan Oskanyan.

SERBIAN ARMENIAN FILM DIRECTOR ARIS MOVSESIAN BEING IN MOTHERLAND
FOR THE FIRST TIME TRIES TO DISCOVER IT FOR HIMSELF

YEREVAN, JULY 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAT. Serbian Armenian
Film Director Aris Movsesian takes part in the "Voske Tsiran"
(Golden Apricot) International Film Festival for the first time. His
"Aporia" film is presented in the "Armenian Panorama" competition
program. Being a dentist by profession, Aris Movsesian is also engaged
in literature, he has published a stories’ collection entitled "Images
and Writers". Besides, he has also written the film script of the film
"Greatest Monster of the World" by Goran Rusinovitch.

Grown up in a family of a Serbian mother and Armenian father, Aris has
come to Armenia for the first time. As he mentioned in an interview
with the Noyan Tapan correspondent, "Aporia" is his first director’s
work, and he is happy that it is presented just in this festival.

"I like cinema very much. In the opinion of the specialists, all my
stories are subjects of seperate films, and I will try to work in
this direction also in the future," said Aris.

The events happen on the borders of life and death, logics and
impossible in the "Aporia" film. "In general I like to write on
philosophical themes and I’ll try to shoot films on that themes in
the future", mentiond the Film Director.

"We do not speak in Armenian in our family. I have heard Armenian
earlier from my grandmother and grandfather, who used it for secret
talks", said Aris Movsesian. In his words, Armenia is a field of new
discoveries for him. "When I was in Serbia, only my nose was so big,
and in Yerevan I saw people with bigger noses and I was explained
that big noses are typical to almost all Armenians", he said.

"My grandmothers and grandfathers left Armenia 100 years ago, and now
I am here to see and understand the mystery of this country and what
kind of people Armenians are in general", emphasized the Film Director.

KHOSROV HARUTYUNYAN: NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT CANNOT CAUSE SERIOUS
POLITICAL PROCESSES IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 12 2006

YEREVAN, July 12. /ARKA/. The Nagorno-Karabakh settlement cannot
cause any serious political processes in Armenia, Chairman of the
Christian-Democratic Union of Armenia (CDUA) Khosrov Harutyunyan
told reporters.

"We are far from thinking that the 2007 parliamentary elections and
the Nagorno-Karabakh problem may be the principal factor that would
cause social excitement in Armenia," Harutyunyan said.

Since the public is sensitive to the Karabakh problem, the
declassification of the negotiating process might seem to cause
political unrest in Armenia.

"To the credit of Armenia’s political forces, we must state that both
the opposition and the political majority prove to be up to the mark
and treated the problem with understanding," Harutyunyan said.

According to him, drawing parallels with 1998 (when power changed
in Armenia as a result of disagreements over the Karabakh problem)
would be irrelevant.

Harutyunyan believes that the current situation is different. He
pointed out that both Azerbaijan and Armenia’s authorities agreed to
the terms contained in the document on settlement proposed in 1998,
whereas Nagorno-Karabakh and some of Armenia’s political forces were
against it.

"Today Azerbaijan is against the framework agreement, while Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh state that this is a sufficient basis for further
negotiations. Therefore, those thinking of a change of power in
Armenia now must realize that, after coming to power, they will have
to agree to Azerbaijan’s proposals, which is principally impossible,"
Harutyunyan said.

On June 23, American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza stated that the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were
discussing a framework agreement under which Armenia forces were to
leave Azerbaijan’s territories under their control.

The agreement also envisages the stationing of peace-making forces in
the conflict zone, international assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh and
the region’s economic development. The final stage is a referendum
on the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). P.T. -0–

USA not interested in national movement in Iranian Azerbaijan – Baku paper

Zerkalo, Baku
10 Jun 06

The Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo has said that Washington is not
interested in supporting the national movement of Iranian Azeris.
This is proved by the recent arrest of Iranian dissident Mahmudali
Cohraqanli in Turkey and the West’s cold attitude to Azeri protests
in Iran, and therefore, it is naive to expect support from
Washington, it said. US policy has led to the radicalization of
ethnic Azeris in Iran, which means that they can start a jihad
against the United States and resort to acts of terror, Zerkalo said.
The following is an excerpt from report by Azerbaijani newspaper
Zerkalo on 10 June headlined Mahmud Cohraqanli has been arrested" and
subheaded " Washington has either started its own well-planned game
or has simply surrendered southern Azerbaijan to the Persian regime".
Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

The Turkish authorities yesterday arrested the leader of the National
Revival Movement of Southern Azerbaijan, Mahmudali Cohraqanli. One of
the best-known enemies of the Iranian regime was visiting Istanbul
where he arrived from the USA on 5 June.

[Passage omitted: Cohraqanli was arrested while giving an interview
to the Turkish newspaper Turkiye]

US pragmatism

Speaking about the attitude of the West and above all, the USA to
what is going in Iran, the well-known dissident said that Washington
is making mistakes by staking on other ethnic groups. "To all
appearances, the White House is not interested in the strengthening
of the Turkic world," he said.

It is hard to disagree with Cohraqanli’s statement. The West really
showed a cold attitude towards the mass protests of Iranian
Azerbaijanis. But the USA has its own reasons for this. And to be
honest, so does Turkey. There is no need for emotions in big-time
politics and it cannot be based on slogans of false patriots.
Cohraqanli has spent more than a year trying to enlist US support for
southern Azerbaijan’s struggle against the Tehran regime, but all in
vain.

On the one hand, the USA should rely on the Azerbaijanis to overthrow
the mullah regime because it is biggest ethnic group in Iran.

[Passage omitted: background details of Iranian events]

But the White House is not taking this as a basis. In any case, the
Unites States is not interested in the existence of another powerful
independent Turkic state, which could be a united Azerbaijan. Uncle
Sam always puts even the interests of its eternal ally Turkey, which
plays a major role in world politics, on the back burner, not to
mention those of Azerbaijan.

If before Washington saw Turkey as a sort of counter-balance first to
the USSR and then to Russia, now that the Kremlin has less levers of
pressure, the USA does not need Turkey so desperately. Nor is the USA
interested in Turkey’s strengthening, which will inevitably happen if
Turks of northern and southern Azerbaijan unite. In a word, US
pragmatism is obvious: it is much better to return some puppet heir
to the shah’s throne than to get a powerful Turkic state supported by
Turkey.

The arrest of Mahmudali Cohraqanli, which was certainly made with the
approval of the US government, is a logical part of this plan. The
mass disturbances of ethnic Azerbaijanis continued in Iran for almost
one month and the Western media kept silent about them. Then we
realized that it is naive to expect support from Washington. Poor
political experts, who shouted from the rooftops about the beginning
of a revolution in Iran, have only just realized that activists from
southern Azerbaijan [northern Iran] have backed themselves into a
tight corner. It is time to understand that a revolution cannot
happen spontaneously.

Revolution or what?

A revolution is not an emotion, but a political act, if you want. The
end and ways of achieving it are more important in politics. "Our
revolutionaries" had neither, not did they have any guarantees of
support from the great powers. It was not even clear who led the
developments in southern Azerbaijan or if anyone led them at all.

As for the Americans, they can also make a serious mistake. Refusing
to support the democratic movement in Azerbaijan, Washington’s
analysts got what they deserved – a major part of the protest
electorate became disappointed in Western values and took a
pro-Islamic position. What about southern Azerbaijan? The situation
there is absolutely different. Suffice it to say that four of the
seven mujtahids are ethnic Azerbaijanis. Moreover, ethnic
Azerbaijanis are regarded as the most conservative Islamists in Iran.

Overall, US policy has led to the radicalization of ethnic
Azerbaijanis in Iran. The White House does not probably realize that
Iran is not Iraq and that Iranian Azerbaijanis are not residents of
Kirkuk [ethnic Turkomans of Iraq]. It cannot be ruled out that the
southern Azerbaijanis will get angry with US policy and vent their
fury on the USA.

Seizing the initiative in the Islamic movement from the Persians,
southern Azerbaijanis may put on a "martyr’s belt" and start a jihad
against "infidels". And the USA might become the main target. That’s
to say by manipulating with democratic values in its own interests,
the USA is forcing Azerbaijanis to speak to Uncle Sam in the language
of terror.

In this connection, we should note that it is Azerbaijanis who will
not allow the heir to the Iranian shah’s throne to return to Iran
where our compatriots were disdainfully called "Turkish donkeys".

Probably, the authors of this nickname have forgotten that there are
about 12-15m Azerbaijanis in southern Azerbaijan while there are
about eight million of them in Tehran. The overall number of
Azerbaijanis in Iran is about 35-40 million. This is a powerful force
that is able to oppose any foreign enemy. Incidentally, Iran was run
by Azerbaijanis until 1936.

As for Cohraqanli’s arrest, we would assume that he is unlikely be
handed over to the Iranian authorities. But this is a US hint that
Washington is carefully following developments in Iran and will not
allow any arbitrary development of events, and Ankara, as well as
Baku, should act under its wise leadership. Why Baku? Because after
Turkey, the dissident was going to visit Azerbaijan.

There is another version that seems quite implausible. It cannot be
ruled that the White House is using Cohraqanli’s arrest to advertise
him, and when necessary, to present him as the leader of the national
liberation movement of southern Azerbaijan.

Today, Azerbaijan
July 10 2006

Armenian MP: "Russia hurts Armenia after closing Georgia checkpoint"

10 July 2006 [20:41] – Today.Az

A deputy chairman of Armenia’s parliament said Monday that Russia had
hit Armenian interests after it closed a checkpoint on the
Russian-Georgian border for construction work.

Russia closed the Kazbegi-Verkhny Lars border checkpoint early
Saturday morning for an indefinite period, which has created problems
for people traveling between Georgia and Armenia, RIA Novosti
reports.

Vaan Ovannisyan said the border had been closed because of difficult
relations between Russia and Georgia.

"They [relations] have been worsening rather than improving
recently," he said. "Our Russian colleagues must understand that each
step against Georgia also hurts Armenia’s interests. Therefore, they
should be more flexible and careful."

URL:

Georgia unaffected by Russian border post closure – premier Noghaideli

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
8 Jul 06

[Presenter] Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli has requested the Georgian
Foreign Ministry to contact their Russian counterparts and ask for an
explanation [of the closure by the Russian side of the Qazbegi-Zemo
Larsi checkpoint on the Georgian-Russian border]. Noghaideli is
convinced that the closing of Larsi [checkpoint] will have a more
negative impact on Armenia than on Georgia. Zurab Noghaideli said
this at a business forum in Batumi which the Georgian and Armenian
prime ministers are attending.

[Noghaideli] Restoration and repair work are not usually carried out
without a preliminary agreement in normal situations. Incidentally, I
want to tell you that as Georgia virtually exports nothing to Russia,
it is first and foremost Armenia that has been affected the most,
if we are speaking in economic terms. Accordingly, I have notified
the Armenian prime minister and they too will react to this. However,
I want to reiterate that we will look into this issue and will respond
to it in an appropriate manner.

Russian skinhead sentenced to six years in prison for hate crime

ITAR-TASS, Russia
July 7 2006

07.07.2006, 03.04

NIZHNI NOVGOROD, July 7 (Itar-Tass) — A Russian skinhead was sentenced
to six years in prison for stabbing to death an Armenian ethnic in
2005 in Nizhni Novgorod.

The Interior department for the Volga federal district told Tass on
Thursday investigators had established that Roman Lavrentyev and his
accomplice with a group of other young men were heavily drunk and
shouted out calls against non-Slav nationalities. They approached
two Armenian young men and asked for a cigarette. Scared Armenians
fled and one of them fell. Lavrentyev stabbed him 19 times.

The accomplice was sentenced to a fine of 45,000 rubles (1700 US
dollars).

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
July 7 2006

Nazim Ibrahimov: "Nobody Can Impede Us For the Work with Diaspora"
07.07.2006

"If Armenians are against our activity, i.e. that they are seriously
concerned with our work"
"Currently Azerbaijan Diaspora’s activity is in the foreground. Today
we can say with confidence that Armenian lobby is seriously concerned
with our work," recently informed Chairman of the State Committee for
the Work with Azerbaijanis living abroad, Nazim Ibrahimov. He
recalled that the State Committee was established by the decree of
the national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev 4 years ago, on June
5 2002, after which Diaspora’s activity began carrying out at state
level. Then Diaspora’s activity was under control and trusteeship of
the President H. Aliyev. According to N. Ibrahimov, Armenians living
in different countries worldwide call Armenian Diaspora to be more
active, as otherwise Azerbaijani Diaspora can come Armenians’
100-years activity to nothing: "I consider that if Armenians react to
our activity in so way, it means that they are seriously concerned
with our work. We realize the strategic important activities for
consolidation of Azerbaijan-Turkish Diaspora. Then Armenians will get
one more reason for concern. But we have such a power that nobody can
impede us."

N. Ibrahimov stated that to date the Diaspora’s activity focuses on
the interests of the President and Azerbaijan people. Reportedly the
Committee Chairman, the Government does not make unreasonable demands
to Diaspora: "Our Diaspora is required a close unity for the sake of
interests of Azerbaijani people, making joint endeavors for solution
of problems of our State and bringing to awareness of the whole
world. As state structure, we render all assistance to Azerbaijani
Diaspora. If need be, we appoint the personnel and allot money for
them. The President accentuates the activity of the State Committee.

In turn, such attention calls us to be more responsible."

Committee Chairman informed that the Diaspora’s activity would reach
higher level if its Members could attract intelligentsia, state
figures and powerful circles to this work: "Then the necessity of
regulation of Diaspora’s activity by Azerbaijan will fall away, as
Diaspora Members themselves will know well about political and
economic processes progressing in our country. Then we’ll transfer to
other form of its coordination."

Furthermore, reportedly N. Ibrahimov, to date the preparing for I
World Forum of Azerbaijan’s Scholars is on progress. In connection
with that a list of Azerbaijani scholars living in various countries
worldwide is at complete. As N. Ibrahimov stated, preparing
activities for the mentioned arrangement is done together with
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Moreover, Committee Chairman
informed that our compatriots working in mass media of other
countries are expected to attend the arrangement. According to N.

Ibrahimov, such arrangements aim at increasing of the activity level
of Azerbaijani Diaspora.

–Boundary_(ID_jqKw68t9ERTQU1HbUqndCw)- –